Royal Family Health Watch, Pt. 3: Kate, Charles and Everyone Else

Is this part 3?

Yes, r1. I thought it might be best to combine the threads since Charles is expected to be operated on this week.

What kind of surgery do they do for an enlarged prostate?

Tried to google the answer:

A technique called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered to be the standard surgical approach. This procedure involves inserting a thin tube called a resectoscope into the urethra (the tube that pee comes out of) and guiding it through to the prostate. The resectoscope is equipped with a tiny camera and an electrical loop that is used to mechanically remove prostate tissue. The loop produces heat at the same time, which quickly seals off the blood vessels. The resectoscope also has valves that regulate the release of fluid to flush the removed tissue out. TURP takes about 90 minutes and is done under local or general anesthetic. Men who have had this procedure usually need to have a urinary catheter (a tube that drains the bladder) for a few days after, and generally stay in the hospital for two to seven days. They then have to rest and take it easy for a few weeks.

... there is a risk of bleeding that needs to be treated. In rare cases, surgery can cause narrowing of the urethra. Long-term consequences such as permanent incontinence are rare.

R3, who do you think you are, injecting factual information into these threads?!

I haven’t seen anything in the media re: what day Charles’ procedure will be done. Does anyone know? Also, Kate appears to be still in the hospital.

Can we have a separate thread for those who do not want to hear about the King’s prostate?

That surgery sounds painful, has anyone gone through it? My hubbys dad died of prostate cancer so I worry about him . It’s not in my family at all.

When Charles is home resting after the procedure, Buck Palace will make a statement that he's had successful surgery and is resting comfortably. He's the King and Head of State, so the public is more entitled to knowledge about his health than Kate's.

Prostate treatments are much more advanced and minimally invasive than they were. TURP is old school and when things are pretty bad. They're doing less invasive, quicker recovery stuff with lasers and water vapors now.

" The palace said that the hospital visit is for a “corrective procedure.”

In all reasonable likelihood it means he has an enlarged prostate that is slowing the flow of urine. Enlarged prostate also causes urinary urgency. You can imagine it's not very convenient in his job to have to suddenly take a piss (and I mean have to take a piss. Urinary urgency doesn't leave a lot of room for holding it.)

How long has Catherine been in the hospital?

At least 8 days, r10, maybe longer. The palace announced she was in the hospital last Tuesday, but who knows how long she was in there before they made any announcements.

They announced she was in hospital a week ago today, R10, but I'm not sure if that was the day she went in or if she'd already been in for a while

No matter when she was admitted, the countdown would necessarily start with her surgery date, wouldn't it?

Our "working" Royals EARN every penny!

Agreed r13, did the palace announcement last Tuesday indicate that surgery was that day?

Yeah but countdowns are imprecise. You're doing well, home early. You're not, a couple more days.

R7 it’s not in my family but I have an enlarged prostate.

I have it. It's more an inconvenience to me at present. I pee quite slowly in the morning, some days but not all, and it takes about three pees to empty the bladder in the morning. The rest of the day, comparatively normal, unless it is in a mood and then sometimes I get urinary urgency which can't be ignored. Am lucky in that I don't have to get up several times in the night. I'm 59. Charles actually did reasonably well to not need procedural intervention until his mid 70s. It's unpleasant to treat but there's worse.

R15, she had the surgery either the day before or on the day of the announcement.

I have found taking a saw palmetto supplement helps. My urologist said I won “prostate of the day.” I’m so proud.

Thanks OP, um Muriel I mean, for showing the fuck up! Now can you get rid of the trolls?

I’m Muriel everyone! I’m Muriel!!!

Muriel is too caustic and too mysterious to care about Catherine's health issues. Muriel is probably floating around the Oscar threads.Sometimes Muriel is not a serious person who shows concern about the sad struggles of the Royal Family. It had to be said.

[quote] previous thread: If Catherine were to pass in her current role as PoW, she's not entitled to a State funeral and all of the public funding that would entail.

It would be touching if Meghan did the eulogy.

[quote]R8 When Charles is home resting after the procedure, Buck Palace will make a statement that he's had successful surgery

Will he bring his beloved toilet seat to the hospital?

Maybe that thing’s been the problem all along.

The monk in the cave has put on some weight then?

To continue the discussion from the end of the previous thread, even though Kate would be entitled to a non-State, ceremonial royal funeral organized by the Lord Chamberlain.

Even though she would be entitled to this - think the large-scale funerals of the Queen Mother and Diana back in 1997 - I'm not certain William or the BRF would go full monty. They learned the hard lessons from 1997, that young bereaved children should NOT be paraded about in public at their mother's funeral, if avoidable. William would have a large say in what would occur and I'd venture he would want his kids completely shielded from the press and cameras, as much as possible.

I'd guess a cortege via glass hearse from London to Windsor (see: the late QEII's trip from Balmoral down to the Edinburgh); a public/semi-private funeral at St. George's, with no photos of William and the children, and limited camera coverage inside; and private burial to follow at Frogmore (I don't think there's any more room in the St George's vault for more royals?).

I should correct my post at r27: there's no more room in the royal mausoleum at Frogmore for more royal burials, there is room in the general cemetery there however although it's also filling up.

The vault at St. Georges has room but it's below ground; there isn't much extra space available for a new addition such as was built for George VI/Queen Mother/QEII/Philip. It was discussed at QEII's funeral that there's a dilemma about where future monarchs/senior royals will be buried in the future.

Just throw the shriveled body on a pyre. Or chuck it down the pan.

At last, some gossip.

Prostate work?

They slice it up from the inside with a bladed reamer, sort of like outside-in gyro meat.

Charles is taking entirely too much time off for something the Scots would make lunch out of.

As others have said, r30, planned surgery doesn't necessarily mean planned months or weeks in advance - it's simply not emergency surgery, when you're collapsing on the floor and need to be rushed to hospital. The date could have been booked only a few days in advance.

R27, you're vulgar.

r33 this is Datalounge, not the drawing room at Clarence House. It's all vulgar.

Detailing the death and burial of a living person who is recovering from surgery is beyond DL, R34.

Poor Fergie had a mastectomy six months ago and now has a malignant melanoma. Sounds like she won’t be around for much longer.

To save space in Royal vaults, Charles should insist upon a "green burial" for himself somewhere amongst the cabbages at Highgrove.

Perhaps Charles, Fergs and Kate can get a group discount.

They never specify when she had surgery. They only announced it after she had it. She could have been admitted since Dec 28th. That’s the date she was seen escorted to a local hospital before the transferred her to the bigger hospital in London.

She’s faking. For attention.

No, that's the date somebody got a few seconds footage of a convoy, with flashing lights, in one of the world's biggest cities, near a hospital which has no link to the present situation. She wasn't seen anywhere. She celebrated her birthday at home Jan. 9th. Jesus. Fiction becomes fact.

They did specify, more or less, when she had her operation, r39. It was either the day before or the day of their Instagram post, which was posted on 17 January and which states "Her Royal Highness was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful". Usually in the UK you are admitted to hospital on the day of your surgery, but if it was scheduled for early in the morning she may have gone in the day before. So, the operation was on either 16 or 17 January.

Of course you'd know that if you were interested in widely publicised facts, but you obviously prefer psycho bs.

Complications from a botched abortion.

I think she’s transitioning.

Botched self-induced abortion, R43. Keep up. This convoy isn't going to drive itself.

Maybe she was curious about pegging and something went tragically wrong?

There is nothing beyond the reaches of DL, r35. Stop clutching your pearls.

Read the posts between yours and this. Botched abortion/transitioning spec, group burial discounts, pegging gone wrong. This has been entertaining (and somewhat informative) set of threads, actually.

^^ r47 should be signed, "Kate's glass hearse".

Necromancy.

They need Liz back to keep the shebang interesting to the peasants.

Ferg drew the shortest straw, then Kate, then Chuck.

Royalty is tawdry.

[quote]r42 the operation was on either 16 or 17 January.

Again, [italic]WHAT ARE THEY HIDING ? ?[/italic]

Which IS it??

They're not hiding anything, r51. They don't have to tell you which exact day or time it was. It was either the 16th or 17th.

I’m going to have to chime in on the side of r35. Humor has its place, but common decency dictates that there are some things one simply should not joke about, even in this cesspool.

People magazine is saying January 16th. So it's been 9 days. I bet they'll sneak her out of the hospital on Sunday. It will be interesting to find out where they take her. Will she go all the way back to Windsor or will it be Anmer Hall, or will it be Kensington. My guess is Kensington. Closer to the hospital, less stressful than the road trip to Windsor or Sandringham Estate.

That would mean a longer separation from the kids.

Drive to Buckingham Palace, helicopter from there to Windsor & the kids.

R47, you're a freak. You're so damaged you don't even know it. Freak.

The first days at home, after surgery are rough. Going home on a Sunday will give her some time with the kids, and then on Monday they will all go to school and she can get some rest. If she went home on a Friday she'd have the whole weekend with them climbing all over her and imposing on her, and it would be exhausting.

Of course she could take a helicopter. But it would still be a lot for her.

Thank you Mrs. Ramsey/r53 for weighing in from your eternal, murderers resting place. I have to say, it was a speculative discussion, and not a joke.

We've talked about all aspects of the royals here, including their potential burial plans. Younger royals included. I find the ceremonial plans and details - weddings, funerals, etc- fairly interesting.

I’ll add who amongst us hasn’t planned our own funeral?

In respect of R47's morbid contributions to the world around her.

Princess Anne needs to go down to that hospital and give the Princess of “Ails” a little bedside advice about doing one’s duty and persevering in adversity.

[quote]Can we have a separate thread for those who do not want to hear about the King’s prostate?

As opposed to burying Kate alive?

Why the fuck would Anne do something as inane as that, r64? I'm sure she hopes Catherine has a successful and full recovery.

[quote]R58 The first days at home, after surgery are rough.

If only she weren’t Katie On Assistance, and had a vast choice of residences to recover at, with endless staff to see to her every need.

Life just isn’t fair! This woman needs [italic]help!

Obviously she needs a GoFundMe so she’s properly looked after.

Windsor isn't that far from London and she could easily be transported there. Anmer Hall is much, much further away. Of course Buck Palace and Kensington Palace are closer. Who knows, maybe she will go and convalesce at her parents' home in Bucklebury which is, by all accounts, larger than the home the Wales' are currently residing in on the Windsor Castle grounds.

Or perhaps a medical recovery suite has been set up for her in Windsor Castle. Ooh Windsor Castle is a good one because then, once recovered, she can claim possession is 9/10ths of the law and the whole Wales family can move in and take over. Perhaps that's been her plan all along! Crafty one, our Catherine.

Kate absolutely reeks of a person who was really loved and valued her whole life. Her parents and siblings cherished her and she had a lot of self confidence and really believed that she was entitled to someday be queen, and apart from the two month breakup with William, he also has treated her lovingly and kindly, based on how he acts toward her in public and her usual expression of joy and serenity.

She is so fucking obscenely lucky. I got nothing but hardcore abuse and hatred from my parents when I was growing up, and then they died by the time I was 18. My life has been largely a disaster, tied directly to things my parents said and did. Maybe Kate is right about the impact of early childhood. She would fucking know.

I just read the other day that Fergie’s father sided with the Windsors in the divorce from Andrew and he and Fergie didn’t speak for 26 years, until Eugenie’s wedding.

Fergie's father died in 2003, r70 - 15 years before Eugenie's wedding.

R71, that doesn't mean they didn't talk...

R71, I misunderstood that article. Turns out it was Prince Philip who hadn’t seen or spoken to Fergie for 26 years until the wedding. He apparently contemplated not even going.

Would Heathrow approach path noise be an issue at Windsor?

She needs to have post op care and access to medical attention at a hospital should the need arise

She will want to be near her children. Windsor is hardly the back of beyond.

I'm sorry for your childhood r69. That sucks. I wouldn't bet that Kate had a least some rough bumps, we just don't hear about them. She was supposedly so badly bullied at her first boarding school that her parents moved her to Marlborough.

I also wouldn't rule out issues with her decent, hard-working but overly-meticulous and dominating mother either. We just don't know how they lived, exactly.

Their Majesties can’t spare a room at Clarence House for their convalescing daughter in law?

If she was going to convalesce in London they have a home of their own in Kensington Palace - four storey twenty roomed Apartment 1a. No need to crash on a rollaway at the in laws. Then there’s ten bedroom Anmer Hall in Norfolk, Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park next to the castle and her parents’ place Bucklebury Manor in Berkshire if she wanted some TLC from Mummy.

Excuse me, R79, but we've got a DLer who's gone to a lot of trouble to plan her funeral. Don't kill the morbid buzz.

Get back to us when they all drop dead from tertiary syphilis and prolapsed anuses.

I would never want to stay at Clarence House. It looks cluttered and rodent infested. Bugs, too. Lots of chintz and wallpaper, Looks like it hasn't been renovated since the 19th century. Ugh. It probably stinks too. Bad plumbing and mold, and smelly feets.

I would think Katherine will want to go where there is maximum privacy and not too many people wandering around. But she will definitely need help. Especially since William plans to resume some of his public duties, a week or two after she is comfortably home. So she will need maybe a cook, a maid, possibly a nurse, and the Nanny. She can't accommodate any extra people at Windsor's Adelaide Cottage. She's going to need the extra help at least for the next 60 days. So It has to be Anmer Hall or Kensington.

Or Windsor.

Clarence House was refurbished and redecorated in 2003.

R83 . Me too dear. I stay awake nights worrying if Kate Middleton has enough servants. Praying for a good domestic agency.

And prior to that quite comprehensively overhauled by Prince Philip in the 40s or 50s, r85? Then again at least once for the Queen Mother?

I need CHARLES TO CUM BUCKETS IN MY GAPING HOLES.

It will have to be in or around Windsor. The kids are in school there. She's not going to Anmer to recover alone.

The King's operation will be in the same hospital as the one where Kate is staying. I don't know what that means, but by the end of the day I'm sure what you people come up with will be utterly fantastic.

R90, really? Maybe Charles got Kate pregnant due to his trying to use his prostate one las time, but the baby developed giant ears, thus endangering the life of the mother and child and requiring bed rest for Kate. Then Charles, deciding he wanted Kate’s baby to ascend to the throne, decided to have his operation in the same hospital to be close by. They all look forward to jettisoning Camilla and Kate will ascend to the throne as Charles’ new bride, much sooner than she would have with William.

I’m sure others can come up with something even more fantastic.

Since the king's gone into hospital, could we speculate on the likelihood he won't survive the procedure, how he will be embalmed, and what coins will be placed on his eyes to keep them closed?

If there were a way for Charlotte to take the throne at the end of all that, R91, I encourage everyone to try to flesh it all out.

Excellent addition, R93. I'd particularly like to see an exploration over how her grief will manifest specifically during the first five years of her reign.

Stem cell replacement. Katherine's cells are youthful. The king is getting them so he can rule until he's 100.

Kate may have just left hospital.

There’s also speculation it was Camilla leaving after Charles’ surgery r96.

R97 Camilla got into a different car and had a police escort.

R98, if you look at the entire video at r96, you’ll note the Audi that Camilla got into is the same one in front of the Range Rover with the blacked out windows.

Any update on Kate's prostate issues? Is the poor dear out of hospital yet?

R100, it looks like they removed Kate’s prostate, so she’ll have to wear wigs for the rest of her life.

R99 Yup it appears to be Queen Camilla.

Charles is reported as doing well after the procedure. I assume on here that means he's dead.

The conspiracy to cover up begins.

Can you imagine how overburdened the staff at that hospital is right now with both those two in residence? Bet William will not be able to visit because of the rules about the line of succession etc. I'm guessing Catherine leaves the Hospital this weekend. Charles isn't going to be there very long. In real life he should be an out patient. But they might make him stay for a couple days to make sure his pisser is working properly. You know if they mess up he may be incontinent for life wearing diapers and peeing himself on public occasions. Camilla will stick his ass in a barn if he stinks things up. Assuming she notices.

[quote]Bet William will not be able to visit because of the rules about the line of succession etc.

Wait... what?

They can be in the same building (and they frequently are). They just can't ride in the same airplane or helicopter.

I'd just copied that sentence, r106. Some people are "dead from the neck up" as the saying goes.

Here's another question. When Charles is put under anesthesia, does Will automatically assume his duties while Charles is under?

One other question, does Will have to bow to Camilla?

R95, you gave me the idea. (I was R93.) Charles is really in hospital for an infusion of Charlotte's stem cells. Remember that Charlotte is the feminine form of Charles. His body immediately acclimates and adapts to her kindred cells, which, for their part, find a home in his system. His brain begins transforming into a Charles/Charlotte hybrid and he comes to realize that his granddaughter is his true and rightful heir. He moves heaven and earth to push a royal female primogeniture bill through Parliament that bypasses his own male children. Voila.

And nobody has to die! (I.e., William or little George.)

[quote]I'd particularly like to see an exploration over how her grief will manifest specifically during the first five years of her reign.

What grief?

If Papa was at the hospital visiting Mother, and Grandpapa is in the same hospital, and some "radical" planted a Bomb that exploded and killed everyone, then George would be King. George is shy. He really would rather not, you know? I, on the other hand will be ready to come forward, to step up and RULE! Don't worry. I have deleted all references to bomb making from my little laptop. I've been talking to some lovely people this week who have mistaken me for a Palestinian.....

Queen Camilla brought Kate her own organic cure.

[quote] Bet William will not be able to visit because of the rules about the line of succession,etc.

Don’t sweat it, toots. I’ve got it covered.

R108, any of the functioning Counsellors of State could stand in for Charles while he's indisposed, i.e. William, Anne, Edward or Camilla.

Before anyone says anything about Andrew and Harry as Counsellors of State, Andrew has been a Counsellor of State since 1981 and Harry has been one since 2005 and I don't think either of them ever served in that role prior to stepping back from public life.

Do we know any more? Did they gut out her lady parts?

If a Counsellor of State gets to wear a silly hat? Count me in!

I'm bloody jealous!

Just make it up, R117. Everybody else has!

[quote]One other question, does Will have to bow to Camilla?

Yes. William is only HRH; Camilla is HM and so outranks him.

Everyone in the UK except the monarch himself is supposed to bow to the queen.

I thought Charles told The People (and Big Liz) he’d never title Camilla queen (?)

Kate is donating her prostate to Charles.

Well, he holds the purse strings.

R108 I read that as "Does William have to blow Camilla" and frankly now I want that question answered.

This was an interesting thread until the boring idiot trolls took over.

I wish they would fuck off away from this site and go back to wherever they crawled from.

Characterize boring idiot trolls, R126, because there seems to be two camps: The black helicopter loony speculators planning the funerals of living people and the smart ass satirists taking the piss out of them? If the latter, you are wise. If the former, put on your tin hat and fuck off, nobody mistakes that kind of lunacy for actual gossip or even informed speculation.

^ Hyacinth has spoken !

I thought this was just a fun little thread about Kate's untimely death from prostate surgery and how the death hasn't been publicly announced yet. I think there was a side trip to DL's obsession with evil scheming little girls plotting world dominance and another side trip to Rose picking out China patterns and then another foray into the world of Camilla's teeth.

Monday will be Kate's fourteenth day in hospital. If she isn't released then, we'll know it's more serious than they're letting on.

Evil? Make a note of that, would you Georgie?

All jokes about Kate’s prostate aside, I agree r131. A two-week hospital stay for a “planned” procedure is incredibly unusual. A friend had a stroke and was in for 5 days; she then got c-diff from the hospital stay, which was actually much, much worse than the stroke. They really do want to boot you as soon as possible, the bugs floating around hospitals can be very serious. I’m sure Kate has received the best care that money can buy, but I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t be better convalescing at home.

Oops meant r130 in my post at r132. I have to remember to check the numbers right before I post, they change when someone sneaks a post in between.

The only people more ridiculous then the royals are the dotty cultists who take them seriously.

Don’t be so sure that they’ll announce when she’s left. Maybe she already has.

A two-week hospital stay for a “planned” procedure is incredibly unusual.

I would agree. While I am not familiar with the UK Health System, over here they are trying to push you out the door the minute after they sew you up. My friends Mom had open heart surgery and they sent home after 4 days.

I bet she has sepsis.

I kinda wondered that, R135. I'd guess it's likelier she will leave without being seen, but I don't think they'll be too clever with the departure date. That's so Harry and Meghan and, in fairness, since the initial announcement they have been pretty much left alone and privacy respected, so they kind of owe media and public some fair play. To pull a fast one I think would not play well. No one would really begrudge them a private exit but to fudge the date of... looks a bit too clever... she's supposed to be getting better, not worse. Depending on their preferences they may have her do an online meeting about her early years cause in a couple of weeks, once safely home and then release images.

I really do wonder what's wrong with her with all this time in hospital. I don't believe, in the end, media will leave that one alone. Rightly or wrongly, in this day and age there will be enormous pressure to clarify, particularly once she's up on her feet and back to work.

This sounds familiar:

Question for those familiar with the hospital—is there an underground garage or other entrance where she could have left without being seen? I would think that she would take advantage of it if there is.

R138, there is. See video. Not unreasonable to assume there's a way to get in and out of a private hospital without anybody seeing.

I did not “sneak” a post in, r133. The very idea . . .

Georgie—another note, please.

If Kate has already been discharged, I would imagine that the palace would release a statement within a day or so, i.e. fairly quickly. Otherwise, it just invites more and more speculation as to why she’s been hospitalized for so long.

Is Kate’s prostate busted from too much anal or not enough?

MM fans call Kate Kate Wrinkleton, which I must admit I found kind of funny.

Christ's crutch r127, will you ever unclench. We talked about QEII/Philip's funeral plans for YEARS here on DL, in detail, long before they passed into yonder. There were entire threads devoted to it, no one uttered a peep of dismay.

Senior royals have a nearly an all-ceremonial role in society, and that includes their carefully planned post-death protocols as well as weddings, births, coronations and the like. Paid fully or in part by the public. Speculating about ceremonial details, even morbid ones, of public figures is no worse than speculating about their finances, underwear, bathroom or sex habits as done here, daily.

R144/lady: In addition to being able to distinguish between an eighty year old man and 40 year old woman, I am a big fan of informed speculation, witty speculation and even just plain old plausible speculation. I would think push back on stupid wouldn't bother you so much after all these years. So thanks for the advice, but I'll no more take it here in cyberspace than anybody takes it from you in whatever your real world constitutes. M'kay, dear?

But when will Charles have his sausage fingers drained? Hhhmmm?

R122 Well, it's about 16 months too late for that, isn't it?

Will Kate be wearing a wig to go home?

No problem r145, was concerned a bit about your rising blood pressure, you seemed triggered by speculative, inconsequential discussion (since none of us really know these people or meet them). We're never a forum for hall monitoring, since the easiest thing when faced with potentially unpalatable ponderings is to simply scroll.

But I offer apologies to you, since it did offend. It was really aimless musing on my end, since we had little information on Kate's condition and were mostly filling space until further news. Perhaps it was overreach, in the sense of "don't tempt fate" while she was still potentially ill. I offer acknowledgment that could upset, and leave it at that.

Paragraph, paragraph, R149. little too invested. And still a freak. You're seen.

R150…. Huh?

Leave it at that, freak.

R152… huh?

Have a nice night, freak.

I am not evil, and I am not plotting. There is no need.

I am simply the Obvious Next Step, hiding in plain sight waiting for the world to catch up, just as my role model QEII was at my age.

My faithful subjects at the DL, who are onto most things early, understand this.

I do enjoy the "evil, plotting" jokes, however. Carry on, gays.

Georgie, there is no need to explore other threads. Close the tab now, there's a good boy.

It's been seven hours and fifteen days, since you took my bowels away ...

R154…huh?

I bet Katherine is going home today if she isn't already there. I wonder if they had a special chef for her at the Clinic? She has been described as a health food person, with protein smoothies in the morning, etc.

I don't think you do smoothies with a colostomy bag.

Are we still watching?

She’s almost at 14 days if she’s still in the hospital, can’t stress enough how unusual that is. I understand the need for privacy btw. If it’s very serious (and I’m sure it is), you don’t want it getting back to the kids in a way that could be upsetting to them. But if she’s been discharged (I don’t think she has), the palace should reveal that. Keeping everyone guessing just invites insane speculation (as evidenced on this thread—not that I didn’t enjoy it!).

Damn someone on this thread has a very large stick up their butt. We’ve all had some harmless fun that will never, ever be seen by Kate or her family, so please relax and have a drink or two (or eight).

Bear in mind that when Philip was admitted to hospital for a month, Buckingham Palace initially described it as a "precautionary measure" due to feeling unwell. It eventually turned out that he'd had heart surgery.

Philip felt unwell and so was admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure because he was feeling crap. While in hospital, they decided that he needed a stent. There's no contradiction or cover up in that. When people are that old and frail and have underlying conditions, they can be admitted to hospital to be checked out if they are not feeling well.

In fact, Philip was transferred from the first hospital (King Edward VII) he was admitted to to another hospital (St Bartholomew's) for further tests and eventually had a stent inserted, which suggests that he didn't initially go to hospital for a planned operation.

^ Ah, I didn't realise that, R164. Anyway, I suppose we'll know soon enough if Kate is okay.

I hope the Princess of Wales re-emerges with a big ol’ pair of bolt-ons. I’d be good for national morale.

Hmm still no word. In the US, I think it’s practice to discharge Monday mornings rather than Sundays, because the more experienced doctors are around to sign off.

I wonder if that’s what’s happening? And I’m really starting to think that maybe Kate had a mini-breakdown or something and is taking time to rest. It just seems that there are few operations that will keep you in the hospital for two weeks. At least not today.

The Sun says Charles’ hospital stay was extended and the DM says his engagements are cancelled for a month (I think that’s new?). No news on Kate and the DM has an article today about Harry’s return from Afghanistan that is flattering.

I think Charles and Kate are goners!

From the Torygraph:

It is expected that King Charles will be discharged early this week, but His Majesty could take up to a month off from public duties following the procedure.

This is in line with general advice for patients who have undergone prostate corrective surgery.

The Telegraph understands that the King, 75, plans to follow these recommendations, but he may return to duties two weeks earlier if his recovery is quicker than expected.

Doctors also tend to prefer to discharge patients during the week rather than over a weekend.

[QUOTE]I’m really starting to think that maybe Kate had a mini-breakdown or something and is taking time to rest.

Jesus Christ, what a looney belief. That's what the private island of Mustique is for, where private villas don't have public streets for paps and tabloids to hang out. Nothing would have been out of the ordinary or attention grabbing for the Duchess to take a two week vacation with her family. The Palace would have made a one or two line announcement and that's it.

They are being very conservative with Charles, with his age and status. But he's a known workhorse, he'll be back up and running early if possible. Maybe not doing public engagements, but doing private meetings and paperwork.

I don't think the public is going to know about Kate's discharge status until she's home and stable, perhaps a few days after she's been discharged. They'll give her maximum privacy. And there won't be any statements after that, for a long while, during her recuperation.

r151/r153/r157.r162 some just can't scroll or block.

R69 I got nothing but hardcore abuse and hatred from my parents and I would have been lucky if they died when I was 18. My life has had a lot of good because of the choices I have made. University degrees, a successful professional career, a 36 year marriage and 2 lovely grown sons. There were difficulties but I kept chugging on. I availed myself of therapy and medication.

Way to twist the knife, R172. Your triumph certainly brought out the compassion in you.

^ I was about to say the same, r173. Hardship builds a capacity for empathy in some and contempt to varying degrees in others if they overcome it. A smug and comfortable sense of superiority ensues.

You'll note r69 never once begrudged Kate for her happy family upbringing and correctly noted, sometimes it's about luck and a whole lot of love and social support, not the 100% self-agency r172 seems to promote. It's really a Darwinian GOP outlook.

R170 you missed the point. She might have to get away from William and her family and whatever stress she’s feeling. She might need a break. Can you imagine the furor if she went on a holiday by herself? In any case, I’m talking about relief from the kind of stress that can’t be fixed with a vacation. A relief that might require hospitalization.

The palace said that she underwent an operation, so if they’re not lying, then she has a very serious physical condition and it’s not mental. But they’ve been known to lie.

Did you read the part where I mentioned traveling with family (or at least use that as a cover)? And mental health professionals are able to travel.

Regardless, if it got out that she surreptitiously sought mental health treatment or rehab after she and William advocated for more openness and removing the stigma, it wouldn't be a good optic.

R175, please cite these known lies.

Since we're indulging in Wild Mass Guessing: I wonder if Kate snapped and harmed herself after being branded a racist. It's a bit of a coincidence she's had a long stay in hospital shortly after the press named her. I'm not saying that in an "it's all Meghan's fault" way. I'm just stirring the pot a bit because we've had no news.

Here’s some, r177.

Or it could be guilt over the botched abortion she performed on herself. Or for so carelessly donning that wig in public.

Other than giving birth, the Queen never had to go into hospital during her entire long life, did she?

I think that’s interesting speculation, R178.. But wasn’t the reaction to that assertion pretty subdued? It’s not like she was getting cancelled over it (do I have this wrong?). Also, I like Kate but I have the feeling she wouldn’t give a fuck about being accused of racism. She’d care if the accusation resulted in consequences, but I don’t think the accusation alone would produce strong feelings in her.

She had knee surgery once and was admitted (overnight?) during the last 12-18 months of her life.

Four times, prior to the 12 - 18 thing.

R174 Unlike R69 (“My life has been largely a disaster, tied directly to things my parents said and did”) I don’t excuse my adult choices on things my parents said and did. I hardly got where I am today all by “self agency.” I think you chose to skip the part about medication and therapy. I’m 64 and have required therapy on and off most of my life. I take 4 different medications. It is what it is.

Very generous characterization, R182. Agree, the reaction was muted. If it was even true, it wouldn't have been a surprise to her.

R185, congratulations and I hope this makes you feel good enough you can now keep further thoughts on the matter to yourself.

Good lord, r187. Chill. You’re all over this thread chastising and insulting everyone for having a little fun or posting something you disagree with. What are you, Kate’s aunt or something?

Good lord, freak, you're not doing a bad job of it yourself. Freak.

🤣🤣🤣r189 there had never been a point of mine more aptly prove than at your post. Thanks for revealing to everyone the ill-tempered lout that you are. Talk about freak. Btw, no one here supports or agrees with you. So who’s the freak? Take a lord, deep look in the mirror.

Sure, freak. Absolutely. Freak.

R182 You must be kidding. Most people would care about being called a racist.

R175 She could just visit her family.

The nervous breakdown theory, and I'm trying to be polite, doesn't work. They never would have put out the story about surgery. It's too easy to disprove.

R125 is one of my least favorite kind of internet post: “I misread X and y and now I can’t stop thinking z!” Always cliche and lame and never funny.

Meanwhile Princess Charlotte is smiling with satisfaction as she twirls her now empty poison ring.

R191, come on, can’t you come up with something more clever? This is DL, that’s about a .09 on the imagination scale. Anyway, back to weird Kate speculation, which gets r191 hard, so keep it coming. I think she had semi-routine surgery and something went wrong. Or maybe she caught MRSA or C-diff. The worst would be sepsis, that’s life threatening. Something going wrong makes the only sense.

[QUOTE]This is DL, that’s about a .09 on the imagination scale

But not .08 BAL if weird crazies keep supporting the alternative of Sussex or Trump love. Not saying they're the same or even similar, but they do similarly employ bad judgment and horrific inhumane tactics to drag or coerce lessers...

She could have had a stroke. I’m about her age and had one recently. 2 weeks in hospital

They were so specific with the "abdominal" surgery though. I thought they announced it before she actually had it - like a "planned" procedure, so I don't think it would be a stroke (could that cause an abdominal problem? there's some sort of aortic aneurysm that's in the abdomen?) and probably not a burst appendix like Colbert.

I hope she'll be ok. This is so worrying. I really like her - more than any other royal, other than the children.

R199, are you in Great Britain? If you had a serious stroke, yes, I think I could see that. A friend stayed five days in the hospital but she didn’t have paralysis, she had slight aphasia.

The two weeks is very alarming.

Hope you're doing better, r199.

Well,checking Twitter for news on the Princess was a huge waste of time.

Instagram says she has returned home--on Monday as someone upthread said she would need to do for us not to all worry more.

Best wishes on your recovery R199.

I just don't think they're going to play fast and loose with the facts and here's why.

First, nobody here, despite convinctions to the contrary, has actually identified a lie the Palace (the whole machine) has told.

Second, abdominal surgery is too specific to be a lie. It is too easy to disprove. If she's in hospital for anything other than treatment post abdominal surgery, it is going to get out eventually. There are good republicans on staff everywhere so if a despised institution is trying to pull a fast one, somebody's going to leak.

Third, if was not what they say it is, there are presumably many other more private places to send her.

Fourth, why would William cancel all his engagements for the next many weeks if it is not what they say it is? It's the winter season. Generally it's a pretty quiet time on the royal calendar after Christmas and before Easter. Not nothing booked, but not much. Point being, it wouldn't have been hard to keep a low profile if it was needed.

Fifth, and this only applies if you're not a conspiracy theory, this is a major institution depending on public support. To concoct an elaborate lie that could be exposed would be very, very damaging. Because lying is supposed to be bad. So you deceive the public, who you need, and you deceive them via the media, who are notoriously understanding and forgiving. There is nothing going on that demands this risk, even if it were possible on an ethical basis.

Sixth, what's happening is pretty consistent with the past. They have announced as much as they need to (and as little as they could) and asked for privacy. That's how they handle royals in hospital. They aren't even feeding the beast by having the family photographed arriving. Not William again, not the kids at all, not her parents or siblings or aunts, uncles, cousins. Nobody. Whatever is going on, they have successfully kept it from being a daily story and done so consistent with how they handle these things. What's been unusual is how much Camilla has been seen coming and going. I don't read much into that except it's unusual based on the pattern and would throw in this but - but Camilla is normal. She didn't grow up in the environment. She comes from a world where if your spouse or child were in hospital you'd go to visit them every day. She just hasn't gone in the back way so has been seen.

She's home.

Telegraph: The Prince of Wales is expected to resume his own engagements once his wife is safe and comfortable at home in Adelaide Cottage, Windsor.

Hope she feels better. It's such a bother to be ill.

Need to be a subscriber to read that article, but here's the tweet.

It said on the Oz news tonight that Prince Charles has been continuing with some of his paperwork in hospital. (Very Charlotte of him.) Also that Camilla has visited him many times, or for several hours (I didn't take notice of the minor details).

What was creepy about Kate's hospitalisation was that there was no news at all about her progress. We read one day that William visited, and that was all. Not even a "now resting comfortably". So I'm glad they've released her.

Let's hope whatever it was was the cause of her thinness and not an effect of it, and that she gains a bit of healthy weight from hereon in.

I suppose if she does gain a bit of healthy weight we'll chalk it up to steroids for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Or maybe multiple sclerosis (MS). Or maybe she's been on them all along, cause the hair loss that led to the wig we caught her in.

"What was creepy about Kate's hospitalisation was that there was no news at all about her progress." - There was lots of news about her progress, r211, and it was being relayed to the appropriate people, i.e. her family. You don't need daily updates.

She’s fine. She sends her love.

I didn't want daily updates, R213, nor health details.

It is usual, at the minimum, for hospitals to release statements about famous people that say "the operation was a success" and later "the patient is now resting comfortably". It was unusual that she was there for so long and we didn't even get that much.

There has been a lot of information about Charles's progress.

Obviously the prostate transplant was all for nothing.

The forgot part of the announcement:

“and a special thank you to the rubbernecking prisspots on Datalounge for endless hours of amusement.”

CNN is reporting that Kate was released from the hospital and is at home recovering.

We been knew

They did announce that the operation was a success and that she was recovering, that she would be in hospital for a specific expected time, and that she would then recuperate for a specific period, r215. And that's all we needed to know.

When did they say the operation was a success and she was recovering? We've been speculating here for some time that the operation may have gone very wrong and she may have been hovering between life and death. So if that assurance was given, we missed it.

As far as I know, what they said was that she had had planned abdominal surgery (at an unspecified date), and would be in hospital for 14 days following the announcement and off work till after Easter. Then bupkis. If you knew more, it would have been good to hear it at the time.

In the initial announcement, r221. Didn't you bother reading it? It was on their social media accounts and reproduced in the press.

[quote]Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

They even pointed out:

[quote]Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.

"We've been speculating here for some time that the operation may have gone very wrong and she may have been hovering between life and death. So if that assurance was given, we missed it." - That's because you're very silly and can't locate or read basic information that is widely shared.

Bitch better have my money!

[quote]We've been speculating here for some time that the operation may have gone very wrong and she may have been hovering between life and death. So if that assurance was given, we missed it.

No, you missed it, in the orgy of medical terminology stupid that spammed the place. Some of read or research first, on the basis discussion and speculation is genuinely interesting when its rooted in reality.

That probably isn't good enough, R222, because "the palace has lied many times" although no one's actually produced a credible example. Some stupid just won't be satisfied. They think malicious fantasizing is gossiping or speculating.

Charles home as well.

She recovered when they replaced her battery.

Camilla's trips to see Charles were probably decoys for Kate to leave the hospital from the back without being noticed by the media pack.

Thanks for the wellwishes R202 and R205. I'm not in Great Britain R201 but another country with socialised medicine, so luckily I didn't have to pay a cent. I'm fine now, I get regular headaches and am more sensitive to light and noise, and a few other lingering side effects. 2 weeks in hospital was a fucking nightmare!

"socialised medicine" - This is a bizarre term that's only used in the United States. Not saying you're in the US, r229, but you probably picked the term up from Americans online without realising how silly it is.

OK, Full Recovery Wished For, and now, let's get back to priorities. I'll start.

From now on, I hope Kate retains an additional 3 to 5, to if not even 7 lbs, of body weight over what she was carrying before her hospitalization.

She's put in her dazzling days of having the physical dimensions analogous to a gown hanging from a couture clothes hangar, and, how glorious those days were, too.

(I know. I'll get to it before anybody else here does: MARY!)

I think now, at her age, she should pass on that rail thin thing.

To be sure, from now on, at 5 '9' and 127 to 130 lbs, and with her superb eye for sticking to the vertical and minimal, she'll still look impeccable, even better than at rail thin.

He looks very well.

How much to replace her wooden like face, they should have done that too, tens if not hundreds of pounds to keep a good for nothing going, for doing NOTHING.

Aww, seethe little man, for Queen Catherine..

[quote] And that's all we needed to know.

Bullshit.

We don’t NEED to know about her health at all. They could have just quietly cancelled her events and said nothing if they chose. We WANT to know.

And they want us to want to know. Otherwise, what’s the point of a Royal Family?

Obviously more than you grasp, R236. But I bet you know exactly what the point is, you're just grinding an axe.

A Royal Family that people have no interest in, affection for, or identification with, is simply a waste of money and a historical anachronism.

Their privilege and lifestyle depend on public affection.

They know it. Sorry if that sometimes means a loss of privacy. That’s the deal.

Has the palace announce that KC3 is in palliative care?

Nah, he's doing fine with ketamine infusion therapy

I don't know how many people need to read your medical records to have affection for you. You write as if they do what they do for their own gratification. They would live the privileged lives of the wealthy, with far more freedom and privacy, were they not in the job. But they do the job, which isn't just some category of celebrity, but you either understand that or you don't.

Any report on what designer is doing her colostomy bag? Hope it's Chanel.

So they’re put-upon hereditary civil servants trapped in a fishbowl they desperately want to escape but persist out of duty? Is that it?

Well, if you're trying to paraphrase me at R241, R243, you missed by a mile. Which you plainly intended.

The King walked out of hospital with a wave and a smile, his wife by his side as cameras clicked and wellwishers shouted from windows and pavements around them.

Hours earlier, the Princess of Wales was ushered out of the same clinic unseen, only a written statement confirming her safe discharge home to her bed and her children.

Two generations, two hospital stays and two very different approaches there for the watching world to see.

It signposts, of course, the severity of their surgeries: the 75-year-old monarch given routine treatment for an enlarged prostate, while the 42-year-old Princess had planned major surgery requiring many weeks of recuperation.

Charles III plumped for an awareness-raising campaign and steadying stroll out of hospital to prove there is no royal crisis unfolding.

The Princess quietly returned to the three children who have been without her for two weeks, offering via statement a “huge thank you” to nursing staff and those who had sent their best wishes.

In this latest hospitalisation, Prince William has been photographed just once, looking as tense as one might expect a worried spouse to appear.

Their children have not been seen visiting, nor have her close Middleton family.

The Wales’s office has taken a strict policy of declining to offer updates on her unnamed condition, repeating only that she wishes for her personal medical details to remain private.

In response, good taste and respect have prevailed. The Princess’s health, in a hereditary monarchy, is indeed a matter of public interest, but (aside from the sewer of social media), the British people’s restraint in demanding details is admirable.

[quote]The Princess quietly returned to the three children who have been without her for two weeks

I know that I am going to get trashed for saying this, but I just don't buy this loving, involved, engaged mother narrative they try to push. I am sure she loves her children and is involved in their lives when necessary, but all these reports make it seem like she's a soccer mom driving the kids and their friends to practice and school every morning. I am sure the kids love their parents and missed Kate when she was in the hospital, but I just can't believe there isn't a huge staff and support system to manage those children.

He looks very good in the Torygraph article, ^ comfortable and at ease. Glad to see it. I feel dumb for it, but I'm worried about the princess of Wales situation. Not so much as an individual, because I'm not invested in her personally, but for how a serious health problem would affect the narrative surrounding the royal family. I guess I like things to be uncomplicated. Happy Wales family pictures, walkabouts, and funny, embarrassing updates about the Sussexes are about all I'm up for.

Could they both be metastatic?

Could you?

[quote] But they do the job, which isn't just some category of celebrity, but you either understand that or you don't.

Agreed, and r233's comment that Kate does nothing is just plain wrong.

From what I understand, UK anti-monarchists believe that the BRF should be put out to pasture on equity and financial grounds, and, of course, because the notion of human beings born Royal is inherently ridiculous.

I get that.

But this notion that the Royals like Kate do nothing is just nonsense. How do I know that? I've got a couple of eyes. All I see them do is work.

That was really brought home to me while I was watching a video of Kate at a public tea/garden party greeting volunteers and officials of the charities of which they are patrons.

She was standing in mega high-heels, shoulders back, head dipped down to make small talk to the hundredth or so person there who approached her, probably with the same words coming out of their mouth that the other one hundred people said, and she was attentive, engaged, smiling, polished, sunny.

Lather, rinse, repeat. And, oh, she did it while cell phones and video cameras were going minutely recording every facial movement and sound.

There's a 4 letter word for that: W O R K.

Are they wealthy? With status and fame and land and world-wide recognized position? Yup. But, with all the privilege, they pay a price for it.

I'd take her financial wealth of course, but I wouldn't trade my blissful life as a card-carrying member of the poor and obscure for Kate's life, no way, no how.

And yes, she asked for it; a thing William out to be counting his lucky stars about every day. I think he's the one that married-up.

But, she's taken on her duties and as far as I can see, has done them damn near flawlessly.

Oh, and last thing. I wouldn't cross her. I think behind that sunny, polished, pretty smiling exterior, Kate can cut a bitch if need be.

I didn’t say they don’t do anything. I said that a loss of privacy comes with the territory. I don’t know what they were trying to accomplish by being translucent but not transparent. They could have said nothing about her health and not alarmed anyone.. Instead they say she’s had some quite serious surgery but we’re not going to say what for. Then we have royalists saying her health is none of our business.

It might have been none of our business, but they decided to go half-public/half-private.

So it's either or? Why? We know she had scheduled surgery that will keep her from work until Easter. We know which hospital she was in. When know when she was admitted. We know she was discharged. We even know which part of her the surgery was performed on.

Why isn't this enough, R251? Why can't they set limits?

[quote]Instead they say she’s had some quite serious surgery but we’re not going to say what for. Then we have royalists saying her health is none of our business.

You gave yourself away there, twice.

Oh yes?

[QUOTE]They could have said nothing about her health and not alarmed anyone.

And when people begin to notice she hasn't been seen publicly for weeks, has canceled engagements, and hasn't been on school runs, what do you think would happen? I suspect speculation about the status of her marriage would be the first headline. Then accusations of a Palace cover-up along with worried "Where is our Princess?"

I understand they are in a bind, but halfway disclosure is naturally going to lead to speculation and concern. Just bite the bullet and tell the whole truth. It’s going to come out eventually anyway.

I just don't get why you want to know the specific nature of her condition. It seems so important to you. Why isn't the description abdominal ailment sufficient? She doesn't perform critical functions of state or government. That ended with Charlotte's birth.

R246 Kate drives her children to school most mornings, that is common knowledge. As is the fact that William and Kate like to keep domestic staff to a minimum. The late Queen apparently couldn’t understand why they did the washing up after dinner themselves instead of having the staff do it.

It's fine, how they've gone about it. Yes the entire truth will eventually come out anyway, down the road, but right now Kate doesn't want the grimy details out in public. As is her right, completely. She and William are not the Sussexes, they guard their privacy to the teeth and have shown no backing down on keeping their opinions, marriage and family life mostly out of public view. This situation is no different.

R257–your post is number 1,457 on the topic of Catherine’s hospitalization on a gossip board and you ask WHY I want to know?

I know why. You're a rubbernecker, just won't admit you're a rubbernecker. You have no reason beyond your own inappropriate, uncontrollable curiosity and lack of respect for people generally. Simply because she's not someone you actually know doesn't make her any less human or her personal privacy over her medical information any less valid. You just want to know because you don't. It's a pretty human condition too but it would be nice if you'd get off your high horse and stop trying to bullshit.

Of course I’m a rubbernecker! I’m not in this thread for moral enlightenment.

Finally.

R246, Kate isn't a "soccer mom" because there's no such thing in the UK. If you actually lived here you'd have a better understanding of Kate and her relationship with her kids.

Datalounge: the 30-year home of inappropriate, uncontrollable curiosity and complete lack of respect for people (especially famous ones) in general.

Finally? I’ve never denied it. See, for example r217.

What would the U.K. equivalent of soccer mom be? She's a person who is constantly hauling her kids to all sorts of pre-planned activities in addition to school. Music, dance, karate, tennis, etc. lessons, sports matches, social activities and on.. .

They don't really have a name for it. A School Run Mum? Because that's what stay at home mums do, the school run. And in truth, that's what Kate and William do too. The schedules are built around it as much as possible. They are trying to replicate the strong family life model Kate grew up with in her childhood home.

Maybe she's just a mum, r267. I've never noticed her hauling her kids to music, dance, karate, tennis, etc. lessons, sports matches, social activities and on. As members of the royal family, the kids sometimes make public appearances, but that's not because Kate is hauling them to anything.

They do everything possible to keep the normal, every day activities away from the photographers so the children have a sense of regular life and working life.

Oh, R250, I don't mind being obscure...it's the "poor" where I draw the line...

I was asking about the phenomenon in general, r269, not with reference to Kate. Curious whether this sort of thing extends to the U.K., as well. Kids overscheduled with activities and the mom transporting everywhere. (They're also accused of being over-involved in their kids' lives.) I'm a child of the 70s and outside of a guitar lesson once a week (which I got myself to at 12/13), I was free to roam around my bike with friends as long as I got home before dark and did my homework. Yeah, all OT, but I'm curious about cultural/sociological differences...

Geez r261. It’s a GOSSIP message board. Why are you here if you don’t agree with the basic premise for the existence of DL? Social media is one big rubber necking phenomenon. If you don’t like it, turn off your phone.

Not really, r272. Some parents might do that but it's not really a phenomenon in the same way it is in the US. One difference might be that those kinds of extracurricular activities are considered relevant for US university applications while they don't play any role in UK university applications. Another reason might be the generally more competitive nature of American society, where parents think that having their kids do all this stuff is going to give them all these skills and experiences that will help them climb the ladder. Perhaps a more interesting question is why things have changed so much for kids in the US since the 1970s until today.

As for the Wales kids, they're already living a pretty unique childhood, experiencing things most of us aren't even aware exist and meeting all sorts of interesting, famous people. Precisely because their childhoods are different and their adulthoods will be unique, their parents appear to be trying to give their kids as "normal" and stable a childhood as they can. I think it was funny that Kate made a point of publicly stating that George told her he keeps being tested at school (endless tests are part of the UK national curriculum).

Both William and Kate were educated at boarding schools, and it appears their kids will be too. These kinds of boarding schools are a 24-hour extracurricular activity in themselves, with so many things available for the kids to do at their own pace, just outside of their dorm. Music, sports, art, nature, debating, extra science, creative writing, it's all part of the school environment and is scheduled if you want to participate, but not in an overbearing way.

[quote][R246], Kate isn't a "soccer mom" because there's no such thing in the UK. If you actually lived here you'd have a better understanding of Kate and her relationship with her kids.

I don't live there. I don't want to live there. It seems horrid. I'm just on this silly little thread speculating about this poor woman's prostate trouble/forced abortion/sepsis diagnosis. I don't care if there are soccer moms in England. But, you will never convince me that those kids aren't taken care of and handled by a team. I'm not calling the woman a bad mother or anything of the sort. I'm just saying that they have crafted this narrative of the perfect, loving mother who carts her kids around like some suburban frau and a bunch of people have bought into it, but I haven't. And I'm fine being the cheese stands alone on this one. Not that it matters or anyone else cares.

Kate is a Posh Mom. .

"I'm just saying that they have crafted this narrative of the perfect, loving mother who carts her kids around like some suburban frau" - R275, you have absolutely no idea what you're spouting off about.

[quote]What would the U.K. equivalent of soccer mom be?

A football mum.

Cricket mummy.

R274 TL; DR wealthy Brit parents buy into the same shit as wealthy suburban fraus…they just outsource that show to their boarding school. Got it.

Planet Earth, among its billions of human beings, has one Princess of Wales.

Who the fuck wants her to be another suburban Frau "hands-on" Mom?

I certainly don't, otherwise what's the point?

And I write this believing both her and William are involved parents to their children.

R275 You’re just another American confidently holding forth on a subject about which you know nothing.

Posh MUM...

Yummy Mummy?

It’s starting to seem like maybe a Charles scheduled his prostrate surgery to divert a little of the attention from Kate. I don’t doubt that his surgery was the recommended course of action and that he really had surgery, but isn’t there usually a considerable amount of leeway as to when prostate surgery gets done? So maybe he was going to have it sometime in the next several months and then they decided to move it up.

I think Kate’s in bad shape.

[QUOTE][R275] You’re just another American confidently holding forth on a subject about which you know nothing.

Yes, I readily admit that I know nothing about this topic. I'm just having fun talking bullshit just like you. If you think you really know anything about the Princess of Wales, then I've got a bridge to sell you. Everyone on this silly thread is just speculating. None of it is serious. I don't know these people. You don't know these people. You've just been fed a bunch of well crafted fables and you fell for it like it's the truth. No. It's just as silly as me talking about Kate's prostate and no more untrue in this particular realm. C'mon lighten up.

^ You want to think Kate's in bad shape.

Exactly, R287!

R286, I usually only block Dumpers, but I ended up blocking that blow hard, he must have a ten foot stick up his ass.

Earlier today we had the King being discharged from hospital as a decoy for Kate to sneak out through the delivery bay. Now we have the King scheduling his surgery to divert attention from Kate’s abdomen. What a devoted father in law!

Honestly some of you live in a fantasy world. And before you say R285 that it’s all just gossipy fun - your post reads as if posted in all seriousness.

Touched a nerve, did I, R289? And don’t forget that you’ve blocked me, if you’re considering responding here.

Blocked? I’m crushed!

Children are not very good actors. So when I have watched William and Catherine interact with their kids I have seen parents who are close to their kids, who are not formal. I have seen parents who seem to be affectionate, protective and easy with their kids. So in that respect I do think their hands on. Now we interpret hands on differently here in the U.S. depending on what we know about parenting and what we have seen and experienced.

"they're" hands on, not "their." I guess I mean that those kids are not formal with their parents. They're well behaved up to a point, (we've seen them act out when they were in their toddler stage.) and I think given their position as senior members of the Royal family, and given their wealth and their resources, they are certainly not typical for their class. I think both parents have changed a few diapers and mopped up a few spills, comforted injuries, refereed differences, and coped with a few temper tantrums. And I don't think that's the way wealthy members of the upper classes and the nobility have traditionally raised their children. Now I am certain some generous Brit will correct me if my impressions are misguided.

R292/r293 wins this thread! I agree.

I have no clue what Kate’s treatment is about but thr fact Will has only visited her once in three weeks is highly suspicious. You’d think he’d show up more if only for appearances’ sake.

He was there every day R295. There was an agreement with the press that he wouldn’t be photographed after the first visit and the press respected the agreement.

And she was in the hospital for two weeks not three.

Any other “facts” that you’d like to pull out of your arse?

Don’t make stuff up - you only look stupid. “Stupider”, rather.

William is known to have visited her on multiple occasions, but the press have not used pictures to report on this, unless they have been taken from the press “pen” at the hospital’s main entrance. This is the same reason why Kate managed to leave completely unnoticed: she simply avoided the press pack at the main entrance.

I think there is a big misconception here about how the press work in the UK and the US. In the US, there tends to be a free for all, and there is certainly a big market for paparazzi pictures, and very little scruple about how they are obtained. In the UK, (while the press is free to report what it likes and is in some ways very rabid) the market for paparazzi pictures is very limited and is virtually non-existent in relation to the Royals. The death of Diana, and the suicide of a nurse who was pranked by Australian DJs while Kate was in hospital while pregnant, have left the press very wary of getting caught up in anything like that again.

In the UK, there is no pursuit of royals when they get in their cars and drive off, because even the tabloids will not pay for those pics. If William drove to the hospital, and into the side entrance, there is very little chance that it would have been captured on film.

In addition to whatever is going on with Kate, they had the added stress of not letting Eugenie catch wind of it before they made the announcement. Otherwise, Euge would have informed Meg and Meg would have put it out there first with major embellishments.

Not really r280, because boarding schools don't have the same number of places as there are "soccer moms" and their kids. "Activities" for boarding schools are also part and parcel of an overall education, not an "extracurricular" activity tacked on at the end to give "skills". Are the parents who send their kids to Phillips Academy a richer version of "soccer moms". It would be more accurate to say that "soccer moms" have the impression that making their kids do lots of activities is the equivalent to a good private, boarding school education, but it isn't.

Eugenie and her husband are no longer close with Harry and Meghan. They gave them the cold shoulder at the Queen's funeral.

[quote] think both parents have changed a few diapers and mopped up a few spills, comforted injuries, refereed differences, and coped with a few temper tantrums. And I don't think that's the way wealthy members of the upper classes and the nobility have traditionally raised their children. Now I am certain some generous Brit will correct me if my impressions are misguided.

They are not diapers fool American at r293, they are nappies! Just kidding ;-) I agree with you. I think this is also due to a general change in parenting culture in the past few generations. Today parents want to be more "hands on", including the traditional wealthy and aristocrats/nobility. The role of dads in particular has also changed and a generation or two ago they would rarely have done something like changed nappies. There's no way parents, particularly mothers, would want to outsource the rearing of their children to nannies anymore. There are many reasons for this, from the fact that aristocratic mother don't have 8 children anymore to technology and home appliances. Yes, they might have nannies for assistance, but the era where kids knew their nannies better than their mothers has passed.

For William and Kate's kids in particular, given William's own complicated childhood, I think he wants his kids to grow up with stability, love, parents who are there for them and are engaged with them.

When Harry has alienated even Eugenie, r300, you know he really fucked up.

Hugenie is in regular contact with beloved cousin Harold. No one trusts the Yorks.

The Yorkies, especially Eugenie, are very close to everyone. They get along with everyone even though William and Catherine may be a bit stand offish, and more guarded. Or perhaps William has spelled out rules for them, such as "I don't want you carrying tales and private stuff that could end up in some book or tabloid." While yes, I believe William can be a stiff, stubborn asshole I also believe that things are not quite as bad in real life as the media characterizes them. I mean, they're not besties, not great, not friends at all, but I do think they communicate and behave in a distant but respectful way.

I do not think William is a forgiving person and that is very unfortunate. I think Camilla finds Harry's behavior hurtful, and mean, but I don't think she would hold a grudge for Charles sake. I guess it might be more like a big chill. People are distant and wary and who can blame them. A reconciliation will happen one day, I believe, but all the relationships will undergo a huge change. I don't think Harry will ever be close to his brother again, if they ever were. The kind of relationship Charles has with Anne or between Beatrice and Eugenie, will elude Harry and William, but not just because of Harry's public criticisms. The groundwork for their estrangement was laid before he met Meghan. The brothers were often at odds.

I wonder, now that everything seems to be over, if Kate will ever tell what happened? Hopefully whatever surgery was done will fix/address what she has. I know someone who has Crohn’s disease and it is horrible. Last I talked to her, she’d had multiple surgeries throughout her life, and is left with very little in her stomach. The slightest bit of stress triggers it. One time at dinner, she literally was getting up every five minutes to go to the bathroom. And she had to eat the blandest foods, and no alcohol! (That’s a big one for me.)

Of course, it could be something else, it’s all just a guessing game.

I have chronic colon problems but not Crohn's although sometimes I have to wonder. My GI doctor said it wasn't. I don't drink alcohol, I avoid red meat and fried foods and processed foods. Certain fruits and vegetables I can't eat, in general, anything with too much sugar even natural sugar. So milk and ice cream are a no, and so are watermelon, sweet Bartlett pears, most apples except for Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. No fresh pineapple or peaches or strawberries. No cabbage or cauliflower. Certain beans are a problem. No black beans. No kidney beans. Lentils are fine and so are pintos and Cannellinis. I have had one surgery years ago, but no colostomy bag.

R306, it must have been so stressful going through life and having to accumulate a list of what you can eat through trial and error. I’m really thankful I can eat (and drink!) pretty much what I want. It sounds like you’re lactose intolerant, but that’s just one aspect to what you have. My sympathies, at least you sort of figured out what works and what doesn’t.

R301 is right. In what's left of the aristocracy there is likely very little left of the an hour a day at tea approach to child raising, because the life that demanded it is gone too. If you want to know how most modern duchesses live, check out the podcast at link. Most of them are more concerned with keeping the house up, not keeping up appearances. Yes, they still move in many of the same circles and there's definitely a network built on familiarity and trust, but those circles are really wide and not that hard to penetrate now and probably so for fifty years. All you need is admission to the right school and money. The ones who get into royal circles are the ones you hear the least about.

[quote]Now we interpret hands on differently here in the U.S. depending on what we know about parenting and what we have seen and experienced.

You said it, pal.

Where did you get that idea, R295?

Pay no mind R310 Sussex stooges either troll concern or outright lie.

Thank you, R307. It's been a huge challenge for most of my life. You'd think with all my GI problems I'd be thin, but I'm not. Portion control.

When was the last time the Harkles put out a picture of Prince Archie?

Isn't he like thirteen, now?

R313 Which has exactly what to do with the Royal Family and their multiple health problems?

[quote] I think both parents have . . . coped with a few temper tantrums.

You have no idea.

I don’t want to see pix of the Sussex kids.

The more they’re out of the public eye, the better for them.

If there is only one thing the Sussexes have gotten right, it’s that they’re not pushing their children out into the public

r314, Prince Archie, as an American, is perfectly capable of picking up the Tesco Sciscors and pulling the memorial curtains on a plaque.

Prince Georgie and Prince Archie could do tandem curtain pulls and remainder Great Aunt Annie.

Just thinking, that Chuck has slimmed down the monarchy to an anorexic level that needs an infusion of direct KC3 lineage.

Were the royal kids born vaginally or by cesarean? If the latter, maybe afterwards there have developed some of those dense adhesions that choke off the other organs or what have you.

Kate did not have C-sections.

If only she'd had some dense adhesions the day she wore that damned wig.

Are you saying she was in the hospital for a wig transplant r320? I wonder if a relative was able to donate or she got a match from the donor bank.

No, through suspicions and feelings DL has established she was in hospital to donate her prostate to Charles. Her wig problems stem the bumpy ride in the convoy that took her near the hospital she never arrived at.

They don't allow the public to see the kids, r316, but they regularly mention the kids and use announcements about them to promote their "narrative", from the name Archewell, to the announcement of "Princess" Lilibet's christening, to Lilibet's strange first birthday party (with an even stranger photo of her), to informing us that Meghan couldn't go an event in LA because one of the kids was ill (despite 3 days later being able to go to an event in Jamaica), to the most infamous of all, the claim that a member (or members) of the royal family asked about Archie's skin colour. So, while they don't bring the kids out to be seen they still give us regular passive-aggressive reminders of them, and not even happy reminders. It's almost as though they're weaponising the kids.

I don't think r285's post is that far-fetched. Charles is very fond of Kate, and would do anything to help her out during a difficult time, or protect her privacy. He obviously was told he needed his surgery, but a simple request of scheduling (certain to be granted, to the King) or - more likely- of discharge timeline and he's distracted the press and paps a tiny bit, to give Kate a small breather to drive home with less notice. Easily done since they were in the same clinic. He would certainly think of it, or do it if asked by William.

I don't agree that Kate's in "bad shape" but in truth, no one outside the family really knows how she's doing. if she's home, it was obviously safe to discharge her.

You always see the mug shots, should they be taken.

I’m still holding the hope that she’s on bed rest due to a high risk pregnancy and she will emerge in the Spring with a baby bump.

R326 that is my bet too. Probably wrong, but I thought the same thing early on and I'm sticking to it.

So what was the surgery and why the hospital?

The surgery could have been on the fetus, and along with that, required bed rest.

Kate Middleton aborted her prostate!

OMG, R330, you're right. Thank God we're here. The world will not be deceived!

Like old whores and bad architecture. If one hangs around long enough one becomes distinguished and Queen of England.

R332, I’m no fan of the BRF (the institution, not necessarily the people), but that pic was unfair. I have many relatives in Europe and have visited many times, topless sunbathing is very common there. In fact, a few female friends visiting the Riviera didn’t go topless, and they were the ones that stuck out. They were one of a handful of women that wore tops—even the geriatric women were topless. No one cares. The picture was taken when she was in her private vacation house, it was tacky of the photographer to take it. Bet they got a lot of money for it though.

R332 that had to be photoshopped. No way were Catherine's titties ever that big.

R333 Bingo. Typical royalass cultist response and on my first post. Don't have to waste any more time in this frau asylum. Off to the beach. Ciao for now.

Not quite big tits!

R332 is a huge supporter of the tabloid paparazzi, which makes him a sworn enemy of Harry and Meghan.

R332 is responsible for all of the troll posts on this and every royal thread. He has posted several hundred posts on royal threads and almost nothing else. He is clearly a meth addict and I suspect homeless. Block the sick creature and the tread makes for better reading.

R338 clearly a drumstick addict

Is it possible Kate actually had a facelift and the "abdominal surgery" is a coverup? She's about the right age for one. She'd be in the hospital a couple of weeks for the bruising and swelling to resolve. Couldn't go home before then as the kids would be frightened if they saw her in that state. Then 3 months off for it to settle in.

Please post a photo of Rose's titties so that we may compare and contrast.

No, R340, it’s not possible that she had a “facelift”, as you call it, requiring a two week hospital stay followed by three weeks hiding out at Adelaide Cottage.

What is possible is that you’re deluded.

She probably had vaginal refreshment surgery to tighten up her iris.

^^^ make that three months, not weeks

Poor, poor stans just cannot get over the Sussex epic bag fumbke, like being on the losing end of a 56-0 Super Bowl blowout.

^ English please 99.9% of us don't speak Deranged Culty.

R345 is clueless about the history of the Super Bowl

Recently, I viewed 2 different photos of Kate.

1) Two fingers were bandaged.

2) No bandages, however, her knuckles were very bruised, along with the skin between her index finger & her thumb.

I once had a roommate who was afflicted with Bulimia. When she relapsed, she had bruising in the same areas.

I know many here like to give these people shit, and others want to deny that these people are anything other than perfect.

No one is perfect.

The Princess has looked unwell for several years now. Some days, she looks as if though she has rebounded, and other days, she looks quite ill.

I do not believe that marrying into this family is a healthy proposition for most of the women who have done so. It looks like a very lonely, isolated life, while constantly being scrutinized by the press.

She's obviously dealing with a major health issue, and I sincerely hope she makes a full recovery, and heals.

I once had a roommate who caught their hand in a door. When she got home, she had bruising in the same areas.

Obvious that most of the posts on these deranged royalass threads are racist Trumptard Muricans. like R347.

^^^ where did that come from? You misnumbered?

Did your roommate end up interned in hospital for 2 weeks, due to abdominal surgery as well, R349?

It's fascinating how some refuse to have a frank discussion about the vulnerability we are all subject to, regardless of titles and the like.

A frank discussion about bruised knuckles? Ok then. Go for it.

I never laid a hand on her ! It was a bloody trampoline accident you silly clots!

R351 Nope. We see ya hon.

You crazy—a simple sports joke really did a number onyou…wow.

Did you break *her* necklace, too, R354, you great big bully?

Please post the photos R348 so we don't have to take your subjective word for it.

I don't know. She looks pretty healthy in her photos from December. It's hard to really tell what happened from her pictures. We may never know.

Ectopic.Pregnancy AND a facelift.

I think she wears too much white for it to be bowel problem.

[quote] Recently, I viewed 2 different photos of Kate. 1) Two fingers were bandaged. 2) No bandages, however, her knuckles were very bruised, along with the skin between her index finger & her thumb.

Probably not related, but I remember reading about the last days of Peaches Geldoff. She was back on smack, but was injecting in her thumb and the skin between her fingers, to hide it or something - though that doesn't hide it, hell I don't know why she was doing it but that's what the article said.

Anyhow, this is such an intriguing mystery, people are bound to keep bringing up unsavory answers because why else would they be so secretive, with Charles babbling about his prostate to all and sundry?

Catherine has been flown to a remote Caribbean island. She is now fully Stepford andt hey're ironing out the kinks.

Most likely reason is a high-risk pregnancy and surgery performed on her or fetus or both. Long hospital stay to ensure pregnancy progresses and lengthy bed rest at home until Easter to take her into second trimester and hopefully out of the woods.

Surgery on The Fetus Royal?

Anyone who saw Catherine in the run up to Christmas has to know she is not pregnant. Even if you don't show, your breasts get bigger.

[quote]why else would they be so secretive, with Charles babbling about his prostate to all and sundry?

He's not "blabbing," as you put it, he's trying to encourage men to take care of their health.

Kate as heroin addict.

Add it to the pile.

[quote]She looks pretty healthy in her photos from December.

That's because she's wearing the wig, the wig isn't wearing her.

[quote]Most likely reason is a high-risk pregnancy and surgery performed on her or fetus or both.

It's possible I suspect I think the fetus was in rehab for heroin addiction and Kate had to be there, buliming.

What is that severe form of morning sickness Catherine suffered from with all three of her pregnancies? This could have compounded whatever other problem there might be, if problematic pregnancy is the case.

^^ It’s called Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

Surgery on a fetus is very rare and it's not preformed until the the fetus is quite far along. The chances of this being fetal surgery is almost as high as the possibility that her prostate is acting up.

Maybe she had to have that same procedure done that Anna Bates had on Downton Abbey so she wouldn't lose her pregnancy.

Just spit balling here...

r371 Isn't that taught a Hogwarts to levitate a pregnant sow?

Where they sew the va-jay-jay shut?

Sounds feasible.

Maybe not due to eating disorder, if these gossip sites are accurate.

I don’t think ED sufferers tend to need abdo surgery. They fuck up their hearts, not their bowels

If Furious Manchild William doesn't like people speculating, then Furious Manchild William can divulge a bit more information. Otherwise, Furious Manchild William can shut his gob.

Kate has erectile dysfunction too? Then in. God's name why did she donate her prostate to the King?

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Viva Cocha De-Ella! ^

Kate had a new hair system installed.

The poor girl has probably been holding in her farts for nearly 20 years.

R323, apparently when Dimbo found out he was losing Frogmore Cottage, he rang Charles and asked why he didn't want to see his grandkids.

The Harkles fight dirty every single time.

There is an oft-shown video of Diana greeting both William and Harry (iirc, they're all on a boat and she's wearing a colorful plaid suit) and her first immediate hug is for William, while, momentarily Harry waits, seemingly used to that.

That scene has always pulled at my sentimental heart strings on behalf of Harry.

Every time it's shown, I never stop hoping that she'll pull both boys to her at the same time.

I'll get to it first: MARY!

Decades ago, from the first time I ever saw that clip, I couldn't help but wonder if Diana, who was always touted as having lots of emotional intelligence, was absent that same thing when it came to her own boys.

I wish liked the Sussexes. I wanted to when they became a couple.

I've not read "Spare". I've not watched the Netflix series. Simply, I don't find the Sussexes, either together or as couple, compelling enough to do so.

But I do find it persuasive, in the posts here, and in other threads, and in books I've read, that Harry came through some painful experiences as child (I know, we all do, but we're not born into the BRF).

I do think Harry is the adult asshole that he's reported to be. Too bad he didn't get the help and counseling he needed so that potentially that could have been avoided.

Markle is tougher, smarter and more resilient than he is. Her survival skills are honed, although she'll never acquire the status stardom she wants for herself.

A divorce is not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Harry will be the more emotionally, mentally and financially vulnerable.

What does any of this have to do with Kate's prostate? Stay on topic.

Agreed, r387. She tried to abort her prostate and now has to wear wigs the rest of her life. Lots to discuss there.

Give up, r386.

No DL BRF thread has ever stuck to the topic.

They've always been every character free-for-all.

And this one turned into that early on.

I don't think she's tougher, just colder. She didn't have a horrible youth. There is no basis for her to be so ruthless in her pursuit of things she wants. Look at the Oprah interview and all the discarded people over the years. That's more than tough. Of course she can choose that, but she's gonna get called on it. Her problem is she's in pursuit in front of media.

Anyway... I sure hope that Kate doesn't reject her brand new prostate. Not sure about the wig.

Markle might be ambitious, but she’s not successful at most things she attempts. She was barely a D-list actress, and she completely failed at becoming a Royal. Now she’s completely destroyed any good PR she once had.

There is a Sussex thread, r389. Go there.

For what it's worth, I don't think Diana preferred William or Harry. I do think that because William was just that bit older when Diana died and he was able to understand grown-up things more and Diana was able to confide in him as well as talk to him about things like girls and general mum with teenage boys stuff, that he had a relationship with Diana that Harry was never able to have and Harry is jealous of that.

Back to talking about Kate's prostate now.

There is very likely to be a general election in the UK this year. These are usually held in May but Boris Johnson held the last general election in December so I suspect that Rishi will pick a date later in the year.

The point being that all of this will involve the King having to do various things like dissolve parliament, meet with the new prime minster, appoint the government, open parliament. I wonder if this anticipated flurry of activity led to him deciding to have his prostate treatment as early in the year as possible, which would explain why it coincidentally overlapped with Kate's operation and recovery. The other consideration is that having Charles and Kate in hospital at the same time means they only have to deal with the heightened "media interest" just once.

Oh, look, it's the self-appointed hall monitor at r393.

Sweetie, you may want to take me on and try to boss me, but, I've been around the DL since 9/11.

Good Luck with that.

And nobody, including you, knows Jack Shit, Jill Shit or fuck-all about the medical condition now or before regarding Kate's prostate, stomach, vagina, and that's true no matter how much you want to gossip about it.

I'll post where I please.

Now, put that in your bong and smoke it.

It's been established that Kate had an operation on her prostate, r395. Deal with it.

R395, I’m not OP, but you’re so passé. It’s gummies now, not bongs.

R394 nice fan fiction…an election (and a new prime minister) imposes literally no added burden on the monarch…one extra meeting with the outgoing, then the incoming. That’s it.

Ok.

Put that gummy in your pipe and smoke it.

Have you ever been in the UK during an election period, r398?

Yes.

The transition to a new government takes all of one day. One shies up to resign, and then another shies up to be appointed. That’s it. That’s the substance of the monarch’s role. Don’t be daft.

*shows up

[quote]so I suspect

A phrase I am beginning to find more grating than MF. It adds a whiff of Poirot to this nonsense that is entirely unsuitable.

For the whole period, r403, not just on a week's holiday from the US.

R402, you're aware of the fact that the UK does not have set election dates, right? The prime minister calls one whenever he/she thinks the timing is right and the election is held four weeks after that. No one knows when that might happen until the day the prime minister makes the announcement. Even if it's just a couple of meetings, the King actually needs to be available. If Charles scheduled his procedure for May and the prime minister called an election for two weeks after the procedure that might cause problems.

January is usually a quiet month in political terms in the UK, so if the King needed to take some time off that would be a good time for it. Are you suggesting that Charles had life-saving emergency surgery?

I know how it works. All the king does personally, other than the additional meetings, is sign a few pieces of paper re dissolution of the old and call for the new. He has no sustantive active role otherwise.

You sound more than a tad ridiculous—

Looks like the United Kingdom is getting closer to consisting of England and Scotland. A member of Sinn Fein now leads the government of Northern Ireland.

R399, again, not OP but you eat gummies, you don’t smoke them. But I guess the phrase “put that gummie in your mouth and eat it” doesn’t have the same ring.

No, you don't know how it works, r406. Here's a timetable of events for the 2015 general election and installation of the new government. The monarch clearly has to be present for several occasions throughout the process.

I'm not sure why you think it's so far-fetched that when the King and his staff and the civil servants who advise him were drawing up his schedule for 2024 that they took into consideration the possibility of a general election and therefore made sure that anything that the King had to take some time out for was out of the way before the election might happen.

In 1974, when Edward Heath called a snap election for a few weeks later and the Queen was touring the Pacific,

R407, actually, the fact that a member of Sinn Fein is now First Minister of the Northern Ireland assembly means that the political forces across the dividing line in Northern Ireland are able to work together. The election that made Sinn Fein the largest party was held in May 2022 but it's only now that the DUP have agreed to power sharing.

Bless you, r408, really.

I've been informed for a while that gummies are eaten. Perhaps I deduced that from the root word of gum which, as we all know, are part of put mouths.

And you're right-on why I kept the "in your pipe and smoke it".

You're a Sweetie.

"put mouths" - our mouths

Oh, dear.

R409 Nothing, literally nothing, in that timeline contradicts my posts.

You are scaring other people on this thread. I’m just having a good laugh at your expense. Get home safely.

To add to my post at r386-

I'm not putting the parental mistakes all on Diana.

Charles also had parental responsibility to see to the emotional and mental well-being of both boys, both before and especially after Diana's death.

It's not unlikely the government was consulted about the scheduling of the surgery last month, when it became imminent but not urgent, to make sure there was no intention to call an election, but the idea the Palace is trying to schedule against what might happen late spring or next fall is highly unlikely. No one can know unless the Prime Minister has chosen a date and informed the King in total confidence, which is entirely possible. But the Prime Minister can ask to dissolve parliament to call an election at any time, you can't really predict it, especially with a government fighting for its life like this one so if the Palace made any decisions relating to an election it was on an informed basis, not best guess.

Rishi? Chuck here.

Hey King. What up?

My prostrate is about to explode—going in hospital! When you call election?

Don’t right know mate, but you’ll be the first to learn when it happens.

Whoops. —yes I meant prostate^

How is pointing out that there is probably going to be a general election this year and so Charles may have taken that into account when scheduling his procedure "scaring people", r413?

The last photo of the Queen - just two days before her death - was taken because Liz Truss couldn't become prime minister until she'd been invited by the Queen to form a government, so Truss had to go all the way up to Balmoral from London and the Queen dragged from her literal death bed in order for the country to have a government. If there is a general election, the leader of the majority party (unless there is a hung parliament) will have to meet with Charles pretty much straight away in order to be able to form a government.

Which disproves your point about the burden on Charles—his own mother fulfilled her role on her deathbed. Hence even Check’s engorged prostate would pose no hindrance. Get it? Good! GO HOME.

R386 You lot never disappoint.

It's more than likely that Sunak was discreetly sounded out about his election intentions by Charles at one of their weekly private audiences. The King will have given his reason for asking in equally discreet terms.

Surgery is always uncertain. National schedules require co-ordination. Neither party is likely to have left the audience then called 'The Sun.'

OMG! It has been suggested that Kate's surgery, in addition to the prostate stuff, was some kind of Kimberly from Melrose Place thing. What if she blows up Kensington Palace or kidnaps Rose? Dear God, this could be far worse than anyone could have ever imagined.

There is no law says the PM and the King have to meet in person for any of the functions of state. Convention and protocol demand it, but needs must. The Queen and Johnson met by phone during COVID.

No, it doesn't disprove the point, r419. It was a highly irregular event which proves how essential the monarch is to the appointment of a new government. It's a bit more then just signing two bits of paper. Only the monarch can appoint the government and so it's essential to ensure that the monarch is in a position to do so.

I am home - home in the UK, which is not your home.

Precisely, r415, no one can know exactly when the prime minister will call the election, which is why it's a good idea if you're, say, the King and you know you will be needed for an election and the formation of the new government and parliament to get any medical procedures out of the way asap.

I'm not saying this is the reason for Charles having this treatment now, but it could be one consideration among many. January tends to be a quiet time of year on the political scene so it makes sense to do it now. There's also the fact that Charles needs to sort out his peeing and he needed to be in hospital at the same time as Kate to donate his prostate to her.

Knowing what I do about prostates, if it got to the point he needed a corrective procedure, he wasn't there for the benefit of. the government he was there to be able to take a proper piss again. When it reaches the stage intervention is necessary, even the most devoted sovereign won't dick around, as it were.

911 to R424. Stop!

R426 tell that to R424 —for him, Chuck’s ability to take a straight piss = a constitutional crisis.

I’ve blocked r424 so no idea what he said, but he’s all over these threads. He’s always right because he’s from the UK! 🙄🙄🙄

While we're waiting for news about King Charles or Kate, we can talk about hottie Major (sorry, Lieutenant Colonel) Johnny? The Mail has a pic exclusive of him out and about with his new love, a former PR rep at Buck Palace. An office romance! I didn't know that he was separated from his wife, was this known? I hadn't seen anything posted here about it.

(link in next post)

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

You think he'd be a little happy that citizens of other countries are interested in his government, but no, it's just bitch bitch bitch all day long.

Kate Middleton's prostate surgery is the new Jackie Onassis on Assistance.

Re Major Johnny:

[quote]From now on, though, his role will be more office-based, meaning he will be seen less in public as he helps organise the King's private affairs.

Noooo!

Is he still an equerry in the military with that haircut? I daresay, he's out of the Armed Forces by now if some aristocratic woman wants and gets his long-haired ass.

Jackie on Assistance!

The difference being, R433, that “Jackie on assistance” was funny.

Wow, he separated from his wife two years ago. This definitely is news.

Did Major Johnny have any children? I want more details!

He is so damn hot - at 40!

Major J is a "super equerry" for King Charles. One of his most trusted aides. QEII also held him in high esteem, he was a senior aide for here as well. I think it's unusual for senior staff to carry over from one monarch to the next, there is high turnover when a new sovereign comes in.

I believe I previously read that he had one or two children with his (now ex?) wife.

Did Kate have a prostatectomy and transplant or just the -ectomy?

The equerry is not hot in real life. Stumpy, sloppily dressed, blah haircut, blah girlfriend.

The King and the Princess of Wales both enjoyed a bounce in the popularity stakes after being admitted to hospital for their respective health scares.

An Ipsos poll taken as they were undergoing treatment at the private London Clinic saw each benefit from a three percentage point jump in the ratings.

The Queen, the most senior royal currently carrying out public duties, saw an uptick of three points.

Meanwhile, the popularity ratings for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have fallen.

Prince William remains the most popular member of the Royal family, his position unchanged since last July, with 62 per cent of the public reporting favourable opinions about him.

His wife, however, is hot on his heels, now just one point behind him on 61 per cent. Half of those questioned reported a positive opinion of the King.

Now, those two:

Both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have seen their own popularity plunge.

Almost half - 47 per cent - said they held an unfavourable opinion of Prince Harry, with just 23 per cent holding a positive opinion, a drop of seven per cent.

Similarly, 54 per cent reported negative feelings towards Meghan, while 18 per cent said they held a favourable view, a drop of five per cent and the lowest such rating she has had in five years.

In March 2018, two months before she married into the Royal family, 40 per cent of the public said they held positive opinions about her. That figure dropped to just over 20 per cent in March 2022 before rising slightly that September, when Elizabeth II died, and then plunging further.

The only royal with a lower rating is the Duke of York on eight per cent, a drop of three points.

Couple other things:

Just over half - 51 per cent - said they believed Charles was doing a good job, a two per cent rise on six months ago. By comparison, only nine per cent believe he is doing a bad job - the lowest figure in two years.

The Royal family as a whole has seen a slight nudge upwards, with 49 per cent reporting a favourable view compared to 48 per cent in July.

The third most popular member of the Royal family is the Princess Royal, with a 56 per cent positive rating, followed by the King on 50 percent, the Duke of Edinburgh on 37 per cent and the Queen on 35 per cent.

Ipsos surveyed 1,077 people aged between 18 and 75 between January 26 and 29.

R441, she donated her prostate to the King. I suspect he awarded her with the Order of Wig, in gratitude.

"He" walked to church at Sandringham this morning. I suspect they had trouble fitting the wig on the body double.

Is Kate on her death bed or her regular bed?

[quote]The King and the Princess of Wales both enjoyed a bounce in the popularity stakes after being admitted to hospital for their respective health scares.

The Duchess of York has instructed her mysteriously loyal retainers to ascertain the extent of her own special health-scare percentage-bounce.

[quote]The King and the Princess of Wales both enjoyed a bounce in the popularity stakes after being admitted to hospital for their respective health scares.

I know this is a shits and giggles thread, but that is so beyond tacky. They're polling popularity using a health crisis. WTF is wrong with these people?

German trash who weaseled their way in…

[quote]I know this is a shits and giggles thread, but that is so beyond tacky. They're polling popularity using a health crisis. WTF is wrong with these people?

You're actually advancing that argument on [italic]this[/italic] thread?

But the prostate and wig jokes are so witty and clever!

Well, better as a joke than a serious theory, R453. Unless you're comfortable being called a fool or a moron.

Our Johnny was getting far too much attention in the media and from his new "fan base." This is inappropriate to his role and we have been forced to take measures to assure that he finds his proper place, and that he KNOWS his proper place. I am the focus. ME. Not some equerry!

Oh, we are quite serious!

R454, r453 enjoys being called a fool or a moron. He’s all over this thread calling everyone else a fool or a moron, so he he’s very familiar with those terms.

R453, I’ve blocked you but happened to peek at your comment. If you don’t find our humor funny, why are you here? You’ve posted more than anyone else on this thread, all pointing how everyone is stupid except for you. I would venture it’s the opposite.

Is Charles holding a cane or an umbrella at r447? Does having his prostate shaved make him a lesbian?

[quote]Is Charles holding a cane or an umbrella?

An umbrella doing service as a cane. A cane pure and simple would have aged him by at least another ten years, and set pearl-clutchers all aflutter.

R457 you blocked me but you happened to peek at my comment?

You’re getting confused - I don’t use the word “moron” although I’m willing to make an exception for you.

Pity that you’ve blocked me as you won’t see this comment!

God, R457, you and your wounded fucking feelings. Get over it or shut up. You seem to kn ow everything about DL except how to cope, you moronic fool. Christ.

R461, so you enjoy being told you’re stupid. Got it. I cope fine, I block the assholes. But they should know they’re being assholes, and the one in particular doesn’t have anything good to say about anyone’s opinion but their own. I called him out. If you don’t like it go find another board to whine.

Still confused, eh, R462? FYI R461 and I are not the same people.

And who appointed you DL gatekeeper? I will post when and where I like and tbh couldn’t give a flying fuck if you’ve blocked me - which you obviously haven’t, you dumb fuck, seeing as you’re still responding to my posts.

Or did you take another “peek”?

Will you two shut up?

Is Kate carrying Charles and Camilla’s baby as a surrogate or not?

She was carrying the surrogate baby Elder Lez but it started sliding down Kate's boney leg gripping an ovary in it's tiny hand. I've got this medical mystery solved.

Vicious and grasping R466, two words one never associates with hereditary royalty. Will she still be entitled to free wigs for life or is the payment dependent on a successful outcome?

R462, the notion anyone cares about your elaborate theories of propriety is amusing and sorry. You can't even grasp that two of us are taking the piss as you flutter about trying to control the uncontrollable. I like smart thinking, and there's plenty on this thread that's not my own and yeah, no one is entitled to insulation from their own stupid posts, so I call stupid on loony conspiracy theories and all the nonsense that characterises this thread. Most normal people of average intelligence wouldn't have difficulty making the distinction between the two. The only interesting thing about you is it's OK to you that anything goes in speculating but somehow there's a protocol sheet for the reactions to it. Stop hall monitoring, keep on topic and grow a thicker hide. It's DL. Just not the DL of your dreams. Christ, what an old woman. And fool. And moron.

R464, there's three of us and... sorry... probably not. But I will only retaliate. I will be good. Ish.

I want Proof of Life or I'm assuming that both she and her "It's Alive" fetus have died and been quietly incinerated. They're just waiting on BP to come up with an adequate cover story, since the KP press staff are bumbling incompetents.

And just when you thought it couldn't get much stupider. The said thing is, ^ it's trying to be funny. Saliva, you're much better at unhinged terror over the biological. Why not crawl back under the bed and hide again? I'm assuming you can actually fit.

This surrogate baby revelation is the twist that I had no idea that I needed today. Well done for bringing this to light. Was the egg Camilla's?

[quote]They're polling popularity using a health crisis. WTF is wrong with these people?

They work in Marketing. Is this the first time you've noticed Marketing people are not human? (If so, please see: Omid Scobie.)

Elder Lez, do I know have to curtesy to you? I know you’re just a surrogate, what do the grey men say?

^. Dear me at r474 “do I now…”

R464, gladly. It’s a waste of time trying to school the trolls. It’s easier trying to find out what happened to Kate’s long-lost wigs.

You know, wig wearing is a tradition in the RF. Elizabeth I was wigged after she started going bald. She always had thin stringy hair anyway. Redhead.

Ewwww…..

“According to William Clowes, an “infinite multitude” of syphilis patients clogged London’s hospitals, and more filtered in each day. Without antibiotics, victims faced the full brunt of the disease: open sores, nasty rashes, blindness, dementia, and patchy hair loss.

“At the time, hair loss was a one-way ticket to public embarrassment. Therefore, the syphilis outbreak sparked a surge in wig-making. Victims hid their baldness, as well as the bloody sores that scoured their faces, with wigs made of horse, goat, or human hair.

Perukes were also coated with powder—scented with lavender or orange—to hide any malodor.”

r460/r461/r462 have posted 140+ times to this thread, a lot of it bickering about others and how they post. If you blocked them, 30% of the thread disappears.

Ladies learn to s-c-r-o-l-l or block when someone posts something disagreeable or has a message style that annoys you.

They didn't commission the poll. Organizations rarely research market data. Ipsos, YouGov, a couple of others all poll to generate news coverage to keep their names out there.

William will conduct investitures at Windsor Castle on Wednesday and, in the evening, attend the London Air Ambulance fundraising gala in London.

R481 he's literally the King in Waiting!!!!!!!!!!

R479, I’m not r460 or r461. I’ve posted a lot in these threads because I’m interested, I’m the OP, and I have thing for prostates and wigs. At r462, I only posted in defense of someone else who was attacked by the trolls that are here.

Anyway, last post on this topic by me. Back to prostates and wigs…

^Btw, is anyone else getting Problem loading thread errors? Muriel, are you out at the bar again? You know you and Scotch don’t mix.

Catherine obviously isn't at death's door if she had the time to write a letter to Kate Garraway (British journalist) with her condolences on the death of Kate's husband.

Wills is dead?

Oh, no. On a serious note, this just broke. No joke, Charles has cancer.

Kate Garraway's husband died, r486.

From the article (it’s not prostate cancer btw):

It is not prostate cancer, but was discovered during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The type of cancer has not been revealed, but according to a palace statement the King began "regular treatments" on Monday. Buckingham Palace says the King "remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible".

He will postpone his public engagements and it is expected other senior royals will help to stand in for him during his treatment.

No further details are being shared on the stage of cancer or a prognosis.

Although he will pause his public events, the King, 75, will continue with his constitutional role as head of state.

omg.

King William has a certain ring to it, assuming he keeps that name.

Yeah, yeah, I know KC is alive. Just observing that.

This could be one hell of a short reign. (Yes, it's morbid, but we're all thinking it.)

No shit, Shirley R488

Haz, your time is now!

Hopefully Charles writes a very explicit Last Will and Testament not leaving any loopholes for a certain gruesome twosome to cause any problems. Charles also needs to do any dirty work that needs to be done regarding the gruesome twosome so that William can begin his reign unencumbered with that mess.

Although I do wish Charles well, I'm just saying to be prepared. Not that he needs my advice.

The King is dying! Long live Charlotte. 🤫

What’s near the prostate? Colon cancer! Rectal cancer? Anal cancer!

Stomach cancer—no, they’re saving that one for Kate.

Damn the royal family is not having a good start to 2024.

Just wait until the end of the year! Yowza!

That's terrible news. My heart goes out to the man. Hope he has a quick and full recovery. We all knew that his reign would probably not be a long one, but no one thought it would be so short after waiting so long to accede to the throne. I genuinely hope he recovers.

Odds are better now that there will be a reconciliation with his estranged son. And his daughter-in-law will shelve any memoir for the foreseeable future.

His will? Who gives a fuck after he’s dead. Will can decide for himself once he’s king. No one will give a rat’s ass about what Chuckles though about his sons’ relationship.

The late Queen couldn't do what needed to be done with the Montecito miscreants because she didn't want to sully her long and otherwise clean reign.

Charles reign won't be long regardless what happens with this current medical diagnosis. He needs to take the hit for the family and take care of theMontecito problem so William can have a scandal free reign. Besides, if Charles had handled this correctly from the beginning (paid her to go away BEFORE they got married), the Queen, Philip, the Brits and William and Kate would have been spared a lot of trouble. If the wedding cost 30M, it seems to me paying her 30M to GO AWAY instead would have been well worth it.

Oh shit. Quite big news. Hate the royal family but don’t wish cancer on anyone. Hope they’ve caught it early for him.

King William doesn't strike me as the type who needs any help from Dad on how to handle Harold.

I think it’s troubling that they said Charles is optimistic but didn’t mention the doctors being optimistic. Or am I reading too much into it? Btw, someone started a stand-alone thread for people to discuss this news. In case you’ve had it with wigs and prostates.

I have a soft spot for my fellow Scorpio, Charles and I'm genuinely distressed.

Don't leave us this way!

^ The wording is troubling but it could be just the reporters writing style.

Harry is on his way back to the UK

Just saw that, r508. That’s very very troubling. I think It signifies the cancer is advanced. I really think the royal institution is outdated but don’t have anything really against the family members, and I wouldn’t wish this on any of them. Geez Charles was just coronated.

Church for Charles yesterday with umbrella and Camilla will thus have been especially devout. And I wish The King a full recovery to vigorous good health.

Devout? It’s the Anglican Church—the ultimate in paying lip service!

Alright, quick whip round poll: how many of you came in your pants?

[quote]His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.

Poor man, he won't get his last wish around here.

Bladder cancer not be good.

I suppose this is because Kate's cancer had infected her prostate and was transplanted into him. The King has cancer of the transplant!

Will no one rid me of this meddlesome Prostate of Kate?

Actually this is rather cruel of the Palace. It really constricts the ability to speculate.

[quote]Hope they’ve caught it early for him.

As others have speculated, likely not. He's starting treatment today - no time to "consider options." And he certainly may not be on his deathbed for quite a while yet.

I also think at least his doctors, Camilla, William and Kate already knew.

Imagine if, after all those decades of hand-wringing about whether the public will accept Camilla as Queen, her time as such only lasts a couple of years...

Does this put pressure on Kate to disclose? I mean, wholly optimistic means nothing. What else would they say? If he's dead in six months - big if, granted, esp from me who so criticizes the uninformed speculation aorund here - but if it is a serious and swift moving cancer there could be a new king, with a queen at his side who had some major condition requiring major surgery not so long ago. I mean, her health changes nothing, yet, I can't help but wonder if it puts more pressure on Kate to disclose what happened to her.

How advanced can his cancer be? I was under the impression that the royals had regular health checkups.

[quote]Imagine if, after all those decades of hand-wringing about whether the public will accept Camilla as Queen, her time as such only lasts a couple of years...

She'd probably find the bright side... she can live out her golden years off the job. Funnily I actually find myself feeling sorry for because I think she really loves him. It's quite sad on that front. That said, it's not to say he won't recover fully, of course, as you hope. Poor bugger, a lifetime waiting and then about ten minutes on parade.

They check his gums, that’s about it. The Queen was a keen horsewoman—dontcha know.

R521, coulda been asymptomic.

But preacautionary blood tests, scans, colonoscopies, etc. can detect cancer even if there are no outward symptoms, r524.

Yup, fair enough, R525 and there's amazing blood tests now too. Somehow, this seems to have escaped notice? What a whopper with everything going on.

NHS. ‘Nuf said

Predictions:

KC3 cashes out Prince Harry, issues letters patent for the Sussexes and Queen Camilla and creates William Prince Regent.

That way, we are not waiting for another KG5 to be euthanized.

KC3 can die in peace and at leisure.

R528. Letters patent for what?

I just went out for a brief walk before the heavens open up and dump biblical floods on us this afternoon. (California)

And now, suddenly, the news is KC III has cancer? I can only say "Wow!" The various palaces' spokespeople must be a little frenzied. There are all sorts of preparations and contingencies if one or another member becomes ill, but this many senior members all at once is unprecedented. William is being tested whether he knows it or not.

Thanks, M. Stay safe in SB!

Nit-picky, but sharing the cancer diagnoses, and making a point of that, but not sharing the specific type of cancer seems a little odd. Without disclosing the type it seems pretty unlikely to to anything towards “assisting the public’s understanding.”

Just a comment on the strangeness. Not really meant to be a criticism.

I guess they saw with Kate you can ride out the storm. The coverage of her has been minimal after the initial flurry.

BTW for what it's worth I asked a doctor friend what could lay you up in hospital for two weeks in 2024. She said there was no obvious answer in her view. I'm not recounting the whole conversation but she didn't think if ostomy was involved it would have been a two week thing. She chalked it up to lady parts but couldn't nail an obvious suspect. FWIW when Sophie's ectopic pregnancy turned into crisis in 2001 she was in hospital for five days due to surgical inventions and blood loss.

[quote]And his daughter-in-law will shelve any memoir for the foreseeable future.

Bless your heart.

So next we will be referring to Queen Camilla as Dowager Queen Consort Camilla? Gotta research.

Poor King Charles. I wondered if he knew of his diagnosis before, and waiting for the time to announce it. May he recover and not suffer. He's not fascinating but not evil either.

Is dead to us, yet?

I think she would still be called Queen Camilla, R535, and Kate would become THE Queen. After George V died, his widow was simply referred to as Queen Mary. The Queen Mother was an unusual case because she and her daughter shared a name, and having two Queen Elizabeths at the same time would be confusing.

[quote] Is dead to us, yet?

Oh, dear. The English language seems to be dead to you.

I ain’t English. What’s your problemo?

I think that Charles would lock in Queen Camilla as opposed to Wills creating her HRH Camilla, Daddy's Whore.

Queen Stepmum?

[quote] we will be referring to Queen Camilla as Dowager Queen Consort Camilla? Gotta research.

Will will revert her back to Duchess. She will be styled Dowager Duchess Camilla and Kate, if the poor dear makes it, will have her things moved to the Tower.

She will still be styled HM Queen Camilla if Charles pre-deceases her, she just won't be HM The Queen Camilla. William won't alter that style or title.

She has never been “HM The Queen Camilla”, R543. The definite article “The” is reserved for children of the monarch.

She is “HM The Queen” and if Charles dies before her she will be “HM Queen Camilla” while her step daughter-in-law will be styled “HM The Queen”.

Of course people refer to them as King Charles and Queen Camilla but formally, the correct style is as above.

You are correct r544, my bad. It's HM The Queen, when married to the sitting monarch.

Withdrawal from some kind of addiction might require 2 weeks in hospital, I think. Possibly pancreatitis, a la Avicii. The only other non-cancer thing I can think of is transplant? I think there are some non-cancerous conditions that require transplant - maybe aplastic anemia.

Or a psychiatric condition on top of some more minor abdominal surgery - like hysterectomy or whatever.

The suspense is killing me.

All this speculation, and at Easter-time Kate will emerge looking perfectly normal…and rocking a new nose and double D breasts.

My friend who lives in the UK told me last night that the NHS doesn't give regular screenings as they do in the USA. You don't get a colonoscopy, instead you give them a sample of your poop to analyze. If it is deemed necessary you will get further tests ( colonoscopy.) if they see anything unusual. The key with cancer is early detection and treatment. To detect it early they have to make testing available and it isn't. And honestly the kind of diet the Brits are famous for with the pork belly, and the sausages, and all the fat, and red meat, etc. not to mention the alcohol consumption, is not helpful.

Your friend is right R548 but also deluded to think the royal family use the NHS 😂 they without a shadow of a doubt use private healthcare. Whenever you see them going into hospital, it’s a private one. They give birth in private hospital etc. Charles will have had more regular health checks than most people anywhere in the world I imagine!

That's kind of missing the point though, r549. The question is why does the NHS offer fewer or less extensive check ups in comparison to the public health systems of other European countries? And they can be very weird about it. For example, it's very hard for women to get certain kinds of thyroid tests in the UK - even if you go private as you need a referral from your GP - whereas it's relatively easy in other European countries.

By the way, r548, you only get bowel screening in the UK if you're over 60.

R549 I never said the RF used the NHS. Or that Charles did. Matter of fact, my friend gets private insurance through their job. And yes, the bowel screenings don't happen until you're over 60. My friend said they are just doing everything they can t o sabotage the NHS then say,"Oh, look, it doesn't work." so they can privatize it. But the voters are saying "Mend it don't end it." And one group has been on strike for a year now. The PM and the Tories are shitting all over everything. Hopefully we will get a decent government in the elections.

FWIW a friend just told me she had gallbladder surgery (friend, not Kate) and that there were complications and she was in the hospital for two weeks. So. Could be something like that for the princess....

No, R552, too normal.

My sister lives in the UK and has private insurance through her job, as well as NHS, and she is very frustrated about the lack of available care.

R554, there is a very rigid, centralised ideology around the NHS which unfortunately also impacts on the form of private health care that is available too. For instance, it's very hard even on the private system to get a yearly blood test just for the purpose of having regular check ups. In other European countries, it's a lot easier and cheaper. Don't even think about things like digital mammograms or vaginal scans for women or full thyroid blood tests.

Well that shit needs to change fast. Get rid of the PM and bring in a good Labor Government that will address the things that are falling apart.

I read somewhere that Charles has returned to Buckingham Palace today.

Yes I read they are both back... he for latest round of treatment, she has three days of engagements.

Labour are a big part of the problem, r556.

That sounds ridiculous —I mean using the plural for a collective noun.

It's not being used as a regular collective noun, r560. This is how the party is referred to many contexts in British English and British politics.

The Labour Party = a collective noun.

You can tell a thread is moving toward its close when it reaches the squabble over grammar phase.

Just because British English ignores the basic rule of subject verb agreement doesn’t change the fact that it is a collective noun. Your version of English ignores a basic rule, that is all.

Lighten up.

R564. Yes, because American English has no collective nouns.

No. American English uses collective nouns. They take the singular verb, following the rule of subject-verb agreement.

Lighten up.

R566. You may want to run some American collective nouns through your head and see what verbs they take. Don’t lighten up —-you’re too lightweight already.

So Charles took a helicopter to Clarence House allegedly for another cancer treatment.

The word Labour in relation to the political party operates in the same way as the word government, where both "the government is" and "the government are" can be used, depending on what role the subject plays.

[quote]The concept of NOTIONAL AGREEMENT sometimes comes into play:

[quote]The government is considering the proposal

[quote]The government are considering the proposal

[quote]Here, the form of the verb is not determined by the form of the Subject. Instead, it is determined by how we interpret the Subject. In the government is..., the Subject is interpreted as a unit, requiring a singular form of the verb. In the government are..., the Subject is interpreted as having a plural meaning, since it relates to a collection of individual people. Accordingly, the verb has the plural form are.

We are talking about His Majesty's Government and His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, so it's not an entirely irrelevant grammar discussion.

He was always scheduled for weekly treatments in London and spending the rest of the time at Sandringham. He has been shuttling between the two by helicopter for a couple of weeks now.

Hardly newsworthy.

R567 Substitute the Democratic Party for the Labour party in a sentence from upthread and tell me what verb it takes. You knew well and good what was intended by the reference to collective nouns. Peace out.

"We can give ourselves airs, and get ourselves all slicked up like racehorses, we're just mules in horse harness and everybody knows it."

Yeah, R569, it's totally irrelevant.

R571. What point do you imagine you are making? Nobody claimed the word party would be treated as plural in American English. Don’t get too fixated on the word party. Run some collective nouns through your head and vigie back to us.

Grammar wars!

R572, go tell that to r560 who made a big deal out of it while getting it wrong.

Are you seven, R575?

Ladies, Ladies, Ladies. Ladies. TIA

I haven’t read the whole thread. Has anyone considered that Catherine might be transitioning(

I think it's been mentioned, r578.

Is it Klan Granny or Klan Grannie?

R580 it depends on where you're from.....

I saw a video of Lady Louise on X. She was speaking about a play she saw, she seemed lovely.

A website launch for our favorite duke and duchess of Sussex (Sussex.com) - and she's also restarting her podcast, this time with Spotify rival, "Lemonada".

Nothing says royal like, "We have a brand new site y’all!!!!"

Thanks for the link, r582.

r585, actually it was a youtube short and wouldn't link. Just search "so lovely hearing Lady Louise Windsor's voice" on youtube.

I said X out of habit.

Sounds like she's following her father into the theatre, or maybe just a student play. I wish whoever uploads these things would say where they found them.

The truth this asshole won't say is that if he became an American citizen, he might lose his title - not sure. But definitely would be barred from doing shit like helping the King out with "royal duties" like he offered in his quick visit, which also gave him material for a tabloid interview. "How sharper than a serpent's tooth..." amIright KC?

Prince William arrives at BAFTAS 2024 red carpet.-

"I am sorry Catherine is not here."

"All the ones (movies) I watch, she (Catherine) watches with me. We go through them together."

"I have watched the fewest this year, I have other things on my mind." 🥺

Prince William with Elaine Bedell, CEO of the Southbank Centre

Kate must not be at death’s door as suspected. William was laughing it up at the BAFTAs.

Nobody "suspected" death's door, except you?

Oh, loads of people suspected all sorts of things. It was like Satan-based fan fic.

When someone is in the hospital for two weeks after surgery and then off work for three months, they are pretty fucking sick. Maybe not at death’s door, but certainly a lot closer than most of us.

She got sepsis.

Sepsis is the first speculation I've read here that sounds credible, in terms of the recovery time. I always thought the most credible theory (without basis) was that she went in for planned surgery and something went wrong or emerged unexpectedly during the procedure. Maybe sepsis arose somehow. She looked perfectly well at Christmas and this all happened not quite three weeks later.

My first thought was that her appendix burst. It happened to a co-worker and he was very ill for quite a while.

Appendix is emergency surgery though. Once it’s burst, it’s get this person to surgery ASAP. There is no hanging around & waiting. And we were told this was a planned operation. My friend had a ‘planned’ appendix removal as they were concerned it was going to burst but by planned, he went to hospital feeling very unwell & they wanted him in surgery within a few hours. His appendix burst while he was waiting 😬

Yes, that's what happened to my coworker, his burst as they were removing it.

My brother-in=law almost died from a gall bladder. He was feeling sick, at first he thought he pulled a muscle in hi stomach while working out. Then he was complaining, "My gut hurts". Then by day 4 he was in excruciating pain. soon he was jaundiced lying on the couch, with this glazed look in his eyes, and a fever, and he had stopped eating. My sister had to call his best friend and they insisted he go to the ER. They had to pump him with antibiotic IVs to control the infection before they could operate. But when they opened him up his gall bladder was gangrenous and about to burst. The bile duct connecting to his liver was blocked with a gallstone. He was in surgery for more than 6 hours, and had a drainage tube coming out of his belly for 6 weeks. He was in the hospital for 10 days. Doctor said if they had waited just two more hours he would have died. Who knew.