SURVIVORS AS PARIS HIT AGAIN
‘Workshy’ William steps up to plate Inverdale ‘insult’
Chanel dress for Kate as she plays a little rugby Couple pose for official pic in front of Eiffel Tower Wills and Kate see France pip Wales at rugby By giant clock at Musee d’orsay Robert beside ‘Diana flame’ IT’S been a tough few days for William, whose image was undoubtedly dented over his antics on a lads’ ski break.
First, he was lambasted for being workshy for not attending the Commonwealth Day Observance – and video of him emerged partying instead.
Then, amid a wave of criticism, he had to make his first official visit to Paris, where his mother died in a car crash nearly 20 years ago.
Even William’s harshest critic must have felt some sympathy for him.
He was just 15 when Diana, Princess of Wales, died. For years, in public, he put on a brave face. But more recently he has opened up about his grief and deep sense of loss, admitting he felt “angry”.
It must have been difficult to go to Paris officially for the first time and not see the memorial, or acknowledge the place where Diana died – or even to mention her name in his public speech.
But William couldn’t do that. It would have overshadowed his message – maintaining close ties with France in the wake of Brexit. He delivered it, with his immaculate wife at his side, with aplomb.
There is little doubt William plays the role as a super envoy batting for Britain plc with style.
But second in line to the throne William, at 34, is about to end his “other” job as an air ambulance pilot and become a full-time royal. More will be expected of him.
He rightly took a lot of stick for putting partying before duty. It was misguided and a PR own goal. But it is not a fatal blow to his image.
As William and Kate carried out their duties, a number of people visited the Pont de l’alma tunnel, where Diana died. The Flame of Liberty – a replica of the new flame in the hand of the Statue of Liberty – has become an unofficial memorial to Di. Her legacy lives on. But, as William is discovering, she certainly is a tough act to follow.
Robert Jobson is a New York Times bestselling author. His latest book is The Future Royal Family, published by John Blake. TV’S John Inverdale sparked a sexism row with a remark about Kate as she watched France play Wales at rugby.
Inverdale, 59 – who famously insulted tennis star Marion Bartoli – said: “I don’t know exactly how au fait with the rules Kate is, but I assume she must have been struggling a bit in the last 20 minutes.”
One Twitter user wrote: “Inverdale must go.”