Kate Middleton appears to pull back (recoil) from Jamaican official

[Demovictory9]

Link to tweet

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s tour of the Caribbean was supposed to be a celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, but it’s been fraught with nothing but controversy from the start. With the critics pointing out the royals’ tone-deaf approach to Britain’s history of colonialism, the latest video clip with the Duchess of Cambridge didn’t do anything to help that narrative.

Kate is finding herself under the social-media microscope after being caught recoiling away from Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport, Olivia Grange, on Tuesday. (See the video HERE.) The Jamaican official is seen trying to gently reach for the royal’s hand to guide her over to speak with her. The Duchess of Cambridge keeps stepping further and further back, which makes it an awkward and uncomfortable situation to watch. The account that posted the clip reminded their followers about Prince William’s famous quote after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle interview with Oprah Winfrey, “We are very much not a racist family.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/kate-middleton-is-in-hot-water-over-this-clip-of-her-appearing-to-pull-back-from-a-jamaican-official/ar-AAVpxyA

[Effete Snob]

1. What nonsense

Why is the Jamaican gentlemen next to her (closest to us in foreground) also stepping backwards as the clip begins?

[Hortensis]

48. Agree. It's terribly unfair -- and indecent -- to just assume bad interpretations.

Living in a mean period when hateful behaviors are epidemic and infectious doesn't make it okay.

[Thtwudbeme]

2. Could it be that she is uncomfortable after two years of socially distancing

to be that close to a stranger?

I am; I am still masking.

The Queen recently had Covid.

IOW, I don't think this proves racism- maybe it does, but I would have to see more evidence than a two second phone clip.

[Arkansas Granny]

21. My first thought, as well. I can't remember the last time I shook hands with anyone.

The only close physical contact I have these days is among family and friends who I know to be fully vaxxed and boosted. I maintain social distancing with anyone else.

[yardwork]

32. I thought the same, after watching the clip several times.

First, there's no context for the clip. The whole scene looks chaotic and yes, Kate looks uncomfortable - but it's not clear why. Two years of Covid? Discomfort with being in a crowd?

The trip was a bad idea and it's not going well. This clip is an example of the bad optics of the entire thing - but to me it doesn't prove anything in particular about anyone in it.

[Tink41]

43. Same

I couldn't even imagine shaking hands w anyone I didn't reside with at the moment. I'm still masking for goodness sakes!

[obamanut2012]

3. Sorry, not seeing it

And, I'm not any kind of fan of her. She isn't "recoiling," she just doesn't want to be touched. I don't like people I don't know touching me or grabbing my hand, either, and just because she is a Royal doesn't mean she has to allow it.

I have no idea if Kate Middleton is racist or not -- she probably is, many white people are -- but this doesn't show it.

And, you may not have heard about it, but there's this thing called Covid, and some of us actually think it can still kill you and still wear masks.

[madaboutharry]

4. I am not a fan of the royal family, but I don't see it.

I think this criticism is a real stretch.

It seems to me that over the years that Kate has turned into a real snob, but I am not seeing her "recoiling" from the official. She just looks uncertain.

[IzzaNuDay]

5. Protocol

IIRC, commoners are not supposed to touch royalty. Although this was an outdoor event, we are still in a pandemic.

Which leaves me to wonder: why are these folks traveling in the first place?

[wnylib]

44. Protocol was the first thing that came to my mind, too.

Kate did not grow up as a royal. She has no doubt been thoroughly schooled on protocol since her engagement to William.

Add the covid pandemic isolation and distancing to that.

That's not to say that the British royals are not racist, just that this clip does not look like an example of it.

[Lovie777]

6. Oh please . ..

news slow day.

[lapucelle]

7. It looks like Kate and the man next to her stepped back for some reason

and then were instructed to step forward. Their actions mirror each others.

[questionseverything]

20. Lovely picture

[obamanut2012]

23. lOoK aT tHaT rAcIsT rEcOiLiNg fRoM bLaCk cHiLdReN

I'm not a fan at all of Middleton, or colonialism, but some people are stretching stuff.

Lovely pic, thanks for posting!

[JI7]

8. misleading . It replays by it making it look like she stepped away

[Demovictory9]

10. point taken

[Celerity]

9. When in doubt, blame the black ex Royal for the so far shambolic W.I. Royal tour

Link to tweet

Unfuckingbelievable

[lapucelle]

11. The Daily Mail is a far right source.

[Celerity]

16. oh, wow, thanks, I never knew that, despite growing up in London

What exactly is your point?

It was posted as an example of racist bullshit from certain corners of the Royal defenders back in the UK.

[lapucelle]

30. The "racist bullshit" that you link to has little (if anything) to do with the "incident"

involving the Jamaican cultural minister. It's about something else entirely.

I guess I'm just not invested enough in the whole Team Meghan - Team Kate rivalry to feel impelled to counter one bullshit story with different a "racist bullshit" story culled from a right wing website.

[Celerity]

33. I'm not invested in these contrived 'Teams'. As a British citizen, I want the entire Monarchy ended.

Same for the Swedish Monarchy.

The entire concept of nobility/royalty is antithetical to my core inner philosophy.

I am constantly amazed at the level of royal defending and even adoration that I see so many US-dwelling Americans exhibit.

Pretty ironic for a nation that fought the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 to get out from under the Royal whip hand.

[lapucelle]

38. I don't believe I've ever seen the words "monarchy" and "royal" capitalized before. N/T

[Celerity]

39. Perhaps because you are not British, perhaps because you failed to notice before

About the Royal Family

https://www.royal.uk/role-royal-family

Members of the Royal Family support The Queen in her many State and national duties, as well as carrying out important work in the areas of public and charitable service, and helping to strengthen national unity and stability.


The role of the Monarchy

https://www.royal.uk/role-monarchy

Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom.

In a monarchy, a king or queen is Head of State. The British Monarchy is known as a constitutional monarchy. This means that, while The Sovereign is Head of State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament.

[lapucelle]

41. "Monarchy" is not capitalized in your excerpt.

“Royal Family” is a proper noun, while “Royal whip hand” is not.

The BBC doesn't capitalize “monarchy” (except in a story title or as the first word in a sentence), and the BBC is British.

[Celerity]

42. Was referring to the specific institution in terms of welding it.

Done here.

[Emrys]

22. Not only that, but Dan Wootton is an arse

and a pitiful example of the worst sort of muckraking opportunist tabloid hack. If you were laying bets on which of that breed were going to go with this line, Wootton would be at the head of the pack. Here's an example of his past output:

In 2015, Wootton and The Sun received widespread criticism for an article he penned for the tabloid titled "Hollywood HIV Panic". Writing in The Independent, Tom Hayes referred to the piece as an "insidious piece of stigma-reinforcing" journalism, HIV policy adviser Lisa Power, who was quoted in the article, called it "vile" and expressed "disappointment" Wootton had "lent his name to such a shameful piece". Further criticism came from the Terrence Higgins Trust who called it "irresponsible", the British Medical Journal and The Guardian's Owen Jones.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Wootton

His abilities can be gauged by the fact that he's progressed from holding down jobs at The News of the World (a scandal-riden scandal sheet, forced to cease publication after it was revealed to have hacked celebrities' phone numbers), the Sun and the Mail (not really any better, despite its generous photo budgets and major online presence making it popular among some DUers) to clinging on at MailOnline - hence his stream of rabid clickbait articles pandering to the worst of human nature - and joining the sinking ship that is the far-right GB News.

[LenaBaby61]

14. THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

I'm surprised those who are racists against Meghan aren't blaming her for the war putin started against Ukraine. As you rightfully point out, a lot of black woman are surely targeted and blamed for everything else.

Look at how the racist reich-winged males on the Senate are going after KBJ. Look at how that old, racist, dumb wench Blackburn aka Home Economics KAREN, went after KBJ.

[JI7]

19. He has a face in need of a fist

[hamsterjill]

12. Yeah...no!

These types of videos give “fake news” credence. It’s a couple of seconds in time trying to ruin a famous person.

I need more than that to believe someone is racist.

[bamagal62]

13. Not enough time in the clip.

But, I know my daughter has PTSD from being a toddler living in China. She has porcelain skin and was constantly being touched by strangers that were in awe of her skin. I constant had to politely ask people not to touch her. She can’t stand for anyone to invade her personal space after that. It’s an automatic reaction. You just can’t judge people by a short clip.

[Demovictory9]

18. I get it. as a Black woman, I recoil from people reaching for my hair.

No one has ever asked... they just go for it.

[bamagal62]

26. Yes! They just go for it.

[mahina]

15. Oh brother.

As others have said, I’m not saying she isn’t racist but come on.

[AngryOldDem]

17. This is an uncomfortable trip.

There are many explanations for Kate, but overall I believe their reception has been generally cool. Colonialism has to end.

[jcgoldie]

24. Meh

Looks like bunch of nothing to me.

[JoanofArgh]

25. What absolute bullshit.

[Vinca]

27. Maybe it's Covid phobia. I don't like touching people either.

[demmiblue]

28. This is beyond stupid.

It just looks like she is trying to figure out where she is supposed to stand.

I can't believe that a whole "news" article is dedicated to some dumbass reaction from a random Twitter account. Wait, yes I can.

[LexVegas]

29. This is the dumbest shit. nt

[Raine]

31. This is trying to make something out of absolutely nothing. 👎 nt

[ananda]

34. No appears about it. She absolutely did pull back.

I've always thought they were racist.

[CrackityJones75]

36. Ha! IF she DID pull back?

That makes you racist?????

Could be any number of reasons to pull back from someone.

[obamanut2012]

45. Why does that make her a racist?

[malaise]

35. Couln't have happened to amore deserving

scumbag.
That is all Fuck the royals and fuck Babsie!

[dixiechiken1]

37. I had read once that Kate usually carries a clutch bag to avoid exactly this type of situation...

MailOnline's expert, William Hanson, explains, "It is protocol that you do not extend your hand to any member of the royal family (blood royal or those who have married into the family) unless their hand extends first"—hence the reason Kate feels the need to pick a bag that puts both her hands out of commission. [bold mine]

https://www.glamour.com/story/why-kate-middleton-always-carries-a-clutch

It's got nothing to do with race. I would have to imagine there are security concerns, also.

[chowder66]

40. What bullshit.

[Wingus Dingus]

46. Meh. Reading too much into it.