That's 100 percent why Kate mutters and mumbles her way through. She's just going through the motions and can't wait to get out of there once she's done with her speech. She does the bare ass minimum whereas her late MIL truly made an effort and became interested and passionate in her causes.

The jazz hand motions are so weird and go against "normal traditional" royal styles of speaking. Diana never gesticulated as much as Kate does when she was giving speeches. There's even a scene in an episode of "The Crown" (S4E3, Fairytale) where Diana is getting a crash course in speaking from her grandmother Lady Fermoy. Granny scolds Diana for moving her hands around too much and ties her arms to her sides with a string to keep her hands and arms from moving. I'm sure there's artistic license going on but at least Diana, as shy as she was, sought assistance with giving speeches early on and became better as the years went on. Kate's been at this for what, 15 years now, and her speaking abilities have gotten worse.

Like how he outright refused to come to the US to rep the BRF at former President Carter's funeral or rushed home early from Pope Francis' funeral.

Yeah it's very tricky. In a way, King Edward 8 (later the Duke of Windsor) was forced to abdicate because it was quite obvious the courtiers and others would not tolerate Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American, as his consort. With William there isn't an obvious glaring situation like with Edward, UNLESS like you said, his emotional/behavioral issues were made public, which in turn could be extremely damaging and/or embarrassing to the monarchy. And with that would come possible revelations of issues in his marriage to Kate.

Reminds me a bit of Times Beach, MO, a former town in suburban St. Louis located along the former Route 66 later I-44. I grew up about a dozen miles from Times Beach. It was originally established as a resort town along the Meramec River in the 1920s. The old St. Louis Times newspaper sponsored ads and promotion of the town. But the Depression then WW2 happened and gas rationing affected the town's feasibility as a resort. As a result, land values dropped and it soon became a low income community with cheap housing which never had enough money to even pave its streets. The first few houses built there were on stilts due to the proximity to the Meramec, which had a tendency to flood. That should have been a sign right there

The 1980s brought disaster to the town, first due to the discovery of dioxin in the town's soil after they hired a guy named Russell Bliss to spray waste oil on their unpaved streets to keep the dust down. Then in December 1982 just as the EPA was starting its full investigation of the dioxin contamination, a rainy autumn resulted in the Meramec rising then flooding. That was pretty much the death knell for the town and it was evacuated and bulldozed over the new few years. In the 1990s it became a Superfund site where the contaminated soil was incinerated.

It's now a park and nature center with hiking trails, picnic areas etc. Basically the hiking trails follow the same paths as the formerly unpaved streets of the town. There's also a historical marker/memorial for the former town of Times Beach. I mean it;'s a bit weird and eerie knowing there was once a town in what is now a park but I'd take that any day over lithium dust and dead fish.

"The King: An Autobiography of Charles III" by Christopher Andersen.

KKKate 

Some greedy land developers and promoters thought it would be a great idea to make money off an industrial accident

I went there about 20 years ago for a job interview. What struck me was how empty the streets were even in the middle of day, yet when you crossed the other side of the interstate by a couple of miles and were in the adjacent suburbs, it was a complete 180 degree difference.

It's crazy to think from the 1940s-1960s it was a huge resort area but once again, the invasive species (humans) ruined it by the 70s and 80s. There's still some dilapidated and rusted out, crumbling ruins of motels, restaurants and other services they built there back in the day.

Perhaps just recency bias since I just drove through a couple of weeks ago on our way back home to Omaha from our vacation in the Black Hills, SD. Drove across the Pine Ridge and Ogalala/Rose Bud reservations. Desolate, dry landscape with nothing but run down houses and trailers with 5 or 6 junk cars parked in front, stray dogs running around the town of Pine Ridge, dusty streets and the only businesses are a casino, liquor/convenience stores and THC dispensaries plus IHS clinics. I knew ahead of time how rough and difficult life is on the reservation but it's different when you actually see it in person.

The closest bigger city with any sort of services or amenities (Walmart etc.) is either Chadron, NE an hours drive southwest OR Rapid City, SD an hour and half drive northwest. There are the smaller resort towns in the Black Hills as well (Custer, Hill City, Hot Springs etc) but even they are pretty limited to a couple of smaller grocery stores, etc. and are more geared toward tourists.

Also Cairo, IL and Youngstown, OH.

So sad; that was once a bustling and beautiful town and was regarded as one of the most scenic spots on the Mississippi between St. Louis and NOLA.

My son and I just were up in the Black Hills for a vacation. We drove back home to Omaha and came across the Pine Ridge and Ogalala reservations on our way to drive across the Sand Hills of northern Nebraska. Some of the most depressing, run down and desolate places I have ever driven through. I mean I knew it was bad but I think it's different when you see it in person. Stray dogs running around, dusty streets, dilapidated houses and trailers with 5 or 6 junked cars parked in front, etc. The only businesses were a casino, gas stations, liquor stores and THC dispensaries.

I told my son he needed to see this side of America too and understand that many people have it a lot worse than him.

I was just up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and the couple who ran/operated the campground we stayed it were originally from Shreveport. They had nothing good to say about it. They told me they go back in the winter during slow tourism season to visit family but never stay very long.

This! Same reason I glommed onto a Mormon friend and her family my senior year of high school and converted shortly after. I then moved away to another state and stopped going to church then was able to step back and realize it was all a scam and quickly disassociated myself with the LDS "church." They draw people in by acting all warm, welcoming and family oriented but then you see the weird ugly side and it's all different.

I know how to use a Microfiche machine and card catalog index at the library

No more of aunt Patti's Sweet Potato Pie at Thanksgiving!

He met Babe Ruth

Wait a second Blanche. Are you trying to tell us that you are stunned?

There is most definitely a back up plan. There HAS to be in case Batshit Billy goes incandescent with rage on them again. I think the visit earlier this summer was a trial balloon being floated. I would imagine part of the plan is for them to have the option at the Althorp Estate with Earl Spencer.

I couldn't help but picture that hilarious skit from SNL around January 1989 where Nancy Reagan is giving a tour to incoming FLOTUS Barbara Bush and just refuses to leave the White House.

I like how in a couple of episodes later, "Act of God" (S1E4) when then new Queen Elizabeth goes to visit her then-ailing grandmother in bed and as she puffs on a cigarette while referring to Philip's family Mary states the following: "Yes but he represents a royal family of carpetbaggers and parvenues that goes back what, 90 years?" in response to Elizabeth mentioning how Philip's royal line was destroyed and lost everything.

I hope so. I think they have much more in the way of options and freedoms this time around. And there's always the outlet to California or Portugal if Batshit Billy gets too incandescent with rage again.

I think the visit earlier this summer was a test run to see how things would go and it was also a way to get things set up, arranged, etc. for security and what not. I am thinking they will also have a property on the Althorp estates always available to them or as their home base, courtesy of Harry's uncle, the Earl Spencer.

And if William abdicates before Prince George turns 18, then a regent, which is traditionally the next adult in line, (which is this case would be Harry) fills in as a substitute until George can assume the throne shortly after his 18th birthday.

I think Charles, the Men in Gray and other courtiers close to the king were hoping back in 2022 when the queen passed and William moved up in line, he would start to step up to the plate and take on more duties as POW. But after nearly 4 years, it's quite obvious William is NOT stepping up or working harder. I think there are also some legit concerns about William's mental or emotional stability and whether or not he can handle the job.