The Newsroom

Royal Birth

Simon McCoy must be thrilled. (April 2018)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
IT
itsrobert Founding member
Steve in Pudsey posted:
itsrobert posted:

It's a bit more complicated than that though. We have a constitutional monarchy, so like it or not, the Royals play more of a role than mere celebrities. The monarch is our head of state, so effectively fulfilling part of the function of Donald Trump in the US.


Technically you're right, of course, but the British monarch's role is largely ceremonial, I'm not sure it's too great a comparison for the purposes of the point you are trying to make.

Yes, probably not the best comparison to draw. The point I was trying to make was that the Royals are not merely celebrities as WW Update is suggesting. Rather that the Queen is head of state and that if the Trumps gave birth to a baby, that news would be covered too while he is President.
WW
WW Update
itsrobert posted:
Steve in Pudsey posted:
itsrobert posted:

It's a bit more complicated than that though. We have a constitutional monarchy, so like it or not, the Royals play more of a role than mere celebrities. The monarch is our head of state, so effectively fulfilling part of the function of Donald Trump in the US.


Technically you're right, of course, but the British monarch's role is largely ceremonial, I'm not sure it's too great a comparison for the purposes of the point you are trying to make.

Yes, probably not the best comparison to draw. The point I was trying to make was that the Royals are not merely celebrities as WW Update is suggesting. Rather that the Queen is head of state and that if the Trumps gave birth to a baby, that news would be covered too while he is President.


But would it be a major story on the Channel 4 News -- or its closest U.S. equivalent, the PBS NewsHour? I would say no.

Also, the Royals may not be mere celebrities, but my point was that events such as Royal births tend to be given the most prominence by mass-audience news organizations -- the same outlets that tend to give more space to major celebrity stories. Channel 4 News targets a different audience.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
If you go back to 2010 we had the situation of a serving Prime Minister and his wife having a new baby.

As I recall that just got a brief package some way down the running order, which I think is all that is required here too.
james-2001 and Stuart gave kudos
ST
Stuart
itsrobert posted:
Yes, probably not the best comparison to draw. The point I was trying to make was that the Royals are not merely celebrities as WW Update is suggesting. Rather that the Queen is head of state and that if the Trumps gave birth to a baby, that news would be covered too while he is President.

Kate isn't Head of State, and never will be. I'm not sure anyone would report news of a granddaughter-in law of Trump giving birth. The hyperbole surrounding such events in the UK has become farcical.
WW
WW Update
Stuart posted:
The hyperbole surrounding such events in the UK has become farcical.


And that's why I feel that, considering its target audience, Channel 4 News made the right decision.
Last edited by WW Update on 30 April 2018 2:37am
RK
Rkolsen
Stuart posted:
itsrobert posted:
Yes, probably not the best comparison to draw. The point I was trying to make was that the Royals are not merely celebrities as WW Update is suggesting. Rather that the Queen is head of state and that if the Trumps gave birth to a baby, that news would be covered too while he is President.

Kate isn't Head of State, and never will be. I'm not sure anyone would report news of a granddaughter-in law of Trump giving birth. The hyperbole surrounding such events in the UK has become farcical.

Well there was like a five second blip on most newscasts that President Trump became a grandfather again. I can’t remember whether which son it was.

Now if it was Melania I’m sure the tabloids would go crazy and the networks would announce the pregnancy and delivery in detail. Likely because it would be a medical miracle at 48.
IS
Inspector Sands
Rkolsen posted:
Likely because it would be a medical miracle at 48.

Tell that to Rachel Weisz: https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/baby-in-red-rachel-weisz-debuts-pregnancy-bump-after-announcing-she-is-expecting-a-little-human-with-a3821686.html
SP
Steve in Pudsey
Stuart posted:
itsrobert posted:
Yes, probably not the best comparison to draw. The point I was trying to make was that the Royals are not merely celebrities as WW Update is suggesting. Rather that the Queen is head of state and that if the Trumps gave birth to a baby, that news would be covered too while he is President.

Kate isn't Head of State, and never will be.


However William will be.
BA
bilky asko
Stuart posted:
itsrobert posted:
Yes, probably not the best comparison to draw. The point I was trying to make was that the Royals are not merely celebrities as WW Update is suggesting. Rather that the Queen is head of state and that if the Trumps gave birth to a baby, that news would be covered too while he is President.

Kate isn't Head of State, and never will be. I'm not sure anyone would report news of a granddaughter-in law of Trump giving birth. The hyperbole surrounding such events in the UK has become farcical.


Despite how it may seem from Bushes and the Clintons, the presidency isn't hereditary.
SE
Square Eyes Founding member
Indeed the two are not comparable. The grand daughter of a president giving birth is not particularly newsworthy. The offspring of a future king is.

Personal views aside on whether it has any relevance, it is newsworthy.
NG
noggin Founding member
Square Eyes posted:
Indeed the two are not comparable. The grand daughter of a president giving birth is not particularly newsworthy. The offspring of a future king is.

Personal views aside on whether it has any relevance, it is newsworthy.


Yes - plus Louis is the first male prince not to usurp his older female sibling at birth since the rules of primogeniture were scrapped.
MA
Markymark
bilky asko posted:

Despite how it may seem from Bushes and the Clintons, the presidency isn't hereditary.


.............yet.

Newer posts