Andrew, Duke of York

[RoyalWatcher]

Oh dear.

[Robert_Hall]

Like  father, like son....

[Grace]

...and perhaps amply illustrating that royal birth doesn't necessarily make one a born diplomat...

[Naslednik Norvezhskiy]

Lol, I wonder if Andrew, slagging off all other countries as corrupt, would realize that some people consider the UK to be corrupt, when they let such a boorish freeloader like him head trade missions just because he is the son of the Head of State!

(Of course, it can still be beneficial to the UK. His name and title no doubt opens doors that would have been closed to a 100 % correct Mr. Smith.)

[Victor]

How indiscrete of Ambassador Gfoeller to report such a discussion.I rather question her credentials.

[CHRISinUSA]

Indiscrete?  Huh? 

It is at the very core of an ambassadors' duties (any ambassador) to report back to their leaders on discussions held at each and every official engagement they attend - particularly when those discussions involve foreign leaders  (which would certainly include senior members of a royal family).  This is how one government obtains good insight into how another country views a particular topic (or in this case, a whole range of topics).

Andrew's comments show a level of arrogance and self-importance that I would think would be a bit concerning to the British Foreign Office.  I wouldn't be surprised if after this came to light, the Duke was reminded that a diplomat has to choose his/her comments carefully, lest they be perceived as offensive or - in this case- a bit ignorant.

That said, I do agree that the tone of Ambassador Gfoeller's comments are a bit odd.  It almost sounds patronizing, as if she is taking pleasure in describing the Duke's gaffes. 

[Victor]

Chris-I don't know anything about Ambassador Gfoeller really but I suppose I have to agree with your comments-on the Prince too.The Wikileaks situation continues to unfold.Can't see where it will end.Prince Andrew should have known his comments would be reported.

[grandduchessella]

How indiscrete of Ambassador Gfoeller to report such a discussion.I rather question her credentials.

I'm sure ambassadors are pretty blunt in some of what they consider to be private accounts. That's why this WikiLeaks dump, apart obviously from the serious aspects, has been so embarrassing. It's reporting what diplomats, like everyone else, gossip about. It's not like she gave the info out in an interview with the newspaper.

As for her credentials, they're better than Andrew's for his job!  

"Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller is a veteran U.S. Diplomat, having joined the Department of State in 1984. Her previous foreign postings have included: Poland, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the Soviet Union, Belgium, Russia, and Turkmenistan. She has served as a Deputy Principal Officer in Russia and Deputy Chief of Mission in Turkmenistan. She most recently served as Consul General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Ms. Gfoeller was awarded the Rusk Fellowship in 2000, and taught Masters degree classes in political science at Georgetown University and wrote a book on U.S. foreign policy interests in the Caspian Basin. She speaks Russian, French, Polish, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic. She is a member of numerous foreign affairs organizations, including the Council of Foreign Relations. Ms. Gfoeller has a Bachelors of Science and a Masters of Science from Georgetown University, in addition to a Certificate of International Law Studies from the University of Florence."

[grandduchessella]

More from the conversation:

"In an astonishing display of candor in a public hotel where the brunch was taking place, all of the businessmen then chorused that nothing gets done in Kyrgyzstan if President Bakiyev’s son Maxim does not get “his cut.” Prince Andrew took up the topic with gusto, saying that he keeps hearing Maxim’s name “over and over again” whenever he discusses doing business in this country. Emboldened, one businessman said that doing business here is “like doing business in the Yukon” in the nineteenth century, i.e. only those willing to participate in local corrupt practices are able to make any money. His colleagues all heartily agreed, with one pointing out that “nothing ever changes here. Before all you heard was Akayev’s son’s name. Now it’s Bakiyev’s son’s name.” At this point the Duke of York laughed uproariously, saying that: “All of this sounds exactly like France.”"

[Grace]

Prince Andrew's latest controversy seems to be gaining momentum in the media.  Justified or just another excuse to attack a royal?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12604190

[darius]

Absolutely justified - the man is a petulant, overgrown schoolboy - spoilt, self-righteous - a huge threat to the Monarchy.  His attitude and behaviour cannot be justified.  His defenders say thay he earns not a penny in his role as trade ambassador - I should hope not - he is a member of the Royal Family - this should be his role as a representative of the country and the Queen.  He seems to be the personification of all the worst character traits inherited from both his mother and father´s families.  The York quartet is an embarrassing blemish on the Royal heritage.

[CHRISinUSA]

A good reminder why, in days gone by, the second son of a Monarch led a military career for life, or at least until relatively old.  Had Andrew remained at a military desk job until he was perhaps in his 60s or 70s, he may have had fewer opportunities for his "lesser" qualities to emerge.  Romping around the globe hobnobbing with a wide circle of businessmen and politicians is clearly not the best fit for this particular royal.

[Lucien]

Absolutely justified - the man is a petulant, overgrown schoolboy - spoilt, self-righteous - a huge threat to the Monarchy.  His attitude and behaviour cannot be justified.  His defenders say thay he earns not a penny in his role as trade ambassador - I should hope not - he is a member of the Royal Family - this should be his role as a representative of the country and the Queen.  He seems to be the personification of all the worst character traits inherited from both his mother and father´s families.  The York quartet is an embarrassing blemish on the Royal heritage.

So husband,so wife,or vice versa...who would have known they match truly all the way...I'm talking Andu ofcourse,not David...not here:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/columnists/reade/2011/03/10/the-two-pompous-old-etonians-making-britain-a-laughing-stock-on-the-world-stage-115875-22978487/

 

[Douglas]

The Duke of York and his ex-wife....influence peddlers extraordinaire,  for a price.

[Lindelle]

and to think he wants his daughters to keep their 'princess' titles!