<Man thumbs through a copy of Hello Magazine>

By Jove I have got it if we use a Royal that will show that anyone can be a leader

<Smiles to himself>

You will hopefully be aware of yesterday Big News from the Scout Association, if you not then HRH The Duchess of Cambridge is to join the Scout Association as a Volunteer,

The Scout Association says

 The announcement comes as a great endorsement of Scouting’s commitment to allow adults to volunteer their time on a flexible basis. The Duchess will help run a variety of activities relevant to her skills and interests. This could include running games, teaching first aid or cooking on campfires.

So what are my thoughts on this news, well I am torn

On one hand this is a very positive story about a high profile member of the royal family showing support for the Scout Association, while also giving a big boost to flexible volunteering and showing that if she can give some time to fit scouting in to her busy lifestyle then anyone can.

However on the other hand I have some concerns.

Scouting is often looked at as a social leveller, it was part of what BP did by taking boys from both classes to Brownsea island. As such what then happens to royal protocol – do her fellow leaders call her Kate or maybe she will take a name like Squirrel (for beavers) or Winifred for cubs (Winifred is Colonel Hathi’s wife, after all William is a colonel in the Irish Guards) or as protocol decrees is it Your Royal Highness followed by Ma’am?

My second thought is to the pack – the disruption that is likely to be caused that first time she arrives with the press clambering to get photos, that is not going to be easy; when Prince Andrew joined Cubs they moved the meetings into the Grounds of Buckingham Palase which allowed it some resemblance of normality

Finally though what’s going to happen if the press get a photo of The Duchess helping out little Jonny or Jenny and the pack does not have a signed form allowing the use of photos or maybe the parent has decide they don’t want photos of the child used and has informed the group. Are the pressgoing to check with the group before publishing every photo? They are not known for their consideration on these matters.

To wrap up

My concerns are, I will admit, very minor and on the whole it is very positive having some one like the Dutchess of Cambridge being part of the Scout Association in any form.  I also feel that the felxible voloutering which the Scout Association offers is  a great way for people to support the movement with as much or a little time as they have.

I hope that the group where she volunteers will be given the support throughout the full three years (if that is what she is doing) of Her Royal Highnesses appointment not just while there is a lot of media hype.

Related articles

• Duchess Kate Formally Announces Charity Patronage, Will Join The Scouts (socialitelife.com)
• Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge becomes a Scout (calgaryherald.com)
• Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge becomes a Scout (vancouversun.com)
• Kate takes royal charity roles (smh.com.au)
• Duchess announces charity choices (bbc.co.uk)
• Duchess of Cambridge to be a Scout leader as well as patron of four charities – Telegraph.co.uk (telegraph.co.uk)
• Kate Middleton Chooses Her Charities! (news.instyle.com)

TTFN

Kiff

©ChrisMeadows2012

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