I've seen the edited videos and ridiculous articles about the Princess of Wales's supposed "glaring" during #TroopingTheColour, and frankly, the desperation to create a narrative is worthy of study. A small minority of the "republic" movement, with their usual yellow flags, banners, and new yellow umbrellas (50 people? Less?), made some noise. Nothing new. They shouted "Not my king!" They also booed Their Majesties and the rest of the Royal Family. Because, surprise, that was precisely the point of going there. They did the same thing last year and the year before. But what's truly fascinating is seeing certain accounts and media outlets acting as if those few dozen people represent the thousands upon thousands who filled the streets, waited for hours, applauded, took photographs, and were moved to see Catherine and the children. And now it turns out that an expression lasting only a few seconds has been transformed into a "killer glare," and the children were "uncomfortable" or "confused." Really? Some people's imaginations are extraordinary. Any parent knows perfectly well what Catherine was doing. She was keeping an eye on her children, aware of her surroundings, and making sure everything was alright. That's called being a mother, not starring in the drama that some desperately need to invent. Does anyone really believe that Catherine, a woman who has endured years of harassment, conspiracy theories, false narratives, and hatred, a woman of admirable dignity, was going to let some protesters with yellow flags and the same old chants ruin her day? Please. She knows perfectly well the cost that comes with her role and how her children will face this same scenario today and in the future. The funniest thing of all is that the account that made that video go viral thinks it's achieved a great victory. But if your greatest accomplishment is editing a clip to turn a few dozen protesters into "the British people," a two-second glance into a declaration of war, and peaceful children into terrified creatures, then perhaps you're not a chronicler of reality. It's simply @ShakeLS, the self-proclaimed Diana expert and author of exaggerated fanfics about his idols from Montecito. Meanwhile, the real spectacle was the same one the rest of the world witnessed: thousands of people celebrating a centuries-old tradition and warmly welcoming the Princess of Wales, her children, and the rest of the Royal Family. Reality has always surpassed fiction. And no matter how much some try to edit videos and fabricate narratives, a few yellow umbrellas will never be more important than the thousands of people present and the vast majority who still cherish the traditions of the monarchy. That is the majority, and that is the British people. The republic should go after their prime minister. Therein lies the problem.
