Catherine Royle
@catheriner.bsky.social
Principal of Somerville College Oxford. Recovering British diplomat & former Ambassador. Worked for NATO too. Here with my own views. Think we can do better in our world
Can we spend more on diplomacy and soft power too?
V cheap by comparison to defence and helps avoid armed conflict
V cheap by comparison to defence and helps avoid armed conflict
January 19, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Can we spend more on diplomacy and soft power too?
V cheap by comparison to defence and helps avoid armed conflict
V cheap by comparison to defence and helps avoid armed conflict
I see some sense in letting Europe take the lead.
January 19, 2026 at 10:53 AM
I see some sense in letting Europe take the lead.
A 2 tier Europe could help UKR, UK, NOR, Iceland others?
January 16, 2026 at 5:58 AM
A 2 tier Europe could help UKR, UK, NOR, Iceland others?
HMG is cutting diplomacy and soft power eg British Council too. What can possibly go wrong?
January 11, 2026 at 12:57 PM
HMG is cutting diplomacy and soft power eg British Council too. What can possibly go wrong?
I’m more worried about Greenland because of what it means for NATO etc. But leaders Iran and Cuba should both be uncomfortable
January 6, 2026 at 8:01 AM
I’m more worried about Greenland because of what it means for NATO etc. But leaders Iran and Cuba should both be uncomfortable
She didn’t have to start by ruling out customs union or freedom of movement given the narrow result and what was said before the referendum. She put her party before her country
October 9, 2025 at 3:25 PM
She didn’t have to start by ruling out customs union or freedom of movement given the narrow result and what was said before the referendum. She put her party before her country
And of course no mention of the human cost - the Argentines now using soup and community kitchens, out of work or whose pensions are now worthless.
October 8, 2025 at 6:45 AM
And of course no mention of the human cost - the Argentines now using soup and community kitchens, out of work or whose pensions are now worthless.
A man who has never done anything to make anything better so easy to shout down and ask stupid questions . “Let’s have a bet”about tax rises. Get real
October 1, 2025 at 7:25 AM
A man who has never done anything to make anything better so easy to shout down and ask stupid questions . “Let’s have a bet”about tax rises. Get real
Moneyboxes next?
September 26, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Moneyboxes next?
It’s not an easy set of circumstances. I really hope you’re right that this is the plan.
September 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
It’s not an easy set of circumstances. I really hope you’re right that this is the plan.
To be fair no-one else has much idea either as we have seen since 2014. Or perhaps they know, but are not willing to do it. The risk of RUS using nukes has hovered over everything since 2022. Small risk maybe. But a risk nonetheless. Poor Ukraine.
August 20, 2025 at 8:54 AM
To be fair no-one else has much idea either as we have seen since 2014. Or perhaps they know, but are not willing to do it. The risk of RUS using nukes has hovered over everything since 2022. Small risk maybe. But a risk nonetheless. Poor Ukraine.
Great read. Interested in what the few women had to say about why there were there. Does the lack of women mean there is still hope of an outbreak of sanity?
August 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Great read. Interested in what the few women had to say about why there were there. Does the lack of women mean there is still hope of an outbreak of sanity?
A very good listen. Rory sounded shell shocked to be confronted with inequality being the biggest problem in the UK economy. And seemed to think we could just ape the US. Haven’t we tried that - and failed?
July 28, 2025 at 8:45 AM
A very good listen. Rory sounded shell shocked to be confronted with inequality being the biggest problem in the UK economy. And seemed to think we could just ape the US. Haven’t we tried that - and failed?
Can’t we aim for sooner? And in all rivers and seas? And if we can’t nationalise can we have contracts that include stopping leaks and building reservoirs as well as banning dividends and bonuses if contracts are breached?
July 20, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Can’t we aim for sooner? And in all rivers and seas? And if we can’t nationalise can we have contracts that include stopping leaks and building reservoirs as well as banning dividends and bonuses if contracts are breached?
Trojan Horse anyone?
June 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Trojan Horse anyone?
Generous. If everything in the world ran to a bossa nova beat it would probably be less aggressive
June 18, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Generous. If everything in the world ran to a bossa nova beat it would probably be less aggressive
Someone needs to tell MoD that they can’t do their stuff without an effective FCDO. Deterrence and conflict are tools to manage political and diplomatic issues. In the end everything is political. And that isn’t MoD’s competence
June 12, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Someone needs to tell MoD that they can’t do their stuff without an effective FCDO. Deterrence and conflict are tools to manage political and diplomatic issues. In the end everything is political. And that isn’t MoD’s competence
Nothing against increasing defence spending- although the hard bit is spending it well. But.. the biggest danger is that Russia wins without fighting. Let’s tighten rules on political donations, curb the flow of dirty money, restrict foreign ownership of media, protect our democracy & institutions
June 11, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Nothing against increasing defence spending- although the hard bit is spending it well. But.. the biggest danger is that Russia wins without fighting. Let’s tighten rules on political donations, curb the flow of dirty money, restrict foreign ownership of media, protect our democracy & institutions
I would start with believing in evolution
June 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I would start with believing in evolution
Of course. But v few people understand what diplomats do - and what good diplomacy can prevent. It’s a skill set that is not v visible - for good reason. But we need to find a way to talk about it
June 7, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Of course. But v few people understand what diplomats do - and what good diplomacy can prevent. It’s a skill set that is not v visible - for good reason. But we need to find a way to talk about it
The Diplomatic Service is also underfunded and undervalued. If we want to avoid war rather than fight, then we need to invest in diplomacy. That’s security too
June 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The Diplomatic Service is also underfunded and undervalued. If we want to avoid war rather than fight, then we need to invest in diplomacy. That’s security too