Royal style & gossip: hairbands and birth plans

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Will Kate emerge from her Norfolk seclusion sporting a bigger than ever Alice band? Will the Mail and Express stories about Meghan get more ludicrous by the day? And will this thread see the arrival of Baby Sussex? All will be revealed in due course...

Link to previous thread

Brilliant PR move. Guaranteed to stir up a bigger appetite for them and their new baby.

Shedid I agree completely. Everyone is at pains to tell them how unimportant they are, they are now going what most people do and there is uproar. The comments under the Sky news report are horrific.

Meghan can't win, can she? Do this and she's accused of hiding away and not being grateful for being funded by public purse. Appear on the steps of the Lindo Wing, smiling, with baby in arms and she'll be accused of trying to outdo Kate.

And I say Meghan because let's face it, all the comments will be critical of her rather than Harry!

A royal baby isn't every day news by any stretch; it is in part exactly what the British public are paying for, surely...

I think this will just fuel the conspiracy theories regarding a surrogate. A simple announcement is all that is needed. They want our charity donations, well wishes, support for their documentaries but do not want to in return give this basic info.

Whether she likes it or not she is part of the Royal Family now and with that comes certain expectations. Announcing the birth of a baby is one of them.

“It's like, we'll take the spotlight and the money when we want it, otherwise bugger off.... am I being harsh?“
Nope. Not harsh at all. No need for 6 hours later picture on the steps (although I am not as opposed to that as many are- I do like an occasional reminder that some women take childbirth in their stride!) but certainly an announcement and a name. It’s the least we deserve for the money!

Blimey- maybe the surrogate nutters were right!!!!

As others have said, H and M’s only function is ‘decorative’. They have no other real roles and probably will never have, so their main interest to the public, the source of funding for their hugely privileged life, is in their clothes, relationships and public appearances. They seem to want things both ways, privacy but public funding.

I think doing this pretty much marks the path for the baby. The public will see her (I’m convinced older mums have a girl first and I’m one 😀) on royal occasions. Otherwise she will have a private life until she is old enough to make her own choice regarding privacy. Yes they will have the best of both worlds and will shield their daughter in a way that wasn’t an option for Harry. I’d do the same in their shoes tbh.

They are separating themselves from the RF. I hope it is not due to disagreement and they are taking the ‘scaling back’ of the RF into their own hands instead of waiting for it to happen to them. Again I’d do the same tbh.

I’ve got to say this is bad planning and slightly mean spirited - the Sussex team should’ve stated that was their intention much earlier on. Why say this last minute before the due date? It’s an ok proposition - but they should have told people this at least a month ago, it’s very very poor planning.

Yes they’re only people too, but they have a whole team of professionals around them to help on communications. The Royals need to be very mindful of communications with the public. It’s fine to try new things, but you need to give people notice. Not cute.

She's been treated awfully by the press since the moment they got married. Let them enjoy their time with the baby away from the vultures.

My sentiments exactly.

I think it's a reaction to Meghan's bad press but this strategy is feeding that narrative and 'punishing' those that wish them well.

An announcement saying "our beautiful baby has arrived and we are all fine, please respect our privacy and we'll release some photos as soon as we've had time to celebrate and relax as a new family".

I wish them all the very best, I completely see their point of view but this feels a bit petulant.

I agree with @popcorndiva

They can't just pick and choose when they fancy being royal and when they don't. They seem to want the best of both worlds. They need to decide whether they want to be royal or celebrities.

but they should have told people this at least a month ago, it’s very very poor planning.

Why should they and why is it? The only people who need to know what's happening is H&M and their medical team. And I suspect their planning has been in place from the start.

I was imagining a Benny Hill media chase from hospital to Frogmore to hospital to Kensington Palace to hospital etc. etc. Now all the media people (and us!) need to do is chill their boots and wait for an announcement - which will no doubt be accompanied by The First Photograph. And if that pisses off the DM, then I for one will be very happy indeed.

And I agree with QueenOfTheAndals. They're damned if they do, damned if they don't.

I think an announcement with a photo would be the best way forward and then they can hide away and have their privacy without all the speculation.

@SlipperOrchid, I had a boy first and I was older than Meghan is.... 😀

The problem is that it is not about the media at this point. It is about their supporters and well-wishers, like a PP said. Yes, damn the media etc etc. The media don't pay for their expenses.

Harry's really not playing ball, is he? I don't blame him in many respects, but I find it fascinating that's he's taking this line.

The problem is that it is not about the media at this point. It is about their supporters and well-wishers, like a PP said.

But, how on earth does it affect them in any way?

I'm a supporter and well-wisher and it will make not one jot of difference to me as to when and how I find out. Unless you're referring to the Union Jack be-decked fans that actually set up camp outside the Lindo Wing? And, frankly, the less they know in advance the better I'd have thought

Wow, the tone of this is realy surprising to me!

They should have told the public a month ago? Harry isn't 'playing ball'?

Yikes. I mean, I am no supporter of the RF but this is pretty nasty - imagine if any other new parent was accused of not playing ball by not parading their newborn?

This is a wee bit unedifying guys.

I think that's a wilful misunderstanding, actually.

In recent memory the new baby has been announced on the day of birth. By not doing that, Harry is taking a different path and going against what he knows the media wants. He's not 'playing ball'.

It's a discussion point not a judgement.

I thought all births of Royal babies were announced on the board inside the gates at Buckingham Palace as is traditional. I think the baby has already been born.

Why not just put the announcement on the gate of Buckingham Palace in the traditional way?

I don’t see why they cannot announce the safe delivery of Baby Sussex and just leave it at that. No need for a photo shoot, just an announcement.