Royal style in the time of corona

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Will we see any royals out and about anytime soon?

Previous thread

[thisenglishlife]

I would imagine Kate has some acquaintances and false friends, who may not like her. This whole thing reeks of classism especially towards the Middleton women. This was a sort of “Here’s what we really think of you and your family”. The “compliments” may be how they act around her but the backhanded compliments make it clear that this is what some snobby aristos and writers really think about her.

Kensington Palace has spoken out against the article (see screenshot).

The Tatler editor in chief is standing behind the story, says that KP knew about it months ago and that they helped with the story:
Following the Palace's statement, a Tatler spokesperson tells Entertainment Today, "Tatler's Editor-in-Chief Richard Dennen stands behind the reporting of Anna Pasternak and her sources. Kensington Palace knew we were running the 'Catherine the Great' cover months ago and we asked them to work together on it. The fact they are denying they ever knew is categorically false."

I would assume KP knew this was being written, maybe gave the go ahead to get quotes from some friends….. But that KP didn’t know “this” was being written.

Apparently, some Royal Reporters have been hinting that they were the sources themselves. I am not surprised.

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Well that's an interesting development...

[thisenglishlife]

"I would imagine Kate has some acquaintances and false friends, who may not like her*
By this, I meant anyone in the public eye would have people willing to provide negative comments about them in a story. Even they were a good person.

In this case, certain elements of the upper class. In the article, there definitely was a sense of whatever she does (persuits and interests, clothing, figure, voice, decor, etc), she will never be part of our class. Feeds right into the Tatler readership.

Kate's inner circle must be very small and people the Middletons trust entirely.

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Who is the Tatler readership these days though? I don't think it's quite the same as it used to be. And I can't imagine their circulation figures are great.

[thisenglishlife]

Circulation is 79,000

British high society and culture magazine Tatler has the wealthiest readership of all Conde Nast’s publications

[It is known as] the ‘toff bible’

The Tatler audience is certainly wealthy, but its age targeting is a difficult one to pin down. “It was ingrained in me from the moment I started that the Tatler audience was from nine to 99,” said Slesinger. “That’s quite a spread.”

“We get those school kids because we do a fantastic schools guide. They want to see their schools in it. They want to see their parties, their friends, they look online.

“But we also get their grandparents, so it is probably a three-generational spread.”

The average age of the title’s readers is women in their early to mid 40’s, and the publisher is conscious that they need to keep the pipeline fresh by attracting younger readers.

Across print, online and social, Tatler pulls in an estimated 1.2 million readers a month

The website is now pulling in over 400,000 unique users a month. It has also managed to retain its core London demographic online, with 39% of readers based in the capital and the South East.

[AppleKatie]

I’m not surprised she isn’t happy who would be? It wasn’t meant to be even vaguely flattering was it? The may as well have flown a plane with the message:

‘Megs gone so you’re up again Kate, boxing gloves optional’


It’s tiresome

[BlingLoving]

The article isn't pleasant. I think you'll find that if the palace did know, they had no idea about the tone etc. They thought it was going to be a fluff piece. As a rule, when you put someone on the cover the plan isn't to slag them off.

Although I think it is a pity that the palace has come out with a denial so quick. They didn't make any effort to protect Meghan. I suspect it's at least partly because it's a different title - they don't fight against The Mail , Express etc because they know it's not worth it. But still, it doesn't make them look good.

God, I hope Kate is rolling her eyes knowing that none of her real friends are involved and not wondering who is whispering behind her back.

[justasking111]

Wonder if the Cambridges have made anyone redundant within the last few months who is feeling aggrieved so making up stuff for £££

[thisenglishlife]

I think you'll find that if the palace did know, they had no idea about the tone etc. They thought it was going to be a fluff piece. As a rule, when you put someone on the cover the plan isn't to slag them off.
Agreed.

[BlingLoving]

That Tatler statement is disingenuous. The palace isn't denying they knew about the story. They're denying that some of the claims were ever put to them.

It's a grey area frankly. A journalist who has a source who is willing to provide an opinion probably doesn't actually need to offer right of reply on that opinion to the person involved. A journalist who is writing a statement as a fact that they got from a source, arguably absolutely should provide right of reply.

They've been quite careful. Which, if I was Kate/the Palace, I would take even more as a sign of a hatchet job. They've used the negative stuff as direct quotes which, even if the palace did refute, wouldn't negate VF's ability to write it. Theoretically, I could say, "The Earth is flat" and even with 500 scientists going on record to say it's not true, wouldn't change the fact that the publication can choose to simply use my statement in quotes and the "fact" then becomes that I said it. It's why people like Nigel Farage get so much airtime - the idea is that "the other side" has to have the right to be involved, even if the other side is a tiny minority of weirdos and misfits.

Which is what they've done here. Plus, even if they did offer right to reply, how do you refute this kind of stuff? That Carol is exacting and a snob? That Kate is bland? About her accent? It's impossible.

It's also possible that VF thought they would get more from the palace/Kate than they actually did. Which means that a) they're pissed off and b) they're going to be filling in the blanks with anonymous sources.

The sad thing is that so many people will read this and not think about any of this but just think it's all real and absolutely god given truth in all ways.

[thisenglishlife]

The Netflix documentary on Epstein was put up today 🕵️‍♀️

[mrscampbellblackagain]

I read it that tattler have said KP knew they were doing a cover on Catherine but not the content of the article.

I seem to recall Anna Pasternak has form for ummm heavily making up/inventing stuff as her brand of journalism.

[QueenOfTheAndals]

I was right about Anna Pasternak, she was the one who wrote the Diana and James Hewitt book. Published while Diana was still alive too. But I assumed she was a Lady Colin Campbell type who no one really believes?

[mrscampbellblackagain]

I think so Queen - just did the same googling

[thisenglishlife]

Anna Pasternak has also gone on various morning shows and talked about how she doesn't like Meghan.

Anna has a lot of aristo friends, including the Norfolk and polo sets, so is a potential snob.

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Anna is apparently related to Boris so probably thinks she has literary pedigree!

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Boris Pasternak that is, not our esteemed PM!!

[thisenglishlife]

William's documentary (Football, Prince William and our Mental Health) is on tomorrow (BBC One, 8pm).

Part of the documentary is a conversation with former footballer Marvin Sordell. Some quotes:

Prince William is opening up about how becoming a parent was “one of the scariest” moments of his life, and how he and wife Kate Middleton work through their mental health challenges together. In a groundbreaking new documentary, Football, Prince William and our Mental Health, the prince, 37, says that having his three children — Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 5, and Prince Louis, 2 — was his biggest life-changing moment.

In the new film, which airs on BBC One in the U.K. on May 28, the royal sympathizes with former soccer player Marvin Sordell, who suffered from depression and grew up without a father. William recalls the death of his own mother, Princess Diana, during their conversation. Sordell has talked openly about how his mental health challenges impacted his career in football and his personal life. Becoming a father was the hardest time in my life,” he tells William.” You know, I found it really tough . . . I grew up without my father . . . I really struggled with my emotions at that time.

William agrees as he opens up about losing his mom Diana, who died following a car crash in Paris in 1997. “Having children is the biggest life-changing moment, it really is . . . I think when you’ve been through something traumatic in life, and that is like you say, your dad not being around, my mother dying when I was younger, the emotions come back, in leaps and bounds,” William shares.

When Sordell admits that he “found it really tough” when he became a father, the prince says, Me and Catherine, particularly, we support each other and we go through those moments together and we kind of evolve and learn together. I can completely relate to what you’re saying about children coming along — it’s one of the most amazing moments of life, but it’s also one of the scariest.

[CanIHaveAPenguinPlease]

Kate is one of us in the sense that all her friends are Sloanes and aristocrats,’ says one of her group. ‘She’s very much decided that that’s her tribe, even though she wasn’t actually born into that background.’ & referring to Carole as Hyacinth Bucket is just snobbery at its worst.

[LadyEloise]

".....even though she wasn't actually born into that background."

She still managed to capture the prize of that tribe !

[mrscampbellblackagain]

I mean Kate was privately educated and went to Marlborough, she wasn't exactly propping up the bar of the Queen Vic

[AppleKatie]

Exactly she’d be a pretty unusual graduate of Marlboro and St Andrews combined if her friends weren’t sloanes and Aristocrats 🙄

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Even many aristos have 'trade' in their families (particularly if they married into American wealth), so it's really not on to look down on her. Plus her father's side of the family are very staunchly UMC surely?

[thisenglishlife]

True @Applekatie

Although, Kate started at Marlborough in year 9 or 10 (age 14) - she went to a Berkshire school before that (also private though).

[thisenglishlife]

She still managed to capture the prize of that tribe!
William and Harry both found it difficult to find a royal bride (for the upper class/rich women* it wasn't worth the intense scrutiny and lack of privacy when they could marry other rich men and have a far more comfortable life).
*Especially Jecca C, Rose F, Isabella AGC, Rose, Cressida B, Chelsea D