BBC The Princes and the Press

[coniferforest]

Did anyone watch this last night? About William and Harry and their different approaches to the press. Last night was part 1 of 2.

I did. I was going to start a thread but you beat me to it . I thought it was interesting and fairly balanced.

The interview with the journalist (private investigator?) who had hacked into Chelsy Davy's phone and gone through her medical records looking to see if she'd had any abortions or STIs was just horrifying. So violating.

I watched it. There was nothing particularly new in it. It’s not surprising that the Royals have a difficult relationship with the press, it must be awful to life under spotlight from birth. It was interesting that Megan Markle had a lawyer to rebuff some negative stories but as usual nothing from the RF. Good on Meghan for speaking up albeit through a representative.

I wondered when there'd be a thread about this ...

I didn't like the presenter's style at all, but found the interviews with the media reptiles interesting. We didn't learn anything we didn't already know, but it was good to get their take on it all the same

Strange that the same reporters who claimed that H&M were lying about the 'invisible contract' were right there, describing it in detail.

I am glad that Dan Wootten came on national TV to say once again that it's the RF that was briefing against H&M.

I did, I didn’t mean too but somehow ended up watching. I actually thought it was sympathetic to the royals and really the tabloid press is appalling, ghastly how Camilla Tominey was still slavering over breaking the story about Harry and Meghan. But the idea that they would lay into Kate and William because she used her hair to deny them a photo is ridiculous.

I found it interesting and to be honest I thought the interviewer Amol Rajan was fairly backseat and not particularly leading the questions, despite what people think about him.

To my mind, it shows how toxic and vile our press are. Hiring PI's to dig into someone's sexual history, Kate's phone being hacked hundreds of times, even on Valentine's day etc.
And yes, Wootten saying what we know... he was briefed from the 'Palace' on H&M.

Oh how Tominey was holding herself back...
And Rachel Johnson... trying to rewrite history and pretend that she wouldn't talk of 'exotic DNA' mixing with pale skin now because times have changed. Yet her article was 4 years ago! That was actually laughable.

We need to remember that her horrible article talked of MM's dreadlocked african american mother from the wrong side of the tracks and sorry Rachel, your article stands in all it's vileness.

Yes, I rolled my eyes at Rachel Johnson myself, but then to use that old quote "She would say that wouldn't she?"

As we've all said on here, the media are mostly the same with hardly a shred of integrity among the lot of them - but it was interesting to see it so nakedly on display

I wonder why the RF was so incensed with it all and issued a statement. Maybe this will become clearer in Ep2 next week.

As we've all said on here, the media are mostly the same with hardly a shred of integrity among the lot of them - but it was interesting to see it so nakedly on display

Agreed. They were quite the cast of grotesques, weren't they?

@Roussette I've just gone to read that Rachel Johnson article. My God, absolutely dripping with coded, backhanded compliments. From the heart of the British establishment.

Woodburner There is difference between 4 years ago and 12 years ago. What he said was absolutely dreadful. And he did attend awareness courses etc. I am not condoning it, I imagine he is filled with remorse about that. Doubt Rachel is.

@Aspiringmatriarch

It's pretty disgusting isn't it? And only 4 years ago. I cannot believe she talks of Doria as a dreadlocked african american woman 'from the wrong side of the tracks'.

She should hang her head in shame, but of course she didn't last night.

I think their comments stand equally. You “imagine” he feels X and you “doubt” she feels X but it is supposition based around how you feel about them as individuals. 12 years doesn’t make it ok. 4 years doesn’t make it ok. They were both racist. What is sauce for the goose etc.

I had no intention of watching it but it was on and I got caught up in it. I think Amol Rajan was excellent, what is it that a pp doesn't like about him?

I have barely paid any attention of the Meghan and Harry, Harry and William stories and it showed many interesting details that I'd previously been unaware of.

Rachel Johnson = brazen faced shoulder shrugging going on there. What the hell does she think has changed in 4 years? .

I missed the start of it and was impressed enough to go back and have another look tonight.

I would like to suggest that anyone who appears to be trying to derail this thread is ignored. It would be nice to have a discussion free from pointless vitriol.

Woodburners We are all allowed opinions on here. Yours and mine may differ.

I think the documentary was made to spite the Royal family for not lying down and playing dead after the horror of the Bashir story came to light.

So many points came out of this episode.

-A disgusting front page that says MM was in a porno, also disparaging another woman of colour (hiding her poppy) and showing Kate as a virtuous white woman (mentioning her poppy). Carefully selected for the same front page.

• MM rubbed up a lot of the courtiers wrong. Which lead to her being briefed against.

• William brought in editors and government communication specialist right after H&M wedding.. Remember Simon Case who organised the budget flight fiasco. He came in at that time, and left right after the exit. Went back to parliament, and could not answer questions during one of the tory sleaze cases. Very political.

• Various editors of newspapers were brought in to meet William.

• Harry stuck a pond in the middle of himself and the media during the engagement announcement.

• Harry addressing the reporters and saying 'Thanks for coming guys, not that you were invited'. I had to laugh at that one.

• Wootten repeating the tiara gate story. What was that about?

• Investigator saying Harry was the new Diana.

• Most of the reporters on this documentary are the ones who write all the lies about Meghan. I think only Scobie and Hunt are neutral.

• The 3 houses at the palace banding together to issue a berating statement for not viewing the advance of the programme. Where was this joint statement when everything was being printed about Meghan?

Next episode looks interesting too, but this programme was done a year ago, before the Oprah interview.

Good summary rubics

And I think we can all agree (whatever your views are of M&H) ... there is so so much we don't know. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We will never really find out what went on.

I only caught the very end of this, but was wondering what the point of the Sussexes' lawyer's presence was. I suppose that in itself that she appeared with their agreement was a statement of some kind, but in the bit I saw all she did was issue flat denials to questions about whether MM bullied her staff.

@AgedVellum

I only caught the very end of this, but was wondering what the point of the Sussexes' lawyer's presence was. I suppose that in itself that she appeared with their agreement was a statement of some kind, but in the bit I saw all she did was issue flat denials to questions about whether MM bullied her staff.

She will be there again next week. But I think the bullying allegations point ties in with when all the reporters are saying the staff were leaking stories about MM. Camilla seemed to imply that these sources were telling the truth, so she is saying the opposite.

@WeeTattieBogle

I think the documentary was made to spite the Royal family for not lying down and playing dead after the horror of the Bashir story came to light.

Funny they issue a threat to The BBC with future co-operation, it's not like William did not do his Earthshot straight after berating them.

A disgusting front page that says MM was in a porno, also disparaging another woman of colour (hiding her poppy) and showing Kate as a virtuous white woman (mentioning her poppy). Carefully selected for the same front page.

I thought that was so interesting. Nothing racist about that front page, you think. Then she showed how it was, by digging under the surface. The choice of imagery and placement of headlines/photos….a subliminal message.

I’m repulsed by the British press and have been for years. National embarrassment.

Yes @rubicscubicle they exploit the fact that the BBC “has to” be comparatively nice to them, as the national broadcaster and relying on the ahem ROYAL CHARTER. So the Royals getting hoity about what is apparently a rather watered-down documentary is just toy-throwing, but may well put the wind up the top brass despite it meaning nothing.