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.

@SnottyLottie

I honestly just hate the misogyny of it all. Not even including the thinly veiled racism. I’ve seen all sorts of things alluded to about Doria. That she did drugs, jail time etc. Nothing to actually prove this of course, just speculation carefully worded to stop law suits. She has been nothing but the model of quiet dignity. Yet Thomas causes all this drama, heartbreak and humiliation and he gets painted as the loving, wronged father by certain aspects of the media.

Then you have the whole Carole Middleton portrayed as a scheming Mrs Bennet type (a la Pride & Prejudice) who is a social climber only interested in trying to marry her daughters off to wealthy men and how she pushed Kate into William’s path. The whole ‘toilet gate’ drama which was people making fun of her for not being posh enough to be mingling with the royal family because she was a flight attendant and sneer middle class 🙄 Yet you never hear the same being said about Michael. They all went wild about Pippa Middleton after she wore that bridesmaid dress but no one gives a toss about the brother. He clearly doesn’t sell papers!

When Mike Tindall is caught ‘dwarf tossing’ or Harry is playing naked pool it is lauded as them being ‘lads’ and down to earth. But God forbid that Eugenie puts a bit of weight on or Beatrice wears a terrible frock, they will be ridiculed and humiliated across the media. Who remembers the Ugly Step Sisters meme that went around after Kate and William’s wedding?

The media originally played the brothers’ fallout as a row between the wives at first because obviously women are catty and bitchy. Diana’s golden boys could never fall out with each other by themselves it has to be down the jealous meddling wives🙄

It will be Lady Louise’s turn soon. I’ve already seen unkind comments about her eyes and the photo of her bridesmaid dressing blowing up at H&M’s wedding.

This is very well said Snotty.

It seems to me that the Royals are complicit though, and throw the women to lions. Any woman who joins that family has a price of admission to pay comprised of total, utter, and unrelenting public humiliation from them and every female member of their family. They all go through it - the Middeltons, Parker Bowles, Wessex, Markles. Horrible.

They (the Royal men) never step in that senario when clearly they could.

They seem like such a corrupt, selfish, whiny, self absorbed bunch with good art, nice houses and a huge benefits check.

'They all go through it - the Middeltons, Parker Bowles, Wessex, Markles. Horrible'

Exactly, they do all go through it, having said that it isn't just the women, wasn't Prince Philip mocked for years called the Greek, a nazi and worse. The key seems to be to rise above it and ignore, like Prince Philip did. Once you start a public spat it just fuels the fire.

Also Prince Charles has been a figure of derision for years too, what with tampongate etc.

@SnottyLottie

I honestly just hate the misogyny of it all. Not even including the thinly veiled racism. I’ve seen all sorts of things alluded to about Doria. That she did drugs, jail time etc. Nothing to actually prove this of course, just speculation carefully worded to stop law suits. She has been nothing but the model of quiet dignity. Yet Thomas causes all this drama, heartbreak and humiliation and he gets painted as the loving, wronged father by certain aspects of the media.

Then you have the whole Carole Middleton portrayed as a scheming Mrs Bennet type (a la Pride & Prejudice) who is a social climber only interested in trying to marry her daughters off to wealthy men and how she pushed Kate into William’s path. The whole ‘toilet gate’ drama which was people making fun of her for not being posh enough to be mingling with the royal family because she was a flight attendant and sneer middle class 🙄 Yet you never hear the same being said about Michael. They all went wild about Pippa Middleton after she wore that bridesmaid dress but no one gives a toss about the brother. He clearly doesn’t sell papers!

When Mike Tindall is caught ‘dwarf tossing’ or Harry is playing naked pool it is lauded as them being ‘lads’ and down to earth. But God forbid that Eugenie puts a bit of weight on or Beatrice wears a terrible frock, they will be ridiculed and humiliated across the media. Who remembers the Ugly Step Sisters meme that went around after Kate and William’s wedding?

The media originally played the brothers’ fallout as a row between the wives at first because obviously women are catty and bitchy. Diana’s golden boys could never fall out with each other by themselves it has to be down the jealous meddling wives🙄

It will be Lady Louise’s turn soon. I’ve already seen unkind comments about her eyes and the photo of her bridesmaid dressing blowing up at H&M’s wedding.

I really hope Lady Louise will not be the focus of the tabloids. She looks like she’s had quite a sheltered bringing, at least from how she dresses. I think she’ll lead a low profile life.

@Roussette

He was scowling at the press not the Fijians!

Correct.

And every interaction shown of Harry and the Fijans, he looked friendly towards them. Don't know why posters are pretending he was scowling at the Fijans.

As for the reporters crammed in a flight. Maybe they can ask their editors for better flights. They are there doing a job they can take or leave. It benefits the journalists to be that close to the royals. Maybe if they did their jobs properly and not lie so much, no one would be sulking.

I'm really learning to appreciate Kate Middleton for never lowering herself into being goaded by the press and I particularly enjoy how she pisses off the press by always behaving well and saying the right thing. It must be utterly frustrating for them if the worst they can accuse her of is using her hair to shield her face!

The 'we will get her for shading her face' thing is absolutely ridiculous.
KM is clearly a private person. I am not sure I would admire her for towing the line - it makes things worse, the press even less respectull if they know they can bully you into submission.

'am not sure I would admire her for towing the line - it makes things worse, the press even less respectull if they know they can bully you into submission.'

It doesn't make it worse though does it, they move on find another target. Some in the media are like bullies they just want a reaction. If they don't get one they find someone who will give them one. Scowling, glaring H plays right into their hands.

We are still a long way to go.
With H&M gone away, likely they will go back to their last victim, unless one appears shortly. It does not look like there will be one anytime soon. Long way for George to get married, and they hardly go too hard on royal born.

I thought how spoilt and surly Harry was. He really loathes the press but seems to have little understanding of how much of his life was a symbiotic relationship

He's always struck me as "the little boy who couldn't protect his mum", who seems to have bought Diana's narrative of the entire thing wholesale. Of course he was scowling at the press rather than his hosts, but without doubt he could have put a better face on it (like Kate did in Malaysia after the topless pics had been published)

As for why the palaces got shirty, we haven't seen the second part yet - though TBF neither have they
However I suspect it's not so much what was said as that it was said at all, and without their input at that

but without doubt he could have put a better face on it (like Kate did in Malaysia after the topless pics had been published)

Like KM did at the commonwealth function at Westminster Abbey?
Seriously, I highly doubt anyone, the cw or us at home thought she must be scowling at us.

It was quite telling when someone said, if we are reporting positively about you, doesn't mean we like you. Or something along those lines.

Tbh it looked like he was scowling at the ceremony so how were the Fijiin people supposed to know who it was directed to? Anyway, what’s the point of a royal tour if you don’t have press?

I thought how spoilt and surly Harry was. He really loathes the press but seems to have little understanding of how much of his life was a symbiotic relationship

Yes he did look surly. Not appropriate for the situation but it does show just how unhappy he was. Watching last night I actually think the press were even worse than I'd realised. I knew something about the hacking scandal but hadn't fully comprehended how awful that must have been. And it's not much of a symbiotic relationship if you're born into it and have no choice in the matter.
I think he has every reason to hate the media and he's clearly an emotional person who doesn't always cope well with it all. He's made no secret about struggling. I'm wondering why he was so upset on this particular occasion in Fiji?

On the other hand, by their own admission, the media went easy on him for years eg not publishing the Vegas pictures. If he really felt so strongly about the press, why did he quit his army career to become a full time royal? There would have been no avoiding the press then.

Someone high up from the army explained that it was getting harder and harder for Harry to do any tours, since the press leaked his whereabouts. It was putting other soldiers lives in danger.

I knew all about the Vegas stories? At least I thought so?

Yes I completely understand that part. There are other roles in the army. Former soldiers also find rewarding careers in civilian life as they have a lot to offer. H didn’t have to do the full time royal role if he felt so strongly about the royal press pack and the scrutiny that goes with it.

After combat, I imagine doing projects like Invictus, Sentebale, saving elephants etc. probably seem more fulfilling than sitting behind a desk for him.

@Roussette

I knew all about the Vegas stories? At least I thought so?

The Vegas trip was well covered. Pics of Harry at the hotel, at the pool etc. The sun even had a lookalike naked, holding his privates for illustration.

Fair point about Kate at the Commonwealth service, rubics - though I suppose that at least, in that case, there was very little doubt as to what she was looking grim about
Maybe, with H&M gone, it was also dawning on her that she and William might actually have to do more work?

Which brings me back to what the palaces may have disliked about the programme ... even if it was denied, I don't suppose they'd enjoy the thing about "lazy William" being raised again

rubics yes, I thought I wasn't imagining it.

@Aspiringmatriarch

I thought how spoilt and surly Harry was. He really loathes the press but seems to have little understanding of how much of his life was a symbiotic relationship

Yes he did look surly. Not appropriate for the situation but it does show just how unhappy he was. Watching last night I actually think the press were even worse than I'd realised. I knew something about the hacking scandal but hadn't fully comprehended how awful that must have been. And it's not much of a symbiotic relationship if you're born into it and have no choice in the matter.
I think he has every reason to hate the media and he's clearly an emotional person who doesn't always cope well with it all. He's made no secret about struggling. I'm wondering why he was so upset on this particular occasion in Fiji?

Why then did he CHOOSE to be a full time working Royal? He didn’t have to do it. No one forced him. He wasn’t one before Meghan came along. If you sign up to do a Royal tour, Press go with the territory. Also if he hated the media so much, why is he courting them at every opportunity now? Why not try to live a quiet private life?

The Vegas trip thing ... I can't remember the timescale, but does anyone else know if the images were released at the time he was actually there, or were they "sat on" for a while as RF stories sometimes have been?

Why then did he CHOOSE to be a full time working Royal? He didn’t have to do it. No one forced him. He wasn’t one before Meghan came along. If you sign up to do a Royal tour, Press go with the territory.
Also if he hated the media so much, why is he courting them at every opportunity now? Why not try to live a quiet private life?

Well, he left, didn't he? Because clearly it wasn't working. And I'd say 90% of his life now is spent in complete privacy. The courting the media/ quiet life thing is just rehashed from so many other threads so I'm not going to get into a back and forth about that. There's a much more interesting discussion to be had about the British press IMO .

They were posted within 4 days of him being in Vegas in 2012. So there was no sitting on the story by the press.