'Courtiers' by Valentine Low

[RandomPenguinHouse]

Extracts of this were being discussed on a previous thread ('The Times) which just finished.

I'm interested in buying this book, despite never having ever bought any other book about the Royal Family and never having watched The Crown.

I'm interested however in the archaic rituals of the Royal Court and how it works as an employer, and also how the courtiers advise.

Yes the excerpts were focused on Harry and Meghan but presumably that's just for clicks given the relevant timing, and that the book goes well beyond that.

Poignant that in the synopsis for it on The Foyles website it says:

The Queen, after a remarkable 70 years of service, is entering the final seasons of her reign without her husband Philip to guide her. Meanwhile, Charles seeks to define what his future as King will be, with his court wielding ever greater influence as he plans for his imminent accession.

www.foyles.co.uk/witem/biography/courtiers,valentine-low-9781472290908

Anyone else thinking of buying this?

Agreed.
Surely all the bullied Staff would have signed NDA's?

MM saying ''I think we both know that I am soon to be your boss'' is appallingly arrogant and implies a threat in itself.

She does sound like an impossible person to work with.

For the Aides to be allowed free rein to tell their side of the sorry saga is quite telling.

It would have been granted by somebody who carries a lot of weight and influence.

There had to have been a very good reason for the delay. If it’s true, I would have been livid if it was my mother dying.

Presumably it's not King Charles who has authorised courtiers to speak out as some of the excerpts are less than flattering to him?!

I can’t remember where I read it but was the delay not because they were waiting for Harry ?

That's what I read as well.

I agree. Like a pp I find it the excerpt about Charles far more interesting. Phoning people at 11pm at night? That’s not right unless an emergency.

@Snog it's purely my guess but I'd have thought their NDAs would be watertight.
I don't think Harry, Ed or Ann would have had the authority to authorise it.

It needed to be balanced to a point KC has a temper but rarely directed at people. We saw that with the 'stinking pen, every bloody time' he never actually directed that rant at anyone.

Harry seems a very unhappy, angry, torn individual.
I hope he finds happiness one day.

Harry probably would have been contented on a ranch ''Far from the madding crowd'' just him, the wife and kids somewhere in rural Canada.

But his wife has a very different agenda.

😂😂 that's genius!
Seriously, though, people are making money out of this bitterness and unhappiness, it's profitable for someone.

Absolutely right..KC's ''Bloody pen'' incident was just bluster, not personal {Unless one was the errant writing implement}
KC also reportedly has a temper that flares from 0~60 in milliseconds, then dies down just as fast.

People like that are much easier to deal with {Personally speaking} than bullies.

It seems unfair to me that the children (Edward and Andrew) had to be delayed by a grandchild.

Lawyers?

I wouldn’t put it past Netflix to suggest this suggest this tbh!

I had to rush off for a work thing this morning and am only just returning to the thread. Will have a catch up read in a bit.

But first, I can’t see your thread @SilverLiningPlaybook did you get it taken down? No need to do so for my sake, I would have happily got this deleted.

MM was reported to start emailing and texting at 5.00 . Not acceptable either .

@oakleaffy I agree but then if you believe articles that have come out in recent days he was aware that his time when he could make an impact ended when George becomes 18 and he has been very unhappy about things being taken away from him. I'm not sure he knows what he wants and is like a child that will tantrum whatever happens.

the pp hit the nail on the head with he observation that for M&H the battling is lucrative. What is Harry’s book without revelations and dirt? Nothing. Without interest. Otoh to keep relevant they need to keep the royal thing going, eg attending the Coronation next year, so they have to continually dangle the threat of spilling the beans (or their own recollections) in order t not to be fully ostracised.

The whole becoming irrelevant when George hits 18 makes no sense.

Ann and Edward are both pretty relevant long after William turned 18. William never even became a full-time working royal until he was about 35.

He may be savvy enough by now to understand that his behaviour might be criticised on occasion, but his principles agreed with, and that there is nothing more suspect than an ally who will do nothing but flattery.

I think someone said in an earlier thread that as there are allegations of bullying about the Sussexes, that trumps over the NDAs or something along those lines.

This makes sense. I wonder if there's anyone on here who has experience of these kinds of legal agreements. There must surely be clauses on both sides, which ensure fair and decent treatment. Can't all be going one way, with only the very wealthy and powerful person protected?

LondonWolf from what I have read NDAs are highly unbalanced in favour of the rich and powerful.

Doesn't surprise me 🙄

I think NDA’s are intended to protect confidential aspects of the role, so for example, not disclosing industry information or technologically developments etc. But they’re not intended to take away employees’ rights to certain things such as being bullied. Whistleblowing (when done correctly and with the right intentions) can still happen even if an NDA has been signed. I think that’s right. Or alternatively l’m speaking nonsense!

Yes. Also, a phone call to an aide at 11PM may not be fabulous employment practice but is totally different to ringing someone every 10 minutes (for hours) to angrily berate them, while they are out for the evening. If that is true, it is quite dreadful and true bullying that in most other settings would involve the trade union and tribunals.

That should have read “… not intended to take away employees’ rights to certain things such as NOT being bullied”!

Is anyone seeing any parallels with the Heather Mills-McCartney debacle?

Absolutely!!