The Press & The Royals: a discussion

[Whaeanui]

As we were just having a great discussion on this topic I’m going to try again to continue it on a thread of its own. A previous thread highlighted two particularly prolific ‘royal reporters’, but the same is true for all. They often manufacture stories to create divisions between the women in the family, more often than the men. The public seem to feed off this and none of the family get treated very well except the monarch. So do we think it is possible for the royal family to stay relevant and in the publics mind without their unhealthy relationship with the media? Can social media replace this? What do you think they can do to make positive changes that would reflect an understanding of the mental health challenges the media intrusion results in? Also their role in charities that deal with mental health and misogyny, mistreatment of women etc could be impacted by this too. Thoughts?
Please do not derail this thread by discussing your personal dislike of particular members or if they deserve it. I would like a discussion on how the royal family could change the relationship with the press.

No need for the sarcasm, Roussette? Also, enough with the stalker allegations. You chose to respond to my general comment with a specific denial directly back at me, and specifically told me I was making stuff up. I’m allowed to defend myself in the face of that accusation, I think.

(Anyway, this is a derail, so I‘lol leave it there).

Harry hasn’t really got a lot going on - he and Meghan haven’t done much since Spare. The odd zoom message. The Court appearances keep him in the news. William doesn’t need this. Once the coronation is done, there will be no more grand occasions for them to attend (or not!). For Harry, what else is there to come - the paperback of Spare I suppose.

Oh can we stop with the personal pile on please? Everyone laughed at the nature of that conversation because it was pretty grim. That does NOT mean people think it’s funny he was hacked.

Unfortunately harry has about 3 court cases ongoing, so we are stuck with hearing from him.

I wonder whether Harry will come now - everything that is coming out - the letters, the settlement details- is going to make it even more uncomfortable. I wonder whether he will be uninvited even?

Not saying he's wrong to pursue the cases at all but I'd rather he stayed in america.

@purpledalmation I suppose that’s his role now - to be in the news - ironic really

@Whaeanui

Not all of us laughed, please don’t hold us all to your standards

I can’t believe that Kate was hacked so many times - I had no idea.

She’s a strong woman to handle that, I don’t know if I could. Surely we can all have sympathy and understand why she’s slow to trust people.

Well he's done nothing but betray trust, private conversations, personal discussions, and splash them all over the media (print/tv etc) for the public to salivate over.

Oh look... its what he's accusing the press of doing! (yes, they have done it and so has he) More harry hypocrisy

@8roses do you actually want to discuss the topic of the thread at all? It seems your posts would be suited to other threads.

Very!

@8roses Watch out. The thread police are at it again!!!!

@polkadotdalmation so you’re just here to derail my thread and make it yet another thread you dominate with nasty comments on Harry? Why? Why can you just not stop it. It’s so childish.

Haha. And you put purpledalmation!! I thought my account was going crazy again. Love it

Just checking Mumsnet talk guidelines.... Nope, nothing about interacting with another posting and having a laugh

@Howsimplywonderful I absolutely feel awful for Kate - she like all other members of the RF, did not and do not deserve this from the media. It’s horrifying. This is absolutely why we need another enquiry - because while I completely understand why William settled, it’s obvious that the press are still doing something (inspite of Leveson) and this will continue ad infinitum unless something stops them. I don’t know if the scorched earth case will - money seems to mean nothing to them - maybe another enquiry.

I didn’t realise that Harry was also part of the claim that William settled initially.

From what I’ve read, they both had the same solicitors, but Harry dropped out and got himself a new solicitor, and started again, while William continued and settled.

I don’t understand how then this settlement is proof then of anything against Harry, or relevant to his case, when he was initially part of the same suit? Unless I’m missing something?

Probably due to their strategy of trying to get the press onside and quietly accepting settlements. It’s such a poisoned chalice.

@skullbabe in terms of politicians and govt, has there been much interest in another inquiry?What would it take?

That’s interesting- maybe our resident law experts can explain if this is indeed relevant.

Agree absolutely and this was the point of my earlier post, nothing to do with the settlement 😊

However, Harry said he was told shortly before
his and the Duchess of Sussex's wedding that "nothing could be done" by Gerrard Tyrrell, who the duke later described as "the institution's
lawyer taking direction from Clarence House". He said: "Shortly before the wedding, we were informed by Gerrard Tyrrell that nothing could be done as NGN were not in a position to apologise to Her Majesty The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family at that stage on account of the fact that, if they did so, they would have to admit that not only was the News of the World involved in phone hacking but also The Sun, and that was something that they couldn't afford to do until the end of the litigation because it would seriously undermine their settlement strategy across all the
other claims." Harry said he understood this conversation took place between Charles' communications secretary
and Ms Brooks.

I’m a little confused by the timeline here, maybe someone can help me.

• so in 2017 William and Harry agree to go after News UK and get the Queen’s approval to do so.

• in 2018 the Queen is willing to write to Murdoch etc and threaten legal action

• but by may 2018 that course of action changes, with Harry being told of a ‘secret deal’ to settle out of court

• presumably this leads to the settlement in 2020 with prince william

did I get this right? So surely Harry will have been invited to take part in the deal, as he was already instigating legal proceedings? Is he saying he turned that down and decided to go his own way?

That is what I think he decided @IronCurtain yes

From what I understand, he’s claiming that the secret deal was made around 2012, and as part of the ‘deal’ the royals agreed they would not sue until later?

Somehow Williams payout is also ‘proof’ of this secret deal, even though it now appears Harry was also originally a joint claimant. It doesn’t really make sense to me