Part 2: The Press & The Royals a discussion

[Whaeanui]

Following on from this thread: Part 1 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_royal_family/4786923-the-press-the-royals-a-discussion?page=1

As we know, the press often manufacture stories to create divisions between the women in the family, more often than the men. They have also hacked private communications, with cases ongoing. The public seem to feed off this and none of the family get treated very well except the monarch-although not always.

For discussion: 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, and how can they achieve that? How will previous and current legal proceedings alter the relationship?
Please do not intentionally derail this thread by discussing your personal dislike of particular family members or if they deserve it. I would really like to continue this discussion on how the royal family and the press interact, as above.

I don’t think they should get a free pass either. I probably veer to the side of sympathy with them stemming from how the press has treated them and having Andrew as their father. But you’re right over the Epstein thing. I’m assuming they were adults at the time?

Oh yes. It's very incestuous. Simon Case for instance. William's previous Private Secretary. He is back and forth between RF and Government. Now on sticky ground as Cabinet Secretary and is being urged to quit. He'll be back working for Willliam in no time betcha.

@Roussette oh that guy Simon Case is awful! Did you read his WhatsApp with Hancock?! Just a horrible man. I would hate for him to go back working for William, I hope that doesn’t happen.

I thought the dominant narrative was that Harry was lying when he said members of the family leaked and planted stories about him

Have read Spare and watched all his documentaries. I believe him. He's brutally honest - just like his mum.

Whaeanui I'm pretty sure - though I'd have to check - that one of the corrupt Turk's "donations" was towards Beatrice's wedding, at which time she was obviously an adult

It's not even just Andrew who's implicated here but their mother as well, given that she herself took loans from Epstein and very likely others too. As said I try to keep an open mind on the girls' involvement, but sometimes it's not easy with that particular family

@Puzzledandpissedoff yes I agree. I haven’t read much on it so I’m going to check it out later.

Every public figure, whether it's the royals, celebrities, even politicians brief and do deals with the press to have better coverage. Both he and his wife briefed the press (and probably still do today). I'm shocked that so many people are shocked by that fact. Why do you think all these people have PR and communications teams for?

It's a dirty game but it's always been there and it'll always be there. Long before Harry was born and it'll still be here decades from now.

As for Harry, I'm struggling to understand what his end goal is. What does he want? Does he want to sue the press constantly so that they won't talk about him ever again?

Is he mad because he wanted the RF to protect him by censoring the press and keep his "youthful scandals" secret?

Or is he just desperate for money?

We'll see if he has some sort of evidence because all we've had for the past 2-3 years are baseless accusations from H&M

As for Harry, I'm struggling to understand what his end goal is. What does he want? Does he want to sue the press constantly so that they won't talk about him ever again?

There's a big difference between co-operation with the police and underhand practices like phone hacking. Surely him joining with other well known names to hold MNG to account is a good thing?

It could affect you one day.

@Puzzledandpissedoff in reading about Fergie taking Epstein’s help and money, it says it came to light in 2011. That’s obviously after his convictions and time in prison, but when did she accept it? Before 2008? Do you know?

Or is he just desperate for money?

If he was desperate for money he would've taken a payout like William did.

He didn't.

You should be applauding him not criticising him. This group of people are very brave.
#GoHarry.

As for Harry, I'm struggling to understand what his end goal is. What does he want? Does he want to sue the press constantly so that they won't talk about him ever again?

Have you read anything about his 3 cases? They involve other people too. It’s about unlawfully obtaining private info. So that’s surely something you would be against and want anyone to pursue? Baroness Lawrence is also accusing ANL, for instance.

A lot of those in hacking cases want Leveson 2.

Blimey. Bea’s wedding was tiny wasn't it? Wasn’t it a sort of lockdown minute family only thing? It won’t have been like they needed to pay for a venue or the dress!

Exactly where did I say that the phone hacking was a good thing?

I wasn't talking about the hacking, I was talking about Harry's claims that his family brief the media but what he doesn't seem to understand is that it is bigger than the RF. The relationship between the Palace, big institutions, celebrities, politicians and the press has always been there

No one knows.

I honestly don't know that, Whaeanui - I have to adoit that, when I heard about it, it was a case of head in hands and "Oh god not something else" rather than remembering the actual date

I thought Epstein was dead when Beatrice got married? Must check the dates.

Yes he died in 2019, Beatrice got married in 2020. Eugenie got married in 2018.

Bea’s wedding was tiny wasn't it? Wasn’t it a sort of lockdown minute family only thing?

Yes it was, which is why I thought the thing of Turk's "donation" supposedly being for this was a bit thin

Intriguing excuse though, if not terrible well thought out ...

I thought Epstein was dead when Beatrice got married?

Right idea but wrong dodgy donor - it was Selman Turk's "donation" which was reportedly for Beatrice's wedding rather than Epstein's

Here you go ... https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/03/prince-andrew-the-banker-and-a-mystery-750000-wedding-gift

BTW it turns out Fergie also got money from Turk - what's that I was saying about a cesspit?

Oh that explains it, I've never heard of Selman Turk so assumed the dodgy donor would be Epstein and didn't even notice the name. Her wedding didn't look very expensive.

I've noticed that there seems to be increasing use of lip readers to report on private conversations e.g. King Charles in his carriage, Harry talking to the husband of either Eugenie or Beatrice. That seems very distasteful.

Thanks all. So yes, it was a wedding gift rather than to help pay for it. It is all a bit messy and 🤦🏾‍♀️ @Puzzledandpissedoff and there’s so much borrowing and gifting of large sums of money to the royals! I get Fergie was in debt but couldn’t Andrew help instead of a convicted child abuser? Why are people giving Andrew money? It’s all so messy and grubby.

I suppose it's like someone paying for Boris Johnson's wallpaper, it probably doesn't seem much if you have billions. Bit like you giving a hard up friend £50.