Valentine Low book "Courtiers" Extra chapters for paperback. About statement after Oprah interview

[RYGO]

While they were as concerned as anyone about not getting into a tit-for-tat with Harry and Meghan, William and Kate were clear which side of the debate they were on. “They wanted it toughened up a bit,” said the insider. “They were both of one mind that we needed something that said that the institution did not accept a lot of what had been said.

“He said, ‘It is really important that you guys come up with the right way of making sure that we are saying that this does not stand.’ She was certainly right behind him on it.”

While some have attributed “recollections may vary” to Alderton, more than one source has said that the author was in fact Jean-Christophe Gray, William’s new private secretary, who had been in post for less than three weeks. At least two senior officials in other households were against its inclusion, because they feared that it would rile Harry and Meghan. But once the phrase had been added to the draft, it was — according to another source — the Duchess of Cambridge who pressed home the argument that it should remain. “It was Kate who clearly made the point, ‘History will judge this statement and unless this phrase or a phrase like it is included, everything that they have said will be taken as true.’ ”

This was, said the source, yet another example of how Kate is often far steelier than she appears. The toughened-up draft went to Buckingham Palace for approval, and came back a couple of hours later. The Queen had said yes.

The four-sentence statement was eventually released just before 5.30pm on Tuesday. It said, “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”

In actual real life, tabloid hacks would actually be delighted on negative stories to wrote about 2 RF members at the same time.

It was so clever. It got quoted everywhere. It's still quoted for many other situations, nothing to do with the royals and everytime it is, people's minds go back to Harry lying. I'm sure they never foresaw that happening so maybe an unintended consequence. But it was sheer brilliance.

But this wasn't a row between two family members. It was family members using a very public forum to make very serious accusations about other family members, knowing they were highly unlikely to respond. So your analogy doesn't work.

The other thing that was genius was that Harry arranged for the cameras to be at his house the day after the interview so they could film him crying or shouting at any harsh comeback. But it was basically a lovebomb and it took the legs from under them.

Kate didn’t come up with the phrase, it was someone else. However by pressing for its inclusion she’s now inextricably linked with it. That woman is worth her weight in printer ink.

I've always thought that Kate has a core of steel and is a master at the long game. I've never really understood why so many here seem to think that unless she expresses her 'opinions' publicly, that means she's some sort of bland airhead. We don't need to hear everyone's opinions about everything. But that doesn't mean they don't have opinions.

Can someone please point me in the direction of those "placed" stories we were apparently being fed?

Yes please can someone list the stories placed in the press by the palace to undermine Harry and Meghan?

Yep it was a stroke of genius from the palace, it’s gone down in history now.

Let's face it, the OW interview was a masterclass at insinuation without substance.

And then the response of 'recollections may vary' was inspired.

Because there wasn't anything of substance to address, lots of hints but no facts that could be given a response.

Yes, it was basically a posh way of saying 'Pants on fire!'

Pure genius.

And perfectly fitted to an interview where nothing was actually alleged in enough detail to investigate, but enough to smear

So why did MM and Harry fall out with W&K then?

It's a shame given how close Harry once was to Kate. I hope that they can all sort it out one day.

I thought that Harry didn't like William telling him to take some time before marrying Meghan which Harry felt was undermining to his relationship and implied William didn't trust her. That William didn't back his stance against the press telling them to leave M alone. Although William did issue a statement too.
He didn't like that William believed the rumours that Meghan was a bully... ignoring the fact that William worked out of the same office and spoke to all the same workers.
Then there was all the jealousy over houses and nonsense,about lip gloss and bridesmaid dresses and baby brain....
And then Harry decided William was leaking stories about him.
But actually, it looks like Harry has always been a bit resentful and jealous about William and so it's inevitable that whenever he thinks something is going badly for him, he believes it's because of some inherent favouritism towards William.

Yes to all this. I read that what the Sussexes truly wanted was to be the public face of the monarchy, doing the high profile glam work, while the Cambridges did the more boring work as the official king and queen.

But actually, it looks like Harry has always been a bit resentful and jealous about William and so it's inevitable that whenever he thinks something is going badly for him, he believes it's because of some inherent favouritism towards William
I think this is exactly what’s going on, and Harry doesn’t take responsibility for anything whatsoever if he can blame someone else (tabloids/courtiers/the royal family/William etc ad nauseum)
I can’t imagine what it must be like living with him, I just hope that sooner or later he shuts up and gets on with carving a life in the USA.

I think that if/when the niche media turn on Kate more, then this ‘recollections may vary’ will become a stick to beat her with.

She’ll be portrayed as vindictive and unforgiving, unfair or similar. At moment she’s strong, a quiet power etc.

So often, they put the married-in-women out there and then they are the ones who get to take the fall. Build them up, tear them down.

People think that couldn’t happen to Kate because she’s been there so long and the public wouldn’t believe it of her. But power of the media is so strong when it comes to forming opinions, and then changing them.

we really have no idea what Kate is like. We have an idea of her. I like the idea I have of Kate. I hope that will not change should the senior royals or the media decide to turn against her.

on the plus side the are very good at building people up again, after tearing them down, after building them up.

Catherine has been called worse and been treated worse by the media. It's not like the negative articles wl about her have completely stopped, it's just that she never takes the media bait and ignores the negativity. She basically grey rocks the media unless she has to engage them in official royal activities. She doesn't play the victim or the damsel in distress despite all the crap that's been thrown at her.

I have no dout that when she gets torn down again, she will remain calm cool and collected, seemingly above it all, a real queen in the making.

Well, we will see.

Kate has not been treated worse by the media.

Apart from the volume of bullying critical sexist articles written about Meghan, Kate has never experienced anything like the Clarkson Shame piece of vile vomitus.

I mean, no one can deny that was the worst, right?

I dunno. Disgusting words vs illegally taken naked photos splashed around the world.

I think those photos would have caused me more distress. Knowing people I was speaking to had seen me naked. But we're all different. Meghan was upset when someone took a photo of her fully dressed walking the dogs. You'd think she'd be extremely upset if someone flew a drone to her bedroom window and videoed her getting undressed. But maybe not. Maybe she'd have preferred that to being written about in a disgusting way. But, like I say, we're all different. And both were awful things to happen.

I think I read Kate was name called harassed by the press, called slut, whore, to provoke a response. To her face, & had naked photos taken of her. Think that was as bad as what Clarkson wrote actually.

But as always on here, for some, it’s always got it be worse for Meghan.

Personally I always think Sarah had it worse.

Kate has a stable loving supportive family and that what grounds her imo. Her mum and dad seem normal people and she clearly gets on well with them all so she has a shield against whatever the press might say about her. And she is giving that gift to her own children too.
plus I actually think the press like and appreciate her and what she brings to the royal family so unless she goes utterly mad with power or something there will just be nothing “bad” to write about her. Sone journalists might have negative opinions sometimes but so what? Hillary mantle wrote a very mean piece about her a few years ago for example. Meghan would have sued. Kate just ignored and gets on with the job.

If you think Hilary Mantel was being "mean" then either you didn't read the article or you are lacking in critical thinking/reading comprehension skills 🙄

Tend to agree - Sarah and Camilla had it the worst, but Sophie at the time of the fake sheikh was right up there too