THE TIMES: Where is Kate? The royal family attracts more speculation by the day

[TallerSally]

On today's front page, the Times' Kate Mansey reports on the contrasting approaches taken by KP and BP's comms teams in their handling of the extraordinary situation the RF's currently in. It kicks off with the current host of the US's Daily Show (formerly hosted by the formidable Jon Stewart) asking some questions:

"While the King hosted friends and met world leaders, the Palace’s reluctance to comment on the Princess of Wales’s condition has created a rising sense of panic
One of America’s most popular TV comedy programmes was asking the question that had captured the nation. It was not about the Super Tuesday primary contests ahead of the US elections, or the State of the Union address, which elicited an exaggerated yawn from the presenter.

Instead, The Daily Show’s Ronny Chieng turned to look straight into the camera to ask: “Where is Kate Middleton? Where are you, Kate?”

There was no rush to provide reassurance this week from the Prince of Wales, who appeared to begin his working week on Friday with a visit to the Oval cricket ground for his Earthshot environmental campaign. Aides said that William had been busy all week, just not in a way that was visible to the public.

The King was doing the opposite. Away from public duties on doctors’ orders while he undergoes cancer treatment, the monarch had been expected to take this week as scheduled time off. Despite being told to “slow down” by the Queen, who took her own advice and flew to sunnier climes for a few days of relaxation, the King was ramping up.

He was photographed meeting world leaders and ambassadors from his living room at Buckingham Palace. Away from the cameras, he hosted friends who rallied round for afternoon tea and dinner dates. He insisted on the “more public” option of travelling between Buckingham Palace and his more comfortable private quarters at Clarence House in the State Bentley, so that he could “be seen”. Quite what the Queen made of it all from her sun lounger is anyone’s guess, but there are those in the palace who have an idea."

A tongue-in-cheek piece, but raises some interesting questions: have KP messed up the comms around Kate? and William? What is really going on with them? Why is the Royal family-funding public kept in the dark for so long, when usually not a couple of days go by without us having some nicely staged photo of some kind from Kensington Palace?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/where-is-kate-prince-william-king-charles-cancer-khktpx9bm

Did she?! It was so grainy, like it had been taken on a camera from the 1970s, that I honestly couldn't tell.

It wasn't paparazzi, it was a staged photoshoot.

Apologies is there another photo?

Because obviously a staged photoshoot doesn't normally involve an extreme long lense and result in an extremely grainy image that renders the subjects barely recognisable!

That doesn't mean that every single citizen within the country and outside it is entitled to know all about her personal medical details.

Yes, that would be the worst "photo shoot" ever! 😂

have KP messed up the comms around Kate? and William?

No.

What is really going on with them?

Who knows?

Why is the Royal family-funding public kept in the dark for so long, when usually not a couple of days go by without us having some nicely staged photo of some kind from Kensington Palace?

KP has said she's had surgery, is recovering and will be around at Easter, maybe a bit later. What is so difficult about that that people can't get? people are so used to instant gratification and not being told no, you can't have what you want right now.

We have been told she will be out of action until Easter, I'm not sure how much more people need

Think everyone needs to leave the woman alone!

I’m not panicking.

She is alone! Apart from her staff, family etc. None of us have even seen a credible photo of her, much less had opportunity to annoy her in person.

This isn't a direct quote

The King is the actual Head of State, so has a clear constitutional role, for which he has been waiting all his adult life. I can see why he does not want to step away from that for too long, despite what is happening medically.

The Princess of Wales is basically a wife and mother. Her role is not defined in the same kind of way. Much easier to step back from.

Also, if she isn't feeling well- and isn't looking well- there would be a whole lot of unpleasant discussion about that, and photos that would never be removed from social media. Another incentive to step back.

Where is Kate?

Couldn't give a monkey's 🐒

Dont be ridiculous, you know exactly what i meant!

All a storm in a teacup though of course one understands that there are pearl clutchers out there that worry incessantly about a woman who is receiving the very best of the best in every aspect of life and has never been known as a grafter! She is chilling out at home in luxury with her full complement of household staff and happy she hasn't got to do 2 engagements a week or whatever 'onerous' duties she has to undertake like a pit pony who never gets a break! 🙄

How many speculative bloody threads on MN are there going to be before people get the message that the Princess of Wales has been through major surgery ? The Palace has said she’s not back on public duties until after Easter. Why can’t people accept that and leave her in peace to recover ?

This brings to mind visions of Hollywood stars being wheeled out of exclusive Swiss clinics in fur coats, sunglasses and a turban shouting 'Marvellous darling!' when the waiting paps asked how they were 😂

No. But SM interest and the press trying to make a mystery of her disappearance from public life doesn’t help does it ? She’s had major surgery. She might be a royal but she’s also a human being. Maybe she just needs to be left alone while she’s not feeling or looking her best.

Why ? That’s not a comparison at all.

What on earth makes you think she's shut up indoors for half a year 🙄

no plans today presumably Op?! 😆

Or the Daily Mail pointing reader to the TMZ website to view the photos because they weren’t authorised by KP.

Isn't it just the same as saying "inshallah"? It's a sort of touch wood thing.

Yes I think that too. The Late Queen at 21 pledged her life “be it long or short” to serving the people as she put it. I don’t think that meant she thought she was going to die imminently. And realistically, the King knows he’s not going to have a 70 year reign like his mother given his age on ascending the throne. So he was talking about making the most of his reign which is inevitably going to be short compared to hers

Perhaps the poor woman has recieved a threat of some kind and its been taken seriously by the protection services . Perhaps one of his unhinged relatives , has been threatening her ,perhaps she's finally been driven to despair by the battle with the relatives and worrying about her husband and kids safety ,on top of the op and after effects . Perhaps she's tired of being in the spotlight , and recovering is giving her the perfect reason to regroup and re assess her life and that of her children. Perhaps she's having a nervous breakdown , god knows she has enough reason

Erm, let me see...hasn't been seen anywhere since Christmas (bar one singular much demanded grainy "proof of life" pic that many people are saying isn't even her) and her press office came down luck a ton of bricks on the government department that dared to suggest she might attend a public engagement in June. That's six months.