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

Why was the denial unnecessary?
Maybe that was the truth.

He possibly didn’t even realise it was different events - lots of the reporters discussing it on tv certainly don’t seem to have known. All three are Trooping the Colours technically, but only the third one is the Sovereign’s birthday parade. That’s the one we see on tv with the carriages and balcony appearances.

the first two are normally attended by certain royals who have honorary ranks with the regiments involved. So you can usually work out who should be there by that, but it’s never confirmed until nearer the time.

Tbh the quality of reporting over this has been extremely poor, to say the least.

True, but it would have quelled a TON of speculation, possibly the entire drama if there hadn't been a statement and the public would have assumed it was somehow related to that. I was also shocked at the graphic detail the press were given following the death. I always thought it was illegal for the media to report on the exact methods used for suicide, as it's potentially very triggering for people in a MH crisis. No idea why they were given the permission to public such lurid detail, including a precise timeline and location, about such a high profile person.

It almost felt like the tragedy was fed to the press in an attempt to deflect the terrible PR coming from KP. Maybe it worked for a day or two but clearly not longer.

Aren't inquests public?.

Are you referring to the racially aggravating earrings in your last part of this comment?

if so, your privilege is showing

Again, I think bad motives are being speculated here as much as anything else. I can only speak for myself, but KM has always been a "fellow mum" figure for me - George is just a few months older than my own son - and I'm genuinely concerned that all might not be as it seems. I'm more inclined to assume that most of the non-party-line people here feel similar, than ascribe unfounded negative motivations to them.

Wait, are YOU the KP PR? If so that might explain why you're failing to get your head around this.
🤗

Maybe it literally is just that William had decided to be private and mean it as opposed to his brother who has a different meaning of private? I expect Kate will be back at the helm in a while and no one will still be the wiser.

Ridiculous

My assumption, because it’s the most obvious explanation for 3 months totally out of the public eye, is it’s a mental health issue. I think most people can figure that out too, which is why all the speculation is so unpleasant.

This thread is something else but this is a real corker - all the speculation is so unpleasant, but it's completely fine for you to post your assumption that she has a mental health problem, based on nothing?

I was actually thinking of the time Kate wore a “headpiece” instead of a tiara to the Coronation; and Meghan being refused her choice of tiara for her wedding, and Kate allegedly wearing to Archie’s christening the earrings that Diana wore to Harry’s christening. It’s all bonkers. I’m not sure what racially aggravated earrings you are talking about, or what privilege.

Yes , surely if she or the children were at risk then they wouldn't be going to school?
I just hope she is okay. I do think it's worrying that they've kept her condition secret and it's such a long recovery period.
King Charles looks amazing, considering but let's hope he's not overdoing things.
I think it's probably hard as a Royal to spend time recovering but at the same time being so absent that the public start to worry/speculate.

Meghan said she was happy with her choice of tiara. In Spare, Harry recounts the occasion when they went to BP choose one. He recalls the late Queen telling Meghan that she really suited wearing one. No complaints about the lack of choice. It seemed to be quite a pleasant experience.

I do think that all this secrecy about Kate health is indicative of something far more serious and unexpected

KP approach to Kate’s condition is so similar to the approach taken by Michael Schumacher’s family after his accident. I do wonder if they are keeping things secret to give Kate some time to recover but do not want to give updates to avoid being seen as liars if Kate doesn’t get back to normal.

That's exactly why it's a rumour. So we'll see when the time comes but as the purpose of the thread stated, the entire PR surrounding Kate has been truly cocked up anyway.

There is a difference between PR and information. Hard as it may be to accept for some people, KP don’t seem to be looking to use the medical situation of the Princess of Wales in any strategic way. They are just informing the public that she is unwell,and when she is likely to be back.

Oh fgs! They said she’s had surgeryand an expected return time. People are just bloody nosey is all. Sad

Monarchy by Tik Tok - it's the modern way

😂

In which case there will be a statement on or around 28 March (last working day before Easter) giving an update, in line with the undertaking to update when there is something significant to say.

The Palace must feel like the parent of a tantrumming toddler sometimes - because no matter how hard they shout, it's important not to cave on important boundaries.

Keeping personal health matters private unless/until the person affected is ready to say more is an important boundary

There were no updates from a royal source. There was an official statement from KP saying she would be out of action until Easter and equally stating that there would be no regular updates. Which is where we still are. So TikTok rumours are just pissing in the wind

Speaking as someone who has had major abdominal surgery - 3 months is what is needed to be able to re engage with work with a lot of travelling and being on your feet all day.

However, it is mystifying as to why we can’t be told what sort of surgery she is having. Unless it is something serious like cancer or liable to go wrong and they don’t want that on top of the King’s diagnosis.

If she’s had a hysterectomy, bowel resection or something else it would be beneficial to just talk about it - would give support to those going through it, and stop the gossip.

The fact that the king could talk about his prostate, but the Princess of Wales can’t discuss her issue is baffling.

To be bloody nosey is a very human instinct. The Royal Family have worked hand in hand with the tabloids for decades to encourage us to be bloody nosey.

But the way KP is handling this is increasing speculation - hardly helping the PoW, the bloody nosiness when she returns will be unbearable - and turning it almost into a national emergency.

I can think of plenty of situations where nosiness (or less negatively, curiosity) is a positive quality. I'm not sure a situation where a husband/father is the only member of a nuclear family seen in public, or even communicating in writing, for months on end is one we should be discouraging people from asking questions about. If it was Darren and Nicola down the road I'd be saying the same thing.

Why? She doesn’t want to talk about it yet. She may well talk about it when she is feeling up to it. It is her decision. She doesn’t have to do the same as the King. Also, he is the King and is therefore more important as actual head of state.

The Wales’ house at Windsor is on the Home Park surrounding Windsor Castle which is (a) private and (b) a secure estate, guarded by the police. So unless there are photographers staking out all gates all the time, yes it’s quite likely people can visit there without being photographed. Harry managed it while QEII was alive too, remember?