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

No more odd than insisting that a grainy photo of the Princess of Wales”does nothing to quell rumours of a divorce” as you have said previously. I was merely wondering if you would apply the same logic to the Sussexes when rumours about the state of their marriage rear their ugly heads. It’s ok to speculate about the state of a marriage and a family with children is it then? Or is it only ok if it is William and Catherine?

edited typo

I think Kate has had some sort of surgery that involves a lifestyle change which is why she needs so much time off - colostomy is what jumps out at me. But something that involves an extra long time out of the public eye to adapt. And also something that you don’t necessarily want in the public domain for ongoing scrutiny. I can’t see anything else that fits except this.

Another note to those saying "She's recovering in peace and wants absolutely no contact with the press or public". I would argue the frenzy of speculation that's going on right now, by extremely established sources like The Times, is many times more humiliating and degrading that whatever the truth of the medical matter was. Even if it was bowel related, it's nothing that nobody hasn't heard of before. Same for the treatment. People would actually sympathise with whatever she went through instead of their plan which is to presumably to whisk her out at Easter looking as immaculate and perfect as ever.

Now there are viral images of her with Photoshopped BBLs all over Twitter and Tiktok. That would never have happened if KP had better control of the narrative and not gone on record to tell the public to shut up and listen to their first message, instead of clarifying things or even acknowledged the well-wishes (a metaphorical card-reading moment like Charles did).

Blimey. Someone speaking some coherent truth here. Well done.

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.

It’s major surgery which can take many months to recover from and manage. I totally get why she doesn’t want to go public. It’s up to her whether she does later. It’s not gynae or pregnancy related.

Is it within the guidelines to tell or imply another poster shouldn’t comment on certain aspects of a subject? Also not sure it’s ok to re-introduce something which another poster said on a different thread (or in this case didn’t say, since all I said elsewhere was God those two look glum, if this photo was organised by KP (as a few people had mooted) then that’s not going to chase away rumours of divorce). No idea about the state of Harry’s marriage though, but then I haven’t heard rumours about him cheating or shouting or throwing things.

Exactly.

I think it’s going to be a bit weird when she reappears. She may be even more popular than ever; like a cult figure risen from the dead. People will be scrutinising her.

Of course she may never reappear. She may well have had enough and has made an exit from RF.

Rings soooooo true!

Now there are viral images of her with Photoshopped BBLs all over Twitter and Tiktok. That would never have happened if KP had better control of the narrative and not gone on record to tell the public to shut up and listen to their first message, instead of clarifying things or even acknowledged the well-wishes (a metaphorical card-reading moment like Charles did)

I had no idea about this, it is indeed super-degrading, for Kate as an human being and princess, and for the entire RF brand. So embarrassing.

Sounds like an PR disaster, one for future courses on how NOT to do PR.

And entirely avoidable…

If it was organised by KP, they surely wouldn’t have released a photo of them looking glum.
My point about your posts was that you are constantly implying that the Wales’ are heading for a divorce, and that it’s generally frowned upon to speculate on the state of anyone’s marriage on MN. Posters have often been (rightly) slapped down for doing it. And it’s disingenuous to say all you said was they look glum. Because you then linked it to rumours of a divorce which was quite a leap unless you deliberately wanted to raise the subject.

No one seems to have mentioned this yet, but I'm wondering if she has anorexia.

IMO she'd just been getting thinner and thinner before she 'disappeared'.

I have no idea, that was speculation - but I think you can do ballet at any age, and I have 40 something friends who regularly do barre classes for toning! (Maybe I was subconsciously thinking of Diana, too…)

In a weird sort of way I actually hope she has had enough and has decided to step away. It must be absolutely crucifying living that life.

Wasn’t she pictured in a white dress hours after the birth of one of the children? That’s the juxtaposition, 4 months off for a minor irrelevant operation but seemingly immune to bleeding/fatigue hours post child birth?

I agree @JumpingBackOn , and in some photos lately, she’d looked drugged or sedated. I’m thinking of the visit to London by the Koreans, she looks unnatural / feverish.

What makes you think it's minor or irrelevant?

Do you really think this? She is raising the future king? Do you think she'd just skedaddle and leave her kids behind and she would need to leave her kids behind? I think she had a very good idea of what she was getting into when she married William and rather liked it. At least she liked it a whole lot more than the aristocrats who refused to get involved because they could see no benefit to their lives or their future children's lives by marrying into the RF. William himself gives the impression he isn't interested in it either. He can see all his wealthy, old money friends, having a great lifestyle without being scrutinised. Of the two sisters (neither of whom were ever going to marry a pauper) Pippa certainly has the better lifestyle.

Folks, just a gentle reminder that this thread is primarily about communications strategies enacted by the royal palaces, whether they have been effective or not, and what level of accountability and transparency the public are entitled to.

No one seems to have mentioned this yet, but I'm wondering if she has anorexia.

IMO she'd just been getting thinner and thinner before she 'disappeared'.

some conditions mean you can’t absorb nutrients and lose weight. Hopefully she will soon start to be able to maintain weight.

@JumpingBackOn

She’s always looked emaciated. But her sister and Mum are similar. I think it’s just the way they are.

I don’t think the royals would lie re. Abdominal surgery. Because once it is uncovered it creates a massive chasm from which they won’t be able to remove themselves - the public would doubt everything said in future.

Everyone has their limits. I’m sure she didn’t feel she had a choice at the time. Wearing a white dress did seem like a bridge too far, but she was younger then. Years of having to be a performing doll has probably worn her away. literally, if you look at how thin she is. Yet still people shout ‘ we are entitled to know..’.

She wasn’t emaciated until she became a ‘working Royal’. She looked very normal. She’s at least two stone lighter now.

@JumpingBackOn

Although in saying that, it is plausible that abdominal surgery could be required for severe anorexia.

I think it’s a bit cruel for us all to be chewing over it like this.

I’m happy enough to believe she’s had major surgery and needs time to recuperate. None of anyone’s business what’s wrong. And I’m sure everyone wishes her well.

The waters have been muddied by creating different rules regards different royals and disclosure of personal information, that’s the only issue. It’s confused the public as to where the boundaries lie.

Something that’s not been said, but Kate Middleton strikes me as quite a private person, and in her shoes I’d have been really ruddy upset when S6 of The Crown dropped in December. The plot line of her mother manoeuvring her into the Prince’s path. Seeing your romance fictionalised. In her shoes it would have driven me mad, a strike at my mother as well as myself. If she wants to just have a sabbatical from the whole Truman show shitshow, then she’s welcome to it as far as I’m concerned.

*Although in saying that, it is plausible that abdominal surgery could be required for severe anorexia.

I think it’s a bit cruel for us all to be chewing over it like this.*

Why are you doing it then? And saying nasty shit like this

She’s always looked emaciated. But her sister and Mum are similar. I think it’s just the way they are.