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

I don’t know about anyone else but in real life I haven’t spoken to a single person who’s wondering or speculating about the PoW. No one is coming up to me saying “omg what’s going on! I need to know! What do you know, what do you think, tell me now!!” Or giving me their two penneth worth about what they think is going on (thank gawd).

It’s ok. It’s definitely a recent photo because Charlotte’s hair has grown an inch and a half since she was last seen in public 🤪

I agree don’t feed the beast.

PW needs to hold his stance if he wants a different (more private and dignified) future for himself, his wife and his DC especially in the torrent and turmoil that is SM and 24hr instant and constant global media.

They need to set the pace and the parameters not be managed by it. I actually think that BP and KP are working together to ease this transition to a new way of working with BP / KC giving more info to ameliorate KP / W&C reducing info.

Also they have issued numerous press statements outlining Kate’s personal boundaries and repeatedly thanked well wishes in print and verbally (PW).

There are some posters on here that know that but insist on perpetuating the myth of no thanks to well-wishers have been given.

I think the PR has been well managed not to feed the beast and not respond to the baiting because the posters on this thread and other threads do not have Kate and her family’s best interests at heart. Their intent is malicious. Don’t feed them.

To me this has similar pattern to the Nicola Bully situation - all the mad spectacular because people can’t wait and be respectful. In that case the police caved to SM and tabloid pressure to the detriment of the victim and her family and their own professional reputation. They should have held on to their stance and not let the tail wag the dog.

I hope BP/KP KC/W&C don’t fall into the trap of reacting to these types.

They always release a photo on Mother’s Day, they are sticking firmly to their guns. Good for them

Ah finally, a lovely photos and message. I guess KP have listened and had a change of heart. She looks really well, and therefore I imagine all those saying she wouldn't be back after Easter are wrong, she looks well on the road and had a lovely long recovery period.

Sorry misread your message

No, they always issue a photo on Mother’s day. So they haven’t “listened and had a change of heart”. They’ve just down what they always do. People on the internet insisting on updates are not that important or influential, much as they would like to think they are 😆

• there has already been a message of thanks

• they always release a photo for Mother's Day

I agree.

It’s their pace and their parameters they are setting and sticking to.

Their authentic well-wishers will respect them for this and their integrity will sustain.

Important to resist responding to the baiting of the disingenuous and vexatious who are just their to disrupt.

I see a good number of people in the course of a week, the only comment I have heard was this morning, expressing sympathy for the Princess of Wales and all of us in the conversation agreeing that she should be left alone to recover.

DH and I have had a couple of conversations saying how we are very concerned and that she must have been very ill indeed, we certainly don’t feel entitled to endless updates or private medical information. I am glad to see the lovely photo this morning and hope she continues to recover well.

Imagine the scene at the photoshoot

William -"George, stick some more plastic daffs in that flower bed, will you, it's a shame the real ones are rubbish this year. Charlotte, can you collect ANY BROWN LEAVES you can see, yes off the trees too, I know it's boring. No you can't put a coat on, I know it's cold but that's because it's March. If we wear coats they'll think this was taken months ago. Louis...Louis...have you seen Mummy's wedding ring anywhere? What do you mean you're not sure? Oh Hell, just try to hide your fingers Kate, we've got to get this done"

Sorry.

Louis...Louis...have you seen Mummy's wedding ring anywhere? What do you mean you're not sure? Oh Hell, just try to hide your fingers Kate, we've got to get this done"

"What do you mean, "We're getting divorced, I threw my ring in the river," Kate? you KNEW we'd be taking this picture for the plebs and they'd zoom in on any detail and you did THAT?? Charlotte, go to the kitchen and see if there are any ring pulls Mummy can wear....oh there aren't? OK then. Perhaps people won't notice."

The photo released today could be from weeks back.
William cancelling a church event in Windsor at last minute where He was reading with no explanation made me think has he problems with RH or a new bit on side- thats the first thing i thought.
I dont buy Kate having a massive Op maybe minor op and is taking her sweet time and will be told by no one to return. The long timline gives KP time to negotiate with kate.. Maybe marriage is in trouble and she is not playing ball with KP. Al v v odd .

Maybe marriage is in trouble and she is not playing ball with KP. Al v v odd

You know what, you could be on to something. I don't think anyone's thought of that 🙄

I am starting to think that the issue is that W& K are too normal for a certain percentage of the UK public. People complain that he spends too much time with his family but then accuse him of infidelity, murdering his wife and cousin and hiding their bodies, turning K into the mad woman in the attic, etc. At one point I vaguely remember people implying W wanted to overthrow, or at least eliminate, Charles. Are they projecting a secret wish that W is not a mild-mannered chino wearing guy but a modern Shakespearean Richard III?

This made me laugh. Thank you.

Feel sorry for Catherine. I'm glad her and PW are setting boundaries here. It makes sense given what happened to his mum.

And this is why there would have been no point in KP or anyone issuing official statements over the last 2 months.
The vast majority of the country accepted what was stated at the start and have really not given it any furtger thought and the tiny minority who disbelieved the original statement will follow their theories to the end, regardless.

That's interesting. ATM there's no actual drama in the RF, is there? they're politely ignoring Hazza, no wives are doing a Diana, there's no speculation over Camilla's position and will they/won't they marry, the king has made his condition known and is carrying on as normal and people are stepping up to help HM with no fuss and drama. And Edward and Sophie are cooing over each other, which is sweet.

At one point I vaguely remember people implying W wanted to overthrow, or at least eliminate, Charles

Jeez, that was stupid. Some people really think life should be a Netflix drama.

When William was here in New York he got an enormous amount of positive press for being normal. I was stunned that he had so many people showing up to see him, unplanned, when he visited the fire house. People in NYC will show up for celebrities but it is unusual for people to stand around for foreign dignitaries. Apparently people asked why the metal barricades were in place and then decided to stay to see him. Barricades usually mean protests or parades. I also have only heard positive comments about K focusing on the kids: it is viewed as her job.

👏

Daniella Relf is on the radio, talking about the new pitcher. I haven't seen it yet.

We are inspecting foliage now?? 🤣🤣🤣

Insane, dramatic and ridiculous posts about Kate on this thread don’t break talk guidelines so no I don’t expect it to be full of deletions, a thread can be polite but still unhinged. Anyway I see the photo of Kate is being questioned on its validity by you already, what a surprise! and just proves my original post is correct.

I'm wondering if some people are just skewed in what they expect of people now in terms of media output. Some celebrities record every single thing they do to be in the spotlight whereas others are very private. Some may see the British Royal Family as being very traditional but personally I think that is a good thing. You see the official photos but don't need to see them going about on their everyday private business. They don't need the limelight. They get on with it. We don't need to hear about all the normal ordinary bits of life like what they have for breakfast. Social media hounds have an altered perception of what life is really like I find.

I don’t agree with this. I am always on MN and have an incredibly busy life. I come on during breaks etc so it could look as though it is all I ever do.

I know she was quite capable of courting the media as suited, but some of the treatment Diana had was appalling, paps shouting abuse, calling her a bitch to try to make her cry, one film of her being pursued through an airport particularly stayed with me. Much of this seemed to happen when she was just doing everyday, ordinary things, but her level of celebrity meant there was no escape from it, no chance of anything approaching normality. Fergie was also treated foully a lot of the time, long before any scandals.

Since the advent of the internet this stuff is heightened beyond measure, all the crazy speculation this last week proves that. If William is doing all he can to the point of overprotection to stop the worst effects on his (currently unwell) wife, even if he doesn't always make perfect decisions, I applaud him. They may be privileged but they shouldn't be prey.