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

Agree.

I do wonder if some people analysing the foliage live further north though. We've even had frog spawn 3 weeks ago because it's been so mild and all the plants are ahead with shrubs and trees in leaf. We don't even live as far south as they do.

It’s a great pic. She looks on the way to full health. I’m not a royalist but it’s obv posituve news that she’s recovering. Can’t comment on the foliage despite my user name! Assuming the lack of rings are due to water retention, she probably cba to get them resized and then resized again. I honestly don’t think that there is anything worrying at play.

It is, she looks beautiful. The Times has made itself look ridiculous with yesterday’s piece (along with OP and everyone else who was salivating over it)

I think it's interesting she's wearing such a dark high neck top

Oooh what’s interesting about that, pray tell…

Enlighten us: what does the coven of demented Miss Marples over at Sussex Squad HQ have to say about that…. ? 🧐🤔🙄

It would make it easier to photoshop 😶‍🌫️

🙄🥱😴

Why do you call people on here 'demented Sussex Squad?'

As far as I know, those batshit people in SS reside on Twitter, not here.

Just because someone posts something speculating, there's no need to label them like this.

P.s. I'm not speculating anything about the pic, I just love the kids big grins!

What do you think they've photoshopped (or might have photoshopped) in that pic? @Ncncncworkywork

Winning new friends and whipping up a frenzy!

Me! I did not believe the coma rumour but I genuinely thought that something was amiss. However, this picture shows otherwise.

I’m anti-monarchy so naturally suspicious of the lot of them, but in this picture taken last week by her husband, she is a willing subject (unlike that intrusive car photo) and she looks as if she’s getting there, health-wise. I hope she continues to do well.

‘P.s. I'm not speculating anything about the pic, I just love the kids big grins!’

Me too! Isn’t it sad that some people have been speculating about the children, even at their smiles! And they’ve posted horribly insidious remarks, such unnecessary unpleasantness. I hope everyone that speculated with ghoulish glee, from the papers to the twitterati online feels throughly foolish now.

A Pointless Thread, real nonsense.

Finally, a little bit of remedial PR by Kensington Palace. No doubt rattled by the ghastly-sounding BBL memes of Kate and other unpleasantness on social media (you know you’ve screwed-up your PR, which is the subject of this thread, when your principal that you’re paid big bucks for is being ridiculed all over social media with BBL memes).

A lovely picture, and a more respectful communication with the British public than KP have managed thus far.

Is it too little too late? Possibly, given that the trolling and mockery doesn’t seem to be abating.

But hopefully KP have got the message - getting comms right can’t be rocket science if even BP has been doing a better job than they have.

(If there is a profusion of BBL-equivalent memes of King Charles I’ll be happily corrected!)

It's a Mother's Day picture they issue every year on Mother's Day, not some sort of answer to the idiot squad. If you don't understand that, you need to go back to journalism school. But I am so glad of your new love for the Murdoch press.

I find the idea that Sussex Squad posters aren't here more unbelievable than that they are. Anyone who has spent time on the more controversial boards on this site knows that twitter trolls come here to both post and harvest screen shots. Anyone reading the earlier threads regarding Catherine's illness would find it hard to believe those posts are the product of healthy minds or the usual posters you get on Mumsnet. If they are regulars, they are very good at hiding their true natures.

I don't think KP are responding to anything by releasing this photo. They always release one of Catherine and the children on Mother's Day. I think they are simply following a pre agreed plan when it comes to public statements and good for them. Why should they be bullied into breaching Catherine's privacy just because some people would rather believe conspiracy theories than what they have been told.

Outside the social media bubble no one is questioning anything just wishing her well.

some of the treatment Diana had was appalling, paps shouting abuse, calling her a bitch to try to make her cry

Paps did the same to Kate as well. If she and William are drawing firm boundaries and teaching the DC to have the same then good for them.

Head transplant. Obvs, innit.

In their shoes, given all the speculation, I’d have photoshopped in the engagement and wedding ring, tbh. Their advisors must know what’s being said, even if K&W never open social media.

They are a carefully curated billion dollar brand, and one of the most famous families in the world, these things are not “oops I didn’t put my ring back on after doing the washing up”!

Where are those memes? Just curious!

Maybe her rings are a bit uncomfortable at the moment and they don't give a shit about the speculation. She can take her rings off if she wants. If anything maybe the online madness is making them look pretty dignified and sensible in comparison. Much as some would love to think they have bowed to pressure, listened and responded or whatever, they haven't, they said what was going to happen and have done exactly that regardless. Good for them, not compromising her privacy for the likes of the crazies on this thread.

It's mother's day @TallerSally . There's always a photo 🤦‍♀️Nothing 'remedial' and nothing that indicates a diversion from the plan put in place on day 1.

The tabloid press seize any opportunity to create a 'story' especially when there isn't one. Why people buy into the craziness baffles me. Its a despicable vicious circle of social media conspiracy theories and sad tabloid journalists outdoing each other in unacceptable speculation.

And as I said earlier, the fact that there are plenty posters jumping in to claim photo shopping or pre-op photo demonstrates that there was no point in KP giving any information or statements.

@TallerSally

Do you talk about the royals a lot in RL?

Have you not seen how unhinged and rude the posts on Meghan are? True cyber bullying facilitated by this forum. To be fair all this stuff on Kate is mild.