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

She could still release a letter or sound bite though...

I think this also smacks of William laying down a marker with the press and maybe Kate has no choice.

His father has managed his illness with the press so well.

It's takes months to recover from a blocked and twisted bowel operation.. . Give her time to rest.
It could have been life threatening.
There is also the possibility she had hysterectomy at the same time.

This seems a social media and tabloid media whipped up issue - everyone in RL who commented in my hearing in response to headlines thinks she been very ill - hence sudden surgery and doing what they said taking to Easter to recover from surgery.

I am personally starting to think her condition is probably manageable in bulk of cases and potentially fatale in very small minority and they are thus keeping quiet so their kids don't have to deal with people telling them or endless speculating their mum is going to die and avoiding upsetting them for no reason.

I don't know why people say 'leave her alone!' when really the criticism is with KP for not releasing a direct statement or two from her during this time. It is not a big ask.

I fully agree, it's just so bizarre that after all the outpouring of love and support from members of the public, there isn't even a recorded message of thanks or a handwritten note or a photo of some kind from the PW coming out of KP.

Frankly, there's a real risk of some feeling that this is not just weird, it's borderline rude and disrespectful, and a sign of KP taking the public for granted...

The children are at school.

They personally don’t, but their staff do. The RF press machine is pretty impressive.

It has to be bigger than a medical condition or surgery to warrant this silence

The initial statement said she had abdominal surgery and would be recuperating, returning at Easter.

It's not Easter yet.

All these batshit theories and "where is Kate?" Hashtags seems to have originated from the awful so-called "Sussex squad" on Twitter.
I don't tend to comment on the Royal Family threads, though I do read them and it feels to me like the "Sussex squad" have now turned up here to widen their weird campaign of bullying and conspiracy.

Well, it can't be impressive based on the last few weeks, all the crap about William and other criticisms. A PR department maybe, hardly press control.

They said she would be out of the public eye and out of communication until Easter. Why should they go back on that? They have obviously done that for a reason. Let her have some peace to recover. I’m not even a fan of the royals and this is really starting to piss me off on her behalf.

In terms of fielding stories it’s impressive

They do create stories, dictate headlines and content pieces regularly.

out of communication they did not say that and if they did, that isn't acceptable. Sorry but the role requires some communication with the people who pay millions to you. A simple message of thanks would do wonders to stop the chatter.

Do they? Ok. I've seen no evidence of this.
Sounds like Kim in North Korea.

I thought the Murdoch press couldn't be trusted at all to tell the truth because Harry is suing them. Can someone please explain the rules of when the Murdoch press, Daily Mail, Mirror and the rest are to be trusted and applauded for their opinion pieces and when they are not?

You won’t see evidence of it.

When I worked for TMG Simon Case would regularly be in contact regarding stories that involved Williams family.

And we have been told she has had surgery so I’m not sure what your point is. No one has the right to know any more.

Yes I agree. A quick ‘thanks for the well wishes, I’m doing well and hope to see you soon’ type thing. This would normally happen and it’s odd that it hasn’t. Okay we could throw out any kind of expectation around royal contact with the public but honestly where would that leave their place in life? Their entire position is built around protocol, precedent, having a unique type of relationship with the public, and making the public feel they care in return. If we are going to reduce them to essentially private individuals then we may as well not bother and replace them with a civil servant to carry out the ceremonial duties

We have been told the kids are at school, but I'm not aware of any photos of them since Christmas day? Happy to be corrected.

Dunno, @AlbertoDilemma . There are so many news outlets nowadays. I tend to rely on the BBC website, though who knows?

No public duties until Easter. Direct communication with the public fall under public duties. It’s a different argument about whether a royal who is ill should be made to do public duties

Yes, don't a lot of people do that? I once worked for a company and we used to put out press releases which got printed, to our benefit.
Is it the same as controlling the press?

KP said that Catherine is doing well and that she would return to duties after Easter.

Why should they pander to the media who are speculating for clicks. The media don't care about anyone they just want money. Why should they dignify the batshit conspiracy theories with a response, it would only encourage more speculation?

Charles is slightly different. He is the Head of State and has constitutional duties. The public have a right to know roughly how he is and whether he can still carry out his role.

The longer KP refuse to give this whole circus a response the more respect I have for them. If they start giving in now then any privacy the royal family has will be eroded. It's an important place and time to put a line in the sand.