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

The press agencies requested a copy of the original photo so they could see if it was a few simple touch ups. The Palace refused.

Well obviously stickywickets 😉

The rate my eyebrow is lifting, it will soon actually look like it is wiping my arse.

Abracafuckingdabra.

No photoshop required.

The caption says a zip inconsistency. How does that translate into a line down her chest? And what do you think it signifies?

Not a conspiracy or Kate hate. I'm just a bit shocked that she has having to take responsibility for a PR failure.

I presume it’s the line across her chest that's the issue?

I've said before that the press is trying to turn poor William into Richard III....

Let's swap. You can have my mayor, currently involved in an FBI investigation. The FBI confiscated his phones and tablet last week. We can take W, K, and Photogate.

‘she has having to take responsibility for a PR failure.’

or maybe, she is happy to take accountability, unlike other members of the royal family 😉

Taking accountability, a great way to earn respect and admiration. PR win 👍

Not a line down her chest, a line across it, left to right in that photo. From the dodgy hair on the left, through the different blacks in the middle to the dodgy hair and zip on the right.

I think they've pasted in her head from a different photo, so that she has a healthier appearance than she currently does in reality. I feel very sorry for her that she felt the need to agree to that. I think that compromises their integrity and is misrepresentation in the photo hence the agencies pulling it.

What's even more shocking is if she as a member of the RF would be responsible for a photo that was going out to International News Media., Now that would be weird. This is not protecting her at all . They should leave her to convalescence and stop trying to put this mess on her no matter how indulgently it's being done.

You’re assuming that it’s really her fault and that she’s not covering for someone else.

Not with you, no. Generally that's because your posts are never more than two lines.

Incidentally, 'theory' and 'explanation' are two different things. 'Theories' are what are happening on this and other threads from a place of total ignorance on the part of every poster including you and me. 'Explanation' is someone offering reasons for something - like AP saying 'we pulled this pic because x, y and z.' See the difference?

I think that’s peculiar. If she’s too ill to be at work for another few weeks yet, she shouldn’t have to get involved with a minor misunderstanding due to a tiny bit of editing, if that’s all it was.

The fact that she’s responding personally, or that were being told the statement is from her, makes it seem like they’re desperately trying to disprove there’s a bigger problem.

You see, I'd take it mean she was happy to try and clear up the misunderstanding given it wasn't a huge deal (the photo editing that is, not the deranged hysteria) so we can all have a different view of these things

@BoohooWoohoo "You’re assuming that it’s really her fault and that she’s not covering for someone else."

I'm not assuming anything of the sort. I said she is taking responsibility-which seems to me very strange. I don't think for a moment they manage their own social media.

Incidentally , @MrsDanversGlidesAgain , I'm sure if you tried you could be a bit more patronising.

Like wise @CurlewKate

After abdominal surgery, she is probably still unable to actually get dressed up and go on a long journey and spend time pressing the flesh. It doesn’t mean she has become completely unable to function

edited typo

Incidentally , @MrsDanversGlidesAgain , I'm sure if you tried you could be a bit more patronising

Oh you bet I could. 😅

so much faff around a photo. I cannot understand it. I mean who cares. Why is that such a big news. totally lost in me.

After abdominal surgery, she is probably still unable to actually get dressed up and go on a long journey and spend time pressing the flesh. @smilesy

... hence the tight skinny jeans in the photo, right?

I had skinny maternity jeans. That's because I was carrying my baby in my womb and not on my thighs.

Where is Kate… being papped in a car with Willy boy….

she got hounded out the house clearly.

... and how is this relevant???

Was she sawed in half by one of those comedians maybe?

Oh I'm pleased to see she is out and about and not in a coma. Get well soon!

The Princess of Wales looks so different.