What exactly is "the Sussex Squad"?

[Prydddan]

I don't know whether this is too controversial a topic for such a thread to be allowed to stand. But I post in good faith on a topic I believe has a lot of social and political relevance.

Does the "Sussex Squad" actually exist? If so, how do you join? If not, do people ever identify as belonging to it?

If it exists, was it hijacked by SarahData and Bouzy or was it their creation? And, if so, to what extent?

Thanks in advance.

I couldn't remember many in my short litany but you have added some here and I have just thought of 'plebs' and 'flunkeys'.

TBF I'm quite fond of 'plebs', and 'lackeys' because I do think that's the underlying way the royals think of the public and their staff.

I'll add 'flunkeys' to my repertoire 😈

TBF I'm quite fond of 'plebs', and 'lackeys' because I do think that's the underlying way the royals think of the public and their staff.

Ah we differ there. I don’t think they think that way at all.

I’m fairly sure H&M think that way though.
We are mere extras in their show reel.

The key is to look at staff turnover. The RF don't have a big turnover of staff. William and Kate have a low turnover. Many people have worked for Charles for over 30 years, Anne has many of the same staff she's always had at Gatcombe Park. The same is not true for H&M.
I think we know who treats staff like flunkeys and who treats them with courtesy and respect.

Yes and one of them quit in the middle of the tour where they went to Fiji.

Imagine going on a work trip and quitting - things must have been so so bad

Can’t you? Everything is someone else’s fault, to the point of paranoia. Victim mentality is embedded in both of them.

I don’t understand why they have hired a deputy press secretary, do other California celebs have two press secretaries. Do they create that much work, these people will not be cheap.

California celebrities don't have any 'press secretary.' Royals or government officials have 'press secretaries'. Celebrities have a publicist or an agent, who will usually not be working exclusively for them.

Given that they don't actually do anything and hold no official role, there's no reason for the Sussexes to have a 'press secretary'. More pretentious pseudo royalling from them.

Speaking of the press, I notice that KP have not released a photo of Louis for his birthday tomorrow. I can't say I blame them. They probably don't want the squad scrutinising their little boy's face for evidence of photoshopping.

Too true.

That's a good point, @IcedPurple .
They've probably been put off releasing pictures again, which is a real pity.

Depression can be so severe that it could start to affect people physically. I've seen depressed people even struggling to get out of bed in the morning

Maybe they'll release a photo on their own social media tomorrow?

Usually they put out a photo the evening before in time for publication in the following day's newspapers, but I could easily understand if they don't want to do that after what happened the last time they did so.

Absolutely. It’s possible to not even recognize it personally as depression. Harry should have done something, or called Doria or any of her many close friends and together they could have gotten Meghan help.

That's such a shame!

She told Harry. Why didn't he at least contact her obstetrician or midwife? They were just a call/text away.

Is that confirmed as fact?

If so, then it is damaging, because whatever was wrong must have been badly wrong

But this sort of thing would not be announced officially, so needs an impeccable and well-placed source

They've just hired one for UK, which surprises me somewhat, as impact on British public has clearly been of minimal or no importance in recent years. Everything has been for a US target audience (and with ARO, market)

EdithWeston - Samantha Cohen is the source for saying a member of their staff quit while on tour;

"I was only supposed to stay for six months but stayed for 18—we couldn't find a replacement for me and when we did we took them on tour to Africa with Harry and Meghan to show them the ropes but they left (quit) as well while in Africa,” Cohen said.

it’s from an interview she gave to an Australian publication.

The Squad are now mad that KP didn't release a photo of Louis for his birthday.

For people that seem to hate "boring", "uncharismatic", "rigid" William and Catherine, they sure seem to be very invested.

Thank you

I knew there had been something recent about this, but I couldn't remember the detail

invested in pulling apart a photo for possible alterations in all probability. Which just reinforces the fact that KP were right not to release one this time. And given that the Princess usually takes the photo and is probably not feeling up to it, it’s quite understandable

I think it was the S. Africa tour, unless someone else left on the Fiji tour which wouldn't be surprising at all. It came from Samantha Cohen in an interview, the person was to replace her and went on the tour with Samantha to learn the ropes, so definitely an impeccable source.

You can't blame therm for not releasing the photo after the horror experience of the Mothers day photo, and there are still idiots claiming the video is AI.

It is really disappointing though for their supporters who genuinely love seeing photos of the family. Maybe the kids also had an input into the decision not to release any photos. I wouldn't be surprised if from now on they only release photos which are taken at official events.

Crossposted with Duchessofport.

I would have expected the SS to welcome the absence of a picture - wasn't one of their gripes that the Waleses were capitalising on their DC and that they were seen/had pix released far too often?

And yes, I think this is a sign of a change to the "deal" with the press. There will be fewer pictures, as they won't fancy the (now inevitable and probably hostile) scrutiny. Maybe ones at the start of the school year, taken by a press pool photographer (on understanding that the DC will be left alone at school aside from that one occasion) plus a family snap on a Christmas card (as no-one could say with a straight face that that was a news photo rather than a family one). Plus of course anything from attendance at public official events.

I don’t blame them one little bit.
Both print media and social media lost their minds over the last released photo.

As for the SS well they don’t know which way is up at the moment and are being out manoeuvred and outplayed at every turn. I’m more than happy to let them ‘froth’😉.