Backseat PR drivers: Just for fun how would you manage the Royal PR?

[wordler]

Light-hearted or serious suggestions - let's get all those bright ideas from us backseat drivers on the royal and ex royal communications output / and or what to do to improve their public images going forward. Or what not to do.

Pick a team or do them all:

Charles and Camilla

The Wales Fam

Harry and Meghan

The best of the rest - Edinburghs, Anne's clan

For the brave among you - The Yorks

Republicans, play along with your worst suggestions that you hope they will do to bring down the monarchy.

In addition both Early Years and Homeless are vast and complex subjects that take decades to improve, there is no quick fixes.

Agree but I think that's what makes them unsuitable for royal causes. What qualifications do William and Kate have to fix these problems?

Cynically it feels like they might have been chosen to give them the ability to say "oh well very complex, unrealistic to expect any concrete results" and to allow them to continue very light workloads.

For Kate especially, you get the sense that she is going to go from: just joined the royal family so can't do many engagements, through young children so can't do many engagements, right through to too old to do many engagements. Without ever actually doing a full workload

Agree but I think that's what makes them unsuitable for royal causes. What qualifications do William and Kate have to fix these problems?

But what qualifications did Charles have to develop the highly successful Prince’s Trust? He didn’t, but he got experts together and listened to advice to get the thing going. It was his “pulling power” so to speak that got the thing done, so that is presumably what William and Kate are doing - getting people together to do a job. They don’t pretend to have qualifications. They involve others who do. The same as any other successful foundation or philanthropist. I’m not saying that they will automatically succeed but they don’t need qualifications to do so

I think what makes the Prince's Trust and the DoE awards scheme better causes is that they aren't about tackling policy problems, they are about doing something.

I was going to say this now I don't need to type it all out!

There was a report on radio 4 I heard a few months ago now. They were speaking to an expert on homelessness and asked about Homewards. This person said that they thought it was a great initiative because it was bringing together local experts to think about and implement solutions that would work in their particular circumstances. They felt that trying to solve the issue nationally was too broad a brush and this was about finding a different, more focused way of tackling a very complex issue. William was given credit for being able to bring people together who might not have previously worked together.

I don't think William believes he can solve the problem but I do think he sees how he can use his position to get the experts together in a way that might not have happened before and they can find solutions.

Love this thread

H&M - as PP said, head down, do good work, play the long game. H could have done so much with the retired and injured military building on Invictus - most of which could have worked cross border. But sadly the drive for short-term money seems to have overridden rational thoughts, but they could still pull it back by disappearing from chasing the media.

William I think should stick with homelessness, partly because his Mother introduced him to the issue so it keeps the Diana link going. But he needs to be more visible and hands-on - regularly seen working in soup kitchens, with big issue sellers (which he does once a year or so), community building works, and rewarding volunteers in the field by making heros out of the people doing the grunt work in this space. Like PP said the actual difference is probably made by bringing experts together, locally and nationally, but that makes very boring press so he needs to combine the two. Secondly, the environment, again yes the actual difference is made through investment and bringing experts together but outside an awards ceremony its just not visible. However, my caveat is that what he's doing may pay longer-term dividends which could be the play ie the kudos comes as he is coming into power and some of the Earthshot investment pays off or some of the homelessness initiatives actually kick in. But I still think he needs to play the media game more with visibility in the short term.

Katherine - pretty similar to above, all be it this year has quite rightly derailed her. But now would be a good time to switch - not saying early years isn't important but it's too vague. Without wanting to be crass, cancer support offers way more opportunities for her, it's personal, it covers everything from research to medical care to community care, it's uncomfortable to talk about for many people but then the "princess power" kicks in and makes people more open. So from a PR perspective, I'd shift her focus now.

And absolutely for W&K it has to be about the kids' future and what lessons can be learnt. George learning Welsh, an absolutely brilliant idea and definitely plan B's for Charlotte and Louis that are real paying jobs as opposed to just being "royal".

NRTFT yet, so it may already have been answered.

Where's the source for William refusing to take on the Princes Trust?

I can't find anything about it, other than a post from Celebitchy.

This daily mail article says it:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3241679/Prince-Charles-increasingly-takes-duties-Queen-Prince-William-duty.html

A few times over the years, Charles has said he would like William to take an interest. That article refers to one of those:

In 2006, to mark the 30th anniversary of The Prince’s Trust, Charles gave an interview to Trevor McDonald in which he was asked if William was impressed by his work with the trust. ‘I think, as so often happens... they can’t believe their fathers do anything at all,’ Charles said. ‘I just hope that, bit by bit, he may take an interest in some of these things.’

As for William & Catherine's choices being "too political" - I have a long enough memory to remember the criticism Diana got for hugging AIDs patients, for walking across that landmine field, for taking William to visit homeless charities.

Also the criticism Charles got at the beginning with PT - he didn't know what he was doing, just a dilatentte, pointless, just scratching the surface.

When Anne started with Save the Children - the same.

As a pp said - the RF do PR in a very different way. They plan decades longer than anyone else.

AIDs and landmines were absolutely political hot potatoes at one time. It's funny how many people now retcon history.

If it's a subject that they want to be involved in and are willing to put in the time and effort to, I'm not going to tell them to drop it and do something "cooler" and more "trendy" (at that particular moment in the zietgiest.

With no inside knowledge on this, I’d imagine Charles would be a backseat driver on the Prince’s Trust if William took over. I’m sure William is interested and could be inspired by elements of it, but it could be spun as hanging off his father’s coattails. Charles has created something brilliant.

We can just hope William has the time to do something as good before he is crowned.

Prince Philip had the time as consort only and that will have helped. Charles had 70
years as direct heir.

@MrsFinkelstein

I think - but it's just my opinion - that early years and homelessness are political in the wrong way.

No one disagrees that they are important issues. It's not like AIDS where Diana was drawing attention to an issue that people had very different opinions about. What she was doing there wasn't tackling a policy problem, she was changing social attitudes.

It's very different to endlessly saying "early years are important"

I would like to see Harry under the very clear authority and mentorship of Anne.
Agree that Kate when well needs to be seen doing some concrete actions. I would advise Meghan to sit down with Emily Maitlis, admit to her lies and exaggeration and laugh at herself.

The issue with both early years and homelessness as choices isn’t just that they are political - it’s that they are party political. These aren’t just political issues, they are issues that the two major political parties have different policies on, and so any useful involvement is going to require leaning closer to one party or the other. That’s not possible for the future King and Queen.

William should have been pushed to take on the Princes Trust. He should have it explained to him his laziness and long holidays need to stop when POW. I refuse to believe he hasn’t been told, so he must just be choosing to be this useless. His behaviour is a bigger risk to the continuation of the Royals than his brothers. And he’s the one who’s got more to lose (this is not a man who comes across as if he would cope very well if he had to live off money he earned).

I wonder if he didn't take on the Prince's trust because it is so linked with Charles.

Also the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and Prince's trust must put some pressure on William to set up something unique and long lasting like they did rather than to manage what they started and take if forward.

I do think Wales's were before cancer hit starting to take on more as kids started school - so image it will take some time but they'll ramp up again in next few years. As PP have pointed out they hopefully have decades to do things in.

I heard some PR people on radio 4 who seem to think how they are currently handling PR is actually really interesting and seems to be working for them - though earlier in year when it was a disaster.

The Sussex's need to start listening to their PR people as I don't think they are at the minute. I think period of quite maybe move to another part of USA or elsewhere would benefit them long term - but they won't as it is all short term point scoring.

I think the rest seem to be doing okay - bar Prince Andrew who should just move house and come up with a really long term rehabilitation strategy and think legacy - which probably means no press for a decade or so.

As for others - whoever is doing Camila’s PR - you’re doing great sweetie! What an amazing job you are doing!

remember Camila had 15 days of solo engagements when Charles was home recovering from his treatment, and then she had to take a break. But not to be with her dh who was at home recovering, she went on holiday without him - yet the press was still completely positive!

Can you imagine if Meghan went off on holiday with her mum /friend when harry was sick? Or if William had gone away leaving Catherine to recover? How good is Camila’s PR person that they spun that to be positive?!?

honestly, 10/10, no notes. Keep going. Possibly spend some time with William and Catherine’s staff and give them some pointers.

I think it depends what you do with early years - supporting additional resources or infrastructure to help set up and support toddler groups or Saturday groups - setting up toy libraries in more deprived area or book giving scheme. I think you can skirt round the political with care.

Homelessness is harder - it's always there and complex - maybe working with groups or setting up groups to get people off streets - again they'd have to be careful to avoid commenting on government or political parties policies and focus on practical support.

@exprecis

Sorry, don't know why that posted with that tag, and can't delete or edit it.

No idea what my phone is doing this morning

"I wonder if he didn't take on the Prince's trust because it is so linked with Charles.

Also the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and Prince's trust must put some pressure on William to set up something unique and long lasting like they did rather than to manage what they started and take if forward."

IMO that's exactly why William hasn't taken it over.

If he had it would have been another stick to beat him over the head with.

"Can't set up anything on his own...gets everything handed to him...no original ideas". The unoriginal and baseless accusations of laziness would continue whatever he did. We can see it here.

Yadda Yadda...

I would say his continuing support of the Air Ambulance service could do with more publicity. It's clearly one that is very personal to him.

But if he had taken on the princes trust, he could have easily made it his thing, and set the tradition George would take over in the future. As it is, this looks like as the King dies, will the Princes trust become something that’s not really associated with a particular Royal ?

it easily could have been his and then given him the excuse for his otherwise lack of work, he could be doing unspecified PT stuff.

I think his relaunch now Catherine is better could be taking on the Princes Trust, it could be presented that now his wife is better he has time to focus on service.

it is the Princes trust, not both of them, so if - as some commentators are saying- Catherine’s message was she wasn’t going to be returning to significant royal work, he can do that alone without comment.

Oh my other advice - Catherine should wear more high street clothes. She can alter things to fit her better, but being seen to go back to things like that Zara blazer after her wedding, it will be popular to be less dripping in designer items. “Recycling” of clothes being the norm, not wearing a new outfit for each engagement/whole new wardrobe for each tour, she is not a celebrity, we should see each evening gown more than once.

the jewels, if any royal woman is wearing diamonds, they all should be, however they all should be wearing less jewellery. (although Camila looks good in a tiara).

i love the idea of George learning Welsh and attending school in wales.

But if he had taken on the princes trust, he could have easily made it his thing,

I think the PR risk was he couldn't - everything good would be laid at his father's feet and he get blame for anything new that didn't work.

Prince Edward took on the patron role of Duke of Edinburgh so they do have the Royal connection -I image when king dies - depending on when - they may do similar with the Prince's Trust find a suitable prince to head it up - I think prior to leaving Harry might have been in line for it.

What will happened further down the line and generations- if they keep a royal connections - well who knows.

And from a PR point of view- getting Harry back to the UK as a semi working Royal is preferable to this current situation where they are just waiting for book 2 to drop and the next round of family humiliation.

inside the tent, being annoying but pissing out.

i would make a property in Scotland available for Harry. Meghan can go full tartan. Focus on royal eventsd charities in Scotland. Most importantly, physically far away from William and his family, but being useful.

@wordler
Meghan doesn't have the capabilities to work through something beginning to the end, or the dedication enough to do a PhD

You can't be a 'semi working royal'. That was made abundantly clear 4 years ago. You're either in or you're out. Harry is out.

Nor can you give in to what is effectively blackmail. Anyway, Harry has done his worst already, and it's diminishing returns from now on for him.

On your other point above, I agree that Kate needs to wear more high street clothes, or better yet, needs to 'recycle' clothes more often. Not that wearing something more than once is 'recycling'. Yes, people love to see a pretty princess in nice clothes, that's part of her appeal. But how many red coats and polka dot dresses does one woman need?

Charles & Camilla - change nothing. Crushing it.

Will & Kate - tricky. Are they still together? Is this a "soft splitting"? Stop with the soft focus Timotei ad stuff, do some actual cancer charity endorsement, and then just allow Kate to fade from view except for 2 - 3 annual engagements.

If they ARE still together she needs to suck it up and get back to work full time when she is better. She had a very very long time to think about whether or not she wanted this job, and nobody gives a damn about big vague projects - people need to see their faces at worthwhile events and charities, picking up the phone to use their influence and been seen to make people's better at a grass roots level. Kate's always been a little bit Boden catalogue and she needs to be more serious now. She's going to be Queen in five years.

If they have split up, they need to continue to phase her out gently and drama free (as they are now, if this is the case) before Charles dies, Will single for 2 - 3 years, phase in Rose. But then they need to start building up Will's reputation independently and with demonstrable hard work, because he is little liked now. Possibly focussed on the military. He looked nice in a uniform, and they should capitalise on that.

Harry & Meghan - move heaven and earth to get them back part time. Give them all the long haul engagements - Africa in particular, and divide the brothers as domestic/international. Meghan willl have fun, not have to live in England much, Harry seems to like that kind of thing anyway. Prise them away from the US before they make it worse.

Yorks - get Andrew out of that house, and make it Harry & Meghan's British residence as they need the status more than he does. Retire Andrew to Scotland (sorry Scotland) and get him firmly remarried to Sarah to dispel skeevy image and promote their happy marriage, but no royal engagements or work. Allow Beatrice & Eugenie to just do themselves as they see fit. They're doing absolutely fine, unless they want to get involved, which they probably don't anyway.

Anne - let the woman retire.