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The royal family

As Ever #2 Whatever

1000 replies

PrettyFlyforaMaiTai · 19/02/2025 15:54

I noticed the old thread is almost full so thought we could start a new one to carry on the discussion about the rebrand and merching.

Are you an ‘As Ever’ or ‘Whatever’?

link to the old thread: www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_royal_family/5277002-as-ever

OP posts:
Thread gallery
25
IcedPurple · 21/02/2025 13:03

MissFenellaPrism · 21/02/2025 12:50

Yes. She was silenced so much that she never made speeches or talked to people, or wrote for Vogue! It's criminal.

The problem is that royal protocol is very old fashioned so they only allowed the Duchess to speak of carrots one way.

But now she's free and can use her voice to promotes carrots in all ways, shapes and forms. Freedom!

User14March · 21/02/2025 13:10

@Thedom very sad re: Cressida if so, I have it on fairly good authority she’s a good egg. He missed a stabilising & friendly influence.

AtIusvue · 21/02/2025 13:11

I watched a programme years ago about young people on psychiatric wards in the UK. All the young men there smoked weed (heavily) and they were admitted because it induced psychosis.

Was really shocking but it can have really harmful affects on some people.

I have no doubt it’s cause Harry problems.

jeffgoldblum · 21/02/2025 13:15

Sadly @PrettyFlyforaMaiTai , apparently the car story was pinched from someone else too!

MissFenellaPrism · 21/02/2025 13:16

IcedPurple · 21/02/2025 13:03

The problem is that royal protocol is very old fashioned so they only allowed the Duchess to speak of carrots one way.

But now she's free and can use her voice to promotes carrots in all ways, shapes and forms. Freedom!

She should really complain, but I know she doesn't like to.

BunnyLake · 21/02/2025 13:18

PrettyFlyforaMaiTai · 21/02/2025 12:34

@Aloeveraplants yes, I get the impression she thinks she is better than the majority of us. She likes to preach and is very sanctimonious. She has no sense of humour and is very serious, a control freak perfectionist.

She needs to tell anecdotes where she is the butt of the joke or something that happened where she caused the chaos/problem and doesn’t try to deflect or get defensive about it.

I always enjoyed the anecdote that she was so poor as a working actress that she couldn’t fix her broken car door and had to climb in and out of it via the boot. That’s relatable and authentic. I’d love a post about this being her fifth pan of jam as she burned the previous attempts and laughing that jam making isn’t for amateurs.

Except that car story was apparently debunked. Even if true, she spoilt it by doing a word for word, hand gestures, laughs, carbon copy retelling on Ellen and some other interview. It was a well rehearsed verbatim retelling of a pretty mundane story. So even that simple story reeked of performative fakery.

BasiliskStare · 21/02/2025 13:21

@Wordler and @prelovedusername

Brilliant both of you

Part of the reason I don't like people saying that these threads are vitriolic - is - well I don't see it. And there are such a lot of thoughtful , informative and just downright funny posts here.

Anyway my own poor ( I hope not vitriolic) contribution

It's awfully bad luck on poor Harry
His pony show bombed on Netflix
So I don't think he's happy as Larry
And his wife just gets on my tits

BunnyLake · 21/02/2025 13:24

Uricon2 · 21/02/2025 11:48

I think I might prefer the Daisy Duke wearing, sweary, burgerloving, winedrinking Meghan who wanted to use a saucy title for some project to preachy, twee, teaparty holding, look at my oh-so-expensive-but-tasteful new bling Meghan, actually. It might just be another in a series of poses but at least has the appearance of authenticity.

Metamorphosising reinventions of yourself are all very well if you're David Bowie and it's a creative process, but I don't think he ever really thought he was Aladdin Sane or the Thin White Duke. I'm not sure the "real" Meghan could stand up now.

Edited

Would the real Meghan Markle please stand up, please stand up 😁 🎼🎼.

I agree, she’d have been much better embracing a Patsy Stone type persona 🍷🍷🍷 but she doesn’t have the humour to camp it up.

FromThePrismOfJammyTodger · 21/02/2025 13:41

friendlycat · 21/02/2025 11:15

But it could all have been written in a jolly style with a positive spin and therein lies their problem. They started off with complete negativity that has just stuck.

This has never been Meghan's narrative. Her narrative has always been that she was far too good at being a royal, that everyone was jealous of her star power, and that her race was used against her because of this. She claims she was treated unfairly, but her "victimhood" is that of the misunderstood messiah, sent to rescue the RF from their 19th century ways and attitudes, but they rejected her good intentions and crucified her instead. However, in taking the "freedom flight" , she metaphorically rose from the grave and shines down on us all, our saviour, our lady of internet safety, philanthropy, humanitarianism and jam.

Harry has taken the path of victimhood as social capital, which, in 2020, many rich, privileged, white men were trying to hang their hat on so as not to be regarded as the oppressor. There's a good reason AN Wilson was comparing Spare to Mein Kampf.

BunnyLake · 21/02/2025 13:41

User14March · 21/02/2025 11:32

@friendlycat nail on head on the negativity,

Victoria Beckham gracefully stopped an interview once by saying ‘I am really sorry but I don’t do negativity’. Whatever you think of VB she does couple ambition with wit & flair.

I wonder how Harry would be faring now if he’d married Cressida or Chelsy?

A lot, lot, lot, lot better. I can't say the same for Chelsey or Cressida though. They’ve done a lot better by not marrying Harry.

BasiliskStare · 21/02/2025 13:59

@User14March sorry I marked up @prelovedusername instead of yours on my poem post . Preloved, hope that explains what otherwise must have seemed a bit bonkers

Anyway - as you were

BasiliskStare · 21/02/2025 14:02

@AtIusvue From a branding point of view, I’ve never seen anything like it- promoting your new brand by heavily referencing your old brand that no one remembers and doesn’t exist anymore.

Even Evri didn't do this with Hermes and they are as rubbish as you like.

prelovedusername · 21/02/2025 14:10

BasiliskStare · 21/02/2025 13:59

@User14March sorry I marked up @prelovedusername instead of yours on my poem post . Preloved, hope that explains what otherwise must have seemed a bit bonkers

Anyway - as you were

I would love to be able to take the credit but I’m not that talented!. Also I’ve had a user name fail (not for the first time) so didn’t recognise myself 😂.

meercat23 · 21/02/2025 14:16

BasiliskStare · 21/02/2025 13:21

@Wordler and @prelovedusername

Brilliant both of you

Part of the reason I don't like people saying that these threads are vitriolic - is - well I don't see it. And there are such a lot of thoughtful , informative and just downright funny posts here.

Anyway my own poor ( I hope not vitriolic) contribution

It's awfully bad luck on poor Harry
His pony show bombed on Netflix
So I don't think he's happy as Larry
And his wife just gets on my tits

Now JB would have been proud of that one I think!

Mylovelygreendress · 21/02/2025 14:20

AtIusvue · 21/02/2025 12:49

Yip- I’ve seen people write about the mood board: basic bitch; wine mum; tumblr 2000s; her live, laugh, love era.

She has printed out pictures from the Tig from 2013! She has the name the Tig five times across the board, yet her new business As ever only three ?
It makes zero sense.

Also why is she printing out old photos of past dinners/lunches….when she’s had a year to be creating such images. New images. Up to date images. It’s so lazy to make half the board about stuff from 12 years ago.

But that’s what’s making me think that Tig is going to get launched…..again.

Edited

Is The Tig trademarked ?

AsGoodasIOnceWas · 21/02/2025 14:26

Is it possible to scan the bar codes on the As Ever labels?

IcedPurple · 21/02/2025 14:46

MissFenellaPrism · 21/02/2025 13:16

She should really complain, but I know she doesn't like to.

But when the stakes are this high, doesn't it make sense to hear about the carrots from her?

PrettyFlyforaMaiTai · 21/02/2025 14:46

I keep thinking if I was actually advising them, what would I recommend to salvage this whole mess. But I don’t think they are salvageable. We’d have to go back to 2020.

I'd advise:

  • Wait to talk to the Queen and royals before announcing Sussex Royal. They jumped the gun in order to beat the media breaking it first. But their gung-ho approach blindsided the royals that the Queen had no option but to offer all in or all out. It’s only media speculation until the Sussexes confirm it, but they are obsessed with controlling the narrative.
  • Ditch Scobie as their mouthpiece and build better rapport with media. Harry should still pursue phone hacking scandal but either settle earlier and permanently put it behind him. Or else go all guns blazing fully expecting to win the moral high ground but lose money and dignity.
  • Do not do Oprah interview AT ALL!
  • Release Harry & Meghan documentary but keep it positive, no whinging about the media and royals. It should be about their love story and making a new life in California. No victim mentality.
  • Harry releases biography but it’s called ‘Call me Harry’. No whinging about William getting more sausages or the men in grey suits. Focus on his mental health journey, career and relationships with Meghan. How living in a royal fish bowl wasn’t for him though he appreciates the privilege and opportunities brought. He is happier being “just Harry” etc.
  • Meghan releases a podcast about herself (Being Meghan/Simply Meghan/Just Meghan) where she discusses her skin care, beauty, fitness regime etc. She shares anecdotes about her life and shares her views on the big news stories of the day, all in a light hearted chatty sort of way
  • She links her instagram to the podcast and advertises the products she discussed on the podcast. She does what I eat in a day/outfit of the day posts and collaborates with brands. I could see her collaborating with the California tourist board and share secret local gems in the area. Mix her designer wardrobe with high street etc
  • Eventually release ‘Love Meghan’ as a light hearted cooking show. Invite celebrity or well renown chefs and create wholesome family meals. Market it as ‘embracing imperfections” rather than ‘elevating the ordinary and have fun goofing around and getting it wrong. Don’t merchandise products but release a cook book.

Also:

  • Stop faux royal tours
  • Keep in contact with English family and maximise exposure at jubilees and coronation.
  • Give Thomas a second chance on the condition he keeps everything confidential. If he breaks this trust one more time, cut him off for good. Ignore Samantha and don’t engage.
  • Decide if you want to keep Archie and Lili away from the limelight or not. No teasing the back of their heads or using blurred images of them to advertise your products if you won’t release any official photos of them.
  • Keep up charitable endeavours but keep it quiet and behind closed doors unless you want to promote the charity with an official visit. No bringing the cameras to war cemeteries or grief vulturing in disaster zones.
OP posts:
AtIusvue · 21/02/2025 14:51

Mylovelygreendress · 21/02/2025 14:20

Is The Tig trademarked ?

Not sure

AtIusvue · 21/02/2025 14:55

AsGoodasIOnceWas · 21/02/2025 14:26

Is it possible to scan the bar codes on the As Ever labels?

These look like mock ups to me. I doubt the barcode would work.

Surely, she would be posting pics with the jars in production if we were actually to see products in the spring. They would have to have already been made, labelled packaged and ready to be shipped.

But I don’t think anything is happening. I think showing off the labels is a ruse.

babymamalove · 21/02/2025 15:09

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 20/02/2025 09:37

To be honest, I feel like the partnership with Netflix is a very bad idea. They'll take an aggressively large cut in return for what?

Hosting her show? They're doing that anyway.
Putting the products in their stores? There are only two.
Selling her produce online maybe? But she can do that herself. She can get more clicks from headlines than Netflix can for their online store at the moment, I'd wager.

How long is she tied in for? Does she have any control over what her products are put next to? What about when that relationship ends?

It seems very last ditch to get money through the door, when really this SHOULD have been the plan all along.

They could have done Netflix, Oprah, Spotify, Spare with a bit less bitterness and hubris. Tell your story without slinging mud, satisfy people's interest, maybe get some sympathy.

For example, if they come out on Oprah and said that they found the explosion of pressure interest hard to handle, that they struggled to cope with the headlines, that this was their wish to try and live a different lifestyle whilst maintaining a love for their family, then they'd have pocketed the cash and been able to build a brand gradually in a slightly cheaper locale.

They're not producers. They're never going to be.

Basically, this. By going in so hard on the royal family people got fed up of hearing about them even if they may have had some valid grievances. I think having that many deals was a bad idea though. First Oprah, then Netflix and THEN a book? Serious overexposure and a really bad strategy. It’s almost like they were trying to grab as much money as they could at the beginning but it’s backfired now.

I reckon if they did what you said and split more amicably then Meghan could have launched this lifestyle stuff sooner and been successful because there was a lot of interest in her and her fashion etc. I’m sure there would have been a market for it.

TheMeasure · 21/02/2025 15:14

You know, with regard to Meghan being self-deprecating, I wonder if that was what she was actually trying to do with the "curtsying to the Queen" anecdote? That she took guidance even though she knew perfectly well how to curtsy as she was on film in Suits doing one from "Medieval Times, Dinner and Tournament" and cocked it up by being over-the-top.
And of course, it was widely taken as an insult to the Queen. And you could see by Harry's face that he could see it was landing badly so why the hell didn't he stop them from airing it?

babymamalove · 21/02/2025 15:15

PrettyFlyforaMaiTai · 21/02/2025 14:46

I keep thinking if I was actually advising them, what would I recommend to salvage this whole mess. But I don’t think they are salvageable. We’d have to go back to 2020.

I'd advise:

  • Wait to talk to the Queen and royals before announcing Sussex Royal. They jumped the gun in order to beat the media breaking it first. But their gung-ho approach blindsided the royals that the Queen had no option but to offer all in or all out. It’s only media speculation until the Sussexes confirm it, but they are obsessed with controlling the narrative.
  • Ditch Scobie as their mouthpiece and build better rapport with media. Harry should still pursue phone hacking scandal but either settle earlier and permanently put it behind him. Or else go all guns blazing fully expecting to win the moral high ground but lose money and dignity.
  • Do not do Oprah interview AT ALL!
  • Release Harry & Meghan documentary but keep it positive, no whinging about the media and royals. It should be about their love story and making a new life in California. No victim mentality.
  • Harry releases biography but it’s called ‘Call me Harry’. No whinging about William getting more sausages or the men in grey suits. Focus on his mental health journey, career and relationships with Meghan. How living in a royal fish bowl wasn’t for him though he appreciates the privilege and opportunities brought. He is happier being “just Harry” etc.
  • Meghan releases a podcast about herself (Being Meghan/Simply Meghan/Just Meghan) where she discusses her skin care, beauty, fitness regime etc. She shares anecdotes about her life and shares her views on the big news stories of the day, all in a light hearted chatty sort of way
  • She links her instagram to the podcast and advertises the products she discussed on the podcast. She does what I eat in a day/outfit of the day posts and collaborates with brands. I could see her collaborating with the California tourist board and share secret local gems in the area. Mix her designer wardrobe with high street etc
  • Eventually release ‘Love Meghan’ as a light hearted cooking show. Invite celebrity or well renown chefs and create wholesome family meals. Market it as ‘embracing imperfections” rather than ‘elevating the ordinary and have fun goofing around and getting it wrong. Don’t merchandise products but release a cook book.

Also:

  • Stop faux royal tours
  • Keep in contact with English family and maximise exposure at jubilees and coronation.
  • Give Thomas a second chance on the condition he keeps everything confidential. If he breaks this trust one more time, cut him off for good. Ignore Samantha and don’t engage.
  • Decide if you want to keep Archie and Lili away from the limelight or not. No teasing the back of their heads or using blurred images of them to advertise your products if you won’t release any official photos of them.
  • Keep up charitable endeavours but keep it quiet and behind closed doors unless you want to promote the charity with an official visit. No bringing the cameras to war cemeteries or grief vulturing in disaster zones.

They should have hired you! (Although I’m not sure they’d listen to your suggestions from the sounds of what they’re like behind the scenes LOL). If they followed this plan I definitely think they would have been more successful

Uricon2 · 21/02/2025 15:21

Absolutely brilliant advice @PrettyFlyforaMaiTai and if they'd had the wit do this they wouldn't be in the fix they are now.

Whatever some think it wasn't about them "daring" to leave to live in the US but what has happened since. It could all have been so positive with no bridges burned.

Snorlaxo · 21/02/2025 15:23

TheMeasure · 21/02/2025 15:14

You know, with regard to Meghan being self-deprecating, I wonder if that was what she was actually trying to do with the "curtsying to the Queen" anecdote? That she took guidance even though she knew perfectly well how to curtsy as she was on film in Suits doing one from "Medieval Times, Dinner and Tournament" and cocked it up by being over-the-top.
And of course, it was widely taken as an insult to the Queen. And you could see by Harry's face that he could see it was landing badly so why the hell didn't he stop them from airing it?

Initially I thought that the story about Fergie teaching her how to curtsy was a good story to tell to stay on Eugenie’s good side.

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