As Never the second release ...

[onehorserace]

Wine, apricot spread and honey. I think we've had all the suggestions for names already ?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14832085/amp/Meghan-Markle-new-products-rose-wine-apricot-spread.html

Where are these articles? There is a terrible piece about William that says nothing,
is that it? It’s just so badly written it’s breathtaking. Could someone link to the articles please?

Oh I totally agree. And that's why they will never be working royals again, because they would get booed by the public, even if there are charities etc willing to have them as patrons. There would be no sincerity or believability to any such royal duties from this pair.

Not working together but coordinating at arm's length. This happens a lot, even among sides that might appear to be engaged in a 'PR war'. That's my professional opinion; I could be wrong and other, doubtless better, professional opinions are available.

The RF learned after their bitter experiences with Diana that it's better to keep lines of contact with a volatile member open, than shut them out completely. Not an embrace, but an arm's length handhold. This is the strategy they've adopted with Andrew.

Ultimately, if you're a family firm and one of your members has gone off the reservation (to use a colonialist phrase) and might be a bit unpredictable (and crucially, knows where all the skeletons are), your firm will be safer in the long term with that member in the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in. Even if you relegate them to a far corner of the tent and don't talk to them very much.

There's a difference between viewing these things through a moral/emotional lens ("I do wonder how the RF could ever trust H&M again") and viewing them dispassionately through a tactical lens. The RF hasn't survived for this long by letting emotion drive strategy and tactics. And you don't have to trust someone to keep them fairly close (in fact, not trusting them is a good reason FOR keeping them close).

Extending a hand of friendship by attending Invictus 27 would be BRILLIANT PR for W&M. They immediately look forgiving, wise and statesmanlike; all the things you want in a future King.

It might also help resuscitate Invictus after a very, very fallow couple of years.

What I can’t understand it’s what is the point of As Ever if theres no constant flow of goods for sale? It’s not making an income I can see it adds to Meghans visibility or brand but how does this help her?

It helps her with self promotion. She can put things on Instagram and keep up the celebrity profile.

It would be better to let Invictus collapse and then something new can be created. No reason why it has to exist and it is being used for PR in a distasteful way. Perhaps the problems in Birmingham will make it clear how much of a waste of money this 'charity' really is.

It’s going to be impossible for them to be kept at arm’s length if they go to Sandringham and other family get togethers. No one is going to want to engage with them or tell them anything because they can’t be trusted at all.

Harry used to go to Balmoral pre Meghan . He used to go deer stalking and was often seen in the area .
Meghan never visited ( although was very keen when The Queen was dying!). In 2019 they said that the trip to Balmoral was too far for Archie to travel then hopped on a private jet to Elton’s pad !

It’s obvious Harry wants his family back. We saw that in his last interview. But wait, I think they, the family, have to apologise first 🙄.

And today’s newspaper? Well once again (if the article isn’t a made up load of tripe) Harry is showing us very clearly in umpteen ways just how manipulative he is.

Is this article the work of 2 PR teams (Spanakotias post is very interesting)? Only time will tell and even though I’ve no stomach for Harry and Meghan returning to public life I do hope the family can one day be together again (in private) as a family.

Thanks Kate sorry don’t know how to quote I suppose I just wondered at what point does all this raising of her profile turn into reliable income streams. It all feels a bit precarious. But then I’m risk averse.

Yes, I think that she wants to keep a high profile, because being a celebrity is important to her. As for the income streams, it's tricky, because the best income stream was when she was relying on slating the royals, and that's dried up, of course.

I agree with you. Indifference says way more about a situation than anger does. It’s something a loved one of mine has learned to their cost and as a bystander to it, it’s very difficult to watch going on.

These threads are so relentlessly nasty about such a non-event. I can’t fathom why people who dislike this woman so much……for whatever reason……don’t just stop reading about her? I read virtually nothing about her outside of MN. Why actively seek out information about someone you loathe and for whom you feel contempt? Extremely odd and unhealthy behaviour. Is it a pattern with regard to people you’ll never meet or is there something particular about this woman?

I’m not sure that bringing Harry back into the fold would be brilliant PR for William - maybe if Harry were more popular, or if he publicly apologised and recanted a lot of what he’s said. (Or if he divorced Meghan maybe there would be a way to blame her for everything.) H+M accused the RF of racism and made not a peep when their unofficial spokesman named Charles and Catherine. They have deliberately tried to undermine the family and told lie after lie about their life in the UK. William would surely look really weak to accept that, and very unwise to have people like that around his children.

I’m sure Harry is desperate to be readmitted and Meghan needs the royal status for jam selling purposes, but I don’t see what there is to gain for William - the royals have survived the loss of QE2, they’re still popular, whereas H+M are a laughing stock.

(The only reason I can see is if Harry has some absolute dynamite story up his sleeve and is essentially blackmailing them with it.)

Well I don't know about Sandringham/Balmoral etc. BUT I am willing to bet that this time in two years, we'll see W&K stood on a podium with H&M at a charity event. There are good PR reasons for its being a charity even rather than a family get together - which are two very different things - happy to explain why I think this in more detail.

The current state of affairs is not sustainable from a PR perspective. Happy to explain why I think this too.

But for now, 22 June, let's bookmark this date and check back in 2027! If I'm right, I'll donate £100 to Refuge, my charity of choice. And if I'm wrong, I'll donate £100 to a charity chosen by your good self @KateDelRick since you were first out of the blocks in thinking it'll never happen :-)

No financial risk on your side, date's in my Outlook calendar, let's see how it goes :-)

I agree with this. I really don’t think W and K will ever be seen with H and M again apart from at Charles’ funeral.

I think As Ever is predominantly another chance for Meghan to cos-play one of her fantasies. In this case, entrepreneur-business woman-boss lady- mumprennuer-Gwyneth Paltrow- will be a billionaire just as soon as a huge multi-national realises how fabulous I am and buys me out. It's all big act that allows her to rub shoulders with the real thing and pretend she's their professional equal. But she knows she isn't, which is why she's doing it as the Duchess of Sussex - the title that apparently silenced her and stopped her doing what she wanted for years; because the title is the only thing that gives her an edge over the others and some form of "mystique"/USP. As Ever turning a profit is secondary to Meghan doing a turn.

Also, apart from some hardened fans and the misinformed, most people don't like H&M and certainly don't respect them. The RF does not need that.

For Harry there appears to be a realisation that his children are going to need a huge amount of money for them to compete to what Harry sees as their birthright. It's the cruelty of them having titles and not being able to choose them, they will have expectations put upon them. At least Meghan appears to be addressing that with a longer term financial plan. I only see a return for Harry through a mental breakdown or a marital breakdown. The alternative is Harry with his family for occasional visits and Meghan on social media with her less than subtle digs at the royal family. It's been all of 5 minutes since her last one.

You shouldn't seek out and read threads that distress you so much. Take Meghan's advice and don't look at critical commentary.

“The only reason I can see is if Harry has some absolute dynamite story up his sleeve and is essentially blackmailing them with it.”

Would anyone believe him ?

Indeed. Some of the "dynamite" thus far has turned out to be damp squibs.

Invictus 2027 runs from 10th - 17th July . Camilla is 80 on 17th July and it is said that Charles is planning big celebrations so the RF might not be available !

I'm sure there are files and files on Harry. Whatever "dynamite" he has can probably be countered with a nuke!

I am also pretty sure there are files and files on Meghan !