PR disasters thread 4

[AtIusvue]

One stop shop for all As ever, Archewell, Meg n Harry disasters

Alison Pearson, Telegraph. how to save the RF:

’Here’s what I suggest:

1. The line of succession reads like a Ruritanian comedy. Ernest Brooksbank is 14th in line to the throne purely because he is the grandson of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. I’m sure two-year-old Master Brooksbank, a Trivial Pursuit question in waiting, is adorable, potty-trained and already learning the concept of delayed gratification in a way Grandpa and Granny never quite mastered, but what are we to make of the fact that he and his elder brother, August, the sons of a marketing manager in the alcohol trade (resident half the year in Portugal) are a foundational part of our monarchy?
   The Brooksbanks’ cousins, Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi and Miss Athena Mapelli Mozzi, are even higher in the batting order, just behind their mother, Princess Beatrice, who is in ninth place, while her disgraced father clings on in eighth. All six York descendants are ahead of Princess Anne, who is 18th in line to the throne. That would be the entirely admirable Princess Royal whom many of us would have been glad to see succeed our late Queen, or would even vote for as president. At this moment of turbulence, Anne is one of the few royals capable of steadying the ship and preventing a mass outbreak of republicanism.
   Even worse, fifth, sixth and seventh places are still occupied by the Duke of Sussex, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet (so named because her mother was trying to cement her affiliation with the “brand” of Elizabeth II, whose childhood nickname it was). Prince Harry’s children are Americans in everything but place of birth. Harry himself has brought the institution of monarchy into disrepute with his unfair allegations of racism against his father and sister-in-law, whose physical afflictions may not be unrelated to stress caused by his scorched-earth campaign against his family. And yet Harry retains his hereditary position and, here we are, just one plane crash away from Queen Meghan. It’s nuts. Get rid of them all.
   Every single person in the line of succession must be removed after Prince Louis in fourth place, with an honorary place reserved for Princess Anne.

2. No more titles by virtue of marriage, no more gongs and medals for doing nothing but being born into wealth and privilege. Titles should be reserved for the direct line of succession and only then if, after they turn 18, they are working for the Firm. That way, ghastly Sarah Ferguson, ghastly Meghan and their children would not be duchesses or princes and princesses, for goodness sake.

3. Spares are bad news – see Andrew and Harry. Heirs only.

4. No more bowing or curtseying, we are not peasants.

5. Greater transparency. It is no longer acceptable to say that papers relating to the disgraced Andrew’s ill-gotten time as trade envoy are sealed for 90 years. The same goes for royal wills and business accounts. If our late Queen really loaned Andrew several million pounds to settle with Virginia Giuffre, did he pay inheritance tax on it? If not, why not? The public is entitled to know.

6. How was the then Prince Andrew given the plum job of trade envoy when his elder brother shrewdly pointed out that he would only use it for playing golf and enriching himself? Did Peter Mandelson, perchance, have any influence in placing Andrew in a role that would be advantageous for their mutual friend Epstein? Every skein of this sordid scandal needs to be teased out with royal help.

7. No more lectures on climate change, please, when the King has 14 royal residences and a vast personal property portfolio. Three palaces or castles is an ample sufficiency – gift the rest to the nation.

8. If things get a lot worse, as they might, do not rule out the nuclear option: abdication. It would make a clean break and enable a new generation, led by William and Catherine with their star power, to lead a streamlined institution while restoring lustre and popularity. By making such a sacrifice, the King would ensure a lasting place in his people’s hearts.
   As I said, I am a monarchist, so if I am starting to question the worth of the institution, things must be bad. We have a lot of history with our Royal family, and life without them is unthinkable for many. But the well of affection and respect is now at risk of running dry. The King must choose change if he is to be long to reign over us.’

For a start, cutting off the line of succession, doesn't make sense it's just a genealogy list. Maybe instead the press could just ignore anyone lower than third? No one is making them write about Mr Brooksbank's children after all.

I'm also confused by the narrative that having more than one house and using a plane means you can't talk about climate change. Purity spirals end up silencing everyone and nothing ever changes. I prefer Charles being listened to (and he was way ahead of the curve on this) even if he does fly in a plane.

A(nother) pointless whinge by Allison Pearson, who is just trying to fill column inches.

The Line of Succession is just a family tree - everyone has one. There is zero chance anyone other than William, then George will succeed to the Throne. @MrsLeonFarrell is as ever, correct, and even now the Press rarely mention the York sisters children.

Why burden the public with more great Houses and Palaces - National Trust et al can barely cope with the ones they have - the taxpayer would pay for the upkeep and/or they'd fall into ruin. The Crown Estate can keep up the cost while still paying into the Treasury.

And Allison has a bloody cheek - I don't like listening to her whang on about Brexit, immigrants etc and the usual bile she spouts. Just because she doesn't believe in climate change doesn't mean to say it shouldn't be spoken about. Charles & William have never lectured anyone about flying - they've just tried to make us aware of the importance of nature and taking care of our planet. Charles was at the forefront of this and has been proven to be correct on much of it.

The days Allison Pearson is correct about any issues are rare and always a surprise. Today is not one of the days.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15590533/Harry-Meghan-Jordan-visit-people-forced-homes-war.html

What on earth does "Heirs only" mean in point 3 of the Pearson article?

Are we rationing them to one child per family? Seems a bit harsh. There are going to be siblings (the revered Anne is one of them, in fact). Not sure what actual course of action this point is supposed to be recommending; certainly nothing that's not covered by the rest of her poorly thought out article.

Wonder if there will be threads about how tone deaf this is?

Good point @jeffgoldblum . Maybe I should pop the link over there too !

Yes! After all if it’s a bad look for Camilla to highlight G P in her ongoing work for DV victims, I imagine this will also raise eyebrows!

Done so now await the defence of the saintly duo .

William and family could be wiped out in a car crash and then it's King Harry.

Then Harry's plane crashes with him and the children on board on his way back home, and as it stands it's King Andrew.

So not zero at all. Just very unlikely

I just saw a reported itinerary they have issued ! If it is their itinerary (published in advance too) they are no Angelina Jolie humanitarians that’s for sure.

Za’atar refugee camp is a Syrian Refugee ‘camp’, and it’s not a tent city anymore, it’s a safe area. If that itinerary is correct, it looks like they are not going anywhere near a Palestinian refugee camp and they seem to be staying well away from the Gaza border it seems.

Amman is a great city, vibrant, great restaurants and hotels, high quality of life, they will have a great little luxury stint there!

Who is paying for their PR trip? The WHO, and UN, are in a disastrous state financially, the US have withdrawn from the WHO, leaving a huge financial hole.

The DG of WHO has quite the controversy surrounding him, An Ethiopian foreign minister in a government that heavily restricted free speech, imprisoned journalists, a man after Harry’s very own heart !

Apparently they travelled by private jet . As ever.

More grief tourism. To quote others " living in a massive mansion with all their money what are they doing other than talking? Do they offer rooms in their mansion to children? No! It's just all talk and for good PR" 😉

"But they are private citizens, they can do as they like " waaah but oh yes let me hang onto my Royal title , use it whenever I can and demand 24 hour security 🙄

The article is way down the DM page and I didn’t see it on the BBC website so little interest so far.

Yes it is indeed. Not even the word Prince in the title.

BBC report https://archive.is/igzf4

Philip Hall, British Ambassador to Jordan, thanked the Sussexes for travelling to the Middle East.
"Your visit, your support, your appreciation of the efforts that the United Nations, including of course, the World Health Organization, the government of Jordan and others, are making here is enormously appreciated," Hall said.

Hmm.

Bit of a clash with the state visit of the Indonesian president

https://jordantimes.com

Yet again Meghan ticks the box in a frightful outfit - she looks lovely in a single breasted trouser suit but has chosen something entirely unsuitable for her shape - double breasted and with all those pockets and bits drawing attention to the very bit you don't want.

I suspect that the Sussexes tout around for invitations and make it known that the Office of Meghan and Harry are willing to support causes. Let's be honest because of the controversy they cause it does create publicity for the event. It would be like asking Greta Thunberg , Katie Price or Hitler to an event.

This sounds a lot like government approval to me.

Why is the UK ambassador fawning on them when they are not representing anything but themselves?

Yes, that's what I was thinking, @Guest385 and @StartupRepair

I don't think so. He's just getting his name out there with this event.

Besides be honest what do they really know about refugees? Maybe Mm is offering to do a cookbook?