Palace PR strategy in the wake of AMW-Epstein scandal

[Asmuchastheypossiblycan]

I’ve just seen who I think was a Sky news reporter, reporting on the King’s visit to the Colchester area today, laying out what is obviously the current BP PR strategy in the light of reason developments in the AMW-Epstein scandal.

She said that the Palace wanted it to be made very clear that the RF are very much not ignoring this story and wanting it to go away, and referred her back to Edward’s words about the victims earlier in the week.

But that their policy nonetheless was going to be carry on with their engagements as usual, as they have faced difficulties before, and will do so again.

I’ve no doubt that this is difficult for KC and family but AIBU to think that in the light of what has happened, and the covering up of ALW’s financial and sexual wrongdoings, this isn’t really good enough?

Surely it’s not right that AMW is above the law?

Also, a man in the crowd shouted out a question to KC about whether AMW would be investigated, and two policeman moved him away!

Last time I looked, I thought we lived in a democracy which welcomes free speech?

Why aren’t reporters and members of the public allowed to air their views on this situation and express that AMW should be investigated?

Otherwise isn’t the Palace PR strategy in reality advocating “one rule for them and a different one for us?”

If it was your brother, who was an adult, what would you do? The police have known where he has lived for ages. should Charles physically pick Andrew up and carry him to the station?

I'd vote for that!

Before any arrests are made, the Palace need to open up all of their police protection and other records, travel logs and accounts, so that the police can investigate properly. And withdraw any pressure put on those keeping the Trade Envoy Papers hidden, when normally, they should be in the public domain.

Andrew Lownie came up against blank wall after blank wall trying to write his book and many rejected FOI requests. The RF are in a position to encourage more transparency.

Proper investigations take time. They are not conducted in the media.

Potential witnesses are not supposed to tell the media or anyone their evidence before they have been interviewed or potentially until after a court case has been concluded. Both could result in a mistrial. Expecting KC or RF to answer people calling out questions could prejudice the case.

Sadly it takes years for cases to get to court. I want to see justice for the victims, but trial by media and social media is not the way to achieve it. AMW and others should not be above the law.

My friend only found out her husband was a rapist when the police turned up on her door step. Making assumptions about what HMTLQ and KC etc. knew can mean you get it wrong. Let’s face it the PM accepted Peter Mandelson’s lies why is it so hard to believe the RF didn’t know the true extent of AMWs actions.

i've said before that I doubt Andrew kept his unsavoury habits for holidays with Epstein, if it was anyone else the police would have investigated and probably found something, he was still waving at people on monday in Windsor - Andrew is very much protected.

Back to the PR strategy - I live fairly locally to the place the King visited today and there were quite a few negative comments on FB, I'd say 1/3rd of comments were negative, a few people who don't care, a couple mentioning Andrew, one mentioning Charles's close relationship with Mountbatten, quite a few complaining that it was impossible for disabled people to come and watch today as all car parking was closed, and sadly one person said that a class of children from a special school had their trip cancelled due to all the car parks being closed - so with that and Charles being very silent on Andrew I'm not convinced their PR strategy is the best.

My concern is the PR strategy of targeting AMW, Peter Mandelson, the RF and Keir Starmer is actually allowing other far more wealth and powerful men to avoid the media scrutiny.

Around the time Melinda divorced Bill Gates there were reports of a lot of CEOs and CFOs in New York all taking early retirement at the same time. The suggestion this was because of what might come out.

I don’t want anyone to get away with what they have done but at the moment the only person in prison is a woman. I want the police in both the UK and US to take their time and build strong cases against everyone.

The RF strategy of minimal comment showing sympathy for the victims and then silence has worked before. The more you say the more there is to analyse and pull apart and that all adds fuel to the fire.

The American government are doing nothing where is the outcry? Why is the focus on andrew? Legally he didn't commit a crime because it wasn't a crime at the time in this country so what are we supposed to be punishing him for?

The American Government have asked Andrew multiple times to come and testify and to share his knowledge of Epstein's wrongdoing. Andrew has ignored all requests.

Yes it was a crime - having sex with a trafficked 17 year old is actually a crime in the UK.

If a thorough police investigation is taking place, with full cooperation from the Palace, then the PR strategy would be different surely?

The King could release a statement saying something like, “we have very sympathy for the victims and we are doing everything we can to assist the police with their enquiries. For this reason, we are unable to answer questions until the investigation has been concluded.”

That’s all that’s required. Quite simple.

Hhmm yes the Prime Minster - a top international lawyer accepted everything on face value from Peter M, of course he did, but strange really with hindsight that the PM was naive, gullible knowing Mandleson's track record - i kinda would like to think that the PM was smarter than that.

Those weekly meetings between the PM and the King really should be stopped.

There is no reason for an unelected head of state to have weekly sessions with the elected leader of government.

Too much access to information.

I am 100% certain they have been briefed on exactly what the UK and US security services had on AMW from the beginning.

As in, years ago.

Honestly!

I agree so much with this point.

If he was so hoodwinked by Mandy, how on earth does he handle Trump?

Andrew Lownie is a policeman with the power of the law is he? I’d say fuck off to an author too.

Eh? That’s rather the point isn’t it?

It shouldn’t be left up to historians and authors to uncover this information should it?

The British public pay around £86.5 million in tax annually to support the Royal Family who are meant to represent the UK and as such they are expected, at the very minimum, to comply with the law and maintain high standards of behaviour.

The Royal Family should have policed their own family members properly and not only did they fail to do so, it looks like they engaged in an extensive cover up, over a number of years.

We still would not know about some of AMW’s activities had Epstein not been investigated.

Lownie discovered that politicians, diplomats and intelligence sources did know about AMW’s alleged corrupt activities as a Trade Envoy and informed the late Queen about them, and still nothing was done.

If any other ordinary public servant was suspected of allegedly breaking corruption laws in this way, they would face a police investigation and criminal charges. Can you explain to me why this should be any different for AMW?

Sorry if I missed this somehow but when did the British police ask for the records that are being talked about on this thread and when did the Royal family refuse to hand them over?

I have been trying to understand the situation but it feels like new things are coming out everyday and its hard to keep it all straight.

The met police have said that they aren't investigating Andrew.

What do you want KC to do? Actually? He’s chucked AMW out of the family and AMW is now persona not grata and likely isolated.

Did they know? Possibly they knew some of it.

I suspect this won't be the great RF cover up that some people are hoping/wanting it to be 🤷‍♀️

I so disagree with this. Are you saying we are not allowed to shout something out to any member of the royal family? Can you signpost me to the law that says this

It was an elderly guy and the police hauled him off and he said to them more or less... How the hell can we question anyone in the royal family if I'm not allowed to call out a question. I had no choice,

The Windsors are getting challenged by the public and those who do so are to be applauded.

Except we are also seeing an increasingly heavy handed response from Windsor security - shutting people up and threatening arrest
A man asked William at one of his rare appearances and of course William completely blanked him. But the security came over and told the man to stop.

Breach of the peace s being used to stop legitimate questioning. If MPs aren’t holding the Windsors to account what are we supposed to do?
The man was perfectly polite and used no abusive language.
Is this the free speech the uk boosts of?
The secrets and protection around the Windsors puts North Korea to shame

He was NOT close to Charles. He was not a threat, he just called out a question
Free speech is dying if we are not allowed to shout something out.

How dramatic to talk of a dead or injured king 😅😅😅

They hate the public responding to them in this manner, that's all

@HundredMilesAnHour

You are wrong

When Charles took over and they had those ridiculous Shrekesque proclamations that he was ‘king’ , a man was walking past and shouted ‘ who elected him’
He was a vicar or a cleric of some kind in Oxford.
He was arrested . There was an outcry
The more they get challenged the better
Or does Windsor Inc not ‘listen and learn’ when it comes to their own disgusting abuses ?

Absolutely

Have you noticed that the Windsors rarely do the ribbon cutting nonsense any more. It’s not to focus on other things . It’s because the crowds were embarrassingly sparse. Quite often literally no one and unnecessary barriers .

The heckling happens on their way in or out of their ‘set up ‘ engagements - photo ops .
They’ll be dodging in through the back door soon

Prince Philip was desperate for his dc to have the name Mountbatten and now we only really hear it when linked to AMW and his immoral past.
Not the legacy PP was expecting.