Andrew - continuing his effort to end the Monarchy Part 3

[simpsonthecat]

Here we are

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_royal_family/5487636-andrew-continuing-his-effort-to-end-the-monarchy-part-2?page=20&reply=150676336

It seems that a whistleblower email was sent to Charles in 2019 via his lawyers re: Andrew abusing his position as trade envoy.

It's really disingenuous that people keep implying the RF were not aware of Andrew's shenanigans. Maybe not all of it, but definitely enough to have done something before.

Non-paywalled version - https://archive.ph/FFKAG

They knew. Whilst they were throwing other members of the family under the bus by briefing against them, they were protecting Andrew.

💯%

I do not know how anyone could think that QE2 Charles or anyone had no idea what Andrew was up to.
Over decades there has been different news articles hinting at wrongdoing. Banque de Havilland and David Rowland has been reported on more than once. And David Rowland was front row at Eugenie's wedding

As usual the palace do what they always do, stick their heads in the sand and hope it all goes away and hope that the public are thick enough to move on and not question

We all know why William hired a Crisis Manager now don't we? This was just a couple of weeks ago, they knew this was coming. And this Crisis Manager is the best of the best, previously with global British Airways, and apparently is a bulletproof expert dealing with crises and reputational issues. Her experience includes handling "boycott campaigns, sexual allegations, and serious safety issues" and she is adept at managing reputational risks. It is said this is for William and his future role

We need to be prepared for some very clever PR coming out in the future

I agree with the point as to those turning a blind eye. I’m hoping everyone involved, including those who covered it up are exposed.

@simpsonthecat

Fully agree with this. I think that line in the DM this morning says it all really - where Andrew was admonishing people telling them he was the Queens second son and how can they do this to him (when being removed from Royal Lodge).

I think that’s how he’s behaved his whole life, because he was lead to believe it to be true - he was the Queen’s second son and he could do whatever he wanted with impunity. And it was true, as long as QE2 was alive.

I wonder if SF gets all these freebies as she knows too much. Easier to put her up in a nice spa than to bump her off.

There have been jokes on these threads over the years that she knows where the bodies are in relation to Andrew and the RF. She could definitely get a lot of people into a lot of trouble.

Just incredible to see how they’ve looked the other way.

There have been some weird variations on this part of the story..including mention in some papers of a RAF Horsham which in reality closed in the 1960s and has been the Norwich civil airport for decades...press? Fact check?

The only version that really makes sense that I've heard is that AMW tried to get permission for Epstein to go into/out of RAF Marham with his own aircraft.

Unconfirmed rumours that the station commander initially said no but was overruled.

No more than the Epstein files are revealing though. This might be her last freebie. I can’t imagine non Brits remaining enthralled after all these revelations.

@notimagain I've seen one article where in a paragraph at the end of the page a (supposed) MoD spokesperson said that civil aircraft were allowed to use a base if they paid all costs.

Would this have been the case for any bases that you are aware of?

Hiring a PR professional who specialises in aviation safety incidents and sexual misconduct claims makes the situation look more serious , not less and also doesn't come across as an ethical choice and, imo, undermines William's so far trustworthy and clean image (edited).

I usually quite like C&W and think they’ve handled things well up to now. However, it didn’t feel like a particularly wise PR moment to see C laughing with the rugby players yesterday. At a time like this, being photographed having fun and appearing carefree can easily be misinterpreted. Whatever advice they were given, this didn’t seem like the strongest choice for a public engagement.
They need to take things seriously and respect the public rather than pulling wool over people's eyes.

Some MPs are now demanding that there should be a treason probe into Andrew and Mandelson.

i really need people to hear themselves you’re on a forum where people react with more vitriol and mockery to Meghan selling jam and being awkward/annoying than Prince Andrew’s alleged sex crimes.

i wouldn’t give an absolute toss if I were c&w, good for them; people will go back to hating H&M for breathing in five minutes.

However, it didn’t feel like a particularly wise PR moment to see C laughing with the rugby players yesterday. At a time like this, being photographed having fun and appearing carefree can easily be misinterpreted. Whatever advice they were given, this didn’t seem like the strongest choice for a public engagement.

This is just daft.

Catherine as patron of the Rugby Football Union, and attending the game, was back to doing her Royal ‘duties’, as several papers pointed out.

I like the pictures of her laughing, they are perfectly pleasant. However, the hypocrisy in my eyes is that attending a Rugby match is touted as duty and so many members of the public (across the spectrum) have accepted this as work, and give the RF credit for it.

I think that roseate glow is now going away, and for the sake of this country, that it is completely
cleared.

I agree that hiring a Crisis Manager is not the most ethical move. But then again I think William has been given more credit for being someone I think he really isn’t, namely more in touch with reality, wanting to downsize the RF etc.

I think he’s very much a part of the firm and everything he’s done is to fiercely protect its interests, because the gravy train that has lumbered on for 100s of years is slowing down and maybe even ending.

I'm a long long time ex-that world but as I recall things civvies using most RAF fields wasn't normal, it would be PPR (Prior Permission Required) and so the mil could in theory say no.

Another complication is someone would also have to facilitate customs/border formalities.

I’ve only ever seen unanimous negativity toward Andrew on MN. The difference between H&M and Andrew is that H&M were constantly courting media attention, which led to more frequent threads about them.

Andrew, on the other hand, carried out his questionable dealings away from the public eye, so posts about him tend to surface only when his shenanigans are reported in the press.

M&H attacked the RF and their fanbase has trolled the Wales family, which made them very unpopular. However, now, they must be feeling very happy they chose to be away from it all and, ironically with all that is going on perhaps they have 'found freedom', from the institutions, which previously sounded ridiculous and preposterous.

I said nothing about exotic blood and it is a fact that Meghan is more relatable looks-wise to us in the Commonwealth than the RF ever were or could be. I say this as someone not white myself so please stope with the faux outrage.

I had no problem with Kate at the rugby, I was just jealous to be honest.
I also think William should have gone to the Wales match at Millennium stadium in Cardiff, being Prince of Wales. But of course his love lies with Aston Villa FC. He regularly goes to matches, sometimes it's barely reported. It's only my DH telling me if he watches a match!
William does what he wants to do!

Thanks @notimagain

Regarding the appointment of a "Crisis Manager", would I be wrong in thinking that in order for it to "work" (in positively spinning impossible to spin crises), that the Manager would absolutely need a compliant Press/Media.

We are fed rubbish a lot of the time by the media, this spin, that spin, the other spin. A lot of it is subliminal aswell, we hardly know we are being hoodwinked and brainwashed. Maybe it's time for the media to step up and forget about its access agreements to the kids etc. and refuse to spin protective bullshit to us.

But then again, maybe I am just raving here.....

I'm curious to know if Andrew would have signed the Official Secrets Act or had a job description for his trade envoy post.We may all know that he shouldn't have leaked information but those boundaries may not have been officially in place for him, meaning it could be difficult to charge or convict him
What may happen these is the police move to his other activities.

The problem is that royalty sells, so it's been almost necessary for the print/online media ("newspapers") to keep publishing fluff about them, and ignoring the other bits relating to various members of the RF.

The RF has control here because it can easily say to any paper, no, you're getting no access, no leaks, no more fluff stories for your publication. They feed the media the stories, and if one of them decides to stop playing along they'll have cut off one of their biggest income streams.

So, on it goes!

From what Andrew Lownie has said, everyone thought he was a liability as trade envoy, but complaints were shut down because everyone wanted to keep the Queen happy.

That is a Royal Family problem.

Also, Andrew was surrounded by staff pretty much 24/7. They can't pretend that they had no way of finding out what he was doing.

Yes I understand that and kind of mentioned it in my post.

However, I think the clever thing to do now is for the media to inform us of shock, horror, scandal, revelations etc. now as I think far more people are interested in that aspect than the kids and Catherine's clothes.