PR Disasters Chapter 14

[Recklessismymiddlename]

Continuing the baton on from @Atlusvue

But I don't think he does actually want to be King. He wants to be the most important person, but it is clear that he doesn't want to do any of the grunt work.
I've said it before but the Spare is a lucky place to inhabit.

I think William would like to be the spare.

I don’t agree. He’s stupid and thinks kinging is sitting on a throne waiving his todger around while everyone does his bidding. And Meghan could be up there like a shot if she had the chance.

I’m not sure where you get that impression from re William. He may well have expressed doubts as a much younger man (who wouldn’t) and he may not yet feel quite ready while his kids are young, but he’s warming up nicely to the role, as is Catherine.

I think he will be excellent, and I am delighted it is him. I am not saying he is a reluctant king, I think he knows what is expected of him and has embraced it. But he is aware it comes with great responsibility from the day his father dies to the day he does. He must at times wonder about the freedom of being a spare.

Whilst I now need brain bleach I do agree that his idea of Kingship is what Harry wants, but I am certain he doesn't want the reality of being the monarch.

(The article about splitting the Kingship which was shared on this thread was hilarious)

I think the grey suits are probably panicking at the palace. He’s not going to want these flunkies hanging around. Maybe he has shared wth then what some of his thoughts are of a slimed down monarchy. So they are starting a gentle smear campaign.

I’ve got to say, although not an outright republican I am generally indifferent about royalty. Except H&M of course they intrigued me!

Never listen to Xmas speech or watched a royal wedding/coronation or funeral, but the more I see of Kate and Will, the more I’m interested.

I think William will be magnificent down to earth King and would probably listen to his Xmas speech, when he does his first one.

I just loved watching the clips of him talking to the two football podcasters and their excitement about meeting him and William knowing who they were.

I think he will be good for this country, and within a couple of years, even all of us will not be assed reading about H&M.

The idea that William is some maverick and the courtiers are worried is plainly nonsense - he will be king, their boss.

Isn't this very similar to what was said about Charles for years when he was Prince of Wales?

If I remember correctly he had a suitable rejoinder when asked if he would behave the same way when King ...

That's a very dated take. At least a decade ago there did seem to be some friction between Charles and William, not over the monarchy specifically but there were lots of stories. These days, particularly since they came together to make the Queen deal with Harry and Andrew and then after the Queen died they went through those massive changes together, these days they seem much closer and warmer.

I think they both realise that, however different they are as people, they need to present a united front.

It wouldn't surprise me at all that Harry and Meghan are the only ones leaking, they tend to accuse others of things they do themselves.

Exactly. They just recycle stories.

Interesting attempt to put a negative spin on William having a tight group of old friends and a non royal understanding of how domestic life works.

William lived in a house share at St Andrews - with Catherine too- if I remember correctly.
Are we really supposed to believe he had no idea that bins had to be put out until he was going to the Middletons for Christmas?? Or that Carole wouldn’t have set the table the night before?
I don’t think the Christmas table setting would be left to someone who hadn’t apparently set a table and didn’t know how to put a tablecloth- basically a sheet -on a flat surface. I bet Carole’s tables are beautifully set!

I usually host 25/30 people at least on Boxing Day or the 27th. My tables are set by the 22nd or 23rd! Glasses upside down, turned right way up on the day. Plates already placed in Warming drawers. If I’m organised I can bet Carole M is.

TBH my left handed dd always sets knives and forks the "wrong" way around when she lays the table because it's the way she uses them.

Gosh - I wish I could do that but I know by Christmas day I would find everything on the floor and the cats attempting to look innocent! 😂

My mind immediately roamed to Theo Ryecroft of the ‘knocking the princes’ heads together’ narrative.

But settled on Harry.

Amusing article about influencers (and the nuisance that accompanies them).
Remind you of anyone we know???
“Treating everything and everyone in their path like props, communicating only one way – it’s either them speaking or no one – and assuming that everything not nailed down is up for grabs.”

The good news is hotels etc are waking up to the nuisance and lack of value most of these people represent, AI is taking over, the influence of influencers is waning.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/b31e759ac360d1d6

Thanks @ShamedBySiri.

Interesting article - almost 'the rise and fall of the influencer'.

I suspect as time goes on there will be more and more AI influencers, accounts that hotels can sign up to for advertising, which have none of these downsides.

I don't think Oprah paid the Henrys for the interview? I suspect they were gagging to get their POV across, saw a huge global platform to do it and weren't too fussed about the $$$ when they were raking in loot hand over fist from other sources.

Oprah made her money when her production company sold the rights to it. I have never thought she was particularly fussed about journalistic integrity, more laughing all the way to the bank and half way back again.

Some requests are framed as “collaborations” but are little more than attempts to secure a free holiday.

‘Hey, Queenie, we want first class flights, the penthouse suite and couture Dior and maybe we’ll do a two night tour to one of your commonwealth shitholes next year, and you get to say how grateful you are in your Christmas message to the nation. Capisce? Have your people call my, I mean our, people.’

I'm actually quite surprised it's still that high given the curiously empty acres of Archewell office space exposed a few years back by a French documentary.

You could be right, cathy, but given the sheer untrammelled greed we've seen so much of I'd be amazed if the pair didn't want $$$$ as well as the airtime

Very much agree with you about Oprah though; she's always reminded me of a bloated spider, waiting to ensnare the next opportunity, and will certainly hhave been laughing all the way to the bank

My take on the OW interview (and not being paid) has been to consider the timeline/context.

I think M had become increasingly disillusioned by royal life not meeting her expectations.

Can’t keep freebie gifts, got a cottage not a palace, criticism for the celebrity baby shower, tours and engagements that she couldn’t pick and choose that were far less glamorous than she envisioned, realising that H was nowhere near as wealthy as she thought etc etc

The solution: half in, half out. Keep the perks, ditch the dross and H was more than happy to keep her happy.

Problem was the narrative that “we want to monetise our titles” was not a good look and they got public push back on that following their statement.

To be able to monetise their position they knew they had to present a “good” reason for why they left rather than money.

OW gave them the opportunity to do that. On a global scale. No, they weren’t paid (unless it was the source of a significant donation to Archwell) , but it was one hell of an investment on their part in setting up a “fan base” that bought their “truth” hook, line and sinker, that they dined out on for quite some time.

It's hardly surprising Tyler Perry offered them accommodation - it was the set up for the OW show.

OW had been sucking up to Doria from the minute she found out about H&M's relationship. Ready to pounce, when possible/favourable.

Do we really think OW would have bothered with Doria otherwise 😆

Oprah has to be the source of that Archewell donation. She got them cheap compared to Netflix which really only benefitted from the H and M documentary and they paid much more than that donation.

I can’t link to instagram as it shows my account, but Buckingham palace shop have posted a great post about National scone day and scone etiquette, I think they maybe having a bit of fun at a certain someone’s expense!