PR Disasters Chapter 15

[FenellaFeldman]

The saga continues

I agree - they have laid out a jigsaw of images and info over the years to build a picture of their DCs in order to flog As Ever UPFs and tat. Monetising their own DCs on a global platform whilst pontificating to others about the dangers of SM. There is a PP on here who has spoken about the distress and discomfort that her own mother caused her by sharing ‘snippets’ of her childhood as a not very high profile journalist.

The reality must be that H&M have nothing else to say if they have to resort to this.

It's getting hard to avoid the speculation that there is a reason Archie does not appear as much as Lili.

Which is absolutely shit for the child. And entirely his parents fault.

This type of speculation and narrative will grow and future photo releases used to build narratives about the children.

All because their parents want to be in the public eye.

It's shit parenting.

@CathyorClaire I was never a Dire Straights fan - I think to DS it's a bit "retro". Anyway I like your thinking - re R&J

I can't do the talks like Pa talks on the TV
And I can't do a charity like the way it's meant to be
I can't do anything but I'll do anything for you
I can't do anything except be in thrall to you

Anyway back to the point - M claiming she's protecting those children online is just brassed necked . Between all those photos it wouldn't be hard for someone determined create a reasonable impression of at least Lily. & as a pp said - there is no reason whatsoever for them to release a birthday photo. They are of no realistic constitutional importance. Also , sorry if it has been mentioned , but what do they say to those children when older about not uploading all and sundry when M must on a very regular basis be saying - " right there , no turn your head a bit , smell the flowers and "got it!" Oh no one more time ... " She is normalising oversharing on SM in a way which will become ingrained in those two children. So - trying to hide their faces just doesn't cut it for me. (And obviously many many others)

TBH, I think Lili is being lined up to be marketed as "Diana's granddaughter" or "the new Diana"

Problem is, nobody much under the age of 50 cares about Diana.

I’m over 50 and I don’t care about Diana

It's weird to realise this isn't it?

My kids (20's) barely know anything about her and really don't care.

She was so iconic for us over 50's it's hard to appreciate this.

And it's not like old bands, or music, or films which can get cool cult status with a younger generation: there are no Princess Di T shirts or posters on the walls of uni kids.

She has no ongoing cultural influence. I think the last of that was Harry's wedding when those of us who remembered her thought 'Diana's boy is getting married' Beyond that no one cares anymore.

She's just the dead mother of Prince William. The interest is going to be in Williams kids as they become adults, not in his mother.

Harry does look alarmingly bald in that photo. They normally try to hide/photoshop it on the photos they put out but M now seems to be releasing a lot of bad photos of him

I agree. I think for people like me in their 60s Diana is a bit - Saw that at the time no longer interested. As @StrawberryWasp says , my DS is in his early 30s and she is sort of recent history ,knows who she is , but has no resonance. I think H&M have rather missed the boat if they think Lily is going to be the 2nd Diana. Of course H will miss his mother ( as will William) but there is only so long you can make talking about your mother a job, and I think H has exhausted that.

The kind of global superstardom Diana had doesn't exist anymore. And the media environment has totally changed too. As has the role of the royal family in British culture. Even if Diana were young and married into the royals today, there would be nowhere near the same level of interest in her as there was back then.

Basically, you had to be there! If you weren't, you won't 'get' it.

Frankly, the fact of being Diana's granddaughter is of very little interest. Especially as Diana has another granddaughter who is going to play a role in British public life, and who isn't hidden away with selective glimpses of half her face or a random limb.

i think Harry will be talking about Diana for many years to come.

He will, and it will do her memory no good at all.

I would imagine William would do everything in his considerable power to stop any documentary.

It's his USP for the rest of his life and he's certainly taking full advantage of it!

The whole idea of them making a Diana documentary is abhorrent. I hope the article about Charles Spencer telling them off is true. And the idea of getting sealed files unsealed, for what? Monetisation? It's disgusting.

I'm over 50 too and I don't care about Diana although I remember her and her death and the feeling at the time.

I think if they do try to make a Diana documentary it might unleash William, who I would fully expect to be furious and let that be known. She was his mother too.

Or she could just schedule it like loads of people do

I was pregnant when Diana died. That child is now 28. As pp have said, she had no meaning to anyone below the age of thirty and her Grandchildren certainly won’t be of interest unless they become famous in their own right.

I’m also not so sure that H&M are relatable or interesting to the younger generation themselves.

What else has he got to offer?

Of course. Plus, in spite of certain wild claims on the previous thread, the name Lilibet is both very uncommon and very identifiable.

I think I'm right in that after the 20 year anniversary documentary about her life both W&H said that would be the last time they spoke openly about her.

But then H told his grandmother he and M wouldn't trade on their royal titles so - whatever , I suppose.

At the time she died public perception was really changing around Diana. I'm pretty sure the public outpouring was partly because there had been quite a lot of criticism about her recent choices. Them she died and we were told by the press we had to treat her like a saint.

But she didn't really have lasting historical or cultural significance and, like most celebrities and royal wives, is being forgotten. If Harry and Meghan think she is their future they are mistaken, again.

Agree, @MrsLeonFarrell.

I have read from at least one PR person on here, and have heard elsewhere, that the early Sunday papers were withdrawn in a hurry that morning, as they were very critical of Diana.

(As an aside - imagine that being able to happen these days, in the era of social media news!)

Same! I was in the shower and DH burst in to say Damian and that bloke are dead. I couldn’t believe it.

Eh? Damian and what bloke?
I think Mother Teresa died at the same time.

Yes they did say that.

I agree William will be unleashed plus it will be a very thin documentary as Harry hardly remembers her and I would expect a total lack of cooperation and access to archives from anyone who matters.