PR disasters thread 18

[NormalAuntFanny]

Since I finished off the last one by accident here is a shiny new 999 posts which might last us until the end of the heatwave

Well judging by the threads the last few days, something or someone has been getting up someone’s nose. I’m not sure if it’s malicious destabilisation from Russia or something more innocuous like the Sussexes.

And doesn’t that say a lot about the Sussex PR machine’s relationship with its ‘fans’, its foreign interests, the UK Head of State, the Commonwealth Realms’ Head of State, and certain US political actors?

So of course the counter-play to this ever-apparent narrative is ‘William eats squishy Haribos at state banquets’ and ‘Kate likes using Zoflora’.

I’m just amazed that people like Richard Eden would stoop so low to engage with this crap for the sake of a few quid. Have these writers no bloody pride, no honour in their own craft if not their country? It’s all writing-by-the-numbers and the numbers come from Sussex PR. There’s no attempt at any meaningful analysis. Just some performative superficial frothing, and rinse and repeat the paid-by-the-word ‘copy’. Pathetic really.

Ha ha , it's a bit ( and excuse my flight of fancy , my mind is often a place you do not want to go ) like you married the younger brother, and as wedding presents Granny gave you both Georgian silver teapots. They look the same. Except when you take them to the Antiques Roadshow , elder brother's is properly Georgian silver and younger brother's is reproduction EPNS.

William pays in tax what Harry would kill to have as an income. Awkward!

I do think the financial side of the royal family is difficult to navigate. I hope W & C are preparing C & L. Just because the younger children are extrememly privileged by anyone's definition of the word, doesn't mean that the relative inequality between siblings doesn't hurt.

Harry was actually vastly wealthier than most other younger sibliings because of his inheritance from his mum. Shame it didn't stretch far enough to buy an Ikea sofa, eh.

William charges Charles rent? This is giving me memories of the Boswell family in 80s sitcom Bread, where they swapped houses, charged each other rent and then claimed it back from social security 😁

I suppose the Duchies have their own self-regulating ‘fiscal rules’, as it were.

As did the Boswell family …

That's because Highgrove is part of the Duchy of Cornwall and now William owns it. I'm rather glad he's not charging Pa a peppercorn rent. Not repeating the mistakes made with the awful York family.

Of Course some are rewarded by getting pots of jam etc ...🙄 .

I was going to write a blistering reply but

1. it’s hot
2. I can’t be arsed
3. I’m busy watching F1
4. my fellow posters have already replied to your post with great observations. So bugger off with your boring, patronising ‘educating’ malarky. Bye 👋 bye 👋

@Not2identifying " I hope W & C are preparing C & L. Just because the younger children are extrememly privileged by anyone's definition of the word, doesn't mean that the relative inequality between siblings doesn't hurt."

I do agree with you here. I think if they are preparing C&L to know that G will always have a different role than they do , but also let them know what a very important supportive role they could both have, and remind them of the privilege they both have , without the responsibility , then W&C will have done a good job. Done well , I think a supportive "spare" could be a better job than the "top job" . OK less money , but really , how much do you need? Anne seems to support her brother well without whinging about being as rich. ( & this is where I think imbuing proper common sense , as in - you are immensely privileged , you just won't be King - is something H hasn't worked out for himself . Or indeed not had it taught to him. I don't know. ) Anne seems to have worked this out for herself.

I’m laughing at the people on SM who are saying William is dreadful for charging his own father rent.
They don’t seem to realise that when Charles was Prince of Wales he was charging himself rent as he never personally owned Highgrove.
So the Duchy of Cornwall owns Highgrove and it charged the ‘renter’ rent. The renter just happened to be the Duke of Cornwall who paid the rent out of the profits from the Duchy of Cornwall !

Well, you see, the RF are simultaneously awful for charging rent and also for not charging rent. Simple 🤷‍♀️

Anne is a great example of how a spare should be.
She hasn’t got the massive responsibility and pressure that comes with being Head of State.
Outside of Royal duties she leads a pretty normal life of a wealthy woman IMHO, just with a bit more jewellry than the average Gloucestershire farmer. She clearly has ££ and will have been amply provided for with trusts etc set up by her parents but because she’s not bothered about wildly expensive security, flying everywhere in private jets, and couture clothes she manages very well.
Gatcombe (730 acres) seems to be worth £6-10 million so it’s hardly (in the grand scheme of things) a wildly expensive farm.
If I were a royal Anne is the one whose life I would like.
I hope that Charlotte and Louis live lives like Anne- lots of fun, horses, outside lifestyle, privacy while remaining loyal to their brother & the Crown.
Doing their duty but with no expectation of their children getting titles that they can monetise.

TBH When I’ve pondered the hypothetical choice (not very often I might add!) I’ve always felt I’d have much preferred to be the spare than the heir.

Wealth aside (and let’s be honest, even the spares are very far from poor) I can’t see what there is to be jealous of.

Your life just isn’t your own. Your diary is booked years in advance with engagements that will often be tedious or even challenging (like trumps visits).

Your choice of life partner is going to be scrutinised and frankly many people wouldn’t want to sign up for that life.

As a spare you get a hell of a lot of the perks but significantly less downsides plus the option to opt out all together.

I always had the impression that H was happy not being W…. until he met M and I do wonder whether that’s more about M wanting to be C rather than H wishing he was W.

@DaisyDooley That's a great post and I agree with you. Some people are very rich. It's a fact. Some by what they have earned , some by inheritance. But I think Anne know she has what she has because she is HLMTQ's daughter and therefore feels some responsibility and duty. I don't know , I don't know the woman , but she does seem to do her bit in supporting her elder brother, even though he got the "lion's share" . I may be projecting because as I say I don't know her , but she definitely gives that impression ( to me ) and I'm not convinced PR spin would be her wheelhouse. I am rather envious of her ability over the decades to look good in a uniform on horseback - I'll give you that 😂

I think there is some truth in what you say - see my post upthread about the teapots. 😂

Sent you a pm .

Anne is a great example of someone who can see and appreciate all the advantages in life they have, and rationally deal with the things where they could have come out better and shrug them off. If only someone else we know could count their blessings in this way!

Just so. I'll stand you a 🍷or a ☕for that. Whatever is your tipple. 💐

I think @BreadInCaptivityhas it right. Harry was following the path of Anne - although probably needing the MIGS to sort out his public image far more than Anne ever did and seemed close to W and C until M came on the scene. I think she dripped poison in his ear about his position in the family - and also her position vis a vis Kate - and what their future looked like. And he went along with her as ‘whatever Meghan wants, Meghan gets’.

I think the lesson is that, if you are a spare, make sure you marry someone happy to be second fiddle to the heir and spouse as your role is literally a supporting cast member. Not the star. Not a global icon. But a supporter to the star couple.

And your long term funding depends on keeping good relations with family members in the direct line. M has not had much success in keeping good relations with either her own family or the royal family. However in love H was he picked the wrong partner for the life he had and now she has turned it upside down.

So they have shared their itinerary with Hello Magazine

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will stay with their parents at a royal residence when they visit next month, but will not attend any public engagements, HELLO! can reveal.

Details of Harry and Meghan's itinerary have now been shared, with a mixture of public and private events and several gaps in the schedule which could allow for a reunion with the monarch if his diary allows.

Harry will begin his trip with an Invictus Games Foundation event at Chatham House, which will bring together experts, policymakers and members of the Invictus Community to discuss issues affecting the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. Uganda will also be announced as the 26th nation to join the Games.
The Duke and Duchess will then meet Chelsea pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea when they carry out their first joint engagement together in the UK since 2020.

As Patron of Wellchild, Harry will visit the Birmingham Children's Hospital to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first WellChild Nurse, and at the National Exhibition Centre, he and Meghan will watch and take part in a series of events alongside competitors from previous Invictus Games.
The event will mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham and showcase the classic and new adaptive sports being planned for it. The Duke will also join bereaved military children supported by Scotty’s Little Soldiers at the Scotty’s Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire.

https://archive.ph/xveC3

I've ended up in the Children's twice in the past couple of months with my toddler.

Will have to make sure there's no merch grifting photo ops going on with people who've been on international flights if I have to take him in with breathing difficulties again.

Why on earth are they meeting Chelsea Pensioners? Dear lord, they are so desperate for royal duties.

Harry will begin his trip with an Invictus Games Foundation event at Chatham House...

He may struggle with the Chatham House Rules....

Someone help me ! , it’s hot I’m behind the times and not updated on the latest political developments, Uganda ? Is it still controversial or is everything fine now?