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

The key sentence in the Alison Boshoff article comes early:

For, as a source close to Harry revealed to me, this visit is nothing less than step one in Operation Reconciliation, a carefully thought-through plan to heal the wounds between Harry and his family.

It's clear that the rest of the article is coming directly from that source. That should help judge its reliability.

None of this has been confirmed by the Palace.

Edit to add: If it does happen that the King's invitation is to Sandringham, rather than one of the other residences, it may be his way of underlining that they are family and not working royals, as Sandringham is personally owned and not an official palace.

As far as I’m aware William flies himself, Harry doesn’t have a current license.

I’m not to sure puzzled ! But I have noticed that the comments under ham articles that are not paywalled are damning towards them and many are complaints about the dm constantly featuring them ?!
perhaps it’s to appease the masses who are bored with them?
or perhaps it’s to gauge how many will pay to read about them? 🤷‍♀️

Charles can’t do anything that exposes him even more to accusations of callousness - what is wrong with him, refusing to see his grandchildren etc. He can’t cut them off completely. So I expect there will be a short, private visit, no photos, (or maybe one official one), and the rest of the time they will be left to get on with it and film whatever royalish content they can get for NF. Meghan can pose for a photo with anyone who will agree, then flog the outfit she’s wearing. Harry can pretend he has important and Interesting things to say. Maybe he’ll indulge in a bit of sexual assault should the opportunity arise. I’m sure they will be whisked in and out of every event with no danger of being exposed to any boos. It’ll be a big old flurry and then the RF will carry on regardless. It would be interesting if they turned up for one of the finals at Wimbledon, but I’m sure the AELTC will prevent that if they can. If I were them I’d get papped near Eton for the lolz. Fun times.

The Chelsea Pensioners do look quite royal in their uniforms. I hope they understand that and are all in civvies when H+M visit 😂

A photo of Charles with the two kids sitting at his feet, their asses facing the camera as per usual 😂😂😂

😂😂😂
Barefoot!

😂😂😂

Agree @elessar, especially with this

I think it’s both manifestation and an attempt to control the narrative. It’s hope that if they put out there that they’re “basically working royals” in the UK, that the palace won’t overtly contradict it, and they’ll be believed.

With ‘I Love Diana’ written on the back of their t-shirts.

Sandringham is personally owned and not an official palace.
I reckon most people don’t know that though, particularly people abroad. Sandringham is very well known around the world as a place the family gathers. It will still look good for H and M.

I didn't mean fly himself. He barely even drives himself. I was referring to the suggestion upthread that to save the dreadful plebiscite inconvenience of having to drive from Birmingham etc to Norfolk (Sandringham), Harry may expect a helicopter to be laid on.

I expect he will. That's about his level of entitlement. No electric bus for him.

Re Buckingham Palace:

It was bought by George III as a private residence for the Queen and was gradually used more by the Royal Family until Victoria moved in on her accession in 1837 - she was the first monarch to use it as a formal residence.

The seat of monarchy is St James' Palace - hence the Court of St James, which is still where ambassadors are registered and where the Accession Council meets. It has been the monarch's residence since the 1500s, and the most recent addition to it was Clarence House - where the King now lives.

You could say King Charles has returned to the traditional residence.

That's interesting, thank you!

I have just read that article and it seems to me there’s an awful lot of manifesting going on. I think it was said that basically the palace are ok with the Sussexes carrying out commercial activities in the US and charity visits in the Uk. That may or may not be true but it doesn’t change the fact H and M will not be doing anything on behalf of the Crown. I don’t believe W would allow that.

I think it was said that basically the palace are ok with the Sussexes carrying out commercial activities in the US and charity visits in the Uk

If that's so, @JSMill, I suspect it boils down to the palace trying to put a good face on something that, realistically, they can do little about - or at least not without causing another tantrum from America

There's clearly no point expecting decent behaviour from H&M, so really all they can do is aim to avoid damage to the core institution and otherwise keep quiet ... something they're already doing with a fair measure of success

Yes, I think that's the crux of it.

Yes I meant Royal helicopter laid on, not flying himself.

The Queen and Phillip used to catch a train and William and Catherine did in the early days of Anmer, I remember them being photographed arriving at Kings Cross. I assume they don’t any more for security reasons.

It would be a long journey for the children and a cavalcade of security, nanny, personal assistants or whoever else is in their retinue driving all the way to Sandringham.

On the whole I don’t think it is practical and won’t be on the table.

I hope it’s not Sandringham far too near to Anmer Hall.

I hope it's Highgrove - Pa pays William £500k pa in rent! That's got to eat them up! 🤣

Although I’m sure the royals use helicopters to reach Sandringham at times, I believe they usually go by road.

If it’s Highgrove, Harry can show his children how he suffered having the smaller bedroom and fewer sausages! @MrsEmmelineLucas .
Au reservoir!

I don’t believe Charles (or Camilla) would be stupid enough to allow them to stay anywhere private such as Highgrove where madam can poke around and take photos. Even if they do ban them from bringing phones. I think it’ll be a less than grand flat at Buckingham Palace with strict orders if no photography or possibly a flat at St James Palace. Of course photos of children playing in Buckingham palace gardens will leak out later, maybe pinned to a memory board in the kitchen where they can pretend they didn’t mean to make them public. By then there won’t be anything the palace can do about it.

From the London base they might head out for a day at Althorp, maybe Charles Spencer would invite the sisters (aunts) over - they do seem to have made an effort to discreetly support both Harry and William, turning up to certain events and of course both H&W attended the funeral of Lord Fellowes. Pretty sure Charles Spencer will say no photos/publicity.

He can, indeed Giorgino Mio!

Isn't Sandringham house open to the public in early July? - with a weekly Park Run in the grounds? I can't see "security paranoid" H&M being happy with that

.... although one of the farms/cottages might be available (AMW has some spare rooms as well 😂)