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

It was probably the only (legal) career path open to him once he'd finished in clink.

"sources say he is leaning toward spending much of his private time with the Spencer family at Althorp,"

Surely either Charles Spencer has invited him (+/- Meghan and children) or he hasn't. If there is no invitation, it's not really up to Harry to "lean" towards spending private time there. If there is an invitation, he should have decided whether to accept and have a firm plan? How rude he is.
I do think the Spencer Aunts in particular have made an effort to keep in contact with both of Diana's sons. Not sure where they live - they could have them to stay? I can't imagine Charles Spencer relishing spending more than five minutes (if that) in Meghan's company and there have been several issues that I would have thought would merit a firm reprimand from him. He clearly won't be allowing cameras and film/photos, especially not around Diana's grave - I don't even know why there are rumours about this.
Charles S is very security conscious, I have seen it mentioned complaints of break ins, people trying to access Diana's grave, plus of course there is the whole house and its contents and the wider estate to consider. The reason he gave for refusing Diana a house on the estate was the security considerations. I very much doubt he would welcome all this circus. It's so ridiculous, Harry should absolutely not be mentioning any plans, thus he could visit Althorp privately by agreement/invitation without anyone knowing. Publicising it is an added headache for the Earl. Frankly I'd be withdrawing any invitation.

Very good points, @ShamedBySiri. Also, CS is starting a new marriage and really doesn't want that kind of high maintenance circus.

How we all laughed at the "trusty sword of truth".

I miss the days of politicians and the like providing such entertainment, not to mention the judiciary. "Has she elegance? Has she fragrance?" re Lady Archer in Jeffrey Archer's libel trial comes to mind.

I assume @ShamedBySiri that the Spencer sisters' houses aren't royal or royal adjacent enough. Althorp is the prize. This blog is another of the many that thinks it's Diana's childhood home, rather than her only living there for a short period as a teenager as a better-informed poster pointed out on here - apologies, don't remember who it was.

Harry seems to be manifesting again and assuming that if it's leaked that he's staying at Althorp, the earl will have to go along with it. I wouldn't be so sure. And it's very entitled of him to assume he can just decide that.

I do hope that any escape from prosecution for perjury is discussed very thoroughly though ‘in the online space’ (as Maureen Callaghan calls the internet) (sorry ).

It can’t be right or in the public interest that privileged people bring cases and lie under oath in the pursuit of other people’s money. It makes a mockery of the judicial system.

It’s been on the Althorp website for a week or so that the house and grounds will be shut to the public on July 10 and 11, so the assumption is now that’s for the Sussexes’ stay. So there’s no Harry “leaning towards” staying there, it’s already been organised, and he must’ve really thought he’d get police protection for it!

There was a thread a couple of days ago, I can't find now, someone's husband had pointed out it is only six months to Christmas, and along with a lot of LTBs there were others noting the nights are drawing in...😂 (It was a joke thread obv).
Anyway, it occurs to me that this little circus will be over in two weeks and we will barely have time to breathe a sigh of relief before the annual will they/won't they get an invitation to Sandringham for Christmas starts up. 😱
I sincerely hope Meghan and the children don't turn up as I had been contemplating, with displeasure, that such a step towards a warmer relationship with Charles at least, would feed the Christmas speculation to the level of frenzy.

Althorp is not a Royal residence and never has been. It is an ancestral home.

I thought it closed on those days every year?

It has been said that it closes for those dates every year, AI google says so, but I'm not sure that has been confirmed. Anyway, I don't know when they opened up the ticket bookings for 2026 but they would have needed to have those dates on the calendar at that time, so it obviously isn't a recent arrangement.
If the Earl had gone to the trouble of booking out a weekend for H and family I think he should reasonably expect that to be a confirmed arrangement and for it to be confidential. 🤷‍♀️
I lean towards other reasons for the closure.

I don’t know about that, but if it does it would make even more sense for Harry to time his visit back to the UK for then, so he can visit Diana’s grave without being spotted rowing across. It also lends more credence to the idea that MM blindsided him by saying she’d come with the kids. Because of all his posturing about needing extra security to bring them, he can’t just stay at Althorp with just his personal security like he has previously, he needs the whole armed police shebang, otherwise it exposes his entire high court case against Home Office as an expensive farce and pours oil on his argument that the UK is stopping MM from visiting, rather than her just not wanting to come.

News from Hugh Grant and Hacked Off and their fight to curb press freedom. I’ve managed to archive this one, hurrah.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/06/28/hacked-off-hugh-grant-andy-burnham-curb-free-speech/

https://archive.ph/jQju1

‘Hacked off Hugh Grant pushes Andy Burnham to curb free speech

‘Labour considers new war on journalism and social media’

It’s all going on.

Someone will be gunning for a graveside photo op no doubt…..kids faces obscured, natch.

Oh dear!! Poor snake in the grass burnham , is swiftly going to receive the starmer treatment in the press!!!
I love that karma for him!

I honestly don’t think she’d dare. Even she would realise that doing that would disgust even her own supporters.

Little hands on the word.."Diana" 😢

An opportunity to post one of my favourite memes 😂

I think anything is possible for a woman who used survivors of an anti-semitic terrorist attack to sell a blue and white striped shirt.

I do honestly think she'd dare.

Oh yes and the shield of British fair play or some such cock. His downfall was richly deserved.

She also is on YouTube where she talks about being officially INVITED by PH to the IG Thanks Giving Service at St Paul’s Cathedral …. Maybe it’s a stunt and shes just taking one for the team - might even have been her masquerading as the Pizza delivery / paparazzi - on the moped causing a ‘major security threat’.

Oh she would, remember her Paris trip when she posted her feet up in the back seat whilst beeping driven through Paris at night? she is utterly shameless.

I think H is using that stupid ‘leaning towards’ statement to pretend that it’s his choice to reject the royal family, rather than admitting the truth of the matter: that they are rejecting his petulant ever-changing demands and tantrums, and holding firm to their long-standing (very reasonable) position.

Remember that we know he has an up-to-date assessment of risk every time he comes (as long as he gives notice) , and also that the only evidence we have that the RAVEC review is on hold is 'a source close to the Sussexes'

I know, @bluegreygreen, and that's why I mentioned upthread that there's far too much of this "sources", "it's understood that" and the rest of the nonsense

As I've said from the start they could simply wait and see how many of them turn up and comment then, but of course that wouldn't provide the same number of clicks

Still surprised if the alleged "pause" with Ravec is true though. I realise Harry's no priority and recognise the mess within the government, but these things are done by civil servants who remain in place whatever, and it does seem a bit suspicious that their decision's been declared at this precise moment ... unless of course it was already known and held back to suit the media's narrative