PR Disasters thread 20

[OctopusFriend]

More to chat about

Kate and the Middleton family are the best thing to happen to the House of Windsor this century.

Really lovely photos. Can't get over how tall and handsome George is!
James is also so modest. I don't even know if he did the whole thing with her or just the Snowdon leg, he hasn't mentioned it on his Instagram, not stealing his sister's thunder.

They're all like that, aren't they? Modest and not self serving.

When does Harry arrive ?

@HoldMyWine, agree- so lovely and natural and a lovely way to thank those who supported her cause. Such a contrast to HAM, who it seems cannot do anything without it coming across as cynical and self-serving/self-obsessed. Surley even they must realise by now their petulant behaviour is loosing any support they still have?

We get it, they left because Royal Family= bad, but then hypocritically continue with this Royal adjacent nonsense. The only reason most people now care or talk about them is because of the huge amount of entertainment they provide. Entertainment in the way that people cannot look away from a car crash. The recent will/they won't they grace the UK with a visit, ongoing security drama is a case in point. Many people called it ages ago and said it will not happen and the majority bored and scathing about the whole drama.

As a couple who (are admittedly) self proclaimed champions for internet safety and have employed huge numbers of PR experts, they really take the prise for totally fucking up everything they do. I only came over to the Royal Family forum to enjoy the ridiculousness/unintentional comedy and fall out from the pity-fest that was Spare. I was also quite ambivalent about the Royal Family and their existence, but they have actually managed to make me grow to quite appreciate them and the way they represent the UK.

To me it is like the wierd (and admittedly) not clever or highbrow fun I got in the old days from sleb gossip when famous people were less managed and used to do stupid things to keep us entertained. They are basically filling the space Katie Price and Peter Andre (who loves his kids) used to at the height of their 'love-story)!

Wonderful photos

George is so tall!

All three children look set to be tall.

@OctopusFriend they are so lovely, natural and unstaged aren't they? I cannot begin to imagine what having a 'normal family life' looks like when part of the Royal Family, particularly when 2 of them are future heirs. These little snapshots seem to capture that they balance it. I also love seeing photos of KC and QC with the grandchildren, there always seems to be genuine affection and love, despite the wierd world and goldfish bowl they find themselves in. Special mention for that photo of the late queen with her grandchildren with one of the Tindalls holding her handbag! Whilst a posed portrait, is was also a very human picture full of warmth

Yes they are all long legged!

Absolutely. There's a naturalness and warmth. They've come to support Kate, it's about love and celebration and you can't fake that. How proud and happy they all look!

Can't compete.

These pictures just exude love, warmth and joy. Just contrast with those weird pics of Lili kneeling on the floor or the two faceless children all alone in the wilderness. There's just no comparison.

Aren't they just

Yes they're lovely photos just released. Admittedly my first thought was "she might not have still been here to do this ..." and I'd be surprised if her family haven't thought the same, but a healthy Catherine among a loving family - what's not to like?

New photos are beautiful. Such a contrast to HAM's very odd photos. Even with faces covered, they still look so very odd

They are worlds apart. W and C have a massive constitutional role waiting for their whole family and what they are doing is laying strong foundations. They’re doing a great job in my view and I feel a bit exasperated by the accusations of being workshy when this is the most important job they could both do while they have the time. The country will ultimately benefit from the way they raise the next generation of the monarchy.

H and MM have nothing waiting for them. Their choices are all their own, as are the consequences. I hope they are loving parents and are shielding their children from anything negative, including their own self indulgent behaviour. But it they aren’t, they won’t be our problem.

That's because they're being used for promotion.

And they are pics of their children with their grandparents that are natural and organic. Flowing from an established family relationship.

It puts all the conjecture about KC3 allowing, or not, pics of him with H's children into perspective.

@Starryfifty,* *that is the jarring contrast isn't it? Even the official photographs of the Wales children seem less staged that A&L. The ones Meghan chooses are just always so odd and not just because of the the 'back of the head' framing. I do not want to speak badly of the children involved, they are at an age where they just do whatever and probably have no idea it is all for social media, but it just always look inauthentic.

Maybe it is the wierd no shoes/meant to be casual sun-dappled Cali life shots that seem like they have taken several takes? It just never seems to be a snap from a lovely time that 'just happens' but staged managed. I am not sure I am explaining this very well- but the photos they post always make me feel almost uneasy and sorry for their children. That one they released of all four of them on separate sides of a small bridge, which the press show all the time, for some reason really irks me. For a start M's shoes with that dress seem all wrong, but everything about it looks uncomfortable and not a 'happy family of four' shot.

The pictures are just lovely. The one of Charlotte reacting as she approaches Kate is really moving – that's a child who has obviously been through a lot watching her mother be treated for cancer, so she knows exactly what a monumental event completing the challenge is. I also love the one of William and Kate hugging like their lives depend on it. They're always so professional at events – no holding hands etc – that it's nice to see the unbridled affection between them.

Yes that's a really odd and slightly unsettling photo.

All 4 of them in a line, none of them really interacting in a natural way. Or the photo they released last week with both children hugging Harry while he looks far more interested in gurning for the cameras. Though not as bad as the one of Archie hanging onto Meghan's leg or Lili kneeling at her feet. You never see the children playing together or doing normal kids' things. The photos are always cold, joyless and kind of odd.

That one they released of all four of them on separate sides of a small bridge, which the press show all the time, for some reason really irks me. For a start M's shoes with that dress seem all wrong, but everything about it looks uncomfortable and not a 'happy family of four' shot.
@Dameputtingonabraveface

That photo really bothers me too - and it appears a lot.
The position M is in with L, is exactly how I'd have talked to ds when he was doing something unsafe or wrong in another way because he had glue ear (and ASD) so I needed to hold both hands and get down on his level for him to be able to listen. So it looks to me as though she's telling her off.
And the hug A is giving H is the "don't leave me" cling ds would do if I said "I need to go now" ie a preventing from moving grab rather than a "I love you" neck hug.

I presume neither is the case or it wouldn't be the photo chosen, but both the positions don't give across love; they give across control to me.

You get the feeling they are inside quite isolated with a member of staff. Their parents turn up for photo ops from time to time. No photos of them playing with other children or doing anything normal.

I read all these threads but never manage to get on with posting as they all seem to move so quickly! I agree with everything that's often said on this board about the strength and dignity of Catherine and William, and the narcissistic hypocritical frankly ridiculous behaviour of the idiotic pair in Montecito...

But this comment pushed me to post because I couldn't agree more with you @IcedPurple I've been saying for years that the Middletons are the saviour of the Windsors. Catherine and her family are stable, functional human beings who very clearly care about each other. They've given William the family life and support that he didn't get at home (though Diana clearly adored her sons, and I think Charles probably did his best despite his own model of parenting which was sadly lacking.) The RF and the crown owe the Middletons more than they will ever really understand.

I've been trying to analyse why I don't connect with the Sussex photos. I THINK it's to do with the fact that it feels contrived - as if they're trying to make a point that THEIR kids are growing up free from "the institution," running barefoot on the beach and in the garden, in casual clothes with un-brushed (!) hair. The inference is therefore that they couldn't have had that if they'd stayed in the UK (along with all that other crap about being papped on the school run etc).
And yet, here we have the Wales kids, doing all that and more, with their extended family. And without trying so hard, I suppose.

I posted this on another thread, but I thought it was worth sharing here too.

I actually feel sorry for Meghan that she doesn’t have the kind of close, loving, and supportive relationship with her siblings and birth family that Catherine has with hers. That’s not meant as a dig at Meghan either, her family are absolutely batshit crazy!

The Middletons have been one of the best things to happen to the Royal Family. They’ve provided Catherine with a stable, grounded, and loyal support system, and I think that’s been invaluable not just for her, but for William and their children as well.