PR disasters thread 22

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The ongoing saga of Sussex PR

I agree. They've got a foot in the door. If they make more frequent visits it'll be harder and harder to keep them at bay for the rest of the family.
W&C not letting the cousins get together will be the next thing for the press and other detractors to seize on.

I agree. Charles is playing a blinder. Seeing his son's family in private, without fanfare or photographs, on his schedule not theirs, making it crystal clear that they are not senior royals.

And if the Sussexes leak anything it will rebound on them, not Charles.

I don't care whether or not Charles has been manipulated. I care that he's given an audience to two entirely undeserving, grasping individuals who have brought the RF into disrepute and continue to do so. If he wants to play doting granddad, do it wholly and separately in private, not tacked onto the side of a quasi royal tour and self aggrandisement exercise on the part of his pill pushing, misogynist, lying son, complete with the predictable media circus. Keep the royal out of it - that status is bestowed at the behest if the state and the people. Keep your failures as a father and drama llama family squabbles WHOLLY private.

I absolutely agree with this, I’ve just posted something similar. Charles the father and Charles the King are not separable. And Harry the son will call on Charles the King, as he has repeatedly done, whenever he feels the need. Till now I thought Charles was managing this, now I have my doubts.

Yep. It's kind of a 'test case'.

The statement emphasised the 'private' element, and that no photos would be released. So that makes it very obvious that if any photos manage to sneak out, it is very obvious who it's coming from.

Magnanimity is a privilege of the powerful.

👏Completely agree.

I'm similar with my family, but it's unusual for the royal family because they can't just be friends with anyone. They need a trusted inner circle. They can't just go to uni and make friends then more friends through work and the kids school. They do, but not like how we do.
They need to stick together.

Yes quite. We'll be back to Saint Charles offering an olive branch, while Cruel Kate and Workshy William carry on being unforgiving bastards, depriving the cousins getting to know each other. How many more "Kate is the key to reconciliation" type articles are we to expect?

HAM will f* it up again. No doubt. Whether KC keeps bringing them back, we'll have to see

Harry never have any signs of loathing Camilla before needing to have content for his tell-all book, did he?

He and William seemed to get on well with her.
I think you are allowing H to rewrite history.
(Camilla is a better woman than me. I wouldn't let him within 50yards of me, if i was her!)

I'm undecided as to whether this visit was a Kingly masterstroke or a massive mistake. Valid arguments can be made both ways. What I am certain of :-

a) It won't be long before the Sussexes cock things up for themselves again. Because they always do.

and

b) Camilla is a very much better woman than me. Respect.

Absolutely agree, this is now going to be relentless, KC certainly hasn’t played a blinder, he has however, been played.

But you're not going to stick by people who've sold you out for their own financial gain are you, family or not. And I'm not sure what value Harry and Meghan add? William and Catherine both have extensive family networks through the Middletons, the Royal family and the Spencers. They're not some isolated family unit desperate or even the need for Harry and Meghan. The only ones that appear to be are the Sussexs and that's entirely of their own making.

I wonder where they are staying tonight - perhaps they really have headed off to Althorp. I have confidence Charles Spencer will absolutely not allow any photography, especially around Diana's grave. Will they leak other details?
I just don't understand - if they invited themselves, and agreed a visit (10th and 11th Althorp is closed to the public), how have they been allowed to do all this leaking about a visit? If I were CS I'd be reading the riot act to them about the unseemly leaks and will they/won't they and I'd demand they shut up about it or the invitation would be retracted.
It's just ridiculous the level of speculation that has been ramped up in the press.
Still, we know Althorp has tight security - it has to, they have had people breaking in trying to get to Diana's grave for instance, aside from the house and all its valuables. But presumably no armed guards. So that security will be good enough for them. 🙄

I feel so sorry for the Wales family. They don't put a foot wrong, have put up with absolutely horrific treatment from the Sussexes and their disgusting followers, they have never retaliated, and yet they are forced into DARVO territory, where they will be portrayed as the bad players in it all. Exactly how many victims of narcissists end up.

Luke. I love Luke.
He could have been RCB when younger as of course RCB was blonde.

Yes but ultimately Charles won’t live forever and then W has all the power . I think it’s important to see how things play out now they have had this meeting , whether they do keep their mouths shut or whether there is now a plethora of stories leaked from the meeting .

It’s text book isn’t it? Bad behaviour is rewarded, how KC can entertain them after the lives they have tried to destroy is beyond me, not least of all the Wales family, the comments section of the DM is very much in the main not impressed at all and KC is loosing a lot of goodwill and support.

So straight after publicly insulting his father's royal courts of justice, he's invited round for tea

Sums it up.

Charles seems to be managing his cancer well. He could live for years to come. I don't want 6 plus more years of Sussex bullshit and attacks on the Waleses, because Charles won't but his foot down. Their track record is to leak. If by some miracle they don't about this meeting, this is not going to stop them briefing against W&C to their friendly press outlets.

KC doesn't seem to care about public opinion. Look how long it took for him to deal with AMW.

Yes, I totally agree.

This sounds like a brief, cautious meeting to see whether or not HAM can behave themselves and not leak anything. The trust is absolutely not there - and probably never will be - but there can be a private and rather formal tea, at the King's choice and on the King's terms. It's a gracious and polite thing to do for a family member.

It feels like the Royal equivalent of grey-rocking.

Yes. What sort of message is that to the hardworking judiciary, solicitors and barristers, all officers of HM court? To Mr Justice Nicklin, who is an absolute rockstar in the legal world? How about KC apologising to him on behalf of his dimwitted son, since he's on a reconciliation roll. 🙄

I think H needs cash and KC knows it. This visit is a test to see if HAM can keep their mouths shut before KC affords them a further financial support.

Those having a pop at Charles for being manipulated, capitulating, letting them back in, it’s a slap in the face etc etc etc - nobody knows what happened at the meeting. It could have been anything from - thank goodness you’re back my darling boy, here are the keys to Windsor Castle - to a cup of tea and small talk, putting to bed any stories about how cruel Charles is to refuse a meeting - to no we’re not paying your legal bills, we’re taking your titles off you, if you go quietly we will allow you to spin it as a mutual decision and If not, we will publicly list the reasons why you are not fit to be a royal duke. (Or - thanks for letting us know about the divorce, we will begin negotiation of the terms over the summer break.)

So let’s see whether this does spark an escalation in the Sussex shenanigans and the beginning of a return to the fold. I think it’s very unlikely. Or whether there is something more subtle going on behind the scenes.

No way HAM would meet them if nothing in it for them. Everything they do is a grift.