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The royal family

PR disasters thread 26

1000 replies

BigWillyLittleTodger · 26/07/2026 11:15

Let the conversation continue……

OP posts:
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Justdancevance · 31/07/2026 18:10

Her dad knows a cheap place in Mexico - for retrenching to 😀

ShamedBySiri · 31/07/2026 18:20

IcedPurple · 31/07/2026 17:24

I guarantee that whilst staying on the island, presumably in plush private accommodation or even as personal guests of Wace at his own house,

It's a tiny, barely inhabited island in the Inner Hebrides. I doubt the accommodation there is 'plush', certainly not by the Duchess' standards.

I agree with @User867536 that this sounds like a pretty shit holiday. Certainly for those who aspire to an A list lifestyle. And an empty, windswept island in the North Atlantic sounds like Meghan's idea of hell. She's more of a SoCal kind of girl.

Edited

I think there will be very comfortable accommodation for the Ultra High Net Worth guests, as well as Wace's own house on the island.
From the article posted up thread:

"Over 40 ruined or derelict buildings have been artfully restored as living or communal spaces and five kilometres of road over and around the island built. The quality of the craftsmanship in all the restoration work is beyond dispute, but one is left with a visual impression or sense of a film or theatre set, a Disneyfied fantasy world of Flintstone or Brigadoon cottages (but with underfloor heating). A flavour of Agnew’s panegyric is captured by these lines:
“A stone cottage with a thatched roof sits at the end of a winding path lined with daisies and evening light. Repurposed materials are used to restore homes, including local stone, reclaimed Ballachulish slate and wood from the Union Canal … A freestanding bathtub with brass taps sits beneath a window framed by a patterned curtains in a tiled alcove … creating a colourful patchwork of history.”

"A guiding principle of the reconstruction of Tanera, we are told, is to use both local materials and, from (much) further afield, resources repurposed from other sites and locations. Alongside the carefully reconstructed indigenous ruins, Wace has ‘imported’ an extraordinary patchwork of buildings, furniture, fittings and artefacts from far and wide: a giant World War Two Avro Lancaster aircraft hangar from Cheshire, disassembled and tastefully reconstructed and repurposed as a communal place for eating and other social gatherings; marble from the men’s toilets at the Savoy hotel; freestanding Victorian bathtubs, a commercial cargo ship (the SS Davenham), now a cinema; floorboards salvaged from Churchill’s War Office in Whitehall … and so it goes on. On the landward side of the island, close to cottages, other accommodation and communal spaces (the Mess, for example) there are greenhouses and neatly constructed raised beds for growing vegetables. By the jetty, where people arrive from the mainland, a sauna and tidal plunge pool. Abutting the converted hangar, a well-equipped gym and work-out space. Wace has his own private house at the eastern end of the island, some distance away from the residential cottages and social spaces. Whilst all this may – arguably – be environmentally laudable it perhaps sits uneasily alongside Wace’s claims and aspirations towards authenticity – ‘the project is a model for sympathetic, authentic and ambitious restoration’ (Tanera press release or statement at 31/07/24). There is no doubt that the building and reconstruction work has been undertaken with considerable skill and care, but the whole project raises intriguing questions as to what constitutes ‘authenticity’. One might surmise that the architectural aesthetic is based upon what London based Englishman Wace thinks the Scottish past was like, or how he would have liked the Scottish past to have been."

"At one level the island remains a place for the wealthy, the rich and famous to be invited for short restorative stays. Who these people continues to be a well-kept secret but, of course, rumours abound about celebrities and members of the royal family being spotted boarding the speedboat from the Badentarbat jetty to the island."

Scotland may not be Meghan's cup of tea but any place for the wealthy, rich and famous will be her spiritual home.

bluegreygreen · 31/07/2026 18:29

It certainly sounds more to Meghan's taste than Balmoral, assuming the 'freestanding Victorian bathtubs' come with 21st rather than 19th century plumbing.

Baital · 31/07/2026 18:45

Mylovelygreendress · 31/07/2026 08:27

Nah , Ian Wace is a very savvy business man who , despite a terrible tragedy ( first wife and children killed) has quietly gone on to huge success.
Meghan has zero chance.

OMG, just realised he was one of the funders of something I was involved in 20+ years ago! Never met him, but ARK helped some excellent initiatives to get going.

BasiliskStare · 31/07/2026 18:47

It would be amusing if H&M ended up with the copper bathtub from the Frogmore Cottage refurbishment which had been sent to an architectural salvage company.
(I'm making that up btw - I have no idea what's going on the FC refurb.)

IcedPurple · 31/07/2026 19:50

ShamedBySiri · 31/07/2026 18:20

I think there will be very comfortable accommodation for the Ultra High Net Worth guests, as well as Wace's own house on the island.
From the article posted up thread:

"Over 40 ruined or derelict buildings have been artfully restored as living or communal spaces and five kilometres of road over and around the island built. The quality of the craftsmanship in all the restoration work is beyond dispute, but one is left with a visual impression or sense of a film or theatre set, a Disneyfied fantasy world of Flintstone or Brigadoon cottages (but with underfloor heating). A flavour of Agnew’s panegyric is captured by these lines:
“A stone cottage with a thatched roof sits at the end of a winding path lined with daisies and evening light. Repurposed materials are used to restore homes, including local stone, reclaimed Ballachulish slate and wood from the Union Canal … A freestanding bathtub with brass taps sits beneath a window framed by a patterned curtains in a tiled alcove … creating a colourful patchwork of history.”

"A guiding principle of the reconstruction of Tanera, we are told, is to use both local materials and, from (much) further afield, resources repurposed from other sites and locations. Alongside the carefully reconstructed indigenous ruins, Wace has ‘imported’ an extraordinary patchwork of buildings, furniture, fittings and artefacts from far and wide: a giant World War Two Avro Lancaster aircraft hangar from Cheshire, disassembled and tastefully reconstructed and repurposed as a communal place for eating and other social gatherings; marble from the men’s toilets at the Savoy hotel; freestanding Victorian bathtubs, a commercial cargo ship (the SS Davenham), now a cinema; floorboards salvaged from Churchill’s War Office in Whitehall … and so it goes on. On the landward side of the island, close to cottages, other accommodation and communal spaces (the Mess, for example) there are greenhouses and neatly constructed raised beds for growing vegetables. By the jetty, where people arrive from the mainland, a sauna and tidal plunge pool. Abutting the converted hangar, a well-equipped gym and work-out space. Wace has his own private house at the eastern end of the island, some distance away from the residential cottages and social spaces. Whilst all this may – arguably – be environmentally laudable it perhaps sits uneasily alongside Wace’s claims and aspirations towards authenticity – ‘the project is a model for sympathetic, authentic and ambitious restoration’ (Tanera press release or statement at 31/07/24). There is no doubt that the building and reconstruction work has been undertaken with considerable skill and care, but the whole project raises intriguing questions as to what constitutes ‘authenticity’. One might surmise that the architectural aesthetic is based upon what London based Englishman Wace thinks the Scottish past was like, or how he would have liked the Scottish past to have been."

"At one level the island remains a place for the wealthy, the rich and famous to be invited for short restorative stays. Who these people continues to be a well-kept secret but, of course, rumours abound about celebrities and members of the royal family being spotted boarding the speedboat from the Badentarbat jetty to the island."

Scotland may not be Meghan's cup of tea but any place for the wealthy, rich and famous will be her spiritual home.

Edited

I think there will be very comfortable accommodation for the Ultra High Net Worth guests, as well as Wace's own house on the island.

Comfortable, sure. But Meghan's taste seems to tend towards ostentatious Hollywood style, not Ye Olde Scottish charm. I would also very much doubt Wace hosted them in his private family home. He barely knows them.

SheinSussex · 31/07/2026 19:59

BasiliskStare · 31/07/2026 18:47

It would be amusing if H&M ended up with the copper bathtub from the Frogmore Cottage refurbishment which had been sent to an architectural salvage company.
(I'm making that up btw - I have no idea what's going on the FC refurb.)

They should have sold it on eBay.

BasiliskStare · 31/07/2026 21:46

IcedPurple · 31/07/2026 19:50

I think there will be very comfortable accommodation for the Ultra High Net Worth guests, as well as Wace's own house on the island.

Comfortable, sure. But Meghan's taste seems to tend towards ostentatious Hollywood style, not Ye Olde Scottish charm. I would also very much doubt Wace hosted them in his private family home. He barely knows them.

I think if it's "private" "HNW" , residents have to sign NDAs and they are billionaire adjacent I think Meghan can probably cope with a bit of Ye Olde Scottish charm. She does live quite happily in a faux chateau & is Soho House really Hollywood glamour ? I reckon if it's seen as very exclusive and for very private very rich and very famous people to visit , M would cope for a few days. It's apparently "disneyfied" & she's told us she loves a bit of Disney 😊

SheinSussex · 31/07/2026 22:04

IcedPurple · 31/07/2026 17:24

I guarantee that whilst staying on the island, presumably in plush private accommodation or even as personal guests of Wace at his own house,

It's a tiny, barely inhabited island in the Inner Hebrides. I doubt the accommodation there is 'plush', certainly not by the Duchess' standards.

I agree with @User867536 that this sounds like a pretty shit holiday. Certainly for those who aspire to an A list lifestyle. And an empty, windswept island in the North Atlantic sounds like Meghan's idea of hell. She's more of a SoCal kind of girl.

Edited

I went on honeymoon to the Outer Hebrides and it was f miserable. I said as a joke where are you taking me, the Outer Hebrides? and he said yes. It was freezing in August and I got a burn from the hot water bottle I needed so I could sleep at night. The hotel was full of posh Ottos and Indias from Wandsworth and it’s only because my husband and I share the same bitch sense of humour that we are still blissfully married 24 years later.

i digress. The Outer Hebrides have a good rep. One doesn’t hear much about the Inner Hebrides and probably for a good reason.

Remmin · 01/08/2026 00:06

bluegreygreen · 31/07/2026 17:55

They live in a community property state, so they jointly own all assets and all debts.

Hmmm. I'm sure that sounds like an attractive proposition when you're marrying a prince. Possibly less so when he turns out to have an expensive litigation habit and limited earning power.

CariadDarling · 01/08/2026 02:28

CariadDarling · 31/07/2026 17:49

I’ve forgotten the name of the Loch but it was mentioned in a previous thread at the time and when I googled it, it was over a 3 hour drive from Balmoral. The Island they're said to have been on is about 40 minutes further from lake Ossian in a different direction.

Sorry, just to make it clear that the Island they were on is about 3.5 - 4 hours from Lake Ossian. The distance is about 40 mins longer than the one to Balmoral. I’m planning a 4 week tour round Scotland next summer and googled the lake mentioned originally just out of interest.

RecoIIectionsMayVary · 01/08/2026 06:14

It's quite bizarre how they manage to keep in with these billionaire friends when it's hard to see what they bring to the table

Now, in general I think he should be banned from this thread, but we have seen with AMW how billionaires don't mind subsidising Princes, and that they are willing to play the long game and keep Princes onside just in case they become useful again.

The level of money we are talking about is insane.

Orangelilies · 01/08/2026 08:17

The Outer Hebrides have a good rep. One doesn’t hear much about the Inner Hebrides and probably for a good reason.

Skye, Mull, Islay for example? They're very popular.

Lockupyourbiscuits · 01/08/2026 08:31

RecoIIectionsMayVary · 01/08/2026 06:14

It's quite bizarre how they manage to keep in with these billionaire friends when it's hard to see what they bring to the table

Now, in general I think he should be banned from this thread, but we have seen with AMW how billionaires don't mind subsidising Princes, and that they are willing to play the long game and keep Princes onside just in case they become useful again.

The level of money we are talking about is insane.

Yes I think it would be hard for anyone to turn down Harry , he is after all the son of the King and times change .
I would be surprised if an invite was extended- him and his wife sound like the type of people who have no problem asking - it’s a good technique as they know people will be put on the spot and find it hard to turn them down
Full marks to the Bidens if it’s true they tried to cadge a lift on air force one after QE funeral 👍

Mylovelygreendress · 01/08/2026 09:15

Lockupyourbiscuits · 01/08/2026 08:31

Yes I think it would be hard for anyone to turn down Harry , he is after all the son of the King and times change .
I would be surprised if an invite was extended- him and his wife sound like the type of people who have no problem asking - it’s a good technique as they know people will be put on the spot and find it hard to turn them down
Full marks to the Bidens if it’s true they tried to cadge a lift on air force one after QE funeral 👍

The story about the Bidens and Air Force One has never been denied and we know how quickly H and M clap back if they feel a story is wrong.
Several sources reported the story at the time with one ( can’t recall who it was) claiming that H and M just wanted back to their children ( who Doria or a nanny could have brought over).

Kirys · 01/08/2026 09:50

Mylovelygreendress · 01/08/2026 09:15

The story about the Bidens and Air Force One has never been denied and we know how quickly H and M clap back if they feel a story is wrong.
Several sources reported the story at the time with one ( can’t recall who it was) claiming that H and M just wanted back to their children ( who Doria or a nanny could have brought over).

What tosh … there are multiple flights a day from UK to LA. They just wanted the bragging rights, presidential adjacency and selfies / footage for NF for the $$$$.

SheinSussex · 01/08/2026 09:50

Orangelilies · 01/08/2026 08:17

The Outer Hebrides have a good rep. One doesn’t hear much about the Inner Hebrides and probably for a good reason.

Skye, Mull, Islay for example? They're very popular.

Yes! Don’t mention them otherwise everyone will want to go!

thenightsky · 01/08/2026 10:38

Isn't it full on midge season in the Highlands and Islands right now?

PullTheBricksDown · 01/08/2026 12:13

Kirys · 01/08/2026 09:50

What tosh … there are multiple flights a day from UK to LA. They just wanted the bragging rights, presidential adjacency and selfies / footage for NF for the $$$$.

This. And you can bet it would then have been reported by their pet outlets as being essential for their protection that they had presidential-level security.

I also wondered why at the time of QE II's death, they didn't fly home in the middle period to see the children. Once the funeral date was announced, Meghan at least could have taken a break then returned, even if Harry had things to do with his own family. But they seemed to want to stay in the UK for any available attention / interference, and to give the impression their presence was needed. And I suspect Meghan didn't want to leave Harry in the UK and in family company without her there to keep an eye on him.

thenightsky · 01/08/2026 12:50

Yes, QE died on 8th Sept and the funeral was 19th. Easily enough time to fly home to the kids. But then Harry would have been doing the walkabout with William and Kate. Like the old days.

BasiliskStare · 01/08/2026 13:08

What I read about the Air Force one story is that the Biden didn't want to upset BP. However , I think it is true also that the White House only pays for official guests. So this wasn't a freebie as such they were asking for , as Biden would have felt he needed to stump up for it. I do think the main reason though is the Bidens thought they were too controversial at the time to make such a gesture.

That's what I've read but US posters (or indeed others ) may know better than me. (It's been known 😊)

MrsLeonFarrell · 01/08/2026 13:09

The other aspect of the Airforce One story is that President's guests don't fly free, the President has to pay for them. I've always assumed the Bidens didn't want to pay for the flights.

notimagain · 01/08/2026 13:44

MrsLeonFarrell · 01/08/2026 13:09

The other aspect of the Airforce One story is that President's guests don't fly free, the President has to pay for them. I've always assumed the Bidens didn't want to pay for the flights.

Yep agreed.

According to various sources over the years the going rate for guests not on official business seems to be the equivalent of the First Class fare on the relevant route.

POTUS gets the bill, if they feel the need they then have to try and get the money back off those who travelled.

AnAutumnCrow · 01/08/2026 13:52

notimagain · 01/08/2026 13:44

Yep agreed.

According to various sources over the years the going rate for guests not on official business seems to be the equivalent of the First Class fare on the relevant route.

POTUS gets the bill, if they feel the need they then have to try and get the money back off those who travelled.

And say the Bidens get them to Washington DC - then what? Do the Sussexes expect a private plane to be laid on to take them onward to California, paid for by the Bidens? Much easier to say no to it all from the start than deal with Sussex expectations.

Anyway there’s no chance that Jill Biden would have allowed gum-flappers who know Oprah Winfrey anyway near Joe, not at that point and not ever. She was fiercely protecting the image of Joe still being sharp as a tack, and I believe wanted him to stand again in 2024. He had already travelled to the funeral across London separately from other world leaders, in ‘the beast’ (armoured car).

RecoIIectionsMayVary · 01/08/2026 13:54

And hadn't they been away from the children before TLQ died?

I just can't imagine being away from young children for so long.

(And I'm not one that doesn't leave children but to have both parents away for an extended time is odd, they had the means to fly back in between and no one would have thought that was strange- considering the amount of flights they take to talk on roundabouts it is clear that there are not adverse to air miles.)

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