Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

The royal family

PR disasters thread 27

1000 replies

BigWillyLittleTodger · 04/08/2026 21:29

A shiny new thread to continue the chat on the Sussexes summer shenanigans!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
80
LaMarschallin · 10/08/2026 15:28

Morelovelyandtemperate
I always understood that the biggest obstacle was that he was required to marry a virgin and by the mid-70s, there were simply none to be had. Well, just one.

There was my elder SisiL. She married 3 years after C&D and a big, obvious fuss was made about her "needing to go to the doctor" before the wedding - presumably she didn't want a honeymoon baby to make people wonder if her bouquet was that big for a reason...
My MiL would have been thrilled with a royal SoniL!
She was, um, less thrilled with me and there was a hideous row because DH and I lived in sin first 😈

Morelovelyandtemperate · 10/08/2026 15:34

LaMarschallin · 10/08/2026 15:28

Morelovelyandtemperate
I always understood that the biggest obstacle was that he was required to marry a virgin and by the mid-70s, there were simply none to be had. Well, just one.

There was my elder SisiL. She married 3 years after C&D and a big, obvious fuss was made about her "needing to go to the doctor" before the wedding - presumably she didn't want a honeymoon baby to make people wonder if her bouquet was that big for a reason...
My MiL would have been thrilled with a royal SoniL!
She was, um, less thrilled with me and there was a hideous row because DH and I lived in sin first 😈

My mother was like this! It's embarrassing how the middle classes try to copy the aristocracy despite the obvious lack of "breeding".
ETA proper posh girls enjoyed rolling in the hay by 1970s as much as the working class always had. The Pill meant pregnancy wasn't a risk and their hymens had been blown to smithereens as soon as sidesaddle was done away with, so a doctor's check would be worth nothing.

Starryfifty · 10/08/2026 15:47

AnAutumnCrow · 10/08/2026 14:53

It might resurrect Julia Carling's journalistic and TV career ... she's only 61, and I bet she's got a lot to say these days that wasn't broadcast back in the 1990s. In fact, I felt back then that both the Carlings were a bit silenced tbh about the sainted Di, to save the Queen's blushes and the reputation of the Royal Family as an institution that cradled the Head of State constitutionally. And also - the unlikely shagmeister John Major was still the PM, I think?

But Harry never seems to learn about opening cans of worms and Pandora's boxes.

I'm old enough to remember this. I felt very sorry for Julia C. She was totally humiliated

LaMarschallin · 10/08/2026 15:47

Yes, Morelovelyandtemperate
I was just about to say that the aristocracy were doubtless shagging rings around themselves by the 70s and 80s but your edit covers it.

Dontevenlookatme · 10/08/2026 16:56

The idea of a virgin royal bride seems laughable now doesn’t it? That ship sailed and disappeared over the horizon long ago.

edited to re-order words, still doesn’t look right!

JSMill · 10/08/2026 17:00

Do you think Julia C was humiliated? I admired her strength at the time.

ShamedBySiri · 10/08/2026 17:27

Yes the Carlings had only been married a little over a year when Diana came along to put a spoke in the works of their marriage.
I doubt she had an affair with Oliver Hoare, I think her obsession was one sided hence the multiple phone calls.
I’ve just found a transcript of the interview online - I genuinely thought it had been erased from the internet!
So re OH :
Bashir: “There were also a series of telephone calls which allegedly were made by you to a Mr Oliver Hoare. Did you make what were described as nuisance phone calls?”
Diana: “I was reputed to have made 300 telephone calls in a very short space of time which, bearing in mind my lifestyle at that time, made me a very busy lady.
No, I didn’t, I didn’t.
But that again was a huge move to discredit me, and very nearly did me in, the injustice of it, because I did my own homework on that subject, and consequently found out that a young boy had done most of them.”

I remember the next day meeting a friend who guffawed, “a young boy!! Very convincing. Pull the other one Diana!” I mean which young boy was meant to have done this? W or H???

One thing Meghan has in common with Diana is the ability to make bare faced lies on camera! (And Harry too).

There are other careful deflections from other difficult questions.

And she talked of cutting herself, arms and legs. I see patients with difficult histories and their arms are a criss cross of scars. Diana had beautiful skin, frequently exposed in evening gowns or on the beach. There’s no evidence of any scars. So that’s another one I never believed.

LolaGold · 10/08/2026 17:41

Seemingly she had a few character traits in common with H&M - entitled, delusional, self absorbed, obsessive and self serving.

Lunde · 10/08/2026 18:05

Mylovelygreendress · 10/08/2026 09:12

We have this every year !
Remember they were invited by the late Queen in 2019 but said it was too far for Archie to travel . They did however manage to travel by private jet to Elton’s place in S France !
Only time Meghan was keen to go to Balmoral was in September 2022 . Wonder why ?

They were invited again in the summer of 2022 for the big family sleepover with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - but refused

They were even invited again the week of her death to come and say their goodbyes as they were in Manchester for the Scam Young Kids One Young World Summit so were only a few hours away on September 5th - but again they refused

Then they threw a fit and delayed the flight taking two of her children and William to Scotland.

Lunde · 10/08/2026 18:24

ShamedBySiri · 10/08/2026 12:09

Rubbish. Charles had lots of glamorous girlfriends.
I think in his time he was very attractive. See the pictures of young women swarming him in the surf in Australia.
But of course not many fancied the job.
Which I think was the issue for Camilla. Andrew Parker Bowles was always a player and it meant they were both free to pursue their affairs but she didn’t have to be POW and her children got to live a normal life. She had her cake and got to eat it, at least until the press caught up and things like the recording of her phone call to Charles happened. (I’ve never thought those recordings of Diana - Squidgygate and C&C - tampongate were accidental).

The thing is the marriage of Camilla and APB didn't come about because he asked her - their hands were forced by the machinations of their families!

Back in the day Charles was dithering but was sent on a (IIRC 7 month) navy deployment and Camilla drifted into dating APB again. But APB was not altogether convinced they should marry. However, there was intense family pressure from their respective families that it was time to stop messing around and settle down.

In the end their parents forced their hand and put an engagement announcement in the Times even though APB had not proposed! It would have been a huge scandal if they had denied the engagement so they complied and married.

BasiliskStare · 10/08/2026 18:24

& @Lunde I seem to remember another occasion they released an announcement as to what they were doing without having cleared it with Charles. Just why ?
I'm thinking of the other memorable one to say they would be Internationally protected Persons (or whatever the phrase is) without checking with the Queen. They do seem to think they can bounce people into following what they want.

JoanChitty · 10/08/2026 18:28

I completely agree with quite a few of the previous posters re Diana. I remember Julia Carling who I believe wanted to name her in her divorce. Diana obviously had a difficult upbringing but was quite happy to pack her own children off at the earliest opportunity.
Yes she was great fun as a parent but the way she leaned on William was very wrong. She was also quite scathing towards Sophie when she was going out with Edward. Despite this she used her popularity to bring more attention to illnesses such as AIDS. Although she was not the first royal to do so, that was Princess Margaret who acidly said she did it without using cameras.
Diana did bring glamour because of her youth and good looks.. I don’t think she would have found it easy to get older and lose her youthfulness.
i also think that Meghan Markle would have had no chance with Harry had Diana been around. A quick fling and then shown the door.

Starryfifty · 10/08/2026 18:32

JSMill · 10/08/2026 17:00

Do you think Julia C was humiliated? I admired her strength at the time.

Recollections may vary 😍 but I remember sordid details splashed all over the news of the world.

Starryfifty · 10/08/2026 18:34

LolaGold · 10/08/2026 17:41

Seemingly she had a few character traits in common with H&M - entitled, delusional, self absorbed, obsessive and self serving.

Very much so and despite H's nonsense "his mum would have adored Meg" not a chance in hell. There would be skin and hair flying. Diana not academic but she was whip smart. She'd have the bar of Meg in 5 minutes

Remmin · 10/08/2026 18:52

Starryfifty · 10/08/2026 18:34

Very much so and despite H's nonsense "his mum would have adored Meg" not a chance in hell. There would be skin and hair flying. Diana not academic but she was whip smart. She'd have the bar of Meg in 5 minutes

I do wonder what Diana would have made of Catherine (and vice versa). I'm a big Catherine fan and think she has been a hugely good thing for William (and for the RF in general). But I can see Diana as the kind of mother who would feel any daughter-in-law was a bit of a usurper of her own position.

Catherine and Diana seem like very, very different personalities. If anything, I could see Meghan as more similar to Diana in personality (the more negative and poorly balanced qualities).

bluegreygreen · 10/08/2026 18:58

ShamedBySiri · 10/08/2026 17:27

Yes the Carlings had only been married a little over a year when Diana came along to put a spoke in the works of their marriage.
I doubt she had an affair with Oliver Hoare, I think her obsession was one sided hence the multiple phone calls.
I’ve just found a transcript of the interview online - I genuinely thought it had been erased from the internet!
So re OH :
Bashir: “There were also a series of telephone calls which allegedly were made by you to a Mr Oliver Hoare. Did you make what were described as nuisance phone calls?”
Diana: “I was reputed to have made 300 telephone calls in a very short space of time which, bearing in mind my lifestyle at that time, made me a very busy lady.
No, I didn’t, I didn’t.
But that again was a huge move to discredit me, and very nearly did me in, the injustice of it, because I did my own homework on that subject, and consequently found out that a young boy had done most of them.”

I remember the next day meeting a friend who guffawed, “a young boy!! Very convincing. Pull the other one Diana!” I mean which young boy was meant to have done this? W or H???

One thing Meghan has in common with Diana is the ability to make bare faced lies on camera! (And Harry too).

There are other careful deflections from other difficult questions.

And she talked of cutting herself, arms and legs. I see patients with difficult histories and their arms are a criss cross of scars. Diana had beautiful skin, frequently exposed in evening gowns or on the beach. There’s no evidence of any scars. So that’s another one I never believed.

Yes, the phone calls were traced to her private phone lines, so she was in effect suggesting that it was one of her sons.
Independent story from 1994 (original NotW story is no longer available as it has shut down) https://archive.is/KeRPp

A friend later confirmed her behaviour (and added other details) after Oliver Hoare's death. There was also plenty of knowledge of the affair.
https://archive.is/S3idt

binkie163 · 10/08/2026 19:19

Morelovelyandtemperate · 10/08/2026 15:34

My mother was like this! It's embarrassing how the middle classes try to copy the aristocracy despite the obvious lack of "breeding".
ETA proper posh girls enjoyed rolling in the hay by 1970s as much as the working class always had. The Pill meant pregnancy wasn't a risk and their hymens had been blown to smithereens as soon as sidesaddle was done away with, so a doctor's check would be worth nothing.

Edited

We lived close to Paddock woods finishing school, they certainly kept my brother and his friends at Gordon Boys school busy.

LaMarschallin · 10/08/2026 19:22

I remember the next day meeting a friend who guffawed, “a young boy!! Very convincing. Pull the other one Diana!”

A bad boy did it and ran away.
Original.

Morelovelyandtemperate · 10/08/2026 20:02

Lunde · 10/08/2026 18:24

The thing is the marriage of Camilla and APB didn't come about because he asked her - their hands were forced by the machinations of their families!

Back in the day Charles was dithering but was sent on a (IIRC 7 month) navy deployment and Camilla drifted into dating APB again. But APB was not altogether convinced they should marry. However, there was intense family pressure from their respective families that it was time to stop messing around and settle down.

In the end their parents forced their hand and put an engagement announcement in the Times even though APB had not proposed! It would have been a huge scandal if they had denied the engagement so they complied and married.

Gossip Rumour has it Jilly Cooper based Rupert Cambell-Black on APB, apparently.
And yet he sometimes officially represents QC at events e.g. funerals. If only all divorced couples were so reasonable!
I suspect a good sense of humour, and pots of money, on both sides helps.

Starryfifty · 10/08/2026 20:25

Remmin · 10/08/2026 18:52

I do wonder what Diana would have made of Catherine (and vice versa). I'm a big Catherine fan and think she has been a hugely good thing for William (and for the RF in general). But I can see Diana as the kind of mother who would feel any daughter-in-law was a bit of a usurper of her own position.

Catherine and Diana seem like very, very different personalities. If anything, I could see Meghan as more similar to Diana in personality (the more negative and poorly balanced qualities).

Hard to tell but she couldn't deny how good Catherine is for William and the RF

DaisyDooley · 10/08/2026 20:45

Morelovelyandtemperate · 10/08/2026 20:02

Gossip Rumour has it Jilly Cooper based Rupert Cambell-Black on APB, apparently.
And yet he sometimes officially represents QC at events e.g. funerals. If only all divorced couples were so reasonable!
I suspect a good sense of humour, and pots of money, on both sides helps.

Camilla had more money than APB.
Bolehyde Manor (their marital home until 1986) then Middlewick house (now the home of Nick Mason, Pink Floyd drummer) were both paid for in the main by Camilla. She had to pay APB off when they divorced and the then PoW helped her buy Ray Mill House which is quite a step down from the two former homes.
Camilla was - in my opinion from much reading/sources- madly in love with APB.
He had multiple women - including g one pre marriage Princess Anne.
Camilla had a fling with the Prince of Wales to make Andrew jealous.
What wasn’t in the script was Charles falling in love. Camilla wasn’t in love with Charles though and had no desire whatsoever to become Princess of Wales - why would she? She had pots of money of her own, loving supportive parents, a family tiara , no need to work, she loved horses, hunting, parties, a fag & a drink.
Her friends used to call her the ‘Laziest woman in England’.
The affair with Charles shocked Andrew whose parents were desperate for him to marry and settle down. Andrew had an excellent aristocratic background but less hard cash than Camilla. On paper the match was perfect.
Camilla got her wish granted and got her man. Unfortunately he worked his way through all of her friends and she was pregnant/stuck at home and lonely. Charles wasn’t miserable, under pressure to marry - they had an affair.
It fizzled out as affairs do, Charles married Diana and after the relationship had ‘irrevocably broken down’ friends got him and Camilla back together as they were both in wretched unhappy marriages.
We know the rest of the story….

PR disasters thread 27
PR disasters thread 27
SignsofLife · 10/08/2026 20:54

Lunde · 10/08/2026 18:24

The thing is the marriage of Camilla and APB didn't come about because he asked her - their hands were forced by the machinations of their families!

Back in the day Charles was dithering but was sent on a (IIRC 7 month) navy deployment and Camilla drifted into dating APB again. But APB was not altogether convinced they should marry. However, there was intense family pressure from their respective families that it was time to stop messing around and settle down.

In the end their parents forced their hand and put an engagement announcement in the Times even though APB had not proposed! It would have been a huge scandal if they had denied the engagement so they complied and married.

I didn't know that. That was an appalling thing to do.

CariadDarling · 10/08/2026 21:17

I remember the affair with WC and never for a moment thought JC had been humiliated even though now that I’m a lot older I accept she probably did feel humiliated as it seems to come with the territory. What happened to her was horrible and she had my respect for being the person she was when her life fell apart and her heart was broken.

Starryfifty · 10/08/2026 21:24

cookie queens has flopped after its first weekend. A cautionary tale for anyone having this pair anywhere near their projects

RecoIIectionsMayVary · 10/08/2026 22:03

Starryfifty · 10/08/2026 21:24

cookie queens has flopped after its first weekend. A cautionary tale for anyone having this pair anywhere near their projects

Has anyone watched it/know how too?

I would love to watch a proper documentary on it, it must be the world's biggest MLM.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.
Swipe left for the next trending thread