PR disasters thread 29

[BigWillyLittleTodger]

It’s a September return to Salty Island!

I can imagine the decision to come being landed on Charles out of the blue, with any discussion of 'reconciliation' being a 'manifestation', @Puzzledandpissedoff.

You could easily be right, bluegreygreen, but if so they must all be even madder than I thought ... and as you said they're not even here yet

Maybe Lidl can take her surplus jam, they could involved in What Ever as Waitrose are involved with Duchy stuff.

Sorry, haven't RTFT. But I'm just wondering what on earth a "rival court" would even consist of. Just two people on their own pratting about, bothering charities and trying to get invited to things? Putting out self-important statements and pictures of condiments on the internet?

I don't see how they have the money, staff, gravitas, or - bluntly - friends to set up anything that would count as a "court." Certainly not a "rival court." Any kind of comparison between them and the actual Royal Family is just going to make them look cheap and lightweight. I can only assume that all this talk about "rival courts" is dreamt up by the newspapers to try to make the whole limp saga sound more dramatic and interesting.

I would imagine that the financial side of BH would have considered the potential for a divorce from the outset, there will be untouchable Trust funds in place that can't be raided in a divorce.

A ‘rival court’ is BS. Let them try!

The RF can’t let them back in. If they divorce, maybe Harry could be somewhat trusted again, in a very carefully managed way. Meghan absolutely can’t be trusted, ever. Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour and if she couldn’t show respect to the late Queen then, God knows how she’d behave now. She will see any rapprochement as capitulation and weakness, and will believe it proves how special she is and that the RF need her more than she needs them. She won’t be able to function within the royal hierarchy. Despite every failure, every smackdown, things that would be crushingly humiliating to most of us, she shows no capacity for reflection, certainly not humility, and her grandiosity has shown no signs of diminishing.

I doubt the newly gonged Beckhams will have anything to do with them, they know it would mean social death for them as far as the real power couple are concerned and the same will apply to a lot of people, given the choice between William and Harry, Harry would always be second choice.

Maybe if Only Fools and Horses was still on.

’This time next year, Rodney…..’

I’ve had the theme tune going through my head all morning since the news item on Meghan having an acting role; the words are so apt!

The Cut have made the Meghan article free for a limited period of time:

https://www.thecut.com/article/meghan-markle-profile-interview.html

She really is a bit bonkers. It's good to look at again now we are on the 'other side'. They're filled with so much hope... now we know it was all going to fail 😁

I believe the relationship between H and M and the Beckhams has irretrievably broken down anyway, because M accused VB of leaking private information about them. Maintaining friendly relations with others is not Meghan's strong point.

Their behaviour is entirely consistent, as is that of the palace. I'm getting a strong sense of deja vu of 2020, a grandiose statement released, without consultation, claiming to be Internationally Protected Persons, claiming they would be half in and half out, would make millions, would live a life of service etc etc. The palace said no to everything, gave them a year to change their minds and made it clear they are making their lives abroad and no longer working members of the family.

2026, grandiose briefing they are returning to visit charities, send the children to school, run businesses, etc etc. It's entirely consistent that they didn't tell Charles in advance and now the palace makes it clear they are not working royals and nothing has changed.

The talk of rival courts is rubbish. One court is The Court of St James, containing the Head of State, his heir and those who represent him at home and abroad. They host other Heads of State, support charities, the military, national sports teams, undertake diplomatic visits on behalf of government.

The other "court" is a couple of minor royal/ celebrities, who occasionally visit charities and talk about themselves, make jam, tell repetitive stories of events at least 6 years ago, and have no influence or political power. They couldn't even be top dogs in Hollywood.

The only rivalry is in the pages of the tabloids and in social media people who need revenue and clicks and use celebrities for money. Only one side thinks it's a competition, the other know that they don't need to compete, or even acknowledge the other's PR stunts.

Very true, there are people on reddit who summarise all the endless 'insider' youtubes and as you say, not one has even hinted at this happening

The radio is reporting they are moving for Meghan's acting job

Does that mean she has more simpering 'interviews' lined up then? She could be on the next celebrity Traitors, using her acting 'skills'!

What I don't understand though is how H and M could have been having discussions about UK security, houses and schools behind the scenes without Charles being made aware of it.

Jan Moir in full sarcasm mode on HAM:

https://www.dailymail.com/news/royals/article-16068219/JAN-MOIR-favourite-jampreneur-rainy-misery.html

Probably because Charles is very busy and operates on the assumption that his relatives are independent adults whose choices are not really anything to do with him.

All the talk of rival courts and angry royals is coming from the press. The palace is continuing on organising the work of the monarchy. Harry and Meghan are not part of the institution and operate separately.

There isn't any money in the tabloids promoting this point of view though, they prefer drama and conflict.

The fact that Jan Moir, Rebecca English and Liz Jones have all written pieces for The Mail today reveals how much these stories are invented, changed, spun, respun and amplified for revenue. The story is actually, English man moves back home, but where's the drama in that?

Yea and it’s not just William’s family.
Peter Phillips has two teenage daughters and a teenage stepdaughter. Mia Phillips is nearly 13.
James Wessex has already been touted as the “most eligible bachelor” at age 18.

These teenagers need their tribe and they need watertight friendships at this vulnerable stage of their lives.

The last thing any of them need is to be sucked into Sussex drama or have private details drip fed to the press.

Of course the funny thing is - when the boot is on the other foot…

I mean I have no idea which school James Wessex went to, I had no idea which school the Tindall children went to until it was touted as a possibility for the Hamlets. H&M will no doubt want secrecy with respect to their own children….i wonder if all the parents at the school (and their children) as well as the staff will be required to sign NDAs. 🤔🙄

It's hardly a secret that the couples don't get on, is it?

Nothing to explain.

It’s also terrible for security. All these families/children have been quietly going about their lives, more or less under the radar. The presence of H&M and the drama and press interest has a ripple effect to the detriment of them all.

Good post.

I'm not sure why people find it so hard to accept that Charles didn't know about the great return. It's entirely in keeping with the Sussexes' behaviour to spring such things on people at the last minute. Charles may have had some idea that they were considering coming back, but I don't find it at all difficult to believe that he only heard about their imminent return a few days before the rest of us did. At least they did give him a heads up. Apparently they never bothered on their last grand flounce.

What does this have to do with the website? And what "mess" exactly are you referring to? Harry is a British citizen, as are his children. It's his right to live in the UK if he so wishes. Are you suggesting that if he had been removed from the website then he would have stayed in the US?

Only slightly tongue in cheek I think it might also be because they wanted to get these articles out for clicks etc before they have to clear the front page for the ANL costs ruling 😊.

Very true!

The prime minister, when asked, makes a point of saying that this is a private matter, that Harry and Meghan's security is a private matter, and he wishes them all the best.

It's quite clear that the government does not and will not see them as public figures with some kind of official role. They are private individuals going about their own private affairs and their security is for them to sort out privately.