H and m pr disasters 34!

[jeffgoldblum]

A continuation of the exiting and entertaining shenanigans of ham….

I particularly appreciated the attempt to emphasise how in demand she is:

A source said: “Stuff comes across the desk every day of the week. Some things we look at, other things fizzle out.”

😂

If they are staying at Highgrove if means we can't believe the statement that KC didn't know until a couple of days before the announcement was made that H&M were returning to the UK

I think the key difference between Zara and the Sussexes is that she has a 20+ year successful career as an equestrian. Zara has won Championships, Olympic medals etc. Mike is a world championship winning rugby player. Both have a solid basis of hard work and a lot of their sponsorships are linked to their sports. They both know what hard work and dedication are.

Would they get the sponsorships without the royal adjacency? Yes, but not at the same level. The royal adjacency does push up the £££ because if the recognition factor.

Maybe they want us to think that is where they are. A couple of sightings, carefully planned…..

This is true, AustenitesUnite, but "Charles didn't know" has been used so often that it's ceased to have any credibility at all, except among those who also prefer not to know

Why can't we believe it? If that's what KC said, I'm sure it's true. Why would he lie?

I don't think they're staying at Highgrove. I can believe they might be hanging around in the area to either make it look like they are / have been staying, or that they were trying a 'just popped in!' tactic. I'm not sure Charles keeps them updated on all his movements, and even if he does I'm not sure Harry pays attention, so they may not have realised he'd be in Scotland.

Because logistically it would take more than a couple of days to prepare the house for the Sussexes and their young children to move there. The house, as I understand it, is normally used only at weekends so there would be major staffing issues to sort out for example

I believe most (if not all) of Zara's business links are down to her professional work eg she was an Olympian, regularly competes. I think she did 3 day eventing at the start, which is reputedly very gruelling.

I know she has lots of resources, with her family being wealthy, but have always had the impression she had no need to trade on her royal connection. Her obvious talent with horses, and connection to Gatcombe (admittedly a family link, as they own the premises) have probably taken her further in her field, than who her grandparents/uncle/cousin are.

There was an article about M berating a Customs Official at Seattle(?) airport when she returned from Invictus Canada ( alone) on a private jet . Apparently he did not use her title when addressing her and she was not happy.

The notion (and spin) that “Charles didn’t know” is utterly risible, imo. He just knows it’s an unpopular move, so he’s trying to disassociate himself from the obvious, much as he did with the controversies involving his odious brother. I very much doubt Harry would have returned lock stock and barrel without the nod from his father and promises of help behind the scenes.

Harry on the other hand seems to have nothing except his royal adjacency. Even his charity work is only there because he was a working royal. He hasn't picked up new charities since he left. Mind you he seems to believe he is still a working royal which may be behind this enormous grudge that the family don't view him in the same way.

Yes, @MrsLeonFarrell, it was clear from that excruciating interview in Ukraine that Harry still considers himself a working royal.

That's also the day when Michaelmas term begins at Eton.

Well, knowing how mercurial Harry is, it wouldn't surprise me. I would have no doubt that he only told his father a few days before, when it was a fait accompli.
KC had no reason to lie, especially when he would no doubt be called out on it by H&M for their own purposes.

I take the point, @Puzzledandpissedoff, but I can believe that he was only told a couple of days before they returned, as it's entirely in keeping with how they work.

When they left, the Queen was given no notice before they put out their grandiose statement about leaving and 'collaborating' with her. People knew they were unhappy, and apparently they had been asked to write down options to be talked through.

I can totally believe that they had mentioned to Charles about potentially moving back 'some time in the future for schools', leaving him to think 13+ (typical boarding school age), and then springing this on him at the last minute.

I am confused about this Highgrove being part of the Duchy of Cornwall thing though. I always assumed it was a private house bought with Charles’s private money.

No, it belongs to the Duchy. So KC leases it from William.

I agree, that's how H&,M work. A few days' notice from them is entirely within keeping with their approach to life planning, it would seem.

It belongs to the Duchy and Charles currently holds it on a long lease (to 2041 if I recollect correctly), @SheinSussex.

All things considered, Meghan is never going to settle in the UK. She seems highly sensitive to feeling inferior or excluded, and these upper social circles are intensely cut throat. There will be posh mummies who are absolute queens of relational aggression and ruthless competition when it comes to their children and families. As an American, she will never quite fit in or have the same social currency. Even if she is included at times out of politeness, she will always feel on the outside. She has shown to not be trustworthy so they won't trust her.

And not being in with the Waleses and their children will be a major barrier for anyone wanting to rub shoulders with the real royals. All of this will make it highly unlikely for Meghan to feel at home in the Cotswolds.

It takes a while to pack up a house so if Harry saw Charles in August and didn't say anything then he has been as deceptive as ever.

Yes, that figures.

Charles has every reason to lie. He’s already not popular. Harry returning is a highly unpopular move. His dad guilt compromises his obligations to protect the crown and the legacy he’s leaving for his heir, who seems to be taking all the flack at the moment, while his dad wonders around glens talking to the heather. So he’s using his flying monkeys in the media to claim it’s nothing to do with him, when it is everything to do with him. And if he truly didn’t know - if he opened the door to them and couldn’t see what was coming as a result - then he’s a bigger fool than I ever thought he was.

Charles has no reason to lie. He is the Head of State. Truthfulness and trustworthiness is paramount.
Plus, he will be aware that if he lies, H&M and their fans will weaponise it.
He can't take that risk. There are no depths to which the Sussexes and their cohort will stoop.
The late Queen was blindsided by their leaving.
The RF do not have spies everywhere, nor do they have "flying monkeys" (sic).

while his dad wonders around glens talking to the heather.

Or alternatively, while the Head of State hosts the Prime Minister in the middle of several crises.

Let's not get carried away.