PR and the Palace; are the mists clearing?

[Whentherainsetin101]

For those of us interested in the PR aspects of how the institution of the monarchy presents itself to us, the unsuspecting public, and given that Charles Spencer’s book has prompted a re-examination of events which took place over twenty-nine years ago, I thought this might be a good time to examine what Andrew Lownie calls;

“that gap between the curated narrative and the reality”.

We now know lots of things that weren’t obvious thirty years ago, for example;

We know that BP sometimes issues statements that question the credibility of the “accuser” rather than addressing an accusation directly.

We know that the relationship between the press and the palace is largely self serving on both sides.

We know that the royal rota tow the line in exchange for access.

We know that certain tabloids favour certain royals eg Fergie and The Sun.

We know that BP leaks and briefs certain stories to deflect from other more damaging ones.

We know that BP uses “safe” public figures to broadcast their spin for them eg it used to be Nicolas Soames but now appears to be Rory Stewart.

We know that many things presented to us in one way are in reality very different, eg the late Queen Elizabeth’s marriage, AMW being “banished” to Sandringham.

Given all of the above, do you think the Palace are losing the PR battle, simply because people are now much more switched on about ‘spin’ and because they favour a much more authentic approach?

Indeed. What an embarrassing saga. Imagine having to apologise to Piers Morgan
Worse! Make a donation to the very worthwhile Kings Trust, rather than just fill his own coffers. That must stick in his craw.

I would agree that the drama caused by the Sussexes over the last 8 years has been a huge money spinner for all kinds of people and organisations. YouTube channels, the media in general, MN too!

The scandal of Andrew and Ferguson too, but not to the same extent because it’s seen as historical to some degree rather than ongoing. I think it will have had a profound impact on how William operates when he succeeds.

Well, I wont stop my 'repetitious moaning' about AMW any time soon. Nothing will be happening about his shameful behaviour with young girls but whilst there is an ongoing police investigation into his appalling behaviour with misconduct in public office, I will not be silenced

You are being far too sensible there @CoffeeCantata

In a place where it is all about feelings rather than facts, perception rather than actuality and where yelling about amw is designed to drown out any normal conversation, I fear you may be speaking into the wind.

Whoever you think is in the right, this is interesting.https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-news-agents/id1640878689?i=1000791642864

Oh yes, the "feelings" about William's anger being a good example.

You don't think head of state is a job?

Love the way you make me out to be thick and gullible and as though I don't understand anything! Or that I shouldn't point out that one person claiming to speak for "we, the British public" does not actually speak for the British public.

Thanks for your link. I will be listening to that.

Very relevant to the thread title. Press/Palace PR and their media strategy

Indeed!

By the way, I barely follow the press on the royal family. Most of the coverage is complete tabloid garbage and has little to do with creating "mystique". It's funny how someone who believes themselves to have greater insight and perceptiveness than people they dismiss as gullible sheep bases their notions on assumptions and stereotypes, which also happen to be false in this case.

Well yes one “could” call the rest of the book in to question and people probably will if they are pro-monarchy, but the substantial number of us who still remember Diana, and how she was treated by the institution in general, and by Charles and Camilla in particular, may feel that the the book represents an overall essential truth, that she was badly used.

And I think it’s fascinating to re-examine events from the perspective of what we knew then, as compared to what we know now. And the book has opened up that opportunity.

I lived through the week leading up to her funeral in London and while the late Queen was quite right of course to look after the boys in Balmoral, at one and the same time, the Palace PR did fail badly. And I think that represented an essential truth too; that they were very cold towards her.

Aside from the PR failures of the palace having to be dragged kicking and screaming to lower the flag, and to coordinate a televised address by QE2, the fact that Diana’s mother never heard once from the late Queen is shocking I think, bordering on cruel. And indicates how relations were between the two families, which rather backs up Charles Spencer’s perspective.

Thanks very much for this link CurlewKate

Dragged "kicking and screaming" from Balmoral, where the boys were with their grandparents, had privacy and space and the opportunity to get outdoors and get fresh air and exercise?.
You were part of that group who demanded they returned to London to face the crowds and appease the Diana fans?
Extraordinary.

Absolutely. There seems to be a lot of people on here reliant on tabloids and gossip magazines. It was the same at the time of Diana's death, the tabloid demands that William and Harry be brought back from privacy and seclusion in Balmoral to be paraded in front of the crowds.

I often wonder if some get their opinions on the RF from tabloids, tat mags and The Crown.

It sounds like it.

I have already very carefully made the point that the late Queen was quite right to sequester the boys at Balmoral.

It’s there in black and white in my post so please don’t try and twist my words.

It was ALSO true, see my precise words “at one and the same time”, that the PR in London which enabled them to do that, was very poorly handled, which is why Blair and his team had to step in. It’s well documented and no, not in the Crown but in many newspapers at the time.

Dominic Sandbrook a British historian, author, television presenter, and co-host of The Rest is History podcast, also made a very good documentary about these precise events if you are interested.

I'm not twisting your words.
You should express yourself more clearly. It was a sop to the Diana fans, who should be ashamed.

Ditto my previous post.

I wrote, in case you find it difficult to read, that,

while the late Queen was quite right of course to look after the boys in Balmoral, at one and the same time, the Palace PR did fail badly

As I am almost certain that you can comprehend basic English, it must be that you are misrepresenting my words deliberately?

The fact remains that even though the late QE2 was doing the right thing by looking after the boys in Balmoral, the way the institution handled things in London was one of the worst PR events in palace history. And this thread is about PR.

I do not find anything "difficult to read". How rude.
I don't respond to personal attacks.
I won't stoop to that level.

I remember what it was like in Kensington after Diana's death, all those people getting into a frenzy and all those wretched tabloids headlines, hectoring the late Queen to "bring the boys to London".
Awful.

The Harry and Meghan situation IS resolved there is nothing else to say abd do about the matter it was resolved when they left all parties agreed they put out a statement clarifying the matter because obviously they were getting calls and requests about them they directed them to the correct place

AMW there is nothing publicly happening he has been charged with nothing he might be eventually running your gums on mumsnet wont get anything done faster they have a process a procedure they have to follow complaining wont rush it ignore him until he rears his head then complain they will push him back down again fast enough they will continue to test the waters and respond to public pressure but again unless and until he is tried and convicted he is simply an "innocent" (morally reprehensible) old man living out his days

Ha ha - 'silenced'. No-one can silence you - but be more constructive in your moaning. What can be done???? Any ideas?

Apparently a member of the crowd said to Prince Philip 'Make sure you look after those boys!'

To which he replied 'That's what we're trying to do'.

Amazing restraint - I don't know if I'd have been so polite after the mob had caused them all to be dragged back to London to parade their grief publicly and make sure it was sufficiently demonstrative for them.

I'm certain they do. A pp on another thread who'd made some daft assertions excused themselves by saying they hadn't watched all of The Crown.

God help us! Read some proper, academic history.