Ham pr disasters 45! …hiding? …undercover?..or ready for the next adventure!

[jeffgoldblum]

still discussing the delightful escapades of our favourite twosome!

So, here in the US, white vans are very common. If you hire a van, it is usually white. My brother's village ( pop. 50000 - it's the US) had a spare of house robberies involving white vans.

Edited - posted too soon.

So is the average rental van white in the UK?

Mostly. They also have “Enterprise” written on the side which is nothing to do with the Enterprise News & Pictures Ltd based in the U.K.

Yes - it's almost a national joke in your run of the mill detective stories - "we're looking for a white van" It would be like looking for needle in a huge pile of needles. The more clever ne'erdowells might add some crappy decals. But essentially white vans are 10 a penny.

Enterprise is a car rental company in the US. So basically unless they got a shot of the license, the van could just belong to an innocent delivery driver

It's a van rental company in the UK as well, so you are correct.
There is also a class issue and snobbery about men who drive white vans in the UK. It's a trope "white van man". A man who is a tradesman and earns his living this way. A man who certainly wouldn't understand Latin.

Marking my place to get access to October's Public Engagement Court Circular for the Royal Prince of England

A senior Labour Party person had to resign her position after she took the mickey out of a White Van Man on Twitter many years ago. It has remained a Thornberry in her side ever since.

Yes I was wondering about that too!

There’s a United For Freedom event tomorrow at the Imperial War Museum but that’s it so far for October, isn’t it?

I have so little trust in H&M that it wouldn’t surprise me if the white van story was set up by them in an attempt to get taxpayer funded security. I might be unfair, but they have form for misleading the public.

Of course it is. Would the police actually reveal the details of who the van was rented to? Chris Ship is such an emotional as a journalist.

I've just looked this up ~

Event Name: United for Freedom Charity Gala

Date & Time: October 1, 2026 (private evening gathering)

Venue: Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ

Description: A private, high-profile black-tie gala headlined by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, featuring speeches from prominent figures in business, diplomacy, and public life. The museum will close to the public for the evening to host 120 select guests

My first question is "will H make a speech?" & my 2nd question is "how private is private?" i.e. will we get photos?

I do like the wording of this event ~ "private" "high-profile" "prominent figures" "select guests" !!!!

I see KC is hosting a Carol Service this year ~

Event Name: The King's Trust Christmas Carol Concert
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 2, 2026
Venue: Westminster Abbey, London
Description: A ticketed fundraising gala featuring timeless carols, special readings, and musical performances to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the charity.
Tickets/Cost: Ticketed fundraising event; further details and booking are available directly via The King's Trust Events Page

Do you think KC will invite the Sussexes? If he did, it would take pressure off the POW inviting them to her Carol Concert

I got very behind on the last thread so have jumped to this one. What's this about a white van?

Interesting. So two Carol services? Or will this replace Catherine’s?

Yes, it's definitely two different services

KC's is a 'one off' for the 50th anniversary of the King's Trust

As far as I can understand ~ a white van was seen outside the Hamlets school and one or two men were seen with backpacks. The police were informed and are investigating. The assumption is that they are paparazzi

But, the big mystery is how did this story get into the press!

Thank you. I suppose the van was more suspicious because of recent events.

I don't believe the white van story for a minute....they are like the boy who cried wolf. If they leak every little thing to the news then if there is a genuine threat people will just roll their eyes...

I'm looking forward to seeing Harry's List of Engagements for October

Well if the police are really going to be investigating every darned white van parked near a school that won't leave them time to do much else.

The problem is, if Harry doesn’t respect the role and duty of the RF, then why should anyone else? There is nothing to him except he used to be a working royal. So he’s trading in that. And in doing so is just providing ammunition to all the anti-monarchists. I just find it bonkers that he’s allowing himself to be used to destabilise the RF.

he’ll say it’s not his fault that people are doing that, and that it’s not what he intends. But that’s the end result.

he’s so unlikeable.

I've often wondered how the Royals explain security to their very little children

Obviously they don't want to say anything alarming so I pre they tell them the security is there to stop people taking photos of them

If that's the case it must be very unsettling for the little Hamlets to have this story in the press as the parents from the school will discuss it and their children may talk to A&L about it

must be very unsettling for the little Hamlets to have this story in the press

Possibly, so how did the story end up in the hands of the press??

Doesn't take a genius to work out who leaked it, all part of Hazbeen's plan to get what he wants.