To the consternation of older courtiers, the new generation of glamorous young Windsors seems to be on the front of every magazine. Good for them, says Andrew Pierce.
In the 19th century, the constitutionalist Walter Bagehot wrote that “a princely marriage is the brilliant edition of a universal fact, and, as such, it rivets mankind”.
Peter Phillips is not a prince – but as the Queen’s eldest grandson, he is the next best thing.
Which is why Hello! magazine paid £500,000 for 20 pages of exclusive eve-of-wedding pictures of Mr Phillips and his fiancée, Autumn Kelly, in a series of intimate poses in their cottage on the Princess Royal’s Gatcombe Park estate.
A decade ago, such a nakedly commercial deal involving an heir to the throne would have been unthinkable.
Even now, the auctioning, apparently to the highest bidder, of photographs of the Queen’s first grandchild, to whom she is particularly close, has caused some consternation behind the parapets of Windsor Castle.
- Rmans: Well, I do agree with being very careful with the media. I do understand...
- Lisa: Well they managed to make themselves millionaires before Kate ever met...
- Rmans: Sometimes promting your business involves talking to the media about it. I...
- Lisa: Well it’s good to know that Kate is keeping her eye on what her...
- Rmans: Well, I think Pippa just went over things with her sister who also work at...
- Rmans: Although I can understand that the royal relationship can probably be a big...
- lola: “Most likely Pippa would have just talked about Party Times Online...
- Phoebe: I agree that Pippa probably believed that the ES was truly interested in...
- Rmans: Most likely Pippa would have just talked about Party Times Online magazine...
- Phoebe: Pippa should have had better judgment.
This too shall pass.
do you think that hello will be inside the wedding?
Hello magazine has great photos of the royals how fabulous is that! I think the wedding will be shown in Hello magazine and I would buy the magazine.
Hi Jenny,
I doubt that Hello will be inside the wedding taking exclusive shots. More likely that the couple will release some official photos to the media.
Steven
i agree with you guys, i know that there are lots of pics there. i hoped it’ll be published on this site. if possible.
I just realized when I went to the “shop royal” page that everyone else seems to make money off the Royal Family. So what is the problem with them getting some money out of it? Every other celebrity cashes in on their likeness, but apparently the Royals are supposed to be above that?
ROSETTARESEARCH – Actually yes, the Royal Family is supposed to be above cashing in on the same things that celebrities cash in on. The monarchy is meant to conduct itself with dignity – The Queen herself certainly does it. I don’t want the Royals acting like tacky celebrities and making a fast buck.
jade ,going to be nice,and not say what I am thinking.
JENNY – Say whatever you want. But I stand by my statement.
Hi Rosettaresearch,
I think, like Jade said, that members of the Royal Family tend to be held to higher standards than the rest of society and some people see accepting money for interviews as not very dignified.
The other thing that grates with some, particularly the British public (not all but some) is that there is plenty of money sloshing around in the Royal coffers. Do they really need more?
Of course, we don’t know exactly what financial situation Peter and Autumn are in but surely they benefit in some way financially from being in the royal family, albeit on the periphery.
Personally, I am cool with them accepting money for the interview and photos. I’d like to think that a portion of that money goes to charity – that would be the decent thing. I’d like to think that was the case here.
Steven
If the Royals are supposed to be dignified and above cashing in, then no one else gets to cash in on them either. No one gets to sell their faces on tea towels and mugs. No one gets to make a buck or a pound off the Royal Family. But, if people are, then the Royal Family has a right to protect their likeness and benefit from their likenesses.