Royal News Links
Wild side of Kate’s family – Daily Mail
Yes, it’s a man in the polka-dot dress. You may not recognise him, but remember the dress. The next time you see it, the wearer is likely to be Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton. Kate loaned it out for a party – to her high-spirited brother James, 21. The future King’s putative brother-in-law does enjoy dressing up for parties…
Here, he’s simply Harry – National Post
There is an air of excitement among the men on the day Prince Harry is set to join the expedition but only because he is one of their air mates and they are looking forward to seeing him. Being royalty affords no special treatment. One squaddie tells me that Harry might as well be the “son of a dustman” for all he cares. The boys don’t even fight for Harry’s granny, the Queen (who calls when he is out on exercise)…
Duchess of York, enjoys first Royal holiday in 16 years – Telegraph
The invitation shows that the Duchess has been allowed to return to the fold for the first time since she was pictured with her American financial adviser John Bryan sucking her toes in 1992. She found the Royals reading about the scandal in the papers as she came down to breakfast at Balmoral…
Prince Philip given front page apology over cancer report – Telegraph
The Duke of Edinburgh has received a front page apology from the Evening Standard for incorrectly alleging that he had prostate cancer. The paper has conceded that the allegation was untrue, said sorry for breaching his privacy, and also apologised to the Royal Family for any distress the article caused…
August 9th, 2008 02:39
Middleton’s family are so funny he..he..especially her brother james who wear a woman dress at party ha..ha..i guess Quenn Elizabeth it’s okay about that, that’s just a joking
August 9th, 2008 03:26
I have a sense that this article is trying to describe the middletons as social climbers. It mentions that Kate has been trying to draw his brother james into the royal circle as she did with pippa. Pippa only has eyes for wealthy titled men, and her younger brother James became arrogant after KM began appearing on pictures with PW. All of this sounds to me like social climbing, perhaps I am wrong, but this is what the article is trying to say.
August 9th, 2008 03:33
The quotes and pictures of the DM article have been taken from another royal forum. So much for the DM’s “sources” and “royal insiders”. Turns out their insiders are royal watchers who post and muse on forums.
I’ve always been sceptical about posting pics on facebook and such and I really hope Pippa and James do something about this article and about their friends posting private pics somewhere online. They are in no way people of public interest. While it may be argued that Kate is due to her long term relationship with William her siblings certainly aren’t and I find it distasteful to post such nasty articles about them. But the DM didn’t get the exclusive holiday pics of Will and Kate so they had to make for another headline.
August 9th, 2008 03:40
sonia,
You may well be correct but I think that the article is a last gasp by DM’s so called Royal reporters to latch on to the anti KM brigade now that they have so obviously lost out so spectacularly to The Sun and made so many bo bo’s over the last months.
Even though their Mr K has a so called friend on the island he has been unable to cash in and The Sun scooped them.
It may well be that PW/KM are leaving the island early to miss the Celebratory party and avoid contact with at least two of the people gathering there.
Just a thought. Does the RF have a particular association with a day in August ?
I wonder ?
Any one help on that one ?
August 9th, 2008 05:16
That article is crap. And the photos are lifted from Facebbok via a certain royal forum on the internet. Actually, most of the article is lifted from that forum. I’m so totally unimpressed by DM.
August 9th, 2008 05:35
jeg,
Perhaps the DM’s editor may now think its time to get rid of three or four unimpresive reporters.
It seems as if their lines of communication have completely broken down and they are really grasping at straws.
KN has lifted articles from forum’s for months now and makes up the rest and RK really seems desperate to start plowing the family up.
I hope they all get their comeuppance
August 9th, 2008 05:36
** spelling. sorry
August 9th, 2008 05:51
From what I understand the person who posted those photos was actually at the party and they were photos that this person took. So in a way, this person was an insider.
August 9th, 2008 05:53
Let’s not kid ourselves – Richard Kay and Katie Nicholl and other Daily Mail columnists primary job is to write stuff that sells papers. The more sensational the better. Reporting standards and journalistic integrity (do these writers consider themselves journalists?) are way down the list of prerequisites…
Forums and blogs make it easy for these people to do their ‘research’. Sure they may have real world sources that occasionally come through for them but when the cupboard’s bare and the deadline is looming… up-maketh the story…
August 9th, 2008 06:15
Hello,
And bare the DM’s cupboard really is.
For some time they did have a very good source, either friend or employee but I think PW or someone close let slip some ridiculous or outrageous ‘tit bit’ , followed it through and then cut it off.
That could explain some of DM’s bo bos over past months and certainly exposes the limitations of ‘reporters’ like RK ,KN et all.
August 9th, 2008 06:16
I have just been to the forum in question after someone raised the issue above. I followed a link which they had posted to prove that that the photos and story had been taken from the forum. The photos had been added nearly a year ago by someone who had been there. At the time, those photos were not public and the only way that they could have been obtained was by someone who was there or someone who knew someone who was there. The person who posted them said that she had been there and as there was no reason for her to lie I believe her. There are lines taken from the comments that this person made on the forum, as she was there she can be counted as an insider who commented on a public forum.
I suggest that if you do not believe me, you should go to the Royal Forum and find out yourself.
August 9th, 2008 07:04
I think the Sun was given the photo access and that explains why the DM printed the horrible article on Middletons. DM article came out no sooner than Sun released those photos. Is the DM now trying to imply that because Kate brother likes to put icing on cakes and gets along well with Testino that he is gay? Who cares if he is or is not. I just think its cruel and Kate has to love William for her whole family to be trashed like this.
August 9th, 2008 07:52
I hope the Middleton family takes the gloves off and goes after the DM full throttle. At this point I can only image they would have full support fro the royal family.
This family has done nothing over the last six years but keep silent and take it on the chin. enough is enough.
August 9th, 2008 08:39
Hello all,
There must be someone who has influence on the owners of the DM. If anyone knows how to contact them then surely their own common decency and family values must prevale.
To take revenge on a family because contacts
who have previously been well paid to keep their obnoxious hacks informed on movemenets and thoughts of a daughter and her friends has been found out.
Their stream of information cut off they attack the softest option , the family of KM who will not retaliate out of respect for their daughter and her boyfriends family.
These hacks, will in time be found out as the fakes and scoundrels they are and it is hoped this happens sooner than later.
Obviously it is circulation that counts so perhaps people’s consciences will be pricked.
I am reminded of a football city who virtually killed the circulation of a daily because of attacks made on residents of the City.
Oh that BRW had that sort of influence but someone must be able to point out to the owners how such reporting reflects very strongly their own personalities and the status of their own families and on their own credabilitiy and decency.
Owners think about it and act as your family members may react if they were attacked is such a disgraceful manner..
August 9th, 2008 08:44
lisa,
The best way for William and Kate to punish the Daily Mail is to cut them off! Seems like they already have. They no longer get any exclusive stories or photos. However the other tabs like The Sun and The Mirror get access. It is very embarrassing that the DM has to go to anti Kate websites in order to get any kind of story. But now we all know for sure that people like Kay, English, and Katie Nicholl don’t have a clue what is going with W&K.
August 9th, 2008 08:50
I just wrote a very very critical comment to the DM and its authors. I do not expect it to be published (so far no comment has been) but I hope someone reads it and realizes that they can only go so far and selling forum gossip as “royal inside knowledge” is taking it way too far. We all know that anyone can write anything online. I’m sure the journalists didn’t even bother to check with the original poster whether their story was true (or likely to be true).
Like you, lisa I hope the Middletons take action over this story.Just because some journos are p*** that they do not get exclusives anymore, doesn’t mean they should get away with everything. The MIddletons have not done anything wrong. They didn’t hurt anyone and it’s really going way too far to drag not only Kate but her whole family through the mud in a desperate attempt to sell some papers when another mag got exclusive pics of Will and Kate. Enough is enough!
August 9th, 2008 08:56
Oh the whole thing with them getting this crap from website is just another example of how the content on some of these websites has gotten out of hand. I will say this,though..even some of the members of that said website are less then thrilled with this trash. I think this all has to do with an overall smear campaign aimed at the royal family because philip called the press out on their **** this past week. They can’t go after the royals so they pick someone weak and defenseless like james. And I don’t mean weak in a literal sense. I mean they know the Middletons sit back and take the crap for Kate’s sake. I can only imagine velocity in with William’s lawyers will be contacted once he gets wind of this latest stunt.
August 9th, 2008 09:07
Hello everyone,
I don’t think I remember a topic which has united so many of BWR’s variable commentators and propably just shows that basically we are a fairly decent lot.
That however doesn’t help with getting the DM to conform to common decency and to respect decent families who may not want to retaliate.
If there are decent DM shareholders reaing this draw it to the attention of you board and ask them if their consciences are clear.
One day it may come back and haunt them unless they act as decent people should act.
August 9th, 2008 09:36
I actually do believe that the person who posted the pictures first on the forum was not lying and I have explained why the newspapers can get away with calling this person an insider.
Please go to the forum and read what was said before, so you can understand what I am saying. The person had no reason to lie at all and is known for being a decent forum member who would not lie or spread “crap” like this.
IMO the Middleton’s cannot complain. Yes, they have remained quiet for years but the RF has remained quiet for even longer. The Middleton’s should expect this sort of thing and like anybody in the public eye they should learn that they have to be careful. It is not the fault of the newspaper that these photos have been published. Originally they were put onto a public forum and therefore were up for grabs. The Middleton’s have hopefully learnt from this and will ensure that the same mistake does not happen again. I hope that they have realized that it is not just Kate’s actions that are under scrutiny but the whole family’s and relationships have broken down before due to a family’s reputation and image.
August 9th, 2008 09:38
P.S. Lisa is probably right about them wanting to get back at the RF in some way. It was cruel of them to pick James but he should have been more careful.
Remember what was said when private photos of Chelsy’s were published. Everyone said that she was immature and silly for allowing them to be published. Well, if you can say that about Chelsy I think the same applies for James. Hopefully, they have learnt to be more careful.
August 9th, 2008 09:50
I do not think that it’s right to say the whole Middleton family is up for scrutiny just because Kate is dating William. Pippa and James are private indviduals and they are not even dating anyone “famous”. They are also not up to eventually join the royals hence the papers have no business to report about their private life. Kate’s family will not play any role with the royal household in the future – they hsould be off limit.
Of course the same standard applies to James’ and Pippa’s pictures that applies to Chelsy’s. The difference is that private pics of Pippa and James were never used by the papers before and they are not in the focus of public attention like Chelsy is. I wouldn’t have blamed Chelsy if this happened to her once, but there were countless of articles showing facebook pics of her and she still didn’t seem to have learned much… I do hope for them that they learn and take down pics of themselves but if they have already been spread over all sorts of internet forums that’s virtually impossible I guess. More to come….
Still if I were the Middleton family,I would sue. The DM definitely overstepped a boundary and if they are not shown that this will not be accepted they’ll push for another boundary to break…
August 9th, 2008 10:00
Trixie,
I don’t think they can or will take action themselves as it may lead to some embarrassment for KM and PW if they are dragged into it in any way watsoever.
I think the next move is in PW court and we all know what that is.
That will reduce the vile press reports on the family and on KM herself and may even draw some of the doubters on side.
August 9th, 2008 10:04
Trixie, Kate’s family is of nearly as much interest as Kate is. There are articles about Pippa’s boyfriends. Let’s be honest here, neither Pippa nor James are doing anything to protect their privacy are they. This report showed that James has used his sisters public image and Pippa visits nightclubs and parties more than Kate does. They are putting themselves in the public eye. It would be hypocritical to complain when a negative article appears when they are willing to go to places where the paps go.
August 9th, 2008 10:06
Another P.S. (sorry about that).
At the end of the day this article does not make much of a difference. If the RF has a problem with it, PW should turn around and say ” I love Kate and I am dating her not her family”. Frankly, if he doesn’t, she does not deserve him.
August 9th, 2008 10:06
Ahhhh, that was stupid: I meant he does not deserve her.
I am so careless today, sorry.
August 9th, 2008 11:54
Hello all,
It is interesting that the DM off shoot, The Evening Standard has been forced to publish an apology to Prince Philip for statating he had Prostate Cancer. They have also published a denial that he has the disease.
What they haven’t done but should bve forced to do is to publish the detail of how they came to publish it in the first place and where the information came from.
The PCC has the power to enforce this and should press for a full explanation as this would then establish a precedent and all untrue stories would be investigated to source.
This would stop most speculative reporting and establish an ethical approach to stories attacking individuals and families.
August 9th, 2008 11:58
I don’t think this is a huge problem for the Middleton family. What does the DM say about them that is so terrible? The stories about James and Pippa are innocent compared to a lot of stories about the royal family. I don’t think the Queen is upset at all, except maybe because of the fact that the Middleton family, who she can see is doing their best to behave decently, is treated this way by DM.
I also think most British people will find the stories about James and Pippa far from scandelous, they have more of a sense of humour and have probably all done similar things in their day.
August 9th, 2008 16:17
As a British member of this website, I can tell you all that most people do not wear dresses out of toilet paper (unless they are playing that party game at the age of 6), most people do not cross dress for a costume party. I am 22 a similar age and I have done a lot of things, been to a lot of places, gone to a lot of parties, but not once have I or anyone I have ever met, done what Pippa and James were shown to be doing. It is behaviour which I would expect from a 17/18 year old not an adult who is meant to be mature.
Whilst it is not the nicest article, the DM have just reported the facts and the pictures prove it. The Queen would not be impressed with this, if she is not impressed with her grandson’s going to nightclubs and getting drunk.
August 9th, 2008 20:01
Guys,
Prince Charles actually has 2 places in Scotland right? There’s the Castle of Mey & Birkhall and he still uses Balmoral too. Does the Queen determine who can use her estates like Balmoral or Sandringham or can any of the royals use them when they want?
August 9th, 2008 20:36
thats true B if the queen is not impressed with middleton family,and why she’s not impressed with her grandson drinking in the pub?
August 9th, 2008 20:46
I think it’s clearly time for William to announce to the world that Kate is his beloved and that everybody (Daily Mail reporters included) needs to back off and treat Kate with the level of respect she deserves.
Hard to imagine he will ever find a more loyal or faithful young woman than Kate has been to him. She has sailed through stormy seas to be with him, put up with every undignity imaginable, and for what, a week here, a night out there?
If that’s not love, then I don’t know what is. A pox on those who say she’s only putting up with him because she’s a goddigger, or that she comes from a family of golddiggers.
There aren’t enough tiaras or palaces in the world that would make a girl put up with what Kate has been willing to put up with — no, the only thing that would make her put up with “all this nonsense” is love. True love.
This folks, is what a real fairy tale looks like. You can bank on it.
August 9th, 2008 20:48
Sorry for the misspellings, but the gin interferes with my typing, although thankfully not my common sense!
August 10th, 2008 00:25
I totally agree with you alsgal. I think the press just like to pick on these people and try to push their buttons. Mainly there isn’t a big royal story to report on so they are choosing to pick on The Middleton’s. All I see in those pictures is two people having fun and acting silly. I really don’t think this would make The Queen upset.
August 10th, 2008 02:49
alsgal you are totally correct IMO!! I think it’s high time Wills made some sort of definitive statement regarding Kate and how he feels about her.
I do think the time he spends with Kate is very telling, and just the fact that he continues to be with Kate says a lot without saying anything at all, but I still think he needs to say or do something that would leave no one in doubt of how he feels about Kate, or how they feel about each other.
And just so you know, your presence you-know-where has been missed very much, especially by me.
August 10th, 2008 03:59
Why should the Queen care what Pippa and James do in private?
There have been pics of Guy Pelly in drag and of other friends of William and Harry’s crowd as well. I would be surprised if not someone has pics of W&H looking similarly silly as well. Fancy dress parties seem to be the thing to do in the British upper class set. William was dressed up as a fire man and Kate as a nurse for one ball last year (many others attended in their underwear), William reportedly wore a tight lion costume to the party Harry attended wearing a shirt with a swastika on it. I doubt anyone in the British upper class would be scandalised by those photos. However they are of course still embarrassing. There are other pics in existence showing James in a French maid costume with some mates and some of him in a bath tub that would be much more embarrassing than the one the DM posted…
As I said before I will never be able to understand why anyone would post such pictures online somewhere. You’ll never know who gets their hands on those and they may be used against you. I hope for James that the appropriate legal steps are taken to avoid any such future embarassment.
Yet this has nothing to do with William and Kate let alone their chances of getting married. If all the embarrassing pics of Chelsy partying do not make her inappropriate for a royal g/f or bride why should pics of Kate’s siblings be a problem for her?
August 10th, 2008 06:36
i hope prince philip, health will be okay. and good health for him.
August 11th, 2008 00:44
Agree with alsgal, mapleleaf. The Middletons should just ignore this nonsense and continue to live their lives. Ignore the rest.
Mapleleaf, please contact John. He’ll tell you someone has asked him to pass along an email address to you.
August 11th, 2008 04:15
Guys, I’m sure a lot of the articles on here are “crap” too and I wouldn’t pay attention to them. The only good reporting I would pay attention to is, like, CNN.
August 11th, 2008 05:39
Mrs Welsh this is a royal site where all those crap articles from the tabs are placed to discuss. If we go by just CNN, the site wouldn’t have us here to do so.
August 11th, 2008 05:57
i thinked prince philip will accept the apology of the newspaper. nobody was perfect