Prince Harry applies to become Military Chopper Pilot
Prince Harry is to follow in the footsteps of his brother and become a military helicopter pilot, Clarence House announced last night.
He will attend a special four-week course to assess whether he has the skills to embark on a full training programme. If successful, he will be trained by the Army Air Corps in Apache, Lynx or Gazelle helicopters.
The Prince, 24, who completed a pilot aptitude test this month at RAF Cranwell, will be based at Middle Wallop in Hampshire for up to 2½ years.
He asked to join the Army Air Corps after 2½ years serving with the Household Cavalry Regiment, which included ten weeks in southern Afghanistan.
No decision has been made about which helicopter the Prince will fly but if he becomes an Apache pilot – a highly regarded role – he would be expected to complete a tour in Afghanistan.
Read the entire article at the Times Online
October 27th, 2008 15:15
I hope he passes the course and becomes an Apache pilot so that he can go to Afghanistan again. I know he relly wants to.
)).
Its sad that he cant do lot of the things he wants because of his position. I know that its for his own good tho, they are trying to keep him safe ((which is a good thing
I would hate to be a royal.
October 27th, 2008 15:18
(he looks good in his uniform to)
October 27th, 2008 16:01
Broody Prince Harry visits sick children:
http://tinyurl.com/5wx5ap
The 24-year-old royal, who returned from his marathon 1,000 mile charity motorbike across South Africa on Monday, laughed and joked with cheeky Harvey Fleming, five, who suffers from a chronic lung condition and almost died in March.
October 27th, 2008 16:37
Now they have mentioned that both Chelsy & Harry are looking broody within days of each other – I wonder whether the DM is trying to tell as something
Also, have you noticed that Harry seems to be doing alot of charity work recently. Over the last few weeks there have been several reports of charity events that he has done / about to do. – Well child awards, tea with a sick child, meeting the mayor of NY about Sentenale, the work out in Africa with the Army in the summer for Sentenale, launching Khumbu Challenge 09, Enduro africa etc.
It seems to me that most of the good news stories recently are about Harry (as well as PC). Harry seems to be much more high profile & much more visable recently than William. If anything William seems to be moving into the background. Even the recent Enduro Africa event came across to me as Harry’s event, supporting Harry’s charity, with Harry’s friends attending & William “tagging along”. The only other story that we have had recently about William since the SAR’s announcement was him falling over a bollard & chatting up Paris Hilton.
I don’t really understand why this is happening. If there is really a new PR guy helping to dampen down negative comments on Kate & to improve her image & who is helping Harry, why is he not “working” on PW’s image as well??
October 27th, 2008 16:58
That’s a good point, H.
Perhaps it has more to do with the news cycle, and the silly tabloid press, which seems to need to have a Good Prince/Not So Great Prince angle to play off of?
(They did that with Diana and Sarah, too.)
Remember only a few years ago PW could do no wrong and it was Harry who was constantly knocked by the tabs? Yet William and Kate aren’t doing anything less than the used to, but are being criticised more. Unfairly, if you ask me.
Right now, William and Kate don’t seem to be getting very good coverage, as even Kate’s charitable effort was mocked, along with her participation in the family business.
So, maybe laying low and letting the bad vies drift away is preferable to doing something, only to have it ridiculed for whatever dumb reason.
October 27th, 2008 17:03
This is a quote from some-one else from another Forum (I apologise in advance if I’m not allowed to do this – I’m not sure about blogging etiquette!!). It just that it sums up what I was thinking & I’m too lazy to retype!!
————————
“I think the Middleton’s have threatened or begun civil action against the newspapers.
No stories, no pics, nothing. Something is different.
Harry is out and about, pictures are out.
PC and Camilla are in Japan
HM arriving home from Slovenia.
The gruesome twosome are out and about
Zara out and about (well not so much now… Ouch)
William is not
All the Middleton’s are not.
Something is afoot.
This is a case for Inspector Clouseau, not James… James Bond that is.”
—————————
Having said that it the “blackout” goes beyond press articles, some-one else noticed that Kate’s name has been removed from the issa.com website, from the list of celebrities wearing Issa – instead they have added Princesses Beatrice & Eugene.
What does all this mean??
October 27th, 2008 17:14
A new start to things is happening. I just hope to see them soon. We had such a pleasure watching both royal couples take things to another level and I’m looking forward to more.
October 27th, 2008 17:15
Asgal, I think at the moment all of the Royals appear to be being bashed for one thing or another, whether it is PC’s 60th extravagence, bringing up Koo Starks & Kanga’s life histories & Di’s nanny’s comments (none of these complimentary to the royals), PP’s national prostitution gaffe, Camilla being lazy, Kate falling over, Chelsy’s wild partying in SA, Enduro Africa “golly”, Parisgate .. & the list goes on and on. The only person that isn’t getting any negative articles is the Queen herself.
The difference is that the other royals are still carrying on as if this press wasn’t happening. The only people that aren’t are PW & the Middleton’s – they have all largely disappeared. At this stage I really have no clue as to which way this is going to go – but one thing is certain, some-thing is up.
October 27th, 2008 17:22
H, it’s like the song goes: “Send lawyers, guns, and money — the s**t has hit the fan.”
Kate’s lawyers must have apparently gotten serious this time, and hopefully, are finally getting some big-time backup from the PR guys at CH.
Not sure about the Issa deal, but if the website was using Kate’s name without her permission, a simple call from a law firm would quickly put an end to that.
However, why this would be happening if Kate will one day soon become an official public figure is beyond me — usually the Royals consider themselves above this sort of thing and don’t bother to respond.
The sadder what if?
is that perhaps Kate is now really and truly a private citizen, and intends to remain that way for some time to come. Logically, I am still trying to figure what would be gained by her insisting on privacy from the press when later on she will be soliciting their favorable coverage? Unless, of course, things have changed and she doesn’t plan on a future with William. Which I can’t bear to think of.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t see the point in pissing people off unecessarily.
October 27th, 2008 17:24
I still think it is because there is no news about Kate, that we have not heard about her. This happened before at the beginning of the year and tends to happen every few months. She disappears off somewhere quietly and the papers ran out of things to speculate about.
There is plenty of news on PW. He has just done the Africa thing and he is going to the Bond premiere. Just because he does not fall out of nightclubs any more it does not mean that there is a blackout. It just means that he has grown up a bit and is somewhere else in a private capacity either a) preparing for some more royal duties or b) preparing for the SAR or c) just having a break.
Don’t panic and don’t jump to conclusions. We often go months without hearing any news about Harry and Chelsy because they both lead very private lives, William and Kate have just become more private that’s all. If you speculate too much, you will ruin their privacy.
October 27th, 2008 17:30
I agree “B” to some extent – but this time just feels different to the situation earlier in the year when there wasn’t much news. Even then they continued “making up articles” to fill the gap.
Anyway, you are right – we will all just have to be patient & wait – which we all continue to say & are all lousy at doing
Now lets get back to Harry, Chelsy & babies ….
October 27th, 2008 17:45
They still have the occasional article now. Think about the last time we saw Kate (not including driving with mobile incident) was around the 17th of September. That’s only 4 weeks and the articles from that probably lasted a week, so it’s only just over 3 weeks that we have not had many articles. Hardly long enough to get into a panic is it! There are many articles now which mention them as a couple..like little fillers or comments to support their arguments or to make a point.
Kate is not in London any more and is in a private place in Berkshire (working for her parents) and William has been in Africa for the past week and then we saw him at the club a few days before that. So it has been just over 4 weeks since we saw a picture of Kate (not counting driving) and we saw a picture of William a few days ago.
I think people here are used to having articles every single day and seeing photos of Kate in London every day.
Now as H said, back to Harry, Chelsy and babies. I’m having my second baby atm actually. I’m probably going to tell you that several times I’m so proud and happy about it. LOL.
I think Harry and Chelsy (if they marry and stay together) will probably get engaged when Harry is about 26/27. I think because he and Chelsy were younger when they started dating, they may want to marry at a younger age. That will give Chelsy enough time to start a job and really have a go at it (2 or 3 years) and will give Harry enough time to work in the military some more. Although, he probably will continue in the military for most of his life IMO.
October 27th, 2008 18:01
[...] Julian KingStars React To Jennifer Hudson Tragedy Amy Poehler’s Weekend Update: A Baby Boy Prince Harry applies to become Military Chopper Pilot Jennifer Aniston & Gerard Butler An Item? Miley Cyrus Breaks Out Rubber in Berlin Zara breaks [...]
October 27th, 2008 18:59
Just in case of you guys didn’t get a chance to see the documentary The Duke – A Portrait of Prince Philip, it’s now on YouTube and I’m glad that I have got a chance to see it. It really does let you in on who Prince Philip really is.
http://tinyurl.com/5tqwhx
Also there’s a little doc on When Camilla Met The Princes. Both Doc’s are really good and the second one lets you on what they think of Camilla.
http://tinyurl.com/58xzgu
October 27th, 2008 20:45
maybe it’s the quite before the storm… and by storm i mean engagement announcement.?.?.?
October 27th, 2008 21:08
When looking around internet, I found this.
It seems like William and Harry might still be in Africa. Maybe?
http://tiny.cc/gXwCp
October 27th, 2008 21:37
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1080591/Is-broody-Chelsy-ready-time-student-days.html
update for chelsy
October 27th, 2008 23:31
No they are back now but those pictures was taken when they was still down there.
October 28th, 2008 04:19
Thanks for the link to those clips Rman – interesting!
October 28th, 2008 05:22
Lovely news “B” – I hope that the birth goes OK. So no sleep for you for the next few months
October 28th, 2008 08:11
[...] Prince Harry applies to become Military Chopper Pilot » British … [...]
October 28th, 2008 09:42
Do you think that removing KM name from the Issa web site is another pr move to improve her image? You know how the tabs would love to accuse her of using her status as gf to recieve free clothes. And I do think there is an engagement announcement coming – it is too quiet!! For all we know Issa has probably already started making KM wedding gown! !
October 28th, 2008 10:39
Well, it’s a little late for that it would seem, as the tabs have claimed for a few years now that she was using her status for freebies.
Whether that’s true or not, we just don’t know. The tabs make up a lot of things, and then again, sometimes these stories contain a bit of truth. Until we hear from someone directly, it’s all speculation.
So, either Kate bought Issa dresses with her own money, and was upset that Issa used her name for publicity, or Kate took free samples as the Mail claimed and, for whatever reason, that arrangement is perhaps now off.
Pippa was at the Issa show recently, so it doesn’t seem like there was any animosity between the Middletons and Issa.
It does seem perhaps something has been done legally to enforce this blackout on all Middleton related news.
Kate and William have gone for long periods before where we haven’t seen them together, but the tabs always managed to have a story about something Middleton related.
Now, there is nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
I’m still trying to connect the dots on this. Why this, why now?
October 28th, 2008 10:55
It’s not more than a couple of weeks ago that the papers a were full of pictures of Kate talking on the phone while driving. This is not a season when a lot of events take place. I don’t see anything strange here. There have been weeks earlier too, when nothing was seen or heard about her. Where’s the drama?
October 28th, 2008 11:01
Thanks H. No sleep will probably mean that I will spend more time on here.
That’s what I was pointing above dagy. It has only been 2 weeks since driving with mobile news and another 2 weeks before that since we had some photos of her at the rollar disco. There is no need to panic yet.
October 28th, 2008 11:17
No drama, just simple math.
I’ve only seen one set of pictures of Kate since Sept. 18th (where she’s on her cell phone.)
There are very few stories about her, and even those were the tabs would use any excuse to include her name have all but dried up. Recent example: the Issa story in the Mail.
I can’t find a time prior to summer 2005 when there’s been so little coverage.
I think either CH or Kate’s attorney is behind this, and if it’s CH, then we’ll probably have an engagement soon.
If it’s her attorney, we might not be seeing much more of Kate.
October 28th, 2008 11:27
I am not too concerned about the recent lack of news either. We heard absolutely nothing (nor saw Kate) during the whole months of February. As B pointed out the roller disco is only a little over a month away and I can very well understand that Kate didn’t feel like being out and about after the articles that were published in reaction to it. The phone drive pics are only 2 weeks old.
I do not know about the Issa site. Why should it be ok to name Beatrice and Eugenie as their customers but not Kate? It’s true that she wears a lot of Issa after all.
Regarding Will and Harry’s PR. I must say Harry seems to be much more consistant in his charity work. I don’t think he actually does more charoty work in quantity but he only has two main projects he concentrates on. He regularly visits Sentabale and does a lot regarding that charity. The same goes for Well Child.
William is less consistant or at least it seemslike that to me and he has many patronages that do not include classic charity work – like the FA presidency or the Welsh Rugby patronage. When was William last at Centre Point? 2006? It is hard to take his charitable engagement seriously when he seems so little engaged (I am sure he does a lot in private but that doesn’t help from a PR point of view).
I was actually suprised when the new PR team was reveiled that they were very “Harry”-oriented. The main PR guy is the one who arranged Harry’s Afghanistan mission. He sure did a good job but may simply be “closer” to Harry than to William since he has worked with him in tha past.
October 28th, 2008 11:29
I have always understood that lowest education standard to get into army helicopters was a degree or at least 2 x A levels and I seem to think Harry only had one at eton.
so its the same as william getting into RAf but having to wear glasses as contact lenses cant be used because of pressure.why is it different rules for william and harry to others.
October 28th, 2008 11:33
Seems like the criticism was heard
We’ll see a lot of Wills in the upcoming days. Apart from the Bond premiere he has the following engagements:
November 5,
Prince William, Patron, The Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2008, will attend a concert at St Paul’s Cathedral and a dinner at the Guildhall, London to mark the end of the appeal year. The Lord Mayor’s Appeal has supported Wellbeing of Women and ORBIS.
November 6,
Prince William, Patron, Centrepoint, will attend a reception to mark the launch of Centrepoint’s 40th anniversary year and will meet Centrepoint residents, staff and donors at HSBC’s private banking headquarters, St James’s Street, London.
November 8,
Prince William will open Media Wales’s new Media Centre in Cardiff and unveil an artwork by the Welsh cartoonist Grenfell “Gren” Jones, Park Street, Cardiff.
Prince William, Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, will attend the Prince William Cup rugby match (Wales versus South Africa) and will present the Cup to the winning captain, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/diary/results.shtml?s=1&md=2008&mt=&mr=&x=58&y=10
October 28th, 2008 11:52
Yes, lots on tap until PW’s training starts in January, if we are to believe what the SAR announcement seemed to imply — that PW would continue his charity engagements through the end of this year, at least.
Looking into the Claudia Joseph book “Princess in Waiting” to be published next spring about Kate, it looks as if CJ’s main sources are a pair of cousins whose mother had a falling out with Carole’s mother in 1978. Oh brother.
Claudia really scraped the bottom of the barrel for this one –
Anyhoo, the article in the Daily Mail on 31 Dec 2007 by Cludia Joseph seems to be a preview of the book. Carole does indeed have a younger brother named Gary, born around 1965, and I don’t think any of those closest to Kate had to much do with the author, as CJ’s Daily Mail article seems to portray Carole and her mother as goldigging, aspirational pushy types.
Sounds more like a pair of disgruntled relatives selling out for a bit of change to me … I highly doubt Kate & Co. were involved.
October 28th, 2008 12:16
Trixie, thanks for that. It is good to see PW raising his profile. What would be great to see though is if he supported one or 2 things that he was really passionate about – like PH with Sentenable & Heros in Action & like PC with the Princes Trust.
Back to Kate & it is actually about 6 weeks since the roller disco event now – how time flies. We then had all of the bad news stories & then the PR blitz around “I’m working” & the support for Starlight and then in the last 3 & a half weeks literally nothing except for the one day wonder of the mobile phone saga. That is definitely a drought!! even last Feb which was the other quiet month we had the “secret pact, valentine day visit cancelled, they’re on the rocks & sunday lunch sighting articles off the top of my head.
Looking at the schedule for PW it would be lovely if Kate attended the Rugby match with him in cardiff. At least that event shouldn’t involve alcohol!!
October 28th, 2008 12:21
Could he bring Kate to any of the events? By the looks of it the November 5th would be the only one which really required a date?
October 28th, 2008 12:30
He will be in a professional capacity when he attend the rugby match and it would be inappropriate for her to attend.
Glad he is doing some more work.
The roller disco articles lasted for about 1-2 weeks though, they slowly trickled away but they were there for a long time.
There were hardly any articles between October and Jan. Then a few in Jan, not many in Feb, hardly any in March, then a few about the wedding in April and the wing ceremony. There were a lot in May and then it picked up for June a while, but then they have slowly died off again. This is just the usual after the climax of the silly season. People think these sort of things every year because they are used to having lots during the summer. There are very few articles on any of the individual royals at the moment.
The Princess in Waiting book just sounds like a more up to date version of William’s Princess. The books are always written far too early IMO, they aren’t even married. They should not test fate or count their chickens before they’ve hatched.
October 28th, 2008 12:31
H, I can’t think of a sporting event that doesn’t involve alcohol these days, unless it’s in a state or country that doesn’t allow it.
I know what you are saying about PW showing more passion but I think he’s just not wired the same way as Harry is, or maybe PW’s childhood simply turned him into more of the retiring sort. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t care — it just means for whatever reason, he’s not as comfortable wearing his heart on his sleeve.
I’d be surprised if Kate went to such a high profile like the rugby match if her lawyers or CH have indeed been busy trying to keep her below the radar –
and unless she and PW visit a club in London (unlikely, though) I think we’ll next hear about her at the birthday party at Highgrove.
Hopefully.
October 28th, 2008 12:31
jj, I think that it is very unusual / unheard of for the royal family to be accompanied by partners on official duties if they are not married or possibly engaged. That’s why I thought maybe the rugby match as it is the least formal of the engagements (assuming of course that they are still together).
By the way, I was looking again at all the roller disco pictures as the IF had some new ones just posted and Kate looks absolutely radiant in them (well ignoring the ones on the floor!!); she looks so so happy, almost triumphant at the end of it. They really don’t look like pictures taken of some-one with relationship troubles. I’m hopeing for a happy ending
October 28th, 2008 12:31
No he would not bring a date, or I would not think it is appropriate for him to. If they were formally engaged that would be different but Kate has no real part of the royal family yet and I do not think it is appropriate for her to go to royal events or engagements.
October 28th, 2008 12:38
I don’t think we can judge a persons relationship by a few photos of an occasion when that person would have been having a lot of fun anyway. I am sure that the roller disco was a fun event and she would have laughed and enjoyed it anyway. She was able to look happy last year when her relationship was going downhill.
Besides, I don’t think their relationship is bad atm. However, I think that they may end up breaking up in the future.
October 28th, 2008 12:40
H, I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder. IMO it looked more like Kate was grinning and bearing it, and that she looked sadder, almost strained when she thought no one was around.
Her last pictures out the door might have been Jim Beam smiles, or maybe she is just super disciplined about smiling no matter what.
(Which, in my book, makes her highly qualified to be Queen, and I’m not kidding.)
With William and Kate, we just never know, though. Kate smiled a few days after the breakup, and has looked sadder in certain pics when we’ve known they were actually 100% together —
so I find it’s just hard to read them.
October 28th, 2008 12:55
btw how does Tamara Rosenberg in the Vanity Fair article know PW and Kate? She was 31 back in 2006 when she swam in a race down the Hudson River in NYC. A few people who swam in the race with her said she’s batty. A few others said she was a con artist.
Why does Vicky Ward quote her like she’s credible?
October 28th, 2008 14:57
Since Kate’s lawyer, Gerrard Tyrell is praise on the Harbottle & Lewis web site as being “one of the best” at litigation and defamation lawsuits I guess there is your answer everybody.
The papers have potentially been threaten with defamation lawsuits cause they can argue that Kate is not employlable.
That is the black out now, and the mail is probably xtra careful because Tea Leon’s hubby is now suing them for a story.
October 28th, 2008 15:31
alsgal, I have only read the name Tamara Rosenberg in one old article in the Dialy Mail from January 2008 saying that Kate had been angry because William confided in Tamara and Jecca rather than her about the Diana inquiery. Other than that I could not find her name mentioned anyhwere and I certainly couldn’t find where William supposedly knows her from. But VF says she’s also a friend of Jecca’s so maybe that’s the link. However I doubt she’ll remain much of a friend after this VF article. VF certainly wouldn’t have mentioned her name without permission. If she was indeed a close friend that surely ended after this article because she would be the first to ever talk about William’s thoughts and feelings to the press. – and I venture to say she’ll be the last to do so.
Somehow I have a hard time believeing someone as discreet and media shy as Jecca would have introduced such a blabbermouth to William but you never know…
Maybe she was one of the “leaks” that apparently dried up this year?
Sophie, thanks for the link. Very interesting. Would the innitiation of legal proceedings be made public by a spokesperson of the court if a law suit is filed on Kate’s behalf? I do not know whether that’s common practise in the UK.
October 28th, 2008 15:59
That is interesting, Trixie.
I just looked on the H&L website and it looks like they are pretty low key about winning apologies and damages –
Take a look at this:
http://www.harbottle.com/hnl/pages/article_view_hnl/2988.php
October 28th, 2008 17:07
Camilla is flying home on Saturday because she “finds warm climates difficult to handle” *&?!
Someone please slap the woman!
She also “needs to prepare for Charles’ birthday celebrations?” I thought Fawcett and her sister were handling the arrangements? And isn’t his birthday not until the 14th?
God bless these two buffoons and I sometimes wonder why such a marvelous woman like HM ever allowed PC to marry this woman.
I find her simply dreadful, and a huge insult to those who work for a living.
1789, here we come!
October 28th, 2008 17:12
PS I guess the warm climate in Greece wasn’t too “difficult to handle” when Camilla was vacationing with her girlfriends on Spiro Latsis’ yacht !!
October 28th, 2008 17:37
I just wanted to give some information about William and Centrepoint, and a few other charities. Wills visited Centrepoint in April of this year, and he was also involved with the Cycle of Life project, which benefited 2 of his charities; The Tusk Trust and Centrepoint. The Cycle of Life was a bicycle trek through Africa, Wills even tried to join it for a few days and was told at that time that he could not because it was a security risk.
He also had the joint project of the City Salute with Harry that took place in May of this year, and the proceeds from that went towards the costs of rehabilitation for injured soldiers.
In addition to that, Wills visited several of the Children’s projects that he is patron of in May, including visiting some children in Wales and attending a water polo event for school children, and lastly, Wills was the FIRST royal to get involved with Help for Heroes, and the FIRST royal to wear one of the Help for Heroes bracelets, which he’s been wearing ever since.
Prior to yesterday, Harry last visited WellChild in October 2007 when he visited with the children and handed out the awards, which is what he did yesterday. Wills played in the Chakravarty Cup polo match this year, and the proceeds of that match went to WellChild. Wills met with the children from WellChild afterwards, here is a link:
http://tinyurl.com/6kd7js
October 28th, 2008 17:43
On 30th June 2007, Wills and Harry hosted a luncheon together for Well Child, here’s a link:
http://tinyurl.com/6dmlo7
As for Kate, there were a lot of articles out about her in March of this year because she was skiing in Klosters with Wills and Pippa and friends, and there were tonnes of articles in April because of Wills’ landing the helicopter on the Middleton’s land, and also because Kate attended the Wings ceremony, and lastly because Kate saw Wills off when he flew to the IOW in the Chinook for his last test.
I am convinced that this current blackout was orchestrated by Harbottle and Lewis, but I think it has the backing of Clarence House.
October 28th, 2008 17:52
Mapleleaf, that is what I am hoping for as well.
I simply cannot imagine that this was not somehow carefully and deliberately orchestrated by someone in power behind the scenes.
The only thing I don’t understand is why it is finally happening now, and why they weren’t able to achieve this sooner? The timing is a bit puzzling –
October 28th, 2008 17:55
& Alsgal lets not forget that Charles is no walk in the park either. He is from what I have heard a lot to handle so he probably needed someone like cammy. That being said her coming home because she couldn’t handle the climate is laughable really. She doesn’t really work a lot so she should be able to finish the work that she actually begins.
October 28th, 2008 18:21
The timing is weird Alsgal although they have Miguel Head on board so it could have been of his major project which he wanted to get squared implemented when he came aboard.
Do you remember anything like this happening when Camilla was being groomed? It’s really difficult to tell what happened there
(from my point of view) because she was always with Charles and attended events with him. I can’t remember at all what happened with her except for vaguely remembering that a lot of positive press started appearing about her.
October 28th, 2008 18:31
JJ, I wouldn’t imagine that he is a walk in the park either
although I can at least give him credit for working hard and doing a lot with his charities such as the Prince’s Trust.
I know many of Camilla’s supporters like to say, golly gee, she is so nice when one actually meets her, but my response is so what, she sure as hell better be charming because she’s not much to look at nor is she productive. To those people who say, just wait until you get to meet her, I say, how the heck is that possible when the woman can barely get out of bed to go anywhere?
I also notice she’s up for the stifling heat of Brunei, which call me a cynic but perhaps she is hoping the Sultan will gift her with a tacky trinket or two?
Maybe I’m being hypersensitive, but I see a lot of familiar looking disapproval in PC’s eyes in those Japan pics whenever he is around Camilla. I say familiar because I remember he often had that annoyed look around Diana towards the end –
But they’ve both made their bed and I doubt he will go for a second divorce.
I do wonder what Stuart Higgins thinks of his “source” now?
October 28th, 2008 18:36
Mapleleaf thank you so much for remembering Me of William’s moves with charity, its so good to re-read this.
I believe in one of the first few articles about Miguel Head, IF the situation would come to him, he would take the moves and work for KM, girlfriend of PW, IF CH or the circumstances would be seen for such. Somethin in those words with the big IF included. I will look for the article and post later (or tomorrow).
October 28th, 2008 19:24
Me, don’t forget that the Guardian article of July 12th also said Miguel Head would be reporting to Paddy Harverson — so even Miguel still has someone telling him what to do to a certain extent.
Also, Miguel Head is only around 30, and was a MoD spokesman, so maybe even in the summer it was assumed PW and PH would continue in the military for the next several years?
October 28th, 2008 20:16
Alsgal
You crack me up!! I’m sure even though she finally has the position she has always craved i.e. Charles wife, she knows she had better be nice because one wrong move and the press would be all over her. I’m not a fan & try to be civil when I write about her but IMO I don’t think the British Public likes her much & one slip up would have them up in arms!
You are right about Charles too he does work hard although I do question whether he had anything to do with the Princes sudden decision to join the air force for an extended period of time. I know that William applied in May, but I begin to wonder whether he fears that Kate and William would upstage him and that there would be real calls for him to abdicate in favor of them… Just my thoughts.
Interesting thoughts about him growing tired of Camilla. There have been rumors for a while that there is trouble between those two but I very much doubt that he would divorce or whether she would let him..
October 28th, 2008 20:40
Alsgal, you might be pleased to know that some of the posters over at the infamous IF have begun to think something is put with William,Kate and this media silence. Read the last two pages of the thread “It’s Over” in the William’s Den section. Some of the thoughts are interesting and along the same lines that some of us here believe. Something big is coming and it is not a breakup.
October 29th, 2008 02:36
Sorry mapleleaf I forgot about the events in March. My point still stands though, during the spring the media attention builds up, comes to a climax in the summer (silly season) then trails off again around Sept. and Oct. It did the same last year and it happens every year.
I’m not saying that something is going to happen but I cannot for the life of me think of one plausible reason why Kate would have or should have a media blackout on her. I mean, she’s at her parents’ home now, she’s working privately there. We have never had many photos or stories of her when she has been in Berkshire, we only get them in London when she is more on the party scene and goes about the town.
Thanks for the reminders about William’s charity work. With all the gossip that has been taking place, we often forget just how much he actually does.
October 29th, 2008 02:44
I’ve just read them lisa and I have to say that it is just 3 or 4 people max. (that’s an approx.), who actually believe that it could possibly be taking place. There are always a few people in every thread who think the opposite to the majority. Nothing new there.
October 29th, 2008 08:42
Lisa, I only go to the “infamous” IF to take a look but refuse to post there as I find a few of the Admins there to be both high-school nasty and incredibly stupid — rather a bad combination.
(I remember when one of the IF Admins tried to ban a rather intelligent poster for 30 days for using the word Royalist, which showed up as ******** , as it was on the banned word list because it linked to a competing site.)
So, anyhoo, yes, I do think there are only two explanations for what is going on: either W&K are sadly and suddenly over and Kate’s privacy, possibly via the threat of defamtion lawsuits, is now being fully protected as she is a private citizen –
or, and this is the scenario I think is much more likely, there is a gentleman’s agreement which was brokered by Tyrrell with the help of CH which explains the seeming news blackout. This would seem to be along the lines of the St. Andrew’s agreement, or the Harry/Afghanistan news blackout, and would indicate to me that KM was very much in the CH fold.
The standard advice to anyone suffering from bad PR seems to be to go away, keep the nose to the grindstone, stay away from showy places like nightclubs, etc. and slowly and quietly build the reputation back up.
They have at least 18 months to do this before an engagement will be announced, and I think that is what their intention is.
October 29th, 2008 09:25
Yes, I understand what you are saying alsgal, but why?
Why should there be a media blackout? I can think of no logical reason. Blackouts are usually carried out for national security (i.e. Harry going to war) not PR exercises. Even at St Andrews there was not a blackout but rather an agreement to allow William to have a good education. That is a very valid reason.
If they really wanted to do a PR exercise, there would be more pictures of her with her family or William. There would be photos and news of her working hard or doing good deeds. There would be news of her supporting a charity and looking pretty, demure and kind. A blackout does not allow for the problem to be solved just covered up. If there is a blackout a good reputation cannot be built up because there would be nobody to make it public. It defeats the purpose of a PR exercise.
October 29th, 2008 09:28
I think that there are two explanations as well alsgal. The first is the same as yours but I think it very unlikely. The second is that Kate is busy, out of the way in quiet Berkshire. She is not partying in London at night and she has no weddings or charity events to attend to at the moment, so there is no reason for her to be photographed.
October 29th, 2008 09:58
I think that this not a media blackout, as you are right B, these are very rare & I can’t believe that they would be given in this situation. What I think is that the press – the DM in particular – has been threatened with litigation by Kate’s lawyers because many of their articles I am sure you could class as libellous to the Middleton family and also the press have used paparazzi photos (mobile phone incident) as well, which they had said that they wouldn’t. Previously the Middleton’s seemed to just ignore all of the critism, but given the way that it has escalated maybe they have decided to take a different approach & are getting heavy handed.
So the papers are just being very careful what they say about Kate, coupled with the fact that there aren’t any real news stories about her to report anyway as she is still hidden away= news drought.
I also think that they did have a mini PR blitz at the end of Sept, to get across that she is really working and mentioning the Starlight charity event and now once that message has got across to some extent, she is lieing low for a while to take the focus off her and let things settle down & bad memories fade.
Hopefully we will see Kate & William together soon at some nice, exceptional, event so that we know that they are OK & which wouldn’t give the press any more fodder.
October 29th, 2008 09:59
B, you do make a good point about why on earth the press would now agree to a gentleman’s agreement or news blackout — no, it’s not a case of national security nor is Kate a minor studying at college.
It does seem a bit baffling that they would make a big deal of her having privacy now if she is going to become the most famous woman on the planet in a few years.
Kind of forces the question, if someone can’t handle the scrutiny now, why would they be able to handle it later? Things certainly did not improve for Diana once she became engaged, as despite bodyguards and a press office, she was still attacked and harrassed frequently.
As long as I’m playing devil’s advocate here, the press could also argue that Kate willingly allowed herself to become something of a public person by, as the Mail has claimed, not exiting on her own by the back door at high profile clubs and allowing Hello to photograph her for the dragon boat race (sorry, but she had to have posed for those shots.)
While she and William certainly had a right to privacy in their private time, they did little to help their cause by having Kate appear at high profile events such as Royal weddings, and PW’s various military ceremonies. Yes, of course, Kate had the right to attend, but was it “smart” to do so, if they truly wanted to avoid speculation?
We could argue if privacy was their number one concern, Kate would, could, and should have stayed home and avoided being seen with PW in public at all costs.
These two could be poker players they are so hard to read — PW alsways looks grumpy and KM is always smiling. Go figure.
I’m just going to have to be patient, but even I am getting fed up with this game playing, if that is what is going on.
October 29th, 2008 10:11
H I think that is what is happening, popularly known as ‘celebrity blackout’; Liber and defamation, Racketeer-Influenced is heavily stacked against media (press).
There is even a this years article on Prince Phillip who with his “style” of wording blasted the press for constant intrusion.
October 29th, 2008 10:19
Me, are you a lawyer by any chance – I had to google some of those words
October 29th, 2008 10:19
That is exactly what I think H and alsgal. A CH organised media blackout does not make sense at all. The papers just have no news and are just being careful. Alsgal, you have made a very good point by playing the devils advocate. Although we may not like the facts that alsgal has reminded us of, they are true.
If a newspaper had written something incorrect or had implied something that was not true, Kate would have complained through the PPC. She is not a royal and until she is she should not be treated like one, especially if she does wish to remain a private citizen.
Prince Phillip has been very blunt about how he feels. But the truth of the matter is that the press intrusion has been there for years and will continue to be. Journalists are free to write their opinions and to deliver the news; everyone has the right to freedom of speech.
October 29th, 2008 10:38
B, non of us really know, she may be exactly with your theory, or Alsgal’s or any other theory guessed by posters here and in any other royal site.
We will just have to wait and see.
October 29th, 2008 10:46
Alsgal
I agree partially with the point that you make about Privacy. But if she stays home and never goes anywhere with him they wouldn’t have a real relationship. All of the “fun” would be completely taken out of it.
I don’t know Alsgal whether it is a matter of her not being able to handle the scrutiny. I think things were getting out of control. For the last couple of years the press have dragged Kate her mother and more recently her brothers name through the mud & it was getting worse and worse. Pictures of her brother were being leaked to the press on a frequent basis & maybe it was time to put a halt to it by changing tactics.
Maybe Paddy and Migel looked at how things have been going the last couple of years and decided that time out of the limelight was best on all fronts.
What time does the premiere begin tonight? Also I remember at one point something was said on the PP website about them giving toys out at Christmas. Could this be one of the first events she will be photographed at to change her image?
October 29th, 2008 11:25
JJ, I do agree with you that the press has not been kind to Kate and her family this year, but those pictures of James and Pippa were circulated a few years back when Kate was receiving very positive coverage (hello buffalo
) and no one complained about it then as far as we know.
That also begs the fair question, if James was not benefitting from his sister’s fame, would he be on the cover of Tatler promoting his business venture? Would the Daily Telegraph feature him in an article on young entrepreneurs?
For every argument we can rightfully make that the Middleton’s have a right to privacy, we can also argue that their business has undoubtedly received free publicity due to Kate’s association with PW. To expect have the positive benefit of one, without the detriment of the other, would involve a degree of cherrypicking, I would think.
Which is maybe why some of the grumpy old courtiers might prefer a chinless aristocrat who is not involved in a commercial enterprise.
Personally, I think that would be a shame as I think it’s very admirable that the Middleton’s have built a business from scratch.
As far as having W&K not being able to have fun unless they are out at public places, I respectfully have to disagree with you there.:) There are all kinds of places where they can have fun without the public seeing them — for starters, we’ve never once seen them coming out of the Yew Tree pub near Kate’s home, but we’ve heard a few stories of them having gone there.
If Kate is, as is often claimed, the outdoorsy country type like William, most of their fun could easily take place in seclusion on one of the royal estates.
Also, Kate attended two royal weddings without William, so any fun they might have had together at those events is a moot point.
While I’m sure it is fun for them to go clubbing together, and while Kate had every right to be at WIlliam’s important milestones, they were apprently willing to give up privacy for the sake of having a good time, and that is the argument I am making — that it must not be a case of privacy at all costs for them.
October 29th, 2008 11:42
The problem is jj, that it was all very well for Kate to receive good press and whilst the press was positive and her reputation was clean nobody complained at all about the lack of privacy (except for the occasion on her 25th birthday but that was only for one day as said by one of the photographers). Very few people here minded at all and she was happy to be photographed (or at least always gave the impression that she was: evidence DM article “Kate’s a savvy girl”). William was happy to be seen with her and they were together all the time for polo matches and parties. However, as soon as an article is not positive or the press turns everybody starts to say that her privacy has been invaded.
jj used the example of her brother and as alsgal said, they were available for the tabs for a very long time before they were noticed. I’m sorry that her reputation has been damaged has been damaged, but she must have been aware of the sort of things he got up to. She was there for at least one of the fancy dress parties (80s ski theme). Any responsible older sister would have known what her brother was doing. Nobody could pretend that she had no idea what her brother did at parties or her sister (toilet paper dress). They are meant to be a close family after all and she should have warned them.
Apart from the behaviour of her brother (which most people have forgotten anyway), she could have controlled all of the actions which have given her bad press as all were hers. She was the one who chose not to get a job, to go out clubbing a lot last year (the reputation has lasted with her even though she does not do that any more), to go on lots of holidays etc. I pity her but she was in control the whole time and could have prevented it. She knew what she was doing.
It’s quite sad really, but she must have known that the good press would not last forever. Everybody in the public eye has good press and bad press and they have to learn to deal with it, simple as that.
October 29th, 2008 11:44
It’s not all her fault and I am sure she did not realize at the time what the consequences of her and her family’s actions could be.
October 29th, 2008 12:05
B
But I think she should be able to go out to clubs and go on holidays if that is what she wants to do. Why not?? William does too.
They are young they should be able to enjoy themselves. But I guess the point is they need to be able to handle the consequences of their behavior.
If they want to go on holiday and go to clubs man or woman up to what you are doing own it and move on. There are not (as far as I am aware) doing drugs. Yes they drink a lot and sometimes look refreshed but they are causing no harm.
As for the pictures with her brother and her sister they were having fun there weren’t doing anything untoward. They can’t sensor every move they make. But what they probably do need to be more care of is who is taking the pictures and what happens to pictures once they are on a camera. I hate to be cynical but most people have a price and people can fall in and out of friendships easily. Alsgal made a point that many even if she does become engaged and married will sell her out in the future.
I agree that some of the courtiers would like a chinless aro but what on earth would the aro do all day if they didn’t work? Many of the society types and correct me if I am wrong go to parties and go on holiday.
It’s a double edged sword at some point there had to be bad publicity they built Diana up only to knock her down and the same thing is happening to Kate. Chelsy and Camillia both started off being seen in a rather bad light so it could only have improved for those two and through CH support Camilla image has been changed somewhat from the evil stepmother to the support system for PC.
October 29th, 2008 12:12
I think one has to differentiate (sp?) between complaints because of harassment and complaints because of libel or defamation.
And I think the only PCC complaint Kate handed in, wasn’t really about a negative article so not about lible or defamation but about harassment because of one picture taken.
I think noone no matter how famous or how much of a public figure has to put up with harassment. Paparazzi can take pictures with wide lenses from several meter away, they don’t need to be in your face, possibly insulting you or pursuing you by car while driving. I would even aplly this rule to Paris Hilton who is undoubtedly the world’s largest media w*** but even she does not have to put up with someone harassing her just to get a picture (it’s not like she doesn’t provide enough photo ops anyways
)
Libel or defamation is another issue. Certainly as a public figure you have to live with people specualting about you and your character to a certain degree. As long as the papers don’t present something as fact but make clear it’s speculation, there’s not much you can do about it. So I guess Kate has to live with being called “Waitey Katie” or a golddigger and social climber, just like she has to live with being called a “perfect future Princess”. Both are equally wrong or right since it in the end comes down to one’s own definition of these things.
I do not know about British media law. Could one sue the papers because they wrote something positive that was wrong? Would one have standing then? I mean where’s the damage done?
As far as I understand to sue for libel or defamation you need to prove that your reputation has been hurt by wrongful allegations in the press (mind you allegations or fact not opinions or comments etc.). So if the papers wrongly write: Kate will work for Mario Testino. I don’t think she could sue because her reputation wasn’t hurt by that article. If they wrongly write She drove while on her cell phone, she could very well sue about the story.
For any of those things however the question how much or how little Kate may have benefitted form the press doesn’t matter from a legal point of view. It’s not a question of tit-for-tat. The papers don’t buy the “right” to break the law by writing libelous articles because they may have been advertising Party Pieces (unasked). Just like you don’t “buy” the right to hurt someone just because you may have supported the person at another time in your life. A doctor who saved someone life is not “allowed” to kill that person later similarly the press who build someone up is not allowed to tear the person down using libel and defamation.
Whether it is wise to get into legal dispute with the papers when one plans to become a member of the BRF is a whole other question. The Royals don’t sue the papers because they depend on them. The BRF needs the papers to promote their work and report favourably. Why should the press still do that if the Royal family sued about every inaccuracy or negativity? I think the papers would probably just stop writing about them altogether which would virtually make theiir job impossible.
However so far I see no sign pointing to Kate suing the press since I guess any law suit would have been news itself. She just stays out of the line of fire which seem rather focused on her as of late. That’s her prerogative after all and I do not see it as a weakness.
October 29th, 2008 12:24
I agree, B, it was not her fault and although many think Kate is media savvy, I think she was actually much more naive than people realised. For instance, even this clueless Alsgal could even see way ahead of time that her very good charitable Roller Disco event would probably lead to disaster as the thought of someone wearing a day-glo 80s costume is ripe for ridicule and could have only led to undignified photos that would later be used out of context. No, they weren’t undignified by the average person’s standards
, but by those of a future queen, they were imo. Even many of Kate’s greatest fans, and I count myself as one, view that whole event/ photo op as ” just not a good idea” — no matter how worthy the cause actually was.
She already knew from 2005 how scummy the paps were, so if I had been going out to the clubs in a short skirt in 2007 I’d have darn sure made sure I had on a coat over my outfit just to be ladylike. But that is just me. Perhaps Kate is not as modest as I am, nor as old.
Now, that said, I see Kate as a very nice girl who I hope William is still in love with, but I even have to admit that it is very hard to backtrack when it comes to public image.
We had so many pictures of Kate happily leaving the clubs beside William or attending family events as his guest that it seems a little late to cry “private citizen” now –
especially if she intends to become his wife, as the scrutiny/lack of privacy/negative press will only get worse.
My advice to these two is to stop playing games with the press and public by declaring their love publicly, to get on with their work, and either get hitched or formalise their not-just-yet arrangements.
But this sometimes we’re public, but yet we’re really just private stuff has got to go as it is 1) antagonising the press 2) atangonising the public and 3) will lead to apathy once they finally do make it to the Abbey.
JMO, though.
October 29th, 2008 14:10
First articles are starting to tricle in. No pictures of wills and harry yet I think.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1081601/Shaken-stirred-Injured-Daniel-Craig-greets-hundreds-fans-1m-Quantum-Of-Solace-premiere.html
October 29th, 2008 14:19
There is a Live Cam of the arrivals. I saw it on some various sites around. Looks elegant.
October 29th, 2008 14:30
That’s what I was trying to get at alsgal…thank you
She was just very naive jj. She should be able to go and have fun but she must realize that she is in the public eye and reputation can be damaged easily, quickly and it can take a hell of a long time to recover.
As alsgal said, it seems too late to ask to be a private citizen now after her past actions. Harsh perhaps but true.
Trixie: the nicknames and bad press maybe cruel but you can help but admit that you know and understand why they are doing it, even if you don’t agree with it. That’s the problem as jj said it is a double edged sword. I don’t like the fact that they call her horrible nicknames at all but I know why they are doing it and as much as I disagree with it I can see their point.
Thanks for the article jj. Will we get pics of William and Harry or do they not go down the red carpet?
October 29th, 2008 14:37
Erm, let’s hope this isn’t an awkward moment — but why is Mohammed al Fayed there?
btw does anyone know if this is this an official engagement or was it just rumoured W&H would be there?
Let’s hope they show, and if William is o longer with Kate, that he at least gets a chance to chat up that Olga chick.
October 29th, 2008 14:39
I don’t know if we will get pictures of Harry and William. I would assume that they will arrive via the front but who knows what the security arrangements are. I’ll keep on the internet searching.
William isn’t naive however and should be at the very least as a boyfriend helping her out..
October 29th, 2008 14:44
Hello,
PW and PH arrived at Leicester Sq and rushed straight into Cinema and did not appear tp acknowledge crowds or photographers.
Sky news !
October 29th, 2008 14:53
live cam
http://www.camvista.com/england/london/leicestersquare.php3
October 29th, 2008 14:55
JJ, I agree with you.
For all we know, Kate may be just fine and dandy with how William is protecting her, but I wonder if maybe she feels she doesn’t have much of a choice but to accept whatever he gives her?
I can’t help but recall how Charles helped out Camilla, and brought her into the Royal fold, long before she was “official.”
He was in no way reluctant, after 1997, to show the world she was his “non-negotiable” hoochey mama and he definitely got across the point that everyone needed to back off.
It worked.
Now, Kate is no home wrecker, and certainly not in need of the sort of image rehab Camilla required, but my point is, she and PW have been together quite a long time and William could certainly make it known that this is his gal and for everyone to lay off.
We heard rumours about that happening with Camilla, but we aren’t hearing rumours of this kind of support for Kate.
Instead, the closet I’ve heard is she calls Gerrard tyrrell whenever there’s a problem. That’s different then calling Paddy, or Miguel, or one of the other CH people.
I find that worrying and annoying.
October 29th, 2008 14:59
So do I Alsgal. I don’t know if it is immaturity or just the plain fact that he loves her but not enough or not ready blah blah blah.
Charles is a lot older and has made a lot of mistakes already. Lets not forget that he screwed it up the first time. By the time he was actually ready I would have thought that it made sense to make her non-negotiable otherwise the knives would have been out. The very fact that he had to state that shows how much opposition she faced.
It’s in Williams hands as I have always said & hers if she decides to eventually walk away
October 29th, 2008 15:11
there are 2 photos of PW & PH arriving at the premiere on wenn.com
October 29th, 2008 15:21
Woops sorry, didn’t mean to paste such an ugly long link
** BRW – Fixed!
Pictures of the Princes arriving.
http://tinyurl.com/5avtxz
October 29th, 2008 15:22
Getty images has pictures of the brothers up.
I can’t believe anyone compares Charles paving the way to marry his mistress Camilla to William and Kate. Camilla didn’t accompany Charles to any official engagements prior to the engagement either. She attended one engagement as patron of the osteoporosis (sp?) charity and they left her sisters party together (nothing different from Will and Kate leaving a club). Those were their first “public appearances” together. It may have seemed more formal but that’s just due to their age, IMO. In fact it wasn’t any different than William inviting Kate to the Garter or his wings ceremony or going out with her to a club.
And then let’s face it Charles had to “explain” his relationship to Camilla to save what was left of his shattered reputation. The only chance to save what was left was to formalize this relationship. I doubt he would have made any comment or announcement without this necessity.
I can’t believe you expect William to announce his feeling to his g/f. I find them rather obvious. Why is this always demanded of William?
Seriously Kate is an adult, she can take care of herself. She doesn’t need a “Prince” to save her she’s not some damsell in distress! William saying she’s “non negotiable” won’t change anything really. Camilla is still attacked as are all members of the RF (except for HM of course) in regular intervals. My Gosh Kate gets a string of bad articles for her lack of employment and everyone falls over William for not keeping the press at bay. As if he could!
October 29th, 2008 15:30
More pics:
http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/picture/11037535.html?citemId=745353-4
http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/picture/11037533.html?citemId=745353-5
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee244/allies_photo_album/Harry/wennphotostwo037460.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee244/allies_photo_album/Harry/gettyltwo885481.jpg
October 29th, 2008 15:33
I think Trixie when I said announce his feelings I meant engagement within the next 18 months. Not a 60 minutes tell type deal
When I say it’s in his hands I mean with regards to courtiers and alike given that they are probably the indivdiuals who leak a lot of the information which is negative to the press anyway.
I can’t remember the name of the individual and which publication he wrote for but I know one of them has gone on record to say that personal friends of the Queen have come calling expressing negative feelings towards Kate and about her and Williams relationship.
Security at some point is also going to become an issue. Hopefully the lack of news is due to CH stepping in and finally advising her. Help from CH is in Williams hands. She does need help do you not agree? He has the power here Trixie not Kate, lets be honest here.
If they had been helping her maybe the roller disco would have turned out differently maybe not who knows but I feel as you must Trixie that she is being fed to the wolves and left on her own and then raked through the coals when things go wrong. It’s within his power to help her..
October 29th, 2008 15:43
Sorry, Trixie, but I respectfully disagree — I do think someone is allowing Kate to be attacked and that she has been left alone to fend for herself.
I worry that what Patrick Jephson said could be true.
Why? Because Kate hasn’t done anything differently than she did before, and is in fact, a new and improved Kate. Yet she’s been treated like dirt.
More so than the average good/bad news cycle normally would allow IMO.
Even the Daily Telegraph, which is as pro-Monarchy as the London papers get these days, ran a negative article showing Kate on her cell which stated that she could be thrown into jail for up to two years.
They didn’t have to print that, but they did.
The Belle Robinson Evening Standard article quoted Belle as saying Kate told her she could go to the CH pr guy only if there was an extreme emergency.
That’s a lot for a young twentysomething to deal with on her own.
If CH had been giving her advice, they would have probably warned her about FB and other things.
October 29th, 2008 15:44
p.s. Trixie
I agree that she doesn’t need William to save her but to help her I think she does need that. I don’t believe that she is a delicate flower but even the most robust individual could use some back up every now and again.
October 29th, 2008 15:56
jj, I don’t think it is. Where does the idea come from that the royals have almighty power over the press? The papers won’t abstain from writing a scandalous story just because CH says so. They never did in the past. I do not agree with the way the press makes many points because they are often illogical and exaggerated but much of the criticism is based on Kate’s behaviour something she herself can change – as she already did this year. Kate doesn’t need a PR, she needs a little more common sense in some things (just like William himself).
I doubt William told Kate to wear a short yellow hot pant to the roller disco or short dresses without a coat to allow for unflattering pics. So whose fault was it that those unflattering pictures giving the press food for tabloid fodder exist? Does a 26 year old really need professional “advise” about things like that? How could a CH press person have kept her from falling or the press getting these picture? They can’t save Bea and Eugenie from unflattering articles and coverage either neither William or Harry themselves.
The same goes for Kate’s career. I agree that she may not have been able to pursue much else but why not work for her parents straight away starting in 2005 (or right after the break up in 2007 when the media frenzy was at its worse?). It is a very sensible solution to the press problem but does one really need a palace PR advisor to tell you that?
How would a palace advisor know the problems of a “commoner” thrown into the royal fold anyways? Surely Kate’s problems are very different from those the young royals face.
Did Chelsy need CH PR to turn her “image” around? No she didn’t. She grew up and acted more maturely (though we still unnecessarily get party pics of her via facebook).
The same goes for Kate. If she changes some of the things she gets attacked for so much (mainly the job issue), her image will change. She is already on a good way and she needs to keep it up now. No amount of public appearances with William and no engagement will change that. Pictures of her looking pretty or “regal” won’t do anymore at this point. I dare to say if they got engaged tomorrow, the press may be in a frenzy at first but the next thing we’ll hear is complaints about the money spend on the engagement ring, then the wedding, then later how expensive the honeymoon was and finally how little public engagements Kate carries out (especially if she’d become a military wife).
Her public perception needs to change BEFORE an engagement and it will only do so if she doesn’t give the press food to attack her, is serious about her work and gets involved in the charity her and PP plan.
So I agree 18 months sound like a reasonable time frame for an engagement but I don’t think there’s much William can do right NOW to change the press or make it more favourable for Kate. It looks like the necessary changes are already on its way. It may be a tiresome process to watch but just like her image took over a year to tumble, unfortunately it’ll take equally long to be rebuild.
The only thing we need now is a picture of William and Kate together but not at some official engagement (that would only cause another round of engagement speculation) or leaving a club (bad PR for Kate) but at some “neutral ground”. Out having dinner or the cinema etc. perhaps.
October 29th, 2008 16:02
… wenn has pictures from the Bond premiere up as well:
Mohamed Al Fayed was there, too, which surprises me. I thought he was “persona non grata” for the royals.
October 29th, 2008 16:08
Trixie…I think that was one of the most sensible posts I have read in a long time and I 100% agree with you.
October 29th, 2008 16:18
Some very excellent post here this evening. JJ,Trixie and Alsgal, you ALL make some valid points. I don’t know where Kate’s PR went wrong but somewhere along the line, it did. As I said at the time, I was shocked that she attended the roller disco as it was too public of an event and the results were a disaster for her,IMO. Professional advise is one thing,but simple common sense is quite another. Kate’s common sense was out to lunch that night,sadly. However,I do agree that as Williams long term GF and potential wife, she should be getting some sort of “support” from his camp. The way the press has gone after her and her family is a total disgrace and someone should have nipped it in the bud(and maybe they have as we are seeing this new silence on the part of the media)I also wish William would allow the public to see some of his feelings for Kate. It would go a long way in getting some people to support their union. I think,however,that William is far more damaged emotionally by the role the media played in the life and death of Diana and it is manifesting itself in how he is dealing with it in respects to Kate.
October 29th, 2008 16:25
Hello,
It’s most unusual that gracie has not posted this evening .
Is she away or on holiday?
October 29th, 2008 16:36
Trixie
She tried working at Jigsaw and we all saw how that worked out. She was stalked from dawn until dusk. Finding a job for her was not going to be easy by any means and she probably just like most individuals wanted to take a step out of the nest and try her own luck at first. It didn’t work and they came up with this solution this year when things finally have seem to have become serious between them. But even working with PP is hazardous because of the potential using Royal connections angle which is why they may not have initially gone down that path.
I agree that her public image needs work. Palace insiders are paid to know whatever is relevant they are not royal if I’m not mistaken?? So they should understand what the problems of a commoner are.
As for Chelsy I don’t know that her image has completely changed. As you said the pictures keep appearing and not just on facebook. There is a ban if I remember correctly which Leeds university self imposed on it’s own newspaper on writing articles about her so that stops a lot of problems. But apart from that I don’t think Chelsy has changed a lot at all. She doesn’t go out as much to clubs in London & you don’t see cigarettes hanging out of her mouth in London. but that is it.
I didn’t see a problem with Kate’s outfit at the roller disco? She had tights on and shorts and a top which cleavage was covered. The fall was unfortunate but I didn’t see what the big deal was about that either. People fall all of the time. This was an event for an individual who had died who she was trying to help raise money for? I really don’t understand how it became so negative? Am I just so young an naive??
October 29th, 2008 16:38
No your not.
October 29th, 2008 16:41
I agree about a picture. A nice picture of them together similar to the one at the skating rink would do nicely
Earlier you mentioned Camilla’s lead up to the engagement announcement and Kate and Williams lead up. I guess we don’t have anyone else who has become engaged recently so Camila is it. I was way too young to remember Diana being brought into the fold.
October 29th, 2008 16:42
Hello all, I have been away on vacation. I think Kate and William are no longer together. That’s just my opinion. I think it is odd that the press no longer mention her and I believe its the hope of RF that she will be quietly forgotten.
October 29th, 2008 16:45
New DM article not sure if you guys have read it
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1081622/On-Her-Majestys-Secret-Service-Princes-William-Harry-inspiration-007-Bond-premiere.html
October 29th, 2008 17:00
Oh, now I just love that, seeing William and Harry visiting with the troops — fantastic!
(insert swoon smiley here)
Welcome back, Gracie.
and ps — jj, lisa, trixie — you all made some brilliant points!
October 29th, 2008 17:03
Why should RF want Kate to be forgotten? She hasnt exactly done much wrong. The public don’t think so either. There’s no way that the general opinion of Kate is anything close to the impression you can get from reading royal message boards. The interest in her is no where near the crazyness found on the Internet either. 99,9% of the population hasn’t noticed that Kate hasn’t been in the news for the last three weeks and they all think that she is still Williams’s girlfriend. And why shouldn’t they? There’s no reason to think anything else. If you are unaware of all the crazy theories that people on message boards come up with, that is. It’s amazing how much energy people are able to spend on making up possible scenarios. Some people seem to be on the verge of going crazy if they don’t get any news about Kate and William. But that is maybe only 20-30 people, the rest of the world is totally unaware of this “drama”. And it wouldn’t surprise me if Kate and William were among those!
October 29th, 2008 17:16
dagy,thanks for putting things in perspective so well!
October 29th, 2008 17:27
I think Alsgal and B have had some really good theories. I hope it works out for Kate and William. I am not a Kate hater by no means, I just think its to quiet. I was trying to catch up on reading post and Alsgal really made some sense, especially about how it seems alot of work to gag the press when Kate IF engaged would have to learn to deal with them anyway. I know Alsgal didn’t say it just like I did, I’m sure it was alot funnier. I feel one way, but I’m still on the fence too. If that makes sense.
Ked, did you miss me?
October 29th, 2008 17:55
Thank you, Gracie.
I agree, logically nothing has really changed, it doesn’t make sense that they would have broken up, but still something just feels too quiet, and call it old lady intuition, but William’s SAR announcement followed by Kate’s PP publicity push, followed by a lack of stories just makes me wonder just what is going on.
I am hoping for the best, and thinking we will hear, but not see, that they are togther at the Highgrove party.
I’d just like to know from a respectable source that everything is OK.
October 29th, 2008 18:06
Hi, everyone. Great posts. I think they are not together. Why can’t an announcement be made of that so we can all move on.
In August everything was great. What happened when they returned from their vacation?
Thanks from USA for any comments.
October 29th, 2008 20:18
I have wondered what the full story was with Pippa’s digital camera card being stolen — that is the only weird, out of the ordinary thing that occurred between the vacation Mustique and the SAR announcement that I’ve read about.
Of course, that might not have anything to do with anything, and they might very well be together, and are just hiding out like they sometimes do.
I’m just wondering why the press has been either nasty or silent of late. That is what I cannot figure out.
October 29th, 2008 20:56
Alsgal, as you know I have always wondered about Pippa camera too and the press has not mentioned it again.
October 29th, 2008 21:03
Alsgal
Why would that have affected anything? If anything it should have shown CH that protection is needed and pretty sharpish around not just Kate but all of the Middletons. I guess in reality it is good that Kate is with her parents and away from London. God forbid anything should go wrong but Kate and Chelsy are easy targets & I think the whole policy of no security for the girlfriends needs to be reviewed. Or the middletons and the Davy’s need to both stump up security. Maybe I’m being a bit over the top but I dont know I think prevention is better.
October 30th, 2008 03:17
Hello,
The camera episode was/is a little strange even if only because of the timing and the paranoia surrounding the principals in this entire event.
If guy was arrested what has happened since?
Who owned the stolen or lost camera ?
If photographs were as described by Sun reporter were they surreptitiously taken whilst PW/KM were together on island?
If so, by whom and what was reason behind that and were they so private,secret or revealing?
Was the Guy arrested charged or bailed ?
Then incidently Pippa is seen about town for a time without a regular escort and more significantly without KM?
Add this to news blackout , KM seen driving whlst using mobile and yet again a set of happenings lead to an almost national crisis.
PW and PH criticised during and after rally for ’spoiling’ it for the other riders whose families were unable to trace progress due to news censorship. PW called boorish for ignoring most other competitors and especially supporters who had turned up to both see and cheer on the Princes at the stages.
All this possibly because two people who were in love and may have fallen out or are playing a game with the public to spite an interested and intrusive press and to what end?
If they have split up it is going to come out eventually and unless KM tells, no one is going to know exactly what has happened over the years, and the longer it takes to come out the greater the media interest becomes. Pehaps this is part of the ongoing problem amd the powers that be reall have something to hide, something that may have connections with other peoples actions.
Who is hiding what ? What is who really worried about ? Who is who ?
October 30th, 2008 08:16
Hi JJ
I’m not sure it would have affected anything — and I really might be grabbing at straws here, and this theory may just be a load of crap, but I am just trying to figure out what could have happened between the holiday in Mustique, where they all looked so happy together, and the SAR announcement, which has been followed by not seeing or even hearing of them together.
There were rumours that PW had been invited to the Roller Disco event, although surely Kate knew of his schedule before she invited him, and he did not go. Yes, he was training, but we saw him on other occasions out at the clubs while he was also training, and he got a lot of criticism for being out, but still managed to go for pleasure. So, Kate’s good cause would seem to have been a perfect excuse to go have some fun and support a charity that was so close to Kate’s heart.
His friends were there, so maybe he sent them in his place to lend support?
On the other hand, his friends were also around after the breakup last year, which some said was done to keep an eye on Kate. Which I think is the cynical view, as I think they were around because they are Kate’s tried and true friends as well.
The sinister explanation is that someone close to Pippa might have tried to sell, or strategically and mysteriously “lost” very private photos of PW and Kate, which might have either made PW mad or made him feel like he had been let down.
For all we know, maybe he even asked Kate what was her sister Pippa doing walking around London with intimate photos of W&K still in her purse a month later?
For a guy so famously cautious and careful about guarding his privacy, he might have said, what the heck? He might have expected Pippa to be more careful, and might have thought, “it’s not like Kate and I started dating last week. They should know the drill.”
or — and this is more likely IMO, that PW said, Sheesh, is nothing sacred and it’s time to go into blackout mode because our great love affair needs to stay a wee bit more private after this photo card incident?
October 30th, 2008 10:39
Hmmm Alsgal
Well I guess it could have freaked William out a bit especially since a reporter from the Sun did see the pictures as well as two other random individuals.
We still don’t know if the two guys in the time that they had them copied them and sent them to anyone but I am sure that is something they would have followed up and looked into.
I suppose it could have caused an arguement between William and Kate & Pippa as it would have been a very stressful situation? Just a thought of them turning up 5 or 6 months later after the “heat” was off would be enough to send PW into melt down mode.
IMO it should have really showed PW and CH that security is needed for Kate & possibly her family. They are easy targets. These guys must have been watching either Kate Pippa or the whole family and just took their opportunity when it arose. This was something small potentially damaging it could be a lot worse next time.
Although there was a reportedly a problem between Beatrice and Kate I don’t think Beatrice or Guy Pelly would have turned up if there was trouble in paradise. Especially Guy he has more to loose (Beatrice is family so she stays no matter what) and I assume would side with William if everything went down hill. I don’t know the Golden couple have very good poker faces.
October 30th, 2008 11:17
It just makes me wonder. Although I want to think they are still together, I am not the first pro-Kater to wonder aloud if William’s SAR announcement was more than a simple career decision, but a lifestyle one as well.
Until we see them together happily, and know that Kate is OK with the fact that PW will be gone a lot, many of us will worry a bit.
What might of happened that would have caused PW to choose a demanding career over being with the woman he loves, a woman who is so obviously devoted to him? Surely, he could have done other things to serve the British public that didn’t require him to be gone so long and so far away from Kate?
Which brings me back to Lenny and Skippy, our camera thieves. If these guys were stupid criminals — and they sure didn’t look like a pair of out-of-work neurosurgeons — they didn’t make copies. If they were smart criminals, they could have easily printed out several photos without anyone knowing, and then gone on to offer up the card for sale.
It would seem those would have already shown up in some foreign magazine by now, though.
The fact that it was Duncan Larcombe who was involved, who has landed a few W&K exclusives, also seems important to note.
October 30th, 2008 11:23
I am very surprised that the DM/Sun did not pick up on the Cambridge story or forwarded to them. I wonder when exactly did PH and PW do this or still doing this? I want to know where Kate is and this secrecy is driving me nuts!! Help, me Alsgal.
October 30th, 2008 11:33
Alsgal, I think we are on to something with the photos. If we were in the same country we could probably solve it, we might get arrested, but we would get it done! Although, I think Ked would be needed for 007 theories. That aside I find it important that DL got the exclusive too and made such a point of letting everyone know it. Lenny and Skippy probably came to him to sell the photos to, but instead he tipped the police and RF. I would have thought since DL made such a big deal that he caught them, that there would be a follow-up. Strange that there has not. Somehow I tend to think this story might have alot to do w/what is going on now.
October 30th, 2008 11:33
Gracie, I’ve got those tea leaves out as we speak, and I have even consulted Madame Clarice, the greatest astrologer/phyllo dough artist this side of the New Jersey Turnpike.
Each time I get a little worried, I just try to remember back to last year’s breakup, and think WWKD — what would Kate do?
Last year, she admirably got herself out and about right away, was smiling that terrific smile of hers, and hit the dance floor with some very attractive young men, including that eligible and handsome attorney, who told her she was “unbelievable” as they danced. It was almost as if she was saying, William, watch out, and he got that message loud and clear.
This time, I am heartened by the fact that she’s not out and about, as maybe that means the Team Miguel Head strategy is winning and Operation Re-vamp is occurring, to prime Kate for a Royal Wedding in the summer of 2010.
At least that’s what I, and my trusty lawnchair, are hoping for.
Your thoughts, Gracie?
October 30th, 2008 11:53
Alsgal, I hope your tea leaves are right. Unless Kate has commited a cardinal sin, I can’t imagine PW could find a more perfect girl to be on his side. Yes she has some kinks to work out, but she seems to have what PW would need to make a strong union. I just don’t get why there are no photos of her even going to the store. We know the paps are hiding somewhere in her bushes cause how else could they have got the cell phone pics?
October 30th, 2008 12:01
I agree. Gracie. With Kate beside him, William cannot go wrong.
November 3rd, 2008 05:39
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