William & the Press: A Bad Romance

Embed from Getty Images

It’s become part of Prince William’s narrative that he hates the press. Now, William has never publicly said, “I hate the press,” so this is not a statement of fact. It is, however, a fairly safe assumption based on, you know, his behavior and that of his office. But from where does it stem?

The obvious answer, of course, is the death of his mother in 1997 and the role that paparazzi are believed to have played in that fatal car accident. Then there is the blatant intrusion that they have caused in his life – speculating about his parents’ marriage in the ’90s, his and his brother’s antics throughout their respective teens and 20s and his own relationship with Kate Middleton.

Continue reading “William & the Press: A Bad Romance”

The Royal Family and the Power of Disclosure

Embed from Getty Images

Last week, in a post about some of the criticism the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been receiving, I suggested that they “say something.” I said something similar after Kate’s EACH engagement yesterday. That’s pretty vague, so I thought I would expand upon that point.

What the monarchy signifies and how they function is constantly in motion, a statement that perhaps runs counter-intuitively to how they are usually described, which is symbolic of continuity, history and heritage. They are, but how the monarchy embodies that – and carries out its agenda – changes, sometimes almost imperceptibly, with every generation. This has been particularly true for the royal family of the 20th and 21st centuries, which has had to align with and press against the constant presence of the media. Since the dawn of time, monarchies – like any political institution – have been reacting and adapting to popular opinion, but there are few other factors that have had more of an impact on the perception and behavior of a monarchy than the evolution of the modern press and how it disseminates its information.

Continue reading “The Royal Family and the Power of Disclosure”

Andrew v. Charles: The Case of the York Girls

beatrice-and-eugenie.jpg

On Friday we discussed the press release Kensington Palace issued on Prince Harry’s behalf regarding his relationship with Meghan Markle. But that was only the first part of “Strange Statements From the Royal Family in 2016.” The second part came less than a month later when Andrew, Duke of York, the second son and reportedly favorite child of Elizabeth II, took to Twitter to address press speculation that he was feuding with his elder brother, Charles, Prince of Wales over the role of his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The tweet was a simple link signed “AY,” denoting that it came from Andrew himself and not a member of his staff.

Specifically, Andrew said it was inaccurate to claim that he had ever asked that future husbands of his daughters be given titles upon marrying into the royal family, and that there was no dispute with Charles over them. The full statement can be read here.

But let’s back up and discuss these “fabrications.”

Continue reading “Andrew v. Charles: The Case of the York Girls”

Whatever the Opposite of “Never Complain, Never Explain” Is: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

fullsizerender-2.jpg

In November 2016, Kensington Palace issued a press release on Prince Harry’s behalf lambasting media outlets and online forums for the “racial undertones” and “outright sexism” of comments regarding his then-rumored relationship with American actress, Meghan Markle. The press release listed out the harassment that Markle and her family had endured, “nightly legal battles” to stop “defamatory” stories, and made a direct ask to the press to “reflect before any more damage is done.”

The statement also confirmed the existence of the relationship itself.

The release reads as indignant and desperate. And I say desperate not to insult it, but as an acknowledgment that to issue a statement like this must have been seen as a last resort – the only (effective) option left.

I have written many press releases in my life, I have never begun one with, “Since he was young…”

Continue reading “Whatever the Opposite of “Never Complain, Never Explain” Is: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle”