The British Royal Family - news, views, clothes & shoes! #9

[Keine Engel]

Rupert 'Don' Murdoch hit's right back with this...

Special report: The empire strikes back

Rupert Murdoch delivered an anti-establishment punch with The Sun’s naked photos of Prince Harry​

26 August 2012

As you walk through the glass double doors of Rupert Murdoch's Wapping tower, a large banner greets you with the words:

"Walk tall, you are now entering Sun country."

Murdoch has reignited the row that has been at the heart of the Leveson inquiry​

On Friday, the shaming of a naked Prince Harry on The Sun's front page may have sent morale plummeting inside the royal palaces, but the spirits of reporters lifted for the first time since the before the phone-hacking scandal erupted in July 2011...

The publication of the pictures, against the wishes of St James's Palace,...has triggered more than 850 complaints .

But this number is dwarfed by The Sun's total readership and the millions who have viewed them online,..

And to Mr Murdoch, what matters is the act of defiance he has carried out against the establishment – including Lord Justice Leveson, the Royal Family and David Cameron...

He kept himself at arm's length, editors across Fleet Street held fraught discussions over whether they should publish pictures of the third in line to the throne partying naked in an Hotel in Las Vegas ...

Executives spoke of a "Leveson chill" that had descended across not just The Sun, Daily Mirror and The Star, but also the Daily Mail,..

18 months ago, newspapers would have published the pictures without debate, but the Leveson inquiry has left editors and executives terrified.

Mr Murdoch was fully aware of the pictures but as unanimity formed across all newspaper..., he did not get involved.

They took the decision not to publish.

Mr Murdoch was "furious".

"Rupert said,
'There is a principle here...

We can't carry on like this.

We should run them, do it and say to Leveson we are doing it for press freedom.'"

The Murdoch empire was striking back.
​

This will NOT end well for Harry

*Neil Wallis
(Former executive editor of the News of the World)

"[Prince Harry] is third in line to the throne, a very visible member of the Royal Family, whose power and position was used to get a free £30,000 luxury hotel stay, where he invited 15 semi-dressed young women he didn't know to join him in a 3am 'let's get naked' jaunt. No reasonable expectation of privacy."

The Independent

 

[AllyBeeUK]

Very good point!
Have they really thought about the long game here? What do they expect to garner?
The press will forever scrutinize their every move and probably never again give compliments to their projects or works.
They could become the long term black sheep
of the royal family.
"The Pen is Mightier than the Sword".

This is not going to end well. Perhaps he expected them to just bow down and pay up, he didn't think that they would actually fight him. They may well end up on the witness stand in the High Court. So might Meghan's father and friends that spoke to People magazine...under oath no less. I wonder what could possibly come of that? That she knew? That she orchestrated it?

 

[Keine Engel]

...I love when people try to make a positive difference especially when you see so many people of privilege only catering to their own selves.

War veteran urges Prince Harry to do more for troops with mental health struggles
​

EXCLUSIVE: Former corporal who trained with Harry tells how Army’s refusal to recognise his PTSD almost drove him to suicide, and says he has continually raised issue with the prince, who 'nods, asks me how my family are doing but that's about it.'

​

A war veteran has urged Prince Harry to do more for troops with mental health problems.

War veteran urges Prince Harry to do more for troops with mental health struggles​

Jason Wilkes, who trained with the prince, told of his fight to get treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The former corporal said the Army’s refusal to recognise his condition drove him to the brink of suicide.
“Three of my friends took their lives in the space of a few months last year. One was Nathan Hunt, who was deployed to Afghanistan with Prince Harry . “Harry knows there is a problem with the treatment of soldiers and veterans with PTSD because I’ve told him.

“I’ve met him on three occasions and each time I meet him I tell him that more needs to be done for soldiers with mental health problems.

“When I tell him about the issues with mental health, Harry nods, asks me how my family are doing but that’s about it. “

I don’t know if he feels constrained and can’t really speak his mind but something needs to change.”

MIRROR

Note: 'Harry'pic NOT in the actual article

 

[Keine Engel]

The Countess of Wessex, y'all know she's my fave:

unless we involve a horse:

View attachment 207899

 

[Herat]

This is such a strategic fail:

The complaint is that the press is hounding Meghan and this is endangering her life? Am I getting this correct?

So why not try a low-key strategy of polite but uninflammatory and unrevealing encounters with the press? And much enhanced security on phones and personal devices? The Africa trip started off well....

Then Meghan's lawsuit was reported. Still. Why not just keep on keeping on?

I am utterly perplexed as to why this explosive and overwrought lawsuit was even considered.

Harry, neither you nor Meghan tried to deal with this. You chose to exploit the memory and image of your mother on this trip. So why now start this very confrontative situation that will taint all of your future charitable or leadership plans?

 

[AllyBeeUK]

This is such a strategic fail:

The complaint is that the press is hounding Meghan and this is endangering her life? Am I getting this correct?

So why not try a low-key strategy of polite but uninflammatory and unrevealing encounters with the press? And much enhanced security on phones and personal devices? The Africa trip started off well....

Then Meghan's lawsuit was reported. Still. Why not just keep on keeping on?

I am utterly perplexed as to why this explosive and overwrought lawsuit was even considered.

Harry, neither you nor Meghan tried to deal with this. You chose to exploit the memory and image of your mother on this trip. So why now start this very confrontative situation that will taint all of your future charitable or leadership plans?

I totally agree with you. How? Just how are they hounding her? She gets press attention of course but she is a working Royal, this comes with the territory.

Look at what Catherine had to deal with. I've never seen Meghan hounded like this.

 

[Keine Engel]

I doubt if many are interested in Africa. Many people think Africa is a country.

A lawsuit is much more tantalizing. Good works?Not so much​

The British Commonwealth

From Australia to Antigua, Canada to Cameroon, the Commonwealth is a remarkable international organisation, spanning every geographical region, religion and culture.
It exists to foster international co-operation and trade links between people all over the world.

After 70 years of its existence, the Commonwealth is a remarkable organisation which remains a major force for change in the world today.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent countries, almost all of which were formerly under British rule.
​

Royal U.K

​

 

[Alethea]

BBM

"Never pick a fight with a man who buys ink by the barrel load."

The press will win eventually. Even if they lose the battle, they will win the war.

This whole thing is so bizarre. There's an old legal saying: if you have the facts, argue the facts. If you don't have the facts, argue the law. If you don't have the facts or the law, pound on the table.

Comparing Diana to MM is also just bizarre. Diana was a naive 19 year old virgin thrown into one of the biggest spotlights in the world. MM was a 36 year old Hollywood actress with a decade of television and PR experience, owning a "lifestyle" website and brand. For celebrities like MM, the only thing they are supposed to know how to do is manage the press. Was her carefully curated "Tieg" brand or whatever it was not an entire company based on media and social media exposure for products she was paid to endorse? And now it's naive MM, so abused and bullied by mean press stories.

And the letter they are now crying about was quite obviously a stunt. The first rule in celebrity and business is don't write down anything you wouldn't want published in the New York Post. Yet this long discoverable letter to someone you had a falling out with precisely for selling stories to the press? She thought it would be leaked and published and she thought it would make her look good. Apparently the reaction was not what she hoped for so now it's poor me.

Again, this is not a teenager. This is a successful Hollywood actress who owned a brand and consumer-focused website. To pretend like she doesn't know what she's doing is both silly and probably insulting to her.

I was both sympathetic and supporters of H&M until the past few weeks. This is not how adults behave, even adults who are aggrieved. They depend on the press. Why do they get dressed and glammed up at all of these appearances if not because they know there will be world-wide press coverage. They can't have it both ways.

 

[ilovewings]

...??? because he wasn't involved with chaos
causing MM. ??
I'm convinced she's behind this, and urging him on. Her entire young life was embroiled in family chaos. This is her norm.
She doesn't enjoy the status quo with peace and love flowing in a family. It's foreign to her.
So she has to create conflict to get her emotional stimulation. Doubt she can get much from Harry as he seems a bit stilted in
the Emotional IQ department.
This will not end well. Then we'll hear about how the press/media caused the disruption of this marriage, blah blah. When it was all predictable based on the tactics Harry and Megs are taking at the moment.
Megs wants to match the world wide popularity of Diana, she's already entered the
contest. MOO. Those shoes are too big for her
to fill. Give it up Megs.

i totally agree with you--_add to that her sense of entitlement as a hollywood
movie star and this mess iswhat you get-- i cannot stand her and she is leading
Harry around by a nose chain

 

[Keine Engel]

...Of course, not Andrew , which gives me great sadness.

It reminds of soap opera stars . People who watched soap operas and thought that they had personal relationships with the characters.

​

I hate to be THE one Again! but...

Cops have already *CLEARED* Andrew: Scotland Yard say they investigated allegations Duke of York 'had sex with Virginia Roberts aged 17 in Ghislaine Maxwell's bathroom' and confirm 'no further action is being taken'

MailOnline approached the Met Police following Mrs Giuffre's revelations in a teaser for her TV interview. A spokesperson said: 'As we have previously said, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) did receive an allegation of non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Having closely examined the available evidence, the decision was made that this would not progress to a full investigation.

'As such, the matter was closed. We acknowledge the considerable interest and concern around this case and have revisited that decision making and believe it remains entirely appropriate.

'Therefore no further action is being taken. The Met will always take seriously any allegation concerning sexual exploitation.'

Daily Mail

Exclusive: Met Police decided not to conduct full investigation into court claims of sex trafficking of girl in Prince Andrew photo​

Channel 4 News can reveal that the Metropolitan Police began a review of “available evidence” in 2015 after receiving a complaint over claims in court papers that a girl was “forced to have sex with Prince Andrew”.

Channel 4 News also understands that lawyers for Virginia Roberts independently contacted the Metropolitan Police in 2016.

The Metropolitan Police said it “reviewed the available evidence” and decided that the matter “would not progress to a full investigation”.

There is no suggestions that Prince Andrew was *aware of any of Jeffrey Epstein’s activities.*

A complaint to the police regarding the alleged sexual trafficking to the UK of Ms Roberts was received in 2015 from an unconnected third party.

The Telegraph

Sex with 17 year old girls IS NOT ILLEGAL in the U.K.

British Police have CLEARED him.

Metropolitan Police say the Case is Closed.

'Sex-Slaves' - There's no evidence the Prince knew anything about that. - V.G. stated this herself.
'Prostitution' - Does anyone really actually think 'payment' exchanged hands at the time in question?

Note: I am not defending him/his 'questionable' actions, just stating the facts - No Comment

 

[AllyBeeUK]

This whole thing is so bizarre. There's an old legal saying: if you have the facts, argue the facts. If you don't have the facts, argue the law. If you don't have the facts or the law, pound on the table.

Comparing Diana to MM is also just bizarre. Diana was a naive 19 year old virgin thrown into one of the biggest spotlights in the world. MM was a 36 year old Hollywood actress with a decade of television and PR experience, owning a "lifestyle" website and brand. For celebrities like MM, the only thing they are supposed to know how to do is manage the press. Was her carefully curated "Tieg" brand or whatever it was not an entire company based on media and social media exposure for products she was paid to endorse? And now it's naive MM, so abused and bullied by mean press stories.

And the letter they are now crying about was quite obviously a stunt. The first rule in celebrity and business is don't write down anything you wouldn't want published in the New York Post. Yet this long discoverable letter to someone you had a falling out with precisely for selling stories to the press? She thought it would be leaked and published and she thought it would make her look good. Apparently the reaction was not what she hoped for so now it's poor me.

Again, this is not a teenager. This is a successful Hollywood actress who owned a brand and consumer-focused website. To pretend like she doesn't know what she's doing is both silly and probably insulting to her.

I was both sympathetic and supporters of H&M until the past few weeks. This is not how adults behave, even adults who are aggrieved. They depend on the press. Why do they get dressed and glammed up at all of these appearances if not because they know there will be world-wide press coverage. They can't have it both ways.

BBM: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!! We wouldn't even know about the letter if Meghan's friends hadn't gone bleating about it to the press. And let's be honest, we had all but forgotten about it until they went raking it up again.

Everyone is so gung-ho about H and M "defending" themselves. Why shouldn't Thomas Markle be able to do the same?

 

[1&2&3]

I believe MM has led Harry into doing this. She played on his strong feelings about the paparazzi regarding his mother’s death. Therefore, the year long reporting on her fake pregnancy which wasn’t what she had expected. The very questioning and negativity of Baby Archie that has followed, the expensive reports on refurbishing Frogmore,
It is just one blackball after another!

PH and MM had this all prepared before leaving the UK. They were ready to strike out. Remember the Queen had told SA not to give them Royal welcomes.

I put the blame on MM. PH is the tag along hubby, “what Meghan wants, Meghan gets”. Meghan is causing a stir due to the inequities she feels from the Queen. They must
go public to stir up a ruckus to keep in the spotlight.

What a shame they did this! Let the Queen live out her remaining years in peace!

 

[Alethea]

BBM: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!! We wouldn't even know about the letter if Meghan's friends hadn't gone bleating about it to the press. And let's be honest, we had all but forgotten about it until they went raking it up again.

Everyone is so gung-ho about H and M "defending" themselves. Why shouldn't Thomas Markle be able to do the same?

I keep coming back to the fact that you can't have it both ways. I used to work for a company where many of the executives were extremely wealthy. There were always two types of people.

One type loved being a celebrity, would talk to the press, throw huge galas to raise millions of dollars for charities. Loved getting stories in the press - both about the bank and their charitable causes - and they never saw a camera they didn't like. They knew how to harness press attention for their causes and their businesses. When something negative came up, they had such a good relationship with the press they could try to get their side of the story "out there" by their favorite journalists. You just took the hits and tried to steer the press to fair and balance reporting. During crises, these people can look like the only "adults" in the room even while their companies are facing major lawsuits or a charity is being questioned. But it's all dependent on positive press coverage. If you are rude to reporters and ban them from your important events, no one is going to show up to help you defend yourself when something negative happens.

Another type of executive was extremely private and never wanted any attention. They would run their charitable endeavors through foundations run by day-to-day professional organizers and non-profit staff. They sometimes seeded these charitable foundations with billions of dollars but never publicly associated themselves with it because they wanted a 100% private life. Someone else was always the public face associated with the charity. Sometimes they'd donate through existing charities. They hired lawyers like us and professional PR firms to run as intermediaries with the press and try to always protect their privacy at all costs. They general enjoyed their boring uneventful lives in peace yet did tremendous good for their communities and causes.

Both ways are really great and commendable ways for people of extreme wealth and privilege to give back to the world. Neither one is right or wrong. But there's a clear decision that any person of wealth and power needs to make. If you want publicity and celebrity, you will face press scrutiny. You don't get to tell us, the plebs, to shush our criticism when you are intentionally putting yourself out there and you depend on press attention.

 

[enelram]

This is not going to end well. Perhaps he expected them to just bow down and pay up, he didn't think that they would actually fight him. They may well end up on the witness stand in the High Court. So might Meghan's father and friends that spoke to People magazine...under oath no less. I wonder what could possibly come of that? That she knew? That she orchestrated it?

Unless he's paid, I doubt Thomas Markle would go to England to volunteer as a witness
in a trial. And I don't believe he could be forced to involuntarily.
But we all know he does some swarmy things for money, so who knows what he would do.
Wouldn't that be a dig that he didn't get to see
England for the wedding but he might for a
trial against her and PH.

 

[Herat]

I keep coming back to the fact that you can't have it both ways.

Neither one is right or wrong. But there's a clear decision that any person of wealth and power needs to make.

If you want publicity and celebrity, you will face press scrutiny. Look at the scrutiny Bill Gates is getting from flying on Jeffry Epstein's private plane and spending some time at his island. Gates has chosen not to address it or to respond.

You don't get to tell us, the plebs, to shush our criticism when you are intentionally putting yourself out there and you depend on press attention.

And you don't live the life you espouse we do......

Agree very much with this. ( I added a couple of comments in italics)

So much virtue signaling from these two puts them in the first category. If they want their faces out there to champion equality for women or domestic violence, or reducing fossil fuel use, they will have to suffer the consequences of having a hypocritical practice exposed.

And they need to learn to face the inevitable criticism with grace and some humility.

That's one of the lessons I see them missing on.

 

[Herat]

I'll admit to finally googling MM's letter to her father.

It's supposed to have been written a couple of days after the wedding.

It's not a nice letter. It's quite lofty and formal and appears to have been heavily edited to affect a business-like effect, rather than a humane one. It reminds me of the Festivus "Airing of Grievances". What I read didn't seem to be concerned at all about his health, which would have been a week after his heart attack, nor is there much of a personal note about the wedding and what he missed. Affectionate it is not. It's really quite clear she never wanted him there at the wedding at all.

And her handwriting is a real tell.

 

[AllyBeeUK]

Unless he's paid, I doubt Thomas Markle would go to England to volunteer as a witness
in a trial. And I don't believe he could be forced to involuntarily.
But we all know he does some swarmy things for money, so who knows what he would do.
Wouldn't that be a dig that he didn't get to see
England for the wedding but he might for a
trial against her and PH.

I don't set much store in what is reported about Mr. Markle. By her own admission, Meghan was delighted with her father until she became a royal.

 

[human]

War veteran urges Prince Harry to do more for troops with mental health struggles
​

EXCLUSIVE: Former corporal who trained with Harry tells how Army’s refusal to recognise his PTSD almost drove him to suicide, and says he has continually raised issue with the prince, who 'nods, asks me how my family are doing but that's about it.'

​

A war veteran has urged Prince Harry to do more for troops with mental health problems.

War veteran urges Prince Harry to do more for troops with mental health struggles​

Jason Wilkes, who trained with the prince, told of his fight to get treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The former corporal said the Army’s refusal to recognise his condition drove him to the brink of suicide.
“Three of my friends took their lives in the space of a few months last year. One was Nathan Hunt, who was deployed to Afghanistan with Prince Harry . “Harry knows there is a problem with the treatment of soldiers and veterans with PTSD because I’ve told him.

“I’ve met him on three occasions and each time I meet him I tell him that more needs to be done for soldiers with mental health problems.

“When I tell him about the issues with mental health, Harry nods, asks me how my family are doing but that’s about it. “

I don’t know if he feels constrained and can’t really speak his mind but something needs to change.”

MIRROR

Note: 'Harry'pic NOT in the actual article

Now here is something of substance that needs to be addressed!

 

[human]

Lol. Cleared Andrew! Shaking my head.

Is he too stupid to understand what Epstein’s little incarceration was about?

I know most of us would hang around with a convicted child sex offender.

 

[gregjrichards]

The secret designer who makes Kate look great: Duchess donned her dresses for Wimbledon and Prince George's first birthday portraits (And Pippa loves her too)

“On a quiet London street just behind Marble Arch, a select group of women make their way to the door of Suzannah Crabb. For A-listers and senior royalty — including the Duchess of Cambridge — she is their secret weapon.

Her pieces have vintage charm, with a modern edge. Like body armour, they make the wearer feel as comfortable as possible ‘but just push the edge a little bit’, she explains.

Whether for the BAFTAs, Royal Ascot, a family wedding or a royal engagement, they can be sure they’ll look impeccable”

The secret designer who makes Kate look great: And Pippa loves her, too! | Daily Mail Online