General topic to talk about how the different royals deal with Press and their PR
Excellent topic for discussion Lothwen!!!
From the Dutch mediacode to the role of the paparazzi's behavior in Diana's tragic accident to the former newsreader turned future Queen of Spain this will always be an interesting relationship.
I posted this article in another thread earlier but there I've quoted a part of the article relevant to the discussion. For people who think the Queen doesn't call the shot I think this shows otherwise.
There is a strict pecking order in the BRF and William falls into middle-management. When it comes to the business of the Firm and Prince George is very much a part of that, the Queen as with everything calls the shots and has final say.
QuoteA few years ago, when I was writing a biography of the Queen and Prince Philip, I detected a definite rivalry between the royal press offices. The Queen's people at Buckingham Palace did not like to be upstaged by the Prince of Wales's operatives at Clarence House. I was not surprised, therefore, to note that down in New Zealand recently, bonnie Prince George was kept firmly under wraps and away from the media until, here at home, the coverage of the Irish president's visit was off the front pages
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge unveil portrait of the Queen - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/10776050/The-Duke-and-Duchess-of-Cambridge-unveil-portrait-of-the-Queen.html)
IMHO the BRF is trying to keep the focus upon the most senior members of the family especially after the press obsession with Diana.
Double post auto-merged: April 22, 2014, 10:50:55 PM
IMHO the Spanish Infantas were more willing to have their children photographed at different events when they were younger. Unfortunately the paps began waiting for Elena's children too often outside their school and Cristina's children look uncomfortable around the cameras in recent years. I believe this has had an impact on how often the Asturias' children are photographed. Letizia's sister Telma and her late sister Erika were both harassed by the press.
I'm going to speak in just general terms here.
I don't mind if the Royals want their privacy, or if they are happy being photographed. What bothers me is when one trip to the Supermarket is a "private" affair, while the next one is not. (Or any other activity). It makes zero sense.
Sorry, but, either complain all the time, or don't complain at all.
^^ It all depends if the Royal looks "good" or "bad" while those photos are taken. :shrug:
^Exactly, and that's why I can't be sympathetic to them.
They have work occasions and time that they want to just live. Film actors know that when they are working being photographed is part of the job but they want to be left alone when with their family on their off time. Royal duties=pictures trip to supermarket since when do we need to know that they eat and drink? the pictures taken in France broke French law on privacy why are people trying to defend the breaking of law?
Well, one thing this tour has shown me is that no matter how much access to William and Kate and George is given, there will still be those who want to film/photograph them during private moments. I never did believe access had anything to do with paparazzi photos ... they want that "special", that "unique" picture or video, because that's what will bring in the big money. There've been loads of opportunities for pictures of the Cambridges during the past couple of weeks, and yet, we still have private photos of Kate and William walking hand-in-hand, photos of Kate playing with baby George, video of Kate kicking up her heels ... doing things that we don't (and probably never will) see them doing in public. In my opinion, they could be out and about on official engagements every day, and there would still be those who go for that hard-to-get (or not so hard-to-get) photo of them when they're not expecting it. And no matter who they are, they have a right to some privacy in their lives, just like everyone else.
Cindy
One thing it has shown me is that they are selective in their desire for privacy, when Kate went to vacation with George and her family, since everyone in the media went gaga over George without a mention that Kate had thus far worked 3 times since December and a half day of said vacation would officially longer than the hours worked since December, they were not too vocal in their complain, good pr... Blah blah blahThe pictures of William and Kate strolling down the same garden were taken before and were shown on Australian TV before Kate went out walking with George... :hmm: Since the pictures with George gave good pr, they weren't vocal in their complain...
I'm interested only in why paparazzi take secret pictures and video, since I've read so many times that it's because of lack of access to the Cambridges. But as a matter of fact, the Cambridges have said nothing about these latest pictures and video, which were taken at the Governor's House.
Cindy
^The palace issued a statement, and I have a hard time believing they would have without the consent of either William or Kate.
I don't think the Palace issued a formal statement ... I posted their reaction in an article here in this thread, I think, maybe yesterday? There are way too many articles for me to try to find it again. But here is part of it from another article I found through Google:
QuoteKensington Palace asked that the media did not use any of the images filmed on private property. Denying that there had been a row, a palace spokesman said: "All we said was that it would be quite nice if they were given a bit of space on their day off."
More: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/privacy-row-over-royals-garden-walk/story-fnb64oi6-1226891891816#
There was a little more, saying that the Palace realizes that the pictures were taken legally, and so .... that's that.
Cindy
Its the tabloids at their worst, dumpster diving. You hit the nail right on the head Cindy, it isn't because of any 'lack of access' its about the tabloids and press hiding in bushes or using long lens camera to capture intimate moments between W&K and sell them to the highest bidder.
Privacy is a universal right in the EU, even for royals. Opinion polls in Britain show the public believe the royal family should be entitled to some down time and privacy. William, Kate and George have been on the front pages of newspaper around the world. There is plenty of access.
:goodpost: PoP.
Too often this is overlooked in an effort to get that money shot.
For the older generation of royals this must be a shocking change from the press coverage they would remember as children and young adults. Yes there would have always been interest in them and their lives, but there was more civility IMO in the manner that the press would behave.
It doesn't surprise me that royals such as Caroline of Monaco, the Dutch royals, BRF, Spanish royals etc...have taken to legal action to protect their privacy and primarily the privacy of their children.
I thought this discussion on Twitter was interesting. A lot of people felt that it would only be polite to say good morning to the press pack (Rebecca noted that most of the other royals, including Charles, Cam & Harry do), but there was another:
QuoteRebecca English @RE_DailyMail
My only criticism? The Duke & Duchess still won't look at or acknowledge the media when they are at engagements.Maybe that will come in time
R**** E******* @E********R*****
@RE_DailyMail @HRHDuchesskate why should they, they are friendly considerate to public etc. I believe Catherine doing admirable job. Ease up...I was not impressed that the press did not leave them to private time at government house. It was rude
Rebecca English @RE_DailyMail
@E*****R***** You will find that was the Australian based media.British Press were asked not to use them and we complied
Will & Kate have to stop biting the hand that feeds them (to use a figure of speech). The British press do protect them (by complying with KP's requests) and really do give them great PR. They miss out on pageviews by not posting the photos of them walking in Australia on their day off-- and they do it out of respect for the BRF. You would think Will & Kate would want to build relationship--or at least acknowledge that these reporters have a job to do, and they amplify Will and Kate's messages across the world! Part of the reason this tour is being touted as a success is because of the PR that the BRF got, and NZ and Australia tourism did too.
Journalists have tough jobs-- I don't think many of them even got "one" rest day and one of them has a baby George's age and had to leave him for three weeks (Victoria Murphy of the Mirror). Plus, they weren't staying at resorts, nor flying first class. Will and Kate can fly high on their popularity right now, but that won't always be the case. It would behoove them to at least acknowledge their hard working future subjects-- be they journalists or not!
:soap:
When she first began making public appearances, Kate did look at the press pack. And she was criticized for doing so. There was much talk about her looking for at smiling at the cameras. So what is she to do?
Maybe I have the wrong impression, but I thought the press go to these functions to get photographs of what the Royals (not just the Cambridges, all Royals) are doing. They're not there to get personal attention. Or are they?
Cindy
^^Where was she criticized for looking at the camera?
I don't think it's looking for personal attention, but a simple "hello" won't hurt anyone, will it? I call it professional courtesy.
She doesn't look at the cameras, the reporters have complained that she rarely does...
Quote from: Lady Adams on April 26, 2014, 01:39:44 AM
^^Where was she criticized for looking at the camera?
In several threads here at this forum, for one. Sorry, but I can't go back three years of posts to find them, but they do exist. "Paying too much attention to the media", "looking for the cameras"......
I'm sorry, but I just can't agree that she should wave "hi" as professional courtesy. She's not in their profession. She's at the functions to do one thing, and the press is there to do another.
Cindy
Royals are at the functions to do one thing, bring attention and publicity, they can only do it through the journalists, so a little courtesy should be extended to those who make it possible for them to do their royal celebrity work, which is all it is! No one other than the Monarch serves any other purpose...
Permit me to explain ... I don't mean that Kate (or any Royal) should ignore the media "just cuz". I just don't think she should be obligated to recognize them. If she wants to, fine. If she doesn't want to, fine. They're not her friends. They're not there because they want to see Kate. They're there to take pictures and get them back to their respective media outlets. In all probability, they wouldn't even be there if it wasn't their job to be there.
Cindy
As well there is a thread on another site entitled 'camera hungry eyes' , so I agree with Cindy. Royals are always in a no win situation when it comes to people who want to find fault.
Quote from: cinrit on April 26, 2014, 01:12:17 PM
Permit me to explain ... I don't mean that Kate (or any Royal) should ignore the media "just cuz". I just don't think she should be obligated to recognize them. If she wants to, fine. If she doesn't want to, fine. They're not her friends. They're not there because they want to see Kate. They're there to take pictures and get them back to their respective media outlets. In all probability, they wouldn't even be there if it wasn't their job to be there.
Cindy
. I still think it is rude for the royals not to acknowledge them by a courtesy posing or wave, the royals only have a job (promoting companies, causes, events, charities) because the reporters make it possible. Otherwise, they would be jobless and extinct. One could also say most royals are not visiting their charities or doing charity work because they want to but because they want to be seen as charitable and they want to be seen as working... The reporters' reasons for being there are irrelevant, that is like saying a secretary is only working because she needs a job so her boss shouldn't be nice to her and ignore her... The royals won't acknowledge them and they will continue to write sycophantically fawning articles because it is much more comfortable than real reporting...
When I was a journalist, and a part of a press pack, I was always acknowledged by a quick hello or smile, even by those with a high profile.
It's a professional courtesy, simply put. I was surprised that Will & Kate refuse to do it.
I agree. Especially, as they had a little shindig at KP for some journalists just before the tour. Smacks of being "users" to me.
^^ Yes, you could look at it that way. Those get-togethers for journalists are ploys most counties use. The White House here in the U.S. certainly does it. The annual one is done up big, there are even performers and awards given out.
Cindy
I saw a tweet from Rebecca English who was basically saying the William and Kate don't acknowledge the press on their formal engagements.
I understand ignoring them when you're on your own personal time, but I do think they need to realize that acknowledging the press when you're working is not a bad thing.
I remember the last tour, Kate was (to me) genuinely friendly with Arthur Edwards and gave him a lovely smile (it was after the rowing event).
I believe the lack of acknowledging the press pack, comes at the behest of William.
Also, I think it was you, Lothwen, who posted that when W&K departed one of the many aeroplanes, William totally ignored the lady at the bottom of the steps, whilst Kate said hello and gave her a lovely smile. I've also noticed, when car doors are opened for Kate, she says Thank You and smiles to the person opening the door. Nice touches says a lot about her.
To me, William is the moody monkey. Totally spoilt. He is the one ruling the roost - IMO. Shame.
^^I actually think William and Kate are both fond of Arthur Edwards, this was recently written:
QuoteBut after capturing more than 200 royal tours across 120 countries, Edwards can — on advice from Prince William — 'take it easy'.
"It's difficult for me to answer but yes, they do (recognise me)," he said.
"I was with William at a job with the Queen last Friday in Windsor and he asked 'are you coming to Australia and New Zealand?' I said 'yes' and he said 'right get plenty of rest because you're going to work hard'. He said 'just take it easy'.
"He was very concerned in fact when we were in Solomon Islands two years ago. He said 'Arthur, I'm not going to let you retire. Even when you're in a wheelchair we're going to get have you brought to the front of the press pack and we're only going to look at you'."
Looking through a royal lens with Arthur Edwards | News.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/looking-through-a-royal-lens-with-arthur-edwards/story-fnisprwn-1226882035296)
And it's okay for them to have a reporter or two they love, but that still doesn't mean they can't be polite to those in the press pack. As Rebecca English pointed out on Twitter, other royals-- including Charles/Cam and Harry-- all do. :shrug:
^^^ I'm looking at the Twitter of Rebecca English and she says that 'others manage it' but doesn't say which royals or how often.
Do you have the tweet where she specifically mentions Charles, Camilla, Harry etc?
Edit: found it -Rebecca English @RE_DailyMail Apr 24
@HRHDuchesskate The Duchess of Cornwall is very good, Prince Charles also. Prince Harry does - but normally to say something sarcastic!
Maybe Rebecca English doesn't like the Cambridges being friendly with AE and not her
Does anyone remember Prince Charles basically calling a reporter from the BBC an idiot during a press call?
QuoteJust to show that Royalty is not immune from the curse of the live microphone, who could forget Prince Charles's muttered asides about a BBC royal reporter, during a ski slopes photo-shoot in 2005 with sons William and Harry. "Bloody people, I can't bear that man. I mean, he is so awful, he really is," the heir to the throne said without realising the microphones could pick up every word.
BBC News - Classic gaffes caught on microphone (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8649262.stm)
^^ I remember that. He didn't realize that his microphone would pick it up. I can't remember the name of the journalist, but Charles started with, "I can't bear that that man, he's so awful......I hate these people." Make a blunder like that and you'll be nice to the press for the rest of your life. :lol: (Doesn't look like Rebecca English was exactly praising Harry, either.)
Prince Charles Press Blunder - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMSzIG4a5cw)
Cindy
I think it was a photoshoot with his sons, skiing? If I remember correctly...
^^ Yes. The link I provided is to the YouTube video of the interview. For some reason, I can't post the video itself.
Cindy
Wow the video is uncomfortable... even Arthur Edwards can't really defend Charles when asked about it. (AE is wearing the red jumper) Although in hindsight so many journalists turned out to be less than honourable maybe its not surprising many members of the BRF try and keep an arms length relationship with them
Quote from: PrincessOfPeace on April 26, 2014, 01:15:24 PM
As well there is a thread on another site entitled 'camera hungry eyes' , so I agree with Cindy. Royals are always in a no win situation when it comes to people who want to find fault.
It's a tough call on these photos. I know that the press and/or crowds will call out their names so we often get photos that appear to have them seeking out the cameras.
Quote from: PrincessOfPeace on April 26, 2014, 10:42:03 PM
Wow the video is uncomfortable... even Arthur Edwards can't really defend Charles when asked about it. (AE is wearing the red jumper) Although in hindsight so many journalists turned out to be less than honourable maybe its not surprising many members of the BRF try and keep an arms length relationship with them
Lumping all journalists together makes no sense. Sure there are jerks in the profession. Just like there are awful doctors and pedophile teachers. But journalists as a whole are often running into dangerous situations while others are fleeing-- even losing their lives in the process (an AP reporter was just killed in Afghanistan).
Journalism is not for the faint-hearted. I've reported all over the world, and seen things that made me so sick I called my mom (as an adult woman!) weeping. So please, even though it's easy, let's stop with the attitude that journalists are sub-human.
:soap:
:RAFWilliam: The dates of of Charles and Camilla's Tour and Harry's may coincide at some point...
It will be interesting to see how this will be handled by their pr dept. and the media... :random44:
:goodpost: Lady Adams! Without the media they wouldn't have a job! :snob:
Quote from: PrincessOfPeace on April 26, 2014, 10:42:03 PM
Wow the video is uncomfortable... even Arthur Edwards can't really defend Charles when asked about it. (AE is wearing the red jumper) Although in hindsight so many journalists turned out to be less than honourable maybe its not surprising many members of the BRF try and keep an arms length relationship with them
Well, and the reporter in question had both written an obit of Princess Margaret that detailed all of her lovers and her drinking, and had, during the cannabis incident a short 3 years before the Swiss interview, reported live on air that Harry had taken cocaine (and had to retract that). I can't say that I'm all that surprised by Charles' distaste for the guy; it's been my experience that people are much less quick to forgive wrongs done to their kids than they are wrongs done to themselves.
Some of us were discussing the family and friends,acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors and classmates of royals who have chosen to speak to the press.
With Queen Maxima, the press found out that her close family and friends closed ranks and would not talk about her.
Other royals have had their share of family speaking to the press: Sarah, Duchess of York's father, Mette-Marit's father, among others have chosen to allow themselves to be interviewed.
Does anyone know of other royals who have had someone in their inner circle speak to the press with/without their consent?
I don't follow the Spanish royals much, but I believe certain members of Letizia's family have been a large thorn in her side. An aunt who makes sure everyone knows she's a socialist and therefore anti royalist has gone to the press to criticise on several occasions. A male cousin of Letizia's wrote a book a couple of years ago, in which he alleged that Letizia had had an abortion, and he also spilt the beans about her divorce and dating years with Felipe. I think they are the worst examples I can think of.
I agree that Letizia has had some bad luck when it comes to her family and the media.
Yes, I've heard that about Letizia too. Around the time of her husband's Proclamation, I remember reading that Letizia's aunt Henar Oritz had Tweeted asking her followers to call for a republic. I have also heard that about Letizia's brother (I do believe the book he wrote is called "Adios, Princesa"), where he also stated that Letizia had almost begged her family to agree on the name Pelayo for Leonor had she been a boy, or something like that. But the Spanish press are particularly cruel towards the SRF. I've also read that Infanta Elena's older son hates the media and once wore a disguise when he went out shopping with some friends, and he's still quite young.
I think Crown Princess Mette-Marit has also been on the receiving end of some negative press reports over the years, as there were the divorce rumours about her and Haakon a few months ago, as well as criticism of their over spending (particularly around the time of their birthday party last year).
Do you mean her cousin? I know she only has sisters.
MM has not had an easy year. The neck surgery, the rumors etc... :(
There have been at least one or two "tell all" stories about Mathilde's family and some in fighting between her late father and his siblings. Many suggesting that the couple have an "arranged" marriage agreement. (There are some ugly rumors out there about the Belgians.) :wacko:
He and Mathilde look so great together, that is hard to believe.
I agree and they have created a lovely family together.