Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and the British Press
My experience and perspective with the press in the U.S. v UK
Before I delve into the world of media in both the USA and UK, crisis communications, and the British Royal Family, let me preface my credentials for my perspective:
I have spent 20+ years working in Public relations, communications and media
I have lived & worked with the press in both the UK and USA (NY+LA)
I was primarily raised in a commonwealth country, with English grandparents on one side, so I knew a lot about the Royals
I am an avid history buff, especially how it pertains to communication around power structures and people
Also, this story has been updated with the recent updated from The Palace and the many opeds followed, including:
I. BBC: Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales announces her cancer diagnosis
II. NYTimes: How the Windsor Women Became Human Shields
III: New Yorker: The Moral Plea Behind Kate Middleton's Cancer Disclosure
IV: Atlantic: What Kate Middleton Proved About the Internet
While we all know now that Kate Middleton’s disappearance from public view - resulting in weeks of speculating, memes, and conspiracy theories - was due to a recent cancer diagnosis (along with Charles), there is much to say about the spectacular failure of the palace PR team. At a time when the Princess of Wales should not have had to worry, their communications team dragged out speculation and rumors for weeks instead of releasing a simple statement weeks ago, ending the media cycle, instead of intensifying the spotlight on her. Let alone allowing that photo debacle and forcing that follow up tweet from her, essentially adding fuel to the fire and throwing her under the bus, which is on brand for an institution that has always done that to the women of the family. And to no one’s surprise, the UK press is now blaming the public, and some even throwing shade on Meghan yet again for no reason. Make it make sense.
People have been talking, speculating, and just downright confused. Given the secretive and controlled nature of the British Royal Family, who can blame them? For the first time in a long time, the UK press, generally foaming at the mouth for news on the Royals, and in a long term relationship with them for planting stories and steering public opinion, has been at a loss. “The firm” lost trust with the public during many previous debacles including Charles’ long time affair with Camilla, Diana’s tragic death, the horrific way the British press treated Meghan Markle, and then there was the Queen’s death leaving the family in disarray. Now in recent months, it is Kate Middleton’s surgery and months long absence from the public eye, where rumors about William’s alleged infidelity, Charles’ brief cancer announcement, a heavily doctored photo of Kate that the press issued a ‘kill order’ for, a very odd response on twitter supposedly from Kate apologizing for it, and an ineffective communications strategy, had the tabloids and conspiracy theorists in overdrive. An overview:
Kate, the photo, and timeline: Long story short, Kate was last seen at Christmas, and while someone went to the hospital shortly there after, it was announced that Kate had undergone a “planned abdominal surgery’ in January and that she would not return to public duties until April. Almost no one went to the hospital to visit her (that they saw) except William once and Charles once. Charles also announced he has cancer in February, but nothing else, and Harry made a brief 24 hour under-the-radar visit home to the UK too (where he apparently spent just 45 minutes with his father). People start to ask where Kate is, after some sketchy photos, and so they release a statement followed by a UK Mother’s Day photo apparently released by Kate. It has been heavily doctored/photoshopped so the media issued a ‘kill order’ to pull the image (necessary in the age of AI), with “Kate” later releasing a statement on Twitter/X that she photoshopped it and apologized, and yet another odd photo supposedly captured of William and Kate a local market. No one quite believed it, and the family motto “Never complain, never explain” was straight up ignored. Silence since then until 3.23
The British press is relentless. Many have heard rumors of their toxic tabloid culture and obsession with the Royal family, but it has to be seen to be believed. I have visited the UK my whole life, but until I lived in London and witnessed literally every daily paper, regardless of type, cover royal or high society (Lady’s and Lords), I wouldn’t have quite believed the immensity of it. If you watch “The Crown”, then you have at least some familiarity of the relationship between them. The local press has always worked with the Royal PR team to time releases and spread information - including gossip on occasion as a deterrent to other stories (as Harry famously accused Camilla of doing as she attempted to rehab her image, instead leaking info on him to one of her tabloid editor pals)
It’s important to remember that UK culture is still very much rooted in class distinctions, and so the Royals get nonstop coverage as “aspirational” status. They are both loved and loathed, and the coverage does not stop. This seems bizarre by American standards, but old money, old families, and old titles still get away with everything. It’s so central to the society, that I often had conversations with my colleagues about how none of it is normal, and how Royal coverage in places like the U.S. is minimal, with the exception of Diana’s death, Megan & Harry moving, or now, with a ‘missing’ Kate Middleton. Which brings me to…
Perspective. In the US, people are generally very much team Megan & Harry, and relate more to the need for openness, expressiveness, social freedom and career ambition. While I have friends in the UK that are too, many people surprise me by still staying so loyal to The Crown, and the tradition surrounding it. William and Kate work a lot, so they are still connected locally, but support for Charles and Camilla surprises me to no end. The coverage of Megan in the British press was astonishing and disgusting towards her, but I could easily see the big differences in US v UK personalities and culture, so I was not exactly surprised in the personality clash between Harry/Meghan and William/Kate, how they did not exactly get along, and the turning of public opinion. H&M’s documentary touched upon this, but as someone who has witnessed both sides of culture, no one is fully right or wrong here - they are just not a fit. Therefore only one side was explored in the UK press. But for some of the tabloids who attacked Megan so viciously to now ask Meghan to speak out for Kate, is crazy. Even now, they still have writers and photographers keeping a close eye on H&M in California (especially now that Megan has launched a new venture)
The Royal House press teams need to hire a trusted crisis communications team, like yesterday. They are not well equipped for this modern media era, and the safety they used to have planting stories or favor with local press, is losing steam. With the whole world watching, a heavy distrust of how the Royals have historically treated women, and theories running rampant, they needed a better statement or video at the start, because the old distractions are no longer working. And the press is hungry, and they know more than anyone, that they need to feed the beast. Watch press coverage closely over the next week to see what outlets are posting as they attempt to act like they still have a relationship….
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