The famous quote by political philosopher Walter Bagehot, implying that the enigma of the British monarchy is its lifeblood, appears to be pushed to its limits in the initial months of 2024. Initially, the disclosure of his cancer diagnosis by King Charles III, with unprecedented openness within the royals, took the public by surprise. Subsequently, the mysterious absence of Kate Middleton caught the attention of the entire world. The royal family, initially perceived as mystical and largely exempt from severe inspection, are now observed as mere ordinary humans, who are flawed and dishonest. Exposing the monarchy to open light, as Bagehot cautioned against in 1867, reveals not an enchanting allure, but a troubled family supported by an inadequate public relations team.
The escalating saga of the Princess of Wales is a series of blunders so far. A public statement made by the palace in January stated that Kate was in the process of recovery post an abdominal operation, with an expected return to her full duty by Easter. This sparked numerous speculations, fuelled by a sense of national rights to the princess’s private medical records. Despite the distasteful nature of this presumption, the palace essentially created this issue. The frankness of Charles regarding his health issues cast a distinct contrast with the silence maintained about Kate’s ailment: why the disparity in openness?
The straightforwardness of the king seemed like a breath of fresh air, corresponding with the requirements of modern media and his own reformist tendencies. However, an unexpected repercussion accompanied it: disproportionately focusing the spotlight on the Princess of Wales, intense examination of the monarchy, evoking memories of the scandalous tabloid era of the early 2000s.
The commencement of the communications debacle was upon the release of a questionable image by Kensington Palace, showing the future queen and her children on Mother’s Day. Instead of putting a stop to the whisperings already rampant on social media about her location, it only fuelled the intrigue. The image was clearly touched up – unusual looking hands, noticeably manipulated clothing. The legitimacy of the photo was called into question when key news agencies, Reuters and the Associated Press, pulled it due to it not aligning with their editorial guidelines. Leading tabloids chimed in too with phrases such as “PR Catastrophe” and “Photo of Turmoil”. The complication was enhanced when a peculiar statement from Kate followed, stating she enjoyed dabbling with photography software, raising eyebrows about her experimenting with Photoshop amidst a serious surgery.
The questionable photo only fanned the flames of pre-existing notions of dishonesty. This issue runs far deeper than just the blowback from a poorly edited photograph. It appears the palace, despite its means, has embarked on an unsuccessful PR effort that significantly misinterpreted the nature of the British populace. The public’s trust in the monarchy is likely to dwindle if they feel they’re being deceived, and the palace has left itself vulnerable by stepping down from its usual aloof nature.
Multiple predictions were made about the monarchy’s future after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022. Many questioned whether Charles could gain favor from the public, the loss of Harry and Meghan to the United States stirred worries, and the Prince Andrew situation remained a notable cause of shame. Though Charles proved more popular than critics expected, the king and the widely admired Kate’s absence from public scrutiny may present a substantial challenge for the palace, particularly since the late queen is no longer there to provide stability.
/”In a largely agnostic society like the United Kingdom, the royalty gives its people what most places usually obtain from public religion: a shared vitality, a tie to the nation’s age-old origins, and fulfills a deep-seated longing for the mystical and the peculiar. Perhaps the Royal family’s most notable display of a nationwide spiritual gathering was the coronation of King Charles III last year, which may have seemed comical to outsiders.
Regrettably, the past months’ occurrences have possibly inflicted lasting damage on this significant function. The royal household has ceased to act like monarchy and has started to mimic celebrities with scandalous memoirs, interviews and airbrushed photos. Restoring the modest grace that the departed queen provided the institution, particularly following this blunder in communication, will be a herculean task. However, the palace should be reminded that their charm lies in mystery rather than in exposure: perhaps they have lost touch with this skill.”/