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Another day, another royal public relations nightmare. The good news is that Princes William and Harry were both appearing at a ceremony to honour their late mother last night. The bad news is they appeared several hours apart, one in person, the other on a video call from 5,500 miles away.
This emphasises the chasm between the two brothers and adds to a growing sense that the Royal Family is slipping into crisis.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth was always going to be a watershed. Universally loved and admired, she was the only monarch most had ever known and her name was synonymous with the institution.
There was a powerful feeling of national bereavement at her death, and uncertainty about how the family would fare without her. Many had deep forebodings. To add to their woes Prince Andrew was embroiled in a sex scandal, while Harry and Meghan had flounced off to California to emote at great length about how badly they were treated.
To his credit, King Charles steadied the ship in those difficult days. The Coronation was a triumph and he quickly endeared himself to his people.
King Charles’ Coronation was a triumph and he quickly endeared himself to his people
He continued his mother’s staunch political neutrality and softened his own sometimes strident campaigning voice on such issues as architecture and the environment.
The redoubtable Camilla has been his rock, while William, Kate and their children have sprinkled a little stardust, rejuvenating the monarchy for a new generation.
In recent weeks, however, the ‘Firm’ has been shaken by a series of shocks and misfortunes, which it has not dealt with well.
On January 26, the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate, which the public were assured was benign. Days later it transpired he had cancer.
We have not been told its location or how far advanced it is, but he wasn’t well enough to attend an important Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
Shortly before the King’s admission, the Princess Wales was also hospitalised for surgery on an unspecified abdominal condition. She remained there for nearly two weeks and will not resume public duties until after Easter.
Of course, she needs time and space to recuperate but with no information about her recovery, speculation was bound to fill the vacuum.
Social media has been awash with conjecture and conspiracy theories, not helped by Prince William’s last-minute decision late last month to pull out of the memorial service for his godfather, the late King Constantine of Greece.
Confusion over whether the princess will attend Trooping the Colour in June has added to suspicions her condition may be more serious than is being admitted.
Then came the fiasco of the Mother’s Day photograph of Kate and her children, which had to be withdrawn because it was so heavily doctored, fuelling speculation that there is something to hide.
Who on earth is advising the couple? Are there no wise old heads in their household or are they just not listening? Either way, these public relations disasters could and should have been avoided.
Yes, William wants to shield his wife and children from the type of intense media scrutiny his mother experienced. But he is also heir to the throne and if the monarchy is to survive it must be accessible.
The doctrine of ‘never complain, never explain’ may have worked in more deferential times, but in this age of social media and 24-hour news it simply won’t hold.
In the outpouring of shock and grief after Princess Diana’s death, the Queen declined for several days to leave Balmoral. Then, the Mail urged her to return to London saying: ‘Your people need you, Ma’am.’
For Charles, William and Kate today, the reverse is true. In this time of gathering crisis, they need their people. And if they open up a little, they will find a ready and sympathetic audience.
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