Omid Scobie’s weekly Yahoo UK columns are becoming one of the highlights of my royal gossip week. I’ve said this before, but I appreciate the fact that Scobie isn’t just talking about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex every week. He covers different royals and different royal scandals, and he peppers his columns with some fascinating insider gossip, “insider” meaning “inside the Royal Rota.” Scobie’s column this week is straight fire! He points out the super-obvious move by Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace to bury their own awful stories behind obvious leaks about Harry and Meghan.
One month after the Jubbly, the Windsors are back to bad headlines: Set-piece festivities like [the Jubbly] are designed to shore up support for the monarchy for long into the future. But with the news of the family’s eye-wateringly high taxpayer-funded spending, and slew of controversial reports about Prince Charles appalling judgement (from accepting bags of large cash donations for his charities to giving a top royal honour to a tycoon who had just bailed out a failed business venture), last month’s royal sparkle has quickly started to dull.
Using the Sussexes to deflect: You would be forgiven for not being completely aware of these stories. Last week, the most dominant headlines about the Royal Family revolved around family members who left the fold over two years ago — Meghan’s “bullying” allegations and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor meeting Charles for the first time. The coverage was no coincidence. Never complain, never explain may slowly be becoming a thing of the past at the palace (well, according to Prince William at least), but a different order of the day has quickly risen within the institution of the monarchy: deflect and distract.
Leaky Clarence House: You see, when the Prince of Wales was forced to announce via his spokesman that he will never again accept plastic bags filled with €500 notes for his charities, one of his senior aides also briefed journalists with adorable details of the heir’s first time meeting granddaughter Lilibet last month. (Yes, one of the same private family moments royal sources had “feared” the Sussexes would leak. The irony). The strategy worked. Later that day a quick news search for Prince Charles brought up a long list of headlines about his “very emotional” time with Harry and Meghan’s two children. You would have had to search further down the results to see his £3 million mea culpa.
The bullying investigation details were leaked by BP: It was a similar scenario when the Royal Household revealed last week that, while Britain continues to struggle with a devastating cost-of-living crisis, the Royal Family has spent more money than ever….Outrage over spending, including the £100,000 ($120,000) spent on just three royal train trips, made its way across more serious media outlets, but the news failed to make the front pages of the country’s most-read tabloids. Instead, their headlines focused on something else – a suspiciously timed update on the investigation into bullying claims against the Duchess of Sussex.
The Queen’s treasurer confirmed the sh-t about the bullying inquiry: It was the Queen’s treasurer who had been tasked with briefing royal correspondents an update about the controversial investigation. Though their annual finance report does include some HR matters, the privately funded inquiry into how they handled 2018 claims made by former Kensington Palace private secretary Jason Knauf (not whether they were true or not) was not part of the published document. Still, it was shared by Sir Michael Stevens, that palace’s “policies and procedures have been taken forward” now that the mysterious investigation was complete. Any other findings or details will remain private (even to those who agreed to participate).
Regarding the actual claims of bullying: Though reporting didn’t include any examples of such behaviour (I’ve also spoken to a long list of former staff, all of whom can’t recall any moments that would fall under such a description), it was still enough for the Palace to release an official statement to journalists around the world about their plans for a full investigation [last year] – and conveniently overshadow some of the news made by the couple in their primetime interview. You would think that if the establishment was so keen to strengthen its Human Resources office, they might have also launched an investigation into Meghan’s claims that the same HR department turned her away when she approached them with fears for her mental health and suicidal ideations as a working member of The Firm. But, I digress.
The Windsors are being incredibly obvious about all of this: In an era where transparency is vital for any public officials to survive, the days of the royal family being able to hide transgressions or mistakes are long gone. A free and fearless press makes sure of that. Which is why the institution has instead resorted to activating distractions in times of crisis. I’m just not sure who it is they think they are fooling? The public aren’t stupid. And a brief look at social media shows that a large majority of individuals can see straight through the smoke and mirrors. It’s why #TheRoyalFamilyLies trended high on Twitter for four days last week.
The fundamental problem, as I see it, is that the Windsors’ deflect-and-distract strategy DOES work. It works narrowly, within the UK, in the right-wing media. The right-wing British media is still starved for Sussex content, and they need zero convincing to run front-page stories about anything to do with the Sussexes. Now, do I also believe that even right-wing newspaper editors know that they’re being used by the Palace to cover up the Windsors’ overspending and general laziness and incompetence? For sure. But the British media – and not the Windsors – are playing a longer game. The Windsors are limping from crisis to crisis, scandal to scandal, controversy to controversy, thinking of short-term remedies for their plethora of issues. The Sussexes are convenient to them as a distraction tool. But that won’t always be the case. Because more and more, it feels like the British media has plenty of information stockpiled for a rainy day, and a storm is coming.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar. North America Rights Only. – London, UK -20220605- Platinum Party on day three of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. -PICTURED: Prince George, Prince William -PHOTO by: Frank Augustein/PA Images/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing Not Available For Publication In The UK – London, UK -20220605- The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Final Day -PICTURED: Queen Elizabeth II -PHOTO by: John Rainford/Cover Images/INSTARimages.com -51635815.jpg This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded North America Rights Only, London, England – 20220603- National Service of Thanksgiving On Day Two Of The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations -PICTURED: Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com -67259391 Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 03: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952.,Image: 696611774, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dan Kitwood / Avalon The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on day two of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. The National Service marks The Queen’s 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. Public service is at the heart of the event and over 400 recipients of Honours in the New Year or Birthday Honours lists have been invited in recognition of their contribution to public life. Drawn from all four nations of the United Kingdom, they include NHS and key workers, teaching staff, public servants, and representatives from the Armed Forces, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups.,Image: 696633859, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirsty O’Connor / Avalon His Royal Highness Prince William – the Duke Of Cambridge and Her Royal Highness Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge depart a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England, UK on Friday 3 June, 2022 as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration.,Image: 696655676, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Please credit photographer and agency when publishing as Justin Ng/UPPA/Avalon., Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng / Avalon LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 03: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall depart the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952.,Image: 696661979, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dan Kitwood / Avalon Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William , Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge,, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at the end of the Pageant on the final day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London.,Image: 697182635, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stephen Lock / Avalon Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, after the Platinum Pageant on June 05, 2022 in London, England.,Image: 697224208, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Anthony Harvey / Avalon Buckingham Palace, London, UK. 5 June 2022. Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at the end of a spectacular Platinum Jubilee Pageant on The Mall,Image: 697322082, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: MALCOLM PARK / Avalon North America Rights Only, London, England – 20220603- National Service of Thanksgiving On Day Two Of The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations -PICTURED: Princess Anne, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com -67259068 Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. 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You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. 47 Responses to “Scobie: The Windsors are using the Sussexes to deflect & distract from scandals” Noki says: July 6, 2022 at 8:48 am Why cant they just behave like other royal houses, why does there have to be drama and briefing wars !?Maybe what started as a simple briefing to burry some scandal a hundred years ago has grown legs and cant be contained. Reply Swaz says: July 6, 2022 at 9:19 am Because the British Royal Family is a FRAUD😀😀The future king of England accepting plastic bags of cash, that’s mafia moves😀and William is just pathetic, a late bloomer. Reply PaulaH says: July 6, 2022 at 9:22 am British Royal Family spends over 100 million pounds in 1 year and all the media has to say is…Meghan, Meghan and Meghan again. Can you imagine spending over 100 million dollars without earning a single cent of that money. Just show up to a few engagements and spend 30 minutes for the perfect photo op and in return 100 million dollars. Reply Flowerlake says: July 6, 2022 at 10:48 am At this point, even Monaco’s royal family looks more proper and posh to me than the British Royal family. \ Reply Noor says: July 6, 2022 at 8:48 am Omid Scobie having a column in Yahoo news is a godsend to royal watchers. Say it as it is Omid!! And the best part of it is that his articles are being carried by some tabloids Reply Alexandria says: July 6, 2022 at 9:02 am US news outlets should hire writers like Omid and Kaiser to call out the hypocrisy (too easy, too many examples). Reply Jais says: July 6, 2022 at 9:05 am ❤️the column and how it cuts through the BS Reply Polo says: July 6, 2022 at 9:08 am Yes and I hope it encourages more people to start exposing the farce that is the royal family. I noticed a couple new writers for Newsweek that also cut through the crap with their writing. ( Not Jack Royston). Reply Athyrmose says: July 6, 2022 at 10:00 am It is amazing to me that journalists like Omid are *right there* and somehow people like Kate Nicholl still have a job. 😐 Reply C-Shell says: July 6, 2022 at 8:49 am Omid may end up single-handedly demonstrating that reporting on the Rotten Royals and their 🤡🤡🤡, without “fear or favor,” can be done without dire consequences. There are bound to be other so-called journalists near or at the tipping point who are watching. I’m here for it. Reply Hic says: July 6, 2022 at 8:51 am There are also many games at play. Charles is deflecting from his financial shenanigans but I think the hiring of DF tells me he may be gearing up to fight Boris Johnson ( dumped by Rothmere and Murdock yesterday) to become an activist king. Use DM person to smeared keep other family members in place through leaking and targeted messaging. KP is a mess so expect them to muddy the water with their own pettiness which will damage PC. The global media is hip to BM and RF shenanigans with HM. The Hello linking of Archie’s pic to a hate account was quickly called out and removed. Also the KK bots targeted a Sussex NHS website too. UK is going through some serious hardships and I think the RF needs to pay more attention to the little folks because the monarchy is simply white welfare. Reply PaulaH says: July 6, 2022 at 9:24 am The British People only care that the WOC is out. Reply equality says: July 6, 2022 at 12:08 pm What is funny about the website they targeted is that it works with one of W&K’s charities. Reply @poppedbubble says: July 6, 2022 at 2:09 pm Interesting. I can see this being part of it. Reply Amy Bee says: July 6, 2022 at 9:02 am Anybody who believes that BP’s refusal to release the findings of their HR (bullying) investigation was them protecting Meghan is delusional. If there was evidence that Meghan was a bully it would have been included in the Sovereign Grant report. The only logical reason for it being there would be to distract from the Royal Family’s high spending. Some people on Twitter have pointed out that the last 4 years Sovereign Grant report has used Meghan and Harry to distract from their ridiculous spending and Omid’s piece only confirms this Palace tactic. There is no doubt the Palace actively guides the press in what to highlight in the report. Reply Layla says: July 6, 2022 at 9:10 am @amy bee right? Like how thick does one have to be to bot see the obvious. “Protecting Meghan” b please (referring to the palace here” if they were so keen on protecting Meghan (who btw was their strongest asset) they would’ve shut down KP’s smear campaign from the get go the same way they issues statements against Botox and wigs Reply PaulaH says: July 6, 2022 at 9:27 am The ONLY thing the “Royal Family” is protecting is their 100 million a year (which we all know is a lie, it’s much more). The Brits would rather focus on the WOC who lives in another country and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about them …..yet…………Meghan this and Meghan that Reply Becks1 says: July 6, 2022 at 9:55 am Yeah the BRF and the press have never been in the business of protecting Meghan, why would they start now? The deflection and distraction, as Omid puts it, is so obvious but I do think more people are seeing through it. Reply molly says: July 6, 2022 at 10:36 am Releasing the “we’re investigating a bullying allegation!” statement the week of the interview was the most obvious and ham-fisted PR stunt I’ve seen in a long time. I shouldn’t have higher expectations of the royal comms shops, but lobbing completely unsubstantiated rumors out into the public (clearly timed to get ahead of the truth coming out about some terrible crap YOU did) is what I’d expect from C-list celebs going through a messy divorce. The actual professional adults working for that family should be so embarrassed to work there. Reply SuzieQ says: July 6, 2022 at 2:34 pm Are there actually professional adults working for the RF? Because it seems to me that they’re a bunch of snooty, pearl-clutching, gossiping, racist, classist, sycophantic monarchists who couldn’t last a day in a real-world corporate office where hard work and smart problem-solving are expected. WiththeAmerican says: July 6, 2022 at 9:08 am the British media, like right wing media here, exists to prop up right wing institutions and players in order to protect the wealthy, who also own those media outlets. I’m starting to think they won’t ever turn on the monarchy, just the right wing expendables like Boris etc, when they can’t be excused anymore. Like US media went after Madison cawthorn but only because he had turned on republicans first. Then I also wonder how much impact the Russians have, they were behind pushing brexit in those same tabloids. The royal family is clearly compromised financially every which way and the British media knows and don’t care. They actively covered it up with these weeks old susssex stories, which exactly as Kaiser wrote do work. They might not work on twitter but sadly, twitter isn’t the general public. Poll after poll shows that. Reply PaulaH says: July 6, 2022 at 9:29 am FACT: The British Media is the British People. The media would not write the stories without a rabid audience. Reply Layla says: July 6, 2022 at 9:08 am It was so funny seeing Discount Louis XVI’s reaction walking down the church. The entire time he was making these weird grimace-like faces as if to say “I don’t like all this fanfare and whatever” but you just know that really, he was seething incandescently about H&M’s presence. 😂 Also, I know it’s a bit late now but I was curious about why K would wear grey with yellow when they don’t match at all and then I remembered, there were quite a few times when M would grey accessories with navy blue or other colours. It’s just really hilarious and as M says “you have to laugh at a certain point because it is just ridiculous”. Ofc she was talking about avocados but the same rule applies here really Reply Snuffles says: July 6, 2022 at 9:10 am Ever since Omid got his Yahoo column he’s been dropping truth bombs. I LOVE it! He’s calling EVERYONE out! I wonder if he’s trying to transition out of royal reporting. Documenting the downfall of the Windsors is a way to do that. Because that’s what is happening. Every time the dam cracks they rush to plug it up with haphazard actions and lies. So many lies that they can’t keep track of. No one is thinking anything through. And all of their lies and crimes are finally catching up to them. And the royal rota are reaching a tipping point where covering for them and maintaining the facade is not profitable enough for them, but slow motion destroying them could keep them in the money for decades to come. All bets are off when the Queen dies. Reply 809Matriarch says: July 6, 2022 at 9:51 am I think Omid is getting ready to work on another book about RF machinations. He has the connections and the next book will likely not have a “co-author.” He doesn’t need that anymore. Reply Jaded says: July 6, 2022 at 12:39 pm I came here to say that exact same thing. Only this book will be an eye-opener. He’s been developing a fan base for some time now, and he certainly has a good perspective on the utter shambles the BRF continues to create in just about everything they do. He also sees it from the perspective of a POC — racists have been ragging on him for being Persian for ages — and has enormous sympathy for Meghan and what they’ve put her through, as well as a ton of respect for the way she’s handled it. Maxine Branch says: July 6, 2022 at 9:12 am There really is not anything you can add to Scobie’s reporting re the Windsor family. He nails it every time. Those who choose to believe the gutter media’s headline will but for the larger audience he is targeting, gets it and know exactly what is happening and it speaks to the problems this family will continue to have for the foreseeable future. They are simply not honest people, they are racist, they feel entitled because of birthright and most glaringly, it is quite obvious, they are not very smart. They will always shoot themselves in the foot because of their hubris. The more they target the Sussexes, the more obvious this becomes. I am happy the Sussexes has drawn their line while continuing to live their best lives and dreams far away from those clowns. Reply ThatsNotOkay says: July 6, 2022 at 9:15 am Wait a minute, everyone! Wait!… Is water actually wet?!! (Funny thing, I learned from the Lake Superior account last week that, no, water is not wet. It makes other things wet. ) Reply Hic says: July 6, 2022 at 9:17 am That was such an epic tweet Reply C says: July 6, 2022 at 9:33 am LOL, yes, the Lake Superior account saying it was pro-choice! I laughed my ass off at someone replying with “Lake Ontario’s silence is deafening”. Babz says: July 6, 2022 at 3:36 pm I loved that thread so much! Missed the Lake Ontario one, though. Epic! Jais says: July 6, 2022 at 12:40 pm Yes an awesome tweet Reply Brit says: July 6, 2022 at 9:21 am Facts. It’s crazy how the royal family served the Sussexes on a platter to cover and distract but get mad because the Sussexes are bigger and more interesting than the monarchy. You can’t say someone is irrelevant but yet you’re constantly leaking and gossiping about them to the same tabloids who are also obsessed. Harry and Meghan leaving was for the best because the longer they stay away the more they won’t be able use them as much. The RF are truly trapped because they need the golden geese to shield themselves but because of that they make them even more famous and rich. Irony at its finest. The British media loves it because it sells papers and they feel like they have power and control. The royal family are dumb because no amount of shout outs, titles and honors are going to change the BM’s spots. They gonna turn on them eventually because all they care about is there bottom dollar and it’s clear the others aren’t cutting it. Reply aquarius64 says: July 6, 2022 at 9:22 am The BM is mad its hit pieces don’t gain traction with US media at large. Fox will pick it up, but that network doesn’t cover the hearings on the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. The fact that you don’t see the likes of Victoria Arbiter, Camilla Tominey and the usual gang on US TV shows RRs aren’t taken seriously. They’re glorified gossip columnists;TMZ is above them. Jobson has an ABC gig (they need to rethink him). Scobie has a job there too because he has been fair to the Sussexes. Reply Brit says: July 6, 2022 at 9:36 am That’s why they keep trying to use this angle of Meghan running for President. Again it’s not working or gaining traction because it’s gossip and and legitimate news stations don’t have time for that foolishness. Piers Morgan has tried his hardest to get propaganda trending in the states and even he’s been losing. Reply Merricat says: July 6, 2022 at 9:34 am Lol, this miserable family set itself on fire and they’re still trying to blame everything on people who haven’t been around for more than two years. The House of Windsor isn’t known for their intelligence, and they continue to not be known for it. Reply CheChe says: July 6, 2022 at 9:43 am The continuing drama stories just give the rota work that doesn’t delve into any royal truths. Can’t have the remainders not elevated . Reply Slippers4life says: July 6, 2022 at 9:39 am There aren’t enough fire and hands emojis to express the joy I felt reason this article Reply s808 says: July 6, 2022 at 9:44 am “ the British media – and not the Windsors – are playing a longer game. The Windsors are limping from crisis to crisis, scandal to scandal, controversy to controversy, thinking of short-term remedies for their plethora of issues. The Sussexes are convenient to them as a distraction tool. But that won’t always be the case. Because more and more, it feels like the British media has plenty of information stockpiled for a rainy day, and a storm is coming.” Period. End of. The British media 10000% has the upper hand and always have. Reply Boxy Lady says: July 6, 2022 at 9:58 am Well, I’m glad somebody is saying out loud and in writing. Harry has been used as a meat shield for the rest of the royal family for damn near his entire life. It’s like, to them, he’s not even a real, actual person with his own mind and feelings. Reply TheOriginalMia says: July 6, 2022 at 10:03 am #Omid trended yesterday. His article made a lot of noise yesterday in both pro-and anti-monarchy circles. Funny how fair and balanced reporting on the royals is seen as an attack against the BRF and a favor for the Sussexes. It’s ridiculous. All he did was point out the obvious. The BRF has used the media to distract from their troubles. Meghan is an easy target. Reply Rapunzel says: July 6, 2022 at 10:05 am I agree with Scobie, but would ads that we can never forget: 1. This is personal for a lot of RRs. They feel personally aggrieved that Harry snubbed them by leaving and that they are throwing tantrums for lack of access. 2. Stories about royals simply don’t make the clicks and cash Sussex stories do. So the RRs are simply following the money. 3. The BRF (William/Kate in particular) are also personally aggrieved that Harry has abandoned them. Imo, Sussexit is first and foremost family drama between Harry, Charles, and Will. Charles is pissed his plans to use Harry for goodwill are scuttled. Will is incandescent with rage that Harry won’t be co-King and save him the worst work. These stories are punishment for Harry not coming to heel. 4. Racism- much of the stories are to torture the mixed race Duchess for daring to outshine the white Duchess. So yeah, it’s distraction but it’s more than that. Reply usavgjoe says: July 6, 2022 at 10:59 am You speak on it Kaiser!!! Reply equality says: July 6, 2022 at 12:12 pm “Though reporting didn’t include any examples of such behaviour (I’ve also spoken to a long list of former staff, all of whom can’t recall any moments that would fall under such a description)…” I love that he puts it straight out there that the allegations aren’t credible. Reply Thelma says: July 6, 2022 at 3:16 pm Omid is SPOT-ON!!! The British Royal Family clearly believes in “you can fool some of the people some of the time. The Sussexes are leading their peaceful scandal-free life unlike the royals. Reply Penelope says: July 6, 2022 at 4:49 pm I still don’t get how emailing at 6:00 am is bullying. On days when I come to work and I haven’t received like 15 emails from my boss and others I work with, I assume there is some kind of IT problem. Reply SuzieQ says: July 6, 2022 at 6:28 pm Because it’s not bullying. 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Why cant they just behave like other royal houses, why does there have to be drama and briefing wars !?Maybe what started as a simple briefing to burry some scandal a hundred years ago has grown legs and cant be contained.
Because the British Royal Family is a FRAUD😀😀The future king of England accepting plastic bags of cash, that’s mafia moves😀and William is just pathetic, a late bloomer.
British Royal Family spends over 100 million pounds in 1 year and all the media has to say is…Meghan, Meghan and Meghan again. Can you imagine spending over 100 million dollars without earning a single cent of that money. Just show up to a few engagements and spend 30 minutes for the perfect photo op and in return 100 million dollars.
At this point, even Monaco’s royal family looks more proper and posh to me than the British Royal family. \
Omid Scobie having a column in Yahoo news is a godsend to royal watchers. Say it as it is Omid!!
And the best part of it is that his articles are being carried by some tabloids
US news outlets should hire writers like Omid and Kaiser to call out the hypocrisy (too easy, too many examples).
❤️the column and how it cuts through the BS
Yes and I hope it encourages more people to start exposing the farce that is the royal family. I noticed a couple new writers for Newsweek that also cut through the crap with their writing. ( Not Jack Royston).
It is amazing to me that journalists like Omid are *right there* and somehow people like Kate Nicholl still have a job. 😐
Omid may end up single-handedly demonstrating that reporting on the Rotten Royals and their 🤡🤡🤡, without “fear or favor,” can be done without dire consequences. There are bound to be other so-called journalists near or at the tipping point who are watching. I’m here for it.
There are also many games at play. Charles is deflecting from his financial shenanigans but I think the hiring of DF tells me he may be gearing up to fight Boris Johnson ( dumped by Rothmere and Murdock yesterday) to become an activist king. Use DM person to smeared keep other family members in place through leaking and targeted messaging. KP is a mess so expect them to muddy the water with their own pettiness which will damage PC.
The global media is hip to BM and RF shenanigans with HM. The Hello linking of Archie’s pic to a hate account was quickly called out and removed. Also the KK bots targeted a Sussex NHS website too.
UK is going through some serious hardships and I think the RF needs to pay more attention to the little folks because the monarchy is simply white welfare.
The British People only care that the WOC is out.
What is funny about the website they targeted is that it works with one of W&K’s charities.
Interesting. I can see this being part of it.
Anybody who believes that BP’s refusal to release the findings of their HR (bullying) investigation was them protecting Meghan is delusional. If there was evidence that Meghan was a bully it would have been included in the Sovereign Grant report. The only logical reason for it being there would be to distract from the Royal Family’s high spending. Some people on Twitter have pointed out that the last 4 years Sovereign Grant report has used Meghan and Harry to distract from their ridiculous spending and Omid’s piece only confirms this Palace tactic. There is no doubt the Palace actively guides the press in what to highlight in the report.
@amy bee right? Like how thick does one have to be to bot see the obvious. “Protecting Meghan” b please (referring to the palace here” if they were so keen on protecting Meghan (who btw was their strongest asset) they would’ve shut down KP’s smear campaign from the get go the same way they issues statements against Botox and wigs
The ONLY thing the “Royal Family” is protecting is their 100 million a year (which we all know is a lie, it’s much more). The Brits would rather focus on the WOC who lives in another country and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about them …..yet…………Meghan this and Meghan that
Yeah the BRF and the press have never been in the business of protecting Meghan, why would they start now?
The deflection and distraction, as Omid puts it, is so obvious but I do think more people are seeing through it.
Releasing the “we’re investigating a bullying allegation!” statement the week of the interview was the most obvious and ham-fisted PR stunt I’ve seen in a long time.
I shouldn’t have higher expectations of the royal comms shops, but lobbing completely unsubstantiated rumors out into the public (clearly timed to get ahead of the truth coming out about some terrible crap YOU did) is what I’d expect from C-list celebs going through a messy divorce.
The actual professional adults working for that family should be so embarrassed to work there.
Are there actually professional adults working for the RF? Because it seems to me that they’re a bunch of snooty, pearl-clutching, gossiping, racist, classist, sycophantic monarchists who couldn’t last a day in a real-world corporate office where hard work and smart problem-solving are expected.
the British media, like right wing media here, exists to prop up right wing institutions and players in order to protect the wealthy, who also own those media outlets.
I’m starting to think they won’t ever turn on the monarchy, just the right wing expendables like Boris etc, when they can’t be excused anymore. Like US media went after Madison cawthorn but only because he had turned on republicans first.
Then I also wonder how much impact the Russians have, they were behind pushing brexit in those same tabloids. The royal family is clearly compromised financially every which way and the British media knows and don’t care. They actively covered it up with these weeks old susssex stories, which exactly as Kaiser wrote do work. They might not work on twitter but sadly, twitter isn’t the general public. Poll after poll shows that.
FACT: The British Media is the British People. The media would not write the stories without a rabid audience.
It was so funny seeing Discount Louis XVI’s reaction walking down the church. The entire time he was making these weird grimace-like faces as if to say “I don’t like all this fanfare and whatever” but you just know that really, he was seething incandescently about H&M’s presence. 😂 Also, I know it’s a bit late now but I was curious about why K would wear grey with yellow when they don’t match at all and then I remembered, there were quite a few times when M would grey accessories with navy blue or other colours. It’s just really hilarious and as M says “you have to laugh at a certain point because it is just ridiculous”. Ofc she was talking about avocados but the same rule applies here really
Ever since Omid got his Yahoo column he’s been dropping truth bombs. I LOVE it! He’s calling EVERYONE out!
I wonder if he’s trying to transition out of royal reporting. Documenting the downfall of the Windsors is a way to do that.
Because that’s what is happening. Every time the dam cracks they rush to plug it up with haphazard actions and lies. So many lies that they can’t keep track of. No one is thinking anything through. And all of their lies and crimes are finally catching up to them.
And the royal rota are reaching a tipping point where covering for them and maintaining the facade is not profitable enough for them, but slow motion destroying them could keep them in the money for decades to come. All bets are off when the Queen dies.
I think Omid is getting ready to work on another book about RF machinations. He has the connections and the next book will likely not have a “co-author.” He doesn’t need that anymore.
I came here to say that exact same thing. Only this book will be an eye-opener. He’s been developing a fan base for some time now, and he certainly has a good perspective on the utter shambles the BRF continues to create in just about everything they do. He also sees it from the perspective of a POC — racists have been ragging on him for being Persian for ages — and has enormous sympathy for Meghan and what they’ve put her through, as well as a ton of respect for the way she’s handled it.
There really is not anything you can add to Scobie’s reporting re the Windsor family. He nails it every time. Those who choose to believe the gutter media’s headline will but for the larger audience he is targeting, gets it and know exactly what is happening and it speaks to the problems this family will continue to have for the foreseeable future.
They are simply not honest people, they are racist, they feel entitled because of birthright and most glaringly, it is quite obvious, they are not very smart. They will always shoot themselves in the foot because of their hubris. The more they target the Sussexes, the more obvious this becomes. I am happy the Sussexes has drawn their line while continuing to live their best lives and dreams far away from those clowns.
Wait a minute, everyone! Wait!… Is water actually wet?!!
(Funny thing, I learned from the Lake Superior account last week that, no, water is not wet. It makes other things wet. )
That was such an epic tweet
LOL, yes, the Lake Superior account saying it was pro-choice! I laughed my ass off at someone replying with “Lake Ontario’s silence is deafening”.
I loved that thread so much! Missed the Lake Ontario one, though. Epic!
Facts. It’s crazy how the royal family served the Sussexes on a platter to cover and distract but get mad because the Sussexes are bigger and more interesting than the monarchy. You can’t say someone is irrelevant but yet you’re constantly leaking and gossiping about them to the same tabloids who are also obsessed. Harry and Meghan leaving was for the best because the longer they stay away the more they won’t be able use them as much. The RF are truly trapped because they need the golden geese to shield themselves but because of that they make them even more famous and rich. Irony at its finest.
The British media loves it because it sells papers and they feel like they have power and control. The royal family are dumb because no amount of shout outs, titles and honors are going to change the BM’s spots. They gonna turn on them eventually because all they care about is there bottom dollar and it’s clear the others aren’t cutting it.
The BM is mad its hit pieces don’t gain traction with US media at large. Fox will pick it up, but that network doesn’t cover the hearings on the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. The fact that you don’t see the likes of Victoria Arbiter, Camilla Tominey and the usual gang on US TV shows RRs aren’t taken seriously. They’re glorified gossip columnists;TMZ is above them. Jobson has an ABC gig (they need to rethink him). Scobie has a job there too because he has been fair to the Sussexes.
That’s why they keep trying to use this angle of Meghan running for President. Again it’s not working or gaining traction because it’s gossip and and legitimate news stations don’t have time for that foolishness. Piers Morgan has tried his hardest to get propaganda trending in the states and even he’s been losing.
Lol, this miserable family set itself on fire and they’re still trying to blame everything on people who haven’t been around for more than two years. The House of Windsor isn’t known for their intelligence, and they continue to not be known for it.
The continuing drama stories just give the rota work that doesn’t delve into any royal truths. Can’t have the remainders not elevated .
There aren’t enough fire and hands emojis to express the joy I felt reason this article
“ the British media – and not the Windsors – are playing a longer game. The Windsors are limping from crisis to crisis, scandal to scandal, controversy to controversy, thinking of short-term remedies for their plethora of issues. The Sussexes are convenient to them as a distraction tool. But that won’t always be the case. Because more and more, it feels like the British media has plenty of information stockpiled for a rainy day, and a storm is coming.”
Period. End of. The British media 10000% has the upper hand and always have.
Well, I’m glad somebody is saying out loud and in writing. Harry has been used as a meat shield for the rest of the royal family for damn near his entire life. It’s like, to them, he’s not even a real, actual person with his own mind and feelings.
#Omid trended yesterday. His article made a lot of noise yesterday in both pro-and anti-monarchy circles. Funny how fair and balanced reporting on the royals is seen as an attack against the BRF and a favor for the Sussexes. It’s ridiculous. All he did was point out the obvious. The BRF has used the media to distract from their troubles. Meghan is an easy target.
I agree with Scobie, but would ads that we can never forget:
1. This is personal for a lot of RRs. They feel personally aggrieved that Harry snubbed them by leaving and that they are throwing tantrums for lack of access.
2. Stories about royals simply don’t make the clicks and cash Sussex stories do. So the RRs are simply following the money.
3. The BRF (William/Kate in particular) are also personally aggrieved that Harry has abandoned them. Imo, Sussexit is first and foremost family drama between Harry, Charles, and Will. Charles is pissed his plans to use Harry for goodwill are scuttled. Will is incandescent with rage that Harry won’t be co-King and save him the worst work. These stories are punishment for Harry not coming to heel.
4. Racism- much of the stories are to torture the mixed race Duchess for daring to outshine the white Duchess.
So yeah, it’s distraction but it’s more than that.
You speak on it Kaiser!!!
“Though reporting didn’t include any examples of such behaviour (I’ve also spoken to a long list of former staff, all of whom can’t recall any moments that would fall under such a description)…” I love that he puts it straight out there that the allegations aren’t credible.
Omid is SPOT-ON!!! The British Royal Family clearly believes in “you can fool some of the people some of the time. The Sussexes are leading their peaceful scandal-free life unlike the royals.
I still don’t get how emailing at 6:00 am is bullying. On days when I come to work and I haven’t received like 15 emails from my boss and others I work with, I assume there is some kind of IT problem.
Because it’s not bullying.
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