The Princess of Wales' recent appearance at a local farm shop in Windsor has been hailed as a "well-played" move by a PR and crisis management expert, as Kate Middleton navigates the frenzy of conspiracy theories and speculation surrounding her recovery from abdominal surgery. Edward Coram-James, chief executive of Go Up, argues that the princess and her team have been "nailing" their response to the outcry over her whereabouts, primarily by not engaging with the gossip and sticking to their initial statement.
Since Kensington Palace announced in January that Kate would be taking a step back from royal duties to recover from her "successful" operation, the public has only seen the princess during unofficial outings, including a drive with her mother Carole, a trip in the car with Prince William, and most recently, a walkabout carrying her shopping with her husband at their local farm shop. According to Coram-James, these appearances send a carefully crafted "message" to the public.
"These are probably (but not definitely) highly curated and very much planned messages to the public," he told the Mirror. "They give photographers the opportunity to photograph the princess, thus reassuring the world that the rumours have no footing. But, they are so unofficial - no public comment, no press release, no media interviews or press events, but instead unannounced and low-fuss outings with her family - that it gives plausible deniability to the royals in terms of making it appear uncontrived and without intention or agenda. A masterclass in crisis communications."
Coram-James emphasizes that the Royal Family has adhered to a "tried and tested" formula with their statements, which has "stood the test of time" in maintaining their reputation. By not giving "oxygen, airtime or comment to unfounded gossip," the royals have succeeded in presenting themselves as the "mature adults in the room."
However, the expert also notes that the Royal PR team must walk a delicate tightrope in making the royals appear as "young, relevant reformers who understand and adapt to the realities of 21st-century living," while simultaneously protecting their "sense of 'otherness'" and core values.
The Princess of Wales' farm shop outing has also been described as a "needed" move following the "significant c-k-up" with her edited Mother's Day photo. A source told the Daily Beast that Middleton was "desperate to be seen" after the disastrous photo fiasco, and that her appearance at the shop was "the right move, because ultimately she is fine and she needed that to be seen."
Royal expert Grant Harrold echoed this sentiment, suggesting to the Post that Middleton's farm outing could have been "purposefully arranged" by palace officials to allay public concerns about her well-being.
Despite the success of Middleton's recent public appearances in quelling some of the rumors, a source close to the royal couple emphasized that William and Kate "have decades and decades of this life ahead of them," and they hope to continue to secure and guard "their privacy."
While the "Kate-Gate" conspiracy theories may persist in some corners of the internet, the Princess of Wales' measured response and carefully orchestrated public appearances have demonstrated the Royal Family's commitment to protecting their image and privacy, even in the face of intense speculation and scrutiny.
