The Controversial PR Strategy of Kensington Palace: A Case Study on Managing the ‘Missing Princess’ Narrative
Introduction:
Kensington Palace, the residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, is not just a royal abode but also a carefully managed brand under the British Monarchy. With over a millennium of experience in storytelling, one would expect the palace’s public relations (PR) strategy to be impeccable. However, recent events surrounding the alleged ‘missing princess’ have left many baffled and questioning the palace’s tactics.
The Social Media Frenzy:
Speculation over Kate Middleton’s whereabouts and health has escalated into a social media phenomenon, with conspiracy theories and memes circulating at an alarming rate. The palace’s attempts to quell this speculation have not always been successful, particularly when it released a Mother’s Day image on March 10, intended to put the rumors to rest. Instead, this image sparked an armchair Photoshop debate and severely damaged the palace’s credibility.
The Manipulated Mother’s Day Image:
The image, supposedly taken by Prince William, was meant to be the definitive proof of the royal family’s wellbeing. However, major photo agencies quickly discovered that it had been manipulated by the source. Kate later acknowledged her editing, but the damage was already done. Eric Soufer, a crisis communications professional, commented that the palace seemed to be intentionally making things worse to keep Meghan Markle (now the Duchess of Sussex) out of the news.
The Mistake: Saying Nothing:
The controversy started in January when Kate underwent an unspecified abdominal surgery, and the palace chose to say nothing initially. The public’s response was generally understanding, but the lack of communication led many to question the health of the future queen. This silence allowed speculation to grow and eventually spiraled into a social media sensation.
The Impact on Credibility:
Kensington Palace’s ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ strategy, which has worked for the palace in the past, no longer suffices in today’s digital age. With the persistence of ‘Katespiracies,’ the internet has amplified this old-fashioned social media chatter, leading to extensive scrutiny and review of all handout photos provided by the palace. Getty Images recently identified another manipulated photograph, and a News Finder analysis revealed potential alterations in as many as 19 places.
Media Scrutiny and Ethics:
The Kate photo scandal highlights the importance of media organizations updating their processes, particularly in an age of advanced ai and easy photo editing. The media has a responsibility to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of images they disseminate to their audiences.
The Future:
Despite new images of Kate emerging, royal gossipers continue to speculate and question the palace’s intentions. The persistence of these conspiracies underscores how badly the palace has lost control of the narrative, and it remains to be seen if they can regain trust and credibility in the digital age.
