Charlene Wittstock Current Events 3 - June 2006

[Lisele]

Excuse me but I've been out of the loop - but who is Charlene Wittstock?

[enchantednights]

Originally Posted by Lisele

Excuse me but I've been out of the loop - but who is Charlene Wittstock?

Prince Albert's current....companion

[BurberryBrit]

Originally Posted by creativemind

IF if turns out CW was a decoy for the whole Jazmin revelation, it will be interesting to find out JUST HOW MUCH CW was in on the whole plan or, was SHE DUPED TOO? I write this in hypothetical voice -- will we ever know the truth!

In all honesty, a young girl with no education or future plans would probably not mind being taken on luxury vacations on yachts to the Maldives and wined and dined in Paris and Monaco. I'm sure it has been very exciting for her, so whether or not she was "in on it" I'm sure she got a lot out of it. I am also inclined to think that the CW affair was a way to keep the world fixated on their "relationship" while the paternity issue of JGG was being decided as well as how to break the news to the press.

[pinklady1991]

Originally Posted by BurberryBrit

I'm sure it has been very exciting for her, so whether or not she was "in on it" I'm sure she got a lot out of it. I am also inclined to think that the CW affair was a way to keep the world fixated on their "relationship" while the paternity issue of JGG was being decided as well as how to break the news to the press.

I'm hoping that it wasn't all that cynical...perhaps CW was not so much a ruse as a way of hiding from all the other issues (Alexandre, Jazmin, the stresses of governing, etc) that were presenting themselves at the time. Made him look as if he were searching for a wife when all he wanted was a pleasant distraction. I don't think Charlene was "in on it" or she and her family wouldn't have been blabbing to the press the way they did as if they expected an engagement announcement.

[creativemind]

Originally Posted by pinklady1991

I don't think Charlene was "in on it" or she and her family wouldn't have been blabbing to the press the way they did as if they expected an engagement announcement.

It will be interesting to see if the good ole' Wittstocks, including CW will BLAB any further following the Grand Prix and the Jazmin revelation/acknowledgement? There is so much we don't know but it is fun to pose these questions!

[Elspeth]

Just goes to show how much things can change in a few days. Late last week we were hearing all about how Charlene is about to become engaged to Albert, that she's forcing him to the altar, that she calls the shots and is just using him. Now it appears that, far from her using him, there seems to be a good case to be made that he or his handlers have been using her.

[creativemind]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

Just goes to show how much things can change in a few days. Late last week we were hearing all about how Charlene is about to become engaged to Albert, that she's forcing him to the altar, that she calls the shots and is just using him. Now it appears that, far from her using him, there seems to be a good case to be made that he or his handlers have been using her.

I write this post as someone who's been a journalist for 15 years -- and preface this by saying I have chosen to work for broadcast outlets with an extremely high standard for fact checking (I have strong feelings about that issue). I have to say I have a real issue with tabloid reports. While they are fun to read and get our hearts and minds pumping, I think if most readers knew where the info came from the reports would be ignored. Imagine if you will, a dart board with a bunch of story scenarios posted on it, and then throwing the dart and waa laa, there's your angle. I would say tabloids are accuate every 1.5 out of 10 times -- accuracy happens but RARELY!

With that said, I will add that even in the best of circumstances journalists who work for reputable agencies DO have points of view on things. It was lesson number one when I went to journalism graduate school. There is no such things as objectivity -- journalists or not we all have a subjective consciousness about things and it comes through in all we are and all we do. I don't believe those who work for reputable programs or publications purposely bend things but if you're human (yes reporters are human!!!! ) it is inevitable.

Maybe we will never know the truth of what's going on with CW? Maybe she or her family will blab again? Maybe all of the sudden there WILL be a marriage announcement? Maybe she will fade and another CW type moves into her place with the next scandal (oh please say it ain't so)? Maybe, maybe, maybe!!!

I've been reading this website for a few months and just recently signed up so am familiar with a lot of the CW/PA posts (at least since February). One thing I can tell you regarding the media, whether RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY journalists can get in vendetta mode. IMO and experience, if some member of the media feels it's being jerked around, he/she can strike back and the tide WILL turn regarding the angle of a story. The positive to this can be is they start to dig for facts instead of taking information from third party sources who have no clue of what's really going on.

With that being said, I wonder after the Alex acknowledgement and media storm, CW's appearance on the scene (with all that's ensued with that -- grandma and pops talking etc ... I can't begin to get into it); the Jazmin acknowledge(the information imo between all parties is still confusing as to how things went down from conception to PA's admission last week) that the press is beginning that somewhat vendetta mode -- i.e. seeing a couple negative stories surface. While I think that is unprofessional to report negative stories not based in fact it has been imo just as unprofessional for the past months to print stories (tabloids) about an impending marriage between the Prince and Charlene without any official word!

Despite all this, man is it so DANG fun to sit back and watch all this unfold and read everyone's posts!!!:p You all are great, even the one' I disagree with!!!!

Sorry about the length. I work in broadcast and we only get a minute and fifteen seconds to tell our story of the day--drives me nuts!!!!!!

[WindsorIII]

originally posted by creative minds I've been reading this website for a few months and just recently signed up so am familiar with a lot of the CW/PA posts (at least since February). One thing I can tell you regarding the media, whether RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY journalists can get in vendetta mode. IMO and experience, if some member of the media feels it's being jerked around, he/she can strike back and the tide WILL turn regarding the angle of a story.

Great post Creative minds, I think you have a point here!

All you have to do is go back and read these boards to see that people really bought into the whole PA/CW story. Especially after reading fluff stories of love in Torino, soulmates, wedding predictions for October, CW family speaking out, etc. It really produced some strong emotions on both sides: those who thought CW's lack of education and actions in public made people think PA could do alot better, and those who said let PA chose and give her a chance if she makes him happy.

Now to see that was all for nothing? It was all staged to distract from a bigger story of Jasmine? I can't beleive it. I can see where the media and journalists would be a littel miffed at having the wool pulled over their eyes.

The positive to this can be is they start to dig for facts instead of taking information from third party sources who have no clue of what's really going on.

Maybe during the Grand Prix weekend, being such a big media event, journalists started asking around Monaco and discovered a different story than the one that was being fed to them by either PA or CW's PR people.

Then the Jasmine story broke.. and they put it all together.. and voila! They're not happy at being jerked around.

I must say it does put things into perspective. I always thought it was something how CW was so overly confident in these photos, looking into the camera, and I wondered how she could escalate to the point of calling any shots. But now if this is true and it was staged. Then its clear, it was never real just acting. I still find this hard to believe. It will be fun to sit back and watch the outcome of this.

I guess the days of journalists taking the info fed to them by the palace or Monaco's PR at face value are gone. I think there will be a little double checking going on in the future.

This should be fun to watch, I can't wait for the next chapter.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by BurberryBrit

In all honesty, a young girl with no education or future plans would probably not mind being taken on luxury vacations on yachts to the Maldives and wined and dined in Paris and Monaco. I'm sure it has been very exciting for her, so whether or not she was "in on it" I'm sure she got a lot out of it. I am also inclined to think that the CW affair was a way to keep the world fixated on their "relationship" while the paternity issue of JGG was being decided as well as how to break the news to the press.

This is all very interesting and you (and everyone else here) are making great points, but about BB's very first sentence here.... "a young girl with no education or future plans..." CW has an education and isn't she an Olympic athlete? What did you mean by that? I may be reading too much into it.

[paca]

Originally Posted by WindsorIII

Maybe during the Grand Prix weekend, being such a big media event, journalists started asking around Monaco and discovered a different story than the one that was being fed to them by either PA or CW's PR people.

I believe that during the GP for the first time journalists came down to MC (although I believe tehre was a journalist from Bunte permanently here, though I don't see what she was doing most of the time except sitting in Sass cafe listening to the gossip of the town) and got to talk to people. Before everyone just assumed that we all must be just soooo thrilled to see PA married off to some woman that is still young enough to have children. And when they came here they might have noticed that actually no one was thrilled and people didn't even really talk about her. Now with the Jazmin story and the somewhat staged pics ( a lot of people were asking questions ever since she showed up in the Olympics and in retrospec this all makes sense, though it was mainly assumed it was CW pulling the strings), pieces seem to fall into place. The press, like most people, fell for it and now is slowly pulling away. They won't be too harsh on CW I expect, just finding reasons why a relationship wouldn't work and thus saving face when there is no wedding in the near future.

[Royalcommentator]

Those who say on another board that the marriage will take place in August in Newport Rhode Island are onto something. The plans have already been made -- 300 guests including family and friends.

[Lunagirl]

Ooh Newport is near me! If he's going to marry CW, I do hope it's in Newport.

[pinklady1991]

Originally Posted by Lunagirl

Ooh Newport is near me! If he's going to marry CW, I do hope it's in Newport.

As a head of state, Albert has to get married in Monaco. If he were to be getting married there would have been an announcement by now and it would be taking place in the Cathedral in Monaco. The trip to Newport has more to do with an exhibit about his mother -- thus the entourage -- which is also taking place during the Newport Jazz Festival. Sorry dear, no wedding.

[paca]

besides the palace has denied a wedding, but confirmed CW in her companion status

[creativemind]

Originally Posted by WindsorIII

I guess the days of journalists taking the info fed to them by the palace or Monaco's PR at face value are gone. I think there will be a little double checking going on in the future.

This should be fun to watch, I can't wait for the next chapter.

Windsor III -- you hit on an interesting point about "journalists taking the info fed to them by the palace". While I've never dealt with the palace in Monaco I have with major celebrities in my work and what has happened in my experience is that public relations people CAN and will "spin" stories - anonymously to the press (hmm, make it look like someone is about to marry someone!). They won't go on camera or make an official statement but are very crafty and calculating in getting the word out -- even if they talk to a reporter and say you can't use my name. So, in the case of PA and CW imo it may not necessarily always have been or be the tabloids making things up. I'm still waiting on the verdict for those two-- because just when you think it's one thing, it turns out to be another -- and then a new PA offspring shows up!!!! :) In any event, in my work I have had public relations people deny a story one day and then a few days later, a complete 360. It is entertaining for us journalists behind the scenes but at the same time very frustrating when you're trying to build crediblity with your outlet or publication because the public goes 'wait a minute' you darn journalists, LIARS, LIARS, LIARS. Please note, this isn't the truth about ALL reporting. And, I do think it's on all of us, including consumers to do our homework and wade through all the crud (if you don't buy into the bad stuff it goes out of business -- magazines, newspapers, news shows etc).

IMO no one is entirely clean when it comes to the lies put forward to the public -- the includes irresponsible members of the media and public relations people a-k-a SPOKEHOLES as we like to call them in the biz!

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Royalcommentator

Those who say on another board that the marriage will take place in August in Newport Rhode Island are onto something. The plans have already been made -- 300 guests including family and friends.

Perhaps we could get the source of this rather confident assertion?

[anag]

Does anyone have some concrete article/statement saying that there is going to be a wedding in Rhode Island? In my opinion, I sincerely doubt it, and if there is something in a reliable article/statement, well I'll have to take back my words. But again, I agree with pinklady1991, if there is a wedding I strongly believe it will be held in Monaco.

Love
Ani

[BurberryBrit]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

This is all very interesting and you (and everyone else here) are making great points, but about BB's very first sentence here.... "a young girl with no education or future plans..." CW has an education and isn't she an Olympic athlete? What did you mean by that? I may be reading too much into it.

Lemme explain: Charlene is a high school dropout and although she said she would train for the 2008 olympics, she has been photoged smoking and seems to be more travelingband hob-knobbing than training. That's all I was referring to.

[Neat2912]

How can you people possibly believe that PA won't marry CW? It has all been so romantic, really ideal. I think you folks are

just DREAMING. (Sorry about the boo boo). Heresay: Somebody just said that their friend just recently visited MC and that the people like her very much. That she is sweet and quiet. For some reason I really, really believe he's really "into" her. I just believe they have a camaraderie or something special, and that he would not need her to be a huge participant publicly in his reign. But might just share good understanding heart/head talk.

[sandsla]

Originally Posted by paca

The press, like most people, fell for it and now is slowly pulling away. They won't be too harsh on CW I expect, just finding reasons why a relationship wouldn't work and thus saving face when there is no wedding in the near future.

I don't think she is a decoy for the reason that PA dating her hurts his reputation more than the two illegitimate kids. That's something in his past & you can say he made some mistakes. But CW shows how he is STILL dating women w/o integrity, she exploits the relationship everytime she opens her mouth.

The idea that he is dating someone who actually went to the press after their first date with a play-by-play account & now he is presenting her to people? As someone said before on this board (I'm not sure if it was you Paca) & I'm not using the exact quote. "You would think any chance of a second date would be over". No woman w/ any self-respect would do that & it was very disrespectful to him (he doesn't care?).

The comment she made at the Olympics - I think she was asked how she was enjoying the Olympics? She replys that it's a good place for lovers? He's a member of the IOC & a past participant as she is? You might think she would mention something to do with the sports or at least the city or the people. But she chooses to squeak out that they're lovers? (after all thats why people go to the Olympics-it's a good place for lovers?). Again she wants to exploit the situation.

The Paris-Match interview along with all the exaggerated moves she makes to bring attention to her in most of the photos & her physical gestures to him in public - it should be the other way around, if there are any made. And her last quip about them being soulmates? She seems to be a very exploitive girl with the emotional maturity of a 12 year old, so if they are soulmates that doesn't say much for PA. The 20 year age difference is bad enough it makes him look like he has shallow ideas about women. I thought he said he wanted a partner? This is his emotional & intellectual equivalent?

When I saw the picture of her hanging off the balcony with the cigarette hanging out of her mouth. I couldn't stop laughing. "the new face of Monaco" or " you can dress them up... but you can't take them out" or maybe "a picture's worth a thousand words" in that case you only needed one....Cheap. She really looked out of place, it's really just common sense if you are accompaning the sovereign of a nation that is going to be wearing a suit or jacket & tie, you might try to dress accordingly.

I use to think what's going on with his PR people but when I saw that picture & her last quote, I now feel really sorry for them, the two kids & now this girl that can't shut her mouth to save her life - all in his first year. They're working as hard as the Bush PR people! I hope he's hanging on to his DNA here - this one seems worst than the others. I don't see why this current situation would play out any differently than the Nicole & Tamara affairs- only magnified. I can't believe they would want to use this as a distraction - She really hurts his image. He must have very low self-esteem to date these women or he falls so hard he is in denial about them until it's too late!

Perhaps the real strategy is Grace had raised the bar so high...now CW has certainly lowered it - mission accomplished! Sorry for such a long, long, post. I was on a roll