Looking forward to your review. ?I was able to purchase a copy through the Australian kindle store today and I’m four chapters in (and still in the Diana years) and so far, I have to say, this book is great. It’s a serious work of journalism but it’s also entertaining, and I’ve already found a few snippets of info I didn’t know despite reading multiple biographies of those years.
I can’t wait to get to the juicy parts!
I was able to purchase a copy through the Australian kindle store today and I’m four chapters in (and still in the Diana years) and so far, I have to say, this book is great. It’s a serious work of journalism but it’s also entertaining, and I’ve already found a few snippets of info I didn’t know despite reading multiple biographies of those years.
I can’t wait to get to the juicy parts!
Thanks for the review! Very interesting. I have to wait until January, I think.
What did Low say about Beatrice that was nice?
I read in another mini review that Low thinks Charles and William want to get rid of the silo structure that’s caused problems (ie communication, etc). More streamlining, getting everyone on the same page. Was that your impression?
I don't understand the term 'silo structure'.
A silo, where I come from, is a place to store grain and nothing else.
I don't understand the term 'silo structure'.
A silo, where I come from, is a place to store grain and nothing else.
How old was he? Sounds like a 6 year old breaking a vase and told his mummy it's the vase's vault for being in his way.He made up stories about his staff to The Queen when he shouted at them so he could lay out the story before they complained about him.
Well, that's The Princess Royal for you! Balcony appearance, photo on the table, why the men are so vain?In 2012, during the Diamond Jubilee, The Queen, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and Harry appeared on the balcony to watch the fly past.
This upset Andrew who thought it was a “dagger to his heart, Edward was dismayed and Anne “couldn’t give a stuff”
I had an "eyebrow raised" moment when SR Instagram page stated they'd follow different charities for every month. And then there's him (and his wife) jumping for one bandwagon to other post-royal. I don't doubt that they genuinely want to do good, but I can't help to think whether it's more about vanity (of them seeking validation through adulation for what the did). The "don't let our left hand know what our right hand did" comes to mind. And, in my own believe, doing charity/volunteering/being philanthropist is about long term commitment because nothing would happen in short time with just one action, it's not a one time thing for gratification.Harry would get annoyed when he wasn’t able to get on the ground with rangers all the time.
“There would be fantastic pictures that could go on Instagram and The National Geographic”: Harry would say.
William would say: “it’s a lot more than putting Instagram posts out”
Wow, Charles. Deposing him when he's no longer useful for you? What a lovely boss you were.Downing Street put an end to Andrew being “special trade envoy to the government”. Andrew blamed courtier Christopher Geidt for this as they both had a mutual dislike for each other.
Geidt agreed with Charles’ choice that Beatrice and Eugenie not being working royals.
After some issues, Charles and Andrew worked together to oust Geidt. William was said to be furious, he didn’t necessarily disagree with the decision.
He thought it was just handled very unkindly and could have been done better.
From what this twitter person read from the book, it seems KP was on board about one communication office under BP, but CH didn't like it.It’s also a way of describing a corporate structure. It basically means the divisions are separate. They do their own thing. Usually there is a lack of communication and information sharing.
I’ve heard from another reviewer- the take is that Charles and William want to get rid of this structure, streamline, get everyone on the same page. I think that would be a good thing. There would be more unity.
It’s also a way of describing a corporate structure. It basically means the divisions are separate. They do their own thing. Usually there is a lack of communication and information sharing.
I’ve heard from another reviewer- the take is that Charles and William want to get rid of this structure, streamline, get everyone on the same page. I think that would be a good thing. There would be more unity.
I think the definition that Erin9 is referring to has its roots in grain silos. What it refers to is separate sub-groups that are formed within a larger group that is not well integrated. So in the context of the British monarchy, it is having the Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace organizations.`I don't understand the term 'silo structure'.
A silo, where I come from, is a place to store grain and nothing else.
That's rather ironic since Charles was at the root of the silos. However, I guess that now that he is in the top job he can better see the value of having things be more cohesive and integrated. Although I would not be surprised if going forward that the Prince/ss of Wales / Duke of Cornwall remained separate households because of the funding from the Duchy of Cornwall, but that the new paradigm will have the Buckingham Palace / Prince of Wales organizations being more integrated than they were under QEII. Another aspect that will make things easier is that the current state is just the monarch and heir apparent organizations and it will be a couple of decades before you have to deal with monarch and two adult heirs apparent - and that assumes that Charles had the same longevity as his parents and maternal grandmother. Also, William does not have to, and in my opinion should not, grant George his own court / household, George should be part of the Prince of Wales organization until he himself becomes Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall.Thanks for the review! Very interesting. I have to wait until January, I think.
What did Low say about Beatrice that was nice?
I read in another mini review that Low thinks Charles and William want to get rid of the silo structure that’s caused problems (ie communication, etc). More streamlining, getting everyone on the same page. Was that your impression?
I am not getting this from the book but from past reports, there was a brief interlude where the communications offices of the three palaces were integrated, but eventually they went back to being silos and it was Charles who initiated the break up / return to silos.From what this twitter person read from the book, it seems KP was on board about one communication office under BP, but CH didn't like it.
Thanks for the review! Very interesting. I have to wait until January, I think.
What did Low say about Beatrice that was nice?
I read in another mini review that Low thinks Charles and William want to get rid of the silo structure that’s caused problems (ie communication, etc). More streamlining, getting everyone on the same page. Was that your impression?
The communications offices have always been separate between the offices of the monarch and the heir - going back centuries. The division was seen as necessary when the heir was at odds with the monarch and would support the opposition party in parliament. As the monarchy became less involved in politics the structure remained and until the past decade or so worked extremely well.
The idea to have everyone singing from the one song-sheet was Charles' but it didn't work as the by then three households had different views on what should be being said and so it was split back into three - by mutual consent.
I am not sure if William will won't to have his voice limited to only what Charles wants said or vice-versa so I suspect that the two communications offices will continue and there will be times when they are at odds on things.
I don't recall seeing that. From what I've read Charles was the first to break away from the monarch organization and form his own organization including communications team. And in his case, he did not even do this until the 1990s, perhaps late 80s, and that was also due to him wanting a team dedicated to his needs, especially to enhance his image / popularity vis a vis the uber-popularity of his first wife.The communications offices have always been separate between the offices of the monarch and the heir - going back centuries. The division was seen as necessary when the heir was at odds with the monarch and would support the opposition party in parliament. As the monarchy became less involved in politics the structure remained and until the past decade or so worked extremely well.
The idea to have everyone singing from the one song-sheet was Charles' but it didn't work as the by then three households had different views on what should be being said and so it was split back into three - by mutual consent.
I am not sure if William will won't to have his voice limited to only what Charles wants said or vice-versa so I suspect that the two communications offices will continue and there will be times when they are at odds on things.
It was always the case with the George's and then between Victoria and Edward VII.
Charles had his own office and communications team from the late 70s when he started as a full-time working royal. He re-organised his office after his separation to allow Diana her own office as well. Prior to their separation they had their own communications office but the office wasn't able to deal with both their needs and was totally separate to the office at BP.
George V had a separate office to his father as well. Elizabeth was in the process of establishing a separate office when she became Queen.
I think that a royal can have their own office but still be a part of the monarch's organization. That did happen in the past, but the distinction is that Charles set up his own organization / household / court to run independently to the fullest extend possible from the monarch's organization.It was always the case with the George's and then between Victoria and Edward VII.
Charles had his own office and communications team from the late 70s when he started as a full-time working royal. He re-organised his office after his separation to allow Diana her own office as well. Prior to their separation they had their own communications office but the office wasn't able to deal with both their needs and was totally separate to the office at BP.
George V had a separate office to his father as well. Elizabeth was in the process of establishing a separate office when she became Queen.
I think that a royal can have their own office but still be a part of the monarch's organization. That did happen in the past, but the distinction is that Charles set up his own organization / household / court to run independently to the fullest extend possible from the monarch's organization.
That's interesting. I mentioned upthread that I drafted a comment where I discussed the silos, I thought it did not get posted but it did, so I was mixing that post up with another one, here is what I posted a week or so ago:To be fair to King Charles, the book makes it clear that despite some of his struggles as a leader, his two most important accomplishments, The Prince’s Trust and his credibility as an early proponent of environmental sustainability, would not have happened otherwise. I came away with the idea that while he could be difficult to work for, more in his younger years than now, he was forward-thinking and intellectually bright in a way his mother’s staff were unprepared to deal with.
There were struggles, but I do think he is a more sympathetic figure for getting those two issues incredibly right.
[...]
I have been critical of the silos that were created during QEII's reign. Charles created his own office during his mother's reign, and IIRC it was motivated by him wanting to do things his way and not have to go through the BP bureaucracy, and because he had Duchy of Cornwall funding, he was able to do so. Years later, Charles set up a court for his sons when they were teenagers, and IIRC, he was motivated by wanting to allow his sons to pursue their interests without being fettered by their father's staffers. Presumably this court was the forerunner of the KP organization.
The BRF have been criticized because for having the three silos and some years ago they merged their communications operations, but then split up again with Charles being the driving factor behind the re-split, IIRC. As previously stated, I have been critical of the silos, but I have to wonder that if things were more centralized, would initiatives like Heads Together, Invictus, Duchy Organics, The Earth Shot Prize, etc. have come together. I think The Prince's Trust was formed before Charles formed his own office, but would it have reached its current scale if Charles had not spun off.
[...]
That's interesting. I mentioned upthread that I drafted a comment where I discussed the silos, I thought it did not get posted but it did, so I was mixing that post up with another one, here is what I posted a week or so ago:
I will also highlight that in my recent posts, I mention there being a monarch organization and a Prince of Wales organization, so I am not promoting that everything be the same way as it was prior to Charles spinning off. I am saying let the Prince of Wales have his own household but KC3 and POW organizations should be better integrated that the BP-CH-KP organizations were during QEII's reign.
He mentioned that she was in the room during the negotiations for the infamous interview with Emily Maitlis, and that she was the person everyone had a universally positive experience with- that she seemed very savvy and professional while also being gracious and polite, in a way that contrasted with her father's style. I got the impression she was trying really hard to help, but also that Andrew didn't necessarily want to listen to advice nor did he avail himself of professional PR help.
I will try to answer a couple of other questions! Just back from dinner.
As others have noted, the "silo structure" referred to here is a common way to describe a business structure where different divisions operate independently and sometimes at cross purposes.
Others asked about Charles and his communication staff. I would recommend they read the book rather than relying on my interpretation, but the interpretation I got was that he was not opposed in theory to the idea of a unified communications team serving all three households, but that he had finally been in a good place with his own team before that and he struggled to watch the people he felt comfortable with lose their autonomy.
For me, my professional background is in high-level administrative work, serving in chief of staff capacity to C-suite executives, and my take away from this book is that the way the palace operates is not dissimilar to any major corporate structure, but it's higher stakes in some ways. A lot of the squabbles seen here are very similar to what you would see in any corporate environment, but with the added pressure of press interest.
Thank you.
I understand why Charles didn’t want the York girls working in the business, but Beatrice sounds like she would have been a real asset.
I think that a royal can have their own office but still be a part of the monarch's organization. That did happen in the past, but the distinction is that Charles set up his own organization / household / court to run independently to the fullest extend possible from the monarch's organization.