Last September, Kensington Palace excitedly briefed royal reporters about their big, keen plans to restructure Prince William and Kate’s office and hire a top CEO. Royal offices are structured so that the royal’s private secretary operates as a de facto chief of staff, and the royal is “chief executive.” William’s CEO scheme was another plot for William to do less work and have fewer responsibilities. What was interesting about the September announcement (and it really was a full KP briefing to multiple outlets) was that there was immediate pushback from the press and Buckingham Palace. Royalists pointed out that a CEO would just add an unnecessary level of bureaucracy, and many even pointed out that Huevo seemingly wanted to do things in a more “American” way, like the Sussexes. William’s long-suffering private secretary Jean-Christophe Grey quit when he heard the CEO news, leaving both William and Kate without private secretaries for months (they were basically assigned people in February of this year). All of which to say, William’s big CEO scheme was yet another losing strategy which went nowhere. Now, eight months later, Huevo is giving up on the big CEO hunt.
Prince William has suspended his bid to find a chief executive to overhaul his Kensington Palace office. The search was announced last September amid suggestions that the Prince wanted a ‘revolutionary’ restructure to make his and Kate’s household more corporate. Headhunters Odgers Berndtson had been charged with finding dynamic candidates who were ’emotionally intelligent, with ‘low ego’ [and] strong self-awareness’.
But eight months on, the ambition has fallen flat and the search has been called off, despite a source saying that the lack of a strong leader and ‘all-seeing eye’ has left the couple’s office ‘rudderless’ at a time when the Princess is also dealing with her cancer diagnosis.
Traditionally, Royal households have been led by a ferocious private secretary, often an ex-Army officer. In the late Queen’s early reign, this role was filled by the legendary Alan ‘Tommy’ Lascelles, portrayed as a curmudgeonly enforcer in Netflix’s The Crown, and known as ‘the snake who saved the monarchy’.
A source tells me: ‘The Waleses need their Tommy Lascelles. The CEO appointment was meant to have been finished by now. They are rudderless without one.’
William and Kate have two new private secretaries – Lieutenant-Colonel Tom White and former diplomat Ian Patrick – but they are still learning the ropes and were intended to report to the new CEO.
The source added: ‘There’s the sense the King’s team feels quite solid – his private secretary Clive Alderton has an iron grip on things – whereas it doesn’t seem as clear at Kensington Palace. Their household seems less sure-footed.’
William’s former private secretary, Jean-Christophe Gray, announced his resignation after it was first revealed that a CEO was to be appointed, although he insisted the two facts were not linked. It is understood he has now left his office. There is also said to be a highly charged atmosphere at Kensington Palace’s communications department, which is still reeling from the debacle of Kate’s Photoshopped Mother’s Day photograph. A Kensington Palace spokesman said last night: ‘With everything going on, the Royal Household’s focus is on the Princess’s recovery, so no appointment has been made.’
This is such a loaded story. It’s partly about how any quality manager/executive wanted anything to do with the clownery at Kensington Palace. Sh-tty pay, sh-tty people and the laziest heir ever. It’s also about how William and Kate can’t keep staff and there’s no there there. W&K are constantly tripping over their d–ks with all of their dumbass schemes. Like, that’s why Kate didn’t have a private secretary for a year and a half – Kate’s “work” was stupid “Early Years” crap and wheel-spinning. It’s also a story about how everyone within the royal circle knows that Kensington Palace is an utter clownshow. It’s really, really funny.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Instar, Kensington Palace.
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- North America Rights Only – Kingston, Jamaica -20220322- Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge meet locals during a visit Trench Town, the birthplace of reggae in Kingston, Jamaica, on day four of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. -PICTURED: Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: Chris Jackson/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
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- North America Rights Only – Kingston, Jamaica -20220322- Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge meet locals during a visit Trench Town, the birthplace of reggae in Kingston, Jamaica, on day four of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. -PICTURED: Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: Chris Jackson/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
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- North America Rights Only – Kingston, Jamaica -20220324-Royal Visit to the Caribbean – Day 6 Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attend the inaugural Commissioning Parade for service personnel from across the Caribbean who have recently completed the Caribbean Military Academy’s Officer Training Program, in Kingston, Jamaica, on day six of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. -PICTURED: Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: Jane Barlow/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
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- North America Rights Only – Kingston, Jamaica -20220324-Royal Visit to the Caribbean – Day 6 Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attend the inaugural Commissioning Parade for service personnel from across the Caribbean who have recently completed the Caribbean Military Academy’s Officer Training Program, in Kingston, Jamaica, on day six of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. -PICTURED: Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: Jane Barlow/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
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- North America Rights Only – Kingston, Jamaica -20220322- Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge meet locals during a visit Trench Town, the birthplace of reggae in Kingston, Jamaica, on day four of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. -PICTURED: Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: Chris Jackson/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 Featuring: Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge Where: Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaica When: 22 Mar 2022 Credit: Chris Jackson/PA Images/INSTARim **North America Rights Only**
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- His Royal Highness visits Fistral Beach, which is widely regarded as one of the best surfing beaches in Europe. Here, The Duke will meet representatives from local organisations who are working to promote safety in the sea and across the beach area, ahead of the forthcoming summer months Featuring: William, Prince of Wales Where: Newquay, United Kingdom When: 09 May 2024 Credit: Cover Images
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- The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Cornwall when in Cornwall, during a visit to Fistrall Beach in Newquay, to meet local organisations who are working to promote safety in the sea and across the beach area Featuring: William, Prince of Wales Where: Newquay, United Kingdom When: 09 May 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
This coming after the Nigerian tour – chefs kiss!
Clive Alderton is the infamous ‘Wasp.’ His f’ing “iron grip” needs to be de-loused and permanently loosened forthwith, i.e., PDQ!
Nothing will change and nothing good will happen to the monarchy unless and until the old guard is dismantled, passes away, or are retired to pasture. At the same time, the BM/ rota must be dismantled and reformed, too!!! Only then can a new generation (and not Willy, btw) begin to heal the monarchy from within.
FWIW, Harry is NOT coming back. He is out of reach and off-limits. So back off and leave him and his wife out of your mess! Leave them be!
When Kate tried to hire a qualified private secretary, there were multiple headlines about how that woman will show to Meghan, how she was ballbuster. As soon as she saw what it was coming, she ran back to her old employer without starting the job. There is no way any qualified CEO would work for William & Kate, especially when it means coordinating the office with tabloids. They better hire a former tabloid editor like Charles & Camilla.
How long has kate been without a private secretary now? Hasn’t it been well over a year? I wonder why professionals aren’t queuing up for the job.
She has one now, Lieutenant-Colonel Tom White. But she didn’t pick him, he was assigned to the role. So, someone got involved after seeing KP can’t handle it. I think, he was assigned when Kate basically disappeared and we or her own office didn’t know where she was.
So in all seriousness, what does Tom White do? Collect a paycheck? Bc I doubt he’s actually in contact with Kate. We’ve been told the in-the-know circle around the Wales is very small and I doubt it includes this person who’s just been assigned.
@Jais, probably just managing the office. They don’t do much work, but K&W have a good number of people working in their office. I read that he worked for QE2 before, so he probably knows the inner workings. I don’t think anyone in the office has direct communication to Kate, they may be getting to her through Will.
@Jais: What does Tom White do in the office all day? Well, my guess is that he probably refreshes his computer screen continuously, hoping to get a 5 a.m. email from the Wailes.
A friend of a friend of a friend knows that woman and basically she bailed when she saw how much lying/stonewalling was part of their desired strategy. A lot of dishonesty and opaqueness that she wasn’t comfortable with. Shocking!
Oh, wow. Doesn’t surprise me.
Extremely believable after photo-gate. I know she’s thankful to have listened to her gut.
I’m now wondering whether Richard Eden’s piece about Meghan not finding a CEO for her business (that story was just illogical) was to soften the blow of William and Kate’s failure to find a CEO. No doubt the debacle of the last few months would have scared off a lot of people plus the pay would have put a lot of people off from applying for the job in the first place.
I second this. We’ve always known that the tabloid and the royals are the masters of projection.
There’s such projection in the british press that I think you’re on to something, AmyBee.
Well, we know that everything they accuse Meghan of actually applies to them, so that would make sense. Eden knew this was coming so decided to spend a few days painting Meghan as an incompetent businesswoman who doesn’t have a CEO etc and now…..this.
Yep. I think that is exactly what that Meghan story was and now I’m thinking that story was just a big lie.
So interesting that all the divorce/alienation rumors about the Sussexes weren’t followed up with an announcement for the Waleses. Methinks Carole did manage some masterful about-face, whether Pyrrhic or temporary or not.
Huh, after 8 months, ambition has fallen flat despite the need for a strong leader. So they’re talking about William. His ambition has fallen and he’s not a strong leader. Bc isn’t the king’s heir supposed to be the leader, regardless of who’s on staff, whether it’s a ceo or a private secretary. What a mess. But at the same time, this feels a little bit like hey look over here at KP’s mess. When in reality, Clive Alderton’s supposedly strong BP team just fumbled badly on the world stage. Just saying, neither palace is looking too strong right now. BP does seem more together than KP but that’s not saying much considering how absolutely shit Charles looks to the world right now. All he had to do was see Harry for at least a few minutes.
The way this says KP is rudderless on their own but W is supposed to be the leader kind of says it all.
“Clive Alderton’s supposedly strong BP team just fumbled badly on the world stage” – good point. BP could use a few good leaks against KP just now. *popcorn popping in background*
I really don’t understand the logic of not hiring someone else —because Kate is too busy healing. I wonder how long KP will milk this “recovery” excuse before people start worrying again.
They don’t need a CEO as they will be splitting their offices amongst other things.
This is a subtle way of the Rota planting stories in advance that they can refer to later….
If anything that is more reason to hire someone. But i don’t think anyone actually applied. No one serious anyway. I mean look at the requirements; emotional intelligence, low ego(????) and strong self-awareness (??)
Basically they want another yes man that will never tell them to their face what they need to hear
They aren’t doctors so it’s comical that all these people can’t do this and that because of Kate’s health.
In the real world, does the office shut down because the boss is sick? No, it does not. This is ridiculous. Get an Acting (Sophie?), plan for re-entry, carry on with the Early Years Closet for Kids Who Don’t Read Good at Kensington Palace–if you’re still collecting that paycheck, then you’d dang well better be doing the work (such as it is).
Ah, but this is even more bizarre. They seem to be shutting down their plans because, get this, the heir or boss’s wife is sick. What?! It’s just reminded me of KP’s habit of hiding behind Kate’s “illness” or treatment or whatever since the video announcement, like they did when William said he couldn’t work as much as before, or when they said that Kate edited the Frankenfoto. Whenever something happens which would be awkward to explain, hey, cancer treatment. It’s the royal version of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
I really can’t imagine that any true “professional” would want to work for WandK, what would they do? Twiddle their thumbs, sit around thinking up excuses and lies? At one time working for the royals was considered a stepping stone to a more lucrative job, a wonderful thing to have on one’s CV but I don’t think that KP is the place anyone would want their names attached to. KP has become much too problematic and shambolic for any true professional to want to take on.
Anyone intelligent enough and super competent to do the massive heavy lift required to get the Wales couple on track to at least look the part of “working royals” wants nothing to do with them. So this whole scheme was DOA from the start.
It drives me nuts that they get zero media pushback. “Kate’s healing is the focus” yeah for the FAMILY. But the business side should still be functioning. They tried this with the cancer announcement – but they have a whole business side that should be better at this. These absolute idiots.
Exactly. I’ve never known any family come to a standstill after a cancer announcement. On the contrary they make efforts to keep the same routine going for the kids and whoever is fit to work is also out working too.
Another proof they don’t have a business side. With Keen out and Willnot “busy with the school run” their office have nothing to sell.
Busy with the school run when school is in session. And when school isn’t in session, they’re busy because it isn’t in session. Rinse and repeat.
The fact that they thought they would get a CEO quality employee at an entry level income was hilarious. No one needs to tell me just how ridiculous these people are they show the world every single time.
It’s the prestige. Most of the higher level appointments are ex-military and ex-government. They then either retire or move on to other high level government roles. If younger employees, they don’t stay past their youthful working life, but have the credibility of working for the BRF.
Interessant that this was the type of CEO that WanK were seeking:
“Headhunters Odgers Berndtson had been charged with finding dynamic candidates who were ’emotionally intelligent, with ‘low ego’ [and] strong self-awareness’.”
That description is the very opposite of WanK themselves.
I remember at the time pointing out that they were literally describing Harry. Turns out he’s not that easily replaced anywhere.
❤️
I read that as looking for a scapegoat. Which is the same thing as looking for who Harry was to them.
I would love to know how they advertise jobs in their team as they don’t have anything to do.
Honestly any seasoned business executive will not want to go anywhere near that dumpster fire of an organization.
Even if they have all the best qualifications in the world to right that ship, the heir and his wife won’t listen to business people since “they know best” as the royals are of the belief that they were “anointed by god” to lead and all that nonsense. They would basically be there to babysit Will and Kate’s calendars.
Plus the pay is low and it would need to be highly competitive with business pay for anyone to want to step into that kind of role.
All those executives know that KP and Willie can’t be whipped into shape. Willie says he wants all this efficiency, but then more might be expected of him. Those execs also wouldn’t want this on their own resumes.
Seems to me the headhunters didn’t do their job, either, unless they referred candidates and W&K rejected them. Still collected a paycheck, no doubt. Money well-spent, KP!
“’emotionally intelligent, with ‘low ego’ [and] strong self-awareness’.”
Wow, real mystery as to why they couldn’t find anyone.
Wow. So the hunt for a top CEO has gone the same way as the “Diversity Tzar.” This confirms to me that these people are so cocooned from the real world that it’s always a huge shock when real professionals want nothing to do with them. On the surface people should be looking at the role(s) and thinking the prestige of the position will help open doors further down the line. Yet, this definitely isn’t happening. The palace(s) can try to dress this up any way they like but, it looks as if something is drastically wrong with working conditions within the palace(s).
Has the staff had any work this year, other than covering up the N. Korean level photo manipulation? I guess some one is in charge of making sure the helicopter is ready to go whenever Willy likes.
Planting stories against Harry and Meghan is a lot of work, maybe.
Probably couldn’t find anyone to work with the rage monster. Really who would work as a yes man CEO with so little pay and be blamed for everything.
Between this, Rose at the horse show with the head horse, and the Fail running side-by-sides of H&M’s rockstar Nigerian success tour with Will’s sad shovel, I really get the feeling that someone is trying to push Mr Incandescence over the edge. I expect an unhinged rant incoming shortly…
WTH kind of attributes masquerading as professional requirements are these? No competent professional would describe themselves this way. At this point, they should try recruiting naive upcoming graduates from UK universities, or ask 45 how he finds his idiotic cult minions…
I find this hilarious. Heaven knows, they need more professionalism in the office, but it would appear that nobody wants to work with them. NOBODY. 🥸
This article makes me think Huevo is giving up the pretense of making KP into a working enterprise:
A) Because he doesn’t want to work
B) Because, for whatever mystery reason, Huesa isn’t in the picture anymore and isn’t going to be in the picture in the future
C) Because he thinks he may not have much longer be based out of KP.
Perhaps the rumors of Chuck’s prognosis being more dire than reported aren’t far from reality.