PR professionals and issues management experts take note: the “Firm” had a chance to draw a line and limit this crisis. Today’s statement blew that chance.
No apology, no contrition, no regret.
A missed opportunity. Now, this issue will fester through weeks of speculation about the future of the monarchy.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/17/prince-andrew-to-give-up-royal-titles
Another excellent Marina Hyde column today — this time addressing the Royal Family’s very, very bad week and reminding everyone of that time-worn truism in journalism: Don’t write, say or email anything you don’t want to see on the front page of a newspaper/website.
Some things have a tendency to blow over, particularly when there is so much happening politically in the world. Other issues live on, fed with a constant drip, drip, drip of that journalistic fertilizer: new details that keep stories alive. Hyde suspects the latter in this case:
I’ve often wondered if the royal’s woes are caused by some intrinsic, institutional flaw or whether this is simply caused by the public’s every-growing demands for transparency catching-up with a brittle, aging institutional structure.
Could be a bit of both.
Likely more rough seas ahead for “The Firm” and the busy people charged with maintaining and burnishing the brand.
The Observer’s Andrew Rawnsley rightly reminds us that the US President’s recent state visit to the UK is really a sell-out of Canada. Here’s a snippet from Rawnsley’s 13 September 2025 column:
You can read the entire article here: https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/operation-ingratiate-takes-morerisks-with-starmers-embattled-reputation
Thanks to lettersofnote.com for providing some perspective this morning during these turbulent political times and reminding me of the wisdom of Bertrand Russell.
Eighty-five years ago, Russell told readers the price of democracy included occasional bouts of outrage. Implied in this sentiment is our obligation to be outraged in the face of injustice and governmental over-reach.
Whether you’re watching Saskatchewan politics, Canadian politics or beyond, there seems to be much fodder for outrage.
Russell reminds us of the need to be watchful and actively engaged.
Don’t you imagine the leaves dream right now, how comfortable it will be to touch the earth instead of the nothingness of the air and the endless freshets of the wind?
Mary Oliver, Song for Autumn.
Ian Hanna 