Tuesday 25 September 2012

The Duchess's New Clothes

Just after the marriage of HRH and HRH last year, I wrote a blogpost in June 2011 with the above headline.

At the time, everyone was talking about what Kate was wearing and, predictably, this interest has not waned at all.

I signed off my blogpost with the comment that I doubted that there could be more interest in 'Princess Middleton' unless she went completely naked; which of course, she has now done (allegedly).

One could add, 'after a fashion' - the fashion in question being the chosen swimwear of many in the South of France i.e. a monokini or a nonokini.

When I worked as a Junior Copywriter under the supervision of Salman Rushdie at Ogilvy many years ago, I learned that one of the basic rules of Advertising was to 'First attract attention'. Without your audience's attention, you have no chance of delivering your message.

Catherine Middleton certainly did that when she wore her 'see-through' dress for a student fashion show, at which Prince William was said to declare that she was 'really hot'.

Nearly a year-and-a-half on, the girl's still managing to keep the interest of the world's media glued to her every appearance. However, it now seems that her husband is finding this more than a little tiresome. The couple were staying (we are told) at a villa belonging to Viscount Linley.  Viscount Linley, you will recall, is the son of  society photographer, Lord Snowdon, formerly Anthony Armstrong-Jones.

If Anthony Armstrong Jones (Tony), had not married a princess, he might have become more involved with the Paparazzi himself, who knows?  In any case, if Viscount Linley, with his upbringing, cannot recognize a good spot for a paparazzo photographer a mile off, then who can?

Which brings me to another 'soundbite' I recall, from the man who said 'News is something someone somewhere doesn't want published. All the rest is advertising'.