Wills plays hardball in search for spin doctor
Polishing the images of the popular Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince harry should be one of the plum jobs in PR. But i hear their appointment of a new communications secretary has proved such a fraught process that they have drafted in a highly paid firm of headhunters.
Former BBC producer Ed Perkins quit Kensington Palace more than seven weeks ago, after only two years as their press secretary, and Prince William, Kate and harry have still not found a suitable candidate to succeed him.
‘it’s a nightmare,’ claims a senior courtier. ‘Prince William does not take advice readily — let’s put it like that. several well-qualified candidates have been ruled out.’
William has a reputation for being strong- willed, but a Kensington Palace spokesman denies suggestions that the Prince has made clear he does not want anyone who has worked at Buckingham Palace or Prince Charles’s office at Clarence house.
‘The recruitment process is ongoing,’ says the spokesman. ‘it has been straightforward and we are close to an appointment being made.’
Plans were announced in January for a unified media operation based at Buckingham Palace for all members of the Royal Family, but they have been shelved amid some tensions.
Prince Charles’s staff have returned to Clarence house while William, Kate and harry have their own office at Kensington Palace.
The plans are said to have caused friction between Buckingham Palace press chief sally osman, and Kristina Kyriacou, Prince Charles’s outgoing communications secretary.
Kyriacou, a straight-talking former PR for pop singers such as Take That star gary Barlow and Bjork, favoured a more dynamic, modern approach to promoting the heir to the throne, but she is said to have come up against resistance from traditionalists.
Perkins, who has left to join the PR firm Portland, succeeded Miguel head after he was promoted to the role of William, Kate and harry’s private secretary. head was at the hospital when Kate gave birth to Prince george and is said to act more like a friend of William than an employee.