There is a little-talked-about disease called VIPitis, and it particularly affects those who come into contact with the vector. Close and prolonged exposure renders such people unable to function properly. Judgement is impaired as is the ability to speak up, even if there is overwhelming need to do so. The affected person tends to react in inverse proportion to need—excessive when unnecessary and vice versa. And no country or region is immune to this malaise.
The embarrassment about the photograph of the Princess of Wales with her three children, released by her husband and by Kensington Palace was probably caused by this ailment. The British heir apparent’s wife has made quite a name for herself as an amateur photographer, personally clicking family photos and releasing them to the media. However, the latest photo was taken by the Prince of Wales, clearly intent on following his wife’s cue—with disastrous consequences.
He does not seem to have the same eye for detail as his spouse: the glitches in his debut photo were promptly sighted and cited by thousands of people on social media. These included a strangle anomaly in his daughter Charlotte’s left arm, hair and skirt, his younger son Louis’ curiously positioned right hand and even the zipper on his wife’s jacket. The missing wedding and sapphire engagement rings on her left hand, however, may not have been his fault.
But more embarrassment was to follow. It emerged that while Prince William clicked the photo, the editing errors were made by his wife and she owned up to it as soon as the flaws were pointed out. While her talent as a shutterbug have been hailed for years now, evidently the finishing touches to her photographs were done by a keener eye. Her own editing prowess clearly leaves much to be desired. So, blue-blooded and otherwise, there are red faces all round.
Normally the aides and courtiers surrounding the royals are supposed to vet and handle everything they do, including image management. As the British public was already increasingly restive about their future queen’s health because she has not been seen in public since January, the last thing the royals needed was a problem in an initiative that was supposed to allay fears and stanch speculation. A possible debilitating case of VIPitis among the staff did not help.
That their aides should have spotted the glaring shortcomings in the photo before it was released and pointed them out goes without saying. The royal couple should have also had the forethought—and the humility—to realise that fresh eyes and practiced hands can only be beneficial, especially when it comes to anything that will find its way into social media with its millions of eagle-eyed and sharp-tongued interlocutors. Neither parties did what they should have.
“Speaking truth to power” need not mean only instances of the media loftily holding the political class up to scrutiny, it also encompasses staff members frankly telling VIPs of all stripes that their actions are not up to the mark. But unlike the antagonistic media-politician equation, the latter cannot happen without mutual trust; but it is far harder, and thankless. Unfortunately, VIPitis can skew this delicate balance by impeding crucial communication.
Whether this affliction rendered officials unable to tell their principals about the glitches, or these younger royals no longer consult experienced staff on crucial matters, either way things do not look good for palace professionals. In fact another variant of VIPitis may have infected the Wales, impairing their ability to realise they are not infallible and cannot ever bypass their staff. They appear to have forgotten that a single misstep can be very damaging to The Firm.
In this case, Princess Catherine personally owning up to the photoshopping errors has also made the public even more sceptical about her health. Major international news agencies have withdrawn the faulty photograph and many Britons are now postulating that it may not be recent at all as the foliage in the background appears to signal early autumn rather than February-March! All the inconsistencies have led to renewed speculation about her condition, and even location.
The move by four international news agencies to “kill” the photograph after finding evidence of digital alterations in the image is understandable. The dangers of AI-created deepfakes are becoming more and more acute. The slightest hint of manipulation would make many people and organisations uneasy. The British royals, especially tech-savvy younger ones, cannot but be aware of the harmful potential of altered images once they reach the social media ocean.
Especially because many on social media also have a version of VIPitis, which is more akin to an allergy: even online exposure to that elite class of people makes them break out in (verbal) urticaria. So, no matter what is put out now as the ‘real’ story behind that photograph of Kate and the kids, those with the allergic variant of VIPitis will resolutely believe the worst. Some concerted rearguard action by the royals and their staff to ameliorate the situation is in order.
No wonder the public was treated to a glimpse of the Wales couple in their car on Monday—he heading to the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey and she to a “private appointment”, presumably with a doctor as she has cancelled all official engagements at least till after Easter. Apart from the cuteness factor of them sharing the ride from Windsor to London when they have access to separate vehicles, it also showed that the Princess is actually up and about.
Prince William was seen chatting relaxedly with Queen Camilla at the Abbey. Hopefully VIPitis has not made him impervious to the importance of this incident. The flubbed photograph episode shows a dangerous lack of frank communication between the Waleses and their aides, both perhaps due to different variants of VIPitis. That should not be allowed to go on unremedied. Ditto for social media urticaria. This is a lesson for everyone on the perils of VIPitis.
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