Do we think this was blatant pr?

In the 62/63 winter Anne delivered sacks of coal in the district where she lived, Katherine Kent did soup runs, worked on a Samaritan help line , taught music to school children and much more, all without a photographer. I do think the press were tipped off about the sand bag aid, cameras filmed as they left the depot, I am sure they didn't have a shoot that day so wanted to give a helping hand , just added some good PR and I can understand this, they had a first class teacher

Well said Gally

No, they don't have any 'effect on my life' but I wasn't the one questioning why or for how long they were filling sandbags. I think I would have gone to help my neighbours down the road as they did, not added to the general chaos by travelling 300 miles north or 150 miles west to help. They would have been damned for using a helicopter, or taking up space in a delayed train to get there and just because they are sons of a 'farmer', it doesn't mean they know one end of a cow from another! As I said before, they are criticised whatever they do or don't do. I rather suspect other members of the family have helped in understated ways without being pestered by the press, just as you or I would lend a hand to our neighbours who are in trouble and distress.

Elegran. Edward was in South Wales 19th November, his reign was over three weeks later.

But that is no reason to automatically assume that without the coverage they would not have been there. They were there. Good for them, whether they had been royalty or total unknowns.

From their answers to the questions asked by the journalists (reported by the same journalists) they themselves had not invited the press. Would they have been better staying at home in front of a cosy fire?

Or (as the future Edward VIII said about the plight of unemployed miners) saying "Something should be done about this", returning to the nightclubs and doing damn-all?

There are plenty of people who gave their time and energy - and put themselves in danger - to help others during this terrible weather. I don't understand why two healthy young men who are paid handsomely for doing not very much should receive such coverage.

"after a day moving sandbags"

Gally, they have no effect on my life, do they have any effect on yours? I ask how long because I can then make my own decision on PR or genuine help . I I would think less of PR if they had visited Hull when it had floods, or being farmers sons gone down to Somerset and helped put some cattle on trucks

These boys do no wrong in my eyes it's not their fault they where born in to the lives they have,I didn't notice them wearing the designer wellingtons worn by the so called experts when they where interviewed a day or so earlier,and I wonder if the reporters donated their fee's to The Datchet Parish Council Fund ? I think not.

I don't usually have much time for the royals, but this seems to be just what it is - mucking in!

Publicity jing

I've never understood why Diana wanted to watch operations. How could that help anybody?

Don't think Anniebach's comment can be called "anti-life".
And nothing wrong with a healthy bit of cynicism.

At least they carried the sandbags Annie; does it matter for how long - will it change your life and your views on the subject of Royalty if you knew? Cynical indeed.

"Princes William and Harry have left the flood-hit village of Datchet in Berkshire after a day moving sandbags in a "private" mission to help residents."

""They were very involved and wanting to know what was going on," parish clerk Graham Leaver said. "

"They were very natural. To be honest, they could have walked in among people here and nobody would have recognised them looking at the way they were dressed.

"They came into our parish office and it took most of us a few minutes to realise they were there. They were particularly interested in talking to the troops."

www.itv.com/news/story/2014-02-14/william-harry-sandbags-datchet/

Oh Anniebach - what a cynical, anti life comment.

Saw them on the news and my first thought was their mother who did the secret visit to watch an op in a London hospital, full make up and earrings . Anyone know how long they spent carrying the sand bags ?

prince's remit

It has always been part of a prince's to "muck in with the troops". It's great that these two do it cheerfully.

I missed that one. Brilliant glassfortwo

I did enjoy the photoshop put up by glassortwo, it made me laugh so thanks for that. I feel for these 2 young men, so much cynicism about anything they do. I suspect LizG is right about their motivation in mucking in with the troops.

Their Great Grandparents toured war torn London and it was done from the heart. I doubt the Princes saw it as PR but from the heart too. It is the media, again, which has changed the action into something other than that intended.

A lot more successful PR than that of the politicians staring at floods. Those boys are PR gold, just like their mum. Because they have her charm.

I don't think it was blatant PR, just ordinary PR. In addition I think "so what?" Why does that matter if they are doing something useful? They are more useful than most celebrities who get air time for just being air heads.

Yes, I do think it was blatant PR - but then that's nothing new is it.

Neither did the journalists.