Heat Magazine
December 2013
Six Degrees of Rilla Blythe
Londoners have been adapted the 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon' game around Prince Kenneth's girlfriend, Rilla Blythe, who has moved from Oxford to Croydon. What started out as competitive bragging rights based on the number Rilla sightings has turned into a drinking game where the more people you know who have seen Rilla, or the more you have seen her yourself, the more shots you drink. It's even became a way of breaking ties. A recent pub quiz at Rilla's local The King George had two teams tied for first prize, the tie was broken by the team who had had the most direct sightings of Rilla (an impressive 452).
Twitter has also exploded. #RillaWatch has seen a surge of activity with local's competing with the paparazzi for the best shots of the girl in line to marry the man in line for the throne.
Best places to spot her are reported as being the Southern Rail main line between Croydon and London, the Underground (District or Central Lines), or Oxford Street where she's been seen shopping.
Her choice of work has also spawned a new hashtag - #RoyallyServed – where guests at the events where she waitresses tweeting about their experience of having been served by the girl who serves our future King's every need. It seems that no London event is complete without Rilla Blythe as one of the wait-staff. Here's a selection of the more PG rated guests' tweets:
She'd be much prettier if she smiled more #RoyallyServed
I tried to talk to her, but she moves so fast #RoyallyServed
How 'bout these baps #RoyallyServed (photo of Rilla serving mini burger canapes)
Fill me up Rilla! #RoyallyServed (photo of Rilla refilling champagne glasses)
Cutest Canadian accent! #RoyallyServed
What's this aboot? #RoyallyServed
That uniform is doing things to me #RoyallyServed
Paid extra to have Rilla serve at my event and she didn't even pose for a photo! #RoyallyServed
She wouldn't talk to me, but seems happy chatting to this posh dude #RoyallyServed (photo of Rilla answering the query of rich looking guest)
I wonder what he's paying for? #RoyallyServed (photo of a man putting his credit card back in his wallet after paying Rilla for the bar bill)
Tuned me down flat when I asked for her phone number, b**** #RoyallyServed
Andrew Rosemont, Royal Correspndent. Twitter Rosemont_Sun
The Sun
XX December 2013
Sir Tops Prince
Those who were hoping for a reconciliation between Prince Kenneth and Toppy (Lady Thomasina Wentworth-Watson to use her correct title) were sadly disappointed to find out recently he'd been pipped at the post by his close friend Sir Hew Home of Wedderburn, 16th Baronet.
Last night all of London's elite gathered at Banqueting House to celebrate the engagement of Lady Thomasina and Sir Hew. According to our sources, Sir Hew and Lady Thomasina have always been good friends, but their friendship blossomed into something more last Summer.
"Toppy and Ken haven't dated for years," one guest who wished to remain unnamed stated, "its only the tabloids that have kept fanning the flame of that relationship."
Others weren't so sure, while no one was prepared to go on record, it widely accepted among some of their closer friends that for Toppy, Sir Hew is cold soup warmed over. Having lost her opportunity at a royal marriage to the Canadian Mitzi, Toppy has done the next best thing and married into one of Scotland's oldest families.
And, with the Wedderburn family estate reportedly being worth in excess of £60 million, it's not the worst decision Lady Thomasina could make. When they marry, their combined wealth will exceed that of Prince Kenneth, making them in top twenty of the country's wealthiest households.
Cinderilla goes to the ball
London's top waitress, Rilla Blythe, was on hand to witness the engagement celebrations, not as a guest, but as a waitress.
Perhaps she was simply ensuring her rival was well and truly off the market as her own relationship with the Prince continues to be on rocky ground. In fact, with Rilla waiting on his closest friends, speculations are rife that her relationship with the Prince has cooled.
Royal commentators agree that if the relationship was serious, the Royal Family would not have allowed Rilla Blythe to work as a waitress to the rich and famous. It is far more likely that the Canadian wannabe is looking for her next wealthy conquest. And she might not have to go far. One of the staff working that night reported seeing Rilla entering an anti-room with two male guests. Just what Rilla got up to with these two men is unknown, but they both left about ten minutes later wearing rather satisfied smiles. The bride to be was heard yelling at the Canadian shortly afterwards. One can only assume at the use of her engagement for the Mitzi's own assignations.
From the desk of Jordan Montgomery, Twitter: JrdnMRoyalCorresp
Royal Correspondent, Daily Mail (Online Edition)
XX December 2013
Oxford to Croydon: How the (aspiring) Mighty Fall
After the party is over, we all must go back to our roots. Rilla Blythe has swapped the spires of Oxford for the more mundane Croydon. While Prince Kenneth completes his Airforce Training, his sometime girlfriend has been forced to live by her own means, swapping her spacious, Georgian Oxford home for a post-war Croydon concrete monstrosity.
(picture left of a flat similar to the one Rilla has and picture right of the place they had in Oxford).
Without her royal boyfriend to get her into prestigious Oxford degrees or to fund her lifestyle, Rilla Blythe is doing what the rest of us do, trying to live within her monthly salary. Along with a change of residence,this has forced Rilla's taste in food and fashion has come down a peg or two as well .
(Photo left: Rilla and Tatty having afternoon tea. Photo right: Rilla eating a sandwich in Pret)
Two months ago, Rilla was known for her luxurious afternoon teas funded by her high society friends. Last week she was spotted scrambling around the bottom of her bag for coins to pay for a Pret sandwich, and chocolate brownie (seems she is even foregoing her favourite millionaire shortbread!).
(Photo left: Rilla wearing a pair of Jimmy Choos; Photo right Rilla trying on boots at Jones The Bootmaker)
Officially, Prince Kenneth is completing pilot training in Scotland, while Rilla Blythe pursues her career (as a waitress!) in London. If he was planning on returning, however, she would have found more formal digs, and they certainly would have been vetted by the Royal Family's security team. One has to question – is the fairytale over?
(Insert Left: a series of #royallyserved tweets suggesting Rilla flirts while she waitresses)
Perhaps even Rilla thinks so, if we are to believe the trending hashtag #royallyserved on the amount of men she openly flirts with. Like royal girlfriends before her, Rilla may have seen the writing on the wall and be searching for her next companion to soften the blow with the Prince confirms she's been replaced.
From the desk of Angus Montcrief, Twitter: AMArchCorresp
The Evening Times
XX, December 2013
Events Companies that break the law to cater to their client's every whim
Using event companies to manage celebrations has long been the way of the rich and famous. From private parties to corporate hospitality, the best event organisers are able to bring together everything you and your guests need for your party.
Are these companies, however, starting to go beyond the ice sculpture and imported cavier?
Our investigates have found that major event companies have been reported as sourcing drugs and prostitutes to satisfy the whims of their high end clients.
Several events companies have been linked to such behaviour, including The Event Experts where Rilla Blythe, girlfriend of heir to the throne Prince Kenneth, is currently employed as a "waitress". Our investigators have found that events where Rilla Blythe waitresses attract a premium of between 15 -35% above their standard offering. One has to wonder what services Rilla Blythe performs for this extra prices. Surely it cannot just be the way she carries a tray full of glasses?
The Events Experts deny that any illicit activity is included in their entertainment packages. They claim that they charge extra for events that require senior wait-staff, that is wait-staff who have passed a Home Office DBS check, and have signed non-disclosures agreements to ensure any conversation they overhear is not discussed elsewhere. Our investigators, however, found that while the staff at events changes frequently, the one constant is Rilla Blythe.
Further question to The Events Experts have been referred to their lawyers, who declined to answer. This seems over the top for a legitimate business with nothing to hide. Indeed, by calling in their lawyers The Events Experts are confirming that, at best, they are sailing very close to the wind.
Marketing Weekly
Creative Strategy Section
XX December 2013
The Rilla Effect
British clothing brands are up in arms after foreign rivals experience an upsurge in sales this season based on what they're calling 'The Rilla Effect'. Designer brands have long known the effect of celebrity endorsement. Savvy Swedish owned high street brand, H&M, is now enjoying the benefit of fashion choices of royal girlfriend, Rilla Blythe. And other brands are looking to follow their lead.
H&M are known for providing fast, affordable fashion to British consumers. Rilla Blythe, with an eye for fashion on a shoestring has been photographed wearing several of this season's H&M range, often multiple times. A fact that wasn't lost on Linnea Andersson, H&M's Marketing Director.
"I'd noticed photos of Rilla Blythe in the UK daily tabloids, often wearing H&M's new range of pocket-skirts," Ms Andersson said, "We were renegotiating our advertising budget with NewsGroup, who own many of the lead tabloids, and I decided to add the negotiation advance notice of any photos where she is wearing a H&M product. We agreed we would take a half page spread every time they featured Rilla Blythe wearing a H&M design."
A decision that has paid off. H&M sold out of the pocket-skirt within days of their ad appearing next to the photographs of Rilla Blythe, and a pea-green winter coat she was photographed wearing twice has become their fastest selling item this season.
It's a win-win arrangement for both NewsGroup, who've increased their share of H&M's marketing budget, and for H&M who are receiving celebrity endorsement of their range without, it seems, having to pay endorsement fees.
When asked if it was fair to Ms Blythe, Linnea Andersson responded "the photographers were already taking photos of her, she must wear something, we simply put two and two together in a unique way. In fact, if she'd like to formalise the arrangement, we would love to use her in our upcoming Spring campaign."
British high street brands who have been struggling for sometime are reportedly "disappointed" that Prince Kenneth's girlfriend is choosing to support non-British brands. BHS' Marketing Manager, Jane Ross commented "We respect the privacy of the Royal Family and would never have imposed in the way H&M have done. Even so," she continued "you'd think the girlfriend of the heir to the throne would support British brands in her choice of everyday fashion. We have a range of skirts that are nicer than the H&M one she was photographed wearing!"
It's not just fashion that is experiencing 'The Rilla Effect'. When a box of own brand millionaire shortbread could be seen poking out from her shopping bag, Tesco moved the product to front of store and it sold like hotcakes.
Ms Blythe was unavailable for comment. It does seem, however, if she ever gets sick of the waitressing there is a career as an influencer waiting for her!