From the desk of Angus Montcrief, Twitter: AMArchCorresp
The Evening Times
March 2014
Rilla gets the Royal Treatment
The King and the Prince of Wales have taken the unprecedented step of asking the press to be respectful of Rilla Blythe's privacy.
Photographers have besieged Ms Blythe since her relationship with the heir to the throne became public. When she lived in New York, her daily walk home included running the gauntlet of photographers and journalists. Something that was repeated and amplified since her move to Croydon.
No one with a modicum of sense would disagree that the "Peeping Tom" photos of Ms Blythe in various stages of undress were intrusive and unwarranted (not to mention possibly illegal). The Palace's reaction, however, is what is really of interest.
All the King's Horses
When the press forced Ms Blythe to barricade herself into clothing store, it wasn't private security that rescued her; It was a combined force of the King's and the Prince of Wales' personal security detail that came to her rescue, lead by the King's head of security.
The ensuing statement, asking the press to respect her privacy is the first official statement we have regarding Ms Blythe's status.
Her relationship with Prince Kenneth has been the world's worst kept secret for several years now. He has visited her family, she has met the King, she was included to the side of official photographs shared at Christmas, and of course was officially Prince Kenneth's "flat mate" during their time at Oxford. This statement, however, for the first time officially acknowledges that she is indeed the Prince of Wales' girlfriend.
Why is this significant? It is the first time ANYONE has been officially recognised as the Prince's girl friend. Ms Blythe has for some time been the front-runner in women the press have linked the Prince to (his childhood friend Lady Henrietta de Duras having been assured to be just a good friends and Lady Toppy Wentworth- Watson becoming engaged to Sir Hew home of Wedderburn, 16th baronet).
In royal language, this statement is as good as an announcement that while they are not engaged, the Prince does indeed intend to take the Canadian as his bride one day. As such, one wonders if this will reduce or increase the public interest in Rilla Blythe.
Ms Blythe has not been seen publicly since the lingerie photographs were printed and is rumoured to be staying at Buckingham Palace. One wonders if this horrific invasion of the press is just the push the Prince needed to physically bring Ms Blythe into his inner circle. And if we should keep our calendars free for a spring or summer wedding.
