THE growing media interest in Prince William and Prince Harry has led the
Prince of Wales to restructure his press office as part of a long-term
communications strategy for St James's Palace.
An assistant press secretary will be recruited in the summer - just as Prince
William leaves Eton and embarks on his "gap" year, with all the inevitable
media attention involved. The Prince of Wales's broad range of concerns and
organisations will also be divided into different press portfolios.
These will be split between his principal press secretary, Sandy Henney, his
deputy press secretary, Colleen Harris, and the new appointee. There will
also be a new press office manager. It is Miss Henney who will be
responsible for easing the young Princes into the full glare of the media
spotlight during the next few years.
While there are no immediate plans to appoint a personal private secretary or
equerry for his sons - public engagements and royal duties remain a long way
off - the Prince of Wales is well aware that public interest is not going to hold
back. The changes also reflect improving royal relations with the media since
the low points of the "annus horribilis" of 1992 and the royal divorces.
The last three years have, for example, seen the appointment of the Queen's
first communications director and the introduction of websites for Buckingham
and St James's Palaces. a St James's Palace spokesman yesterday said: "We
are trying to respond more effectively to the different needs of the media and
the new arrangements are being put in place with a view to the next five to 10
years."
The restructuring coincides with the departure of the Prince's Duchy of
Cornwall press officer, Kiloran McGrigor, 39, who was appointed a Member
of the Victorian Order in 1990. She is leaving after 16 years at Buckingham
and St James's Palaces and her responsibilities are to be split between the
three press secretaries. A spokesman said: "She will be greatly missed and
she leaves with all our best wishes."