Distrust over the Kate Middleton saga threatens the royal family’s $28 billion business empire

Fortune

The Windsors’ empire is worth $28 billion, and the public uproar this week over how they handled a badly photoshopped image along with the disappearance of their most popular member is showing the cracks in the family’s once-impenetrable facade.

Transcript

00:00 Conspiracy theories about Kate Middleton's whereabouts have been causing a public relations meltdown in the royal family.

00:06 And their $28 billion empire might suffer because of it.

00:09 Public uproar over how the royal family handled a badly photoshopped image,

00:13 along with the disappearance of their most popular member,

00:16 is just the latest in a series of flops that have led to a mistrust with the royal media and the monarchial institution itself.

00:24 It's not just public perception that's at stake for the royal family.

00:27 The discontent could have an impact on the family's vast wealth too.

00:31 The Windsors are the faces of a $28 billion empire that includes vast real estate holdings across the United Kingdom,

00:38 plus urban developments and commercial properties.

00:41 It's hard to calculate how much they're worth to the UK too,

00:45 since their celebrity status brings in media, creates memorabilia, attracts tourism, and generally fuels attention to the country.

00:52 Any perceived misstep or scandal could impact the family's financial holdings by decreased public support, one PR expert told Fortune.

01:01 Simply put, taxpayers may not be as willing to shell out money for an institution they don't trust,

01:06 which could diminish their business and economic impact in the long run.

Category

Transcript

Recommended