#sim: lauryn townsend

[housekonig]

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In the brief span of six years, Lauryn Townsend (29) has carved out an indispensable niche within the Palace and Family “business”. During Vernick’s print media golden era, King Edward V created the Department of Public Engagement—an auxiliary office of the Royal Household tasked with managing the five pivotal newspapers that would ultimately become the Royal Circlet: The Vernick Crier, The Post-Belen, Chandler’s Owl, Harrell World News, and Times Today; the office remained fundamentally untouched until Townsend’s arrival. Young and packing an impressive resume, the youthful and social media savvy Townsend symbolizes the Royal Family’s goal to do what seems obvious: fill their ranks with genuinely qualified courtiers. Yet, her appointment is also reflective of the traditional functions of a system resistant to change and based on pedigree. Townsend, despite her overwhelming qualifications, is, like most courtiers, connected to the Family’s inner circle through blood and marriage. She is the niece of the influential Lord Albert Meere, the long-standing Private Secretary to Her Majesty and her late husband. And as of six (6) months ago, her marriage to Cassian Willkshive l from the influential and aristocratic von Willkshiven family—is the Duke of Henford’s godson—further linking her to the the old guard. Townsend’s tenure has already begun to transform the centuries-old foundations of rank and hierarchy that have long dictated the functioning of the Royal Household. Palace insiders, some well acquainted with the inner workings of the Family, speak of Townsend's unprecedented access to Her Majesty and every member of the Family—an access rivalled only by her uncle. Occupying a role technically well-below a Private Secretary, she has, in practice, become the de facto approver of all matters of public engagement—polling, communications, social media, public events, and more. In effect, Townsend has become the unofficial but undeniable publicist for the Royal Family, a role they’d never admit to needing, that has an undeniable influence on their functioning. The changes Townsend has spearheaded within the Royal Household signals a notable departure from tradition, albeit slow. Her merging of fresh perspective with a respect for tradition and ceremony positions Townsend not just as a pivotal figure in the present narrative of the Royal Family but as a mother of its evolving legacy in the public eye.

An excerpt from Women in Sevice: The Ladies Behind The Queen by Mirabelle Corey

Transcript Below:

LAURYN**: Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, I'm happy to share that our campaign is a success.

LAURYN: Prince Christopher's polling higher than ever, with some calling this the era of "Chrismania," we've–

DR. THORNE: Killed my major tour and press opportunities, and no major media connected to them will cover me, and–

LAURYN: The University press is losing interest in light of buzz dying in fear of public backlash. The numbers recommend we–

DR. THORNE: Do something big to regain momentum. Controversial without controversy, if you will…

LAURYN: strongly revisit Lady Brighton and her role.

DR. THORNE: Go on the last show tonight.