Happy Friday! This week, we examined the disappearance of Princess Kate Middleton and what it reveals about keeping a narrative tight. But first...

📡ON OUR RADAR

• The House passed a bill this week requiring ByteDance to sell off TikTok or face a ban in the United States. This development serves as the latest entry into a well-documented power struggle between the US, China, and makeup influencers, as critics of the app cite its potential threat to national security—while others believe the bill infringes upon the First Amendment and sets a dangerous precedent.

• Boeing is back in the news after the death of John Barnett, a former employee-turned-whistleblower who exposed critical safety issues there. Barnett, who died from what’s been reported as a "self-inflicted wound,” had been testifying against Boeing. His death refocuses attention on Boeing and its suppliers' practices, especially following the 737 Max door incident.

• Liquid Death, the water brand famous for its marketing strategy, is now valued at $1.4 billion. Inspired by beer brands, Liquid Death has built brand loyalty by offering an edgy, male-focused persona that far exceeds the product’s practical function of hydration.

💡ON OUR MINDS: The Princess and the Press

• Last Sunday, the official Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account released a seemingly innocuous picture of Princess Catherine and her children to celebrate Mother’s Day. However, the amateur picture editor hitting send incidentally fired off the Photoshop job heard around the world.

• News agencies soon took a rare step and issued advisories about the photo and suggested outlets withdraw the photo from stories, citing source manipulation. The palace responded with a tweet from Catherine, personally apologizing for the botched editing.

• Finding it hard to believe that the future Queen of England spent time on the Adobe Creative Suite, the internet exploded with conspiracy theories about her whereabouts, given her recent absence from the public eye and the now-famous image.

• With the British press expressing doubt regarding official statements from Buckingham Palace, it appears that the Royals have lost control of the former air-tight narrative they used to maintain—and of the outlets who, until recently, seemed to be more like megaphones for the Windsors.

• The Royal Family is more vulnerable than ever, and as long as we don’t really know where the Princess is, the narrative will continue to unravel. The royals have their PR work cut out to regain hold of not only this story, but a centuries-old reputation as well. And, ironically, rectification could be as simple as a photo of a Princess with today’s paper.

🥊QUICK HITS:

In case you missed these reads:

• Cosmopolitan took a deep dive into the unregulated world of child influencers and the legislation being explored in some states to offer stricter protocols protecting kids. 

• Bibliophiles had a field day suggesting which of their favorite books were left out of The Atlantic’s list of the 136 greatest American novels of the Last 100 years—and it all played out on X.

• A sustainable footwear brand is having trouble sustaining leadership. Allbirds announced the company’s second CEO replacement in less than a year. Here’s hoping the next one is a better fit.