THE Interview.
So….THAT WAS INTENSE!
The Oprah/ Harry/ Meghan interview far surpassed my expectations in terms of jaw-dropping juiciness, emotion and transparency. I really did not expect them to share SO much delicate information. But after hearing what they’ve been through (especially Harry, oh my heart still breaks for him) I can’t say I’m shocked? I guess I wonder what the intent was other than to air their side of the story and grievances- which has it’s own power and purpose. But this was a total scorched earth approach from which there is NO turning back. Clearly they are both in pain over what has transpired, and wanted to pull back the curtain on the Royal Family and all it entails. It will be interesting to see how the Palace responds, if at all.
I have never been adamantly for or against Meghan- why would I be? I don’t know her. I like her style and I actually loved her show Suits and was tickled when she got together with Harry because at one point when she was blogging/ IGing as “The Tig” she Instagrammed the cover of my first book on her counter. So I like to think it has a place in their home (although probably not, let’s be real). I think last night she did an extraordinary job communicating what she felt and IS feeling without being mean or merciless- but I did get a little hint of “acting” from her. Did you? Some moments felt like she was trying a little TOO hard to be sympathetic/ wounded bird. I do not believe for one minute that she did not research the Royal Family or Harry when she met him (who wouldn’t! We ALLLLLLL do that!) or had never heard of “Megxit”–and while I am certain that the reality of being a member of the Royal family is far and away harder than anyone could ever imagine, even the most ardent Royals fan, I don’t think she went into it as naive as she made it seem. But so what- the media and Palace have been gunning for her from the start so one can’t be blamed for looking for a bit of sympathy from the world after being eviscerated in front of it.
My first audible gasp of the night was when she called out Kate for being the one who made her cry. In my head I liked to picture Duchess Kate chucking a teacup at the wall as she watches it. :) I liked how Meghan said that Kate owned it and apologized and brought her flowers and that she thinks she’s a “good person”. Although after all this I wonder how poor Kate is faring mentally given the even more extreme pressure on her as the future Queen! One of the best things Meghan said was “you don’t have to hate her to like me, or hate me to like her”…. SO TRUE. Why women are pitted against each other like that is just disgusting. Kate is a very different type of Royal- she was basically bred for this (although I believe they used to refer to her as a “commoner”, right?) Meghan has had, by Royal standards, a more normal life with ups and downs- had a full blown career and a voice she was used to using- so the assimilation would have been MUCH different and awkward for Meghan than anyone to come before her.
The really powerful parts for me were regarding mental health and racism. As someone who has had their own mental health battles, it disgusted me to hear that she asked for help when feeling suicidal and was told no. Basically, “chin up buttercup, this comes with the territory”. UGH, NO! NO! That is horrific! It took a lot of guts to admit that on national TV and is a powerful thing to share with the world. And I do think it was brave of Harry to admit he was embarrassed to ask for more help on her behalf- I think that really proves that this is not all a “story”, as some claim. I am saddened it came to that for them, how horrible. I hope that this call out creates enough friction to change how things like this are handled for other members of the Royal Family who might be suffering as well. Given Diana’s life story, it seems really stupid to not have addressed this issue head on and with compassion. Although, it sounds like that sentiment is not pervasive in “The Firm”.
I also had a hard time understanding the whole “Archie doesn’t get a title” part– that seems so blatantly racist and mean that I have a hard time understanding how that could happen with all these people running the show behind the scenes. The optics are horrific, and that seems to be what the Royals care about most. Meghan brought life back into the family, made it feel more modern and accessible and they blew the chance to embrace her and all the good press and sentiment that could have gone with that. So to treat her the way she was treated does feel malicious. And to leave Prince Harry and Archie, both born into royalty absent of choice, without security is BONKERS. Especially Harry! I mean, COME ON! So of course the guy is going to sign some Netflix deals so he can pay for enormously expensive security for his family. Can’t blame him.
Speaking of Harry, he really legitimized everything for me- not only that he DID the interview (it is HUGE that he did), but the things he said. From his clear love of his grandmother The Queen, anger with Charles (the rat bastard, but we knew that), clear frustration and disgust with “The Firm” as a whole to the love of his wife, son and daughter on the way. I like that he still drew a line on some things to protect his family, and that he said that he hopes to reconcile someday with his Dad and brother, despite them letting him down in such crucial ways. There is an innate kindness to Harry’s demeanor that is very obviously from his mother, whom you can tell he still is grieving deeply. And I do think Diana is smiling down on him, so proud of his conviction and strength in standing up to such an intimidating force as the Palace. As Glennon Doyle said last night, “Harry is the husband Diana deserved”. I can think of no better way to put it.
What the interview really illuminated for me is how “connected” we all are and yet so incredibly, disturbingly DISconnected. We see every bit and piece of each others lives- from the meals we last ate to the birth of babies- and yet it all can feel like theater. We think we know what’s going on with others (celebrities included) and yet we know even less than I think we would without a constant feed of updates. And the media itself is a self-serving machine, one that has the power to destroy or lift up, and after the past couple of years, it can feel hard to trust any news outlet fully. SO while this was an entertaining bit of dramatic television, my hope for the Sussexes and us all is that we give each other a little more grace, a little more love and buck traditions that keep us feeling trapped. Oh, and be wary of what you read and see. :)
What were YOUR thoughts????
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I have read several articles since the interview and I loved reading yours. Your take on the many comments from Meghan to Oprah and all the circumstances is so rational and I agree with everything you point out. The picture of little Harry walking behind his Mom’s casket is hard to ever forget and it’s obvious he misses her terribly and being able to go through life with her.
On a separate note…..Love your design/decorating and following you on Instagram!
Love your take Erin. I too was pretty blown away about the Archie not getting a title situation. If you google Prince Edwards family though, his children are also not HRH. I found an article about how all of that works and it does not seem that Archie would have ever been HRH no matter his race. It seems that is what they mean by title, not duke or duchess or prince. I agree on pretty much every point you made. I do think it was in bad taste for them to do the interview… it just seemed vindictive. I feel like the issue was dying out and they just stirred it up. I think if I was that unhappy with the institution I would stop putting out statements saying the “Duke and Duchess” blah, blah, blah. Seems a little have your cake and eat it too to me.
I was so relieved to read so many comments in line with my thinking. I was worried that I was the only one who had these thoughts. I find upsetting the constant comparisons to Diana. Diana was 19 when she got engaged to Charles, who was 13 years older and in love with another woman. Diana was young, naive, with little education, never even had a boyfriend. She was chosen because she had the pedigree and no past. She thought she was getting love and happily ever after, while Charles’s plan was to produce a couple of heirs, and then do his own thing. Diana got thrown into a very grown-up role that she was unprepared for, with no support from her husband or family, and she suffered for it with bulimia, etc.
On the other hand, Meghan was over 35, well-educated (degree from Northwestern), had an established career, was divorced, etc. etc. She was a very grown-up and capable woman (and that’s a good thing!) who knew what she was getting into. Most of the people commenting on this post know something about royal responsibilities, security, titles, etc. It is inconceivable that Meghan doesn’t understand these things. Yet she chose to give an interview in which she deliberately mislead viewers about Archie’s lack of title, etc., trying to paint it as a slight due to racial prejudice. This is simply malicious behavior.
When they first became engaged I liked Meghan. She seemed intelligent and poised, and able to handle the job. I thought, as many did, how lucky she was to have Harry so in love with her. I also thought she is old enough, and smart enough to understand the tradeoffs. She is giving up a lot of personal freedom, and will have to follow the rules of the monarchy, lots of silly things like wearing hose, no bare legs, only clear nail polish, wearing hats, hats, hats! When you marry into a role in the royal family, you have to be willing to follow the rules and customs.
They had the prerogative to leave if they didn’t like it. However, they should have left with honor and class, instead of with blame, shaming, name-calling, etc. They are privileged beyond belief, with millions of inherited money, A-list celebrity status, etc. Yet they choose to characterize themselves as victims, when they have so much, and so many have so little. Instead of appreciating what they have been given, they choose to try to make money off their titles, while bad-mouthing and attempting to blow-up the institution that has given them so much. I really have no sympathy.
Terrible way to air dirty laundry. I am surprised at the classless act. We all have our own problems without having tens of millions of dollars to make things easier. As the saying goes, Keep Calm and Carry On, for better or for worse.
Based on the comments below and conversations with female inlaws, I find the American obsession with The British Royal Family utterly pathetic and disgusting. The best approach to these and other high profile families is to give them absolutely zero attention. There are so many other relevant and worthwhile causes out there that deserve attention and time and money. The Oprah interview and all the associated regalia is so emblematic of the dumbing down of America and our inability to pay attention to the things that actually matter. Especially so given the all the tragedies of the previous year.
M is the consummate B-rated actress and drama is her game. She leaves in her wake all the men she hates, and while I hope/pray their marriage lasts, I doubt they will be together in 7 years. H will just be the next man she hates and abused her in her mind. Nobody over the age of 25 enters a relationship with royalty clueless anymore. I wouldn’t wish that relationship on my worst enemy. Some seek it. I think even Hollywood was embarrassed by M and now she is the extreme leftist pawn to try and bring down the monarchy. It really is a shame and no wonder so many dislike her. I cannot judge the mental health issue b/c I, myself, and many others have hidden much from family and society, but MAYBE even that is bogus. Some people do lie a lot. And bringing up Kate…why? What is the motivation or purpose? If K wronged her and apologized, somebody has an issue with forgiveness and moving on. I have tried and tried to like M and be excited for her, but I cannot anymore. I think she was so obvious in this interview. Regarding titles- so many do not have titles. Their kids won’t be on the throne. Not necessary, and frankly, most who are not royalty chasers wouldn’t want it for what it all means for their child/life. But again, she had her plan. Regarding skin color…allegations galore. We now live in a society/world where you are guilty until proven innocent. MAYBE somebody said, “Oh my gosh, I hope the baby has your mom’s gorgeous skin, or yours!” People who want to be victims spin things right and left. I’m only ashamed I saw what I did in the interview and that I wasn’t above the soap-opera watching, but again, I am now fully convinced that M is a sham. So darn sad. I really am embarrassed for them both, and frankly, this seemed a wee bit trashy of Opra. I have mostly felt she was above this sort of thing.
My thoughts mirror yours, Chris. I don’t think the Sussex narrative will age well. MM reads as a classic grown up mean girl (her wake of broken relationships are a big tell). Her type seem permanently arrested in the teenage victimhood dramascape – pettiness, self-involvement, gossip, rumor-mongering, cry-bullying, alienation). I sincerely hope MM is getting the mental health care she needs – that’s the one part of her story I find believable.
Alice:
What you said.
Yes! Have you ever noticed how MM always seems to be in conflict with someone and is ALWAYS the poor, sad victim. Her family, friends, staff, Harry’s family, the media and the list goes on. This woman is a self-involved narcissist who is in dire need of help. She is also a born predictor with an ever changing narrative designed to suit her needs and cover her tracks
Good post, Chris.
No O is ot above this sort of thing-it is her lifeblood. (And revenue stream.)
Archie automatically becomes HRH Prince Archie once Charles is King. I’m baffled as to why MM and PH would knowingly mislead the public on this point. King George V, in 1917, codified the rules of succession and titles, styles. They still stand, can only be changed by Parliament. It states that the eldest son of the prince of Wales (in this case, William) His children automatically are HRH prince/princesses. All GRANDCHILDREN of the Sovereign are HRH Prince/Princess. Harry knows this, presumably MM can Google this?
I have LOTS of thoughts. One pervasive thought is that The Firm and members of the Royal Family tried to take away what they thought was important for Harry to incentivize him to leave her when she wouldn’t be controlled. They’ve done it before. They thought, oh you want to leave-ok, no title, no security, no money. Harry was strong enough to say-No, I’m not leaving the family I made; I will leave the family I was born into. Harry has never forgiven/forgotten what happen to his mother and he was damn sure not gonna let it happen to his wife.
Also, I didn’t think I could dislike Charles more than I did. But, I can and do. What a gross schmuck.
Yet he walked her down the aisle at her wedding because she did not have anyone else?
I have been following this saga and a lot of things Meghan said just don’t sound true. She claimed they took her passport so how did she do all that traveling? New York for a baby shower etc🤷♀️ Also, no mental health help, please, that’s a huge part of the Royal Foundation and Harry has had therapy. Also she claimed she and Harry were married 3 days before the big wedding that’s already being walked back saying Meghan misspoke. How many other things did she misspeak? I hope this doesn’t upset you as you’ve been very fair in your post.
She obviously had to get permission to travel. That’s not so hard to figure out. Whatever vow exchange ceremony they had three days prior was something special to them regardless of legality. Must we kick someone when they’re down?
Yes, all that.
These two, Megan and Harry are a couple of pathetic grifters who have manipulated the press since before they married. They say they want a quiet, “authentic life” whatever that is. So go live a quiet life and move on. They did this interview to boost their profile and get more jobs $$$.
Alice:
Amen sister.
The Duchess is clearly playing the victim card. How much were they paid for this interview – or was this part of their 130million dollar Netflix deal.
They said theywere’t paid. You can bet there was/is some sort of reciprocation in one way or another. You scratch my fleas and I’ll scratch yours.
I didn’t know what this was referencing – at first I thought you were interviewed for something. I don’t know what good will come out of airing family dirty laundry to the world. Kate was born to a flight attendant and a dad who worked for the same airline – totally regular, who became wealthy when they started their own business. She had to learn, and she did so with grace because she loved her husband and wanted what was best for him. They didn’t go air laundry and complain about how hard life is (from a $$$$ estate in Montecito). They want all the perks without the sacrifice. I liked “Suits” but she needs to learn about sacrifice. As for the racist comment, I don’t know if I believe it. I was not held my my grandparents at first because they said I was an adopted “Jap Baby”. My parents educated them, and while I was always the “not real” grandkid, I have great memories with them and enjoyed our time together. This generation is spoiled.
Lissa, I am so sorry you to hear that you were treated differently by your grandparents. While it sounds like you have survived that experience, like Meghan has survived her trauma, many do not. I am really grateful to those who speak out about discrimination in the hopes that future generations will receive the respect and kindness everyone deserves.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/harry-and-meghan-the-union-of-two-great-houses-the-windsors-and-the-celebrities-is-complete-1.4504502 This is the smartest comment I have read on the whole affair. The Irish have had the British throne for centuries. This guy gets it and he is on Megan & Harry’s side. Christiane Amanpour did some good interviews today on her podcast. That is clear and not so gossipy ridden situation.
Wow. This comment thread is a disappointing representation of humanity.
I’m so sad that grownups apparently lack critical thinking skills, pile on someone who has been through it, and try to act like there’s some hierarchy of suffering (e.g. you are rich so your license to suffer hardship is revoked- suck it up and shut up).
Also the people making the longest and most strident comments above aren’t saying things that are true- their alternative facts are coming from tabloids that have been printing falsehoods about Meghan for years.
Finally those who criticise meghan because she happened to be born to a man who is clearly a narcissist and emotionally abusive? Classic blame the victim mentality. Way to go ladies.
M made her own money (so not a gold digger), does amazing charitable projects that have real impact and happens to have two sides of the family who are terrible (based on data that is hard to refute). Her family amd workplace refused to counter the incorrect and damaging stories in the press but were happy to issue statements about Botox and extensions for Kate. Where is the fairness? Oh right Meg was the convenient (biracial) whipping boy.
It’s so terrible that women especially feel the need to pile on her like animals and rip her apart here.
So so sad. No wonder she became suicidal.
I hope she and Harry make gobs of money on their own terms amd create a happy family of choice for themselves and never read an ounce of press ever again.
Most of y’all are monsters.
Couldn’t agree more. Thank you for calling out the bullies who blindly believe gossip rag lies over M&H’s lived experience. And the constant ‘splaining about Archies “future” title makes me think they didn’t even watch the interview. I am so saddened to see so many mean women with no compassion on this thread.
this whole comment thread makes me sad for Erin who is lauded by the same readers for her transparency around mental health. when Meghan shares her experience they say she’s performing and not believable. hmmmm what could be the difference? any guesses?
go fug yourself had a fantastic thread about why they are discontinuing the royal roundup feature and linked to specific comments that helped inform their decision.
ultimately the burden of proof is on the royal family to prove they’re not racist (ahem India, Africa, West Indies, Hong Kong) but conveniently this commentariat can’t even see how Meghan’s disclosures are really just the first time someone has made their institutionalized racism personal with clear examples and it’s blowing the minds of royal “reporters” and reactionary conservatives everywhere from poland to kansas (no offense to kansas).
the british royal family, their jewels and their palaces are built on stolen wealth with a huge assist from slave labor (mostly POC). their racism is fundamental to who they are…how is there even plausible denial of that? do these people above not know a jot about history? do they think the Brits were benevolent to their colonies?
this is about more than just one woman’s experience which is why it’s captured the interest of so many people.
the threads are manifold- mental health, maternal health, ethics of journalism, the momentum of social media, family dysfunction, generational trauma, the changing landscape of PR and public opinion, human rights, geopolitics, the relevance of monarchy, the rightful home of stolen artifacts, racism, misogyny, modern celebrity and yes, even fashion.
this is a turning point I hope but also unfortunately illustrates the most insidious disease of all in our modern world: dualism.
sadly most americans at least are not capable of non dual thought and so rely on the simplistic trope of good/evil, kate/meg, william/harry without having a more nuanced conversation that frankly is the only way one can discuss this situation.
I see most of the comments are made based on facts, e.g. law in Britain etc. and not on tabloids. Definitely not quips made by monsters but real, legitimate questions.
Kate had to endure the most horrible press for about eight years. 8 YEARS compared to what? 20 months? Camilla has had bad press for 20 years – based on the same public discussion feeds having opinions on her and Saint Diana. I bet Kate and Camilla are not that amused. And yes, it did go waaaaay beyond just being rude. The security threat was real for those two women for several years.
The good thing now is (which I believe you will agree) that the records are now set straight according to the Sussexes and in the future the royal family will not bother them. They are free. The future will show whether they will stay happy that way.
Please note, that I actually take the mental health issues very seriously and also believe this is a couple very much in love. They truly seem to have found love – it is up to them to see it will stay true in the years to come.
Beautifully said, agree completely. The judgement and hate displayed here based entirely on lies, gossip and tabloid spin is disgusting and disheartening. It is clear no matter what M & H do they will be demonized and criticized relentlessly which is why they left. I wish them all the best as they speak their truth and navigate the hate. I’m sure they will find fulfillment from their charitable endeavors all whilst the armchair quarterbacks rip them to shreds from their couches.
You couldn’t have said it better. One thing I would add is this: as much as I’d like to believe the Queen can’t be involved in every single aspect of what goes on and The Firm makes recommendations/decisions to her and acts on her behalf, I have a REAL hard time believing that she doesn’t have the power to ensure help is provided if someone is dealing with mental issues, or ensure security/safety/financial stability for her grandson and great-grandson and question the reason why they were cut off financially and why security was removed. She is the Queen, for God’s sake. I fully believe that she’d rather maintain the status quo.
these kinds of feelings shouldn’t be made public otherwise they want make money with that story. I was
disappointed and it wasn’t clever from H.& M. that they acted so.
Harry and his wife left out a detail regarding Archie, he doesn’t receive a title until Charles is crowned. That is a law, not something that the crown did to Harry and Archie
I love your blog and your style, so please take this in the spirit with which it is intended, but when we’ve just spent one of the worst, most tragic years in a centennial where many people not only in our beloved country but also in the world have lost their lives, livelihoods, and and freedom, as well as have experienced the most harmful and frightening lockdowns and mandates, I can honestly write that Harry and Meghan’s perpetual selling of victimhood really turns me off. I don’t know that many people who inherited $16M from their mother. If they can’t live off that and figure out how to support themselves without royal titles & tiaras and blaming everyone for bullying them, I have this to say, “Put yourself on the shelf” and just stop it. When we decide to put our energy in listening to these “poor bullied pauper” people, we just encourage people to continue to be victims. Who are the real victims of the last 12-months? Not H&M.
Tori, THANK YOU!
Completely agree with Tori.
This interview was wrong on ALL accounts:
Wrong for H & M
Wrong for Oprah
Wrong for CBS
Completely “tone deaf”. Pitifully “one-sided” and unsubstantiated. In many parts, totally incredulous.
Shameful by any measure. Especially now.
It was done so that all 3 can raise their profilesand make money. Dirty money.
I completely agree with you both, Tori and A. Your/our view does not seem to be where public opinion in the US is going right now. For two people who claim to want to escape the media glare, heading to California (of all places!) and sitting down with the Queen of All Media for two hours seems a very confusing move, to put it lightly. However, if their true intention is to burn every bridge to the Windsors, mission accomplished.
I think for any thinking european the “show” put on by H & M was nothing but a PR stunt for the american public that does not really know the people and their history over the years before they became an item, the protocol of the monarchy and frankly does not really care either, since facts are irrelevant when they can “feel” and imagine their own story for what is what.Feelings they then use to “read” into things from an angle that has nothing to do with reality. Re their child not getting a prince title, well anyone who knows even the slightest thing about the succession order in the UK knows that this is not a new rule made for this child (making him a prince would have been the bizarre choice!) The M & H Pr team clearly assume the american audience knows none of this and will be upset and outraged thinking the child was denied its right because of the skin colour. Well played, most people seem to have no clue and are of course outraged by their impression of the thing. And do not even start on the race card. It is so low that only someone who never been in PR would believe this is nothing but calculated populism directly aimed for the american market. If anything one would assume people by now would know better than believe bold populistic statements and lies delivered by people who want to save their own skin and line their pockets w the money of the fools who never check facts nor cares.Does anyone really believe all this would have taken place if it was not to make sure they would have enough goodwill/interest for people to tune in to their neflix content etc? Follow the money…
Louise,
Thank you!
After seeing Meghan’s father’s interview today, it made me wonder why Harry had never met his future father in law. Even after her father’s heart surgery they didn’t visit him and made him out to be a villain for making a mistake of talking to the press. He admitted his mistakes and that he loves and misses his daughter but it seems that she won’t forgive him. It is sad how quickly she gave up her family and then Harry (whether with her influence or not) gave up his. There are no winners to this story – only Oprah.
TV drama at its best – the only winner is Oprah. I wonder how much money she made out of the advertising
I agree with all your observations. I’m saddened
That another family is now so horribly fractured
Wonderfully said; thank you!
If she was accepted into the family for marriage, how could they not accept their baby and treat him and title him exactly the same as the other little royals, shockingly blatant racism. What was the reason? The family totally blew their “opportunity” to appear modern and progressive, but their acceptance of her was obviously fake to begin with.
It has everything to do with British law, not their wish or the family refusing to give Archie a title. And they know that. When he was born, both stated they also wish him to be called only as “Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor”, in order to give him similar freedom in the future as Harry’s cousins Peter and Zara Phillips. This they also stated several times, but seem to have now completely forgotten.
The children and grandchildren of the ruling monarch are entitled to be called princes and princesses, as are the children in direct line of succession. Which Archie is not, but prince William’s children are. Thus, only when Prince Charles becomes king, will Archie become a prince, if that is what the Sussexes wish. That is the law, not something the royal family simply refuse to give the boy or to be “modern”.
There are few things that seem to be misinterpreted in the US press and/or presented in a quite wrongful way by Harry and Meghan.
1. The question of title. It’s all done by the law, nothing to do with race. Archie does not hold a title, because according to the law in Britain (dating from 1917), only the royal offspring direct in line of the succession will be addressed as princes or princesses. The ruling is therefore more than 100 years old. The queen has included in it the children of the future monarch, that is prince William. By the time Archie was born, the Sussexes were asked if they would wish to their son be called a prince, but DECLINED, wishing instead to provide him the same freedom Harry’s cousins Peter and Zara Phillips have.
2. About the security. Again, as they moved away from UK, it was considered as not possible to provide them round-the-clock security from the Metropolitan police (as it is done), thus paid by the British taxpayers. I have my sincere doubts that the Americans would be willing to pay, say Ivanka Trump’s or her brothers’ security, particularly if they would also move abroad. The Metropolitan police also reminded that the British police cannot operate fully in a foreign territory, i.e. carry guns in the US or have access to intelligence surveys (and the possible threats). And – which people seem to forget – how could you ask your protection officers to leave their families and spend a great deal of time abroad. Not to mention the traveling back and forth…
3. Of Prince Charles cutting them off the money. Well, I see it quite simply that should you be paid for a job you are not doing? The money, which mainly comes from the Sovereign grant (tax money for the working royals located in England) or the Duchy of Cornwall (the revenues to the Prince of Wales, residential and commercial money from the property he owns). A substantial sum of that goes to different charities.
4. How can they talk about race issues so lightly on others, but forget how dreadfully Harry himself did present in public in relation to just race? Wearing nazi uniform, etc.
I just hate how the whole show simply tried to present something as good and others not. That is never ok, trying to be a saint. I also know, how disappointed the English are, when the Sussexes were so disillusioned to say they wish to “live authentically” in the million-dollar-manor all the while people in England have been hit so hard with covid-19.
But of course, fact checking never made good tv.
I watched the interview and read and watched everything else I could get my hands on these past 24 hours. So much to reflect on, I have so many thoughts, judging by the comments many of us do! But in the end it is all very simple. Believe Black women. If you want to be on the right side of history you can make a decision to always believe Black women. Period.
There are a few Duke lacrosse players who would beg to differ.
Hello! I am totally serious and maintain that I don’t know more about the experience of a Black woman marrying into the royal family then the only Black woman who married into the royal family, literally the only one. Doesn’t make me anti-Kate and William, and doesn’t mean I hate white men who went to Duke and played lacrosse. It just means that generally speaking I’m going to listen to the experiences of other women, especially Black women. Would definitely encourage some of the commenters on this post to reflect on the ways their “openness to both sides” approach actually devalues women, POC, and anyone who has struggles with suicidal thoughts and mental health. Thank you to Erin for sharing her thoughts and insights though I suspect she has long since stopped reading these comments which have gone off the deep end.
I hope Elizabeth read your comment Diana
Are you being serious?
How about engage your brain, listen to both (all sides), and then be fair in your judgements without prejudice or bias?
I have spent more time that I’d like to admit reading about the royal family! But I am also aware of biases that I have as a white person, and that I was raised in a country that is rooted in white supremacy. Fairness is listening to and believing Black women.
Well written ! Thank you . I could not agree more with how you said it all . Bravo xx
Meghan is such a drama queen. She always plays the victim. There are two sides to every story.
Wow, Erin, you wrote this so eloquently and I wish I could’ve put all my thoughts together as you did. I agree with everything you said 100%!!!!! Thank you for putting this out there! Xx
So well written! I’ve always been a fan of Megan and Harry and I truly wish them the best. I loved reading your thoughts. Thanks for sharing! ❤️❤️
I’m thinking Kate will be princess when William is king Queen Elizabeth is queen because she was first born and her father was king. Queen Elizabeth’s husband is prince Philip. If prince Charles oldest was a daughter then she would be future Queen and her husband would be prince. Can anyone confirm this? 🤔
Penny-Prior to Catherine and William’s first child, it was primo geniture- the males succeeded to the throne ahead of any female siblings, regardless of birth order- going back for a thousand years. Before their son George was born, it was changed to say any child in order of birth, regardless of girl or boy- It was a boy but now the next child, a girl, is in line after George, not her younger brother. But for the current generation, it still stands as it was when they were born- Anne (second born) comes after her 2 younger brothers (though most feel she is the most competent of the 4).
Elizabeth is the oldest of 2 girls, no brothers- If her younger sister had been a boy, she would have taken Elizabeth’s place. With no sons, the oldest daughter (back then) became the monarch. A queen in her own right takes a spouse that is called a Prince Consort- Philip currently- though that applied to Queen Victoria (the monarch) and her consort, Prince Albert.
Technically, Diana was not Princess Diana- she was Diana, Princess of Wales (her husband’s title). you have to be a female in the direct line or grand daughter of the monarch to be Princess….(Anne, Charlotte, etc)- So no Princess Catherine or Princess Meghan- they can be called Princess William or Princess Henry. Princess Michael from an earlier generation does, though her name is Christine, I believe. Catherine may become Catherine, Princess of Wales, when Charles becomes King, but it is not automatic. When William becomes king, Catherine becomes Queen Catherine but as Queen Consort, not outright ruler herself. Like the current Queen’s mother was called. A princess in her own right marries and often their spouse is offered a title, though neither Anna, Beatrice or Eugenie opted for that to happen. Thankfully they aren’t marrying other royalty because then it gets really complicated!
An act of parliament is voted to remove someone from order of succession- it cannot be done by the monarch’s whim. Nor can they arbitrarily change their heir in a constitutional monarchy like this (that was back in the days of the absolute monarchs). So arguments that Harry and Meghan are next in line as they are more popular to some- well it doesn’t happen like that. Parliament hasn’t caught up with science- babies still have to be ‘born of the body’- no surrogacy- and births signed off by an attending physician. That was to prevent babies being switched out or other complications in those pre DNA days. Though there still a few suspicions, going back in time a few centuries! I’m pleased we have at least moved past the whole first born male concept. Hope that helps! :-)
Wow- do you think that is what this is all about? Trying to get a big enough stink up that Charles and William would get ‘set aside’ by parliament? There would still be the 3 children but technically, as it stands, Harry would rule as regent until George became of age. Then give a few years and pull a switcheroo like they did in Jordan? Not really serious but I can’t for the life of me understand why they are essentially trying to provoke a constitutional crisis (because that is really what these allegations amount to) at the (likely) last year or two of his very elderly grandmother’s life, that he professes to adore, while her 99 year old husband recovers from heart surgery (during a pandemic). Talking about piling on stress to someone is a vulnerable state! I mean they claim they now have got a perfect life, pretty much, and are almost pitying about how less evolved Charles and William are stuck is their backwards kingdom but they sounded pretty angry for two people that should feel on top of the world in their new life.
Meghan needs to learn about FORGIVENESS
To be hurt by another human being ( Kate) accept the apology and then tell the world . What is Kate now supposed to do with this? Not very classy.
How can one turn their back on a parent? Her father was tricked. Yes he lied to her, but where is the forgiveness? Many children have forgiven for far greater than this transgression.
After seeing this, I just turned off the set and went to bed.
I wish them the best.
Honest and compelling…I have read and heard that over and over…Not sure I agree! It’s very hard to get over the fact that when one wants to air their so called dirty laundry in public, the way they have now done several times…it seems to only serve them….And quite frankly I am so tired of it all! Where dose the truth really lie? We do not know… but we the public have opinions that are sure to be just as hurtful and damaging as what they are accusing the royal family of being. We hear some TV drama interview and think we have heard the TRUTH….Really, when will we stop being so judge mental and realize there is always more than one side to everything said…and when one is an actress…well….just saying!
I totally agree. And I’m very disappointed that there statements were not challenged the least bit.
There was no research if usually security costs would be covered if they’re not working members of the family.
Nobody thought to investigate if their son could even get the title of prince while his great-grandfather was still alive. Unfortunately this was really a one-man & one-woman show and had nothing to do with an interview of journalism of any kind.
We Brits are strange- we actually codify all these decisions- so there is no question who does or does not deserve something. The Met police and M-16 makes the decision which ones in the Royal family are covered and to what extent as well as what the threats are. It is not personal, unless a family member requests not to have coverage. The head of the Met brought it up to Parliament that it was unreasonable to stretch their resources to the West Coast of the US, for a family member who no longer was actively participating in duties (Referred to as a Senior Royal). The UK had packs of 6 officers flown out in rotation to cover them non stop in Canada from early November when they left on a vacation until late March. Officers away from family and home-room and board expenses and overtime- because a man worth 40,000,000 quid thinks Dad and Grammy should cover him (it was not the family vengefully stripping them of coverage). She says they were denied coverage and lived in fear- what was it when she clear a block of 40 seats for herself and 2 friends at Wimbledon- and sent her security team to berate a man for taking a photo of her (her was snapping a selfie with the players behind, as it turned out). The pap shot in the Canada woods with the baby in the sling- and several UK security agents (as well as Canadian). When they flew back a year ago and left the baby with her friend in Toronto- and a team of security. Canada’s parliament said they’d contribute also to it until they stepped down from Senior royal duties- which they did last March. Then as that ran out, suddenly they arrived in LA with yet another person picking up the tab and asking the US government to pick up the tab as they were internationally significant people (or however they called themselves in their departure manifesto)- which was declined. Though Harry has been allowed to stay in the US, sans the normal visa process and work without the usually necessary visa designation (he’ll have 2 more years before he qualifies as due to their marriage). That’s a nice flex of privilege. Do you really imagine the UK Government or the Royal family will wish to see something happen to them? It would bring down the monarchy for good. If only for the family’s self preservation, the threat levels are being regularly assessed for Harry’s family. I would say they are a more accurate judge of who is or is not deserving of protection. But as it is Harry’s and Meghan’s decision to live somewhere that has required their protection cost to spiral from 400,000 to an estimated 5,000,000 annually, so the UK tax payer or his family should absorb it? I’m a bit more concerned about the horrible spree of teen knifings in the UK and would far rather see the protection deployed there. With an extra $100,000,000 they claim from Netflix and another $30,000,000 from spotify, on top of his own fortune- why is this under debate. People can claim the sky is purple and green polka dotted in an interview, spend a few minutes on Google to look at the photos out there of them and read the public budget accounts. This was a very hot button topic in the UK and there are plenty of non tabloid articles on the subject. The interview was a very emotive one and certainly was so effective that seemingly rational people are swallowing it down whole and not giving taking 5 minutes to verify even a couple basic facts. Let’s take away that kindness and understanding is a good thing but let’s also take away that there are many sides to this story. We know none of them personally so let’s rely on what facts are verifiable before any one side gets demonized.
As an American – I DGAF about titles. But as a practical human being, OF COURSE Harry, Meghan, Archie and future baby should have protection. WHY does this have to be tied to titles? How about it is tied to basic logic? So many commenters pointing out that Princess Anne’s children don’t have titles or accompanying protection. Well – of course! Are they the first bi-racial royal offspring in the age of Brexit? Are they the constant target of tabloid fodder and white British rage? Of course not! They are not in the kind of constant physical danger that Harry, Meghan and their children are. The SAME physical danger that Princess Diana was in, by the way. I remember as a teenager when Princess Diana died thinking, “Well, that’s the end of the tabloids. How could any moral human buy them after they murdered Diana?” Shows what I know. Tabloids thrived after causing her death. It is sickening, as is the fact that “The Firm” denies basic logic about who is targeted by tabloids and crazies (deserving of protection) and who is ignored (save your tax dollars). In the end, I’m happy to be American where, with the exception of Trump’s jet-setting offspring (who we’re still paying for secret service, BTW, though FAR less deserving/under threat than Meghan and Harry), we generally don’t have to pay for this kind of thing, and don’t create government celebrities.
In order to understand this you need to GAF about titles and roles. The British taxpayer is paying for the security of the royal family. And they pay only for the WORKING MEMBERS. It’s not about race, it’s about the fact that this is a package deal. If you want to be a full member with full protection etc. you need to work for the family. They are not a charity.
Princess Diana opted out of being a working member of the royal family and thus had to cough up the costs herself. This is not the decision of the firm but the law what the British taxpayer will pay (especially in times like these, where many people are losing their jobs) and what not.
I feel Megan knows how to work the camera and I feel the actress coming out. She holds her stomach hangs onto Harry like a damsel in distress. Where was Harry when she wanted to commit suicide?
I think that Harry never recovered from his mother’s death. He was not made for the royal life. I just feel that they could have walked away and said goodby, but then that is not good for the revenue stream. She is a hollywood girl and like the celebrities and now Harry is too. No turning back if she dumps him!
yep
I second that yep biggly.
Seriously, a rehash of an interview that was useless to Americans by whiny white/black privilege….. bless their hearts.
Their pea-pickin’ little hearts.
I think non of us, unless you are English, really understand the centuries of this royal family line and the strict traditions that come along with it. I wondered throughout the whole interview, if Megan thought that being American, she could somehow skirt or change centuries of tradition…good or bad. I do not believe she had any idea of what was expected of her as the wife of a royal. I always told my grown married children…if you are going to marry someone, understand you are also marrying his/her family and you must accept that family for who they are. For those who say, but what about those individuals who have broken with their family…then you also marry everything that comes with that situation.
So many thoughts in every direction! I loved reading yours!♥️
I think you are spot on
You can be on either side of the team, but there a few facts that neither side can deny.
1. How long did she last? Not even 2 years and she and Harry were given a small palast themselves
they could remodel and decorate any way they wanted – and they did! It cost Millions of Pounds to
make it their home.
2. Several statements of Meghan were already found to be untrue and it was easy to refute too.
Both of them knew that the Queen or “the firm” will ever respond to their claims.
3. Having your cake and eat it too had an after taste of entitlement. Princess Anne, the Queens daughter
has chosen to live the live of a commoner. Her children don’t have titles or receive allowences from the Queen.
None of the great-grandschildren have titles either. Nor do they have police protection!
4. Charles is still footing the bill here and their lavish lifestyle is not cheap.
Bottom line: they bite the hand that feeds them! Meghan is a smart woman, she knew what she was getting into and she knew what such an extraordinary airing out of dirty laundry would cause. It’s not appropriate, it’s not classy and it’s counterproductive really. What she’s done is close the door for Harry to get back to his
old life once she’s finished with him. I’ll give them 5 years!!
You sound awful. Comments like these are why she had mental health issues. They paid the firm back ALL the money that it took to remodel their cottage. It was not a palace. It was a small two bedroom cottage that Harry lived in. There were not several statements of hers found to be untrue. Princess Anne’s children don’t have titles because they only go to the male heir’s children. Your hatred of someone you don’t even know is gross.
“You sound awful. Comments like these are why she had mental health issues”- Can we please lets not feed into the narrative that all mental health issues are caused by some external pressure- some are but there are so many people that suffer from depression, anxiety, and a multitude of other issues that have no correlation to there outward circumstance. I believe Duchess Catherine’s brother and Erin, herself, have experienced that. That sends a whole other level of blame that people who are made to feel you don’t deserve to say you are suffering because the outside trappings of your life are so positive seeming. What is bearable or unbearable is subjective and also is totally connected to the internal wiring or chemical balance of the individual.
I don’t agree that it is hateful to question a narrative when some elements have already been disproved and it is one that is carrying a nuclear bomb level accusations to another party. Yes, I thought Diana lovely and didn’t think much of Charles- that and watching a fictionalized series from the Crown is not enough to buy any one narrative wholesale, based on an emotional response to an Oprah interview- she has made a huge career out of evoking just this response. They may be the most badly put upon pair ever or they may be entirely vindictive and manipulative. Bottom line, we only got to see and hear what they chose us to. I distrust any sweeping attack that is heavy on allegations but very vague in details. And it is ridiculous to say this much to paint a terrible picture of an entire family and then say I will withhold details to then protect them- that buries them in an indefensible position- which is what Harry and Meghan say they suffered with. Why would you possibly put someone else there? It is not being hateful to look at it from more than one point of view as life is never that black and white. To question inconsistencies a story- particularly one this incendiary but vague in substantiating fact is not being hateful or gross- If this is who the Royal family truly are, then document. I see, Sara, you are a huge fan and feels very emotionally connected to Harry and Meghan. But the security decisions. the line of titles- grand children versus great grand children, the renovation for Frogmore in Windsor, not the Kensington cottage, as Cait points out, are correct. The Queen’s youngest grandchildren (not great grand children) are not prince or princess, Eugenie’s son (and she is born a princess herself) is not a prince. Denying what is true and calling people haters doesn’t promote rational debate- which is what this should be.
They started their marriage in the 2 bedroom cottage at Kensington palace and then moved to Frogmore where they did the $$$ renovations. Big difference.
I have two minds about the interview. I am going to say right out that I am not a big fan of Meghan’s. I just don’t like the way she appears to have abandoned those who are no longer useful to her, and I believe there is possibly some validity to the ‘bullying’ claims which are coming out now. Friends of hers who are speaking out say that they have never seen her act like that, therefore she couldn’t be a bully. In my mind, it’s like saying Harvey Weinstein can’t be a rapist because he never raped me. Everyone has two sides and no one is squeaky clean, and anyone she may have upset deserves to have their story heard without it being called a ‘smear campaign’.
But after the interview, I do have a bit more sympathy for her and what she went through. Was Kate’s experience any different? Not really, if you look back at headlines she was subjected to just as vile abuse as Meghan was, but she kept her head down and kept going. Is this a good thing? Maybe not, and I think this is one thing the Palace needs to change.
Which brings me to my third point, and actually the biggest thing I took out of the interview. Who are the people behind the royal family who are pulling the strings about decisions on security or titles? Meghan calls them ‘The Firm’, Diana called them ‘The men in grey’. It seems the Royal Family doesn’t have a lot of say over their own lives, so who are the people who call the shots? I think if anything needs to change, it needs to be that there is more transparency around who is making these decisions on behalf of the family, and why they can’t make their own decisions. Yes they live on tax-payer money but surely they can decide who they want to see, make decisions for their children’s futures, and answer back to negative stories in the press.
There is a big thing being made about someone in the Royal family wondering about what colour Archie’s skin would be. Somehow this has led to the whole Royal family being painted as racist in the media. I don’t know what to think about it TBH, as there is no context given around the conversations, and even Meghan said they had not said anything to her. Was it someone just wondering about it, the way I remember reading stories about whether Archie might have red hair? Is it really any different to that? Parents do wonder what their children will look like before they’re born, and especially when another race is thrown in you might wonder how much of each parent will show in the children, without it being in a negative way. I just don’t know what has happened here, we are left to presume it was said in a racist way, but knowing how sensitive and thin-skinned and protective Harry was of his wife by that point, I do have to wonder whether it was simply taken the wrong way, like William asking Harry whether he was sure about Meghan before they were married. And I don’t believe it had anything to do with Archie not being given a title, as some other commenters have pointed out already. Meghan says that policy was changed for him but that is not correct, they are trying to dramatise something that never happened. Which does make me wonder a bit about the rest of their interview.
All that said, I’m glad that they are happy where they are now. I hope that now they have given this interview and got it off their chests, that they can stop looking backwards at their old lives and move forward with their new life.
I am completely shocked by the hate expressed in these comments. I really hope that some of you take a hard look at yourselves in the mirror and ask yourselves the question why you would spew such hatred on a woman you have never met, who has never done anything to any of you. Wow, just wow!
Completely agree. So gross.
Agree! Shocking and disappointing.
I agree, making assumptions about someone one doesn’t even know. I believe a lot of what Meghan said because Diana went through a lot of crap after she married into that family. Her bulimia, cheating Charles, isolation, the media, etc. For Meghan it was history beginning to repeat itself and Harry said it himself in the interview. Don’t put this all on Meghan.
Same. I am so shocked that so many hateful people are spewing the same tabloid talking points. I guess all kinds of people like interior design but it is super disappointing.
The lies and double standards in the press coverage alone could cause her mental health issues. But add to that obviously racist actions from the family? Good grief.
And these women upthread think she is lying about being suicidal!? What the actual tuck?
That is some deep denial of another person’s experience and shows a lack of maturity. In psych the concept of being able to accept someone else’s reality is called intersubjectivity.
Sadly it appears the majority of adults aren’t. Arable of it.
So well said and so very disappointing.
Love your comments! Still shocking how someone will bash another person they don’t even know from Adam’s house cat probably because of jealousy truth be told. Hear hear to you!
Yes, the comments are gross. No wonder she had mental health issues. People calling her a liar and acting like her cries of racism are unfounded. Get over yourselves.
Agreed. It it truly astonishing and a little depressing to read some of these comments.
Did not watch it! I didn’t because I don’t understand why she didn’t know what she was getting herself into in the first place?! Also, thought they wanted a private life, yet choose to do a interview, just confusing for me.
I love your take on things. So kind and thoughtful.
While watching last night and into today, I said to myself and out loud, “Throw the entire racist monarchy into the rubbish bin”.
Meghan and Harry exposed them. Racism, and jealousy was at the core of all the awful treatment they received.
No surprise to people of color who celebrated their love story, but knew what was coming. When they left for the holidays, and she and Archie never returned, that was her running for their life.
People will try to say that she should not have aired the Royal laundry, but that is just status quo isn’t it?
Mistreatment and racism is supposed to happen in the dark. Absolutely not, not in 2021. Name it, shame it.
I’m so glad they brought it into the light and tactfully told their story.
Diana shined brighter than Charles and he absolutely resented her for it. I think members of the royal family — and The Firm hated Meghan and Harry’s light as well.
He is his mother’s son, and he saved himself and his wife. I wish them well, and hope they stay silent when all the vitriol coming their way starts.
I don’t understand how so many feel so strongly against her. She seems lovely. Broken, sad, lost, and wanting desperately to keep her family safe. I don’t see her as acting. I thought there were times she was trying very hard to keep it together. I wished someone could give her a hug. I think she fell in love with a boy, and got to know him outside of all the royal trappings, and was surprised with all that came along with him. Maybe I’m naive. Maybe she was. But I believe her. Why wouldn’t I? I’m not in her shoes. And I send her positive thoughts and wishes for strength and peace and truth in her life. I imagine how I go “mama bear” when my beautiful daughter is involved. Imagine she’s your daughter. Your friend. The lack of transparency and discrimination against her family along with being silenced has to be so hard.
Beautifully said, Frannie.
I will never get over the fact that there was a discussion about Archie’s skin color. That was jaw dropping to me.
My dad was a bit swarthy as they used to call it and my mom had the English rose complexion. I remember chats when I was little between my mom and aunts about the coloring of her cildren and which of each of us favored my mom or dad. There was nothing malicious about it.
I think they need to tell us who said what. This is a shocking thing – but by telling us it happened, but refusing to say by who, they casting a wide net of suspicion over a lot of people, all but one of whom are completely innocent.
Same. That says a LOT.
She better be the GREATEST wife of all time. You don’t marry a man and then pit him against his family. He isn’t some frat boy she met at a mixer. This family is HISTORY itself. The concept of marrying for love is new to them. For generations it’s been about politics and alliances and power. In 15 years he may wake up and resent all he had to give up for her. My grandmother used to say “ you are the daughter in law you get”.
It was certainly a lot to unpack. I’ve always been enamored by the British monarchy – the mystery, the luxury, the culture – so I’ve done my fair bit of research and would say I know more than the average American about the difference customs and “norms”. I was excited to watch, as this was so monumental to be hearing from two people who were on “the inside”, but I have a lot of mixed feelings. On one hand, I wouldn’t wish that type of overwhelming pressure on anyone and I do sympathize with them both for how they said they felt during their time as Royals. It’s really sad that they felt so alone. However, I felt the narrative of Archie not getting a title because of his skin color was downright misleading. At the time right before and after his birth, many sources were saying Meghan and Harry didn’t want him to have a title because they wanted normalcy for him. Plus, since he isn’t in the direct line (like William’s kids), he is actually not entitled to an official title or security (just like Eugenie’s new baby). That part for me felt a little icky – like they were banking on the average viewer not having that knowledge, in which case it definitely sounds appalling. And the Little Mermaid comment was a bit of a stretch, right?! It’s all a lot to process and I suppose there are two sides to every story. I wish we could hear the other side, but as we all know the palace very rarely responds to anything like this.
I watched the interview last night and had mixed feelings as well. First of all, I was shocked that Meghan claimed that she never googled Harry and only thought of the royals as celebrities. It’s hard for me to fathom that I would meet my beau’s family without knowing much about them. If you google Queen Elizabeth, you will see that she has been a trailblazer her whole life…someone to be admired! The “firm” certainly did not come out as blameless but your question of the scorched earth defense is one that I wondered about myself. Not knowing the whole Kate/Meghan story, I can say this. Kate had given birth to her third very young child only three and a half weeks before the wedding and had two children in the wedding party. Couple that with Meghan’s father drama which was never mentioned in the interview and you have two emotional young women. Perhaps Meghan could have given Kate some grace especially in view of the fact that Kate was so gracious in apology. Racism and mental illness are never to be brushed under the table and it’s a shame that an open dialogue did not occur. May it continue. I hope that Harry finds what he needs with his young family but it is sad that he and Meghan felt the need to explain what happened in a way which may lead to severing the ties to Harry’s family forever. I wish them and their adorable little boy all the best. Lastly, Oprah is a phenomenal interviewer!
Archie’s lack of title is not racism — it’s in the Letters Patent from King George V that were written a century before Archie was alive (before any of us now were alive). Great Grandchildren of the Monarch do not get titles. The only reason George, Charlotte and Louis were given titles is because they are children of the future Monarch, and Queen Elizabeth issued a change to the rule before George was born. It has nothing to do with racism. Once Prince Charles becomes king, Archie will get his title.
Completely agree that she was acting and trying to seem wounded. Also do not believe Kate made her cry. I think she’s an actress trying to be relevant.
Meghan explained that, and said Harry was told they intended to change the rule so that his children would not receive titles after Charles becomes king. It’s a bad look.
Hi Erin,
I SO agree with you!! Every here and there there were hints of performance that made me a little uncomfortable. The not knowing anything about the BRF and Harry?? She has repeated this since the engagement interview and it makes me cringe every time. She seems to be an ambitious, hard working, detail oriented person, so that doesn’t make sense to me.
I was heartbroken for them about the racism and the mental health claims. How lonely that must have felt!
As for the title claim, this was explained tons of times in the press, really clear through here https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/08/why-meghan-harry-son-archie-denied-title-prince-mixed-race. He is a great-grandchild of the monarch, so not automatic. William’s kids received the title because he is one of the heirs to the throne, so the Queen issued the titles especially. From what I understand, as soon as Charles ascends to the throne, he will be entitled to it, because he will then be a grandchild to the monarch. Archaic and outdated, but not specific to Archie.
The security detail is a difficult issue here in the UK (I live here but am not British, husband is a Scot) was v controversial, since it ends up being paid by the taxpayer _ at least part of it _ since Scotland Yard provides the detail. The country has a massive budget deficit, unemployment is soaring, people are losing their homes and I think it’s only fair that two incredibly wealthy individuals that live abroad pay for their own security.
Very well stated!
Archie was not denied title, he will receive title when his Father or brother Become King.(had they remained working royals) That is the historical order, had nothing to do with race etc.
She clearly stated Harry was told they intended to change the rules in order to prevent Harry’s children from inheriting the title. Did no one actually watch this interview?
Someone told her husband that someone intends to do something — and has not done it– and this is racism? It is nothing but a vague allegation that no one can verify, just like everything else in this “interview.”
Is it possible they are now discussing changing the rules for Archie because his parents are no longer working royals, no longer titled, no longer in the UK, and have trashed the family? Actions have consequences. Maybe their actions have impacted Archie’s ability to inherit the title.
Didn’t watch , saw enough clips to wonder how Meghan didn’t know what she was getting into !! Poor Diana was only 19 vs 37 year old Meghan ?
For 2 people who wanted privacy, why go to Oprah ? Naw , just wanted attention !! Actually Princess Anne is the hardest working Royal, & her daughter has no title. They just keep out of the limelight and work !! Meghan sounds like she only has close relationship with husband!! No close family now !
So trashy. And to think they moved here for “privacy” and to “protect” their kids. Hello hypocrisy. Almost as bad as him stating he wants rebuild his relationship with his dad and brother. Umm…how do you this your current behavior this very second is going to help with that particular goal? They are either really dumb or think we are. Unfortunately now the bloom is of the rose. The big interview has happened for the big money and big attention. The only place to go more interviews with lesser sources while not coming to terms with the ONLY thing that makes either of them interesting is their relationship with the royal family. Any chance at a respectable private life is over with this fame-seeking madness. Good luck honeys.
Annie, I agree with you 100%. It seemed hypocritical to me as well. Wanting privacy and now exposing very personal information. It also had a revenge element to it. I am not proud of the fact that I am having a hard time feeling sympathetic toward Meghan. She is a grown woman, with plenty of life experience unlike Diana. I feel tremendous sympathy for Harry, however. He has sacrificed tremendously for his wife.I will always love the Queen. She has been steadfast in her role and never shirked her duties. I think she makes efforts to stay abreast of popular opinion, while remaining true to tradition. Lastly, props to Oprah for a professional and impeccable interview. Much to ponder here.
Annie,
Perfect.
This girl is a calculated bully. They both know good and well the palace will never respond to any of this. They will keep trucking like they have for centuries. They have very publicly attacked people that will not defend themselves. Yes, she’s had some tough press over there. So did Kate. So did Camilla. So did Diana. So has the queen her entire life. It’s a hard gig. You are well compensated and receive many perks. They had the opportunity to walk away and lead a private life. They chose Oprah and LA. They haven’t relinquished titles and lace in line to the throne. They are still receiving money from Charles. How the hell did they pay for the 14 million dollar mansion? I don’t think dumbo Harry understands what being cut off financially means. I look forward to more woke lectures. These people are beyond tone-deaf. The world had been in serious crisis for a year. I’m sorry the British people didn’t roll out the red carpet for Meghan and she threw a tantrum. Now she can sit in time-out in California and spend her life publicly griping they aren’t nice to her and lecturing us all on tolerance and environmental responsibility. Barf! Team Kate all day. She’s a class act. Meghan’s just mad her brand of PDA laced schmoltz didn’t land!
It was a wow! Have to wonder about William and Kate who are such advocates for mental health help? Did they know? Would have thought they would.
Again- What has or has not happened, truth is in the eye of the beholder. I would not take all their statements as gospel truth- equally I would not say that none of it happened. William has been very public that he has sought therapy already- it is not something they would hush up. It does seem that she managed to be in the family 2 years and is now back in California, associating with people that would notice her before, living her ‘authentic’ life in a $14, 000,000 billionaires’ enclave going on Oprah to trash those who made it possible. She does need some sort of narrative to justify it all. I hope that she would not be that manipulative but it does seem a bit questionable. Just like I would hope no one would fake a miscarriage for sympathy (I have lost multiple pregnancies- it is horrific to go through) yet her essay on the subject plagiarized an Australian writer’s own miscarriage story almost word for word. And then are suddenly pregnant, at 40, 2 months later She’s pregnant again. Just too much seems scripted and very claculated, rather than sincere. And a great deal of dirt has just been hurled in a way that is next to impossible to refute. Will be interesting to see what we all find out in hind sight
Ohhh Erin, thanks for this discussion. I have SO many feels. I am the same age as Diana, and I really adore and admire everything about her. Does every young woman imagine marrying a prince? Well, not a horse face, faggy eared dude like Charles with obvious (to me anyway) MAJOR “issues” for lack of better words. That mofo sucked for Diana, now both Meghan and Harry. Yes, there was something “off” about Meghan for me. As you say, we don’t know her, but it is said she is smart. How would a smart woman not do her research and in her 30’s with one marriage already behind her? Impossible! Additionally, I take issue with the idea of needing permission to get mental health help. I call victim bullshit as well (says the aforementioned person myself)Nothing stopped me from seeking the help I needed or I would have died. PERIOD. No one needed to know ( until it was time to work on those individual relationships..ha (none of the perpetrating mofos would show up) Whatever, I got me healthy, as should have grown ass woman Meghan. Don’t get me wrong, what I see, I admire Meghan. Lots to like but looks like there’s still plenty of “victim” work to do, ouch, feels wayyyy too judgy. SORRY 😣 I wish them well. Btw, as someone who spilled the secrets…..you can never really go back. The “sick ones” never get better or will or do better. They screw over and over in their “sickness” Also, Harry was more direct and I am 100% sure the guilty party in ALL of this is Charles. The racist ideas=Charles. Simple not done this and that=Charles. On and On….For me, the Queen also has guilt, she supports the Firms thinking/actions. Wow 😳 there were a lot of triggers in those interviews. Am I right?💋💋
I agree with much you say- not all- but please don’t use phrases like ‘faggy’ or other homophobic terms- we get you don’t like Charles but that is just unacceptable and crude. You just make yourself look ignorant and discredits all that you say.
Sorry Erin – I (mostly) don’t believe her. I think she’s trumping up little incidents into major charges against people. I have long felt she’s a manipulative, ambitious person. In fact, I’m convinced she’s a narcissist. I survived a close friendship with a narcissist and I realized this before the wedding, much to my horror. Leaving a wake of broken relationships behind her – this is one of the hallmarks of the condition. (I saw a number of other parallels) My daughter asked me a few days ago – “Everything you said would happen, has happened! How did you know?”. Sad experience, that’s how.
Its quite possible, even likely that someone in his family said something racist, but it wouldn’t have anything to do with naming her son a prince. Great grandchildren of the monarch usually aren’t given prince/princess titles (versus grandchildren). Eugenie’s child will never have this (BTW, Andrew has to pay for Bea & Eug’s security out of his pocket – so there goes that ‘offense against Archie’). Archie will automatically become a prince when Charles becomes King. William’s kids had a special rule make by QE for them because their father is in direct line and expected to be King after Charles. A special rule for Archie would be up to the Queen – and I don’t think she’s keeping from him because his mother is a POC.
And I doubt that they confiscated her keys, passport and license and kept her inside for four months or what ever that exact accusation was.
They’ve likely permanently damaged their family. If Harry were my bother, I’d never say another word to him that wasn’t completely necessary. All these accusations were not necessary. Felt more like revenge.
Who could ever speak to these people again? It will end up on the nightly news after all.
Not everyone believes them. I certainly did not. There story was rife with misrepresentations/lies which have been quickly shown in the light of facts. It is abundantly clear that they wanted to be considered on par with the Cambridges regardless of Harry’s place in the pecking order of inheritance. That is why it was important that Archie be titled a prince, he could have used the Earl of Dumbarton a courtesy title of his fathers, however, that was not good enough. They refused the opportunity to go to Africa to represent the Commonwealth to ease into their roles and give them respite from the media. The Queen and her husband had just such a respite when he was stationed on Malta. But that was not good enough for them. He is a grown man who should support his own family, he is incredibly wealthy, and yet whines about standing on his own two feet. What they wanted was all the royal lifestyle accoutrements but also not follow any rules. If the royal family is smart they would only speak to them as absolutely necessary and I would do it only in writing to protect themselves. There are no depths these two will not stoop to enrich & call attention to themselves. Meghan is clearly a narcissist. The narrative about mental health and they could not get it is absolute bunk as well. They are grown adults, other members of the family have had therapy. I am very, very sad to see Harry has turned out this way. The media are cruel in Britain it is well known. The family’s policy of never publicly let them see you sweat has served many who have endured horrible media headlines well. And clearly they are lying about not seeing the media if she is so affected mentally by the media headlines. That is an oxymoron and disingenuous at the very least.
+1
She, a worldly woman, didnt know she would have to curtsey to the queen? Really?? C’mon.
And the bit about Kate making her cry… She knows she won’t respond (never complain, never explain) so why add in that dig?
When she was in Africa with Harry, surrounded by some of the poorest people on earth and she complained that no one asked her if she was ok, I lost respect for both of them. They are incredibly privileged and yet constantly play the role of victim.
They wanted to no longer be working royals. Ok fine but yes, that means you have fund your own life, including security. That’s what being independent means, the word they chose when they announced their separation from the firm.
And sorry, but her whole “performance” screamed acting to me.
Completely agree. I really ache that she claims he didn’t get a title because of his skin color when it is, in fact, rules that have been in place for years. Scorched earth is the only way to describe this.
I agree as well. It was quite a “performance” and there’s no going back for Harry with his family. Meghan had already burned that bridge with most of her own family.
The truth always seems to find its way to light… time will tell.
There does seem to be a bit of hypocrisy with an eye to playing the audience-What I find hard to comprehend is that the CBS program director in charge of this program was actually part the 2004 documentary which publicly pictured his mother dying in the wreckage of the car. Harry has incessantly used his trauma over his mother’s death as the driving factor for his actions. Yet this is who who chooses to work with? And aligning with Netflix that trashed both his parents in a highly fictionalized dramas- both The Crowns and that ghastly Diana musical. How do he rationalize that? The promote themselves as intelligent and humanistic- so let’s give an interview scorching his family all the way up to the Queen- as poster Jill above is an example- everyone that takes this interview as gospel truth will believe every accusation was sanctioned from the top down- and Harry and Meghan would know it. Then to say how close they are to his 94 year old Granny, and his hospitalized 99 year old grandfather. They seem very ‘selective’ in their outrage. But no concrete facts, just smears- which they claim is how they were persecuted. Given Harry’s history of partying in Nazi fancy dress and calling fellow soldiers by racial slurs- maybe not to paint on a world stage his extended family as the racists without documentation would have been smarter. Then allegations of her own bullying(with 2 year old documentation) and the wearing of the Khashoggi blood diamonds- The line about living in glass houses come to mind. I will be waiting to see what is or isn’t able to be documented- from both sides. So far, a lot of this does not pass the sniff test.
Agreed, 100%
It seems very interesting that so very many of the immediate members of the royal family have been very open about having therapy themselves that it doesn’t ring true about her being denied therapy. The Princes’ main charity is centered on it. Oprah very clearly states this was ‘her truth’- many of her motivations for saying so could be disingenuous at best. They made a tremendous amount of claims with absolutely no substantiation. Several have already been debunked by their own earlier statements and by statements made by their favored biographer. The early wedding, the racist deprivation of the prince title for the son (none of the other 6 great grandchildren and 4 of the grand children carry that title, barring the family of the direct heir- their son will be eligible when Charles is king.) have also been shown to be inaccurate. There were several points they should have given evidence if they were to bring things up at all. They are attempting to launch their own very expensive career here as the $40, 000, 000 fortune he has already inherited isn’t enough- Very much I am the victim so I have moral authority. She also claimed they were told she needed to keep working as an actress as they couldn’t afford to pay her. (32 million pounds for the wedding expense, a 2.5 million pound reno to a grace and favor property, a million plus in clothes her first year- more than all other royal families in Europe combined. Then her stories her keys and passport and driver’s license were confiscated and she was basically imprisoned on the grounds. But jaunting off for the baby shower, leaving her new born to fly overseas to watch a tennis match, all those private jets vacations. Reports of holistic spa weekends- It really doesn’t all add up, does it? I saw very little to reflect their supposed compassion in action- especially to his aged grandparents. I saw a lot of manipulation and a great deal of tone deafness at a time of great personal suffering and financial trauma for families world wide. Let’s see how things play out- the truth usually does. They have definitely scorched the earth and we can only hope that no ill comes of it.
Stacy,
Nice to see someone commenting who has been paying attention.
She was such an asset to the royals — excellent public speaker, extremely hard working, enthusiastic, charismatic — and they just trashed her. William’s recent support of mental health and anti-racism efforts just seems … a bit rich.
I really admire how they did not just stay the course and allow The Firm and the media to ruin another life. They stood up for themselves, got out of an abusive situation, and are living their best lives.
Recent support? I think you will find it goes back many, many years and he has been quite open about him going through therapy- as has his father. That is a point that seems very contradictory in the interview’s claims.
And why, if it was reaching that level, didn’t Harry whisk her off sooner when they were one one of the many documented trips they took that first year when she was pregnant. He certainly had assets and very few responsibilities. They were staying with people like Elton John and George Clooney- You think he couldn’t have come up with a story for them to cover him whisking her to safety. Plus she had outside health contact surely- an Ob-Gyn, and probably several others. Much was made that she rejected the palace medical staff and chose her own team. And she couldn’t have appealed to them? The truth usually lies between he said and and she said.
My thoughts and opinions on the interview don’t differ much from yours. I too thought it was highly implausible that she didn’t know anything about Harry or the Royal family or at least goggled them. I know Americans aren’t as invested as Canadians in the Royals but she was living in Canada for a number of years filming Suits and was set up through a mutual Canadian friend. Granted reading about royal life and living it are two very different things I’m sure and even with loads of googling you’d never be prepared for living that life in reality. I believed her when she talked about her mental state. I also believe that it was ignored by “the firm” as British are known to put on a stiff upper lip and just keep going. I’m glad Harry was there for her and took her mental state seriously. They obviously love each other. My heart went out to him when he spoke of his dad ignoring his calls or the rift he now has with his brother. It’s almost as if they are jealous of him that he got out. When Oprah asked him if he would have left if not for Meghan….he paused. I think he’s grateful to her because she gave him the strength to do what he has always wanted. As for Archie not being titled…if that is something that he legitimately is not rightly born into fine, but if it’s only being taken away because of his skin colour and the fact that his parents wanted a more normal life then shame on the Royal family.
I believe this is my first comment on this blog, although i have been a follower for years.
I do not believe Harry and Meghan would record an interview in which their children’s will one day see in which Meghan was “acting ” about her mental well being and thoughts of suicide. So many people commit suicide and their family and friends have no idea anything was wrong. She didnt want to die and that is why she spoke up. I have nothing but respect for Meghan for taking care of her well being, her child and her family even though she felt that low. She told her husband. And he supported her and got her help. And as he said help for his wife was getting her out of that lifestyle. That is a loving husband.
Agreed!
Meghan was/is a natural at the things we’d think her job was going to be—work with charities/patronages, interact with the public, going to events. Turns out the job was to be fodder for tabloids without your own voice—I don’t blame her for not knowing this. I also don’t blame her for expecting professionals to be working at the palace—it sounds like amateur hour over there, with very low expectations for actual work. Better to get out before getting dragged further under.
I think Harry and Meghan used very poor judgement to do this interview. This is a family matter and all their issues should have been handled privately. Going on television this way accomplishes nothing. It only makes things even more difficult to remedy. Can you imagine Jackie Onassis calling up Barbara Walters and airing her problems with the Kennedy family? Of course not. This was in such bad taste and not a smart move at all.
What Chris said!
I agree. I don’t think it was a wise move on the part of Harry and Meghan. Also, we should remember we are hearing only one side to the story. I doubt that the Royal Family will respond; historically, they are very measured and careful about their public statements so we may never hear their side of the story. Meghan struck me as an actress playing the part of an emotionally fragile person and I find it very hard to believe she did not know what she was getting into when she married Harry. Finally, I would note that she seems to have a rather fractured relationship with members of her own family, so I wonder who is really at fault here.
Eew the last sentence of your comment is gross. Way to blame the victims of obviously abusive people (Thomas and Samantha Markle as well as the BRF for allowing the constant tabloid smear campaign with nary a word).
God help you to never experience toxic relatives. May you live forever in ignorant bliss.
I unfortunately agree. As much as I was glued to the TV, I wish they hadn’t done this… for THEIR sake. They are clearly in a place of pain and I do not feel like this interview is going to help in bringing them peace.
Melanie,
I don’t think it’s pain though. I believe it’s resentment, anger, and greed.
Taking away your voice or giving up your voice is the first step in an abusive relationship! It takes away your control, your inspiration, your dreams. Without a voice what have you?
Managing a group in the UK a few years back integrated into a work collaboration with US workers showed a profound disconnect to racial sensitivities. Racism is not truly recognized in the workplace any way similar to the US. And be to any non-white skin color was spoken about unkindly with surprise if called out. Hopefully in time things have improved but it sounds not. Any corporate person in US would at least know better than to speak such words.
I am so proud of both of them to stand up for themselves and believe that it is just what Diana would have wanted although she may have feared what was to come for doing this.
And Charles, an extremely disappointing man sadly.
Those two issues were also the ones that stood out to me. That they would not help Meghan when she was in just a dark place OMG. I had an episode of major depression 3 1/2 years ago. (damn genetics) I really felt for you Erin when you had your postpartum depression. I ended up in the hospital had to undergo ECT treatments for mine. I’m good now but what an awful experience.
The whole race thing was so awful, I had an audible gasp when Meghan talked about the concerns over what color skin Archie might have.
Kudos to Harry for getting his family out of there.
If these were true and accurate- yes, horrible. Beyond horrible. But note several of their other statements are already unravelling- particularly the one about Archie’s lack of title being racially motivated. He will be eligible when Charles becomes king. None of the other great grandchildren (and 4 of the direct grandchildren) have Prince or Princess titles either. Only William’s children as they are the direct line of the throne now. My family has several mixed culture marriages in our family. We also have red hair. Every pregnancy has involved speculation who the new baby will favor and what traits will be dominate. There are a lot of ways to make an agenda out of innocent behavior and, having seen real, and toxic racism, I think it demeans true victims when there is a cry of racism made that is easily debunked. It makes it just that much harder for a real victim to be believed (J Smolett, for example). They stated very clearly that the racist attitudes in the family were directly resulting in the baby being deprived of his birthright. That directly states it was the Queen , despite Harry trying to back track later. NO ONE else could have made a decision to deprive the baby of a title. (And if some more distant royal was ugly, it would have no impact but to disgust the rest). You cannot just float a balloon out there like that and not substantiate it as it smears the entire family. If this, and the 3 day earlier wedding and other points are being easily debunked, I will take a wait and see about the other points. Truth usually outs. It is clear they are both very angry people and feel they have been badly used, hence the scorched earth interview. But it is accept this as undiluted truth without substantiation (remember she is an actress, after all).
People keep commenting that Archie would be titled when Charles becomes king – but Meghan addressed that specifically, and said Harry was told the rules would be changed to prevent his children from being titled. Let’s not ignore that, please.
While I felt it was admirable that Meghan & Harry resisted trashing the queen, she is THE QUEEN after all.
Doesn’t she bear the responsibility for the debacle that was their palace life and how the press dealt with her?
Top down baby.
Yes. Completely agree. She is the head of The Firm. I adore the Queen but the fish stinks from the head, right?
Yep. The buck should stop with the Queen.
I do get how Meghan’s reactions could be interpreted as acting. However, I have a friend form college who has become, I think it’s fair to say a A list actress and is partnered with and has a child with an A+ actor. From knowing her and her family’s relationship (or rather lack of one) with press about them I actually can believe that Meghan was hearing many if not all of the headlines for the first time. My friend, really her team on her behalf, go to HUGE lengths to keep the press something that doesn’t enter their daily awareness. They don’t even do social media. Back when she first made it big I would mention something I saw in the grocery store check out line and she really would have no notion abt any of it. I do think its hard to imagine not knowing about things for any of us that follow the royals, but I thinks it totally self preservation to insulate to the max from the press.
I did watch bits and pieces although I have very little interest in them. What struck me as complete bs is when she complained about not getting help for her mental health. What?? She has a medical doctor, I mean she was pregnant so I assume she saw a doctor. Surely if she was so depressed she was suicidal, the responsible thing to do would be to ask her medical doctor for an antidepressant. But according to the two of them they were trapped and terrified and didn’t know what to do. Okaaaay. The other thing was the blaming Archie’s lack of title on racism. That is about as far fetched as it gets.
These kind of comments were why she had mental health issues. Harry backed up her story about her not getting help yet you imply she’s lying. They were blatantly racist towards here. She has every reason to be suspicious of their intentions.
Agree completely. We need to learn greater kindness and compassion and tolerance in the online world. So much hate out there for celebs and where does that behaviour trickle down to? Our schools, our children who will then think this vitriol is acceptable. Be kinder people!
This!
Well said and sooo true !
I thought their pain was palpable. They have clearly both been deeply affected by their experiences and their time spent in those roles. It makes me very sad overall. I feel like we all wanted them to do great things from within the monarchy and hoped that they would represent change and progress from within those roles. Hopefully that work will continue now from outside of the institution.
However, I thought a few points were unfair. My understanding is that only the great-grandchildren of the monarch in the direct line of succession (so William’s children) receive the prince/princess titles immediately at birth. For Archie to have received one at birth would have been unusual and outside the norm. Also, security is extremely expensive and paid for by the British tax payer – not by the family. Therefore it only applies to senior working royals. As someone mentioned above, I think there are many popular members of the family that we, as Americans, would view as senior royals who do not receive that security detail. To expect for the British taxpayer to pay for your security when you no longer work for the firm and no longer live in Britain seems a bit of a stretch to me.
You said the pain was palpable, but I think it was anger. Harry is full of anger over his mother’s death and is doing his paybacks for his mom.
The whole mess was 1) Payback for Harry’s loss of his mother 2) a pathetic P.R. exercise for the Harry Markles AND Oprah with all her fake expressions of surprise after how many run-thrus 3)An intro to the young and gullible across the world to their “brand” -whatever it’s supposed to be.
Spot on Sheila and Charis
Maybe I’m giving them too much credit, but they keep saying they wanted to keep working for the Queen and the commonwealth. I think they expected security under those circumstances, not no matter what,
There was a well constructed plan for them to have a couple years posting somewhere in a
Commonwealth country in Africa- which Harry always claimed was his dream. This was right after their last interview in Africa about how hard it was to be them. The Queen and her husband had time stationed in Malta while he was in the navy and her father was still king. It was to allow them to have time to ease into their roles and give them some breathing room, as well as offer them the privacy the keep saying they wanted- but it was outright rejected by Harry and Meaghan. Maybe not enough glamour? But it is another reason why this whole saga doesn’t ring true and their public screed just seems so unnecessary. It’s like they want to create this big drama so they can launch themselves worldwide or something? Seems very Kardashian, to be honest.
There was a number of conflicts about Meaghan accepting freebies and other financial issues that may be very acceptable for an actress but simply not possible for a working senior royal. The queen has a very strict policy on it as it can’t be seen that they are flogging influence or selling off their royal position for profit. Even Anne’s son, who holds no title or position has been censored for that. The Queen’s statement when they broke away was very gracious- she spoke of them as beloved family members and that she understood their desire for a new direction. But she made it very clear that they could not be seen to be making commercial deals on the basis of their royal position- which with their constant marketing of themselves as the Duke and Duchess or Sussex, is exactly what they are trying to do. Harry was particularly disingenuous when he said they had no idea of doing anything commercial when they left the UK and just needed money after his father ‘cut him off (He’s what- 36 years old, 37?). They stated in their January, 2020 bombshell that they wanted to break away for that exact reason. And despite saying they hadn’t blindsided the family by publishing it, it was quite certain they were not being truthful. They published a lengthy list of what their departure entailed (security as they were internationally important figures, that they would still keep working for the queen and earn their own income, etc) all without consultation to the family. The Queen had to take the embarrassing step of issuing a statement, again very diplomatically, that she respected they wanted a new direction but that many details still needed to be determined. It went down like a lead balloon with the public. They were already outraged at all the tax money spent on renovating their gifted house they never really lived in and then they were arrogantly issuing terms publicly to the Queen. They came off as extremely self important. Maybe Meaghan’s can be put down to cultural differences, but Harry had no excuse.
Yes it struck me that Meghan said they wanted to continue working for the Firm in a Commonwealth country, be that NZ, South Africa, Canada or elsewhere. I had assumed they ended up in Canada because she wanted to move there, but that may have been coincidental? I also understand why they felt exposed in Canada and relocated to the US. The big takeaway for me was the whole sweeping of mental health challenges under the rug thing, and if this changes things for other RF members who may be suffering then perhaps the whole airing of family drama (which I take to be mainly issues with Charles and William) may be worth it.
As much as I was glued to the tv – I wish they had not done this interview. I fear all hope is now lost to repair the relationship with his family. Although, if his immediate family said hurtful things to him about his wife (and clearly they did) – chances are that the relationship was irreconcilable anyway. How many of us have heard the verse about leaving your father and mother and forsaking all others to be joined to your wife…he did that and it took all the courage he had. I was a Megan fan before and I still am but I’m sad to say that I have lost a little bit of respect for. She was deeply hurt by her father speaking about her to the media and that is essentially what she has done. I imagine they hoped the interview would be cathartic for them but I am afraid it will only open up more heart ache and pain in the aftermath.
I completely agree. I’m glad you brought up the point about her and her father. I think maybe why this has rubbed me the wrong way is because of that, that she is doing the thing she was upset with him for doing. I wish them all the best, but I am a little disappointed that they went so scorched earth. I was hoping eventually they could repair those familial relationships. I don’t think they can reconcile after this, though.
The most shocking part was that Megan had suicidal thoughts. Every human regardless of status should be given help with such a grave condition. Other smaller take a ways but not unimportant: Surely Harry knew the real deal of life in the palace….we all know they make you take down any social media, give up your home, your day to day freedoms of running out to meet friends for dinner are gone forever…why didn’t Harry share examples with her in detail when they were considering marriage?? This lifestyle is not for most! I still marvel at the Queen Mother at 94 still carrying on with a full schedule of day to day events. It is essentially a life of that. Another observation was the crying episode with Kate….I have been involved in many weddings where the tears flow with loved ones on the last few weeks and days leading up to the big event…I didn’t see that has something catastrophic but why it was turned around as to who made whom cry was of course unfair. I wish them the best.
The Queen is NOT the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother was HER mother.
I thought it was brave to talk about mental health and racism but I believe she did “act” and “embellished” a little bit. There’s 2 sides to every story. I do agree that the media was not kind to her and that Meaghan and Kate were pitted against each other in the media.
When she talked about Archie getting a title, I was confused if she had lied or just did not understand how the title work? The title convention of prince/princess can be bestow to the grandchildren of the Queen, but not great-grandchildren of the Queen. Archie would be given a chance at prince title when Charles becomes the King which would give him “prince status and the protection that comes with it”. W&K children only got the prince/princess title due to William being a direct heir of the monarchy. It is a shame they took away Harry’s security but I also wondered if the UK government didn’t want to cover that cost since wasn’t that coming out of the taxpayers $$? I will have to ask my British relatives about this.
Thank you for typing this. This is a very important point that is completely missed in the US media. Archie simply was not eligible for a title under current laws. I don’t understand either whether Meghan was wilfully missing this or simply did not understand the rules.
For what it is worth, Anne’s children (the Queen’s grandchildren) were not given titles either. Nor were Edward’s children. The US media is not talking about this at all.
I have no doubt that there are racist members in the royal family. Every family has those. But to paint an entire institution as racist – you need to give more details, as far as I am concerned. The title and security thing can be explained by the rules and the laws. Meghan and Harry expected to be treated the exact same way as Kate and William but unfortunately they were not the heir to the throne. Hence the difference.
I am sure racism played a part in how she was treated.. especially by the press. I am sure she felt horrible. It sounds like the royals were happy to have her take the fall in order to bolster Kate’s image (Kate’s popularity sky rocketed after Meghan came on the scene). And the mental health part was also awful if true. I am not denying that the RF has problems. It’s just that the portrayal was not exactly factual. Several important relevant facts were omitted.
Appreciate your comments here. As an American with British family, I’m so fascinated by what’s lost in translation between countries. Traditional British culture and particularly the monarchy is about rules, rules, rules. As the monarchy’s relevance in the modern era is under continued and increasing scrutiny, these rules seem arbitrary and ridiculous, especially to American eyes. (FWIW, I also have a hard time believing Meghan didn’t research what it really meant to be joining the royal family. And if it was true, that’s more than naïveté – it’s shows a lack of appropriate deference to the history and tradition that she’d ultimately be stewarding. I can see how that would be offensive to the Brits.)
Conversely, American culture is about freedom of expression, freedom to chart your own course regardless of your “station” as my in-laws would say and, yes, freedom to make as much money as you possibly can. To British eyes, the hype of the interview with the dangling of bombshells and frequent commercial breaks is evidence that M&H are enterprising and money hungry (not to mention the Netflix and Spotify deals) and not interested in “true” public service.
Ultimately this seems like a clash of two very different worlds, with neither willing to bend enough in the other’s direction. Not suggesting Meghan should bend even slightly in the direction of racism, patriarchy and toxicity – I think she and Harry did the right thing by getting out. But I also see how the Brits feel attacked. Rules, structure and formality are central to the British identity, and I don’t think this interview provided that context.
Lol, I keep having more thoughts! Yes, Charles has always said he wants a slimmed down set of working royals. So yes, Harry’s children would be the first grandchildren of the monarch to be in a different position than those of earlier generations. However, they could have set those changes in motion at any time. The fact that they acted on it only after Harry married a mixed race woman who was already challenging the status quo is at best poor timing and at worst simply racist.
My understanding is that only children of the male line are entitled to, well, titles. Thus Anne’s children not having them. (Not that I think she would have wanted them anyway) And that Edward and Sophie elected for lesser titles to give their children more normalcy. I did hear Meghan qualify that they were talking about changing the rules for when Charles is king, but that they were talking about them while she was pregnant. So I don’t see it as a misrepresentation, maybe confusing to follow, but definitely that they were saying, when she was pregnant, “we want to change the rules so that your child is not a prince in the future”.
I came away realizing that Meghan had no problem doing the work of being a Royal, all the charity, foreign tours, etc. She didn’t realize that she was giving up complete control of her own life. The institution needs to protect those in line to the crown – Charles, William, and by extension Kate. Meghan just wasn’t high enough up the totem pole to warrant the protection she needed. I’m also not sure that by letting the tabloid press have a field day with Meghan & Harry, that William & Kate were shielded. What I don’t understand is the Royal Family’s constant petty picking away at things that happened years ago. It’s as if Meghan is living in their heads rent free.
I do 100% agree with their decision to leave. They need to build their own productive lives.
I felt almost 100% the same as you did. I don’t understand why we have to pick a side. I like Kate and Megan and wish Megan was still part of the firm. I loved seeing them dressed up and at work. I
We don’t have to pick a side. Some women do, and it will always hold us back.
What I can’t believe is that William, Kate and Harry have long been champions of mental health. William and Kate’s Instagram is full of posts about their work within that field. But their own place of employment will not provide that help? Let’s promote all the good we do and say but not actually apply it within. Unacceptable.
The other family members need to realize that their silence and obeying the Firm does not actually help. Use your voice rest of the Royals, sometimes the boat needs rocked to get back to smooth sailing.
This! I wish Oprah would have asked about that . How they publicly support all kinds of mental health orgs but didn’t support their own family members mental health struggles. I don’t get it.
I don’t buy the mental health thing. Charles was in therapy for 10 years; William was in therapy, as was Harry. Kate took her brother to therapy. Meghan’s mother is a licensed mental health professional. I think that they did not want Meghan to go to an outside hospital, which would raise several issues. They would have brought someone in, like they did with every other royal who had mental health counseling.
Oh and I get that there are rules about who gets security and who doesn’t. But if you won’t allow someone to work outside the firm to pay for security then you must provide it. And the media saying that Harry and Meghan chose not to give Archie a title is disturbing. Why all the lies? I remember how highly it was promoted that it was Harry and Meghan’s choice.
After the interview aired and Twitter exploded, I wondered what was your take on the subject. I like reading your insight as it helped me to be more sympathetic. Reading all the comments also helped because I chose not to watch. I fail to understand the motivation behind the interview with Oprah. The bottom line for me then is, I simply wished the Sussexes had stayed out of the spotlight longer and built their trust with the public first, rather than rushing into airing of grievances.
If you read the article above you may see that Meghan was not being truthful about the title. He is not eligible for titles under the current laws.
Maybe this will explain why Archie was not given protection. Just FYI: the Queen’s other grandchildren who are not directly the children of the heir also do not have titles or protection. Her own granddaughters Beatrice, Eugenie or Louise don’t have protection. There are rules for who gets security and who doesn’t. It seems to me that Meghan and Harry were hurt that the Queen decided to apply the rules to them, even to them. This Guardian article explains it well:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/08/why-meghan-harry-son-archie-denied-title-prince-mixed-race
Do Eugenie, Beatrice, Zara, Peter, Louise, etc. receive regular death threats? If they were scared for their lives or the lives of their spouses, do we think a security detail might be added?
I suppose if M-5 or Scotland Yard found credible evidence of threats, they would allocate an increased security detail. You do understand the family does not determine that but it is in the hands of the government? That is how a constitutional monarchy works. He has roughly $40million in assets from his mother and the Queen Mum- Surely a nearly middle age man with that kind of wealth should be able to cover protection for his family. Especially as he undoubtedly was in line to inherit many millions more through his grandparents and father in the not distant future (that may now change). His prior girlfriends and friends often referenced he was very unwilling to put his hand in his own pocket for expenses. Her fans claim she made her own fortune and her last marriage was said to have a payout of about $5 million. Their whinging on about Daddy not paying for them still was really off putting- especially considering the nearly $40 million they have been estimated to cost since the engagement and given the struggles people are going through currently. So much for wanting a quiet life!
You do realize that Meaghan’s Molotov cocktail about Catherine, with no substantiation either direction but her say so, has resulted in a massive flood of death threats against Catherine, and the 3 Cambridge children today. Surely if she and her own child had been placed in such a terrible situation herself, she would have known that would be the result of her dragging Catherine in, and was quite unnecessary for the overall narrative. It came across as incredibly petty and vindictive. Especially as there were other witnesses to that scene that seems to recall as very different version of events. Her look was almost gloating too- as if she was hugging herself over knowing the palace never publicly contradicts gossip.
I don’t know if they do receive threats. I’ve read that Andrew is paying for Beatrice and Eugenie’s security. The taxpayers are not.
Princess Beatrice and Eugenie are different though. Their father is not going to be king. Harry’s father will be king. He should have security at the very least.
Archie does not have security because he is not a working royal. It is the British people who pay for security; they are not going to pay for it for royals who are not working for the British people. Harry and Meghan can pay for their own private security.
Archie will automatically become Prince when Charles becomes king. And get security. This was always a timing thing – and is based only on place in line – nothing about someone’s ethnicity. And Harry KNOWS this.
I really enjoyed reading your thoughts. I have been a huge follower of The Royals. (I was that young girl who stayed up all night to watch Diana and the Royal Wedding!) I think your spot on with Meghan. I don’t think she was as naive as she says entering into this. That said I’m sure it was not easy at all trying to fit in. The thing I am most sad about is Harry’s relationship with his brother. I don’t think William has the choice or for lack of a better word the “freedom” to make the choices that Harry has made. 👑
Thanks as always for your candid and honest perspective. 💞
I feel similarly confused that Harry and Archie don’t have security. That seems spiteful. I’m not surprised by the way Meghan was treated and I’m so proud he was courage enough to put family first. Truly Diana’s don.
Security is being paid for working royals, thus are the rules. They do not want to be working royals and for this reason the British taxpayers will not pay security costs. There are enough examples of this: princes Andrew’s children, Anne’s childres and so on.
It’s not connected to racist threats, it’s connected to them not being eligible. It’s the law.
Also, a jet set lifestyle makes security extra expensive and if they want that they will need to pay for it.
You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.
Beatrice and Eugenie, Anne’s kids Zara and her brother (don’t remember his name) don’t have royal family provided security. Its about your place in line, and nothing else. I think Charles was going to fund it, but living in Canada last year, they couldn’t afford the extra expense of sending security officers there (travel, lodging, rotating British offices in and out of the country – I saw the estimate $$ figure and found it astronomical)
I agree with just about everything Erin said to the letter. I’ve always thought it was probably both sides contributing to the issues, but after last night I’m squarely in their corner now. Harry is not crazy so for him to corroborate the stories is proof enough for me. Unless you work for the royal family or are a member, none of us can ever know what it’s really like. All these comments about security details and costs – how do you know that? You don’t. And I believe her that she didn’t know or thought it would be like movie stars. As she says, whole other ballgame. What resonates with me is the comment about her keys and wallet, etc. I would feel totally trapped and cut off in that case. She truly couldn’t win for losing. The fish stinks from head down like someone said, well and good that the queen has been kind, but she could and should have stopped it. Just like The Crown when they stuck Diana in the palace and ignored her.
I have a colleague and friend whose father is one of the Queen’s guards, she runs in those circles. Can’t wait to talk to her this week and get the background.
I’m with the other Kelly who mentioned the soft-core porn razor commercial lol! Really !?!
Honestly, I was most shocked by the commercial that showed someone shaving their bikini area. Yikes.
Interesting, as most of us aren’t familiar with security costs from Britain to Canada to US. I wonder though, if Eugenie, Beatrice, Zara and Peter were receiving daily, racist death threats, do we think they would have security detail added for their protection? Would the BRF spare that cost?
[…] Source link Erin Gates […]
So well written.
I think that the differential in costs for security in California vs the UK and Canada were not explored. It costs FAR more to employ someone in the US than in the UK and Canada (which have social welfare nets with public health insurance and pensions). Also California has wage and hour laws that are really expensive to comply with. So is it inexcusable that Charles didn’t want to pay the increase when they could live at home? I don’t think most parents would say, ok, quit your job and I’ll pay for an increased cost of living.
Their UK security expenses were estimated at between 250,000 and 400,000 British pounds- due to a certain amount of overlap based on location. Both Kensington Palace and Windsor has several central royal households so it is less expensive to cover several of the families with one large team and delegate smaller security groups for when senior royals or on a visit or tour. Royal household pay is not in the league of what private security commands in LA. Their desire to live in LA has brought the estimated cost of the similar coverage to between 3 to 5million annually, just for them. The security cost for their wedding were $30,000,000- a vast amount was due to their insistence for a carriage ride through Windsor that they insisted on having. Meghan was quite insistent she had her Disney moment as Catherine and William did- the security for the carriage ride alone was over $11,000,000 (snipers on the roof the entire route and so on). The queen paid for the actual 3 million cost of the wedding out of her funds. The security cost were pick up by the public. The same with their 7 week Canadian break prior to announcing the were leaving and the additional 2 months they were in Canada before they left for LA. (Costs were split between the Canadian and UK taxpayers in Canada). Charles publicly stated he would cover all their expenses for their first year (ending this month) from funds from the Duchy of Lancaster. Also note that these security costs are being borne during a year of pandemic, during great hardship and tragedy for millions, so they can find their authentic voice in their $14,000,000 estate. Tone deaf, a bit? And could possibly explain a lack of sympathy on the part of the UK population. Choices have consequences, but they feel entitled to let others deal with those costs.
Thank you, Mary, Charis and Suzie for your very informed responses. I am American and while I did not watch the entire interview (I literally could not, it was that cringe-worthy), I was embarrassed for Harry, Meghan and Oprah. I can not believe that they went forth with this interview and that it aired when it did. They claim to have respect for the Queen? Please. They should stop trying to have it both ways and renounce their titles immediately. Meghan was a 37 year old woman when they married. You can not tell me that she did not know what it would be like. The British press has eviscerated many others of the Royal family and they have taken the same stance. I, too, remember Waitey Katey and the whole Charles/Camilla treatment. Meghan really should seek mental help. She clearly needs it.
I’m not sure of your sources for who “insisted” on what. Harry knows more about the inner workings of the family than anyone commenting here. The tabloid headlines have been horrific, and the lack of family support inexcusable. The fact that the family stated they would change the rules so Harry’s children wouldn’t be titled after Charles becomes king is racist and cruel. Harry and Meghan would’ve been fantastic representatives for the country and commonwealth. So much has been lost by the firm’s mistreatment of them.
You seem very intent Mary on demonizing their every move. Why is that
Just adding one wrinkle…most parents have earned the money they might provide or withhold from an adult child who quit his or her job. Charles obviously did not. I’m not pro or con, but the Windsors certainly don’t seem to be reigning in the unmatched lavish spending and lifestyle they enjoy. Why pinch (inherited) pennies to potentially put your son’s life in harm’s way?
“Most family members have been seen on commercial flights with the regular folk, barring royal tours- which aren’t happening. Including William and Catherine, with their children. Of their generation, Harry and his wife are the only ones notorious for their love of private jets. ”
This is the type of false narrative, perpetuated by the British press, and consistly used against Meghan over the past 3 years. Beatrice, Eugenie and yes, William and Catherine regularly use private planes. Annually William and Catherine and their children fly to Mustique, with her family, which is only accessible by private plane. Regularly other royals fly to Switzerland (where I have close family) on private planes for personal travel. Also while dating H & M regularly flew commercial, I remember famous pictures of them landing in Africa on a commercial flight and him flying to visit her in Canada on commercial flights. Yet here, and in internet comments everywhere, you see things like “only Meghan and Harry” when it comes to seemingly entitled behavior.
Comments like this reinforce what Meghan and Harry said quite clearly on Sunday. They have been treated differently by the press vs. other royals. And that his family, and “the firm” have not done what they do for other royals to dispel false negative stories about them.
Everything Charis said. There seems to be a confusion among many people what celebrity culture is and what royalty means where it still exists.
Marrying into one of the royal houses is a package deal and I don’t have the shred of a doubt that Meghan was made aware of this before they married.
In order for monarchy still to be accepted in the western world, the families have to work (charities, etc.) and are generally barred from displaying their own political views.
They receive money from the British taxpayers and are expected to spend it more or less responsibly.
I’m very disappointed with Oprah, I must say, as none of their statements were questioned at all.
Example. as many have already mentioned: the prince title for Archie. Especially Harry is without any doubt aware why he wouldn’t get that title and I’m sure that Meghan was made aware of it, too.
Also, please do not forget that Kate was mocked for years by the press and dubbed as “Waity Katey”, called lazy, social climber, etc. But she did keep her act together because she’s an adult and thought about what she was signing up for. She now has gained respect from the people and the press and is much loved.
Marrying into these firms is no fun and games, it’s a commitment. If you and your prince do not want to accept this commitment it is always possible to leave, of course. There are many examples of members of royal families who live very quiet lives.
But you can’t have everything: taxpayers funding your security detail and not keeping up your end.
Lauren- Actually they are. I can understand the American confusion of celebrity and royalty, but our constitutional monarchy works with the idea the members work for the crown, the crown doesn’t work for them. The royal family have given up their own planes, yacht and several other trappings of the monarchy and have always been very aware of their privilege’s. A huge proportion of the Queen’s financial package goes to maintaining the properties the crown holds. The queen famously lives very simply in her day to day life. The public pageantry is separate- state dinners, tiaras and such- and yes, we enjoy and our proud of those moments. Yes, they get allocated a royal property and their children’s schooling and healthcare is all private. They don’t worry if they buy the grocery shop at Fortnum’s- but they aren’t generally showy with it as they know it is not in their interests to flaunt their lifestyle. Most of their wealth is reinvested into maintaining their assets- some owned by them outright, some the property of the Crown. They can’t sell off the crown jewels as they are the property of the Crown, not the individual. Most family members have been seen on commercial flights with the regular folk, barring royal tours- which aren’t happening. Including William and Catherine, with their children. Of their generation, Harry and his wife are the only ones notorious for their love of private jets. Others may fly them occasionally, but not as avidly as Harry, nor do they preach to the public about carbon footprints afterwards. Yes they live in palaces, among art and luxury- most inherited and not of new acquisition. Contrast this with Meghan who herself spent over $2,000,000 on her public wardrobe on clothes and jewels her first year here- by comparison the royal women of the all the royal houses in Europe did not add up to that together that same year. Catherine, adjusting for inflation, spent about $65,000 her first year. So while it is a very comfortable existence materially, it is not a matter of any wish is indulged like some Disney fantasy. And it can hardly be considered that the family ‘pinched pennies’ at Harry and Meghan’s expense- however they attempted to spin the narrative.
The security coverage is assessed by the metropolitan police (and probably with input from security such as M-5), not the Crown- I am sure they are very closely attuned to any fluctuation of threat levels for all the royal family members. Real ones, not narrative ones. Generally, full security applies to senior royals who work for the crown to the exclusion other employment. (currently 7 people in 4 households of the family.) Since the peace accords in N. Ireland, the overall threat level is far reduced and security is not not provided unless of some credible situation, certainly not ongoing. Princess Beatrice worked in New York for several years after her security was removed and her father paid for any private coverage they felt was needed. Besides what support they have all received from the crown at different periods, all of the Queen’s direct heirs have substantial financial inheritances from the older generations, and realistically more to come as the Queen is 94 and Prince Philip is 99. Most of them work in some field and show up occasionally at Royal events, without private coverage. They all are living fairly private lives, barring the occasional private charity patronage. As son of Charles, Harry’s inheritance is much greater than most. Between the Queen Mother and Diana, he is estimated to have, conservatively, about 40 million, gbp. His father has paid for everything his entire life up until next month and he is famous for his expectations of not paying for anything himself- both among friends and past girlfriends. Harry is now almost 40 years old with a wife and soon 2 children. If they are so determined to have such a very public, high profile existence, living among the billionaires, as they have pursued this past year, then surely he should be expected to cover his own family expenses out of his own wealth or earn his own income to cover it. I’m afraid the average tax payer here can find a lot the sympathize from a pair who have treated the tax payers like a cash cow and then denigrated them publicly as racist and bullying peasants. We were as a country overjoyed at the start of their relationship- it was their behavior, not her race that we found off putting- like Harry yelling to the staff that ‘What Meghan wants, Meghan gets’. We forgave a lot from both of them- particularly his racist slurs and dressing up as a Nazi for a party- youthful mistakes we thought he learned from- but their ongoing behavior really shows 2 disingenuous self aggrandizing souls willing to throw any mud they can without documentation, just to see if it will stick. I wish you all luck with them.
Agreed. If their son, daughter in a law and grandchild were receiving racist threats, surely they could have ponied up the money to protect them. Disappointing to say the least.
It is important to remember that we the British taxpayers pay for their security. The Met police pay for working royals in the inner circle. The title of Prince or Princess does not automatically convey police protection. For example, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice do not receive police protection.
I agree Meghan has been mistreated, but the police protection went away as they are not public servants any longer and don’t get the associated security.
Same for Archie’s title. Harry’s children are not entitled to Prince or Princess. Once Charles is King THEN the grandchildren of the current monarch are entitled to the title. So her suggestion he wasn’t given a title due to his race does not align with the rules. Anyone can read up on this – George V’s letters patent from 1917 that were set out to limit the size of the royal family.
I think they came to the USA after they found out their security was going away. And Tyler Perry gave them a place to live and a security detail until they got it all lined up. But Meghan mentioned that Harry got death threats, and as a parent I would for sure be looking at how to keep my family safe, especially with a little child as the grandson. Charles did not learn a thing and is clearly a horrible person even with all benefits of the doubt given.
Kate was a ‘commoner’ in the way you describe, and she wasn’t ‘bred for it’. Her parents are rich but not noble at all. When Kate was William’s girlfriend she lost at least one job because of it – she had to resign because the paparazzi attention made it impossible for her to do her job. That’s the reason she worked for her parents, it was too difficult to keep another job. The British press were happy to insult her when she was an outsider, and continued to be horrible about her weight after she married.
In the UK the interview airs tonight so I’ll watch it then. So I can’t comment on the acting you think she might be putting on, but I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt.
I know from my own experience, and maybe you do too, that I put on an act when I needed to to hide my pain and trauma (going through a ton of foundation and powder in the toilets to hide the redness from crying through my lunch break ) and that sometimes I have to think of myself as outside myself to be able to get through a conversation describing my mental health issues.
she was “bred for it” in the way that her parents raised her to be poised, polished, gracious, composed. Sent to the top schools, schooled in how to be a lady, a socialite, and positioned to marry if not a prince, but a member of British high society. Look at her sister. These girls weren’t drunk and dancing on table tops in bars. They were taught that if you’re going to put yourself out there, there is no damaging evidence against you and position yourself as a potential posh wife, mother, and future Queen. ‘
Maybe you don’t mean it to come across that way but that seems a bit of a back handed compliment. She also receive a very strong academic degree with honors and comes from a very close supportive family. I think it is a bit beyond saying she and her sister kept a good resume to be attractive ‘breeding options’- They were raised and chose to live their life with self respect and dignity. Believe it or not, that isn’t a requirement for marriage into the so called aristocracy. I thought we should be supporting all women’s life choices, even if it is not our own preferred pathway. She was intelligent to to not commit to her role permanently until she thoroughly understood what she was getting into. Her parents are entirely self made and endured terrible abuse for their ‘lowly’ family background. They have kept quiet and shown by actions, rather than words, that they were trustworthy, “well bred” and have provided a stable base for both their own children and William himself. If those are boring or dull attributes, they seem to be the basis for a very happy life together, beyond just wealth and position. Wealth can solve many difficulties but it isn’t any guarantee of happiness. See William’s parents!
I agree that I don’t think Meghan walked into this blindly, but when she and Harry said the family welcomed her with open arms; maybe with that acceptance Meghan felt all would be good. Its a shame that it appears the Firm is punishing Harry for leaving, not sure what they expected given the harsh treatment Meghan was receiving and lack of support. “People” have said they have no sympathy for Meghan being cooped up in a palace….I think being forced into solitude regardless of how grandiose the location, it is still detrimental to one’s own mental well being.
How is he punished, Luv? He chose to leave the job portion. Fine. You don’t take the perks of the job with you when you leave. It has always been the policy that “senior working royal” cannot trade commercially as they are holding those roles- not just him-it opens the family to accusations or influence selling otherwise or profiting off of your title- which you cannot do if you are in a constitutional monarchy- the family is in power by the will of the people. The family has repeatedly stated they remain a beloved (well until last night) part of the family itself. He was asked to step back to the same position his own cousins occupy if they wished to have commercial income- which they stated they did in their Mexit manifesto. He’s in his late 30’s. He has a huge fortune from his mother and great grandmother’s estates. He has had his daddy underwriting him by millions a year (for decades) while they were actively being senior royals to the exclusion of other paying roles. This included during his military ‘career’- those polo ponies weren’t coming out of a captain’s pay. They demanded to have both Senior royal roles and profit commercially from those titles at the same time, and not very graciously, based on their public statements. They were also offered a 2 year sabbatical in the part of Africa he adores (with financial coverage) so they could have the privacy they claimed to crave and time to grow as a family. They turned it down. Since they have left, they seem hellbent on raising their public profile. It seems as if no one has ever told them know and if they can’t have their way, they’ll do their best to bring everyone down.
People might not make the correlation that the queen’s most favourite son, andrew, has certainly profited off his title and role – even after being outed as a sexual assaulter. And received much more coverage from senior palace aides than harry or meg ever did.
I have to say the interview was completely believable and put the family in a very bad light. I am a huge royal fan too. Very disappointed with them and apparently the ‘firm’ is still operating the way they did back when Diana was there. They have learned not a thing from that tragedy. It would take nothing for Willian, Kate or Charles to have spoke up just once and defended Meghan when all those stories were slandering her ..and clearly favoring Kate. Not one was brave enough to do it and would rather lose Harry’s love and his being close to them. The no protection for Harry and child? Why? Very very sad and I hope one day William or one of them will speak up say they love him and want change.
Agree 100%. Also, I can’t get past the irony of William and Kate talking about mental health when they can’t deal with it in their own family. Oh! And Oprah proved once again that she’s a queen in her own right when it comes to honest, compelling and completely authentic interviews. She was outstanding.
Long live the true queen: Oprah Winfrey!
Well said!
SO many thoughts:
Other royals chose not to have their children be titled, and it was always understood well before Meghan came along that Harry’s children would not be titled at least as Princess/Prince. Edward’s children have noble, not Royal, titles. Anne’s children are untitled.
For better or worse, security for the BRF is understood as a use of public resources and is reserved for the inner circle. Andrew’s daughters don’t have public security, but they may have private.
The tabloids CLEARLY treated Meghan in a way that was racist. It was clickbait and it worked because people clicked on it. So I truly think society is to blame here.
I hope they’re happy, and I hope everyone works on their relationships in the future.
I have to be honest and say I didn’t watch. I do find it interesting that when I took a look at Twitter last night the vast majority of people tweeting seemed to be maddest at Kate and Camilla – two female members of the “Firm” who weren’t born into their roles, and therefore likely have very little power when it comes to changing the way the Firm operates
We all hear a lot about how women should always support other women, but I find it ironic that on Twitter at least, most of the people I saw commenting were women, and they were mostly dragging the women in the Royal Family – not the men.