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Post by Big Blue on Jan 9, 2020 15:15:11 GMT
So come on then: royalists and republicans, give us your take on the Harry and Meghan story. Personal views: - she seems to be the kind of awful social climber that is depicted in bad American soaps
- he enjoyed being a soldier and not having to put up with the Royal duties bollocks
- she is now so far down the chain of succession that her views don't count for shit and she doesn't like that much
- the press are quite horrible about her - Charles has put up with that shit for decades - he's tougher than he looks
- he can't wait to jack all this in having seen what an arse his Uncle has made of himself recently
- Princess Margaret had the right idea, living pissed-up in the Caribbean and all that - perhaps Harry's looking at the history books and selecting a preference
- they'll be divorced within 5 years and as he's given up the stipend she won't get any so when they split then he can rejoin the family business
- if they can do this and keep their kids out of the limelight their kids will be more balanced and maybe their grandkids will just be wealthy, anonymous Hons like so many others are
- there's nothing in the Royal Duties bit for them worth the money as he has an income from Cornwall and she can always get back on the game (acting that is....) and they'll never be top-table Royals
- he's realised he is actually the son of that soldier and not Prince Charles
Whatever the matter it's affected my life precisely zero percent, aside from realising that Nicholas Witchell is now about 93 years old.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jan 9, 2020 15:24:13 GMT
Not arsed. We have the heir and spares and the Royal Family could do with a bit of thinning out. In fact, come to think of it, the Royals should make their homes around the Commonwealth. Why should we always have them - they could do 6 months in Oz as well.
They will be divorced within 5 years though.
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Post by Tim on Jan 9, 2020 15:27:55 GMT
I'm struggling to give a fuck really.
From what little I've seen she appears to be predictably self-absorbed and, as BB says, a social climber who feels she needs, or has been advised, to raise her profile. I reckon he's probably quite easily led and she'll have sold him this fantastic new way of life. She's obviously not widely liked across here so she's taking her family back across the pond where she can resurrect some sort of media career and cash in on her royalty -she'll probably wear a tiara for every public appearance.
Good riddance, it's hardly headline stuff though.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2020 15:34:29 GMT
No idea but the family business does need to be efficiency regulated. No particular complaint with the family but no particular liking for them either and with the Andy pandy business etc the talk of duty and honor rather falls flat. A little jaundiced perhaps but really, who cares? What Really gets my goat is the so called experts who get interviewed everywhere saying how "Everyone" is appalled and upset etc when I doubt the majority care which cheek the sun shines on first.
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Post by LandieMark on Jan 9, 2020 16:21:52 GMT
Good for them as far as I'm concerned.
He didn't ask to be born into Royalty so if he wants a more normal life then good luck and I certainly don't blame them. The British Press seem to make hounding the Royal family completely normal - I'm amazed there hasn't been more rants before now and I completely understand them making the announcement before telling the rest of them, as they would have only tried to talk them out of it.
One correspondent has gone on the record to say he hopes they come to their senses. What a prick.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2020 16:42:47 GMT
There is a lot of talk about duty which it seems is led by the older generations. I see no reason why the old girl cannot retire for a few years rather than die with her boots on. Is it wrong for some of the family to want a different life? Is it going to negatively affect the lives of anyone? A lot of noise over nothing of substance.
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Post by PetrolEd on Jan 9, 2020 17:10:30 GMT
She isn't right for Royal life so return all the grace and favors and bon voyage. She was whinging about the press after only a week in the job. We're British love, we like the stiff upper lip and carry on. Who thought Kate would have been so good in the job? Shes fantastic from what I've seen.
Harry quite understandably has mummy issues hence he's chosen Megan who seems to operate in a similar way to Di but people at least felt sorry for her.
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Post by Alex on Jan 9, 2020 17:13:17 GMT
At least this now means Megan can play herself in future series of The Crown.
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 9, 2020 18:41:04 GMT
I have no actual knowledge but as an outside observer of an independent mindset, I tend to the view that Meghan gets a worse press than she deserves and Harry's the spoilt brat having the tantrum rather than her. I think she just provides him with a convenient excuse and the UK media with a scapegoat. I mean if he wanted to bugger off to Canada or the Caribbean, he should just do it without all this public angst.
Shades of history repeating itself. Edward VIII and George VI. One brother a bit of playboy who wants everything on his own terms and doesn't do compromise, and the other the more stolid and dutiful type. It would explain the supposed rift between the brothers much more logically than any dislike between their wives.
While we're at it, I'm not at all convinced by Kate and would favour her over Meghan in a celebrity death match-type scenario. I suspect she's got pretty lethal elbows.
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Post by Stuntman on Jan 9, 2020 19:40:04 GMT
I think it's disappointing.
It's not as if either Harry or Meghan didn't know (or absolutely should have known fully) what was expected of them. As far as I'm concerned, the British Taxpayer should not have to foot any bills for them from this day forward. They should be evicted from any State-funded homes and go their own 'financially independent' way, supported by what we pay HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales, plus whatever they each bring to the table from their own earnings or inheritances.
They have both gone down significantly in my estimation. Very poor show and I'm not surprised that the senior royals are pissed off.
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Post by Roadrunner on Jan 9, 2020 21:08:11 GMT
I think it's disappointing. It's not as if either Harry or Meghan didn't know (or absolutely should have known fully) what was expected of them. As far as I'm concerned, the British Taxpayer should not have to foot any bills for them from this day forward. They should be evicted from any State-funded homes and go their own 'financially independent' way, supported by what we pay HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales, plus whatever they each bring to the table from their own earnings or inheritances. They have both gone down significantly in my estimation. Very poor show and I'm not surprised that the senior royals are pissed off. I agree. With the privilege he is born into, also comes a duty to serve his state without question or complaint (see the example set by his grandmother). He has instead decided to flounce off. Not impressed.
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Post by PG on Jan 9, 2020 22:13:53 GMT
Harry and Meghan just seem to bring out the worst in each other - feeding each others' sense of entitlement and belief that they are in some way special. And they seem all too ready to forget that biting the hand that feeds you - be it the monarchy, your wider family, the public or the press - never ends well.
He seems to have inherited the ability to have a tantrum off his mother. It was said that he left the army - which seemed a very good home for him - as he was not allowed to go on every active tour he asked to go on and felt "not a proper soldier". Err, no mate, you're the Queen's grandson, not some run of the mill bloke.
Once he married, I think he and Meghan thought that they could be some sort of royal double act - the future king and queen and deputy future king and queen (a role she seemed to think would be the ultimate in celebrity status, but no, royalty is a whole different thing to being a celebrity). But that was just dreaming - they are 6th in line to the throne and junior to others. Oy, you two, stand where you are told on that balcony, no pushing to the front.
I don't think they can cope with where they are. Rather than accepting that they are actually very lucky and have, frankly, nothing to really complain about, they have allowed themselves to become dissatisfied and demanding. It won't end well.
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Post by Big Blue on Jan 9, 2020 22:33:21 GMT
I agree. With the privilege he is born into, also comes a duty to serve his state without question or complaint (see the example set by his grandmother). He has instead decided to flounce off. Not impressed. Noblesse oblige I believe it’s called. I hope they both now understand they’ll be hounded far more than if they’d just carried on because they are now even fairer game. I’m waiting for the first open verandah doors sex videos taken with a telescopic lens and rifle mic.
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Post by humphreythepug on Jan 9, 2020 23:59:24 GMT
He'll be back with his tail between his legs in a few years time, minus Meghan.
The poor guy is pussywhipped, she wears the trousers and I do feel she's only out for herself and what she can achieve and the whole goings on has been mostly down to her.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 6:38:29 GMT
I think it's disappointing. It's not as if either Harry or Meghan didn't know (or absolutely should have known fully) what was expected of them. As far as I'm concerned, the British Taxpayer should not have to foot any bills for them from this day forward. They should be evicted from any State-funded homes and go their own 'financially independent' way, supported by what we pay HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales, plus whatever they each bring to the table from their own earnings or inheritances. They have both gone down significantly in my estimation. Very poor show and I'm not surprised that the senior royals are pissed off. Don't they live in Frogmore House, given to them as a wedding present and which recently had a multi million pound makeover at the taxpayers expense? I'm all for giving the Sovereign Grant the heave ho and having a more modern style royal set up like the Dutch or Swedish.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jan 10, 2020 8:26:16 GMT
I think it's disappointing. It's not as if either Harry or Meghan didn't know (or absolutely should have known fully) what was expected of them. As far as I'm concerned, the British Taxpayer should not have to foot any bills for them from this day forward. They should be evicted from any State-funded homes and go their own 'financially independent' way, supported by what we pay HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales, plus whatever they each bring to the table from their own earnings or inheritances. They have both gone down significantly in my estimation. Very poor show and I'm not surprised that the senior royals are pissed off. Don't they live in Frogmore House, given to them as a wedding present and which recently had a multi million pound makeover at the taxpayers expense? I'm all for giving the Sovereign Grant the heave ho and having a more modern style royal set up like the Dutch or Swedish. 95% of Harry's money comes from The Duchy of Cornwall, which is the Prince of Wales private income. He also inherited millions. I know they say they're working to become financially independent but they're seriously wedged up anyway. I don't pay great attention to the Royals but I have no idea why Meghan gets such a bad press - I can't see anything she's done wrong and the press seem to be leaping to Pierce Morgan's dog whistle who has had a hard on for her since she turned him down one evening and he didn't get an invite to the wedding.
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Post by johnc on Jan 10, 2020 8:56:48 GMT
I think Meghan wants out (the interview she gave when they were in Africa almost said as much) and Harry is just desperate not to lose his wife and child so he is going along with whatever she wants. I have doubts that the marriage will last long term though which on a personal level is a real shame for both of them. I think that coming from a TV/Hollywood background where celebrities can control the press, it maybe came as a shock to Meghan that she had no or little control over the press when she became a Royal.
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Post by ChrisM on Jan 10, 2020 10:17:16 GMT
I agree. With the privilege he is born into, also comes a duty to serve his state without question or complaint (see the example set by his grandmother). He has instead decided to flounce off. Not impressed. Indeed, it's not like a "regular" job where if you are thoroughly pissed off with your life, you can just find another and hand in your notice. They are in very privileged positions and should abide by the way of life that this entails. I'm sure that there are very many people who would willingly swap lives with HRH
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Post by humphreythepug on Jan 10, 2020 10:24:53 GMT
I agree. With the privilege he is born into, also comes a duty to serve his state without question or complaint (see the example set by his grandmother). He has instead decided to flounce off. Not impressed. Indeed, it's not like a "regular" job where if you are thoroughly pissed off with your life, you can just find another and hand in your notice. They are in very privileged positions and should abide by the way of life that this entails. I'm sure that there are very many people who would willingly swap lives with HRH I disagree to a degree, he had no choice into what family he was born, if he doesn't want what he is born into then fine, pull away and renounce it all, the issue here is they seem to not want the bad bits but still want the good bits.
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 10:26:13 GMT
R4 were interviewing someone this morning who had apparently helped with Princess Di's psychological stresses and while she said that it was understandable the issues Harry was having everything she said applied to his brother who, in public at least, appears to have kept a lid on it.
I've always assumed there's a net benefit to having the Royals - they're a fantastic tourist attraction and if we got rid of them I don't think its likely there'd be wholesale demolition of the properties so we'd have to fund their maintenance - but I really don't want to hear about their every move and have it analysed in great depth on the TV news by speculative Royal watchers when there are far more important things happening out in the wider world.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 12:20:02 GMT
I thought the 'properties' belonged to 'us' rather than the family themselves. Doubtless they have enough property in their pockets but afaik this does not include the main properties. If we own them we should maintain them. Perhaps charge some rent in the future though.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 12:27:03 GMT
The 'living independently' bit rings rather hollow as they have already been considerably enriched at public expense, and the 95% of income not being given up comes from estates that dad inherited. It feels like they've waited until they've got what they wanted before announcing what was probably planned a while ago.
Or is that cynical?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 12:30:20 GMT
Seeing as we will never know the real 'facts', I doubt it could be called cynical. A certain amount of "Let them eat cake" in this situation perhaps?
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 12:36:40 GMT
I thought the 'properties' belonged to 'us' rather than the family themselves. Doubtless they have enough property in their pockets but afaik this does not include the main properties. If we own them we should maintain them. Perhaps charge some rent in the future though. That's what I mean - without the royals we'd still have Buck Palace, etc which would cost the taxpayer money to maintain, as happens already, but while they may be a tourist destination on their own we would lose out on the added attraction of the people who inhabit them. I reckon a lot of Septics wouldn't visit without that final part thus the country might be worse off without at least some of the Royals.
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Post by grampa on Jan 10, 2020 12:37:21 GMT
If I knew them I would wish them the best of luck - I wouldn't like to be born into such a situation so I can understand where they're coming from - what I can't understand is the level of fuss and the press expecting he should have done it all with his grandmother's approval - he's in his mid thirties FFS - I wouldn't have consulted even my parents on any life decisions in my twenties let alone when I was a 'proper' grown up and certainly wouldn't illicit grandparent approval - should that be any different if you're royal?
Plus he's sixth in line to the throne now so it really doesn't matter - go back 10 years and I bet the general public didn't even know who as sixth in line.
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 12:52:38 GMT
If I knew them I would wish them the best of luck - I wouldn't like to be born into such a situation so I can understand where they're coming from - what I can't understand is the level of fuss and the press expecting he should have done it all with his grandmother's approval - he's in his mid thirties FFS - I wouldn't have consulted even my parents on any life decisions in my twenties let alone when I was a 'proper' grown up and certainly wouldn't illicit grandparent approval - should that be any different if you're royal? I agree partially but as most of his income apparently comes from within the family he should do them the courtesy of consulting before going ahead. I'm sure he would be unhappy if they turned round and stopped the cash without asking yet if he's withdrawing from royal activities he's surely not doing anything to earn the money?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 13:07:57 GMT
Don't they live in Frogmore House, given to them as a wedding present and which recently had a multi million pound makeover at the taxpayers expense? I'm all for giving the Sovereign Grant the heave ho and having a more modern style royal set up like the Dutch or Swedish. 95% of Harry's money comes from The Duchy of Cornwall, which is the Prince of Wales private income. He also inherited millions. I know they say they're working to become financially independent but they're seriously wedged up anyway. I don't pay great attention to the Royals but I have no idea why Meghan gets such a bad press - I can't see anything she's done wrong and the press seem to be leaping to Pierce Morgan's dog whistle who has had a hard on for her since she turned him down one evening and he didn't get an invite to the wedding. Private income? Income from a whole county given to his dad when his gran became queen. The whole thing is ridiculous. Fall out the right vagina and you're in charge of an entire county! What happens to Hewitt's income when his old man becomes king? The Duchy will pass down to William and he might not want to share that income with his turncoat half brother...
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Post by grampa on Jan 10, 2020 13:09:42 GMT
If I knew them I would wish them the best of luck - I wouldn't like to be born into such a situation so I can understand where they're coming from - what I can't understand is the level of fuss and the press expecting he should have done it all with his grandmother's approval - he's in his mid thirties FFS - I wouldn't have consulted even my parents on any life decisions in my twenties let alone when I was a 'proper' grown up and certainly wouldn't illicit grandparent approval - should that be any different if you're royal? I agree partially but as most of his income apparently comes from within the family he should do them the courtesy of consulting before going ahead. I'm sure he would be unhappy if they turned round and stopped the cash without asking yet if he's withdrawing from royal activities he's surely not doing anything to earn the money? Isn't part of his plan to be financially independent? (I doubt that includes the protection costs though)
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Post by scouse on Jan 10, 2020 13:26:05 GMT
From what I've read in various places, she is rather 'woke' and the British public don't like being preached to, especially by people they are paying. Telling people not to fly etc then jetting off to America for a baby shower isn't going to sit well with the kind of people who devour anything & everything they can about the Royal family.
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 13:57:22 GMT
I agree partially but as most of his income apparently comes from within the family he should do them the courtesy of consulting before going ahead. I'm sure he would be unhappy if they turned round and stopped the cash without asking yet if he's withdrawing from royal activities he's surely not doing anything to earn the money? Isn't part of his plan to be financially independent? (I doubt that includes the protection costs though) Yeah but in the meantime he's relying on those handouts. He's (they've) done it the wrong way round.
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