Poor Harry

A bit harsh. This is a young man who lost his Mum when he was 12 under appalling circumstances that arose from being part of the royal family. He has not asked for the privileges of his birth - it is a chance of birth and nothing more. What should he do? - chuck over his position and refuse to be a part of it all? - he would certainly get it in the neck then. Or be honest that becoming a monarch would not be many peoples' first choice, but that they stick with it out of a sense of duty?

Let us give him a break.

I am far from being a royalist, but understand that a presidential system is not great either. So - we have a monarchy and we expect a lot of them. I think that the financing of that monarchy is a bit out of hand, but it is decided by parliament by our elected representatives.

He could have tried to have kept his mouth shut not tell the whole of America no one wants his grandmothers Job.

I really think he is playing on his mother's death , poor little Harry how he suffered, many children lose a parent or parents at a young age ,

True he didn't ask to be born into the Windsor fsmily but he is free to sod off and live in Ameruca, earn a living and stop carping about his destiny

He does so little for this country but gets a lot back.

I'm with you Anniebach their sense of entitlement is astounding ,when I saw (by accident) the gathering on the balcony at the weekend and realised how many there are and how quick they're producing more kids I felt sick...just a few miles away ,if that,there were hundreds of families living with the consequences of austerity,the tower fire and theres queenie hands out for an extra two and half million this year.Its ridiculous .It must end when Lizzie dies

I don't know whether he's exactly free to 'sod off and live in Americal', Annie.

Being third in line to the throne would make protection a nightmare over there - he coudn't just get a job and lead a normal life!

I am not a royalist either, but I have compassion. Suggesting he is playing on his mothers death is appalling.

He is fifth in line not third Ana, if he wants all the privileges that go with being fifth them give something back to the country not gob off in America

As fifth in line Harry is not of national importance so if he doesn't want to be in line for the throne he's free to go off and do whatever he likes, at his own expense.

After all, were not Beatrice & Eugenie once something like fifth in line and I don't think many of us would have missed their presence!

(sorry, should have checked his line number! Even so...)

Anniebach

" I really think he is playing on his mother's death , poor little Harry how he suffered, many children lose a parent or parents at a young age"

Yes many children do lose a parent at a young age and we have gransnetters who sadly have experience of that don't we. Would you feel it an appropriate comment to make about ANY child/adult who spoke fondly of their mother / father and the trauma that followed or are the Royals a special case?

I think to say any child/adult is playing on his/her mothers / fathers death is a horrible way of thinking .

This is going to be a re run of oh so many threads on the Royal Family but I am reminded of the nasty comments about the young royals on one thread even though they were doing a brilliant job working with charities and trying to bring mental illness to the fore in the Psyche of the nation.

I honestly do not understand why they court so much nastiness. They must be sick and tired of not having the opportunity the rest of us have to defend themselves against such comments but just have to sit back and take it, continually.

Yes it was unkind , I apologise

I don't agree that he's playing on his mother's death but as both he and William have spoken in depth about the effect it had on them - especially having to walk behind her coffin, I think it's now time for him to handle his grief privately again. He's not helping himself, his family or anyone else who lost a parent at a young age.

It shows lack of judgement to comment on whether or not any of them want to be king or queen. His elderly and frail grandfather is in hospital, the Queen seemed to be struggling yesterday and Prince Charles looked like a beaten man.

Making it sound as though stepping up to the job (eventually) is a huge sacrifice but of huge benefit to the common man is a big mistake.

I like Harry but I hope someone is brave enough to 'have a word' before he does any more damage.

I'm surprised Harry is being quite so open and vociferous with his views on the royal family, especially as he shouldn't really speak for other members. Surely if he wants a quiet private life he should be more private in his own comments and stop attracting such interest/criticism.

I agree, Merlot and Lillie.

So do I!

If queenie was to die now no matter who becomes king he has given the world the chance to say 'awwww poor thing,he doesn't want the job' and speech made will sound hollow , ' I promise my life be it long or short is dedicated to you but I wish it wasn't me

Sounds like a fellow human being to me!

To be fair, have any of our recent monarchs declared their undying wish to succeed?

Edward VIII abdicated, George VI was filled with terror at the thought of being King and the Queen had to succeed him far earlier than she would have wished if given the choice.

Prince Charles is probably resigned to either having a short reign or stepping aside for William and he's not keen either.

Then time he started acting like one , get a job, buy a house and he is free to opt out of his no 5 role so do it not moan about it.

He might be a fellow human being, he might not want to be part of the firm, he might even know that his brother is reluctant too, BUT he shouldn't speak out in public. He has had sufficient grooming, education and preparation to realise that such thoughts should be kept private, otherwise as Annie has said we might as well dismiss them all from service now.

They didn't say - don't want to do it.

I wonder if he is distancing himself in preparation for marriage and removing himself from the line of succession?

He shouldn't speak for the others though even if it is the truth.
Although I would have thought Beatrice or Eugenie would jump at the chance.

Actually, anniebach, I think he has done a lot for disabled servicemen and knows what they went through in Afghanistan and elsewhere. It's often difficult to find a sense of direction upon leaving the Forces and if he is being pushed in a direction he doesn't want to go and always in the limelight even more difficult.

Many children do lose one or even both parents and it must be traumatic and difficult to come to terms with but most are not living their lives in the glare of the media .

Although I would have thought Beatrice or Eugenie would jump at the chance.

They probably would, Jalima until they realised what a lot of hard work, often boring, the job brings with it!

'It's not all ha ha hee hee'