Harry & Meghan stepping back from RF

And someone has already pointed out the difference in the media's attitudes and words to Meghan, as compared to Catherine.

Are you joking?! The press vilified Kate/Catherine in her younger days! The difference is she kept her head down, didn’t insist on a website or brand or on having a Voice, cut all the ribbons that were put in front of her and didn’t insist on telling us where we were going wrong. It’s not rocket science.

I doubt any of those opining on here have an intimate knowledge of either Harry or Meghan or what motivates them, or what the RF thinks.
It's akin to modern day Salem witch trials ?

Oh the lefty liberals on here stand out a mile. Blaming it on this country’s unacknowledged racism and even these island’s colonial past and the rape of other countries’ natural resources. Why can’t people comment on situations without bringing their biased political views into everything?

For what it’s worth my DIL died suddenly 15 months ago. She left a heartbroken husband (my son) and 3 young bewildered boys. Hearing all this stuff about Harry and his struggle grates more than a little. He’s led a very privileged life, travelled the world and been pampered and cosseted. Although I’ve always liked him, let’s not go overboard with the sympathy. Losing his mother can’t be blamed for all this.

If he and M wish to live abroad and leave Royal life, so be it. Maybe it’s for the best for them both and their family but they could have gone about it in a way more befitting their status. They’ve planned it for quite some time and obviously intend to make money on the back of their Royal connections. This is fact. Branding Sussex Royal and the new, professionally done website illustrates that. It’s underhanded and whilst Harry and Meghan may be truly in love, I am suspicious of Meghan now. All this talk of her being a Hollywood star and a highly successful actress are wide of the mark. I doubt she could believe her luck when Harry became so enamoured of her. I hope she is genuine because if she isn’t Harry will struggle to come back from this.

They will never have to rely on Universal Credit.

I just don't know where all of this is going to end. I wish them well, but they are never going to be a normal everyday family.

Why is this such a big piece of news?

Because they planned it that way!
Announcing it before discussing means it all gets played out in public. When usually stepping down from duties is a relatively quiet affair announced AFTER the lose ends are tied up.

Well, I think this thread resoundingly demonstrates - and certainly not for the first time - just why Harry and Meghan are so unhappy that they want to leave this country. So many spiteful comments and analyses of people's characters and motivations, without even knowing them.

And, as to my remark about them being "paying for", what they have done, here is a quote from last night's Evening Standard:

"Senior courtiers have warned that "Harry and Meghan will be punished for this".

I assume such punishment would have to be either initiated or sanctioned by the queen and I stick by my comment that she has never demonstrated warmth or compassion. It's my opinion that she is so bound up in the notion of "duty" that there is little room left for normal relationships and interactions, either for close family or in general.

Racism doesn't have to be overt to exist. I remember very clearly a remark on Gransnet a little while ago when Catherine was referred to as

"a proper [or possibly real] English rose".

The inclusion of the word "proper" says quite a lot.

And someone has already pointed out the difference in the media's attitudes and words to Meghan, as compared to Catherine.

I don't think this couple should be able to retain the financial benefits and assets that are associated with being royal and residing in this country. But then again I don't see why it is acceptable to pay huge amounts of money into a system that reinforces the notion of privilege and superiority, especially since no such superiority - moral or intellectual - seems to be in evidence.

I'm just really worried about Prince Harry.
He clearly has, understandably, struggled with the death of his mother and the way that was handled, plus living in the public eye and has been quite open about his mental health issues.
They seemed to marry quite quickly, perhaps without either of them considering what their relationship would be like within the Royal Family. It does seem as if Harry fell in love instantly, made his mind up to be with her - fair enough, but .... now reality is setting in. She clearly finds the whole RF thing difficult (well, who wouldn't?) and hasn't done herself any favour by going public with her feelings. Meanwhile, she has flitted back to, understandably, be with her baby, leaving Harry on his own. I hesitate to say it, but if he was my son, I would be thinking that she is to all and intents and purposes blackmailing him. As things stand, he is apart from them both. I think he needs some fatherly/brotherly advice, although given that he apparently ignored that advice before the marriage, I doubt he would take any notice.
A less charitable person might think that she has got what she wanted - status, even notoriety, a baby and now wants to keep all that but on her terms, leaving Harry to cope with being Royal and her husband at the same time. Interesting that there was no-one from her family, apart from mum, at the wedding ...
On the other hand, maybe I should be charitable and think that they are a young couple struggling with the triple whammy of being newlyweds, new parents and members of the RF.

Why is this such a big piece of news? Basically a young couple have decided they don't want to work for the family firm.

If they find jobs, become financially independent and don't cost the tax-payer money that is fine.

On the other hand if they or the Queen want them to have their cake and eat it, then there may well be trouble ahead.

Lol!

I am just amazed at how much everyone on here seems to know about the internal working of Meghan's mind (and usually projecting malign intent)! Have you even ever spoken to her!!?

Off topic but so funny, the day Harry dropped his bombshell
queenie on top form

www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/miriam-margoyle-swears-this-morning-video-queen-itv-watch-harry-meghan-a9276746.html

Reporters arent supposed to be your loyal friends. Theyre doing a job, youre doing a job (or should be) its a business meeting.

Both Di & H have very odd ideas re expecting "loyalty" from their press contacts. They are not your friends. Expect professionalism, sure, but they are not there to constantly nurse your ego.

M complaining that the press and charity contacts failed to be be her mummy support system is just off

As for asking how she is - has anyone publicly ever asked the Queen how she is? It would be seen as an intrusion.

Anyone who expects social media, or if famous: the press & social media, to be their support system has got issues.

You should get your support in your private life not your public or SM persona!

Nope Callistemon that was more Ws style: have some fun but not in a way that caused problems

H would go to the likes of Weatherspoons/walkabout etc with no prior warning. There would be crowd serges and minor injuries that the unprepared staff would have to deal with. He would refuse offers of VIP rooms even if the offers were made for crowd safety not just his. Insisting he be centre of the action/attention, but also getting huffy about the attention.

He didnt like being told to make any comprimises. Which is why I was surprised that he took MM back here to be a working royal in the first place!

As for asking how she is - has anyone publicly ever asked the Queen how she is? It would be seen as an intrusion.

Part of the function of the RF is to meet all and sundry from all walks of life and to enquire after them, make them feel at ease, ask what they do and look interested.

3nanny6 - yes, the (very substantial) benefits they receive from those sources in return for being full time, working members of the RF based in the UK and turning up to open a new hospital wing on a wet January morning as well as attending star studded gala dinners in their best party clothes.

The Times today says that Charles has threatened to cut off Harry’s allowance from the firm if he steps down.

A perfectly reasonable response.

I didn't know that notanan

I was thinking more of pink gins in the officers' mess!

I don't like benefit scroungers.

I am assuming that this remark refers to money from the Duchy, the Sovereign list and other sources etc, if that is benefit scrounging can someone tell me how I can apply.

Look at the U.K and all the riches and wealth that was stolen from India and all the Royal Jewels etc, have any monarchy ever apologised to these countries or people for what we done to them? no we did not apologise just added more money into our country no wonder everything is so screwed up.

I can't have consulted my granny, and no, did not consult my parents before I changed a job or relocated, although I may have asked their opinion on a house.

But I did not work for the family firm, did not live in a house that was a perk of the firm and had been expensively refurbished to my taste with public money whilst at the same time planning to leave the family firm and live overseas.

It all seems rather underhand and I am deeply disappointed in the pair of them.

At the time Callistemon it was excused, even praised, as a young lad just wanting to do young lad things.

He went about it in a way that was selfish and left others picking up the pieces but he was young. You can excuse some selfishness in the young. Let him get it out of his system we said...

But now he is nearly middle aged and still acting in the same petulent selfish rebellious way... not quite as cute..

Oh - and was anyone else listening to Jeremy Vine? Apparently Sussex Royal is the name of a potato! That made me smile

That should have been benefit scroungers of this type.

because do we really care?

When they stop taking any money from the Duchy, the Sovereign list and any other sources they might have, when they stop using the Royal title to generate wealth when they appear to loathe the Royal institution, when they start paying for their own security, when they pay back the cost of renovating Frogmore Cottage - then I'll stop caring. I don't like benefit scroungers.

Callistemon he frequented quite "rough" crowded bars and clubs with no forward warning so there was no extra security etc. He shunned quieter more controlled VIP areas wanting to be "one of the lads" whatever the cost. It created some quite scary crushes in some of these clubs/bars when he was on his lads nights out.