Sympathy for Harry anyone?

I think that Harry is his own worst enemy. He could have been living quietly in America and bringing his family over for private visits with none of us being any the wiser. He say's he fears hordes of paparazzi chasing the children, but if they hadn't made such a thing of never showing the children's faces they wouldn't have people desperate to get pictures. We see photos of the Wales children and they have ceased to be a novelty.

I think it's worked out rather well for Harry.

He says he's coming with his wife and children, so Charles thinks that at last he'll be able to see his GC. Having given his father something to look forward too, Harry snatches it away, using security issues as a reason when he knew what those security measures would be before making the announcement.

He's offered accommodation at Buck. Palace but manages to leave it too late to accept so he can now whinge about not being allowed to stay in his families ancestral home.

That's at lease two chapters in the next book and possibly an interview too.

As Monica said Harry was in the army, another institution. He did well in those settings. But as many know life outside of those settings is very different. I think he is a bit of a lost soul who wants to know that his family cares. It would be good to see his family support him. Yes there's always a risk that he will write another tell all book but that is likely to be because he feels rejected.

Not sure what I think. But what I do know is that losing one’s mother is one of the worst things that can happen to a child.

I am so angry at the way Harry is being treated.
If Diana was alive, she would be heartbroken at the way he is being treated.
The ‘saintly William’ as someone upthread calls him, can do no wrong.
Send me to the tower if you wish to, but I will say this, the jealously virtuous Catherine is at the bottom of this strife. She knows that Megan would have stolen her thunder. She wanted to be the star where only one was shining. I’m glad she is in remission from cancer and I wish her well.

I've every sympathy for him.
Wjy wouldn't I have - I'm not a royal.
I find it absolutely pathetic for people to make up a load of old twaddle about him and his wife.

It's thoroughly umpleasant to read.

If Harry is soooooooooooooo concerned about his security - why did his PR team brief the press as soon as he "touched down" in the UK!

vegansrock

It’s a bit sniffy of Buckingham Palace to say there isn’t time to organise his accommodation - how many bedrooms and staff does that place have? Charles doesn’t even live there. I’m sure they have a spare bedroom and could rustle up someone to cook his breakfast.

These days there is only a few staff at Buckingham Palace unless there is a planned visit. Charles thought it a waste of money to have it staffed with nobody living there full time. I think they transfer staff from other properties. So they need to coordinate domestic staff and likely security for visitors,

So I think it is reasonable to let your host know by Friday and not just announce you are turning up the same day. I think Harry wanted a different, better offer and rejected Buckingham Palace but then the better offer never came.

I couldn't care less about H & M, they couldn't wait to get away and dish the dirt to Opera. I think Harry probably has regrets,
but after the book, probably a little too late.

TG3465

Jaberwok

The only person in the RF who had a difficult, rather lonely upbringing was the then Prince Charles! Prince Philip in particular was very tough on this shy sensitive little boy who shook hands, and bowed to his mother. Gordonstone, although splendid for Andrew was the last school where Charles should have been sent, he was deeply unhappy and hated it. But for the support and love of his grandmother that boy would have had a desperately miserable time. Curiously the QM always appeared to be in Scotland during term.time?! Prince Harry did NOT have a difficult upbringing, any more than William did, parents divorce? along with many others, does not excuse bad behaviour. Sandhurst with two unaccademic A levels, only a Prince can do that, a mother who spoilt and encouraged bad behaviour, a father who did his best. Best of everything, money no object, grandparents who loved him, and whom he betrayed and now this drama! No sympathy at all for Harry. Plenty for the King who would love to see his grandchildren. What's wrong with arranging a family week at Balmoral? Plenty of security there, the estate is enormous. Princess Margaret had lots of faults, but she was never ever disloyal either to the crown or particularly her sister the Queen. No interviews, no books, no comment.

Yes. This. My sympathetic friend also spouts - lost his Mother young…all his Dad's fault because of Camilla……his Dad was never around when Harry needed him… All of which is regretful but I’m afraid that in his early forties his air of total petulance and grievance has worn thin with me now.

Yet his mother was happy to pack him off to boarding school at age 8 to pursue her own interests and then be the "fun mum" in the holidays

I always think that Princess Anne must have had a lonely upbringing - home schooled until she was 13 and then sent to boarding school when her younger brothers were born. Yet she has managed to carve out a life without demanding royal perks all the time.

vegansrock

It’s a bit sniffy of Buckingham Palace to say there isn’t time to organise his accommodation - how many bedrooms and staff does that place have? Charles doesn’t even live there. I’m sure they have a spare bedroom and could rustle up someone to cook his breakfast.

I’m not sure they do have a huge number of staff there permanently. As I understand it from people with connections to Balmoral, many of the personal staff travel around with their employer rather than stay put in any one place. Though I doubt BP is like the Marie Celeste even when the king isn’t there! Perhaps Harry could bring his own valet etc.

I have to admit, I’m a bit baffled as to why the Duke of Sussex’s team would announce he was to stay at BP if security is an issue. Surely slipping in and out of the country quietly would be safer.

valdali

Oh yes, I'm enraged on his behalf.
There's such a thing as fairness & honouring family ties, & in my scale of values it ranks above Palace protocols (which are set by a lot of stuffy, decades behind the times, Palace staffers).

Do you genuinely believe that Harry would have stayed at Buckingham Palace whilst it is open to the public?

Oh yes, I'm enraged on his behalf.
There's such a thing as fairness & honouring family ties, & in my scale of values it ranks above Palace protocols (which are set by a lot of stuffy, decades behind the times, Palace staffers).

BlueBelle

Yes I do feel quite sorry for him I think he’s grown up in an unenviable position, It’s well documented that the ‘Spare’ always has a difficult time and often doesn’t perform as expected (look no further than Margaret)
I think there has been a lot of nastiness in the right wing press picking up on every single thing down to practically the way he breathes This has got more marked with marrying Meghan and having the children. You only have to look at remarks on here
I think Charles and the rather saintly William have joined forces so he feels even less welcome and more pushed out
I don t think I d even bother coming over if it was me

Well selling stories about his brother's genitals for cash is hardly likely to make him popular

The royals can't trust him at all as he sells them out to make money without any qualms in his next Netflix or book deal and then plays the victim and throws tantrums in the press when he doesn't get his way

Prince Harry was in the army, a fully serving officer including piloting a helicopter in a war zone, of course he has coping skills. Unlike his uncle, AMW, he was a popular officer who won the confidence and trust of those serving under him. The promoted the Invictus Games as a result of his service in Afghanistan

When he was single he spent a lot of time in the states and got up to all sorts of things there.

I had a lot of sympathy for him and his wife in the beginning, but I have none now. I think it was the head of Netflix who described them as a pair of grifers, always on the take, not delivering the goods and whinging when people do not share their inflated opinion of themselves.

It doesn't matter how much money his brother and father have. He has shafted them time and time again and they are now very cautious about dealing with him again, lest he shaft them yet again.

July 9th to September 27th Buckingham Palace is open to the public.

Late acceptance of the invite could be seen as deliberate, as the opening dates are in the public domain year on year.

Sago I agree with you. Harry was my favourite royal for years but his constant whinging is now tedious. His wife has repeatedly lied and used the race card to try to get the upper hand. I do believe she coercively controls him and if he was treating her like she does him more would be made of it.

He had an institutionalised upbringing which in many ways will give him less coping skills, especially now he is living in America and out of the gilded cage. He probably feels like a fish out of water. I feel sorry for him and Meghan as I think she too looks vulnerable..King Charles will know this and I think he should do all he can to help them feel accepted. I think the security funding is on a case by case basis. I think Harry would be concerned about his children's safety. Surely KC could cough up some extra security money. After all he's funding his brother and he makes a huge amount of money from his Duchy's. He should set an example and and make every attempt to reset their relationship. Isn't that what life and family is about?

It’s a bit sniffy of Buckingham Palace to say there isn’t time to organise his accommodation - how many bedrooms and staff does that place have? Charles doesn’t even live there. I’m sure they have a spare bedroom and could rustle up someone to cook his breakfast.

I was pleased when Harry announced his engagement, liked Meghan for the first year, thought she would adapt easily to royal life as she had theatrical experience to help her with public appearances, but soon realised she did not like Britain or the Royal Family. Very soon she separated Harry from them both. He went with a good grace, thought he would enjoy life in Canada, surprised when they moved to America, the disgusted by the interviews and books that followed.

He has chosen the life he has now and it is not what he expected, but he is not able to admit his mistakes, refusing to accept that he cannot be a half-in half-out royal. That life has gone forever yet he is unable to forge a new path for himself, instead attempting to cause more upset in the royal family over trivialities. He simply appears as a silly but malicious boy.
No sympathy for him at all.

I don’t really care for Megan - I feel she’s been very manipulative. I remember at their engagement, Harry never got a word in at the press release. I’m not sure how I feel about Harry - I certainly think that Megan’s won him over and he’s been caught between her and his family in the UK, the Royals. I tend to think it was misguided of him to write the Spare book - but maybe it is all true, who knows?! It’s all speculation as far as I’m concerned. I haven’t read it. There is too much media interest in the Royals. They’ve become like a soap opera. Perhaps I’m being naive, but if Charles is desperate to see his grandchildren in the USA, Archie & Lillibet, why can’t he fly over there every once in a while with or without Camilla?

No sympathy whatsoever. He is a professional whinger and whiner and nearly as narcissistic as his wife.

nexus63

he did not feel he could bring her and the kids without security, why did the king not cover the cost, i have no sympathy for him and the nasty woman he married but i think it would have been nice for the children to see there grandad and cousins, how many on gransnet would give anything to see the grandchildren.....i know i would.

It wasn’t the cost it was the fact that Harry wanted armed security something even the King cannot purchase in the UK.

Armed security is at the discretion of those in charge and is based on intelligence.

he did not feel he could bring her and the kids without security, why did the king not cover the cost, i have no sympathy for him and the nasty woman he married but i think it would have been nice for the children to see there grandad and cousins, how many on gransnet would give anything to see the grandchildren.....i know i would.

Newatthis

Why can't everyone just leave them alone. For goodness sake - he is a war hero, both he and his wife do an awful lot for charity especially military veterans who have been traumatized and maimed. Let's face it, as the 'spare' he really didn't have much of a role in the Royal family so if he chosen to lead his life the way he sees fit then let him. It would seem that no matter what he and his family do, then it's wrong. Whereas C & W can do the same thing and it's 'wondefrful'.

Well said!