Earl and Countess of Wessex and Family Current Events 10: November 2018 -

[Heavs]

Originally Posted by Molly2101

What a wonderful interview and I absolutely love the photo of them in what appears to be a conservatory. The way Edward is looking at Sophie is beautiful. It’s nice to hear from them and their thoughts. They’re so underrated as a working couple from the family.

I liked their thoughts on being "underrated" and now "stepping up" "what did people think we were doing beforehand?!" But how:

‘Well, we’re flattered is probably the best way of putting it,’ insists the Earl, who stood down from Ardent, his television production company, to devote his life to full-time royal duties in 2002, as his wife also agreed to relinquish her successful career in public relations. ‘Inevitably the spotlight and the focus falls on younger members as time goes on,’ the Countess admits. ‘We’ve plodded along doing what we’re doing, hopefully doing it well. And then all of a sudden there’s a bit of a hiatus and things have changed a bit.

‘Naturally, the media are looking for people to fill the so-called void. But you know, we have been doing this for what feels like a pretty long time!

‘If people want to pay more attention to what we’re doing then great, because actually, that’s got to be good for our organisations and the work that we are trying to carry out.’ Acknowledging that his mother’s job is ‘not one you can walk away from’, the Earl adds, ‘It just carries on relentlessly. So yes the support is important, that we’re there.’

And

There were certainly moments when I think we all felt a bit low. But then you have to sit there and go, hang on – look at our wonderful surroundings, we are very, very lucky, and so many other people are not in that situation. Had we been sitting in an apartment, you know in a tenement block… My heart goes out to people in that situation.’

I think that was a good way of acknowledging their situation in lockdown.

Also the part where Edward talks about the DOE awards and taking the backhanded compliment if kids only do it to "look good to employers" and how important it is to them to make sure it's available to everyone, whatever their background.

It's interesting, clearly this piece has been planned for a while given that it happened before Fergus the puppy died and it's obviously a deliberately flattering piece, it still gives incite into them and their work.

It's also unfortunate that their joking deflection of Oprah and the interview are being taken the wrong way on twitter. Oh well.

[MaryVirginia]

I believe those are the best pictures I have seen of Edward and Sophie! Lovely interview...they always strike the right tone: compassionate, humble, and healing words.

[Claire]

There was to be a number of interviews, and TV coverage this week for the DOE's 100 Birthday. After his death - I assumed that all the interviews were cancelled. The fact that this one wasn't and was kept shows that BP is eager to move Edward and Sophie up and in a way relaunch them.
I am a bit concerned that CT spoke about Harry and Oprah at all. Usually anyone who interviews a royal will be given a list of items that are off limits - if she asked still, it very unprofessional. Either way - Edward should have just said that they would not be discuss the issue, denying it happened is just a bit ridiculous.
I do think it is funny that Sophie's spaniel, Mole appears to have became Edward's dog.

As far as the photos go - yep that possible the most at ease I have seen Edward as well.

[Durham]

Originally Posted by Heavs

I think that was a good way of acknowledging their situation in lockdown.

It's also unfortunate that their joking deflection of Oprah and the interview are being taken the wrong way on twitter. Oh well.

Well twitter has more than its fair share of halfwits looking to be outraged.

Why are some people surprised that the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't know who Oprah Winfrey is? Makes perfect sense to me.

[Claire]

Recently I was mocked by my friends for not knowing who Martha Steward is. I was then told she is the US's Delia Smith - which when I googled she really isnt. So if you dont follow US daytime TV how are you to know these things if they are not in your line of work?

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Claire

Recently I was mocked by my friends for not knowing who Martha Steward is. I was then told she is the US's Delia Smith - which when I googled she really isnt. So if you dont follow US daytime TV how are you to know these things if they are not in your line of work?

Sophie didn't hear that Harry and Meghan have doen interviews with Oprah?

[Claire]

Nope they know - they are been factitious.(? probably the wrong word) Which in my opinion was the wrong way to deal with it. They should have just say they would not comment.

[Erin9]

Originally Posted by Claire

I am a bit concerned that CT spoke about Harry and Oprah at all. Usually anyone who interviews a royal will be given a list of items that are off limits - if she asked still, it very unprofessional. Either way - Edward should have just said that they would not be discuss the issue, denying it happened is just a bit ridiculous.

Since they got the question, I thought their response was fine. I thought it was a funny bit of deflection. It wasn’t a serious response.

[Erin9]

Originally Posted by Heavs

It's also unfortunate that their joking deflection of Oprah and the interview are being taken the wrong way on twitter. Oh well.

I’m not sure what the response is on Twitter. But that there seems to be an issue for some people on Twitter over their joking deflection of Oprah just reinforces my overall poor opinion of Twitter.

[Heavs]

Originally Posted by Durham

Well twitter has more than its fair share of halfwits looking to be outraged.

Why are some people surprised that the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't know who Oprah Winfrey is? Makes perfect sense to me.

Well it was more Omid Scobie deliberately fanning flames by taking the quote out of context. This is what she said:

While reluctant to get drawn into the ongoing tensions between him and the Duke of Cambridge, the Countess is careful to point out how ‘nice’ it was to have a lengthy chat with Harry at Windsor Castle after the service.

Did they watch the Oprah Winfrey interview? I inquire sheepishly.

They look at each other as if to dare the other to speak first.

‘Oprah who?’ smiles the Earl, feigning ignorance.

‘Yes, what interview?’ chuckles his wife.

While I’m certain they know exactly who and what I am talking about, I share an anecdote about the Archbishop of Canterbury apparently having a long conversation with Winfrey at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018 without having a clue who she was. The Countess leaps to the Most Reverend Justin Welby’s defence: ‘You know, if you’re not into chat shows, there’s no reason why you should know who she is. Certainly not in this country, anyway.’

Very innocuous. But Scobie presented it as a) Sophie herself claiming she didn't know anything about Oprah and B) lying because she should have mentioned visiting Oprah Winfrey Academy in SA even though that had nothing to do with what was said.

So his followers are taking the "Oprah who?" seriously and thinking Sophie is trying to downplay Oprah's accomplishments when it's clear she's just saying that Oprah isn't as famous in the UK as she is in the US and defending Welby a little. Not that she had no idea about her personally.

Bit of a Tempest in a teacup but an annoying one that trended for a few hours. Maybe they should have just said no comment, but oh, well I thought it was amusing.

The did also reaffirm "we're all family whatever happens".

There was to be a number of interviews, and TV coverage this week for the DOE's 100 Birthday. After his death - I assumed that all the interviews were cancelled. The fact that this one wasn't and was kept shows that BP is eager to move Edward and Sophie up and in a way relaunch them.

I think that's just what this was. And I think it's quite successful (barring aforementioned twitter moaning). They actually answered questions on "stepping up" and acknowledged that they're happy to be the bridge between generations for a while.

[bertie5252003]

Stunning couple the images are so natural and the words of the interview reflect the people they are ...I nod envy them their home it is beautiful the grounds are breath taking .... they are a loving family and recognise the need to be part of a larger family. Like William Edward has married the best sort of person from a solid family home with strong family values and a fabulous family culture.

[Claire]

Yes - that is probably what it was however as it is a written article it is difficult to say. I expect CT to be on GMB next week and she will talk more about the interview. The problem without inflection and body language - the meaning of what is said can easily be misinterpreted. It would have been easier to not have any misunderstanding at all.

[ACO]

They clearly were trying to avoid getting into the Oprah interview and said "Oprah who" in jest. Maybe they should have just said no comment like they did when they were asked about Andrew. People will always interpret things in their own ways. We have seen that many times with all interviews. But overall I thought it was a nice piece on the Wessexes.

[Moran]

The interview was wonderfully done, especially when it isn't something they do every day.

I can't see what else could they have done about the Oprah interview. The RF's strategy is not giving it the time of the day because recollections vary, you know. There were few answers they could have given that would have achieved the "not so important, we've moved past it" vibe. And I loved the way Sophie defended the AoC.

I don't love Scobie's editorial interpretation, though, but since I'm not a twitter person, it's no skin off my nose.

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by Durham

Well twitter has more than its fair share of halfwits looking to be outraged.

Why are some people surprised that the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't know who Oprah Winfrey is? Makes perfect sense to me.

The Wessexes deflected the question about the Oprah interview in a manner that I found very clever. They don't want to comment. Next.

Twitter is ALWAYS going to freak out about something. It's why they exist.

As for the Archbishop of Canterbury and Oprah Winfrey....why should a non American prelate necessarily know who she is?

[Sandy345]

Sarah, DUchess of York already had talked to Oprah. Plus she did a reality show. No reaction to that apparently by the royals or so I remember.

[Princess_Eleanor]

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

The Wessexes deflected the question about the Oprah interview in a manner that I found very clever. They don't want to comment. Next.

Twitter is ALWAYS going to freak out about something. It's why they exist.

As for the Archbishop of Canterbury and Oprah Winfrey....why should a non American prelate necessarily know who she is?

I agree. There are plenty of people on this side of the ocean, who don't know who Oprah is. There are also those who have heard her name but don't know exactly what it is she does, just that she is some kind of celebrity or very wealthy.

Most people in Europe don't watch American TV channels and I think she is therefore actually less recognizable than certain TV actors, because there are American TV shows that are shown on European TV channels - and these days, there's obviously Netflix. But I really don't think Oprah's talk show was ever shown on this side of the Atlantic?

Even if it had been, the AoC wouldn't need to know her. With most celebrities, you could probably find plenty of people who do not know them... It all depends on your interests, what kinds of shows or films you watch etc.

Anyhow, I thought it was a funny deflection by the Wessexes. Very obvious that it was a joke

I think it's the Sussex fans that are writing angry comments about the Wessexes on Twitter. I don't think it matters much - they dislike the BRF anyhow, because they believe these weird and contradictory stories of how badly they supposedly treated the Sussexes, as told by the Sussexes. This doesn't really change anything.

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by Claire

Nope they know - they are been factitious.(? probably the wrong word) Which in my opinion was the wrong way to deal with it. They should have just say they would not comment.

Well, it has been known for years that Edward has the same dry sarcastic sense of humor of his father. I personally LOVED Prince Philips' sarcastic whit. Much needed most of the time. I thought they threw the quite uneasy and imprudent question back at the questioner with a 'tongue-in-cheek' remark reminiscent of Prince Philip. People will always see things the way they want. We all do. Most people absolutely dislike Edward and Sophie for things they did over 20 years ago and refuse to ever give them a break for changing. Shame. I certainly enjoyed the entire interview. JMO

[valeas]

A very nice interview and giving nice information one did not know before.
The reaction concerning Oprah was confident without "breaking the rule" HM set that the problems will be dealt within the family, so very well done.

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by Sandy345

Sarah, DUchess of York already had talked to Oprah. Plus she did a reality show. No reaction to that apparently by the royals or so I remember.

It was an embarrassing, ill-advised move when Sarah did it as well. One of too many to count during her public life in fact.

But while she did whinge about being snubbed for the Cambridge wedding, she did not attack the BRF. She did not assert that she had been driven to suicide ideation by her association with them. She didn't say that they snubbed her and threw her to the wolves.

And she did not take the British tabloids to task for their truly vicious treatment-the worst i have ever seen in fact- during her time in the BRF.