The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 1: September-December 2020

[Durham]

Originally Posted by Curbside

If the Queen didn't remove the titles of Nazi sympathizers, I see no reason why she would do so for urging people to vote. The Sussexes aren't telling people to take up arms and storm the White House, for heaven's sake.

What Nazi sympathisers?

[Durham]

Originally Posted by Madame Verseau

An interesting article from Grazia UK

https://graziadaily.co.uk/amp/celebr...mpression=true

Wishing for the complete destruction of the Sussexes is a waste of energy.

Grazia is not a serious publication. It understands the monarchy about as much as my next door neighbour's cat.

[irish_royalist]

Originally Posted by HighGoalHighDreams

Curbside, I see that you, like me, are an American.

Imagine it is Ireland during the time of The Troubles. An important election is coming up, or an important decision about to be handed down. People are dying. For the people of Ireland, everything is, or feels, at stake.

You and I are traveling there and stop by the local pub. Around us, all the talk is about the political situation. You turn around and comment to the Irishman next to you, "You know, you all really should drown out the negativity around you, seek the truth about what is really going on here, and just be kinder to one another. Make sure your voice is heard!"

Do you not see what is terribly offensive and insensitive about this and how it makes light in an offensive way about the stakes that real people are facing? To tell people whose fight you are not part of to be remember to be nice out there and do what you think they need to do to contribute to the solution? Certainly, you are entitled to the opinion that this is not culturally insensitive, rude, and unwelcome, but it is going to be a minority opinion.

Harry's comments were headline news across the nation yesterday, and BBC introduced his comments by putting the word "nonpartisan" in air quotes.

With respect, I'm not sure present day-USA and Ireland during 'The Troubles' is a good comparison.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Curbside

Everyone who lives here has a stake in this election. The rights guaranteed in the Constitution are mostly directed to US persons, not just citizens.

That’s true, but Harry has literally been here for a few months..I just don’t think he’s got the same stake as either citizens or those who have lived here for years. He can return to the UK at anytime, and he’s extremely wealthy ..not like the vast majority of Americans ...

[Durham]

Originally Posted by Betsypaige

I agree with Rebecca that BP’s non-statement is a statement.

This is what Harry wanted - total freedom to do as he wished.

I don’t understand why he gets to keep his title (same with Meghan) when he has complete divested himself of anything to do with the Royals - in terms of The Firm, not family- or the UK

At the same time he knows that his status amplifies his voice. How convenient for him. Freedom but with all the benefits. Cakeism as it's known in the UK.

His princely status is in the gift of the monarch. Let's hope HM is getting good advice. The peerage is a matter for parliament.

[Alison H]

Originally Posted by Durham

What Nazi sympathisers?

I assume the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. If that was going to be done, it would have been done in 1937, when the Windsors made that cringeworthy visit to Hitler. Seeing as the Queen was an 11-year-old princess at the time, it was hardly her call to make - but, point taken, that was also an example of non-working royals getting inappropriately involved in another country's politics.

Harry's comments weren't openly partisan, but they were still inappropriate, and have been widely criticised in both the British and American media. And I don't imagine for one second that Princess Madeleine would comment on US politics, because she's got more sense ... but, again, point taken that elements of the liberal elite seem to think it's OK to be partisan as long as it's on the side that they favour. Actress Jodie Comer has been abused on social media just because her boyfriend openly backs the Republicans. To be fair, though, I think people from across the political spectrum have expressed concern at Harry making comments about US politics.


Now Donald Trump is making gibes about Meghan, which is hardly a very dignified way to behave. This whole thing is embarrassing!

[Durham]

Originally Posted by Alison H

I assume the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. If that was going to be done, it would have been done in 1937, when the Windsors made that cringeworthy visit to Hitler. Seeing as the Queen was an 11-year-old princess at the time, it was hardly her call to make - but, point taken, that was also an example of non-working royals getting inappropriately involved in another country's politics.

I have no doubt a similar situation today would see the Windsors stripped of everything. And rightly so. We are far less deferential.

[evolvingdoors]

Originally Posted by Alison H

I assume the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. If that was going to be done, it would have been done in 1937, when the Windsors made that cringeworthy visit to Hitler. Seeing as the Queen was an 11-year-old princess at the time, it was hardly her call to make - but, point taken, that was also an example of non-working royals getting inappropriately involved in another country's politics.

Harry's comments weren't openly partisan, but they were still inappropriate, and have been widely criticised in both the British and American media. And I don't imagine for one second that Princess Madeleine would comment on US politics, because she's got more sense ... but, again, point taken that elements of the liberal elite seem to think it's OK to be partisan as long as it's on the side that they favour. Actress Jodie Comer has been abused on social media just because her boyfriend openly backs the Republicans. To be fair, though, I think people from across the political spectrum have expressed concern at Harry making comments about US politics.


Now Donald Trump is making gibes about Meghan, which is hardly a very dignified way to behave. This whole thing is embarrassing!

"elite" period.
He is being criticized for equating his inherent unearned white privilege station to people who truly are unable to vote.
His privilege and obvious lack of knowledge on the topic (and him only being in the country for 6 months as a foreigner!) is why he should keep quiet.


Look I get it, Trump is major trouble (I am being too kind here), and I do agree at this point Americans need all hands on deck to be able to get rid of him. But it is one thing to comment on Trump obvious racism and fascist behaviors and another to tell americans about their freedom to vote, when many of them currently struggle with being able to vote because of institutionalized racism.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Durham

At the same time he knows that his status amplifies his voice. How convenient for him. Freedom but with all the benefits. Cakeism as it's known in the UK.

His princely status is in the gift of the monarch. Let's hope HM is getting good advice. The peerage is a matter for parliament.

I’m sure he does, yet I don’t think he understands that very few Americans care about his opinions. His fans will, but everyone else has far bigger issues.

[Sun Lion]

Originally Posted by LadyRaven

We have that Steinem interview where if you are expressing excitement over Kamala Harris nomination and talk about conversations with Stacey Abrams . I am going to make a very educated guess about who you support . Especially talking about change in a year with incumbent running fo r re-election. Any denial is an insult to me at this point. Hell an interview with Gloria itself would be a big clue

I've just watched the video of Gloria Steinem talking about her and the Duchess of Sussex cold-calling voters together LadyRaven.

I don't want to post a link to the video - anyone interested can find it for themselves via "Newsweek" or "Access Hollywood"

And while Gloria says Meg "is such an inspiration to me", she calls the President "the virus in the White House".

Is that what they're saying on the phone to people!

I hope they’re being more mature and professional than that.

[Nice Nofret]

Off topic: but what makes it so difficult to get registered to vote in the US?



In Switzerland every Swiss over the age of 18 can vote; you do not have to register to do so... it's automatic; of course you have to register with your city / place when you move house. But with that, all is done.

[Claire]

Unsure if this was shared here - or even if it should be shared here. But this was mentioned to me and I really couldnt believe it.

https://www.macleans.ca/royalty/megh...-a-bit-insane/

Sad part about it was that the investigation into it has been dropped by Twitter. Isnt this illegal - or have our laws not caught up to the digital age. Either was I was told that 90% of the Sussex Squad are actually bots on Twitter and instagram and both social media groups are very much aware of it.

[evolvingdoors]

Originally Posted by Nice Nofret

Off topic: but what makes it so difficult to get registered to vote in the US?



In Switzerland every Swiss over the age of 18 can vote; you do not have to register to do so... it's automatic; of course you have to register with your city / place when you move house. But with that, all is done.

I'll follow, hopefully the mods will allow this one off OT (US members feel free to correct me)
if you are a white person in the USA you are likely to have little to no problem being able to vote.
But if you are a non white, especially in a red state, you will find it harder to register and be able to vote. Voter Suppression is a major issue.

In short: (Institutionalized) racism is the reason.

https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights
is A good website to read more about it.

[Osipi]

Just a short note here to add on. A lot of people in the US do not register to vote because if you do, then you are in a pool to be picked for jury duty. Not everyone wants to take time away from their jobs and lives to sit on a jury.

All Americans have the right to vote but some do not exercise that right.

[AC21091968]

Originally Posted by Claire

Unsure if this was shared here - or even if it should be shared here. But this was mentioned to me and I really couldnt believe it.

https://www.macleans.ca/royalty/megh...-a-bit-insane/

Sad part about it was that the investigation into it has been dropped by Twitter. Isnt this illegal - or have our laws not caught up to the digital age. Either was I was told that 90% of the Sussex Squad are actually bots on Twitter and instagram and both social media groups are very much aware of it.

Thank you Claire for the article. Without going into the details on the possibility of "bots" or "sub-automated accounts", some of these Meghan supporters or "Sussex squads" have been behaving atrociously on social media, including towards royal editors/correspondents, who are just doing their jobs. They seem to be attacking any negative or even neutral news about the Harry and Meghan. I have looked through some of the comments to these royal reporters, the accusations of racism and sexism were thrown around liberally, as a way to invalidate or discredit their reporting.

And don't get me started on other members of the Royal Family. From reading through a few tweets, I do think some of these Meghan supporters or "Sussex squads" behave even worse than Republicans/Anti-monarchists.

[SLV]

I too find it strange that you don't automatically have the right to vote once your of legal age. But the US is a very big country, what works for European countries, might not work over there.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Nice Nofret

Off topic: but what makes it so difficult to get registered to vote in the US?



In Switzerland every Swiss over the age of 18 can vote; you do not have to register to do so... it's automatic; of course you have to register with your city / place when you move house. But with that, all is done.

Switzerland is also far smaller than the U.S. It’s a complicated issue, and sadly tied up at least partly with our country’s history of slavery and racism.

This article explains to some degree. Here’s one excerpt:

As Alexander Keyssar points out in The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States, early voter rolls were often compiled by assessors who went door-to-door, and they often missed poorer people. Other early registration systems, at a time of great nativist sentiment, were seen to target Catholics or immigrants, with tactics such as requiring registration only in areas with large minority populations. On the other hand, there was also serious concern in the United States that, without registration, a corrupt political machine system could sway election results.

As Daniel P. Tokaji put it in a 2008 William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal article about voter registration:

There can be little doubt that machine politics and attendant corruption made registration desirable and even necessary, especially in more heavily populated areas. At the same time, in both the North and the South, voter registration systems often served a more insidious purpose: they were used to keep eligible citizens from voting. Although white Democrats’ disfranchisement of southern blacks is the most notorious example, it is also clear that northern Republicans sometimes manipulated voter registration rules to disfranchise Democratic-leaning immigrants and working people. Voter registration has thus been a means not only of promoting election integrity, but also of impeding eligible citizens’ access to the ballot.

https://time.com/4502154/voter-registration-history/

[Fem]

Originally Posted by Claire

Unsure if this was shared here - or even if it should be shared here. But this was mentioned to me and I really couldnt believe it.

https://www.macleans.ca/royalty/megh...-a-bit-insane/

Sad part about it was that the investigation into it has been dropped by Twitter. Isnt this illegal - or have our laws not caught up to the digital age. Either was I was told that 90% of the Sussex Squad are actually bots on Twitter and instagram and both social media groups are very much aware of it.

No, our laws haven't yet caught up to the digital age and probably never will, the Internet changes too fast, constantly opening new ways and possibilities.

But actually, I have no idea where did you get that 90% od the Sussex Squad are bots and I did read the article - they actually wrote "While very few of those accounts appear to be entirely automated—classic bot accounts—Feldberg’s report found that “many have unusual features, suggesting there could be collusion or automation behind some of the accounts.” It's pretty easy to write a program that will automatically retweet content connected to something (in this case, positive for Meghan) and then use the Twitter normally.

Originally Posted by evolvingdoors

I'll follow, hopefully the mods will allow this one off OT (US members feel free to correct me)
if you are a white person in the USA you are likely to have little to no problem being able to vote.
But if you are a non white, especially in a red state, you will find it harder to register and be able to vote. Voter Suppression is a major issue.

In short: (Institutionalized) racism is the reason.

https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights
is A good website to read more about it.

I think for us, Europeans, it's weird that you have to register to vote at all We usually don't have to do that - as long as you're voting where you live, the only thing you have to do is to show up and vote.

[Osipi]

Originally Posted by Fem

I think for us, Europeans, it's weird that you have to register to vote at all We usually don't have to do that - as long as you're voting where you live, the only thing you have to do is to show up and vote.

Two words. Jury duty. In order to vote at the voting stations here, you must be registered to vote and registered to vote for that voting station and they check your voter's registration card and signature. It also puts you on the list of people that can be called for jury duty in your local area court system.

[texankitcat]

Originally Posted by AC21091968

Thank you Claire for the article. Without going into the details on the possibility of "bots" or "sub-automated accounts", some of these Meghan supporters or "Sussex squads" have been behaving atrociously on social media, including towards royal editors/correspondents, who are just doing their jobs. They seem to be attacking any negative or even neutral news about the Harry and Meghan. I have looked through some of the comments to these royal reporters, the accusations of racism and sexism were thrown around liberally, as a way to invalidate or discredit their reporting.

And don't get me started on other members of the Royal Family. From reading through a few tweets, I do think some of these Meghan supporters or "Sussex squads" behave even worse than Republicans/Anti-monarchists.

Completely agree. It’s completely out of hand. They will attack anyone that has anything negative to say about the Sussex’s and accuse them of being racist, bullies, misogynistic, blah, blah. It’s disturbing beyond measure that every conversation on social media has to be hijacked by These type of accusations where legitimate concerns regarding the Sussex’s actions are discussed.