Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Future Duties, Roles and Responsibilities

[Lilyflo]

It's interesting that Buckingham Palace very quickly intervened but didn't issue a denial and went for this instead:
“Any future plans for The Duke and Duchess are speculative at this stage. No decisions have been taken about future roles."

If The Times report was a fabrication, they'd have said "There are no plans for the D&D to live outside of the UK". That would have killed the story stone dead but they chose not to do that.

Originally Posted by Somebody

This looks very much like talking to me...

I've watched the video a few times & Harry is speaking to Catherine, who responds. William smiles but isn't saying anything to Harry. Given the report that was published prior to their appearance plus all the talk of tension between Harry & William, they could have walked & talked together on arrival and departure, which would have made a mockery of the stories but they didn't.

[Madame Verseau]

@Lilyflo - I think the Palace is counting on designated journalists and royal reporters to explain this away so they ride out the storm.

[andi]

Originally Posted by Lilyflo

It's interesting that Buckingham Palace very quickly intervened but didn't issue a denial and went for this instead:
“Any future plans for The Duke and Duchess are speculative at this stage. No decisions have been taken about future roles."

If The Times report was a fabrication, they'd have said "There are no plans for the D&D to live outside of the UK". That would have killed the story stone dead but they chose not to do that.

It appears the palace has lost the narrative with this story. Multiple papers are running with different versions of the original story, adding their own "exclusive" info. If the move to Africa, whether for extended time or just a tour was really in the works, then the information was leaked prematurely, and people are adding their own sensationalist details.

[Duke of Marmalade]

The PR of the BRF has been desastrous for many years now, either the BRF wants it this way or it is simply unmanagable for professional outsiders for various reasons.

[andi]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

The PR of the BRF has been desastrous for many years now, either the BRF wants it this way or it is simply unmanagable for professional outsiders for various reasons.

While it's untenable to deny every single story, KP or BP should've issued a firm and straightforward denial (one that left no room for misinterpretation) when they saw the feud rumors receiving so much mainstream coverage. At this point, tabloids are taking the most mundane actions and using that as proof for the alleged feud.

[Lilyflo]

Originally Posted by Madame Verseau

@Lilyflo - I think the Palace is counting on designated journalists and royal reporters to explain this away so they ride out the storm.

Maybe they are. Richard Palmer's tweets & replies this morning are interesting:
https://twitter.com/RoyalReporter/st...13791185285126

[Madame Verseau]

Yep the story was a big misfire.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Lilyflo

I've watched the video a few times & Harry is speaking to Catherine, who responds. William smiles but isn't saying anything to Harry. Given the report that was published prior to their appearance plus all the talk of tension between Harry & William, they could have walked & talked together on arrival and departure, which would have made a mockery of the stories but they didn't.

William and Harry don’t play games for the press. I cannot see either of them doing something for the sake of photos, even if it would look good.

I think there is tension, but that it is what the Palace said before, normal growing pains when roles and lives change. William had influence over his younger brother all his life. Then Meghan came along and her influence over Harry is stronger now. They may have had a disagreement over something, but William is stubborn and when it comes to Meghan I think Harry can be also. Yes, I’m speculating but it is based on observing family dynamics in other families over the years.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Lilyflo

I've watched the video a few times & Harry is speaking to Catherine, who responds. William smiles but isn't saying anything to Harry. Given the report that was published prior to their appearance plus all the talk of tension between Harry & William, they could have walked & talked together on arrival and departure, which would have made a mockery of the stories but they didn't.

It was about Harry not talking to them; he clearly addressed them while some want us to believe that they completely ignored each other.

Nonetheless, I agree that it would have helped if Harry had joined his brother and sister-in-law while walking to the chapel - as he has done many times before - instead of walking with Peter and Autumn. In general, Harry looked rather nervous, probably because of the impending birth of his first child.

[ACO]

Harry seemed just fine with the Philips and Tindals. I can believe there is tension....Clearly these people need a bit of distance. I also agree they don't need to go out their way for the press. They will think what they want regardless.

They were respectful and that is all that matters.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

William and Harry don’t play games for the press. I cannot see either of them doing something for the sake of photos, even if it would look good.

I think there is tension, but that it is what the Palace said before, normal growing pains when roles and lives change. William had influence over his younger brother all his life. Then Meghan came along and her influence over Harry is stronger now. They may have had a disagreement over something, but William is stubborn and when it comes to Meghan I think Harry can be also. Yes, I’m speculating but it is based on observing family dynamics in other families over the years.

Agree 100%
I would be surprised if there weren't any tensions.
But maybe they need to be dealt with differently or at least not being underestimated in the current tabloid climate.

[Fijiro]

Originally Posted by Madame Verseau

About an hour ago Victoria Arbiter was on CNN in the US talking about Baby Sussex, the British press griping about no presentation, potential names and the Africa move. Arbiter mentioned the queen and Philip lived in Malta for a couple of years and William and Kate living in Anseley.

When the Queen and Prince Philip lived in Malta, Prince Philip was a Naval Officer stationed there. And back then, the King of England was the head of state in Malta.

William was stationed near Anseley (which is in UK), when he and Kate lived there.

Both couples were not uprooted and shipped outside of British Empire.

.

[Dman]

One thing I know, Harry and William have always been extremely close. Sure, they have their moments with each other. That’s how siblings are. I just don’t know why they’re not at least trying to smash the story about them and their wives. The effort isn’t being made at all.

Originally Posted by Fijiro

When the Queen and Prince Philip lived in Malta, Prince Philip was a Naval Officer stationed there. And back then, the King of England was the head of state in Malta.

William was stationed near Anseley (which is in UK), when he and Kate lived there.

Both couples were not uprooted and shipped outside of British Empire.

.

And it’s not going to happen now. What I’m getting out of this story? A royal tour or work based projects that they will make several trips to launch and look after. The royals do working trips often. The press is using the idea of tensions between the couples to base their story.

The PR side of their household separation was not handled properly. It gave too much room for an unwanted spin to be made out of it. None of it has ever been corrected.

[jacqui24]

It’s interesting to see some of the spin this morning. Some of them aren’t even trying to look like they are sticking to both side of the story. They are at the point of playing blindness to certain things while twisting another side. Or even saying they have sources say that it’s Harry and Meghan that want to go. Just pretend like the original story is Harry and Meghan want to go (it wasn’t) and how their idea is problematic.

[loonytick]

The supposed Africa proposal really does sound to me like something that Harry would enjoy in an ideal world. As a single man with only part-time royal responsibilities, he repeatedly used his personal time to spend a month or so at a time volunteering on the continent. It’s one of the main focuses of the work he chooses to do when given the freedom to do whatever he wants.

But so many things point to the idea that this is a plan still in brainstorming phase. Perhaps the idea was to come up with a “blue sky” plan as a starting point for strategizing. In other words, momentarily set aside thoughts of visas, concerns about optics, the demands of the annual royal schedule, the practicalities of having young kids in the mix, etc. and just dream up a perfect-world situation that would build on the couple’s interests and skills to their fullest. Then take that idea, put it through the filters of practicalities and sensibilities, and see what pieces actually could remain as a realistic strategy.

It just feels to me like a lower level staffer caught wind of ideas being tossed about in their earliest, most imperfect state and then ran off to the Times and caused a mess.

[Abbigail]

Originally Posted by loonytick

The supposed Africa proposal really does sound to me like something that Harry would enjoy in an ideal world. As a single man with only part-time royal responsibilities, he repeatedly used his personal time to spend a month or so at a time volunteering on the continent. It’s one of the main focuses of the work he chooses to do when given the freedom to do whatever he wants.

But so many things point to the idea that this is a plan still in brainstorming phase. Perhaps the idea was to come up with a “blue sky” plan as a starting point for strategizing. In other words, momentarily set aside thoughts of visas, concerns about optics, the demands of the annual royal schedule, the practicalities of having young kids in the mix, etc. and just dream up a perfect-world situation that would build on the couple’s interests and skills to their fullest. Then take that idea, put it through the filters of practicalities and sensibilities, and see what pieces actually could remain as a realistic strategy.

It just feels to me like a lower level staffer caught wind of ideas being tossed about in their earliest, most imperfect state and then ran off to the Times and caused a mess.

Feels like more than that to me. The original Times story made absolutely no menton of this being something Harry or Meghan wanted. It was billed as the exact opposite.

With a new baby and a wife who is not yet a citizen, I don't think he ever wanted or planned to spend a few months away from home, let alone a few years.

[loonytick]

Originally Posted by Abbigail

Feels like more than that to me. The original Times story made absolutely no menton of this being something Harry or Meghan wanted. It was billed as the exact opposite.

With a new baby and a wife who is not yet a citizen, I don't think he ever wanted or planned to spend a few months away from home, let alone a few years.

Yeah, but how much comes from editorializing and sit-connecting by a biased reporter? From my reading of the article, all it most. All they can say strongly about the plan is that it was a proposal originally drafted by a couple of people who were in a position to help with strategizing. And then, separately, it goes off in the direction of gossiping about a falling out, trying to come up with reasons why a plan might exist, etc.

I buy that the brothers are having a rough spell, as sometimes happens with siblings. But royal staffers who blab and the reporters to whom they leak have a long history of exaggerating interfamily conflicts and twisting kernels of truth into huge, overblown messes that are mostly supposition.

[O-H Anglophile]

I agree with loonytick, this does sound like something Harry would have really enjoyed. I said as much yesterday. However, his life is now much more complicated and his father is much closer to being King which also complicates matters.

[Abbigail]

Originally Posted by loonytick

Yeah, but how much comes from editorializing and sit-connecting by a biased reporter? From my reading of the article, all it most. All they can say strongly about the plan is that it was a proposal originally drafted by a couple of people who were in a position to help with strategizing. And then, separately, it goes off in the direction of gossiping about a falling out, trying to come up with reasons why a plan might exist, etc.

I buy that the brothers are having a rough spell, as sometimes happens with siblings. But royal staffers who blab and the reporters to whom they leak have a long history of exaggerating interfamily conflicts and twisting kernels of truth into huge, overblown messes that are mostly supposition.

The author of the Times piece is not someone I would describe as a biased reporter. He doesn't normally cover the royals and certainly seems to have more credibility than those who are now claiming that it was Harry's idea.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by loonytick

All they can say strongly about the plan is that it was a proposal originally drafted by a couple of people who were in a position to help with strategizing. And then, separately, it goes off in the direction of gossiping about a falling out, trying to come up with reasons why a plan might exist, etc.

I buy that the brothers are having a rough spell, as sometimes happens with siblings. But royal staffers who blab and the reporters to whom they leak have a long history of exaggerating interfamily conflicts and twisting kernels of truth into huge, overblown messes that are mostly supposition.

I agree.

Reporters and low level (not really in the know) staffers take things out of context and juxtapose with other things or embellish to make a story that doesn't necessarily resemble fact.