Harry & Meghan: Tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand - October 2018 - Page 47

ACO · #**921** 10-23-2018, 09:53 PM

It is fascinating watching the reporting of this. The UK reporters are spinning it like it is no big deal and Meghan should have stayed and risked her safety while everyone else described it as "chaotic" and understand why the security were concerned. If that doesn't say it all nothing does.

Curryong · #**922** 10-23-2018, 09:59 PM

People were scaling roofs and walls, standing on produce stalls and massive crowds were closing in. In that sort of chaos the RPOs would have decided to get her out of there quick. It's a pity more police weren't there to marshal the crowds away a bit. It's very disappointing for the women traders and for locals who just wanted to get a glimpse of 'the Duchess'.

jacqui24 · #**923** 10-23-2018, 10:06 PM

In this video, the women to Meghan’s left, that is wearing a black shirt with blond hair, is the Sussexes’ new head of security. She looks like she’s about to flip out. Even in the market, people are standing on the stalls and such, which any good security detail would tell you is a red flag.

https://mobile.twitter.com/morningsh...81872931508224

Lady Reem · #**924** 10-23-2018, 10:16 PM

I found The DoS’ speech to the students and staff at the Uni in Suva pretty moving and inspiring. She’s one smart hardworking cookie.

And a true champion for girls & women

https://people.com/royals/meghan-mar...mpression=true

Pranter · #**925** 10-23-2018, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliannaVictoria

WHOA. That is a security nightmare. They were way too close to her and the car. Her female RPO looked like she was about to knock someone out if they stepped out of bounds. The KP security team needed to handle that situation, and they did the best that they could under the circumstances.

Harry must be having kittens after seeing this...good grief!

LaRae

jacqui24 · #**926** 10-23-2018, 10:39 PM

Btw, we have to remember that she is pregnant. The crowd was enthusiastic, but if someone falls off the stall into the walkway, it can break the whole dam with so many others there. And it seems the crowd is difficult to control as so many got past the security at her car.

BTW, not only did most of the media follow Meghan, but it looked like Private Secretaries did. I spotted both Samantha Cohen and Amy Pickerill at Suva Market. Who is with Harry?

KP is saying that she met with everyone that she’s supposed to. So in that case, I can see why they wanted her out of there ASAP.

Curryong · #**927** 10-23-2018, 10:50 PM

Of course it was best to get Meghan out of there but the Fijian locals meant no harm. They are the friendliest people in the world. I've been to those markets and the traders are wonderful. It's just that there could have been a few more police rostered on IMO. It was such a shame that Meghan's meeting with the successful women traders had to be cut short.

Zaira · #**928** 10-23-2018, 10:52 PM

I think this was a mix of poor planning by KP and miscommunication with the local authorities and the KP security team. The Australian reporters on the ground during the live broadcast kept saying it was chaotic and one of them was even pushed into some pineapples.

I am not sure I like KP blaming the large crowds either because it came off as "blaming" the community. The Fijian's were excited to see Meghan and that is a good thing.

I don't know what is wrong with the UK reporters. Yes, I've seen more chaotic royal visits, but we have no idea what the security heard, saw or just "felt." Blame poor planning or whatever, but this was NOT Meghan's fault and the insinuations that some royal reporters are making are completely untoward and unprofessional.

Sun Lion · #**929** 10-23-2018, 10:56 PM

Meghan so protected by her security -

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2...0343584515.jpg

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2...0343582109.jpg

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2...0350746868.jpg

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2...0350683492.jpg

Curryong · #**930** 10-23-2018, 10:59 PM

Not sure whether this has been put up here already. Apologies if it has.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vI1lwYmQC8A

ACO · #**931** 10-23-2018, 11:02 PM

From KP Aide:

"It was hot, humid and uncomfortably busy and there were far larger crowds than expected. She met everyone she was meant to meet and left. There would have been a lot of people who would have been keen to meet her but she did met those who had hoped to. On advice she was taken out due to crowd management issue."

jacqui24 · #**932** 10-23-2018, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACO

It is fascinating watching the reporting of this. The UK reporters are spinning it like it is no big deal and Meghan should have stayed and risked her safety while everyone else described it as "chaotic" and understand why the security were concerned. If that doesn't say it all nothing does.

I have to say, I did hear very different stories from Aussie media compared to the British media.

Curryong · #**933** 10-23-2018, 11:13 PM

The Aussie media knows Fiji, it's an incredibly popular tourist destination for one thing, and there are many Fijians living in Australia. Whereas the press pack from Britain work for newspapers with agendas to push.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3jsHckMnOI

Sun Lion · #**934** 10-23-2018, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACO

From KP Aide:

"It was hot, humid and uncomfortably busy and there were far larger crowds than expected. She met everyone she was meant to meet and left. There would have been a lot of people who would have been keen to meet her but she did met those who had hoped to. On advice she was taken out due to crowd management issue."

Some of the stall holders are saying they did not get to see Meghan - and they were part of the ones who were meant to see her.

They had spent the previous three weeks getting ready for their encounter.

And six minutes there would be almost nothing.

Must have been a bit overwhelming for Meghan.

Love her Fijian lady guard. Both she and Meghan managed to keep calm and serene expressions in what must have been a noisey and un-ravelling environment.

https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/...e6da180bc986aa

I saw some stressed arm-waving, and stern words for photographers to get out of the way, from others in the team.

jacqui24 · #**935** 10-23-2018, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaira

I think this was a mix of poor planning by KP and miscommunication with the local authorities and the KP security team. The Australian reporters on the ground during the live broadcast kept saying it was chaotic and one of them was even pushed into some pineapples.

I am not sure I like KP blaming the large crowds either because it came off as "blaming" the community. The Fijian's were excited to see Meghan and that is a good thing.

I don't know what is wrong with the UK reporters. Yes, I've seen more chaotic royal visits, but we have no idea what the security heard, saw or just "felt." Blame poor planning or whatever, but this was NOT Meghan's fault and the insinuations that some royal reporters are making are completely untoward and unprofessional.

Based on the actual statement, I don’t know if KP “blamed” the crowd or if that’s just a poor choice of words from some royal reporters. They stated massive crowd as a reason, which isn’t wrong.

It does blow my mind how they thought to embargo and not announce several engagements in Australia due to crowd concerns, but not this. I thought a security team is supposed to visit well ahead of the tour and work all of this out?

Pranter · #**936** 10-23-2018, 11:22 PM

Maybe they under-anticipated the numbers that would show up.

LaRae

Sun Lion · #**937** 10-23-2018, 11:24 PM

Meanwhile Harry is having a far more chilled day -

https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/...TOUR_AAP41.jpg

Some photos from the performance at the University of the South Pacific -

https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/...TOUR_AAP39.jpg

https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/...TOUR_AAP38.jpg

https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/...TOUR_AAP40.jpg

https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/...TOUR_AAP42.jpg

Zaira · #**938** 10-23-2018, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacqui24

Based on the actual statement, I don’t know if KP “blamed” the crowd or if that’s just a poor choice of words from some royal reporters. They stated massive crowd as a reason, which isn’t wrong.

It does blow my mind how they thought to embargo and not announce several engagements in Australia due to crowd concerns, but not this. I thought a security team is supposed to visit well ahead of the tour and work all of this out?

I am not sure they planned the for how large the crowds would be. Honestly, the security has kind of chaotic the whole trip, sometimes physically pulling away Harry or Meghan from people during walkabouts. And their staff also has kind of seemed less organized.

What stood out to most in the scenes I saw from the market is actually the media tbh. There was SO many media personnel around and I think that also added to the stress too. While Meghan was trying to talk to the first vendor, KP staff were trying to herd the media down further and it just became a mess very quickly.

**soapstar** · #**939** 10-23-2018, 11:25 PM

Let’s keep the discussion on the tour and not on comparisons between royal reporters. Thanks.

jacqui24 · #**940** 10-23-2018, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaira

I am not sure they planned the for how large the crowds would be. Honestly, the security has kind of chaotic the whole trip, sometimes physically pulling away Harry or Meghan from people during walkabouts. And their staff also has kind of seemed less organized.

What stood out to most in the scenes I saw from the market is actually the media tbh. There was SO many media personnel around and I think that also added to the stress too. While Meghan was trying to talk to the first vendor, KP staff were trying to herd the media down further and it just became a mess very quickly.

I feel like they didn’t expect the crowds they’ve had this whole trip. It was easier in Australia because the local authorities were more prepared for The crowds.