Harry & Meghan: Tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand - October 2018 - Page 65

Muhler · #**1281** 10-31-2018, 01:12 PM

Well, Harry has great people skills, there is no doubt that!

One of the greatest and most appealing people skills he has, is to know when to step back and let his wife shine. While still being present mind you.
In the eyes of Joe and Jolene Average, that earns him serious brownie points IMO!

jacqui24 · #**1282** 10-31-2018, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaira

I would say that the amount of engagements is *around* normal, but slightly higher than some recent tours for the KP set. What I think made it hectic was exactly what you highlighted: they did a lot in too short a period of time. Take Melbourne for example. They were there for a mere 5 hours and did all the things but I felt that meant that engagements were short changed and rushed.

They also did a huge amount of just pure traveling too that added to how hectic the tour was on everyone. They also had no "rest" days either.

I think the scheduling would've been a lot better with a few more days. But with the bookends being Eugenie's wedding and Prince Charles and DoC's Africa tour, they had to do what they can. It'd been a lot better if they didn't come back to Admiralty House every night in Australia. I think it'd been a lot easier on Meghan not to fly back and forth everyday too. They used the Royal Air Force jet, so the problem of commercial flight isn't that much of the problem. It might just be that the RRs would have to divide and conquer rather than be there everyday.

As great as it is for someone that follows the couple to have this many stories all at once. I do think having so many moments on a tour is a disservice sometimes. Each individual moments can't get their proper moment before the next one comes. I would've liked there to be a slow down after her speech on suffrage (although some tried to make it a political issue 125 years after the fact).

Abbigail · #**1283** 10-31-2018, 03:27 PM

Well I can't say I had an issue with the pacing or number of events. I think the scheduling made for a more exciting tour, which was important because I know some were worried about a 16-day tour being too long, becoming boring but it didn't feel that way at all. Harry and Meghan also obviously wanted to do as much as possible and I thought it was handled well, all things considered.

I do understand the complaints about the Invictus Games getting the short end of the stick. I would have loved to see more involvement there as well but I think they deliberately chose to proritize the tour, with it being their first big one as a couple. There is still Invictus 2020, which I think will get the proper attention.

AlowVera · #**1284** 10-31-2018, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abbigail

Well I can't say I had an issue with the pacing or number of events. I think the scheduling made for a more exciting tour, which was important because I know some were worried about a 16-day tour being too long, becoming boring but it didn't feel that way at all. Harry and Meghan also obviously wanted to do as much as possible and I thought it was handled well, all things considered.

I do understand the complaints about the Invictus Games getting the short end of the stick. I would have loved to see more involvement there as well but I think they deliberately chose to proritize the tour, with it being their first big one as a couple. There is still Invictus 2020, which I think will get the proper attention.

I think the issue was the wedding and also Charles's tour in Africa so they had this two week time frame in which they could go to the Pacific countries and also attend the games. They could not do it before and overshadow the wedding and at the same time they had to complete the tour so they do not overshadow Prince Charles in Africa.

Abbigail · #**1285** 10-31-2018, 03:47 PM

Oh I agree. Something was going to get shortchanged as a result and unfortunately that was the Games. Good thing we have more to look forward to on that front.

Zaira · #**1286** 10-31-2018, 04:44 PM

But IMO, the Games are something that should be not short-changed. Ever. They are Harry's signature event and frankly something that has given him a huge amount of positive PR. Chris mentioned there was some grumbles among competitors about Harry not being there AND his lack of presence drawing away media attention. I hope KP learns from this and makes sure that all future IGs are given the attention they deserve and Harry is committed to the duration of the event.

And for folks asking, the Cambridge trip to Australia/NZ with George was 52 engagements. I am trying to track down the count for Charles/Camilla's last few OZ tours. The RR's for the Sussex tour keep saying 76, but I have seen 60 as another number too. So not sure which one is correct!

Roslyn · #**1287** 10-31-2018, 05:36 PM

I think it was a mistake to extend the tour to a regional tour because it took emphasis away from the Invictus Games and allowed focus to be turned towards Meghan. That might have suited the royal tour-organisers and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, but I think Invictus should have been given priority and that they should have attended more events and not gone to Fiji and Tonga.

rominet09 · #**1288** 10-31-2018, 07:50 PM

When do they leave for UK ?

Iluvbertie · #**1289** 10-31-2018, 08:38 PM

I will have the total number of engagements for each of them for the tour up later today but around the high 50s to low 60s for Harry and a few less for Meghan is my count.

When they announced what they were doing they said things like a 'ferry ride' in Sydney and a 'tram ride' in Melbourne. Yes they did these but there were official engagements. That is why the 76 count will end up lower as those that did the pre-tour count included these sorts of events that HM said weren't engagements.

I am still waiting for the final day to appear on the CC or elsewhere. I believe there were four engagements on that day - but that may not be the case. There were 3 on the 30th for instance. The busiest day had 6 engagements while most were in the range of 4 or 5 with some having 3.

Curryong · #**1290** 10-31-2018, 08:41 PM

I believe they fly out today. I think Chris Ship made some fair points (we thought he was filming a documentary of this tour and were proved correct) and I'm sure if the Sussexes do another tour in a couple of years (perhaps to North America) things will be shorter and a little more paced.

It was probably killing for Harry and Meghan, a sort of 'Tuesday, so this must be Belgium' sort of feeling! However they were given the responsibility of a long and packed tour and more than fulfilled the brief. I think Meghan was especially brilliant and I say that as a longtime Harry follower.

I do agree that Invictus should have received more attention and I'm sure The Hague will be very different. Hopefully Harry will be there every day. I also think the Suva market incident was a blunder. Not good PR there, and it left some locals feeling flat and disappointed I'm sure. It definitely should have been better organised.

All in all though, and speaking as an Aussie, I was delighted with this tour and the amount of publicity it gathered for all sorts of causes. I'd say TPTB and the Queen will be pleased.

Dman · #**1291** 10-31-2018, 09:19 PM

It was an amazing royal tour indeed. It was Meghan’s first major tour and I think she pretty much outdid herself. Especially with her being pregnant. She handled everything with grace, dignity and elegance as a senior royal.

I totally understand how folks feel about the Sussex’s Invictus Games participation. Hopefully that won’t happen again with the 2020 games. A royal tour and the Invictus Games can’t mix. I think the couple and Palace officials have figured that out now. Although they tried to make it work.

Oh, I’m sure The Queen and family was very impressed about the Tour. I’m sure they will report back to Her Majesty and give her the 411 on their trip.

Terri Terri · #**1292** 10-31-2018, 09:32 PM

I think what we have to remember is that IG as an initiative of the royal foundation under Harry's patronage, whilst important, is not the priority for Harry and Meghan as senior royals. First and foremost, they represent the Queen, working and carrying out requests on behalf of the govenment and the FCO.

Evem if initially, IG was important, visiting Commonwealth countries, especially Australia with strong republican leanings was deemed to be far more important.

A lot of the activities of this tour were recommended by the governments of the countries visited by Harry and Meghan. So they couldn't say No to doing these activities in favour of attending IG only.

In addition, the tour highlighted Harry's role as a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador which in the long run will be a far more significant position. And yes, the tour was Meghan's coming out as a senior royal as well.

PrpleCrown · #**1293** 10-31-2018, 09:56 PM

Amazing tour. Enjoyed following. Highlights for me

Meghan's 3 speeches.

Harry's last speech, speaking for a minute in Māori then singing the Te Aroha in te reo, with Meghan and the whole KP staff joining in.

The fashion, love it. Mix of local designers, British and others.
Also loved how she used fashion to pay tribute to the host countries. The Fijian blue gown. The red dress arriving in Tonga as well as the white gown for the state dinner.

Highlighting Indigenous Communities.

The walk abouts and how they connected with the people, especially children.
Harry telling that little boy that he was going to be alright and how amazing grans were. The little boy who was fascinated with his beard and wouldn't stop hugging him.

Kudos to both Harry and Meghan for doing a fantastic job.

Fros · #**1294** 11-01-2018, 08:57 AM

Another write up on the overall royal tour:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46050674

I disagree with a few point like Meghan didn't speak much during the tour which I think we can all agree she did a great job with speeches in this tour and spoke a fair amount.

"If Harry is enthused by the crowds at walkabouts, he is often obviously bored at set-piece ceremonials, and has yet to find a way to mask it."

I think this one was just funny because while I don't think he is bored per say I think he just gets distracted sometimes during the longer ceremonies.

"And more than once Meghan *by herself and with Harry by her side - swept her way through occasions that demanded just a bit more of her time."

I agree with this a lot it did feel they rushed or were rushed through some engagements.

I think some of the engagements were poorly planned as in they were good in concept but a bit awkward in practice. The fiji market was the biggest victim of poor planning but I also feel that the visit to Macarthur Girls High School I believe was suppose to highlight diversity in that area and some sports program and other support program that was run by the school but unfortunately it wasn't communicated well visually (they were talking to people around a table that had various footballs in the middle) or the programs weren't highlighted properly because at one point it just looked like they went around looking at the kids school projects.

I am sure the community and the children at Macarthur Girls High School were delighted by the visit and it meant a great deal to them but it was just one of the more confusing ones to watch.

I also thought their engagements with Indigenous Communities was a high point of the tour and hope that is a strong theme they stick to in future tours and the lack of Invictus during the tour was a glaring error.

Curryong · #**1295** 11-01-2018, 09:14 AM

Damned with faint praise in this article by the BBC correspondent, except where there is incontrovertible evidence that large crowds did gather for Harry and Meghan and were affected. Even that concession was sprinkled with condescending remarks about the lack of celebs in Australia, and well, little Fiji and Tonga are lovely, but they don't really matter in the grand scheme of things do they, not in comparison to LONDON and the U.K.!

And in this reporter's eyes today's royals don't seem to really matter either. But naturally, the majority of the BBC staff aren't republicans by conviction. No, of course not!

Winnie · #**1296** 11-01-2018, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roslyn

I think it was a mistake to extend the tour to a regional tour because it took emphasis away from the Invictus Games and allowed focus to be turned towards Meghan. That might have suited the royal tour-organisers and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, but I think Invictus should have been given priority and that they should have attended more events and not gone to Fiji and Tonga.

I am quite sure that this was exactly the way the Queen wanted this tour to be done, and it was. Something all the firm must do to the best of their ability. I am sure will continue along same line when Charles is King. Monarch/government pays the bill and that is that. Has worked for many years this way. Invictus Games might not have been the Queens' top priority at this time over the new Royals doing proper PR in the other countries, which really made their day and they will talk about for years.

Pranter · #**1297** 11-01-2018, 09:32 AM

As a/the Commonwealth Ambassador it is Harry/Meghan's duty to do the tour anyway...if they had just gone for the games that would of been very odd and a slight towards the rest of the region.

LaRae

Terri Terri · #**1298** 11-01-2018, 10:01 AM

How did they manage to leave New Zealand and travel back to the UK without any photos or videos being seen?

Fijiro · #**1299** 11-01-2018, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri Terri

How did they manage to leave New Zealand and travel back to the UK without any photos or videos being seen?

I've been wondering about that myself.

Winnie · #**1300** 11-01-2018, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri Terri

How did they manage to leave New Zealand and travel back to the UK without any photos or videos being seen?

I imagine same way Meghan's Mom travels to UK for visits without media down her throat. Seems it can be done when they want it done that way. I think it is great.