The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Step Back as Senior Royals: January 2020

[carlota]

Harry said in his speech that he hopes this will bring him a “more peaceful life”. I’m afraid that may be what he wants but I don’t think for a minute that is what Meghan wants. Like many things about these two, this seems hasty and lacking proper planning. I’m afraid Harry is in blindly in love and as a result he is in for a rude awakening on this one in a few months / years time that will end up in tears.

[Hallo girl]

Originally Posted by Denville

I think that's more Meghan. I thnk she thought that royal life would be more glamourous and didn't realise that even for the queen and Charles and William, the direct line.. it is not that exciting.. and for a second string one like Harry, its not that grandiose.

You have it exactly, IMHO she totally misunderstood the concept of royal duty, it is not all glamorous premiers and state dinners.
IMHO meghan didn't intend moving on so quick but she did think she could change the way things were done to suit her ways.

There are a lot of mundane visits but to the recipients ,they are just as important as the star studded events.

The queen is still working at 93, Philip has only recently retired at 98, Charles and Camilla in their 70's . Princess Anne at 69.
Even their down time at Sandringham or Balmoral is photographed.

Basic rules of royalty, you do not outshine the star and you should not earn money on the back of the HRH title.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by Cathy-PA USA

This has been confusing me, the Buckingham Palace Press Rlease of January 18 stated that H + M will "maintain their personal patronages".

I'm now seeing this summary, per Emily Andrews (is she a good source?) published in Town & Country magazine:

"Harry will no longer be Captain General of Marines, Hon Air Commandant or Commodore-in-chief nor Youth Amabassdor. He & Meghan will keep Pres & VP of @queenscomtrust plus Sentebale, Invictus etc & M’s patronages she took on last year."

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/so...lth-new-roles/

Apologies if this is duplication.

What’s confusing exactly? Henry has been stripped of his honorary military appointments and his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.

They will keep their personal patronage’s such as Sentebale, Invictus and Smartworks.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by texankitcat

He seems to be putting the blame on his family rather than taking any responsibility for their own actions in this drama. I would have more respect if he had just kept his mouth shut instead of playing the victim yet again.

He'd be much better to just say he was moving on to a new life, and hoped to go on with Sentabelet and other charities from his old life.. and make no allusion to the drama.

[Soula]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Harry's speech was actually confrontational and tried to pin the blame on the Royal Family for driving him out, which is actually a distorted version of reality.


Basically we have a situation where someone makes unacceptable demands and, when his demands are (justifiably) turned down, he blames the other side for forcing him out. Again, Harry's sense of entitlement is showing.


I am sorry for having to say that, but I wasn't moved an inch by his speech.

Ditto!

Harry needs to grow up. Setting out into the real world is going to be a shock for both of them.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

That needs a whole box of salt. There are so many things that don’t even make sense.

I do believe he may have been an indulgent parent.

I’ve said before, take some facts, give them a spin, embroider some new details and you have a new, not quite true, story

That's another thing I guess reporters over the years were wrong on - I thought William and Harry got along well with Camilla. Well, I guess that was too much to ask, I suppose......

[Denville]

Originally Posted by miss whirley

I think that's a little optimistic. I think his public image in the UK will not bounce back just because he said "oops, I prefer my old life after all!". Now if he wants to come back as a private citizen I'm sure he can rebuild his family relationships overtime, that trust will be hard to earn. But if he comes back trying to be "Prince Harry", they'll be plenty of judgment. He would need to give the public an epic mea culpa, even then he might not be embraced.

I don't think tthat he'd be welcome at least not for some time if he tried to come back to Royal life. The public who follow Royal life aren't likely to welcome someone who walked out on it so blatantly with such a drama. ANd it mghigt look that he's failed at money making or living in Canada, and come back tail between legs. He doe have fans in the UK but I am not sure there ar enough to ensure a warm welcome...

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by Pranter

The people determined to find fault will find it no matter what. The Sussexes won't be able to do anything to please them...even if it causes them to contradict themselves.



LaRae

The only thing that will help them is to learn to ignore other people's opinions and the media. It is their life, they should live it as they want and be without guilty feelings in the end. And they should stop readiong tabloid-articles. These are only there to further the agenda of some journalists and to earn big bucks on selling negative and hateful stories...

[Claire]

I found a few things on another forums that were the sticking pints that resulted in the Queen refusing the part time royal request. All of this is speculation.
1. The request to setup a separate office in North America - they would surely be needing a staff, it was unclear the autonomy of this office and its workings with the palace. There were adamant that there was no way to set up an independent body possibly creating a monarchy of Canada and USA.
2. Political involvement - The Sussex wanted to be able to voice their opinion of a number of topics , these might be controversial and might conflict to the policies of the British government and will definitely conflict to the Queen stance on political neutrality. It has also been suggested that they want to be more involved and front and center. So maybe been arrested in the Environmental protests and standing behind Jane Fonda.
3. Freebies - The Sussex have said nothing about the free goods, jewelry, dresses, dinners, holidays and accommodation that have received. Royal practice is that all gifts received on duty belong to the monarchy or refused. It would have been impossible to determine whether goods were given as a result of the private person or towards a representative of the monarchy. or to place it another way - paying for access to royalty for or to provide free publicity to the company. It was just ambiguous to create a rule for.

[wyevale]

Basically we have a situation where someone makes unacceptable demands and, when his demands are (justifiably) turned down, he blames the other side for forcing him out. Again, Harry's sense of entitlement is showing.


I am sorry for having to say that, but I wasn't moved an inch by his speech.

THIS ^

Blackmail, or a [failed] attempt at it, isn't a 'good look', from a Man to his Grandmother, Father, and Brother - and all the fine words in the Arsenal wont wash THAT away...

[Denville]

Originally Posted by ACO

Seems reporters are questioning why Harry couldn’t maintain HRH or keep doing some service without the public purse as other royals have. ITV said they looking into it.

This story not dying down anytime soon

Because he wanted to have a half in and half out role, spending time making his own money and the queen's not going to allow that. If he had watned to retire to private life, and keep a few patronages, as a private individual that would be one thing. But they made no secret of the fact that they want to "make their own money" and use their "Brand" to do so. Other royals like Beatrice and Eugenie have jobs or live their own lives and are not working for the queen, THey each have charity interests that they pursue at times, but they are not royal workers and never have been....

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by texankitcat

He seems to be putting the blame on his family rather than taking any responsibility for their own actions in this drama. I would have more respect if he had just kept his mouth shut instead of playing the victim yet again.

I reread the speech to see if I could see what you’re seeing...I’m not sure.

Of course he wasn’t going to go into details, but the “there was no other option” was so vague and could be interpreted in so many ways. As to the part where he said he’d hoped to serve the Queen, but that was “impossible...that was no doubt dropped in there to make him a more sympathetic figure, so

Overall, I’m not sure he was blaming his family, but there was a LOT left unsaid. This wasn’t the time or place to air dirty laundry, but I do think it left many unanswered questions...I still hate that it ended this way, and I still hate how Harry and Meghan handles this whole thing

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Betsypaige

I reread the speech to see if I could see what you’re seeing...I’m not sure.

Of course he wasn’t going to go into details, but the “there was no other option” was so vague and could be interpreted in so many ways. As to the part where he said he’d hoped to serve the Queen, but that was “impossible...that was no doubt dropped in there to make him a more sympathetic figure, so

Overall, I’m not sure he was blaming his family, but there was a LOT left unsaid. This wasn’t the time or place to air dirty laundry, but I do think it left many unanswered questions...I still hate that it ended this way, and I still hate how Harry and Meghan handles this whole thing

what other way could it end? They wanted half and half.. they could not have it. They wanted badly I think to be free from too many obligations and restrictions.. and now they have been let go.. probably with a reasonable amount of money to help them at least for a few years. Its up to them now. If they make some money and do some charity work good. But they will get crticisim if they are too controversial.. or too money grabbing. I hope they are prepared for that.

[Osipi]

Not only be free of obligations and restrictions but to also "forge a new path" in their own way and as relatively newcomers to working full time for a very old institution, they hit the proverbial brick wall. They didn't really like their office and staff set up in BP and under the Queen's supervision and wanted a "branch" office in N. America somewhere. They wanted to forgo the 5% from the Sovereign Grant (the Queen's supervision included in that package) and be "financially independent". Set themselves up as chief CEOs of their own "business" yet still "work" for the "Firm". In a way, it all could be seen as working for a corporation but yet setting themselves up on the side in competition. No employer would ever allow that. Most employers do not like moonlighting either. You work for them or you don't. No middle road.

The situation ended up with Harry and Meghan free to go and do as they wish, where they wish and good luck to them. They are also prohibited from any kind of hint or association that could be misleading and insinuate that they have the blessing of the "Firm" they're leaving. The "Firm" and the royal family that goes with it is the sole property of monarchy of the UK and for all intents and purposes, are not to be affiliated with H&M's "new path" in any way, shape or form. Hence the prohibition on the use of any "royal" status, tiles and styles. A very clean break was made.

Harry and Meghan now will be responsible for their own endeavors, their own offices and staff, all expenditures incurred and will be as separate from the "Firm" as much as BMW and the Ford Motor Co. are. Looking at it this way, it even can be seen as definitely being competing organizations.

There are an estimated 10 million (non-governmental organizations) NGOs worldwide. Harry and Meghan's will be one of them. There is only *one* "Firm" attached to the monarchy of the UK. If it was a horse race, there's no question of which horse I'd be backing in this.

[Queen Claude]

Originally Posted by Hallo girl

You have it exactly, IMHO she totally misunderstood the concept of royal duty, it is not all glamorous premiers and state dinners.
IMHO meghan didn't intend moving on so quick but she did think she could change the way things were done to suit her ways.

There are a lot of mundane visits but to the recipients ,they are just as important as the star studded events.

The queen is still working at 93, Philip has only recently retired at 98, Charles and Camilla in their 70's . Princess Anne at 69.
Even their down time at Sandringham or Balmoral is photographed.

Basic rules of royalty, you do not outshine the star and you should not earn money on the back of the HRH title.

I think that royal duty as carried out by Anne, Andrew, Edward, the Kents and Gloucesters is the mundane stuff but I don't think Meghan had gotten to that point. I think that the bulk of Meghan's engagements, along with Harry and Kate's, seem to be either the splashy / high profile events or events associated with hand-picked causes. I don't think the mundane stuff is their current reality, but I wonder if she (and Harry) looked into the future and anticipated that eventually a good chunk of their work would be the mundane stuff.

I think what was untenable about the current environment, in addition to the hostilities with the media, was the behind the scenes friction between the Sussexes and courtiers and/or family members.

I respectfully disagree with the last sentence and suspect that is a big sticking point. I am willing to bet that there are royals who've been making their own money and don't drop their HRH style when they are engaging in these activities. It's not been an issue because there is little interest in those royals and their money-making pursuits, and when there is, the story usually goes away after a few days.

[Elenath]

On the relationship between William and Harry, and I'm not sure if this makes sense, if William has always felt responsible for Harry (and I do get that feeling), it must be hard for him not to act on this. For Harry it must have been great when they were teens, but when you are an adult it can, and probably will, cause friction. Combined with the Family business (because that's what the Firm is) it's bound to cause trouble. There are currently 3 major people who have quite a lot to say within the Firm and not all of them will want the same thing. And while it will be easier to accept decisions you don't agree with from your gran and your father, it's a lot harder to accept from your brother.

Perhaps a little distance will clear the air for everyone involved. Family business is not for everyone.

[suztav]

Originally Posted by Denville

He'd be much better to just say he was moving on to a new life, and hoped to go on with Sentabelet and other charities from his old life.. and make no allusion to the drama.

Exactly! I couldn't help but think that his speech was written by Meghan who wants this story line to have a life. I'm very very disappointed in both Harry and Meghan.

I've said this before and I'll say it again … this isn't going to end well.

[evolvingdoors]

Originally Posted by akina21

I think they married too fast , they barely knew each other in a day to day setting . They had a long distance relationship and one result of such a relationship is that people are often on their best behaviour when they are together to make those days count . Maybe an approach like in Denmark would have worked . Have Meghan move to the UK and live there for a while , with Harry or without him , just to get a feel for the place beyond being a tourist .




I see that a direct result of the Diana's boys narrative . After Diana's death the press attached them to each other and treated them like they were the same and equal to each other . And I believe, with the Queen getting older and everybody now being in smooth transition mode , it hit Harry like a brick , that he's not really equal and that he isn't even the "spare" anymore ,

That’s exactly what a few of us said right before the engagement was announced (in fact I was still very adamant after it was announced) and we were essentially been told we were wrong in our worries and that everything would be okay. In fact some of the members commenting in this very thread (many who are now mad at the couple behavior- rightfully so) were the ones in full support of these two going full steam ahead.

[Alison H]

I do think they rushed into it, but they wanted to start a family, Meghan was already in her late 30s, and it’s not always easy. In the end, they were very lucky and were able to conceive Archie very soon after the wedding, but they weren’t to know that that was going to happen. It seems likely that Guillaume and Stephanie of Luxembourg were trying for years, and I would think that Albert and Charlene of Monaco probably were too. Sophie and Edward have pretty much said that they struggled to start a family, and Sophie had the ectopic pregnancy. Zara miscarried twice. If they’d met 5 years earlier, they probably wouldn’t have been in such a rush, but I do understand them not wanting to wait. It was much more sensible for Kate and William to wait a while, live together first, let Kate get settled in, but Kate was only 19 when she and William first got together.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Osipi

Not only be free of obligations and restrictions but to also "forge a new path" in their own way and as relatively newcomers to working full time for a very old institution, they hit the proverbial brick wall. They didn't really like their office and staff set up in BP and under the Queen's supervision and wanted a "branch" office in N. America somewhere. They wanted to forgo the 5% from the Sovereign Grant (the Queen's supervision included in that package) and be "financially independent". Set themselves up as chief CEOs of their own "business" yet still "work" for the "Firm". In a way, it all could be seen as working for a corporation but yet setting themselves up on the side in competition. No employer would ever allow that. Most employers do not like moonlighting either. You work for them or you don't. No middle road.

The situation ended up with Harry and Meghan free to go and do as they wish, where they wish and good luck to them. They are also prohibited from any kind of hint or association that could be misleading and insinuate that they have the blessing of the "Firm" they're leaving. The "Firm" and the royal family that goes with it is the sole property of monarchy of the UK and for all intents and purposes, are not to be affiliated with H&M's "new path" in any way, shape or form. Hence the prohibition on the use of any "royal" status, tiles and styles. A very clean break was made.

Harry and Meghan now will be responsible for their own endeavors, their own offices and staff, all expenditures incurred and will be as separate from the "Firm" as much as BMW and the Ford Motor Co. are. Looking at it this way, it even can be seen as definitely being competing organizations.

There are an estimated 10 million (non-governmental organizations) NGOs worldwide. Harry and Meghan's will be one of them. There is only *one* "Firm" attached to the monarchy of the UK. If it was a horse race, there's no question of which horse I'd be backing in this.

They wanted it all, but they learned they can not have it all...the Monarchy wins again, lol... You’re either all in or all out....the Royal life is a full time commitment, not something you do on the side as a leisure time activity. It’s a lot of hard work, and it requires sacrifices - painful sacrifices. Harry wasn’t ever going to be King, so honestly, I think he had it as good as it could get - he’d work full-time, but still have quality family life. William is the one with the heavy burden of responsibility, but for now he hasn’t had to sacrifice family time thanks to his grandmother’s longevity. Neither she nor Charles were that fortunate.

Yep, the Queen and Charles - because he was definitely involved in this - left no doubt that Harry and Meghan would have to forge their new life separate and apart from the BRF. They wanted freedom, and now they have it - and with freedom comes responsibility. They’ve got Charles’ funding to back them for now, but it won’t always be that way.