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

[Pranter]

Deleted


LaRae

[CrownPrincessJava]

Very interesting that the Funding page on sussexroyal.com is now blank. It's not returning a 404 (page not found), which I find more interesting...

I wonder if they're about to announce initiatives or projects?

[ACO]

Originally Posted by _Heather_

Another point that keeps sticking out for me...all of this surely must cause a lot of people, myself included, to put a bit more stock in all those rumblings about Meghan ruthlessly cutting off those she deems no longer useful to her. Yes, her family is horrid and clearly unstable but in most cases, where there's smoke there's fire and goodness knows there's been lots of smoke around her for a long time. I have to say that even though I've long seen and commented on the warning signs, this has all driven home very clearly the point that there might just be something to all those stories.

And finally, their de facto mouthpiece has been quoted in People magazine talking about all of this and their reasons and if their settlement has not yet been finalized I don't believe he's done them any favors. He states in no uncertain terms that they're prepared for it all to be taken away and they're even accepting of the fact that they no longer have the right to represent the BRF.
https://people.com/royals/meghan-mar...riend-its-sad/

As for "cutting people off" well some of the closest people in her life have been by her side for close to two decades. She considers them her family. Not the crazy ones who people want to claim because they happen to share blood. Even before Meghan knew Harry she called herself an only child and said her "besties" were her sisters. Even during this break they were by their side.

I don't claim she doesn't cut people out or has qualms of doing it but she has many long term relationships to challenge that.

[Pranter]

Originally Posted by CrownPrincessJava

Very interesting that the Funding page on sussexroyal.com is now blank. It's not returning a 404 (page not found), which I find more interesting...

I wonder if they're about to announce initiatives or projects?

It's working for me.



LaRae

[_Heather_]

Speaking of Harry's engagement next week...I really have to wonder if that will actually happen. This has all blown up so spectacularly that it really seems like it might not even be fair to the organization because so much attention will be on Harry and the drama rather than on the actual organization that should be benefitting from their association with him. I really can't say that I would be even a teeny tiny bit surprised to hear over the next couple of days that he's backed out or that another member of the RF will be handling that engagement.

[soapstar]

While Harry has been open about his past mental health issues, we have no idea what he is currently going through. So let's not start speculating on his current mental state. Comments about that and about the future of the Sussex marriage, have been deleted.

[CrownPrincessJava]

Originally Posted by Pranter

It's working for me.



LaRae

Hmmmm...I'm viewing it from my samsung galaxy tab, using Chrome. Perhaps I need an upgraded Galaxy tab?

[Erin9]

Originally Posted by _Heather_

Speaking of Harry's engagement next week...I really have to wonder if that will actually happen. This has all blown up so spectacularly that it really seems like it might not even be fair to the organization because so much attention will be on Harry and the drama rather than on the actual organization that should be benefitting from their association with him. I really can't say that I would be even a teeny tiny bit surprised to hear over the next couple of days that he's backed out or that another member of the RF will be handling that engagement.

I wondered that myself. It may well depend if they have a plan by then.

Well the RF are rapidly running low on alternatives. That’s 3 senior royals unexpectedly out in about a month. Assuming they get to be part time, that goes from 3 to maybe the equivalent of 1. While I think it’s clear the RF knew the Sussex’s wishes, by most, if not all, accounts not long enough to even begin to really process it all.

The timing was terrible, though Andrew’s problems are what they are. Still I’m sure everyone is thrilled to be jumping from one public mess to another. And hours before Catherine’s birthday. Goodness.

[Madame Verseau]

Harry's a grown man. He made his decisions right or wrong and he'll have to live with them. This narrative that he is led astray by the American jezebel is nonsense. Perhaps Harry chose his wife and son over his royal family because he found that some may not have been as supportive as wanted or needed. The Markles? Please. Bitter relatives with credibility issues. That bunch is belly aching because if Meghan and Harry are out as royals (as it stands no) there goes the gravy train for them.

[Pranter]

Originally Posted by CrownPrincessJava

Hmmmm...I'm viewing it from my samsung galaxy tab, using Chrome. Perhaps I need an upgraded Galaxy tab?

Try I Phone!! I'm on my desktop (Apple) using Chrome ...just now checked again and refreshed the page...it's working!


LaRae

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

I do think that Charles intended on keeping his siblings and sons as working royals but not cousins - hence no working roles for the York princesses but he wasn't going to throw away his siblings and then Andrew happened.

Now Harry has something to consider. If the second son of the current monarch can be thrown out so can the second son of the next monarch - 'better to get out now while I can still do something with my life rather than wait to be thrown out'.

I am also sure that Meghan was pushing things from very early as she seemed to want to be a celebrity and not a royal and no one was able to make her understand the difference. I think she found things like curtseying to her grandmother-in-law something culturally foreign and having to always be aware of where she actually fitted in terms of protocol.

I do think the cultural clash between an American actress and a British prince was too much to cross and so Harry has had to chose - my immediate family, wife and son, over my extended family, father, brother etc. He has chosen his wife and son.

I do think though that it needs to be a full break - not half-in, half-out. No funding from the British at all, no 'royal engagements' in the CC (other than the real biggies like Trooping that even Beatrice and Eugenie and the Michael's of Kent attend). That is the level they have decided to be - the very minor royals so let them.

I agree with all of this, and I hope that the Queen and Charles insist on this.

My biggest concern is the affect on the family. The logistics will work themselves out, but I’m afraid things will never be the same for the BRF as a family...

[texankitcat]

Originally Posted by US Royal Watcher

Sometimes, when people are so unhappy and burned out, they can't face going back for any length of time. I agree that Harry and Meghan have not handled this well, but I am sympathetic to them since it is obvious that she has been very, very unhappy. Sometimes you have to put yourself first.

I think it would have far more constructive if Harry had come back alone and given the (true) explanation that Meghan is not feeling well. That would have given him time to have a heart-to-heart with his father. Once they understood how serious it was, I'm sure the family would have helped Harry work out a more graceful exit with the goal of protecting Harry and his family.

Meghan has been a Royal for what...19 months? And look where we are now because poor Meghan is “unhappy”. Hogwash.

[evolvingdoors]

Originally Posted by Pranter

A friend in the U.K. said they were watching the evening news and one of their reporters was outside BP and stated that the Sussexes were informed several weeks ago they would not be part of the slimmed down monarchy.

So if that is true, this announcement yesterday seems to be an extension of that news.


LARae

I’m gonna bet every single property I own and every dime I have, that if true this was not the original plan for the couple.

The fact Meghan was originally added to the foundation, the big wedding, the house, the patronage’s and president/vp positions given speak to that.

My guess is, if this is true due to Meghan not being able to wait to launch her silly brand and commercialize and profit off her title, then **** started hitting the fan with these two, so the family had to make a decision. And Harry with Meghan is too much of a wild card. If things were different, if it was just Harry, or Harry and a spouse who cared about duty and not money and fame, this decision, again if true, would not have happened.

[suztav]

I know that we shouldn’t speculate, but could Meghan be suffering from post-Partnum depression and is just unable to cope?

Once again.... just asking not opining on the topic.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by _Heather_

Another point that keeps sticking out for me...all of this surely must cause a lot of people, myself included, to put a bit more stock in all those rumblings about Meghan ruthlessly cutting off those she deems no longer useful to her. Yes, her family is horrid and clearly unstable but in most cases, where there's smoke there's fire and goodness knows there's been lots of smoke around her for a long time. I have to say that even though I've long seen and commented on the warning signs, this has all driven home very clearly the point that there might just be something to all those stories.

And finally, their de facto mouthpiece has been quoted in People magazine talking about all of this and their reasons and if their settlement has not yet been finalized I don't believe he's done them any favors. He states in no uncertain terms that they're prepared for it all to be taken away and they're even accepting of the fact that they no longer have the right to represent the BRF.
https://people.com/royals/meghan-mar...riend-its-sad/

I rolled my eyes at the notion that Harry and Meghan believe they age being driven out....honestly, they sound kind of paranoid to me, and if not paranoid, then extremely self-centered. Everything has to be about them. No one is driving these tow out except themselves; they are the ones choosing to separate themselves from Harry’s family.

[ACO]

I also agree it will likely be a complete break and I think they fully expect that outcome. I also suspect due to that we will rarely, if at all, see them at events like Trooping. Once there is a break they really have no reason to be involved.

I don't think it was a coincidence Meghan and Harry made a note to visit the Hubb ladies and Meghan was seen visiting her patronages. I think deep down they knew.

[CrownPrincessJava]

Originally Posted by Pranter

Try I Phone!! I'm on my desktop (Apple) using Chrome ...just now checked again and refreshed the page...it's working!


LaRae

yep - it's my Galaxy Tab! I'm on my HP desktop computer (which I recently bought and upgraded to 32gb!) and I can see the page. Me thinks it's time for an upgrade of my Samsung Galaxy Tab that I've had for three years

I was kind of hoping that they were going to release more information about projects and initiatives. I may be also jumping the gun a bit.....

[camelot23ca]

I’m not defending Meghan but one thing that is unfair to her is the tired “evil, manipulative wife pulling her naive, easily led husband into her wicked scheme story. It’s dispiriting to see how quick people are to put the blame on the wife.

To be clear - I think Meghan’s behaviour surrounding this announcement has been deplorable and, unless it turns out she is suffering from serious mental health issues, I have no pity for her. She rushed into marriage with a man who came with unique responsibilities and once she figured out she wasn’t going to ever have enough power in the BRF to make the changes she thought it needed, she checked out.

BUT it’s not Meghan who was born into the royal family. That’s Harry. When a man cheats on his wife he is the one breaking vows, not the other woman. In the same way, Harry is the one turning his back on his unique heritage and needlessly causing his family pain.

And let’s get real: a woman cannot lead a man anywhere he really doesn’t want to go.. I think Harry knew very well he was marrying a woman who would likely not fit in easily with British Royal life and I think a part of him may have seen her as a potential escape route.

[_Heather_]

Originally Posted by ACO

I also agree it will likely be a complete break and I think they fully expect that outcome. I also suspect due to that we will rarely, if at all, see them at events like Trooping. Once there is a break they really have no reason to be involved.

I don't think it was a coincidence Meghan and Harry made a note to visit the Hubb ladies and Meghan was seen visiting her patronages. I think deep down they knew.

I would agree with that. I really think we're looking at a complete and total break and I think that if they didn't already know that, it's probably sinking in now. The two biggest questions right now, for me at least, are whether or not they will get to keep any funding at all from the Duchy or whether they'll be expected to survive on their own not inconsiderable resources and whether or not they'll retain their HRHs and titles. I realize that the titles are much harder to do away with than the styles but frankly, I don't think it's at all out of the realm of possibility that their titles will be stripped even though it's a much bigger process. There will not be support in Parliament for allowing them to hang onto the Sussex title with the common knowledge that they want to use it for commercial purposes.

If I'm being honest I have to admit that once that complete break has taken place I very much doubt we'll ever see them again at Trooping or Sandringham for Christmas or anything else that amounts to a family event. I think they've really done a lot of damage not only professionally but personally and it's going to be hard to come back from that and that's if they even deem it important to try to maintain or repair those relationships which I have my doubts about. Maybe one day, quite some time down the line, we'll see Harry, and hopefully Archie, at family events here and there but I suspect Meghan has completely washed her hands of the UK with no intention of returning for any reason.

[hel]

Originally Posted by Tarlita

So allow me to speculate and say that if Canada's parliament agree, then Perhaps Prince Harry could take the roll of Governor General. Which is the Queens representative. It would be a good fit for them.

No thank you. We have had Canadian GGs since 1952 at this point; for the last 20 years, we've developed a tradition of appointing highly accomplished people.

I don't think we're really looking to replace a scientist and former astronaut only two years into her term with a man whose main selling point at this juncture is that he and the UK would both rather like to be rid of the other.

Besides, Harry is unlikely to want the role. It is not glamorous, nor is it monetizable, and it is no more amenable to "having a voice" than being a member of the BRF is. Additionally, there's no real tradition of a role for the GG's spouse other than showing up occasionally accompanying their spouse.