Now that I've read nearly 4300 posts
it's time for me to add my two pennyworth.
When I first heard of this a couple of weeks ago, my first reaction was that Harry and Meghan want to have their cake and eat it too. My next reaction was, it's not so much the WHY they did it, but the problem lies in HOW. And it seems as though 95% of posters in this thread think the same.
And my other reactions (in no particular order):
What about their engagement spiel when they said, as I recall, they weren't going to read the press. Seems they've done nothing but. And only the bad press. What about all the good stuff – and there has been lots. I know this cause i only tend to read the positive articles, unless written by someone who really knows their onions re the BRF. I only go onto DM for the pictures, although I have read the odd article but NEVER the comments. And I never buy those trashy magazines at the supermarket where they always have the most unflattering pics of Camilla, Beatrice, Eugenie, always with the mention of the word 'feud', always 'officially' telling us Kate is pregnant yet again (how many babies does that make now
so it is easy to avoid the negative stuff.
I know those comments are out there, but look at the good stuff. Take a typical picture of regular people meeting the RF – look how happy they look. Look at the crowds that turned up for H&M's wedding; they were certainly happy. Happy faces always seem to surround royal turnouts. I think you'd have to out of your way to read all those negative media articles. I know it's not about me, but I certainly find sticking to Hello or Majesty keeps me happy. I don't need to see pap pictures. And if I want to read constructive criticism, i come here to this forum cause i know royalty's not always sweetness and light. And I know us forum people know what's true and correct and what's made up. Well, nearly always.
It's certainly put paid to a potential thread as to when Meghan's going to receive the Family Order. Not to mention the future wearing of serious bling!
In Canada/North America H won't have the support of his friends and family close by. Of course to be fair we could say the same of M in England.
Two years is certainly not enough time to relax into the job.
Of course 'they' say that the first two years of a relationship is a honeymoon period, where you view your partner as perfect and can do no wrong, and it's only when you settle into real life that you can see them (and love them hopefully) warts and all. I've always believed H&M rushed into the marriage, although I can see why, given her age and we certainly know H wanted children. But as many, many others have pointed out, those who lasted the distance BEFORE their engagements have lasted the distance WITHIN the RF, Sophie, Kate etc. Autumn. Jack Brooksbank, although it's quite early yet with Eugenie, but I see absolutely no problem there.
In the words of that 'other' fabulous Queen:
"I want it all, I want it all, I want it all – and I want it NOW!"
I certainly believe H&M started off their marriage really wanting to get into it all and do the right thing, the flowers on her veil testify to that. I do think they really tried and I do get they had problems. But not to stay and work it out? Not to have any staying power? Ask The Queen about staying power. Ask the Duke about loyalty.
I think H will live to regret their/his decision to step away. He's never lived in the real world – and if he has any idea that those of us who are not burdened by life in the RF don't have any problems, well he has another think coming. I mean, taking six weeks off before Christmas – that's not gonna fly in the real world. And working 40 hours a week 48 weeks a year is not always a bundle of laughs.
And this business of suing the media that seems to have started up, although to most of us 'great unwashed' having millions in the bank seems just fine and dandy, in the world of the super rich, I don't think H&M are in that league, and suing people is just going to bite into their savings mighty quickly.
H said the other day that he made the final decision; that they wanted to serve but without taking public money. Well, that's just plain silly. If they were allowed to do that, what about the rest of the RF – and before you know it, no one's getting anything to do the Royal job, and then there's just no RF at all. Money is needed. The RF deserve to get 'paid' for what they do. All the ceremonial and charity stuff they do, it doesn't come cheap to set that up. And it all does such a power of good.
I first started getting annoyed with H&M when they said that Archie would not be taking a style and would be plain Master. This is my point of view – Royalty/Monarchy, it's an artificial construct. They have no real power. They're not really needed. But, boy, do they add a bit of magic to a dull life (like mine
And of course they do a power of good. But it's up to them to keep their side of the bargain – they do the Royal engagements, show up, smile, say the right things, wear the right tiara, and we, the people, turn up to see them do it. We support them, they support us; it's teamwork. But when one of the team says he doesn't want to play the game, doesn't want to do it anymore except on their own terms, well it lets the public down.
And then that documentary. Said their pieces without even thinking, there they are in a country where an enormous amount of people find it difficult to even LIVE let alone survive, with no chance at all of ever thriving, well it was totally the wrong forum. And as for H confirming he and William were having problems, why feed the beast? If you don't want media outbursts, don't feed them. And don't let William down at the same time; I thought you were going to have his back. Keep your brotherly squabbles private. And then for Meghan to say to a group of women, 'I am here as your sister, as a woman, as a woman of colour' (or words to that effect), well, no, Meghan, you were there because you were Royal, as a member of the BRF. You and H were asked to go, it wasn't your idea. And here's another to add to an avalanche of niggles – she never seemed to understand that H was the one who should go first, she only married in to the family, he was the born Royal. Now, back here in the 'real' world, I totally would agree that women are equal to men, totally agree, but it's not how the RF works. ANd it's not that she's a woman, Tim Laurence knows how to step back too, and the DoE is of course a past master. Certainly she should have a voice, but not THE voice of the couple. JMO of course.
And as for that wish list on the SussexRoyal website... don't get me started.
Of course we shouldn't compare, but some other Royal wives whose names begin with K or S (or husbands beginning with T for that matter), have just got down, buckled up, and done all those mundane engagements without fail, and it's NEVER mundane to someone who's gone to the trouble of being there when a Royal person goes by. I myself in all my long long years (heh heh) have seen the Queen Mother, The Queen, Duke, Charles, Anne and even Diana, here in NZ. I travelled out of my way to see them, took time off work, and was so happy when I just got a glimpse. Doesn't take much to make me happy ? I wouldn't go anywhere to meet a politician or a 'celebrity'. Royalty is magic to me. I'd rather not hear about their problems – I have enough of my own. PS I'm two years older than Diana would have been and yes, it was Diana that started off my interest in royalty. And she was just so lovely at the start before it all turned to custard. But that's another thread.
All my own honest opinions above, not meant to upset anybody.
As the song goes: "It's sad, so sad, it's a sad sad situation..." and I can't see it ending well...