The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Transition & Future

[Missjersey]

Originally Posted by Denville

Its a bit difficuclt for the RF to do that though. They don't want him to "starve" by their standards and if he was kept short of money he and Meg might go in for more crassly commercial activiites.

True Denville...but when a man starts on his own, he usually has to downsize. He has enough money to buy a nice home and provide for his family. Dip into your bank account. Surely he doesn’t expect the same luxuries his father has, oh wait, me thinks he does. In my eyes he had yet to learn self respect.

[American Observer7]

I have scanned over the recent posts here and I have got to say. I see why Harry has taken this action and has left the family and the UK. Harry and Meghan have left the UK and will make their own money and pay rent when they're in the UK and they have paid back the money for their home remodel in Windsor and many still complain and are not satisfied.

This is unbelievable! Leave them alone.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Osipi

Reminds me of the quote by Mark Twain that goes "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."

How sons view their father (or grandmother) perhaps isn't really realized until after they've grown up and left the nest into the world. Harry is just starting to do that now and those of us who have already stepped out of the nest and made our own way in life already realize this. Harry is just starting to forge a life ahead outside of the gilded cage he's been in for 35 years.

I love that quote, lol - it’s the truth!

I think you’re right. I think that often it’s only after children have grown and experienced what their parents went through that they truly understand them. Harry being indulged as a boy might be coming home to roost now as he just can’t get whatever he wants. He sees his brother getting his own “court”, but of course that’s due to his being a future King. For all that Harry reportedly has been glad he’s never been in William’s position, it sometimes seems as if he’s had a hard time dealing with being second, even if he’s never been second in terms of how much he’s loved

[Missjersey]

Originally Posted by American Observer7

I have scanned over the recent posts here and I have got to say. I see why Harry has taken this action and has left the family and the UK. Harry and Meghan have left the UK and will make their own money and pay rent when they're in the UK and they have paid back the money for their home remodel in Windsor and many still complain and are not satisfied.

This is unbelievable! Leave them alone.

To each their own. I respect everyone on here with all our differing opinions.

But I will say, one doesn’t usually bite the hand that feeds them.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by American Observer7

I have scanned over the recent posts here and I have got to say. I see why Harry has taken this action and has left the family and the UK. Harry and Meghan have left the UK and will make their own money and pay rent when they're in the UK and they have paid back the money for their home remodel in Windsor and many still complain and are not satisfied.

This is unbelievable! Leave them alone.

They are bringing the negativity on themselves by their own words— the current statement on their website, the original statement that blew all this up and the documentary interview. It all reflects badly—on them.

[wyevale]

Leave them alone.

The day they forswear use of their Titles, [or are deprived of them], is the day they will 'be left alone'..

[Zonk]

Please note that all posts speculating Harry's paternity have been deleted.

[Missjersey]

Originally Posted by Betsypaige

I love that quote, lol - it’s the truth!

I think you’re right. I think that often it’s only after children have grown and experienced what their parents went through that they truly understand them. Harry being indulged as a boy might be coming home to roost now as he just can’t get whatever he wants. He sees his brother getting his own “court”, but of course that’s due to his being a future King. For all that Harry reportedly has been glad he’s never been in William’s position, it sometimes seems as if he’s had a hard time dealing with being second, even if he’s never been second in terms of how much he’s loved

Maybe a little off topic but your post reminded me of something Harry said a time ago...no one wants to be king or queen. I found that odd back then— wondering to this day, what did that statement accomplish...

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by American Observer7

Harry and Meghan have left the UK and will make their own money and pay rent when they're in the UK and they have paid back the money for their home remodel in Windsor [...]

It appears that not all the decisions announced by Buckingham Palace in January were final; several have been rowed back.

Buckingham Palace gave out in January that:
a. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were to pay a commercial rate of rent for their residence in the United Kingdom and had "shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grand expenditure" used in its refurbishment.
b. The Duke of Sussex was to step back from his official military appointments.
c. The couple, while remaining HRH, were to be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex from spring 2020.

These decisions were subsequently changed:
a. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to pay a peppercorn (token) rent, not a commercial rate, for their UK residence, and there is no reference to repaying the expenditure for refurbishment in the "Spring 2020 Transition" announcement.
b. The Duke of Sussex is to retain his official military appointments.
c. The couple are to formally remain known as HRH.

[HereditaryPrincess]

Many people nowadays see any news they see on social media - particularly Twitter I've noticed - as fact and don't bother to check it for accuracy or lack of. I think this is one of the reasons why tabloids have remained widely read. People tend to just want the juicy gossip rather than the truth.

[Moonmaiden23]

I agree that it's unfair to rely on tabloids to form the basis of ones' opinion on anything..including the Sussexes.

But what happens when the couples' own words and actions reinforces what has been reported in the tabloids?.

[HereditaryPrincess]

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

I agree that it's unfair to use tabloids to form the basis of ones' opinion on anything..including the Sussexes.

But what happens when the couples' own words and actions reinforces what has been reported in the tabloids?.

I guess it depends on how you read things. What one person sees might not be how another would interpret it unless the words/actions were pretty much made clear for every mindset. It's a hard situation.

[Osipi]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

It appears that not all the decisions announced by Buckingham Palace in January were final; several have been rowed back.

Buckingham Palace gave out in January that:
a. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were to pay a commercial rate of rent for their residence in the United Kingdom and had "shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grand expenditure" used in its refurbishment.
b. The Duke of Sussex was to step back from his official military appointments.
c. The couple, while remaining HRH, were to be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex from spring 2020.

These decisions were subsequently changed:
a. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to pay a peppercorn (token) rent, not a commercial rate, for their UK residence, and there is no reference to repaying the expenditure for refurbishment in the "Spring 2020 Transition" announcement.
b. The Duke of Sussex is to retain his official military appointments.
c. The couple are to formally remain known as HRH.

Perhaps these concessions and changes to the original statement made by Buckingham Palace is how the 12 month review came into being? Perhaps by acquiescing and compromising on these issues for the period under review is to see just how Harry and Meghan's future vision for their "entity" and how their lives are conducted within this time period is to discern if its shown that even though they are "private" and "on their own" that it fits into the mold of how members of the British Royal Family conduct and present themselves?

Are they upholding the values as stated in the Queen's own statement of "With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty."?

To be absolutely honest here, I think that the statement made yesterday kind of blows it all out of the water. HM, The Queen, who is the epitome of grace and dignity, probably wishes now that the 12 month under review stipulation was never put into effect and concessions never made. Who knows? She may, after consideration of the words spoken recently, rescind it all and even tell them not to bother returning to the UK. But then again, The Queen isn't snarky like that and will keep her thoughts private and out of the public domain.

Sometimes if you give someone enough rope, they'll eventually hang themselves with it. Now to watch and see how March goes. That will be quite telling, I think.

[Pranter]

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

I agree that it's unfair to use tabloids to form the basis of ones' opinion on anything..including the Sussexes.

But what happens when the couples' own words and actions reinforces what has been reported in the tabloids?.

Sometimes it matches and sometimes it doesn't. Depends on the slant that was published. Headlines like the Queen has BANNED The Sussexes from X etc...when we all (should) know that is not what happened etc.


LaRae

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Missjersey

True Denville...but when a man starts on his own, he usually has to downsize. He has enough money to buy a nice home and provide for his family. Dip into your bank account. Surely he doesn’t expect the same luxuries his father has, oh wait, me thinks he does. In my eyes he had yet to learn self respect.

do you really think that Harry is going to buy a a house that isn't super duper? and that he's goig to live on the interest of his 30M until he starts to make money? I think he's going to expect the money from Charles... and

[MissPeach77]

I have a question. Prince Harry and Meghan asked to not be senior members of the royal family and want to live a more private life. So since this happened it has become an uproar, they aren't allowed to use their royal titles, etc., but my question is you have royals like Princess Anne and Prince Edward who aren't really in the limelight. Prince Edward even owns a company that produces documentaries and other shows. Why is he allowed to live a private life and have a real job without being stripped of everything, but when Harry does the same he is ostracized for it? Anne's kids don't even have titles because she wanted them to have a normal life, but her kids are still accepted as part of the family without any controversy. It's not like Harry walked in and said I am disowning this family from my life and you will never see me again. He just wanted to step back from having to appear at things like cutting ribbons and breaking champagne bottles on new boats. I just don't get the double standard.

[TLLK]

Miss Peach- The Earl and Countess of Wessex are full time royals and have been since 2002. In the aftermath of Sophie's "Fake Sheikh" interview, they dropped their plans to combine careers with part time royal duties and became full time royals. Also Prince Edward's Ardent Productions Co. was liquidated in 2009 and later dissolved in 2011.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...dissolved.html

A line was drawn under Prince Edward's embarrassing involvment in the firm with an announcement published in the London Gazette last month.

Records at Companies House showed its final assets were worth precisely zero, the Daily Mail reported.

Ardent was liquidated in 2009 when it was left with assets of just £40.27. Investors who pumped £2.2 million into the company have been left with nothing.

When he launched the venture in 1993, the Earl boasted that Ardent would become one of the country's leading production firms.

He was accused of abusing his position by making a string of programmes about the Royal Family, including a documentary about the restoration of Windsor Castle and a history of his great uncle, Edward VIII, called Edward on Edward.

IMHO it is in part due to what occurred with the Wessexes that HM QEII, the PoW and the Duke of Cambridge had serious concerns about the Sussexes' original plan that was announced in January to live outside the UK, seek financial independence and be official representatives for the monarchy and the British government.

I believe that much of the uproar is due to the manner in which the Sussexes made their January announcement about their plans without final approval/agreement with the Queen and PoW, and the governments of the UK and Canada.

[MissPeach77]

Originally Posted by TLLK

Miss Peach- The Earl and Countess of Wessex are full time royals and have been since 2002. In the aftermath of Sophie's "Fake Sheikh" interview, they dropped their plans to combine careers with part time royal duties and became full time royals. Also Prince Edward's Ardent Productions Co. was liquidated in 2009 and later dissolved in 2011.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...dissolved.html



IMHO it is in part due to what occurred with the Wessexes that HM QEII, the PoW and the Duke of Cambridge had serious concerns about the Sussexes' original plan that was announced in January to live outside the UK, seek financial independence and be official representatives for the monarchy and the British government.

I believe that much of the uproar is due to the manner in which the Sussexes made their January announcement about their plans without final approval/agreement with the Queen and PoW, and the governments of the UK and Canada.

Thanks for the explanation. I guess from an outsider's perspective even if Prince Edward is a senior member of the royal family, you don't really see him all that much. You see Charles, and even the disgraced Andrew, and their families all the time, but if Edward or his kids passed me on the street I would have no idea who they were (especially his kids). He seems to live a much more private life then others in the family. While I don't agree with how Harry and Meghan announced their plans, I really don't see what the big deal is in the grand scheme of things. He isn't next in line for the throne, he is abdicating like QE's uncle did, he just wants a normal life. I don't see the harm in that. He lost his mother to publicity and I think it is fair for any parents to want to protect their children from the royal lifestyle after what he went through.

[Alisa]

Harry & Meghan are right that it is true that there are titles members of the royal family that are/were allowed to work independently and still retain use of "HRH".

To date the most high profile are Beatrice and Eugenie. Like Harry, they are both grandchildren of the sovereign and have the style of "HRH".
I suspect the issue was that Harry & Meghan weren't stepping back to work for a single company or organization but were stepping back to really put themselves out there and commercialize themselves. Hence they were treated differently.

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by MissPeach77

Thanks for the explanation. I guess from an outsider's perspective even if Prince Edward is a senior member of the royal family, you don't really see him all that much. You see Charles, and even the disgraced Andrew, and their families all the time, but if Edward or his kids passed me on the street I would have no idea who they were (especially his kids). He seems to live a much more private life then others in the family. While I don't agree with how Harry and Meghan announced their plans, I really don't see what the big deal is in the grand scheme of things. He isn't next in line for the throne, he is abdicating like QE's uncle did, he just wants a normal life. I don't see the harm in that. He lost his mother to publicity and I think it is fair for any parents to want to protect their children from the royal lifestyle after what he went through.

You're welcome MissPeach. Yes the Wessexes don't receive much coverage for their royal duties, however like QEII's other children he typically tallies hundreds of engagements each year.



As for the Sussexes, I believe that like myself there are those who are sympathetic to the couple's reasons to why they wanted to step back from senior royal duties. However I am not impressed by the manner in which they have handled things so far.