I've finally been able to chew through the final excerpts and summaries in this thread. It's time to wrap up.
And the conclusion I've reached is bad.
The book is bad. It's badly written, it's badly put together and it completely miss it's intention, which is to to explain things from H&M's perspective and vindicate them as well as justifying their actions. In fact IMO it's done more harm than the other books about H&M put together - and they were critical!
Had a professional PR company commissioned the authors they would have thrown out the manuscript and probably hired new authors.
What is even worse is that M&H comes out even more ruffled in their feathers than they already were.
My opinion of H&M, in particular Harry, has dropped. He has disappointed me and Meghan has failed to impress me.
I have played the Devil's Advocate (It's fun, I can only recommend it) but even the best defense I could think off, would have been shredded to pieces with ease. It was tenuous. The whole book is tenuous - basically because H&M IMO has a very bad case.
There is no question in my mind that H&M were more than indirectly involved in this book, there are simply too many intimate details that could only originate from H&M themselves. So either H&M talked to the authors or friends of H&M told the authors what they themselves had heard from H&M.
It has sadly confirmed my suspicion that H&M live in a bubble, have a distorted view of themselves, their roles and their importance. It is also my distinct impression that they are now only surrounded by people who confirm what H&M say and that H&M no longer listens to anyone but themselves - if they have ever listened to anyone but themselves.
There is no one left to tell them that: if you publish this, you will be crucified!
This book, combined with other books and the multitude of articles about them paints a picture of a very selfish couple, who cannot cope with criticism, who will not accept counter-arguments and who when met with opposition react with anger - and by fleeing. Like a child who threatens to run away.
Harry comes across as a person with serious issues, who really needs counseling, because he is going down on a road to self-destruction. Even the marriage to a woman he adores can't change that. That would be statistically improbable.
I don't know whether the marriage with Meghan reinforced these traits in Harry's personality or whether they have been dormant and are surfacing now for whatever reason.
It is simply not rational behavior to completely ditch those people who have meant most to you, your entire life and who have been looking out for you. Something is seriously wrong.
Nor is it rational behavior to try and reform an institution he has been born in to and which he knows intimately and how it works, in such a drastic and uncompromising manner. Rome wasn't build in one day and the BRF cannot be reformed in one day either, there are simply too many considerations to take into account even if H&M somehow managed to persuade the rest of the BRF. Especially not something that seems to be building not on a vision, but a mirage of a vision somewhere out there in the horizon. - They didn't even seem to have a concrete plan, no blueprint for implementing the plan, no considerations for the consequences and even worse no considerations for the BRF members. - It was handled in the most self-centered way imaginable IMO.
H&M constant feud with the press is interesting. What were they thinking? Of course Meghan would get a grilling. The British press is notorious for that (and IMO very unreasonable as well, not only towards Meghan) but don't fight a war you cannot win. The BRF has learned that the hard way, but H&M went to war regardless. It is at best ill-advised. At worst it shows a lack of sound and cool judgement.
This book also made it clear to me, that H&M through the authors, has little to no regards or sense for the feelings of those near and dear to them, in particular friends and BRF members. If you have a row with a royal family member, why, oh why, oh why talk about it in public? They won't fight back - in public. They can't. Where is the wish to reconciliation? There is no such wish, there is only a self-centered wish to explain and vindicate themselves. Obviously without realizing that it comes out as petty and mean.
As for staff-discontent. Like I said before, if there are problems with employees it's typically down to bad management.
Now for Meghan. I have been very hesitant about voicing what has been in the back of my mind for a long time now. I didn't feel I could relate to her in the same way as Harry, who is a royal and a man and I wanted to give her the benefit of doubt. I may still be wrong, I hope so.
I have the impression that she is an opportunist. She married Harry but entered the BRF as an opportunist. What's in it for her?
And she has left as an opportunist. Who benefits the most from leaving the BRF, Meghan or Harry?
Who would have benefited the most had H&M's vision of working parallel to the BRF been allowed to take place? Harry? Meghan? The BRF?
Why did she not study her future role? She knew she would become one of the most exposed women in the world! Anyone I can think of would be terrified and would want to study that new role as much as possible in order to do as good a job as possible. To think that you can just walk into a new role, a royal role, in a foreign country, in a foreign culture, with minimum preparation is optimistic beyond reason.
Meghan was not sixteen and naive when she married Harry, she was a mature woman.
This whole book is crammed with examples of a distorted (self)-image of Meghan.
Those around her being in awe of her perfection. - Good grief!
Impressing Harry by being able to pee in a forest. - Big deal.
Some row about jewellery I never really understood. - There are women who would kill to be married wearing the jewellery Meghan had at her disposal!
Something about feeling let down by her sister-in-law who went shopping almost the same place where Meghan was going. - Well, find another day to go shopping together!
All small things that only matters in a self-centered world. Why allowing such petty things to be mentioned in a book you obviously had a part in being written?!? That would never have happen if Meghan was media-savvy, so she isn't. And Harry is no better.
So in short: This book is a train-wreck written about a couple on a runaway train heading for a very flimsy bridge over a canyon that even Vil E. Coyote wouldn't go near.
But this book, piled on top of other and critical books, as well as the many articles, indicates to me that, this time, the papers and even the tabloids may very likely have gotten it right.
I hope H&M, despite the odds being against them, will find happiness. - I just don't think so to be honest.
And with that, I see no further reason to post in this tread.
and then again? 
