Ingrid Seward - Prince Philip

[Betsypaige]

However if the story from Vanity Fair is true, would it not have been better to decline the invitation all together or make it clear to his hosts that he no longer participated in shooting? Then the hosts and the other guests would not have been left waiting that morning.

Of course it would have.......It's ridiculous that he kept everyone in the dark, and then kept everyone waiting, because he couldn't be bothered to speak to them beforehand. I'm having a very hard time liking Harry even a bit....

 

[Osipi]

Of course it would have.......It's ridiculous that he kept everyone in the dark, and then kept everyone waiting, because he couldn't be bothered to speak to them beforehand. I'm having a very hard time liking Harry even a bit....

A perfect and acceptable solution to this problem was overlooked. The shooting party had been arranged, set up and ready to go. Harry, with his own good reasons, could be justified in deciding not to shoot that day but what prevented him from going along on the shoot with his friends and enjoying the day? Even if he didn't shoot a gun himself?

Many people go out drinking with their friends and abstain from alcohol for various reasons. It was the skipping out on the outing itself at the last minute that was rude. Deciding he'll no longer shoot (for whatever reason) was a personal choice.

 

[Curryong]

That is if this story is even true in the first place. The Press have been cherry picking these excerpts from Ingrid Seward's book featuring Harry and Meghan because they are desperate for Clickbait. And Ms Seward, who has criticised Meghan many times in the DM knows that writing negatively about either of the Sussexes might help the sales of her books.

Prince Philip has had an extremely long and quite interesting life. It's remarkable that most of what has been featured in the tabloid media about it is concentrated in the last two of 99 years of this man's existence. But that's life I guess. Gotta sell those books, keep those the clicks going.

 

[Betsypaige]

A perfect and acceptable solution to this problem was overlooked. The shooting party had been arranged, set up and ready to go. Harry, with his own good reasons, could be justified in deciding not to shoot that day but what prevented him from going along on the shoot with his friends and enjoying the day? Even if he didn't shoot a gun himself?

Many people go out drinking with their friends and abstain from alcohol for various reasons. It was the skipping out on the outing itself at the last minute that was rude. Deciding he'll no longer shoot (for whatever reason) was a personal choice.

He could have done that ...I agree that it was the skipping out - and not letting anyone know - that was rude. What I don’t understand is why Harry didn’t let anyone know that he was no longer going to hunt ...I don’t mean on that day, I mean well before then. Clearly his friends had no idea or else they wouldn’t have put this all together, which must have taken some doing.

 

[Osipi]

He could have done that ...I agree that it was the skipping out - and not letting anyone know - that was rude. What I don’t understand is why Harry didn’t let anyone know that he was no longer going to hunt ...I don’t mean on that day, I mean well before then. Clearly his friends had no idea or else they wouldn’t have put this all together, which must have taken some doing.

Perhaps it was a bone of contention that flared up in bed the night before between Harry and Meghan for all we know.

Its all water under the bridge now and who knows what parts of the story are actually true? I'm filing this in the ancient history folder as "irrelevant" to things I need to remember.

 

[Claire]

To be blunt - this book has nothing going for it. Nothing. M&H are mentioned 4 times - Phillip was certain to be well enough to walk for Harry's wedding. He came down to see Archie by request of the Queen. The incident at the hunt and finally his disappointed in Harry doing a runner. 4 mentions - which are little more then a paragraph each.
So yes - if this is the books only selling point then well you get my point on the quality of this biography.

 

[Claire]

Oddly if you look at how Phillip's relationship with his immediately family are dealt with in pages and mentions. You will be under the impression that Philip most enduring relationship is with Diana. Diana gets more pages then the Queen
The Queen is about a chapter
Charles is about a 10pg on my kindle and then sputtering's here and there. Camilla about 2 paragraphs.
Anne about 6 pg which is all of how she is just like Philip.
Andrew is a short bio of his life ending with his teen years and then in the epilogue. about the problems he is now creating the Queen. Sarah - one line. I don't remember anything about Beatrice . Brief mention of Eugenie's wedding.
Edward - 4 pages about his early life ending with Philip supporting him quitting the Marines. Sophie and Louise are mentioned in the chapter of carriage driving. (Sentence reads - it is a sport that is now continued by the Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor) James is not mentioned at all
William and Kate get at least 9 pages about how wonderful they are and how they are the future of the monarchy.

 

[Betsypaige]

Oddly if you look at how Phillip's relationship with his immediately family are dealt with in pages and mentions. You will be under the impression that Philip most enduring relationship is with Diana. Diana gets more pages then the Queen
The Queen is about a chapter
Charles is about a 10pg on my kindle and then sputtering's here and there. Camilla about 2 paragraphs.
Anne about 6 pg which is all of how she is just like Philip.
Andrew is a short bio of his life ending with his teen years and then in the epilogue. about the problems he is now creating the Queen. Sarah - one line. I don't remember anything about Beatrice . Brief mention of Eugenie's wedding.
Edward - 4 pages about his early life ending with Philip supporting him quitting the Marines. Sophie and Louise are mentioned in the chapter of carriage driving. (Sentence reads - it is a sport that is now continued by the Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor) James is not mentioned at all
William and Kate get at least 9 pages about how wonderful they are and how they are the future of the monarchy.

That is odd, especially about Charles since he is the heir and the child Philip has the most fraught relationship with. Did Seward indicate at all what their relationship is like now?

To be fair, there’s been lots of stuff written about Philip’s relationship with the Queen - assuming there’s nothing new under the sun, I can see why Seward would rather devote more time to other parts of his life that haven’t been explored fully.

 

[Winnie]

To be fair, there’s been lots of stuff written about Philip’s relationship with the Queen - assuming there’s nothing new under the sun, I can see why Seward would rather devote more time to other parts of his life that haven’t been explored fully.

I certainly agree. To just repeat items from other authors or journalists articles is just filling pages to enlarge their books. Not worth people spending money on once again. Now different true facts on prior written articles which were discovered, well worth the writing. JMO

 

[Sandy345]

Ingrid Seward did an interview with Katie Nicholl on Vanity Fair ahead of the release of Prince Philip Revealed

Why Prince Harry’s Relationship with Prince Philip Still Hasn’t Recovered: “This Has Been a Great Shock”
In her new biography Prince Philip Revealed, Ingrid Seward writes that the Queen’s husband has compared Meghan Markle to Wallis Simpson, even though he welcomed her to the family at first.
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/10/prince-harry-prince-philip-relationship

I hope this is not true. Since Mrs Simpson is nothing like Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Harry and Meghan were free to see each other, Wallis had a husband when she was seeing Edward. Also, Harry was never a King who abdicated And above all, Philip should realize that three of his children got divorced and two remarried so there is less "stigma" about divorce than there was in the thirties.

 

[Nice Nofret]

I hope this is not true. Since Mrs Simpson is nothing like Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Harry and Meghan were free to see each other, Wallis had a husband when she was seeing Edward. Also, Harry was never a King who abdicated And above all, Philip should realize that three of his children got divorced and two remarried so there is less "stigma" about divorce than there was in the thirties.

I don't see the 'Wallis Simpson' comparison so litrally, about a divorced woman, but more about a woman who gets her hubby to leave his duties and family behind.

 

[Betsypaige]

I certainly agree. To just repeat items from other authors or journalists articles is just filling pages to enlarge their books. Not worth people spending money on once again. Now different true facts on prior written articles which were discovered, well worth the writing. JMO

Exactly. It seem to me the point of this book is to inform about Philip, who has had an incredibly long and interesting life, much of which is likely unknown. That’s probably why there’s apparently not a lot about his relationships with his children...

 

[TLLK]

I don't see the 'Wallis Simpson' comparison so litrally, about a divorced woman, but more about a woman who gets her hubby to leave his duties and family behind.

I have to agree. The comparison reportedly made by Prince Phillip is that the two were Americans and divorced but that ultimately the royal chose to leave behind their role as a working member of the BRF.

 

[Betsypaige]

I have to agree. The comparison reportedly made by Prince Phillip is that the two were Americans and divorced but that ultimately the royal chose to leave behind their role as a working member of the BRF.

Exactly:

Earlier this month Ms Steward discussed Prince Philip's overwhelming sense of duty in a piece for the Mail on Sunday.

She said it 'grieves' him that many younger members of the Royal Family 'do not appear to share his values'.

'He has struggled greatly, for example, with what he sees as his grandson Harry’s dereliction of duty, giving up his homeland and everything he cared about for a life of self-centred celebrity in North America,' Ms Steward wrote.

'He has found it hard to understand exactly what it was that made his grandson’s life so unbearable. As far as Philip was concerned, Harry and Meghan had everything going for them: a beautiful home, a healthy son, and a unique opportunity to make a global impact with their charity work.

'For a man whose entire existence has been based on a dedication to doing the right thing, it appeared that his grandson had abdicated his responsibilities for the sake of his marriage to an American divorcee in much the same way as Edward VIII gave up his crown to marry Wallis Simpson in 1937.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...-Meghan-Markles-failure-support-monarchy.html

 

[AC21091968]

Ingrid Seward spoke to Fox News around five days ago about her book Prince Philip Revealed: A Man of His Century. The content of her interview were similar to those she gave to previous news publications.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainme...le-prince-harry-royal-exit-ingrid-seward-book

The Sunday Mirror has picked up the Fox News interview and decided to focus on Harry & Meghan (article published on 7th November). This is despite Claire mentioned that the book only mentioned Harry's name 4 times

Meghan Markle 'felt Brits didn't understand her' and wasn't 'a great fan of England'
Royal Biographer Ingrid Seward sees in Meghan and Harry's split from The Firm a mirror image with the famous abdication crisis of 1937, when American socialite and divorcee Wallis Simpson 'hated England'
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/meghan-markle-felt-brits-didnt-22970513

To be blunt - this book has nothing going for it. Nothing. M&H are mentioned 4 times - Phillip was certain to be well enough to walk for Harry's wedding. He came down to see Archie by request of the Queen. The incident at the hunt and finally his disappointed in Harry doing a runner. 4 mentions - which are little more then a paragraph each.
So yes - if this is the books only selling point then well you get my point on the quality of this biography.

I do think the Mirror is certainly trying to have an attention grabbing headline to continue the narrative that Harry & Meghan would not be back in the UK soon and possibly not be part of the Sunday Remembrance Service. The Sunday Times on the next day released an article that Harry was denied to lay a wreath at Cenotaph.

Prince Harry’s plea to lay Cenotaph wreath denied
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/prince-harrys-plea-to-lay-cenotaph-wreath-denied-t2wtght2m

 

[Betsypaige]

“He will always support the queen,” she said. “Harry and Meghan had their own agenda really. For Philip, he felt if that’s what they want to do, then that’s what they must do. But they will also have to face the consequences.”

And indeed, something like being denied the ability to lay a Centotaph wreath is one of the consequences of Harry choosing the life he did. He chose to live a more private life (though I think he doesn’t understand the meaning of the word) and to do so in America, which is not the UK and which has its own traditions, etc. As long as they continue to try and get away with living half and half, they are going to continue to have their hands proverbially slapped. Again, consequences...

Philip’s greatest legacy is the lessons he’s taught his sons, which were passed on to his grandsons and great-sons… He’s a sort of character who hardly exists anymore because he has this great devotion to duty. However uncomfortable it may be, he feels duty comes first. And I think people don’t have that anymore.”

Of course, Philip comes from a different generation, but he did pass that sense of duty on, and I hope he knows that he is in no way a failure because Harry repudiated this. However wacky he thought Charles was, however worried he was about his being King, I hope he’s well secure in the knowledge that his eldest has a pronounced sense of duty, as does his eldest. I hope Philip is able to enjoy these years..

 

[MaiaMia_53]

As far as I can see, the Sussexes are facing the consequences of their choices just fine, regardless of what Seward or any other book writer, or indeed any royal reporters or royal observers think, imagine and constantly criticize.

If indeed Harry’s relationship with Philip is still in poor shape, that wouldn’t surprise me. What Harry did and how he did it goes against Philip’s entire life...

I don't think royal observers get to decide how Prince Harry lives his life. As far as Harry's personal choices 'going against' his grandfather's life, it makes sense to me that Harry should be able to carve out his own independent life as a full grown man with core family unit responsibilities in the 21st-century. Harry is not a directly in line heir to the British throne. There's no necessity for Harry to relive his grandfather's life from a past century.

That’s the thing, Harry is completely thoughtless when it comes to other people - it’s all about himself, or Meghan. It’s easy to see why he’s pushed away his old friends...there’s only so much people can tolerate before they’ve had enough.

People grow, mature and move on from particular friendships, as their lives change. That's not unusual. As far as your belief that Harry is thoughtless and selfish, please note that everything Harry has done in his life and how he treats others totally debunks your viewpoints. Among many gentlemanly acts, Harry spoke up in support of both Camilla and Kate when they were objects of unfair press criticism as new members of the BRF.

There are so many instances of Harry treating people with kindness and compassion. Like any human being, he made youthful mistakes and he's not a perfect person. Meeting and falling in love with Meghan and marrying her is undoubtedly something that Harry feels grateful and blessed about. It doesn't behoove any royal reporters nor anyone in the royal firm to continue disparaging M&H for loving each other and for desiring to live an independent life with the ability to make their own decisions and their own income. Harry is currently only 6th in line to the British throne. Despite how hard he and Meghan were working on behalf of the firm, there were conflicts behind-the-scenes that could not be resolved. The continual laying the blame only on Harry and Meghan is off-base.

The more I read about Harry & Megs relationship it seems to resamble to one who one partner tries to separate the other on from all prior bonds to family and friends. That is often the start of an abusive relationship, or one where one partner tries to dominate / manipulate and be in controll of every aspect of ones partners live.

I hope it isn't that way, but by now Harry hasn't got any friends and working family relations left...

There's no indication whatsoever that M&H's relationship involves dominance and abuse. That's apparently a speculative fantasy existing in the heads of British tabloid writers, and swallowed whole by gullible readers and by people who dislike the Sussexes. By the way, Harry has plenty of friends and respected colleagues in the U.K. and around the world. I have no personal knowledge of the current state of his relations with members of the BRF, but I see no reason to believe that Harry isn't regularly in contact with many of his cousins, his father and his grandparents.

I don't see the 'Wallis Simpson' comparison so literally, about a divorced woman, but more about a woman who gets her hubby to leave his duties and family behind.

Harry made an unequivocal public statement in January informing us that he made the decision to step down from senior royal duties in order to protect his family. He said that if the public "knew what I know" maybe they would understand why the decision was necessary to protect his family. I believe Harry over Ingrid Seward and other tabloid reporters.

 

[Curryong]

If Ingrid Seward chose to write a biography of Prince Philip why has she chosen to spend the vast majority of her time when publicising this book in interviews and in print in criticising Meghan and Harry and their actions?

Seward has never been a great fan of Meghan but I would have thought that there would have been plenty of interest to write about in the 99 years of Prince Philip's existence without rehashing Megxit and what she believes about the Sussex relationship.

As far as I know this author has never met either Harry or Meghan, nor has she sat down with Prince Philip for an interview on this or any other subject. So really, what has been printed about the Sussexes and Prince Philip's reaction from her book is all speculation and her own opinion.

 

[Claire]

Hmmm - Ingrid Seward definitely had inside connections in the 1980's till the early 2010's. Most of her previous books were written with interviews that were approved by the sources. Notably the biography on the Earl of Wessex she interviewed Edward directly and had access to friends and some family. The same with the book on Royals Childhood. However something appears to have happened with her access - don't know what. But she appears no longer have that access or has it significantly less then before. Personally I just think that the royals were more open to interviews at one time - they are no longer so willing.
That been said - this book is terrible. And really all she can sell about this book is Harry and Meghan as that is the gossip wanted at the moment. She would be flogging Andrew and Epstein if that was in vogue. She needs to sell a book - and the market want to hear one song.

 

[Queen Claude]

If Ingrid Seward chose to write a biography of Prince Philip why has she chosen to spend the vast majority of her time when publicising this book in interviews and in print in criticising Meghan and Harry and their actions?

Seward has never been a great fan of Meghan but I would have thought that there would have been plenty of interest to write about in the 99 years of Prince Philip's existence without rehashing Megxit and what she believes about the Sussex relationship.

As far as I know this author has never met either Harry or Meghan, nor has she sat down with Prince Philip for an interview on this or any other subject. So really, what has been printed about the Sussexes and Prince Philip's reaction from her book is all speculation and her own opinion.

Yeah a lot of Seward's comments in her book and interviews seem to be her projecting her own thoughts onto Prince Philip versus her having well-placed sources who are giving her information, albeit second hand, about Prince Philip.

And by the way, Prince Philip was born a Prince of Greece and Denmark and was fairly high up in the line of succession for the Greek throne. Philip renounced his Greek citizenship and place in the line of succession to the Greek throne for ... love... personal happiness... [his or his uncle's] ambition? So all this talk about Prince Philip's sense of duty is related to duty to a country and throne that he is connected to through marriage and not birth.

 

[Denville]

Yeah a lot of Seward's comments in her book and interviews seem to be her projecting her own thoughts onto Prince Philip versus her having well-placed sources who are giving her information, albeit second hand, about Prince Philip.

And by the way, Prince Philip was born a Prince of Greece and Denmark and was fairly high up in the line of succession for the Greek throne. Philip renounced his Greek citizenship and place in the line of succession to the Greek throne for ... love... personal happiness... [his or his uncle's] ambition? So all this talk about Prince Philip's sense of duty is related to duty to a country and throne that he is connected to through marriage and not birth.

Philip became a British citizen because he had lived much of his life in Britian and had become part of her Navy. Teh Greek Monarchy was unstable and he was born in exile. He could harldy devote himself to the Greek monarchy and he chose then to make Britian his home and married the queen. He's been a hard working royal since his marriage and gave up his Naval career which he loved to support the queen.. It wasn't easy for him but he did it and he's gone on working till he was too old and ill to work any more...

 

[Queen Claude]

Yes I am aware of Prince Philip's background. Philip, despite spending most of his life in the UK and fighting for Britain in World War II, did not renounce his Greek titles until the run up to the announcement of his engagement to The Princess Elizabeth, heiress presumptive to the British throne. Yes the Greek monarchy was unstable but that would not have precluded him from devoting himself to the Greek monarchy or the country itself - his mother returned to Greece in the late 1930s.

I don't fault Philip at all for the choice he made, just noting the irony of people like Seward stating that "dutiful" Philip does not understand Harry's actions when Philip's duty has been to a country that he did not become a naturalized citizen of until he was an adult and the impetus to renounce his titles to his birth country was due to his impending marriage to the future monarch of the UK


ETA:

Hmmm - Ingrid Seward definitely had inside connections in the 1980's till the early 2010's. Most of her previous books were written with interviews that were approved by the sources. Notably the biography on the Earl of Wessex she interviewed Edward directly and had access to friends and some family. The same with the book on Royals Childhood. However something appears to have happened with her access - don't know what. But she appears no longer have that access or has it significantly less then before. Personally I just think that the royals were more open to interviews at one time - they are no longer so willing.
That been said - this book is terrible. And really all she can sell about this book is Harry and Meghan as that is the gossip wanted at the moment. She would be flogging Andrew and Epstein if that was in vogue. She needs to sell a book - and the market want to hear one song.

Interesting comment. As I mentioned in my previous quote, Seward's commentary does seem to be her projecting and theorizing. I also suspected that she no longer has the access that she did previously but you fleshed it out very well. I would go further and state that there are probably other royal reporters and commentators who are perceived as being in the know but may no longer be as inside the loop as they were before, and therefore their commentary may not be as credible as it once, which you also addressed.