The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 10: August 2024 -

[victor1319]

Originally, Meghan was supposed to be Harry's partner in his philanthropíc endeavors, but, and again that is only my personal view, she is not really into that and, pragmatically, I think she and Harry came to an agreement in terms of separation of roles in the family: she is to handle the family's media/commercial business, while he will be the public face of the family's philanthropic/ public-interest projects.

There is a much simpler explanation in my mind:

They might be both not very entrepreneurial and business wise... - and Harry even less than Meghan.

I mean, c'mon, what is Meghan doing? A "hospitality show", that centers around a woman (herself), which does not even cook or perhaps can't cook... Plus some attempts to sell stuff in the age of internet commerce platforms... And Meghan can't even do shock advertisement like G. Paltrow and her "Smells like my southbound..." candle. Because Meghan is a Duchess - What means Meghan has to be solid and by that boring!

And: Is the "hospitality show" for some fans of her, which like to imagine themself as a non-cooking high society lady, which arranges flowers and decorates tables? Good luck with that! I once heard the car race series NASCAR is repeated on Sunday morning for the women to watch, while they prepare the family meal... NASCAR! All American women!

And Prince Harry? What does he know? He could fly a tv-helicopter over Los Angeles... And he might know a thing or two about booze... But celebrity drinks are somewhat old by now.

Being an entrepreneur is not easy, it is a gift. A university buddy of mine was selling beer out of the trunk of his old sedan, while we were enjoying the show. He is very rich now...

 

[SiameseLover]

He didn’t want a job with the BRF, that was the problem.

JH wanted to make multi-millions and not an allowance from the Bank-of-Dad.

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

Well yes quite. All he had to do was represent the monarch in some way. When he did carry out public duties for the crown he was fine. I mean it's not exactly taxing work & you don't have to be a genius. Just smile & show an interest. He's obviously good with people so that's an advantage.

But he couldn't be a defense attache or something. He's not qualified for that sort of role. The British one in Washington is an admiral.

If he'd not bolted there would have been lots of military related things he could have done in the UK/Commonwealth but he chose to give it up.

My understanding is that he said he didn’t enjoy that type of work - even when it looked like he did- so that was another reason he quit the Firm. Now he seems to gravitate to it again - that is really all he knows.
Believe me, the US is not enamored by royalty right now. We have a president who is calling himself a king.

 

[Hallo girl]

JH wanted to make multi-millions and not an allowance from the Bank-of-Dad.

They wanted to make millions plus Bank of Dad. Harry said it himself ,to Oprahs gasp of horror, his father cut him off financially. The payment from the Sovereign Grant was the only money they intended to go without , which was a small percentage of Harrys income.
They appeared to have thought that Dad would continue to finance them which I think he did for the first year. ( Duchy accounts reflected that a payment continued for some time) maybe that was during the year that the Late Queen had suggested as time to consider their options.

 

[muriel]

They wanted to make millions plus Bank of Dad. Harry said it himself ,to Oprahs gasp of horror, his father cut him off financially. The payment from the Sovereign Grant was the only money they intended to go without , which was a small percentage of Harrys income.
They appeared to have thought that Dad would continue to finance them which I think he did for the first year. ( Duchy accounts reflected that a payment continued for some time) maybe that was during the year that the Late Queen had suggested as time to consider their options.

That is correct. I think it was Harry's expectation that Charles would continue to fund his lifestyle forever even though Harry was no longer working for the firm.

 

[Cissan]

I join those who wish the Sussex pair well: looking at the pictures of Prince Harry with the Danish Prince Joachim and his wife Princess Marie at the Vancouver iteration of Invictus makes me feel sad for the BRF that was unable to provide a proper job for this gifted man. Prince Joachim is the Danish defence attaché at their embassy in Washington DC.

That was one of the passages in Spare that was hardest for me to understand. He said that him and Meghan wanted to live abroad, but working for the Queen. Then Camilla suggested he could go and be governor of Bermuda or something like that. That made Harry livid for unclear reasons, but at the same time they were fine with Africa or Canada. And finally they had no other options than to quit the royal family all together. Made no sense to me.

 

[hereditarytitles]

Huh? Most people start their careers in their 20s - some younger if they only go to a trade/vocational school, some older if they study for advanced degrees such as medical school. Meghan and Harry have had plenty of life experience and time to go down a career path - it's well-documented that Harry was offered a desk job in the British Army but declined because he wasn't interested, so he retired & took up royal duties full-time. Meghan had a successful career that brought her decent income outside of acting. Meghan would be just fine with The Tig had she not met Harry or decided against marrying him.

With regard to the new 'brand' and logo - this is just more of the same, half-baked effort we've come to see from Meghan. I will fault the clothing company in NYC for not locking up the asever.com domain name in addition to the one they actually use. Given that Netflix seems to be partnering with Meghan for the current venture, I'm guessing that their legal team will help get this through the trademark process. The logo, on the other hand - that's going to be a bigger problem and I suspect we'll see a re-design before the end of the month.

Because I was laughed at for this, I would like to set the record straight. When I said “career”, I didn't mean the start of working, having a job after finishing school or college, 19 or older. I meant the phase around the age of 40, when you've been working for a while and are wondering whether you can reach a higher position, or try something new, or whether you should stay where you are until you retire.

 

[Kaye1850]

That was one of the passages in Spare that was hardest for me to understand. He said that him and Meghan wanted to live abroad, but working for the Queen. Then Camilla suggested he could go and be governor of Bermuda or something like that. That made Harry livid for unclear reasons, but at the same time they were fine with Africa or Canada. And finally they had no other options than to quit the royal family all together. Made no sense to me.

Harry was livid at the Bermuda suggestion because that position had been given to the Duke of Windsor in his exile. Any comparison to the Windsors would have been most unwelcome.

 

[SiameseLover]

They wanted to make millions plus Bank of Dad. Harry said it himself ,to Oprahs gasp of horror, his father cut him off financially. The payment from the Sovereign Grant was the only money they intended to go without , which was a small percentage of Harrys income.
They appeared to have thought that Dad would continue to finance them which I think he did for the first year. ( Duchy accounts reflected that a payment continued for some time) maybe that was during the year that the Late Queen had suggested as time to consider their options.

And I bet JH did not relish eventually being dependent upon the Bank-of-William.

 

[Hallo girl]

Harry was livid at the Bermuda suggestion because that position had been given to the Duke of Windsor in his exile. Any comparison to the Windsors would have been most unwelcome.

I could see how Meghan would not want to be compared to Wallis, oops the bridal car Meghan arrived at St George’s , the dress for the Oprah interview, the outfit for the platinum jubilee church service.

 

[Prinsara]

Harry was livid at the Bermuda suggestion because that position had been given to the Duke of Windsor in his exile. Any comparison to the Windsors would have been most unwelcome.

The Windsors were in Barbados and afaik Harry didn’t even get the reference, let alone “was livid” (he’s said enough things about his stepmother, anyway).

 

[HRHHermione]

Harry was livid at the Bermuda suggestion because that position had been given to the Duke of Windsor in his exile. Any comparison to the Windsors would have been most unwelcome.

There was no indication in Spare that Harry knew that historical context or understood the allusion (or that it was likely a joke)

 

[Maryrose]

And I bet JH did not relish eventually being dependent upon the Bank-of-William.

I am only quoting you because my question is on being dependent on the reigning monarch . As royals move down in their place of inheriting the throne is their funding decreased? As children of the reigning monarch you have many privileges, gifted beautiful homes and a lavish lifestyle etc but as you move down is there maybe a fear that you won’t be receiving funds to support the life you had without looking to do something that doesn’t make you solely dependent on your older brother or nephew.

 

[muriel]

I am only quoting you because my question is on being dependent on the reigning monarch . As royals move down in their place of inheriting the throne is their funding decreased? As children of the reigning monarch you have many privileges, gifted beautiful homes and a lavish lifestyle etc but as you move down is there maybe a fear that you won’t be receiving funds to support the life you had without looking to do something that doesn’t make you solely dependent on your older brother or nephew.

Every royal house has their own way of funding its non main line heirs. I can't see financing declining over the years, perhaps just not increasing as much as the heir to the throne.

My guess is that H&M were well provided for by Charles when he was PoW, but there were constraints at Charles was funding himself & Camilla, the Cambridge family and Harry & Meghan. funding for H&M would have risen substantially once Charles became King.

 

[Hallo girl]

Every royal house has their own way of funding its non main line heirs. I can't see financing declining over the years, perhaps just not increasing as much as the heir to the throne.

My guess is that H&M were well provided for by Charles when he was PoW, but there were constraints at Charles was funding himself & Camilla, the Cambridge family and Harry & Meghan. funding for H&M would have risen substantially once Charles became King.

The BRF have a way of working whether it be funding or homes , nothing is ever rushed.

 

[Queen Claude]

I think that the big misca

Every royal house has their own way of funding its non main line heirs. I can't see financing declining over the years, perhaps just not increasing as much as the heir to the throne.

My guess is that H&M were well provided for by Charles when he was PoW, but there were constraints at Charles was funding himself & Camilla, the Cambridge family and Harry & Meghan. funding for H&M would have risen substantially once Charles became King.

IMO Charles probably had more flexibility and discretionary income as Prince of Wales / Duke of Cornwall than as King / Duke of Lancaster.

The BRF have a way of working whether it be funding or homes , nothing is ever rushed.

I think this is a key issue, the Sussexes wanted what they wanted when they wanted it. Per Harry in Spare, when he told Charles that he wanted to marry Meghan and have Meghan be a working royal, Charles said that there was not funding for Meghan. I took that to mean that the plans were in place for the foreseeable future and another full-time royal had not been factored in. Harry chose to interpret that as a combination of, adding Meghan should not be too costly because she does not eat much, and that the real reason was Charles and others would be jealous of Meghan's awesomeness. Which leads to another situation...

Harry and Meghan clashed with family members and courtiers, seemed to believe that they were jealous and/or out-of-touch, which led to a vicious cycle of the Sussexes clashing with the old guard and then being confused, hurt and ultimately resentful when people who they clashed with and would not allow to provide direction but then wanted them to rescue them with things started to spiral. But ironically they were not left out in the cold, Charles continued to fund them and one of the senior courtiers that Harry seemed to despise, at the request of The Queen, lobbied for Harry to keep his security.

I think that Kate and Camilla proved that it is all about playing the long game which Harry and Meghan seemed incapable of.

 

[Hallo girl]

I think that the big misca

IMO Charles probably had more flexibility and discretionary income as Prince of Wales / Duke of Cornwall than as King / Duke of Lancaster.

I think this is a key issue, the Sussexes wanted what they wanted when they wanted it. Per Harry in Spare, when he told Charles that he wanted to marry Meghan and have Meghan be a working royal, Charles said that there was not funding for Meghan. I took that to mean that the plans were in place for the foreseeable future and another full-time royal had not been factored in. Harry chose to interpret that as a combination of, adding Meghan should not be too costly because she does not eat much, and that the real reason was Charles and others would be jealous of Meghan's awesomeness. Which leads to another situation...

Harry and Meghan clashed with family members and courtiers, seemed to believe that they were jealous and/or out-of-touch, which led to a vicious cycle of the Sussexes clashing with the old guard and then being confused, hurt and ultimately resentful when people who they clashed with and would not allow to provide direction but then wanted them to rescue them with things started to spiral. But ironically they were not left out in the cold, Charles continued to fund them and one of the senior courtiers that Harry seemed to despise, at the request of The Queen, lobbied for Harry to keep his security.

I think that Kate and Camilla proved that it is all about playing the long game which Harry and Meghan seemed incapable of.

I must be honest I struggle to believe that the family had not factored in that Harry would eventually marry , that he would then require a home and funding.It is clear that Charles is cutting back on working royals but I am sure Harry and a wife were part of the long term plans.
Why would the Late Queen give them the role in the Commonwealth if they did not want them working for the family.
I have not read SPARE so cannot comment on what was in print but it has been shown that he made other statements that were questioned.

 

[tommy100]

I can't see Charles not funding Harry or his wife, so it makes me wonder what Harry and his wife were asking for beyond what Harry was already getting. TBF Charles was effectively picking up the bill for all the top tier royals bar HM and Philip so I am not surprised funding was sought from the Queen and the Sovereign grant for Harry and Meghan. But really, honestly, Charles refusing to fund Harry and his wife? No way. I think Charles probably had a realistic conversation with Harry about the future, what was possible and what wasn't etc and said that while he was funding his and Camilla's life and work and William and Catherine's life and work there wouldn't be as much for Harry and Meghan and Harry being Harry took that as a slight. Again, it comes down to Harry knowing his place and expecting to be treated the same as William. Now, imagine if Anne had a fit at not getting the same funding for her work from her mother as Charles got...

 

[Kaye1850]

That was one of the passages in Spare that was hardest for me to understand. He said that him and Meghan wanted to live abroad, but working for the Queen. Then Camilla suggested he could go and be governor of Bermuda or something like that. That made Harry livid for unclear reasons, but at the same time they were fine with Africa or Canada. And finally they had no other options than to quit the royal family all together. Made no sense to me.

The Windsors were in Barbados and afaik Harry didn’t even get the reference, let alone “was livid” (he’s said enough things about his stepmother, anyway).

I was responding to Cissan’s comment that Harry was ‘livid,’ and they were unclear as to why. (I have not read the book, so assumed this was accurate.)

It was Bermuda, not Barbados.

 

[Queen Claude]

I must be honest I struggle to believe that the family had not factored in that Harry would eventually marry , that he would then require a home and funding.It is clear that Charles is cutting back on working royals but I am sure Harry and a wife were part of the long term plans.
Why would the Late Queen give them the role in the Commonwealth if they did not want them working for the family.
I have not read SPARE so cannot comment on what was in print but it has been shown that he made other statements that were questioned.

The key words are "eventually" and "long-term". I will go even further and state that Charles, et. al. realized that Harry and Meghan would marry, but in terms of how the royals operate, Harry and Meghan rushed things.
Meghan and Harry got officially engaged shortly after she relocated from Canada and the wedding was scheduled less than a year after that. I took Charles' statement to mean that they could not afford Meghan as a working royal because plans are made a year or three in advanced and Meghan was not factored in when those plans were made. Now of course things can be switched around, and undoubtedly there were reserves, but perhaps in Charles' mind it would be better to factor Meghan in plans that have yet to be made, rather than re-configuring existing plans. Of course we know that Meghan and Harry married and Meghan became a full-time working royal, so Harry and Meghan got their way.

 

[Durham]

Re some comments above - the Duke of Windsor was Governor of the Bahamas.

 

[muriel]

IMO Charles probably had more flexibility and discretionary income as Prince of Wales / Duke of Cornwall than as King / Duke of Lancaster.

I am not sure I agree. Now that Willian has financing from the Duchy of Cornwall, Charles no longer has to fund him, so he has a lot more headroom.

 

[Hallo girl]

I hope nobody views this post as a criticism of Meghan as it isn’t but an observation. Meghan came from a different world, she was used to earning her own money and spending it as she wanted. The working royal set up is limiting financially , and Meghan was not used to that. She wanted financial independence.

 

[Ghost]

I hope nobody views this post as a criticism of Meghan as it isn’t but an observation. Meghan came from a different world, she was used to earning her own money and spending it as she wanted. The working royal set up is limiting financially , and Meghan was not used to that. She wanted financial independence.

Without any doubt. She could have done with her own money whatever she wanted. As she did, she bought a sofa. The furniture from the royal collection wasn’t of interest for her. But she wanted the BRF money.

 

[Hallo girl]

Without any doubt. She could have done with her own money whatever she wanted. As she did, she bought a sofa. The furniture from the royal collection wasn’t of interest for her. But she wanted the BRF money.

Maybe she didn’t have a full understanding of how it all worked before they were married.

 

[irish_royalist]

I hope nobody views this post as a criticism of Meghan as it isn’t but an observation. Meghan came from a different world, she was used to earning her own money and spending it as she wanted. The working royal set up is limiting financially , and Meghan was not used to that. She wanted financial independence.

If I may say so, I'm not convinced the financial independence thing is going so well. Her latest post showed her pouring some honey over a croissant with some raspberries and sparkling wine sitting nearby. That's often my breakfast on a Sunday morning. Who is this meant to appeal to and how does it lead to financial independence?

 

[Queen Claude]

I am not sure I agree. Now that Willian has financing from the Duchy of Cornwall, Charles no longer has to fund him, so he has a lot more headroom.

Yeah but he lost William and Kate and gained his siblings and working royal cousins. Not counting children, 2 dropped off - William and Kate, 4 would have slid over - Charles, Camilla and the Sussexes and then he would have gained 8 others. The income from the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster are not vastly different, so the way I see it, the Duke of Lancaster, aka the monarch, has less headroom than the Duke of Cornwall / Prince of Wales.

 

[Hallo girl]

If I may say so, I'm not convinced the financial independence thing is going so well. Her latest post showed her pouring some honey over a croissant with some raspberries and sparkling wine sitting nearby. That's often my breakfast on a Sunday morning. Who is this meant to appeal to and how does it lead to financial independence?

I agree with your comments. It is the road they chose.

 

[Ista]

Let's move on from discussing past events and get back to discussing current news. Any further posts along those lines will be removed.

 

[GondorHasNoPants]

The Daily Mail is claiming that some of Prince Harry's visa documents will be made public after the Department of Homeland Security agreed to release them.

The article (link here) says that three items can be unsealed with redactions, but a fourth item should remain sealed. No info has been provided on what the four items are.

This is part of an ongoing case brought by the Heritage Foundation, which claims Harry may have lied about his previous drug use in his visa application.

For background, the Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank based in Washington DC. It supports President Trump, and has played a major role in the development of Project 2025.