Harry & Meghan 9: Pretending to Be Relevant

[Coconut Flan]

8 hours ago, EmCatlyn said:

Seriously, I could see them chuckling about some aristocrat’s mishaps on the hunting field, for example, or a visitor who pretended to love the corgis but clearly secretly hated them, or even the current prime minister’s hair.

I would doubt even that was only between them.  At least in our family those are shared among a few people.   She probably lets him think he's the only one as Harry seems to have a driving need to be "special."  

Edited April 21, 2022 by Coconut Flan

[just_ordinary]

1 hour ago, DalmatianCat said:

Especially since Harry can’t seem to manage his own security well…

 

If he’s that concerned about people taking advantage you think he would have tried to visit and check in on her sooner.

 

I doubt he’s worried about Andrew…out of all the bandwagons Harry and Meghan have jumped on, condemning Andrew hasn’t been one (and it’s a pretty obvious easy one to join that would get them a lot of praise). Instead they’ve been strangely silent on their thoughts about Andrew. Out of all the popular causes to join, #metoo is the one they (strangely) seem to avoid.

The real question is are Charles and William rolling their eyes or seething after Harry’s latest comments? They probably at least feel adjusted for keeping Harry at arms length.

Next thing you know Harry will probably start weighing in on whether the teachers at George’s school are really the best teachers for him 🙄

BIB That’s what I always found interesting too. They avoid the obvious problem of the RF (PA and certain structures inside the family and society that let rich, powerful men (and women) get away with way too much) at all cost. They didn’t even have to make it personal. It’s a single case that points to a bigger, more gebeten problem. Of course people would have made the connection but they didn’t have to mention him or the whole Eppstein case at all. Is it because Fergie has publicly talked rather nicely about them, and is a blabber mouth? So she would have had no problem talking badly about them (and happily take the money) and she has been defending PA at every turn. And obviously they are still close to Eugenie, so it obviously might hurt their relationship if they would have made certain comments. 
On the other hand- there is no need to make a statement about everything that goes wrong in your family. And as far as I am concerned the PA Problem has nothing to do with them. But they just love to point out problems left and right but have shyed away from this particular one. It just gets noticed. 

[viii]

3 hours ago, DalmatianCat said:

Next thing you know Harry will probably start weighing in on whether the teachers at George’s school are really the best teachers for him 🙄

Lmaoooooooo don’t even put that out there in the universe pls I could see him doing it 😭

[tabitha2]

Oh the comparing of kids and parenting with W&K in the veiled comments and I’m not saying just saying way the Sussex’s have will eventually start… Meghan is clearly fixated on Kate  and Harry is arrogant with his own beef and petty so I don’t think they can resist. 

[MomJeans]

The reason the Sussexes don't discuss Andrew is because it hurts their own personal interests- their only friend left in the family (and likely only source of information) is Eugenia.  The York sisters love their parents, and I don't think they would forgive Harry if he went after Andrew. It also would not surprise me if both princesses are angry with William, and are picking sides, because William was heavily involved in pushing Andrew out of royal duties. 

[TN-peach]

It seems that there really is no limit to Prince Harry's arrogance. 

[tabitha2]

1 hour ago, MomJeans said:

The reason the Sussexes don't discuss Andrew is because it hurts their own personal interests- their only friend left in the family (and likely only source of information) is Eugenia.  The York sisters love their parents, and I don't think they would forgive Harry if he went after Andrew. It also would not surprise me if both princesses are angry with William, and are picking sides, because William was heavily involved in pushing Andrew out of royal duties. 

Then again they are two reasonably intelligent grown women who know even if they love in, believe in good ole dad how the Royal image and public image game works. What Andrew did must get him cut out for the good of the monarchy. William help do what had to be done.  Plus they adore their granny as well, probably don’t want to see her stressed or unhappy either by added salty from them either. 

 

Anyway Pretty sure their feelings are complex, confused and they will never discuss it in public while the relevant parties are alive. 

[EmCatlyn]

2 hours ago, TN-peach said:

It seems that there really is no limit to Prince Harry's arrogance. 

I agree with you completely.  The remark was incredibly arrogant, suggesting that he is in some way better positioned to “protect” the queen than other people.  It was also condescending to the queen, implying that she is no longer in a position to look after herself. 

She has not needed “protection” before—is it just that she is old and ill or is this because she is a woman whose “protector” has died?   I suspect Harry doesn’t know what he meant, he just thought it made him sound good.

[EmCatlyn]

6 hours ago, Coconut Flan said:

I would doubt even that was only between them.  At least in our family those are shared among a few people.   She probably lets him think he's the only one as Harry seems to have a driving need to be "special."  

In my experience it is not unusual to have a set of jokes or anecdotes that we share only with one person or two because others won’t “get” it.  Or sometimes people have a remembered shared experience that they only discuss together. 

It is not hard for me to imagine that Harry and his grandmother have a few inside jokes and shared memories that they go to when they get together to “bond.”  However, Harry seems to imply that he is a special confidante of the queen’s, and that is either delusional or dishonest.

[tabitha2]

Regarding the protection line It was probably just a way to throw shade at his Father and brother and whoever else of his relatives he is salty about for real or perceived slights. His childish paranoid persecution complex and get back at people mentality is obvious at this point. 

Edited April 21, 2022 by tabitha2

[EmCatlyn]

I thought Robert Lacey’s article for the Times had a lot of good comments about Harry’s account of his recent quick visit with the queen.  I am quoting from the AppleNews version, but you can get it directly from the TimesUK site if you have a subscription.

Quote

The tragic paradox of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is that they proclaim their wish to escape the royal circus, but that’s all they really want to talk about — while taking TV camera crews round the world to record them doing so.

As Harry dropped his predictable soundbites on the “great sense of humour” displayed by his grandmother (96 years old today!), and how “it was really nice to catch up with her”, one was reminded of Meghan’s revelations to Oprah Winfrey shortly before Prince Philip’s death a year ago.

The American duchess coyly described how she was so close to the Queen she was in the habit of picking up the phone to chat to Her Majesty about the invalid’s health — with no suggestion that calling off a certain interview might really have spared the feelings of the ailing prince.

So it has come to this — the defiantly ex-royal couple are actually trading in royal intimacies. Spotify doesn’t pay money for nothing — and Harry went a step further. “I’m just making sure she’s protected,” he told NBC’s Hoda Kotb, “and got the right people round her.”

The arrogance of this remark was not picked up by his docile interviewer — as even Oprah ventured to challenge the Sussexes when they sat down with her 12 months ago.

Protected? From whom? Is this some offshoot of the prince’s argument with the Home Office over royal security when he is in Britain, and his threat to sue Priti Patel?

And what does he mean by the “right” people? Is this a dig at his father and elder brother who, we know, are the Queen’s principal confidants these days? Or is he referring to the fact the Queen is now spending so much time at Windsor with his Uncle Andrew, whom she chose as her escort to the memorial service for Prince Philip last month — the service that Harry and Meghan found it impossible to attend?

It is no wonder the prince should fear he might suffer from “burnout”. Anyone would get burnt out at the prospect of having to conjure up provocative comments on the same half-dozen topics to keep the contracts coming for the rest of his life.

It seems to me a little hypocritical that all that Harry, who couldn’t stay around as a royal to “support” his grandmother dares to imply that he wants to “protect” her.  His talk of helping and supporting others always turns more to abstraction than any realistic considerations.

[WiseGirl]

1 hour ago, EmCatlyn said:

The tragic paradox of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is that they proclaim their wish to escape the royal circus, but that’s all they really want to talk about — while taking TV camera crews round the world to record them doing so.

Do you think Robert Lacey or the times could take out a big billboard with this on it?  A few ads?  Show people what the Sussexes are doing?

Apparently I missed where they threw shade at W&K and that Meghan had such a close relationship with the Queen.  (sure she does).

4 hours ago, TN-peach said:

It seems that there really is no limit to Prince Harry's arrogance.

No, there is not.

[SoSoNosy]

On Oprah, Megan said that during one phone call, the Queen asked what Archie would like for Christmas.  Megan said he would love a waffle iron, so the Queen duly sent him a waffle iron which they use daily.  There used to be a saying 'gag me with a spoon', and I think I will bring that back up tonight.

[tabitha2]

Well now To be fair kids get enamored with odd things. When I was about 5 I desperately wanted a punching  bag like MR T and a tiny pool table. As to Meghan or Harry  making him Waffles every morning though I seriously doubt that one as I don’t think all the cozy just like us1!1 Will and Kate in the Kitchen making breakfast with the moppets stories a true. 
 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2022 by tabitha2

[EmCatlyn]

11 minutes ago, tabitha2 said:

Well now To be fair kids get enamored with odd things. When I was about 5 I desperately wanted a punching  bag like MR T and a tiny pool table. As to Meghan or Harry  making him Waffles every morning though I seriously doubt that one. 
 

 

They probably have a maid or two.

[prayawaythefundie]

2 hours ago, tabitha2 said:

Well now To be fair kids get enamored with odd things. When I was about 5 I desperately wanted a punching  bag like MR T and a tiny pool table. As to Meghan or Harry  making him Waffles every morning though I seriously doubt that one as I don’t think all the cozy just like us1!1 Will and Kate in the Kitchen making breakfast with the moppets stories a true. 
 

 

 

It‘s possible though (both for H&M and W&K). Kate has been pictured doing the school run several times. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[viii]

I think both sets of parents are probably more hands on than we give them credit for. 

[SoSoNosy]

I wasn't talking about Archie eating waffles, or who made them for him.  I just commented on it because somebody said Meghan was being coy when she talked about phone calls.

I have read that W&K try for one of them to make the school run every day when they aren't traveling.

[EmCatlyn]

53 minutes ago, SoSoNosy said:

I wasn't talking about Archie eating waffles, or who made them for him.  I just commented on it because somebody said Meghan was being coy when she talked about phone calls.

I have read that W&K try for one of them to make the school run every day when they aren't traveling.

I agree that the Sussexes as well as the Cambridges are engaged with their children and also that both Kate and Meghan clearly like to cook.

However, I am also sure that the Sussexes have some sort of household help even if we don’t hear about it, and the Cambridges, we know, have a nanny and some servant(s) to do housework.   I don’t knock them for that.

As far as the waffle iron goes, I am sure that Meghan talked to the Queen and Meghan suggested it.  I am just not sure that Meghan could just pick up the phone and chat with her majesty.   No one else can.

[tabitha2]

I will given that . I suppose William and Kate are being as close and “normal” a family as they can be before their duties increase hugely and George probably starts Eton or another old boy school in a few years. 

[QuiverFullofBooks]

2 hours ago, EmCatlyn said:

I am just not sure that Meghan could just pick up the phone and chat with her majesty.   No one else can

That’s not true. Her family and friends (and numerous others) call the palace switchboard. If their staff knows the person, they put them through to her immediate staff, who ask her if she wants to take the call. 

[SoSoNosy]

2 hours ago, QuiverFullofBooks said:

That’s not true. Her family and friends (and numerous others) call the palace switchboard. If their staff knows the person, they put them through to her immediate staff, who ask her if she wants to take the call. 

I am honestly thrilled to know that.  It makes me feel happy for the Queen.

[EmCatlyn]

2 hours ago, QuiverFullofBooks said:

That’s not true. Her family and friends (and numerous others) call the palace switchboard. If their staff knows the person, they put them through to her immediate staff, who ask her if she wants to take the call. 

Yes.  They call the palace switchboard.  They don’t get put through immediately, they go through switchboard and then staff —and if it is not convenient they don’t get to talk to the queen.  That is what I meant by “no one else can” just pick up the phone and chat with the queen.

Now Meghan may have meant that she calls, speaks to the Queen’s staff and then gets to chat with the Queen.  However, given how busy her majesty can be, I would guess there are many times when the chat is not possible.

In this she would be no different from a few dozen other family and friends. 

[tabitha2]

She has a cell phone so her kids and other close relatives at the very least can call her or she them and  I imagine her Devoted dresser Angela Kelly and LiW are in her phone as well. 

[EmCatlyn]

Quote

Most everyone around the prince, Brown writes, agrees that the Army “saved Harry from going off the rails.”

But after leaving the military, he was “acting belligerent, carousing all night” and unhappy with his royal duties.  

…. 

“Without his army mates to cut him down to size, his sense of entitlement was out of control. His outbursts were ever more frequent and childlike,” Brown says of the prince.

Harry later admitted that he took up boxing during this time because he was always “on the verge of punching somebody.”

Harry’s “habitual mood,” Brown writes, was “increasingly truculent” as the prince constantly vented about his brother William and father Charles. He “felt perennially aggravated by the power wielded by his stepmother, Camilla, who made him feel like a visitor at Highgrove.”

New book-Palace Papers-Report on Page Six

This has been discussed before, but I am still not clear why Harry left the military.  Was it he rebelled against having to follow orders?  I read somewhere that he couldn’t pass some test, but surely he could have had tutoring and all sorts of support.