Harry, Meghan and the Royal Family

[alex397]

Harry can't see that he is being used, and Meghan will dump him when she has no further use for him, or say that their relationship can only continue on her terms.

This is the sort of speculative gossip you hear amongst teenagers.
Maybe Meghan is doing this, but unless we know them both personally really well, it will be very difficult to have an opinion on that!

 

[21C101]

It was so over the top that it us inevitably unravelling quickly. Her sister immediately produced documents apparently proving she lied both about the name change and when they were last together. Church law experts pointed out the flaws in the the secret wedding story as weddings must be in a public place with two witnesses (fairly obvious to me it was the rehearsal).

It says a lot that she has not only attacked her in laws publically, but also most of her own family.

Harry will be dumped in due course when he is of no further use.

And as vague and unprovable allegations of racism were being banded about, how odd that Ms Winfrey did not think it neccessary to ask Megan what she thought about members of the Royal Family who dress up as one of Mr Hilters associates and call their colleage a P***

 

[brad465]

I’m mostly on Harry & Meghan’s side but I don’t think they are doing themselves many favours.

I think the Royal Family are now outdated and unnecessary in a modern society, and have too much power and influence. I’m surprised this country finds it acceptable how we fund their lifestyles, considering how judgemental people are about those on benefits.

People seem far more concerned about Harry & Meghan than with Prince Andrew, which I find worrying.

His time is yet to come, Maxwell will squeal like a stuck pig when she goes to court. But that’s for another thread on another day

Why is our country losing its collective sh*t over this nonsense? Does this link to the "stupid people taking over the world" thread?. It is trivia and celebrity nonsense. The country is burning and THIS is what people are worried about. FFS.

While this particular interview was of Harry and Meghan's own making, there are multiple parties/entities using this story as a dead cat for their own interests: the Government will secretly love the royal attention to distract from their poor Covid, Brexit and many other mishandlings, the Royals themselves will like how this is (for now) taking the spotlight off Prince Andrew, while the media outlets themselves will use it to distract from anything that puts their interests at risk, which is usually anything that would lose them money (tax avoidance/evasion/higher taxes on their owners generally, press regulation, alternative political parties that would act against the media's interests).

 

[DustyBin]

How can any mention of the colour of the baby not be racist? His skin colour is totally irrelevant so why would anyone make mention of it? Unless they were ever so slightly racist.

Because the parents have different skin tones and it’s not uncommon to talk about what features a baby will inherit from each parent? I don’t understand why it HAS to be racist? All this kind of hysterical reaction achieves is to undermine the fight against actual racism.

Last summer we were training outside and I was the only white guy in a group of four (one Asian, two black guys and myself). It was scorching hot and one of the black guys said he hoped I’d remembered my suncream much to everybody’s amusement, my own included. Is that racist? I took it as harmless banter. All mention of colour doesn’t have to be racist or otherwise ill intentioned, regardless of what those who seek to divide us would have you believe....

 

[Typhoon]

While this particular interview was of Harry and Meghan's own making, there are multiple parties/entities using this story as a dead cat for their own interests: the Government will secretly love the royal attention to distract from their poor Covid, Brexit and many other mishandlings, the Royals themselves will like how this is (for now) taking the spotlight off Prince Andrew, while the media outlets themselves will use it to distract from anything that puts their interests at risk, which is usually anything that would lose them money (tax avoidance/evasion/higher taxes on their owners generally, press regulation, alternative political parties that would act against the media's interests).

I'm not certain about that, Andrew may be the Queen's son but Charles and William (both of whom have been implicated, directly or indirectly) are the next two in line to the throne and that will concern the Queen more than any embarrassment caused by someone who has been in the 'bad apple' camps for quite a few years now.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

How can any mention of the colour of the baby not be racist? His skin colour is totally irrelevant so why would anyone make mention of it? Unless they were ever so slightly racist.

Have you never, ever, in your life engaged in casual conversation about something that has no importance to wider world issues, has no political significance, and carries no judgement, but is simply a way of making conversation or acknowledging something about your friends and family? You've never for example noticed the colour of your friend's new car, or someone's new hair style or the design on their shirt or the colour of your girlfriend/boyfriend's eyes?

 

[dgl]

If you don't want media around you then there are always things you can do to get away, the problem is a lot of celebs bleat about the press being intrusive when in reality the press are there half the time because they've asked them to be there as it makes them a decent amount of dough.

Of course why are Harry and Megan doing this interview?, you're hardly going to air your dirty laundry in public in this way without doing it for the money and exposure, and you need to create/have some sort of controversy to make that properly pay.

I wonder what the outcome would have been if they both did their interviews separately without any knowledge of what the other one was going to say? I wonder if Harry would have said a completely different story.

 

[AlterEgo]

If you don't want media around you then there are always things you can do to get away, the problem is a lot of celebs bleat about the press being intrusive when in reality the press are there half the time because they've asked them to be there as it makes them a decent amount of dough.

Of course why are Harry and Megan doing this interview?, you're hardly going to air your dirty laundry in public in this way without doing it for the money and exposure, and you need to create/have some sort of controversy to make that properly pay.

I wonder what the outcome would have been if they both did their interviews separately without any knowledge of what the other one was going to say? I wonder if Harry would have said a completely different story.

Harry wouldn’t give an interview on his own. He out of the two of them is the one who genuinely doesn’t like media attention. His appearance with James Corden was a bit awkward and I feel a bit sorry for him. He’s not a bad person, but a weak one who loves his wife very much and has a weak man for a father.

He’s still a POS for stabbing his family in the back on telly.

 

[alex397]

Have you never, ever, in your life engaged in casual conversation about something that has no importance to wider world issues, has no political significance, and carries no judgement, but is simply a way of making conversation or acknowledging something about your friends and family? You've never for example noticed the colour of your friend's new car, or someone's new hair style or the design on their shirt or the colour of your girlfriend/boyfriend's eyes?

I’m still struggling to see what context it is appropriate to ask an inter-racial couple about the skin colour of their child. If the couple themselves mention it and joke about it than that’s totally understandable.
I can’t believe you think that wondering about what colour a car will be is comparable to asking about the skin colour of a child.
I can’t believe I need to explain this, but skin colour is a sensitive topic because it wasn’t long ago that mixed race couples/children was sadly controversial (and indeed in some cases still is).

 

[birchesgreen]

I can’t believe you think that wondering about what colour a car will be is comparable to asking about the skin colour of a child.
I can’t believe I need to explain this, but skin colour is a sensitive topic because it wasn’t long ago that mixed race couples/children was sadly controversial (and indeed in some cases still is).

I know, i was about to say the same thing. One of the worst things i've ever read on this forum.

Some people need to learn some context.

 

[21C101]

Regardless of whether to ask such a question is or is not racist in various contexts.........

......there is the slight matter that there is no evidence, other than those twos vague claims, that anyone made any such comments and several other of the claims they made that are more readily fact checkable appear to be bogus.

Should Carl Beech have been automatically believed because he was a "victim" and those he made allegations about convicted with no attempt to scrutinise his claims?

 

[Spamcan81]

Because the parents have different skin tones and it’s not uncommon to talk about what features a baby will inherit from each parent? I don’t understand why it HAS to be racist? All this kind of hysterical reaction achieves is to undermine the fight against actual racism.

Last summer we were training outside and I was the only white guy in a group of four (one Asian, two black guys and myself). It was scorching hot and one of the black guys said he hoped I’d remembered my suncream much to everybody’s amusement, my own included. Is that racist? I took it as harmless banter. All mention of colour doesn’t have to be racist or otherwise ill intentioned, regardless of what those who seek to divide us would have you believe....

Good grief. I know a number of mixed race couples and have spoken about many things with them but the topic of their baby's skin colour has never been a subject of conversation because it is irrelevant.

 

[Darandio]

Some seriously blinkered views in this thread and some posters showing their true colours as well.

What is interesting for me are the recent responses from the institution. Meghan is accused of bullying and they are quick to shout from the rooftops that there is an ongoing investigation. Racism accusations against Meghan are met with a deafening silence followed by 'this will be dealt with in private'.

 

[21C101]

Some seriously blinkered views in this thread and some posters showing their true colours as well.

What is interesting for me are the recent responses from the institution. Meghan is accused of bullying and they are quick to shout from the rooftops that there is an ongoing investigation. Racism accusations against Meghan are met with a deafening silence followed by 'this will be dealt with in private'.

There is rather a difference between a specific complaint by one of your employees and a vague assertion by a family member in a TV interview about a private family conversation that dosen't even name the person who allegedly said it.

 

[Darandio]

There is rather a difference between a specific complaint by one of your employees and a vague assertion by a family member in a TV interview about a private family conversation that dosen't even name the person who allegedly said it.

Of course there is. Depending on which side it damages.

 

[johnnychips]

Is any random member of the public really worried about it? I doubt it.

I agree, and apparently about 40% of Metro readers are not interested either, according to some poll I read this morning: it was early so I can’t be exact.

 

[adrock1976]

I voted "To the hell with the lot of them".

This is because the monarchy perpetuates the class system, they are undemocratic, unelected, and unaccountable to the general public.

Regarding the allegations of racism, although I am not saying that it was most likely Phillip (as he does have form for the comments he made about the Chinese a while ago), it is very concerning and I hope that the individual can be named and shamed.

Also, with the ongoing news fest of the interview, I am more concerned with the ongoing conflict in Yemen that has hardly been mentioned on the news, being fuelled by the UK Government continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia. More for a new thread though.

 

[AlterEgo]

There is rather a difference between a specific complaint by one of your employees and a vague assertion by a family member in a TV interview about a private family conversation that dosen't even name the person who allegedly said it.

Or what they even said.

The Royal Family almost certainly has some outdated attitudes, and it’s certainly believable to me that there was an awkward and tactless conversation about the baby’s race. Does anyone remember the furore about Princess Michael’s racist brooch? But you cannot bring that accusation out in public to hang like a smell unless you tell us what was said and who said it.

 

[DerekC]

I really was disappointed to see this thread. I thought it was great that we were an H&M free zone. Before I have sympathies I would like to have facts, and so far they are very thin on the ground.

 

[WestCoast]

I watched it and I still don't really have strong feelings either way about H&M. Like every family quarrel there's points on both sides. However, the whole thing reaffirms my belief that the future monarchy needs to be defunded, downscaled and modernised as much as possible. The sense of entitlement at taxpayer expense just can't be avoided. I don't particularly think they are suitable ambassadors for "global Britain" in its current form, change is badly needed.

 

[DustyBin]

Good grief. I know a number of mixed race couples and have spoken about many things with them but the topic of their baby's skin colour has never been a subject of conversation because it is irrelevant.

If you did happen to mention it in this context, would they be as outraged as you claim to be? I suspect not to be honest....

What’s your response to the second half of my original post? Racist or not racist? Can you not see that outside of campaigners (however well meaning), activists and virtue signallers the majority of people aren’t so easily offended and are quite happy to talk openly and, well, just get along?

 

[AlterEgo]

If you did happen to mention it in this context, would they be as outraged as you claim to be? I suspect not to be honest....

What’s your response to the second half of my original post? Racist or not racist? Can you not see that outside of campaigners (however well meaning), activists and virtue signallers the majority of people aren’t so easily offended and are quite happy to talk openly and, well, just get along?

To be honest I am struggling to understand in what context asking the colour of an unborn baby’s skin would be polite.

The only context I can imagine within the Royal Family, especially as Meghan referred to “concerns” about the baby’s skin, would be press intrusion and press speculation about the baby’s colour and whether the Royal Family or their press agents would have a press strategy to downplay any racism from trolls or the press.

 

[43096]

Whilst there is undoubtedly truth in what was said on the Oprah interview, it is just one side. We won’t hear much of the other side (probably wisely), but the bits we have heard (the bullying allegations) don’t paint a good picture.

As for Harry and Meghan complaining about press intrusion and wanting privacy, they’ve done an interview with one of the biggest chat shows on the planet. What a pair of utter, utter hypocrites.

 

[DustyBin]

To be honest I am struggling to understand in what context asking the colour of an unborn baby’s skin would be polite.

The only context I can imagine within the Royal Family, especially as Meghan referred to “concerns” about the baby’s skin, would be press intrusion and press speculation about the baby’s colour and whether the Royal Family or their press agents would have a press strategy to downplay any racism from trolls or the press.

I personally wouldn’t come out with something out of the blue like “how black will the baby be?” as it feels inappropriate. On the other hand the parents may raise the subject themselves (I’ve actually witnessed this) in which case I don’t see the issue. What I’m trying to say is that not all mention of colour implies racism or carries negative connotations. I realise why it’s a sensitive subject, but some people are too quick to throw around the word “racist” in my opinion.

In regard to what was actually said, anything’s possible with that lot I expect but it could have been a sensible if awkward conversation around the issues you’ve identified, or it could have been a cringeworthy comment made by an out of touch member of the family. It could of course have been a racist comment. Going back on topic, the problem I have is that Meghan can’t or won’t say exactly who said what when which means we can only speculate. Which I’m sure is exactly what she wanted!

 

[21C101]

Whilst there is undoubtedly truth in what was said on the Oprah interview, it is just one side. We won’t hear much of the other side (probably wisely), but the bits we have heard (the bullying allegations) don’t paint a good picture.

As for Harry and Meghan complaining about press intrusion and wanting privacy, they’ve done an interview with one of the biggest chat shows on the planet. What a pair of utter, utter hypocrites.

On what basis do you asset "there is undoubtably truth in what was said in the Oprah Interview?"

There is no corroborating evidence about the racism claims, and where the claims in that interview can be corroborated, the corroborating evidence suggests they are bogus (for example the claims around the sisters name change, the sisters last associating and the so called secret wedding three days before)

 

[43096]

On what basis do you asset "there is undoubtably truth in what was said in the Oprah Interview?"

There is no corroborating evidence about the racism claims, and where the claims in that interview can be corroborated, the corroborating evidence suggests they are bogus (for example the claims around the sisters name change, the sisters last associating and the so called secret wedding three days before)

Are you saying that you agree with Piers Morgan and that her mental health problems aren’t believable?

I didn’t say that all the claims are true - perhaps I should have used “some truth”.

 

[AlterEgo]

It doesn’t matter if Meghan was exaggerating or falsifying it, it is irresponsible (especially on a major national TV programme) to be publicly stating that she is lying about suicidal thoughts.
This topic really should not be brushed off as “that’s life”

I wasn't brushing the topic off, I was merely stating that I'm afraid the believability of an allegation or testimony, in the absence of hard evidence will very often depend on the context in which it was made.

Nobody is going to be so classless as to ask Meghan or Harry to prove her state of mind, and FWIW, I have no opinion either way on how true it may or may not be.

Nonetheless, if your personal situation is one where you're in a time of your life when you're working very hard to raise your profile at all costs, and portray yourself as the victim in a family dispute, and you have a track record of either misremembering, exaggerating, or saying things which turn out to have no basis in truth - then I don't think we can be too surprised that some people don't believe her.

That is, I'm afraid, part of the rich tapestry of life.

The best thing that Meghan and Harry can do is to simply crack on with changing the world however they see fit and get on with life. And preferably to not moan about daddy not subsidising them. If they want to leave and be normal people and not talk about the royal family again, I am sure people would respect that very much.

 

[yorkie]

I wasn't brushing the topic off, I was merely stating that I'm afraid the believability of an allegation or testimony, in the absence of hard evidence will very often depend on the context in which it was made.

Nobody is going to be so classless as to ask Meghan or Harry to prove her state of mind, and FWIW, I have no opinion either way on how true it may or may not be.

Nonetheless, if your personal situation is one where you're in a time of your life when you're working very hard to raise your profile at all costs, and portray yourself as the victim in a family dispute, and you have a track record of either misremembering, exaggerating, or saying things which turn out to have no basis in truth - then I don't think we can be too surprised that some people don't believe her.

That is, I'm afraid, part of the rich tapestry of life.

The best thing that Meghan and Harry can do is to simply crack on with changing the world however they see fit and get on with life. And preferably to not moan about daddy not subsidising them. If they want to leave and be normal people and not talk about the royal family again, I am sure people would respect that very much.

Pretty much exactly what I am thinking about this matter!

 

[43096]

And preferably to not moan about daddy not subsidising them.

Well, quite. “I walked out on my job and now I don’t get paid” is kinda standard practice around the world!

 

[LAX54]

Whilst there is undoubtedly truth in what was said on the Oprah interview, it is just one side. We won’t hear much of the other side (probably wisely), but the bits we have heard (the bullying allegations) don’t paint a good picture.

As for Harry and Meghan complaining about press intrusion and wanting privacy, they’ve done an interview with one of the biggest chat shows on the planet. What a pair of utter, utter hypocrites.

If you (can bear) to watch a second time, there seem a lot of things that don't add up, like, I want to ride a bike with Archie I did not do that with my Dad, then umpteen pictures appear showing just that. If she was that poorly, they did not have to attend the Albert Hall, they could have said they were ill, The title thing, they must have already known that he was NOT entitled to an HRH title, but on the plus side the Company that made the show, got $9 million from CBS alone !