To think it’s only the older generations that have strong feelings about Harry and Meghan?

Outside of family I don’t think I’ve ever talked about them except a joke once at work about a cinema visit when someone joked about us all turning up in ball gowns which gave everyone a laugh. At home 3 generations ranging from teenage to 80s, no one a huge fan of any royals but the word grifters and chancers and bullies is generally used. The taxpayer generation probably have the most to say. But when you talk about the older generation people of 50 are only 5 years older than Meghan.

I think sometimes people have strong feelings because they are projecting their own issues. Say people who in their family have a son or brother that has become estranged because they married a woman who has caused problems or isolated him from his family. They will look at Harry and Meghan and see their own family. They are more likely to side with William and Charles because they are angry at their own son or brother and are projecting that anger onto Harry.

Probably haven't explained that very well but I'm saying that very strong feelings about strangers usually have more going on than just feelings about strangers.

Only lunatics have any feelings whatsoever about any of the RF, other than ‘Abolish ASAP.’

You've got to admit the RF Board is populated by over-invested, swivel-eyed loons

62 and don't care much. The TV is full of "news" about them, other royals, celebrities etc. "Specials" about their big move, kids schools etc.

just don't let it cost us normal folks too much, and don't live somewhere that will affect my daily life. I'm in the cotswoldish area... (so, tough I guess).

I don't know anyone, young or old, who gives a shit about it tbh.

I don’t know anyone who gives even the tiniest of shits about them, old or young but then my friendship group generally have a bit more about them than sleb twaddle types.

Not sure about age

but all racist people do and no doubt much of the anger is about a black woman not knowing her place

I'm in your older age group and I don't think I've ever had a conversation about them with anyone in real life.

I do find them quite entertaining although I'm getting fed up with the number of articles about them in the Times. It's quite easy not to have any idea about what they're supposedly up to if you don't read the tabloids. Unfortunately even the more heavyweight papers seem to be covering them now.

To me they just seem like another couple of fairly self-absorbed celebrities who think they're important.

Sweeping generalisation. I don’t give a fuck about them, turn the tv or radio off if they get mentioned. I don’t open any threads on them - except this one as it’s such a generalisation. 50s fwiw.

I'm over 50, and frankly, I don't really give a shit about H & M. Or the royals in general to be honest.

I do get quite annoyed by sweeping generalisations on the basis of age though.

Same.

I’m pretty apathetic about the royal family in general. I do think they should pay for their own security. Lots of other rich people seem to manage.

If there was a vote I’d abolish the monarchy. It’s pretty archaic to get to be head of a country by benefit of birth. I did used to quite like the queen but Charles and his infamous tightness annoys me given everything he /his family owns was probably purloined off the people, can’t afford to pay the living wage though and volunteers would be better if possible 🤨

Interesting question, and as I fall into your 'older' category (66) I'll share my observations. I'm an anti-monarchist, but I find monarchy fascinating in a know-thy-enemy kind of way, and how much our views are driven by the press.

It seems my parents' generation, who were of the queen's generation, were the last one to view the royals with deference, as did the newspapers of their day, so they were fed positive stories and generally worshipped them.

My generation, more on a par with Andrew and Edward, seemed more critical, as were the newspapers, especially when Diana came along. Remember the Daily Mail printing a photo of Diana's thighs to let the world know she had cellulite? Handily circling the area in the picture to be sure we didn't miss it? This was the era of royals being treated like real people rather than mystical superior beings.

After this they became more like celebrities and were hounded as such. We know where that led for Diana.

Now, with the next generation of royals, we have the newspapers, and consequently ordinary people questioning what good they do, or rather highlighting anything/everything bad they do. Also the right to the use of titles, who should or shouldn't even be called royal, and people baying for the removal of titles, privileges, funding etc. Even that certain people (H) shouldn't even be allowed in the country. There seems to be genuine anger about this.

As far I've observed, people who are interested in monarchy tend to adhere to the outlook they grew up with, and my DM certainly still has a deferential view of them, and worries about Harry. Most of my friends don't care, and like me treat the whole thing as an entertaining soap opera.

My DC have zero interest, but they also don't consume news from mainstream sources so perhaps have escaped the anger that seems to be driven by the likes of the Daily Mail and general trash media.

So I guess my conclusion is that it's younger generation trash media consumers who are apoplectic about them, while the older folks are on a sliding scale of deference to disinterest.

I'm personally angry that we have an expensive and greedy monarchic family, not about the ill-advised actions of one member of it.

Im over 50's, not interested in either of them, not happy about having to pay £5 million for their security for non working royals, but nothing i can do about it. Wished they stayed in the USA but not angry about it or anything.

YouGov poll says otherwise so actually I wouldn't call ageism on this one.

How are we defining older?
I don't know anyone of any age who's interested.

My 82 yo MIL tried to start several conversations about them this weekend several times, but none of the rest of us picked it up. Not the adults, nor the teenagers. I just don’t care about them and what they do.

Yes let’s talk about that too. 👍🏼

What a delightfully hyperbolic bingo card you have posted! Well done you being anti-discussion and anti-free speech…
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I suspect you don’t dedicate this level of time and vitriol to hedge fund managers, tech billlionaires and bankers though do you? It’s only the easily accessible, easily understood establishment. Who also don’t damage the world anything like as much as the first group.

i mean god forbid an international bank fixing LIBOR, let’s talk about Megan trying to flog Jam

I am well into my 60s and couldn't give a flying fuck.

I think as you get older you do get pissed off by members of the so-called establishment being corrupt, publicly lying and wasting tax payer’s money. I think it speaks to people’s lack of social and political awareness if they gormlessly say they ‘couldn’t care less’. 🙄

The royal family, whether you are for or against, have a constitutional role in this country. Harry has acted selfishly and recklessly and wants his cake and eat it. I think that is notable. And even if older people do have a view, so what?

If there is a split it's more likely because younger generations are more forgiving of a grifter. Which is what Markle is. Her type are possibly even admired as doing whatever it takes to get ahead. Misrepresenting her past, cutting off the inconvenient family members, self aggrandizing infantile stunts like the motivational bananas, fabricating sensational gossip for Oprah, endless leaking, deals with Netflix etc etc. To some this is an independent woman hard at work on doing whatever it takes to earn her dime. To older generations this behaviour is low class and unbefitting of a member of the Royal Family.

This isn't to say other members haven't also disgraced themselves. More that the direct comparisons are Catherine and Sophie and Markle's behaviour falls way way way below the bar they set.

😂

Yes, of course it’s ageist not sexist.