Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

To wonder about the ‘rift’ and Harry and wills

197 replies

Cranky17 · 26/12/2018 20:37

And the ‘rift’ not being between Kate and Meghan at all. I’m not a royalist at all, however quite like both Kate and Meghan (actually really like Meghan and thinks she doing a great job) and wonder whether the ‘rift’ is actually between wills and Harry caused by William reportly having said that Meghan wasn’t suitable, and Harry thinking wtf dB who are you to tell me what to do and just because you are my big brother you don’t get to tell me what to do, we’re not kids anymore,
And Harry stepping out from William shadow, developing his own interests, and confidence and wills not being that keen.

OP posts:
IPromiseIWontBeNaughty · 27/12/2018 23:20

Edward endured years of criticism thoug - remember ‘its a knockout’ & his tv company?

QueenDoria · 27/12/2018 23:29

If the queen says to the editor of the Daily Mail, ‘Oi, leave off my pregnant grand daughter-in-law who is new to all this royal malarkey and your made up feud’ I don’t think that is exactly leading to Absolute Monarchy or Dictatorship or controlling the media or whatever it is you’re worried about... I just think it would be helpful in calming down the click bait shite that middle england is being fed...

Ginandsonicscrewdriver · 27/12/2018 23:46

I’m too young to remember Blush just googled it and oh my goodness!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

The royal family
VladmirsPoutine · 28/12/2018 00:51

Frankly Doria if the goal is to calm and temper the "click bait shite that middle England" is fed then I'd rather start with addressing the rampant islamophobia, immigrant-bashing, EU maligning and the degradation of women who have the audacity to wear a bikini inspite of their stretch marks. Once we've calmed that down then perhaps we can get Queeny to have a word about the treatment of her relatives.

Ginandsonicscrewdriver · 28/12/2018 01:00

@queendoria it kind of loses its effect though - where does she draw the line?

Look at Harry’s statement last year, it did not go down well at all.

At the end of the day, they’re in the public eye and they need to take the bad (press intrusion) with the good (funded lifestyle).

selkiesolstice · 28/12/2018 01:50

yeh, they're better off not commenting or attempting to control press as if they start trying to do that then anything they don't object to will be perceived to be true.

QueenDoria · 28/12/2018 12:25

Yup. Let’s calm the hell down about islamaphobia, Brexit, the gender pay gap, period poverty and all that’s wrong with the world, but I thought that this was a thread about the British Press and it’s treatment of Meghan, and therefore I thought suggesting that the queen might want to express her displeasure about the treatment of her family member (as she has done before) and the very obvious click bait market that is built up around any ‘rift’ . However, not for one moment do I think the queen is scrolling through Mumsnet at the moment wondering how she could better support her granddaughter in law and having a eureka moment that a word with unscrupulous editors might be the best idea ever, so for that reason I’m out...

Superpooper · 28/12/2018 12:40

Selkie, the royal family categorically should not control the press in any way shape or form. Given the number of lawsuits against other counties’ media (France?) re intrusive photos, I think they toe the line, just and no more. Look at the blackout on Harry in the armed forces, they can and do play ball when it matters.

That aside, the queen can’t afford to get on the wrong side of the press, it’s taken a long time to get them back on her side.

IcedPurple · 28/12/2018 14:23

I thought suggesting that the queen might want to express her displeasure about the treatment of her family member (as she has done before) and the very obvious click bait market that is built up around any ‘rift’ .

Aside from the fact that what you are suggesting involves a breach of freedom of speech - a fundamental right in any democracy - you are also discounting the possibility that a) at least some of what is being reported might actually be true and b) someone pretty high up in the HM's own family might be the one 'leaking' to the press.

All public figures are the subject of press speculation - some of it will be positive, some of it won't be. Why should members of the 'royal' family - who owe their immense privilege to an accident of birth or marriage - be immune from the latter? They don't hesitate to use the media when it suits them, after all.

RCohle · 28/12/2018 15:11

Surely it's not a violation of freedom of speech for the Queen to ask the tabloids to refrain from reporting on certain topics?

She is free to make the request and they are free to ignore her if they wish.

It's not as if she has any actual power, so there would be no implied threat in a request from her as there would be from e.g. the PM.

IcedPurple · 28/12/2018 15:19

The queen may not technically have much power, but it's naive to think that a 'request' from her would carry the same level of threat, or lack thereof, as a 'request' from Joe Bloggs. Otherwise why suggest that she make such a 'request'?

RCohle · 28/12/2018 15:28

Because, call me naive, I do think the tabloids have and will withhold publication when it is genuinely in the public interests to do so eg Harry's deployment.

If the royals are just asking the papers not to report gossip like Kate and Meghan not liking each other, then the papers will publish and will probably also publish that the royals asked them not to go to print.

I just really don't see that anyone's freedom of speech is being infringed.

IcedPurple · 28/12/2018 15:36

Because, call me naive, I do think the tabloids have and will withhold publication when it is genuinely in the public interests to do so eg Harry's deployment.

Well.... that's precisely my point. A 'request' from the palace just isn't the same as a 'request' from Joe Bloggs.

If the royals are just asking the papers not to report gossip like Kate and Meghan not liking each other, then the papers will publish and will probably also publish that the royals asked them not to go to print.

But they would be 'asking' in the hope/expectation that their 'request' would be respected, simply because of who they are. Otherwise why ask?

I just really don't see that anyone's freedom of speech is being infringed.

Right now, nobody's is, and long may it remain that way. However, the poster who made the suggestion that HM should 'ask' the papers to stop publishing stuff she disapproves of seems to believe that the royals should have the right to prevent publication of articles which do not break any laws but which are not to their pleasing. That would very obviously be an infringement of the right to freedom of speech.

RCohle · 28/12/2018 15:45

On the contrary, I think the papers would respect a request from anyone if the national interest was at stake.

I think anyone who was appearing in the papers would feel it was their right to write to the press and have their side of the story noted - I think the royals should have that freedom too.

But it is happening currently. Didn't Harry write to the press about they way they were treating Meghan Markle last year?

IcedPurple · 28/12/2018 15:59

I think anyone who was appearing in the papers would feel it was their right to write to the press and have their side of the story noted - I think the royals should have that freedom too.

There's a significant difference between puttting forward your side of the story and 'asking' the press not to report stories you don't like. Anyway, they do have that freedom. A press release from the royals will instantly make the headlines, which certainly could not be said for your average person who wanted their side of the story heard. However, their policy is generally one of 'never explain, never complain' - as it's believed the palace is better served by remaining aloof from the tittle tattle of the press. Sounds like a wise policy in the long run.

But it is happening currently. Didn't Harry write to the press about they way they were treating Meghan Markle last year?

Yes and apparantly many in the royal establishment were not amused, for the reasons noted above.

SilverySurfer · 28/12/2018 18:23

Leighhalfpennysthigh
However, she does come across as fake and insincere. That might be due to her job as a obviously not very good actor, or it may be that she is a bit fake and insincere

Meow, meow, meow Hmm

I think Kate is far more fake and calculating. From what I've heard she was determined to try to catch William. It's apparently no coincidence that she chose St Andrews.

Snowballs4ever · 28/12/2018 18:32

I find Megan, Harry and most of the royals annoying and brattish. I think the public are going off them, hopefully we will have a republic soon.

IcedPurple · 28/12/2018 18:37

I think Kate is far more fake and calculating. From what I've heard she was determined to try to catch William. It's apparently no coincidence that she chose St Andrews.

I've not got much time for any of the 'royals'. As I've said above, I reckon none of them are special, nor should they be treated as such. If we're going to fund their lavish lifestyles, the least we should be allowed is a bit of gossip about them.

But I guess by your own standards, meow meow meow?

dapplegrey · 28/12/2018 18:49

also think Kate is a waste of space and the two princes thick as shit.
What a spiteful comment Leigh

VladmirsPoutine · 28/12/2018 19:18

To be fair, I don't blame Kate for her efforts to snare the prince. I'm sure he didn't go along against his free will and frankly some woman somewhere would have had to do it so why not give it a shot. Frankly the life of a princess is a once in a lifetime opportunity so seize it if you get the chance and you are so inclined.

Not dissimilarly to the Kardashians IMVHO (in my very honest opinion), a combined talent, skill and knowledge as a turtle trying to fry a slice of bacon but they created a globally successful company & franchise based on not very much. More power to their collective vacuous elbows!

VladmirsPoutine · 28/12/2018 19:22

Muggins 'ere gets up very early in the morning and often arrives home 12 hours later. I've done pretty well for myself in life and I'd say I've accomplished a fair bit but given the chance to sell this all in for the life of riley then I'll take my tea with milk and one sugar please Grin

StitchingMoss · 28/12/2018 19:31

@dapplegrey, I think we can all agree that the princes aren’t the sharpest tools in the box. They had the absolute best education money can buy and left with mediocre results (and that’s being kind).

But then they don’t need to be clever - an accident of birth has given them a life of opulence, luxury and privilege that we can barely dream of. And it really can’t be that bad as Kate and Meghan both seemed pretty bloody keen to marry into it so let’s not have too much “woe is them”.

dapplegrey · 28/12/2018 19:36

Stitching I thought using the word ‘thick’ was frowned on on mumsnet. Maybe it’s ok though, if referring to the royal family.
Maybe they do have a life of luxury - I still think that comment was spiteful.

IcedPurple · 28/12/2018 19:36

Muggins 'ere gets up very early in the morning and often arrives home 12 hours later. I've done pretty well for myself in life and I'd say I've accomplished a fair bit but given the chance to sell this all in for the life of riley then I'll take my tea with milk and one sugar please

Exactly.

These women knew what they were letting themselves in for and seem to have enthusiasically sought it out. In return for a lifetime of great (unearned) privilege and prestige, they have to endure a bit of tittle-tattle in the tabloids and have to learn to cross their legs only at the ankles in public. Ho hum.

Would I want it? Honestly - no. But Kate and Meghan obviously did and do. They are not victims. Quite the opposite.

bertielab · 28/12/2018 20:12

Charles and Camilla both live pretty much on their own.

Rather than a divorce -I think they all but have a public marriage -else one of them is ill or both. -Both of them are getting on.

W&C seem very stable and happy.
H&M seem very happy.

Let them get on with it.