Harry stepping down as a royal family member

[kittykatkitty]

Just read this on their instagram page.
They plan on becoming private citizens

It’s not the Queen & senior royals (not including Andrew as a senior royal) behaving like Jeremy Kyle guests. Harry & Meghan are behaving like a couple of spoilt toddlers.

It's all gone wrong since the abdication hasn't it? There's been constant scandals since

This is an interesting point. Prior to the abdication the RF antics were no less scandalous, just less well known probably due to a combination of misplaced loyalty from their circle, less effective press coverage and too much unquestioning public deference.

HM is said to regret (and have had buried) a fly on the wall documentary filmed I think late 60's early 70's but I really don't think they could have resisted letting daylight in on the magic for much longer than they did.

I have also calculated that given the Duke of Windsor's childless marriage we'd have ended up with the current shower regardless albeit maybe a decade and a half or so later than we did.

Did anyone catch Tom Bradby on itv earlier?

He mentioned ‘unsettled relations’ and ‘comments made before the wedding’ as well as predicted Meghan would become the face of a brand.

I can’t see these two ever being out of the news. Even if people do get bored of it, they’ll magic up some other media storm to bring the focus back squarely on them.

I think the royal family need to be addressing this with a view to what might happen in the future. Charlotte and Louis are in the same position as harry and might want to do the same in future years.

I think the queen had 2 too many kids. She should have stopped at 2. Andy and eddie would not have been missed - petulant, arrogant arses in the day although Edward has stayed low profile and learned his lesson.

In 25 years' time we're going to have 2 more sponges without a proper role (I'd include the whole royal family in that but if the public wants them they'll still all be hanging around like a bad smell). If Kate has another then there'll be 3 spares. George might not even want the role or the UK will have had enough of them by then.

For those saying what bad timing in terms of the RF already being 2 down this past year - PP and PA - and the rest will have to shoulder a burden. Please check how many appointments they have a year. It could probably be condensed into three months a year of a normal 9-5 job. The rest of us have to do it so why not them? They have a lot of downtime. They'll just have to do a bit more.

Hopefully H&M won't get all they want - that statement makes it sound like they want to stay within the RF still working but on their reduced terms with all the benefits and who knows what else - "collaberations" with the queen, PC and PW no less, arrogant arses. They want to keep the nice bits - the commonwealth work, the patronages but not the boring visiting the WI in Newport Pagnell or the Kent lady farmer's knitting association etc.

Issuing that nasty “disappointed” statement but making clear they are very much the opposite of disappointed at Andrew being a rapist.

@joyfullittlehippo where has the queen said in a statement that she’s “disappointed”?

Looking at Harry and Meghan, I am reminded of Tony and Cherie Blair who were derided for their love of freebie holidays courtesy of rich friends. When Tony left office, he went on to set up a charitable foundation, to do lucrative after-dinner speaking engagements - and even charge for the privilege of having a photo taken with him. Outside the UK, lauded by the global elite, he cashed in very effectively on his Downing Street days. He was well-received in North America, in particular.

So I do think Meghan and Harry could follow a similar path to Tony and Cherie and they would be judged less for seeking personal financial renumeration for their activities - in addition to raising funds for charitable causes - in North America than would be the case in the UK.

where has the queen said in a statement that she’s “disappointed”?

That will be people quoting from the old reliable Sun newspaper no less. Taking it as gospel. No wonder the UK is so famous for the power of its rubbish tabloid papers :)

Disclaimer, I don't really care about any of this stuff but I've been watching the Crown (so I'm now an expert 🤣) and how they stonewalled Margaret on her wish to marry Peter Townsend makes me think the queen and palace courtiers don't really give a shit about anyone/anything but maintaining the royal institution.
I've been rewatching series 1 so I'm also an expert and I agree with you! All the Royals care about is the survival of the Royal Family. Its nothing to do with duty and everything to do with clinging on to power and status. The courtiers are the same, except they think they get status from following grown adults around with a personal toilet seat.

Apparently Meghan has gone back to Canada tonight. They'd left Archie there so obviously weren't planning on sticking around too long!

Sorry misread- she went back to Canada yesterday.

Sorry misread- she went back to Canada yesterday.

All the same, she must be confident he can handle negotiations with the fam on his own then, and she’s not worried he’s going to be swayed or manipulated into backing down.

That would make me think this is a very joint decision and not one masterminded and pushed through by Meghan alone.

"That would make me think this is a very joint decision and not one masterminded and pushed through by Meghan alone."

Or an ultimatum - me or them.

Good point

I actually think this is more Harry’s doing.

And not an ultimatum at all.

Her leaving him to it, and them leaving the baby in Canada shows she never intended to stay here for any length of time, if she had the baby would have come back with them,

I think she's given him an ultimatum. And that's what the extended holiday was, marriage crisis talks. Her and Archie or royal life. And that's why he's pushed the button.

I'd also say if this was a very joint decision they'd have brought the baby back and they'd have faced it together. She's come back. Went on a weird public unplanned engagement to the Canadian embassy, so they were photographed looking happy and holding hands, then she's got on the first flight back. She was never staying, and the Canadian embassy was playing the press.

It's an ultimatum all day long.

I think she's given him an ultimatum. And that's what the extended holiday was, marriage crisis talks. Her and Archie or royal life. And that's why he's pushed the button

If this is true, she didn't give it very long did she?

Of course nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors, but it's interesting that her previous marriage didn't last long either ...

Spot on @Bluntness100

Prince Charles needs to get his arse on a plane from Scotland and sort out his son. Harry is in crisis. William needs to put aside their differences and talk to him too.

Perhaps they had to go to the Canadian embassy to get a visa.

Oh FFS! When will all you mean people stop! Ironically you are the same people that post nonsense about mean in-laws and nasty neighbours or friends yet you have no shame laying it thick to someone you absolutely do not know.

The level of ill informed opinions some of you share is shocking! You continue to speculate even though in their own words ( the Sussex royal website if you care to read beyond the dailymail) they are quite clear on a number of things raised here. An example if that Frogmore cottage was already scheduled for renovations and not specifically for them! Many other royals live on properties belonging to the crown should they too move out? I mean after all they aren't senior royals.

They have no reason to give up their titles too and why should they? Why should one rule apply for other royals and not others. Would any of your bitter people on here stand the level of vitriol they have unnecessarily encountered and stand your ground? I doubt that because you wouldn't be in MN to post your trials and tribulations. At the heart of this they are human.

It feels me with so much anger how some of you people behave behind keyboards and towards total strangers at that! Shame on you!

Interesting points @CathyorClaire Yes we'd have ended up with the current lot in the end, although perhaps the Queen would have had more time with Phillip as just a wife possibly.

Who'd megs leave the baby with??! She left the baby behind where?

Yawn

Yup, everyone was confused by the sudden embassy trip on return as it was not planned, and Meghan looks deliriously happy in the photos, like it's the best day of her life. She looked happier than she did on her wedding. Totally over played it.

It was simply a photo opportunity for them to be photographed looking loved up, to stop any rumours of a split.

The fact Archie was left behind and she's gone yesterday shows that was always the plan. If she had not come back and he'd come back alone, everyone would have speculated it was a split that forced it.

The baby was left behind in Canada. He didn't come back to th uk with them. I'd guess her mother is there, as well as a nanny.

Do they not have any royal engagements lined up? Not sure how far in advance their diary is filled. I'm guessing they won't be doing any now anyway.