The latest royal family drama

[Kinsters]

It's like a TV show. How embarrassing!

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/royal-aides-reveal-meghan-bullying-claim-before-oprah-interview-7sxfvd2c3

The latest is that Meghan is accused of bullying staff. Harry and Meghan then responded that Buckingham Palace was using the Times to peddle false stories/a smear campaign. So presumably the "leak" comes from Buckingham Palace/the Queen.

It's all so childish. Why can't they all just be grateful for the extremely cushy life that they have!

I'll be watching the Oprah interview. I think the royals never come across well in these kind of things. Like Andrew's awful interview...he's just so out of touch with reality. And I think that's a characteristic that Harry unfortunately shares with him.

Obvs PA is a special kind of knob and has been for a long time- and that's before we even dig into the Epstein scandal. But a lot of his staff, including his close protection staff, will be ex army. I'm not making excuses for him or minimising his disgraceful behaviour towards staff, but frankly the shit he threw at them was probably not too far from what many would have seen in the course of their Forces careers. You'd know he treats everyone like that, no one (including the press/public) is under any illusions about his personality and you can go and have a moan with your colleagues who he did the same thing to last week.

That's different to the allegations made in 2018 against MM, having "one person in her sights" and the undermining of the confidence of (female) staff who are more likely to be from a corporate work environment where that sort of behaviour doesn't form part of the culture and isn't tolerated. And doing that whilst obstensibly standing up for women and preaching kindness and compassion in public...well, it doesn't really read well does it.

I'm absolutely not making excuses for PA and I hope ALL instances of workplace bullying are fully investigated. I can just see why given the context the bullying allegations against MM have got more traction than those involving PA ever did.

IMO only a sociopath could see the horrendous living conditions in the slums of South Africa, and then use that publicity opportunity to complain about their own wealthy, pampered and privileged life

I wouldn't disagree - it was a turning point for me too - but in fairness Meghan was hardly alone in that; Harry was blasting his victimhood too, whining about being triggered with every camera click and all the rest

Funny how he doesn't seem to mind cameras now, isn't it?

@SunbathingDragon backlash yes that was bound to happen. HMQ's patronage brings a global profile and infinitely better funding to charities and organisations, none of them will fuck about with that. Patronage by Meghan who?

Kate Robertson's comments are bang on.

They are dysfunctional, I agree. And times.. they are a'changing. As the older generation die out, the younger ones are just not engaged with them at all, it's a mixture of indifference or thinking the RF should be disbanded.

And if they've got any sense they will realise this, and Charles will streamline and change everything a lot. In this mad world with all that goes on, people want them to hang on to as a beacon, a symbol, but change is desperately needed because to my mind, they are showing themselves up again and again.

Apart from streamlining into just Charles, W&K, there needs to be far far more transparency about finances. I read an article the other day about their worth, it was completely and utterly gobsmacking. I'll have to try and find it again.

[quote MoChridhe]mobile.twitter.com/KateWilliamsme/status/1367259849327845385[/quote]
Wow, the internet never forgets. That is a lot of receipts from twitter. Love the James O'Brien talk.

@Roussette

They are dysfunctional, I agree. And times.. they are a'changing. As the older generation die out, the younger ones are just not engaged with them at all, it's a mixture of indifference or thinking the RF should be disbanded.

And if they've got any sense they will realise this, and Charles will streamline and change everything a lot. In this mad world with all that goes on, people want them to hang on to as a beacon, a symbol, but change is desperately needed because to my mind, they are showing themselves up again and again.

Apart from streamlining into just Charles, W&K, there needs to be far far more transparency about finances. I read an article the other day about their worth, it was completely and utterly gobsmacking. I'll have to try and find it again.

What’s the point slimming them down? Either we want a Republic or we don’t, trying to ‘reform’ the monarchy won’t work because it relies on being outdated and self-serving with all the pomp and ceremony.

The point that has struck me is how many layers of management and communication does the Royal Family need. How many Foundations need to be set up, for what exactly. What happened to Sentebele, a cause for orphans dear to PH’s heart.

They are just off to the next big thing.

I also thought James Corbin and PH came across as a pair of wallys. I watched a couple of minutes and the knocking on the woman’s door pretending to be interested in buying her house and the rapping were cringeworthy. Please spare us

@OliviaBean^
You have to wonder what their end game is.

Having failed to be the star show, I think she wants to bring down the RF

They’re just so dysfunctional so a family like most others then? they represent us but they're all still people with private lives that can be messy at times just like everyone else.

Harry does not mind the camera now with Oprah or James because he knows they are not spending that time trying to figure out how they can report to make MM look bad somehow.

What’s the point slimming them down? Either we want a Republic or we don’t, trying to ‘reform’ the monarchy won’t work because it relies on being outdated and self-serving with all the pomp and ceremony.

Because becoming a Republic just will not happen. Best option is a slim down.

I used to be quite supportive of the Royal Family but question their value more and more these days.

Thinking it through logically, as a nation we defer to this family of ordinary and flawed individuals who just happen to have been born Royal. Their ancestors happened to be more ruthless and power grabbing than our own.

And now we hear reports of how vile they treat their own poorly paid and powerless staff. Andrew is known to be appalling to his staff, the toad of toad hall. I read in a book about him how the police had locked the usual gate to his residence (for a legitimate reason) and rather than drive around the 5 minute detour to another gate, he smashed straight through it in temper causing thousands of pounds of damage and a nightmare security risk. Now we see evidence Harry and Meghan have been dreadful too.

I hope the investigation is wide ranging and looks into treatment of staff by all 'Principals'.

Having failed to be the star show, I think she wants to bring down the RF

Oh please. That is just batshit crazy. What twaddle

@Roussette

What’s the point slimming them down? Either we want a Republic or we don’t, trying to ‘reform’ the monarchy won’t work because it relies on being outdated and self-serving with all the pomp and ceremony.

Because becoming a Republic just will not happen. Best option is a slim down.

I think it will. I think the way things have gone the past 5 years or so, the UK is no longer afraid of making ‘big’ changes (although whether or not they’re good decisions is another matter!)

Young people certainly have a better sense of social justice and are less starry eyed over the Royals, in a way that the very patriotic boomers seem to be.

I think it will happen within 30 years or so. I think there will be a referendum, and it will be a great opportunity to finally have a codified constitution. That’s just me 🤷🏼‍♀️

I used to be quite supportive of the Royal Family but question their value more and more these days

I used to be too.
I remember I used to be on a niche forum over a decade ago to do with a hobby. I defended the RF vigorously with a very long post. I now feel different.
There was a turning point for me, but I won't bore you with it. Needless to say, I don't feel the same.

What I find hilarious is the posters/squad who bend over backwards to defend two incredibly privileged people who don't even know they exist. It's fascinating and bizarre. Why are 'commoners' so invested in 'protecting' them and projecting entire narratives and backstories on to them?
The undercurrent of 'bullying women in the workplace' is fine if the people doing it are rich and famous ... well, it's as though MeToo never happened.
And the incredibly low barrier that says 'as long as people don't meet any known paedophiles' then every other low standard of behaviour is acceptable . . . it is fascinating on what it says about moral relativism
Not to mention the sheer bloodymindedness it must take to continually call out Prince Andrew whilst ignoring Blair and the Clintons. I understand why the US MSM wants the focus firmly on the UK but yet again, I'm amused by the UK people so eager to lap up their agenda. Although I'm also reminded of the Depp case where it was made clear that US PR companies flood social media with posts and hashtags to try to push certain agendas and pretend they're grassroots campaigns rather than manufactured paid-for posts.

Having observed, on and off, I have come to the conclusion that MM waded in all guns blazing at the beginning and was told to "wind her neck in", which she found difficult.
She would have been better advised to watch and learn for a while before developing her own style.
Alternatively, she may have realised that she had bitten off far more than she could chew or carry off in a believable way, so the only option was to retreat (abroad).
What is that old saying, pay attention to how someone treats the "staff"? This is so true.

@Roussette

Ahhh... true to form... Andrew Neil has now just said 'poor people are fat'

I thought he was worth millions ...

Interesting Wondermule You're probably right! Doubtful I'll be around when it happens though.
A good start would be a slim down though done by Charles.. it can't go on like it is now for 30 years

I thought he was worth millions ...

Hahaha that made me laugh out loud whilst eating a cheese toastie, not good 😂

Harry has done more damage to them than done in hundreds of years

Arf.

They've managed to shoot themselves in the foot on a regular basis since before he was born. That's not saying his help isn't a welcome contribution though.

Young people certainly have a better sense of social justice and are less starry eyed over the Royals, in a way that the very patriotic boomers seem to be. a better sense of social justice? haha codswallop.

I just think that the RF could get away with far far more before the advent of social media.
They could control every single little bit of any problem. Taking their time to release an official announcement etc. All that has changed. Their 'subjects' are on it.
The press are on it.
There is no time lag, no delay whilst they prepare, they have to respond quickly.
Unless you're Andrew of course, you then just have the arrogance to think you can sweep everything under the carpet with an interview