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.

H&M's problem is (and I don't blame them for this) is that they are trying to reason with people whose opinions aren't based on reason. I applaud them for trying and not giving up, but it just gives people more mud to throw at them. Good luck to them, in any case. Stay true to what you believe.

Still aghast at the misogyny though. Even on threads like this. God forbid that Harry is his own man, making his own decisions! No. It has to be MM pulling the strings, making poor Harry do all these things against his will. WTAF?

@patternnews

I think the big problem is that we live in a country where we have this outdated system of someone being head of state by virtue of being born into a particular family, and members of that family are seen as deserving respect and privilege, while they use huge amounts of resources to live lavish lifestyles. I'd be respectful if H&M got actual jobs or did some volunteering, and led a more normal lifestyle, but they've basically monetised the fact that Harry was born into the royal family, like posh instagram influencers, while claiming they don't like being in the public eye.

That is spot on! Wish I'd written that!

@ancientgran
I just think to use the insult "paedo" isn't appropriate as I haven't heard anything of that nature
I agree. I wince when I see him being called that on twitter. He may have been good friends with a paedophile but he isn't one. Let the law take it's course if the RF will allow it.

@PretendSpeedGun

It is interesting though that Meghan feels justified in speaking publicly with Oprah - her 'truth' about how badly she feels she has been treated. She has used the term 'bullying' herself. Yet when others speak their 'truth' which reflects badly on her it is a 'smear campaign'.

Why is her interview with Oprah not a 'smear campaign' then?

If you yourself go to the Queen of Chat Shows to complain about other people it can hardly be a shock when those people go to their own choice of provider to complain about you.

This is where most people exercise discretion.

I'm not really up on how the Oprah interview has been advertised, but where does it say it's about Meghan talking about how badly she's been treated? Genuine question. I've only seen the clips that have been released and they seem to be Harry talking.

The trailers all point to it - it is insinuated massively. 'Were you silent or were you silenced' - sad face Meghan...

If she doesn't bad mouth the Royals then they should really be furious with the way Oprah has promoted this interview as it would be very misleading...

They should choose a cause and focus on it - their latest update to the Archewell website again doesn't help them. Advice on the ways we can all help women - which to be honest sounds like something that would come out of a GCSE brainstorming session - 'cook her a meal' etc...

I'm not really up on how the Oprah interview has been advertised, but where does it say it's about Meghan talking about how badly she's been treated? Genuine question. I've only seen the clips that have been released and they seem to be Harry talking

If that isn't what is talked about people will be furious!

The teasers have clearly been edited to insinuate as much drama as possible. It will be interesting to see how much it delivers on that.

I'd love to find out why the nanny for Archie was dismissed in the middle of the night.
I'm sure a lot of staff if allowed could tell stories about ALL the royal family.

@knittingaddict

So if you have a dodgy relative, you’re absolved of all criticism? Great news 👍

Did I say that? It was in response to someone on the first page saying that Andrew and Harry were basically two peas in a pod.

Presumably Harry doesn't receive any money from UK tax payers, so I don't understand why anyone cares so much. I'm not a Royalist and the Royal family are largely an irrelevance. Prince Harry more than most. I don't understand the obsession with H and M on here.

Of course he does, he’s getting handouts from PC, whose money is from... 🥁... the taxpayer

I'd love to find out why the nanny for Archie was dismissed in the middle of the night

Someone on here says they know the nanny, you could find out!

As much as I don't understand the out and out obsession with H&M on Mumsnet and other websites, I also don't understand the opposite behaviour which seems to be blind determination to defend them whatever is said or written about them. I don't understand what they have done to earn their reputation as entirely blameless or faultless in the way the general public reacts to them.

I'm the ultimate fence-sitter on this. But I don't think they've made wise choices on several occasions. An interview with Oprah for heavens sake. George and Amal Clooney sitting right up front at their wedding. They are a showbiz couple now, with all that goes along with it.

Using the media when it suits is exactly what all celebs do - no matter their background
That's true, but that often leads to dislike and resentment from the public, especially if it's felt that the celebs aren't particularly talented or earned their status. Wiser celebs only do publicity when they really have to, keep it professional and keep a low profile the rest of the time.

I think that after Diana the RF entered into a sort of truce with the U.K. media, which has kept the peace since then.

I guess Meghan and her American advisers did not really take on board how fragile and finely balanced this was, and now the gloves are off.

I do think they need to step back, and stop trying to justify and explain themselves in the media. It just isn't going to work, not in the U.K. anyway, because the media then say that in the interest of balance they have a duty to investigate the other side of any story - and so it goes on!

I also don't understand the opposite behaviour which seems to be blind determination to defend them whatever is said or written about them. I don't understand what they have done to earn their reputation as entirely blameless or faultless in the way the general public reacts to them

Agree.

It is possible to hold two views at the same time: 1. That Meghan has been treated badly in the U.K. press and 2. She could well be an unpleasant individual behind the scenes who did not treat her royal staffers well.

They aren’t even opposing views. Both can be true.

We only see the public view of any celebrity. I imagine most people who are successful in Hollywood/tv/films don’t get there by being a ‘nice’ person.

I think this has come out because the Winfrey interview will highlight bullying both within the royal household and the Media. The palace and the media want to get their side out first before the interview airs. I think the interview is going to be very damaging. Not as damaging as Andrew however the powers that be have put a lot of effort into keeping a lid on that.

They really just need to keep their heads down and out of the public eye unless they want to use their position of fame to actually do some good in the world.

What I can't understand is that Harry must know that he is whipping up an absolute shitstorm by doing the Oprah thing. Every word, nuance of tone and body language is going to be picked over by the press, both here and in the US, I'm sure. He can't really think that this is going to set the record straight and then everyone will understand and leave them alone to do their good works, can he?
That didn't work out so well for Uncle A

@MissFlite

What I can't understand is that Harry must know that he is whipping up an absolute shitstorm by doing the Oprah thing. Every word, nuance of tone and body language is going to be picked over by the press, both here and in the US, I'm sure. He can't really think that this is going to set the record straight and then everyone will understand and leave them alone to do their good works, can he? That didn't work out so well for Uncle A

It never works well for anyone. It certainly didn’t for his parents. If they had any sense at all they’d just go to ground but they seem to be addicted to publicity and naive or stupid enough to think it’s only ever going to be positive. It epitomises the triumph of hope over experience.

The problem with multiple law suits against the press is that it gives a clear indicating as to what is true and what is false. Given their proclivity to sue - if they don't take action against the Times over these allegations you have to ask why. Truth is an absolute defence to defamation.

You can suddenly see the wisdom of just ignoring all press either good or bad - as it becomes less clear whether it is true or false..

If Harry sued over the Times' claim that he has not been in touch with Marines since moving to LA, surely they will sue over claims as damaging as these ones are.

They can sue only for cause. On that letter, they sued for beach of reasonable expectation of privacy. Suing for slander or defamation is really difficult though as there are so many "outs". If something is put forth as personal opinion, for example, or "a rumour is circulating" or "I've been told", it's very difficult to sue as these aren't statements of fact on the matter discussed, they are references to opinion or references only to it being discussed.

Take the allegation on the Charlotte murdering flowers for example, or the massacring avocados. Is that nonsense? Yes. Defamation? No, it's all cleverly worded to get around the law.

What was the Charlotte murdering flowers thing?