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Meg and Harry supporting race and mental health charities in UK

534 replies

Sprining · 14/03/2021 06:52

Brilliant to hear this. They have approached three charities in UK including Mind and a charity to increase diversity in the media and press.

Great, doing good based on their experiences.

OP posts:
Marmaladeagain · 16/03/2021 20:40

I use Senate as an example of something little understood in the UK.

Presidents - lots will have an opinion on and a stab at what their powers are - although often people in the UK misunderstood the extent the power a President of US may have at their disposal.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 16/03/2021 20:49

So what you are saying is he is Robin to William's batman

He appears in some films but is actually irrelevant. The films carry on without him and don't actually need that character.

RickiTarr · 16/03/2021 20:55

@Marmaladeagain

I really understand why the US don't understand Harry's irrelevance in the UK going forward.

It would be the equivalent of the UK running a poll on a UK audience about why the Senate in US should be abolished. They might have opinions, but on the whole it will be wildly misunderstood. It's a whole different system.

I'm confident the truth will out in time. Harry is having the most explosive tantrum that he wasn't first born and can't run the show and make decisions. Every generation it happens.

Imagine if Richard III could have got an interview on Oprah back in the day - he'd be doing a good job of portraying himself as the victim towards questions about young Princes that were in the way of him and the crown. (Yes, I know in dispute and Shakespeare portrayal etc).

It's just a product of the time we live in and people two foolish enough to think Oprah is their friend. They are useful, when they aren't useful then they're not useful.

Just to clarify - so some don't get apoplectic - I have massive respect for the business Oprah built, but I really don't respect that style of TV in the slightest. It is insincere at its core.

That’s a brilliant explanation.

The mutual incomprehension between Britons and Americans over this is getting frustrating.

RickiTarr · 16/03/2021 20:55

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

So what you are saying is he is Robin to William's batman

He appears in some films but is actually irrelevant. The films carry on without him and don't actually need that character.

That’s it! GrinGrin
Marmaladeagain · 16/03/2021 21:02

I love it, Batman franchise - that's how the US might get some understanding of the RF! Brilliant!

Also: "The thing I find hard to comprehend is they are now publicly trashing Harry's family isn't that the exact same thing they complained about her family doing?" spot on @samefourwalls

I know everyone says M's father is abusive, but she was happy for him to walk her down the aisle until he was in hospital and unable to fly. Charles stepped in at last minute.

The RF are at fault for not protecting her father really - what a bizarre version of reality he would have found himself in and Harry still hadn't even yet met him at that time?! Also never has since then obviously.

I do not respect Harry for not making the effort to meet his future father-in-law. At least go to the trouble of telling M's father in person what the rules are before banishing him from the fairy-tale for breaking the "rules" he didn't quite understand.

Can't help but feel bit sorry for her father. In the end people commit murder and get more charity from their own family than M is showing hers.

M&H are indeed doing exactly what M says is unforgiveable in her own father.

RubyViolet · 16/03/2021 21:36

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

So what you are saying is he is Robin to William's batman

He appears in some films but is actually irrelevant. The films carry on without him and don't actually need that character.

Excellent comparison.
RickiTarr · 16/03/2021 21:46

This just popped up on my YouTube courtesy of the algorithm. It’s a good bit of American journalism attempting to explain the British context properly. So that’s encouraging & I’ve subscribed to ABC’s channel at least for now. (It’s hard to know which US news sources to follow outside of the obviously high standard ones like NYT. Thank you algorithm!)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=P9x-aZzSmY8

PurpleWh1teGreen · 16/03/2021 21:56

@ListeningQuietly

Mummy195 If you read the thread title and the OP, it purports that M&H are supporting charities in the UK

As you might have guessed by now, looking up Charity Governance is something I'm pretty good at.

I have no comment on Meghan or Harry as people.

I've made no comment about the personal lives of any other members of either of their families

what I have called out - repeatedly
is the lie that they are doing ANYTHING for UK charities
since they decamped to LA

Worth repeating.

I'm sure Harry has plenty of time on his hands now. Perhaps he could support UK helplines for mental health by taking some of the overnight calls as he is in a different time zone.

Then again, those charities need volunteers who are capable of thinking about others.

Marmaladeagain · 16/03/2021 22:09

Ok, I think the Batman analogy works well for US - it isn't important who's playing Batman, in fact it's irrelevant, as long as they want to do it and take the role on and commit to it.

We don't have any reverence as such to the actor playing Batman, but the role of Batman represents a place in our political system which is recognised as a "service" and "commitment" beyond any normal job - and we respect that and the person willing to honour that role. Full time life of army style commitment that doesn't end for the various people in the RF, but it's the Queen's show.

Harry isn't special or royal -he's a regular guy now, he doesn't have the mystique of someone who gives their life over to public life that none of us would want to do. No problem with that, but he isn't "royal" anymore in our eyes.

The person isn't royal, different or special - their dedication to the role is what is being respected.

It's the role, not the person so the US are wildly misunderstand anyone's importance as such - it is respecting the life of service they live - a bit like some feel honoured to meet the Pope - it's the position and service, not the person.

I think some in the US might still think the royal family are special in that they're better than us. We don't think that, I know some of the republicans think that is the case - it's respecting the RF commitment to service.

Not saying it's perfect, but that's what royalty are really - Batman franchise

I don't think in modern times we would accept someone on the throne like Andrew for example (who should be investigated properly) and he would be required to step aside asap (into police station for questioning).

GCAcademic · 16/03/2021 22:17

Harry is having the most explosive tantrum that he wasn't first born and can't run the show and make decisions. Every generation it happens.

Oh god, we're going to have this all over again with Charlotte and Louis haven't we?

GCAcademic · 16/03/2021 22:18

Oh bugger it, excuse the awful grammar in previous post.

1234abzee · 16/03/2021 22:18

@GCAcademic

Harry is having the most explosive tantrum that he wasn't first born and can't run the show and make decisions. Every generation it happens.

Oh god, we're going to have this all over again with Charlotte and Louis haven't we?

:)

Harry's on record as saying no one really wants the top job....deflection from his true wishes perhaps?

Hopefully by the time George ascends the throne, there's been a plan put in place for Charlotte and Louis to lead equally productive lives.

RickiTarr · 16/03/2021 22:21

I don't think in modern times we would accept someone on the throne like Andrew for example (who should be investigated properly) and he would be required to step aside asap (into police station for questioning).

You know for all the critical things I’ve said about Andrew, I hadn’t stopped to consider that, if the birth order were different, he would be heir to throne and we would already be deep into another constitutional crisis. I mean, I know he’s a simmering scandal, but at least he doesn’t have relevance to the direct succession.

I used to think it was luck that we keep getting the more serious minded royal sibling as the eldest and therefore the heir (The Queen, Charles, William). After all Edward VIII bolted from the job, so it can’t just be conditioning as they grow up.

Margaret, Andrew or Harry would all have made disastrous monarchs, one way or the other. Although Anne would have been fab and Edward probably pretty good too.

However now I think it must be nurture as much as nature. They just train and educate the heirs very well for the role.

1234abzee · 16/03/2021 22:22

And if H hadn't married ambitious Megs (who does want the top job of Queen, I'd say

) but a less ambitious person, he probably wouldn't have thrown the mother of all strops.

RickiTarr · 16/03/2021 22:25

Oh god, we're going to have this all over again with Charlotte and Louis haven't we?

George, Charlotte & Louis will be the first children of a British monarchs to be the offspring of two graduates. William & Kate reflect the wider, increasing, social trend of assorts you’ve mating. Kate has brought some extra intelligence to add into the blue blood.

I also think - apologies I’ve said this elsewhere this week - that she and William will have sought professional advice on the psychological aspects of raising happy children in a royal goldfish bowl, and I think they probably did that before they were even parents.

Cause to hope for increased emotional stability in that family.

GoLightlyontheEarth · 16/03/2021 22:26

@GCAcademic

Harry is having the most explosive tantrum that he wasn't first born and can't run the show and make decisions. Every generation it happens.

Oh god, we're going to have this all over again with Charlotte and Louis haven't we?

I think their parents are going to make damn sure they have a more rounded experience of life and careers. Kate is a normal woman from a normal family which will give them a massive head start. William will probably be the most grounded King this country has ever had.
RickiTarr · 16/03/2021 22:30

Oh gosh so many typos in that last post of mine. Sorry, I’m bushed.

One of things I was trying to reference was “assortative mating”. I won’t try to correct all the other mistakes. Grin

Marmaladeagain · 16/03/2021 22:42

when I say "don't think we'd accept Andrew" I mean I'd be out on the streets calling for his removal! No-one would accept him. It's a role, they're not innately "royal" and "special". Just people. We respect them for service, not because they've got DNA from someone in the line.

I kind of gave up correcting my own posts a long while ago, unless completely incoherent. Life's too short! Forum is informal for me anyway, I know some may have higher standards still - but meh, not bothered. Smile

RickiTarr · 16/03/2021 22:44

@Marmaladeagain

when I say "don't think we'd accept Andrew" I mean I'd be out on the streets calling for his removal! No-one would accept him. It's a role, they're not innately "royal" and "special". Just people. We respect them for service, not because they've got DNA from someone in the line.

I kind of gave up correcting my own posts a long while ago, unless completely incoherent. Life's too short! Forum is informal for me anyway, I know some may have higher standards still - but meh, not bothered. Smile

I for one knew what you meant. It made me think about how early the protests would have started.
YouokHun · 16/03/2021 23:19

@Diverseopinions

I think Mind have a lot of locally-based charities which, say, take over a house and use it as a meeting place where people who would like support hang out. There is help from counsellors too. My friend used to go. We are deeply fortunate in South East London that a lot of the cafes are friendly, welcoming and inclusive places too. Some of my friends with mental health needs visit, read the newspapers, eat and drink and chat to the lovely proprietors and their families - and other customers too. I often think of our cafes ( numerous) as a bit of a - not exactly emergency service - but community service. My son who has mental health issues and autism has always been welcomed in these fantastic places. A real inclusive ethos is created.
Exactly right @Diverseopinions, I was coming on to defend MIND. It’s a big organisation and isn’t perfect but it does a lot of good at local level. I’ve worked in two branches of MIND as a therapist (attached through primary care). Both hubs did some amazing work, often filling in the gap for people in a very poor state of psychological health or with diagnosis they were trying to manage in the community: we provided sign posting to other agencies (drugs, alcohol, gambling, CSA), provided free classes in art therapy, mindfulness, provided free psychotherapy and low cost counselling with accredited practitioners, advice, MH advocacy for people trying to manage hospital stays, benefits advice in the context of MH including getting on the phone to the sharks at the benefits office or travelling to assessments, recovery college: skills teaching. We started a cafe that was a low cost hub for people with trained MH supporters behind the counter. It’s easy to slag MIND off and point to specific instances as a PP has done but take MIND out of the equation and lots of vulnerable people with scant attention from secondary care or in need of day to day light touch support and social contact, would be in real dire straits. Don’t knock it unless you’ve been on the front line and seen this and other services in action. But, there are many amazing charities, place2be and Papyrus are doing amazing work for young people.
HmmmmmmInteresting · 17/03/2021 16:20

The tide is turning against the RF. So they are ok to constantly leak stories to the press (so much for 'never explain, never complain'!), but when H&M speak directly to the media, ON RECORD and not as a cowardly 'source', they are vilified.

Read this interesting thread about the 'bullying' allegations:

twitter.com/nohiraeth/status/1371803394919305216?s=19

Marmaladeagain · 17/03/2021 16:32

No, it's not. Truth will out in the end, just have to wait a bit.

Marmaladeagain · 17/03/2021 16:33

for the US to catch up a bit, I mean. The UK, we're already there.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 17/03/2021 16:53

The lastest from their new voice box Gayle king. Apparently the poor innocent darling never met to label the family racist at all (Yeh right. They have realised that the general public are pissed off and now they are playing victim again and back peddling)

"It's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant."

toffeebutterpopcorn · 17/03/2021 16:55

Is she their PR then? Spin spin spin.

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