to wish Harry and Meghan would stop holding hands when on official engagements

[FleetwithPike]

I think she is beautiful and he seems like a nice chap. I wish them a long and happy life with their child/ren.

But for the love of God, could they stop holding hands - they're not on a date, they're carrying out official business!

Makes me cringe, so it does.

Indeed

I do agree with this that you said- "We see in them what we wish to see, to make ourselves feel better about our lives. I.e. we watn to feel professional because We would not hold hands at work, or we are open adn down to earth and think it's okay etc. As such, they serve a psychological function in society, which is however, sad and unhealthy. Better for people to focus on their own lives and those real people aroudn them instead of wasting brain time on these people who do nothing for them."

I would add that it's not just restricted to people in high society though. ANY person (nearly always a woman) who stands out as 'different' or 'elevated' in some way, seems to be a target. And that's not on. That's what I'm objecting to.

I also think that 'Harry' could be anybody; it is Meghan whom women have their claws out for, and that's an indictment of their inadequacies, not Meghan's. We ought to stop doing that, really stop it.

I think you misunderstna,d my point is that the royals serve a psychological function in society where people see in them what they want to see, compare themselves to them, mirror their own emotions etc in them. It is very admirable that you think it is very wrong to womment on other people's relationships, very well mannered adn ethical. It is, however, also quite unrealistic. Thinking about other people's relationships and commenting on them is a natural human instinct and activity. It should be done respectfully and perhaps even not aloud, however, my point is that where the royals are concerned, their displays of personal lives in public practically invites this sort of speculation, which is one of the many bad things about monarchy.

Oh I see your second post now. So we do in fact agree to some extent : ) I agree many people have their claws out for Meghan and all women in public life or in general women who stand out. And it's wrong. However, my first point about their marriage looking insecure was certainly not a criticims om Meghan. She seems like a nice person, I have nothing against her, and it's cool that the royal family has accepted a mixed race woman into their fold. All my point was is that holding hands in public that much seems a bit insecure, and in general, their marriage seems a bit like it's an unrealistic fairytale. But then, sometimes fairytales do come true, can only hope that for them.

My second point was about how these discussions about how royals should behave are just silly. We ought to say that we will no longer pay for the upkeep of people who offer us nothing more interesting or worthwile to discuss/add nothing more to our lives than the chance to project our own feelings onto them (we can do that on other celebrities and that's free and they've volunteered for the role, rather than being born into it and had no chance of escaping.) and disucss whether they should hold hands in public or not. Really.

I think they should have discreetly and diplomatically called a halt to hand-holding when they tied the knot because..........now that they've set a precedent the tabloids will go into overdrive if they decide to stop!

The speculation, the rumours, the media autopsies that will ensue will be never-ending and unbelievable - still, it'll block out Brexit (whether we leave, don't leave, half-leave etc, etc, etc.)

I think perhaps rather than misunderstand, I put a different 'filter' on your post, London. I appreciate your reply though.

I don't see the royal family - or celebs - or a nice-looking mum on a school run (which was my point) - as a valid 'whipping boy' for my frustrations with my life.

I don't think it's natural human instinct either because if it were we'd a) all be doing it (and we're not), and b) we wouldn't mind if other people did it to us... and I could present you with a few thousand threads in support of what I'm saying.

It's not particularly ethical, well-mannered or admirable to not be a spiteful person. That makes me sad that you think it is.

I don't have a view on the value of the monarchy; there are quite a few politicians that I'd see the back of first. They do nothing, cost a lot and bring in next to no tourism. They also do harm because they are incompetent and deceitful. The RF don't actively 'do harm' that I can see.

Another disparity; other than Boris' mad hair in the wind he gets away with it all. Nobody even comments that his clothes are ill-fitting or that his bottom needs bigger trousers. But then. He's a M-A-N and therefore exempt. I'm using him as an example. Pick any male politician you want. However, put Theresa May in the firing line and before the thinking posters arrive, there will be hundreds of posts about what a show of herself she made in that dress/doing that dance/pulling that face. Because she doesn't have a penis.

I'm not ok with any of that. We focus on the minutiae and then wonder how the big and important stuff got past us...

That's my take on it anyway. I'm not a follower and I know that my views are ones that most if not everybody, will disagree with me on. I'm ok with that.

‘But sick days for pregnant women are protected and not allowed to be held against them’

There are many rights of employment we are ‘entitled’ to, but that doesn’t mean they are always easy for us mere, paid mortals to take. As a senior manager in a large multinational..taking time off to deal with the common tolls of pregnancy, would have gone done like a pink lead balloon. But perhaps things have moved on a little since then

I obviously cross-posted with you, London... and now I think we might be kindred spirits! . Sorry about that.

People most definitely seem to see what they want to see.

Is a couple holding hands a sign of a marriage under pressure and unlikely to last?

I'll have to look more closely at the very old couples I often see walking around my town who shuffle along together holding each other's hands.

Maybe those old people are throwing plates and screaming at each other in the privacy of their own homes. I don't know. Any more than anyone on this thread knows about the relationship between these two newly married people yet feel able to state that the marriage won't last.

You see what you want to see and interpret everything in a way you want to interpret it. Meanwhile you really have no idea.

I'll have to look more closely at the very old couples I often see walking around my town who shuffle along together holding each other's hands.

Ha. Quite. I’ll have to tell my Nan and Granddad that despite making it to 60 years married, holding hands in public and exchanging loving glances means people will be watching them and deciding that their marriage is under pressure.

Genuinely lolling at Megs needing support and that's why she clings on for dear life (with both hands). She's clearly an actress, and she knows full well a hundred cameras are on her. A proper royal acts as though the media aren't even there.

As for the hand on the 'bump'

Poor woman. Now she's at fault for touching her bump.

Almost every pregnant woman I've every known has done that. Perhaps she's happy to be pregnant and is just proud of her small bump.

Or no. Perhaps she's a MNer and like some of the pps on this thread knows her marriage is on the skids and is worrying about how she's going to to support her poor homeless baby once she's a single mother.

Could be a Shakespearean inference on human behaviour to draw from this..she who doth holdest too much

Almost every pregnant woman I've every known has done that. Perhaps she's happy to be pregnant and is just proud of her small bump.

I know. People are really reaching to try and make normal things seem weird. I don’t get it?

Have you noticed how they always seem to be smiling too? Desperately trying to hide their failing marriage with these wide-eyed maniacal grins? Smiling is usually a sign of extreme sadness.

Have you noticed how they always seem to be smiling too? Desperately trying to hide their failing marriage with these wide-eyed maniacal grins? Smiling is usually a sign of extreme sadness.

🤣

MaddieElla

Genuinely lolling at Megs needing support and that's why she clings on for dear life (with both hands). She's clearly an actress, and she knows full well a hundred cameras are on her. A proper royal acts as though the media aren't even there.

Yes.

I was not aware that this forum had poster-monitors! Lol

There is at least one obsessive Meghan fan on here with various usernames who very much sees themselves as the ‘Meghan monitor’. I’m not sure they’re on this thread though.

There is at least one obsessive Meghan fan on here with various usernames who very much sees themselves as the ‘Meghan monitor’. I’m not sure they’re on this thread though.

Maybe it’s Meghan

Another thing people keep saying is it's un-British. Does anyone need reminding that the lady in question is not, in fact, British? Now she's become a Royal apparently she has to suddenly button it, and be all stiff and proper. Any bets on the next set of grumbles if she did that very thing? "Hmph, I thought she'd be a breath of fresh air for the Monarchy, but look at her, she's just turned into a soulless clone..."

“Hmph, I thought she'd be a breath of fresh air for the Monarchy, but look at her, she's just turned into a soulless clone”

You stole my line!

You’re right Annie. Some people do tend to get almost gleeful picking holes in women in the public eye.

With all the misery, hate and fear in the world right now it says SOOO much about that what you hate most is... to see a young couple in love and happy.!!! How sad for you.

No no no no no! iwunder They are not in love, can't you see? Harry's Strained look, Meghan grimacing maniacally. They're not holding hands, its Meghan clasping Harry's hand knowing fully well he wants to leave her but its a SIGN she wants to hold on for as long as she can. She's a right cow that one. Its only a matter of time, according to the Queens adviser (Queen, who knows the queens thoughts)) that Queenie makes an announcement about her displeasure at both of them.