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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

432 replies

FleetwithPike · 22/10/2018 10:30

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.

OP posts:
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6
TatianaLarina · 22/10/2018 10:54

I cannot imagine giving a fuck.

Bluntness100 · 22/10/2018 10:55

As if they think are so much more in love than anyone else

Interview rhem did you? Or just a bit bitter with an active imagination?

newmumwithquestions · 22/10/2018 10:55

YANBU. They’re ‘paid’ to ‘work’.
Downtime - out on personal engagements- they should do what they like (I appreciate they don’t really get to do this but that’s a different problem).
Official engagements- physical contact isn’t appropriate!

BruegelTheElder · 22/10/2018 10:55

It's all in the tone Bruegel.

Yeah, I don't think saying "gee whizz, take a walk" can be interpreted as frothing indignation by any stretch of the imagination I'm afraid.

BruegelTheElder · 22/10/2018 10:58

"Working" life (if you can really call it that) and personal life in the royal family are basically one and the same. Their work is promoted by their personal life and vice versa. So I think the boundaries are a little less defined than a married couple holding hands while they click through a powerpoint display in a business meeting.

SleepingStandingUp · 22/10/2018 11:00

This is their first official overseas engagement as a married couple, part of their job is showing the world they're in love and united.
If they're in a meeting discussing proper stuff and they're holding hand fair enough. If they're walking along the beach and meeting the public then it's fine. They're not standing there snogging, he hasn't adopted the awful pose where guys put their arm round the shoulder and hold the women's breast. She hasn't got her hand on his arse.

Original poster
FleetwithPike · 22/10/2018 11:00

Been for a nice walk with my dog, thanks.

they are newly weds after all

So? Are they going to stop holding hands when they're not so newly wed? They can hold hands all they want when they're wandering around the Cotswolds or watching telly at KP but I think it's unprofessional (and cringey) when on royal business.

OP posts:
velourvoyageur · 22/10/2018 11:01

Yes, they really shouldn't be flaunting their heterosexual lifestyle choices. I don't mind what they do in private, but think of the children, they'll be getting ideas next.

SleepingStandingUp · 22/10/2018 11:01

Official engagements- physical contact isn’t appropriate!
The little boy who hugged them both?
The bear hug on the boat?

BruegelTheElder · 22/10/2018 11:01

velourvoyageur Grin

astoundedgoat · 22/10/2018 11:03

Definitely not a fan of monarchy in any way, shape or form, but God almighty - they're doing their best. The royal family in the UK is hanging on by a thread, and seen as less and less relevant in its formality and remoteness. These two are actively trying to be a "relaxed, normal" royal couple and loosen things up by showing affection and behaving like human beings.

theliverpoolone · 22/10/2018 11:03

They can't win whatever they do - you can bet if they never held hands the media would be running articles showing close ups of the 'distance' between them already etc.

NightmareDaemon · 22/10/2018 11:04

YABU and a misery guts

Original poster
FleetwithPike · 22/10/2018 11:05

astoundedgoat - Well, the Queen and Philip managed to keep the Royal Family respected and admired without holding hands on public engagements, don't see why Meghan and Harry can't follow suit.

OP posts:
ImDivingIn · 22/10/2018 11:06

If I was stepping out in front of the world’s press who were all desperate to get a picture of my stomach, and I was in the early stages of pregnancy, I would want someone to hold my hand. Even better if was my 6ft husband. Oh, and I would also be in ridiculous heels...

PatriciaHolm · 22/10/2018 11:06

They may be on business, but the only reason she's there is because she is married to him. The crowds WANT the hand holding, it's part of the "business"!

PatriciaHolm · 22/10/2018 11:07

Philip has does bog all to keep the family "respected"...!

NewLevelsOfTiredness · 22/10/2018 11:09

Even when 'working' they are what young people are seeing as the most famous 'newly weds' at the moment. I would MUCH rather said young people were seeing physical closeness between them than learning the importance of 'maintaining decorum' - and if that comes served with a side salad of "fuck what everyone thinks" then all the better.

'Work' and 'Personal life' are too intertwined with royalty. If we want their relationships to last and be a good example then we shouldn't be hoping that they're constantly stressing about if the internet people think such and such occasion is 'allowed.'

Sparklingbrook · 22/10/2018 11:10

Blimey. Is there no end to the moaning and griping about everything this woman does?

motherlondon · 22/10/2018 11:10

I think it's beautiful that he is so demonstrative of his love for her, considering he grew up probably never seeing his mum and dad be affectionate.
All the best to the them.

hellojim · 22/10/2018 11:10

I think it looks soppy and Meghan looks as if she would topple over if she wasn't holding Harry's hand. It's nice that the younger royals are becoming more approachable and showing a more human side but at the same time H and M are supposed to be representing their country not demonstrating their love for each other.

fuzzywuzzy · 22/10/2018 11:12

OP did you just say Philip managed to keep the family respected? 😆😆😆

DP and I work together we hold hands to and from work, not sitting at our desks but when going out to lunch and entering and exiting the building. Moreso when I was pregnant DP was incredibly protective.

I’ve seen a lot worse at work.

I think they’re sweet together. It’s nice to see help couples in love.

SleepingStandingUp · 22/10/2018 11:14

H and M are supposed to be representing their country not demonstrating their love for each other
But they're also there be a use this is their first married big job. I doubt he'd be there on his own. They're showing off the family business but also very specifically their position in it, which is in part as a married couple

BloobCurdling · 22/10/2018 11:14

They are at work, but a large part of their work is being a public spectacle and soap opera for people to ooh and aah over, so people like to see signs of affection between them and believe they are happy (which I think they are, not being cynical about that).

It's up to them, and why shouldn't they move on from what their parents and grandparents did? Let's hope they have a happier marriage too.

serenmoon · 22/10/2018 11:16

I wonder if they’re the same when the cameras aren’t on them? I do suspect it might be for show. Although if you can’t hold hands in the first year of marriage then when can you? They’ve had a really whirlwind romance though - met, engaged, married and pregnant all within 2 years, that’s an awful lot very quickly.