Harry and Meghan-part 2

[BertrandRussell]

Following on from this -it was just getting interesting. Someone posted about how Meghan called herself a feminist but hadn’t earned the title. I was interested to know how you earned the title- but the thread ended.

If Meghan has chosen to wear a British designer she’d be accused of sucking up and being fake. She’s American and apparently has a preference for French couture as evidenced by her choices such as Dior and Givenchy.

Unlike Catherine is British and who grew up in a rarified British society, Meghan doesn’t have Britishness in her bones. And why should she? Just because she married a Brit, does that mean she has to adopt all of his Britishness? Maybe in time she’ll adapt to the eccentric ways of British culture but she has rather been thrown in the deep end. I wonder if all of these so called gaffs are being “allowed” by the palace in order to let Meghan to learn through experience what a bloody brutal paparazzi culture we have rather than forcing her to toe the line which is likely to cause greater unhappiness.

Harry has married a woman who enjoys being centre of attention. Nobody aspires to become a Hollywood actor if they dislike attention!

Had he married any of his previous girlfriends, I do believe he would have behaved more traditionally with regards to the press and announcing of godparents etc. I think it’s a fair observation to make that Meghan’s presence adds considerable drama to Harry’ decisions, consciously or not.

Had he married any of his previous girlfriends, I do believe he would have behaved more traditionally with regards to the press and announcing of godparents etc.

See that’s the kind of baseless speculation you can’t possibly know.

You only could make an educated guess if you knew his character personally, which I presume you don’t.

I also think it’s funny to suggest that an English aristo would be a less disruptive presence for the royals. Lord knows Diana wasn’t.

I don’t think it is baseless because we actually do know how Harry was with the press with other girlfriend how he was with Meghan during courtship.

It’s a totally different situation, he’s married now and with different expectations and responsibilities.

Both him and Wills got relatively easy rides from the press in the early days of their relationships. Utterly different scenario for the woman as there are no (or very few) expectations on her until she’s engaged into the firm.

I do think it is part of the duty of the RF to promote British businesses.
Yes Diana was a destructive force, but much of it wasn’t her fault ( and I say that as someone who was never a fan) . She was married incredibly young, to a man wholly unsuitable in age and temperament.
A man who carried on his affair with the woman he actually loved. Had it been a loving marriage then I think perhaps Diana would have been a much more positive member of the RF ?

Harry has married a woman who enjoys being centre of attention. Nobody aspires to become a Hollywood actor if they dislike attention!

Not many Hollywood actresses that I know of enjoy attention on their personal lives and decisions like it is in the royal family. They usually separate private life from the red carpet.

Had he married any of his previous girlfriends, I do believe he would have behaved more traditionally with regards to the press and announcing of godparents etc. I think it’s a fair observation to make that Meghan’s presence adds considerable drama to Harry’ decisions, consciously or not.

Yes but his priority was to marry someone he gets on with and not someone who gets on with the press. Maybe his girlfriends were miserable and couldn’t handle the press and it was affecting him emotionally and that’s why he was happy with someone like Meghan who has experience in navigating them and he wouldn’t be carrying the guilt of bringing that unto her.

If you are faulting him for his choice of spouse, then yes I somewhat agree, If he was to choose someone on the basis of making sure she fits the royal family perfectly in the eyes of the public then Meghan probably isn’t the best choice out there clearly, based on how many haters she has.

But Charles did what would suit the public that and it ended up causing more damage to the royal family isn’t it? Because he didn’t prioritize his own emotions. Harry chose Meghan as a suitable spouse not a suitable incubator for royal babies.

Last but not least, this further proves the ultimate scrutiny by those who aren’t convinced with Meghan, should be unto Harry. It was HIS choice who to marry and bring into the royal family and he took a pick.. her over it. it’s not Meghan who has to let go of her identity to fit in. He married a Hollywood actress, who comes from a luxury lifestyle, who has mixed heritage and plans to marry soon and have a child... he accepted that and accepted her identity. If we aren’t happy that he accepted that then the real issue is :

“Royalists believe that a prince should choose a woman that they approve of, to justify their taxes”.

Ok that’s another story. But I think looking at Diana we learnt that this won’t work.

None of his previous girlfriends wanted to marry him. Should they have been forced? And his previous girlfriends weren't hounded by the press to this extent or allegedly thrown to the wolves but his family or have to suffer online death threats. No wonder he is wary and hostile considering what happened to his mother. Added to that, he has become a father, which is bound to make him more protective. I agree they are making too much of a fuss over not doing things. Who cares about the godparents, they should have just christened the baby, published the photos and be done with it. Maybe it's lesson learned that they should just shut up about what they aren't going to do. I suspect they are being deliberately badly advised/used as Human Shields by the Palace.

Harry chose Meghan as a suitable spouse not a suitable incubator for royal babies

If so, I wouldn't blame him at all ... but it doesn't change the point that in such a whirlwind, long distance situation, he hardly had the time to learn whether Meghan would be the best choice for him, the RF or indeed anyone. Equally, Meghan herself had precious little time to really consider what she was letting herself in for, and whether the life she was taking on might make her happy

Even Diana paid the price of marrying a man she barely knew, but TBH I'm not convinced the outcome would have been so very different with anyone Charles married - let's face it, he doesn't even live with the "true love" he supposedly waited so long for

If Meghan has chosen to wear a British designer she’d be accused of sucking up and being fake

Everytime she has worn designer British brands or British high street the news coverage has, (comments aside) to my knowledge, been positive. When she was touring the country with Harry during their engagement she accessorised with Strathberry handbags (designed in Scotland) wore Hiut Jeans (made in Wales) Wore Scottish Tartan and Marks and Spencer tops. She absolutely knows the importance of honouring UK business. If she's not opting for British brands, it is because she doesn't want to, not because she's unaware or has bad PR in this instance (although perhaps the tour choices were due to Mulroney's advise, she was her personal stylist, and her husband comes from a political family and she knows statecraft, or perhaps she just was more willing to listen to PR before marriage).

I think she does have a responsibility to adopt a 'sense of Britishness' actually. It is in Britain that she has received her titles which have given her international prestige. Beforehand she was not a household name in America. Suits was a well received show with a modest audience. She did not receive her titles in America, or Canada or France. She received them in the UK and as such I think she could wear British to a few high profile events. At the most basic level it is plain commonsense.

IABUQUEEN
You have an interesting perspective in your post at 13.28
It made me rethink a little.

How can you be on part two of a thread about people you don’t know, will in all likelihood never know and who don’t know you? Why do you care?
Honestly, the amount of threads on here about these people is astonishing.
Part TWO! Part bloody TWO!
Honestly people. These are hours of your life you will never get back again and you are spending them ruminating (and a lot of bitching) about complete strangers.
!!!!!

CatherineofAragonsPrayerBook
I agree that Meghan could and should wear more British designer and British manufactured clothing and accessories to help promote the British fashion industry.
I'm not British, I'm Irish and I think it's important to help support our own industries as much as possible to help employment in our respective countries.
Meghan has gained quite a bit from the British taxpayer and it would be nice if, as an influencer, she would give something back in the form of publicity for British design / manufacture. As she did with those Scottish handbags before she married.
She is beautiful looking, with a fab figure and doesn't need to spend ££££ to look amazing.

Equally, Meghan herself had precious little time to really consider what she was letting herself in for, and whether the life she was taking on might make her happy

I agree, but allegedly her former British publicist (who had represented some of H family) tried to ask her if she knew what she was getting into and provide some advice and M shut her down quite firmly. Any attempt to raise possible issues were considered negative as opposed to pragmatically looking at the pros and cons before making a leap.

If you are to believe the stories, anyone who said anything that wasn't wholly supportive risked being dropped from both their circles as there are hints that Harry was similarly minded. They were deeply in the whirlwind stages of romance which is always marked by idealism and any attempt to inject a dose of realism is often hard to take.

I wonder why the Queen did not insist on a slightly longer courtship to be honest.

They were deeply in the whirlwind stages of romance which is always marked by idealism and any attempt to inject a dose of realism is often hard to take

As you rightly imply, we'll never really know what was said by who, but the above is certainly true ... though some might consider "I'll drop you if you say the wrong thing" to be a perfect match for the RF, attitude-wise!!

People
You are really over investing in other peoples lives,

Well, I care because if we have to have a monarchy, I want one dripping with jewels and posh frocks and scandal and intrigue. I think they’re a shocking waste of money, but while they are there I want my fun.

I care about Meghan specifically, because it is fascinating to watch how British people- both real people and the press- deal with her. I have many theories. One is that most people can’t understand the class nuances that mean the proper posh look down a bit on the Royal family, and look down a lot on the Middletons. Meghan is much easier. Everyone British can despise her- she’s an actress, an American, a bit too black for comfort, a self described feminist and too confident, Pick your particular stick to beat her with!

Agree beanaseireann

Puzzled some might consider "I'll drop you if you say the wrong thing" to be a perfect match for the RF, attitude-wise!!

Quite!

I would agree with the "too confident" but it's a bit more subtle than that. Plenty of posh people are very confident, in a sort of understated way, and have a level of self-comfort (is that a term?) that an ordinary middle-class type couldn't hope to have. Can posh people conceive of blushing and awkwardness?! But in M's case the confidence just tips over into... a little bit of being pleased with oneself.

Having said that, I can't believe people care who the godparents are. Christenings are the most boring of social happenings. Possibly slightly above the opening of a leisure centre somewhere.

Agree, Bertrand, that if we are going to have a monarchy then a few wacky members certainly spice up the goings on. Appropriate behaviour is so dull .

I wonder why the Queen did not insist on a slightly longer courtship to be honest.

I expect because they are people first and foremost and Meghan is at a time of life where lots of women are in a hurry to settle down for obvious reasons. Harry may also have been craving stability after a succession of serious relationships that didn't get over the line.

he hardly had the time to learn whether Meghan would be the best choice for him, the RF or indeed anyone. Equally, Meghan herself had precious little time to really consider what she was letting herself in for, and whether the life she was taking on might make her happy

Risks for them and them alone. I don't think any of us have any right to tell them they should have done it differently. Some marriages last and some don't, regardless of the royal family. Length of relationship is not a reliable indicator.

Oh, I forgot to mention that not being feminist or confident enough is also a stick to beat her with!

I have never, ever seen a person who, as DP’s Yorkshire granny would say “can’t do right for doing wrong”
The black and white picture is a classic example. “We haven't seen the baby’s face!” “No, not like that- we didn’t want to see it like that!”

Risks for them and them alone

In principle, yes, but if we've got to have the RF - and personally I wish we didn't - there's no denying the image matters

Lord knows their marital record's a disaster, even compared to the national average, but it seems a shame to risk yet more damaging headlines through haste and lack of reflection

As said, I wish them a long and happy marriage, just as with any other couple; I don't think it's likely, but it's one of those cases where I genuinely hope to be wrong