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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The knives are out for the royal family

999 replies

justasking111 · 19/08/2019 14:26

It may be deserved in some cases, however it would seem the gloves are off as far as the media are concerned. They have lived high on the hog for centuries so what is new?

Am scratching my head here is it shoot the royal family season or a smoke and mirrors exercise designed to distract us from something more important??

I would hate to be in the PR business with the RF just now.

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Myimaginarycathasfleas · 23/08/2019 11:07

I find the frenzied responses and name calling tend to come from the Meghan worshippers. Her critics are for the most part quite calm and reasonable in their posts.

I don't agree they should be taken down. I just wonder why they are started in the first place. Is there really anything new to say?

lavenderandthyme · 23/08/2019 11:07

Message

NoTheresa · 23/08/2019 11:15

Myimaginarycathasfleas

I find the frenzied responses and name calling tend to come from the Meghan worshippers. Her critics are for the most part quite calm and reasonable in their posts.

That is true. Just scroll back and check the intemperate language and the revolting expressions used by various individuals.

When one becomes shrill and resorts to insults, one has lost the argument.

NoTheresa · 23/08/2019 11:19

Consider this as an illustration:

The pro Brexiter Daily Fail readers are getting frenzied in their online attacks against Meghan.

I am neither of the above, far less “frenzied”, yet I am being lumped in with abusive people who may exist elsewhere - simply for having an alternative take on the topic. It’s lazy and unacceptable.

queenofarles · 23/08/2019 11:25

Myimaginarycathasfleas
I completely agree with you.

StaggeringOn · 23/08/2019 11:46

I think perhaps from her background unless you are taking private jets and hobnobbing with slebs it means you aren’t quite up there with the A listers. I really do think it’s about old and new money and social class. Diana liked to be among ordinary people because she was brought up as an Aristo and found it refreshing to get a break from the stiff protocols. Meghan is desperate to be seen to be on a par with the likes of George Clooney and Elton John. Harry was never interested in that stuff at all before he met Meghan. It’s also that she is measuring herself on an scale which is US based and not British.

Agee with above. Maybe a bit celeb rather than royal but nothing compared with seriousness of PA’s situation. What is a bit worrying is the Sussex Foundation. USA charitable foundations seem a bit odd. There seems to be far more secrecy allowed than the equivalent in the UK where all funds need to be made public. Is it true that Clinton Foundation only gives about 5% of its income to charity? What happens to rest of money? Can they pay that to themselves as a wage?

Doyoureallyneedtoask · 23/08/2019 11:49

The threads wouldn’t be removed if they were not distasteful.

Go start another hundred threads with the heading ‘I hate Meghan because......’

In this age of teenage online bullying and suicides, many presumably adult mothers, need to take a good hard look at themselves. Imagine this was your daughter. The keyboard warriors would never dream of saying such things to somebody directly. It is a sad rejection on today’s society that such behaviour is normalized.

LaurieMarlow · 23/08/2019 12:31

Diana liked to be among ordinary people because she was brought up as an Aristo and found it refreshing to get a break from the stiff protocols

What total bollocks. If anyone enjoyed hanging with celebs it was Diana.

travellerexpat · 23/08/2019 12:44

Meghan and Harry should have a look at how the Obamas conducted themselves when in Office. Of course they had to take AirForce one on official business, but they were also sat on the floor watching their daughter’s basketball games. They may not be old money; but they have class.

Even HM takes the normal train when heading up to Norfolk. It may well be skilled PR, but she is discreet about how she displays her wealth in her private life.

Meghan’s life now seems to be a supercharged version of the Tig, when she was writing her lifestyle blog a few years ago. In those days, she would never have achieved guest editorship of Vogue, friendship with the Clooneys or Obama’s, if it wasn’t down to who she married.

Regarding the Prince Andrew situation. I read, he has agreed to help the US police with their enquiries, « and the ball is in their court».
Sadly I think that is that. People are too in awe of Royalty to proceed any further. It will probably ( hopefully) change when the Queen dies.

Andrew continues to be a spoilt son, playing golf. He may be lower in line to the throne, but his proximity to the Queen ( as one of her children) means that he escapes scrutiny, much more than a grand daughter in law.

MissEliza · 23/08/2019 12:54

I'm sure I remembered reading about Harry being seen on EasyJet flights to various destinations only a few years ago.

MissEliza · 23/08/2019 12:56

I saw this on Twitter and it made me smile.

The knives are out for the royal family
Myimaginarycathasfleas · 23/08/2019 13:11

In those days, she would never have achieved guest editorship of Vogue, friendship with the Clooneys or Obama’s, if it wasn’t down to who she married.

Does it matter though?

Surely social mobility is a good thing? I can't get worried about who she's friends with, apart from their apparent inability to maintain a dignified silence on her behalf.

MagsAndMaeve · 23/08/2019 13:17

Does it matter though?

Surely social mobility is a good thing? I can't get worried about who she's friends with, apart from their apparent inability to maintain a dignified silence on her behalf.

Yes, its really indicative of being shallow to invite celebrities you've only known for a few years to your own wedding but not have your immediate family present (or even the lawyer/ambassador uncle who helped her get a job in the past). Sorry, even if her family are awful, the RF should be setting a good example of kindness and tolerance and have managed the situation (with their vast budget available) much better.

But the RF have form for using people for their own gain. Its well known amongst the aristocracy that marrying into them is hardly a golden ticket, more a giving up of your daughter in return for the occasional invite to a garden party/dinner.

LaurieMarlow · 23/08/2019 13:38

Yes, its really indicative of being shallow to invite celebrities you've only known for a few years to your own wedding but not have your immediate family present (or even the lawyer/ambassador uncle who helped her get a job in the past).

This is such begrudging nonsense.

She’s an actress. Many of her friends are celebs. Stands to reason.

Celebs are hardly unknown creatures at royal weddings anyway. Both Wills and Eugenie had plenty.

Is there a limit to how long you’ve known a friend before you can invite them? I invited friends to my wedding id only known six months. Was that a problem? Why?

As for her family. Firstly we don’t know how many members were there, the guest list was never published. Secondly many of them are clearly toxic. Why would she invite them?

derxa · 23/08/2019 13:46

As for her family. Firstly we don’t know how many members were there, the guest list was never published. Secondly many of them are clearly toxic. Why would she invite them?
This 'toxic' business is nonsense. They were an embarrassment. If we compare this to Diana's father. They didn't get on and Diana's father had recently had a stroke. He walked her down the aisle. A wedding shouldn't be about glamour.

NoTheresa · 23/08/2019 13:55

Meghan and Harry should have a look at how the Obamas conducted themselves when in Office.

They are not the Obamas and they can never be seriously compared with them. Obama was an elected leader to arguably the highest office on the planet. His wife was First Lady. They had earned and they deserved the central position on the world stage that they occupied for a time.

MagsAndMaeve · 23/08/2019 13:58

As for her family. Firstly we don’t know how many members were there, the guest list was never published. Secondly many of them are clearly toxic. Why would she invite them?

Well, they are certainly seen as toxic now. Before she married into royalty, no-one had ever heard of them.

I do think being ashamed of your roots is unforgivable. It should have been managed better. It was, and continues to be, unkind.

LaurieMarlow · 23/08/2019 14:08

Firstly, why would Diana’s choices have any bearing whatsoever on Meghan’s? Confused

Each family situation is very different and no one knows the true situation except for those involved.

Secondly, how is it ashamed of her roots to not invite family members who have treated her badly? Can anyone look to her step sister / father and say these are loving ppl with her best interests at heart? I certainly couldn’t.

The MN line is usually very firm with going NC with toxic family members. But not for Meghan. Funny.

travellerexpat · 23/08/2019 14:16

Not all of Meghan’s family have treated her badly.
Perhaps they were in the main congregation, but it felt very fake to have Oprah and George Clooney in the posh seats opposite the RF.

The whole point of comparison to the Obamas, is despite occupying the highest office in the US, they managed to be humble and gracious.
Meghan is without question charming, but she seems to like the high life a lot.

derxa · 23/08/2019 14:24

It was, and continues to be, unkind. Yes that's the best description.
www.ibtimes.com/prince-philips-sisters-banned-attending-his-queens-wedding-reason-2756319
Prince Philip's sisters were banned from his wedding but that was because they were married to high ups in the nazi party. Hardly comparable to taking part in a stupid press stunt.

derxa · 23/08/2019 14:27

The MN line is usually very firm with going NC with toxic family members. It's not my line. And half of what is posted on here about family I take with a pinch of salt.

derxa · 23/08/2019 14:29

Firstly, why would Diana’s choices have any bearing whatsoever on Meghan’s? Because it's an example of doing the right thing.

GlitchStitch · 23/08/2019 14:44

Her siblings seem toxic. I think her Dad raised her, paid for her private education, had a close relationship with her. I imagine the issue with him was that he was an embarrassment as pp said. He was left flailing, Harry didn't even bother to meet him, and he messed up.

LaurieMarlow · 23/08/2019 14:52

Because it's an example of doing the right thing.

How on earth would you, with no personal knowledge of the individuals in question and no understanding of the circumstances be able to proclaim what’s the ‘right thing’?

I find this kind of arrogance staggering.

justasking111 · 23/08/2019 15:12

The queen talked about doing the right thing aka duty on a you tube video, if you listen to the narration you will see. Forget the dancing just listen to what she thinks. Diana was smart she made sure she was seen to be amongst us when really she wasn`t.

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