To think British folk don't tolerate "privileged complaining" like the US?

[GinDaddy]

yes this is another topic partially related to Duke/Duchess of Sussex. If you don't like this, apologies in advance

I read a thread on here titled "The racists have won" regarding Harry and Meghan's withdrawl from public life.

AIBU to have a different perspective entirely? That their thin-skinnedness and endless preaching about the issuesdrew more vitriol towards them - and their whole approach was very badly suited to British life?

Bear with me :

Yes as a mixed-race (white/caribbean) person, I winced at the "outta Compton" headlines that greeted the latest addition to the Firm. I despaired at the "blood-thickening" comments that were made about Meghan's heritage and any children.

I'm not suggesting that any of this could simply be overlooked, and for sure it has an impact on a person's mental health.

Yet it precipitated dozens of column inches and angry statements from Harry, with strange and emotive allusions to his mother's death. It triggered that dreadful ITV stuff where Meghan says her and Harry are "existing, not living" - a comment which was extraordinary when you consider some of the challenges British people face. (Who is advising these people here?!)

Such commentary may be described as "woke" in the US. It might be considered on-trend to speak out and stand up to such things.

However in the UK, I feel it's more a country of deeds not words . To borrow a cricket analogy, being in UK public life is a bit like Test cricket. You can't come out on the attack or you'll lose your wicket within the hour. Instead, you will get bouncers hurled at you for the first few sessions of your innings, and you have to bat time and survive, dig in, and then start to accumulate once you've seen off a few.

AIBU to think Harry and Meghan could have ridden all this out if they had quietly gone about public life, working on a few select British-focused charities, supporting those closest to succession, and simply following the Duchess of Cambridge approach? You might be "Waity Katy" when we first meet you, but in time you'll be accepted because it's the British way to take the piss, then quietly treat you as a mate once time has passed.

I might be VU here as I realise they've had a rougher ride than most. But all this emotion seems to have led them into a corner where they've lashed out.

AIBU to think it's kind of in the British culture not to endlessly hand-wring in public in this regard?

"Do you think he's a hapless idiot who's been duped by this wicked woman?"
Yes."

Did you hear A N Wilson on Radio4 this morning saying Harry was "thick as a plank"? Harry obviously adores Meghan, who is said to be "fiercely intelligent".
Of course she could manipulate him, if she chose to do so.

The press did not 'kill his mum', a drunk driver killed his mum!

Oh, yes, Harry, the knight in shining armour, 'protecting' his precious. Nah, he expects others to do that at taxpayer expense whilst he ponces around. He's always been a brat. Queenie should give him the shove, at least her uncle had the balls to go the whole hog.

A drunk driver and not wearing her seat belt killed his mother, not the bloody press.

I agree with you OP.

I do think the media (social and otherwise) needs to be reeled in wrt their appalling treatment of public figures (women especially). The trolling and threats that people have to put up with just shouldn't be allowed and state resources ought to be properly allocated to prosecuting people whose behaviour online is physically threatening (thinking about MPs and vender critical feminists and anybody else who disagrees with the Twitter nutters).

That said, MM ought to have been a lot more respectful of the institution she has married into, taken her time to really get the lay of the land and understand how the RF functions, before jumping in and just doing whatever she likes. Maybe, as an American celebrity she genuinely didn't understand the difference between celebrity and royalty but H sure as hell did. The pair of them are either spectacularly stupid or just don't care.
They could have played the game - done a bit of work, shared a bit more info about the baby and then quietly got on with pleasing themselves, much like the rest of the family does. They didn't need to be such drama llamas about how hard done by they are. That statement was do tone deaf!

It always makes me laugh when people say they wouldn't trade places with them. If it was do terrible, none of them would be there. If the Sussex's really are out, I'll take one for the team and sign on the dotted line to be a princess!

I think this was always the plan

Considering they trademarked their "Royal Sussex" brand barely a year after the wedding, I'd say that's becoming unavoidable

At least we now know why Meghan failed to indicate any long term commitment during the dreadful South Africa interview ...

OP I don’t think she could have ridden out the racism or the neo Nazi threats. Add in the vindictive press, the death of Harry’s mum, and I think the whole combination was toxic.

I’m very much a pessimist and I’m not white and I didn’t see this level of vitriol coming.

there are still rules to follow and codes to abide by. You either stick to them or you opt out completely like Zara and Peter Phillips did, you cannot just dictate your own terms, as H and M seem to want to.

This. If they genuinely want out, they can have that. Go to America, keep their heads down, keep out of the limelight. No titles, no HRH - just Mr & Mrs M-Windsor/Ms Markle. The press will get bored after a year and leave them to it.

But that’s not what they want, is it.....?

AutumnRose1
What racism and neo Nazi threats are you referring to?
What does Harry's mother's death 23 years ago have to do with this?

The OP is just a hypocrite pure and simple. Just ignore and she may go away.

Devereux you’re joking, right?

I don’t know you p, as a poster, so I don’t know whether to explain or not.

AutumnRose1
Devereux you’re joking, right?

Since I am not a mind reader, and you haven't explained, no I'm not joking, I am asking you which comments you are referring to.

The worst part of this is that their website was made by a Toronto online agency.. wonder how they got the business.

The Toronto company used to maintain her lifestyle website The Tig

Canada is part of the Commonwealth so I don't have problems with a Commonwealth country getting their business.

I think it would be useful to imagine this scenario between Harry and Megan and what would actually be happening if they had no money, no titles and no access to an exclusive life like a a 6 week free holiday in a mansion in Vancouver. (Anyone here on Mumsnet living like this? I’m not) .
We would see a very different picture without all this. Even if megan still had her own million/s from acting on the Suits show, she would still be trying to get a better acting job after this suits show. Moving up the ladder. Maybe in movies? and maybe she would still be working for women’s or peoples rights. If that’s her nature and star she loves to do.
Harry would be someone who has been in the army and still in the army probably as he has little other qualification (that I know of) and without royal entitlement, titles or money he’d need a full tune job I guess.
He’d still be in the army or something similar and probably living in an ordinary house somewhere with a typical family and probably be watching Megan on her suits show or some other soap star on the telly.
I doubt they would have ever met.
They would have very little in common and no need to cross paths in their lifetime. (This is just an analysis of more ordinary lives that they both crave.)
Instead we have this current picture and the desire to step back from the BRF and do their own lives, and earn their own money. Just wondering around this, and why it’s all happening. Why the BRF is falling apart. Anyone else see what might be happening?

Yanbu about UK audiences not tolerating rich people moaning.
The US makes a lot of great entertainment (movies etc) about rich people behaving badly so I don't know if there's a culture of expecting the wealthy to be up to no good?

I was surprised they ruished to regiseer Royal Sussex. I suppose if we strip them of the titles we could then wrest the trade mark back as it would be breach of trade descriptions to use a title to which they are no longer entitled.

Their relationship is on the line. Bet they divorce in the next 5 years.

It sounds like they're definitely taking up space in your imagination...

They did the right thing, I hope they will be happier when they can get away from the royal family

This article details some of the false reports made about the couple. www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a29812271/meghan-markle-lawyers-false-tabloid-stories-explained/

In much of the press, especially from The Mail and other such tabloids which all share the same news sources, it has been clear that they have been unobjectively written, and the language used in many articles has been skewed to sway public opinion against them.

As for trademarking the Royal Sussex brand, I can't see how it's any different from Charles and his Duchy of Cornwall- we should be glad the Royals are proactive in making their own money- they can't do right for doing wrong in my opinion- damned if you do, damned if you don't.

endless preaching about the issues

They didn't 'endlessly preach' about the issues. A couple of comments made in answer to questions was blown out of proportion by the media who managed to whip up outrage in readers. Absolute nonsense. They've actually said very little.

I wouldn't have said racism figured, I've not heard anyone criticise the Duchess of Sussex's suitability on grounds of her race. I've no doubt there are a few racist bigots out there who have muttered darkly but no one of any account.

Nothing wrong with your thread; at least you haven't started it saying, "f*ing ginge and his bird", which some pondlife said yesterday in reference to Meghan and Harry; that was taken down, it was so disgustingly worded.

The Sussex's have made a wise decision imo, they'll be far happier and healthier away from the UK most of the time and people will be glad to see them when they come back.

@FreakStar The problem is the article tagged by you is from Elle magazine. It will be as biased and set up/as much of a spin as the tabloids.

*Their relationship is on the line. Bet they divorce in the next 5 years.

It sounds like they're definitely taking up space in your imagination...*

Tbh, I'm not sure I could be less interested but even I had this thought which was quickly followed by...I wonder if this is the type of thing you could actually put a bet on?

What does Harry's mother's death 23 years ago have to do with this?

Don't you rather think this particular event, and the subsequent consequences, have probably been the single most influential thing in making Harry the person he is today? For better or worse?

I think what I always think when I read MN threads about famous people- it is utterly baffling that so many people think they have any kind of insight into the motivations or real day-to-day lives of royals and celebrities, when everything they 'know' about those people is concocted and fed to them by the media.

I wonder if this is the type of thing you could actually put a bet on?

Not sure if Bet365 allows you to, but I know a number of people who made friendly bets between each other when the wedding took place. Most give it 5 years.

@FourTeaFallOut - think you can put a bet on pretty much anything...