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AIBU?

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Original poster

The Royals

128 replies

Indecisive12 · 02/02/2021 19:45

I was bought Finding Freedom for Xmas and have just finished it.

It’s an utterly bizarre read highlighting to me the difference in British and American culture as it is written for the American audience.

Anyway after reading it I just can’t see how sustainable the Royal Family are. The Queen won’t have long left to reign. There’s loads of hate against Camilla in the world,even though I quite like her, so I can’t see Charles as King being a success. Then William and Kate are losing popularity because of the fallout and that’s basically all there is.

I quite liked the royals but I’m feeling a bit meh about them and wonder if they’ve run their course. Their behaviour of fleeing to nicer palaces in lockdowns hasn’t bought them any favours in my book either.

YABU - they will carry on as they have
YANBU - Charles reign will see significant changes and their role diminished further

OP posts:
StoneofDestiny · 02/02/2021 22:29

I give it 5 years before Harry comes back

Come back to do what? Has his contribution been missed by anybody? There is no gap in any service that the public needs by his emigration.

AlternativePerspective · 02/02/2021 22:31

Come back to do what? Has his contribution been missed by anybody? There is no gap in any service that the public needs by his emigration.
No but he has apparently missed being part of his family so he will IMO be back to be a part of them again - without Meghan.

StoneofDestiny · 02/02/2021 22:34

In fact, every time the royals have tried to show their relevance during lockdown, they have made things worse for themselves.

Ridiculous and unnecessary train tour in a lockdown by William and Kate. Stupid comment about being 'exhausted' by Kate when she is surrounded by servants of every kind.

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 02/02/2021 22:35

@AlternativePerspective that sounds like a very assertive speculation?!

He lives in California with his wife, child and dogs. He's doing lots of charity work and seems to be living his best life in peace. Seems a bit of a stretch to imagine he'd leave all that to come back here to play second fiddle to Prince William again.

Womencanlift · 02/02/2021 22:36

I really can’t get worked up with them going to their ‘other’ homes as people have said during lockdown.

The London palaces (Buckingham, Kensington and Clarence House) are pretty much their office/workplace and Windsor, Amner Hall and Highgrove are their homes. So to me they stayed at home like the rest of us.

A lot worse things have happened by public figures over the last year that I can’t get upset about them moving out of London

StoneofDestiny · 02/02/2021 22:37

so he will IMO be back to be a part of them again - without Meghan

Well that would be sad - yet another failed marriage in the royal family - maybe he should try not to follow in the footsteps of his father and mother, his aunt Anne, his uncle Andrew and just make a stable home for his son in the USA.

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 02/02/2021 22:41

@StoneofDestiny I entirely agree- I hope he makes a go of it.

Tbh I find it really creepy that people are so convinced his marriage will fail and he will have to come back. Why would you wish that on anyone? Let alone anyone with a tiny child?

Original poster
Indecisive12 · 02/02/2021 22:43

@StoneofDestiny

In fact, every time the royals have tried to show their relevance during lockdown, they have made things worse for themselves.

Ridiculous and unnecessary train tour in a lockdown by William and Kate. Stupid comment about being 'exhausted' by Kate when she is surrounded by servants of every kind.

This is what I mean, surely people are tiring of them. They’ve shown no kind of awareness of what people are living through. Zoom calls when you’ve had the hairdresser in just doesn’t cut it. I feel that there is so much they could have done.

I too think Harry will be back at some point, probably funded by Charles.

But Harry & Meghan seem to have such a huge fan base globally, not in the U.K. I know. I feel like this may affect global popularity of our monarchy.

I guess I just find it all a bit embarrassing, I know that they bring more revenue in that what they receive from the tax payer but they just get such a free pass on EVERYTHING.

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SerenityFlowers · 02/02/2021 22:47

I had such high hopes for Harry and Meghan. Could have achieved so much and been so respected. But instead they just became (or always were) so selfish, greedy and nasty to their own families. The sooner they fade into oblivion the better.

Original poster
Indecisive12 · 02/02/2021 22:48

My reasoning for thinking he’ll be back are because he clearly wanted the half in half our idea they proposed which has obviously backfired. I think it must be a huge culture shock for him and whilst I hope very much that Harry and Meghan have a lovely life together, he is so institutionalised I think after a while he will struggle. I don’t think for one second Meghan will want to come back here.

OP posts:
Original poster
Indecisive12 · 02/02/2021 22:49

@SerenityFlowers Me too. They could have been an amazing influence, and may still well independently. If only they could have been more patient. And if the press weren’t such dicks.

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StoneofDestiny · 02/02/2021 22:55

I know that they bring more revenue in that what they receive from the tax payer but they just get such a free pass on EVERYTHING

Tourists will flock to visit empty palaces. I've been to many palaces where there are no royals - all across France, in Russia, Italy etc. The USA has no monarchy and tourists flock regardless. Tourists will come regardless. Tourist flock to NT properties and Museums and there are no royals in sight.
Get the royals out and open the vast properties all year round and get an income for the public purse without them dipping their hands in to take it back out again. Tourists will pay a fortune to rent rooms in them.

Cheesypea · 02/02/2021 22:58

Charles and camilla had to be told by nicola sturgeon that their not welcome in Scotland for Christmas. He went to Scotland in the first lockdown and developed covid symptoms! Not exactly covered himself in glory.
It's been known that charles wants to slim down the Monarchy for years, the actions of andrew and harry are certainly helping his endeavour.

Original poster
Indecisive12 · 02/02/2021 23:02

@Cheesypea

Charles and camilla had to be told by nicola sturgeon that their not welcome in Scotland for Christmas. He went to Scotland in the first lockdown and developed covid symptoms! Not exactly covered himself in glory. It's been known that charles wants to slim down the Monarchy for years, the actions of andrew and harry are certainly helping his endeavour.
Charles fleeing to Scotland is what angered me the most. It’s like they thought “where would have the most fun this lockdown” not “we need to be respectful and stay at our main residence”. Travelling up to Scotland was just taking the piss!
OP posts:
Original poster
Indecisive12 · 02/02/2021 23:03

@StoneofDestiny

I know that they bring more revenue in that what they receive from the tax payer but they just get such a free pass on EVERYTHING

Tourists will flock to visit empty palaces. I've been to many palaces where there are no royals - all across France, in Russia, Italy etc. The USA has no monarchy and tourists flock regardless. Tourists will come regardless. Tourist flock to NT properties and Museums and there are no royals in sight.
Get the royals out and open the vast properties all year round and get an income for the public purse without them dipping their hands in to take it back out again. Tourists will pay a fortune to rent rooms in them.

They own it all though so we wouldn’t get the palaces. They’d just open it up and keep the earnings for themselves I suspect.
OP posts:
StoneofDestiny · 02/02/2021 23:05

Re Harry and Megan being so selfish, greedy and nasty to their own families. What examples are there of that?

The greed of Andrew, Fergie and their daughters must top the charts of royal greed. Andrew certainly set the standard for them all.
Sophie disappeared after her greed was exposed and went to live a 'quiet luxury life'. Charles's carbon footprint is massive despite lecturing us all on green issues. William was at it too before he got his hand slapped - flying an RAF helicopter for 'a date'. (Wonder how many other RAF officers would have even tried that - let alone kept their job afterwards).

StoneofDestiny · 02/02/2021 23:08

The Queen doesn't own Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.

StoneofDestiny · 02/02/2021 23:09

The Queen owns Sandringham and Balmoral.

ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia · 02/02/2021 23:11

Royalit? Brexit? Scottit? Ireit? EU 27it? Trumpit? What’s nextit? Covidit would be very welcome!

blueberryporridge · 02/02/2021 23:14

I really can’t get worked up with them going to their ‘other’ homes as people have said during lockdown.

Well, I can. Charles decamped to Aberdeenshire complete with entourage of hangers-on when he already had Covid symptoms. Apparently, NHS staff had to go out from Aberdeen to test them.

He and the rest of them should have stayed put and not risked spreading the virus.

And for all that HRH likes to preach to us all about climate and conservation, the large piece of Aberdeenshire grouse moor that his mummy gave him as a present is shockingly badly managed with muirburn, erosion and a complete lack of biodiversity.

ChestnutStuffing · 02/02/2021 23:16

@StoneofDestiny

I give it 5 years before Harry comes back

Come back to do what? Has his contribution been missed by anybody? There is no gap in any service that the public needs by his emigration.

Being cut off from your family is difficult. People often think it will be ok, especially if they are in a romance, but then miss it more than they thought. I'd consider almost any marriage where that happened to have some risk that the family split will affect the marriage negatively.

Not to say I'd wish that on anyone. But I don't know that the US experiment will be what he thought.

Original poster
Indecisive12 · 02/02/2021 23:17

@StoneofDestiny

The Queen doesn't own Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.
I did not know this!
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Original poster
Indecisive12 · 02/02/2021 23:21

@ChestnutStuffing it’s not just any family either. It’s the whole institution. People struggle leaving the forces because they are so used to the institution, imagine being born into the royal family then leaving it for a celebrity philanthropic life in LA. He’ll struggle trusting people as he always has but had a secure friendship group years ago who he did trust. Meghan and her friends have leaked stuff to the press for years but I can’t imagine him tolerating that once reality sets in.

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JaneNorman · 02/02/2021 23:23

Can't see why Harry and Meghan have taken all the flak - they are the only two who actually had jobs

I might have some respect for your views @StoneofDestiny if they weren’t peppered with things that just aren’t true.
Beatrice and Eugenie both have jobs. Paid jobs. And they continue to also do a lot of charity work as well.
William worked as an air ambulance pilot before taking on royal duties full time. If I remember correctly he donated his wages to charity. Prior to that he was a search and rescue pilot I think.

Cheesypea · 02/02/2021 23:31

^ I do think its shocking how much flak megan had had, when andrew hasn't spoken to the NYPD. He cant hide under mummy's skirt forever.