Page 16 | Congratulations to Meghan and Harry - baby no.2 on the way!

bluewanda · 2021-02-14T22:13:20+00:00

Lovely news, congrats to them both! [[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9259925/Meghan-Markle-pregnant-Duchess-confirms-Prince-Harry-expecting-baby.html]]

Roussette · 20/02/2021 16:23

Having never given an interview, never expressed feelings on anything, apart from the Christmas Day speech, we have no idea about her really. We can guess at her character, but we really only know what is fed to us by a very careful very clever PR machine.

HeadNorth · 20/02/2021 16:51

She successfully lobbied the government to change a draft law to conceal her “embarrassing” private wealth from the public, and had money invested in off shore accounts to avoid paying tax. But because the right wing press throb on about her selfless sense of duty, the public act as if this is a fact, despite any evidence to the contrary. The press have spun her to be untouchable and H&M a vile greedy threat and everyone treats that as factual, not years of brainwashing by vested interests.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 20/02/2021 17:58

Because the right wing press throb on about HMQ's selfless sense of duty, the public act as if this is a fact, despite any evidence to the contrary

Quite - and we see the same thing with the inane blabbering about "they bring in far more than they cost", "they're essential for tourism" and all the rest. Ask for any actual evidence for this and there's rarely any answer, or at least not one that can't be instantly debunked

The money isn't the main issue for me, but it's utterly depressing that people allow themselves to be hoodwinked so thoroughly - or maybe it's just that they want to believe it

GrimDamnFanjo · 20/02/2021 18:50

On threads like these I always recommend ex MP Norman Bakers book. I think it's called "and what do you do?"

Roussette · 20/02/2021 19:28

I'll look out for that one!

Original poster

bluewanda · 20/02/2021 23:08

With Buckingham Palace’s statement talking about how Meghan and Harry remain much loved members of the family (or something along those lines), I was surprised that H&M didn’t respond in kind, with some sort of affectionate wording about the Queen. Instead they just talked about duty and service. Any thoughts?

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GrimDamnFanjo · 21/02/2021 01:36

@bluewanda their response was a big fu to the Firm. Imho they can't combine their royal duties with the deals they are making and living in the US. Hopefully in time they will carve out their own independent philanthropy programme.

Emeraldshamrock · 21/02/2021 02:05

I think this Oprah interview could be a car crash it is a big risk so early into their independence if it backfires it might ruin their dream.
People all over the world will have an opinion on it.

JustLyra · 21/02/2021 02:14

@StoneofDestiny

and selling access to Andrew

Yes - and Sophie did exactly the same thing, selling access to the royals.

Wasn’t it the business partner that actually did the selling of access? she traded on her own name too much, but she didn’t actually offer access to others I don’t think, whereas her business partner did.

She absolutely slated Tony Blair, and William Haugue. I remember the caning she got for having strong political opinions.

She had a few things to say about the Queen Mother and Prince Charles as well. The attempt to cover it up and trusting the NOTW is what done for her business. The “My Edward is not gay” headline will never be forgotten! It’s quite remarkable she’s seemingly the Queen’s favourite these days.

JustLyra · 21/02/2021 02:18

@Covidcorvid

It said on the news some courtesy titles will be stripped.....does that include duke and duchess of Sussex or do they keep those?

It’ll be military titles that are stripped.

They won’t strip the Sussex Dukedom from them because if they do he’ll be Prince Henry and she’ll be princess Henry, in the same way as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

That would last all of five minutes before the press turned it into Prince Harry and Princess Meghan and would be considerably more lucrative than the Dukedom.

ARudeTerriblePerson · 21/02/2021 02:31

Oh but that's interesting! Being Prince Henry is much better, surely, especially in the US

JustLyra · 21/02/2021 02:37

@ARudeTerriblePerson

Oh but that's interesting! Being Prince Henry is much better, surely, especially in the US

It’s why a lot of publications stick to calling him Prince Harry. It’s both what he was known as for so long and seems like a “better” title.

The way the press back in the day went down thr “Princess Diana” route (that was never ever her title) shows it would be instantly jumped on of Meghan (or Kate) had Princess in their title of use.

Plus I imagine if they removed a title and ended up leaving Meghan with a title that involved her being known as “Princess Henry/Harry” it would be seen as a very clear and deliberate slap in the face of feminism given she’s been the most vocal about it.

Original poster

bluewanda · 21/02/2021 09:11

I think this Oprah interview could be a car crash it is a big risk so early into their independence if it backfires it might ruin their dream.

I don’t think it’s a risk really - Meghan is highly articulate, I’m sure she’ll come out of it well and will be able to get American audiences on side. I did think the interview was going to be mostly PR fluff, but after their parting statement to the RF, perhaps it could be more “no holds barred” than I previously thought. I’ve never watched Oprah so don’t know her interview style at all - is she warm and chatty? More interrogatory? One thing’s for sure, I can’t wait to watch it!

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Original poster

bluewanda · 21/02/2021 09:12

They won’t strip the Sussex Dukedom from them because if they do he’ll be Prince Henry and she’ll be princess Henry, in the same way as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

I didn’t know that JustLyra, very interesting. Prince and Princess certainly sounds a lot more Hollywood than Duke and Duchess!

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RickiTarr · 21/02/2021 09:51

They won’t strip the Sussex Dukedom from them because if they do he’ll be Prince Henry and she’ll be princess Henry, in the same way as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

That would last all of five minutes before the press turned it into Prince Harry and Princess Meghan and would be considerably more lucrative than the Dukedom.

That’s a good point. Very good point.

Most Americans don’t really get this bonkers system we have. Understandably. I’ve heard a lot of Americans say that Diana came from royalty (meaning the aristocracy). It must all sound very Disney that side of the pond.

JustLyra · 21/02/2021 10:14

@bluewanda

They won’t strip the Sussex Dukedom from them because if they do he’ll be Prince Henry and she’ll be princess Henry, in the same way as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

I didn’t know that JustLyra, very interesting. Prince and Princess certainly sounds a lot more Hollywood than Duke and Duchess!

It does!

They’ve been very adamant since William married to make sure that neither William’s wife, or subsequently Harry’s wife, picked up the Princess moniker, I think for several reasons. The American princess would be jumped on very quickly

JustLyra · 21/02/2021 10:16

@RickiTarr

They won’t strip the Sussex Dukedom from them because if they do he’ll be Prince Henry and she’ll be princess Henry, in the same way as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

That would last all of five minutes before the press turned it into Prince Harry and Princess Meghan and would be considerably more lucrative than the Dukedom.

That’s a good point. Very good point.

Most Americans don’t really get this bonkers system we have. Understandably. I’ve heard a lot of Americans say that Diana came from royalty (meaning the aristocracy). It must all sound very Disney that side of the pond.

To be fair lots of Brits don’t understand it. Plus there was an added layer of confusion when William got married and they tried to insist that “no, Kate is a Duchess, not a Princess” for whatever reasons instead of just being honest and accepting that, as the wife of a Prince and Duke, she is both.

Emeraldshamrock · 21/02/2021 10:17

I haven't seen Oprah interview for years.
I imagine the rating will be massive.

Original poster

bluewanda · 21/02/2021 10:21

I imagine the rating will be massive.

I thought that, but then I read yesterday that actually, Harry and Meghan aren’t that big in America like they are here - certainly not A-list like I don’t know, Beyoncé for example.

I don’t know how true that is - are there any American posters who could enlighten us?

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Puzzledandpissedoff · 21/02/2021 10:37

On threads like these I always recommend ex MP Norman Bakers book. I think it's called "and what do you do?"

I do the same, and thoughI believe it was already mentioned upthread, it's an excellent, well researched read

Sorry to go off-topic, but does anyone know why there doesn't appear to be a "Philip" thread? Seems a bit odd ...

Roussette · 21/02/2021 10:39

I saw 2 or more Phillip threads yesterday

Samcro · 21/02/2021 10:41

they are not pretty.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 21/02/2021 10:53

I saw 2 or more Phillip threads yesterday

Ah, thanks - just checked and it seems to have been locked

Lookingforwardto2021 · 21/02/2021 11:25

According to posters on this thread and the RF, service is when

You are mega rich and don’t need to earn a living
Preferably mega rich living of the tax payer so there isn’t a ‘conflict of interest’ (Let’s ignore that all that wealth is invested somewhere with lots of vested interests to keep it multiplying)
you don’t enjoy doing charity, so it is a ‘service’
you are royalty so you are inherently superior and waving to the plebs is a ‘service’

Lookingforwardto2021 · 21/02/2021 11:26

Oops sorry, wrong thread