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

[bluewanda]

Lovely news, congrats to them both!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9259925/Meghan-Markle-pregnant-Duchess-confirms-Prince-Harry-expecting-baby.html

Suggesting you don't know it was unfair critique and scrutiny of his UK family is disingenuous

Can you link me to where I said that? I didn't.

I said 'I only know what I read on here and given the bias against them in the past on millions of awful threads, I took little notice of it'

So please don't make stuff up

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'So me saying I haven't read the book is 'disingenuous'

No. Suggesting you don't know it was unfair critique and scrutiny of his UK family is disingenuous. You don't need to have read it to know it was a mudslinging exercise, sanctioned by them or else they would have of course sued if it wasn't. Who else would have known all their private details?!

how can anyone know what was in a book if they have not read it? I have not and I have not read any extracts. so other than what I have seen on mn I can say that,. so how can a person who has not read it know it was mudslinging?

I simply don’t understand why both of them can’t retrain for proper jobs. They have the money to do whatever they want to do. If they truly don’t want the public attention , and cameras cause Harry PTSD, why are they constantly, unremittingly courting publicity?

What is the need to write that dreadful book making digs at the RF? Why do they need to issue photos of themselves at all? Why are they constantly conducting Zoom chats and giving interviews? Most of all, why don’t they voluntarily renounce their titles and make their own way in life instead of trading off their connections? They shouldn’t be living off P Charles ( i.e the tax payer). Harry is a millionaire in his own right.
It would be so so easy for them to live a quiet, private life. Get proper jobs. Stay away from the Press. So why don’t they?

It would be so so easy for them to live a quiet, private life. Get proper jobs. Stay away from the Press. So why don’t they?

Because they don’t want to and they never said they did want to.

I’d certainly prefer to be producing for Netflix rather than working in retail/as an accountant/estate agent. I don’t think that’s a terribly unusual position.

Setting boundaries with a press that has printed lies about them, constantly presented them in a bad light and broken the law to get footage of them doesn’t strike me as outrageous either.

@Roussette

Make a birth announcement. No photo. Simple

Can you let Eugenie know that please. She did a stylised picture of her and husband holding a pair of boottees for her announcement.

Yeah, and that was a bit naff too, in my opinion, to be honest. But plenty of people do it I suppose. That photo H&M released screamed "publicity." It was planned, stylised, very clearly aimed to make a careful statement (God knows what though). Still not interested, however. Good luck to them though. I do actually wish them well, as long as I can continue to switch off once the flowery lectures start.

I don't believe renouncing 'Sussex' would make a jot of difference. Everyone knows who they are.
Like Andrew. If he renounced 'York' we'd still know him and his dodginess.

The Sussex thing is the last criticism that detractors legitimately can make so they keep on about it.
M&H have done everything else. No HRH for them because they are no longer working members of the RF. Nor is Andrew but he's kept his HRH of course. Funny that
Paid back renovation costs, paying for their own security even though the other non working Royal Andrew has kept his £300,000 a year round the clock security, funded by the taxpayer after the Queen intervened.
So forgive me if I take the FF book with a pinch of salt.

It was planned, stylised, very clearly aimed to make a careful statement (God knows what though).

Like the vast majority of photos on the web then.

'how can anyone know what was in a book if they have not read it?I have not and I have not read any extracts. so other than what I have seen on mn I can say that,.so how can a person who has not read it know it was mudslinging?'

Well for abut the 20th time it has been widely commented and quoted by the msm and on sm. You know fine well it was an attack on the RF why pretend otherwise?!

I'd have a bit more respect for those trying to support H's unfair scrutiny of his UK family if they just said 'yes, it is weird how they don't want scrutiny but are happy to publicly scrutinise others ', but nope. Head in the sands. I'm sure after the chat show appearance when they will surely sling mud again people supporting H will say 'oh what? Sorry no I didn't see that, but anyway! Prince Andrew...'.

Earlier someone on here said that they thought H and M would mostly skip over the RF part of their lives in their interview so I am wondering what is going to be discussed for 90 minutes ?
Also, so many people mentioning PA and I am not sure why as I have yet to hear anyone defend him !

H will not be questioned on the RF. M probably will. But its Oprah. She's a friend. She is black and will just nod with approval. It will be M saying what she wants to say without any depth or analysis. So just point scoring really. However it has the potential to upset the RF here and Harry needs to be very careful about this.

I have difficulty with publicity seeking people who only want the publicity on their terms. There is a need to investigative press. In the USA it is largely absent. They do accept celebrity culture more readily and do not question it. No doubt Meghan was shocked by the press here but the press has also unearthed grubby stories about people that need to be out in the open. We do need an open press and an accountable press. Not a sycophantic toadying one.

What Princess eugenie did was up to her. She did not do a photo birth announcement did she? If she did, I missed it. She just did a mum and baby photo and that's fine. All this fuss abut a pregnancy photo when no one will get to see photos of the child. It is purely ticking a publicity box. and a very good way of staying in the USA and not seeing her in laws. Well done her.

Also, so many people mentioning PA and I am not sure why as I have yet to hear anyone defend him !

I will mention him continually. Not because anyone on here defends him.

But because the RF have one rule for him and another rule for M&H
That's why.
Unfair treatment.

There is a need to investigative press.

Of course.

However this should give you huge pause for thought. I found a lot of it very concerning.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/19/there-is-a-reason-why-royals-demonised-but-wont-read-all-about-it-prince-harry-meghan-markle

The press has been caught red handed in some dreadful behaviour in the past. Some scandals are already well documented. This article indicates what we might not know (and the press are keen to keep from us)

H&M are absolutely right to challenge them on illegal behaviour and printing lies.

@ Roussette
But because the RF have one rule for him and another rule for M&H
That's why.
Unfair treatment.

Could you give me some examples please ? NOT defending PA in any shape or form but I can’t think of anything off the top of my head .

Examples? See previous posts. I went into lots of them there.

My 11.26 post for instance

Ok I have read that post but still not convinced . H and M are still HRH ( just asked not to use this) , They are still Sussex as PA is still York . As far as security , I seem to recall reading that PA’s security is no longer taxpayer funded .
Appreciate that this may read as a defence of PA , it isn’t. I am just not sure that the 2 situations are comparable . Maybe if PA issued videos ( God forbid) or assisted with a book I May this m differently .
I reiterate I am NOT defending PA , I simply don’t see the comparison as valid . My opinion .

H&M no longer use HRH. Didn't even know they still had it. They relinquised their titles. On the RF website A is still HRH. But not Harry.

No. The taxpayer funds PA security. The Queen fought for that

I know you are not defending PA. I am illustrating the difference in the treatment of them.

And previous in these threads over the last few days, I went into financial stuff which illustrates perfectly how the treatment is different.

I think the two situations could not be more comparable given both these two parties do not undertake royal duties.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'how can anyone know what was in a book if they have not read it?I have not and I have not read any extracts. so other than what I have seen on mn I can say that,.so how can a person who has not read it know it was mudslinging?'

Well for abut the 20th time it has been widely commented and quoted by the msm and on sm. You know fine well it was an attack on the RF why pretend otherwise?!

I'd have a bit more respect for those trying to support H's unfair scrutiny of his UK family if they just said 'yes, it is weird how they don't want scrutiny but are happy to publicly scrutinise others ', but nope. Head in the sands. I'm sure after the chat show appearance when they will surely sling mud again people supporting H will say 'oh what? Sorry no I didn't see that, but anyway! Prince Andrew...'.

Well, i have not read it, or read extracts, you can not respect that. But its a fact. So i can only assume there will be other people who have not read it. I won't be watching the tv thing either. I can still post on mn and say what i want though.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain members of the Royal Family and remain named and titled, as such. As explained in the January announcement, from Spring they will formally retain their titles of 'His/Her Royal Highness' but no longer actively use their 'HRH's," a Sussex spokesperson said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace in March 2020, when they officially stepped down.

I think this clarifies the HRH situation

I don't believe renouncing 'Sussex' would make a jot of difference. Everyone knows who they are.
Like Andrew. If he renounced 'York' we'd still know him and his dodginess.

The Sussex thing is the last criticism that detractors legitimately can make so they keep on about it.

They should be stripped of the dukedoms. None of the three of them (or four if we include Fergie) can be relied on to renounce.

Of course everyone will still know who they are. They will still have their birth names. That’s not the point.

The point is we are made to live in this archaically structured society, so at least there should be some expectation of minimum behaviour standards (thinking of Andrew here) and some public duties performed (all of them) in return for royal dukedoms and other privileges being handed out.

It’s really beneath you @Roussette to insist that we are all just running grudges against H&M and manufacturing criticisms of them. These are perfectly rational criticisms we (most of us) are putting forward and we (again, most of us) are respecting your opposing POV and being polite.

Mumsnet is actually heaving with republicans. It’s really unfair of you to accuse us all of being bad faith actors with an entirely different motivation.

What we really need is to do away with titles altogether, but I can be reasonable on compromise on the idea (for now - I am hopeful William will do something radical) that if you’re given them, you perform public duties in return.

PA is much older and has undertaken Royal duties all his life. He’s now at an age where he can’t go out and get a proper job. He is also now out of the public eye. He doesn’t promote himself or bring the family into disrepute because his wings have been clipped and he’s been told to shut up and keep out of the way. Quite rightly.
H and M are using their titles to generate money attention and ‘job’ opportunities, whilst showing little respect for the institution that has bestowed those titles. They complain about being in the public eye yet court attention at every opportunity.

It’s really beneath you @Roussette to insist that we are all just running grudges against H&M and manufacturing criticisms of them. These are perfectly rational criticisms we (most of us) are putting forward and we (again, most of us) are respecting your opposing POV and being polite.

What?

I am giving my opinion much like you. I have responded to posts.
I don't make it personal like you have just done and I have not been rude anywhere. Are you saying I have? If not, I'd prefer it if you didn't insinuate that.

And by the way, I am not alone in my thinking.

I don’t understand the rationale for stripping them of their aristo titles.

Plenty of non working royals have aristocratic titles. Plenty of non royals have aristocratic titles. I’m not sure what the criteria for ‘stripping’ someone of an aristocratic title would be anyway? I don’t think it’s something the queen does often.

It’s really unfair of you to accuse us all of being bad faith actors with an entirely different motivation

I'd also like clarification on that. Where have I accused anyone of anything?

@Roussette

It’s really beneath you @Roussette to insist that we are all just running grudges against H&M and manufacturing criticisms of them. These are perfectly rational criticisms we (most of us) are putting forward and we (again, most of us) are respecting your opposing POV and being polite.

What?

I am giving my opinion much like you. I have responded to posts.
I don't make it personal like you have just done and I have not been rude anywhere. Are you saying I have? If not, I'd prefer it if you didn't insinuate that.

And by the way, I am not alone in my thinking.

You said;

The Sussex thing is the last criticism that detractors legitimately can make so they keep on about it.

That’s not true and it’s not fair to ascribe alternate motivations to posters who object to the titles thing.

I am complaining about the Sussex dukedom, and indeed the York dukedom, for the reasons I have given, not for other reasons you insist on.

I’m also pleased that all the “cousin” Dukedoms (Kent, Gloucester etc) will fade away. You do that’s okay with you. 🙄