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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that Prince Harry is coming across as the most tone deaf and hypocritical member of the RF right now?

999 replies

ChocolateSantaisthebestkind · 26/02/2021 09:54

Yes the guy lost his mother in a tragic way at a young age. (So have many) Yes he was forced out into the public eye in the middle of grief (which was horrific at the time and worse on reflection) BUT he is now an adult man with a family and access to life of extreme privilege yet he cannot seem to realise that him publically complaining about his lot in life and telling the rest of us how to behave is distasteful. Also, the petulant way he seems to communicate with the media is just undelining his immaturity and lack of awareness. By which I mean, the potshots in statements and rapping with James Corden and his pathetic man of the people schtick. If you want to be Hazzer give up your title and STFU!

AIBU?

OP posts:
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9
user1471538283 · 27/02/2021 07:47

He reminds me of his mother and whilst I had some sympathy for her being sold a pup marrying Charles she constantly courted the media and then complained about it.

He wanted out and hated the media but is then chasing its attention again. He is chasing some sort of relevance exactly like she did.

I find them all insufferable. I think he wanted the titles and all that without the work. Nah

toconclude · 27/02/2021 08:03

@Radio4Rocks

He's all me, me, me. Just like his mother.

Have no time for him and his whining. Just piss off and live quietly and stop courting the press you supposedly hate.

This. Diana was a self-obsessed fame hunter with no noticeable talents and her elevation to media sainthood/victimhood made me puke. Ditto this pair
justamummydoingherbest · 27/02/2021 08:05

Is he still a prince? I though he has given up his title/ family.

WinnieTheW0rm · 27/02/2021 08:15

Strictly speaking, Prince isn't a title, it's a style. He can use it or not as he likes. He got it just for being born grandson of monarch, which he still is.

His title is the Dukedom, which he retains and uses. He has not been stripped of the HRH, but by mutual agreement it is not in use.

Unless something utterly unthinkable terrible happened to the entire Cambridge family (the reason why they don't always travel together) he is not going to be near the throne. But if that happened, then he would be second, and Archie third, and decisions about royal role would all have to be re-visited.

studychick81 · 27/02/2021 08:20

@Sparklingbrook

I just wish he’d stop trading on being royal

He can't do anything without being accused of that can he? He is from the Royal family, there's nothing he can do about that. He can't rewrite history and not be Prince Charles' son. Confused

No he can't and that's fine if he wants to step down from royal duties. I don't have a problem with that. Disappear and live a quiet life. Surely they have enough money to do that.

Instead, he still wants to use that title to make money and seek press deals but doesn't want the title if it involved anything he doesn't want to do or anything he says he doesn't like. He described the environment as toxic and says it was affecting his mental health in that interview with JC. I have sympathy for that and can see why he chose to go. But If that's the case you would think he wouldn't want anything to do with the press. That's the bit that irritates me.

Itsamess8456 · 27/02/2021 08:25

I like PH. The interview showed him as a normal bloke. If I had a camera in my face and everything I said was scrutinised (I'm honestly a nice person) - I very much could be made out to be a fool, selfish etc etc.

The media has been really shitty - Infact ever more than shitty to them - they've been poisonous and bullying. Who wouldn't want escape from that??

For people who say they brought it on themselves - how easy is it to be a perfect person and act/say perfect things all the time?

They want a new start in a different place, I really don't blame them.

TheFairyCaravan · 27/02/2021 08:26

He described the environment as toxic and says it was affecting his mental health in that interview with JC. I have sympathy for that and can see why he chose to go. But If that's the case you would think he wouldn't want anything to do with the press. That's the bit that irritates me.

He said the British press were toxic. From that I took it to mean the likes of The Scum, The Fail and Piers Morgan who attack Harry and, particularly, Meghan on a daily basis. Even if they haven’t done an interview or been seen in public for months they find something. It’s horrible. There’s threads on here almost every day too where posters bleat “why don’t they just go away...?” which is weird because unless you read the shitty tabloids you hardly ever hear about them.

hopeishere · 27/02/2021 08:31

I liked the James Corden interview but it's mired in all the rest of the mess.

The interview in Africa was tone deaf.

If they totally want up blow it with their family then the Oprah interview is it. I suspect Meghan will come over well. She's a good performer. I wonder if they retained editorial control.

studychick81 · 27/02/2021 08:44

@TheFairyCaravan

He described the environment as toxic and says it was affecting his mental health in that interview with JC. I have sympathy for that and can see why he chose to go. But If that's the case you would think he wouldn't want anything to do with the press. That's the bit that irritates me.

He said the British press were toxic. From that I took it to mean the likes of The Scum, The Fail and Piers Morgan who attack Harry and, particularly, Meghan on a daily basis. Even if they haven’t done an interview or been seen in public for months they find something. It’s horrible. There’s threads on here almost every day too where posters bleat “why don’t they just go away...?” which is weird because unless you read the shitty tabloids you hardly ever hear about them.

It will be very interesting to see if the American press will embrace them as they want them too. How much criticism they get from the American press and how they respond to this if it's not all positive. Although, the British press are known for being particular brutal, the American press can also be pretty brutal too, look at the way they treated and hounded Britney Spears or Tom cruise.
isitspringyet · 27/02/2021 08:57

That’s what I don’t get if it’s effecting your mental health stop putting yourself out there. I remember the sulky statement he made when he first began dating.. I had no idea he was but there were hints on her social media page she had posted. It’s too confusing and I hope he finds some peace and happiness but I think it’s naive to continue trying to have both positive press without the negative. And For the record I do not actively search them out - it was on the news last night. Wouldn’t watch it either. Sycophantic JC makes my teeth itch

Runwithtorches · 27/02/2021 08:58

I understand why they wanted to escape the British press and Piers Morgan in particular who seems positively unbalanced and deranged in relation to M, but I wonder how they will make a living in twenty years time. Will anyone care about them then?

If Harry is never seen to be present at the Trooping of the Colour or Remembrance Sunday in an official capacity then his "pos" is going to wear a bit thin so they will really need to do something admirable in their own right from the get go, rather then relying on anecdotes about what the queen bought their DC for Christmas. You can over-estimate the degree to which Americans go loopy over the Royals I think.

UsedUpUsername · 27/02/2021 09:02

It will be very interesting to see if the American press will embrace them as they want them too. How much criticism they get from the American press and how they respond to this if it's not all positive. Although, the British press are known for being particular brutal, the American press can also be pretty brutal too, look at the way they treated and hounded Britney Spears or Tom cruise

It’s also much harder to sue the press. But there are plenty of outlets they can pay for positive coverage, so it’ll be a wash, probably

TheKeatingFive · 27/02/2021 09:09

I wonder how they will make a living in twenty years time. Will anyone care about them then?

Who knows? But they have plenty of capital so I doubt they’ll be on the street.

Runwithtorches · 27/02/2021 09:13

Who knows? But they have plenty of capital so I doubt they’ll be on the street.

Yes but they will also need a lot of money to sustain the lifestyle they are currently living.

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 27/02/2021 09:14

Just out of interest, I had a quick look to see what Harry and Meghan have actually been doing during the past few months when the press have been frothing over them and while people have been fizzing with anger on Mumsnet about them being attention-seeking/disrespectful/Schilling for cash. Here is what I found:

Meghan donated her settlement fee from the mail on Sunday case to an anti-bullying charity

They gave money to a charity that establishes emergency kitchens in disaster zones

They donated cash to a women's aid facility in Texas in the wake of the awful cold weather so that they could repair a roof.

What amazing things! Surely, whatever you think about Meghan being fake or whatever, you can all collectively agree that they are working to make people's lives a bit better?

Drivingmecrazy2021 · 27/02/2021 09:17

I think not matter how much money you have there are aspects of life that will be hard for you and just because you may be privileged in one area does not mean you don’t have difficulties.
I am not surprised one bit they decided to leave the U.K.
They know they will
Never met privacy that’s a given, at least they control some of it.
I remember being absolutely shocked that when Archie was born people were absolutely horrible at the fact she didn’t want to stand outside as soon as baby was born for press or people think it was ok for Kate.
Things were said like “ we deserve to see the baby it’s apart of our royal family “ like we owned the right.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 27/02/2021 09:17

'Who knows? But they have plenty of capital so I doubt they’ll be on the street.'

No they won't be on the street. Materially they will manage just fine. Emotionally I do wonder how H will cope. I think he will continue to dine out on the RF and his 'having to step back' story for years and years. In order to convince himself and others of course how very badly treated he was by the media. It's all he is interesting for. I hope he never goes into the US's equivalent of Smiths, their gossip magazines are atrocious and often target the Sussexes.

TheKeatingFive · 27/02/2021 09:18

Yes but they will also need a lot of money to sustain the lifestyle they are currently living.

I’m sure they’re well advised - and there are many avenues for rich people to make more money.

If people are hoping they’ll have to get realtor licences to pay the bills or whatever, they’ll be disappointed.

TheKeatingFive · 27/02/2021 09:19

I think he will continue to dine out on the RF and his 'having to step back' story for years and years. In order to convince himself and others of course how very badly treated he was by the media

Well we all know what a total Cassandra you are.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 27/02/2021 09:20

'Can we have a hating Harry and Meghan please. I am totally fed up seeing it on these boards'

'I believe the advice on here if you don't like seeing Harry and Meghan content is to 'change the channel' and go and find some other media to occupy yourself with.'

Exactly! Follow your own well stop looking advice Grin

Drivingmecrazy2021 · 27/02/2021 09:26

I also find it weird why mumsnet let the constant threads about Harry and Meghan etc
Some awful ones about Meghan but you can not have a bad word said against a certain big family without it being automatically deleted on mumsnet,ok so they are not as famous as the royal family but they choose to put them self on telly and media etc and is you have a bad word say about them it’s not in the mumsnet spirit.

TheKeatingFive · 27/02/2021 09:29

Some celebs are a LOT more litigious than others. There are many people you can barely utter a word about on here.

It’s only quite recently MN has tried cracking down on the H&M threads. So I suspect they’ve only recently engaged with what’s going on here. There’s still a lot more scope to talk about them (fair or otherwise) than many other celebs.

Beefcurtains79 · 27/02/2021 09:29

“ Although, the British press are known for being particular brutal, the American press can also be pretty brutal too, look at the way they treated and hounded Britney Spears or Tom cruise.”

How was Tom Cruise hounded? He doesn’t even get negative press for being estranged from his own daughter! I’d say he’s had it pretty good myself.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 27/02/2021 09:32

'Well we all know what a total Cassandra you are.'

Sorry, what? A 'cassandra' Grin

'also find it weird why mumsnet let the constant threads about Harry and Meghan etc'

Because they are on the news frequently after their latest appearance touting grievances which many have an opinion on. Fine, have privacy but please stop gossiping about the RF.

Runwithtorches · 27/02/2021 09:35

@TheKeatingFive

Yes but they will also need a lot of money to sustain the lifestyle they are currently living.

I’m sure they’re well advised - and there are many avenues for rich people to make more money.

If people are hoping they’ll have to get realtor licences to pay the bills or whatever, they’ll be disappointed.

My point was that they will only be able to continue to make money if people continue to care who they are.

That's not meant as a negative criticism more an objective assessment of their situation. I personally think the more distanced H becomes from his royal roots, the less people will be bothered about what they do. It's a case of diminishing returns which I am sure they are aware of, hence the need to do some worthwhile projects off their own bat.