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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Prince Harry should now do whatever it takes to cancel his book contract?

808 replies

FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:13

And withdraw his book?

A rapprochement looks possible if he meets the RF halfway.

OP posts:
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9
Giggorata · 16/09/2022 22:14

I wish he would.

theoriginalteletubby · 16/09/2022 22:15

I don’t expect he will, he’ll toddle back to the USA and carry on milking it for years.

Original poster
FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:16

I wonder if they could buy him off?

OP posts:
Grandeur · 16/09/2022 22:16

YABU. I doubt a rapprochement is possible because I don't think Meghan will ever be accepted into that family, and that's what the problem has always been.

Original poster
FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:17

It just seems a shame not to capitalise on this outbreak of harmony. If he needs the money, they could write a cheque.

OP posts:
Original poster
FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:18

Grandeur · 16/09/2022 22:16

YABU. I doubt a rapprochement is possible because I don't think Meghan will ever be accepted into that family, and that's what the problem has always been.

You think? I though Charles was charming to Meghan.

OP posts:
Gazelda · 16/09/2022 22:20

I actually feel sorry for him in many ways.

He left the RF for his own very good reasons. He was protecting his wife from abuse.

Unfortunately,I don't think he handled it terribly well and it now looks from the outside as if he had an enormous sulk and is after revenge.

This last week has hopefully given everyone a bit of time and focus to put old wounds behind them. Olive branches have been offered.

But he's backed himself into a corner with the book. I doubt very much that he'll be able to get out of it.

I can't see this ending happily. And I suspect this path is one that no one wants him to go down.

Both he and Megan are locked in a cycle of being seen to cash in on the RF.

bloodyunicorns · 16/09/2022 22:20

Grandeur · 16/09/2022 22:16

YABU. I doubt a rapprochement is possible because I don't think Meghan will ever be accepted into that family, and that's what the problem has always been.

What are you basing that on?!

Original poster
FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:24

Gazelda · 16/09/2022 22:20

I actually feel sorry for him in many ways.

He left the RF for his own very good reasons. He was protecting his wife from abuse.

Unfortunately,I don't think he handled it terribly well and it now looks from the outside as if he had an enormous sulk and is after revenge.

This last week has hopefully given everyone a bit of time and focus to put old wounds behind them. Olive branches have been offered.

But he's backed himself into a corner with the book. I doubt very much that he'll be able to get out of it.

I can't see this ending happily. And I suspect this path is one that no one wants him to go down.

Both he and Megan are locked in a cycle of being seen to cash in on the RF.

I’m sure there have been mistakes on all sides.

Hopefully the social capital of being royal means he has a better chance than most of striking a deal with the publishers?

Even if he has to pay a penalty, surely the cash can be rustled up from a Duchy or something?

OP posts:
Fullupdowntown1a1 · 16/09/2022 22:27

FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:13

And withdraw his book?

A rapprochement looks possible if he meets the RF halfway.

@FromageRouge I can see where you’re coming from on this, but I don’t think it’s reasonable. He went through a lot (from his perspective) and he has a right to tell his side of things. I thought he might drop it as well but then I saw this clip and I reckon he probably won’t go quietly

Original poster
FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:28

The book will be like petrol on a barbecue. He cannot win a PR war. I don’t think there is much peace of mind to be had that way, either, TBH.

OP posts:
FairyHannie · 16/09/2022 22:29

Yes but he won't

Penguinfeather781 · 16/09/2022 22:29

What outbreak of harmony? They’ve all rightly concluded that now is not the time to air their grievances or give the press material that distracts from the focus on the Queen. They are getting on with the job while being polite and civil and quite right too.

Beyond that I see no reason why they’ll suddenly all reconcile - particularly as Harry’s loyalty seemed to be to his Grandmother not his father, and she’s now gone. If he and Meghan have these very genuine grievances why would the Queen’s death change anything? And even if he had a change of heart, I don’t see how his brother or father could ever trust him in the same way again. In any event, why does it matter? Lots of people don’t get on with their family and are happier being very low contact, possibly on both sides.

This is real life not a Hallmark movie, it doesn’t need some “happy ending” where everyone kisses and makes up.

UnashamedLabelHo · 16/09/2022 22:30

He might have things to say that aren’t bitching or complaining - maybe funny anecdotes and interesting stories about people he’s met and places he’s been. It can’t ALL be frothing and his mum.

Whammyyammy · 16/09/2022 22:31

theoriginalteletubby · 16/09/2022 22:15

I don’t expect he will, he’ll toddle back to the USA and carry on milking it for years.

Agreed, and selling his family secrets to the highest bidder

daretodenim · 16/09/2022 22:32

Of course he should cancel it. But then it should never have been written in the first place. If he cancels it, then what? He lets down a lot of people in the US, where he now lives. If he lets it go ahead, he doesn't risk alienating those who surround him over there.

He may feel like cancelling it while he's in the UK, but back in the US there'll be a LOT of pressure on him not to.

He's also seemingly surrounded by people who advise badly, so I'd be surprised - pleasantly - if he actually did the right thing here.

But it seems awful too that he would agree to cancel it now when he didn't care before about upsetting and/or trashing the work and legacy of the grandmother he is now mourning.

He'd need to be under the wing of The Palace for it to happen and his wife - an independent woman from North America (different culture to royal and aristocratic Britain, NOT related to skin colour or liking her/not liking her) - would be kind of crazy to accept that as it would impact her goes against who she is.

It would be nice if the palace can find an out for him that allows him to save face.

LadyHarmby · 16/09/2022 22:32

No publisher will go ahead with publication if he doesn’t want to. They’ll probably expect him to pay his advance back but otherwise they’ll let him out of the contract.

LizzieSiddal · 16/09/2022 22:32

I would imagine he’s just inherited rather a lot of money form his Granny so he shouldn’t really need the money from the book. So yes he should stop it.

StartupRepair · 16/09/2022 22:33

He knew the Queen's age when he signed up to write it. She was either going to be alive and hurt by the content or have just died. He wasn't bothered obviously by either of those scenarios.
.Harry does not seem like someone who thinks ahead much.

Topseyt123 · 16/09/2022 22:34

I think he should, and I think he probably could, but will he?

I'd like to see the brothers become closer again, as they once used to be. Not sure how easy that will be.

Original poster
FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:35

One of the biggest mistakes in that video is to suggest that “the media” don’t want to hear it all. A tell-all is a media profit exercise, not a therapeutic undertaking.

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Hbh17 · 16/09/2022 22:35

Of course he should cancel it! He needs to support his father, The King, and have a discreet but private life in California. Whether that will happen, however .......

Original poster
FromageRouge · 16/09/2022 22:36

He's also seemingly surrounded by people who advise badly, so I'd be surprised - pleasantly - if he actually did the right thing here.

Hopefully he does have good access to some wise heads.

OP posts:
JenniferBarkley · 16/09/2022 22:37

What's actually changed? Sure they're all putting the respectable face on, but I haven't seen anything to make me think relations have cooled.

Yes, the book will probably make things worse, but that's his right and I don't think enough has happened this week to change his mind. Have I missed something?

QueenOfHiraeth · 16/09/2022 22:37

I think he should but doubt he will. I think he and Meghan are a difficult combination as she seems to encourage his victim mentality