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

[FromageRouge]

And withdraw his book?

A rapprochement looks possible if he meets the RF halfway.

I think its brilliant that he did what he did. About time. Its a shame William hasnt the brains to do the same.

Roussette, are you claiming someone to be overinvested?

Lol, think what you like 🤷‍♀️, I don't write massive 11 paragraph posts saying how wonderful she is!

Well, not 11 paragraphs in one post perhaps, but 11,111,111 (slight exaggeration. Or maybe not, don't have the inclination to draw up a spreadsheet) paragraphs across hundreds of posts does seem to be slightly over invested.

They might be more popular in America if they were seen to be included in official events like the state funeral.

I do think it's slightly taking the piss to expect H&M to play happy families where the optics of a united front make the RF look good in the media - hence windsor walk around the other day, and Harry following the coffin and doing the lying in vigil - whilst the media extols the Royal Families graciousness and magnanimity in 'allowing' them to take part - as of it isn't H grandmother too - and then say 'oh but you're not working Royals so you're not coming to the state reception'

Then allowing the press to run with this in a way that implies M&H have been deliberately denigrated or snubbed by the family. And being alright with that.

THEN (especially knowing who and what they're dealing with) expecting them not to be upset at their treatment and put book deals on hold. How does that help build rifts?

And M&H I would say are in a slightly different situation to the other non-working Royals being stationed in America. I think the real concern has been fear of them having bigger influence there and on the world stage than W&K here and not being able to control them. Meghan is very left wing, in the shallowest sense, and seems to want to fuse her politics with her royal status, so I see that concern, and that would have to be dealt with, but still let them fly a bit and drop these protocols that aren't making anything better.

It reminds me of the time Harry wanted a wreath placed at the cenotaph and it was refused. It may be protocol, but for those of us who must rub along with family we wouldn't choose in another life and yet find a way through, it looks petty and spiteful.

I do think it's slightly taking the piss to expect H&M to play happy families where the optics of a united front make the RF look good in the media - hence windsor walk around the other day, and Harry following the coffin and doing the lying in vigil - whilst the media extols the Royal Families graciousness and magnanimity in 'allowing' them to take part - as of it isn't H grandmother too - and then say 'oh but you're not working Royals so you're not coming to the state reception'

Does anyone "expect" them to do these things? I suspect that if H&M said no thanks, not for us, we're going back to the US, they would be left to it. I get the impression that they're being included in ceremonial stuff because he is the queen's grandchild and the King's son, and is making it pretty clear that he expects to be included. The state reception is inevitably going to be a working event with all sorts of potential diplomatic implications, and it makes no sense to have non-working members of the family there.

Haven’t heard that Andrew was uninvited so presumably he was never going. As a borderline sex offender that’s fair enough.

According to the press H&M we’re disinvited at the last minute - so it obviously wasn’t about what they might say.

If that was a concern it would have been a concern from the start.

It was a mix up with the invite list apparently. But no one will believe that.

Does anyone "expect" them to do these things? I suspect that if H&M said no thanks, not for us, we're going back to the US, they would be left to it.

Take a breath and think about it from their pov for a moment. It's Harry's grandmother, but access to the things he wants to do, to pay his respects have to be 'granted.' Following coffin etc. When they are granted these things, the press frame it in a way that reflects positively on the Official Royals, not them. Fab four nada nada. Will & Kate are the most gracious forgiving people etc. W&M have bern shamed and not invited to state funeral (because they're being humiliated and are undeserving being the implication)

Then once this is over it's 'You've done your bit, now fuck off back to America, you're not going to granted any more favours'

And Andrew not being invited is hardly comparable, if he was my Uncle I wouldn't invite him to pub trivia night let alone a state reception.

I genuinely can see the issues of M&H and do not like them, but I think the Royal Family have and continue, to deal with them in a way that makes them feel their backs are against the wall and is inflammatory instead of conciliatory.

And I can tell you I was a huge critic of M in particular and still am never gonna be a fan, but even I am starting to see it really can't just be all them. (Annoying hand-holding aside).

@DysonSphere
Great post, I agree

And the other thing is how so many negative tidbits manage to get leaked to the press. Someone in the Royal Family needs to get their house in order. Particularly with regards to staff. The House of Windsor have been leaking like a sieve for decades now. Hopefully Charles will ensure more discretion in the apparatus that helps keep the RF going.

I can't imagine this much info on the Royals inner family turmoils was so apparent during the reigns of Victoria or King George V or even our late Queen's Father George VI.

The inability to get a lid, prevent or control these stories given by 'palace sources' that negative to H&M then tends to look deliberate.

Was it not Meghan and Harry's side who leaked the invite / no invite thing?

YABU because I want to read that book. Harry still come across much better to me than William, who is boring and miserable looking to the point he is actually bad at his job. Kate carries him and will probably be carrying the whole family for the next half a century.

I expect Scobie received an inaccurate piece of info or made it up regarding the invite.

We are now hearing that a 'friend' of the couple has spoken to The Times about PH having ER removed from his uniform and says 'He is heartbroken. To remove his grandmother’s initials feels very intentional.'

No idea if that is true or if there was a reason behind it but again another leak when the focus should be about his Granny not about him.

Save it for later.

And also dumped an important military occasion at the last minute, to attend the Lion King, and tout for work for his wife.

Did you see him yesterday meeting the crowds in the queue? He was brilliant

Bad at his job? Be fair - have you seen how engaged and busy he's been in the last week? Also, friendly, appreciative and chatty with the crowds.

We only knew they were invited and then univited via Scobie, so really not sure that this is true.

Why would an ex-employee be invited to a work event? Especially when they are known for being less that discreet.

Stormzy, would imagine every member of the armed services will have ER removed from their insignia and replaced with CR.

New wife. Early honeymoon days of marriage. Struggling to say no to new glamorous wifey. Possible career opportunity for her. Acting was her love. She's followed him to his important engagements, now it's her turn. Fellow American countrymen would be there. Way to open up networks for himself that differentiate him from his family and could facilitate possible move to America. Needing to show his wife he's his own man. Harry miscalculated.

However it is framed as malicious. I'm pretty certain it was just all the reasons above, which are understandable.

Do we know why Meghan hasn't resumed her acting career - although with two young children I guess she might do it later. Box office gold, surely.

Sorry - none of those reasons are good enough to skip a military occasion for the Marines, that had long been in the diary. When Philip handed over to Harry, he reportedly said 'don't fuck it up'. Sad outcome.

Thinking about it - the whole thing was so rushed. Met, married, baby, moved to US all within 3/4 years. I can understand why in terms of their ages, but it gave them no time to really get to know and understand each other. IMO that was both of their faults - Harry wanted to marry her before she found out what a tough life it is in the Royal Family, and she wanted to marry him before he realised she may not be Miss Perfect (as none of us are!)

The House of Windsor have been leaking like a sieve for decades now. Hopefully Charles will ensure more discretion in the apparatus that helps keep the RF going

Somehow I doubt it, considering the amount of leaking his staff have done on his own behalf, and speaking of the RF meeting the crowds I'd love to know what intelligence they have regarding Charles's reception - we never saw the Queen with obvious security grunts jostling around her like this

And on H&M's "disinvitation" to the reception, maybe let's wait and see what happens? It's only in the last few days that the media have said Andrew wouldn't be in uniform - then he would - then he wouldn't again, and after that I lost track.
Surely it's obvious by now that they make much of it up as they go along?

It's only a 'disinvitation' according to Omid Scobie. But it was only an invitiation according to him.