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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

It's amazing what people will do when offered a huge amount of money.

198 replies

TodayIsFridayHooray · 09/12/2022 11:52

Okaaaaay then. So in episode 3, Harry says

"It's amazing what people will do when offered a huge amount of money to sell photos and a story". This was in reference to Thomas Markle agreeing to have photos taken of himself by the papers, looking excited about and preparing for the wedding, for which he was paid.

AIBU to wonder what Thomas Markle did wrong? I thought he looked nice in the photos? The money was probably helpful for him given we are not all multimillionaires. Not sure what he did wrong? What was so bad?

Also, how is what Thomas Markle did worse than what H&M are doing by selling their life story, videos and pictures to every media outlet going for considerably more money than Thomas Markle got? Plus, H&M are managing to put down their entire family, and the UK, in the process.

Harry, when you said "It's amazing what people will do when offered a huge amount of money to sell photos and a story", did you forget that you said this while accepting $100,000 for selling your photo, and your story to netflix? And also selling family photos and stories about your family and country without their consent, for a netflix deal?

OP posts:
Rowthe · 09/12/2022 14:16

plinkypots · 09/12/2022 13:11

He doesn't seem all that bright and fairly naive. She just seems damaged. It's all a bit sad really. I'm not sure exactly what they will do once they've sold their story. There's only so many times anyone will want to hear this.

I can see it all mapped out.

They are on a crusade to fix the racism in the UK, and stamp it out in the Royal Family. It's their USP.

Once that is sorted Meghan has got her eye on the Presidency of the US. But she has a lot of work to do before that may become a reality.

They cant really make too many comments on the current state of the US politics or otherwise as this would cause them lose favour in the US. So most of any criticism are aimed at the UK.

Brefugee · 09/12/2022 14:18

Great she's informed the UK how ridiculous our long held traditions are.

i don't hold a torch for either of them but the bowing and curtseying in private to members of your own family (or anyone else for that matter) is batshit. No way I'd be doing that.

midsomermurderess · 09/12/2022 14:19

I found the use throughout of the language of therapy, ‘my lived experience’ etc tiresome. You see it on here too. I think it make the person sound quite inauthentic, not speaking with their own voice, almost like they’ve been coached. Also, the relentless bloody up-speak. Ultimately the self-pity and sense of victimhood emanating from them is grating.

BonnesVacances · 09/12/2022 14:20

Aussiegirl123456 · 09/12/2022 13:50

I don’t know much about the royals, harry and Megan etc. But the irony isn’t lost on me. Megan criticises her father for taking money from the press and selling his story about her, claims she’s hurt etc. Yet this is exactly what her and harry have done to their families? Rather than keep a dignified silence, she’s slipped to his level. Hypocritical.

She? Don't you mean they?

Probably not though. Hmm

Brefugee · 09/12/2022 14:23

but blimey i flippin' love gossip and soap operas, I'm deffo binge-watching this. Deyed in the wool republican that i am, it's going to be great.

JudgeJ · 09/12/2022 14:23

hopeishere · 09/12/2022 12:24

The whole programme lacks any challenge or rigour at all.

They've now told "their truth" it's all out there. Hopefully they can stop rehashing it and move on to the new chapter.

Of course there are no challenges or rigour, who's likely to challenge them or call them liars? They know that the RF won't engage in this kind of trash so he and the missus can say what they want. Looking at some of the reports from round the world they may just have shot themselves in the foot, while the RF won't engage many others are pointing out their lies.
Before he got involved with his now wife Harry never seemed to be unhappy in his role, he may have got annoyed with the snappers as he fell out of a night club but generally he seemed content and had a good relationship with his brother and his wife. It's interesting that all the angst has come out since. Were I a member of his family I would be very concerned about his future, he can only go on trashing his family for so long and when the cash cow dries up what then?

BedTaker · 09/12/2022 14:24

David Olusoga was on Ch4 news last night. When Krishnan asked him about Harry's past sins and how that all fits in with the racism element of everything, Olusoga rather robotically parroted the line that Harry has made mistakes but is now sorry and has now been educated blah blah blah, seemingly wary of being on message.

Harry is part of everything that DO despises and I don't believe that DO genuinely thinks that one crappy apology and marrying a mixed race woman is enough to get him off the hook. And Meghan and Harry seem keen to hang on to the titles given to them by such a terrible family?

Harry represents everything that DO is against, but like Harry said, it's amazing what people will do when there is a lot of money involved.

lljkk · 09/12/2022 14:26

What are they going to do for money when they run out of slagging-off things to say about their families?

Seriously, I am predisposed to like them both and wish them well... but sheesh, all they seem to do is make money off the stories about relationships they have found difficult. Do they lack any ability to do anything else to earn a crust? Why isn't she acting again to earn a living. He could flip burgers or try to become.. something. actor in TV commercials? Mechanic? Bush pilot... or has he no skills not even as a house-husband? Tell me that this constant dredging their own history for salacious gossip nuggets they can earn money from... is not tedious. From Royals to Slebs. Why would they want to do that. Weirdos.

Namenic · 09/12/2022 14:29

I think the monarchy is ok and would rather have King Charles than another election circus each 5 years. But I also feel a bit sorry for Harry. His mum died after being hounded by the press. Is it any surprise that he wants security and for that not to happen to his family? Yeah, maybe it is selling his privacy in order to get the money to do this, but it’s not illogical, because it is on his terms (he has a choice over what he says/films rather than being chased/stalked). I also understand the drive for a smaller, cheaper, slimmed down monarchy - and security must be v expensive.

SammySawdust · 09/12/2022 14:30

They have chosen to play the role of Professional Victims as a career choice. It may well earn them lots of money, but respect? Happiness? I doubt it. I think they're short sighted idiots.

limitedperiodonly · 09/12/2022 14:31

Viviennemary · 09/12/2022 13:22

I hope this means they wont be present at the coronation.

Do you think you're going to get their tickets?

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 09/12/2022 14:31

Brefugee · 09/12/2022 14:18

Great she's informed the UK how ridiculous our long held traditions are.

i don't hold a torch for either of them but the bowing and curtseying in private to members of your own family (or anyone else for that matter) is batshit. No way I'd be doing that.

This is how I feel about it.

M thought she was meeting Harry's grandma rather than The Queen, and I would have thought exactly the same.

DingDonkey · 09/12/2022 14:32

Pretty standard for them. Fits right in with their eco preaching whilst private jetting about and their thinly disguised belief that the hierarchy wouldn't be quite so unfair if they were in their rightful position at the top.

BedTaker · 09/12/2022 14:35

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 09/12/2022 14:31

This is how I feel about it.

M thought she was meeting Harry's grandma rather than The Queen, and I would have thought exactly the same.

I would hope that a man who loved me and was serious about me would brief me about what is expected when I meet his family, not just be like 'oh look Granny's home, let's go and see her, oh by the way you have to curtsey'.

He knew the score, surely he told Meghan?

Adultchildofelderlyparents · 09/12/2022 14:38

I agree, I don't think Thomas Markle's photos were that bad. When you consider Zara Philips has done photo shoots with hello magazine, Peter Philips has been in a TV commercial for milk in the Far East, how is Thomas Markle, not even a royal, doing anything wrong by posing for a photo that clearly showed he was excited about his daughter's wedding.
The difference, of course, is his daughter is a social climbing narcissist, who was marrying an arrogant privileged toff. I loved the pair of them until a few years ago. Now they just come across greedy, spoiled and attention-seeking.

Deafdonkey · 09/12/2022 14:42

What finished me off was when Harry said there was no one to help with Meghans mental health. All that money, all those connections he should have helped her.

Try getting help when you have no connections and no money, when you are begging a Crisis team to intervene and they suggest making a hot chocolate and having a bath. When there is 3year wait for therapy and you can't afford it as you are off work with your mental health and there is no money for heating let alone therapy.

DingDonkey · 09/12/2022 14:45

On the curtsying to family thing - my DH is far, far from royalty but his grandma is very particular about certain etiquette and how she should be addressed/greeted. He made me aware of all this before meeting her. I don't quite get it but go along with it anyway as it's clearly important to her and she is important to our family. I wouldn't dream of going on Netflix and mocking how she likes things done! I did think Harry looked a bit uncomfortable during that part but maybe he just needed to fart...

CuordiMela765 · 09/12/2022 14:46

Actually I thought it was pretty despicable what Thomas Markle did. I would trust Meghan’s mother on this; someone who has behaved with dignity and discretion throughout.

I don’t believe he had a heart attack either. I think that was made up to explain his absence from both sides.

I think making a documentary series showing your perspective on events, when so much vituperative crap has being written about you, is fair enough. As a parent though, do you really willingly become “become part of the circus?”.

I remember seeing Thomas Markle on another documentary saying words to the effect that it was Meghan’s turn to “pay”. Decent fathers would never, EVER say that.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 09/12/2022 14:48

He knew the score, surely he told Meghan?

I think one thing which is clear from the documentary is that he hadn't come close to preparing her for anything. She didn't have a clue what it would be like marrying in to the royal family and he kept his mouth shut.

The behaviour of the press was (imo) awful. But it was also expected - Harry knew what they are like as much as the rest of us did.

CuordiMela765 · 09/12/2022 14:50

And on the subject of bowing. Have people actually watched the documentary or are they just reading the Daily Mail
story about this?

It is very obvious in the docuseries that Meghan was making fun of herself for not knowing the correct way to curtsey. She wasn’t making fun of the tradition itself, even though it is a patently ludicrous thing to have to do in the 21st century.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 09/12/2022 14:52

@BedTaker

Oh yeah. Definitely. He doesn't seem to have done anything to prepare her. I'm just saying I don't blame her for not realising at all.

DingDonkey · 09/12/2022 14:53

CuordiMela765 · 09/12/2022 14:50

And on the subject of bowing. Have people actually watched the documentary or are they just reading the Daily Mail
story about this?

It is very obvious in the docuseries that Meghan was making fun of herself for not knowing the correct way to curtsey. She wasn’t making fun of the tradition itself, even though it is a patently ludicrous thing to have to do in the 21st century.

I watched it. I didn't get the impression she was merely making fun of herself. She compared dinner with the queen to some tacky American restaurant!

BedTaker · 09/12/2022 14:56

CuordiMela765 · 09/12/2022 14:50

And on the subject of bowing. Have people actually watched the documentary or are they just reading the Daily Mail
story about this?

It is very obvious in the docuseries that Meghan was making fun of herself for not knowing the correct way to curtsey. She wasn’t making fun of the tradition itself, even though it is a patently ludicrous thing to have to do in the 21st century.

It was definitely a strange moment in the programme. I think she was taking the piss out of herself not the Queen, but it came across weird. It probably would have helped if Harry had been laughing along instead of going 😏

Lavenderflower · 09/12/2022 15:05

They must be in need of the money...

Cheeseandhoney · 09/12/2022 15:16

I also think Meghan was taking the piss out herself rather than the queen on the courtesy thing, I also think it was bullshit from the look on Harry’s face.

them criticising her father for taking money to sell stories when they do it, is typical of them, remember them flying private jet whilst also telling folks to limit travel and manage their carbon footprint? They lack self awareness. In their heads what they do is for good reason and justifiable, for everyone else they feel this isn’t the case.

so for example they were so stressed they needed a holiday at Elton johns villa and foe security purposes had to fly in his private jet. But for everyone else this doesn’t apply and they should be looking for lower Carbon options.

or they need to sell their story and the rest of their families, as they need the money and feel they need to put the record straight, for her dad they feel this isn’t the case.

it’s astonishing, harry will sit their straight faced saying it’s amazing what people will do for money whilst doing it a hundred fold himself and not recognising the irony.