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Original poster

Will life after the Royal Family end well for Harry?

87 replies

Rainbunny · 20/01/2020 12:19

I hope it works out for H&M but I'm afraid I don't see a happy ending for Harry ultimately. They got their freedom but not on the terms they were hoping for - as Harry has admitted and I wonder how Harry in particular will fare. He has to step down from his honorary military positions, now has no public duties and cannot use his HRH. In short, his status has dramatically diminished overnight.

I know there is talk of amazing deals with Netflix etc. but in all honesty, other than the fact he is a prince, what skills would he bring to the table for a post royal life? He's not a businessman and he doesn't have the accomplishments like say, the Obama's if he's thinking of paid speaking engagements or book deals (for that matter neither does Meghan). Their desire to still be part-time royals reflects the reality that they know their value came from being working royals. There will be a buzz around them for a limited time I think but I honestly see them fading from relevance after five years or so.

Sadly I think Harry will struggle to find meaning and duty in life if he can't convert this move into something fulfilling. He'll be self-exiled from the UK, far from family and friends with a diminished status as the royal who "quit" which may well bother him for the rest of his life.

OP posts:
BrexitBingoGenerator · 20/01/2020 12:21

Or, he may find that living quietly with his wife, child and dogs gives him a sense of peace and fulfilment he’s been looking for his entire life.

No doubt there will be people salivating at the thought of him imploding and his marriage falling apart, but I hope they are wrong.

GreenTulips · 20/01/2020 12:24

The royals have an awful lot of training in regards to public speaking manners cultures etc

I think he’ll be a lot happier.

His status was inherited. He’s a wealthy man outright. He can only go up.

LazyDaisey · 20/01/2020 12:26

Well the Kardashians do fuck all but it’s worked out well for them.

Original poster
Rainbunny · 20/01/2020 12:28

I certainly hope it works for him and I actually approve of them stepping away from royal life as the RF is too big anyway and I actually hope they all get pensioned off and stop taking public money. That said, he has been raised all his life with a massive sense of duty and I think it will be a struggle for him to come to terms with a leaving that behind.

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keepingbees · 20/01/2020 12:40

I hope it works out for him too. I can't say I agree with a lot of his views lately and I think he should have taken more time pre wedding to sort this all out. He's made a lot of rushed big decisions this last couple of years and seems to have upset a lot of people in the process.
I think it's a shame he's going to another country and won't be as involved with his family and Archie won't be as close to them. I can't help but feel Meghan wears the trousers and is the driving force behind it.
When he used to go out as a threesome with William and Kate they always all looked so happy. It's a shame it ended once he met someone and that they haven't all moved forward together and remained close with the children close as cousins.
But who knows. No one but them can really know all the ins and outs.

Bibidy · 20/01/2020 15:11

I don't think so.

Ultimately I think their lives are too far apart. She gave up hers to be with him and it didn't work. Now he's giving up his to be with her and it won't work.

I also think that Harry supports the Crown and will not be willing to commercialise everything in the way it seems Meghan may want to. I think he will still feel pulled by the rules and regulations he's been raised with, particularly when the days comes that it's his father on the throne, and that will cause issues between them. As much as he has done this, I would be very surprised to see him throwing them under the bus publicly, or even doing deals/TV shows that are not in line with what's been 'allowed' so far.

We will see, but I don't think he will get a happy ending from this.

Bibidy · 20/01/2020 15:12

I think if they had said that they wanted to give it all up and step out of the limelight completely maybe it would have worked.

But it seems like they want to continue as they are but without the pressure and scrutiny - which they will never be able to shed, regardless of whether they use their HRHs or not. If anything the press will have more freedom to hound them now, as there are strict rules on what photos etc can be published of the royals.

AuntieStella · 20/01/2020 15:28

I hope he's a SAHD to two DC

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 20/01/2020 16:17

Well at least if it doesn't work out for him, he will at least have tried. I think the door to the RF will always be open to him.

Imstinkyeddie · 20/01/2020 16:21

I'm not a royalist but this must be so very, very painful for HMQ.

It must bring back awful memories of the abdication and another divorced American woman...

It does seem that she has played hardball. They didn't really give her much choice though

NiceViper · 20/01/2020 17:12

All they need do now is avoid the press for a while (to show that they really do want to get away from the malign forces he spoke of yesterday), perhaps have another child, plan their new enterprises, and quietly go about them.

I think he couid be really happy bringing up DC in an outdoorsy sort of way (Canada much of the time, Sandringham alternate Christmases, Balmoral during the summer). With involved cuts and Sentebale he still has good platforms into veterans affairs and Africa.

It's less clear what Meghan might be doing, but she certainly speaks well.

whatswithtodaytoday · 20/01/2020 17:15

They're very wealthy and have access to everything that makes life pleasant (lovely houses, no real need to work, able to travel or move wherever and whenever, and money to pay for privacy should they want it).

I'm sure they'll be absolutely fine.

Hirsutefirs · 20/01/2020 17:16

Does anyone’s life end well?

fedup2017 · 20/01/2020 17:19

I hope so. He seems like a generally nice guy and has been treated really badly by the press ( and some would argue his own family). I hope he enjoys taking some control back and they raising Archie together. Best of luck to the both.

lesleyw1953 · 20/01/2020 17:19

I think he will end up like his great uncle - Edward. He will be rootless and jobless and bored. Eventually Megan will become so irritated with him that life will be miserable

megletthesecond · 20/01/2020 17:20

I hope he's a a SAHD too.
I do worry about even more press intrusion and security risks though.

PortiaCastis · 20/01/2020 17:23

Well he clearly isn't happy now but who would be when they're subjected to bile and vitriol spewed at them constantly so i hope Harry and his wife and child can get away from the bitching and be happy elsewhere

MrsDoubtTried · 20/01/2020 17:37

Perhaps he will now get to experience what being a “spare” really means.

icannotremember · 20/01/2020 17:39

They're rich people with lots of connections, I am sure they'll be fine.

Given the choice I'd rather have his new life than his old one anyway.

MrsDoubtTried · 20/01/2020 17:43

Someone whose status has dipped will find that the most difficult thing to deal with. No amount of money will change that loss. But he made his bed...

BubblesBuddy · 20/01/2020 17:46

How many days each year do William and Kate work anyway? Not that many I think. Certainly not as much as Princess Ann.

Bluntness100 · 20/01/2020 17:49

Sadly I think not, he will be open to more press scrutiny that he had before, as there was an arrangement with the royals on privacy.

When it becomes formalised it will be open season.

In the beginning I think it will work, although the press intrusion will be huge, and I think it will work well for Meghan and her acting career long term, but Harry doesn't have much to offer really other than his name, which will devalue the longer he is out of the royal family and the more successful Meghan becomes. He will become mr Meghan.

I think it's very sad and I think it will be a few years, but ultimately I think he's done a lot of damage to himself and hopefully someone will be there to protect him emotionally.

Joans3rddaughter · 20/01/2020 17:54

I hope he finds life more satisfying after this major change but I fear what he is seeking does not exist. Stepping down from being a working royal snd moving to snother continent, away from extended family and friends will not change the grief he continues to feel from the loss of his mother.

DioneTheDiabolist · 20/01/2020 18:01

I hope so. Yes, he has lost his HRH and I'm sure losing his military titles has hurt. But he is still the queen's grandson, his dad and his brother will be king, so still pretty elevated.

I think he could do with experiencing freedom. He will do that best if he and his wife take a break and stop talking about royal stuff.

Jonb6 · 20/01/2020 18:08

Maybe taking a break from the wife would help Confused I can't help thinking he looked increasingly unhappy right from the start.