Harry & Meghan what they’ll do next - Thread 2

[DandyAF]

Carrying on the conversation as the last thread finished mid-discussion.

Agreed Buttery Johnson only cares about himself. He will hang out anyone to dry including the Queen. One of my dcs friends parent was at school with Johnson. Apparently he’s the same now as he was then. I’ve no other information as they discrete unfortunately

We are living in very interesting times. That’s for sure.

Don’t know anything about BoJo’s politics but when I read his personal history (I mean the philandering), I thought this is not a man to be trusted.

I think the government will likely continue to fund it, especially throughout the initial transition period until it is reviewed. It may all well have died down a bit by then and will be more easy to sweep under the carpet and it will probably then continue under the radar.

The amount of money for security is mind boggling. Especially at a time where the NHS and other services need funding

I think the government will likely continue to fund it, especially throughout the initial transition period until it is reviewed. It may all well have died down a bit by then and will be more easy to sweep under the carpet and it will probably then continue under the radar

It could of course die down but it won't simply because H&M's plans rely on their public profile.

The more events they do to line their own pockets the more people will question why we are subsidising them.

Right now as a result of the virus we have the Bank of England stating the due to the economic impact many businesses will require bailouts to survive. The prediction is that the economy will be badly hit.

Many people will likely lose their jobs and others see their income cut due to enforced self isolation, lack of custom etc

The NHS will be massively tested after nearly a decade of under investment. They will have to postpone many procedures to cope with this pandemic. People will die because treatment will have to be prioritised.

In this context what will be the public's reaction to H&M doing another "talk" to wealthy bankers for an alleged $750k whilst we fund their massive security bill?

Personally I think in this context, unless H&M go into hibernation for the rest of the year (which they won't) this isn't going to die down. I think people are going to get really bloody angry.

Personally I think in this context, unless H&M go into hibernation for the rest of the year (which they won't) this isn't going to die down. I think people are going to get really bloody angry

Agreed DRM. Given the context you describe, their best bet would be to come back, keep their heads down in Frogmore for at least a year or two, and just shut the fuck up! Meanwhile they could spend their time reflecting on sensitivity to the country they expect to pay for their security.

I think Boris is secretly terrified of the Queen - as he should be, she’s seen enough Prime Ministers to put him in his place if necessary and he’s no Churchill!

I have no evidence for this but I think the reason he is so flat out keen to refuse an IndyRef 2 is because she said he’s not to let them have it. If she dies on his watch, he might be up for it.

Total speculation on my part.

It’s about time people really started to question what the RF are FOR and why the country is falling apart due to cuts and underinvestment whilst they spend obscene amounts on themselves. Increasing tourism really doesn’t cut it.

I actually think that, bizarrely, the worse things are for the country the more people get behind the monarchy. They end up being seen as good for tourism and morale

I find it bizarre, and I think it'll be interesting to see how that changes as things progress.

My DS asked me earlier if I think Harry and Meghan will attend Philip's funeral when it happens (DS has obsessions as part of his ways; royalty is a major one). I would think if any excuse is made for either of them not to attend any sympathy would, pardon the pun, die.

actually think that, bizarrely, the worse things are for the country the more people get behind the monarchy.

I agree (and also think it's a bit odd but hey ho).

BUT H&M have made it clear they don't want to be part of The Firm (apart from the nice bits).

So as much in a time of crisis people may turn/take support/direction/take comfort from the Crown that will encompass HMQ and to a lesser degree PC/DoC and W/C.

I genuinely don't think that will extend to H&M living outside both the U.K. and institution of the royal family.

Vancouver island is looking like a safe place to be during a pandemic.....

I think it's more likely to drive support for W and C if I'm honest and the reverse for H&M (at least in the U.K.).

I think Boris is secretly terrified of the Queen

He went to see her and lied to her face about his reasons for proroguing Parliament. He knows she has no actual power (certainly none she's actually willing to use) to stop him doing anything. And I suspect he goes through the motions of verbal respect but actually has the same contempt for her that he has for every woman in his life.

Great posts DeRigeur and Lyra, very interesting, thanks

actually has the same contempt for her that he has for every woman in his life

I can see this being true buttery.

I'm not anti-Royal, I'm not sure that having an elected head of state would be a great deal better - but that's a different thread.

I actually respect HMQ for her sense of duty if nothing else. Charles will only get a short turn at the top job; W&K I think will actually be a good thing, they both have the sense of duty that is required.

H&M - not so much, they dont seem to understand the concept of duty in relation to the UK - although I would never have previously said that about Harry, who despite some less than savoury stuff at least appeared to have an idea of what the RF was supposed to represent/do.

Thank you Water

I actually think that, bizarrely, the worse things are for the country the more people get behind the monarchy. They end up being seen as good for tourism and morale

Bizarre is certainly the word, but I wonder if this applies as much as it once did? With no evidence beyond the anecdotal, I've often felt that the younger someone is, the less likely they are on average to be interested ... not hostile as such, just apathetic

I'm highly sceptical that these current hard times will result in people needing and wanting the RF more. I definitely agree that might have been the case historically, but these are a unique set of circumstances.

We're not in great shape right now as a country or as a world. We're at the cusp of a global pandemic, environmentally we're screwed, we're politically disillusioned, we've just Me-Too'ed and now we're Brexiting.

Optics-wise, there couldn't have been a worse time for HaM to require us to fund their £20mill+ security bill so they can live a jet-setting lifestyle abroad. We can see that the public have no truck for it, and I can't see the government having much tolerance for lengthy negotiations when they have the excuse of having much more important things to address. The govt is currently being criticised for not doing enough during the current flooding and virus crises; if they agree to fund the entire security bill and that is made public, it's going to go down like a lead balloon.

Collectively right now, what with them and Andrew and the rest, the RF (sans the queen perhaps) are an embarrassment of riches. Social media and the internet means the dissemination of information is such that they nor anyone else can get away as much with concealing wrongdoings or curtailing negative public opinion.

Bizarre is certainly the word, but I wonder if this applies as much as it once did? With no evidence beyond the anecdotal, I've often felt that the younger someone is, the less likely they are on average to be interested ... not hostile as such, just apathetic

I'd agree with that based on my own anecdotal evidence.

Which makes the situation all the more difficult for the monarchy moving forward.

At the start of HMQ's reign there was a "reverence" for the crown.

It's hard to explain how deep seated this was into the public mind set. My great grandmother had a picture of the King above the mantelpiece apparently.

I remember the highlight of Christmas Day for my Grandparents being the Queen's speech.

It's a very different world today and apathy can turn into hostility very quickly - far more quickly than reverence turns to apathy.

I think HMQ, PC and PW understand this. I don't think H does - or if he does he doesn't understand the rather fragile relationship that now exists between the monarchy and public and that fundamentally he's funded by our "grace" not his "birthright" and that it isn't a done deal in perpetuity, especially for someone who chooses to bite the hand that feeds it and then complain at the banquets that they and their guest didn't get dessert plus a cheese course and port (especially when said guest only turned up as dessert was about to be served and left shortly thereafter).

DRM - I think you’re right that HM, PC, PW get it but Kate gets it too. I think she’s the royals secret weapon. They’ll throw MM under a bus if they have to for the monarchy to survive. I’m not sure what they’ll do about PH.

I’m sure all the Flybe employees will be delighted that the economy is flatlining, they have lost their jobs but, ho, H&M get £20m a year to cherry pick their lifestyle.

What a mess. I think the RF should play hardball now and tell them that freedom has a price and that H&M have to pay for it themselves. All of it.

And finally, not one of us asked to be born (in case H whines that he didn’t ask to be born a Prince into his ivory Tower Hamlets). So get on with it.

Totally agree with the last three posts. My observation had been that younger people hardly know who they are and have no interest. THe Crown has been a big hit amongst twenty and thirty somethings so that has helped public awareness a lot. However it doesn’t mean that deference has increased accordingly. The RF are exposed warts and all as a modern day soap opera. The antics of Charles and Diana, PP and Margaret have made the whole institution seem a bit tawdry. Now we have Andrew who takes entitlement and arrogance to a whole other level.

It is a soap opera/pantomime in many ways, and my favourite is Paul Burrell! But top characters leave soaps to further their acting careers, very few of them manage that and are doomed to appear on Midsummer murders or Holby for twenty minutes.
I imagine Harry doesn't watch soaps.

Suits was pretty much a soap opera wasnt it? dressed up as 'drama' of course.

I wonder if the Monarchy means more to people as they get older? The one constant in a country of ever-changing politics.

I’m surprised MM managed to land in the U.K. and drive off without a single photo being taken.
How can this be possible? 🤔