Harry and Meghan and the intricacies of the Monarchy

[PelicanPie]

Here's a follow on to the last thread, which was really enjoyable.

I found it interesting that Rose was at Kate's birthday weekend church walk. Kate must be very forgiving if Rose did have an affair with her husband or it was her way of showing it never happened.

Yes - although her tension at the Commonwealth Service suggests she may not find that sort of stuff easy. Only a saint would.

Kate has been finding new confidence lately (and about time), and, to be blunt, the future Queen doesn’t need to go out of her way for MM.
I’m liking the idea of an assertive Kate.

Kate is very likeable - at least I like her a lot - so yes, why should she make allowances for the unacceptable behaviour of others?

This Mexit drama just highlights the need for members of the RF who are not next in line to the throne to have jobs and be totally financially independent.

None of the queen's grandchildren (or children) would have the kind of lifestyles they have today without royal connections. Their own achievements are mediocre at best given that they've had access to the best education.

It never ceases to surprise me that people fawn over the likes of Zara Philips (DM comments section is nauseating) when their own children will never have the same opportunities despite often being higher achievers and much harder working.

Cloud agreed but you picked the only grandchild with actual talent in your example.

Zara's talent in a sport that is largely only accessible to the elite would still not afford her the lifestyle she enjoys without her Royal connections.

Excellent analogy Brainfog

Zara is a good egg - penguin 🐧 joke - so I understand the praise.

BelleharePenguin

What has Zara done that is worthy of praise or press coverage?

Her sport alone isn't enough as it's not a popular event.

I know a horsey competitor who was very sniffy about the advantage royals have in the horses they get to compete on. Obviously it takes talent to get them to perform at their best but if you can spend all your time on it and have a crack team supporting you that can't hurt.

Personally I'm not knowledgeable enough to have a view either way, just putting that out there.

Weirdly I can’t find anyone who is interested who wants to talk about the politics of it-or am generally thought to be churlish and even envious if I express my thoughts on why I feel so angry about paying spiralling security costs.

Royal and celeb gossip, discussions of clothing, etc. are often perceived as women's tittle tattle. Not so. They are an important site for processing the political, economic and cultural aspects of social life. They can be used to keep women out of these spheres but it would be wrong to deny the important political ramifications of gossiping about the royals! As Brain points out, they raise issues of dependency, paying for services, wealth distribution, wealth creation, acceptance of inequality, power, employment…Personally, I think people who dismiss these discussions as inconsequential, or try to shut them down altogether on the basis that they are mere gossip, are the ones missing out

I know lots of people who are discussing it. None complimentary about the Sussexes at all.

And we are all remainers for those who were saying non Sussex fans are all leavers! (IIRC)

Apparently the pranksters have said they’re releasing the next tape on Sunday.

We’ll see whether they happen to accidentally lose it before then.

Gosh, I hope MM is not nagging at Harry about him being so daft to fall for it.

It’s a good thing she isn’t image obsessed and probably won’t care about this damaging brand Sussex.

I have also struggled to work out how to separate what feels reasonable to comment on ,with what feels too personal

Stick with the principle rather than the personal and you'll probaly be okay; I try to do this and while it won't stop the derailers hammering the report button I haven't had anything deleted yet (though I'm sure it's only a matter of time)

Like a PP, it's the security costs thing which continues to bug me. No doubt they're relying on it all going away - and maybe it will - but you'd think we already fling enough money at the family of a head of state in whom we have no say, without them expecting a completely blank cheque as well

Zara's talent in a sport that is largely only accessible to the elite would still not afford her the lifestyle she enjoys without her Royal connections. It's not her fault she was born into the Royal family. She made the best of herself. Her father Mark Phillips was an Olympic gold medal winning horseman.

I'm not blaming her for being born into the royal family!

I'm questioning our praising them and our willingness to maintain and fund a royal family.

thanks Dandy for new name suggestion!

And we are all remainers for those who were saying non Sussex fans are all leavers! (IIRC)

Yes, I read a snotty comment on one of the 'happy' threads about how they could tell we were all Brexiteers! I am as hard a Remainer (now Rejoiner ) as you'll find. But I didn't bother trying to correct this perception. I decided to deploy peace and love instead..

Yes, I'll be interested to see if this second recording emerges. Emma Watson faced down claims of compromising content being ready to reveal and said 'you got nothing, so go ahead if you know different' and they didn't. We will see if that happens with Harry.

I am a Remainer. How dare any happy person suggest otherwise? I regard myself as a European.

Careful now, Belle, we should probably not talk too much about previous threads before we're told we are a TAAT again. (But 🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺 as we fade out..)

I think M&H will need to be very careful and quiet in their negotiations.

We have a pretty awful current situation where many people may be forced to self isolate, hospitality and travel industry workers are likely to be made redundant and some people worrying about how to pay their bills.

I don’t think the estimated (£20m?) security costs to cater for their need of privacy and their wish to as a family be in multiple countries simultaneously will go down that well...

I think M&H will need to be very careful and quiet in their negotiations.

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

If anyone suggests I am a Leaver I will be Very Very Insulted Indeed.

hippo yes, it' not a good look.

🤐🤐🤐