Harry and Meghan, more news!

[callmeadoctor]

New thread following on old one: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_royal_family/3932323-Harry-and-Meghan-news?msgid=97617755

See i think doing something just after giving birth just to please the baying masses is sick.
Surely we should be supporting women to put themselves first at that time.

It's one of those odd, hugely intrusive performative things that most royal families feel, and appear to be obliged to do, along with having to appear in public when grieving their spouse/child/parent etc. Rationally I thinking it makes no sense, but it seems to be part of the social and constitutional contract that their celebrations and griefs are displayed, and serve as a focus for the general public's investment in the monarchy as an institution. How they do it differs from monarchy to monarchy, but the public display of a private moment is definitely a common theme for most of them. And, for whatever reason, it does appear to matter, given the backlash (not just from the press, but the public as well) when individual members decide not to play ball.

MoreHippoThanPenguin

Just curiousity here on you saying if she had stuck to a more boring dress code. Was there an actual problem with what she wore, because I honestly didn't know that.

On the steps thing... they showed off their newborn baby together in the chapel or wherever it was, and that was enough for me. I know the RF is steeped in tradition but sometimes things need a bit of a shake up. The RF needs a bit of modernising and I actually thought at the time 'good on her'.

I betcha not all European royal couples feel it necessary to stand on the steps of the hospital with their baby hours after giving birth.

@botanicalart

Apparently JM s husband has resigned

He has resigned from his position as host of etalk but will still be doing some interviews etc . I assume being host is the greater part of his position there, but I don't watch the show so don't know how significant this move is.

"I love my wife, however it is not my place to speak for her, and today we are both committed to doing the work to understand more about anti-Black racism as well as learn and understand more about our blind spots," he said.

"More than ever, we need more Black voices, more Indigenous voices, more people of colour in the media as well as every other profession – and that is why I have decided to immediately step away from my role at etalk to create space for a new perspective and a new voice."

www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/ben-mulroney-stepping-down-as-host-of-ctv-s-etalk-1.4994228

@Roussette

I betcha not all European royal couples feel it necessary to stand on the steps of the hospital with their baby hours after giving birth.

Quite, Its an old fashioned thing, I loved Harry and how excited he was. Didn't need to see a brief glimpse of a baby and a tired mother.

It would be interesting to know what other royal families do but I know if I google I'll get stuck down a rabbit hole looking at all the other RFs for hours so am resisting!

Roussette to be honest, I have never thought about what she wore apart from occasionally “oh, I like that”. I was never really following H&M before the big exit.

I have seen critique here on MN regarding lack of tights, too dark nail polish, lack of hat when with the Queen (I did notice that), bare shoulders in at some ceremony, etc. Obviously this seemed to break some dress code (I think it has been in the sense “it is not done”).

Ahhhh OK. I half heartedly looked at what she wore but don't notice much!

Samcro, I think it is an entirely different discussion to be had about which of those expectations that were reasonable and which were from another era.

Simon Rex was offered $70,000 to lie about Meghan:
www.google.com/amp/s/www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/amp31847627/meghan-markle-simon-rex-dated-tabloid-bribe/

Meghan Markle appeared in negative news stories 21,100 times in 29,000 tabloid and broadsheet articles, according to analysis of 2019 press coverage by Brandwatch.
www.prweek.com/article/1671228/megxit-analysis-markle-five-times-negative-newspaper-stories-middleton

A psychologist was asked to write and contribute to various negative articles that speculated about Meghan (see image)

There's probably a lot to be learned from European models of royalty. I am under the impression that a lot more of them work in 'normal' jobs. Think it was mentioned on here that one European princess was volunteering as a healthcare assistant during the pandemic. I think another princess has been mentioned (sorry, terrible with details of this) who married an American and has moved there full time, they both work 'normal' jobs and fund their own lifestyle in the country they've chosen to live in. All admirable in my view.

one European princess was volunteering as a healthcare assistant during the pandemic.
Sofia of Sweden
I think another princess has been mentioned (sorry, terrible with details of this) who married an American
Princess Madeleine, also of Sweden

Thank you @thisenglishlife. The Swedes seem to have the right idea.

Yes, I think the Netherlands have it right. Senior members of their RF hold jobs and there is an understanding that they will do photo ops, and attend the royal functions they have to but for the rest of the time like when they're working, photos aren't permitted. Very refreshing.

Other scandinavian royals gave up titles to work. And the Swedish king removed five of his GC from the Royal house (not as brutal as it sounds!) It just means they can work undeterred.

I actually think it’s pretty shocking that a new mother is expected to appear on the hospital steps a day or two after giving birth, with hordes of photographers clicking away and shouting.
It’s almost abuse. I have no issue with M not having done that. However I felt there was a lot of game playing going on. She was happy to parade her pregnancy at every given moment, but then to obscure details of his birth and godparents. Later photos were deliberately intended to stoke interest without giving much away.

No new mother should have to endure that ridiculous farce. It should be done away with.

It would have been great for Harry if he had gone to University and was now in the position to work, perhaps as some sort of consultant, or take on a proper career. Unfortunately, he wasn't academic, so he joined the army - and it's hard to know what else he can do now.

The Zoom calls and things they've been doing are all 'royal' type, patrician activities, but these seem out of place now that they aren't really royal anymore.

I'm sure they are both sincere in their interest in people and their concerns for issues but there's no apparent depth to their engagement, it all seems very transitory. I don't think either of them would be interested, for example, in taking Princess Anne's declared route to charitable engagement, ie 15 years of watching, listening and reading about a issue before giving speeches or being any sort of figurehead.

Harry and Meghan seem to think their profile alone is enough to qualify them to lecture people on all sorts of issues. I can't see people of substance (eg the WEF set) taking them seriously.

I remember at the time lots of press saying that Harry was discouraged from going to university. He was also diagnosed very late on with quite bad dyslexia. He was happy in the army but had to leave for royal duties, he wanted to carry on.

Anne and Charles have two A Levels (like Harry does) and Charles' degree was, in effect, designed around him - if he was a regular man he wouldn't have got in (the same with Edward). Edward got a D in History A Level and D in Politics A Level.

Yes, I think the Netherlands have it right. Senior members of their RF hold jobs and there is an understanding that they will do photo ops, and attend the royal functions they have to but for the rest of the time like when they're working, photos aren't permitted. Very refreshing

True. And the children of the King are only allowed to be photographed during arranged photoshoots and on Kings day. Although the king will sometimes release a homemade photo like of the first day of school or such things. The kids go to normal state schools.

But I don't remember Maxima showing off the children just after birth. I think that Willem Alexander did that part. They have much more privacy than the UK royals.

@Roussette

I betcha not all European royal couples feel it necessary to stand on the steps of the hospital with their baby hours after giving birth.

They totally do. Since I you doubt it, I have done the fact checking for you. In the interests of brevity (!) I have mainly gone for just the Crown Prince/Princess couples and their oldest children, but generally they did with this all their children - and their other royal siblings did too.

Sweden - Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel:
www.cbsnews.com/news/swedens-newborn-princess-named-estelle-silvia-ewa-mary/
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/537969117969227028/?nic_v1=1aYtDLKhk0wXhxldF1CEKLdFtzvwuaGxr2MrvoU89KgH9QZOfaLpBr5VPtOOEZrdX3

Luxembourg -Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie
www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2020051389750/princess-stephanie-luxembourg-leaves-maternity-hospital-royal-baby/

Belgium - King Phillipe and Queen Mathilde
www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/baby-princess-eleonore-leaves-erasmus-hospital-in-anderlecht?mediatype=photography&phrase=baby%20princess%20eleonore%20leaves%20erasmus%20hospital%20in%20anderlecht&sort=best

Monaco - Princess Caroline and Stefana Casiraghi
www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/gallery/201108055892/charlotte-casiraghi-birthday-25th-princess-caroline-monaco/1/

Spain - King Felipe and Queen Letizia
www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/267893877809347292/?nic_v1=1aPG8LyUX0dUcDtIOhwNDoZZhB8IxWR71Mdz%2BDHVuEsI2xfMQ5SiluFBDs%2BjqvbgpR

Denmark - Princess Mary and Prince Fredrik

I don’t remember there being any expectation of Fergie doing it

Fergie did it, and featured on the front cover of Private Eye.

Princess Anne did it first though

I'm sure someone is able to correct me but I think Princess Anne was the first Royal (at least in the direct line) to give birth in hospital.

The Queen had all her children at Buckingham Palace and Princess Margaret had hers arrived either Clarence House or Kensington Palace.

So there was no question of being photographed in the immediate days after the birth.

I suppose Royals leaving hospital with a baby could load into a darkened ambulance or something...

I think when Princess Anne did it, being the practical person she is she was probably keen to get home and happy to pause for a few moments on the steps. There would have been far less furore around it than when Diana did it.
And then the tradition was born...

Not sure where the random "arrived" came from.

Could be a new euphemism...the baby arrived

@Serenster thank you! Very interesting. And not so different to the British way after all then.

It would have been great for Harry if he had gone to University and was now in the position to work, perhaps as some sort of consultant, or take on a proper career.
But plenty of people of Harry's age group didn't go to university, and have still worked, or even had 'proper careers'. Not everyone is academically inclined and that shouldn't be an issue or source of shame. Harry can still retrain or develop new skills and look for a job he can live with doing, like everyone else has to.

Anne was photographed coming out, but she didn't really pose for photographs. She talked to the staff, walked to the car, handed the baby to the nanny and then got into the front passenger seat.

Anne was photographed coming out, but she didn't really pose for photographs. She talked to the staff, walked to the car, handed the baby to the nanny and then got into the front passenger seat. She did things the 'Anne' way. Good on her.