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

They haven't even started making speeches yet, and with Covid, it's not likely for a while, why not give them a chance when or if it happens?

If their previous speeches are anything to go by they will be a total embarrassment. Why do they feel so important that they need to make speeches. I thought they left the Royals to get away from all that. But granted they weren't getting paid for speech making then.

@Roussette

They haven't even started making speeches yet, and with Covid, it's not likely for a while, why not give them a chance when or if it happens?

I think on the whole a lot of people would like to be proven wrong about them and for them to make a success. This is because ultimately what seems to be the biggest issue with them is that the taxpayer predominantly paid/pays for them to do absolutely nothing useful* in return.

*I use this term loosely, but basically not what we expect of them and other members of the RF in exchange for the funds.

I would contend that no one in the RF does anything particularly useful. With the possible exception of the reigning monarch, who has a figurehead role, we could well do without the lot of them.

@TheNavigator

I would contend that no one in the RF does anything particularly useful. With the possible exception of the reigning monarch, who has a figurehead role, we could well do without the lot of them.

I don’t particularly think they do either but in generally they have an expected role that they fulfil and in exchange for that, the taxpayer provides for them. In many respects, it much like any other job.

I would contend that no one in the RF does anything particularly useful. With the possible exception of the reigning monarch, who has a figurehead role, we could well do without the lot of them

I agree completely, which is why I'd have very little interest in listening to speeches from any of them. What confuses me, however, is why H&M seem to feel they've got something worth saying which would be the exception

It's not strictly true either that they've not made any yet. Granted there's only been one among the "big hitters" since they left - the J. P. Morgan thing - but there was plenty of drivelling before (and since, with video links, etc)

And call me unimaginative, but I wouldn't have paid for any of it

But at least you will have a choice whether to pay to hear them. We fund the whole lot of them, whether we like it or not, so I am bemused when H&M are singled out for criticism for not having a real job - none of them do.

@TheNavigator

But at least you will have a choice whether to pay to hear them. We fund the whole lot of them, whether we like it or not, so I am bemused when H&M are singled out for criticism for not having a real job - none of them do.

I agree none of them have a real job but they have a particular role that is expected of them and they carry out duties pertaining to that. H&M voluntarily left but still expect various perks which largely includes being funded. I don’t agree with most of the funding the others get but I definitely don’t for a couple who don’t fulfil the role that the funding is designated for.

The whole RF is a totally outdated and ridiculous institution. And one of the very worst things about is people like Andrew and Harry think what they have to say is important. They have only achieved what they have because of an accident of birth.

There are millions of people who have achieved more through hard work etc. This weird 'respect' for the royals is so odd to me. Why would I want to listen to any of them of pay £££ to hear them speak, give me a Bill Gates over them any day of the week.

Just get rid of the lot of them.

And then let them all make their own £££ fly on private jets the whole time and no one would care. Win win.

I think the fact that have even signed up with a speaking agency says volumes.

Did princess Diana? Martin Luther King? The pope?

Let’s not pretend that money and fame is behind this.

I don’t think their speaking careers will be successful because they are doing it for the wrong reasons.

It will depend what they are speaking about but I can’t imagine they will have much longevity in the areas they could make money (or talking about the RF), and won’t be able to make as much money as their competitors.

I also really don’t think speaking events will be how they used to be, so they won’t have the same number of people attending or the popularity. That potentially means fewer speakers required and less money for the job.

If they can find their niche then they would do better to stick with it, instead of living contrary to their preaching (such as environmental issues).

@mrscampbellblackagain this is very true. However, Princess Diana did have some very insightful things to say. My dm was an alcoholic and I once caught a speech Diana gave about being the child of an alcoholic. It was so spot on. I felt better knowing that someone actually 'got' how I felt.

i dont believe when people say Diana was unstable. thats a bad label be very easily put on by people when they are disagreed with.
she was a very strong woman in that environment. she didnt have the support of her own family like Kate has. she was left alone too much. sh had a very hard life but she did very well.
and from at 19 when she got married to her late years she grew very well into public speaking, she knew lots about what she was saying. she wasnt after self promotion and she was sincere.
she was a real asset to RF.

She threw herself down stairs. She terrorized the wife of at least one former lover. She dropped friends for perceived slights. She tipped off photographers when she had her sons, to portray herself in a better light. She fired William’s nanny as he was fond of her, and attempted to fire Tiggy Legge-Bourke. When Charles refused to fire Legge-Bourke, Diana started rumours about her. There’s much more I could list. But I believe it’s clear none of these are the actions of a stable woman.

Adante

I thought they were paying for the bulk of their own security? That subject has been done to death.
If his father passes on some of his money to him, that is up to Charles, happens all over the world with hugely affluent families
You don't know what appreciation he has for what, unless you are inside his head
Maybe it will be meaningful, maybe it won't, he hasn't even attempted it yet but has been written off
Of course he doesn't know what it's like to be anything but Prince Harry, should everyone be blamed for what they're born into? That is not what we're like surely

on COVID, I am talking about the large face to face gatherings, that is what I meant. Rather different to doing a zoom call and expecting people to pay. No huge gatherings of this ilk have taken place.

I just would rather give someone a chance than write them off. But it's obvious that for some on here, it wouldn't matter if he gave a speech that was absolutely brilliant, well received from everyone, and he made some great points. By default it would be picked to pieces and maligned, ridiculed, derided, because that is the default position of some people. (This isn't meant personally to you Adante, I am talking in general)

Anyway, I'll stop spouting off now in reply because there's no point on this thread, feelings are too entrenched and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that will make people change their mindset. It's ingrained. They are demonised AFAIC and I am taken aback at how much this couple are loathed

Bracing myself for a total onslaught with any of my comments. Not sure I'll be answering, today is DDay for me, seeing one of my DCs after a very long time, and then one of the others later this week! Can't wait.

I have said it before but more and more I wish they had stayed in the RF. MM could be inspirational to young women especially BAME and H could have continued his support to veterans. I am pretty sure they would have been successful but the lure of Hollywood and big money was too much .
I can’t remember where I read it but apparently MM felt their spending was too closely scrutinised. As PC pays working expenses , including clothes for C and M, all accounts go via the Duchy and eyebrows were raised at the amount M was spending on clothes.

@Oldbutstillgotit

I have said it before but more and more I wish they had stayed in the RF. MM could be inspirational to young women especially BAME and H could have continued his support to veterans. I am pretty sure they would have been successful but the lure of Hollywood and big money was too much . I can’t remember where I read it but apparently MM felt their spending was too closely scrutinised. As PC pays working expenses , including clothes for C and M, all accounts go via the Duchy and eyebrows were raised at the amount M was spending on clothes.

We don't know all the reasons why MM & H felt they had to leave the RF, so I don't know why your next paragragh defaults to blaming MM's clothes budget. It is also possible that the RF were as much to blame and certainly M&H felt the RF didn't speak out strongly enough about the subtle and not so subtle rascism they were forced to endure in the press and social media. Which is both sad and a rather more compelling reason for making a major life change than a tiff about clothes.

Anyway, I'll stop spouting off now in reply grin because there's no point on this thread, feelings are too entrenched and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that will make people change their mindset

Either way!

@ TheNavigator the point I was trying to make ( obviously not very well) was that it must have been hard for someone who had been so independent to suddenly be ( allegedly) questioned about spending .
As you say none of us know the full story- yet.

Does anyone know why Samantha and Thomas Markle have gone so quiet? Thomas is presumably being coached by the MOS as part of the lawsuit over the letter, but Samantha seems to have vanished, just as much of what she was saying came true - perhaps she was unfairly maligned after all?

The fact is Harry isn’t a great speaker. It isn’t his forte. He likes to be doing something active . M is a very good speaker, but to me the content is very thin. She speaks like she writes. It’s very pretty, but doesn’t convey much.

I think Samantha is just keeping her powder dry