More News on Harry and Meghan

[Viviennemary]

Two little bits of news I read today. First the bells won't ring out at Westminster Abbey for Meghans birthday next month and she'll be devastated. No I don't think she'll even expect them to ring. And I had to smile at Bogart the dog was left behind in Canada because it didn't take to Harry. What else could she do. Hardly leave Harry behind. And it would have been a worry with a baby in the house too. She did the right thing here.

It's not just no longer being royal that leads to increased accountability. It's that they are aiming to be fundraisers for good causes through their public profiles. The scrutiny therefore is about where that money comes from, how it's raised and used. If Harry went to work at Home Depot, or Goldman Sachs, he'd be free to spend the money he earned however he wanted.

@YouSayWhat

I think the money was just resting in the Travelyst account Father Ted style.

A good long rest in the account?

It's not just no longer being royal that leads to increased accountability

In this case quite the opposite - the claim was launched by a republican organisation and their motivation for doing so is totally transparent and aimed at the Royal family.

It’s not just Kate though and Harry and Meghan had their own photographer take and photoshop their picture of them in the rain under the umbrella. It was a far better picture than the paps got and probably because it was rehearsed beforehand, just like I’m sure Kate takes lots of pictures and then chooses the best ones to release. As a result the pictures are far more pleasing to a reader’s eye than the taken-from-a-distance-quickly-papped-shots.

This is absolutely not true. Samir Hussein is not MM's photographer, he is a royal photographer, so was his father. He is award winning for his pics and explained how he was in the pen, and saw that there was a flash from other photographers behind H&M and he could use that timing to get a perfect picture.

Because the origin of the money is the Royal Foundation. This is where they get the worst of both worlds in being 'half in half out' royals.

I think the Royals liked using their aristocratic family members Lord Lichfield and Earl Snowdon, I'm sure it helped them relax knowing discretion and security could be relied upon.

Something that I only just thought about the other day is going back to the days before digital photography I wonder if they had an in house person to develop their private films and photos? They could hardly drop a film round to the local Boots assuming they wanted their private photos to stay private.

Tony and Patrick has their own photography studios so they did the developing themselves.

earthfireinstitute.org/story/the-intelligence-of-magpies/

Magpies are super smart, almost like little flying primates. We had a pair nesting in the woods near our house---they used to watch us all the time and knew exactly when we would come out with scraps for them. They were almost tame. You could be sitting out on the lawn and they would fly down and pick up what we'd put out for them.

Harry’s response was so emotional and reactionary. He need to calm down and be much more rational. Facts are a anti-monarchy group reported two royal charities for what they see as inappropriate charity money transfers. The two charities responded perfectly (ie everything was above board) and the commission responded appropriately (ie as with all complaints it will be reviewed no suggestion of wrong doing at this time etc). William says nothing - perfect he let the charity reply and didn’t turn it into a personal fight. Harry ... dear Harry wtf is going on in his head?? He turn it into massive personal attack and got overwrought. I mean obviously is WAS a personal attack on him and William and royals as Rupublic did it but ffs can the man not accept he’ll be subject to discussion and criticism constantly just for being a public figure?? He needs a much thicker skin. For something like this ignore ignore ignore and let the appropriate authority deal with along side your charity. There messages were clear and concise and I didn’t think much more other than it was a anti royal group trying to cause trouble. Harry’s statement then read and arrrggg just shut up Harry with your winging!!!

Kate’s pics are fab. I don’t think the type of picture is why there aren’t many pap pics isn’t it more to do with all the agreements in place with British media? Be interesting to see what pap shots come out of Archie as he gets older in contrast.

• heard a radio 4 program on game bird hunting. If I remember the stats correctly 50 million pheasants are released a year for shoots. 30 million survive the shoots only to starve to death

Some of the conduct and management at these shooting sites is disgusting, beautiful protected birds of prey killed. I just cannot get my head round wanting to shoot a living animal and taking pleasure in it. I do find the royal families enjoyment of shooting at odds with the eco ethos.

As for magpies, yes they can be arseholes. But is it really for us to interfere? They have a balanced place in nature. They are so clever, the ones that visit my garden know me, they know my routine. They get pissed off when on a Saturday it’s 9am and I’ve not thrown the kids crusts out.*

Yes I totally agree. I used to live near a farm which bred pheasants for shooting. They were kept in a cage and then released to be shot. It broke my heart. I hate hunting and the manufacture of wildlife to be killed for pleasure.

New article on DM website about Meghan wanting a birthday bash next month as she is sick of being cooped up in her multi million dollar mansion. It's not going down too well according to the comments. All the guests to be tested for covid as she is very responsible.

I do think the American way is to litigate to counteract any perceived wrongdoing. In this circumstance, I feel it would be less drama and more dignified to let the charities deal with the issue, like William has.
H&M appear to have started or threatened to start quite a few legal proceedings. The benefit of staying within the RF would have been the tandem effect of a legal and PR team, advising on the impact of litigation, with the emphasis on protection, as long as that RF member follows the advice given. I'd love to know if they are being given duff advice or just not taking good advice.

Tony and Patrick has their own photography studios so they did the developing themselves.

Obviously. They were successful professional photographers.
I meant the rest of the royals. The holiday snaps from Balmoral.
Pictures that maybe Princess Di took - I bet she took a few on the honeymoon cruise on Britannia for instance. They all must have taken loads over the years. Where did they get them developed securely I wondered.

There was a story in the Dam earlier today, about Fergie gushing over Bea's wedding. I loved how the mail said "The Duchess of York, who is often known as Fergie,"

Shall we apply this to the others?

I'll go first.

Princess Michael of Kent, who is often known as Princess Pushy.

Sorry. In the DM.

That article about ‘Meghan wanting a birthday bash next month’ must be an invention

No-one can be that stupidly unaware of what the outside world would thing

It’s probably all invented from a “friend’s” comment about how she wishes she could (but she can’t) not even with testing (which she idly mused about, but then Scrapped whole idea as she’s too responsible to plan a party yet)

Yes I know that’s all speculation on my part. But although I think they’ve made the wrong impression several times recently, I just can’t believe they could be that crass

I think that the plan behind all the legal posturing is to deter others from going anywhere near them unless it's something they're in control of.

With the Covid numbers in California, it would be pretty stupid.

Think you're right, but the trouble with taking an aggressive stance over legalities is the inevitable press interest and resulting negative publicity.
With regard to the Birthday bash, that must just be speculation? Can't imagine H&M would want more criticism for being seen to spend money and attract Covid risk with a gathering? The actual RF have been careful during the pandemic not to be seen having any lavish events or flouting the rules, as nicely demonstrated by the recent wedding.

M brooks no opposition when she wants something so I can see her going all out to have her party. If everyone is COVID tested it should be fine. I don’t know what the rules on gatherings are in LA though.

Whatever the rules are in LA, they're not working!

No. Of course pheasants do not starve to death. They are pretty intelligent birds. They come into my garden. Have done for years. They won't get shot there and get food. You see thousands of them around the country and they are fine.

Meghan will do what she wants. She is full of her own self importance and peope like this think they are above what others are forced to do.

I think that the plan behind all the legal posturing is to deter others from going anywhere near them unless it's something they're in control of

I agree, but the trouble is life doesn't work like that even if some wish it did, and as Eaumyword said there's then the negative publicity to deal with too

Much better to keep the big guns in reserve for when something really goes wrong, rather than threatening to haul them out just because something doesn't suit, but once again it comes down to judgement - or rather, IMO, a lack of it

I think Kate and William seem to be raising a lovely family, and I like them very much.

Just been watching on Twitter one of the Army regiments wishing Prince George a happy birthday, and thought to myself that I really hope his parents don't show him that - lovely as it is - as it is placing too much importance on a small boy. It's the position that calls for it, but it would be really hard for a 7 years old to differentiate the two.

I was then thinking that Diana tried to do everything to put Harry at the same 'level' as William, which is quite natural as a mother, but maybe in the long term hasn't helped him. As we are currently seeing, this sense of entitlement extends into adulthood, and is not sustainable within the hierachy of the Royal Family.

I've obviously not got enough to do today!

@My0My

No. Of course pheasants do not starve to death. They are pretty intelligent birds. They come into my garden. Have done for years. They won't get shot there and get food. You see thousands of them around the country and they are fine.

Meghan will do what she wants. She is full of her own self importance and peope like this think they are above what others are forced to do.

wildjustice.org.uk/general/wild-justice-challenges-gamebird-releases/ One in three released gamebirds are shot for recreation but the rest die of disease, on the roads, from starvation or are killed by predators.