Harry & Meghan, all welcome (aka positive thread, now renamed!)

[Roussette]

Here we are, let's inform, discuss, share and respect.

Just found this, what a truly hideous and unfunny man Craig Ferguson is, Meghan handle it pretty well I thought!

I also loved her work for Grenfell and Smartworks. I thought both initiatives were well thought out, great causes and brilliantly executed. She really helped to give these projects publicity, which was amazing.

Some of the stuff Craig said, revolting.......

I think @Roussette is the last poster to snipe and has worked really hard to keep this thread civil and on track. I don't get why posters are picking on her?

I too felt her support to the Hubb was excellent and I disagree that it was portrayed as her idea - it was, to my mind, a really good example of her connecting her own interests and raising the profile of a charitable endeavour - and with a focus on community growth and connection.

I suspect all newcomers to the RF make some missteps in their early life regarding patronages - Kate was criticised for lacking confidence, Meghan for exuding too much confidence and making it about her. However, I think they do find the right path that balances support with purpose. Personally I think the younger years work that KM is supporting plays to her strengths and I think in time (if they had stayed) MM would probably have found her niche in a meaningful rather than clichéd manner.

I agree @TheNavigator, Roussette (sorry to be talking about you as if you're not here) has always tried to maintain civility, & has been balanced - she's certainly not been the forefront of hagiolatry of MM..

What the hell is she wearing in that interview?

What was so amazing about her work on Smartworks or the community kitchen?

Yeah she showed up and gave a few hours of her time but it was nothing exceptional.

Certainly not enough to warrant the aforementioned millions. I daresay most reasonably capable women could manage it if they had that level of fame.

myrtle
I love learning a new word. Hagiolatry is one!

Wolf Do you know it was just 'a few hours'? That is what you are assuming. They loved it, and she has been in touch with Smartworks and Hubb kitchen since she left I read somewhere.

I was on the H&M news threads more often than the positive ones and have been critical of their PR and their court cases but M's involvement with Grenfell and Smartworks were both excellent. In fact I bought the cookbook and the dress from the Smartworks' range. Both projects focused on women's groups that provide practical help and the charitable initiatives matched well with the work of the projects. They also matched well with M's personal history as someone who had been in the workplace and who is multi-cultural.

It would be safe to say if MM hadn't got involved, the Grenfell hub kitchen wouldn't have got much attention and the book, which raised money, wouldn't have been published. It's a good book too but I only ever made one recipe from it.

@Roussette do you know it wasnt?

I saw publicity from 1 trip to Smartworks that in likelihood lasted a couple of hours.

As for the community cookbook, again I saw her there once.

Even if you throw in another few days of meetings etc, that is what, a weeks' work?

Not worth it for tens of millions.

I dont know what people get outraged that we want to know the specifics, the public is her employer.

No, I don't know it wasn't. But I haven't been on here saying she spent days/weeks working with the Hubb kitchen, have I...
Whereas you have said she spent 'a few hours' on it.

Again even if it was weeks, is that worth 18 months of paying for her (luxury) lifestyle, house renovations, wedding etc?

I'm really not trying to be nasty, I get that some of the press have been cruel to her & I agree some of it was OTT. But however you Alice & dice it, she has basically robbed the country blind and moved back to the States.

Anyway I've had my wrist slapped by MN for my last comment so 🤷‍♀️ I should probably stop writing critical-but-not-nasty posts on Meghan before I get suspended.

Smartworks - a couple of hours? Again, you know that, do you?

Whether you would wish otherwise or no, Wolf, Meghan (nor any of the others) doesn't have an employment contract with the public, there is no annual performance appraisal. Her role (and indeed any of the RF) is "to carry out official and public duties (including charities) in support of the Queen. Thats the common line that is on all their biographies.

Yes myrtle but do you not find it an indication of one's character if they accept the millions and do the bare minimum in return? Can we not critique that?

Can we not critique that?

You obviously are!
And robust discussion means some posters don't agree with you!

That's the nature of the beast wot is this thread 😂

Even objectively I cannot see anything meghan has done to make the money spent on her worth it.

Sure we can talk about 'good' things she has done, but they dont even touch the sides of the millions she has taken from the public purse.

To be fair Wolfgirrl, I would merrily level that argument at every single member of the royal family - none of them are worth their immense unearned privilege & wealth and we would get by just fine without the lot of them. Where we differ is that I don't single MM out for that criticism as I don't see why she warrants special opprobrium not dished out to the others.

Yes, Meghan did good work to promote Smartworks and Grenfell . It’s a pity she dumped them so quickly to pursue her own agenda.
She is now living in luxury courtesy of the Bank of Charles and doing f all. Let’s not give her too much credit.

All of them have immense wealth and privilege agree. It's not peculiar to MM.
What about all the ex's of members of the RF who had the whole works with mahoosive weddings and so on. Then the marriages failed. Charles, Anne, Andrew.

It’s a pity she dumped them so quickly to pursue her own agenda

I read she is still in contact with them, do correct me if I'm wrong.

I think MM did good stuff with Smartworks and Grenfell.

I also apply the DM test to my parenting dilemmas, so eg, will I end up on the front page of the DM with a DM sadface if I leave my children at home whilst I go and get nails done

My children aren't small for sake of clarification