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

[Roussette]

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

Opprobrium, meet Hagiolatry.

@Wolfgirrl, I can see where you are coming from, but I actually disagree on the Grenfell and Smartworks points. Meghan got those charities amazing publicity due to her platform. They were also very well thought out initiatives and both supporting and empowering women. I thought she did a brilliant job with those.

A separate point is what her wardrobe cost. I honestly don’t know much about this, but I do believe that the wedding made people come together, she could choose the designer for her wedding dress (evening dress was British make), being pregnant would push up the costs. I think these criticisms are harsh.

However, I find the uncertainty around which charity has which money and how it is transferred unsettling. I don’t think there is any malicious intent, but charity money and aims need to be handled in a certain way and I hope this will all be cleared up ASAP.

I also find the preaching about environment whilst taking multiple private jets, numerous holidays in exotic places and flying in hairdressers and make-up artists (?) from who knows where annoying.

I think the DM test can be usefully applied to many areas of life. Would the DM disapprove? If so, crack on

@TheNavigator I agree I think they're all essentially useless and their roles are basically to be show poodles. The only thing they have to do to fulfil their 'duty' is to keep up appearances - turn up, look right, say the right things, and never upset the apply cart.

For me the difference with Meghan is that she couldn't even do that. She was determined to have all the trappings without sticking to the small handful of rules they live by to 'earn' it.

And she did absolutely nothing to promote Britain, become accustomed to our culture, show she really wanted to become British or show any gratitude for the millions we unquestioningly handed her.

She and Harry have treated the public with sheer contempt, messing up Archie's birth announcement because they wanted to be 'private', refusing to name the godparents, refusing to even name the doctor that delivered him (despite the fact it wouldve been excellent for his/her medical reputation).

She and Harry have tried to 'put us in our place' while taking our money, so I'm not sorry for where they have ended up. I do feel for little Archie though.

Grinchley

Opprobrium. Another word to learn. Not sure I can cope with two in one day!

I am quite critical of H and M but I did like the Smartworks initiative . I assume it is still running ?
Even though they have stepped back I would really like M to make some videos in support of British organisations such as Smartworks and The National Theatre . I know someone said no one was disappointed with her lack of support but DB ( ex TV) is friendly with a fairly well known actor who said the opposite .

@Oldbutstillgotit I know you cant say who it was, but can you tell us what they said..? Curious!

I totally agree with you wolfgirl

Hi @Wolfgirrl I only just got home from work to check. I think my DM may have disappeared into cyberspace as I only just noticed the extra "r" in girl. I've re-sent it.

Why on earth have all those posts been deleted, have HQ seen what is posted on some other threads? Have we got our own Admin just sat on here? (all very weird)

but I actually disagree on the Grenfell and Smartworks points. Meghan got those charities amazing publicity due to her platform.

Did she? Grenfell was/is obviously a big issue, that hardly needed more publicity although I am sure the victims much appreciated any support.
Even so, apart from the cook book and occasional well publicised trip to the kitchens I'm not sure what else she did, and the cook book wouldn't have involved a lot of work for her, others would have made it happen. Does she keep in touch now I wonder? Is her support ongoing? You know, the private, handholding type of support that means so much to people on the other end?
Smartworks? I confess I've never heard of it, so I can't comment but also suggests the publicity she generated wasn't massive. Not that I'm an obsessive follower who would expect to miss nothing, but still, it passed me by.

She and Harry have tried to 'put us in our place' while taking our money,

I agree and the reality is that they're mainly taking Charles's money which comes from the Duchy of Cornwall. There's a two part documentary on ITV at the mo about the Duchy. The income from it supports Charles, William and Harry. Among the Duchy farmers interviewed for the doc were two young couples who are slogging their guts out to try and make a go of farming - very hard work for very little financial reward. The contrast with petulant H&M lounging in their LA mansion being propped up by the hard work of those farmers wasn't lost on me.

At least William is doing what's expected of him in return for his share from the Duchy and part of the film showed him meeting some of the tenants and learning the ropes.

I've said a couple of times on here Fanny I read that she keeps in touch with both Smartworks and Hubb Kitchen.

And she did absolutely nothing to promote Britain, become accustomed to our culture, show she really wanted to become British or show any gratitude for the millions we unquestioningly handed her

Nonsense. She and Harry did three tours in the 18 months or so she was a senior royal two of them while she was pregnant. Promoting Britain is exactly what those are for - they are organised by the Foreign Office after all.

@Serenster

And she did absolutely nothing to promote Britain, become accustomed to our culture, show she really wanted to become British or show any gratitude for the millions we unquestioningly handed her

Nonsense. She and Harry did three tours in the 18 months or so she was a senior royal two of them while she was pregnant. Promoting Britain is exactly what those are for - they are organised by the Foreign Office after all.

They also visited Sussex - once!

Also, in relation to Smartworks, there was a story in the paper today saying that Alexandra Burke is their new ambassador. I can't imagine they would have had any kind of profile to get publicity for that previously, before Meghan's (very successful) efforts to bring attention to them.

Honestly not trying to be mysterious but DB hates when I share stuff his friend tells him ! I promise it’s true .

I think that Meghan did bring attention - positive attention - to Smartworks, and it was a charity that seemed to 'suit' her. It has been going for 10 years though, and has a number of successful women behind it - they deserve the credit for their work in getting the various centres up and running, before Meghan was even on the scene.

@Serenster

They visited Australia, Africa and Morocco.

Africa was used as a backdrop for their 'our life is so awful' documentary.

And Morocco was 2 days.

I can't think of any tangible good this did for Britain? Can anyone help?

But it wasn't an 'effort' of Meghans was it? All she had to do was turn up knowing the press would all turn out. What did she actually do?

I think expecting royalty or celebs to keep in touch with the charities they represent is a basic misunderstanding of how those relationships work.
Managing celeb/charity meetings, publicity and initiatives is a lot of work. The Grenfell cookbook and the Smartworks' projects were great and as I said earlier, I think MM did well and they suited her. But they were also great because of the teams involved behind the scenes.
I can't think of any royal/celeb charity arrangement that is as intensive as some posters seem to expect. To be blunt, celeb supporters get wheeled out for the campaigns they fit best. Myself and my colleagues worked on a few campaigns with celebs/figureheads/politicians/royals, etc and I can count on less than the fingers of one hand, the celebs/politicians/royals who actively engaged with the campaigns in the way certain posters seem to expect. Such engagement is the exception not the rule.

And New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, Wolfgrrl.

I think it's self evident that visits by the very popular new "hot" couple of the British royal family was seen as a good thing in the countries they visited. You may disagree as to the level of this, but the Foreign Office uses its slots for Royal Tours because they work, and are seen as a good use of the government's funds for soft diplomacy. That's why they keep doing them - Will and Kate have also been off on a post-Brexit charm offensive in several EU countries recently too.

I am not exactly a fan of the couple, but I don't think any cause is served by not being fair towards them. They weren't disasters in their time as senior royals by a long shot, even though I think they made several mistakes along the way - some minor, some major.

Agree Serenster

I had forgotten they went to Morocco for a couple of days then I remembered the £90,000 Dior maternity gown.
Africa is remembered for the “poor me” interview .
Australia etc seemed quite successful .