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

[Roussette]

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

Great piece in the Spectator.

I suspect they've given up on the UK and are now aiming their sights on the US where the victim narrative might be more convincing for a public that don't know much about the UK and the Royal Family.

Speccie is spot on.

I’m already interested to look back on the history books and see how this pandemic is viewed and the consequences of us leaving the EU, so I’ll be able to add checking to see whether things worked out for H&M as well

Very much agree with this. In years or a decade to come, it will be fascinating to look back on this weird year, yes with particular regard to Brexit and Covid.
Also what happens with H&M, hopefully it all settles down somewhat, and then when Charles becomes monarch how the RF changes to (fingers crossed) become more streamlined.

I had no idea about this, so also would explain Kates seemed lack of support at the time?
www.heart.co.uk/news/royals/kate-middleton/family-therapy-brother-james-middleton-depression/

DH and I are rewatching The Crown season 1. The dialogue surrounding the Duke of Windsor could easily be attributed to the Duke of Sussex.

A trivial detail I know, but looking at that article I'm reminded of the fuss over the 5am emails. I've never understood why being emailed instructions at 5 in the morning was such an issue tbh, I just wouldn't have looked at them, let alone answered them, till a reasonable hour.

Perhaps I'm not cut out to be a royal servant...

The only way I can see the emails being a thing is (this is pure speculation) the 5am emails are married to a "have you done this yet?" expectation of immediate response (which I recognise from some former American colleagues and we all had to make adjustments) such that people were asked as they were taking their coats off if they had done the worked requested in the five am email.

Again, this is trying to cone up with an explanation, not saying that is what I think happened!

[quote callmeadoctor]I had no idea about this, so also would explain Kates seemed lack of support at the time?
www.heart.co.uk/news/royals/kate-middleton/family-therapy-brother-james-middleton-depression/[/quote]
Oh gosh what a lovely supporting family all of the Middleton’s are. William is so lucky to have them as in laws.

I'm certainly not defending the alleged 5am emails, but to a degree surely it's one's own responsibility to respond (or not) to that.
So when I've had a colleague greet me at the door with a tirade a load of questions, I smile and say, "Let me take my coat off and I'll come and find you in a little while." And then I make a leisurely cup of tea and wander over if/when I'm ready.
But perhaps I'd have been in the "fired" pile at Buckingham Palace too.

If anybody should write a book it's Carole and Michael Middleton, on how to hold onto your family and your dignity when in the line of media fire.

Meghan’s problem was the difference between reality and anticipation. Meghan probably had looked at film after film about the RF and believed she would be feted and have whatever she wanted, when she wanted it. Harry rather agreed with this view. Hence the rifts.

Yes. I’m sure Americans love the idea of The Queen but they have no idea about how the RF works behind the scenes. Meghan is one of their own. She feels she deserved better and is playing the victim. She’s blown the fantasy apart! Many will think that’s courageous and, if Mand H say so, necessary.

@Serenster When I worked for a public body we used to say our touchstone was the Daily Mail test - "how would you feel if this behaviour was reported on in the Daily Mail?"

The company I work for (which is a subsidiary of a public body) has the exact same saying....I wonder if it’s the same organisation

@CallmeAngelina

I'm certainly not defending the alleged 5am emails, but to a degree surely it's one's own responsibility to respond (or not) to that. So when I've had a colleague greet me at the door with a tirade a load of questions, I smile and say, "Let me take my coat off and I'll come and find you in a little while." And then I make a leisurely cup of tea and wander over if/when I'm ready. But perhaps I'd have been in the "fired" pile at Buckingham Palace too.

That would be my approach too. Years ago when working on a high profile project I was provided with a BlackBerry so that I could be contacted by email at any time. Reader, I never even took it out of its box.

I think Meghan worked her way hard as an actor in an unforgiving system. When she became a Duchess and saw the initial crowds and adulation that she and Harry drew she felt that at last she had the recognition and appreciation she had always deserved. Didn't realise it came with a layer of cynicism and accountability.

On the emails, looking back at Meghan’s career, it’s very likely that she had no experience of being the boss in this kind of setting. And probably hadn’t ever had to think about how part of the role involves keeping your team motivated, and thinking about your impact on them. I mean, you are leading a team of individuals, not assembly line robots. As a very experienced manager and leader, there are a couple of things that strike me about the reported actions. Firstly, if the emails are indeed sent with an expectation that they’ll action them right away, that will definitely get people’s backs up as most jobs aren’t on the basis you are on call out of office hours. But, even if they weren’t sent with that expectation, I can see that people arriving in the office to a flurry of emails from their boss would probably feel they are behind on their workload before they have even started, which would make them feel pressured, and pressured people aren’t normally very happy. Or it they could also feel that they have to rejig whatever they had planned for the morning or day to deal with the emails, and feel like their workload is out of their control - again, this tends not to make people happy. If I was the kind of person that came up with a million and one ideas as I did my morning yoga (so not!) I would not just send people scattergun emails but email them all to myself then institute a regular morning team meeting to go over them with my team and agree which ones we are taking forward and how they fit in with existing priorities. The last bit is always very important!

@Myimaginarycathadfleas

If anybody should write a book it's Carole and Michael Middleton, on how to hold onto your family and your dignity when in the line of media fire.

The stories they could tell! I suppose the point is that you know they absolutely never would. How lucky for William that he met Kate and her family - and that his DC will be brought up with their values.

You're absolutely right, @Serenster. I hadn't thought about the impact of receiving a slew of early emails no matter what time you opened up shop. It would be enormously stressful.

Especially when said staff are paid peanuts.

I agree about the 5am emails only being an issue if MM expected an immediate response or action.

Years ago I worked as a PA to an Executive and during my induction they asked that I didn't have my work emails linked to my personal mobile as they had insomnia and would fire of emails at all times of the day and night. They explained the emails where mostly reminders to themselves and they didn't want me feeling under pressure by them and that I was only expected to work during my contracted hours.

As a PP said it was MM first time leading a team in a professional setting and maybe she struggled with communication and culture diffrences and that could be the reason for the high turn over of staff.

It was she really ‘leading a team’? Surely the team were there to help and support her, showing her how things were meant to be done, not the other way around?

But was she

I don't think 5am emails are an issue as PP said unless she expected them to be actioned immediately. But there was an article not that long ago that said she and PH would think up some major project over dinner and expect them to executed immediately, which stressed their staff out.

It’s Meghan’s 39th birthday today

Lovely picture and greeting posted by Clarence House

Serenster that makes sense - that the emails weren't the issue per se but the changing priorities and the impact on existing workload.
It's also likely that their staff included people who were supposed to be available at all hours for emergencies (comms/PR) and then became annoyed that the 5am email wasn't actually an emergency but just today's idea.