Thread about Harry and Meghan that has no deletions

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Play nicely and don’t say anything that will get your post (or the thread) deleted. I’ll start. Archie is cute and it would be lovely to see him more often.

1. Confusing Empire and Commonwealth?

Archie will definitely use the Prince title.

I hope he will be able to live a life free of his 'titles'. It's definitely the best way forward in the 21st century.

@bluebell34567

Archie will definitely use the Prince title.

Maybe he'll grow up to have different values?

I don't think Archie will use it. I think his parents want it for themselves but want him to be free without it.

I think if you're going to use the title in a formal capacity you should be resident in Britain for tax purposes. It's less relevant now for other members of the aristocracy but if they are hereditary peers in the House of Lords this should also apply to them. I have wondered how many members of the HoL who are there by virtue of their titles might not be resident here for tax purposes but if I were PM I'd be digging around this issue.

I also do not think any designations like 'Sir' or 'Dame' etc should be granted to people not resident in Britain for tax purposes.

I also think it's different if the person is totally retired from public life and just happens to live somewhere else.

For example in the HaM case - as Doria aged, Meghan may very understandably have needed to spend more time there to look after her. Of course she shouldn't be stripped of her title for that reason. It's more this idea of building a whole franchise abroad that bothers me.

I am more vexed about the Sirs and the Dames filing Monaco to the gills (lookin' at YOU Philip Green) to be fair.

@thefatladyscreams

5. Confusing Empire and Commonwealth?

I honestly don’t understand how M and H could have been given roles to represent t the Commonwealth when she didn’t even understand what she was representing! That is just so hard to compute. Didn’t the palace advisors give her some lessons? Her veil and the flowers seem an empty gesture now.

In the Gloria Steinem interview we have this:

'I love this,' the Duchess said, referring to the jewelry [a bracelet GS had given her saying 'Linked, not ranked']. 'It means everything to me on every level; we are linked not ranked.'

Anyone else find that an astonishing thing to say in an interview where you're introduced under your aristocratic title? It makes a mockery of that point.

I’ve ceased to expect anything she says or does to make any sense . It’s all ‘noise’, to use her favourite expression.

@ButteryPuffin

In the Gloria Steinem interview we have this:

'I love this,' the Duchess said, referring to the jewelry [a bracelet GS had given her saying 'Linked, not ranked']. 'It means everything to me on every level; we are linked not ranked.'

Anyone else find that an astonishing thing to say in an interview where you're introduced under your aristocratic title? It makes a mockery of that point.

It is a bit of a thoughtless thing to say. Don't they have someone advising them?

If she hadn't married PH and got the title then she wouldn't even be interviewed. I am a bit in despair at the state of the world when a renowned US feminist interviews a woman who has achieved status by marrying into a European RF. Having achieved this status the women then complains about having been unable to use her voice, a voice she only has by virtue of a bloody wedding ceremony. Feminists are working women achieving successful careers off their own bat, and that career can be anything from working in a factory to developing the covid vaccine.

If these two really believed in equality they would drop the titles but they don't dare because that is all they have. "Linked" my arse oh but don't forget to mention my rank on the opening credits.

This whole RF nonsense has to stop. Viva the republic.

@cakeisalwaystheanswer

If she hadn't married PH and got the title then she wouldn't even be interviewed. I am a bit in despair at the state of the world when a renowned US feminist interviews a woman who has achieved status by marrying into a European RF. Having achieved this status the women then complains about having been unable to use her voice, a voice she only has by virtue of a bloody wedding ceremony. Feminists are working women achieving successful careers off their own bat, and that career can be anything from working in a factory to developing the covid vaccine.

If these two really believed in equality they would drop the titles but they don't dare because that is all they have. "Linked" my arse oh but don't forget to mention my rank on the opening credits.

This whole RF nonsense has to stop. Viva the republic.

Absolutely!

The way she is acting really just emphasises what an outďated, undemocratic nonsense the concept of royalty is. Nobody would be giving Harry or Meghan the time of day if they weren't royal.

they talk nonsense but they got the 15 million dollar home and imagine its upkeeping. all the house keepers, chefs, gardeners, etc. they are sure of paying.

she is the duchess of the manor now as well.

she tried hard thats obvious.

And why the need to mention what a great feminist Harry is? Of all the people she could credit for helping women, why Harry? (Would make sense if she were talking sports or veterans and she credited him for his great work on Invictus). Just reeks of self promotion of themselves rather than the actual cause.

@Viviennemary excellent point.
When I see the actions of MM in the last couple of weeks, it makes me wonder if this is the kind of thing she wanted to be doing as a member of the RF and was held back by the 'grey suits'. There's nothing wrong with her opinions on voting and women's rights but we all know you can't voice those opinions as a member of the RF. She really needs to stop using the title.

@ButteryPuffin

In the Gloria Steinem interview we have this:

'I love this,' the Duchess said, referring to the jewelry [a bracelet GS had given her saying 'Linked, not ranked']. 'It means everything to me on every level; we are linked not ranked.'

Anyone else find that an astonishing thing to say in an interview where you're introduced under your aristocratic title? It makes a mockery of that point.

Do you think the gift was given by Gloria Steinem to make a point to Meghan - but Meghan didn't see the irony?

@ButteryPuffin

In the Gloria Steinem interview we have this:

'I love this,' the Duchess said, referring to the jewelry [a bracelet GS had given her saying 'Linked, not ranked']. 'It means everything to me on every level; we are linked not ranked.'

Anyone else find that an astonishing thing to say in an interview where you're introduced under your aristocratic title? It makes a mockery of that point.

In my view that statement illustrates perfectly the tone deafness that many have mentioned before. Can she really not see the mismatch between what she said and the fact that she keeps using her title.

If you look at the causes supported by the Countess of Wessex and the Princess Royal, I'd say it's dead wrong to asserts that women's and girls' rights are off-limits for the Royal Family.

It's not just using the titles that galls me, it's the spending of the money which is given by Charles through the taxpayer in this country. She's taken all the perks and all of the money and gone somewhere else to complain about how terribly hard it all is and how badly she was treated.

I feel it’s the using the titles that were given purely because they married (they could have refused them) and continuing to do so whilst living (permanently?) in another country and making it clear they didn’t feel welcome/wanted in the RF yet still expecting all the perks that come with being royalty. As somebody said on another thread, they’ve used the RF as a springboard for what they want to do.

I think a lot of the annoyance towards them is from a feeling of being duped by what they planned and wanted.

@EdithWeston don't forget Camilla speaking out about domestic violence. Things like that are far more important and urgent than talking about women 'using their voice'.