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.

I don't suppose Harry thought he was moving from one gilded cage to another even worse one. I doubt Harry is thriving in his present environment. Meghan probably. For the moment.

@Viviennemary

I don't suppose Harry thought he was moving from one gilded cage to another even worse one. I doubt Harry is thriving in his present environment. Meghan probably. For the moment.

Very true and at least he had an element of popularity and was surrounded by people he could trust before.

I can well imagine that when you are in a gifted cage, and have grow up in it, that the realities of being in anything else are close to impossible to comprehend but look very appealing.

So true SunbathingDragon The RF PR machine appears to be akin to that of James Grant management (now renamed YM&U) who take care of the public images of many of the ITV lot. Look at the sugar coated, carefully controlled, —fake—, public profiles of people like Ant and Dec, Philip Schofield etc. They’ve all got shady and murky private lives, yet ITV ensures the public see them as nice, guy next door type characters.

The RF PR ensured the public image of Harry was a Tim nice but slightly dim character; cheeky, friendly, fun, down to earth (well as much as a pampered prince could be) and just one of the guys. The real Harry has transpired to be the complete opposite - aside from being slightly dim (no offence, but he’s not the brightest bulb).

Over the years we’ve now and then been able to peep behind the curtains and have a glimpse at the real Harry with his behaviour and (racist) comments. Without the protection of the Royal PR machine, he has no curtains to hide behind and we see the real Hazza. Who isn’t pleasant. He and Meghan are a good match, thank goodness they’ve saved two other people from having to put up with them.

@Crispsginchoc

So true SunbathingDragon The RF PR machine appears to be akin to that of James Grant management (now renamed YM&U) who take care of the public images of many of the ITV lot. Look at the sugar coated, carefully controlled, —fake—, public profiles of people like Ant and Dec, Philip Schofield etc. They’ve all got shady and murky private lives, yet ITV ensures the public see them as nice, guy next door type characters.

The RF PR ensured the public image of Harry was a Tim nice but slightly dim character; cheeky, friendly, fun, down to earth (well as much as a pampered prince could be) and just one of the guys. The real Harry has transpired to be the complete opposite - aside from being slightly dim (no offence, but he’s not the brightest bulb).

Over the years we’ve now and then been able to peep behind the curtains and have a glimpse at the real Harry with his behaviour and (racist) comments. Without the protection of the Royal PR machine, he has no curtains to hide behind and we see the real Hazza. Who isn’t pleasant. He and Meghan are a good match, thank goodness they’ve saved two other people from having to put up with them.

THIS

Looks like Harry's image has been carefully cultivated. Much like the Queen Mother was. The nation's favourite granny.

I remember reading that, in private, H can be rude but not in a malicious way eg pelting bread rolls at people at dinner parties. I thought that was disappointing as I bloody hate bad manners and Diana apparently had tried hard to make sure the boys didn't exploit the rank by behaving like that to others. He can be genuinely lovely- my friend met him through work and said he was amazing with everyone. However, he does have a touch of arrogance, such as when Rhiannon Mills asked him a benign question on SA and he just shut her down. BP were good at managing him and the press so we only saw 'fun' Harry.

@Viviennemary

Looks like Harry's image has been carefully cultivated. Much like the Queen Mother was. The nation's favourite granny.

Yes, by all accounts that was some fantastic image cultivation! She stayed in the RF though and her image has undoubtedly continued to be protected by her daughter’s position ensuring it.

I think Meghan is enjoying realising a life long dream of having important Hollywood people knowing who she is and taking meetings with her.

I would imagine nearly everyone is smirking behind her back because they know she is only there because she married a Prince.

@Viviennemary

I would imagine nearly everyone is smirking behind her back because they know she is only there because she married a Prince.

Similar to those of who are illiterate?

I wouldn’t say Harry was illiterate. That’s a bit mean.

I have read that Guy Pelly has visited H in LA . After the wedding snub I hope they manage to resolve matters as H needs his old friends . It might also bridge the gap between H and W .

@Viviennemary and @StartupRepair I think you're both right. The penny has just dropped with me that she didn't marry H with the plan to be part of the RF but saw it as a leg up to something else. She was never going to devote herself to a lifetime of royal duty.

I've never approved of Meghan from the start. I just didn't think an actress who had lived independently for years would fit in to royal life. But even I didn't think she planned it from the start. That is to leave after a year or to and forge a superstar career in the USA. Still don't think anybody could be so calculating.

I don't think she planned to leave so quickly either but I now think it wasn't her long term plan to exclusively focus on royal duties either. That's why she gave up so quickly- her heart wasn't really in it.

I don't think she planned to leave at all. I think it was just not what she was expecting and she absolutely did not want to play second fiddle to Kate.

I think there was a failure on all sides to have a proper "induction" period.

The Queen offered a low key start. Meghan didn't need to hit the ground running. HM knew it would be a challenge and offered a property outside London and for them to not participate in royal duties. It was rejected.

The trouble with Meghan as far as I can see is that she always think she knows best. And won't take advice even from experts. And doesn't like to be told no.

She (or they) effectively rejected an induction period. HM even offered that Meghan could continue acting, not have a title and get used to the UK. However, they wanted the massive public wedding, the titles, the royal patronages and the tours. Their choice.

they wanted the massive public wedding, the titles, the royal patronages and the tours. Their choice.

Absolutely this.

I saw someone post on another thread about how MM used the RF as a springboard to get what she wanted in terms of fame and making money. Whilst there are some exceptions, the overwhelming majority of people who make lots of money have a talent behind them to do so. Those who don’t tend to be the more vapid reality show type of celebrities and history shows that they struggle a lot when their looks or whatever they are using to make their money go.

Harry and Meghan have very little to interest people with and they don’t have their own talent to get where they wanted alone. They need good PR and advisors. The fact they don’t listen and keep making mistakes which alienates the public doesn’t help. They have also already largely sold out the RF with Finding Freedom and won’t be privy to anything else significant with them as a result of it being clear they will sell out anyone and everyone. I can’t see many genuine celebrities being keen to divulge anything to their either for exactly the same reasons.

The likelihood is that at some point they will fall out with Netflix because history has already shown us that they have systematically fallen out with almost everyone since they have been together. I can’t see it ending happily for them.

Meghan won t like being told what to do by Netflix. OK for Harry to obey orders (such as pulling out of Invictus) After all he is only a Prince and she's the brains of the outfit. Depends what the demands are.

SunbathingDragon and Viviennemary - good points. I saw Harry make a speech about privilege recently and thought there's someone with little self awareness. I really don't know what either of them can bring to Netflix.

@Maireas

SunbathingDragon and Viviennemary - good points. I saw Harry make a speech about privilege recently and thought there's someone with little self awareness. I really don't know what either of them can bring to Netflix.

I do think they should get and listen to advice about appropriate causes to highlight because Prince Harry and talking to us about privilege isn’t a good combination.

@Maireas

She (or they) effectively rejected an induction period. HM even offered that Meghan could continue acting, not have a title and get used to the UK. However, they wanted the massive public wedding, the titles, the royal patronages and the tours. Their choice.

Funnily enough if HMQ's offer has been taken up, Meghan probably would have received so many acting jobs that she could basically pick what she wanted & get what she wanted. Then presuming M got good & glowing reviews for her work, move into producing/directing, eventually culminating into her becoming a bona fide superstar in her own right with the money & the contacts to launch her own foundation & do whatever she wanted up there with the Obamas, Oprah, Clooneys etc.

The only snag with this is that it would have taken far longer (maybe 10 years at least) to get to this position.
The Obamas et al didn't get there overnight, they spent years/decades working there way to the top.

It's all gone a bit Tortoise & Hare now.

Indeed, Tracy. It's hard to tell, but maybe a quiet wedding, a low key life and some professional commitments may have worked. However, the lustre of royalty and global fame and acclaim must have been enticing.