Is there really that much of a difference between "charity and philanthropy" v "public duty"?

[Funfacts99]

For the record I lean towards Republicanism but in general I am on the fence about this specific, current H & M debacle. On the one hand, I think it must be very difficult to join the RF as an outsider. On the other hand, I can see the merit in the argument that you are either totally in, or totally out.

However, as has been stated, is there really that much of a difference between so-called "public duty" and "charity and philanthropy" in reality? The Queen and Prince Charles undoubtedly put in the work visiting hospitals, village halls, and scout huts across the country. But at the same time, their land and estates make huge profits and generate a lot of income.

Therefore it could be argued that the RF's charitable work is backed by private income too. So what's the difference (apart from practical logistics related to H & M's location, but they have already said they would be willing to travel) between doing charitable work supported by income that you generate yourself by deals with Netflix etc, and doing charitable works backed by income generated from the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall's land and estates (which, if I have understood it correctly) is private, not public money?

“This interview has nothing to do with HMQ or W&C and nothing was leaked by them. “

I disagree. The person who leaked the email to the press is an employee of W&K. There is no way he could share anything about the Firm with the press without their consent.

And why leak it to the press? Surely they can do whatever internal investigations they want without informing the press?

Rubbish behaviour and reflects badly on the RF. Now MM colleague’s are coming out in support of her and RF is encouraging others to come out against her. Most of the people I know are rolling their eyes and thinking wtf?

@Samcro

so if the palace don't tolerate bullying why has it taken so long to come out? its been a year since they walked away and here we are just before the interview. timing is suspect and I doubt its anything to do with the palace caring.

Whistleblowing. By all accounts they expected to be able to talk at the trial and now won’t get the opportunity. This is their only way to talk.

@Lookingforwardto2021

There is no reason to question MM’s integrity either.

It is too late for any independent and fair investigation, due to dereliction of duty by the Rf to all parties involved.

The key person here is employed by Kate and William. And K &W may have been complicit in bullying and misinformation about MM &PH. The fact that the allowed this leak when their sister in law is pregnant after a miscarriage, is highly distasteful, to say the least.

This tit for tat shows them all for what they are...definitely nothing to look up to here

You seem to forget a judge has confirmed she lied about contributing to Finding Freedom. Every reason to question a liar’s integrity.

This was The Telegraph’s article on the earrings. Widely reported recently.

If Meghan hadn’t signed up with Oprah, all of the allegations would have been hushed up. Staff wanted to tell the High Court about her letter to her Dad. They have grievances and they are now putting the info out there. Why should they keep quiet when Meghan blames them for her unhappiness? I wouldn’t stay silent in that position. Meghan should do the classy thing and shut up.

@Roussette

The Earrings were a gift from the ruler of Saudi Arabia. She was told who had gifted them and advised not to wear them after the murder investigation of the journalist. It was her decision vs advice.

Could you link to that? Especially the bit where MM was advised not to wear them.
I have heard different.
I remember Khashoggi's murder and it was quite a while afterwards before the finger was point at the Saudi government.

p.s. We really ought to look into the £11bn worth of arms sold to the Saudi Government in 2019... a pair of earrings pales into insignificance does it not?

You do love to try to make out what Meghan does isn’t that bad because somewhere in the world something worse has happened, don’t you? It’s quite possible for lots of people to behave badly. It’s also quite possible (although it appears not on MN) to discuss one topic without having to try to opt for a defence of comparing. It just makes what you say look weak because it’s not strong enough to stand up by itself.

Are the earrings with MM in LA?

Or are they with the RF?

If the latter, shouldn’t the RF be getting flack for accepting gifts from the Saudi Prince?

And while we are at it, can we have a list of all the gifts given to the monarchy?

@TheCatWithTheFluffyTail

We can all have an opinion without getting personal.

Ok forget the billion dollar arms deals with the Saudis if you insist, what about Sophie Wessex's jewellery haul twice from the Bahraini RF when their human rights record was appalling? And that was after her fake sheikh debacle...ouch!

Just so you know... I will keep highlighting stuff like this when I consider treatment of one person is unfair compared to another.

(not that anyone ever has anything to say on it because it isn't Megggghhhhan)

Agree with @Lookingforwardto2021 if we are going to criticise one pair of earrings, let's look at the rest of it..

To be fair Sophie was mauled by the press over those incidents . But to also be fair she gave up her business and skulked away quietly for a couple of years . She didn’t give an interview and she didn’t blame anyone else for her own misjudgement . Because of this she has come out the other side.

I think the point is about not accepting advice on a sensitive topic. She didn’t have to wear them. But she wanted to and then said they were borrowed! If you are setting yourself up as the perfect person, you have to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. At the moment it’s all talk! Too much by far.

It is hard to have a discussion with someone who accepts DF ranting as fact.

Apart from Diana no other female royal has received half the abuse that Meghan has received just for existing. The miscalculation is to think that many in and out of Britain are blind to what is going on. People are fed up with the extreme and unfair abuse of a woman who endured 2 pregnancies and a miscarriage through all of this.

I am glad she is standing up to bullies. Diana must be celebrating wherever she is.

The world is standing with Meghan and the backlash against this abuse has only just began. Even as she is being abused she’s expected to shut up and endure it.

@Coolandclamy

I actually think Diana would be really proud of Harry for getting out and protecting his family.

It's quite possible that everyone involved in this whole fiasco is an arsehole.

@Spiegelx

It's quite possible that everyone involved in this whole fiasco is an arsehole.

I think Palace staff a conditioned to a certain way of working. It’s not being suggested they posted vile comments about Meghan. However she has seemed to misunderstand their role in that they advise about what ok and what is not. Meghan wants a “voice”. Generally we prefer lower Royals not to voice anything much. Charles has voiced too much for a lot of people’s liking.

Meghan expected something different. She doesn’t “get” duty and service without verbal salad. It’s American but it doesn’t play well here. She might have found things different if she had stuck around but the Queen says what goes on and keeping your own counsel
is important to her.

I’ve no issue with M&H going to LA. What I think is rude is doing a show like Oprah which they know will upset the Queen. They cannot go quietly. They can support causes all the causes they want, espouse the wordy nothingness of big ideas, but Meghan should leave the Palace and the Queen out of it. They, including the Queen, must be truly sick of her.

Thing is I imagine working for the royals is like working anywhere with a very strict hierarchy. You just have to crack on and realise where the power lies. There is probably a lot of boring and tedious shit behind the scenes and ways of doing things that have been established for tax, pr, financial, constitutional, diplomatic etc reasons. There just seems to have been a massive mismatch of expectations and whatever happens no-one will come out of it well.

Am a republican and dislike the public cost and rigmarole of the UK monarchy. And behaviour of many of the royal family.

Neither did I like Harry and Meghan seeking to make personal profit from ‘philanthropy’, while being publicly subsidised. Incompatible with public service values and code.

[quote Roussette]@TheCatWithTheFluffyTail

We can all have an opinion without getting personal.

Ok forget the billion dollar arms deals with the Saudis if you insist, what about Sophie Wessex's jewellery haul twice from the Bahraini RF when their human rights record was appalling? And that was after her fake sheikh debacle...ouch!

Just so you know... I will keep highlighting stuff like this when I consider treatment of one person is unfair compared to another.

(not that anyone ever has anything to say on it because it isn't Megggghhhhan)

Agree with @Lookingforwardto2021 if we are going to criticise one pair of earrings, let's look at the rest of it..[/quote]
It’s the fact that what you were saying about the earrings was perfectly valid in its own right but it then loses the strength of discussion.

I don’t think Meghan should be blamed for the earrings. They shouldn’t have been accepted as a wedding gift in the first place. That’s really the issue, rather than whether she declined to take advice about wearing them or not.

@Coolandclamy

Apart from Diana no other female royal has received half the abuse that Meghan has received just for existing. The miscalculation is to think that many in and out of Britain are blind to what is going on. People are fed up with the extreme and unfair abuse of a woman who endured 2 pregnancies and a miscarriage through all of this.

I am glad she is standing up to bullies. Diana must be celebrating wherever she is.

The world is standing with Meghan and the backlash against this abuse has only just began. Even as she is being abused she’s expected to shut up and endure it.

Camilla received a huge amount of abuse.

@Spiegelx

It's quite possible that everyone involved in this whole fiasco is an arsehole.

I’d go as far as to say it’s likely!

I would have republican leanings if I could think who on earth we could have as a “president” or ceremonial head. No one seems acceptable and the Crown knows it.

I don’t think Meghan should be blamed for the earrings. They shouldn’t have been accepted as a wedding gift in the first place. That’s really the issue, rather than whether she declined to take advice about wearing them or not

Thank you, yes, agree

@Billandben444

This is how I see it (and I'm sure someone will point me in the right direction if I'm wrong) :

An American who used to work for The Firm has given an interview to The Times that accuses M&H of historic bullying and he names names.

The Firm covered up any allegations of bullying at the time so as not to throw MM to the wolves - they were protecting the newest member of the RF who was being given a hard time.

This interview has nothing to do with HMQ or W&C and nothing was leaked by them.

The Firm has said they will investigate how these allegations were handled at the time and the outcome may take a year.

I don't see this as a witch hunt of H&M but more a criticism of the bullying policy in force at the time - lessons to be learnt, etc, etc. However I do think the timing of this article is intended to balance out any accusations of bullying/silenced voice etc, made in H&M's Oprah interview. It won't end well for The Firm, that's for sure.

Possible. Also possible that H&M were asked by The Times for a comment on the article they were going to print so did the OW interview? The timing of it all seems strange with MM saying that The Firm were 'perpetuating falsehoods'. If the apparent falsehoods aren't the bullying accusations, then what could they be?

@Roussette

I don’t think Meghan should be blamed for the earrings. They shouldn’t have been accepted as a wedding gift in the first place. That’s really the issue, rather than whether she declined to take advice about wearing them or not

Thank you, yes, agree

Uh so then you are absolved if you want to show them around? Hypocrisy at best.

Pardon?

That's not my post.

Sophie wearing her Bahraini necklaces and diamonds (two lots) is OK then? Plenty of pictures out there. She accepted them after her fake sheikh stuff.
I do not know and can't imagine MM knew the provenance of these earrings.
Sophie DID.