Palace appoints external lawyers to probe MM bullying...

[Sprining]

Last week, in the lead up to Meghan and Harry’s eagerly anticipated Oprah interview, Palace sources were quoted as saying that the Palace was “prepared to retaliate with fresh disclosures about the couple’s behaviour if the monarchy is attacked”.

Great, so what next

External lawyers to probe bullying by other royals?
External lawyers to probe racism within RF?
External lawyers to probe whether there was disability discrimination in denying support for mental health?
External lawyers to problem Andrews behaviour and whether it broke public code of conduct (not criminal investigation, but did he bring us into disrepute type of stuff)?

Is this a vendetta or is RF finally going to be be subject to public accountability?

To be fair, there were rumours long ago about M upsetting staff. Years ago I worked for someone who was, to say the least, demanding. Later on I saw accusations of bullying against her. She was horrible, that’s for sure, but not a bully . That implies something personal, I think. This woman was - probably like M - very, very demanding, setting impossible deadlines and generating enough work for a small army. I should think something similar happened here, and people who work at the palace or even in public service are not used to a mile-a-minute dynamo and on M’s side she may well have felt impatience and frustration.

Bullying or culture clash or exacting standards?

I don’t think these accusations do BP any favours at all. It shows a desire to hush things up & not investigate when a principal is involved unless forced to.

Is emailing people at 5am bullying?

@Blueberries0112

Is emailing people at 5am bullying?

gosh I hope not. I often send emails and random times. otherwise I forget. they get picked up when the person is back in the office. I think that is normal.

Normally I’m a bit critical of M&H but in this case I think M’s “bullying” was a culture and job clash. A Listers have lackies who run around like headless chickens smoothing the celebrity’s path whilst acting like they are a god.

Also Americans don’t pepper requests with pleases and thank yous: it will be “Get me Jeff on the line!” Or “Get me a soy latte!” They are not being rude, it’s just that we (or people in palace circles) might say, “Would you mind awfully fetching me a soy latte if you have the time, please?”

The latter person isn’t necessarily nicer or making less of a demand, they’re just couching it differently.

Why did Meghan choose to do the interview whilst pregnant considering the stress she must have anticipated?

I guess that could depend on if she did anticipate it, which if we accept that she didn't understand how the RF work would make sense

If everyone had swallowed H&M's narrative wholesale - something they appear to expect anyway - there wouldn't have been so much stress, but then that was hardly realistic for anyone, RF or not

I mean they aren't getting any younger and have money to make in the US. Their time with the RF was wasted in a sense and now they're re starting. If now now then when with the interview ?

Love all your opinions and analysis. Don't care your views, just so appreciate this stimulation x

@IrmaFayLear

Normally I’m a bit critical of M&H but in this case I think M’s “bullying” was a culture and job clash. A Listers have lackies who run around like headless chickens smoothing the celebrity’s path whilst acting like they are a god.

Also Americans don’t pepper requests with pleases and thank yous: it will be “Get me Jeff on the line!” Or “Get me a soy latte!” They are not being rude, it’s just that we (or people in palace circles) might say, “Would you mind awfully fetching me a soy latte if you have the time, please?”

The latter person isn’t necessarily nicer or making less of a demand, they’re just couching it differently.

So true and she wanted to get in there and make a difference. Was obviously hungry and passionate about it. The English are so subtle and nuanced and strategic with how they communicate. I think Catherine was more, tortoise wins the race. She didn't really have anything to prove. I always sense with her that it was about pleasing everyone and her husband and being a dutiful wife and Mother. She seems to have a very subservient traditional approach which the RF and the public love. William loves ! She's a first lady/politicians wife - stand by your man no matter what. Definitely Carole's daughter - work very hard to fit in and they do it well. The whole family is a model of what every housewife/family aspires to be.... really great, thing with people like that is they never really take a stand or go out on a limb for anything. Also, it's only possible because William protects her and elevated her and is in a position to maintain her dignity when he can.

I'm guilty of bullying everyone in my contacts list, even my website developer (contacted with problem I found at 2am so he would get first thing) and my own Mother if this is the case.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Why did Meghan choose to do the interview whilst pregnant considering the stress she must have anticipated?

I guess that could depend on if she did anticipate it, which if we accept that she didn't understand how the RF work would make sense

If everyone had swallowed H&M's narrative wholesale - something they appear to expect anyway - there wouldn't have been so much stress, but then that was hardly realistic for anyone, RF or not

Such a good question ! I believe the public would be more sympathetic to a pregnant lady & Buckinham Palace has its hands tied to an extent. There she is looking around 5 months pregnant and talking about suicidal ideation last pregnancy and a miscarriage. Buckingham palace couldn't exactly tear her to shreds in the media - although they didn't exactly hold back doing this inadvertently.

Reminds me of another point. Everyone says the RF have no right of reply yet the DM and the Times have basically been their mouth piece.

Also if not now then when ? They waited a year to come to an agreement and that didn't eventuate, they'll have a newborn soon, they have to fulfill their netflix agreements and promote them...

I agree with a lot of this about clash of culture, however it doesn’t fit with the original complaint that she ‘always has somebody in her sights’ and was ‘humiliating’ certain staff members.

That does sound different.

I hope BP have it investigated fairly

The review is the absolute tip of iceberg I'm sure. I know people who were asked to go in and handle their comms. Senior, experienced very well thought of. And they wouldn't touch the job with a BARGEPOLE. What was going on behind the palace walls was known by those outside of them. The fact it was so well concealed publicly speaks volumes for the protection that was mounted around Meghan! It's just a shame that she wasn't able to see that. Their entitlement and self justified fury at how they believe they've been treated is self evident. It doesn't need a bullying review to reveal it! I think the palace PR strategy is a little slicker than M&H's frankly.

I wonder if the Royal Navy personnel who worked on the Royal Yacht Britannia will be allowed to speak up before they're all dead. I knew one well, and he said that PA was utterly vile; but that Anne was 'all right'.

And this was before the PA/Epstein allegations.

You know people who were, or could have been, part of their communications team? But they turned it down because gossip was rife inside and outside the Palace and everyone was running down Meghan?

No wonder they are in the US if that's how professional people behave.

@Roussette people talk. Mumsnet is built on that premise.

I heard from two direct sources that she was a PITA way back pre pregnancy. So the writing was on the wall much much earlier than that. And we Brits may be self effacing but most of us can tell the difference between rude arrogance and the US manner of being more direct. So I can well imagine that by the time she was pregnant and struggling, a lot of people internally were pretty fed up.

@dogsonlead

The review is the absolute tip of iceberg I'm sure. I know people who were asked to go in and handle their comms. Senior, experienced very well thought of. And they wouldn't touch the job with a BARGEPOLE. What was going on behind the palace walls was known by those outside of them. The fact it was so well concealed publicly speaks volumes for the protection that was mounted around Meghan! It's just a shame that she wasn't able to see that. Their entitlement and self justified fury at how they believe they've been treated is self evident. It doesn't need a bullying review to reveal it! I think the palace PR strategy is a little slicker than M&H's frankly.

On another note, I don't know how the RF can ever deny racism after the royal wedding. Nobody has ever called into question their behaviour at the royal wedding. Yes the pastor's sermon did go on forever and it was very lively. However if it were and old, white Italian/Irish priest waffling on would they have laughed that much ? Their sniggers were as much about how long it went on for as they were about the white, old traditional church being turned into an American gospel church. The sniggers were mixed in with looks of disapproval. Not only this but it was done in full view of the worlds media and knowing that Meghan, her devout Mother and the pastor himself would see. It lacked respect.

The barge pole thing - I think they probably were afraid to touch all of the politics. To have to deal with the press and answer to camps that were in conflict, that would have been impossible.

In the end what we saw was that no matter where they moved their offices or who they hired, they had no control. The big names in their comms teams never answered to them because they weren't paid by them - there would have been so much gas lighting and trickery to pretend they were on the Sussex side meanwhile answering to other royals higher up the food chain. That would be infuriating for anyone.

Regards the wedding I think that's a bit of a stretch. It was a wedding, a joyful event. I don't think there was any disdain at all. I certainly didn't see it. Surprise yes. Not racism.

As for being in charge, well of course they weren't. They were one of the many units of a royal family, where by the nature of the beast they do not hold all the decisions and autonomy. There are ways and means of getting things done. Not shouting and screaming.

Americans know how to say please and thank you.

Although when it comes to dealing with business, they do have the “customer is always right” mentality. Meaning they do act entitled when they wants businesses to feel they will lose customers/money if they don’t take actions.

@dogsonlead

people talk. Mumsnet is built on that premise

Of course. It's a discussion forum.

Bit different to professional people gossiping inside the Palace and outside and running down one of the members who has joined the RF.

Not good.

At the risk of repeating myself.(have mentioned it on a thread before).. when we had our firstborn, we had to short term hire a Nanny. As it happened, this lovely woman had nannied for royal children. It happened because she lived near us and wanted a short term job. She did not say one word about anything to do with that position. Not one. That is called being discreet.

So communications people and 'sources' calling Meghan a PITA is awful in my book. Totally unprofessional.

@Roussette you're hilarious. Keep flying your moral flag. Obviously slagging off your new family on cable is exactly the way to behave. That'll show them!

You're absolutely right. Discretion IS key. Sadly people will gossip. So you are a bit naive to think otherwise. My friend wasn't employed by them. She was asked if she was interested and ran a mile! Megz and Haz wouldn't know discretion if you slapped them round the face with an NDA.

I replied to you. That's all.

Glad I've amused you though

Mummyozzi I found it a very inclusive wedding. PC was charming walking Meghan down the aisle & being so welcoming to her mother. I didn’t see racism.

Let's stop the conversation, because I am completely lost with this and who you mean.

You talked of 'direct soures' and 'communications people'

Someone is obviously blabbing