Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The royal family

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Harry and Meghan statement on Afghanistan

845 replies

Mummyoflittledragon · 17/08/2021 18:42

“The world is exceptionally fragile right now.
As we all feel the many layers of pain due to the situation in Afghanistan, we are left speechless.
As we all watch the growing humanitarian disaster in Haiti, snd the threat of it worsening after last weekend’s earthquake, we are left heartbroken.
And as we all witness the continuing global health crisis, exacerbated by the new variants and constant misinformation, we are left scared.
When any person or community suffers, a piece of each of us does so with them, whether we realise it or not. And though we are not meant to live in a state of suffering, we are as a people, being conditioned to accept it. It’s easy to find ourselves feeling powerless, but we can put our values into action - together.
To start, we encourage you to join us in supporting a number of organisations doing critical work. We also urge those in positions of global influence to rapidly advance the humanitarian dialogues that are expected to take place this fall at multilateral gatherings such as the U.N. General Assembly and the Leader’s Summit.
As an international community, it is the decisions we make now - to alleviate suffering among those we know and those we may never meet - that will prove our humanity.”

  • THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK

H&M are being criticised for making this about them and for not calling out Biden, notably the FLOTUS is report as being a personal friend of H.

What do mumsnetters think?

OP posts:
SugarCaneHarvest · 18/08/2021 14:28

I have seen a waning in interest in these two, which has to be a good thing. Look at this thread alone only 200+ comments over a couple of days. They don't seem to be getting as much media coverage either (with articles not making front pages anymore).

Steakandcheeseplease · 18/08/2021 14:32

It was the U.N bit for me. Megan once spoke at the U.N maybe she feels that she is the ideal spokes person for the job.

Harry, spent time there. He should have left her name off it. it would have been more authentic if it was just off him. It would have caste him in a different light - now all it looks like is a publicity stunt to raise their profile.

Also the preachy bit of supporting a number of organisations ( like we need them to point us in the right direction) Are those originations affiliated with the Archwell Trust and will they benefit from it directly?

Another awful move from this two.

Steakandcheeseplease · 18/08/2021 14:34

@JaniieJones

'As Harry served in Afganistan, I think it would have been especially noted if he (they) had not made any statement at all'

He had made a statement

Not as flowery granted, not quite as dramatic but they really didn't need to do 'and another thing' statement did they?

Jesus I didn't know that existed. Obviously some one felt a bit side lined...
Oldbutstillgotit · 18/08/2021 14:42

I thought Harry’s statement was good . To the point and not too wordy .

Gilmorehill · 18/08/2021 14:51

Yes Harry’s statement was just right. Why was there a need to make another one Hmm?

Samcro · 18/08/2021 14:54

@Plumtree391

I like them. At least they care enough to make such a statement and if it encourages people to get involved in something that will help, all good.
well said
Original poster
Mummyoflittledragon · 18/08/2021 14:55

Yes Harry’s statement was good, which was my point upthread. Where is his voice in this?

As for choosing their words deliberately and the PR reps not being naive @Candleabra, I totally disagree with you. H&M cannot possibly be taking advice from their PR teams… For surely no PR team would advise Harry to say he’s intending to publish a book once HMQ, his grandma has died…The Obamas are reported to be distancing themselves from them.

OP posts:
Oldbutstillgotit · 18/08/2021 15:00

Gilmorehill

“Yes Harry’s statement was just right. Why was there a need to make another one hmm?”

There wasn’t. And certainly not one as vacuous as one they issued.

Plumtree391 · 18/08/2021 15:32

I'm disinclined to believe that about the Obamas. Where did it come from - sources close to.?

SugarCaneHarvest · 18/08/2021 15:47

They didn't get invited to Barack Obama's 60th Birthday party. Well that is according to the media - reported by several outlets. It could of course be nonsense but they didn't make any attempt to correct it (which they usually do via Omid Scobie or close sources etc.). This has been interpreted to mean they are out of favour as 600 others were invited.

I imagine, if true, the Obama's are just staying neutral given they also have dealings with other senior members of the Royal family. An invitation to any of the Royals would have resulted in a media feeding frenzy.

SwimmingUnderwater · 18/08/2021 15:53

They aren't friends of the Obama's though! They have met a few times but are not friends as such.

Roussette · 18/08/2021 15:56

For surely no PR team would advise Harry to say he’s intending to publish a book once HMQ, his grandma has died

That's incorrect.
They made a statement saying so.

Original poster
Mummyoflittledragon · 18/08/2021 16:01

I thought they were friends. The media is very confusing and I don’t follow any of this closely enough. But the press seems to think they were friends with Harry. Additionally Michelle Obama said something, which indicated she hoped they’d forgive the RF in the wake of the OW interview.

OP posts:
SugarCaneHarvest · 18/08/2021 16:01

@SwimmingUnderwater

They aren't friends of the Obama's though! They have met a few times but are not friends as such.
I think the point is that it is unlikely that the Obama's have 600 'friends' so a lot of the invitee list was 'the great and good' that the Obama's like to surround themselves with. It was seen as a bit of snub that this didn't include Harry and Meghan - given that when they were working Royals they worked with the Obama's quite a lot (Invictus, Harry interviewing Barack for a Radio, the Vogue interview etc.)
Original poster
Mummyoflittledragon · 18/08/2021 16:03

@Roussette

For surely no PR team would advise Harry to say he’s intending to publish a book once HMQ, his grandma has died

That's incorrect.
They made a statement saying so.

Did they? So when did H say they’d be published?
OP posts:
adrianmolesmole · 18/08/2021 16:12

@StarryStarrySocks Do they realise that saying nothing is an option?

Saying nothing does nothing. Just like the Royals. At least H&M are saying something to highlight suffering, even if in their overly-sentimental way. The Royals don't saying anything about anything, they are utterly useless, self-serving and uncaring.

And before anyone points out, making statements about humanitarian crises isn't "political" and it wouldn't kill the Royal family to get off their arses and highlight the issues and publicise the causes like H&M have.

@RichTeaTime Well, they should hand over their ill-gotten gains to charity and go and work overseas for Oxfam or similar. Then they can advise others

What ill-gotten gains are these then?

Roussette · 18/08/2021 16:14

He has one book being published Autumn/late Autumn. Haven't heard of 'they'.
The nonsense about them saying they'll publish a book when the Queen dies is just that... nonsense.

Oldbutstillgotit · 18/08/2021 16:15

Harry ( or spokesperson ) said that only 1 memoir would be published . This was in response to the report that a second memoir would be published after HM dies . Nowhere have I seen it categorically stated that a book isn’t to be published after HM dies . As I have said before , I think there are semantics at play here .

Roussette · 18/08/2021 16:17

1 memoir is 1 memoir surely?

I don't expect they or us can predict when the Queen dies can they?!

Oldbutstillgotit · 18/08/2021 16:19

@ Roussette

The point I am trying to make is that H hasn’t denied a book will be published after HM dies . He / they say it isn’t a memoir.

smilesy · 18/08/2021 16:19

And before anyone points out, making statements about humanitarian crises isn't "political"

I agree the humanitarian crisis in Haiti is not political, but the situation in Afghanistan has been directly created by the withdrawal of western troops so that would definitely be off limits.

Gilmorehill · 18/08/2021 16:20

It isn’t the royal family’s role to comment on political situations so they are doing the right thing to say nothing.

Samcro · 18/08/2021 16:22

@Roussette

For surely no PR team would advise Harry to say he’s intending to publish a book once HMQ, his grandma has died

That's incorrect.
They made a statement saying so.

oh come on. people just want to rip them apart. this thread proves that whatever they do they will be hated(awaits Meghan being blamed for the problems in Afghanistan ) they are believe going to believe that.
Original poster
Mummyoflittledragon · 18/08/2021 16:23

Thank you for clarifying @Oldbutstillgotit, this is also my understanding.

OP posts:
MaMelon · 18/08/2021 16:24

Didn’t M receive a standing ovation led by Ban Ki-moon after a speech she gave at a UN summit?

Oh that’s right - she didn’t Grin

It’s more meaningless twaddle from the pair of them who never miss an opportunity to take to social media to show us all just how much they #care. I think many people are getting fed up with their circus now.