Harry and Meghan statement on Afghanistan

[Mummyoflittledragon]

“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?

@TooBigForMyBoots

Not that I want to know, I just don't want to hear the grandiose - I'm giving £1.5m in the first place.

If they didn't announce it, they would be accused of hogging all the profits. H&M are damned whatever they do because loads of people love being angry with them.🤷‍♀️

This is incorrect. They could really be more clear about what is the exact involvement - both ways. An “announcement” about participating does not really tell you much. But hey some will fall for it. This polo event is for the super rich so no need to announce to the masses anyways. Who cares

@Marmaladeagain gets annoyed that they say anything. You want them to be more detailed @Coronateachingagain. You've made my point, that H&M are damned no matter what they do.🤷‍♀️

that's correct coronateachingagain - I don't want to know either way. Extremely wealthy person playing polo rasing money for charity investing well and tax efficiently spreading his money around to make himself richer. That's how the world goes round. It's how it is.

Harry is in no way "kind" or "special" for doing so and to make proclomations of giving to charity is just H&M attempts at branding.

They'd like to run their lives on Obama styling without the impressive back history of "work" or natural grace and diplomacy the Obamas have by the bucket.

Harry's backstory is full of embarrasing stories that are best not spoken about and M's a cable TV actress. They're not the Obamas (as if that needs saying they have no branding other than fooling some of the fan type people that their tax efficient lifestyle makes them "kind" or whatever malarkey those that fall for their baloney make of H&M.

However, if you are going to announce your charitable donations - then explain a little more about it - explain how others can tax efficiently give to charity the way they do.

Explain that it's a no-brainer. Explain that the term "philanthropic" used in respect of Foundations in US doesn't mean what the UK often think it does. We are truly countries separated by a common language.

@Marmaladeagain you could not say it better.

I honestly did not know about the 95% tax free incentive these US “Foundations” have. So really 95% business (tax free!!) and rest of real foundation. It’s a no brainer. What is the accounts disclosure and when do they file? It is going to be interesting to watch. Or are they incorporated in Delaware 😂

@Marmaladeagain

that's correct coronateachingagain - I don't want to know either way. Extremely wealthy person playing polo rasing money for charity investing well and tax efficiently spreading his money around to make himself richer. That's how the world goes round. It's how it is.

Harry is in no way "kind" or "special" for doing so and to make proclomations of giving to charity is just H&M attempts at branding.

They'd like to run their lives on Obama styling without the impressive back history of "work" or natural grace and diplomacy the Obamas have by the bucket.

Harry's backstory is full of embarrasing stories that are best not spoken about and M's a cable TV actress. They're not the Obamas (as if that needs saying they have no branding other than fooling some of the fan type people that their tax efficient lifestyle makes them "kind" or whatever malarkey those that fall for their baloney make of H&M.

However, if you are going to announce your charitable donations - then explain a little more about it - explain how others can tax efficiently give to charity the way they do.

Explain that it's a no-brainer. Explain that the term "philanthropic" used in respect of Foundations in US doesn't mean what the UK often think it does. We are truly countries separated by a common language.

Excellent summary!

Well said @Marmaladeagain

If they didn't announce it, they would be accused of hogging all the profits. H&M are damned whatever they do because loads of people love being angry with them.🤷‍♀️

This donation is not happening for another 12 to 18 months at least, announcing it now does seem grandiose and attention seeking. You would imagine they would it when the donation is made, or even better have Sentebale announce it on his behalf.

What gets me too about these Polo events - is that the horses don't live in Colorado or wherever the event takes place. So they are flying horses, the people who look after the horses and the players in from all around the world at vast expense (probably some on private jets) - for a game of polo for charity. Yet next week we will be told about the new environmental initiative...

This is not just aimed at Harry either - it is all them. It's a jolly, dressed up as charity to make them feel better about it all.

@SugarCaneHarvest

What gets me too about these Polo events - is that the horses don't live in Colorado or wherever the event takes place. So they are flying horses, the people who look after the horses and the players in from all around the world at vast expense (probably some on private jets) - for a game of polo for charity. Yet next week we will be told about the new environmental initiative...

This is not just aimed at Harry either - it is all them. It's a jolly, dressed up as charity to make them feel better about it all.

Yes exactly. The event is for the rich as well. It’s utter hypocrisy. Apart from anything else it surely can’t be good for the horses!

And as @Marmaladeagain points out so well, by framing these events as 'charity' they can put all of their expenses against either the charity or tax (I would love to know what this pair and others like them pay in tax each year). Whereas if they just went to play polo with their chums, well then they would have to pay for that themselves wouldn't they, can't have that.

It is how the elite operate. And to see so many people (many of whom will be on PAYE - so no tax breaks for them) defend and hero worship this pair and their like is baffling.

@Cacacoisfarraige

I would expect that without Harry’s $1.5m donation, the event would have lost money with all the extra Covid costs. We will have to wait for the 2021 accounts to see.

I had no idea net profit was so low. If we were to add up all costs of the environmental impact from these events, do these ‘charities’ really make a net profit? What an insult to the people they’re raising money for. The money spent on jollies could go toward feeding people in the US. Massive massive poverty there.

@SugarCaneHarvest

What gets me too about these Polo events - is that the horses don't live in Colorado or wherever the event takes place. So they are flying horses, the people who look after the horses and the players in from all around the world at vast expense (probably some on private jets) - for a game of polo for charity. Yet next week we will be told about the new environmental initiative...

This is not just aimed at Harry either - it is all them. It's a jolly, dressed up as charity to make them feel better about it all.

I am not a particular fan of H & M , and I agree overall about a lot of these charity shindigs, but a quick Google shows there are at least three polo clubs in Colorado; Denver, Aspen and one at the state university, so they are not necessarily flying horses in.

Yes, it really sounds like a jolly. I obviously don’t walk in these circles and the only time I’ve seen events like this is when acted out in films. Lavish meal type events. Polo matches are on another level altogether.

@Cacacoisfarraige

I would expect that without Harry’s $1.5m donation, the event would have lost money with all the extra Covid costs. We will have to wait for the 2021 accounts to see.

Who said he was chipping in with 1.5m? He is, so far, only showing up for the jolly, and doing self publicity about it and who knows what other boondoggles. 😂

@Velcropaws - do they use local horses? Each team will typically have 16 horses (four for each player) - so two teams alone will require 32 horses. It really is a game for the rich.

What about what’s happening in California itself? Fires etc. Why don’t they raise awareness about that?

@SwimmingUnderwater in this particular case it's probably because Sentebale is about HIV/AIDS.

www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/sporting/news/a6122/prince-harry-polo-rules/

If you read this (from 2016) each player will travel with 12/14 horses. They train with them. I very much doubt they just rock up and use horses they don't know from a local stables.

His mate Figueras owns 500 polo horses which are used in global competitions.

Well you do have to pay staff a salary commensurate with wages where they live so I don't think it's unusual. Harry doesnt singlehandedly run Sentebale - he founded it with the Prince of Lesotho but as with any charity, staff do the day to day work.