In what capacity are Harry and Meghan visiting New York

[IsabelBeck]

They are no longer working members of the Royal Family so have they gone to New York as private citizens?

How do they get to meet with Chelsea Clinton at the WHO offices and UN officials and politicians?

According to the Mail (I know, I know) they had federal protection.

Do Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (as they are styled there) have much clout in the US? Why?

Not sure it was presented by as an immediate answer
Everyone knows it's an unknown quantity

I had not read that Covid will not mutate much longer - still a similar virus will come along again at some point so at least poorer countries can be ready to try and support themselves.
Isn't the fact M&H are getting publicity out there any help. its not as if their view point is completely of topic and it doesn't detract from the fact that the West needs to stop hoarding and distribute the vaccines. So whether sharing the patent should be an immediate, short term or long term strategy - the fact is it should be shared. In a nutshell it should be possible and there is no harm in doing both.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/09/22/nowhere-left-covid-go-mutate-deadly-variant-says-oxford-vaccine/amp/

Sorry it’s behind a paywall, but the headline gives you the idea.

I read the covid virus will get weaker and weaker and end up like the common cold.

Not sure it was presented by as an immediate answer

Not sure what the point in it was then, Rousette, as surely the problem of vaccine inequality needs addressing immediately 🤷‍♀️

Plenty of point *smilesy"
Really not "just" a reason to knock Harry

Surely if vaccination is about giving human beings weak doses, or altered doses of a bug, then there are risks when scientists who were in at the beginning are not monitoring and regulating the manufacture, storage and administration of vaccines.I say that because your dealing with the virus itself and how it travels through a society. It's like antibiotics, too much use has made individuals immune to their beneficial effects and, in turn, that means individuals in the whole of societies are also exposed more to chest infections, etc., because some strains of the infection have been allowed to become resistant.

In the same way, how vaccines are administered needs to be monitored, to recognise and manage problems with efficacy and to respond. To make a comparison, again, with antibiotics, we have a problem now with GPs over-prescribing, and that is with firm protocols in place. Astrozeneca and the others need to keep control of how Covid vaccines are being used, in my opinion, to keep the process of mass vaccination safe.

I think distribute vaccines for free across the globe, yes: there should NOT be vaccine inequality. I don't think give out the patent - the original 'recipe' , though. The main manufacturing companies are probably already tweaking the 'recipe' and are going to continue to need to, as new strains develop. This is a careful and precise business. We don't want lots of scientists, all over the world, all adjusting the patent in the way they see fit, making their own versions, as that could affect the way the actual virus spreading through society develops, mutates and affects victims all over the world.

I would rather see a programme where the big manufacturers/ developers set up a programme to go to countries and vaccinate the population, for free. I would not like to see governments, where there is no free health service, selling the vaccine to the rich who can afford the first two doses and boosters, and poor members of society not getting the vaccine.

But surely it's a good idea to ' knock' Harry. If serious campaigners can't bear to have their words scrutinised and their qualifications and intentions questioned, how are they going to improve and refine their performance? How are they going to become better at what they are doing? Shouldn't Harry be going off to a take a degree and Masters in biology, if he's so keen on telling conferences of experts what the world should be doing about vaccination?

If three seven-year-old cousins had a game of saying what job they want to do, and one said 'fireman' and the other said 'teacher' and another said 'I want to make the world a better place, one kind act at a time' , you'd say " That's lovely dear, but the fireman and teacher are also making the world a better place, because they have the skills to help people".

It's a worthy motive to want the world to be better, but you can do it in a quiet way, and you don't have to build your profile by periodically writing books and giving interviews to remind the world that you are related to 'that' famous family, whose history has been intertwined with many monumental changes down the ages - even signing off America's independence was done by one of your direct ancestors: wow!. And your family is still well-known today. And to justify everything you've done since stepping back from royal duties, you're going to rubbish your current near relations with some of the worse accusations possible and, because you've depicted them as the worse hypocrites imaginable, you will be detracting from all the state-sponsored good they are trying to do . And the good Prince Charles and The Queen and Prince William are doing is state-sponsored and controlled and specified, so it's managed carefully, a bit like an official vaccination programme, and that makes the good work more effective, cohesive and enduring.

So that is why I 'knock' Harry. The way he does the public things he does is like a loose cannon. I don't believe it's helpful - and what's wrong with me having an opinion on what he does?

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, hence your name @Diverseopinions

I am interested in all this good the Queen, PC and PW are doing?

What sort of good? What form does it take?
Earthshot is great, well done W getting involved in this.
What else?
They are tarnished at the moment what with donors for honours Russian bankers, Fawcett, Andrew and this disgraceful hide and seek, ....so really don't agree.

@Diverseopinions

But surely it's a good idea to ' knock' Harry. If serious campaigners can't bear to have their words scrutinised and their qualifications and intentions questioned, how are they going to improve and refine their performance? How are they going to become better at what they are doing? Shouldn't Harry be going off to a take a degree and Masters in biology, if he's so keen on telling conferences of experts what the world should be doing about vaccination?

If three seven-year-old cousins had a game of saying what job they want to do, and one said 'fireman' and the other said 'teacher' and another said 'I want to make the world a better place, one kind act at a time' , you'd say " That's lovely dear, but the fireman and teacher are also making the world a better place, because they have the skills to help people".

It's a worthy motive to want the world to be better, but you can do it in a quiet way, and you don't have to build your profile by periodically writing books and giving interviews to remind the world that you are related to 'that' famous family, whose history has been intertwined with many monumental changes down the ages - even signing off America's independence was done by one of your direct ancestors: wow!. And your family is still well-known today. And to justify everything you've done since stepping back from royal duties, you're going to rubbish your current near relations with some of the worse accusations possible and, because you've depicted them as the worse hypocrites imaginable, you will be detracting from all the state-sponsored good they are trying to do . And the good Prince Charles and The Queen and Prince William are doing is state-sponsored and controlled and specified, so it's managed carefully, a bit like an official vaccination programme, and that makes the good work more effective, cohesive and enduring.

So that is why I 'knock' Harry. The way he does the public things he does is like a loose cannon. I don't believe it's helpful - and what's wrong with me having an opinion on what he does?

Totally agree. If anyone who felt like it could jet around pontificating and lecturing others from a basis that they have an opinion and nothing else to offer, where would we be? The RF are supposed to be above politics and not express personal opinions. When they do speak out they have consulted with experts and have many advisors. Charles does speak out and so does William these days. The difference is they have researched the topics and take advice. They are also speaking as members of the working RF. Harry and M have no official role, no proper advisors and don’t do much research it appears. Their opinions are just that. Their opinions. To fly around on private jets expressing these opinions when they have no official platform and no real knowledge is ludicrous.

The RF do speak out when it suits them... have a look at PC's spider letters.
He took no advice there. He was lobbying and petitioning ministers on everything from alternative therapies to badger culling, from what military helicopters they should be using to school dinners.

Yes, they speak as working members of the RF at times. H&M speak has non funded by the taxpayer individuals. I think some posters on here still feel they own them.
They can do what they want.
No wonder they left.

H&M speak as* (not has)

The Royal Family meet volunteers and thank them on behalf of the nation for the invaluable work they do. They are figureheads for the nation and their role is prescribed by government.

Worse than being a ' white saviour', I think that implicitly playing on your royal birth as a justification for your prominence in politics, etc., actually promotes the unspoken notion of the divine right of kings and blue blood. You are working on the idea that people think you are more interesting and special because you have royal ancestry.

The rest of the Royal Family just stick to the calendar of events parliament has agreed.

Unfortunately, it is possible for media channels to sign Harry up to speak about issues, when really valuing the behind the scenes insights into the ridiculous and fascinating elements of royal customs. He can talk about the environment, but they want previously undivulged secrets about the royals too. That's why some people are wary of the direction the loose cannon might take.

It is possible that Harry thinks that he is like his mother, a good communicator, so he owes it to us to use those skills.

The Royal Family meet volunteers and thank them on behalf of the nation for the invaluable work they do. They are figureheads for the nation and their role is prescribed by government

Yes. Whether the people want that or not. Unelected figureheads yes.

I don't know about invaluable work at all. Shaking a few hands at the right time is not that. Nor is giving a yearly speech on Christmas Day in front of a gold piano.

The rest of the Royal Family just stick to the calendar of events parliament has agreed

What? Parliament agrees their diaries? Don't think so

Of course Parliament agrees the royal calendar of engagements. To think otherwise is to suppose that Britain is as it was in the eighteenth century, when feudal lords owned the land and acted as all-powerful 'magistrates' and arbiters of local disputes among their tenants?

When Charles' s utterances have been deemed to cross a line, he has been told to desist. Scandals about cash for honours will lead to paid civil servants being dismissed. It is not just left to the Royals to do as they wish. Royals can favour certain choices, but there are government appointees to oversee and limit these. Sometimes checks have not been sufficiently robust, and I'm sure government discussed what to do about this.

Nobody thinks Harry can't do as he chooses, but why is it offensive and 'knocking' him to question and disapprove of his choices?

If I was a volunteer at a charity shop, I'd be pleased to be thanked for doing it on behalf of the nation.

Lots of volunteers with frontline roles are honoured, just as they are with MBEs. The Royal Family are unelected, but if there were to be a public movement to get rid of them, they would go. In that sense they are carrying out their roles on public licence..

If you are not a Royalist, Roussette, why don't you raise an eyebrow at Harry always referring to himself by his dukely title? What did you think about the complaints to Oprah about Archie getting a title? Didn't you think: "Why do you want him having a title, it's only all that standing in front of a gold piano malarky!"?

Those complaints to Oprah, to my perception, were not expressed tongue in cheek, or with the caveat: " Hey, we know when the rainforests are dying that titles aren't important, but....."; it was genuine "He didn't get his title....it's not fair!"

Well said , @Diverseopinions

Of course Parliament agrees the royal calendar of engagements. To think otherwise is to suppose that Britain is as it was in the eighteenth century, when feudal lords owned the land and acted as all-powerful 'magistrates' and arbiters of local disputes among their tenants?

They may rubberstamp it, but they don't tell them where to go and what to do.

Looking at the Duchies... I don't think you are far wrong on that. Special exemptions from laws that stop tenants buying their properties etc.

Jane Giddins, who lives in one of the prince’s houses in a Somerset village, said a “feudal and anachronistic” system had unfairly favoured Charles, to her family’s detriment. “When we die, our kids will be left with a property that is very difficult to sell,” she said

The exemptions enable the prince to preserve the financial value of his estate and brings in income as the tenants have to pay rent to him each year. The residents say they have been unable to find out why and how the heir to the throne was able to secure preferential treatment from the government

Diverse you may also like to read this.

giving-evidence.com/2020/07/16/royal-findings/

A massive study. Well worth a read.
We could not find any evidence that Royal patrons increase a charity’s revenue (there were no other outcomes that we could analyse), nor that Royalty increases generosity more broadly

I was heavily involved with a Charity for 10 years, I wouldn't care a fig whether a Royal thanked me, I was too busy doing the job.

If you are not a Royalist, Roussette, why don't you raise an eyebrow at Harry always referring to himself by his dukely title?

No, I'm not a Royalist. What do YOU think of Sarah Ferguson calling herself the Duchess of York and publishing books such as 'Dining with the Duchess' or 'Dieting with the Duchess'? (true)
Or her husband, currently in disgrace, but still Duke of York.

I don't care about Harry's titles one bit until the elephant in the room (PA) is addressed.
Like it or not, he will always be either grandson, son or brother of a reigning UK monarch.

I think it wasn't right what Sarah, Duchess of York did, and I remember many commentators saying that it wasn't right.

I don't get the last comment: ' ..like it or not, he will always be either grandson, son or brother of a UK reigning monarch'. I don't understand, are you saying you believe those of royal blood are special and Harry should be feted and listened to because his ancestors were pretty cool, important people?'

I think ordinary members of the public are well-placed to judge whether the use of a title looks like you are monetarising it for personal gain, or whether these guys are just using the name and title they were born with, because it's their name.

We ordinary observers can judge the way things are perceived, better than Harry and Meghan, arguably.

As somebody subject to government rules on use of royal privilege, I'm sure Prince Charles's management of his estate will be scrutinised and government will want to know it's acceptable. If not, people can complain to their local MP and then not vote for him again if he doesn't do enough to raise the issue.

I don't understand, are you saying you believe those of royal blood are special and Harry should be feted and listened to because his ancestors were pretty cool, important people?'

That's the entire point of the RF. If you don't believe that then he's just a thick bloke with a YouTube channel and lots of opinions.

I don't understand, are you saying you believe those of royal blood are special and Harry should be feted and listened to because his ancestors were pretty cool, important people?'

No. I am not saying that. I am saying what I said. Even if he wasn't called Duke of Sussex, he will be closely related to our Monarch is what I'm saying.

I am glad you agree on SF. There was no outcry on MN however on this despite her writing about how dreadful it all was when she was in the RF and her OW interview.

I'm sure Prince Charles's management of his estate will be scrutinised and government will want to know it's acceptable. If not, people can complain to their local MP and then not vote for him again if he doesn't do enough to raise the issue

This is hilarious. I don't want to out myself about my MP. I'm desperate to tell you about him but it's compromising my privacy too much. Needless to say he would wet himself with excitement at having anything to do with any member of royalty, and cosies up to PC at every opportunity.
No, the way the Duchy is run is not scrutinised enough, given PC and the Queen lobbies parliament to change laws or allow exemptions to benefit those Duchies.

Rousette if you aren’t a Royalist, you can’t surely believe that Harry’s Royal connections make him a special person that we should all listen to just because he’s the grandson of the Queen? You can’t believe he should use his title either. It doesn’t add up. You clearly have contempt for the family in general. He clearly has contempt for them. So why trade off the name and connections for his own profit?

I don't think @Roussette is passing any comment as to Harry's "specialness" or saying he should be listened to. She's just saying he is a member of the royal family. There have been a few posts claiming he's a fake royal etc but if being the grandson, son and brother of the monarch doesn't make you royal then I don't know what does!