BBC The Princes and the Press

[coniferforest]

Did anyone watch this last night? About William and Harry and their different approaches to the press. Last night was part 1 of 2.

@AnnunciataZ

I don't think it was entirely positive. The "straight outta Compton" headline and Rachel Johnson's article were there right at the start. But after they got back from their Australian tour there was definitely a change. All very strange.

Harry said himself there was a change after Australia. I wonder if the RF could see it wasn’t working even then. Harry’s furious face and reports of Meghan losing her temper behind the scenes. It seems madness to send them off on a tour like that so early on. It could have been assumed that M might be pregnant then when the planning was being done. It was too much too soon.

The Australian tour was planned during their engagement, when the Queen made them Commonwealth Ambassadors or whatever (hence the flowers on her veil). If they chose to start a family straight away that's fine, but that was done so in the knowledge that she may have been pregnant on the tour. If it was the pregnancy that was an issue, maybe the tour could have been deferred? Although she did well on the tour and seemed energetic and healthy.

I know what you mean about too much, too soon, though. Maybe hitting the ground running was a bit ambitious.

You think they would have learned fromDiana. Struggling to do all this engagements when just married and pregnant.

Was it not working @TheElvishQueen? I was in Australia at the time and the coverage was very positive, with both of them proving popular wherever they went. I only ever heard negative stories on MN, by one poster who claimed a relative of her worked on security detail during the tour and Meghan had been rude to him or something. Said poster also claimed Harry dropped in unannounced to use her toilet so I took the story with a pinch of salt!

I think the public face was very much that it was working. It was a very successful tour. However I wonder if there were things going on behind the scenes that the public weren’t privy to. Clearly M found it totally exhausting . H appears to have hated the Press. There must have been some reason why everything seemed to change from that point on.

I wonder if it was because H&M were a victim of their own success and the tour was the final straw? Maybe the other households were less than pleased with the attention the spare and his wife were getting over the heir and the future queen and that's why things started to sour then.

Could have been , but surely they want the tours to be a success? It would be strange if they had wanted it to fail.

@BonnesVacances

I wonder if it was because H&M were a victim of their own success and the tour was the final straw? Maybe the other households were less than pleased with the attention the spare and his wife were getting over the heir and the future queen and that's why things started to sour then.

That is what happened. The tour was a little too successful. In many ways it echoed what happened with Diana on her Australian tour. It was the beginning of her really overshadowing the future king. I suspect they palace wanted to snip this in the bud. It was around that time that Simon Case seems to have arrived and come up with the bright idea of smearing the Sussexes.

@TheElvishQueen you seem to recall things very differently from everyone else. Rebecca English was there and reported on the success of it, she recalled the time MM had to leave early due to morning sickness, but said she had been in good spirits throughout. She was there in the background, and MM never lost her temper with anyone - that is BG nonsense. RE would have reported on it if that happened, and she was keeping an eagle eye on MM.

And what is happening at the palace now?
On the heels of William being blasted for being a racist, new claims come out that it was Charles who made the racist remark regarding Archie. He is defending himself and consulting lawyers.

Just to prove that the reporters were correct that they brief against each other. Otherwise that may be coming out in tonight's episode?

H&M must be glad to come out of this vipers nest.

Is that Charles throwing his son under the bus?!

This is going to fester. Maybe Harry should say who said it and what was said. Then that person can explain if they chose to. Otherwise others are going to be accused.

Comparing Diana to Meghan is like comparing apples to oranges. Diana was a kid, only 20 years old, went from living one very protected and very privileged life to another.

Rebecca English was there and did comment on what she witnessed, , in fairness to Meghan, it would take nerves of steel to remain stoic in situations like that during early pregnancy, I wonder if they were 'forced' to do that tour.

"On the same trip, during a Fiji market tour, Meghan was seen by several reporters raging at an aide. Daily Mail royal correspondent Rebecca English said she witnessed the duchess "turn and 'hiss' at a member of her entourage, clearly incandescent with rage about something, and demand to leave".

@Maireas

This is going to fester. Maybe Harry should say who said it and what was said. Then that person can explain if they chose to. Otherwise others are going to be accused.

The person who they are alluding to, must know it is them, so why don't they come out and admit they did say something.

Despite H & M being the ones to put it out there, I don't think they necessarily have to be the ones to disclose who said it.

I wonder if maybe that is what will be discussed in tonights episode.

Yes, but they may not know it's them, iyswim? Several people could have talked about the appearance of any future children?
If that person knows it's them, they should say something, but it may not be that clear or simple.

@artquejtion I am not comparing MM and Diana, I am taking about the success of the tour - which comprised also of Harry. Not too sure what Diana's age has anything to do with anything.

That hissing story came out in March this year, when the bullying allegations came out before the Oprah interview. Before that no one saw this. Rebecca was on Chris Ship podcast right after the tour, and they were discussing the behind the scenes, and she never saw this hissing. Clearly she was told the brief and someone 'jogged' her memory.

@Roussette

Is that Charles throwing his son under the bus?!

Looks like some of the recollections have been found.

@Roussette

Is that Charles throwing his son under the bus?!

What does it say in the article, Roussette? Is Charles blaming William?

Well, it was not the queen or Philippe. If it was not Charles, the suspect pool is getting smaller.

@Maireas

This is going to fester. Maybe Harry should say who said it and what was said. Then that person can explain if they chose to. Otherwise others are going to be accused.

I suspect Harry will sing when the price is right.

Personally speaking, if I was Kate and William I would be absolutely fine with H&M being a popular couple as it would take the pressure, focus and some of the workload off me and my young family.

Maybe H&M wanted to use that tour as leverage for the half in half out option? When they couldn’t do that it all went a bit sour?

As for the ‘who dunnit’ it’s gone on so long now I’m a bit meh about the whole thing, it would have been much better to say who it was at the time.

I hope he does sing in his book.

But I suspect he won't because the person is probably too hight up, and may one day head the CW.

People are surprisingly forgiving if you just admit your mistake, and learn from it, by say going to an enlightenment course. I think that is why the palace will not come out with an explanation, they know who it is. A pity they had to submit such a disrespectful statement, it would not wash if the queen was not there.

Maybe H&M wanted to use that tour as leverage for the half in half out option? When they couldn’t do that it all went a bit sour?

Who said that option came in during or before the tour? My understanding was that it came to them when the lies about MM were getting relentless.

Maybe W&K were initially fine with H&M being more popular, but I doubt the palace was keen. It's not the order of how things should be, incase people get the idea that it should be H&M on the crown. While that was never going to happen, it surely would not do for morale to be ruled by a 'less than' , while looking over what seems like the greener grass next door.

Who said that option came in during or before the tour? My understanding was that it came to them when the lies about MM were getting relentless.

I don’t know I’m fuzzy on timelines now.

I do wonder if PH & MM had got what they ideally wanted for themselves would the ‘conversation’ about Archie’s skin colour ever of been relayed to MM/made public?

II think the culmination of everything led to the interview.

The palace were clearly working against them too much at his point. Briefing against them, then preventing them from correcting stories. Then insisting that they stay under all that

When they left the briefings were not stopping, and H&M were labeled as 'betraying the crown'. I think that is why they had to do the interview to explain what took place.