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The royal family

Discussing the things we liked about Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary series

1000 replies

MrsMaxDeWinter · 08/12/2022 14:22

There are so many threads on things posters hated about Harry and Meghan, the Netflix series, and fair play to those posters, so I thought I would have a go at stating a thread discussing some of the things that posters liked about the series.

I'll start.

I liked that this was supposed to be this bomb detonation, but has actually been a measured, warm, and loving look at H and M's relationship, and the pressures that the press put on them, and also on other royals. I genuinely did not notice anything incendiary. Maybe that is still to come.

I enjoyed the thoughtful insights shared on the invisible contract, especially, as Harry says, having to perform for a press that you know has said hurtful things about people you love.

I loved the warm memories of Sandringham, and meeting the Queen. And Meghan's memories of growing up. I think it was a wise, though sad, that they did not include Thomas. I really loved hearing Doria: my favourite bit is when a journalist offered her money, for an interview about Meghan and she said, "That's my child!"

I also learned for the first time about Meghan's relationship with her sister Samantha's daughter Ashleigh. I had no idea that she had been raised by her grandparents who adopted her, or that she had such a warm and caring relationship with Meghan. Along with Doria's, that was my favourite interview.

I enjoyed hearing from her childhood friends, as it is often said here that she had no friends who came to the wedding etc, just celebrities. They seem a tight nit grip who have been here fr years, and I am glad she has them.

I was gobsmacked that she needed security in Toronto after the relationship was announced.

I also thought the discussion on racism, in its wider context of colonialism and imperialism, was very well done, but then again it was led by David Olusoga and Afua Hirsch, who are always great, and I love their writing.

Most of all I love that Harry confronted head on the Nazi uniform debacle, and what he learned from it. And I loved, loved, loved, the segment on his life in Lesotho where they gave him the Sesotho name, "Mahale". A wonderful name.

“It was one of the biggest mistakes of my life,” Harry said. “I felt so ashamed afterwards. All I wanted to do was make it right. I sat down and spoke to the chief rabbi in London, which had a profound effect on me. I went to Berlin and spoke to a Holocaust survivor. I could have just ignored it and made the same mistakes over again in my life. But I learned from that.”

I predicted on another thread that Harry would address this and other episodes head on in his book. I was scoffed roundly for this. I expect him to say more in is book, and I am happy to be proved right.

If only for this, I am very glad they did this.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Ohnonevermind · 16/12/2022 19:38

@MarshaMelrose

Wasn’t it a lucky coincidence that Omid Scobie forgot too so they’d gotten their story straight for the court.

jack McCoy would call that a conspiracy, what would Mitch McDeere say too 😀

Talia99 · 16/12/2022 19:41

MarshaMelrose · 16/12/2022 19:32

Exactly. She apologised for forgetting the emails that caused her to mislead the court into believing that she had not cooperated over the book. Maybe she had no wish to mislead the court but she did.

I mean if you want to stick to your argument that she apologised for forgetting some emails. Go ahead. But why would the court care about that? The only reason they cared was because by doing so she misled the court.

And just to add when Knauf gave his witness statement with the evidence that she'd lied, her legal team did not want him to give it. So her lawyer, Jenny Aia, is only interested in lies being exposed if they're not Meghan's lies.

I agree with your assessment of Jason K’s evidence which is why it’s strange he told Netflix (written statement displayed in full in documentary) that both the Mail’s and the Duchess’ legal team asked him to give evidence (he used her title in the statement) and Megan’s lawyers then made a statement to Netflix that they hadn’t done anything of the sort.

If Meghan did lie to the court (as opposed to forgetting), it was a stupid lie since whether or not she cooperated with Finding Freedom was said by the Judge to be irrelevant to her case. I like Meghan but even those people who loathe her seem to do so on the basis she is a clever, calculating woman. Nobody on either side of the debate seems to think she is stupid.

PrincessofWellies · 16/12/2022 19:48

Talia99 · 16/12/2022 17:58

I’m not ignoring it. I already noted the Judge thought it was irrelevant and that hasn’t changed.

If there is a case where her credibility is an issue in the future, I’m sure the opposing lawyers will bring it up. If she and Harry continue to only sue when they are clearly legally in the right (as in the Mail case), I’m equally sure the Judge in any future cases will find it to be equally irrelevant as the Judge in this case.

The lies were irrelevant only because it was a summary judgment with the breach of copyright being straightforward. Had her evidence been material to the case, the lies to the court would have been relevant and it would have been considered as to how believable her statements were. Imo she would not make a credible witness from her performance on mainstream media to date. I'm sure she will come unstuck at some point when credibility is relevant.

onlylarkin · 16/12/2022 19:48

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 18:45

I am appalled that Charles and William would be a party to leaking stories about Harry and Meghan to the gutter press. They should have been n the phone to these editors telling them to back off - not fuelling the fire. They are exposed for the people they are - it's not a good look.

There is so much that has not been a good look for a while.

This is shining a big bright light on, not only the royal family, but the UK as a whole. Unfortunately, so many people get offended if anyone mentions what a bad look it really is. Which means that the opportunity to have a discussion and make change will be lost.

Harry looks so happy in those photos and videos.

One thing that was interesting for me is them saying they were willing to give up their titles. But we know they didn't. I would love to know what happened between them offering their titles back and now?

Lampzade · 16/12/2022 19:53

Rhondaa · 16/12/2022 17:10

'Tyler Perry being Lili's godfather, but saying, I hope we don't have to do the christening with THEM. I found that very funny.'

And yet imagine how inappropriate it would have been if anyone had said the same about not attending anything that Perry was.

The double standards surrounding the Sussexes and their pals is the only thing that is 'very funny' about the whole circus.

Why would it be inappropriate?

Roussette · 16/12/2022 19:59

onlylarkin · 16/12/2022 19:48

There is so much that has not been a good look for a while.

This is shining a big bright light on, not only the royal family, but the UK as a whole. Unfortunately, so many people get offended if anyone mentions what a bad look it really is. Which means that the opportunity to have a discussion and make change will be lost.

Harry looks so happy in those photos and videos.

One thing that was interesting for me is them saying they were willing to give up their titles. But we know they didn't. I would love to know what happened between them offering their titles back and now?

That's interesting I will admit, despite watching it all, I didn't hear the bit about giving up titles, p'rhaps I was making a cuppa at the time Grin

However this I agree with.. "Harry looks so happy in those photos and videos"

All this... he looks haunted, he hasn't smiled since they met, he is miserable because she's controlling him... to me.. is nonsense.

I know we don't see W&K in the same way but to me, Harry looks at ease and happy he's found a life outside the royal family. I hope it works out for them, I think it will

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 20:01

This is shining a big bright light on, not only the royal family, but the UK as a whole. Unfortunately, so many people get offended if anyone mentions what a bad look it really is. Which means that the opportunity to have a discussion and make change will be lost

Yes it's so bad and so much denial going on and enabling in the UK. Feel ashamed of the RF and the Press carrying on the way they do - inciting hate and outrage towards Harry and Meghan (to sell papers) like it's perfectly acceptable.

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 20:06

Harry looks so happy in those photos and videos

Yes he does and loves his family unit.

Sigma33 · 16/12/2022 20:07

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 20:01

This is shining a big bright light on, not only the royal family, but the UK as a whole. Unfortunately, so many people get offended if anyone mentions what a bad look it really is. Which means that the opportunity to have a discussion and make change will be lost

Yes it's so bad and so much denial going on and enabling in the UK. Feel ashamed of the RF and the Press carrying on the way they do - inciting hate and outrage towards Harry and Meghan (to sell papers) like it's perfectly acceptable.

Of course it's not acceptable. But that doesn't give them a free pass to say whatever they want without scrutiny either.

Lampzade · 16/12/2022 20:10

Agree that Harry looks happy and content.

MarshaMelrose · 16/12/2022 20:36

I agree with your assessment of Jason K’s evidence which is why it’s strange he told Netflix (written statement displayed in full in documentary) that both the Mail’s and the Duchess’ legal team asked him to give evidence (he used her title in the statement) and Megan’s lawyers then made a statement to Netflix that they hadn’t done anything of the sort.

Jenny Afia says that she did not ask JK to give evidence. But when she was informed about the lie/misleading, she'd be duty bound to disclose it to the court. Therefore, she'd surely have to have him give evidence. Otherwise how does it get authenticated? And, of course, once they've submitted it to the court, the MoS is going to cross examine him to get all the other details.
There's no way JA would try to suppress his evidence.
Knauf had legal representation. He didn't just rock up at the court with an envelope of emails and stick up his hand from the back of the courtroom to ask if he could say something. His lawyer will have communicated his evidence to all the other parties beforehand.

Glindara · 16/12/2022 20:50

Aspiringmatriarch · 16/12/2022 19:13

They wanted half in half out - when that wasn’t facilitated they left and created a narrative.

Why is it so difficult for you to just listen to what they've said? Or are you one of the people who disbelieves everything? If you watch the documentary, they talk about the whole situation, what led up to it, what was leaked, the stonewalling and delaying, and the different options that were discussed at the time. What you're saying is just false.

I have not said anything false.

PH said he there were 5 options on the table ranging from fully in to fully out - he chose option 3 half in half out.

When he turned up at the meeting this wasn’t now available.

He wanted half in half out - they repeated this in the OW interview.

So they didn’t choose to leave a toxic family. They wanted to be serve it.

They didn’t get that option so they created a revisionist narrative.

Rhondaa · 16/12/2022 20:51

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 20:06

Harry looks so happy in those photos and videos

Yes he does and loves his family unit.

Yet behind the glossy posed snaps he sounds like a writhing mass of resentment, bitterness and anxiety to me.

He looks like a man who is trying so very hard to convince everyone he is in charge, no he has not been exploited and manipulated by his US allies, he is living his best life ever. Yet he can't quite let the past go can he. Let's hope his trashy next tell all will finally put an end to his non stop oversharing.

Sigma33 · 16/12/2022 20:54

I don't understand why he couldn't put their proposal in writing because it might be leaked?

How could it damage them if leaked, unless it contained something unrealistic and entitled?

Of course, it might be selectively leaked to create a false narrative, but then surely the easiest way to counter that would have been to release the full document?

Morestrangethings · 16/12/2022 20:57

Sigma33 · 16/12/2022 20:07

Of course it's not acceptable. But that doesn't give them a free pass to say whatever they want without scrutiny either.

Everything they say and do is scrutinised, and some fault or imagined fault or made up fault is found. That is abuse.

Rhondaa · 16/12/2022 21:02

'Everything they say and do is scrutinised, and some fault or imagined fault or made up fault is found. That is abuse.'

You're right, everything the Royal family have said or done has been scrutinised by the Sussexes and some fault or imagined fault has been found. Mind, I think it's harsh for you to call it abuse I think the Sussexes are just egotistical, deluded and absolutely misguided.

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 21:04

So they didn’t choose to leave a toxic family. They wanted to be serve it

Until the RF showed their true colours then Harry wanted out. No one wants to believe their family is toxic but Harry obviously got to that point of realization.

onlylarkin · 16/12/2022 21:06

So many family estrangements happen when children grow up and realize that their family is not what they thought it was.

Aspiringmatriarch · 16/12/2022 21:09

Rhondaa · 16/12/2022 21:02

'Everything they say and do is scrutinised, and some fault or imagined fault or made up fault is found. That is abuse.'

You're right, everything the Royal family have said or done has been scrutinised by the Sussexes and some fault or imagined fault has been found. Mind, I think it's harsh for you to call it abuse I think the Sussexes are just egotistical, deluded and absolutely misguided.

How much scrutinising do you have to do when there are journalists coming out and saying all the negative stories about Harry and Meghan were coming from Kensington Palace. Anyone can figure out that that is horrendous.

Glindara · 16/12/2022 21:14

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 21:04

So they didn’t choose to leave a toxic family. They wanted to be serve it

Until the RF showed their true colours then Harry wanted out. No one wants to believe their family is toxic but Harry obviously got to that point of realization.

So he was all up for serving the RF - half in half out - until that day in Jan 2020 in Sandringham when his preferred option wasn’t facilitated and all of a sudden he realised like a lightning bolt they were toxic and he had to flee……!?!?!

Sigma33 · 16/12/2022 21:16

Morestrangethings · 16/12/2022 20:57

Everything they say and do is scrutinised, and some fault or imagined fault or made up fault is found. That is abuse.

They don't have to play the game. But yes, if they choose to make public statements the public are entitled to scrutinise them and not accept them as the definitive truth. Just as the public is entitled to scrutinise e.g Andrew's claims and not accept them as the definitive truth

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 21:27

So he was all up for serving the RF - half in half out - until that day in Jan 2020 in Sandringham when his preferred option wasn’t facilitated and all of a sudden he realised like a lightning bolt they were toxic and he had to flee

Did he reach a crisis point in Sandringham? Did it manifest as a betrayal - cruel, demanding, gaslighting, punishing, cold, callous, unfeeling, uncaring, triangulating and not having his back. Something along those lines and enough was enough?

Glindara · 16/12/2022 21:46

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 21:27

So he was all up for serving the RF - half in half out - until that day in Jan 2020 in Sandringham when his preferred option wasn’t facilitated and all of a sudden he realised like a lightning bolt they were toxic and he had to flee

Did he reach a crisis point in Sandringham? Did it manifest as a betrayal - cruel, demanding, gaslighting, punishing, cold, callous, unfeeling, uncaring, triangulating and not having his back. Something along those lines and enough was enough?

They wanted to serve this family - PH and MM repeated that in the OW interview and in this doc series - they wanted half in half out ….. and then according to you in one moment in one meeting they realised that in fact it was a betrayal - cruel, demanding, gaslighting, punishing, cold, callous, unfeeling, uncaring, triangulating and not having his back. Something along those lines and enough was enough?

And they had to flee this instantly toxic family - nah doesn’t add up.

They wanted to dedicate themselves to the service of the RF - why would anyone want to dedicate themselves to a toxic family?

Quirkyme · 16/12/2022 21:47

onlylarkin · 16/12/2022 21:06

So many family estrangements happen when children grow up and realize that their family is not what they thought it was.

THIS.

Inkanta · 16/12/2022 21:49

They wanted to dedicate themselves to the service of the RF - why would anyone want to dedicate themselves to a toxic family?

Fear, Guilt, Obligation. He may have seen enough toxicity before Sandringham.

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