Reaction to the Harry & Meghan 'doc' abroad - and how it undermines their claims about the British media and public

[susan12345678]

Harry and Meghan continually insist that the British media is responsible for the negative way they are perceived by the UK public. Out of curiosity, I had a very quick look at coverage of their 'documentary' in 3 other countries (France, Germany and Australia). Interesting to note that almost all of the comments on the articles I read were very negative and that people were saying exactly the same sorts of things that people in the UK are saying, namely, that they are monetizing their links to the RF at the expense of Harry's family, that they disrespected HMQ, that they shouldn't be using titles (or that these should be removed), that they are self-obsessed and narcissistic in the way they come across, etc etc.

Germany:

www.spiegel.de/panorama/harry-und-meghan-in-einer-netflix-doku-hier-hat-wohl-noch-jemand-ein-huehnchen-zu-rupfen-a-58d248ff-3702-4ebd-aebf-26797ad1a60b#kommentare

Example of one of the most popular comments:

"You don't have to be a fan of the royals, but the way Meghan makes fun of her first meeting with the Queen is deeply revealing. If the "medieval theater" is so repugnant to them, they could have opted for a private life before the wedding. But then the royal lifestyle and public attention would be gone."

www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/harry-und-meghan-das-sind-die-reaktionen-auf-die-netflix-doku-18520511.html

A popular comment:

"Harry has actually done his brother William a huge favor in making this Netflix series. Finally, the whole world knows what the Sussexes are really like. At last we can see exactly what William and Kate have had to put up with."

France:

madame.lefigaro.fr/celebrites/actu-people/harry-meghan-le-premier-episode-mievre-et-bien-lisse-du-documentaire-netflix-20221208

Comments aren't up/downrated but all comments published were negative, example:

"They are immature, ungrateful and selfish... neither of them shine with intelligence.... Apparently mediocrity sells now."

Australia:

www.smh.com.au/world/europe/prince-harry-takes-swipe-at-william-charles-in-netflix-documentary-20221208-p5c4xp.html

Popular comment:

"Harry says he no longer wants to be a Royal but continues to profit off his Royal life and connections. He complains about the paparazzi and his loss of privacy yet he uses the media to get money via a tell all doco and book trading away his, and other royals’, privacy for cash.
If he doesn’t want to be a Royal, then more power to him. But stop making your living off complaining about being a Royal. Go get a job as a builders labourer or rejoin the army and serve your country again. I think most people are sick of the hypocrisy going on here. Be a Royal and live the hard life that that must be or be a nobody and shut up about it."

Harry, Meghan and their fans really need to accept that the negativity they attract is a consequence of their behavior - not the media, and certainly not racism.

The vast majority of The NY Times comments that I just read are in support of H&M. They are also quite scathing of the British popular press.

Really interesting thread, thanks for posting!

To a PP asking ‘what’s left?’ Well, they’ll get some mileage out of ‘their truth’ regarding the Queen’s funeral; they’ll be grumpy Meghan wasn’t allowed to go up to Balmoral and Harry will no doubt have experienced some perceived slights. But after that? They’ll have nothing new.

The vast majority of The NY Times comments that I just read are in support of H&M. They are also quite scathing of the British popular press

That's completely false, why lie? Anyone reading can click on the link above and see this for themselves. There are over 500 comments on that article, most are critical of H&M.

The most recommended comment with over 500 likes:

"When I gather with family and share private moments, I don’t expect to read about those moments later. Harry and Meghan have legitimate issues with an intrusive press, but the solution to that is “Don’t engage.” When it comes to family, absent abuse, don’t share what other members of your family consider private. William and Kate have a job to do on behalf of the British people. Harry resigned from his job, but still wants the title. He had a very traumatic childhood and I empathize, but it doesn’t make sense that he and his wife should retain perks for public facing, often boring jobs they don’t want to do. It’s fine to leave the family business. But then leave it.
Don’t poison it for the people who need to or have decided to stay."

I'm no fan of the DM, but the latter are most certainly not " throwing their toys out of the cot" they are absolutely revelling in it! It's generating so much clickbait and giving them a ton of ammunition! They're loving it!

Did you click the same link that I did? Scathing of H&M more like...

No mention of it in Spain at all

The response worldwide continues to be unrelentingly negative. People everywhere hold them in complete contempt. Not much of a basis for a business model.

www.focus.de/kultur/royals/koenig-charles-offizielle-kroenung-prinz-harry-und-herzogin-meghan-sollen-nicht-eingeladen-sein_id_180447152.html

www.theage.com.au/world/europe/harry-implies-royals-lied-to-protect-prince-william-in-latest-netflix-trailer-20221213-p5c5tm.html

A couple of examples - look at the comments

I gave up my NY Times subscription over their coverage of the Queen’s death. Their subscription lady put it down to editorial differences!
The coverage of the award the Sussexes received last week was so biased.

It’s not even mentioned where I live and I imagine it will be the same throughout the region.

They are not popular in Australia, despite their claims that the Australian tour was a huge success. I think most people here have heard about the tea throwing incident and her other abhorrent behaviour to the wife of the GG etc. And her antics with Jessica Mulroney on the tour.

.

They are not popular in Australia, despite their claims that the Australian tour was a huge success

They are not popular anywhere, despite the paid PR posts on Mumsnet insisting they are a huge success. I feel quite embarrassed for them

Updating this with more recent articles from the international media

www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/world/europe/prince-harry-william-meghan-netflix.html

The 'most liked' responses on the NYTimes article are all negative with 1000+ likes

www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien/harry-und-meghan-teilen-bei-netflix-gegen-die-windsors-aus-18537652.html

Very negative comments on this FAZ report from Germany

On the other hand, Jeremy Clarkson's article has been roundly criticised by the Melb Age

www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/jeremy-clarkson-s-attack-on-meghan-proves-the-royal-couple-right-about-the-media-20221219-p5c7dz.html?dicbo=v2-7c8748bde8fd60ecd6b147086a58c209

The more they talk and promote themselves, the more people can see that what they say makes no sense. If you leave the UK then whine about what a terrible institution the RF is, you have no right to complain about not being included and bleat about titles.

If you leave the UK then whine about what a terrible institution the RF is, you have no right to complain about not being included and bleat about titles.

If you read the comments on the FAZ, even the Germans are saying that

Is this taken from the Express article about foreign press?
I have lived in a number of different countries and will ask friends from there what the media are really saying.
By the way when I have asked in the past the answer has been that the media don't cover it, except for big events like the death of the Queen.

They're not commented on where I live. Neither are they commented on much at regionally. The press here don’t really go in for gossip but the late queen was very well respected and highly thought of.

They are off the scale. They lie and fantasise and behave in a despicable way. I haven’t got the words, actually, to describe how much I hate them. They are pathetic and harmful.

Wow insightful posts!
Looks like the hypocrisy is very obvious across the globe

People in most of those countries you have posted articles from do not care about Harry and Meghan or the British Royal Family one bit. It would be like British people commenting on an article about the Spanish Royal Family. Most people do not care, the tiny number of people who do care will comment.

Do Netflix do viewing figures broken down by country? I got the impression they'd created quite a lot of interest abroad what with Oprah coming out of retirement to interview them but people may not talk about them with each other in public the way many do here. Or maybe you're right and the interest is minimal.

To those asking what will they do next it's just been announced that Meghan is to release an autobiography.

I noticed a change after the Netflix documentary in The Netherlands. It was on a news radio station I have on my alarm. Instead of just reporting the story, they presenters commented basically that they've heard H&M but we're getting fed up of them now - how many times can they tell the same story. I noticed comments on articles being quite critical too.

The thing is by doing Oprah then Netflix they've opens themselves up to international viewers. And therefore international criticism. They can play on the fact that people don't understand things like being in the RF isn't like a Hallmark Christmas movie. But when all they're doing is trading on being part of an institution they apparently hate, then I think it's even more puzzling to an intl audience. And it's also not focussed on Meghan. There's a lot of criticism for Harry for these public attacks on his own family.

I've seen it said in Dutch comments, more than once, that if Harry was the eldest son, he'd be completely fine with the RF. Those sorts of comments were not appearing much before the Netflix series.

Oh dear God. I couldn't stand them, but then had some sympathy after Netflix. But they need to now just stop.