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.

@longwayoff Thanks, I watched it last night! I never realised quite what a sleaze he was! Next part tonight, 3 episodes.

Here's the NY Post:

nypost.com/2023/01/02/prince-harry-wants-to-get-back-his-dad-and-brother/

One of the top comments:

"She likely has him convinced that if he helps her destroy the Monarchy he can have a Family and not an Institution…..since if the monarchy falls there will be no Institution. Frankly, Harry belongs in an institution for being so stupid and gullible."

The Washington Post:

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/03/prince-harry-itv-cbs-interview-meghan/

Critical comments again.

Blimey the New York Times article really is scathing!

In Australia Meghan and Harry had good press. We loved them - saw no racial attacks etc. Coverage is mixed now. People are reacting that they are too precious. They had the best of everything. Why couldn't they continue working for their charities like the Queen? They come across as ungrateful. People accepted that it was their choice and that choice was met with disbelief that the well trained Harry would desert his family and his country. Australians I speak to are sick of the attention grabbing and the back stabbing by Harry and Meghan. We know that they are free to lead their own lives but we are disappointed that they left. The strange way Meghan treats family is not acceptable nor understood here. Much respect has been lost.

Yes there’s probably overlap between media here and elsewhere as your op shows, with equally negative comments

It’s funny reading the comment that ‘she probably had this planned from day one’. My dh - who doesn’t care about the RF - said when they got married that she wouldn’t last because she’s an American actress who doesn’t understand the tradition behind the RF. Btw he is from the Middle East and I know from talking to friends and family there that H and M are not popular.

Harry keeps moaning about the British press, but the media (and public) worldwide are singing from the same hymn sheet. Americans are fed up with him. The NY Times was once supportive, but the reactions there now are almost universally critical.

www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/books/prince-harry-book-royal-family.html

Three of the most popular reader comments:

"Enough with this superficial couple who think that they are interesting just because the husband inherited a Trust Fund and uses it to travel in private jets and live in a tacky Californian palace that could house a dozen families. They have not achieved anything remarkable in their lives. All they do is spend his family money and show off. They are both boring and unremarkable."

and another:

"How is Harry different from the British press he decries --- publishing dirt of the royal family to make money?"

and another:

Why don’t they relinquish their titles? They are living in America. We do not have a monarchy. We do not have landed gentry and hereditary entitlements. These perks of royalty do not exist here. They claim to want a “family not an institution.” If so, its fully within their power to have it. I guess without the titles they would have had nothing to sell . It gives new meaning to having your cake and eating it too.

Nah, that’s really not the general response in Australia. Most people aren’t that interested.

My twitter feed, mostly political commentators, has no Harry and Meghan content on it, except for one British journo who tweeted the full section on the Afganistan stuff. And in context it was not like the British tabloids presented it as being.

I think it may depend on what media you consume.