Harry and Megan: changed my mind after episode 5

[Lotzana]

I was never a massive H&M hater but I wasn't keen on how they kept going on about their experiences and being constant victims. Why not just let it go?

However after episode 5 where they explain the events around their decision to leave, I find myself feeling really bad for them and surprised at how different it was to the narrative we were fed in the press.

If it's all true what they say then it's appalling how they were treated and Im not surprised they want to set record straight.

I know many will say it's not all true and they're lying/ exaggerating but I'm not inclined to believe these royal secretaries/ William / Charles are all saints while H&M are the big villains either.

We only see a very polished version of the royals in public and everything is well controlled and orchestrated. Who's to know what it's really like behind the facade?

Yabu - can't stand H&M regardless of what they claim in the documentary

Yanbu - documentary made me rethink my view of them too and question narrative in press

@DuchessDandelion I never saw that, or Keeping up with the Kardashians for that matter, but I imagine it is a bit like both of those. Very contrived.

I think the Obamas have perfected their media presence. They have a bit of the “never complain never explain” mantra going. They could bitch about many things, respond to every racist and untrue story about them, but they don’t and it works. Michelles treatment in the media around the world when Barrack was in office was far more racist, constant and slanted than what Harry and Megan dealt with and they’ve come out on top. They keep the focus on their objectives and narrative. They’re very smart and have an incredible team. It doesn’t stop some outlets from generating fake negative articles about them. But by going “grey rock” on them it does take the momentum away.

The Obamas seem so positive and fun and the Sussexes seem so negative and dull. Michelle's "when they go low we go high" is so true and if they're getting revenge its by living well. If there was a negative story in the press about the Obamas they seem to have the attitude to not let it effect them and like you said go grey rock on the story. By amplifying the negativity you give it power and give the ones who say bad things a platform higher than the ones who don't.

Agreed. The Obamas have mastered their media presence.

But I think different power dynamics impacted Meghan and Harry that got them down. The Obamas were not marrying into royalty with centuries of establishment history. American press is not the British press.

The Obamas were also in the highest office, so they were not likely to be “sacrificed” by their own side. Harry suggests that his own side were willing to sacrifice him to protect those in higher office than him and Meghan.

I think H&M both have serious MH problems and as parents would do better to focus on overcoming those than spewing venom at the RF.

I think the American press is even worse. Obama had a decade (primary, election and 2 terms of a presidency) and 24 hour news channels picking apart everything about him and Michelle. Fox News platformed Trump constantly about the Obama birther nonsense, that wasn't even disguised racism it was overt

Yeah I'm minded to believe that - it's not just her pose and beauty but it is how passionate and articulate she is and when with crowds seem like Diana to connect strongly with people. Whereas the few times Kate speaks it is laboured and has a feel of going through the motions. One thing "The Firm" ,which is what they self-identify as, cannot have is having a glamorous superstar couple eclipsing the chosen ones. All this line of man-eating evil Meghan corrupting our much loved Prince Harry is just that - bullshit. It's the Mail and other tabloids that are really evil - today's has acres of H&M stories whilst Britain goes to the dogs.

It's telling that they keep Kate for the most part away from lengthy interviews as this one is borderline excruciating - compare and contrast.

They are awesome!

Harry is so wet, he needs a mop to follow him everywhere!

Institutional racism.

Structural racism.

Barack Obama understands this which is why he says he is black not mixed race. Kamala Harris on the other hand makes it very clear she is mixed ethnicity due to her parents individual heritages.

Meghan didn't see her race made a difference until the British media went after her. She also had no understanding of how racism differs in the UK from the US. Also unlike the ex-president and vice president, her racial heritage didn't matter and have a large impact in where she grew up, lived and worked in the US.

Oh it is very noticeable that sending all white Royal couples to tour Commonwealth countries full of black and brown people hasn't been going well. The RF should be grateful Harry married an American and not someone with non-white heritage from a Commonwealth country.

So a MAN who inherited millions is selling his whole way of life for 100m,
Just how much would you expect your child to accept to turn on you.
After all after the movie, the book and the podcast what is left for them to sell, as The Devil doesn't actually offer cash for your soul.

Non of this surprised me, the racism and the shit stiring articles in trash tabloids. I’m glad H&M have voiced their experiences. If anyone needs to shut up, it’s the very boring daily Mail journalists who should knuckle down and do proper journalism void of speculation, guff and hate.

I changed my mind about the couple after the first three episodes. I don't read a daily paper and hadn't seen a lot of the disgusting headlines. All Royal women have been put through this. However the racism is disgusting. I shall never buy the daily mail again. The vast majority of stories written by white women. How the hell can they live with their selves? (Rachel 'The Lady' Johnson I am looking at you). Prior to the programme I didn't believe that Meghan hadn't been aware of the protocol and expectations of the 'firm'. The job is a poison challace. Well documented and a few said no including to KC. I confess I have met a large number of the RF and do not believe they are racist. Far from it. All actors research a role and it was niave of Megan not to know anything about duties, clothing, curtseying etc. That I don't buy.
However I think without the Queen we are lacking the glue that this fractured family needs. I would hope that this is the end of documentries unless they are solely highlighting their charities. They have said their piece.

People have such short memories. They have lied and lied and lied and this can be easily proven from the stuff they've put out about themselves. They've also put out really damaging and hurtful content as the oldest members of their family were in very poor health or dying, clearly causing considerable distress at the worst possible time. How can you be any more unkind? Furthermore there are credible bullying allegations against them from a named source with the people thought to have been the targets also named in the press. None of these people have come forward to say the allegations aren't true which I think they'd be able to do despite their contracts and confidentiality clauses. I struggle to understand how people can be swayed by an extended puff piece given we know so much about how awful their behaviour's been in the past. There are also further allegations of bullying behaviour by Meghan in several books written by credible biographers and historians. To me it seems really obvious that the real issue is that Meghan is a bully and Harry has either also been one too or has become one since getting together with Meghan. They've dressed up the negative press they've got as racism and family jealousy and I'm not saying that those claims are completely unfounded but really, the problem all along has been their poor treatment of other people.

faced. I guess they wanted the RF to call out the media, but its a sticky situation as then the RF would end up at war with the press etc.

the RF needs the press, they become irrelevant if the press doesn’t make reports about them. No reports in the press and people wonder what they are paying for, that’s how it’s all tied up.

Queen Vic for bad press for hiding away during mourning. Actually had very low ratings by public. This scares the RF as they need to be popular to survive

Only watched episodes 1-3 so far but I was struck by what an asset she would have been to the RF & how she could have made it more relevant to many in Britain & the commonwealth.

I realise after watching that documentary what a loss they are to the Royal Family.
There was this opportunity to modernise the Royal Family and to drag it into the twenty first century, but petty jealousies and the rigidity of tradition prevented this.

^^ This

Also @Bri5 So agree with your last post. Also @ivykaty44 you've hit the nail on the head there

They never intended to be an asset to the royal family, the Oprah discussions started before the wedding, they were videoing from the start

and the series is peppered with mistruths and half truths.

for example they didn’t get that guys house as he just reached out out the goodness of his heart years before. He was the one who made Oprah a star, they lived In his house as part of rhe deal as they were doing rhe interview

or, saying their security was being pulled was a half truth. It was the met that was being pulled as they lived in Canada. And it was not acceptable for the British tax payer to fund British police officers to live there and protect them, so the Canadian government was providing rhe security, when the Canadians kicked off, the palace stated there was also private security in place which Charles was paying for and would continue to do so.

harry and Meghan are multi multi millionaires, there was already private security, as well as government, they had both, just both governments said as you’re private citizens it should be private security only, and Charles said he would continue to pay, they were never being left unsecured and even if they were they could more than have afforded to take over the contract

the whole thing was twisted to illicit sympathy ,it didn’t present the full truth , but what they wanted people to know. Saying we lived in that guys house as we agreed to do Oprah or we still had security , doesn’t illicit the same response.

harry is still arguing with the British government he wants met security for goodness sake.

I'm watching and at episode 5. How come they have so many people photos at home. It's weird that the moving photos, supposedly candid photos, are all pro photographer. Almost like it has always been planned to do exactly what they're doing now.

Yeah, before she went in. Like, right before she went in. You would think someone would have explained it to her long before she was two seconds away from meeting the Queen.

Where did you get the idea that Tyler Perry made Oprah a star from? A copy and paste is it?
She was being nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Globes when Tyler Perry was still 16 and in school.

I was neutral about them too but it's hard not to look at headlines like "Princess Pushy" all the time and not be influenced.

After the documentary I felt very sorry for them. I believe them (though I agree the documentary is biased and missing a lot) and I hope they're happier now.

Yes to this. Poshness, loyalty and preferably a forces background is what the RF respect. Not people who have had to make their own way in the world.

@Roussette
unfortunately people in this country are unaware of how the MSM really operate. Its one of the reasons that poor people vote Tory, they believe the constant propaganda I was neutral about them too but it's hard not to look at headlines like "Princess Pushy" all the time and not be influenced. this is the broken record and it works - keep being told in headlines someone is a negative and people will believe it eventually

the media on politics and royal family are destroying peoples lives

the royal family will sacrifice one or two members to keep the "firm" going as a whole and in any case Prince Harry is unpopular

they've really done a number on very many people

especially the Daily Fail - which has 80% of the complaints of the newspapers in the UK

Its not news, its churned out twaddle as its cheap and makes money

so glad that someone up thread deleted the app

I agree with this