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

I watched it expecting (from the little I had heard) to find them spoiled and portraying themselves as victims. I didn’t get any sense of that at all. I thought the opposite. They extracted themselves from the RF. Well done them.

I think the RF lost probably one of their greatest assets. MM is more relevant to many in the U.K. and the commonwealth than old colonial money. It’s a shame the RF couldn’t see that. Look at how increasingly irrelevant the RF became during Elizabeth’s reign.

Harry put his wife and children first - which must have been extraordinarily difficult given the pressure on him.

Of course the tabloids have gone into a misogynistic frenzy - the documentary was (rightfully) most critical of them.

I've not watched it yet, busy with life stuff but I will. I think we can all agree that Jeremy Clarkson pretty much proved their point about the tabloids with the assistance of the editor of the Sun. The fact that he (and Piers Morgan, ffs) were at a Christmas party with the queen consort on Saturday and the silence of the RF about his deranged rant thus far seems to give credence to their claims about the family.

I respectfully disagree. What so many people are forgetting is that they didn’t want to leave . They wanted to be part of the Royal family, 24/7 security etc but none of the “ boring “ stuff . Most importantly they wanted to make their own money . It was well documented that Meghan wasn’t happy she couldn’t accept freebies or that her spending on clothes would be queried .
It was only when The Queen says no that they left .

Not sure why you think the Royal Family should respond about JC when Harry and Meghan have their own spokespeople.

Quite, BethJ62.

Numerous posters (like H&M themselves) have conveniently forgotten the Canada and Sussex Royal interlude. The narrative is now that they had to flee, not that their initial play was a greedy cheek!

They certainly felt as though they had to flee, the details to be ironed out later. As for Jeremy Clarkson he is and has always been, an ignorant, arrogant man. I used to see a lot of him when my husband was alive because he was a great 'Top Gear' fan. Jeremy C would do well to stick to that sort of thing.

I doubt anybody would be taking him seriously, least of all the royals.

Oh I think the RF did see that I think they were terrified of the pulling power Meghan could potentially have. The combination of that and the fact that when they were given Commonwealth positions H+M’s line was that they “must acknowledge the past” even if it’s “uncomfortable” and spoke about historical injustice and unconscious bias - is what triggered the briefing war against them from the palace imo. The palace put out a cloth-eared statement that the Commonwealth was an aspect of monarch of which the queen was particularly proud. Ie there was to be no apologising.

Ironically then K+W’s tour of the Caribbean went terribly wrong and was visibly cringey. W expressed “sorrow” for slavery but did not actually apologise. They will find they have to eventually.

How different the Caribbean tour would have looked if they had sent a mixed race couple.

Ah right so you think adding gossipy slut-shaming to the general misogyny and racism directed at her is a good idea.

If you are such a beacon of equality, then defend Kate against the same on the other thread or does the heart only bleed in certain cases (a bit like the left eye).

Not that I can be sure that wishingyouwell isn't your other user name and perhaps even pinkpapaya.

Hypocrite.

The payout the RF made for Andrew speaks volumes about the length they will go to to protect their own. So I believe 100 percent they fed Meghan to the nasty British press as a form of distraction from the shenanigans of the other members. They need to own this rubbish behaviour and apologise to her publicly and privately.

No idea what other thread you’re referring to - but I don’t think misogyny should be directed at any woman in the public eye.

I have read in various places that the Royal Family have a dossier of information on Meghan . For some time I have thought they are biding their time until things start to leak out .
It could have been so different . I had high hopes in the early days however Meghan’s unwillingness to stick to certain rules ( whether or not we think they are daft) meant it just wasn’t going to work out . I get the impression that she thought she would become the leading lady which is crazy as she was never one ( let’s face if she is no Julia Roberts) .
I just hope they are happy but not sure how they can be when they are so eaten up with anger and jealousy .

I look forward to seeing that 'dossier of information'

What top job? And what has Julia Roberts got to do with it?

You clearly didn’t understand me . I used the term leading lady as Meghan was a bit part actress but seemed to see herself in the lead role ( I never said top job) . It appeared to be a shock that she wound forever play second fiddle to Kate .
Sorry but I can’t make it any simpler .

If you’re going into dossiers of information - there’s enough shit on both Andrew and Charles to potentially bring down the monarchy.

Andrew should be investigated for his part in money laundering for the sale of his property for £3 million over ask to a corrupt Kazakh billionaire.

Charles is on record for having accepted a €3 million cash in bags from a Saudi billionaire and £1 million from the Bin Ladens to his charitable fund. What other payments has he taken over the years and were any for his personal use? Why are so many ME political figures so keen to throw money at Prince Charles’ heritage charities - because it’s not for the good of their health.

Charles’ aide Michael Fawcett had to step down from his role over his involvement in cash for honours after helping a Saudi donor obtain a knighthood. Charles of course denies all knowledge. He apparently had no idea what his aide of 30 years were up to…

Of course there’s loads of stuff about all members of the Royal Family but they are not ones constantly whining , making allegations and downright lying !

Just to be clear - money laundering, fucking trafficked teens, accepting cash for honours are much more serious issues than “whining”.

That's an opinion. Not fact. And I can't make that any simpler.

I have read in various places that the Royal Family have a dossier of information on Meghan

Remembering her remarks about finding an old diary and the veiled threat about never having signed an NDA, it may be that Meghan also has one on them, so perhaps at some point it could come down to who blinks first

Had to smile about the Michael Fawcett thing, Mirabai. I've lost count how many times he's fallen on his rubber sword, but since Charles apparently said he could "manage without anyone except Michael" I can't imagine anyone really believes he's now cut off completely. There are only so many times Charles can claim "not to have known" and expect even his most ardent fans to believe it, and letting someone who's been quite so heavily involved in his ... errr ... choices off the leash might not be wise

KC's bark is worse than his bite. Haitch and M are probably praying for a long reign because William is scarier.

For me the fact it was not filmed in their real home but in a hired property (if that is indeed correct) means they are acting, and they were not filmed as things happened, they must have recreated the event when the cameras were rolling.
For that reason, I cannot take it seriously.
I am sure both sides have grievances and the press have been pretty disgusting to all new females entering the royal family. Remember Diana's nipplegate (absolutely awful thing to do to a naive 19-year-old), Waitey Katy and Cruella Camilla. However, I think they are behaving like petulant children, and I have no time for either of them. I wish them well but please shut up.

For me the fact it was not filmed in their real home but in a hired property (if that is indeed correct) means they are acting, and they were not filmed as things happened, they must have recreated the event when the cameras were rolling

So... all the stars and celebs who have glossy pictures in Hello from fabulous houses they've used, exotic locations, mansions, castles... they should be criticised too? It's quite the normal thing to do. Don't blame them. There'd be 50 threads on here picking their furnishings apart, their chairs, their sofas, the colour of the walls, the blankets and so on.

We've seen it when she did a zoom call from their house. Endless criticism of the table she was sat at.

The chairs etc
They are entitled to keep that private.

I agree that they should be allowed to keep things private . Maybe Archie’s bath time should be one of those things? For a couple who said they wanted to keep their children out of the limelight which was perfectly understandable and commendable they sure changed their minds when the lure of $$$ became too much .

Why would someone who had received “very real” threats to their life according to the ex counter-terrorism chief film a doc in their own home allowing anyone to scope out the property?