Just finished 'Spare'...

[HerReputationMadeItDifficultToProceed]

… and I encourage anyone who’s even vaguely interested in this story to give it a read. Especially if what’s been leaked has made you at all angry, because I think in context everything makes a lot of sense.

I wasn’t a Harry and Meghan hater before reading this, but I wasn’t a fan girl either. Like many Brits, I find a lot of Americans- especially West Coast Americans- quite irritating and Meghan firmly falls into that camp for me. I’m sure she’s nice enough, but she’s very American and very perky and much like Wednesday Addams, I don’t do perky. However, I suspect that her intentions and generally good and that like most of us she’s got good and bad qualities. She’s clearly ambitious and I think that she probably initially dated Harry based on that ambition and on getting a platform, although I think that she genuinely loves him now.

The ghost writer has done a great job at capturing Harry’s personality I think; he comes across as introspective and thoughtful but funny and bright.

I think that Harry has a good soul; I think that he’s kind and has had a hard time of it growing up. I also think he’s a bit clueless and naive and has been in a bubble, but I think he acknowledges that and wants to understand and change. Undoubtedly losing his mother at the age he was had more of an outward impact on him than it had on William. He’s also been a victim of his dad’s wishywashy parenting. It sounds like- and looks like to me from my vantage point as a normal citizen who knows bugger all except what I’ve seen in the media- that Charles has been there for his kids to an extent, but not in a hands on or especially useful way. It also seems clear that Charles has always put Camilla first. From almost the moment Diana died it seems that he wanted, above everything else, to rehabilitate Camilla’s image so that they could marry. I think that he put that above being a father and the way Harry writes about their relationship makes that clear too.

I also think that it’s suited the palace to portray Harry as dimwitted and feckless to show William in a better light and that Harry has every right to be angry about that and not want to play that game anymore (and to call it out now). Especially as it’s obvious that the palace haven’t kept up their side of the bargain and protected Harry from the media in return.

I also think that the media have treated H and M poorly and it’s clearly the case that the palace has used them and news stories about them to divert from other newsworthy problems… certainly Prince Andrew, perhaps William’s affair/s. Is Harry overly jumpy about the media and the paparazzi in particular? Yes, of course. Who wouldn’t be with his background. But they’ve also obviously been hounded and harassed.

I do think that Harry is on a journey that he isn’t at the end of yet, but I think that he realises that too. I think that he was always going to leave the royal family and that Meghan didn’t cause what’s happened, she was just the catalyst for it. I think that he’s been scapegoated and an afterthought within his nuclear family and I don’t blame him for being angry. I think that he means well and is essentially good. And I don’t think that anyone who’s read the whole book would be able to disagree.

More than anything I think it’s clear that the British Royal Family is no longer fit for purpose; the way they live, bring up their children, pay their members for work and demand unrealistic levels of protocol and formality is no longer working in the 21st century. These people need purpose and lives beyond the crown and those on the edges of the heir shouldn’t have to live their lives in service of the their. Realistically H and M could have worked as royals and had private interests, the RF chose not to bend to help them live fulfilling lives because of its own, outdated reasons.

Looking at these conversations I am amazed that people take this nonsense seriously. The guy lives in California and he’s stuck with a Hollywood lifestyle and all that trash that goes with it. The whole thing is a fantasy which has caused a storm in a teacup magnified by the press who love a scandal. Why on earth anyone intelligent should fall for it is quite beyond me.

No I asked about your random post generator because your post seemed so random to me. Why would I think there was something wrong with you?
He says in the book that he has seen a number of therpists, has been offered medication for depression and as he is continuing to see a therapist he is clearly still suffering. There is something ‘wrong’ with him (not a term I would use but you have), he repeatedly says there is?? I think you’ve tied yourself in a bit of a knot here

He says he was offered medication for depression, presumably because he was depressed. Has had therapy for years and continues to see a therapist. He says this in the book and actually made a tv programme for apple called the me you can’t see that discusses therapy and treatments. Are you not aware of this?

You didn’t answer the question.

@Eyerollcentral Grief as a result of your mother dying is a normal reaction. Not a mental illness.

Eyerollcentral Okay so you are not talking about Harry's 'mental illness' or Diana's throwing herself down the stairs in a disparaging way. By the way I don't think Harry has 'mental illness' as such. He's had anxiety issues - PTSD and unresolved loss and has done a lot of work on himself.

She did.

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness

And depression is very common. Most people have depression at some point during their life time.

And it’s a mental illness.

One of my pet hates though is people describing grief as depression. It is not.

Nope. My question was: What particular mental illness do they think he’s suffering from?

And it’s been answered.

Harry’s brain is exhausted from too much weed and self pity…sorry my brother is the same and he is over 60 !

Do you mean what mental illness(es) I think he is suffering from? I’m not a psychiatrist and it would be very wrong for me or any one to go slapping labels on anyone.
I’ve read thousands of psychiatric reports. From that I can say I think the book shows the following which are often symptoms of mental illness:

1. paranoia;
2. irrational behaviour;
3. abuse of drink and drugs to, in his words, numb the pain;
4. quick to anger;
5. prone to depression;
6. disconnection from those around him; and
7. difficulty maintaining healthy relationships.

Yes. But harry was offered medication for depression. Doctors don’t give medication out for conditions you don’t have do they

I think that it would be very reckless for any professional to informally suggest a diagnosis, despite the huge volume of information he has personally approved to be put out.

@Eyerollcentral Do you know the diagnosis was depression? It might have been, but anti depressants are also routinely offered for grief alongside a wrong diagnosis of depression.
Our culture is awful with grief and terrible at recognising the impact on people.

I couldn’t agree more. As I have said I’m not a psychiatrist. I read psychiatric reports routinely as part of my work. I also haven’t diagnosed him with anything.

One of my pet hates though is people describing grief as depression. It is not

Yes I know what you mean Babs Feels similar when you're in it but its different.

Nope it has not.

Do you mean what mental illness(es) I think he is suffering from?

Nope, I meant what I said.

I can only go by what’s in the book 🤷‍♀️ Anti depressants are usually only given to people who have depression. You are putting a lot of ifs in your explanation of why he was offered them when the most obvious answer is he was depressed. Being mentally ill is not a flaw.
British culture around death is very alien to me as I am Irish and things are dealt with very differently here.

Sorry you have lost me. Could you just say what it is you want me to answer then because I think I have quite comprehensively tbh

Even more reckless for any non-professional.

@Eyerollcentral Okay thanks for clarifying, you are assuming. Anti depressants are routinely given in England for grief. So it may be depression, grief or a mixture of both.