Harry and Meghan EVICTED from Frogmore, keys handed to Prince Andrew

[tatalan]

What do you think?

I'm not surprised. I wonder if Harry and Meghan will buy a new UK residence.

But then you get candid photos taken of you in high street shops and attending vigils. Zero security risk but your soon to be sister in law is a real danger so ignore her.

Where's that?

Frogmore is in the grounds of Windsor Castle-behind the gates and can only be accessed from guarded/locked/gated entrances.

Police regularly patrol the Long Walk-you can see the house from there-although in the distance and obviously within the grounds of the Castle.

It is not accessible to the public.

But I don't think it was about Kate's security. It was trying to prevent a media scrum/ramp up speculation about Harry and Meghan's relationship when the palace press office had just released a big "back off Meghan" statement on Harry's behalf.

A girl's shopping trip at that point in time would have been gold dust to the paps and made all the press attention much worse.

And then along comes Meghan and apart from those who were determined to dislike her from day one... she showed the rest of them up. I remember the Royal Foundation Heads Up chat, on a stage... the four of them. Meghan outshone them. It was gobsmacking how much. She was eloquent, interesting and informative, and I think a lot of the problems have stemmed from this. There is a hierarchy and you cannot have a more minor royal outshining the important ones

I remember this - the 4 of them on stage and thinking W&K were not comfortable with Meghan's confidence - it was clear then that she had a lot to offer . They tried to smile through it but you could see it was not sincere. I wasn't surprised to see the idea had popped soon after.

So they did - one for the hindsight body language sleuths....

Confidence is just gas if it is not backed up by sincerity and empathy. You don't know why they cringed.

Or for all we know Kate didn’t want to go shopping with Meghan or be friendly with her

You don't know why they cringed.

Maybe Because they were exposed as having nothing to add . If Meghan had not taken the lead it would have been pretty dull. At least she was able to engage the audience.

she showed the rest of them up. I remember the Royal Foundation Heads Up chat, on a stage... the four of them. Meghan outshone them. It was gobsmacking how much

I see this a lot at work contexts - people who are dazzled by confident extroverts, who are eloquent, good at speaking in public etc etc. Of course it’s very important to remember that everyone is different, and that the value of someone does not begin and end with how they outwardly presents themselves. Because the confident extroverts are not always the most skilled, or the ones with the widest skill sets. The halo effect is quite real, though (the acknowledged bias people have towards someone who is good in one area, with the assumption they are then good in others too).

The upper classes don't value that gregarious US talk show self-projection. They prefer more subtle, slower verbal and non-verbal communication.

Of course it’s very important to remember that everyone is different, and that the value of someone does not begin and end with how they outwardly presents themselves. Because the confident extroverts are not always the most skilled, or the ones with the widest skill sets

Of course that's true. I'm aware of that. However, so much of the RF is PR and optics and how they are viewed by the great british public. She came across very well... informed, knowledgeable and warm.

What upper classes?

The Monarchy is supposed to appeal to the public. Not just to each other or the aristocrats.

This is about why Harry's family couldn't warm to Meghan.

Meghan not being upper class enough?

Then what use are they representing organisations such Mental Health. Which affects a high proportion of the younger population. Slow, subtle, little , communication, vague, say as little as possible so you won't be challenged. They should then just stick to being the face of .....

I would be shocked if Meghan hadn’t come over well at the Royal Foundation talk. She is an actress, a profession where verbal and non-verbal communication is key, she has made public speeches throughout her career and in her working life will have had to pursuance and influence people.

William and Harry may have been bought up with the expectation of public speaking, been trained etc. and whilst they may be competent it isn’t a natural talent. Similarly Catherine may not have the natural ability. Challenging if your job is PR.

I agree with @Serenster that I know people who are fantastic presenters, networkers etc. because they are articulate and charismatic but they aren’t necessarily the people I would turn to to get a job done. I also know clever, capable, hard working people who go to pieces if they are asked to present.

@Roussette

I love Mumsnet because it reminds me of how class driven the UK is. When even those not in the "upper classes" defend the 'upper classes" so strenuously and defend their right to be dull and unchanging, it's no wonder a mixed race American woman seriously raised the hackles.

At the same time, there is an obsession with the Royal Family being being liked and approved by Americans, and with M and H being disliked by Americans.

The English upper classes don't like brash Americans, apparently.

But they seem desperate for their royal family to be validated by them, and the public seems to crave an American mirror for their views, see for instance the orgasmic excitement with which the South Park episode was greeted on this side of the pond.

It's a curious mix of arrogance, xenophobia, neediness and a very Uriah Heepish self-loathing.

Kate wanted to shop alone, we don’t know why, but it ended up in a Canadian gossip site with links to Meghan.

Kate was proven correct in her cautious approach.

@Brazilianadventure Comments like that make me laugh.
Meghan got involved with the Grenfall Women's group. She attended often and helped them put together and publish a recipe book. William and Kate get staff to do things and then turn up for the photo calls. It os Meghan who has shown she can start and finish projects.

@Howsimplywonderful Yeah the rule of the Royal Family is you can be very rude, but the person on the receiving end is never supposed to tell anyone about it.

🐸

Not sure how it is rude to not invite BiL’s girlfriend to go on a random shopping trip with you when, as pp have said, they were trying to keep Meghan out of the tabloids. Do you know for a fact that the then DoC was going shopping? If you refuse to believe that it was Meghan that related the story, then how can you believe any of the details?

@AmandaJonah

it’s far ruder to go running to have a bitch on a celebrity bitchy site. It’s really not the way to build a good relationship

@tatalan

I have the honour post the last message on this fantastic thread, and thank you so much for starting such a spirited and fun discussion.

More power to your elbow!