"The Royal Family lost a big asset" conversation

[Nono22972]

Am I the only one who's uncomfortable with people constantly saying that the Royal Family lost their biggest asset in Meghan because having a person of colour on the Buckingham Palace balcony would've been a nod to our current society, who's more diverse. As a black woman, this is actually offensive (and I'm not even a fan o Meghan) but to me, it just proves to me that you see her as nothing more than a non-white token who can be used to make the Royal Family look more diverse

I think it’s a shame they couldn’t make it work with welcoming a mixed race woman in their family. The optics are bad for them.

As for tokenism, yes, you’re probably right. But it was also what Megan symbolised. You only had to see how she was greeted by young people and non-white people when she first came to the UK. It was joyous. But that all faded fast and it is a shame, I feel. The RF should’ve tried harder to make it work.

It’s ok we’ve got the Princess of Wales. She worth ten of Meghan.

I thought this thread was going to be about Diana's jewellery, what with Meghan wearing Diana's 17k Cartier tank watch with a load of other bangles scraping against it on her latest pap walk.

My mistake.

As a person of colour, I don't feel Meghan ever represented me, just because she happens to have a mixed race background. What is there to be proud of and aspire with her marrying into the royal family? She only became globally famous because of who she married. She didn’t achieve that through her own merits. And the fact that she married a known racist is nothing to be proud of either. In fact, it makes me question Meghan’s judgement. Let’s not forget that her best friend was also accused of racism, and she has friends who are also trump supporters. Plus, she has signed up under WME, which is headed by someone who has been accused of racism and homophobia. For someone who is supposedly concerned about racism, Meghan doesn't seem to mind interacting, marrying and befriending people who have been accused of racism. Also, I don't agree that the optics are bad that the royal family have decided to go no contact with Meghan and Harry. The both of them have done nothing except throw accusations and complained about the royal family, including indirectly calling them racists, only for them to walk back on that claim. They wanted to be the stars, when they both knew that hierarchy and precedence were important when it came to the royal family. What more could the royal family have done when the couple refused to follow the rules and wanted their every whim catered to? A palace staffer was quoted as saying that nothing was ever good enough for the two of them. Plus there was also the accusations of bullying, and it's been implied that the royal family were in fact protecting harry and Meghan as not enough was done to protect the staff. How can you make it work with someone who views the royal family as a networking and marching opportunity, instead of a life long commitment to serving British/commonwealth interests? Meghan was not a good fit for the royal family, and that's probably why harry chose her because he used her as a way to get back at his family and so he could get a chance to finally leave. If there was a woman of colour who would have joined the royal family, I wish it would have been someone like Michelle Obama or even Amal Clooney. But then again, neither of them would have ever married someone like Harry.

Unpleasant personality, too political (offended by everything) and culture clash (Americanism) plus a few racists who don’t like black people. Bad choice for the royal family- and I fear it won’t last with Harry

but to me, it just proves to me that you see her as nothing more than a non-white token who can be used to make the Royal Family look more diverse

Yes OP I think you're on to something. I think with enmeshed famlies like the royal family appearances are everything. They have their own family rules but not necessarily a moral code. It's all about being admired, feeling important and giving a good impression.

I was so excited when Meghan married Harry. I think the reasons things didn't work out (within the family) - were to do with Meghan's mistaken expectations - confusing a royal role with that of being a celebrity - and for that I blame first Harry and then her - she obviously didn't do her research or listen to advice. I bet he was too scared of losing her, as he had his previous girlfriends, to tell her the full truth - for example - there's a hierarchy and you have to fit into that, which Meghan just couldn't do.

It could have been great and it is a missed opportunity but I don't think you can blame the RF. I don't get what posters mean when they talk about 'tokenism' - that's unfair. What else could we expect? Of course Meghan, as the first WOC to marry into the RF, would be in a minority of one.

But look at the Marquess of Bath - gradually even the aristocracy are embracing diversity. It can and will happen. I think what happened with Meghan was more to do with her personality than anything to do with her colour.

(I'm not talking about the attacks from tabloid journalism or social media here.)

It's sad, but there it is. Now the coronation is over there's no need for either of them to come here or have any further public connection with the RF so all is well - they can live the life they want in California.

@CoffeeCantata oh yes, she received racist comments didn't she.

The royal family have lost an asset though it can't be denied. She is very good at public speaking and she is naturally interested in charity work and did this before she met Harry.
She's a natural performer, extremely intelligent and well spoken with an easy charm.

To be honest I wonder whether Charles would have been more easy on them than the queen un deciding what to do with them.
. As someone else posted it sticks in there craw a little when zara hubby is chowing down on kangeeroo balls to make a buck

Summerwhereareyou · Today 14:01
@CoffeeCantata oh yes, she received racist comments didn't she.

The royal family have lost an asset though it can't be denied. She is very good at public speaking and she is naturally interested in charity work and did this before she met Harry.
She's a natural performer, extremely intelligent and well spoken with an easy charm.

Summer, I would agree with you on nearly all this, but I have to admit that I just didn't like Meghan on a personal level. Now - I can hear people shouting "But you don't know her!" Correct - but we all make judgments based on personal experience and Meghan always seemed to me to be very manipulative and, I'm afraid, false and phoney - actressy, I suppose, but in a cheesy American way, not a Judi Dench way!!

Yes, she's clearly intelligent and articulate and could have used her abilities to great effect within the monarchy - I truly believe this. But I suspect she wouldn't have settled for any role other than the top billing - which was never going to happen. With her personality, she would never have coped with walking behind Kate. I also think she put people's backs up, as a newcomer, by suggesting that she was going to teach them all a better way of doing things. Sure - but don't start by saying that - like the teenage intern who tells the office what they're all doing wrong on their first day!

But, thinking about that lovely day in April 2018, yes, it's so tragic that things have turned out as they have. Her husband is a twit and she should have taken things more gradually all round and worked at fining her feet before rubbishing everything.

Also mixed race and never felt Meghan has represented me. She's a rich Canadian actress who worked in America and married a prince. We don't have anything in common.

I think you're wrong to see it as tokenism. It would have been a great asset if a bi racial, (or any other race) person married into the RF simply because it does reflect society. Why complicate everything. The people of colour I work with are there on merit. MM would have been there as a working royal who happened to be a WOC, just like my colleagues happen to be POC.

However it would have had to be a different WOC who married Harry, because MM wasn't suited to the RF restrictions and it was simply not what she thought it was. It was a disaster because of who she was and what she wanted, and this would have been the same whether she was black, white of polkadot.

But Mike Tindall does not represent the firm nor never has and he does not get a penny from the civil list, nor does Zara. Harry and Meghan did claim the civil list money and before stepping away represented the firm. Completely different situations. Oh and the Tindalls don't constantly demand or get protection/security officers assigned to them. Harry and Meghan were always demanding them even when not representing the firm.

Tbh, I wasnt impressed with her charity work which involved photos of her posing with African children, in one of them she even had a remarkably similar pose and clothing to Diana. It all seemed so contrived and white saviour type to me, or like those celebrities who do charity work for pr and media exposure. Also, writing inspirational quotes on bananas to give to sex workers was so cheesy and patronizing, like why can't she treat these women with dignity and respect? They're not little kids, theyre adult women. And Meghan may be a great public speaker but her words lack substance, they're mostly a bunch of word salad that's nowhere near deep or insightful. And again, there's no point for the royal family to have someone who can be charming and well spoken when that said person refuses to follow the rules, and who is intent on merching the royal family and become like a Hollywood celebrity instead of a royal. Even Diana made an effort to fit in and follow the rules for at least a few years. It was only when Camilla became a continuous threat that Diana finally decided to speak out and act out publicly. A woman who was willing to be a team player (regardless of race or colour) would have been a better fit. I think if Meghan would have had a personality like Michelle Obama’s, she would have outshone her sister in law and the rest of the royal family even with her just following the rules and hierarchy.

What a really horrible way to talk about someone. Her husband gave her something that belonged to his dead mother. She's now wearing it. Why are you being so spiteful about someone you don't know and for so little reason?

The Marquee of Bath is aristo, not married to the RF. MM married an actual prince. That is a step too far for the white supremacists.

These are aristos in the background that no one looks at, bows to etc.

Strictly from their point of view, hasn't she been a direct/indirect liability over the past three years? I would say that those who work hard at public service are their only assets. Bea and Eugenie tip towards being liabilities as well.

She was not the person she portrayed, no class, in it for the fame and not the family. I am all for a POC in the Royall Family - but this was rushed, not thought through, and the aftermath will stay with both sides of this sorry affair for a long time - its Archificial and Lili which will miss out also

I hate that anyone who dares to criticise Meghan is immediately classed as racist. The majority of criticisms against her are not racially motivated. She is just someone who was never going to fit into the royal family and the place in it that Harry had, she seemed to want to be higher up the pecking order.

I'm saying this as someone from a mixed race family before the Meghan fans jump on me.

I do think her and Harry would have done better in Jamaica then the other two. If they really wanted to win over black people they could return all their stolen jewellery and artefacts. Paying for their own parties instead of tax payers and inheritance tax like everyone else

I'd heard a rumour (originally from Eugenie) - that she said she was Megnant - which is why they married so quickly after the engagement - oldest trick in the book !

It all seemed so contrived and white saviour type to me,

No such thing as a woman with a black mother, being a 'white savour'.

Also, writing inspirational quotes on bananas to give to sex workers was so cheesy and patronizing, like why can't she treat these women with dignity and respect?

The bananas were part of the package and she just instinctively wanted to write a persona message to the women. According to the head of the charity, everyone was happy with this.

And Meghan may be a great public speaker but her words lack substance, they're mostly a bunch of word salad that's nowhere near deep or insightful.

A word salad to you cause your not listening, and your mind is clouded with negativity against her. Or maybe you are too thick to understand.

As for merching. The queen merched gin/tea and all sorts. Charles just released a perfume. Plus he has a whole duchy line at Waitrose for daily marching, wtf?

I agree OP, and I also don't see how anyone can say the RF "lost" an asset in Meghan, since she was barely ever IN it. At best they might have saved themselves the horror show she's put on since they left.

Correct - but we all make judgments based on personal experience and Meghan always seemed to me to be very manipulative and, I'm afraid, false and phoney - actressy

Oh? Did you feel that Cressida was all 'actressy'?