Page 2 | "The Royal Family lost a big asset" conversation

loislovesstewie · 08/05/2023 15:53

I don't think that she liked the hierarchy of it all. She thought she could 'hit the ground running' when she didn't seem to have a clue about what was expected. I don't think she really wanted to know either, apparently she was offered assistance rejected it. So she apparently knew better than those who worked for the RF. Harry was useless, he appears to be wholly impractical, the story about how he didn't know what to do when she was suicidal.
I don't think anyone should try to find a life partner to be a more diverse family , that's crazy. I think Meghan and Harry could have done better, but chose not to try.

Bonkersworknonsense · 08/05/2023 16:00

@JamSandle shes not Canadian, she just worked here while filming Suits. She was born and raised in America. Quite a lot of American tv programs are filmed in Canada because of the tax breaks they get. If Megan was Canadian she’d have know the words to God Save the Queen! (Though after 6-7 years in Toronto you’d think she’d have heard it before).

jacqui5366 · 08/05/2023 16:02

This is where it all went wrong - she and Hazbeen could have shone this weekend

Sudeko · 08/05/2023 16:07

A Disney blink for every million your bank balance is going up while the wedding progresses 🙄

Bellevu · 08/05/2023 16:16

I'm black and the royal family sent messages to those of us in the UK and the commonwealth that once someone of colour steps outside cleaning duties, the gloves are off.

The person moaning that Harry and Meghan demanded security even when not working. She was the first non white member of the Royal family with that came what the police confirmed were several credible threats to her and her children, including convictions of those sending threats, it is breathtaking to me that her safety is so dismissed. Her son is the first verified mixed race member of the Royal family and you seriously think he is at absolutely no risk? Despite 70+ cross party MPs writing to express their concern about the campaign of vilification being whipped up by the press at a time the Palace and Royal family stayed silent?

Bellevu · 08/05/2023 16:19

So many of these threads make vague allusions to Meghan not being willing to put in her time and do the work. Give actual examples. Part of the issue with the Palace machinery was that she appeared too on brief and prepared to work hard.

If you looked her list of engagements for that year or so v others who'd been there longer, she was up there in the number and breath. A lot of her charities - including the national theatre fought to keep her as their patron because she was such a change from other Royal patrons who didn't engage.

Napoleonsjosephine · 08/05/2023 16:21

I really don’t think the fact it didn’t work out is due to her skin colour and more her and Harry’s behaviour.

tigger2022 · 08/05/2023 16:24

It feels tokenistic and really superficial

Bellevu · 08/05/2023 16:25

Marquess of Bath

Seriously? Obviously either memories are short or history is being frantically rewritten to prove how 'some of my best friends are black'.

The horrendous racism that the Marquess of Bath and his black wife experienced from his family, the aristocracy and echoed to a limited degree by the papers is being edited to a rosy picture of how we as a nation embrace black women. And if they dare to complain, it's only because they're over sensitive and don't really appreciate how lucky they are to be allowed in to the fold and be treated like shite.

Why should we have to be grateful just because many white people are uncomfortable with instances of the nation's casual racism being highlighted?

Bluegrass · 08/05/2023 16:26

The Royal Family fundamentally believe that the importance of a person, their station in life, is determined at birth. They have a hierarchy amongst themselves, but also believe that they are placed above us, and that that is the natural way of things.

How a young black woman from America - with a cultural history steeped in white races believing that they are inherently superior to her, who comes from a land that at least claims to believe that all people are born equal and should rise by merit and effort- how such a woman could ever have found a comfortable place within the British Royal Family is beyond me.

She would have been an asset if there is some world where they might have conceivably imagined she wasn’t inferior to them.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 08/05/2023 16:30

notanotheroneagain · 08/05/2023 15:36

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.

Personally, I wouldn’t like to be married to a tent. Too…..billowy

notanotheroneagain · 08/05/2023 16:39

Bellevu · 08/05/2023 16:16

I'm black and the royal family sent messages to those of us in the UK and the commonwealth that once someone of colour steps outside cleaning duties, the gloves are off.

The person moaning that Harry and Meghan demanded security even when not working. She was the first non white member of the Royal family with that came what the police confirmed were several credible threats to her and her children, including convictions of those sending threats, it is breathtaking to me that her safety is so dismissed. Her son is the first verified mixed race member of the Royal family and you seriously think he is at absolutely no risk? Despite 70+ cross party MPs writing to express their concern about the campaign of vilification being whipped up by the press at a time the Palace and Royal family stayed silent?

💯

tigger2022 · 08/05/2023 16:40

Bellevu · 08/05/2023 16:25

Marquess of Bath

Seriously? Obviously either memories are short or history is being frantically rewritten to prove how 'some of my best friends are black'.

The horrendous racism that the Marquess of Bath and his black wife experienced from his family, the aristocracy and echoed to a limited degree by the papers is being edited to a rosy picture of how we as a nation embrace black women. And if they dare to complain, it's only because they're over sensitive and don't really appreciate how lucky they are to be allowed in to the fold and be treated like shite.

Why should we have to be grateful just because many white people are uncomfortable with instances of the nation's casual racism being highlighted?

That’s sort of the problem I have with the “lost an asset” thing though: if the RF had somehow twisted Meghan’s arm into going and standing on the balcony with them for the sake of it purely for optics, surely that would have been the biggest “one of my best friends estranged daughters-in-law are black” of all.

Sometimes the obsession with optics over substance is annoying because it’s like - we had a whole weekend showcasing the diversity of the UK and commonwealth, and things like the Prince’s Trust, things which make a material difference in the real world. Whereas we all know Meghan doesn’t rate her in-laws and her in-laws aren’t too fond of her these days either, so them just standing next to each other with fake smiles on their faces purely for the cameras, purely to LOOK diverse even if we all know the next step is her getting on a plane and never speaking again until the next family tragedy - what opportunity is missed, exactly?

idk. I think it would have been patronising towards Meghan, and a bit offensive/tokenistic.

Crazykatie · 08/05/2023 16:47

Meghan had a chance to fit in as a junior member of a very large Royal family, she chose not to do that. It’s nothing to do with her being mixed race. She wanted to be the centre of attention, which was never going to happen. Her place if she were to be working royal was behind Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh. Meghan could have chosen to be a non working royal with no public profile but no photo calls didn't suit either.

notanotheroneagain · 08/05/2023 16:53

Bellevu · 08/05/2023 16:25

Marquess of Bath

Seriously? Obviously either memories are short or history is being frantically rewritten to prove how 'some of my best friends are black'.

The horrendous racism that the Marquess of Bath and his black wife experienced from his family, the aristocracy and echoed to a limited degree by the papers is being edited to a rosy picture of how we as a nation embrace black women. And if they dare to complain, it's only because they're over sensitive and don't really appreciate how lucky they are to be allowed in to the fold and be treated like shite.

Why should we have to be grateful just because many white people are uncomfortable with instances of the nation's casual racism being highlighted?

Indeed.

The count of Gloucester daughter married a Maori man. They seemed happy all their time in Auckland. Married for 14yrs. They move back to the UK, and guess what, they divorce.

God forbid if Harry married a cute woman like Lupita Nyongo. All hell would break loose.

notanotheroneagain · 08/05/2023 16:56

Crazykatie · 08/05/2023 16:47

Meghan had a chance to fit in as a junior member of a very large Royal family, she chose not to do that. It’s nothing to do with her being mixed race. She wanted to be the centre of attention, which was never going to happen. Her place if she were to be working royal was behind Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh. Meghan could have chosen to be a non working royal with no public profile but no photo calls didn't suit either.

MM was a senior royal. Get that straight !

That's what claws for most people.

frankgu · 08/05/2023 16:56

There was tokenism but I think it's a real shame. Her & H made the RF a bit more relevant, I was interested in what she had to say. I think the fact it didn't work makes the Royals look really outdated. I also didn't realise (naively) how much racism there still was.

notanotheroneagain · 08/05/2023 16:58

tigger2022 · 08/05/2023 16:40

That’s sort of the problem I have with the “lost an asset” thing though: if the RF had somehow twisted Meghan’s arm into going and standing on the balcony with them for the sake of it purely for optics, surely that would have been the biggest “one of my best friends estranged daughters-in-law are black” of all.

Sometimes the obsession with optics over substance is annoying because it’s like - we had a whole weekend showcasing the diversity of the UK and commonwealth, and things like the Prince’s Trust, things which make a material difference in the real world. Whereas we all know Meghan doesn’t rate her in-laws and her in-laws aren’t too fond of her these days either, so them just standing next to each other with fake smiles on their faces purely for the cameras, purely to LOOK diverse even if we all know the next step is her getting on a plane and never speaking again until the next family tragedy - what opportunity is missed, exactly?

idk. I think it would have been patronising towards Meghan, and a bit offensive/tokenistic.

Show quote history

The major issue is why would they have a problem with MM in the first place.

They have no problem with Andrew for example.

frankgu · 08/05/2023 16:58

I hate that anyone who dares to criticise Meghan is immediately classed as racist. The majority of criticisms against her are not racially motivated.

But for some reason the bar is set way higher for it when it keeps to mistakes/how she should behave etc.

WomanBitingATowel · 08/05/2023 16:59

Nono22972 · 08/05/2023 12:43

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 don’t disagree. It smacks of ‘Let me invite a non-white classmate on a play date so that young Hector can benefit from contact with Another Ethnicity, and I get to look diverse and open-minded!’

notanotheroneagain · 08/05/2023 16:59

*Duke of Gloucester

UKsounding · 08/05/2023 17:00

JamSandle · 08/05/2023 14:16

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.

No really - she is a American actor who had a lead role in a series that was filmed in Toronto over many series. She wasn't famous when it started filming here, but it was a (surprise) hit and she did become recognisable and wealthy.

Meghan had rented an ordinary house in an ordinary street in a area that is pretty equivalent to Clapham Common - lots of creatives, journalists, CBC employees etc. when filming Suits. I didn't meet her, but friends who did say that she is quite sweet and she genuinely did a lot of volunteer work with a couple of organisations in the city before and during the period when she was recognisable. Living, socialising and working in a middle class area of Toronto - no one would give a shit here what the colour of her skin is. (If she was poor and had a run in with the police it would be a different matter, but Toronto is so diverse that skin colour isn't really that defining...)

The interesting thought experiment is what would have happened if Harry and Meghan had chosen to base themselves in Toronto rather than California. (I'm sure that we are happy that we don't have to pay for their security!)
It was pretty widely known that Meghan was dating Prince Harry for ages before it was officially announced - they didn't advertise it, but they wandered about the city in baseball caps and people left them alone. We have lots of quite famous people who spend time in Toronto filming movies etc. and they are often to be seen around jogging, eating pasta etc., often bring their families and can take the kids to a diner or for ice cream or a ball game and no-one bothers them. Harry and Meghan could have easily bought a house in the Annex area near the Westons, sent their kids to the Mabin School and generally done their thing in a very multi-racial city without anyone batting an eyelid. Lots of people live here, and fly in and out to NYC, London and LA/Silicon Valley for work.

I guess that "in cognito" wasn't really what they were going for...

frankgu · 08/05/2023 17:03

They have no problem with Andrew for example.

Exactly this which makes the whole thing ridiculous. Meghan may be spoilt, entitled, cunning blah blah blah. So what?

googlejourney · 08/05/2023 17:16

I thought she could've been an asset as a more experienced and hardworking woman, who had already navigated a successful career, comfortable in herself, confident and a great public speaker. Used to being in the public eye, not to mention stylish, intelligent and beautiful with a modern, trendy and up to date outlook on life.

I agree with the OP, listing her race as one of her assets is an insult to her race.

Regardless, she proved to be a major disappointment and one of the worst things that ever happened to the RF, and this also had nothing to do with her race.

Original poster

Nono22972 · 08/05/2023 17:19

MamoruHisaishi · 08/05/2023 13:22

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.

Show quote history

It was doomed from the very beginning. Harry can say all he wants that they wanted to make it work but it's clear he thought of leaving even before he met Meghan. I do think they love each other and are a team but they clearly used each other.

She was his ticket to get out of the family and he was her ticket to fame, celebrity and money

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