Page 7 | "The Royal Family lost a big asset" conversation

Nono22972 · 2023-05-08T11:43:31+00:00

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

Lampzade · 09/05/2023 15:54

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.

Exactly

Lampzade · 09/05/2023 16:03

Sudeko · 08/05/2023 18:43

Her time in the royal family was successful in that she created huge financial opportunities for herself in record time. She barely did any work in order to 'earn' the right legitimately before breaking away but that does not seem to bother her. Instead of breaking poc stereotypes she reinforced them and arguably set race relations back several years. She let down poc, using identification with them to advance her argument.

Pray tell me how she reinforced POC stereotypes. ? What stereotypes are you talking about?

Lampzade · 09/05/2023 16:07

Whaeanui · 09/05/2023 08:38

but nevertheless her coverage at the beginning was objectively good.

It was not. There was a lot of racism and that’s why Harry made a statement about it a week after their relationship was made public. She may have had more positive coverage at the start than now, but there was always negativity and also racism and snootiness about her being an actress.

Absolutely
Straight out of Compton nonsense was shocking

tigger2022 · 09/05/2023 16:13

Lampzade · 09/05/2023 16:07

Absolutely
Straight out of Compton nonsense was shocking

Show quote history

The straight out of Compton thing was a single headline. The reason you hear it repeatedly over and over and over is because it was one of two racist articles published at the time. The other one is no longer mentioned (the one about exotic blood) because the author has come out pro-Sussex. This is what I mean. People maintain that the coverage was racist and negative when it really wasn’t. There were thousands of articles written at the time, two were racist (and in fact the second racist article was intended as a compliment). The coverage was overwhelmingly positive.

thebellagio · 09/05/2023 16:30

Didn't someone on here say that the Straight Outta Compton headline had actually been written by an American writer, aiming that article at an American audience on the DM website, because for the overwhelming majority of UK readers, they wouldn't have got the nuances or understanding of it? I can't remember the details exactly.

I mean, the article was racist, there's no doubt about that. But I'm sure I saw something about how the UK reporters took the blame for it even though it had been an American writer. Similarly, the way all of the bad press in their documentary/Oprah was from Australia and other countries.

Happy to admit if i'm wrong here.

Roussette · 09/05/2023 16:36

thebellagio · 09/05/2023 16:30

Didn't someone on here say that the Straight Outta Compton headline had actually been written by an American writer, aiming that article at an American audience on the DM website, because for the overwhelming majority of UK readers, they wouldn't have got the nuances or understanding of it? I can't remember the details exactly.

I mean, the article was racist, there's no doubt about that. But I'm sure I saw something about how the UK reporters took the blame for it even though it had been an American writer. Similarly, the way all of the bad press in their documentary/Oprah was from Australia and other countries.

Happy to admit if i'm wrong here.

The writer may have been American but they explained exactly what they meant in the article. So the DM readers could get the full flavour of Compton 😅

Crime ridden, drug lords, shootings, wouldn't take anyone to tea there, rundown dwellings, murders etc.

Really nasty, snobby and revolting

thebellagio · 09/05/2023 16:45

@Roussette I can't actually remember ever reading the article. I just remember the headline.

I have always thought that it was primarily a social media driven issue rather than a newspaper/reporter issue. But that doesn't negate it, because it WAS an issue - I remember Buzzfeed did their side by side comparison of every time Kate was praised, Meghan was slated for the same things. I genuinely don't blame her for walking away. I don't think anyone could take that barrage of criticism.

But I do blame Harry for not preparing her, or giving her the support that she needed.

Roussette · 09/05/2023 16:51

@thebellagio

I agree

skullbabe · 09/05/2023 17:40

MagnificentDelurker · 09/05/2023 15:51

“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”.

You must be joking!!! The magnificent Michelle Obama joining RF???

Talk about mis match in class!!! Fortunately the thought would not cross anyone with even half of Michelle Obama’s clout. But just imagining anyone as great as MO having to be less so that Kate could shine makes my stomach churn.

I like MM but she had a bland personality perfectly suited to RF and they could not stomach it. Imagine having to deal with Michelle Obama. Some on this board have lost all sense, if they think RF can hope to marry anyone with MO’s calibre.

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I agree - Meghan was a much better fit that Michelle or Amal becuase although all three established their own career paths - you really could not fit Amal or Michelle into the restrictive confines of the Royal Family. It is true that today, royal wives are expected to have their own careers and charitable endeavours, as well as supporting their husbands in their royal duties however it is obvious htat ambition, drive and outshining their spouse would be frowned upon and again they would struggle. Michelle would absolutely want to hit the ground running with her strong work ethic and Amal would be up early creating itineraries for all her staff with associated gantt charts with her firece drive and commitment.

This woman would not be a great fit for the royal family as is at the moment.

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skullbabe · 09/05/2023 17:49

Instead of breaking poc stereotypes she reinforced them and arguably set race relations back several years.

This suggests that the poster already holds negative attitudes towards POC even if they do not consciously recognize or acknowledge these attitudes - because if all it takes is for one POC to behave badly for them to fall back on negative tropes for large swathes of the population then they may not be as unbiased as they may think.

Whaeanui · 09/05/2023 18:04

skullbabe · 09/05/2023 17:49

Instead of breaking poc stereotypes she reinforced them and arguably set race relations back several years.

This suggests that the poster already holds negative attitudes towards POC even if they do not consciously recognize or acknowledge these attitudes - because if all it takes is for one POC to behave badly for them to fall back on negative tropes for large swathes of the population then they may not be as unbiased as they may think.

Yes @skullbabe what POC stereotypes? And how did Meghan reinforce these negative stereotypes exactly?

Bellevu · 09/05/2023 21:17

Divebar2021 · 09/05/2023 08:44

She was slagged off 99% of the time

She absolutely wasn’t and even the Oprah interview with its montage of negative headlines had to go to other countries ( eg Australia) to find them. That doesn’t mean that there were none - I can remember seeing a negative news story about the Royal Family as a whole and it was illustrated with a photo of Meghan which I thought was unfair. But you saying she was criticised 99% of the time is untrue.

Here are one or two examples to refresh your clearly dimming memory...

"The Royal Family lost a big asset" conversation

Bellevu · 09/05/2023 21:21

tigger2022 · 09/05/2023 08:17

She really didn’t, the coverage at the beginning was so positive. One example of her negative bias was when she said she got terrible coverage from the event she did with the queen, because she didn’t know protocol with the car or something. In fact the coverage was glowing (even articles she used as examples of negative coverage were so sycophantic towards her even) and it was framed as “Queen shows Meghan the ropes”. But not only did she take that as a negative, she ignored all the positive. I think that’s a very human thing to do, but nevertheless her coverage at the beginning was objectively good.

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So very positive!

polkadotdalmation · 09/05/2023 21:32

tigger2022 · 09/05/2023 16:13

The straight out of Compton thing was a single headline. The reason you hear it repeatedly over and over and over is because it was one of two racist articles published at the time. The other one is no longer mentioned (the one about exotic blood) because the author has come out pro-Sussex. This is what I mean. People maintain that the coverage was racist and negative when it really wasn’t. There were thousands of articles written at the time, two were racist (and in fact the second racist article was intended as a compliment). The coverage was overwhelmingly positive.

Show quote history

The people stating this racist nonsense re two newspaper articles clearly has an issue. The issue being they tend to multiple every number by 100 and state that as fact. The exotic blood one was actually a dig at ginger, pale harry and the need to pep up the blood line. Probably both ill advised but there you go. 200 articles all racist.

Social media on the other hand, a sewer.

polkadotdalmation · 09/05/2023 21:33

@tigger2022 but don't waste your time with actual facts.

skullbabe · 09/05/2023 21:41

200 articles all racist.

And here @Bellevu we have the use of reductio ad absurdum to negate your point. At no point did you claim all articles were racist and yet here we are.

MamoruHisaishi · 09/05/2023 21:58

notanotheroneagain · 09/05/2023 13:57

The problem with MM and her relationship with the RF is her personality, and the step too far was that she saw herself as a fairytale princess who could circumvent all those stuffy Brits and do Royalty her way. Wasn’t ever going to happen, and it massively put people’s backs up.

Oh please do tell us how she tried to circumvent everything. How she saw herself as a fairytale princess.

How she was 'pushy' even.

That hierarchy doesn't include feeding lies to the press, by any chance.

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Oh please do tell us how she tried to circumvent everything. How she saw herself as a fairytale princess.

Wasn't part of the reason why she was so unhappy was that she felt her ‘light’ was being dimmed and she wasn't treated in equal terms to William and Kate?

Also, she literally compared herself to the little mermaid - fairytale princess - in her Oprah interview.

How she was 'pushy' even.

For one thing, expecting hugs from people you just met and asking a person who you're not close with to borrow their lipgloss could be seen as ‘pushy’.

That hierarchy doesn't include feeding lies to the press, by any chance

No, it was to do with being a team player, taking the time to learn and understand the rules and protocols, and not getting upset that she and harry weren't being treated equal to the heirs to the throne, and also making sure that they weren't pushing their staff to the point of crying at their desks.

polkadotdalmation · 09/05/2023 22:09

They're out in force tonight @poppysockies

MamoruHisaishi · 09/05/2023 22:14

MagnificentDelurker · 09/05/2023 15:51

“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”.

You must be joking!!! The magnificent Michelle Obama joining RF???

Talk about mis match in class!!! Fortunately the thought would not cross anyone with even half of Michelle Obama’s clout. But just imagining anyone as great as MO having to be less so that Kate could shine makes my stomach churn.

I like MM but she had a bland personality perfectly suited to RF and they could not stomach it. Imagine having to deal with Michelle Obama. Some on this board have lost all sense, if they think RF can hope to marry anyone with MO’s calibre.

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First of all, I stated that was my ideal scenario for someone who had the kind of personality that Michelle Obama has, because her personality is the type to be suitable to join the royal family because she is discreet, professional, and she knows how to follow the proper rules and procedures. You're the one making assumptions here about Michelle having to be less so for kate to shine. Michelle would have shone regardless, because she has a likeable and warm personality. She even outshone her own husband who was the president of the USA, so not sure why you think Michelle wouldn't have been able to become the star of the royal family even if she followed the rules and hierarchy.

And no, Meghan does not have the personality that is suited to the royal family. That's like saying Kim Kardashian would have been a perfect fit for the royal family. Meghan thinks and acts like a Hollywood influencer/starlet. She didn't want to follow the rules and hierarchy, didn't want to listen to anyone’s advice, and basically saw the royal family as a merching and networking opportunity. There is nothing to gain from someone like that unless you work in Hollywood.

NormaTheWife · 09/05/2023 22:23

I rewatched part of the engagement interview and even in that M isn't consistent with her tales. In addition all the stuff about how the pair of them were going to bring so much change to everything. She said how welcoming and friendly both sides of H's family were to her so what changed? She didn't get her own way? She realised what a small fish she was in the overall picture?

BethDuttonsTwin · 09/05/2023 22:34

The two SIL didn’t get on and there was a huge power imbalance, where one of them would always be senior to the other. Meghan couldn’t stand that and I wouldn’t have been able to either. So she left, taking Harry with her. Only now they have to Make That Money, a responsibility which I am sure falls most heavily on Meghan’s shoulders as H has no experience of real life and having to actually earn a crust. Moaning about the BRF, hinting at racism & how hard done to they were is extremely lucrative in today’s identity/victimhood obsessed culture so that’s what they do. That is why people don’t like Meghan because that kind of behaviour is distasteful and dishonest. I agree there were pockets of racism directed at Meghan during her time here, because there are always a few arseholes about, but I do not believe for a second that she was made unwelcome or othered in any way by the BRF and the majority of the British public.

BethDuttonsTwin · 09/05/2023 22:38

Lampzade · 09/05/2023 16:07

Absolutely
Straight out of Compton nonsense was shocking

Show quote history

That article was written by an American journalist for the US branch of the Mail.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 09/05/2023 22:52

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.

She's not Canadian, she's American. If she was Canadian I'm guessing she might have known more about the Royal family and how they work.

MagnificentDelurker · 09/05/2023 22:58

MamoruHisaishi · 09/05/2023 22:14

First of all, I stated that was my ideal scenario for someone who had the kind of personality that Michelle Obama has, because her personality is the type to be suitable to join the royal family because she is discreet, professional, and she knows how to follow the proper rules and procedures. You're the one making assumptions here about Michelle having to be less so for kate to shine. Michelle would have shone regardless, because she has a likeable and warm personality. She even outshone her own husband who was the president of the USA, so not sure why you think Michelle wouldn't have been able to become the star of the royal family even if she followed the rules and hierarchy.

And no, Meghan does not have the personality that is suited to the royal family. That's like saying Kim Kardashian would have been a perfect fit for the royal family. Meghan thinks and acts like a Hollywood influencer/starlet. She didn't want to follow the rules and hierarchy, didn't want to listen to anyone’s advice, and basically saw the royal family as a merching and networking opportunity. There is nothing to gain from someone like that unless you work in Hollywood.

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I am sorry do you think for a woc to join RF, she has to be of Michelle Obama calibre?

Is Kate a Michelle Obama? Was Diana a Michelle Obama? who in the family can even compare? Why the standards of acceptability so high for woc? Her qualities are obvious, the question is what does RF would bring to the table except demands that she shouldn’t be too popular, don’t have a strong presence and make sure she stays in the shadow of KM. My dear lady, anyone aware of their worth wouldn’t stand for that.

Even as bland as MM is Harry had married up and he is smart enough to know it.

MamoruHisaishi · 09/05/2023 23:48

MagnificentDelurker · 09/05/2023 22:58

I am sorry do you think for a woc to join RF, she has to be of Michelle Obama calibre?

Is Kate a Michelle Obama? Was Diana a Michelle Obama? who in the family can even compare? Why the standards of acceptability so high for woc? Her qualities are obvious, the question is what does RF would bring to the table except demands that she shouldn’t be too popular, don’t have a strong presence and make sure she stays in the shadow of KM. My dear lady, anyone aware of their worth wouldn’t stand for that.

Even as bland as MM is Harry had married up and he is smart enough to know it.

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Yes, I think it would take someone of Michelle’s calibre to join the royal family because she, like kate and the Queen, have the ability to rise above it all (even with all the attacks against her) and knows how to act like a diplomat/serve the interests of her country. She is also a team player like Kate, and has the ability to be non controversial and likeable to even conservatives. Kate may not have Michelle’s qualifications but she does know how to be a diplomat, she knows how to keep her cool under pressure, and she does a great job representing the UK when meeting politicians and heads of power in other countries. As to your comment that someone like Michelle would not have been allowed to overshadow Kate, with her strong presence and popularity, clearly that isn't the case because Diana was allowed to shine in her role even at the expense of Charles. She didn't lash out at the royal family because she was being forced to dim her light, she lashed out because of Charles infidelity to her. Someone like Michelle would have shone regardless if she played second fiddle to kate or not.

And hey, I totally agree that Harry married up. Meghan is better than him in every way, and I'm sure he does know it. But she was definitely not a good fit for the royal family due to her personality. You can't keep insisting that Meghan was perfect for the royal family because of her bland personality, when clearly she didn't want to follow the rules and protocol and hence should never have become a working member of the royal family.