Could H&M have bought a suburban semi?

[Bluemuf]

Or maybe a cottage in the woods and lived a life of obscurity, if that's what they wanted?

Harry's a rich man based on inheritances alone, they could have lived quite comfortably relative to most of us, if they'd chosen a quiet life.

I suspect it's not that simple for them, but why not?

They don't want privacy. Harry has even stated this in an interview that this was not what they wanted. (yes, contradicting what he had implied earlier).
If they wanted privacy, they would not be calling for pap photos; ie the 'hike'. A bit unusual for paps to be waiting around in the various national parks in the hope that Meghan might go on a hike!
Many famous people take the tube on the underground in London without any hassle.
Cate Blanchette was once pictured reading a film script waiting for a London bus!
Gillian Anderson has been seen travelling on the London Underground.
Others are probably just not noticed.

On a previous thread someone started about where has meghan gone, it was pointed out that even in the few months that noone had seen her there had still been around 40 articles written about her in the media.

So for those saying she and Harry court the press...well that cannot be true all the time.

The media know their clickbait articles draw people in otherwise how can anyone explain why that many articles were produced? There was no new news to report on..ot was just churning up old stuff.

And yet, she lived a quiet life, carried on working, and cut back on public engagements and so they left her alone. That's a lesson on how to do it.

This attitude bothers me. It’s controlling. We’ll leave you alone as long as you live how we say. Out of sight. Jackie was a wife of a politician, so a completely different person with different goals in life.

But the question posed was, could they live a life of obscurity if they wanted to. So if they chose to live like that, why is it controlling?

The irony of it is that staying in the RF would have provided them with a better balance and mire stability.

Not having to fork out for their own security, being able to retreat to their private homes or private apartments in Royal buildings, being able to pop up and bring spotlights to their preferred charities, benefitting from the agreement with the press not to share images of the children.

But they would have to have accepted that they couldn't monetise their life or be celebrities in the classic sense.

But it didn’t at all.

It would be interesting to know what Harry and Meghan's goals actually are. On the one hand they court publicity with their books, interviews, docudramas, organised 'pap' photos, announcements via various mouthpieces. On the other, they hate the tabloid media and the paparazzi (understandable). They have to maintain relevance to generate income, and of course the only way they stay relevant is to remain in the public consciousness.

They don’t want to live hidden away. I think it’s appalling people have to live isolated lives just to be left alone. It isn’t what they want so it’s a bit of a stupid question to me.

But so many other celebrities, politicians, sports people etc etc, the very famous, seem to manage perfectly well, not 'hiding away', just living their lives, with little or no press intrusion.

I'm not sure Harry would have chosen the life he has now (not the life with his wife and children but the life very much in the public eye, with the tabloids whipping up the interest and intrusion). I'm really not sure what the plan was - he definitely didn't want press intrusion, his every action and word monitored, yet here we are, largely down to the actions of Harry and Meghan themselves giving so much fodder to the press.

The ops posing a question of 'if'. I answered the question. If you don't want to answer the question, take it up with the op. Or go on another thread. But stop having a go at me. 🙄

Because there are large swathes of the general public who are small minded racist weirdo royalists.
(Note, I'm not saying all royalists are racist! Just I've met quite a few who are).

I think it’s not just about where they choose to live. It’s their whole attitude, thriving on drama and poking the hornets’ nest, then being surprised they all fly out.

They’ve generated excessive interest in their lives instead of the presumably controlled interest they wanted. They could have led a quiet life, appearing at and supporting various events and charities, but they chose not to do that. I do believe there’d be less excessive interest in them if they’d behaved in a calmer, more reserved way. There are loads of very famous celebs living quiet lives as part of communities.

@Mackerson I’m not ‘having a go’ I’m sharing my opinion on your opinion. Which is allowed.

They could have led a quiet life, appearing at and supporting various events and charities, but they chose not to do that.

They are doing that. They literally just did that and were hounded on their way home. They’re not to blame for the insane intrusion into their life. Meghan is barely seen so it’s nothing she is doing. They should be allowed to live how they want.

Of course they can live how they choose. But choices have consequences.

The Netflix series and Harry's book are only a few months ago. It will take time for the drama from those to fade, and in the meantime there is tabloid interest.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis was followed and photographed, so often and so relentlessly, by photographer Ron Gallea (who thinks of himself as the first of the paparazzi), that she took him to caught twice and he banned from being anywhere near her.

Jackie Kennedy was papped in NY Central Park looking very unwell only weeks before her death. she was photographed with her family members and again with her partner. I remember seeing those images in gossip mags.

Jackie was a very private person but could not stop this happening. She had to go outside and live her life.

With the paparazzi, I wonder when does it go from invading peoples privacy, their personal life to stalking?

And even if a famous person stood still for the photos, how do they know that all photographers are legitimate and mean them no harm eg stalking?

‘Court’ not caught.

My opinion was in reply to the ops question. Your opinion was just having a pop because you felt I saying the Sussexes should live a quiet life. It was nothing to do with the purpose of the thread.

Yeah but her campervan is amazing.

@Mackerson whatever

Doing documentaries, giving interviews, writing books is the absolute antithesis of living a quiet life. Nobody is so naive as to expect you can ramp up public and media interest when it's financially lucrative to do so and then think that interest will decline when you want your privacy back.

😂😂

They don’t want a private life. They’re all about the drama. They don’t want the work and hassle that comes with being royal but want all the connections and adulation.

I don’t get why they had to try and hide from paparazzi to the point lives could be in danger. Leave A drive to B hotel wherever they stayed go to room close curtains. So they got photos of you in car so what can't see people would be interested in a married couple travelling togeather ! Of if they are they would soon get bored.

They don’t want to live hidden away. I think it’s appalling people have to live isolated lives just to be left alone. It isn’t what they want so it’s a bit of a stupid question to me

Yes they need to lead their own lives however they want - not based on what others want for them. It can be hard in life to not get pulled back into the family system and family expectations. Growing is up is about making your own thoughts and feeling a priority - not the externals.