Valentine Low book "Courtiers" Extra chapters for paperback. About statement after Oprah interview

[RYGO]

While they were as concerned as anyone about not getting into a tit-for-tat with Harry and Meghan, William and Kate were clear which side of the debate they were on. “They wanted it toughened up a bit,” said the insider. “They were both of one mind that we needed something that said that the institution did not accept a lot of what had been said.

“He said, ‘It is really important that you guys come up with the right way of making sure that we are saying that this does not stand.’ She was certainly right behind him on it.”

While some have attributed “recollections may vary” to Alderton, more than one source has said that the author was in fact Jean-Christophe Gray, William’s new private secretary, who had been in post for less than three weeks. At least two senior officials in other households were against its inclusion, because they feared that it would rile Harry and Meghan. But once the phrase had been added to the draft, it was — according to another source — the Duchess of Cambridge who pressed home the argument that it should remain. “It was Kate who clearly made the point, ‘History will judge this statement and unless this phrase or a phrase like it is included, everything that they have said will be taken as true.’ ”

This was, said the source, yet another example of how Kate is often far steelier than she appears. The toughened-up draft went to Buckingham Palace for approval, and came back a couple of hours later. The Queen had said yes.

The four-sentence statement was eventually released just before 5.30pm on Tuesday. It said, “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”

That the nurse committed suicide as a result of that prank call was a tragedy. In my country, the response was different. The blame was firmly placed on the two radio hosts that played the prank. British media was very cruel to Kate to have blamed her.

The rest is all absolutely inexcusable. But it goes to the argument that the press treat all married-in-RF women dreadfully - inexcusably.

People should read Clarkson’s Shame article if they haven’t already. That’s what much of the powerful mainstream media really thinks of women. Clarkson exposed what he really thought of women, and the establishment forgot themselves - and showed us their hand.

although some people can’t see it, it doesn’t mean there isn’t racist elements to some of it.

Kate faced classism and sexism. Meghan faced classism, sexism, racism and xenophobia.

For my sins I just watched Michael Currys sermon. They didn't laugh at him. One of the York sisters with red hair, I can't remember which is which, was smiling heavily and looking down towards Harry. But none of them laughed. Although some of the congregation had their heads in their hands because he did go on. The only time they all laughed, was when he said he had to sit down so they could get married. It was a joke. They all laughed, including Meghan. Of course, he was just lulling us because he actually carried on going for longer.

Kate faced classism and sexism.

...and naked photos.

Zara has said she was very uncomfortable sitting in the church pew because she was so heavily pregnant. I'm not sure why she's being included in this list of royal family members supposedly being rude.

I was familiar with Bishop Curry's work prior to the wedding. He can be an extraordinary speaker. He can also be long-winded and boring. Unfortunately, the speech he gave on that day wasn't one of his best. He winged it and it showed. Everyone listening to it looked bored - including the bride and groom! - not just members of the royal family.

I feel non consensual leaked naked photos is a step further from sexism. It should be classified as sexual harrassment or assault

Can you imagine what people would say on here if that had happened to Meghan? But as it was Kate, it all seems to be dismissed.

I think that's an unfair characterization of Catherine. She seems to be the introverted type. I am one myself, and I don't feel comfortable to be touchy feely with anyone who I don't really know - it doesn't mean I don't like them, it's just how I am. You're also comparing William who, as the future king, was raised from birth to be comfortable in how to interact with people from various backgrounds, to someone who, prior to meeting and marrying the heir, was a private citizen.

Could you show those videos of her interactions, so we can judge for ourselves whether Catherine seemed dismissive of the lady with the brightly coloured hair, and she was full of admiration for the very beautiful blonde woman? Because what you described is merely your interpretation of said events, and that doesn't necessarily mean it's the truth.

Also, have you considered that it could also be that Catherine looked that way towards the blonde woman because she was, according to you, beautiful? People tend to treat beautiful people in a different way compared to non beautiful people, it's called the ‘halo’ effect.

Exactly. Even now in this thread, the Sussex fans are still trying their hardest to downplay what happened to Catherine as just being called names like ‘waity katie’, so they can claim it was nowhere near as bad as what Meghan experienced.

And now they're going on criticizing Catherine for not acting extroverted, and claiming/implying she's racist (without any evidence whatsoever) because she doesn't hug every person of colour she meets.

Kate’s mother grew up in a two up two down in Southall west London. If you know that area it is very diverse and working class. It is where everyone lived that worked at Heathrow and that is probably still the case now and I don’t mean the pilots, I mean the porter’s, security guards and cleaners all getting on the bus. She is not from posh stock at all. Have you seen or heard her uncle Gary?
There’s a lot of nonsense in this thread!

Can you imagine what people would say on here if that had happened to Meghan? But as it was Kate, it all seems to be dismissed.

No. Violence against women is fuelled by misogyny and sexism and therefore saying that Kate was subject to sexism is not dismissing her experiences. I have been on this site long enough to feeling awful for Kate when she had HG and was soundly castigated by many here and in the press for this in very unreasonable ways - this attack on a woman for no other reason besides being royal was what piqued my interest primarily in royal women. So, Kate indeed has suffered with sexism and classism - it is not minimising of her experiences to say that Meghan in addition to sexism also deals with racism and xenophobia.

Thank you. I don't see anyone dismissing the sexism or press intrusions of Kate. When we discuss racism, it doesn't dismiss other horrible things. But we shouldn't really need to explain that woc have the additional burden of racism on top of sexism. Sadly it seems we do.

The bullying allegations, I have to admit that I didn’t believe them at first due to the timing yet Harry saying that several members of their staff broke down crying at their desks tells me there might be some truth to it

This is always repeated here and taken out of context. He was referring to the volume of awful reporting and social media hate they had to deal with and that he didn't have enough staff to deal with it. He certainly wasn't saying his wife made them cry! People really shouldn't deliberately misrepresent what was said in his book. The press took that passage and twisted it, like so many others and unfortunately people are just repeating it.

On here, we would have been told that Meghan called those paps herself. And was posing and smiling for them.

Those of us who work in offices and have managed teams and departments are quite capable of reading and assessing for ourselves, Iwantcakeeveryday. Harry’s own account spoke absolute volumes.

Thank you.

He made it very clear in the book.
If anything Meghan was taking care of staff as much as possible. Buying lights and heaters with her own credit card. Sharing the gifts she was receiving etc.

Luckily for Meghan, it has never happened to her - the only photos of her in undress or topless that exist are ones that she absolutely consented to - so there is no need to hypothethise about it.

I do note that loads of people blamed Kate for going out on a balcony in a private estate more than half a mile from the nearest road without a bikini top on, so yes, so completely agree the woman will always be blamed.

Well clearly not! I manage teams and worked in many offices too! I think he was quite clearly saying that he was short staffed and the amount of work was too much.

Sharing the gifts she was receiving etc.

Involving her staff in her own rule breaches!! No thank you!

He explicitly said this.

Maybe the Queen gave her tips? where are those missing jewels I wonder....

Clearly not a rule breach then, because she was doing it and was not punished by HR or called up on it. This is one of those things that have been clarified in the book, you know, that made up protocol bs we get fed. They do accept gifts.

I even recall that some of the baby gifts are personalised. With the RF recipients, looking rather touched. What do you suppose they do with those. Didn't one of them proudly ride a rocking horse or something to show their appreciation to the person who gave them - which I thought was a sweet gesture.

I recall after a big event, either a jubilee or funeral, people leave flowers and gifts (teddy bears etc.)outside the palace. Someone was so shocked to find the royal staff making a bonfire and burning the whole lot.

That the nurse committed suicide as a result of that prank call was a tragedy. In my country, the response was different. The blame was firmly placed on the two radio hosts that played the prank. British media was very cruel to Kate to have blamed her.

Just to clarify @Morestrangerthings no one blamed Kate, it was the same here, everyone blamed those radio hosts.

I may have seen on sm later, people confused as to why she had another hospital reveal after what happened, while others figured the security must have been tighter to prevent what took place from happening again, others felt the palace should have refrained for the sake of that lady.

The palace always get their PR wrong, they could have said in memory of her, we announce at the palace (it's not like it's the heir).

Don't get me started on the stairs tradition, which I find rather cruel, tbh.

I must admit missing any media blaming that poor nurse’s suicide on Kate. I remember feeling so sick for the poor woman falling for that prank. So sad all round.

Don't get me started on the stairs tradition, which I find rather cruel, tbh

It's not really a tradition, only three royal women have done it - Diana, Sarah and Catherine. (Though Anne was also photographed on exit, but she didn't really stop and wave, and a nurse was holding the baby).

If they want to have a hospital birth, then it's going to be pretty hard to stop people noticing and the press camping out. So then it becomes a case of things like traffic management (which may even affect choice of hospital) and whether the new parents should "snub" those who have waited outside.

But there won't be a birth close to the line of succession for (I expect) at least another 20 years, which might give enough time for change. Who knows what the state of British hospitals will be like by then. Perhaps kitting out a suite in a palace as a birthing centre might be a thinkable option for the future, just as it was in the past