Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The royal family
Original poster

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Invictus Games 2023

767 replies

MrsMaxDeWinter · 13/09/2023 11:45

Most of the Invictus threads seem to be filling up, or focused on fairly parochial issues, so I thought, now that Meghan is in Dusseldorf, I would lead us off with a general new thread about Harry and Meghan at Invictus 2023.

Some initial thoughts from me.

The UK tabloid narrative about how much Harry and Meghan are loathed globally is blown apart by the warm and rousing welcome they both received, both separately and together. So the UK tabloids have to dig deep to write eye-rollingly silly stories about Harry being "humiliated" because he did not score a goal during a fun, light-hearted TV appearance to promote the Games.

Invictus clearly means everything to Harry, and it is lovely to see Meghan supporting him, and to remember that it was at Invictus in Toronto that they first went public. The event must have such lovely memories for them both.

Favourite picture: Meghan with Glory Essien, the Nigerian athlete.

The Nigerians have really lit up the tournament. A Kenyan senator who met Harry last week posted on X that she would work on Kenya to be the next African team.

After everything in the last year, it's so lovely to see that Invictus is getting bigger, that Harry is as committed as he has always been to the Games he started, and that Meghan is there to support the veterans, and her husband.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
31
skullbabe · 04/12/2023 19:08

Roussette · 04/12/2023 18:32

Course they don't Hmm

It would be unusual if they did this seeing as prior to meeting Meghan, there wasn’t information detailing Harry’s day to day work with veterans.

skullbabe · 04/12/2023 19:11

I realise it is difficult to fully use their endorsement when they want to maintain their privacy

I think that many patrons are able to endorse charities and endeavours whilst choosing how they want to engage with the press and media. Which is what they actually said they wanted (not that they wanted privacy). I think overall they do a great job of it.

parksandrecs · 04/12/2023 19:17

I agree, they do a great job of keeping their everyday work with charities private, and good for them. They are obviously not chasing media approval.

parksandrecs · 04/12/2023 20:08

No doubt members of the RF choose to engage without making it public as well, and those who criticise their lack of official engagements will take their unofficial involvement into account.

skullbabe · 05/12/2023 03:48

No doubt members of the RF choose to engage without making it public as well, and those who criticise their lack of official engagements will take their unofficial involvement into account.

No. The RF are not private citizens - they are representatives of the Head of State and their estates/lifestlyes are funded through the public purse directly and indirectly. Because of this - there will always be a public expectation that the RF demonstrate what the public purse is being used for. Their official engagements will always be a source of interest as a measure for this. They, unfortunately due to their position, cannot provide support unofficially and under the radar like private citizens.

EnoughIsay · 05/12/2023 04:49

Janiie · 04/12/2023 18:03

I think a better way of supporting ex service men and women with medical and mh issues would be to give them something to do in everyday lives, help them find support in work places, find employers who would collaborate and accommodate their needs.

Not as starry as H being under the spotlight on stage giving long winded flowery speeches. But much more useful. A week of playing sport and then what?

Maybe employers who watch Invictus will open their minds to hiring ex service men and women.

Maybe training for the games gives some a purpose and a focus.

Maybe some become trainers for the games.

Maybe some become advocates for ex military in civil society.

Maybe every piece helps build a whole?

Including an occasional flowery speech.

EnoughIsay · 05/12/2023 04:56

Janiie · 04/12/2023 18:33

'The expectation that this one charity needs to do the work of a government and provide all the support they need in their life including jobs and opportunities is a bit much!'

No, I think the gov and the military do indeed provide support with benefits etc.
I believe help for heroes and SAFFA also great in supporting those who need it

A week of sport is great to boost confidence etc but what about the rest of the year. People suffering physically and mentally need support and motivation for everyday life and my genuine question is are businesses sponsoring people courtesy of Invictus in the workplace, if not why not and if yes why don't we hear more about it?

Why not write to them with your suggestions?\

Or volunteer?

EnoughIsay · 05/12/2023 05:06

parksandrecs · 04/12/2023 20:08

No doubt members of the RF choose to engage without making it public as well, and those who criticise their lack of official engagements will take their unofficial involvement into account.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex are private citizens doing it because they want to.

The royal family are public figures doing it because they have to.

Bit of a difference I would say.

themessygarden · 05/12/2023 06:16

The Sussex’s are doing it because they need to, they have no profile otherwise.

ALittleTeawithmilk · 05/12/2023 06:41

Janiie · 04/12/2023 18:33

'The expectation that this one charity needs to do the work of a government and provide all the support they need in their life including jobs and opportunities is a bit much!'

No, I think the gov and the military do indeed provide support with benefits etc.
I believe help for heroes and SAFFA also great in supporting those who need it

A week of sport is great to boost confidence etc but what about the rest of the year. People suffering physically and mentally need support and motivation for everyday life and my genuine question is are businesses sponsoring people courtesy of Invictus in the workplace, if not why not and if yes why don't we hear more about it?

my genuine question is are businesses sponsoring people courtesy of Invictus in the workplace, if not why not and if yes why don't we hear more about it?

Please. Why don’t you write to invictus and ask that. Especially put in the bit ‘if not why not?’

Then you can report back to us with their answer, yeah?

ALittleTeawithmilk · 05/12/2023 06:44

Sorry @EnoughIsay
I didn’t see your response to that post, until after I posted my response to it.
😄

skullbabe · 05/12/2023 08:08

The Sussex’s are doing it because they need to,they have no profile otherwise.

Regardless of whether they want to or need to - they can do things publically or under the radar as private citizens which is what this conversation was about.

parksandrecs · 05/12/2023 08:13

Yes and no.

Their public profile is because of their relationship to the RF, which they have monetised by attacking.

Harry has nothing else to offer (and his involvement with Invictus was because he was a member of the RF)

Meghan was a successful - but minor - actress with a blog.

Roussette · 05/12/2023 08:18

skullbabe · 05/12/2023 08:08

The Sussex’s are doing it because they need to,they have no profile otherwise.

Regardless of whether they want to or need to - they can do things publically or under the radar as private citizens which is what this conversation was about.

Well said. They can do what they want AFAIC. We don't pay for them. And well done them for putting their skills and indeed names towards philanthropic projects.

YupIKnow · 05/12/2023 08:29

It is something that Harry has been used to from his life in the RF and he has thought "Oh I know how we can make a living, M" but it hasn't quite panned out to the extent he possibly hoped. Basically private citizens aren't that as important as being part of a RF (even when you are trading on titles from an institution you detest)

parksandrecs · 05/12/2023 08:32

I am not sure which 'skills' are being referred to.

They have a profile because of their connections to the RF, which is why Harry (as opposed to any other ex-military figure) has been involved with Invictus

Iwantcakeeveryday · 05/12/2023 08:40

Roussette · 05/12/2023 08:18

Well said. They can do what they want AFAIC. We don't pay for them. And well done them for putting their skills and indeed names towards philanthropic projects.

Show quote history

Yup, plenty of celebrities and private citizens do great charity work and Meghan did before she met Harry so no reason they would stop. Unlike the RF, they're not putting their hands out expecting to be paid by the public for doing charitable things. I have a relative who started a charity when they had cancer, for others suffering. She never got paid for it and thankfully nobody picked apart her intentions. She has passed now but her family have carried it on and it does wonderful things for children with cancer.

I suggest we don't go round in circles yet again about this, its been done to death on the Invictus threads already.

parksandrecs · 05/12/2023 08:41

His career wasn't anything exceptional - let alone whether he would have got into Sandhurst without being QE2's grandson - either in seniority or in doing anything exceptional.

Would any other recruit who had a relatively short and undistinguished career have got the publicity to found the Invictus Games?

Good for him for using his position to get a UK version going. But, let's face it, he hasn't done any of the day to day work, he has put his RF name to it, and turned up for the photo ops

parksandrecs · 05/12/2023 08:44

I have set up a couple of local charities over my half century - filled in the paperwork, done the day to day slog, turned up for meetings that don't go anywhere.

I don't think Harry has done that, somehow!

Roussette · 05/12/2023 08:47

Iwantcakeeveryday · 05/12/2023 08:40

Yup, plenty of celebrities and private citizens do great charity work and Meghan did before she met Harry so no reason they would stop. Unlike the RF, they're not putting their hands out expecting to be paid by the public for doing charitable things. I have a relative who started a charity when they had cancer, for others suffering. She never got paid for it and thankfully nobody picked apart her intentions. She has passed now but her family have carried it on and it does wonderful things for children with cancer.

I suggest we don't go round in circles yet again about this, its been done to death on the Invictus threads already.

Show quote history

Good to hear about the ongoing charity your relative set up. In sad circumstances of course.

Agree with your last para... it's like groundhog day sometimes on here!

parksandrecs · 05/12/2023 08:53

And yet you ignore my post about also setting up charities that have gone on (in one case) for over 30 years... the other has only started in the last 12-18 months.

And my scepticism about the level of work Harry has put in?

Iwantcakeeveryday · 05/12/2023 08:54

It is @Roussette and I think it a waste of our time to go over the exact same things repeatedly.

parksandrecs · 05/12/2023 08:55

'I suggest we don't go round in circles' 😂i.e. let's ignore a valid comment as it doesn't fit our agenda!

parksandrecs · 05/12/2023 08:57

IG does amazing work, and well done Harry for seeing the US equivalent and advocating for a UK version.

But let's face it, he isn't in the office every day making it happen. And the reason he was listened to, and the IG were created, is because he is a member of the RF. Not because he has done anything exceptional, just because he was born into a ridiculous amount of privilege.

skullbabe · 05/12/2023 08:59

Their public profile is because of their relationship to the RF, which they have monetised by attacking.

And there it is.

Harry has nothing else to offer (and his involvement with Invictus was because he was a member of the RF)

Fine. Should be no skin of your nose then what he does.

Meghan was a successful - but minor - actress with a blog.

Sure. She also did lots of charitable work - seems to have always been an interest of hers. It’s good that she can continue and it evident in some of the projects Archewell supports that there are things that seem more aligned with what she did prior to her marriage.

Back to Invictus - as a project - this is Harry’s baby and obviously his wife will support him in this. As has been done to death - of course Invictus attracting the interest it has and having the reach it does is because of Harry’s link to the Royal Family. It is a good thing for the cause itself no?

Swipe left for the next trending thread