ARO thread 2

[OneHeartySnail]

To continue the discussion...

What next? What did the launch aim to achieve? Did it get the desired result?

I think that’s more than likely.

Insider dealing and corporate espionage LOL, is there anything they don't get up to

Ouch! haha many a true word said in jest. I’m sure this latest fracarse with “cease and desist” will make them even more trustworthy and A list!

One of the many reasons MM and the monarchy were incompatible. The monarchy doesn't jump on current trends and fashions. It's one of its strengths. Critics talk about them being 'out of touch', but there's nothing wrong with having deeply held principles, and sticking to them.

Remember that Charles was for many years considered an absolute loon because of his environmental causes.

Then more recently, he had the credibility of 40+ years in the field for people to sit up and realise he was worth paying attention to. He doesn't live completely according to the standards he espouses, but he does do a metric fuckton of relevant things.

Also Anne - who was nominated for a Nobel Prize for her work with Save the Children, and who said she spent the first ten or more years of her association with them doing what they wanted her to do (as she respected that they knew more) and only then beginning to put forward ideas.

Edward and Sophie tried to be "modern" and continue their careers, but had to bounce back from failure (Edward) and shady scandal (Sophie) and they did it by adopting something akin to Anne's approach. Edward is now sound on DofE and other youth projects; Sophie well respected internationally on VAWG, FGM and rape as a tool of war (something the British press barely seems to mention)

I always think it’s such a travesty that Sophie’s sterling work doesn’t get more traction.

I still think there are things going on behind the scenes as this venture goes against the Sandringham Agreement.

I doubt that's legally enforceable and certainly not in the US. I suppose it could fuel calls for their titles to be removed.

I came here to say I thought as an outline of a business it actually has potential, but they would need someone competent to run it, and possibly partner with one or more existing organisations. And then I see all the stuff about Flamingo Estates... I can see their terribly pretentious website and overpriced goods appealing to the Duchess. But it seems shockingly clueless just to copy it.

Prydddan

Apart from the loss of the Sussex title, which would just mean she'd move to Princess?

Even if that happened, she'd be Princess Henry rather than Princess Meghan, I think.
If so, I can't see that going down well with her feminist principles.

Seems like another case of Meghan (and I do think it is her, Harry is even less able than she is) thinking she can waltz into an industry and make a success of it. Didn't work for podcasts, didn't work for TV/film producing (which she's at least had some small experience in) and doesn't seem to be working for jam selling.

Harry got together with a very good ghost writer and wrote the one book he had in him. He's got nothing else.

Meghan keeps trying stuff, but nothing sticks.

I think they had to stop whatever was planned. Which takes us back to it was flamingo Estates and tney got the lawyers involved

Though we can't know, that would actually make some kind of sense

FWIW I'm one of those who genuinely hoped the Riviera Orchard thing would come to something, though I did wonder just how much of a moneyspinner it might be. The fact there's simply nothing there is a disappointment, but perhaps it was naive to expect anything else

Edited to add I remembered the remark about being "really excited" about upcoming projects, and presumably this was one? If so it seems even more of a disappointment

Here's the thing - creating and selling products is actually really complicated. Marketing them ditto. Even choosing a product line that you didn't make yourself is complicated.

Imo, the only way that celebrities make any money from selling stuff is by licensing their name and others making the products. See George Clooney and his tequila, Kylie Minogue and her wine, Kim Kardashian and Skims, Kylie Kardashian and makeup. Very successful, but basically licensing their names.

But she doesn't go with the traditional styled.

T he Duchess.

Her American market wouldn't see owt wrong with styling herself Princess Meghan - she's married to a Prince, after all.

Here's the thing - creating and selling products is actually really complicated. Marketing them ditto. Even choosing a product line that you didn't make yourself is complicated.

Well, yes - just look at The Apprentice.

Prydddan & OliverTwisted

Oh, really?
Sigh...
I'm so disillusioned

Yes, a friend's DD (teen) has started making scrunchies for sale. Perfectly good scrunchies, but there is only so many friends and family will buy.

It is very different to market to a wider audience

Or you pick a compatible existing business and invest a significant portion and then also become the face of it for marketing which Ryan Reynolds does brilliantly. He also manages to cross promote most of his products and get them as often as he can in his movie and TV work.

He uses his comedy acting skill set to really push the marketing and then he also ‘flips’ some of his investments once they’ve increased their market value and invests in something else.

I think he’s a workaholic though.

Also re the ‘Sandringham’ agreement - I think it’s less important today because it was mainly about stopping them having an ‘official’ half in half out option.

Using their name, title and any other perceived royal connection isn’t necessarily a problem as long as they are not officially representing the British head of state in any capacity.

I’m sure all of the royals who aren’t officially working for the King enjoy the benefits of being ‘connected’. That’s just how life works.

Harry and Meghan have shot themselves in the foot though with all the complaining about the royals because they can’t really use that cachet anymore and no one will believe Harry has the King’s ear over anything.

Yes I agree. The 'Sandringham agreement' was kind of an interim agreement, as the door was being left open to them to return after a year. During that time, it was important for the Queen that they not engage in commercial ventures using their titles, as they were not entirely 'out. Now that it is obvious that they will not be working royals again, it's not such a big deal for them to have business ventures using their titles, but without the HRH.

I also agree that they have played this very poorly. Nobody cares if you're a Duchess. It's an empty title. If they'd kept on good terms with the royals, at least publicly, and made the occasional appearance at Sandringham or Trooping, they'd have kept at least some of the allure of royalty. Now they're just C list celebrities in a place with no shortage of those.

Yes I suspect this was a big one and the cooking show to go with it.

they may still get there but it looks unlikely, it’s a poor start. Their target audience has high disposable income and live high end and classy, and I just don’t think Megan is aspirational or desirable now to this demographic.

They may have been at the point of the wedding but they’ve fallen from grace , it would need to be very good and unique for anyone to want the cringe factor of having her stuff in their home. And it’s a crowded market in that space.

it would have worked for her with flamingo estate as they have a following and a strong reputation, but just them, I think it’s a mountain to climb.

I think the faux royal tours, and meeting with First Nations people to discuss constitutional issues is more against the spirit of the Agreement than having an online shop.

I agree with you. No one would think they are representing the royals, so the sandringham agreement is fairly moot at this point. As long as they don’t use royal or hrh, which they won’t, I think the rest is irrelevant. Everyone just takes the piss when they try to be royal, but they keep doing it as they have nothing else left. Movers, shakers, important industry players they are not .

i don’t think they are c list though, but they aren’t a or b either, you’d not want them at your event unless you couldn’t publicise it any other way or as cheap publicity. They are basically do contentious they are on their own list.

it’s sad really, as working royals they could have went to all the premiers, the stars would have lined up to meet them, they could habe befriended them,had them over to dinner, hung out with them.

yes wearing thousands of pounds worth of designer clothes all the time , or flying on private jets would have been frowned upon, they’d have to habe worked.

i personally think they are in a lot of trouble , they aren’t going to be able to turn it round,or create a viable income stream. Charles would likely have to financially support them ultimately or any inheritance Harry receives when he passes.

if they can reduce their costs, they can self support for a good number of years.but right now they must be blowing through 7 or 8 million a year. Legal and security Is about 5 million a year. Then salaries, taxes, clothes, travel. And they basically are not earning.

I know I’m MILES behind but I’ve just watched the Toronto “day in the life of” video. I HONESTLY thought as I pressed play ‘I’ll like this, she’s good at this stuff - she speaks well and she likes food and she was young and had a good job and did the Tig.’

it was NOT good! Show me some of Toronto! Did no one TELL her she had to do more than flick her hair and pose? Was it definitely not a parody?

Also on ARO, it has to be the lawyers stopping it. I don’t mind them signing themselves off as Prince Harry (does he ever call himself Duke of?) and Duchess of Sussex as they literally have no other way to make cash. If he wouldn’t even do an estate management course, and she wouldn’t stay acting when the late QE2 suggested it so what are they meant to do. Kardashian it up.

I agree with you, I think it’s a legal issue also that’s put a stop to aro. And I also don’t take issue with them using their titles. I find it cringe and feel a bit embarassed and sorry for them that it’s now all they have, but no one thinks they are representing the royals so it’s now meaningless using them.

they must be getting desperate. And desperate folks don’t do sensible things. They didn’t do sensible things when they weren’t desperate. So I don’t think it’s going anywhere good if they just keep failing.