Porkies, Perfidies & Pomposity - Harry and Meghan thread 2

[YaMuvva]

I do not take credit for the title

First thread here

Shall we continue the discussion? I will not be engaging with the posters spouting damaging and unfounded gossip

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_royal_family/5084429-why-do-harry-and-meghan-tell-porkies-that-are-so-easy-to-prove-wrong?page=1

This is brilliant! Haven’t seen it before. So funny.

You need to seriously lack warmth as well as a sense of humour to not like it!! I can’t believe that they’re barely cracking a smile during his performance. It’s a polite “I don’t get it smile”, at most.

Thanks for linking @CremeFresh

OMG, I am huge Greg Davies fan. Thank you for posting that!

You are correct . W and C didn’t join the procession as H and M kicked up a fuss but it was so obvious as the programmes had already been printed .
There was also the issue of the transport ; H and M were supposed to travel and arrive with the Tindalls etc but refused and insisted on a limo .

Before Meghan arrived, Harry was very much swept along with W&C at different events ('a jolly threesome') and perhaps their seniority wasn't as obvious? Once they became a couple that was no longer appropriate, so I would think Harry also felt disgruntled and hard done by to be shuffled down the pecking order according to hierarchy.

Also probably quite educational for Harry!

Lifestooshort71 · Today 15:09
Before Meghan arrived, Harry was very much swept along with W&C at different events ('a jolly threesome') and perhaps their seniority wasn't as obvious? Once they became a couple that was no longer appropriate, so I would think Harry also felt disgruntled and hard done by to be shuffled down the pecking order according to hierarchy.

That's an excellent point. Yes, they'd been pretty much a threesome with little differentiation until H got together with M, things became much more formal and I suppose that rubbed Harry's nose in it. All it needed was Meghan's own insecurities to fan the flames or smouldering resentment.

I think they could have carried on as two couples and the Fab Four idea would have worked though, had Meghan not felt the need to be number 1 in the Fab Four 🤷‍♀️

I’m not so sure, I get the impression Catherine is a stickler for form. Even if she and Markle had been the best of friends I think she would have expected her senior rank to be recognised and protocol followed. There was a very big difference in their respective roles and I suspect she may have found the Fab Four notion jarring in placing them all on the same footing. I wouldn’t blame her for that.

Love it! I never watch the RVP because usually people seem a bit constipated but this is fabulous.

@MummyJ12 I think lots of it would have gone over Meghan's head, I dont know if they have tea towels in America and the reference to the Queen's hats being guarded by ravens might have passed her by too.

Was that service in the Abbey the one where Meghan got "told off" by Sophie for grinning at the camera?

I've seen explanations for Meghan seeking out the camera as that she's an actress and that's what they do. But when actors are on a TV or movie set, the one thing they don't do is look at the camera.

Greg Davis 🤣 god I love him - never seen that before, brilliant 🤩

He's one to prick the pomposity of people like Harry and Meghan!

It was all part of her belief that it was all about her. I reckon she is a very insecure person and has to try to be in control of her image the whole time.

I think you’re spot on.

Keanu Reeves should be a MNer! 😂

@CremeFresh Another to say thank you for posting that - it really made me chuckle. I do like Greg Davies and "little" Alex Horne - I have sent the video to Dh and Ds - I think they will find it funny also & I agree it pricks the pomposity - not of the late Queen - but perhaps Harry

CremeFresh · 07/06/2024 19:44
@MummyJ12 I think lots of it would have gone over Meghan's head,

You've put your finger(s) on what's at the heart of so many problem for H & M. As I keep banging on on these threads, it's taken a while for me to realise how culturally ignorant they both are. Harry shows no sign of any cultural interests (I think in Spare he mentions that his history teacher was astounded at his lack of interest in his own family's past) and actually, I've never seen any evidence that Meghan does either.

Do we ever hear of them attending the theatre (and she was an actress!), dance, art exhibitions? Not that I can remember - and I'm sure if they did we'd know....

Some might say 'That's their prerogative - they don't need to have such interests - but I think, for people in their position, it's important. Personally (and this is my own prejudice) I have no interest in people who have no cultural or historical consciousness, but for two such privileged, wealthy and supposedly public figures they should at least start to educate themselves.

I think it's really sad. When she started properly working as a royal they gave her a lot of arts patronages that seemed to fit in with her interests (as well as animal rescue, which I think she genuinely loved) and I think it backfired. I've worked with people in TV before and some of them have a me-first mentality and only want to promote themselves and their work - it's a competitive environment and ruthless ambition seems to be an asset. You're competing with other people directly so you don't want to lift anyone else up at your own expense. I can only guess but she didn't seem interested in theatre and other people's careers; she liked acting and being a star but not the art form. Maybe she found it frustrating to see other people get opportunities and exciting jobs when she had diverted to ribbon-cutting and handshaking - which is a lot less glam than being a star.

Some good observations here.

I agree about the cultural interests. I nearly combusted a few years ago on a MN thread about duff holiday destinations. Posters were saying there was “nothing to do” in so many (even capital!) cities. Meghan just seems to enjoy being seen and dressing up. And interacting with influencers and (in her dreams) A Listers. So shallow.

Harry is simply simple. Dh works with a posho whose interests are hanging out with other poshos. He has never been to a gallery, the theatre or read a book.

Each to their own, but now Vignetta has pointed it out, it’s clear Meghan’s interest in acting began and ended with the star that is Meghan.

I agree with all of the above but would also add that it isn’t only lack of cultural interest that is the problem, but interest in general. The “ribbon cutting” side of the Royal family’s duties would actually be fascinating if Meghan could have been bothered to really find out about and talk to the people she would have met, but I don’t think for one minute that this is what she wanted to do. If you take on a role like that then it must really help to be prepared to take an interest in almost anything, which is entirely possible if you are open minded and keen to learn

I have a memory of Meghan at St Paul's vaguely saying to the Dean something like 'i haven't been here before - it's very nice'. It was as if she had never heard of it, let alone taken the opportunity to visit it.

“Nice” is also a bit of an underwhelming adjective to apply to St Paul’s 😆

MaturingCheeseball · Today 09:22

smilesy · Today 09:32

I agree with your points. When I was in St Paul's for a service, I was literally breathless with amazement at that building! I know this has overtones of the legendary poster on MN who 'shouted and screamed' with emotion on seeing the Sistine Chapel, but more power to her, I say!! 😄

Reminds me of going to Venice with a school tour (I'd never been before) and was thrilled as we approached it from the lagoon. A Cambridge-educated teacher asked genuinely 'So why's Venice so famous?' She was mid-30s and had a world-class education, but somehow had never looked into this matter. She was very well-travelled, but I suspect one of those people who don't really get interested or excited about cultural things. I know we're all different, but I find it hard to relate to that kind of attitude.

Yes - I would imagine M & H are not only not interested in cultural things, but pretty much anything outside themselves!! Harry might be interested in horses in as far as they are conveyances for his polo matches, I guess.

This is one of the reasons why I've always warmed to KC, despite his foibles - he is genuinely interested in these things and for me, that's important for a leader.

Interesting and very valid point about lack of interest in culture and history from them both.

Spare he mentions that his history teacher was astounded at his lack of interest in his own family's past) -in fact he got some wrong in Spare* *Harry said he was descended from King Henry VI whose only son was killed in war of Roses and other side took the crown - without that death Tudors wouldn't have had a shot with their poor claim later. No so much he got it very wrong more fact he didn't bother checking it and it adds to all the other inaccuracies that then appeared in news reports.

https://news.sky.com/story/prince-harrys-ghostwriter-jr-moehringer-defends-book-after-criticism-over-inaccuracies-12784953#:~:text=In%20Spare%2C%20Harry%20said%20he,any%20children%20of%20his%20own.

My history lessons didn't cover War of Roses but I know about it - first though Tudor history then mostly from TV and books/Shakespeare - odd castle/historical site visit and some curiosity and google.