Harry Says His Fight Against Tabloids Is a 'Central Piece' of Rift with the Royal Family

[popthepopcorns]

Is there anyone in the public eye more delusional and lacking in self-awareness than Harry?

The Duke of Sussex, 39, sat down for a new interview for ITV's documentary Tabloids on Trial, premiering on Thursday, July 25. In a preview released a day before the airing, Harry discussed his reasons for publicly pursuing lawsuits against publications over allegations of phone hacking and other unlawful acts — a contrast from his brother, Prince William, who reportedly quietly received a "very large sum of money" in a settlement from News Group Newspapers (NGN) in 2020 amid a claimed "secret agreement" with the royals.
ITV's Rebecca Barry asked Prince Harry in the clip, "To what extent do you think your determination to fight the tabloids destroyed the relationship with your family?"
"I think that's certainly a central piece to it," the Duke of Sussex replied. "That's a hard question to answer because anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press."
"I've made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done. It would be nice if we did it as a family," he continued. "I believe that, again, from a service standpoint and when you're in a public role, that these are the things that we should be doing for the greater good. But I'm doing this for my reasons."

I think he’s made it consistently clear that he didn’t want to leave, but circumstances were such that he felt he had little choice.

I don’t agree with everything he has done , I am not a massive supporter of H&M or anything , I think there is blame on both sides.

I also think this situation could have been handled much more skilfully and that they should have anticipated that very hurt people tend to act in extreme ways.

I know the majority on here seem to relish the split within the family but I don’t think it’s a good thing at all on many levels.

Exactly.

It's all relative.

The same hierarchy which made William 'above' Harry made him above almost every other person in the country. Simply because of who he was born to. He sees the person above him, but not the millions 'below' him. He was and is very happy with that situation when it comes to being 'above' almost everyone else.

And no, there was nothing 'precarious' about his situation. He's worth millions, all of it unearned. To repeat, he could live in luxury without working a single day.

Does Harry - or those so concerned about the 'unfairness' of his situation - think it's 'unfair' that he's 'above' all of his cousins?

I’m not sure. I think it is possible that your character moulds to the position you are allocated. The education and support you are given is certainly all geared to you having the top job one day. It probably influences how people treat you too.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “second in lines” are always a bit more feisty tbh.

I am certainly glad that Andrew wasn’t crowned though. A near miss there.

No one relishes a family split. What a ridiculous thing to say.

The split is no one else’s fault but Harry’s anyway. He listed a whole heap of “I wants” and when he was told no that’s not possible, he flounced. We can’t always have things just because we want them.

I am certainly glad that Andrew wasn’t crowned though. A near miss there

We totally agree on this!
I think everyone will agree with you on this.

It’s definitely a tricky one the “second in line” or “spare”. You’re born into a role of understudy and I can’t imagine what that must feel like.

Well if you are supportive of a monarchy and the hierarchy that that dictates, then Harry should be more favoured than his cousins shouldn’t he? So I don’t understand the logic of your point.

And I don’t think this is about material wealth and money per se even those things are involved.

For the RF, I imagine those things represent how much you are loved, respected and favoured.

And that is what I suspect lies at the heart of the issue.

I think it’s because he wasn’t used to hearing “no” @smilesy.
It reminds me of the “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets” story.
We can have whatever we want or we’re off and we’ll make you regret it. Seems to be it in a nutshell.

The exception is George VI who became a great king even though it was thrust upon him. We should be grateful to Wallis Simpson for taking Edward VIII off our hands.

A perfect example of the better brother stepping up into the role rather than being born first into it. I agree and thank goodness.
We do have a lot to thank Wallis for!
The York family were more than happy with their lot and were apprehensive about it all but yet, like you say. Such a great King and then followed HM Queen Elizabeth who undoubtedly was the greatest.

Maybe but I think it’s easier to be gracious when the power is already in your hands, or when you know it soon will be.

That doesn’t excuse obnoxious behaviour of course from anyone.

But I can understand it a bit more if he suddenly felt outside the inner circle, having been brought up within it. And he wanted to show Meghan that he still had influence.

Especially if he had reason to think that his wife wasn’t being accorded the same respect that other royal brides had been given for whatever reason?

After what Harry and Meghan have said/implied about William, Kate and their children I don't know how anyone could be 'gracious'.

Meghan was afforded way more than total brides who had gone before. I think the rf bent over backwards to show her welcome, but, of course, Harry (and Meghan) wanted recognition that Meghan was the most special royal bride ever.

And he wanted to show Meghan that he still had influence.

I think this is a good point. Yes, absolutely.

Especially if he had reason to think that his wife wasn’t being accorded the same respect that other royal brides had been given for whatever reason?

I don’t know what more the Royal Family could have done to show Meghan respect and that she was welcome.
They were married in church by the Archbishop of Canterbury and followed with huge celebrations. Absolutely no expense was spared and the Queen attended as though Meghan wasn’t divorced, The Queen did not even attend Charles and Camilla’s wedding.
Charles gave Meghan away.
They were given titles.

Do you know who was treated unfairly? The 5 members of staff turfed out of Frogmore Cottage so it could be converted for H&M for approx 18 months. It's absolutely shocking.

Anmer Hall was given to William and Catherine after they were married for several years. I don't think they are interested in slumming it a la Marie Antionette. That's quite insulting, wouldn't you say? Wasn't Harry offered an estate in the Cotswolds? And a apartment at KP? Christ, I would have married that ginger buffoon for that.

For all Harry angst about being spare, although he wasn’t when he wrote spare he has chosen to carry on the hierarchy tradition, his son out ranks his daughter, his children out rank his wife and Harry outranks them all. Is lilibet going to be given preferential treatment to compensate being beneath Archie. Harry was given hierarchical preferential treatment when his grandmother died but instead of appreciating the invitation to see the queen he made the occasion about Meghan, the fact that the other grandchildren were not provided the invitation went over Harry head and focused on William and Catherine . Harry is not against hierarchy just his position.

Exactly.

I think I would find it hard to be gracious if my sibling had written about my genitalia in a book as well as numerous other things that really should have remained private and not put out in the public domain.

If my sibling had gone against an agreement not to monetise or dredge up the memory of a parent.

If my sibling had supporters that had bullied, vilified and harassed my very poorly partner and had accusations of racism thrown at them and also our very poorly father.

I don’t think that I could be gracious.
I would go completely NC.

They are off to that very safe country…..Colombia!

you couldn’t make it up. The day after he bangs on about the UK being unsafe

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13698271/Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-visit-Colombia.html

I certainly think she was given a lovely wedding!

I don’t know for sure what went on. Certainly no better than anyone else on these threads.

Meghan doesn’t strike me as someone who would sit back and see how things develop but perhaps that’s all she has known in her world? Perhaps she was stressed and out of her depth? Perhaps Harry was doing his best to help her?

And sorry but I can imagine incidences of racism being possible among the courtiers or some older members of the RF, or comments being made about her being “different” with the same implication.

What I know for sure though is that family relationships are sometimes very difficult and that’s without the involvement of courtiers and go betweens and rival offices and press interference which all add up to intense pressure.

Usually these situations are not all one sided either.

I have no idea! You obviously have a direct line to BP! 😄

Hilarious.
At least it’s not a member of the commonwealth.
Again, proving another of my points that they love to feed the circus.

What’s your take on the Colombia visit @Applecidervinegar641

How you going to try and spin this one I wonder?

How would you like it if your income and accommodation and that of your sibling, was determined by your father and grandmother? It’s not at all an easy situation to be in because you feel beholden and powerless.

Hmmm, would I prefer to be earning my own money with all the attendant stress that comes from being solely responsible for my financial health, or I would rather be a trust fund baby? I think you’re overplaying the downsides here just a touch! 🤣

Also, in Harry’s aristocratic and Eton -based social circle, this will have been fairly normal. Scions of wealthy families generally don’t have to go and get an office job.

@Applecidervinegar641 I agree that Harry’s expectations in terms of wealth and status can’t be compared with most people’s, he was born into both and isn’t well equipped to cope without them. He’s probably
overwhelmed by the bills that keep coming in, because he’s never had to budget before. I’m not being nasty, he won’t have the life experience of most people and his obsession with security must be costing them. Honestly, I doubt that they need much security in the US, no one takes much notice of them here (except dual citizens like me :-).

Meghan is fine, because she had a normal existence before her marriage, she knows how to live in the real world. I agree with PP’s that she may be distancing herself from some of his behavior, which doesn’t bode well. Until he finds something meaningful to do with his life, he’s not going to be happy. Whatever that is, it has to be unrelated to the RF, because they don’t want to be associated with him now.

I agree with all of that MummyJ12

Certainly, in public, they treated her extremely well.

I think there was goodwill on both sides at the start. It certainly appeared that way anyway.

@Serenster I agree that many scions of aristocratic families don’t need to work, although some of them do anyway. James Matthew’s, Pippa’s husband, will inherit a title, and is successful in his own right. So some of them do more than wait for their inheritances!