The Beckhams at the State Dinner

[stripeyshutters]

Ouch that's got to touch a nerve for the Sussexes ! I did notice that VB was respectfully dressed as was only right for the occasion.

Yes but as mentioned below, the allegations appeared in a gossip column within the industry publication.

And the American who raised the issue may allegedly have their own reasons for doing so?

It’s perfectly possible that M’s style of doing things may be blunt and abrasive, as that is what she may have been accustomed to in Hollywood. But women in archaic institutions are sometimes called bullies when men in the same position are called “motivated and decisive”.

Great post! Totally agree with the sensible approach point. The RF could have come to an agreement with Harry if the will had been there. Sadly, for one reason or another, it seems there was not,

I think the RF missed a massive opportunity. Fresh blood from an industry where a strong work ethic is the norm - nobody survives in that industry without being willing to work long, long hours.

And the American who raised the issue may allegedly have their own reasons for doing so?

One thing I always love about Meghan’s supporters. In order to twist the narrative to support their position about her, everyone else must be cast as a villain.

Jason Knauff had the integrity to file a written complaint about Meghan’s bullying of her staff to the appropriate Head of Staff at the Palace, despite expressing his misgivings that nothing would be done about it. He was absolutely correct about that. It was completely brushed under the carpet for a couple of years until aggrieved former staff members contacted Valentine Low at the Times, furious that Meghan was about to tell the world on Oprah how she had been so badly treated in the Royal family, when she had bullied them in her time there.

Later on, when Meghan filed false witnesses statements in court making false statements about what her staff, including Jason Knauf himself had done, he provided a witness statement and emails to the court which revealed the truth.

Both of these are the right thing to do. Somehow however he’s the baddie here?

Remember Harry himself wrote in Spare about how toxic the atmosphere in their office was, and he was absolutely furious at William (who worked with exactly the same staff, since they shared offices at that time) talking to him about how Meghan was rude and abrasive to their staff. He said William had read about it in the paper - but it wasn’t in the paper at that stage, and William could see for himself what was happening.

Times reporter Valentine Low spoke to several individuals who recounted awful (and easily verified) stories of how they had been treated at the Palace. A well-regarded US publication years later also prints stories of Meghan’s treatment of staff in the UK. It’s far more likely than not that this is true, unless you just refuse to believe any of the victims’ accounts.

And the American who raised the issue mayallegedly have their own reasons for doing so?

Interesingly, when you google Jason Knauf, one of the top hits is from the Sussex Squad decrying what he “did” to Meghan, so maybe this is your source? 😆 I agree with Serenster. Knauff seemed to be on good terms with Meghan until he saw what he perceived to be inappropriate behaviour and he did the right thing and reported it. Let’s not forget as well that the late Queen had to reprimand Meghan for being rude to staff, so it is perfectly likely that Meghan did not know how to deal with her team without appearing to bully them. There is a world of difference between expecting people to do a good job for you and belittling them and reducing them to tears. That has nothing to do with differences in culture

Re bullying - Harry himself said people were crying at their desks .
Also , H and M have had an astonishing number of staff leaving which is often a sign of disgruntled staff.

Catherine also had to reprimand her plus Harry detailed how William spoke to him about Meghan’s behaviour.

First, I don’t class myself as a “Meghan supporter” as I don’t tend to view everything as simplistically “for or against” but if it makes you feel happy … .

Second, Business Insider has a slightly more balanced view of JF who has his career to consider and I would guess uses his considerable PR skills to his own advantage as well as that of hid his clients.

www.businessinsider.com/who-is-jason-knauf-prince-harry-meghan-markle-2022-12

Jason Knauff works for Earthshot doesn’t he? As such he is still firmly in William’s camp and is hardly an unbiased source.

https://earthshotprize.org/people-partners/board-of-trustees/

So? He was instrumental in releasing the statement denouncing press harassment of Meghan when she was still Harry’s girlfriend. He was a guest at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. He helped her to draft a personal letter to her father. He then witnessed something he didn’t like and reported it to the palace. He was called as a character witness by both the duchess and ANP and on lawyers advice he made a factual statement to the court. Seems to
me he has behaved in an as professional and unbiased way as he could

Yes and don’t even consider coming out as gay. Money talks. Beckham would PR for North Korea if offered enough money.

Jason Knauff works for Earthshot doesn’t he? As such he is still firmly in William’s camp and is hardly an unbiased source.

Again, just a reminder that he’s the one who came forward to let the court know that Meghan’s camp was lying to it. So he’s the one with integrity in this story.

I disagree - The Hollywood Reporter documents her consistent and persistent abrasive and abusive treatment of staff over many years on both sides of the Atlantic.

At least 12 separate victims were spoken to. From Spare, Coutiers etc we know that there were also very many bystanders/witnesses and many others who just left their employment.

There were already reports of her bad behaviour before she joined the BRF (from the Director of Reitmans commercial) - so its not 'cultural'.

The editor of THR (a serious business publication - not a gossip site) doubled down with a follow-up interview with Access Hollywood to reveal one of the complainants was a Senior employee and still working for MM.

This publication would not go this far without water-tight evidence and legal counsel that they had the truth - any deviance from that would enact a law suit from this highly litigous pair - how many court cases has PH got running currently - is it 4? Lots of people do good things but have dark nasty behaviours which impact and cause great personal distress to others. It's an abuse of power and is never acceptable no matter what other good they may have achieved.

The Hollywood Reporter expose:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-keeps-quitting-prince-harry-meghan-markle-1235996963/

Access Hollywood interview with editor od THR:

It it entirely possible to not be a Meghan supporter but also feel she has been unfairly treated in some areas and has been the victim of some pretty vitriolic press harassment. But the Cambridge Clique will have none of it.....🤣

I agree that she was treated badly by some gutter tabloid press with blatant racist and misognistic content and this continues on social media which is abhorrent and unacceptable.

Alongside this MM has continued to behave in an abhorrent and unacceptable manner to staff and cause them deep personal distress.

The former situation doesnt erase or excuse her repeated bullying behavior.

IMeghan well well be peremptory and have an unfortunate way about her but I find it odd that she worked for so long on Suits, involving long hours and long series, and there were as far as I know never any stories about her behaving poorly there. It’s only sînce she became involved in the BRF that this accusation of bullying has been alleged against her. So I find that interesting.

And I think you are on slightly dodgy ground there talking about abuse of power! I mean; why does it only apply to M and and not the RF themselves?

The RF supposedly do good things but there is lots of dodginess going on in the background concerning preferential tax laws, carrier bags of cash and didn’t Prince Philip famously have a shocking temper? Princess Margaret and Prince Andrew could be shockingly rude by all
accounts? Why do they escape scrutiny?

Oh don't be ridiculous. If someone claims to have a "source" they need to cite it. Its not for me or anyone else to provide proof of the non existance of the source. I shall assume it doesn't exist in the absence of the citation.

Err get your facts straight, where did I say I had a “Source” but if you do want a “Source” how about you read their own statement that @Serenster posted, collaborating with the Queen probably didn’t mean attending the Grimsby refuse centre rather than a state dinner, but as I can see you are a huge supporter nothing anyone says will persuade you otherwise.

As for Netflix - don't make me laugh. Every member of the royal family right down to the dreggiest cousin cashes in big time on the royal connections. Andrew wasn't the only one selling access to Buck House. Do you really think all those royal cousins who struggled to get A levels are asked to be "brand ambassadors" and "directors of communications" "directors of foo" etc for their outstanding intelligence and diligent hard work? And all the additional hangers on from both Kate/Camilla families and others marrying in?

I see you couldn’t actually answer my question, so you have had to resort to cousins and friends who are not working members of the RF and represent the government in no way whatsoever to try and prove your lame point, it’s really not the gotcha you think it is, and as for Andrew and other members of the royal family selling access to the Queen, can you provide information on this please? I know Fergie got caught on a sting trying to sell access to Andrew, I didn’t know Andrew and others were doing it though.

The Wales had a billion pound estate handed to them entirely free of any taxes when Charles made William Wales (i indecent haste) after the death of the Queen. Prior to that he had already been gifted other estates and commercial businesses free of tax. He owns a sizeable chunk of the country and derives considerable business benefits from being able to operate his estates and commercial interests on a different tax footing from the likes of you and me.

So what? It’s not exactly brand new information since this has been the process since 1337 when the Duchy was established, so rant away to your MP if it bothers you so much and was it “indecent” when Charles was pronounced King the moment the Queen died?

In most billionaire familes when one of the younger children doesn't wish to be full time in the Firm they go off to do their own thing with a generous settlement and goodwill on both sides. That is a sensible approach to take - the Wales could learn from it.

Gosh you know how most billionaire families run their finances, that’s impressive! and even more impressive that you know poor Harry was sent away with an empty purse and his little begging bowl, poor penniless Harry particularly when the royal accounts I believe state otherwise.

If the Wales don't like H&M deriving their own living then perhaps they should have been a bit more generous with the purse strings and a bit more willing to compromise on a diluted role instead of leaving Harry with the (relative) crumbs from his mother and grandmother.

Or maybe Harry should cut his cloth and not expect the RF to pay for is wanabee billionaire lifestyle? As you are so keen on proof and sources, where is the proof that the Wales don’t like H&M making their own living? I would be very interested to see that. and how do you know what financial arrangements were made? As for the diluted role, I hear Grimsby refuse centre needs a ribbon cutting, maybe Meghan and Harry could fly over for that as State dinners apparently are really not their thing.

The perfect example of my point that posters are clueless on how these State functions work.

Ate you referring to the bullying or Meghan’s father’s letter?

I’m happy to admit that I don’t know as many of the details as many posters on here do!

If it’s the former then I thought it was interesting how The Times just happened to “get hold” of the story that JK had instigated a bullying enquiry! Especially when the RF have been so timid in publishing the results! So not careful about the allegations but careful with the results?

They could have easily published the results btw by redacting the names of the alleged victims. Maybe it revealed that M wasn’t the only person whose behaviour was under scrutiny?

Or maybe it revealed that the allegations were not borne out?

We don’t know do we?

If it was the letter you were referring to, then that was surely a point open to interpretation? The fact that all of M’s communications could potentially be leaked to the press doesn’t necessarily prove that she wrote that particular letter to her father with that specifically in mind.

When M & H announced the split from the RF in 2019, it was announced that their PR teams would split too. The bullying investigations were initiated by JK in Oct 2018, so basically when relations between the two brothers were going down the pan.

Therefore, JK who had previously been working for M & H was now working for William ie the other side. It’s well known that there is antagonism between the two brothers. Harry himself alluded to the toxicity of both PR teams being in competition.

As M & H stated, when they decided to leave, that was when the briefing against them was at its height and when they felt that stories were being placed in the press about them to distract from negative PR directed at other members of the RF. And they didn’t appreciate being used as scapegoats.

That was my understanding anyway.

I'm beginning to think that both Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister should be on the school curriculum - part of PSHE? Wet day breaktime viewing?

Or repeated on prime time regularly (possibly in the run up to every general election)

Dated? Yes in some ways. But people who aren't familiar with how this country is run (constitution, responsibilities, limits, opportunities) or with diplomacy/international relations could easily pick up a lot that is still directly relevant without really realising it

IMeghan well well be peremptory and have an unfortunate way about her but I find it odd that she worked for so long on Suits, involving long hours and long series, and there were as far as I know never any stories about her behaving poorly there. It’s only sînce she became involved in the BRF that this accusation of bullying has been alleged against her. So I find that interesting.

Dont minimise bullying and abuse as 'having an unfortunate way about her.'

Many people have had their MH and livelihoods destroyed by such behaviour.

I am not surprised by her behaviour on Suits - she was far down the pecking order and this was her first big break, she was not going to step out of line and risk that.

These character types employ the 'Kiss Up' MO and once in a position of power abuse it and 'Kick Down' .... as she did on the Reitmans commercial and with her staff consistently and repeatedly over the past 8 years.

I am a Republican - give zero fucks for the BRF - I comment, scutinise and challenge grim behaviour wherever I see it regardless of status and have done on this forum for many years so wont be silenced or derailed by an attempt of 'whataboutery'.

I’m not - and would never - minimise bullying or abuse thank you. And who is trying to silence you? Not me!

I am saying that the people who have alleged this allegation against M either have something to gain commercially or know where their bread is buttered.

And if she is being scrutinised for it, then the entire RF should be scrutinised too.

And if she is being scrutinised for it, then the entire RF should be scrutinised too.

What official complaints of bullying have there been from staff at the Palace against other members of the RF?

@Maddy70 VB is an astute businesswoman? Her brand has never made money. It's bankrolled by Brand Beckham.

The problem is that whatever small achievements may have made in her short spell in the RF they have been forgotten due to the avalanche of negativity the pair have brought down on themselves.