As Ever #2 Whatever

[PrettyFlyforaMaiTai]

I noticed the old thread is almost full so thought we could start a new one to carry on the discussion about the rebrand and merching.

Are you an ‘As Ever’ or ‘Whatever’?

link to the old thread: www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_royal_family/5277002-as-ever

It was said on here years ago that if the US media turned, they wouldn't know what hit them.

Well quite! And it looks like we are seeing it !

So what do they do ?
Clearly they need a high income to support their lifestyle. I read that their security costs $3 million a year ( I have no idea), they have domestic staff plus “ business” employees who all need paid .
So what would the PR experts on here suggest ?

I mean ‘basic-bitch staples’ is possibly the funniest thing that’s ever been written about Meghans business but that would just have never appeared in the British press. There would be uproar. So it is quite shocking to see in print. But ……hilarious.

I'm quite liking Meghan markle manoeuvres ! Nice alliteration, very catchy!

But in all seriousness, this is the sad inevitable downside to the level of fame Meghan was chasing, the more overexposed, the more your mistakes and secrets will be scrutinised and laid bare for all to see!

Even Goop struggled to make money for years and she had acting income to rely on in the meantime. I think they said their security alone is 3 million a year. They have a massively expensive lifestyle, one that even Charles couldn't afford to sub.
They need to make money and continue to do so as they want to live an Oprah , mega wealthy A list lifestyle. I would think at a minimum it costs about 7 million per year to fund

I can't see how this can be fixed or spun ?
Her only real hope would be honesty, humour and leaning into the character, perhaps a reality show ?
Duchess diva tries to climb the business pole?

Haven’t they just! That will cut her to the core more than anything else.

I wonder if they ever think that maybe they should have stayed in the U.K. ?

I imagine Harry does deep down though he would never admit it even to himself, he can’t be happy with how it’s all panned out surely? I bet on the freedom flight he didn’t envisage his wife would be flogging jam in Netflix stores to pay the bills. How the mighty have fallen.

PH may well think that, but I'm not at all sure about Meghan. And realistically with everything we have seen and heard I really don't think she would have been suited to life within the royal family undertaking the type of engagements required.

But honestly I just don't know what they do now as there is just so very much negativity surrounding everything. And this latest debacle obviously has some way to run yet.

Doubt it mylovely! , the real route of their problems are the total inability to realise that they are not in fact special or talented and wanting something doesn't equal having it !,
Harry obviously thought all the adulation and deference he's received all his life was just for him as a person rather than a byproduct of his role and who his family is .
Meghan thought Harry could grant her the same , she obviously thought the cheering and screaming for them at their wedding was for them alone instead of the usual excitement of a royal wedding, that this would continue but sadly that was the peak and it never would happen again even if they had stayed and maintained their popularity.

Well I think he’s a known tightwad, so I imagine he hates having to spend millions a year just to live.

I doubt that he ever spent more than a few thousand of his own cash on any given year.

He told us that he didn’t want to spend his millions in the trust fund. That’s why he toddled down to the TK Maxx sales …which incidentally is probably where Meghans products end up.

But back home, he would have never paid to get into nightclubs, would have stayed for free in posh aristo family homes all over the UK etc. His transport, security, rent. Domestic services etc would have been covered. I’m sure there was nominal rent but I’m sure Charles would have paid for that.

To go from a few thousand a year to millions, for a known cheapskate must be difficult for him to swallow.

Sorry lack of paragraphs! 😳

If I were advising them, my advice won't really have changed from 2020, it's just got harder for them to achieve.

Drop off the radar, spend time thinking about what you really want to do with your time. Do your research, if it's charity start small and local, research the subject and volunteer and ask questions about what's needed and how those on the ground think it could be achieved.

Spend 5 years doing this then you will be ready to speak about your subject with some knowledge and experience behind it. Remember it isn't about you it's about those who are actually doing the hard work.

And sell that ridiculously large property. Downsize and live somewhere more affordable for a millionaire.

So true.

I also think there is such a mis match between them. He already is famous just by birth. But it appears Meghan really wants the fame and adulation that she has always craved.

He needs the dosh to fund their lifestyle, but beyond that doesn't really care about fame as he already has it. She wants the dosh and fame and the elevation of star status.

I am sure he misses his friends. I get the impression he has long term family and school friends. He's missing a lot of his social culture and I am surprised he hasnt been back more often even just on his own - but maybe the aristos have ghosted him and dont want to be seen to be associated with him in case they risk losing favour with those higher up the social tree (his dad and his brother).

I think it’s called bigging yourself up.

I’ve always found it interesting that from what we have seen there has been no major changes in their McMansion, I would have thought Meghan wouldn’t want someone else’s choice of kitchen for starters.

I think the most sensible thing they could do at the moment is go off the radar for at least a couple of years and spend that time working out how to start, slowly and with thorough research, a business based on ethical trade that has real benefit to communities. It occurred to me yesterday that this could have a tie in with a documentary series, highlighting artisans/areas and commissioning goods to sell via their commercial enterprise. Perhaps it's too late but if they started small and careful (with actual products ready to go and a properly organised launch) maybe there would be a chance.

I totally think they need to get rid of that ridiculous house and maybe a move to Africa, Europe, Canada (they won't come back to the UK) might also be an idea.

ETA I don't of course for one second they will do any of this or anything close!

The fact Gwyneth Paltrow has followed asevernyc and not Meghan is really big. I actually went and checked because that is certainly setting an allegiance.

@MrsLeonFarrell is it ‘big’ re: the Montecito enclave? It all feels sadly Gatsbyesque but with a yearning for ultimate fame and not for Daisy.

Well we all know what the fourth book is ...

(I am also very much missing mid thread name changes)

They can't go off the radar even if they wanted to. They have to earn and earn big to afford even the security. I'm sure he would like to beyond the odd event. Even if she wanted to, which is v much doubtful, they can't. This is it, they have to keep earning their keep. Property taxes , upkeep, the security. Even if they spent nothing else would amount to about 7 million a year let alone all the staff.

What I got from that was “Silly me, I can’t get the hang of this recording thing, what button do I press?”