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The royal family

Being Mr. Meghan Markle is no honeymoon (The Spectator)

325 replies

Thedom · 30/04/2025 07:11

Sorry, archive not working, so posted the whole article here.

Interesting tidbit about his turn at the aviation thingy, he was either joking and it landed like a lead balloon or he was being sarcasric about being railroaded into having to cough up for a few tables (probably the latter knowing how he hates to pay for anything)

…………..

“Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are finally enjoying their “honeymoon period.” Or they are according to the Duchess of Sussex, who made the statement on a fawning podcast as part of a brand building media blitz – and who certainly seems to be enjoying herself.

But has she asked her husband if he’s reveling in their belated honeymoon quite as much as she is? Once the spare to the throne, his presence as her forlorn shadow at events to honor her now appears largely surplus to requirements even to Meghan.

“That man loves me so much,” she gushed on Montecito neighbor Jamie Kern Lima’s podcast on Monday. She likened their relationship to a video game where you “slay the dragon, save the princess.” An analogy that firmly implies she is the glittering prize and he should be happy with winning her hand.

“You have to imagine, at the beginning, everyone has butterflies, and then we immediately went into the trenches together right out of the gate, six months into dating,” Meghan added. “So now, seven years later when you have a little bit of breathing space, you can just enjoy each other in a new way, and that’s why I feel like it’s more of a honeymoon period for us now.”

As ever, Meghan’s truth does not necessarily accord with everyone else’s reality.

It’s been a tough week for Harry as Mr. Meghan Markle. His wife undermined his latest warning about the dangers of social media for children by posting photos of their own children on Instagram. He bombed at the Hollywood aviation awards. And he was snubbed by Meghan at the Time100 Summit.

All while his brother Prince William looked every bit the senior statesman with world leaders at the Pope’s funeral in Rome.

Harry’s public troubles began in New York last week. While unveiling a memorial dedicated to the memory of children whose families believe harmful online behavior contributed to their deaths, he demanded stronger protection for young people from the dangers of social media. He was “grateful” that his children were still too young to be online, he said.

Too young, that is, unless Archie and Lilibet are helping Meghan promote her brands.

Meghan used their three-year-old daughter to promote her jam, or rather “preserves” as she calls them (jam has too much sugar, apparently), on social media on Sunday. She posted an Instagram Story showing her stirring her homemade strawberry preserves, saying, “What do you think Lili?” A child’s hand can be seen and a voice purporting to be Lili – but sounding strangely AI – is heard saying, “I think it’s beautiful.”

Meghan also posted Instagram pictures of Lili and son Archie, five, in her rose garden, tastefully obscuring their beautiful red hair and faces. How discrete.

Harry’s woes were compounded during his trip to New York by his wife’s apparent lack of interest in him. When he stepped out of the couple’s car at the TIME event on Wednesday, he reached out to Meghan to hold her hand. But – right in front of the waiting paparazzi – she ignored him, turned away and instead enthusiastically hugged a woman waiting to greet her.

A blushing Harry grimaced, as if he instantly knew the media would seize on it (he was correct), then awkwardly adjusted the back waistband of his trousers under his jacket and dutifully trotted through a door behind his wife as she was ushered in by staff and security. Was it take your husband to work day?

Once inside the auditorium at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Harry was forced to take a literal back seat, applauding enthusiastically from the audience as Meghan trotted out some of her signature lines, such as, “Part of what is really, really important is that love language of taking care of people also feeds me.”

Meghan, wearing a $4,000 Ralph Lauren suit, gave her soft keynote speech promoting her show, podcast, lifestyle brand and family. This marked a stark contrast with the other speakers, such as Yulia Navalnaya, who talked about fighting for human rights after her late husband, the prominent Russian opposition leader and critic of President Vladimir Putin, died in prison.

Making Harry’s recent “whining” about being stripped of his UK security details seem petty. Then Harry was off – alone – to the Living Legends of Aviation Awards, where last year he was honored for his work as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan.

From the stage at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Friday, Harry thanked the first responders who risked their lives to save those devastated by the California fires, but also took a petulant shot at organizers with a joke that didn’t land well. “I feel like I picked the short straw,” he began.

“Someone had to host a bunch of pilots and firefighters, that’s where they are, there are five tables. I agreed with the organizers that it would be a good idea, let’s get them along. I did not agree to hosting two of the tables.”

The sad contrast with William could not be more obvious, royal biographer, writer and broadcaster Hugo Vickers tells The Spectator. “One of them is doing a good job for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. And the other’s doing nothing.”

Vickers believes Haz, as he is nicknamed by Meghan, is hanging on to his wife for dear life, “Harry is petrified of her and petrified of losing her. It is a nasty syndrome. And maybe I’m wrong, maybe they’re blissfully happy, but he doesn’t look happy.

“Now he’s just sort of dangling about in the background of Meghan’s various other things she’s promoting.”

Vickers added that the Sussex children’s appearances on Meghan’s Instagram makes them “awful pawns in the middle of this game.”

“All this gooey talk that you get from Meghan about connectivity and love and stuff doesn’t seem to extend to her own family, does it? She’s playing silly games with them. I just have a horrible feeling it’s all going to end badly somehow.”

How much longer can this go on? The old Harry, with his jack-the-lad swagger and roguish sense of humor, was hugely popular with the public, the royals and the media. His former friends, who were pushed aside when he met Meghan, miss that version of Harry. We miss that Harry.

Perhaps it is time for the prince to pack away his paranoia, apologize and start building bridges with his father, brother and the media, if it is not too late and he loses the petering goodwill toward him that still remains. That couldn’t possibly be more humiliating than this flower-sprinkled existence as Mr. Meghan Markle.”

OP posts:
SoOxon · 30/04/2025 07:21

forlorn! - wonderful word!

MrsFinkelstein · 30/04/2025 07:53

Ouch, that didn't miss and hit the wall

What on earth was he thinking with that comment at the dinner? Unless it's been totally taken out of context.

I agree with the comment about the increasingly regular glimpses of their children on Meghan's SM. You cannot complain about the harms of children on SM, and then feature your own children for commercial gain (which is what this is) without coming across as very hypocritical. Don't feature them at all. Others manage it.

notimagain · 30/04/2025 07:57

“Someone had to host a bunch of pilots.."

Blimey Harry you do know they generally come house trained don't you?

Bet he was more gripped about possibly having to talk about flying and aviation with people who actually had a decent amount of flying in their logbooks.

Placeon · 30/04/2025 08:00

Unbelievable article, surely that can't all be true…

JADS · 30/04/2025 08:17

OMG, Harry. Those poor bloody pilots drew the short straw being stuck with you. Surely he didn't say that, what a prick.

Vespanest · 30/04/2025 08:25

The part about the time 100 event, it hadn't occurred to me that the car exit could have been planned, but yes Meghan is always aware of the press and angles. I think Harry could cope with being Mr Markle as long as no one calls him mr Markle. Articles like this will sting

Profhilodisaster · 30/04/2025 08:25

JADS · 30/04/2025 08:17

OMG, Harry. Those poor bloody pilots drew the short straw being stuck with you. Surely he didn't say that, what a prick.

He did say it and it hasn't been taken out of context, it was toe curlingly awful.

Mylovelygreendress · 30/04/2025 08:31

Thank you @Thedom .
Harry really didn’t read the room at the Aviation event with those comments !

flapjackfairy · 30/04/2025 08:40

I am probably being thick but what did he even mean about the number if tables?

CamillaMacauley · 30/04/2025 08:41

I can’t believe anyone can be happy and fulfilled with so little to do on a day to day basis. Add in moving away from friends and family and being estranged from them. Must be tough. Will certainly be interesting to see if they’re still together in ten years.

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 30/04/2025 08:43

flapjackfairy · 30/04/2025 08:40

I am probably being thick but what did he even mean about the number if tables?

Same - I get that he's made an arsey joke about paying but don't get the 5 and 2 bit?

Horrible joke, and not even intelligible.

Middleagedstriker · 30/04/2025 08:44

Such double standards. William can parade his children all the time and yet the back of hand and some bollocks about an AI voice is berated. I have the Spectator such a sound piece for the elite.

Thedom · 30/04/2025 08:44

I think there were 5 tables,, probably 10 guests per table, the guests would have been paid for by the person hosting the table. The tables consisted of firefighters and pilots who assisted with the fires in California. Harry thought it was a great idea to invite them, but either jokingly or sarcastically said he was railroaded into paying for two of the 5 tables.

OP posts:
flapjackfairy · 30/04/2025 08:45

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 30/04/2025 08:43

Same - I get that he's made an arsey joke about paying but don't get the 5 and 2 bit?

Horrible joke, and not even intelligible.

Does hosting mean paying for then ? I thought He was an out and out philanthropist. ?

flapjackfairy · 30/04/2025 08:46

Thedom · 30/04/2025 08:44

I think there were 5 tables,, probably 10 guests per table, the guests would have been paid for by the person hosting the table. The tables consisted of firefighters and pilots who assisted with the fires in California. Harry thought it was a great idea to invite them, but either jokingly or sarcastically said he was railroaded into paying for two of the 5 tables.

Edited

oh thanks. Cross posted .

Thedom · 30/04/2025 08:47

flapjackfairy · 30/04/2025 08:45

Does hosting mean paying for then ? I thought He was an out and out philanthropist. ?

Yes he would have paid for the guests at the table.

I don’t think that’s something you would joke about in any form.

OP posts:
flapjackfairy · 30/04/2025 08:47

He needs to put his money where his mouth is

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 30/04/2025 08:48

Thedom · 30/04/2025 08:44

I think there were 5 tables,, probably 10 guests per table, the guests would have been paid for by the person hosting the table. The tables consisted of firefighters and pilots who assisted with the fires in California. Harry thought it was a great idea to invite them, but either jokingly or sarcastically said he was railroaded into paying for two of the 5 tables.

Edited

AHH, I see. I wondered if he meant he agreed to two but ended up paying for five.

What a stingy git. A horrible joke to make. But I'm surprised it's the first we've heard of it - just goes to show that Meghan draws the attention these days.

Sort of embarrassing that a major gaffe like that slips under the radar because he's such a no mark these days.

notimagain · 30/04/2025 08:49

@Thedom

That's how I read it..

Five tables in the room for firefighters/volunteers.

Those would need funding and Harry ended up paying for two of them.

Sounds like he was happy with all the razzmataz when picking up his award last year (though even even then he had a pop at John Travolta)..not so keen to support the organisation in subsequent years.

Thedom · 30/04/2025 08:50

Or not discuss money at all, especially when you are talking about people who are there by invitation and probably never would have the means to pay for a seat at one of those tables.

So uncouth.

OP posts:
WhatterySquash · 30/04/2025 09:12

Maybe he was taking cues from people like Ricky Gervais who make mean jokes about the celebs in the audience - even done well it makes me a bit uncomfortable, but at least celebs put themselves in the public eye and RG knows how to tread a fine line. Harry might have been aiming at that and totally misjudged - or maybe he’s genuinely just petulant, tight, or floundering so badly he can’t cope. I do feel a bit sorry for him despite everything. Don’t like to Meghan-bash but I have to agree with the “dangling about” comment in the article. He’s like a spare part in his own life (not just the royal family).

ginasevern · 30/04/2025 09:18

If Phil the Greek had made that "joke" the press would trying to convince us of his unparalleled sharp wit and how we should all be wetting our knickers with laughter.

foreverblowingbubbless · 30/04/2025 09:27

Thedom · 30/04/2025 08:44

I think there were 5 tables,, probably 10 guests per table, the guests would have been paid for by the person hosting the table. The tables consisted of firefighters and pilots who assisted with the fires in California. Harry thought it was a great idea to invite them, but either jokingly or sarcastically said he was railroaded into paying for two of the 5 tables.

Edited

He really is such a condescending dumbass.

foreverblowingbubbless · 30/04/2025 09:29

As for that article well it pretty much sums up the last week and the big mess that it all is. 😬

Fourecks · 30/04/2025 09:52

Middleagedstriker · 30/04/2025 08:44

Such double standards. William can parade his children all the time and yet the back of hand and some bollocks about an AI voice is berated. I have the Spectator such a sound piece for the elite.

William doesn't go on about the evils of featuring children in social media. People are pointing out the hypocrisy.

In William's case, showing pictures of his children on social media is the lesser of two evils. It helps meet public demand while avoiding the need for pap.pictures.