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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:
Profhilodisaster · 30/04/2025 10:03

Harry could probably do with some help from the men in grey suits to write his speeches.

Thedom · 30/04/2025 10:06

Fourecks · 30/04/2025 09:52

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.

Yes, and it’s a lot more normal than the teasing of images which Megan does in trying to generate a huge interest in her kids and including more and more images and videos of them, she really wants to build a morbid curiosity in them.

Totally weird tack to take.

OP posts:
KeepTalkingBeth · 30/04/2025 10:10

Wait. Oh I get it. Calling Harry Mr Markle is meant to be insulting, right? How misogynistic. Sad.

Penko25 · 30/04/2025 10:11

He’s showing himself to be the horrible, bitter person he is with those comments.

notimagain · 30/04/2025 10:19

Penko25 · 30/04/2025 10:11

He’s showing himself to be the horrible, bitter person he is with those comments.

Quite possibly..the article states

" 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."

But I think it's reasonable to question whether that version of Harry ever really existed in reality..

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 30/04/2025 10:19

I think with W&C's position in line to the throne, they have no choice in their children being 'seen' and they are as well protected as can be, so they have taken the line that they have with giving the media enough to keep them off their backs.

It really would be fascinating to know how happy H&M are/aren't. Life certainly has changed for Harry, and Meghan has played an absolute blinder in putting herself front and centre and him firmly in the shadows. Quite some work for relative unknown before she met him. How satisfied they both are with it and how long it will have legs, who knows.

I suspect Meghan would also think that her 'star appeal' (tongue firmly in cheek) would continue if they did split. I think she'd be sadly mistaken.

Not2identifying · 30/04/2025 10:21

Actually Prince William was talking about keeping kids safe on the internet many, many years ago:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46246166

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63097739

I believe he tried to get a group together from the industry but they basically weren't interested. I seem to remember, but can't find in the 2 minutes I have available, he made a statement saying he was not continuing to work in this area because the tech giants weren't being cooperative.

The difference between William and Harry is that the former has no choice - his kids have to have a public profile to some extent because of their senior role in the monarchy. Harry could give his kids a private life but is choosing to violate their privacy in, at the moment, relatively small ways (photo in the bath notwithstanding).

Prince William

Prince William says social media giants must do more to protect children

Prince William takes a stand against cyberbullying and wants tech companies to do more to fight the issue.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46246166

Vespanest · 30/04/2025 10:21

KeepTalkingBeth · 30/04/2025 10:10

Wait. Oh I get it. Calling Harry Mr Markle is meant to be insulting, right? How misogynistic. Sad.

The misogyny isn't in calling Harry mr Markle it's that Harry cannot cope without his own recognition that he would hate being reduced to a "spare" and being mr Markle

Profhilodisaster · 30/04/2025 10:23

And W&K aren't using their children to flog jam .

PullTheBricksDown · 30/04/2025 10:23

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.

I'm confused by this last sentence. Who are 'the elite' in this context? Are Harry and Meghan part of it or not?

CigarettesAndLoveBites · 30/04/2025 10:32

He's looking increasingly unhappy when out with his wife. I think he thought they were equals but now her star is shining way brighter than his.

MaryMungoNMidge · 30/04/2025 10:46

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.

This could be the "pay to play" element of this award - the expectation that you get awarded one year, and pay for it the next.

anotherside · 30/04/2025 11:14

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

Nice try, but statesman means a political figure or experienced politician. Prince William is just a figurehead with very little poltical power. (and to any extent he does have political influence over the affairs of the UK then that is extremely undemocratic and not something to be complimented)

anotherside · 30/04/2025 11:15

The difference between William and Harry is that the former has no choice - his kids have to have a public profile to some extent because of their senior role in the monarchy

Of course William had a choice. He could have abdicated stating I do not believe in monarchy or in inflicting the goldfish life on my kids. He has chosen a public tabloid role for his children.

Profhilodisaster · 30/04/2025 11:18

Can William abdicate if he's not king yet ?

anotherside · 30/04/2025 11:20

His former friends, who were pushed aside when he met Meghan, miss that version of Harry. We miss that Harry

Jesus, can there be anything more puke inducing than character assassination dressed up as faux chummy concern about someone you have no knowledge of whatsoever. Harry and Meghan might be very flawed human beings but I’d rather be locked in a room with them than the author of this rubbish.

MrsFinkelstein · 30/04/2025 11:20

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.

I've just had a look on the PPOW IG page - Louis was featured on 23 April for his birthday.
Prior to that, their children were shown on 31st Dec and 22nd Dec 2025.

George was at the football with his Dad.
But other than that, when we're the Waleses children paraded in public or online?

Personally, I've seen more of the Sussexes children in the past 4m than I have the Wales. And the Wales children have a Constitutional role.

Mylovelygreendress · 30/04/2025 11:21

CigarettesAndLoveBites · 30/04/2025 10:32

He's looking increasingly unhappy when out with his wife. I think he thought they were equals but now her star is shining way brighter than his.

But she is only a “ star” due to her marriage to Harry .
If they split ( I don’t wish it on them but think they will) I wonder how much interest she will generate ? She was a working member of the RF for 5 mins so can’t dine out on that forever especially given her tenuous relationship with the truth!

MrsFinkelstein · 30/04/2025 11:23

anotherside · 30/04/2025 11:15

The difference between William and Harry is that the former has no choice - his kids have to have a public profile to some extent because of their senior role in the monarchy

Of course William had a choice. He could have abdicated stating I do not believe in monarchy or in inflicting the goldfish life on my kids. He has chosen a public tabloid role for his children.

Edited

As have H&M. They are currently choosing to feature their children online for commercial gain and profit.

H&M stepped back from RF but they're still pushing their children into a public tabloid life.

User14March · 30/04/2025 11:24

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 30/04/2025 10:19

I think with W&C's position in line to the throne, they have no choice in their children being 'seen' and they are as well protected as can be, so they have taken the line that they have with giving the media enough to keep them off their backs.

It really would be fascinating to know how happy H&M are/aren't. Life certainly has changed for Harry, and Meghan has played an absolute blinder in putting herself front and centre and him firmly in the shadows. Quite some work for relative unknown before she met him. How satisfied they both are with it and how long it will have legs, who knows.

I suspect Meghan would also think that her 'star appeal' (tongue firmly in cheek) would continue if they did split. I think she'd be sadly mistaken.

I don’t think she’ll leave him, she can make it work, she’s living the dream, does she genuinely love him? It’s interesting as has prob been said as that podcast guest she talks effusively about his love for her.

The ‘mo make up’ look is new. Part of the Gwyneth clean Cali girl image? It works for her.

She’s a masterclass in getting what you want & valuing yourself.

User14March · 30/04/2025 11:27

Mylovelygreendress · 30/04/2025 11:21

But she is only a “ star” due to her marriage to Harry .
If they split ( I don’t wish it on them but think they will) I wonder how much interest she will generate ? She was a working member of the RF for 5 mins so can’t dine out on that forever especially given her tenuous relationship with the truth!

I don’t think she’ll leave, she’s making it all work for her impressively with a man that adores her. The neighbours & friends in locale seem to like her too, despite media spin.

Crankyaboutfood · 30/04/2025 11:35

MaryMungoNMidge · 30/04/2025 10:46

This could be the "pay to play" element of this award - the expectation that you get awarded one year, and pay for it the next.

yes-/this is exactly how these things work. he should have paid for 5 tables….his comment was awful

MaryMungoNMidge · 30/04/2025 11:39

Crankyaboutfood · 30/04/2025 11:35

yes-/this is exactly how these things work. he should have paid for 5 tables….his comment was awful

I agree. Crass and cruel to a bunch of ordinary men and women who were supposed to be honoured guests, not a "burden" on a spoiled, tightfisted prince.

Ophy83 · 30/04/2025 11:42

flapjackfairy · 30/04/2025 08:40

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

If it's a charity dinner and he is hosting them, it might mean that he paid for them all to be there - so if a table is £10k, he might be saying he thought he was hosting one table (i.e. the one he is sitting at) but it turned out to be five. If so, I think it is just a lighthearted joke.

foreverblowingbubbless · 30/04/2025 11:49

anotherside · 30/04/2025 11:14

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

Nice try, but statesman means a political figure or experienced politician. Prince William is just a figurehead with very little poltical power. (and to any extent he does have political influence over the affairs of the UK then that is extremely undemocratic and not something to be complimented)

You are very naive if you think that there is no statesmanship involved in Royal roles. The late Queen was one of the biggest examples of this. Whether you like it or not the senior British Family are held in high regard by many international institutions.