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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:
NormaMajors1992coat · 30/04/2025 20:36

Just going back to Harry and Diana - when you think about it, it’s really sad that he would, as an adult, still say “my mother was basically murdered”. No more sophisticated understanding of what happened to her than that. And no awareness that there is anything remotely distorted or worrying about that thinking (I assume no awareness - since he was happy to say it in public and didn’t qualify it with “I know this isn’t right, but I can’t get past the idea that…”). He must be an absolute mess psychologically.

Londonrach1 · 30/04/2025 20:52

My experience of people who post on Facebook..if they ott re their relationship..they struggling.. sounds like Harry and Meghan aren't happy together...

CathyorClaire · 30/04/2025 21:11

NormaMajors1992coat · 30/04/2025 20:36

Just going back to Harry and Diana - when you think about it, it’s really sad that he would, as an adult, still say “my mother was basically murdered”. No more sophisticated understanding of what happened to her than that. And no awareness that there is anything remotely distorted or worrying about that thinking (I assume no awareness - since he was happy to say it in public and didn’t qualify it with “I know this isn’t right, but I can’t get past the idea that…”). He must be an absolute mess psychologically.

And appallingly he got some poor driver to replicate her last journey😮

JSMill · 30/04/2025 21:27

RedRosesPinkLilies · 30/04/2025 19:27

@Uricon2 thats interesting - re narcissism
I I guess I found it odd because I don’t think most mums would have time to do it. I look at videos of my kids childhood and can really remember it, because I was just so busy. It looks great in the videos - very happy. But I didn’t have time to document it

Absolutely. I was out for drinks and dinner last weekend with a friend I initially befriended as a school mum. After a couple of glasses, I confessed that the memory book she gifted for dc3 is totally blank. She said so are the books people gave her but she felt that was the kind of gift you were expected to give to new parents! In other words, normal mums don’t have time for that crap.

ERthree · 30/04/2025 21:32

Princess Markle and her spare, Harry must feel like shit but it is of his own making.

HappyHedgehog247 · 30/04/2025 21:38

The endless vitriol towards the two of them is so vile. The Daily Fail seems to carry some anti-Meghan article every single day. It's relentless. I don't think the media will stop until they are divorced or one of them dead. I really hope they are less exposed to it in the US.

MaryMungoNMidge · 30/04/2025 21:50

HappyHedgehog247 · 30/04/2025 21:38

The endless vitriol towards the two of them is so vile. The Daily Fail seems to carry some anti-Meghan article every single day. It's relentless. I don't think the media will stop until they are divorced or one of them dead. I really hope they are less exposed to it in the US.

Well since they keep providing fodder to US tabloids like People magazine (who let slip Harry is their source)|, then probably not, and it is all of their own making.

thenightsky · 30/04/2025 22:03

Place marking so I can watch that Youtube linked to above and also Harry's speech when I get a bit of peace.

BasiliskStare · 30/04/2025 22:11

Harry really is turning into a boorish twit isn't he. That comment about the emergency workers is egregious. My Granny , who had many sayings , used to say Dukes don't swear at dustmen. I think Ricky Gervais was really funny at the Golden Globes etc - & I know he Is not everyone's cup of tea. But he picked on people his own size or bigger. Harry must be beginning to realise that life was so much easier when he had people to look after him. Or maybe not yet. It does look like he doesn't like spending his own money. & I think it was either Chelsy or Cressida who alluded to his meanness.

AuroraCake · 30/04/2025 22:15

Goodness he is turning into his uncle. Charmless. Most appropriate comment, if at all, would be, I am humbled and honoured to host such public servants this evening. Didn't his brother make a speech at Charles concert about walking the hospital and school corridors and streets with our amazing public sector workers. Get a clue Harry.

Probably seeing that everyone will only want him for his money. Well obviously.

bluegreygreen · 30/04/2025 22:17

For anyone who knows about the American press - is People usually fairly reputable (as far as tabloids go)? I know it has been posting stories sourced by the Sussexes.

Just a bit surprised by the sub-heading on this article

https://people.com/prince-harry-diana-award-conversation-las-vegas-11724454

Prince Harry Is Heading to Las Vegas for a Special Event Tied to His Late Mother, Princess Diana (Exclusive)

Prince Harry is set to attend a panel discussion hosted by The Diana Award, a charity that honors his late mother.

https://people.com/prince-harry-diana-award-conversation-las-vegas-11724454

AuroraCake · 30/04/2025 22:20

It's a celebrity magazine. Like the one where it's stylised with the perfect lives etc. Like an instagram. Like Hello but not. As in they often put articles in over what people are doing not like the old Hello perfect house and family photoshoots. Very much the same vibe though.

AuroraCake · 30/04/2025 22:22

Its all very planted. Then plant in the Telegraph and People.

bluegreygreen · 30/04/2025 22:23

But you wouldn't expect them to refer to Harry as the Prince of Wales? (sub-heading)

AuroraCake · 30/04/2025 22:25

Opps e daisy. Idiots.

MaidOfSteel · 30/04/2025 23:00

I can’t agree with the bit about missing the old Harry. I think what we saw back then was carefully crafted. He had palace staff seeing to his every need and whim, while also covering up all his indiscretions & hissy fits. He’s clearly a bad tempered, selfish, spoiled man-child and has always been that way.
without those advisers now, he’s floundering and showing himself up as the fool he is. He & his awful boss/wife deserve each other.

Weepixie · 30/04/2025 23:11

The derogatory comment above about 'Phil the Greek' 🙄missed the point that Prince Philip had a brilliant relationship with service people

Prince Phillip was a war hero. A fact so many people are unaware of or deliberately chose to forget when putting the boot in on him.

MaryMungoNMidge · 30/04/2025 23:54

bluegreygreen · 30/04/2025 22:23

But you wouldn't expect them to refer to Harry as the Prince of Wales? (sub-heading)

Edited

Maybe it's wishful thinking on the part of all concerned!

Lunde · 01/05/2025 00:45

BasiliskStare · 30/04/2025 22:11

Harry really is turning into a boorish twit isn't he. That comment about the emergency workers is egregious. My Granny , who had many sayings , used to say Dukes don't swear at dustmen. I think Ricky Gervais was really funny at the Golden Globes etc - & I know he Is not everyone's cup of tea. But he picked on people his own size or bigger. Harry must be beginning to realise that life was so much easier when he had people to look after him. Or maybe not yet. It does look like he doesn't like spending his own money. & I think it was either Chelsy or Cressida who alluded to his meanness.

Yes - wasn't Harry's stinginess one of the reasons that Cressida and Harry broke up when he demanded that she fork out $1,000 for her own ticket to be his +1 at the overseas wedding of his mate

Lunde · 01/05/2025 00:57

bluegreygreen · 30/04/2025 22:23

But you wouldn't expect them to refer to Harry as the Prince of Wales? (sub-heading)

Edited

It's not the first time that Harry has tried to make the "Prince of Wales" thing happen in the US.

When he played polo in California a couple of seasons ago he played under the name "Prince Harry of Wales" rather than "Prince Harry and/or Duke of Sussex".

I suspect it is a PR attempt to align themselves closely with Diana in the US market.

Mylovelygreendress · 01/05/2025 05:52

Lunde · 01/05/2025 00:57

It's not the first time that Harry has tried to make the "Prince of Wales" thing happen in the US.

When he played polo in California a couple of seasons ago he played under the name "Prince Harry of Wales" rather than "Prince Harry and/or Duke of Sussex".

I suspect it is a PR attempt to align themselves closely with Diana in the US market.

Harry wanted William to share the Duchy income with him and was told no .

NewAgeNewMe · 01/05/2025 06:00

Wonder how the Sussexes feel about William and C being Prince and Princess of Wales? Imagine it irks a bit.

Tomatotater · 01/05/2025 06:12

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.

Edited

And again the context is ' poor Harry, what a fun guy he was, diminished by his evil puppetmaster wife' when he made a crass ' joke'. Something the Royals have done regularly when they have to say something off the cuff and show themselves to be unfunny and condescending. This is all on him. Meghan probably did think marrying a Prince would make her some kind of celebrity, but imo she's paying for that by being landed with a spoilt man child, having to make a living and pay the costs of being married to a completely useless article. But she is the one in the wrong. Even when he is the one in the wrong. He can't make a speech without someone writing it for him? He's a Royal. None of them can do anything without someone doing it for them. The system makes people like him. He's just out in the wild, proving to be totally unsuitable and unprepared for the wild. As they all would be if they had to dress themselves, make their own breakfast and drive to a 30 minute dinner engagement.

Tomatotater · 01/05/2025 06:25

binkie163 · 30/04/2025 14:37

misogyny is hatred towards women by men!!
us women having a lark at the ginger moaner is not misogyny, maybe look up 'misandry' and try again 😂

No it's misogyny to think that a man having a more successful wife would be an insult to him.

CoffeeCantata · 01/05/2025 06:27

Mylovelygreendress · 01/05/2025 05:52

Harry wanted William to share the Duchy income with him and was told no .

He's just beyond awful. Being super, super-privileged isn't quite enough for Harry, is it? He MUST have everything William has/had.

Meghan and Harry truly deserve each other.