How can Harry be so deluded?

[HiRen]

The paranoia deepens

I don't really know what to conclude from this other than that Harry must feel the victim of a deep state conspiracy. Being a spoilt brat, and not understanding that he's there to serve his country rather than the country being there to serve him, can't help. Even if he did fear strategic delays, why would he jump to the conclusion that specific individuals have it in for him, rather than that there's a bigger picture to consider?

I just can't fathom the depths of misery and confusion he must experience on a daily basis. He must think his whole life was a lie until he met Meghan. I really do think things with Harry are much worse than they seem. Which puts an entirely different, and much darker, gloss on all of Meghan's utterings of her era of joy.

I honestly wouldn't want to be in their orbit. And I wonder whether those who remain in their orbit are desperate, whether as friends or employees. They're too much.

Moose = more entertaining and happier.

And a better dancer. Sorry.

The RF don't usually get to 'approve' any copy (although I bet they wish they could). We still have a free press in this country (just, and we should all support it if we want to keep it. We'd be a poorer place without the tabs and mid markets - happy to explain why I hold this view, which is verboten amongst the liberal bien pensant, on another occasion).

With a quote like that, attributed to a 'Royal insider', what usually will happen is that the journo is briefed deep off the record by one of the 'grey suits', who will have been given the nod by someone who's been tipped the wink by someone else who's been whispered to by someone else that the Palace ie Charles/William, would not be utterly furious and up in arms if such an opinion happened to find its way to the shell like of a diligent journalist and were published.

That is to say, if William, say, thinks Meghan's lost it, and has a reason to want that opinion to be known, then it will become known, but via lots of unattributable layers.

Or to put it another way, the RF brief the press all the time. But they usually do it in the same way that one is allegedly supposed to dine in Hell - with a very, very long spoon.

That's true for the legacy press. Very much not true for new media - most of them, apart from Lady Colin Campbell (who's batshit but sometimes fairly well sourced) just make shit up based on Chinese whispers.

Ooooh it's about time I re-watched that! Alan Rickman is my spirit animal.

I once stood in a train vestibule with him from Reading to Paddington. He gave me a Snape like death stare, daring me to utter a word to him (I didn't). Also, I was lucky enough to see him in Private Lives. Gorgeous.

I think it's in Craig Brown's 'Ma'am Darling' (about Princess Margaret, recommend, hilarious) there is the story of Nigel Dempster (DM gossip columnist back in the day) telling a friend that she rang him all the time. Friend incredulous, until a few minutes later the phone went.. but that was Margaret, and then and I imagine the closer to the Crown, the more circumspect.

I think we all know that People is getting stuff from not many degrees of separation.

Because he is a Royal Prince and must always get his own way! He is so much better than us commoners so if someone is telling him, a Royal Prince, no then it simply must be because his Dad and brother are behind it because in his mind they are the only two people with the power to stop him doing exactly what he wants.

Which is why the only things he can complain about in his childhood is William getting a bigger bedroom and an extra sausage because in terms of everything else he will have always had his own way, a spoiled little brat of a Prince.

He cannot fathom not just being able to put his foot down and make demands.

Alan Rickman. I think I first was aware of him in Truly, Madly, Deeply. I haven't watched it since I was widowed myself but the sheer brilliance and accuracy of the writing and performances is like nothing else I've ever seen on the subject (even though so funny in parts)

Wonderful actor, wonderful man.

True! 🤣

I agree with this.

For me it’s a toss up between Hans Gruber and the Sheriff of Nottingham…

Thank you - I worded my query poorly. I did not mean approval of the 'copy' or article (and agree with your point wholeheartedly).

I was asking if it would have come directly from the RF (even if via lots of layers) or would more likely have been leaked/unintended.
Thanks for explaining the mechanics.

From a PR perspective - would they (RF) have been better continuing with their grey rock/no comment?

But that's also the sneaky option the reporters have to imply that this is an 'informed' leak - I don't believe senior main stream journalists out right make stuff up and claim it's a source, but sometimes I think the source is just the opinion of one junior staffer who is feeling aggreived on behalf of their principal.

Or sometimes a housemaid / footman that wants to make a bit of side money with something they 'heard' being said in passing.

And sometimes it's an approved leak but that's why it's difficult to give any credence to the rumours they print.

So for example in the pre-wedding who-made-who cry story - it's very possible they both cried (post partum and stressed bridzilla) but someone on Kate's staff who witnessed the actual tears gossiped to a friend etc and eventually it made it's way to the ears of Camilla Tominey who published the story.

They both have a slightly disturbing fixation on prescribing what their children will do when they grow up. Given all the discourse about nepo babies it's an odd fixation.

I can't imagine controlling my child with expectations like that.

Of course, unless he were to marry Charlotte or Louis, my son never has the opportunity to be a working royal either. (Too much of an age gap for George, though imagine the first royal gay wedding...)

He was utterly gorgeous as the Sheriff of Nottingham

Imagine if George were gay? That really would throw everything into dissaray. His partner Queen?? No natural issue to inherit ? No one to parade around in designer gear ? Or maybe men’s designer gear..:

Eh?

What decade do you live in?

This one?

They must have planned for this possibility.

The current laws say heirs of the body. George could father children via a surrogate, but would that count if he were married to another man? Could the Archbishop of Canterbury preside over a gay royal wedding?

Of course, I would say that he could (my feelings on surrogacy aside). But I don't think our laws and royal customs are fit for purpose for this issue. I don't think there are any gay marriages in the aristocracy yet?

It would quite obviously create a lot of issues. The RF is an anachronistic institution. They have never had that situation arise in the whole history of the monarchy. Or rather there would be a marriage for show . One of the Queens Uncles was gay , the one who died in a plane crash.

Offensive and homophobic.

It would create issues. I hope I live to see it!

You hope to see someone's sexuality and that of their partner used against the Royal Family. Wow.

One of the Queens Uncles was gay , the one who died in a plane crash.

Since Prince George of Kent was widely believed to have an illegitimate son by socialite Kiki Preston (in addition to his three children with his wife Marina), I think it’s more likely he was bisexual.

Or George would marry a man, rule until his death, and the throne would then pass to Charlotte and her children….as has happened many times before for several different reasons (George IV to William IV, Edward VIII to George VI and William/Mary II to Anne were all sibling inheritances).

Yes, this is the advantage of William having three kids. If George doesn't have children for whatever reason, the odds are decent that either Charlotte or Louis will. In the event of George being gay there's no need for him to compromise his personal feelings on that, and in 2025 there's no problem with a monarch being gay. Of course George may grow up to be straight, marry a woman and have many babies! No cause for panic, either way.