Opinions may Vary . A genuine question about why Meghan and Harry seem to attract such differing views.

[BasiliskStare]

I post this more in hope than experience but I would be really interested in a proper discussion about those who are fans or supporters of them , those who aren't and indeed ( of which there are many ) , those who are indifferent.

So - I'll start. There was an interesting post on another thread which said M&H come over as David and Goliath , standing up against "the Institution" - my paraphrase.

No spitting , no fighting , mind the furniture 😂

I am reasonable most of the time but sometimes can’t help myself 🤷‍♀️. It’s not totally wrong though.
I will take the ‘interesting poster’ as a compliment.

I'd forgotten the help she was offered. Again I think Harry may be behind this - could be wrong - I think he thought Meghan was Superwoman and she didn't need anyone

I also wonder what her answer would have been if Catherine's help had been offered

Let's not forget she was also offered the help of the Queen's equerry, Lt. Col. Nan Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah. Turned down because, paraphrasing the words of Omid Scobie in Endgame, Meghan's friends advised her the optics didn't look good.

I didn’t say or imply any of what you’ve attributed to me in your second paragraph. That’s purely your interpretation.

As well as use anyone or anyone's business to try to elevate themselves from the bottom feeders that they actually are

The 50/50 would never have worked and the queen was absolutely right to turn it down.
it would have been tax payers paying for security, homes, clothes etc whilst they also made commercial gains based on their connections and RF roles. The backlash the RF would have got would have been huge and trying to audit that would have been a nightmare.
I think the queen learnt a lot about the tightrope she had to walk during the death of diana, divorces and Windsor fire.

Yes. I was. And I did say that, yes. Next?

Are you saying that what I have said about H and m posters is not true?

The lies they have fabricated time after time?

So you not starting H&M threads is irrelevant to your encouragement of and participation in them. So your faux innocence

agree that there is not much positive to say about them. Certainly nothing new. So why is it said so often? I’m pretty sure there is always at least one anti M&H thread live on Mumsnet. What’s that about?

is a bit hypocritical, isn't it. Particularly on this thread.

So -have we come up with any new reasons that H&M have their fans? A simple binary-don’t like W&C so therefore must like H&M? The “support the underdog” theory-however unsupported by evidence? I suppose there is also that they are an exciting soap opera-what will they do next? A ghoulish fascination with their potential downfall? A love of pink wine and apricot jam? Being anti British and enjoying the British establishment coming to metaphorical blows? Anything else?

🤦‍♀️

Do you not think they have told lies ??

People in the UK love to look down on America and Americans

Yeah, Americans never look down on Brits... Never mention their teeth or anything like that.

🙄It goes both ways.

But it's largely because their supporters do little to defend them from the vitriol criticism! All they seem to do is complain that anyone is criticising them. When asked over and over again (and on this thread, specifically) to explain why they like H & M so much, we just get tumbleweed and silence from most people.

Please, please - if you can explain their attraction lots of us would be interested to hear.

I don't like them because of their behaviour, but on the positive side I'd say:

Meghan is very pretty. Not beautiful, and there's been some tweaking which I roll my eyes at a bit because it seems to deny her mixed-race heritage, but very, very attractive with a bright, open face.

She sometimes wears nice casual clothes (but not formal ones, and some of her outfits, even the casual ones, as hit and miss).

At first it seemed she could talk the talk. I don't think she can walk the walk! And her speeches are very repetitive and self-regarding.

That is honestly all I can say that's positive, and you'll agree that it's pretty superficial stuff. So what's the attraction for those who really admire her?

(Er...couldn't think of anything good to say about Harry, except that he does seem genuine about Invictus and can sometimes be very good at meeting the public, especially children.)

Well, I've tried my best!

Oh I think she would have jumped at the chance of being seen alongside Catherine ( not behind but beside!) . Remember how miffed she was that C went shopping without her ?
C and W saw right through her .

I wonder what you think then of William and Charles making commercial gains and income of £20m pa through the duchy whilst still being paid by taxpayers to xocer their security, engagements etc.

Afterall the duchy is trading off their status, their role and connections...

Hotflushesandchilblains · Yesterday 21:19
People in the UK love to look down on America and Americans. Even very highly educated friends of mine will say the most astonishingly ignorant things perpetuating stereotypes.

I don't! I hate stereotyping and I realise there are as many 'types' of Americans as there are Brits. Some are nice, some not so much.

The American people I've met have been super-smart, funny and pretty positive - rather like the Aussies I know - with a can-do attitude.

@Spectre8 you really don’t get it do you ?

threesocks...

Go on an American site called Celebitchy. Read the comments about the Royals. These people are not all SS members, but they are 100% supportive of them.

The SS is a group of internet trolls who go after anyone who so much as breathes a mild word of criticism of H & M with appalling viciousness - including death threats.

Lots and lots of examples, but Sean Lennon, John's son, made a mild joke about something Harry had said (honestly, it was so innocent and inoffensive) and the Squad went nuts and threatened him with death. Recently a woman tried to sue Meghan because her bath salt recipe damaged her skin and on Celebitchy the posters were thrilling at the prospect of what the SS would do to her. They said 'We've got her name and details! Sussex Squad gone go ape!" Yes, I remember their exact words. Chilling!

Don't get me started on this topic!

Someone (can't remember who...might have been in a press article - not here on MN) said that Meghan needs to take a look at her own attitudes to race, rather than accusing others of racism.

Nothing that she's ever done has convinced me that she particularly identifies with her bi-racial heritage, and all the African-American cultural element at the wedding came from KC's suggestions. I'm still not convinced that Meghan enjoyed it.

I can't admire H&M. I'm disappointed by his disloyalty and their lies.

But I really do feel sorry for them. Yes, the situation is largely of their own making. But I suspect they sincerely believe themselves to have been badly treated. And I wouldn't be surprised if they're therefore very unhappy.

I truly hope they find a way to be useful and contented members of society again, whether private or public and whether the UK or the USA.

That’s a fair point. The fact it’s a very very long standing agreement means the two are audited and kept separate (as much as they can be). If I understand it correctly the duchy was set up to provide an income for the heir to the throne. So that’s what it does.

they’d have been starting afresh without a clear plan, and the initial wealth and stolen inheritance . Throw in the already clear contempt they’d shown for the general public and tax payer and the fact they didn’t seem to respect the rules already. Had it been Henry 8ths time they probably would have been gifted a duchy, but not now, it is a different time and wouldn’t have been well received. It sets an awful precedence. Heir to the throne and minor working royal are very different.

The media want Meghan and Harry to be painted in a bad light. It sells more stories. So they are criticised whatever they do.

I feel extremely sorry for them. I’m not saying they are perfect and haven’t made mistakes but the media twist a lot! If Catherine does something it’s painted like she’s a saint, if Meghan does she is a villain.

Who is "the media"? Newsweek? People? Time? In Style? Yahoo? Daily Beast? The Guardian? The BBC? Any number media publications either ignoring the Sussexes when they are involved in something dodgy, or fawningly promoting their latest endeavours.