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 😂

It is interesting that they can be seen as underdogs (presumably in comparison to the RF) when Harry himself feels sorry for the poor “trapped” RF members he left behind.

They aren’t underdogs. They are bullies who have attacked people who can’t fight back.

Absolutely. It is very puzzling that some posters seem to think there is more to the fans fanishness than simply that.

Being on the planet for more years than someone else doesn’t give anyone the right to be “cringily passive aggressive” 😊 Try harder

They can’t be underdogs as they still have a massive fan base, as well as plenty of critics.

Absolutely, how could I forget that. One phone call from Meghan to Piers boss and Piers was out on the street, in hindsight that was a shocking, thankfully they have exposed themselves for who they really are. As much as I can’t stand Piers, he has since been vindicated.

Otherwise David Attenborough would be like that all the time! He isn't.

One word to describe them

Elite

I understand why you think they’re underdogs @Petitchat but I think you’re wrong. I do agree that the relentless picking apart seems to have got out of hand, most of what Meghan does concerning her “business” is just ridiculous and not the crime of the century. I might feel differently if she was selling her tat at a level that meant more people’s hard earned money was at risk but she isn’t.

However, they are not good people. None of the really nasty things she has said and done were by accident. Harry enabled her to a point where mere weakness is not a good enough excuse. How you can see someone as an underdog when they have been the willing figurehead of a campaign of hatred against a sick woman and reduced their own employees to tears beats me.

Exactly, and imagine the power move of sending your friend a personal gift with a card from HRH the Duchess of Sussex. Doesn’t get more elite than that.

... with a Coronet above the title 😂😂😂

I can understand "underdog" in the sense that @Petitchat used it and I think it isn't that far from the David and Goliath theory. I do think they have managed to portray themselves as two plucky hard done to people standing up against dark forces. OK dark forces is exaggerated for effect but I hope you see the general point.

More speculation from me and again mayhap not brilliantly thought out but here goes.
It has been said that because the HLMTQ was "inscrutable" people could project their own feelings upon her (which could be wildly inaccurate.) I wonder if , whilst M is far from inscrutable , she has been through so many personas , struggling actress making a breakthrough , lifestyle blogger , travel and food etc (the Tig) , philanthropist , fairytale romance and mixed race American marrying into the RF , self made business woman etc etc. Now , how may of these are real - different matter. But I think maybe she has many facets and some will like them all & credit her with being whatever the female equivalent of l'uomo univsale is , and some will like one facet . But she's got many to choose from, so some fans might really identify with one and that's enough - she can do no wrong in other spheres either.

(Pure speculation).

ETA - I mean "perceived as underdog" - not saying they are

LOL.

When she was called out for using the HRH title she had agreed not to use, explained that she only used it privately 😂. as if that was a better look.

I think Meghan would receive less flack for her business if she had not presented it as something really special, imbided with the essence of Meghan. It's fairly basic products, nothing unique. The embodiment of the gap between what she says and what she does.

😂😂yes, I only expect close friends to curtsey and call me Your Royal Highness 😂

I agree, it’s the hyperbole and self aggrandising that gets people going. I also think that people need to remember that Charles nicknamed her Tungsten, and I don’t suppose it was meant affectionately. She’s as hard as nails, the brickbats may hurt her ego but they don’t touch her self esteem.

Edited to say I should have said allegedly about the nickname, because I can’t guarantee the source so am willing to accept it might be inaccurate.

😂😂😂

I do think the antipathy to her “brand” actually plays into the fans mind set. The obvious reaction is “But why shouldn’t she sell stuff? Loads of other celeb, big and small, do…” The pages on here mocking and disparaging her jam and so on is a little uncomfortable to read, whatever you think of her. And before anyone says it, yes of course there are much worse things to read about her, but still…

I agree to the extent that I’ve always thought that criticism overshadows the truly awful things that were said and done around Megxit. Already we are hearing people saying “oh but that was years ago, why won’t you let it go?”

Her being a bit rubbish at everything is not important. Her cosplaying royalty and in doing so undermining the actual royal family is.

I think it's fine if she sells pancake mix or jam or whatever. It's more honest than selling the privacy of others and trading on smears and unfounded accusations, which has been the Sussexes personal cottage industry for some years. She's at heart a Trad Wife, so she's found her thing and good luck to her.

Is she undermining the RF? Is there any evidence that there has been any impact on the RF?

I think that's interesting, because that's really everything to her - and him. They love the titles, status, wealth and power of being royal - and the Coronets on the stationery! They are very royal, entitled and arrogant, and it's just at the heart of who they are.

I used to watch Suits and liked Rachel/Meghan character and when it transpired Harry was dating her, I thought it’d be a breath of fresh air. Like millions of others, I watched the wedding (and the drama of her father/paparazzi etc beforehand) and that added to the ‘normality’ of it all - a woman with a less than perfect family was marrying into the British royal family. I’m not exactly a royalist but I did enjoy following the story of an ordinary girl (mixed race too!) marrying into the world’s most famous family. This just seemed like really good news for the monarchy.

I think it all started to unravel for me at the Oprah interview. It all seemed so unnecessary especially when they must have known how badly it would hurt the Queen. All families have problems but if you really love each other, you don’t go and dob them into the world’s media.

After that it seemed to spiral into ‘kiss and tell’, the Netflix doc and then Harry’s book. I read the book and if there had been terrible abuse, I could perhaps understand it but the things he was complaining about seemed to be the grief-stricken responses of a family blown apart by Diana’s death. No one could be blamed if they got it wrong - everyone handles grief differently.

Since then it’s seemed like one tawdry attempt after another to throw shade at the royal family. All the half veiled comments in podcasts etc - it all feels like a non stop reel of victimhood when in reality, they had the world at their feet.

The media mostly hates them and sometimes it goes way too far but at the same time, they keep making huge missteps, launching half-baked business ideas, failed podcasts etc etc. I hate to see anyone be bullied online but they seem to keep setting themselves up for one PR disaster after another.

I don’t know them so I can’t dislike them but I think their public image is just awful and they appear to be making worse by the day.

I think if you maintain a close association with an institution and actively purport to be part of it, albeit not working, then your conduct reflects back to the institution.

The RF understood this when they annexed Prince Andrew.

But it’s all set dressing isn’t it? No substance.