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 do think you need to be a little careful about the “generational” thing. There are a lot of people from my generation and (even!) older who are Republicans- many of the post war generation for example, became very cynical about the RF.

I think the problem was that she didn’t understand the role of the monarchy in the UK, or her own role within it. This is partly her fault (she was a big girl, not a young ingenue like Diana) and presumably intelligent and sophisticated. She could have done some research. Unfortunately for her, Harry had his own agenda-as well as being dim, he’d just lost a couple of previous relationships because the women didn’t want the gig (royal life) and therefore seems to have been less than honest with her about what she was getting into.

But I don’t let M off the hook here - she wants to be seen as totally on the ball and as knowing better than everyone else, yet has repeatedly claimed that she knew next to nothing about the RF etc (“Who was that man?”(Prince Andrew)). Apparently she has no problem swotting up on Diana.

Quite!

I’ll get flamed for this but I think what distinguishes the RF board is articulate, well-informed, civilised discussion. That’s why I enjoy it - the range of well-argued views make it really interesting.

And that’s why the odd brief, often irrelevant post about hating and vitriol stands out

Not sure, tbh. She was a bit of a nepo baby, her dad being in the industry. The successful couple of projects she was involved with while royal adjacent, the Grenfell cookbook and the working wardrobe project - the actual feet on the ground aspects were done by others. I don't know what innovative ideas she had either.

I think it's indicative that she's not really an instigator, a motivator and doesn't really connect that well with others (her interactions during her time as a working royal were of the 'have you come far today' variety and any longer interactions she still managed to turn the convo onto herself) because of what's happened when she's had the opportunity to create and manage her own projects. These projects have failed in most cases, even with high level professional input.

Agreed 100%. This incessant narrative of being "forced out" is tedious and mendacious on the parts of those who roam these boards, have these conversations over and over again, and full well know the truth - because they can read Harry and Meghan's own words on the matter.

There was categorically no David throwing stones at Goliath. Goliath was bending over backwards to help David, and David was lapping it all up. But there were rules that everyone (not just David, and including Goliath himself) had to abide by. David got greedy, and wanted Goliath to give him special treatment, better than everyone else got. And when Goliath said "No can do", David went off in a huff and told everyone that he was being discriminated against.

I thought we were discussing what might be motivating M&H fans-not what is actually the truth of the situation? Perception-particularly from other countries-is very different from reality.

Absolutely disagree here. Whilst there are some well informed civilised posts and discussions here, there are also a lot more of cheap shots taken at Meghan both on a personal and professional level. As I said before totally disproportionate and likely to get her support from neutral parties.

Also the generational difference in attitude between older and younger people has existed for decades. This suggests that as the younger people get older they change their minds to some extent. So whilst it is true it isn't something that the monarchy need to be concerned about because it has always been like that.

As an aside, I find it fascinating that Meghan and Harry are always portrayed as the younger face of the monarchy that would appeal to that demographic and this represented a great loss. Meghan is older than William and Catherine, they are not a young couple they are a couple with young children.

Didn't she do some sort of international politics/relations degree from a very good university? You'd think she's have put some of her skills and knowledge in that field to practical use.

@RandyRedHumpback i agree (edited to an earlier post)there appears three narratives on what happened regarding them leaving the royal family and these shape views, social media which is tribal, tabloid media which has its own bias and Meghan and Harry own words. Unfortunately the last one and most reliable takes interest in the subject or is often rejected/ignored due to bias already formed. Harry and Meghan wanted to be part time but remain senior royals, expenses fully paid for with full time British and host country security wherever they visited and lived. This is their words, their expectations and of course an allowance off Pa. Even after being fully independent they would remain IPP. The narrative changed and webpages removed. If Harry had got half in half out there would be no spare, Oprah. They are words of revenge, that doesn't make it necessarily untrue but as Harry says himself his emotional truth is more important than objective facts, I'd be wary. The argument that they don't cost the UK anything (which is not totally true) is because of the Late Queen and not Harry. Was Harry part of a dysfunctional family then yes, but unfortunately that's not unusual.

I am discussing just that. These fans' unwillingness to accept the truth of the situation, set out in Harry and Meghan's own words, of their desire to remain in "collaboration". If their super fans can't even read and absorb Harry and Meghan's own words, which bely the "David and Goliath" scenario, then their motivations are not based in anything rational or real. And their devotion has moved into something else and more cult-like.

That’s interesting. I can obviously understand how their behaviour has been pretty shitty, and they’ve brought a lot on themselves, but I think it’s the petty nature of some of the attacks I find puzzling. The flower sprinkles were a case in point. Obviously insanely trivial, but the way people talked about them as if they were the weirdest, whackiest, most bizarre product anybody has ever heard of when you can literally buy them on Amazon was odd. I have some I use quite often-they are pretty and harmless. But they were portrayed as a delusional symptom!

I agree. But that is rather the nature of fandom, isn’t it?

I'm largely indifferent to them and not a fan of the Royals generally. I guess they've got to make a living and if there are people who want to watch their netflix stuff, good luck to them. I do think that Meghan gets a lot more bashing in the press and the narrative seems to be that she has 'taken Harry away' from the Royal Family - I actually think Harry had been unhappy for a long time and it was him that wanted out.

Well there's fandom, and then there's an orchestrated movement attacking (by word and by action) anyone or anything that isn't slavishly complimentary about their "god". From fan to cult. The Sussex Squad are in the latter category.

The Oprah interview but then keeping the titles - they need removing from the line of succession and from having a part in the royal family imho

Absolutely right. The noble "rebels" shining a light on the "racist" institution would have happily stayed and lapped it all up had they been afforded all the extra goodies they were asking for. We'd have been non the wiser about "their truth", because they wouldn't have needed to make it up to fit a victimhood narrative.

I don’t think anyone had a problem with the flower sprinkles per se, more the fact that they were being “elevated” to the status of something more than common or garden flower sprinkles (excuse the pun 😆). Meghan does have a tendency to behave as though she has just invented the wheel every time she releases a product or introduces a new venture. And she did suggest some rather odd uses for the sprinkles (on scrambled eggs?)
This is one of the things that makes me feel less than warm towards Meghan. She is sooooo earnest it come across as extremely patronising. It’s an interesting aspect of fandom that the idol is seen as groundbreaking and always right when most people would be thinking “wtf??”

When they left, I was neutral. But how they have behaved since has turned me against them - particularly Harry. I think his treatment of his brother has been utterly cruel.

If an Oprah interview was the line for removing titles, Fergie should have lost hers long ago. Unless we want to invent special rules for certain people?
TBH I think Meghan would still be very successful without the titles which can’t be said for many in the Royal family, other than probably Charles. Despite some instances of bad judgement he does seem like someone who enjoys working and bringing ideas to life.

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.

I think they have very few real fans these days.

4 or 5 years ago, the discussion on threads like this would have been fairly 'balanced', with roughly equal numbers of pro and contra. Now, and not just here, it seems opinion towards them is overwhelmingly negative, allowing for the fact that, as you say, the majority of people are largely indifferent towards them. Even their 'supporters' tend to just slag off other posters rather than try to defend their faves.

I think back in the Mexit days a case could have been made that they were 'victims' of sort. I certainly don't agree with it, but if you didn't follow these things too closely and for whatever reason, were inclined to believe it, I guess you could convince yourself. 5 years on though, with so much water under the bridge and Meghan reduced to posting twerking videos and selling tat, it's hard to buy the idea that they were just too progressive and politically minded for the fusty old royals. However, some folks have 'invested' in the idea of them as noble victims, so feel obliged to pretend that this is what they wanted all along.

The sprinkles on scrambled eggs thing epitomises the shallowness of this pair. Rather than make some truly outstanding, truly delicious, truly different scrambled eggs, just make something bog standard - but sprinkle some flowers on for decoration, and expect everyone to be hugely impressed and think you've really "shown up" for them. Everything is surface level. I cannot fathom why anyone would be impressed by this. I was in Italy at Easter and we ate some mind blowingly good food. And there was often a garnish of edible flowers. But the flowers weren't there to be the most impressive thing about the dish. They were a finishing, prettifying flourish, not the real substance of what was being presented. They couldn't counter the disappointment of a poorly executed meal. Everything is surface level with the Sussexes. All they have is the prettifying flourish. They are sprinkles! And seemingly, that's all their cult like fandom want them to be.

Not the flower sprinkles again - have they not been debated enough? FFS 🤦‍♀️

Meghan would not be so famous, rich and powerful had she not married Harry. She wouldn't be doing quasi royal tours of Nigeria and pontificating on the dangers of social media, nor getting paid for Trad Wife content on Netflix.

I read a book about slightly vulnerable, very foolish heiresses who had been take advantage of. I think Harry is like one of them. They

It is also very rare for family members cash in and write a tell-all book about famous relatives. It is an extremely low grade thing to do.

I think Meghan has gained an huge amount and will be absolutely fine whatever happens. Harry has been a total idiot.