Oprah interview, the royals and the British press

[Opti]

I'm wondering what people are thinking about this, and if they are following it. So many articles. Do you plan to watch the interview and how do you feel about all the stories surrounding it?

www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/feud-between-british-press-meghan-and-prince-harry-reaches-fever-pitch-ahead-of-oprah-interview/ar-BB1eiTTq?ocid=msedgntp

[billisonboard]

I support Tom, George, Ben, Samuel and the rest of them.  I think they got it right. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

My husband finds the topic ridiculous. I find it a nice distraction from my first world problems. 

[Spellbound454]

For a couple who wanted to escape attention ...... they have done everything they can to court the media.

They have got Royalty and Celebrity confused.... and are dining out on crowns the people don't want them to have.

Awful simpering... multi millionnaires... who want to turn a thousand-year-old traditions in to a shallow circus.

[Opti]

I think they want to deal with the media on their terms versus on the terms of the British media, US media, etc. As Diana's son, Harry wouldn't be able to escape the media unless he lived somewhere remote. Meghan apparently is catnip to the British media, I just learned today she had fashion lines pre Harry. 

I don't think they are confused. As an American, its obvious Harry was born a royal, he had no choice in the matter. Your royals are both royalty and celebrities based on how much the British media trails them and makes up stories about them. 

Are there really any thousand year old traditions to be saved?

www.history.com/news/what-is-the-queens-role-in-british-government

In the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Parliament invited William II of Orange and his wife, Mary II, to invade England and depose King James II, who wanted absolute power. William and Mary then assented to the Bill of Rights, which legally required Parliament to be held regularly, granted full freedom of speech in Parliament and instituted various civil liberties. Britain does not have a single, written constitution like that of the United States, but foundational documents like Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights formally took power from the crown and gave it to Parliament.

The monarch retains the right to “invite” whomever he or she pleases to form a government, but this is a holdover from the time when “Prime Minister” was an informal way of referring to the Member of Parliament selected by the king or queen to lead proceedings. For well over a century, the crown has always extended this “invitation” to the leader of the party that controls of Parliament—the last time a British monarch tried to impose his preferred Prime Minister on Parliament was in 1834, and it didn’t work. Likewise, the representative government is said to govern “in her name,” and her formal assent is still required for many of the functions of state, but for the Queen to criticize, impede, or fail to assent to the will of Parliament would be a violation of over a century of tradition.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Mar 6, 2021 14:58:01 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

For a couple who wanted to escape attention ...... they have done everything they can to court the media.

They have got Royalty and Celebrity confused.... and are dining out on crowns the people don't want them to have.

Awful simpering... multi millionnaires... who want to turn a thousand-year-old traditions in to a shallow circus.

This is the part that confuses me about them the most. 

[Opti]

For fun. Two people decide to interview royal commentators about the interview before they have even seen it.
www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/a-youtuber-duo-had-royal-experts-comment-on-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-s-interview-before-they-d-seen-it/ar-BB1ej95Q?ocid=msedgntp

[Spellbound454]

 Are there really any thousand year old traditions to be saved?

Yes of course..... We like our Monarchy just the way it is. No one has invited anybody to "shake it up".... Thats the height of arrogance.... Who the heck do they think they are?

The Queen isn't a celebrity any more than another Country's Head of State is a celebrity.

The culture is one of understatement, dignity, modesty and respect for the position...... not swanning about Hollywood parties and trying to use your position to make money building a brand.
You never talk to the press, you release statements when you want the press to know something. That's the way it goes.

All this open heartedness will backfire ............ Its all very well insisting on freedom to talk and put their view across............ but that opens the door for the other side to talk......... and Meghan Markle went through 3 PAs, 3 Nannies (one on the first night) and a bunch of others ..... (We have known about this for some time)

We don't mind if they go........... but they haven't gone for a quiet life like they said. They are on TV again and again whenever possible .... and its all great as long as they get the coverage they think they deserve ........ its cringeworthy. Kardashians in a crown.


We want our crowns back, along with the titles and everything.

[Opti]

Mar 6, 2021 17:18:20 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

 Are there really any thousand year old traditions to be saved?

Yes of course..... We like our Monarchy just the way it is. No one has invited anybody to "shake it up".... Thats the height of arrogance.... Who the heck do they think they are?

The Queen isn't a celebrity any more than another Country's Head of State is a celebrity.

The culture is one of understatement, dignity, modesty and respect for the position...... not swanning about Hollywood parties and trying to use your position to make money building a brand.
You never talk to the press, you release statements when you want the press to know something. That's the way it goes.

All this open heartedness will backfire ............ Its all very well insisting on freedom to talk and put their view across............ but that opens the door for the other side to talk......... and Meghan Markle went through 3 PAs, 3 Nannies (one on the first night) and a bunch of others ..... (We have known about this for some time)

We don't mind if they go........... but they haven't gone for a quiet life like they said. They are on TV again and again whenever possible .... and its all great as long as they get the coverage they think they deserve ........ its cringeworthy. Kardashians in a crown.


We want our crowns back, along with the titles and everything.

They already lost their titles and patronages, what else are you waiting for? I just think its interesting that the palace as a whole seemed to leave Diana out in the cold, seem to be happy to blame lots on Meghan, yet Prince Andrew is accused of raping a woman when she was 17 multiple times and he gets protected by the palace.

I think them leaving the royal family is best for all involved. She didn't grow up British and was never apolitical, which clashes with the preferred (understandably so) stance of a British royal. Plus Harry was twelve when Diana died and William was fifteen. Its not surprising he's having some angst over that past now that he has children. His personality has always been different from his stoic brother. 

From my vantage point I don't know that I trust that much that comes from the British media and the palace. I doubt that Harry and Meghan are telling the full truth either, but I feel they deserve a crack at spin given the media and the palace have already done so. Yeah the Sussex Royal stuff was odd but Meghan Markle made her living as an actress and a brand prior to Harry, so I'm not surprised it made sense to her. But I do think the Queen is a celebrity. She gets photographed more than the Prime Minister and you have lots of royal commentators over there. There is not really an equivalent here for the President. She's just more like Barbara Streisand than she is like Brittany Spears.

The Kardashians are a bigger circus than Harry & Meghan, they have Kanye too which is a multiple ring circus by himself. They need to make a living and unfortunately both of them only know how to do public eye type stuff. I never got the impression they were going to hide away as much as they wanted to avoid the British Press and the constant surveilance that goes with it. 

[Opti]

I did read about the PAs and nannies. There were also people leaving before they married and shortly after, so to me its possible some left because of biases of their own. Meghan being biracial has been a big deal over there and I wouldn't be surprised if some left simply because they disagreed with who Harry married. Plus there is going to be a culture clash from a non Briton suddenly living in the palace. And I'd probably be paranoid too if I realized Kate's personal habits weren't leaked to the press but mine were. 

Maybe Meghan is mean, IDK. But odds are high some of those allegedly working for her were selling her out to the press. My American self always like Fergie because she didn't fit and seemed fun. In this case, I support Harry doing what he needs to to avoid his mother's fate. 

[busymom]

I agree that if the monarchy is serious about rooting out "bad behavior", they need to begin with Andrew.  Unless being a pedophile is normal for royalty.  Like, being so rich, there are no consequences?  


Meghan had 2 strikes against her succeeding at joining the royal family from the beginning.  She isn't completely white.  And, she's American.  That's bound to raise the hackles of "pure" royalty.

[Spellbound454]

.....but they haven't lost their titles and ...... No-one would care if they were just normal people. They have titles are are using them to claw their way up the Hollywood celebrity ladder.... and build an insidious brand for themselves.

They are whining about all the pressure, that they have brought about themselves .... whilst sitting against a backdrop of a multimillion pound estate.
They were also badly hit by Meghan's own family......... who just wouldn't be quiet. 

The Queen is not a celebrity: She has been on the throne for nearly 70 years and is the head of State in 16 independent Countries. She has tirelessly brought people together and never put a foot wrong in all that time.
Nothing like Barbara Streisand.

Harry will have had some angst about losing a parent......as anyone who has lost a parent does.
He was the favourite... much more fun loving than his duty bound brother

Now what do we see?...... A simpering man who has sold his ass and everything he stands for ...... to the highest bidder.


As for the stuff about Meghan coming out..... Doesn't make it untrue, and painting herself as the wounded party... is a bit steep for some of her staff.

[Spellbound454]

 Meghan being biracial has been a big deal over there

No it really wasnt. We loved the wedding and had high hopes about what was coming next.

 some left simply because they disagreed with who Harry married

No its not the job of employees to disagree with who their boss marries.

 were selling her out to the press

No thats not the way it works in royal circles.

As for Kate. She will be Queen and was higher up in the pecking order than Meghan was.

[Opti]

.....but they haven't lost their titles and ...... No-one would care if they were just normal people. They have titles are are using them to claw their way up the Hollywood celebrity ladder.... and build an insidious brand for themselves.



They are whining about all the pressure, that they have brought about themselves .... whilst sitting against a backdrop of a multimillion pound estate.

They were also badly hit by Meghan's own family......... who just wouldn't be quiet.

insert quote here

.They will never be normal people, they weren't before, its crazy to expect that to happen in the future. Meghan doesn't need the title to return to the Hollywood ladder, she has her history on Suits and other shows. Harry is Diana's son, I don't see the titles doing anything for them really. How do you think they are using their titles as this seems to be a sore spot with you? They created the organization Archewell
because I believe they have to drop Sussexroyal as part of the agreement with the Queen.

Yeah Meghan has some bad apples in her family which the British press did their best to exploit more than once. Your press is vicious. They did not bring on the pressure themselves. Did Harry beg the press to follow him since birth? Dog his every move and who he dated? On this side of the pond, the British royal press has a reputation of being worse than what follows the Hollywood celebs, which is saying something.

[Opti]

Mar 6, 2021 19:02:40 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

 Meghan being biracial has been a big deal over there

No it really wasnt. We loved the wedding and had high hopes about what was coming next.

 some left simply because they disagreed with who Harry married

No its not the job of employees to disagree with who their boss marries.

 were selling her out to the press

No thats not the way it works in royal circles.

As for Kate. She will be Queen and was higher up in the pecking order than Meghan was.

Working in a household people remain people. Some are going to disagree over who the boss marries, some might quit over it. There have been leaks before from the palace, it has to come from somewhere. The articles telling me about Harry being nicknamed "the hostage" by staff, who put that out there? If it did not come from the royal circles, where could that come from?

Kate is basically the white woman perfection one expected the royals to want. 

[Opti]

Apologies, I've entered the rabbit hole like a beginning Q. From a conservative opinion-

When the crafty Queen issued Prince Harry his dukedom upon his marriage to Markle, she could have chosen from several available titles. She could have issued a special proclamation regarding Harry’s heirs. But she chose the old unwanted title of Sussex, where it states no female from their marriage can inherit it.

madworldnews.com/meghan-royal-title-downgraded/

I must admit it sounds like a very interesting choice from a female monarch for a new DIL who is for gender equality. Unlike the author I don't really know whether she cares all that much about the title or not. I disagree with the author though in that I believe Fergie always knew she was #2 and was actually OK with it. 

I hope the interview is balanced and somewhat restrained. I don't think it will do much for Oprah's brand if she helps trash Meghan, Harry and the monarchy all in one interview. 

[mollyanna58]

I rarely read any of the articles about them, but the stories are unceasing and everywhere.  They stated they wanted to make their own way, but live on Daddy's money.  They wanted to get away from the press, but not really.  Now that they have decided not to return to royal duties, I hope they will simply fade away, but it's unlikely. 

[dondub]

🤮

[Spellbound454]

 Kate is basically the white woman perfection one expected the royals to want.

Thats not true, they were the fab four of the working Royals......... One pair could go off on tour and the others could go next. They were universally loved everywhere they went.

She was welcomed as a breathe of fresh air and a big asset to the work they were doing

Then they got back from Africa and said they didn't want to be part of it anymore.



As for Harry being the "hostage" its a joke, People have been saying he looks like he has Stockholm syndrome ie Not speaking much in interview, looking shell shocked and just saying what he has been prompted to say.

And Meghan, her family said she was a piece of work ......... we should have listened. They aren't welcome here anymore by a great many people.

[Opti]

Mar 7, 2021 7:04:06 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

 Kate is basically the white woman perfection one expected the royals to want.

Thats not true, they were the fab four of the working Royals......... One pair could go off on tour and the others could go next. They were universally loved everywhere they went.

She was welcomed as a breathe of fresh air and a big asset to the work they were doing

Then they got back from Africa and said they didn't want to be part of it anymore.



As for Harry being the "hostage" its a joke, People have been saying he looks like he has Stockholm syndrome ie Not speaking much in interview, looking shell shocked and just saying what he has been prompted to say.

And Meghan, her family said she was a piece of work ......... we should have listened. They aren't welcome here anymore by a great many people.

I doubt they were universally loved. I found a couple videos, and I am sure there are more mocking Meghan's non whiteness. One only in the promo was a OMG Meghan is going have a black baby with a pic of a cute black baby with curly hair "and what is Harry going to do?" and another had in the video "the royals with their new child" picturing other people with a dressed chimp between them. Obama is biracial and he took a lot of shit. Some we know about, probably even more that we do not. 

I don't know what happened in Africa, but being pregnant and being followed by a press core that might not have been completely friendly may have broke her. Her Dad is a piece of work and opposite of her politically. 

Some people can take the pressure of the gilded fish bowl that is your monarchy and some can't. If I had to guess, Meghan started falling apart like his Mom and he didn't know what to do. When it all goes to hell some people can act dignified and some not so much. 
Harry and Meghan certainly have made some missteps and probably more are to come. That said, I don't think the Queen and the royal family did much to help if Diana's experience is any indicator. 

As for being the fab four, are there any pics of William and Kate being nice to Meghan? Its easy to find ones of them icing her out, but I don't really remember any of them being close. 

[buystoys]

Since Harry and Meghan wanted privacy, I'm more than willing to give it to them.

No, I won't be watching.

[busymom]

I watched.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I'm on the West Coast, so I'm an hour in. 
I'm totally believing her, but I'm pretty gullible when it comes to stuff like this. 

[justme]

I'm in the middle. I think some of what they say makes sense, but a lot of their horrible media trope doesn't ring so true when they've made moves that put them in the spotlight.

[saveinla]

I miss Oprah’s interviews.

[justme]

Mar 6, 2021 19:31:19 GMT -5 Opti said:

.....but they haven't lost their titles and ...... No-one would care if they were just normal people. They have titles are are using them to claw their way up the Hollywood celebrity ladder.... and build an insidious brand for themselves.



They are whining about all the pressure, that they have brought about themselves .... whilst sitting against a backdrop of a multimillion pound estate.

They were also badly hit by Meghan's own family......... who just wouldn't be quiet.

insert quote here

.They will never be normal people, they weren't before, its crazy to expect that to happen in the future. Meghan doesn't need the title to return to the Hollywood ladder, she has her history on Suits and other shows. Harry is Diana's son, I don't see the titles doing anything for them really. How do you think they are using their titles as this seems to be a sore spot with you? They created the organization Archewell
because I believe they have to drop Sussexroyal as part of the agreement with the Queen.

Yeah Meghan has some bad apples in her family which the British press did their best to exploit more than once. Your press is vicious. They did not bring on the pressure themselves. Did Harry beg the press to follow him since birth? Dog his every move and who he dated? On this side of the pond, the British royal press has a reputation of being worse than what follows the Hollywood celebs, which is saying something.

Oh come on there's a very popular documentary out right now detailing how vicious the US press is. The main difference is without royalty they can only pick on celebrities over here.

[Opti]

Mar 8, 2021 0:24:46 GMT -5 justme said:

Mar 6, 2021 19:31:19 GMT -5 Opti said:

.They will never be normal people, they weren't before, its crazy to expect that to happen in the future. Meghan doesn't need the title to return to the Hollywood ladder, she has her history on Suits and other shows. Harry is Diana's son, I don't see the titles doing anything for them really. How do you think they are using their titles as this seems to be a sore spot with you? They created the organization Archewell
because I believe they have to drop Sussexroyal as part of the agreement with the Queen.

Yeah Meghan has some bad apples in her family which the British press did their best to exploit more than once. Your press is vicious. They did not bring on the pressure themselves. Did Harry beg the press to follow him since birth? Dog his every move and who he dated? On this side of the pond, the British royal press has a reputation of being worse than what follows the Hollywood celebs, which is saying something.

Oh come on there's a very popular documentary out right now detailing how vicious the US press is. The main difference is without royalty they can only pick on celebrities over here.

Yes the US press is vicious too, but it doesn't churn out daily press on one family every single day. Can you imagine being on the front page of one or more newspapers every single day? Royal watching is such a big business that they do not care if its true or not, and if you see some of those front pages its pretty obvious. 

[Opti]

Its obvious to me I am definitely an American, especially when reading stuff like this-

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9337027/Viewers-call-Queen-strip-Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-titles-Oprah-interview.html
Piers tweeted: 'This interview is an absolutely disgraceful betrayal of the Queen and the Royal Family. I expect all this vile destructive self-serving nonsense from Meghan Markle - but for Harry to let her take down his family and the Monarchy like this is shameful.'

He followed it up with: 'Harry wants America and the rest of the world to hate his own family, hate the Monarchy and hate his country.

I didn't feel the monarchy or his family was taken down. I think its his way of ignoring that the biggest or only takedown I heard was of the British press, which he is a part of. I think the flower girl dress thing should not have been discussed and more emphasis should have been put on how the press wanted to spin things. How they like the idea of Kate and Meghan fighting. How they prefer to treat Meghan as a villain to sell papers. If anything I saw most of the "bombshells" as a direct effect of how the British media has the upper hand when it comes to the royals. The royals are afraid to anger them in order to stay relevant to the country, but that means they let untrue stuff be published constantly and are afraid to stop it. Even the baby's skin color would be an issue in the press, so I don't even know if whoever brought it up to Harry was racist or just very concerned as to how the media would deal with it.

IMO Piers is angry because he knows he is part of the problem. He just masks it by pretending to speak on the royal families behalf like much of the press who do such daily. For Americans, it reminds me how some conservatives like to tell non conservatives how they think, simply because they constantly watch lies about the other and believe it.

[Lizard Queen]

Seems the monarchy wants it both ways--to cut off all financial assistance from the couple despite the continuing need for security because of the monarchy, but they still wish for utmost discretion from H&M. Seems clear that H&M are making up for the lost money needed for their family's security. As an American, I'm fine with it.

[Spellbound454]

 -to cut off all financial assistance

He was a working Royal and chose to leave his job
No-one gets paid for work they haven't done.

 IMO Piers is angry because he knows he is part of the problem.

Piers is spot on..... the vast majority of people living here would agree with him. Most people are utterly dismayed and disappointed at this behaviour.
The Queen has spent a lifetime behaving in a quiet and dignified manner. Their behaviour is demeaning and disrespectful.

If they wanted a quiet life for their mental health etc...... then why go to Los Angeles in the midst of Hollywood,
Why not a quiet place in the Rockies away from everyone.
Its nonsense.... they are using their titles to manipulate their careers. Get invites to celebrity parties to get themselves on TV and to themselves relevant.

 I expect all this vile destructive self-serving nonsense from Meghan Markle