Prince Harry is willing to ‘abandon’ his royal duties to marry Meghan Markle?

Jerudong Park Trophy at Cirencester Park

Here are some photos of Prince Harry and Prince William (mostly Harry) at the Jerudong Park Trophy polo event. The princes pretty much play polo for charity exclusively at this point, right? Like, I don’t remember Harry or William playing a polo match just for the hell of it, or to win prize money or just be horsey and princey. They always play for charity, I think. And this weekend’s match benefitted Walking with the Wounded and Centrepoint, two of Harry and Will’s big causes.

Harry seemed to be having more fun at the trophy presentation. He was very smiley and giggly, and it made me wonder if Meghan Markle was there or something. She was not! He was just in a good mood, I suppose. Meghan is in Canada, working and hanging out with her mom. Some people claim that Meghan actually isn’t crazy about the idea of being a princess. Which… if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

Prince Harry is willing to stand up to the Queen and abandon some of his royal duties to sustain his relationship with Meghan Markle, a source has claimed. The young Prince is reportedly “adamant on leading a normal life”, with sources claiming he will not think twice in shunning some of his royal responsibilities should he marry the US actress.

An insider told Life and Style magazine: “If it comes to it, he’ll put his foot down and say no to some royal duties. Harry is strong-minded. He’s adamant about leading a normal life.”

Miss Markle has previously said she is not interested in becoming a Princess because she does not envision her future life to only entail “shaking hands, cutting ribbons and kissing babies in public”. However, if she followed Kate Middleton’s footsteps, friends have said she will not completely avoid the responsibility, the insider added.

[From The Daily Express]

I giggled at a few lines of this short report. “If it comes to it, he’ll put his foot down and say no to some royal duties.” If WHAT comes down to it? If Meghan comes to him and says, “I love you but can we please not be royal?” What are the chances she would ever say that? Zero. It’s also funny because Harry is being painted as someone rather desperate for any excuse to not be royal. He brought that on himself. As for “Miss Markle has previously said she is not interested in becoming a Princess…” O RLY?

Speaking of Don’t Call Her A Princess Markle, Entertainment Tonight reports that Meghan is rolling up with security wherever she goes now:

Meghan Markle is happily dating Prince Harry – but it’s not always easy. The 35-year-old actress has had to tighten her security since beginning her relationship with the 32-year-old royal. A production source on the set of Suits tells ET that Markle has security with her “at all times” on set.

“Meghan used to have a driver like everyone in the cast, which is supplied by the studio, but now she uses her own driver. She has a security guard on set with her at all times,” the source says. “She has someone who escorts her to and from home and there is someone with her at all times.”

Markle was last spotted at the Suits 100th episode party on Tuesday, celebrating the series’ milestone. The source tells ET that everyone at the event was in a celebratory mood and shared that the cast doesn’t really chitchat “or mention Harry ever.”

“[Markle] spoke about how she grew up going to TV sets with her dad,” the source says. “He was a lighting director for Married With Children, and because of that, she has always appreciated the crew, especially on Suits.”

The USA drama will wrap for most of August and resume filming in September. In terms of where her character on the show is going, the source says, “Meghan always wanted her character to be more than a sex symbol, someone who pranced around in underwear, or had major sex scenes even before her relationship with Harry started.” The source added that last summer “she did have a chat with the creative team and mentioned this to them as well.”

[From ET]

I’m sure she gets a lot of creepy attention when she’s out and about in Toronto, although I find it hard to believe that she needs security while she’s on the set. I wonder who’s paying for this security? When William was just dating then-Kate Middleton, she got taxpayer-funded security, but only when she was with William. I wonder if Harry is financing Meg’s security?

Jerudong Park Trophy at Cirencester Park

Jerudong Park Trophy at Cirencester Park

Photos courtesy of WENN.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

120 Responses to “Prince Harry is willing to ‘abandon’ his royal duties to marry Meghan Markle?”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Alix says:

    Seems to me that Harry leads a fairly normal life right now; his duties are hardly onerous. Besides, if he said goodbye to being royal, what would he do with himself? Probably involve himself with a few good works, much the way he does now. So nothing, really, would change much. Either way, he has his mother’s money, so no worries in that regard.

    • Megan says:

      Since Harry’s father set up a trust to allow his sons and their wives to engage in substanative philanthropic work, they need not reduce their royal role to ribbon cuttings and hand shaking. William and Harry are both ungrateful.

      • bluhare says:

        I actually get quite upset about the knocking of ribbon cutting and hand shaking. That ribbon cutting and hand shaking creates a lifetime memory for the people there. My mother still remembers that Princess Alexandra came to open a bridge in our hometown, and I remember her taking me to watch the queen drive by when she came to town to open another bridge.

        That’s what they’re there for, and that’s the work that keeps them where they are. If they can’t be bothered then I hope the door doesn’t hit them on the way out.

      • frisbee says:

        ITA Bluhare, that is their version of ‘bread and butter’ duties as I said below, it’s the kind of activity that makes them part of the fabric of the country. Disentangle themselves from that and what’s actually left?

      • LAK says:

        What Bluhare said.

        There is a misconception that the big splashy royal set pieces with maximum PR are what keep the royals on their perch, but it is actually the ribbon cutting and out of the way meeting of royalty and the association of birdwatchers of west devon (as a hypothetical example) that keep it going.

        These are like backstage musicians meet and greet with fans. Royal edition. Obviously not as exciting as rockstars, but same end result.

        In ye old times, the big splashy events were all that was needed, but in modern times, it’s the ribbon cutting that does the job.

        Now a conversation about the need for royalty is a different discussion altogether, but if they are to continue, ribbon cutting and being *visible is the way to go.

        * and not just in shallow ‘heads together’ PR platitudes.

      • Dem says:

        But how many hands can you actually shake and how many people care to read about ribbon cuttings? I guess royal obsessives and old people do but most of us really really dont follow that stuff. Its pics of Harry sitting with Rihanna getting his blood tested that goes around the world. The passing news scrawl that William is discussing mental health visavis losing his mother is what catches millions of eyes. This other ribbon stuff just ends up in the neighborhood free paper to be seen by a handful of bored pensioners. I mean even my gran blanks this family out until a ceremony of actual pomp and tiaras.

      • frisbee says:

        Dem, I wasn’t talking about the rest of the world. The pictures might be nice and splashy – and reduce them to any other celebrity – but at home what really counts is the feet on the ground, meeting people, his people, cutting the bloody ribbons, as many as necessary to retain a connection to the people whose taxes will pay for his and his brother’s upkeep. If they stop doing the basic stuff, the stop bothering to make and keep that connection with the normal people, those normal people will stop caring, a lot of them already have, and once they stop caring they start questioning the whole point of the monarchy along the lines of ‘what do they actually do’, are they worth the money, can we afford them, can we be bothered, oh no we can’t and so on and so forth. It’s actually more in their interest than ours to do the basics, the boring, the ‘duty’ they seem to despise is the thing that upholds their position, not having photo opportunities with Rihanna.

      • Sixer says:

        Dem – the former is what makes them famous; the latter is what makes people believe they are value for money, and by extension, worth keeping. Two very different things.

        Nobody wants to keep the Queen because she drives to parliament in a golden carriage every five years and it gets in the paper. Lots of people want to keep her because she turns up to a Scottish WI to eat cake once a year and it doesn’t get in the paper.

      • LAK says:

        Dem: think of the ribbon cutting as a politician on the campaign trail, meeting their constituents, kissing babies, tea and biscuits with them etc making a seemingly personal connection even if it’s a fleeting moment of contact.

        The royals realised at the turn of the century that this would keep them in power and that’s why they do it.

        The big splashy events of pomp and ceremony are few and far between and make for a good tv ad, but they do not endear the royals to anyone. No matter how awesome the diamonds on display.

      • bluhare says:

        LAK, frisbee, and Sixer, I think you answered Dem better than I could. Thank you!

        I understand from the rest of the world’s point of view, your point is a good one, Dem. But in order for that to happen they have to do the basics at home. And, for what it’s worth, old people are the royals biggest backers. Which begs the point — what are William and Kate going to do if they haven’t worked for their future fan base?

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        But ribbon cutting keeps the royals relevant. To be seen, “to be believed” (HM).

        The issue is the younger heiir to the heir whiny Billnot/ Kannot at their age with the least sincerity- effort- and #s that offend most of us with a family their 4+ middletons hangers on – 2 mansuons palace staff- on Duchy tacpayers dole. While doing nothing.

    • seesittellsit says:

      Not only what he would with himself, but what would he be? Underneath it all, he and William both know that they are not extraordinary people – only people born into extraordinary circumstances. Take away the titles, the palaces, the curtseys and bows, the servants, sports cars, polo ponies, art collections, historic jewels that their wives can wear, and how do they stack up against other men in their thirties who started with nothing and carved out their own fortunes with their bare hands? I know far less privileged people who started nonprofits, and most men in the military didn’t get the protection that Harry got while in Iraq – the army admitted he was whisked out of danger while his “mates” stayed. Underneath it all, Harry and William know that without the trappings of their birth as first-tier royals, they lose critical underpinnings of their identities and social worth. Just look what happened to Edward VIII when he gave it all up – he turned into an aimless if terribly wealthy wanderer. If you think the example of their ill-fated Great Uncle Edward who gave up his place in line for a woman isn’t part of the family cautionary legend, think again.

    • milla says:

      Normal life for them is beyond me. Why are we still living in a world where some people are more important cos they were born to certain people who did so many awful things to get to their positions?
      I really do not get why is he better than any other person. He did not cure anything. He is not an artist. He does not do anything.

  2. AnotherDirtyMartini says:

    If true, this is ridiculous. I’m skipping over the don’t-want-to-be-a-Princess part. No one knows who MM is. I can’t even keep her name straight. I’ve never heard of her aside from this site. I don’t watch Suits. I find it hard to believe she needs security etc. This sounds exaggerated.

    Okay, to put bluntly, is Harry obligated by royal “duties” to have kids like William was? Everyone’s body is different, but I have raging endometriosis & my fertility was shot before 35 basically. Of course, they have loads of money – hopefully she already has her 🍳 on ice.

    • GR says:

      It’s very disingenuous to go on a gossip site and claim the person responsible for practically every other article on that site is an unknown.

      Unthinkable that she would not need security. The extreme obsessive hatred from the racists and Harry stans alone proves it.

      • Sarah says:

        I lived in Toronto for twenty years and still live a short commute away now. And I disagree with the line that MM “must get a lot of creepy attention when she’s out and about in Toronto”. They have their share of famous people there and big budget movies have been filming there for decades. And there are certainly a lot of rich people there. Everyone is quite discreet. Nobody really gives it too much attention. She may still be bothered by the paps though but does that require security?

      • Bellagio DuPont says:

        @GR, thank you so much for being sensible. Just reading the DM comments alone would inform even a half-wit that there are lots of elements out there virulently against this relationship. You just can’t account for what any lone wolves out there might feel compelled to do.

        On one of the “royal forums” where she is persona non-grata number 1, one of the commenters even felt compelled to go to Meghan’s address and then took a picture of her front door and posted it on the site, just for their general amusement.

        Yes, she most definitely needs security.

      • Betsy says:

        I’m confused: you think Markle is the focus of most of the articles on Celebitchy?

      • Sarah says:

        I have seen Al Pacino walking down a NYC street with zero security. If Al Pacino doesn’t need security, Markle surely doesn’t.

    • Peeking in says:

      ADM – I don’t think she needs security because of her fame, but because of who she’s dating. The same reason those grown Trump spawn has secret service– They can’t afford to have her kidnapped, and demands made of Harry.

      • Sarah says:

        We can’t afford to have a Trump kidnapped, because the Orange Idiot is in charge of the most fearsome military in the world. Harry/Will/QEII are in charge of nothing. Their kidnapping, while tragic, wouldn’t endanger the rest of the world, so the argument you made doesn’t hold water.

    • L says:

      Sorry to hear about the endo. I have it, too, but I did successfully have two children past the age of 34. So, there’s is hope!!

    • Sarah says:

      My belief is this: it is fine for Harry to not do royal duties at all. But he should then get NO royal upkeep. Nothing. Not a pound, euro, or dollar. Nada.

      Good luck with that, Harry! Diana didn’t leave them anywhere near enough to live the life that he and Wills, and Kate are accustomed to living.

  3. Craven says:

    Of course she needs security now. Whenever a woman is thrust into international conversation, the psychos come out. And with her its not just the regular crazies, there are those obsessed with “miscegenation” of white royal blood and theres always the militant IS guys who keep driving vans into human beings. Who cares who pays for a bodyguard to keep a human being safe for gods sake? Are we at that point now? Where we begrudge people who are thrust into the limelight courtesy of this “institution”, what they need to feel and be safe?

    You guys know I am no royalist. I want to see it all burn to the ground but I demand that the victims of this horrible institution be kept safe. I’m no Bolshevik.

    • KiddVicious says:

      That was my thought. She could be getting death threats. I’m sure reading some of the comments about herself on various sites would scare the bejeezus out of her.

      • seesittellsit says:

        No other girlfriend of any of the royals, including Charles, got royal protection services till the day the engagement was announced. If MM does require security, Diana was hounded from dawn till dark – royal protection didn’t show up at her door until the day before the engagement was publicly announced. Any security for MM will be privately secured and paid for, not charged to the British taxpayer. She isn’t on the BRF gravy train yet.

    • magnoliarose says:

      Thank you. It is incorrect to think she doesn’t need security. There are plenty of nuts that become fixated on a person in the public eye. You have lone wolf terrorists who may think she would be a good target. She may have received death threats.

    • Rachael says:

      You know I once read an article about celebs and stalkers and it was stated that at any one time, Scotland Yard was monitoring 200 people who were considered dangerous stalkers in relation to Prince William. This was years before he married Kate so it is probably worse now. I’m a bit iffy on Prince William but he has my complete sympathy on this.

      And considering some of the crazy I’ve come across online regarding male celebs and their partners I’m not surprised one bit that Meghan Markle needs security.

  4. Sixer says:

    JFC what is wrong with the Windsor brothers? They’ll be complaining of the peas under their mattresses by this time next week.

    • frisbee says:

      What ‘duties’ is he even ‘abandoning’ and will anybody even notice? It’s not like he regularly turns up to anything enough to be missed. TQ will be missed, even the Duke of E will be missed, princess Royal, Charlie can all be noticeable by their absence, neither of these two are.

      • BeamMeUpScottie says:

        Actually he does. Turn up (on time) to his set appointments, that is. The information on his programme and number of appointments he has completed in any given period of time can be easily accessed from the relevant royal diaries.

        As for not be missed? Don’t tell that to the numerous charities and projects like HIV/AIDs and landmine that benefit from and rely on his association. I can tell you they have a very different view to that of some CBers .

      • frisbee says:

        I wasn’t talking about the big splashy PR statements they make that allows them to look really busy, I was talking about the day to day bread and butter small charities supported by the Princess Royal. She does well over 300 engagements a year Harry doesnt get into the hundreds. That kind of small event has made the RF part of the fabric of the country and both William and Harry are making it clear they have no interest in doing this. Fine, great, if they don’t want to do the service in return for the perks they need to stand aside. As far as what the rest of CBers think, hang around this site long enough and you’ll quickly realise they are more than capable of thinking for themselves.

      • bluhare says:

        Amen, frisbee. I should have posted my comment down here. I really get sick of the royals bitching about how awful ribbon cutting is.

    • Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

      I think this is some ham fisted attempt to get public sympathy, driven by W&K’s desire to repair their terrible rep. I do think that Harry is being chucked under the bus, again, with stories like this. Harry has and always will follow Williams lead, I’ve said on here before that Harry is easily influenced by his brother and I can see Willy’s influence with the recent interviews. William has been trying to latch on to the relative goodwill Harry has with the press and people but as usual its been badly executed and makes them look worse then before.

      • Jegede says:

        When will Harry ever be responsible for his own actions?

        I’m a Brit who prefers not to comment on them, but I gotta ask, why is this narrative a constant here?

      • Sixer says:

        Well, it’s true that the behind-the-scenes courtiers always organise it so that any time the heir isn’t looking good, the spare is made to look worse to deflect attention. In this sense, plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.

        My personal view is that the attitude displayed by both Windsor boys – What? You want us to do more than a morning a week? Seriously? – is just another step on the slow road of a disappearing monarchy. By and large, the public hates politicians so much that they don’t want another layer so continue to support the monarchy. But the monarchy itself really is beginning not be arsed doing it any more. Chuck wanting to be a defender of faiths not head of the CofE (probably because he doesn’t believe) was one step. Disinterest from Bill and Ginger is just another. Eventually, the royals will say no thanks and the public will say oh, ok then.

        We’re at the annoying stage where they think complaining about peas and mattresses is “normal”.

      • Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

        I give Harry slack as he actually works at his duties to support his father and grandmother and his charities/organisations. I totally see that’s he a whinger like his brother but again he gets on with it and can be counted on to do the job.

        If he wants to walk away then he should but his brother and SIL have previous for chucking Harry and his GF’s under the bus when their own images need repairing.

        Out of the 2 brothers Harry is the one that if it came to it he would walk away – William talks about it but he never would as he likes the money and perks too much. Harry would probably adjust to pleb life quite easily.

      • WingKingdom says:

        It’s kind of hilarious to me that the story is about Harry reducing his royal “duties,” nothing about giving up the lifestyle or the perks. He isn’t saying he’s going to walk away from anything but the work?

      • Sarah says:

        Harry has done a good with dinging his own reputation, though, with his thoughtless and clueless comments about the Oh-So-Burdensome life he leads!! This, from an adult male who works maybe 2 weeks a year on “his” charities and less than a hundred days a year, most of them only an hour or two.
        Harry is barking up the wrong tree looking for sympathy in this atmosphere which has many of the “peasants” sharpening their pitchforks and lighting their torches.

    • BeamMeUpScottie says:

      Now here’s a subject about which we can all agree
      https://twitter.com/ChrisJack_Getty
      TQ looks so sweet in this picture, like anyone’s favourite gran.
      And Felipe,…what does one say about the dashing Felipe? He is tall, dashing and handsome and must be a really, really nice person based on TQ’s response to him.

      …now back to finishing the sunday dinner

    • Micki says:

      I wonder how exactly Hary wants to preserve the “Magic” when he lifts the curtain of the RF clockwork with every single interview (source speaking on his behalf) now. Seems pretty schizophrenic to me.

  5. SoulSPA says:

    Ok dear Harry. Abandon some of your royal duties and move out your royal accommodation. Get rid of security paid from the taxpayers’ purse. Enjoy your lifestyle as you please but first give up the perks. And your title.

    • Sarah says:

      Harry inherited millions from his mother and maternal grandfather. So he can afford to leave the royal life and still live rich. But I don’t think he would like it though. He seems to really identify with his royal charity work. Who knows. But he’s got lots of money.

      • Maria says:

        Sarah, just wondering, Harry’s maternal grandfather was Earl Spencer. Didn’t most of his wealth go to his son. Sorry, not a Brit, but how does it work?

      • argonaut says:

        do you mean paternal grandmother? I think the Queen Mum left him money

      • LAK says:

        Diana’s millions have taken on their own mythology.

        The fact is that despite growing up wanting for nothing and having a trustfund, the entire Spencer estate went to her brother Charles. That is how wealth is kept in the aristo families. Entire estate is inherited by the eldest son and the siblings are left whatever pennies the deceased chooses to leave them.

        At her death, Diana’s entire estate was £21M of which £17M in cash was her recently received divorce settlement. She died having just received the money and not yet invested it. ( her will is publicly available)

        After death taxes, that money was invested to be shared equally by her sons on their 30th birthday.

        Assuming media wasn’t lying, each received net of £10M.

        Not enough for their current lifestyles. Harry perhaps as he seems to live more frugally than William, but definitely not William who has never lived frugally and has always had staff at all his properties and likes to holiday on exotic beaches.

        Even if you throw in other royal family trusts, including money left to her grandchildren by the QM, they aren’t worth more than £30M.

        That’s peanuts to William considering his lifestyles of exotic beaches, private planes, helicopters as taxis, polo, country and city mansions, wife with a minimum £10K per public outing habit and a grooming bill that is in the thousands per month judging by how frequently she colours her hair. WK spent over £6M of taxpayer money to refurbish their 2 homes. That would have wiped out his Diana inheritance in one go.

        Without the taxpayer subsidies, WK can’t afford their lifestyle, and with their habit of asking for freebies from friends, i doubt they try to live frugally.

        Harry doesn’t overtly spend like William, but the truth of his life will be laid bare eventually.

      • Sarah says:

        I think Harry got around 9 million from Diana? Maybe 15 million now? How long do you think that would last if he had to buy his own estate, pay for his own security, and Kate-like clothing for his future wife? Not that far.
        Harry should move out of the Castle grounds if he doesn’t do any more duties. Enough with the threats and fleecing the taxpayers who support the whole bunch of them.

    • frisbee says:

      Just said the same thing upthread, the next time either of these gormless pair talk about an effing normal life I’m going to scream. They wouldn’t know what normal life is like for most of their peers if it hit them in the face.

      • Sixer says:

        At my most recent shift at the food bank, a woman (single parent, her tax credit claim had been cocked up and was taking forever to sort out) broke down in tears – “If I can’t manage NOW, what will it be like when Universal Credit is rolled out in our area? I work, for god’s sake. What am I doing here?”

        So I’m not feeling particularly sympathetic about this NORMAL shiznit either. Like NORMAL people have more control over their lives than these two dimwits. Gah.

      • frisbee says:

        Good for you for volunteering at a food bank. I work in social care I have little old people regularly sobbing all over me because they have nowhere to live and nobody wants them. I go home and cry – unprofessional but there it is. The day I stop crying is the day I stop caring/ fighting. You can imagine the effect these two have on me, but then I imagine they have the same effect on a lot of people possessed of the full complement of empathy chips. Don’t get me on living in the 5th richest country in the world that has a need for food banks. *%#^+*effeffeffeffeff.

      • bluhare says:

        Good for both of you. My best friend is a social worker and she would be more than willing to have a chat with them. I’ve volunteered a lot of my life, although not currently, and it’s a real eye opener about how lucky most of us are.

      • Sixer says:

        They think normal = trustafarian.

        And that’s what really gets my goat. Normal is making rent, affording the school trip, not cacking your pants when the credit card bill arrives. I find it offensive that they call the life of leisure they’re hankering over “normal”.

      • minx says:

        Sixer, exactly.

      • frisbee says:

        @ Sixer – yeah Trustafarian just nails it.

    • Lolo86lf says:

      Prince Harry might be having an existential crisis. Eventually he will grow out of it and accept that he is a royal spare and he will enjoy his life. It is also very likely that Ms. Markle will get used to her soon to be royal lifestyle. Prince Harry and Meghan are acting like whiney spoiled teenagers.

      • Lady D says:

        Meghan hasn’t said one word, not one about being or not being a princess, but gets called a whiny spoiled teenager?

  6. BeamMeUpScottie says:

    Well there is the free luxury housing, paid security, tiaras, tax-payer funded clothing allowance, free organic food from the Duchy farms and suppliers. But seriously, what really is the upside of being a princess a la Kate Middleton if you are a professional woman accustomed to your freedom and have proven you know how to make a decent living?????

    As for security, Meghan needs to look after her safety. The jealousy and craziness ssociated with Harry is real.There are so many Harry stans who are borderline lunatics and the stuff they are putting out on her on social media is frankly scary. Today, for example, her address (supposedly) complete with views of every entrance and angle has been put up on twitter. I hope for her sake that his game at least is worth the upheaval.

    • Josunfun says:

      Her address and pictures of google street view of every angle also has been put on Tumblr. I also so memes that someone posted of a cartoon pointing a gun at a another character, who’s happens to me Called Meghan, and after shooting, saying “shut up Meg.” They have also sent letters to her house, Kensington and Clarence House. I so would get security, if I was her as well.

    • Sarah says:

      Meghan should think of moving to a building with a doorman and security. Nothing is totally safe, but it seems like a street level house would be dangerous.
      Ah, the trials of being a future princess
      #runmeghanrun

  7. ArchieGoodwin says:

    We can thank Kate for that definition of what princess does.

    Shame, it can be so much more.

    I don’t believe for a moment Meghan disparaged Harry’s life by saying it was all “kissing babies”.

  8. Lobbit says:

    Jfc this is definitely not the light-hearted escapism I was looking for this morning…

  9. Tina says:

    Perhaps Harry is thinking of the time when William has his fingers on the purse strings. It’s coming, sooner than any of us would like.

  10. Sam says:

    L&S were the ones that said MM was pregnant, they were engaged etc has insiders…lmfao!

    • CynicalAnn says:

      Yes-L&S is just made up. Everyone is getting into a tizzy over a non-story.

    • magnoliarose says:

      I question this source. It seems made up by someone who wants to make him look bad and Meghan as a leech. Definitely a story with a purpose.

  11. Merritt says:

    I don’t doubt she needs security. There are always crazy obsessive people out there looking to harm someone. There have been many threats against Meghan and she like anyone in the public eye has to take them seriously. I’m guessing the show provides security on set, that has been pretty standard for a long time since some stalkers have shown up to filming locations to harass actors.

  12. seesittellsit says:

    Massive “omg no new photos, no news, we have to do something to keep this story going!” clickbait. There are so many holes in this story about what “giving up royal roles” means that even I, an American looking on from afar, could drive several trucks through them. Oh yeah, the old “a source”. First of all, no one knows that the Queen disapproves. Second, I think it’s clear from recent statements and his appearance at his first state dinner for the Spanish royals that Harry has no intention of giving up his royal place or duties – the only question is, who will be sharing those duties with him? It might well be Markle or if the relationship wanes, it will be someone else. But like his Aunt Margaret before him, he clearly feels that giving up all those perks and social deference, etc., isn’t preferable to diminishing to Mr. Harry Windsor and living a totally free, albeit very well-heeled life marrying whoever he wants whenever he wants with occasional pop-ins at royal dos. If someone has told him he can have Markle or his place in the line of succession but not both, he’s clearly chosen Royal Harry.

    But that said, I really, really, really doubt anyone has told him any such thing.

  13. Ollie says:

    Actually it would be a good idea for him to move to Canada or Lesotho and really work full time for his own charity. His royal day work is laughable. Yes i know bla bla he does more than Will. Everyone does more! They both work just a few hours a month (if Harry doesn’t disappear for weeks). He not even has a part-time job as excuse.

    He is a healthy young man and just does a handfull of visits and once a year he promotes Invictus. 365 days and this guy is praised for a few half-hours visits and polo matches! Harry is wasting his privilege doing so little.
    Workwise the brothers + Kate are “Expendables”

    • Addie says:

      They most certainly are expendable. They do so little that it would make no difference if they stayed or went. And what they ‘do’ is not even part-time – more like ‘casual’ work. What these twats would miss is all the deference plus the endless stream of money from other people’s pockets. Why Brits put up with this is beyond my comprehension. I’d send ‘royalty’ on its way – a totally outdated and false construct.

    • Mazzie says:

      Um.. no. If he moves to Canada I suspect we might have to pay for his security.

    • Sarah says:

      Maybe Harry is doing exactly what Harry wants to do? Otherwise, he would do more. No one is stopping him, really.
      Doesn’t bode well for the future of the BRF. The young ‘uns are all lazy bums.

  14. Harlan Jodet says:

    Harry barely does anything not connected to one of his causes, no ribbon cutting or plaque unveiling, so what exactly is he going to quit? It’s almost like the tree falling in the woods question, if a younger royal quits doing royal duties that he’s never done, who will notice?

  15. Nikki says:

    In Toronto, just about every unemployed male between the ages of 18 and 65, with no criminal record, gets their security licence (social assistance will pay for it). Most don’t get paid much more than minimum wage. I’m sure on her salary she can shill out $20 an hour for some unemployed body builders to follow her around.

  16. jwoolman says:

    I don’t understand why anybody would want to be a princess, so I’m not sure why people here are doubting that this woman has similar feelings about it. She’s an American and we really don’t grow up with the royal thing except in fairy tales, and most of us grow out of any dress up as a princess phase (or never go through it in the first place, I wanted to be a pirate for a while instead and no, I can’t remember why).

    I think spouses of royals and government people like Presidents and Governors etc. should be able to freely opt out of the role foisted traditionally on women who marry such people. At some point, people have to get rid of the idea that they are entitled to a twofer. It’s sexist to the core, since in most situations a husband isn’t pressured the same way. The royals may be the odd exception to this rule.

    If Harry wants to opt out, he has that right also. He can formally renounce his distant place in line for the throne and not depend on any particular funds that are his for being a royal. He has plenty of money from his mother’s side not contingent on playing the royal game, so that shouldn’t matter. He can still decide to support certain projects if he wants.

    William has the same choice and the same non-royal resources I assume, but much more pressure to stay. He and his wife are probably representing a transitional period in the whole royalty thing, since they seem reluctant but not ready to leave. Just because Kate’s mom is delighted to be royalty adjacent doesn’t mean that it was the real driving force between her daughter’s relationship with her husband. Instead it might just have been something Kate thought she could live with but she would have been much happier as just as the wife of a normal rich man without all the royal stuff. She may actually simply (gasp!) love the guy. I doubt that they would make such a move until after the Queen passes anyway, which might be a long wait.

    • Sixer says:

      I don’t know any British little girls that would want to be a princess, either. Reality TV star maybe – princess? No!

      I really do think it’s a transitional period. You’re right. The royals will become more and more reluctant as the generations go on and the public will eventually agree even another politician is better, if only to shut them up.

      • SoulSPA says:

        Re: transitional period. Should the monarchy be abolished (after Charles II), the two princes and the bride(s) will have lived, overall, the longest part of their lives in full luxury and privilege with no accountability whatsoever. Most of it if not all paid for from the public perks, while doing too little and too bad. Then comes the time for the monarchy to be abolished and what? What’s the cost-effectiveness of the hundreds of millions used to sponsor their lives? So far WK+2 offsprings plus H. What will their legacy be? Naked+drunk scandals, wild hunting, luxury vacations and K flashing her legs and bits, blankets on media reporting, eventually more trials for privacy matters and so on.
        And I don’t believe in streamlining the monarchy i.e. Charles and Camilla, WK plus H+wife. WKH are totally unworthy of respect due to the reasons we talk about on CB. Don’t tell me they will step up their game when time will come. Keeping them is a bad business decision for the UK and Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth.

      • Sixer says:

        No need to evangelise in my direction, m’dear. I’m a republican. Fact remains though, that most British people don’t care and take absolutely no notice of anything royal, and a majority of the rest would rather keep royals than swap for an extra layer of politicians, such is their dislike of politicians (who also cost a ridiculous amount of money to keep).

        That’s why I say it will take the royals themselves, not public pitchforks, to end the monarchy.

    • frisbee says:

      No I never wanted to be a Princess either but a Pirate – lead the way!

    • The Original G says:

      This.

    • bluhare says:

      I wanted to be Queen. What’s the point of being royal if you can’t rule?

  17. D says:

    He didn’t give up royalty for Chelsea whom he adored. Nope sorry a Megs better hope they get on board. Harry loves his privilege. I’m a Harry lover and I know this

    • jwoolman says:

      He’s older now and more distant from the throne. So who knows? Maybe his decision will be different this time. Or not.

      The royals need a half-way house type setup so they can sort out what being non-royal will really mean to them. Somebody needs to take them through it step by step, helping them do all the math. It’s not impossible for them to get real paying jobs to see what they’re capable of doing. They may not be brilliant, but they’re educated enough to do as well as most.

  18. hmmm says:

    Meh. All the princelings do is play and call it “charity”.

  19. Joannie says:

    I’ll believe they are serious when there’s an actual engagement announcement. For now she’s his present girlfriend. The whole engagement rumours are media hype.

  20. Apple says:

    Diana was a earl daughter even if she didn’t married charles, william and harry wouldn’t had never been broke or working. They would of been aristocracy like their friends.So why do they have to give up all the perks. Diana didn’t come from a middle class family income.

  21. Skylark says:

    I so much prefer ‘The Windsors’ Harry. Dumb as a box of rocks but at least funny with it.

    • anon says:

      Geez.. How rude to call someone you don’t know, dumb…

      • Skylark says:

        LOL!

        Just for info (and I probably should have said since we’re international here), ‘The Windsors’ is a satirical UK Ch.4 tv show in which Harry is a deliciously joyful idiot. As are his brother and his father (and also, his Uncles Edward and Andy).

        Catch it if you can, you’ll die laughing.

      • Imqrious2 says:

        The Windsors is hysterical! Love it! I’m going to watch the 2nd episode of this new season later today.

        For those not in the U.K., use a VPN with a British IP address and stream it from your computer to your t.v. 😊

  22. Felicia says:

    The main thing that I’m getting out of this is that The Queen does not approve of MM as the potential wife of Harry. Otherwise the whole “giving up the royal life for love” discussion wouldn’t even be an issue.

  23. xo says:

    “willing to abandon some of his royal duties to sustain his relationship with Meghan Markle”

    that’s interesting. If there is truth to this, it suggests to me that there may be opposition to an engagement behind the scenes. This sounds like Harry making it clear that he values life with her over life in the Firm. I think he’s trying to force their hand to support an engagement.

    All the articles up to this point have been about how Meghan sees a future with Harry & is waiting for Suits to wrap up so she can move to London and be with him. house-hunting, trying on wedding dresses, etc.

    I suspect Meghan is invested in this relationship & wants to be a part of Harry’s public life.
    I also get the impression that he is committed to carrying on his mother’s work & values his public role.

    If there was some conflict that meant he had to work to “sustain” his relationship with Meghan, it’s not originating with them.

    • seesittellsit says:

      Please – the only truth in this is that Harry has made it clear he wants to stay with the royal gravy train. I doubt there’s any issue with whether or not that includes Meghan Markle. If anything, he’s made it clear that he’s staying with the firm, and that that may or may not include MM. But if it doesn’t include her, believe me: he’s staying on the gravy train of perks, deference, privilege, polo ponies. expensive cars, etc. Oh and yeah I’ll bet MM is “invested” in this relationship: and it’s precisely because of that royal gravy train, perks, deference, more wealth than she could ever accrue on her own, living in 21-room “apartments”, wearing immense jewels and wearing designer gowns, and living a life far above the fray.

      • Addie says:

        100% on the money.

      • Em Gee says:

        CBers from the UK, do the royals ever make statements pointing out the bulls*#t of these kind of articles if they’re blatantly false or defamatory? That article was totally unflattering and made them both sound awful, like she’s the second coming of Wallis Simpson. I’d want that refuted right quick! Or do they just ignore it and hope people forget? I guess so, given the non-response to the awful Time piece…

      • PrincessK says:

        Who really wants to live in 21 rooms? Really? I am quite sure that 21 rooms and lots of ‘borrowed’ jewels is not what gets Meghan excited.

  24. Hazel says:

    Eh, I think somebody at L&S saw some pap pics of Megan with a bodyguard, read that Time article on Harry, and cobbled together a story. Pure fiction.

  25. why do they have to give up all the perks. Diana didn’t come from a middle class family income.

  26. HoustonGrl says:

    Omg eye roll of epic proportions. Wow, he’s willing to put his foot down to do less work. How self-sacrificing. Is he also willing to forgo the privileges and wealth? Me thinks not. And yes, that gurl is thirsty for the crown, all her planted stories in E! make that crystal clear.

    • Addie says:

      Can he do less than now? Would we notice? He’s thick as a plank and she wants the prize – a life of attention and luxury. Best to them both.

  27. polonoscopy says:

    “I’m sure she gets a lot of creepy attention when she’s out and about in Toronto.”

    She doesn’t. She lives in my sister’s neighbourhood, and people are pretty over the massive royal entourage that blocks up the streets when Harry is in town, but Megan has been living there for a long time and no one really bugs her. She lives in vaguely the same area as Rachel McAdams and Margaret Atwood and of the three of them, it’s Peggy who gets the most attention.

  28. whatever says:

    Its articles like this that make me believe that Her Majesty and/or Prince Phillip do not agree with this relationship. Stuff like this wouldn’t be coming out if they were ok with it.

  29. Idky says:

    This girl is sooooo thirsty for the crown as HoustonGrl said.

    She doesn’t want to be a princess like I don’t want to win the lottery.

    • corporatestepsister says:

      If she doesn’t want to be a princess, she can end the relationship and broom him out of her life.

  30. Mazzie says:

    “I’m sure she gets a lot of creepy attention when she’s out and about in Toronto.” She doesn’t. Outside of TIFF, most celebs up here are left alone.

  31. corporatestepsister says:

    He should be told that if he continues to make such threats, he should just make his announcement to Parliament and pack his bags and get out. He has NO RIGHT to hurl threats at the had of the nation and he has no business putting his family ‘on notice’ like that. He’s never going to be better than cutting ribbons and kissing babies and he has no business putting on airs. If he’s SO much better than what he looks down on, he has no business being supported by the nation. The reason he is paid so well is so he can afford to do charity work and help people and make fun appearances is so he doesn’t have to worry about making a living. He can do all this and free the politicians to do the heavy lifting.

  32. Bee says:

    What the hell is it about “normal” that these people desire so badly? Don’t they realise they have it all? Paid accommodation for life. Money-can’t-buy charity “work” handed to them on a platter. Prestigious everything. Holidays. Being “normal” is none of those. It’s bills bills bills. Mind numbing real work. If you’re lucky, to own your small non-palace home (one day). Prestigious nothing. An occasional cheap trip away on a budget airline. They have no clue. I imagine their version of normal is “aristocratic” which is exactly the same as their own reality but without the hassle of having to cut ribbons and answer to Grandma.

    • corporatestepsister says:

      I think they dream of a life where they don’t have to answer to anyone about anything or have to bother caring about anyone other than themselves. I find that ironic since in the real world they would have to answer to a lot of people and frankly their lives would be filled with being treated with a gross amount of disrespect and insults on a regular basis. They think life will be magically easier, but it won’t. Everyone has to answer to someone. If they lost that HRH, they would be living a life where people wouldn’t pretend to respect them if they didn’t and I do believe that it would in fact be something if in fact Harry did walk and experience the other side of life for once.

  33. raincoaster says:

    Toronto wants this SO BADLY.

    But I must say, even though I loathe Toronto, that she’s probably not bothered much when she’s out and about. Canadians tend not to do that. I always joke that Jesus Christ could walk down Robson Street at 6pm on a Friday night and nobody would say anything. Half a block later they’d turn to the person beside them and say, “You saw that was Jesus back there, eh?”

  34. SM says:

    Ygh. This made my eyes roll so hard my head hurts. When it come down to what? And what does it mean – to lead a normal life? Would he want to earn every single penny like a peasant? Live in an appartment he gets according to his salary and what exactly would he do? And of cource being a royal now is equal to cutting ribbons and sharing hands? Who is responsible for that? Not the royals who just life off of the tax payers money and choose not to put their privileged possition to a good use? The Queen is probably soooo dissapointed with her family. They both – William and Harry are behaving like spoilt brads that they are.

  35. Sarah says:

    The more I listen to what Harry has to say, the less attractive he becomes.

    • PrincessK says:

      It won’t make any difference he will always be hugely popular with bags of charisma.

  36. Sam says:

    I like how some here accuse her of being blinded by palaces,immense wealth,Jewelry etc and that if she wasn’t,she shouldn’t be dating him
    I mean why shouldnt she? doubt any of us here know anything about MM except the little bits and pieces we get from articles.We dont know how she thinks, what she feels and we definitely do not know why she’s dating him but some here would beg to differ and are total mind readers.Its out of this world,totally impossible that the reason might be because she loves him,likes his personality,makes her laugh,treats her the way she wants? Nooo,how ridiculous would that sound