Robert Lacey: Duchess Meghan ‘may pedal back’ on her ‘more extreme positions’

The Duchess of Sussex attended the opening of 'Oceania' at the Royal Academy of Arts

Robert Lacey is promoting Battle of Brothers: William and Harry – The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult via Zoom in the British media. I’ve read some of his quotes, and he’s not really saying much new stuff beyond what he already put in his book. Despite the early emphasis on how Prince Harry and William’s deeper rifts predate the arrival of then-Meghan Markle, Lacey has been backtracking on that a little bit. Maybe he thinks the best way to sell his book is by telling everyone that actually, Meghan IS to blame for, like, the destruction of the monarchy. I don’t know. It’s a bit confusing. Some highlights from an interview Lacey did with True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat:

William was proved right: “Meghan is a self-made woman; she becomes a star; she becomes a self-made millionairess. I think when William sat down with Harry and said there could be problems, I think events have proved him right. Meghan acknowledged that it’s risky for her family to get involved in controversial issues. Maybe she’s simply talking about the physical risk that exists in America for anybody, because of the way politics has become so volatile and violent there… but I think that she has come to realise how [some of her] speeches risk her husband’s relationship with the family and perhaps she may pedal back on some of these more extreme positions.’

The Sussexes are apparently too preachy: Mr Lacey said he finds the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ‘too preachy’ and claimed William, 38, who recently launched his ambitious Earthshot Prize, does more for some progressive causes than his brother and sister-in-law. ‘People have said the Windsors don’t do “woke”. They don’t know how to handle progressive causes. However, I think William does it rather well. He does it better than Meghan and Harry. This couple, in a way, are too extreme.’

William taking over Harry’s position at the Royal Marines: Mr Lacey also suggested that, should Harry’s role of Head of the Royal Marines be given to William, it would signal ‘the end’ of their relationship. ‘I think that will mark the rift. I think that they have kept that position open for him [Harry] if he wants to come back into the family and if they are going to give it to William, I think that is the end of it [the relationship between the boys].’

[From The Daily Mail]

“She has come to realise how [some of her] speeches risk her husband’s relationship with the family and perhaps she may pedal back on some of these more extreme positions.” LMAO. They are really and truly acting like Meghan told every white person to kiss her ass while declaring herself a Black Panther communist. She just told people to vote! All Harry did was tell people to reject hate speech! These old dudes were so triggered, my God. They’ve built up Meghan and Harry’s perfectly normal and perfectly acceptable charitable work and run-of-the-mill activism into this boundary-shattering extremism which has no basis in reality. As for Meghan and Harry being “preachy” while William is somehow NOT preachy… I mean… only one of those three told Africans to stop having so many babies, and it wasn’t Harry or Meghan.

SWITZERLAND-DAVOS-WEF-U.S.-BIDEN

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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

109 Responses to “Robert Lacey: Duchess Meghan ‘may pedal back’ on her ‘more extreme positions’”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Alexandria says:

    I would like him to give specific examples of what is extreme to him. If he even could.

    What does he know about being progressive? White men don’t want the world to change except when it comes to catering to them.

    • sunnyn says:

      This part. Everything seems extreme to the people who the world has been designed to serve and advantage. To these people advocating for equality seems like oppression because we are talking about scenarios where white rich people(particularly cis men) are being asked to give up some of their unfair advantages.

      What is crazy is that none of Megan’s positions are extreme, they are all in fact mainstream. However they seems threatening to the royals who as an institution are entrenched in maintaining the status quo.

    • Elizabeth Regina says:

      There is of course nothing extreme in what she has said so far. It’s the palace courtiers and RF gaslighting as usual by using one of their errand boys Lacey to deliver a warning. They need to get it through their thick skulls that they are increasingly irrelevant. The family has become a side show. Their reluctance to read the room and simultaneously stepping up their verbal assaults on H and M has achieved the opposite of what they wanted. The couple are thriving and using the shit thrown at them to fertilise their dreams.

      • Liz version 700 says:

        This really shows even more what the gaslighting in that palace must have been like for Meghan. She is strong to have survived this. They both are. These people are just disgusting. I get the Monarchy is still bitter that the people voted them out of single family rule, but get over it. The Magna Carta is existing law. As for America, well we told King George how we felt too. Go pound sand William and take your media yes men with you. Actually William’s behavior isn’t far from some of his more ummm infamous ancestors. I get Kate doesn’t enjoy tours of the Tower.

      • A says:

        @Liz, the last four years have put a lot of historical occurrences that I never fully understood into full context. I never understood how Hitler could come into power, how the population could vote for him and continue to support him in the face of his rhetoric and atrocities–and then Trump won, and now I know.

        Same, to a small extent, with the BRF. I used to wonder how a monarch, who still rules with the implicit consent of their subjects, who can’t act wholly like a petty dictator because of the reality of how the world works, could ever come to be so out of touch with their subjects. How hard would it be to just pay attention to what their people want?! And now I know, the implicit unspoken presumptions that protect and support the monarchy from any criticism whatsoever, which encourage that sort of willful blindness. How easy it is to become out of touch, to lose focus of what the values of ordinary people are. “Go pound sand and take your media yes men with you,” is perfectly fucking apt.

    • Mignionette says:

      He’s talking about BLM. The establishment in the UK still view them as a terrorist org.

      The UK has a horrible case of white fragility. Much worse than the US,

      The UK elite are next level with their stupidity and gas lighting where racism is concerned. They think if they call people out as “woke”, then that will prevent them speaking about racism out of fear of retribution, being trolled and ending up as Daily Mail whipping fodder in the same vein as Meghan, Lewis Hamilton or anyone else who speaks up. Instead they do the Candace Owens bait and switch by putting people like Trevor Philips in positions of leadership where race equality is concerned. These idiots then denounce the existence of structural racism for the elite.

      And by stamping out talk of racism and inequality, it thereby no longer exists. The UK were the front runners in the slave trade yet they are never as linked to it in the same way that white Americans are, bc their slaving and apartheid was neatly tucked away in the colonies.

      That is why racism in the UK will never be dealt with bc black Britons have essentially being prevented from learning the truth (younger gen) or have been brainwashed of the truth they know (older gen), when the UK elites point to the US and say ‘look over there’ we’re not like the US.

      • lanne says:

        I kep saying that the Brits are a generation behind the US when it comes to discussing race. Their defensiveness looks ridiculous and offensive, and it makes me feel even more sorry for any POC over there who have to navigate their way through white spaces. It’s hard enough in the US. In the UK, they’re still doubling down on the “shut up and put up! You’re lucky to be here!” Glad Meghan’s gone.

      • Elizabeth Regina says:

        I speak as a brit and we are not a generation behind. We are a whole civilisation behind because a typical white brit will look you in the eye and tell you they are not racist while using a racist epithet known to man. They will talk over you, bad mouth you and destroy you and gaslight you into submission. If that doesn’t work they will bring out the big guns of accusing YOU of being racist. People tend to forget that England in particular was the birth place of the virus called racism. It was merely imported to other countries where it mutated to suit local palates.

      • lanne says:

        @Elizabeth regina, if that’s true, then the UK should divest itself from leadership within the Commonwealth Why on earth should a racist monarchy think it should preside over a multicultural, multiethnic Commonwealth? Someone from South Asia, Africa, or the Caribbean should lead the organization instead, not the UK royal family!

        I thought Meghan would get crap from the media, but I didn’t think she’d be treated as badly as she’s been by the institution. It’s embarrassing how badly she’s been treated. It’s an embarrassment and a complete kick in the face to Prince Harry. He must be as mortified by his own paternal family as she is with hers!

  2. RoyalBlue says:

    Lacey is playing both sides of the fence to get the most sales for his trash book. I will NOT be buying it.

    • Ginger says:

      I won’t either. He has also been on tv to say there is no racism in British Media.

      He hasn’t said anything that revealing. It’s just been the same tabloids retold. He went deeper into William’s rage and that’s it.

      • Lanie says:

        I don’t trust the word of White people who say things aren’t racist. They’re so deep in the racist forest that they can’t see the trees.

        I still laugh at the people who told me there was no racism in Europe or South America.

      • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

        Because we’re planning on retiring to one of those two continents, do you have an opinion of which places are the least racist?

    • Mignionette says:

      This is a book by the courtiers to protect the establishment. They let the Royals have their little game of thrones moment, now it’s time to smack them all back in line and remind them who is really in charge and who really wields the power.

    • Rae says:

      Ditto @ Royalblue.

    • A says:

      If people are really interested in reading this book, I would gently remind folks that there are ways to get one’s hands on it without having to support the author and his views. Not that I would know anything about that sort of thing, let alone advocate for that of course, but just making sure that people know of this information.

      • RoyalBlue says:

        lol. no, still not worth raising my blood pressure over, but i won’t judge if someone else does it. No effs to give.

  3. tee says:

    As a leftist supporter of Meghan, I WISH she were more “extreme” lol but what do you expect from someone who thinks climate change advocacy is “woke”. It’s like Trump and the Rs calling Biden/Kamala radical leftists.

    Meghan isn’t going to do sh-t to appease the Brits that hate her guts regardless.

    • Myra says:

      For a leftist, Meghan is as moderate as they come. I don’t blame her. Only she can assess the risk to herself and her family. I guess for right wing people, anything to the left of centre looks radical and extreme. All I know is that these people always exaggerate when they talk about Meghan. They see what they want to see. Their judgement of her is so clouded by racial bias, they probably don’t know what is real and what is fiction at this point.

      • Mumbles says:

        Exactly. “Find and use your voice” isn’t exactly rage against the machine/burn this to the ground. If the RF finds this extremist, they’re telling on themselves.

      • Bloemheks says:

        The center is an extreme position in the US.

    • A says:

      It’s like the right-wing in the UK calling the BBC “leftist.” The BBC. THE BBC. Unbelievable how that’s how peoples’ minds operate and yet here we are.

  4. aquarius64 says:

    Is this piece of crap tanking in sales? Or is it that Lacey was dragged on SM for how William was portrayed in the book?

    • MsIam says:

      I couldn’t find it in the top 20 on Amazon US or U.K. or on the NYT best seller top 20. I did see that Mariah Carey’s book is doing well in both countries, lol. So I’m guess is William is breathing a rage monster sigh of relief!

      • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

        Amazon has it at 133 currently. It *is* number one in Sibling Relationships, British History, and, mystifyingly, Women in History.

  5. Emily says:

    The fact that they think that Meghan’s public statements are super radical and too “woke” for them really says more about their politics than it does about hers.

  6. Lanie says:

    Exercising your right to vote and rejecting racism is an extreme position?

    Royalist are garbage people. Not to be confused with garbage men, who serve an important purpose.

    • Tiffany says:

      “Not to be confused with garbage men, who serve an important purpose.”

      Which is why I call them all sanitation workers. To make sure there is no confusion.

      • Che says:

        @tiffany! Yes to the garbage man statement. We can’t live without them. We can most certainly live without petty Betty and the freeloaders.

  7. Sofia says:

    I’m sorry but WHAT are her “extreme views”? I get that to the rest of the family, she looks and sounds like a “raging liberal” but in reality, she’s… not. She’s honestly centre leaning left. Saying racism is terrible and affects us all is not a “liberal viewpoint” it’s just the truth. Saying “go out and vote” is not a “liberal viewpoint” – it’s a basic right all citizens are entitled to and certain groups have fought for that right

    • Elizabeth Regina says:

      It’s not what she says. It’s because it’s said by her AND it’s actually having an effect. Most of the other royals don’t have the same impact she does. Recent collaborations of the FFK is proof of that. The Netflix deal and the upcoming TIME event stings that family so much. They wanted H and M to curl up and shrivel. Instead, they are blooming.

      • 809Matriarch says:

        Exactly! A recent article claimed that Meghan’s message about social media was correct but SHE was the wrong messenger. I swear the UK media are demented. Recently there was an uproar over Meghan wearing a Cartier tank watch in black and white publicity photos. Melanie Blake was dumping all over Meghan – assuming wrongly that the watch must have been Diana’s and that Meghan was FLAUNTING Diana’s jewels in an insensitive way. When called out she claimed Meghan should not be wearing Diana’s jewels while Harry & William are not united.

      • Myra says:

        That’s racism in the UK in a nutshell. When it comes out of the white royal’s mouth, it’s ‘touching’, ‘compassionate’, “ahead of their time”. When it comes out of the biracial royal’s mouth, it’s ‘gauche’, “extreme’, “controversial”.

      • 809Matriarch says:

        Exactly! There was a remark about what Meghan said regarding online trolling. The poster said the thoughts Meghan spoke about were valid and a good thing – BUT – Meghan is the wrong person to say it.

  8. aang says:

    This is looney tunes. I’ve never read about anything extreme she has ever said. I’m no Sussex fan but my god. She has been as neutral as many of her outfits. The more they pick on her the more I’m rethinking my position of disliking all royals.

  9. Jay says:

    I feel like you know everything about this guy when he uses the term “a self-made millionairess”! Like when my grandparents would talk about meeting a “lady lawyer” or “woman doctor”.

    Meghan isn’t extreme in her views (people should exercise their civic duty? Not extreme), but what she represents would probably seem extremely threatening to the status quo from which the royals derive power.

    • Sarah says:

      This is spot on, he is absolutely judging/shading her because from his perspective this is something that is not ‘what one does’. One inherits or stays poor, keep the class system firmly intact please.

      Honestly, whether he’s saying her positions are extreme because he genuinely believes that or to win points with the Windsors he’s showing his ass to the general population.

    • Dierski says:

      @Jay 😂 YES – I had that same thought. “Lady Lawyer/Woman Doctor” is so spot on! Ridiculous.

  10. ABritGuest says:

    I cannot with these people. Telling people to vote like the Queen has or that black lives matter is too ‘extreme‘. Wow. Not surprised by him though- he didn’t want to delve into the ‘race’ issue with Meghan & pulled out the ‘Britain is one of the least racist’ cards on a TV interview back in January. News flash least racist is still racist.

    Want to talk about extreme/political let’s talk about BP helping to sack a Governor General in Australia, Princess Anne going on a fox hunt in direct defiance of Tony Blair’s fox hunting ban back in 2004, Andrew criticising a government probe around GB arm sales to Saudi Arabia. Charles & William lobbying govt ministers. Sophie criticising the Labour government & it’s policy on fox hunting on sheikh gate tape.

    And if royals doing ‘woke’ is such an issue why no backlash to William on the cover of Attitude, Kate including a BLM march picture in her project, William talking about diversity at the BAFTA’s, Sophie on a call with Stand up against racism (what a joke) last week?

    I love how they can’t seem to articulate why William isn’t preachy but the Sussexes are.

    Also William was proved right about Meghan causing issues or did he help bring about the problems & eventual exit through a smear campaign?

    • A says:

      William isn’t preachy because they agree with his preaching, but more importantly, they know that his preaching is not directed towards them, aka white British people, but rather people who they see as their inferiors, aka the poor, unwashed, huddled masses, who usually also happen to be non-white. He’s preaching to the “right” people, whereas Harry is not, and they hate that.

  11. equality says:

    How is establishing a prize for ideas DOING something? Doing something would be getting governments to actually implement ideas not just pointing out ideas. The ironic thing is that Prince Charles is supposed to be doing some kind of documentary series about ideas that already exist and has actually taken action to implement some things personally and in his duchy but here is Prince William getting all the credit.

    • notasugarhere says:

      And given William stole the prize idea from The Goldman Prize (@ goldmanprize) that has been around since 2009, which has always used ‘Earthshot’ and ‘Green Nobel’ in their promotion.

      • Als Em says:

        The Goldman Environmental Prize has been around since 1993, I believe.

      • RoyalBlue says:

        wow! wow. let’s spread that news, because Willnot is merely a slimy figure slinking in his brother’s shadows with no original ideas.

    • blue36 says:

      Apparently he’s not hypocritical despite using his private helicopter to get everywhere. I thought I would get used to it by now, but the propaganda supporting W&K is really something to behold. Now I’m curious who puts in these calls to threaten these reporters. The Conde Nast debacle was probably the most shocking thing I’ve witnessed. They also seemed to have gotten in contact with the Goldman Prize after people were pointing out the similarities in wording between their prize and Earthshot. Tweets were deleted.

      • Kalana says:

        Whoa. They deleted those tweets? Thin-skinned plagarist William strikes again.

      • RoyalBlue says:

        This has been the most noteworthy news I have come to learn about today. Now this is tea! I can’t believe he stole the idea and is trying to make it his. Typical colonizer.

      • A says:

        The propaganda and the radio silence around William’s behaviour is sort of alarming, especially in terms of what it means for the future. People are expecting the monarchy to move toward a more transparent accounting of themselves and their behaviour. The Queen utilizes the press and its reluctance to disrespect her in any fashion in order to cover up the worst excesses of her family and their worst abuses. Charles has already been maligned by the press, they have no problems criticizing him, because they feel he is disliked enough to safely do so.

        William, on the other hand, has been treated with kid gloves thus far, and it seems like that’s going to continue with this crop of journalists. That’s not good. He’s taking a leaf out of the Queen’s book of royalling, except he has far less tact, and is far more authoritarian and reactionary and unafraid of showing it. People need to step up or this is going to be another situation where there is a permanent blind eye turned to his worst behaviour.

  12. Snuffles says:

    At this point these Brits are having a one sided conversation with themselves. They don’t know jack about what Harry and Meghan are thinking or what their next moves are.

    There is nothing extreme about their views but apparently to them anything that doesn’t follow The Firm’s rules is radical. Living a life by their own rules is radical. Making their own decisions is radical. The more they complain and freak out, the more they expose themselves as not only as stuffy, old and rigid but also controlling and abusive.

    It’s so obvious that Harry and Meghan are happy and excited about the work they are doing. It’s full steam ahead and I think they will be launching Archwell by the beginning of 2021 and all of their recent activities are the lead up.

    • Becks1 says:

      “one sided conversation with themselves” – exactly. The rest of the world (to the extent they care) is rolling their eyes at the RRs and general british press.

  13. lanne says:

    Black women aren’t supposed to have opinions! We’re just supposed to say “Thankee Massa for lettin me eat the crumbs from your table! I’sa evah so GRATEFUL!!!”

    Okay, Royal Family–you’re now on record saying “reject racism” “black lives matter” “make sure you vote” “women should use their voices” are extreme positions. Got it. How’s that going to play in your commonwealth?

    I want them to strip the Duke and Duchess of their titles and do it for their real reason: “Royalty is for white people only. Only white people should have titles.”

    At least they would be honest.

    • Miranda says:

      Oh, they soooo want to call her “uppity” (or whatever the British equivalent is), don’t they?

      • lanne says:

        They already have called her uppity! A journalist who’s never met her or spoke to her called her uppity–I forget his name. He was genuinely shocked at being called racist

    • A says:

      “How’s that going to play in your commonwealth?” We knew!!!! We knew, but we don’t talk abt it, because bless these fucking idiots, Diana was gorgeous and the soap opera spectacle that these people are has always superceded their nastier reality.

      But Britain? Being racist? Groundbreaking.

    • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

      They might wish it to be so, but there are titled ladies and gentlemen of color all over the world- many with titles far older than theirs.

  14. Miss617 says:

    Sounds like Lacey’s sources weren’t too happy with what was in the book and now he has to play their game so as to still have access for future projects.

    Also wtf is with calling Meghan a “millionairess”? Why gender a word that literally no one genders?

    • BnLurkN4eva says:

      Not only the gender aspect, but the word make is seems like she inherited her money instead of earned it. I know self made was stated, but that’s the image that “ress” conjures up in my mind and heck no, Meghan is a hard working woman who earned what she has and this guy needs to go kick rocks. I’m thrilled I didn’t pre-order this book, I suspected a bait and switch because none of these people have the integrity to go against the system and speak the truth. At least Omid just stuck to being kind all around to everyone and used his book to clear up untruths said by the tabloids.

      • Jay says:

        I felt like this was meant to signify that she didn’t achieve her wealth the “right” way, i.e. by inheriting it as a white man and benefitting off the class system and colonialism for literally centuries.

      • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

        Like ‘heiress’? Millionairess?

      • BnLurkN4eva says:

        @Jane, yes? That’s how it reads to me.

  15. Miranda says:

    How dispiriting is it that we live in a time and place where “hey, maybe don’t be so racist” is considered a radical sentiment. Jesus.

    I hope Meghan doesn’t change a damn thing. She’s an intelligent, compassionate, assertive woman, and Lord knows that the world needs more people like that. If the royals can’t handle it, f**k ’em. Burn it all down. Americans told the British monarchy to piss off once, but they obviously need a refresher course, and Meghan could be just the right person to teach it.

    • Godwina says:

      “How dispiriting is it that we live in a time and place where “hey, maybe don’t be so racist” is considered a radical sentiment.”

      Right???

    • sunnyn says:

      The thing is, it always has been. Legit if you are a person of colour, and especially if you are black, talking about things being racist or even asserting that black lives matter is seen as political. Look at that black person talking about race again… It is legit WILD.

      Signed a black women who works in white corporate spaces.

  16. Züri says:

    The fact that he uses the term “millionairess” tells me everything I need to know about this racist, sexist twat.

  17. Godwina says:

    The notion that that H&M are in any way progressive made me spit-take my tea this morning. Lord, how low the bar is these days!

  18. JT says:

    They hate that Meghan is a self-made millionaire because they know all of these dimwits would be scrounging around for scraps without the monarchy. They hate her for having a career because it came with her own contacts and resources. They hate Meg because she does not need them the way the others do. She makes them all look inferior and they can’t have that because being royal means that they should be superior to her. When the RF and BM lash out in this way it’s because they are insecure in themselves and deep down they know that she’s better than them and Harry was/is too. It’s why they want to control them. I sound like a broken record, but Meghan filled a void as a duchess in the 21st century to a tee and they hate her for it because now they have to work overtime to sell W&K as if their life depends on it, and they know W&K aren’t up to snuff.

  19. Mignionette says:

    DINOSAURS running scared of extinction: Points to ‘woke’ Princess and calls her EXTREME and the source of all their problems in their tired institution….

    ‘Woke’ Princess: Booked, busy and unbothered. Continues to make bank and ignore the haters….

    • Elizabeth Regina says:

      I concur. Their reactionary panic is actually fuelling their extinction. Like dinosaurs they are slow to move and react. It irks than that the irrelevant but smarter and more agile members of that family are thriving under the difficult conditions the institution actively created.

  20. Amy Bee says:

    Bear in mind, Lacey doesn’t believe the UK is racist so he would find anything that Meghan says as extreme. But I think he’s also playing up to his audience, only royalists watch True Royalty Tv. As for reconciliation between Harry and William, that’s never going to happen. William threw Harry and Meghan under the bus for press adoration and protection, I can’t see Harry forgiving him for that.

    • Becks1 says:

      I was surprised he came out and said that if William gets the royal marines position, then the relationship would be done. It really must be hanging by a thread at this point.

      • Amy Bee says:

        Yeah, he basically confirmed that Harry and William have no relationship and I think the royal rota know this as well. It’s why they are excited for the possible reunion next July. I can see Harry not turning up for that media spectacle.

    • A says:

      The whole “UK is not a racist society” talking point seems fairly common with types like this. Lady Colin Campbell wrote the same in her own book, although of course, she’s from a family that made its wealth off of a formerly slave society in Jamaica, so no points for her for being an absolutely unhinged racist.

      But anyway, the UK invented racism as we know it today. Especially in America. The slaves that were brought over to Jamestown in 1619 didn’t fucking teleport over there on their own, and magically decide to enslave themselves. And moreover, the tobacco farms they were forced to work on were owned and taxed for the benefit of the British crown and govt. Robert Lacey is supposed to be a historian, although I guess promoting his book is more important than his credibility as a historian or his qualifications as such.

      • Nic919 says:

        In North America the British are directly linked to the genocide of indigenous peoples. They set up the colonizer countries and made treaties that they never intended to honour, that is when they didn’t murder them altogether. I don’t know what they cover in the UK, but maybe instead of obsessing over Henry VIII and his wives they should take a hard look at the world they destroyed outside of their tiny island.

      • A says:

        @Nic919, you know as well as I do that none of the parts regarding indigenous genocide is covered on iota in British history classes. It’s funny how they take such claims over the empire when there’s something to benefit from, but then when it comes to the responsibilities of the horrors inflicted under that banner, they jettison that history and point the fingers at the individual colonies and their govts themselves.

        The slave plantations in the Caribbean, particularly the sugar plantations that required the bulk of the labour and produced the bulk of the revenue, were some of the most horrific places in existence. The life expectancy of a slave working on a sugar plantation was devastatingly low. It was often used as a threatened prospective punishment by slave owners in North America, who felt their slaves were not behaving well enough for their liking.

        Not only did the conquest of the Caribbean result in the wholesale devastation of the local native population, the continued cultivation of cash crops and commodities like sugar cane inflicted so much environmental damage on the land that they are still working on recovering from that.

        Barbados was one of the centers of the British slave trade, and the British sugar economy. I imagine they know their history, even if Britain itself doesn’t care to. They are also one of the countries determined to move forward and remove the Queen as head of state. I’m sure there’s a broader movement that has been spending years attempting to achieve this, so I won’t say it’s solely down to how the BRF has showed their ass in their treatment of Meghan. But, I think the post-colonial heydays are over, pretty much. People aren’t taken in by the fairytale or the soap opera anymore, at least, which is saying a lot.

  21. 809Matriarch says:

    Extreme? What extreme? I just cannot with these arse wipes.

  22. TheOriginalMia says:

    He’s just playing both sides. Probably sees his access to the BRF (William) drying up. Nothing Meghan has said or done is extreme, radical or leftist. There’s literally nothing she could say to make Harry’s relationship with his family worse. Their actions and words did the real damage decades before she got there.

    • Mignionette says:

      I don’t think he is playing both sides. This is a man (a white man) who went on national TV to denounce the existence of racism and he truly believes it.

      Robert Lacey is everything that is wrong with the UK.

      There is a fight between good and evil idealism in the UK at the moment. Another reason the US elections are so important. Right wings govts across the globe have been weaponised by Trump who has done irreparable damage in some cases. Time for the take down.

  23. Lizzie says:

    I would like to know what the marines think of the honor going to William. Judging by the standing O they gave Harry I don’t think it will go over well.

    • equality says:

      They should let the marines decide for themselves. It might even be that they would prefer a fellow marine get the position and not go for a royal at all.

  24. bluemoonhorse says:

    Lacey has jumped the shark. Desperate for book sales he’s gotta pedal the William is better after he shredded him. ROFL.

    News flash – I doubt M&H is going to scale back any time soon. LOL.

  25. Chelle says:

    Why are men in their 30s, with one nearing 40, constantly referred to as “the boys”? After all, each “boy” now has at least one boy of his own.

  26. Lucy says:

    Which extreme positions? That women are people? That black people are people? That Americans should vote, like they fought a few wars about? That the environment matters?
    WHICH POSITIONS ARE THE EXTREME ONES? ONLY AN OLD WHITE MAN KNOWS THE ANSWER!

    • A says:

      If the British, particularly the British Royal family’s ancestors, had their way, Americans wouldn’t get to vote at all. Which, I imagine, is exactly what they wish had happened and was the case now.

      Can you imagine Boris Johnson as the unelected Prime Minister of the USA? Fucking hell.

  27. Nic919 says:

    The UK needs a serious reckoning on its racial issues. Instead of just blaming the US they need to admit that they set up the racist institutions in every single one of the countries they helped establish. Genocide of multiple indigenous nations can be laid at their feast around the globe.

    Nothing Meghan has said has gotten close to extreme. It’s bizarre to suggest otherwise.

  28. Bibliomommy96 says:

    The tag link is for Meghan McCain

  29. CuriousCole says:

    On what planet does William do “woke” better than Harry and Meghan??? Holy delusions, Batman.

    • lanne says:

      Yes, a white Prince knows more about racism than a biracial woman. Yep, they really said that.

      • Liz version 700 says:

        Repeatedly!!! They keep saying it with no insight as to how pompous and stupid they sound

      • A says:

        Not only that, the real view they take is that William, as a white male royal-of-the-blood, is the only person with the AUTHORITY to speak on those subjects. Even if he doesn’t know anything about it, he is the only person who is allowed to speak on those things, who can expect to be listened to. Everyone else’s voice is not as important or prized.

  30. Valiantly Varnished says:

    It’s interesting that these old British white folks think that black lives mattering, voting and women’s rights are extreme views. They tell on themselves at every turn.

  31. Lucylee says:

    I cancelled my Kindle download order for Lacey book.

  32. Chelle says:

    After having listened to Lacey, I actually think he adds balance or counterbalances a lot of the rubbish spread by the RR. For example, he at least acknowledges that Harry had been forced into the role of scapegoat for William and that William has gotten up to the same things but those stories aren’t told. He also acknowledges or tells that with this the establishment protects the heir but leaves the spare out to dry. He also acknowledges that there are powerful forces behind the scenes who are and were trying to edge Harry and Meghan out and not just to dampen their glow. He also acknowledges that Meghan was a force to be reckoned with and the BRF didn’t know how to handle someone who brought not just her passion to the table but her wealth of knowledge and activism.

    The BRF is trying to catch up. Proof of some of this can be evidenced by how Sofie was deployed to highlight those “women-centered-feminist lite” yet BRF sanctioned causes tour she was on shortly after Meghan and Harry’s departure. They began to really highlight Camilla’s work with victims of domestic violence (which can include men), which should have been highlighted anyway. Then, we see a newly modern Kate (clothes wise) and all of her Zooms.

    But some of the bumping heads between the heir and spare could have been avoided if BP had made William step up to the plate in his late 20s / early 30s. Instead, by waiting so long they created a situation whereby they had a newborn on their hands who was showing signs of pulling himself up, ready to walk, and trying to hold his own sippee cup pitted against a toddler who kept insisting on a bottle and would only use the sippee cup when he saw the baby with it and would stop walking and demand to be picked up if the newborn got a bit of attention. And by the looks of it, they are still potty training the toddler.

    • A says:

      I’m sure he’s presenting a much more nuanced and thoughtful take, but he’s not stupid either. He should know how his words are being manipulated by the media. He knows, but he doesn’t care. He tried pivoting towards highlighting the book itself, hoping it would speak on its own, but the press dropped him like a hot potato in the process. Either him, or whoever is managing the promotion for his book, feels compelled to say more things that seem deliberately tailored to get more attention from the press, and that on its own makes me really side-eye wtf Robert Lacey is doing here.

      • Gina says:

        I skimmed the book and didn’t like it. Everyone is looking bad in it, everyone apart from FFK William and the Queen and Prince Philip to some extent. The impression I’ve gotten from the book:
        Diana was neurotic and not good mother and the embarrassment for Royal Family and for her children. Charles was adulterer and bad father and the embarrassment for Royal Family and for his children. The part about Camilla I’ll skip. Kate was the stalker but now she is improving in her role. The part about Kate’s family I’ll also skip (simple family wanted to succeed: money, higher society, so on. Meghan is pushy American and too difficult for Royal Family, and wanted wrong Tiara and made Kate cry. Harry is weak, had alcohol and drug problem in his youth and was casted like scapegoat by the press from youth in spite of him being just naughty and not so bad.
        Actually, Wills is portrayed like the only real Royal there. Yes, he is incandescent with rage from time to time but it’s because the trauma of Diana’s death and because he cares for his future Kingdom. His rage towards Meghan is justified because she edited Vogue the wrong way, and didn’t show Archie right after birth and decided to have birth in posh American Hospital, and didn’t reveal Archie godparents, etc. Oh, and the trials – only American can do this!
        For conclusion – everything depends on Will now, even returning the “prodigal son” Harry home.

  33. Lanie says:

    Lacey seems to be the only one backpedaling. Wee Willie Winkie must’ve had one of his epic mantrums after all those incandescent with rage excerpts and Middletons as social climbers exerpts got published.

    Lacey is trying to soothe the savage beast.

  34. L4frimaire says:

    I can’t take anything this man says seriously regarding Meghan since he acted as if she is her character Rachel Zane from “ Suits” and said she was here in spirit , along with the whole cast of Suits during the Sandringham summit. He really is up his own ass in his own privilege and racism. A once read a quote from Twitter by someone, an academic, saying sometimes when you’re a black person and you get a prominent job, you just want or do the job,. You don’t have some alternative motives or have sinister intentions. Sometimes it’s just a job you want or do. The assumptions this man makes. He’s a joke.

    • ABritGuest says:

      Another point on the ‘woke’ thing is that the royal family seemed very happy to promote itself as ‘modernising’ by ‘accepting’ Meghan and the fact that she openly called herself a feminist. They even had it in her royal bio. So they were happy to appear ‘woke’ when they thought it made the Firm look good on the international stage around the time of the wedding.

  35. cc says:

    I’ll just add my LOL to everyone here

  36. BnLurkN4eva says:

    Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.

  37. eb says:

    What a deliberate misinterpretation of her words. He’s not better than the red-tops.

    Anyone can see what she meant by being careful in that interview. It was not because
    “She has come to realise how [some of her] speeches risk her husband’s relationship with the family and perhaps she may pedal back on some of these more extreme positions.” She has no extreme position. She’s pretty standard with her exhortations and actions. Nothing to complain about. Nothing controversial.

    It clearly should be read that she’s being careful because of the nut-jobs the right-wing press in the UK have whipped up who have likely threatened her, her husband, and more importantly her boy. Read most of the comment sections in those same presses and you would get a clear idea who is being activated by those articles.

  38. A says:

    “Maybe he thinks the best way to sell his book is by telling everyone that actually,”

    This is exactly it. The most press coverage he got for his book was when he was slagging off Meghan publicly, or at least saying things that could be interpreted as such. As soon as the conversation moved towards how William is a massive problem in his own right, the media became utterly disinterested. So now he’s back on this beat again, shitting on Meghan, all to shill his book. Fucking hack.

    “Maybe she’s simply talking about the physical risk that exists in America for anybody, because of the way politics has become so volatile and violent there…”

    Jo Cox, an MP, was literally murdered by a volatile and violent extremist. Violence and extremism has literally gone up in the UK in the last four years. Again, this man is a hack, and he’s shilling for his book.

    “They don’t know how to handle progressive causes. However, I think William does it rather well. He does it better than Meghan and Harry.”

    Personally, as a poor graduate student with little to nothing to live on, I don’t find it very progressive that William, who hires Tory Brexiters for his staff, who lectures Africans to stop having children while having three of his own, all while gobbling up what is likely an outside proportion of resources (far beyond the sort of consumption necessary for a single person of his age and calibre), who stood beside Mohammed bin Salman for a photo-op, is the copper plate for “knowing how to handle progressive causes.”

    But hey. Robert Lacey. Whatever helps you sell these books man. Whatever helps you sell these books.

    Between this and the Daily Mirror royal correspondent, it’s pretty fucking clear to me that someone in KP went out and disseminated a list of talking points for these to follow. I mean, the parallels between what both men are saying is just too fucking similar for it to not be a co-ordinated effort. Both of them are talking about how H&M are just, like, so BAD and so alienating because of their support for progressive causes, and that William is just like, so much BETTER, because ????? ?????? I don’t know, he just IS.

    I imagine Robert Lacey agreed to toe this line because again, him, his publisher, and his publicist probably noticed that he got the most press attention when he said things about Meghan that can be interpreted in ways that reflect poorly on her. Well, y’know, I hope the money is worth it for Robert Lacey. Maybe he can use some of that change and put it towards buying a newspaper, or someone to read the newspaper out loud to him, past the first page.

  39. Mariane says:

    Either this guy is going to extreem lengths to sell a couple of books to the daily nail hate mob or he’s truly a typical pro establishment who doesn’t like seeing a biracial woman being part of it. He couldn’t find anything rlse to bit** about but the typical DM narrative of Meghan pushing her “woke beliefs” . So he doesn’t think billy telling Africans to stop having children(whilst kate was pregnant with louis) to allegedly help the environment is a “extreme position”??

    • A says:

      He’s a typical pro establishment figure whose primary criticism of the establishment is that they should have done more work to assimilate Meghan into the fold. Which yes, is true, but also, it comes from this position where there really isn’t much of a shift in terms of their overall attitudes, simply how they accommodate differences in order to capitalize on them to benefit them. But that in itself tells you that he’s a pro-establishment figure–because he wants the establishment to endure, more or less in the way it exists now, but with a little bit more lip service and niceness to Meghan.

  40. Well-Wisher says:

    There is no way anyone can write a book that would anger the RF as a institution and still maintain future access. If that is there profession to maintain the book will be pro RF.
    Now onward to marketing the book across boundaries, the serialisation must have acquired some sales, next this new chapter for a different audience.

    It will be introduced to trigger a reaction that causes increased sales revenue.

    Lacey decides to focus negatively on Meghan civic participation as extremism. The presentation is also described as preachy. It is a strategy that only time will tell if it is successful.
    One can help to feel the yearning for Harry as ‘foil’ to his older sibling.

    Except for the fact that William want to cover Harry’s position in the Royal Marines. There is no there -‘there’.

    One cannot help but notice that the Sussexes made the best decision for their future and despite the growing pains, William revealed himself at the right time when they have more options. This would have been a disaster for the Sussexes if this had happened 20 years later.They had other options that will lead to better choices and the ability to use their gifts in a meaningful manner.
    Until William grasp and accept the notion that Harry is entitled to live a full life and be the best version of himself while putting his immediate family needs at the forefront, there will not be a proper reconciliation.
    Harry does not belong to William. Simply put.

  41. LRob says:

    They are sooooo stupid I won’t reply to it all. Just goes to show how little they understand about empowered women of color. Duchess Meghan is the epitome of restraint in expressing her views. Don’t poke the lioness and have her say all she REALLY thinks. If THAT were to happen, they’d learn what extreme really is. And goodness, we already know what poking that bear of a prince elicits from Harry. Stay out of his way, too.

    Sit down, you ignoranamuses. You’ve missed the point.

  42. CC says:

    You know your last sentence says all, people dont reslize its not Meghan they have to worry about its Harry, but let them go on.