I’m pretty much just going from the Sun and the Daily Mail’s coverage of all of the dramas in and around Prince Philip’s funeral, It’s fascinating to watch as four different royal courts compete with each other and contradict each other. One court is the Queen’s court, and her people are making sure that everyone still knows that she’s (nominally) in charge. Another is Prince Charles’ court, making him sound like the neutral arbiter in his sons’ dispute, and the one who will heal the family. Then there are William and Kate’s now diverging and competing courts, sniping at each other, embiggening and being chaotic. It’s a mess. Even though the storyline was supposed to be “William and Harry reunited, everything will thaw from here,” it seems like William’s court cannot allow even that. From the Mail:
While onlookers were heartened by the sight of William and Harry in conversation as they left their grandfather’s funeral on Saturday, sources said a meaningful reconciliation between the brothers was still some way off. It was unlikely they had any serious discussions but it was the most time they had spent together as a family since Harry and Meghan quit the UK more than a year ago.
Royal sources however last night warned that ‘one swallow does not a summer make’ and the rift between the two men, particularly after the string of hurtful and highly damaging allegations made by the Sussexes in their bombshell Oprah interview last month, remained deep.
One insider went so far as to suggest that the acrimony between the brothers could take years to heal, if ever. And they stressed there was still widespread anger in the Royal Family and the household at large at the accusations levelled against them by the couple – in particularly the claims of racism and that Meghan was left suicidal through lack of support.
The allegations are strongly contested by the family privately, who believe Harry and Meghan have behaved ‘appallingly’, although they are attempting to put on a conciliatory public face.
It is unlikely that the two brothers would spend much time together before Harry flies back to the US, but it is hoped that a dialogue has now been started.
I’ve never heard that idiom “one swallow does not a summer make” and I thought it was going to be dirty, but no, it’s about birds. They’re basically saying that just because William and Harry were civil to each other briefly as they left the funeral, that doesn’t mean there’s actually reconciliation or even a gentle thawing. I think this is Prince William saying that he is, as ever, engorged with rage at his brother and William isn’t ready to “forgive” Harry. I can only imagine what Harry thinks about that attitude. Also: ten bucks says Harry makes no effort to come to London in July for the Diana-statue unveiling.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red.
All these stories are prewritten. As a minority, hell yes this type of feud will drag until they apologize and acknowledge the pain they brought to HM. And we already have a good idea how deadbeat Charles is and how Incandescent TOB is. So yeah it’s gonna take a long time but yeah go on about it in the tabloids, that’s gonna heal the relationship oh yeah. Good bye!
What gets me is that all of the reporting is that the RF is mad about the interview not what was said or feel bad about any pain caused. There hasn’t even been a denial of the claims. There’s not going to be a reconciliation if the family doesn’t take responsibility. The interview should be the least of their problems.
Honestly, I don’t think they will ever take responsibility because they don’t think they did anything wrong. I think William 100% believes what he said – that they are not a racist family. They don’t think it was racist to say that Meghan wouldn’t be a working royal because “money,” they dont think it was racist to have concerns about the skin color of Archie, it was just “curiosity,” etc. Racist people often don’t think they’re racist. And it can be hard to admit that you were being racist. Someone should send them a copy of White Fragility or something though.
Until they get to the point where they understand why their actions were wrong, there really is no way to move on.
@Becks1 … ‘because money’…
Remember that Meghan was Jewish before she converted to the CofE for Harry. It just gets worse and worse.
I came here to say this. It’s all about the existence of the interview, not the horrors that were revealed in the interview.
How dare she claim to have been suicidal and wanting help! Doesn’t she know when you’re suicidal because of how badly you’re being treated, you should just be a good sport about it and off yourself?
These people, my God.
And the stupid thing about that is that we have confirmation from other RRs, like Valentine Low, who KNEW AT THE TIME how bad things were for her, mentally.
They are more concerned that she told the truth about the racism and the ignoring of her suicidal thoughts than they were about the actual racism and suicidal thoughts. It’s appalling.
I said almost the same thing further down before I read yours.
This is exactly it. They’re not appalled that the institution is racist (how can they be, they run it), they’re appalled that Meghan told the world its racist.
Their dirty laundry is now aired out in public. That’s the line that they feel was crossed and why their own knickers are in a twist.
“ Also: ten bucks says Harry makes no effort to come to London in July for the Diana-statue unveiling.”
I’ll take that bet and raise you a hundred.
Honestly, I think the next time Harry will voluntarily be in that family’s presence is at the next funeral. Harry spoke his truth to an ancient, lead encrusted institution that has never been challenged by one of their own. I don’t expect any acknowledgement from them EVER. It’s just not in their DNA.
I mean, I guess I get why Harry felt like he had to TRY, but at this point, just let it go Harry and live your life man. Just stay in touch with the family members who respect you and your wife. Only visit the UK for your charities and your real friends.
Damn I hope you’re right. Baby Sussex aside, Harry needs to stop banging his head against the brick wall that is his sick family.
They need to apologize to H&M but they NEVER will.
I think Harry is still trying to compartmentalize the members of the royal family as members of the royal family playing official roles vs. members of his family like “dad” “brother” and “grandma.” What I got from him when listening to the Oprah interview is that he absolutely recognizes the institution is bad, racist, sexist, toxic, and with a gross relationship with the tabloids that forces Dukes and Princes to sell each other out to the papers in order to protect their own reputation and position, but he seemed to almost think that the members of his family might be good, supportive people if only they weren’t trapped within the institution. And I wonder if he thought that by leaving the institution, he would really just be able to have familial, personal relationships with Charles and William as son/brother Harry, rather than be treated as The Official Spare the Duke of Sussex by The Official Heir The Duke of Cambridge.
He seems to think that the institution has made his family members into racist, sexist, horrible people in order to match the institution, whereas I think the fact that the family members are racist, sexist, and horrible is what makes the institution so racist, sexist, and horrible. Like I don’t think Will would be a good person if he were just a normal middle class guy with a regular job. And I don’t think Charles would be a loving, supportive, hands on father if he were just a normal middle class dad.
I think he’s struggling a bit with how to manage supporting his family members just as family members as they support the rituals of the institution and the institution supports the values of white supremacy and class hierarchy above all else, while he himself tries to distance himself from those negative values, and thus the institution that represents them, without yet being ready to distance himself from the family that represents the institution. If that makes sense. But I think he’ll continue to grow and learn and make realizations and continue to prioritize the health and well-being of himself and Meghan and their family. It takes time to fully deprogram from such an upbringing.
@AmyToo this is a really good comment. And I think it explains a lot about how we are reacting – some see charles as a horrible father or William as a horrible brother and think Harry needs to cut cords – Harry probably sees it more like Charles as Prince of Wales CAN’T be a good father to Harry the Duke of Sussex, but maybe if Harry is just Harry then Charles can be a good father. As some have said he’s been in this for 36 years, its going to take him more than a year to deprogram and figure out where everyone stands.
Also, this line –
“He seems to think that the institution has made his family members into racist, sexist, horrible people in order to match the institution, whereas I think the fact that the family members are racist, sexist, and horrible is what makes the institution so racist, sexist, and horrible.”
YES. And I think that’s something he has to work through. I know in The Interview they were specifically using language like “the institution” and “the Firm” to protect specific people, but the institution is made up of individuals who make decisions and choices.
Amy,you are right in your analysis….but I mean he saw that princess Michael wore that racist brooch,and the other day I was looking at Camilla’s home,and in the hall,there was a blackamoor statue and I learnt that her sister is an interior decorator and her style is blackamoor things like lamps,statues…even Harry said some very offensive things and I am sure when he said in those aristocratic circles,it was nothing but when he said it in the real world he was checked…so I don’t know but you are right,he is on his journey..
Yup. He won’t be back until Liz’s funeral.
This. No way he’s coming for the Diana statue or anything beyond that. He’ll be back for the Liz funeral someday.
I had a rather difficult time with my Dad’s side of the family growing up. He is one of 12 so it could/can be a chaotic situation at times. I went to the annual reunion and other events out of respect for my Dad because it meant something to him not because he asked. It has changed through the years but time and distance can do wonders. I do mourn the time lost watching cousins grow up so I’m sure there is a bit of regret not seeing his nephews and niece grow up too.
I feel if Harry goes back in July he will do so for his Mother. I also think he wants to ease stress on his grandmother right now. (Although he would be the only one)
Granted I’m just speaking from my own experience with toxic, selfish family.
It bothers me to no end when bots want Harry to “bring the children” to the UK to see the relatives. Leaving Meghan home. Just so horrid.
YES!! Concentrate on your little family and the many projects you and Meghan have going. If you get in the mud with PIGS, the PIGS love it but, you just get dirty.
I wish I could take that bet, but I don’t think Harry is sufficiently deprogrammed yet. He’s still hanging on to them and so I can seeing him feeling compelled to attend thinking it’s for his mother, when Diana would likely have rather they donated the money to charity. That interview showed me that he’s still hanging on and probably will continue until Elizabeth dies. Hope I am wrong, but I won’t be surprised if he goes and will be thrilled if he sits it out.
“ Also: ten bucks says Harry makes no effort to come to London in July for the Diana-statue unveiling.”
Harry seems to be a glutton for punishment . He’ll be there. He’s very sentimental and seems to place a high value on the ceremonial aspects of royalty. Every appearance he makes in the UK gets held against his wife but he remains undeterred and will keep foolishly requesting that wreaths be laid and showing up for official ceremonies. The Rota will continue to have fresh narratives against him — or mostly Meghan.
I like Harry but wish he would recognize that Meghan cut off her father for inflicting less damage than his family has on her life. I wish he would man up and cut the royal cord.
If baby sussex isn’t due around that time harry will go back to honor is mother, not because he places high value on “ceremony” or whatever that means
Harry honors his mother in his work and actions. A statue doesn’t change that. Not being at the statue unveiling will not be an indictment on Harry or lessen the occasion unless incandescent with rage chooses to make the unveiling more about Harry’s absence than honoring Diana.
A poster mentioned that they could open a children’s ward/wing in Diana’s name to honour her. There are probably a hundred things they could do in her name to honour her that don’t involve returning to the U.K.
I REALLY don’t think he will be.
I hope you’re right but my impression of him is that he is still highly respectful of the rituals of the institution and can be guilted very easily into turning up at their circus affairs.
@Aurora –
Oh he’ll definitely be. 🤐🤐With bells on.
Your absolutely right on him being sentimental.
(Overly so IMO.)
That’s one of the things the courtiers used to praise in Harry’s favour, against the more hard-headed William. Irony.
Despite many people here (including myself) thinking the monarchy is outdated, I think Harry & Meghan both still place a lot of value on the monarchy and being royals. Whether he will be there in July probably depends on when the baby is due but I can see Harry being there.
I mean Harry I can understand cause he grew up in it but Meghan after all the damages and also her being american she must know that at least in the US you can be in the upper echelons if you have money which she can never be in Britain because there class and aristocracy is more important …that’s why Kate is always reminded by Tatler or others that she doesn’t belong…
I also think it’s time Harry says goodbye to his toxic racist dna attachments know as his family. There is no good in those people he needs to stop looking for any in them
Yes at this point it’s just DNA…nothing redeemable about these individuals
Meghan has always had a problematic relationship with her father. Her former friend sold a video that had Meghan stating she didn’t want to see her dad because they weren’t speaking to each other (she was a teenager at the time) She has cut him off now but it took years. Harry went to his grandfathers funeral and was civil to his family members. If I were him, I would have done the same thing. Harry is going through it right now and he is going through it in front of the world. He can rest assured that he did everything he could. I don’t see him having much to do with the family after the Queen dies. The thing with the wreath; it was being made before they left and they contacted him that it was done. He asked if they could lay the wreath. No harm in that.
Meghan and her father got along previously. That person with the tape is not Meghan’s friend. Her father just cut off Meghan when he started going to the media to slam her. She and Harry wanted him at the wedding. Tom Markle rushing to the media was a deal breaker.
Harry’s still coming out of the FOG. I think it’s going to take him a lot of time and therapy to really get a grip of how dysfunctional the family is.
I personally think he will not go, but if he does, it’s not totally out of the realm of understanding either. Understand that this man is still actively undergoing the process of unraveling 36 years of gaslighting and emotional abuse — since birth he has been told his entire life’s purpose was to make his brother’s life easier and he did not realize how terrible that concept was until very recently. It’s going to take time for him to come to terms with how best to move forward and live his life for himself and his family (Meghan and kids) in an emotionally healthy way.
Yeah I agree…But maybe he was educated to be the spare and he seems to be a very empathetic person who only see good in ppl…
Yes, he does seem to see the good in people and is willing to give people that have harmed him a chance to make amends, even if they aren’t willing. Harry wants very much to maintain personal relationships within his family but there are some that have proven not to be worthy of the chance to make amends, PWT I’m talking to you.
@Aurora I see what you’re saying, but I hope the truth is more that he knows the press is going to trash him no matter what he does, so he’s decided to just do whatever he thinks is right from now on and tune out their BS.
He wanted to go back for his grandfather’s funeral and knew it was the right thing, so he did. If he has a newborn at the time of the statue unveiling, I think he’d stay home. But who knows.
That said, I don’t think he’ll go back until Liz’s funeral, either. Time will tell.
Lorelei, I can’t help but think about Meghan’s pregnancy with Archie and afterwards. She was terribly depressed (who wouldn’t have been) and it was very bitter sweet. I can see Harry prioritizing her and Baby Girl to make this pregnancy and afterwards all about joy. At least if I was a man, I think that’s what I would do (I’m a Virgo, too).
Also, I have to say that I will move my line a very long ways to give someone the benefit of the doubt. But there is a line that can’t be crossed. When someone crosses it–well, you’re done. I go on my way without a backward glance. I’m also compassionate and empathetic, which is why I really give someone the benefit of the doubt. But I think Harry has probably gotten a very good idea of where his “family” is at this time. I can’t help but think that William probably asked him–loudly– when they walked together, “Are you going to apologize?” I don’t think Harry will be back for the statute.
one swallow does not a summer make” that quote is literally from peter hunt😂
That was really funny, they just quoted him on twitter. (it’s a well-known idiom in general though, but its funny that he was the “royal source.”) and he called them out on it!
Just goes to show again what kind of trash these people actually put out. And that they are allowed to spew it on mainstream UK media is even more mind boggling.
In germany we have the same thing, and it’s been widely used in my parent’s generation.
Given how the family is still behaving as Harry and Meghan wronged them this does not surprise me. How can they truly think that after years of a racist, misogynist, classist campaign that ended up with Harry and Meghan packing up camp and leaving, everything would be ok? That Harry would be ok with his wife being afraid of being left alone while pregnant because she was afraid of harming herself and their child? Are they really that lacking in empathy? Because I think that this is what is hitting the hardest in camp Sussex: that the world understands their pain, but his family doesn’t get why they couldn’t just accept the abuse lying down. That his family still thinks that by telling the world that this is what was happening behind the curtains, harry betrayed them. What a family!
They learned nothing from Diana (and Fergie, to a lesser extent), and they will learn nothing from Meghan. They are *incapable* of learning and changing. Whatever modicum of chance you see at any time is temporary and eventually, they slip back to their pre-worn grove of “protocols and how it’s “always” been done”.
They live in a completely different world than us, and associate with people with a very different mindset. The court are following a lot of “protocols” from the Victorian era, and in many ways they seem to have a Victorian way of thinking. Racism to them is the KKK and hanging POC. Women of lover classes are lucky to get the attention from a prince and his rich friends. “How undignified of the women to run to the police with such matters”. Adding to that, you have staff members who instead of correcting them, and educate them on how the world works today, are playing along with the fucked up narrative.
As @The OG says, they’ve learned nothing from Diana and Fergie, they still think their way of doing things are the right way. That includes sacrificing the spare to make the future heir look good. When Meghan and Harry went out on their own and corrected FFK’s smear campaigne, they made a cardinal sin in the eyes of the RF and the courtiers. Also, let’s not forget, the courtiers and the RR were the ones who got most critic. The men in grey have the RR on speed-dial. They, together, hold the RF by the balls with their inside knowlegde of the RF’s skeletons, and Harry told the world. It rocks the delicate balance! I’m pretty sure a lot of them are shit scared of what might be leaked if proper journalist starts to investigate the relationship between the RR and the RF.
What strikes me is the widespread anger of the royal family at accusations levelled against the them that are true. It’s more like, How dare you expose the truth about me?!?! It’s the classic response to whistle blowers: shut them up, punish them, bury them. This is the true face of naked power. They are appalled by accusations and they are appalling because those accusations are true. The gall.
damn that peter phillips.
Something about this coverage that is bugging me is the emphasis on how Harry hasn’t seen his family in a year. THERE’S A PANDEMIC!! Maybe he wouldn’t have gone back to the UK regardless, but it’s not like it’s really been an option.
Also interesting how this article – about how William can’t forgive Harry yet because he had the nerve to blab about the family to Oprah, regardless of how William behaved – is contradictory to the narrative of Kate the Peacemaker, Kate paving the way for a reconciliation, etc. Competing courts indeed.
@becks1 i do find it curious tho that KP (williams court) apparently thinks that painting william as angry 24/7 is the way to score PR points?
Maybe appearing angry 24/7 at the Sussex’s appeals to his base and that’s all he cares about right now.
I think someone has decided that anger = strength and they think this makes William look strong, like he’s standing up for his family, he’s so angry that Harry hurt Kate (ha), etc. But it’s not healthy to be angry all the time. Ask Tim McGraw.
A better line from KP would be “William is hurt and disappointed, but he wants to get to the root of the problem when Harry is ready to meet him halfway.” That makes it look like Harry is still the problem, that William is willing to be the bigger person, etc. Instead we get stories about how william is still so angry he can’t talk to Harry.
(I mean the best line would be a full apology to H&M but that’s not happening).
@Cecila
Its also to emphasis the ‘take-no-prisoners’; ‘non-sappy-like Charles’; FFK William narrative.
The press were almost lactating with joy when William came out with the ‘very much not a racist family’ line.
It was all “Yes, William! Stand up to the Sussexes”.🙄🙄
Probably to make him look tough. There are plenty of videos making fun of him for being weak
Yes, a future king looks really strong when he stomps and wails when someone takes away the crutch he was planning to use to prop up his reign. Show the world you can’t do it without your crutch. Twisting and screaming on the floor in a steaming pile of royal shit.
Not a good look for FFK William. Look at just those pictures above. He always looks like he’s clinching his jaw, grinding his teeth, and sucking on a lemon all at the same time. Comparing younger Wills, with Incandescent William seems to reveal his anger has made his whole lower face larger and changed the shape of his face in an unbecoming way. Really startling to see what that kind of long term, unmanaged anger can do to someone physically.
@Cecilia and Becks, ITA. He must think that it shows strength or “masculinity” or something, but imo it’s exactly the opposite and is terrifying that he has such a short fuse and is enraged so much of the time. People like that eventually snap. And it’s so, so unhealthy, not just for him but for everyone around him who has to tiptoe on eggshells all the time because of his short fuse. He should rethink this narrative, but we know he won’t.
This comment. “one swallow does not a summer make” was tweeted by Peter Hunt who used to be a RR. The Daily Mail then picked it up and said royals sources say. Shows how qualified royal sources are.
it is an idiom in spanish: una golondria no hace verano. I think I have heard it in english as well
Yes, you’re right, it’s a well-known, English idiom. It’s the kind of thing your granny would say to you.
oh it’s definitely an idiom, but it would be weird to me if a royal source actually at the palace used and Peter Hunt tweeted it. It seems that this story just picked it up from Hunt’s twitter and is calling him the “royal source.”
@Kyliegirl: I was just going to say the same thing. The royal source was really Peter Hunt talking on the BBC about the prospect of a reconciliation. It just goes to show that the press really doesn’t know what’s going on.
Goes to show just who their royal sources are: Duhhh….each other! 🤦🏻♀️😈
Harry will attend the unveiling. He has nothing to hide from and has done wrong.
If he doesn’t go, it will be because his daughter will have just arrived and has no desire to leave his family and quarantine for another 3 weeks and subject himself to another round of Will and the BM’s BS.
@Pepperpot: He has a pregnant wife who may have the baby around the same time as the unveiling.
@Pepperpot ITA he hasn’t done anything wrong at all. But at the same time, I don’t think he needs to be at this particular event to prove to anyone that he loved and misses his mother, especially if he has a newborn at home.
They’ll trash him if he goes, and they’ll trash him if he doesn’t, so I hope he does whatever he wants when the time comes.
As*hole Bill and Kate will never apologize publicly or privately for any of their part in the smear campaign so there will never be true reconciliation between them.
Charles may apologize privately, so there may be some thawing there. But he will also never do so privately.
I can see things eventually cooling off with the BM where H and M are concerned but as soon as the kids get old enough they will go after them
Again: in the real world the problems is not that Meghan and Harry said the RF did bad things, the problem is the bad things the RF did.
These people. It’s so toxic. I just hope Meghan and Harry can keep their eyes on the good stuff and let the bad stuff float past.
I don’t think Harry cared and that is what’s pissing them off, especially William. He came, paid his respects, maybe even said a few pleasantries, and went home. All of these competing narratives are trying to convince people that Harry is trying to reconcile, which makes me think that the opposite is true. Incandescent ragers, like Will Jung Un, want a reaction and you just know that the BM was salivating over details of a reunion. The fact that there really aren’t any, is telling. Hence, the dozens of contradictions. I seriously doubt Harry goes to the statue unveiling. What purpose does it serve when the Keens can barely act right for a funeral?
It also makes me wonder if they now they screwed up and are setting up a narrative to open the doors to harry, all while trying to seem like they are in control. “If harry apologizes he will be welcome back”. However do these people not realize that the only way to get harry back is to apologize to and accept meghan? As long as that doesn’t happen well….
I agree JT. Harry just came to pay his respects and was cordial. No one has a clue where he is which proves he isn’t speaking to anyone in the family.
@JT ita with everything you said. They are so, so angry that they can’t bait him into reacting to their BS anymore. He paid his respects and peaced out. They’re so bitter.
You are spot on, Aurora.
Anyone noticed that when Harry was in Montecito minding his business, TOB and Waity were getting dragged on a daily/weekly basis. But ever since he’s touched down in the salty Isle, those two scum on earth have been elevated to sainthood all over again…all at Harry’s expense. It’s good for the Sussexes to stay in US only.
Exactly.
Harry is good copy for them that is it.
He’s not a human being, but a commodity for sales & clicks.
I mean, look at how many stories the press have managed to garner from all this and Harry was only seen ONCE. On the day of the funeral.😠😠
Man that was funny as hell. It just goes to show that without the Sussexes as scapegoats, the other ones can’t hide behind their sycophants and PR stunts, people see them for who they are. This is why the Sussexes are better off doing their thing in the US and thriving.
Lordamercy.
Maybe, just maybe, if the RF had been a wee bit more supportive of Meghan and Harry and had actually listened and helped and hit back at all of the racism and lies and stood up for H&M things wouldn’t be where they are now, but NOOOOOOOOOOO.
The ONLY reason the RF is still so angry about the Oprah interview is because H&M leveled a truth bomb and it hit its target. Just imagine if they had decided to go scorched earth and named names. I personally felt like they were still protecting more than one family member, whether out of respect for HM and PP or as some sort of insurance?
Unpopular opinion here (I also saw the same one somewhere on gossip forum):
I think the funeral moment was really hard for everyone (except Kate and that’s true – photo of her stared at her fingers while Psalm was singing). And I believe when William saw his grandmother – lonely and sad – he reflected on his own future. I think he realizes that being good King means have a good consort. Kate isn’t and it’s clear for me that she doesn’t love him. I think William, knowing how strong was the bond between Queen and Philip and knowing how good his father feels with Camilla, already took the decision. And that’s he just… talked to Harry. And that’s why we see tons of PR push articles about “Kate-is-the-power-of-monarchy” – midds know that the end is close and try to jump in bandwagon.
Interesting thought. Her massive PR does make her appear desperate for some reason but Will’s does also in some ways.
Kate isn’t going anywhere.
At this point she’s Williams trump ‘family man’ card.
And many upper class marriages are shams in name only after 4/5 years.
The Lamebridges are no different from many of their fellow toffs.
I would agree with you if Kate had made herself indispensable, but Diana was a FORCE and Charles divorced her. Kate is just a bad mommy blogger with no blog and no interesting content besides a few pics. I don’t doubt for a second that William and the RR cronies can create a narrative that opens him up to a divorce then he slowly introduces an intelligent career woman who he feels he can move forward with. (I do think William will need some therapy before starting a new marriage)
William and/or Kate have to have the Queen’s permission to divorce. And, Charles steps into that same position when he becomes King. Diana and Charles divorced (or were allowed to) because the Queen commanded it. Many biographers have indicated what Diana wanted was a legal separation and her own court, not a divorce.
@Lowcountry Lady
Yes, I didn’t want to mention this but I believe the divorce will happen judt after QE’s death – until that Will is living separately from Kate (as what we saw the previous year). Charles isn’t happy with midds and he will give the permission for this divorce.
Oooh, yes, I like this theory. Even if it wasn’t AT the funeral, we’ve been talking over on another thread about William’s affair with Rose being a long term thing. Elizabeth had her support and stay in Philip. Charles got it horribly wrong with Diana but now has Camilla. Anne divorced Captain Mark Phillips to marry the man she was having an affair with and now seems very happy with Admiral Tim. William is surrounded by family examples of people who are fully supported by and happy with their partners and most went through divorces to get that way. Harry is just the latest with his happy marriage.
Given we know he has never wanted to be King and all the weird stories around him “needing” Harry to help him rule, right now he must be looking at Keen Kate and thinking not only that he could do better but that he should do better. Hence the crazy Middleton PR.
@The Hench
Yes, I meant the same. William isn’t best brother in the world but I think at this point he understood that Harry is his family who accepts him and not Kate – a woman who married him not because of his personality but bc he is FFK. It was so weird to see Eugenie, Beatrice, Zara – all were together with their husbands, were holding hands etc. And William with Kate were like they just work together.
William is almost 40, has a midlife crisis I guess. Kate wasn’t accepted by aristos as well wasn’t accepted by family – York sisters don’t love her while Eugenie and Harry are friends. The only thing Kate can do – is try to be “people’s princess” but she is not Di. The end of the story is already written I think.
Wasn’t Anne also with Andrew Parker Bowles? They say he is the one she love.,and Philip and Penny who is the wife of Philip’s godson …yeah on those aristocratic circles they do unthinkable things…they don’t believe in love that’s why they were shocked by Harry and Meghan…
Really, because I’ve seen snide little 🐀Rota hints that Anne and Tim are pretty much just friends at this point.
They keep saying Willie ‘needs’ harry but for what? Not for the reasons they give that’s for sure. I think Willie is mad that now harry has left, he’s well and truly stuck with Keen, there will be no divorce in the foreseeable future.
Having a decades long relationships with a mistress might have been fine for Phillips generation, but in this day and age, people just move on from relationships that don’t work. I think if he and rose are still together, they must have conversations about their future. They literally have no reason to stay in bad relationships if they both want to be together officially.
Willie is mad that he thought his smear campaign would chase Meghan away alone, harry would look like a idiot for his short lived marriage, and Willie would look great. Then with the divorce door having been opened by harry, he could slip through it further down the line, but it would have been ok, cos harrys failed marriage would have still looked worse.
@Lowcountry Lady, there are hints abt Charles too, even now. Let’s not forget, he never really wanted to marry Camilla in the first place. He had to be pressed into doing so, by Camilla’s father no less, bc his public messiness resulted in Camilla and Andrew Parker-Bowles having no choice but to divorce, and in Camilla getting completely eviscerated in the tabloid press. He recycled that story into a love story where he could finally be with the woman he’d actually been in love with all along, but the reality simply doesn’t hold up at all.
I’ve heard all that too “A”. As you say, Camilla’s father really read Charles the riot act. I really think, most of those royal marriages — especially the 4 children of the Queen — are totally different than press portrays them. I think Anne & Tim, Edward & Sophie, and even Charles & Camilla are more accommodating aristo friendship arrangements at this point. As to Andrew & Fergie — well those two bozos are in a class by themselves. William & Kate — will they settle into the same kind of boring ‘accommodating aristo’ arrangement? I think so, because I don’t see Kate letting go.
Any moments of William’s ‘self reflection’ about Kate’s ineptness in the role? Those have been around for years. I’m convinced that’s part of why he married her. He wanted someone who would make the royals look bad, and give him an excuse to hide away doing next to nothing for 10 years after the wedding.
It backfired. He wasn’t smart enough to know that Kate making the royals look bad made him look bad too. Looking around at the rest of the royal famlies, he chose the worst among the consorts.
Agree. Their marriage is hanging by a thread now and Ma Midd is pumping out the bullsh*t about Keen Kate Kan’t Do Anything Wrong! She’s the face of the new monarchy. Well if that’s the case then the monarchy is f*cked and this whole sorry mess is going to devolve into a steaming heap of scandals. The truth will out when the Queen passes unless Charles takes a very strong hold of TOB and gives him a good shake.
@aurora
Harry has dipped on everything the past year. If he was as sentimental and beholden to the institution as you think he is, he would have come sooner for things like Trooping of the Color.
So far he has only come back for the most extreme situation, a funeral.
There hasn’t been anything for him to attend in the past year though, bc of the pandemic. The trooping last year was very small and only the queen attended, Charles wasn’t even there.
I don’t think Harry is going to come back for every royal event, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think we can judge his future behavior on the past year.
I hope Harry never lets the royal family off the hook for how they treated Meghan. An apology would be so much easier than the effort it takes to continuously gaslight the Sussexes. The more the royal family digs their feet in to deny the allegations the more they continue to look like an uncaring, racist, and bullying institution they really are.
I’m sure no one in that family asked him about what Meghan and Archie were doing or congratulated him on Meghan’s pregnancy. But yeah, he is still “love” them and always will be there for them 🙃
I find Harry very sad looking. Obviously it’s a funeral and he loved his grandpa. But I think his sadness is also due to the show of icecold ugly pettyness presented to him by his disgusting family. Just looking at his brother ragegrinding his jaws….if it’s true that Anne and Sophie felt an urge to freeze him out as punishment….sick. petty.ugly. heartbreaking. Imagine how it must feel. To be Harry, surrounded by dumb, racist Maga- like idiots hating on you during a funeral of someone you loved. He needs to get out of that viper nest and never look back. Charles and William can trash each other
I see that you (and many others on cb in general….over several threads) are making the mistake of completely ignoring the (positive) effects on H of not only the therapy he has (admittedly) had, starting since just before M entered his life, but all that he has done in his journey toward self-actualization since then.
The therapy was his first step in beginning the long journey of learning to finally face and begin to cope with the trauma of his mother’s death & its effects on his life. He even credits bullyiam with encouraging him to enter therapy in the first place (pity bullyiam didnt/doesnt think he needs it too).
Now factor in H’s association with Better Up Inc. He said he had a personal Better Up coach and now he’s a frontline spokesman for the company. His own brand, which he’s creating with his wife, has Compassion at its core.
I say all that to say this: mentally & psychologically, Harry (& Meghan) are on a whole other plain than onlookers seem to understand. Those who surmise how H&M are feeling and doing and coping, based on a few media images, seem to be basing their theories on what “they THINK they know” (as H famously said in his engagement interview.)
And I dont know why this should be so difficult to grasp: Consider this – we’ve all had the experience (no matter how relatively small or how overwhelming) of having to deal with a protracted stressful situation, rt? But after finally bringing it to a conclusion (even if we just procrastinated until the time for action passed) isnt there a distinct ‘before’ and ‘after’ feeling and a whole new perspective on life that comes in the wake of all that?
Well, as far as I can see, H&M are on the ‘after’ period of their experience in “the institution/the firm.” The Oprah interview was not only the line of demarcation, but also the line of: its a new era….no more silence/we will respond thru our lawyers when & where necessary. ALSO: now watch us thrive.
That segment of the Oprah interview of them in Archie’s Chick-Inn and on the beach, gave me a distinct sense of them having moved on, mentally & psychologically.
The fact that the serfs/plebs/subjects on Stagnant Island are still agitated by what was revealed in the Oprah interview and are now trying to gaslight us into believing that the Oprah interview is the CAUSE for all their hate on M (& now H) (nevermind the previous 4 yrs) is not only laughably pathetic, it should be reason enough for any sentient being to realize that theres no hope for britain and that it will only ever continue to recede in the mists of the past as the century rolls on.
Carmen-JamRock, I agree with much of what you said. It must really chap them that Harry is not rising to the bait anymore. Although He looked sad at the funeral, he didn’t look overly stressed to be with the family. I think you’re right about him just not caring anymore.
They are a hot dysfunctional mess. You would think that they could manage to not conflict each other’s stories (aka lies) for at least a day or two. I hope Harry is home and happy by now!
This comes across as desperate Will trying to say “all the royals agree with me”. I guess, the big question is, do they? If Will and Charles are in competition, the smart thing would be for one side to reconcile with Harry and put out a statement apologizing for their part in mistreating H&M. That side, from my point of view, would be the winner.
That will NEVER happen. Above all else, it’s “PROTECT THE MONARCHY” at ANY cost, personal or otherwise.
Some of them feel that way right now with the Queen still around but will it be the same with Charles and his slimmed-down monarchy?
True! I don’t think Ann gives a fuck about it.
The meeting didn’t go well because Harry didn’t beg forgiveness nor pledge fealty to William above his own wife. Anything less than subjugation would be unacceptable to William. And Harry knows this, which is why he doesn’t try. William won’t be budged from his position and Harry has stopped caring or trying. And that pisses William off even more.
The fact that Megs and Harry telling Oprah about the racist treatment is more upsetting to the royals and the British than these people being racist. It’s because they really don’t like people of color and couldn’t care less about being racist.
It’s the caucasity of those who believe being called a racist is worst than being a racist. The RF and the BM are running a textbook White Fragility operation that will be studied and remarked on for decades to come.
YES — we need to dub this whole thing “Operation White Fragility” henceforth.
I love that the photo on the front page has Harry closest to camera. They know who sells….
Exactly: That particular photo frame of the many that were snapped within microseconds of each other was chosen to go with the story of powerful FFK William righteous anger versus contrite, head bowed, subservient Harry.
The communication is also over the place, it’s laughable. They are reminding us what a clown show they are running over there. It’s like a circus. I’m embarrassed on their behalf. It’s like everyone wants to play monarch and they have no care in the world how badly it reflects on the queen.
Yes, a future king looks really strong when he stomps and wails that someone took away the crutch he was planning to use to prop up his reign.
His twisting and screaming on the floor in a steaming pile of royal shit shows the world he can’t do it without the crutch, and exposes the monarchy for the Potemkin Village that it is.
No talks can be productive without including Meghan. She and Harry are a family, a team. No detente can be accomplished until they all respect and recognize this. Not holding my breath.
Yup..totally agree,she was the one suicidal,the one subject of agressions and abuse
I think these contradictory stories show the much touted reunion didn’t take place. I think all that came out of it was Harry exchanging small talk with Kate and William after they left the church. But KP and to a lesser extent CH are putting out stories to make the public believe that they did talk.
Might I propose that Harry bypass the toxic unveiling of Diana’s statue in London – with Willy snarling and shunning him – and instead apply to have a memorial erected to Diana’s memory in New York city – maybe in Central Park? Diana adored NY city and she would have loved to know she was remembered there. It would also be a warm ‘thank you’ too, to all the New Yorkers who made her so welcome when she visited. Harry and Meghan have good taste and were Harry to arrange for an ‘alternative’ memorial to his mother in the USA, hopefully he and Meghan would choose something symbolic and not a figurative ‘portrait’ statue of Diana – as I believe is planned by Willy for London. No sculptor could accurately capture Diana’s rare beauty and magic. The ghastly ‘realistic’ statue of Diana installed in Harrods department store by Mohamed Al-Fayad after her death, is indicative of what can go wrong by trying to represent her with a ‘portrait’ in stone. Fingers crossed that Harry and Meghan come up with a powerful memorial of their own design.
I had to look it up because I had mercifully forgotten all about it.
And I desperately wish it had stayed forgotten.
Ghastly is a rather kind descriptive @irmavep
Gail First Sorry for the horrid reminder. I refused to go into Harrods while it was still on display – fortunately it’s now been removed. But I do wonder what William might think is appropriate as a Diana statue for KP’s garden. As William and Kate seem to take their cues in the good taste dept. from Harry and Meghan, they will be lost without this more reflective intelligent couple to guide their choices. Could be tacky!
I think donating money to build a wing or special facility for a children’s hospital and naming it the Diana Spencer wing would be the type of thing Harry and Meghan would do. And wouldn’t it be a poke in the eye with a sharp stick for TOB and his Keen FFQ. The tabloids would be over the top and William would be gnashing his teeth and clenching his jaw until it broke.
Jaded. Lovely idea, though it would require high on-costs to manage and staff it. Anything to poke TOB and FFQ in the eye with gets a big tick from me.
I read an article over a year ago that the statue being unveiled is the second one specifically created for KP garden. The first one was finished and neither Harry or William liked it so it was destroyed. They then went with a different sculptor with a different design. As it is now scheduled to be unveiled, they both must like this second one.
I saw a Page Six story this morning that Sophie is the Queen’s Rock so she’s thrown her Philip Treacy hat in the ring too.
I read that too. I think that was the one that claimed Sophie is the queen’s favorite daughter in law , wow that’s a poke considering the queen only has two of them. Anyway, I wonder if that’s smart considering Charles wants to ice them out once the queen is gone? Seems like this will give him more incentive since she’s basically pushing Camilla aside.
Edward and Sophie need to stay in the Queen’s good graces–they have a 50 room “cottage” they can’t afford to pay the lease on, so they can’t afford to be excised from a slimmed down monarchy. I’m betting that they’re trying to put in the work now to ensure that they get set up for life down the line. And now that Philip is gone, the question of who gets to inherit the title of Duke of Edinburgh is also in question–it was promised to Edward and Sophie, when they accepted the lower ranked Earldom at the time of their marriage. So no, Sophie can’t afford to bail on the Queen now.
The lease on Bagshot is pre-paid for decades. What they cannot afford are the costs of maintaining it, the light and heating bills, or the staffing bills. All of which are covered for them through the Sovereign Grant as long as they’re working royals.
I would be frosty to, if my sibling went on national television and blabbed about family issues!
RF started it. Harry and Meghan finally gave their side. Like Meghan said people expected them not to talk and still be attacked.
Well maybe you should listen and take your sibling seriously when they tell you to stop being a racist, gaslighting bully. The interview didn’t come out of nowhere, you know.
Fragility, thy name is Carol (the irony!!!!!!!).
I would hope that you wouldn’t do the things to your sibling and sister-in-law that William has done to Harry and Meghan.
Well if the family didn’t want the issues out there, they shouldn’t have made them public issues (the story about Meghan making Kate cry, the story about Meghan “refusing” to pose with the baby when that was never on the table, the leaks about 5 am emails, bullying staff, etc.)
Yes, I’m sure you would be upset of the family members you were abusing told other people about your behavior.
It only goes one way with abusers, they tell the story to the press but under anonymity. When the victims fight back, the abusers go insane.
Except the Royal family has been gaslighting Harry & Meghan & scapegoating them for years using the RR & their tabloid pals prior to the Oprah interview. The freaking BBC did a TV special about the scapegoating of Harry by the heirs throughout his childhood, teens, and young adult years. A multitude of UK reporters have spoken about the invisible contract that they have with the Royal family in exchange for positive press on record – See statements from Penny Junor, Dan Wootton, Palmer, etc. It’s not hard to figure out who the wronged party is or who threw the first punches, for years I might add.
Unless one is a brainwashed doormat or is desperate to stay a Royal for the privilege, status, & money (Karen Kensington), setting the record straight after years of being abused & scapegoated in the press by your toxic family shows an immense amount of courage. Only abusers or those who agree with them think the Oprah interview was “blabbering.” Try accusing rape/domestic violence victims of blabbering when they testify in court & see how well that goes over with any Judge. Emotional & verbal abuse from one’s own family is just as insidious & damaging. The Royal family has been blabbering for years at Harry & Meghan’s expense. It’s about time they got a taste of their own medicine.
The fact that Harry & Meghan did not hide behind “unnamed royal sources” and palace aids to get their message out there just proves they are better human beings who own their words. Too bad for the Royal family hiding behind the yellow press & their suck-ups (Royalists). You reap what you sow.
Now !THIS! post is why CB desperately needs a LIKE button!!!!!!!!!
Why do Brits think leaking is more dignified?
At a certain point turning the other cheek is as pointless as getting into a public spat. There comes a time when the truth needs to be revealed in a diplomatic, non-aggressive way, which is what Harry and Meghan did. The continued fomenting of lies, racism, leaking and smearing forced the Sussexes to stand up for themselves against what amounts to a bunch of cowardly, selfish, passive-aggressive family members whose only power is playing nice with the RRs or receipts will be dropped. What goes around comes around when you play a dangerous game like that and become a pawn in the tabloid media game.
I’m not convinced there was any small talk at all. Standing on the side of the chapel, the picture that they tried to make it “look” like Harry was talking to Kate, I think he’s actually looking behind her. Then the walk up Chapel Hill, there was maybe one brief exchange before Kate walked back, and then it didn’t look like William and Harry were speaking. The cover of the Daily Mail (above) is chilling, especially for those of us that remember the brothers at their mother’s funeral. How sad the way it all played out.
Una hirundo non facit ver – it’s all the way from latin, meaning indeed one swallow does not make summer; that’s why it can be found in so many modern languages, with similar meaning
I read an article recently which said that Harry was expected to help William until such time as George, Charlotte and Luis were old enough to become working Royals. Basically the same thing the Queen did to her sister. Given how relatively cash poor the ones not in direct succession are, what was the expectation for Harry and Meghan in 15, 20 years times.
The family has a history of not leaving money to those who will need it. The Queen mother should have left her money to the grandchildren and to Margaret’s children and not to those in the direct line, or she could have placed funds in a trust which would generate income for them but I read most of her assets went to the Queen.
Harry and Meghan had to leave now while there’s world wide interest in them in order to secure their future. None of the current drama changes that.
Margaret got shafted in every conceivable way due to her father’s untimely death. No one expected him to die so young, and he died before he could make any proper provisions for Margaret from his estate, in his will.
Queen Mum did leave millions to grandchildren, niece, and nephew. Louise and James were excluded, because they weren’t alive in time to be included in the trust.