Prince Harry’s GQ video interview landed like a stink bomb on Tuesday. Harry stopped by the GQ office last month when he was in New York, and he talked at length about grief, his mother and his reasons for moving his wife and children back to the UK. I’d like to point out that this is yet another moment where Sussex-fans and Derangers are talking in cross purposes because there was something for everyone to get outraged about. Sussex fans are upset (justifiably, imo) that Harry still seems tethered to his royal privilege and that he’s seemingly unwilling to cut off family members for violently abusing him, for emotionally abusing his wife, for being racist towards Meghan and Archie, for organizing smear campaigns against his family, and on and on. On the other hand, the deranged community is mad because Harry made a reference to his brother Prince William being unwilling to reconcile. Guess which side got a clarification from Harry after the video came out?
Prince Harry’s spokesperson has denied that a comment the Duke made in his new GQ interview (about “some people” not wanting to reconcile) was a swipe targeted at Prince William.
“It was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family,” the spokesperson said. “The comment was made in a general context and was not directed at his family in any way.”
However, a careful reading of the transcript, and indeed watching the relevant bit of video, makes it very clear that the question was specifically about his family: specifically about his brother, and specifically about his father.
GQ’s interviewer prefaced it by noting that Harry has talked about having “a complicated relationship with your brother, your father,” and asked whether that was something he grieves. Harry said yes, of course, and went on to talk about how relatable family breakdown is (sibling disagreements, broken relationships between kids and their parents), almost like he was pitching a TV show, how people look at his family and wonder how they will work it out, and how seeing that might help them sort out their own problems. And then he said: “Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.”
The interviewer, apparently a little taken aback, asked if he really did. Of course he did, Harry replied, adding that with everything else going on in the world, reconciling was the most important thing.
So that is the “general context.” A question about his brother and his father, answered with a remark about people who don’t want things to work out. If that is a general context, I would hate to hear a specific one! Harry is talking about it because the question is about his brother and father, and there are not really many other candidates for who he might have had in mind given that he sees his father now.
I think it shows you how Harry continues to completely misjudge media appearances. This is a media operation completely out of control, with a principal completely out of control: doing what he wants, thinking he knows best, refusing to take media training, refusing to listen to anybody. And this is the result.
This is one of those rare moments where I partially agree with Tom Sykes. Harry was absolutely referencing the royal family, specifically his brother, and maybe his father as well. And I don’t get why we needed this dumb clarification since it was perfectly obvious what and who Harry was referencing. This is not simply a lack of media training for Harry, although I do think he’s worked with some media-training people in the past six years. My issue is: what does his therapist say? What do real mental-health professionals say? Because from where I sit, Harry moved his wife and children back to the lion’s den and then assumed a masochistic, subservient role, publicly begging for reconciliation with the people who abused him and Meghan. None of that sounds healthy. None of that sounds wise, none of that sounds carefully considered or planned out.
Photos/screencaps courtesy of Masterclass and GQ.
The deramgers are now spinning it that harry is desperate to reconcile with his brother. And scooter will never ever want that and then derangers go on about scooter taking titles. Harry needs to study this and avoid talking about reconciliation. Scooter won’t apologize no matter what imo
I agree that the spin is going to be about Scooter, but I assumed when I watched it that Harry was talking about the British press and the men in grey. Again, Harry’s family is much more than Chuck and Scoots.
That’s how I heard it also. The grey men and the press. Those are the ones who do not want reconciliation.
Same. A small historical note about the men in grey:
In the British aristocratic primogenital organization, where the heir is raised to become the leader of family, titles and estates, the spare, well Harry, succinctly described that role in his book, is often destined for military service.
If there is a third son, that son is reared for an ecclesiastical role. Thus, the state, military and church functions remain under control of the nobility in perpetuity.
Ever efficient, the nobility also has a traditional Job/role/career for fourth sons, or sons of noble men born to mistresses or out of wedlock, i.e, on the wrong side of the blanket, aka uncharitably referred to by the British as “by-blows.”
Traditionally, the role reserved for these sons is the civil service, aka, “the men in grey”. This is the class within the British class system that is rarely dissused, often embittered, yet, can and frequently do, wield considerable power within both the government and the monarchy.
Historically, these men were easily identified by the prefix “Fitz” attached to their last names. Nowadays, the “Fitz” is rarely, if ever used. Now, they are mostly nameless figures clothed in grey, buzzing about leaving havoc in their wake.
@Elle -appreciate how you’ve broken this out. One other interesting historical note I’d like to add – slightly OT but following up your comment that the state, military and church functions remain under the control of the nobility. That’s the concept of Temporary Gentlemen.
Historically, the British officer class was made up of members of the gentry and upper middle class, since they were the only ones who could afford the expensive uniforms and other social expectations (e.g., polo, mess bills), requirements which continued even after the necessity of purchasing their commissions was discontinued in 1871. The need for officers skyrocketed with the advent of WWI, and these needs were filled by drawing men from the lower middle and working classes, on temporary commissions. Thus, the “temporary” gentlemen, who were in theory supposed to return to their former positions once the war was over. Needless to say, things didn’t quite work out that way, especially since this usually meant a reduced salary.
The Royal family are very strange set up and Harry just like his mother wants more normality in behaviour.
Which is gross b/c if I were Harry, I’d only re-establish a relationship with his brother if WILLIAM BEGGED MEGHAN for forgiveness. William bullied her relentlessly…
Harry needs to go back to the word space. Scooter is going to continue to be self righteous about the sussexes. Harry should just focus on his charity work.
At this point, I think Harry’s actions can only be explained by one of the following:
1. The story abuse from the royal family that H&M implied/led us to believe took place was exaggerated or misleading and things actually weren’t that bad.
2. Harry doesn’t really care about Meghan or his children
3. Harry’s having a pyschotic breakdown
4. They’re running out of the type of money they need to support the lifestyle they want.
Personally I think its No. 4, but given we don’t actually know any of these people, it could be anything.
I don’t think it’s money. They live very comfortably. I think harrys description of scooter was for real. He never complained about the late queen. He still seems to want to see his father despite the way his father treated him
OR……or…..Harry genuinely missed England and he and Meghan made a joint decision to move back for an extended period of time???
@becks exactly. Places can have great pull on our souls. He has been away for a while. Everybody forgets England is his home too! My heart hurts for the way his family has treated him. Should he stop trying? Perhaps but everyone handles difficult life situations differently. For now let him be home, going to Pubs and walking in the rain. Maybe he needs those English seasons.
@Meija, that’s been my take all along. After living in BC for 4 years, I moved to Edmonton. Made a decent life for myself. But my soul wasn’t singing. I moved back to BC and found myself again in the forests, the mist, yes, even the rain. I NEED lush greenery to feed my soul. I understand Harry longing for the beauty he left behind in England. I love England because yes, I have family there, but also because I feel connected to the landscapes. Whether in BC or England, I love the different kinds of rain. I love majestic trees. I love the changing seasons. So I get that Harry missed home.
We must be sisters, Gail. I live for the forest, creeks, and woodlands of BC. I will never live anywhere else. (maybe Wales)
Thank you @Becks1
The US is about to crash, our schools aren’t safe, he has the right to be near his family, also did it ever occur to anyone that he is worried about chuck and maybe his Spencer family are ailing as well? Meghan is an adult and she made the decision with Harry to move. Invictis is his legacy and he wont let burger king destroy it. He also realizes that it’s unsafe in the US right now. They know what they are doing.
Exactly. He literally said he missed UK and really wanted his children to be educated there and to get to know their family (which includes several Spencer cousins). Sounds legit, but hey, what do I know?
I have a hard time believing he cared that much about the experience of living in England given that when he was in the military he said he didn’t miss England, and in Spare he reiterated how much he preferred to be in Afghanistan as well as wanted to move to Africa. I also don’t buy the British education excuse or the American politics excuse, since as a very wealthy white Californian who takes up nonpolitical charity causes he was insulated from political issues and he has never seemed to care much about his own British education which was as elite as it gets. I’m not saying he had bad reasons for moving to the UK, I just think none of these reasons sound convincing and he’s not telling the public the real reasons (which is his right, it’s just not good from a media/PR standpoint).
It‘s number (5) None of the above.
Harry spoke in generalities and he explained exactly what he meant in the context of grief recovery.
William and Charles, but especially William has made it impossible for Harry to even connect with other members of the Royal Family who may want to reconnect. So his desire to reconnect is a more holistic purpose in my view. And it is a fair one for someone who has done inner work.
I agree, He’s doing the work for himself, and not telling others what work they need to do.
Yes, it’s not only about William. His entire Windsor side is scared of billionaire William. I haven’t seen his aunt Anne or uncle Edward reach out to meet Harry and his kids. Nor haven’t his Windsor cousins. All dependent on Willy’s money.
@Dana…that you can distill H&M choices to just THOSE things…while leaving out strengthening bonds with his Spencer family or protecting his life’s work AND legacy of Inviticus after his OTHER charity & legacy was STOLEN from him & they made THIS MOVE after talk about taking Inviticus AWAY from him got louder…
Is…something…😒
We read EVERYDAY on this site about the BS that was brewing about Inviticus and folks are STILL acting brand new…there are MANY reasons they’ve relocated to England and NONE of them are listed in your…entry
Yes, your points pretty much summed up Sykes’ narrative.
Yes. Your points summed up Sykes’ narrative perfectly. William thanks you.
😂
I think it’s different because I have said this before in uk being non working royals give you so much clout and admiration ( see yorks) than in usa. In American society worship money and succes over hereditary monarchy. Meghan was celebrated here in usa for her work ethics. Harry doesn’t get the footing and admiration he wanted from public like in uk. Most European especially uk out these blue blood people above everyone’s talent. Thats why even decent uk celebs wants to be associated with royals ( see beckham and many more for knighthood). Plus he grown up in cult where all his life he wa called his royal highness nonsense like that and he missed those things. That’s why he is so desparate for those title etc. Because if you need to heal many therapy said little to no contact to heal and move on. No healed person will go back to trauma or visit traumatic events again .
It’s my personal opinion I don’t think harry healed. Because he was traumatized by growing up in that system or education and life why on earth his mixed race wants to experience his same trauma ? In his own words he said it’s every traumatic and abuse . I think he thought he will have upper hand with moving to usa and spare etc instead windsor cutting him off and he don’t know what to do and the run back to uk.
I don’t buy because of US , even trump told off Heritage foundation. His wife and kids were safe in US.
None of that.
The U.S. is in a bad place. See many rich people buying homes in Europe.
Close to Invictus.
Children being able to live a British existence.
Meghan always liked the UK even before meeting Harry.
They’re not running out of money, stop that.
There are many people in the UK who love Harry, and Meghan too.
The U.S. has maga who was brainwashed by Fox News and far right talking heads like that disgusting Megyn Kelly too.
They’re closer now to their Portugal beach getaway.
I get it and wish I had a transnational living too.
Rich white people going back to their homeland. No poc and my cousin, few days ago got his visa to work in US and our family is happy for him to live in usa. I have family in Europe too germany is getting worst and their far right way more scarier than whatever maga dumbass in usa.
I love how people keep acting like Paris, Germany, and England have not seen rioting and other things due to the demonization of immigrants and Muslims.
@dana – or he could be having some sort of midlife crisis coupled with homesickness. As many have previously pointed out here, Harry is used to the attention and status that came with being a prince. Once he got to California, nobody viewed him that way in the sense that he wouldn’t get the deference or special treatment he was used to. I suspect he missed that and despite everything he accomplished felt like a piece of him was missing. Coupled with culture shock, and midlife, and a realization that there’s less years in front of the horse than behind the cart so to speak that may account for some of this.
As someone who left their hometown, I also understand the home sickness. Whenever I go back to Montreal, I feel like I’m coming home and then I just miss it madly, there’s nowhere else in North America like it and although leaving was the right decision in so many ways and I love the life that my husband and I have built, I will always be homesick for Montreal. so I can understand the pull that his homeland would have for him. I do think, however, that he needs to choose his words more carefully and still keep his distance from the toxic Windsors
Did you ever read Spare? Harry HATED being a prince, being called “your royal highness” and the deference and special treatment he got. He was so happy in the military, especially as a JAC, where he was anonymous, just one of the guys, no face, just a voice. He loved that. He always dreamed of being just an ordinary guy who can simply walk down a street without people gawking. This is certainly not the reason he came back. Same as he doesn’t want to be a member of the balcony royals.
He loves England and Scotland. He loved Balmoral. He was homesick, maybe he wanted to feel the seasons, the mist, the rain of England in autumn. One can get tired of sunny California after a while. Maybe he wants to reconcile with all his family, he used to like them. Charles at the beginning adored Meghan, maybe Harry wants these days back. Talking, listening to music, having a paternal family not thinking about how to use him, just enjoying time together. He had this, once, even when it was only for a few weeks or days, but there were these moments and he wants them back for himself and his children.
If William thinks the remark was aimed at him, when the shoe fits? The men in grey have their own agenda. Reconciliation might not be in their best interest, they stake their claims at William’s future court. Not that they have to fear that Harry would whisper any sense in William’s ear.
The media certainly don’t want to let go of the royal soap opera with the brothers fighting, Kate bitching and Meghan simply ignoring the noise. Imagine they would reconcile and be actually friendly. They might get a phone call when comparing the women (unfavorable for Meghan of course) that articles like that are no longer wanted. What are the rats supposed to do? Being nice? Write fluff pieces about family picnics and Kate and Meghan visiting fashion shows? After years of drama? No one of the rota rats and “experts” wants that.
A mid-life crises would explain that wig he is sporting in the formal photos.
oh that is so interesting, dana, how every explanation left you give has a negative story to tell about them
As someone who lives in the US but is from another country (Canada, Toronto specifically), I sympathize with Harry wanting to spend time in Britain wholeheartedly. He obviously loved parts of his upbringing that were outside the bubble of the “Firm”: British foods, traditions, history, historical places, sports, etc. He hated the constant press intrusions and that is why he was glad to get out of Britain when he could, not that he didn’t love aspects of his homeland. He probably also feels more connected to his mom while he is there as places where he spent time with her will evoke memories and staying at Althorp and introducing his children to the Spencer side probably feels very powerful to him. I have spent time in Britain and parts of it are so beautiful and historic. I would love to have a vacation home in the Cotswolds! Nothing in California comes close (I live in California myself). Also, even though I live in California, a blue state, and in a well-to-do area, the toxic effects of Cheeto’s administration are everywhere, you can’t escape them. There is a definite rise in overt racism, misogyny, xenophobia of all types from “average” folks. And unless you live with your head in the sand (I know some people like that who pretend like everything is just fine), it takes an emotional toll, even if you are well-off. We purchased a property in British Columbia to escape the toxicity here (and for an escape route if needed) and I feel a distinct lightness when I cross the border northbound. I also love the landscape and the weather there. The feeling of being back in Canada is so wonderful too. California is becoming hotter and drier and less comfortable to live in, even if you live by the coast as we do. We are having more and more issues with wildfires, El Niño and Kelvin waves coupled with rising sea levels, mudslides, all sorts of nasty things.
I don’t think Americans understand this. If you aren’t raised in the states you aren’t used to the more aggressive nature of people overall. The anger that led to the orange menace being elected twice didn’t come out of nowhere. And until the fascist government is purged, it remains a bad place to be.
Just today there was a WaPo story about homeland security coming to people’s home and asking them their immigrant status and if they are registered to vote. And ICE is still around.
If you aren’t a citizen you don’t feel safe at all. It’s why Mexico and Canada have dropped their tourism visit more than ever before.
No country is perfect, but Harry is a non citizen as much as the rest and that heritage foundation guy has been trying to open up his visa application for a while. With the current psycho in office, who is to say he wouldn’t just agree to it even if it is technically against the law to do it.
From the outside, laws don’t seem to matter in the U.S. anymore.
While he might have been talking about scooter, I read it as the royal rota in general. Camilla, mostly, to be honest.
I think it’s a combination of his father and brother, the rota, Camilla, and the self serving men in grey. When talking about the king and PoW, you cannot treat them as singular individuals in this context. Their lives are very, VERY entangled with members of their court (the rota rats and the courtiers) and for Charles, you have to include Camilla. So when Harry said “some people” when answering a question about reconciling with his father and brother, I do think he was talking in part about the leeches surrounding them. Charles’ need to be adored above all others makes him easily swayed by Camilla and various rota rats and couriers, and Williams’ lifelong jealousy of his younger brother means he has surrounded himself by sycophants who tell him what he wants to hear…so any theoretical inclination either of them might have to reconcile (farfetched, I know) is complicated by that.
“I want to reconcile with my and my wife’s abusers who don’t give a damn about me, my wife and my kids, who are fine with keeping us as villains, who are in bed with the media which trash my family daily.”
Encapsulates one response posted on twitter which Kaiser is leaning towards.
My husband thinks Harry just wants to reconcile with his father who is old and has cancer. I wish the Sussexes well and I remain concerned about their safety. I understand Harry’s desire to reconcile with his surviving parent wo may not have long to live but I am concerned how this is going to play out. It takes two to reconcile but here we have The Firm, the courtiers, Royal Rota and vicious press and above all WILL DOES NOT WANT TO RECONCILE!
I said yesterday that I do think this might have a lot to do with Charles and wanting to be there for the end of Charles’ life. he may want that closure and that moment of goodbye that he never got with his mother.
He might not get that, especially, if his father doesn’t want that.
Oh for sure he might not – if Charles doesnt want it, or if Camilla blocks him, etc – but at least he’ll know he did what he could.
He also didn’t get to see his grandparents as they were dying. And when QEII died he wasn’t allowed to be with either his family of origin or his wife.
I might agree if they were also desperate to reconcile with Meghan’s father as he is unwell I believe. Why just the Windsors? I also think Harry has every right to tell his story but not others. He has no right to talk about his father’s health. That is not his story to tell. I think that if William were to speak to Harry now he would go straight to the press with it William has all the power so why would be take the chance for Harry to spin his words in an interview. Harry and Meghan had it all – major contracts the good will of many people, a beautiful home in California and much more. Not sure what is going on but his return speaks of desperation.
Harry isn’t talking about his father’s health though. Why would you think he would go straight to the press with anything William might say to him? He never has before.
I do believe Meghan has forgiven her father and is at peace with her decision to allow them both to live their lives separately from each other.
It’s interesting how Meghan’s relationship with her father is used as a cudgel, yet you won’t ask why her father wants to reconcile only with Meghan despite being currently estranged from his two other children AND all of his six adult grandchildren by Tom Jr and Samantha/Yvonne.
Bex R I am not using it as a cudgel I am simply pointing out that with Harry saying the most important thing in the world is to reconcile and not have drama why it appears they only want to reconcile with the Windsor family. I don’t have to ask why Meghan‘s father only wants to reconcile with Megan and not his other children and grandchildren because I believe that he wants the fame and recognition that he gets from being associated Megan. So then the question is could that be the same reason that Harry and Megan want to reconcile with Harry’s family?
You’re talking about William being afraid that Harry would run to the press but you know who does actually run to the press? Meghan’s father.
I also think Meghan has tried to reconcile with him (especially before the wedding) but there are terms that he is not willing to meet, such as, stop staging pap strolls, stop giving interviews, get those RRs out of your contacts, etc. So that goes back to what Harry was saying – you have to want to reconcile for it to happen. And Thomas Markle does not want to reconcile.
Cindy, it doesn’t benefit Harry or Meghan to reconcile with the Royals at all. They won’t get a windfall of positive coverage or protection. In fact, since they’ve moved back, the tabloids have gone back to their outsized hatefest (in print, on TV, online, and in podcasts for good measure). This leads me to believe that their decision is sincere, despite the abuse they knew they would receive.
But because Meghan hasn’t done a big public display of reconciling with her dad, then of course it’s all about attention, right? On a tiny island with a population that’s equal to the combined population of California and Texas. OK.
When estranged from toxic parents, the child makes the decision on whether or not to reconcile. Not their spouse. Meghan said in an interview that Harry’s relationship with his father was ultimately his decision, and she alluded to her own estrangement when she did so: “It doesn’t have to be the same for them as it was for me, but that’s his decision.” In saying it doesn’t have to be the same, she’s recognizing that it might be possible for Harry and Charles to repair things. But…it’s up to Harry to decide whether to do that. Likewise, it’s up to Meghan to decide how whether or not to reconcile with her father. Just because one spouse decides to try reconcile with an elderly parent who is ill doesn’t mean the other spouse will want to do the same with their estranged parent.
Cindy, your comment about Meghan’s father struck a nerve with me. If ANYONE presumed to tell me that MY choices about my relationship with my dysfunctional, manipulative abusive father had ANY bearings on my partner’s choices about HIS relationship with HIS family of origin, his crappy fathet, we both would be spitting angry, and astounded that people could be so ignorant.
Not all crappy parents are the same, crappy in the same way, adults have different hopes, vulnerabilities and experiences, things they are working through RE their relationships with their parents. Each gets to set their own boundaries; things aren’t cookie cutter, even-steven and don’t need to be matchy-matchy across a couple’s relationships with FOO
Your presumption that Meghan and Harry have to take the same approach to their fathers makes no sense
I don’t disagree with all your comments but with that said you have to understand why people side this from Harry. With that said I agree not all people want to and some family are crappy so leave them alone and live your life. But Harry has chosen not to do that. I say he needs to back off and let them be. This constant desire to be with his family again may not only ruin his own mental health but puts his marriage at risk well. Walk away!
Interesting choice to film this over a month ago and drop it a few hours before the Oman state dinner…
Not really. No one in the US knows are cares about whatever Oman thing happened on the UK.
GQ released the interview and I doubt they give a whit about who Charles hosted. Has this interview even made a ripple in the US?
Agree with Bex. A figurehead from another country having one more palatial state dinner is not something Americans are interested in. Or care about.
Why would an American company know or even care about what the king of Little England was getting up to that day? Please try to understand that Americans don’t structure their lives around the comings and going of British royalty.
I listened to the interview and I honestly don’t think that part was about William. He was talking about how in the general context of reconciliation and family dramas, some people want it to work out, some people don’t. Remember this interview was about promoting his Masterclass, and this particular portion was about grieving damaged or estranged family relationships. My take on it was that he meant some people in those situations want to work it out, and some don’t, and you have to want to work it out as the first step in reconciliation.
Agreed.
@Becks1, I agree.
Agreed!
That makes sense.
Yeah I finally was able to listen last night and that was my vibe. But at the end of the day, the RF will make everything about the themselves and the BM loves the conflict stories.
Exactly my take, also.
@Becks agree 💯 percent
Any person with any sense will realize that the RF can end this whole, ridiculous ordeal by just meeting with Harry and to try or not try to reconcile. It’s as simple as that. By not trying to at least meet Harry, the RF is showing everyone that they are just incompetent, hateful people. No one is surprised. It’s all going to backfire spectacularly one day. The old royalists are dying off and the younger generations are not as forgiving when it comes to taxpayer funded extravagant lifestyles. Harry has to make a living and his mental health advocacy is part of that. I think he’s only in the UK to deal with Invictus and afterwards they are headed home to California. Harry knows a lot of bad things about his family and by continually trying to push for reconciliation he’s setting things up to say, “I really tried “. If the RF family pushes him too far he has a lot of documentation to “go there”.
But why would they want to end it? I honestly think William has no intention of ever speaking with him again. Problem is that if they met Harry would go straight to the press and probably throw more shade on William. So William knows he is better off to just stay silent and carry on. With time Harry will come off looking worse as he gives constant interviews. People will tire of it. But larger than that is his marriage because I don’t think honestly he is making it a priority. This must be very hard on Meghan. I can’t imagine she wants to be where she is but is trying hard to support him. Truly it’s a mess.
Why do you keep saying Harry would run to the press with anything William might say to him? It’s the other way around. Harry has never run to the press to report on things william has said to him.
It seems like a deranger POV to be honest.
Becks1 The book that Harry wrote Spear mentioned William multiple times. The interview they gave mentioned his family multiple times. The interview he just released yesterday again mentioned his brother. Do you think that if William had called him or talked to him he would’ve mentioned that in this interview.? I think so. Perhaps you don’t consider this going to the press? I just think that when Harry can give an interview without mentioning his father, his mother or his brother, he will truly be in a better place emotionally and healed. And I am afraid that he feels that he needs them to totally heal – he doesn’t I think for his own good and for making good for his marriage and children he needs to and move on.
@Cindy: Harry’s memoir is “Spare”, not “Spear”. Freudian slip?
Spare was a memoir. it wasn’t Harry “running to the press.” and even to Oprah, he was very careful with how he talked about william and what he said.
William is the one who runs to the press regarding every little thing Harry says or does. If harry called william and said “lets meet for tea” Becky English or tom sykes would have that story immediately.
Cindy, you give away your game by claiming Harry would run to the press … that’s ridiculous. As Becks1 points out, William is the one who runs to the press.
Harry never goes straight to the press. All these years it has been the RF using their media attack dogs against him and Meghan. How can you be this clueless? Harry speaks for himself.
Did he ever talk about his meeting with Charles and Camilla in July? Not a peep. Go away with this nonsense.
But why would Harry want to meet them? I thought they wanted to kill his wife and children?
This is all really confusing.
Huh? You don’t understand that family break ups are hard and many people wish they weren’t estranged from a parent or sibling?
What I do not understand is H&M could live ANYWHERE….why go back to the place that caused you so much pain and trauma? Schools? I’m certain there’s plenty of other places that have top of the line schools. Political landscape? I understand wanting to flee the US political landscape, but there’s plenty of other places with good schools and a milder political landscape. WHY GO BACK THERE!?!?!?!
Can they live anywhere? With the way immigration crackdowns around the world, I don’t necessarily see that.
Also, this was the same thing said when they decided to live in the US (and people got in their feelings that she’s “running to be in Hollywood”, as if she wasn’t born and raised in Los Angeles).
Yes, immigration is an issue everywhere. I agree. I would have thought they would have moved to Canada, but what do I know.
I do believe since they are going back to England in a much more advantageous position, it will make the move much easier for them. They can insulate themselves. They have financial independence.
I think any reconciliation with is brother is a pipe dream. Sometimes is takes years for people to finally give up on any kind of meaningful reconciliation with abusive family members. It took my husband to well into his adulthood to finally go no contact with his abusive mother and father. I understand the desire, but I think it will take years for Harry to finally give that up.
Neither Harry or Meghan have a connection to Canada so they can’t just move there. Canada is a different country from the UK and the U.S.
Because it’s his country! Simple as that.
@Newt because it’s his home and he wants his children to experience where he came from, jeez
I am a Sussex supporter and I am not angry or concerned with Prince Harry’s position. I believe he wants to move on with his life, he said what he said in his book and is at peace with it, he has not once backtracked on what he wrote. And now this book is a part of historical records. I also believe part of moving forth requires attempts at reconciliation. Hopefully it works, if not he tried. Holding onto revenge and anger destroys, it eats away at the soul and destroys everything you value. Through counseling, I think Prince Harry as well as Meghan have come to this conclusion. The family and distance they created has allowed them both to heal and they have moved on from the drama they experienced initially in the UK. Lessons were learned by them and they both seem to be looking forward not backwards. I applaud their growth. They both seem at peace.
@sheilakerr 🎯
Sounds like you may be familiar with the quote about resentment (or revenge, or hatred) being like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Agree with your. thought “The family and distance they created has allowed them both to heal and they have moved on from the drama they experienced initially in the UK.” They clearly are in a different place. Also worth mentioning is what Harry said in the interview about his regrets over his last phone call with Diana, if he’d only known that was their last phone call…Charles Spencer alluded to something similar in one of his book tour interviews; he’d unexpectedly run into Diana at some event, they had a few brief moments of conversation, and that was their last interaction.
I don’t think Harry has high hopes for any major reconciliation, and it’s far from the only reason for their return to the UK, but he doesn’t want to carry the regret of not having made an effort, once Charles is gone.
Harry and meghan Need to live their lives. And do charity work
Exactly what they’re doing.
It seems like Harry FINALLY got his dad to meet the kids and the visit went well and now Harry wants to move back to the UK because he thinks his dad will want to be in their life again. Not going to happen. I gave Harry A LOT of grace when it came to the Windsors but I am just tired now. At least William is consistent with never wanting Harry in his life and cutting the cord.
I watched and listened to Harry’s answer.
Yes the question was specific but he generalised the answer.
Sigh.
He can’t win for losing. And it’s really interesting how Sykes can write multiple Substacks about how Willie doesn’t want to reconcile and hates Harry’s guts forever, yet clutches his pearls when Harry tacitly confirms it (even in general terms)? You’d think Sykes would be happy his reporting is confirmed by a secondary source on the record??? And yet, he’s clutching pearls. Again.
He, like most royalists, knows it makes William look petulant, childish, and less like the statesman they insist on claiming he is. Especially in the face of his own father managing to ~reconcile. Yet, Billy is “mad” at Harry for stepping down, suing about press treatment, marrying Meghan, writing a book about his own experience, giving interviews, etc? OK.
Should Harry have walked it back? Why not. He was having a conversation about grief and clearly wanted to answer the question in general terms (since in these types of situations there ARE people who don’t want to reconcile), and since we ALL know who doesn’t want to (as reported by Tom Sykes and the entirety of UK media), the game was given away. That’s why they’re handwringing.
Harry did them a favor by clarifying. And instead of letting the clarification sit, they’re still like “No, he meant William (just like we’ve been saying for six years!!!)”. LOL.
I don’t believe Harry actually wants to reconcile with his family for personal reasons. At least, I don’t believe it’s the main motivating factor. He knows Charles’s days are numbered and that William is blinded by jealousy, anger and hate. A king has real power and Harry is making these moves to protect his family.
Agreed 100%. I think that Harry is taking a long view of this and even thinking about the potential impact on his kids down the road.
Harry could have meant members of the public, but, especially, the courtiers and the press. I’d buy that. He’s always gone after *them*, more than after his family.
Nah. Agree with Kaiser he’s trying to clean this up. And I recall same thing happened when Meghan had an interview. Why the constant begging of his family to love him is baffling to me. He was referencing his father and brother. If he wants to talk about it being “general” it doesn’t even make sense in context.
I will never find myself agreeing with Tom Syko. I think we have to accept that Harry wants to reconcile with his family for his own reasons. I guess he looks at it that Charles wrote a book abourt his parents and all was forgiven so why not him. But the difference is Charles was the heir, he was indispensable. As I said yesterday No one can deny Meghan’s commitment to her husband and family. I wouldn’t have gone to back to the UK but I don’t have children to protect and nurture.
Couldn’t comment on all this yesterday as I became busy as soon as this dropped.
The stuff Harry has said, is the stuff he’s been saying for the last few years. That he wants to be able to visit the UK. He wants his kids to know their heritage. He wants to reconcile and have a relationship with his family. But because Harry (and Meghan) wasn’t in the UK, I think a lot of Sussex fans… sort of forgot/ignored that part. Including myself.
So as soon as an opportunity presented itself I.e Charles meeting the kids and H&M as well as other factors, Harry seized on it and thus, moved back.
I personally don’t like this move but at the end of the day H&M are adults with their own autonomy (yes, both of them) and have more information than I do. This is the decision they made. They can do with their lives as they well please.
And if it is a mistake then they will be the ones who deal with the consequences.
I think Harry and Meghan are both more shrewd or far sighted than many people give them credit for. It’s a chess move, albeit in a very primitive rendition of the game. He’s calling their bluff. Maybe a cross between chess and poker? Like, one of the British papers (not a tabloid, I think it was the Times, to which I subscribe via app) this week termed their very successful visit to Nottingham, “Parking your tanks on the lawn.” Like it was an invasion. Which is to say he has the BRF running scared. I think Harry’s doing what his mother was doing, which is winning with the public, proving that you can be a royal without the benediction of the men in grey and their bedfellows at the tabloids.
💯
Ofc he was talking about them lol. I understand what he was saying in the interview but I still find it to be a weak move on Harry’s part. I would’ve preferred to be a offhand comment in a casual talk or podcast then this sit down interview.
The subject of family estrangement has been more popular recently (extreme politics has exacerbated estrangement for one) and its negative impact on the individuals estranged. I think Harry has joined the conversation and believes it doesn’t have to be a rift forever. I applaud him for that.
Having watched the Oprah interview & read Spare, when I saw the GQ interview I didn’t take that quote to mean his family at all. I thought it was a jab at the firm & the media. They are who Harry predominantly blames for the entire fiasco. Those groups feel they are the power behind the royal family and Harry calls them out more than once for the problems.
All I’ll say is that in the past few months they’ve squandered a lot of goodwill, even from longtime fans.
Not from me and many others I see on social media. I understand the move, and it was something the couple wanted. I also understand the desire of many of leaving the U.S. which has serious issues. School shootings and all.
So, I think there is truth to what you are saying, but my question is – why? This move seemed very sudden and I think we were all caught off guard about it, but besides that – why has it squandered goodwill? Harry and Meghan said when they left England almost SEVEN years ago that they wanted to split their time between the two countries. Harry has been very vocal for years about wanting his children to spend time in England. Meghan has never said she hated England – she hated the press, but not England. Heck since Oprah Harry has discussed wanting to reconcile with his father, and in Spare, it was clear that he views his father through rose colored glasses so to speak. And indeed, what they originally wanted was that half in/half out arrangement, where they represented the Crown but were also financially independent and not under the yoke of the rota.
So i’m not sure why so many Sussex fans are acting like this is a personal betrayal.
@Pumpkin above said this, and I think it puts it very well – “The stuff Harry has said, is the stuff he’s been saying for the last few years. That he wants to be able to visit the UK. He wants his kids to know their heritage. He wants to reconcile and have a relationship with his family. But because Harry (and Meghan) wasn’t in the UK, I think a lot of Sussex fans… sort of forgot/ignored that part. Including myself.”
If this move and reconciliation with his father turns supporters against Harry – maybe they weren’t listening to him for the last several years.
As is their right to stop supporting. I don’t see a betrayal and agree with becks1 above. But to each their own. So may they stop being supporters. Wish them well. And may they not become haters. People can stop supporting them without becoming parasocial haters bc they don’t agree with their decisions. Or not apparently. Bc that doesn’t seem to be the case. Guess they continue to keep people talking either way so hey. Keeps the gossip sites churning.
And sorry, just wanted to add, that there is a space between supporters and haters and don’t want to diminish that. But there’s also conversation that can be had without strait up calling people stupid for their perceived bullshit decisions. Or maybe there’s not one, idk. Bc that hasn’t been the case. I don’t like it but there’s a lotta things I don’t like and I promise you this world is not giving a shit about that lately so why should that be different here. Add it to the everything of everything.
I hated the fact that they moved back here as much as Kaiser did. But Nottingham was reassuring. It’s clear that the Sussexes can do good work here and they can tap into a well of affection from English people who aren’t hanging on every acidic word dropped by the rota. Especially people of color, who feel protective of Meghan.
Harry is a prince. He clearly doesn’t want to relinquish that status. He probably wants that status for his kids. And while I think monarchy is a terrible grift, and has few redeeming qualities, Harry seems to be modeling what used to be called “princely virtues” — forgiveness, noble leadership, generosity.
He’s making William look small by comparison.
(All that said, I will cheer if/when they move back to Montecito.)
I hear and agree with what you’re saying and would add that what H&M are demonstrating is that monarchy does NOT have to be a grift, it can genuinely be about service and those “princely virtues” you speak of.
I’ve got no problem criticising Prince Harry if I think he’s being disengenuous but I don’t see that here.
I think if he had said “Some people don’t want to work it out” it’s likely he meant William or Charles but if he actually said “Some people don’t want it to work out” that’s meaningfully different and reads to me as a comment about bystanders and a very valid one since self-evidently many many people enjoy this drama, stoke it, and make money from it…
He’s not perfect or infallible, surely people saw that when he defended Lady Hussey, but more to the point more and more it looks like it’s a bad idea to be invested in a person being in conflict with their family and the only family they have or have known? Wouldn’t it be easier to say, the British Royals kind of all suck and Harry is the least bad? Do we have to think he’s the enlightened one who won’t go back until they are all cleansed of their sins (and/or apologise to Meghan). Harry believes in the monarchy and he likes Kate, he’s never said a bad word about her. If observers believe that Kate is a bad person, Harry doesn’t agree, and Meghan would probably not go against him on that so long as they are married. I would say that even Omid Scobie doesnt think William and Kate are the evil masterminds they are so often characterised as by people defending the Sussexes? Ah well.
Maybe we have to let people try it their way to see for themselves it is a dead end sometimes? Seems that Meghan knows that already given her stance with her father from hell but she is astute enough to play the waiting game. As long as the children are ok and happy enough this is just a ‘holiday’ in the UK and they are getting very good public support, plus big tv and media outlet support, despite the attempts to say they are not wanted and desperate. Good preparation for Invictus next year and a good position to go to all their charities and maternal family etc………
I have a real question. I heard Harry say in this interview many of the reasons he wanted to move back to the uk, be near his family, his friends, school, culture. . That’s all well and good for him but what i would really Like to know is what is in this foe Meghan other than supporting him because she seems to be giving up an awful lot to make his ginger wanker pub life a reality. For example. Those children had a loving grandmother in Doria who was there for them all the time and they could see her all the time. Not as far as we know . They are back in the uk and Chucky could not give a f if she ever sees Harry or Harry children. So I am genuinely asking. What does Meghan gain from this . From leaving her home and her community and sunshine . And you can’t tell me that they needed to move to the uk so the kids could have endless playdates. They had plenty of friends in California. Those children went to school so they already made friends who they could play with.
Well, that’s a choice every couple has to make, right, when they come from different towns, different states, different countries? They’ve lived for 6 years in Meghan’s home state and country, close to her mother, close to her HS friends, etc – now they’re trying living in Harry’s home country for a while. People emphasize what Meghan is giving up by moving but don’t seem to acknowledge that Harry gave up a lot by moving to CA in the first place. And sure, the trauma and chaos surrounding those months makes it easy to forget/overlook that. Meghan was willing to leave California in 2017/18 to live with Harry in England, then they moved to CA, and now they presumably have decided together to try England again under very different circumstances.
My husband and I are from different states and I met him when he was in my home state, and honestly, if he asked to move to his home state, I’d have to think long and hard about it. But part of the thought process would be that he has lived 20 years here, and might want some time in his home state. And that’s a state that’s three hours away lol.
Meghan always loved England, long before she met Harry. She has friends in England, plus some who moved from California to England as Ellen and Portia (I don’t care if people tut about Ellen, they were always good to Meghan).
Doria has her own company, life and work in LA. She wasn’t around all the time. She can hop on a plane to see Meghan and the children when her time allows it, and very likely will for school holidays. She didn’t live with them in Montecito. Of course she visited more often with a 2.5 hour drive making it easier, but people make it out like she was always at hand, which isn’t true.
The children have their parents, very likely their nanny, and new friends in England. They can go back to Montecito for the holidays and catch up with their old friends. They are too young to have lifelong friendships yet, in a short time their friends from preschool and kindergarten will go to different schools with a different set of friends, same as Archie and Lili experience now.
I still firmly believe they will move back to Montecito next year after Invictus and come back to England for holidays in the future, as they always planned.
Charles is happy to reconcile but he is afraid of making William angry.
At first, I thought the only reason he would go back is because his dad was sick and his brother is worthless, but after what he’s said about his children’s education, I wonder if they actually did go back because of the kids. It’s easy for us poors to think one expensive education is just as good as the next, but Harry knows that if his children don’t go to school with the other aristocrats, and make those important connections, learn the language of the languid, then they go into the world unprotected in ways we can’t understand, but likely Harry knows all too well. Harry comes from a certain world, and I’m sure he’s worried in this current political climate what it might mean for his children if something happens to him and/or Meghan and his children don’t have the deep aristocratic social connections only British schools can provide for his children.