It feels PERFECT that after weeks of Queen Elizabeth using her courtiers to weaponize her pettiness against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that we would now be spending so much time discussing Poor Liz’s state of mind. White fragility, thy name is Liz of House Petty. Previously, we’ve heard that the Queen has taken Sussexit “personally” and that it’s upset her so much, she doesn’t even want to talk about it, because again, these people all need therapeutic intervention. We’ve also heard that the Queen is “praying” that Harry will come to his senses, which is a story that has been backed up by courtier talking points for weeks. There’s definitely this “idea” being floated at the senior level that the Queen will be more than willing to “take Harry back” if and when he abandons his wife and child. They keep saying that “a door has been left ajar” for Harry. And Harry alone. Really think about how f–king nasty that is. Anyway, we have more updates on how Poor Petty Liz is doing:
A difficult time for the monarch. Queen Elizabeth II is worn out after the royal family’s turbulent year, a source reveals exclusively in the new issue of Us Weekly.
“She’s exhausted, both physically and emotionally,” the source says. “She’s approaching her 94th birthday in April and should be at a stage in her life where she can ease up and be supported by her loved ones.”
Part of the 93-year-old queen’s stress stems from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from their royal duties. “The drama’s never-ending,” the source says. “She’s so frustrated.”
Poor Petty Betty. So exhausted! Soon she’ll have to lean on Pervert Andrew’s shoulder. She’ll desperately need him to come back to full-time royal status. And that’s not all – People Magazine also ran a “so how is the Queen doing” piece:
Although she publicly said she is “entirely supportive” of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to leave royal life, privately the Queen – who puts duty before everything — would find such a choice unimaginable in her own life.
“The Queen will be very disappointed,” royal historian Robert Lacey tells PEOPLE. “Her job is to survive” — and to ensure that the monarch survives. But this isn’t the first time she has encountered an unhappy royal spare – and it was her experience with her younger sister Princess Margaret that influenced her decision to let Harry set out on his own.
“She has a particular sensitivity to what Harry has been going through because of her closeness to Margaret and seeing the same dramas and tensions played out two generations ago,” says Lacey. Margaret struggled with her place in the shadow of her older sister.
“The younger-sibling syndrome is an enduring problem,” says Lacey. “The system has not found a way of giving them the recognition that they need.” And as the older sibling has children, the problem only gets worse. “Until Elizabeth produced heirs, Margaret was a possible future Queen,” adds Lacey. “It is a family situation of conflict that goes back over generations.”
The new arrangements for Harry and Meghan will be reviewed in a year. “She won’t dwell on the exit,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward says. “She is very pragmatic. She has left the door open for Harry especially — the year of review was with Harry in mind.”
Again with the door left open. They really believe that Harry will wake up one day and “come to his senses” and abandon his wife and child. As for younger-sibling syndrome… I don’t doubt that there is legitimately a younger-sibling syndrome in general, and specifically within the royal family. But there’s also an older sibling syndrome, where the older siblings are petty, jealous a–holes who actively try to destroy their younger siblings’ peace of mind and happiness.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, WENN, Avalon Red.
The queen is an idiot.
Maybe Catherine advised her to say this, she’s a childcare scholar now.
I hope Catherine is thinking about what’s going to happen to Charlotte and Louis in the future.
BURN.
WORD.
Spat out my tea! Love this.
The snort-laugh sound I let out.
I fully agree with this assessment and yet you’re being too kind.
This is the dumbest queen ever. What part of “I don’t wanna be king” is she having trouble with understanding? Hasn’t Harry been telling them all his adult life that he has no desire to be king? Also, this queen is delusional, even with Kate having 3 kids that have pushed Harry into 6th in line, Harry is still very popular and none of those kids and their parents can overshadow him!! By the time they will be in their adolescence and are able to overshadow him, Harry will have no more F@cks left to give whether he is popular or not, jeesous, these people are thicker than 2 short planks.
I’m wondering how much of her mind is still there. Shes in her 90s now. Imo she is just a puppet and courtiers are pulling the strings.
I think this is made up Fan-Fiction by People Magazine. Harry never had a problem being the younger sibling. Andrew had that problem. If the QEII of House Petty actually said this (and I have no idea if she did or did not) then People Magazine has taken her statements out of context and tried to apply them to Harry just to sell magazines and/or generate revenue producing click$.
It looks like it’s Robert Lacey’s analysis; I think he’s written a few biographies of individuals in this family, so he’s an ‘expert’. I doubt he has any current connections.
I don’t like Lacey much since he badmouthed Diana on Larry King after she died.
Hey, here’s an idea to solve the “royal spare” problem: get rid of the monarchy.
Lets see Will bullies Harry and probably reminds him stupid things like “you’re nothing I will be king” and Harry waits till one day he decides to meet his queen and form his own healthy kingdom.
William is eager IMO to get hold of the money and hopes Harry will come back without his wife and child and William can threaten to hold back funds.
That’s why it would make no sense for the Sussex’s to come back even when Charles is King because one day William will hold the purse strings and you just know that he’s going to be as cheap and petty as possible.
Agreed Harla. Harry realized he better get financially independent NOW, as one day William intends to use money to control him and possibly humiliate him or make him beg. Imagine living just waiting on handouts because someone else controls the purse strings.
I agree RoyalBlue. I think H&M desire financial independence so they will not be dependent on future future King Willie AND to shut down the “we own you” taxpayer excuse for abuse. They need to build their treasury chest NOW while they have the youth and audience to market themselves.
William wouldn’t control the purse strings for Harry and Meghan until he was king. That was part of why Harry and Meghan were moved to Sovereign Grant funding for their separate Household. That’s where they should have been all along.
With the Queen and her cousins living so long, things are out of whack. Charles never should have been funding Households for his grown children out of the Duchy. Charles and Camilla should have been funded out of it, that’s all. Only once William became Duke of Cornwall should his funding (work or home) come out of the Duchy.
If Harry and Meghan had stayed, they would have been moved fully to SG funding before Charles was king. William will eventually control Duchy of Cornwall funding, but Harry and Meghan would have been removed from that already.
It is only once William is king that he could remove SG funding from Harry and Meghan (if they remained as working royals). And yes, petty William would have removed their funding immediately. As Charles was trying to do when he wanted Anne, Andrew, Edward & Sophie removed as working royals for his reign.
@nota – Correct me if I am wrong but did not all theses “funding” problems start when everyone except Prince Phillip and the Queen Mother were axed from the old “Civil List” and all non-working Royals were required to pay “market rents” to the Crown on any Crown Property they inhabited?
This. Yes, I think the Sussexes started the process of becoming independent because the royal reporters were committing character assassination against Meghan, and then showing up at the next event to smile smugly and ask instrusive questions. Then the Royals mandated that H&M had to stay chained to their bullies, with William aiding and abetting them. How can you face such a toxic future?
This whole situation would have been avoided if Buckingham palace had issued a statement a year ago saying the media’s coverage of Meghan was biased, false and spurious, and that she was a valued member of the family. Privately they could have told reporters that their access to all Royals would be curtailed if they continued the hysteria, and also promised goodies to select reporters who were more fair and friendly. The absence of these actions spoke volumes about the bias, xenophobia and jealousy in this family. Good bye!
Good breakdown nota. I was thinking of the last scenario, of when Willie becomes king. I agree he will absolutely cut off the Sussexes. that’s the perfect opportunity to make dinner in the monarchy with the appetizer course being his brother served cold.
She understands alright. That’s why she is giving her pedo son a pass.
Exactly. “In order to ensure that younger sibling syndrome doesn’t hurt my precious Andrew, I will coddle, favor and spoil him all his life so that he doesn’t feel slighted in his brother’s shadow.”
And here we are.
Geez, if you get sibling syndrome is a problem in the royal family going back centuries, and it leads to such huge estrangements, hurt feelings, pettiness, and punishment, then maybe it’s time to get rid of the RF. They don’t do anything. They’re not literal working heads of state who actually run the country. They’re not needed in any way. They don’t even “unite the country” anymore. So maybe… upholding an institution that serves no purpose and that specifically wrecks havoc and emotional trauma on its members is stupid. “Hey let’s keep doing this thing that we don’t really need to do even though we know if literally destroys families and causes irreversible trauma for all the people who participate in it!”
The main difference, @AmyToo, is that they no longer tend to behead, poison or slaughter their relations. Nowadays it’s a war of words, a press war
They seem to think that if Meghan and Harry split up, he would come running straight back into the royal fold.
Anyone who thinks that would happen, even if they do split, is deluded.
This. Reminds me of Aaron Rodgers family. They swore up and down that once Olivia Munn was out of the picture he would come back to the toxic hold. Lo and behold they still don’t have a relationship!
I don’t think Harry and Meghan will split up and I am convinced the projection about the Sussex marriage is to deflect from the state of the Cambridge marriage which I do think will end up going they was of Charles and Di’s marriage.
William is going down a path that will end in misery and destruction. Whether its his marriage or the Monarchy – he is clearly in a path to burn down any route of return for the Sussex’s against any wishes of TQ and his father to the contrary (it’s why he’s leaking like a sieve). Once he’s burned his relationship with his brother he will turn his anger to his father and Kate/the Middleton’s – he will need a new target for his issues.
I totally agree that the state of the Cambridge marriage is on shaky ground. First, he’s an utter pill. Second he’s a philanderer. Third, he’s done some shady leaking and messing around with the Foundation monies. Fourth, he treats Kate like a doormat. The two of them have all the warmth and charisma of a pair of houseflies.
Put on your Tin Foil Tiara and adjust the dial to the HIGH setting:
I do not think Cain will divorce Unable. I think the time will come when he will tell her that he intends to do whatever he wants and she can wear rotating tiaras, stand by his side and accept the situation or she can permanently retire to Amner Hall pleading health reasons.
This ends my Tin Foil Tiara Theory for the day.
@Bay – I think you are right, unless William finds someone else he wants to marry. But barring that, I think Kate will be given those two options – you can have all the trappings of your position if you keep quiet and stay out of my hair, or you can spend your days at Anmer (or Sandringham down the line.)
A year ago, before the Rose story broke, I would have said they were never getting divorced. I still think its highly unlikely, but I think its becoming clear that at least on one side, the marriage is fairly transactional.
@Becks1 – Stay our of Will’s hair? That shouldn’t be too difficult. *snort*
I see lots of speculation of the Cambridge marriage, but apart from the shrug, I’m just not seeing any tension there. Is this just wishful thinking, or based on some actual things? Even if William has a girlfriend somewhere, that seems pretty locked down; even if they seam too young and still early into the marriage for him to be doing that nonsense, but again, entitlement and family history. I think part of Sussexit was specifically to safeguard their marriage and family. If they stayed, the next year would have been really rough, there was no indication the tabloids or courtiers would behave decently. No way would Meghan stay, or have another child under that burden. I’m sure there were some really low points.
I agree with @BayTampaBay. I think William likes the image of “stable father and husband” and even IF him cheating become truly public, it’ll be spun to “it happened in the past, we’ve moved on” and that’s all he’ll say.
Behind closed doors however, things will continue with him doing whatever the heck he wants. He’ll keep Kate because he can trust her not to spill leaks about his behavior. Diana *hated* Charles cheating on her and was very vocal about it. Kate is too into her status as FFQ and the social class status that brings her – and so is Ma Middleton. After all the time and work both put in to getting William to the altar, they are not going to do anything to rock the boat.
And where would William find another woman willing to put up with his dickishness? Because I’m firmly convinced that the reason William couldn’t find anyone else willing to marry him is *because* he’s such a dick. Him being heir to the throne and the media spotlight of that had little to probably nothing to do with it. Women he prefered like Isabella Calthorpe just didn’t want to put up with *him* for the rest of their lives.
So yeah, Kate will stay full Stepford Wife even IF anything about William’s behavior, including cheating, gets confirmed by the press. And William won’t divorce her or anything, because I don’t think even Rose wants to marry him. So he’ll continue to have side-chicks and do whatever he wants because he’ll have a wife who will never challenge him about any of it. Perfect arrangement.
Quote from an old article c the 2007 breakup. ‘He is only 24 and simply wasn’t ready to settle down. He has always had a roving eye, far more so than Harry, who is meant to be the family playboy. That’s something Kate has always known and accepted – it was part of the deal, if you like’.
They aren’t early in their relationship. W&K have been together off-and-on for almost 20 years. He cheated with her, then he cheated on her for a decade. Chased every other woman he could find until he settled for Kate. She and her family stood by, enabled the cheating, enabled his laziness. After marriage? He gets to live as a single man while they give him cover in exchange for position. Transactional, as written above.
I agree, if William finds someone he 1) wants to marry and 2) who wants to marry him? Kate is history. Or he will look at what Harry and Meghan have, and his jealousy over their relationship will make him want to start over. Throw out the business arrangement and find someone who makes him feel like Harry feels about Meghan.
Kate may use passive aggression on William but that’s all she’s got. she waited a long time for the ring putting everything on hold. It seemed that she was counting on marrying him as were her family. I think if William wants her out she will be out, especially if he finds someone else. Considering how william is treating his brother, I can see some friction between him and his children in the future.
The Queen holds the door open for Harry, says Seward. So it’s OK for the Queen to want Harry to leave his wife and Child for good. What a dreadful thing and so inhuman. It’s like she’s rejecting her great grandchild.
and she’s pretty specific that its just for Harry. I know that’s not a direct quote from the queen but from Seward, but still…..its mindblowing to me that no one can see how bad that narrative is for the royals.
She’s got one leg in the grave, but her senility has busted out the casket.
The photo is a tell. Queenie appears relaxed and content posing for the camera. Harry is actively greeting and shaking hands. Can’t stop laughing.
Ingrid Seward is an evil bitter hag. I loathe her with great passion.
Ingrid Seward is BFFs with Cressida Bonas’ mother and was publically begging Harry to get back together with Cressida after the two broke up.
She’s been a straight up bitch about Meghan from jump.
Which is completely bizarre because the reason Harry’s relationship with Cressida ended is that she couldn’t bear the media scrutiny. I don’t think Harry could have convinced her to stay if he wanted her to.
Kate would not have been happy with Cressida at all because Cressida and Harry would be the more glamorous couple. Plus Isabella Calthorpe being her half sister.
If Ingrid is begging Harry to take her back then I highly doubt that Cressida didn’t want the royal life or hated the press. I think that is a standard excuse these reporters say about ex girlfriends. I saw an article on Twitter last year that said Harry broke up with her because she wanted to get serious and he didn’t.
Ingrid’s never been right in the head since she lost the “inside track” on Harry’s love life. That whole Bonas family nonsense was totally unnecessary.
But then the reptile rota is never happy when the spares are content with their lives. They need to gin up lies, misery, and drama to sell papers.
I think Kate would have loathed Cressida joining the family. Cressida’s half sister Isabella Calthorpe was pursued by William and she turned him down. Kate I think would have even more discomfort and may have had to play nice with Isabella when she came to visit. Ingrid Seward also wrote vile things about Diana.
With the exception of Richard Kay, all the RRs wrote vile things about Diana.
Cressida’s family is messy too. Her mother was married four times and she has a ton of half brothers and sisters on both parents sides, but that ok because she’s an upper crust aristocrat. That aside, she and her family would have totally overshadowed Kate, shaded the Middletons and gotten away with it in a most delicious way. What I hate most about this whole thing is how the Middletons, with all their thirst, fake clout, and paparazzi staged vacations, act like they have some sort of high ground to stand on. They’re both basic and shady AF.
Too bad for the queen that she’s tired from self-induced drama that she totally, totally caused (that’s the self-induced part). She is weaponizing her old age, too now, so that SHE is the victim and not Harry and Meghan. How tiresome. For an almost-94 year old she sure knows how to persecute people by her actions and non-actions. Embrace your grandson and his family and stop dismantling his titles piece by piece and shut up the racist press as you know you can well do. You’re the queen of England, for God’s sake and they respect you there. Queen up and kick Andrew to the curb and re-instate Harry, Meghan and Archie into your dysfunctional family. That’s about it.
Well said. But I doubt after all this, that Meghan would want back into that sewer. For all of the nasty comments that she was in it for tiaras and riches, she doesn’t even wear the big bling she owns outright, like Diana’s aquamarine ring that looks spectacular on her.
Harry has been done with it for years. I think he only made a try at it for his grandmother’s sake in the first place.
I totally agree, Guest with Cat (and kittens!) Thank you for fostering! My rescue babies all appreciate not living outdoors, receiving regular rations, and snuggling on the bed.
Back to topic: ITA that Harry kept at it as long as he did for his gran’s sake, and because he thought that, especially with Meghan, they could accomplish a lot. Well, they can… but he seems sooooo over the politics. I’m quite looking forward to the next chapter!
I also think he held on just for granny’s sake. But when enough is enough, you get the F out, granny’s feelings be damned.
That aquamarine ring is so gorgeous, I wish she’d wear it more, just so I can see it!
These articles are the courtiers pushing a DARVO narrative.
Deny, Accuse, Reverse Victim & Offender
It’s a classic abuse tactic. They’re using the Queen as cover for their abuse of H&M to the press, and the Queen may also be using the courtiers as cover for her abuse of H&M.
Whether the “Harry (alone) is welcome to come home anytime” narrative truly originated with Her Maj or by way of the ham-fisted antics of the “grey men”, is pretty much irrelevant now. That’s the standing narrative and it makes every single person in and on Team Buckingham Palace, Team Kensington Palace, and Team Clarence House look petty, sh*tty, and complicit AF. They all look like abusers: the members of the BRF in these palaces, their staff, and the British Media. Pressure needs to continue on all of them until they take a good hard look in the mirror. Hazza doesn’t need to change, Meghan doesn’t need to change – the others need to own up to their behaviour and make proper amends to H&M, if they want the monarchy to continue.
These younger sibling dynamic is not going to change anytime soon. Cambridges kids will have the same problem. Instead of creating a new direction for spare , they mismanaged the whole thing which is going to be very difficult for cambridge kids. Charlotte and louis will be thrown under bus for george . The writing is on the wall . The sibling dynamic in Windsor goes back to even queen father . The heir and spare is kind of cursed and this is horrible for cambridge kids. But sadly they have to pay the price for what their parents did to Sussex and little archie smear campaign.
Agreed. This – Sussexit – was actually a golden opportunity for the royal family, in a way. They could have set a precedent for the “spare” and set up a path for Charlotte and Louis, where they would still be active members of the royal family but would also have some freedom to do their own thing and be more than “just” a member of the royal family.
And as long as you have spoiled, entitled, jealous and petty heirs, the younger sibling is always going to be thrown under the bus. Maybe George will escape that pattern, we’ll see.
Hopefully when George grows up, he sees what happened here, and doesn’t repeat the pattern. Considering the siblings have such a unique shared experience, it’s a shame if they can’t bond over that and stick together.
Twenty years ago Lucy, you could have said the same thing about William. Hopefully he sees what happened with Charles and his brother and doesn’t repeated the pattern. Here we are now, rinse and repeat. It’s even worse because Harry and William were legitimately close, unlike Charles and Andrew. So prepare for George to repeat what his father has done.
This is actually another really sad aspect of all of this. This could’ve saved the Cambridge kids. Being able to step out and carve a life for themselves other than being in George’s shadow would’ve been huge. W&K’s resistance to this is so short sighted. I honestly pray for Charlotte because she’s the “spare” and a girl.
The press is going to be vicious to Charlotte once she hits, let’s say, 15. A spare, a girl and (possibly) the only granddaughter of one Diana? I already feel for her.
I feel for Charlotte too, especially bc in all likelihood she will be the daughter of a king while still relatively young – figuring at max she’ll be 35 when William becomes king, but realistically she could be 15 or 20. The daughter of King William out and about at clubs or parties etc? The press is going to tear her apart. For that reason alone, you would think the Cambridges would have made some moves to stop the harassment of Harry and Meghan. Instead, they did the opposite and the pattern is likely to continue.
She seems a right firecracker, tho. She has that spark. It will be interesting to see her grow up and into her mojo.
#TeamCharlotte
This is gaslighting. This family has shown Harry abuse in the form of mistreating his wife. Then the old “Queen” claims she “understands” what his issue is, that it’s some issue deep within Harry and has nothing to do with the behavior of the family, really.
All too familiar to me, as someone raised by a parent with a personality disorder. As soon as this family is called out for bad behavior, they flip the script, find fault with the person they victimized, and play the victim themselves. Gross and obvious emotional abuse. Harry needs to stay 100000 miles away and recover from the stress, and live a good life.
EXACTLY.
I’m sorry you suffered similar abuse, but your first-hand experience illustrates exactly what is going on in the House of Windsor.
Now that the Sussexes are out, they will no longer have to wear those hats. YAY.
YES. I, too, am deeply familiar with this dynamic. Sussexit has been fascinating to watch — it’s a bigger, grander, more bejeweled version of my own distancing from my family. Now I happily live my best life while my parents mutter about how ungrateful I am.
I am in the middle of this right now. It’s scary! But I think it is going to be worth it.
I’m sorry, Some chick. It’s not fun, and it takes a lot of practice to resist the nonsense. But I feel lighter and more ME now that I’m not carrying all my parents’ baggage around with me.
Some chick: a happier world waits beyond. It gets better. You will feel waves of grief perhaps when the dust settles after the last extinction bursts of their behaviour, but that’s normal – we grieve the loss of the relationship we should have had with family but didn’t ever have.
It’s worth it. Hang in there. You’re not alone. :hugs:
I still want all the details on “The Thing” with legal implications. Until we know ALL we are only adding 1+1 and coming up with 11. There is so much more too all this.
I hope Tina Brown brings all the tea.
Some Chick, check out raisedbyborderlines on Reddit if you’re in the process of getting away from abusive family. It helps! There are more people like us and we can make a change for ourselves. Congrats to the commenter who got away from abuse and is living your best life! I’m taking big steps and getting there, too. Harry is setting a really important example for people with covert family abuse.
I think you hit the nail on the head Kaiser, the younger-sibling syndrome is really a thing within the royal family because the older sibling, the future heir, tends to be an a$$hole. The fragility of the male ego within the royal family is really a sight to behold, it’s quite stunning in its fragility and sensitivity. Remember when the topless photos of Kate came out while they were on their East Asia tour? Kate was the one having to calm William down, having to tend to his emotional needs, instead of the other way around. It really struck me when she was patting his back as they boarded a plane right after the news came out, that it would always be the royal woman having to soothe the royal man, having to tend to his precious, fragile, little ego. Ugh!
You’re absolutely right, @Harla, and it’s nauseating
Ditto Harla. And I’ll bet he blamed Kate for it, too.
“the Queen – who puts duty before everything — would find such a choice unimaginable in her own life.” In other words, she wasted her life cutting ribbons and wearing ugly hats, why shouldn’t they?
HEY! @GR ~ I like a lot of her hats….!!!
I feel like that’s such a stupid thing to say anyways because the queen is the queen. Harry is the future future King’s brother and is sixth in line. It’s no where near the same thing as the reigning monarch quitting her job and moving away. Harry didn’t even have a “job” within the royal family to quit.
“The younger-sibling syndrome is an enduring problem,” says Lacey. “The system has not found a way of giving them the recognition that they need.” And as the older sibling has children, the problem only gets worse. “
The way this is worded makes it seem that the younger sibling is always the problem. Now in Charles and Andrews case, yes it makes sense, cause Andrew always thought he should be the heir. But not when it comes to Harry and William. William is the problem cause he’s jealous of his younger sibling. Harry has always wanted out and the opportunity to live life on his own terms. William will inherit everything (money, land, jewels, etc) cause he’s the future future monarch. So it boggles the mind that William has done so much to smear his brother and make Harry’s life miserable.
Same with the Queen and Margaret. The younger sibling was smarter and more charismatic, and they didn’t know what to do with that. They tried to force her into some 1950s traditional stereotype which failed for many reasons. If they’d worked with Margaret to help her find a strong direction/purpose in her royal work, the BRF could have been trailblazers.
Margaret was FABULOUS…Season 1 of The Crown made me hate Betty right then. I would have killed to smoke cigarettes in bed with her while nursing a hangover and a bit of the Hair o’ the Dog.
Here’s a snippet from the crown regarding the queen and Margaret,
Tony- “younger sister, older sister, number 1 and 2”
Margaret- “who’s number one?
Tony- “YOU……and she knows it”
Margaret- “yes I think she does”
The same could be applied to William and Harry and even Charles and pedo Andy (who is number 1 in mummy’s eyes)
Happy Birthday! (I’m guessing sometime in the last week given your name).
Aww thank you @notasugarhere
Boo fucking hoo, Brenda: you caused this mess and you’re going to have to lie in it. -And the bit about ‘keeping the door open’? Sociopathy, if ever I heard it. This ‘family’ merits an entire category in the DSM
It’s so frustrating to watch all of this. My gram is the same age as the queen. Some days she’s sharp as a tack, and she’ll take you all out with that. Some days she’s scattered, frustrated by how many things she can’t do anymore, and grouchy. It’s hard being that old, I’m sure – especially when you’ve lived a very active life. Especially because my gram was a VERY active woman – she was mowing her huge laws even in her late 70s and only stopped because she got hit by a car and almost died.
I feel like the queen is probably going through some of that. The filter isn’t really there as much, things bother her more. But honestly… I think the best thing she could do is think about abdicating. I know that to her, duty is supposed to be everything. But the times are changing, and I don’t think many people would REALLY be upset with the idea of her admitting she’s too old to handle all of this. And with Brexit and Sussexit, it’s certainly a time where we need people to be performing at a high level, and I don’t think she can anymore. But … I also know how hard it is to admit you can’t do the things you used to do, because I’ve had to adjust to that due to a chronic pain condition. It sucks. It really does. But none of that will ever explain the lengths she goes to to protect Andrew. You can explain away a few things, but definitely not that.
The door left open thing, I’m torn on. I think SHE thinks that it’s a helpful thing, and the right thing to do. It doesn’t mean that it is – but I bet she feels that way. This family isn’t good with feelings, or talking things through, or anything like that. I think this is her way of showing she cares. But it DOES come off as being petty, though in this specific case I’m really not sure it was intentional.
The RF is basically an institution that screws everyone up in some way. The people who are marrying in are the ‘others’. The oldest child is raised with far too much pressure and expectations. The younger siblings are raised playing second fiddle to the heir, and I am going to bet that 90% of the family members are just unhappy regardless of birth order. It’s just different sets of problems.
I’m proud of Harry, though. I’m proud that he made a big change like this, and seems to be doing just fine. I’m proud that he seems to have become a lot more comfortable with who he is, and learning more about life outside of the palace. I’m so happy that he found someone as emotionally available, and kind as Meghan. I’m so hopefuly for Archie – I think these two are going to be truly wonderful parents and do everything in their power to avoid his childhood resembling most aspects of their own.
My grandmother was the same way. Very lucid and sharp on most occasions, and then she’d slip into repeating herself again, and again, and again… not a good advertisement for a family that are the animals in a media zoo, and whose enduring status is by maintaining magic and mystery. There is no use for the present queen. The antics of the Duke of Edinburgh, the woman run over by the Cambridges when speeding to an event, the poor ‘work’ numbers, the treatment of H&M and the paedophile in the room have placed them in jeopardy. Cutting ribbons and accepting flowers won’t justify us shelling out over £80 million – enough to give our homeless PTSD suffering soldiers the treatment they need, to cut the volume of bedblockers by investing in social care, and so many other groups more in need of help (though we can’t rely on the government to spend it wisely). Charles, wet-blanket though he is, will both be more political (especially in terms of the environment) and whittle the hangers-on to a slim paring. He will have to prove his enduring worth though. More and more people are convinced, myself included, that there is no need for such an outdated institution
Well — given the divorce rate in her immediate family, I’m sure the Queen and her minions are hopeful for a Sussex divorce in the future. Thus, this open door for Harry. Just disgusting to me as I can’t believe any mentally healthy person would willingly agree to jump back into the toxic royal caldron to be slow-boiled to death.
The Sussexes are in the middle of a divorce right now, except they’re both divorcing the Royal family ( at least a trial separation). If for some reason, within a year, they decide Harry can be a part time royal and he and Meghan come back together, I don’t think she’ll do anything on behalf of the monarchy and will continue to work independently , the way men who marry in do. No one criticizes that. But she’ll be criticized for everything anyway.
It’s so stupid that they don’t let monarchs retire. If it’s supposedly such an important job that requires you to be active physically and mentally, requires you to be at the very top of your emotional intelligence/management game, managing a bunch of entitled, petty, fussy, unhappy, self important people who all want to go in different direction, and who are also your own family, then you would think that you’d want the monarch to be at the top of their game. Instead, they’re forcing a 94 year old woman to manage a huge amount of people all during multiple crises, and they’re wondering why it’s not working out so well for them. If the job is that important, let the people who are physically, emotionally, and mentally more at the peak of their game do it.
Though really, Charles is already 70. I guess if you start letting people step down and retire when things get hard, you’d probably end up with constant pressure from the younger members to oust the older members. And if you even start to think about who is “well suited and capable” of doing this job, then the whole idea of having the eldest child of the eldest child always be the monarch, despite their abilities, gets called into question. “If this person is too old to this job and it’s making them physically and mentally frail, then maybe this person who is younger but also stupid and emotionally bankrupt isn’t the right person for the job either.” And then you end up with people wanting to skip around to whichever family member they like the best, or wondering what the point of even having an unelected royal family is, if they’re not necessarily always the most suited to the job.
Perhaps it’s just time to abolish the monarchy. It doesn’t work well.
There has been for many years stories of the Queen retiring and letting Charles take over. I think Charles will have it much worse, I think William is more insidious and will push Charles to retire early and he will be under a lot more pressure to “step aside” for william. Also, the tabs make it sound that William and Kate are next.
This makes me think of that photo of Charles and Diana visiting the King and Queen of Spain in the late 80s with the two little princes. Prince Felipe is in his late teens/early 20s, while Charles is almost 40. Now, King Juan Carlos is retired, Felipe is now king, the princes are grown men with their own kids, and Charles is still Prince of Wales, of lesser rank than Felipe, and will be an elderly king once he gets to the throne . His life is defined by waiting for the big prize.
Charles has far more freedom now as Duke of Cornwall. Duchy Originals, Poundbury, Dumfries House, Prince’s Trust. In many ways, Diana was right when she said he could be stifled by the top job. J-C only abdicated because of pressure about his elephant hunting with his mistress. Otherwise, Felipe would still be waiting.
I do think Charles thinks about it though, being the oldest heir. He avoids big foreign events with other royals and they send Edward and Sophie instead. Exception was Haakon and Mette-Marit’s wedding. He supported Haakon marrying the love of his life, so he showed up in person to the wedding. They in turn were guests at the civil ceremony and blessing for Charles and Camilla.
Funny that one of her many grandchildren wanted to move away once he got married and had a child and everyone was treated poorly, and that’s what’s wrecking her, but her own son being a pedophile and a rapist isn’t bothering her at all.
Yes, Jan, I’m sure Harry–the internationally popular, charismatic, handsome(ish) younger prince with patronages he seemed fully passionate about–was super jealous of his balding, disengaged dullard of a brother. And definitely not the other way around.
If the Queen understood this “syndrome” so well, then why didn’t she do anything to mitigate the issue? Someone really needs to save these people from themselves…or not and let it all burn to the ground.
Honestly, I absolutely believe that he will. I think that he is more one of them than anybody here likes to admit and much of the divide is driven by his panic at his own obsolescence. This is the entire history of the royals – in-fighting as grown men fall out of the line of succession. It has literally been happening for a thousand years. I think he loves her now, but I also think he’ll throw her under the bus when he realizes that outside life is hard and wants back in.
I mean he didn’t think life was hard when he spent 10 years in the military
But sure life in a first world country living in a nice mansion doing pretty much exactly what he was doing when he was a working royal except being paid for it is going to be suuuuuuuuuuuuper hard for Harry
😉
Well put.
I think you are mistaken, but I suppose time will tell if what we’ve seen of Harry over the years proves true or if he is the loser you think he is. Maybe you’re projecting a bit.
Outside life is not that hard when you’re that rich. I don’t see the marriage lasting, because celebrity marriages rarely do but I doubt he will throw her under the bus. It’s obvious that Harry values Meghan not just as a wife, but as a mother, a friend and an individual. That won’t change even if they were to divorce.
Not all celeb marriages work out but some do. They might be in the minority but there are still there. And in most cases its the ones where the couple cultivates their relationship. Look at blake lively, and ryan reynolds, viola davis and her husband, oprah and husband,and so many more. I think the sussexes wouldn’t divorce coz they take time for their relationship
Harry’s not going to start digging ditches or something. He’s still going to be rich, he’s still going to live a pampered life, he’s just going to have more freedom and fewer palaces and official state visits etc. He’s going to be fine.
And he’s shown, much to the haters’s anger, that he chooses his wife and son over everything else.
Thank you Becks1. His life will not be that hard. Compared to living in the nightmare of his family I think being wealthy and free with the wife and child(ren) he prioritized over glitzy tiaras and evil Keen future king brother, life Will of the House of Petty (lol) work our fine for him. The people rooting for a divorce are so creepy!
Lol! What utter nonsense. The man is flourishing and adores his wife and child. He is living the life he always wanted.
I’m with you on this, TFanty
I don’t really understand why anyone feels it is so important, regardless of one’s right to freedom of speech or the excuse that this is a “this is a gossip site”, to put to print their negative predictions about this or any other couples’ relationship.
Even if pigs started to fly and Harry did abandon his wife and child, I don’t know if I see him going back? Yes, Harry left to protect his wife and child but himself as well. I mean they called him mentally unstable and his own brother has been actively plotting against him. Harry is carving out a life for himself outside the BRF and even if he gave up Meghan and Archie (again HIGHLY unlikely, these last 3 years were one hell of a storm and they’ve weathered it so far) I don’t see him giving that up too. Not when he’s wanted to go for so long.
This is and has always been William’s doing. Period.
I wonder, and this is not trying to excuse her actions AT ALL because she is a cabbage person, but, how much of this is truly Liz’s will and opinions, and how much of it is bad advice and people taking advantage of her when she might not be as mentally sharp as she once was? I feel bad even saying it because it is such a stereotype for the elderly, but she has just shown such spectacularly awful judgement in the past few years. I find it hard to believe her many advisers and family would just let her hang her ass out like that. I know she is The Queen but the real powers that be have been dealing with idiot monarchs for centuries and they know how to handle them.
TLDR; I wonder if The Queen is being manipulated by racist AF courtiers and advisors and Prince B**chface, and her creep son has genuinely pulled the wool over her eyes because she is exhausted, overworked and extremely elderly.
Ever since Phillip retired I think the Queen has been extremely vulnerable to manipulation. Say what you will about Phillip, he knew how to play hardball and wasn’t afraid of voicing his opinion to her. I also think Charles saw an opportunity to weaken her when Phillip retired as Charles was responsible for putting his hand picked guy in BP as her ‘chief of staff.’ There was a lot written about this in early January, that if her former top advisor had been calling the shots none of this would have gotten so far down this road.
Agree – Philip was totally her “gatekeeper” and had the instincts of a rattlesnake. Charles had a terrible relationship with his father and is probably reveling in his tacit position as her advisor. Clearly this new dynamic is failing.
Where is Phillip? It seems like him and the queen don’t even see each other anymore. Last I heard he was living in a cottage with his ‘friend’ (mistress).
“The year of review was with Harry in mind.” No, the year of review was for her to see how H&M finally manage to flourish despite all her efforts and how she can continue to stomp on them.
Welp, if the Queen actually said/leaked this, I guess she’s still being led by courtiers who refuse to put down their commitment to ineptitude. I mean really, even if this is what she really thought, saying it only makes her not only look bad, it makes her look like a bitter granny. The RF is a nest of vipers because she’s head viper in charge who doesn’t even know that she needs to hide that fact from people.
What is truly appalling is that if the 94 year old queen (or Philip for that matter) were to pass away anytime soon, the papers and courtiers would blame Harry and Meaghan for causing undue stress.
Of course Andrew is called “her Rock” and would be given a free pass. Such dysfunction and weirdness.
Someone yesterday commented that the family wants a divorced Harry to return to the fold to marry an ‘English rose.’ That’s why they’re keeping the ‘door open.’ Let’s say, hypothetically, Harry comes back defeated from his bid for independence and accepts that he must remarry. Meghan and Archie are off on a commune eating avocados somewhere, so no one has to think about them. An English rose in this case would be someone who comes from family wealth/status, will not voice opinions, was raised in the U.K., and above all is not a WOC. But even if they could find such a paragon of womanly Britishness, who in their right mind would enter into a marriage with Harry after seeing what he and Meghan have been put through?
Plenty of women would. “It’ll be DIFFERENT for MEEE”. So long as she’s not too pretty or too charismatic to threaten Kate. But so long as Meghan’s out there living her life as charismatic and successful as ever, it will just look like Harry was a wimp after all–giving up his love to go back to Daddy and Big Brother as a middle aged man.
I think the only hope of getting Harry back is if something happens to Meghan and Archie. If they die. Think about it. Would Charles have been able to marry Camilla and rehab her image in the public with a young, beautiful Diana out there for comparison? I’m no conspiracy theorist–Diana died because she didn’t wear a seatbelt in a car with a drunk driver, and her idiot boyfriend was encouraging drunk driver to go faster. But it sure was beneficial to Charles to not have Diana around anymore. Comparing dullard OfHarry new wife (what title would she have? Probably Princess Henry like that witch OfMichael!) to the beautiful, glamorous Duchess of Sussex (the precedent would be for her to keep her title and lose the HRH) will only showcase that Harry has been completely emasculated by his family. He would become a hollow shell of himself. That’s what the RF want for him. That’s so disgusting. What kind of family says: We don’t like who you are, so become a robot so we can like you again! Any sane therapist would tell a person in that situation to run for the hills!
At the time of her death, Diana was showing more of her pettiness. She abandoned charities, having affairs with married men, and was making huge demands. She was actively making herself less popular and headed into Fergie territory. Her untimely death was followed by a whitewashing for the creation of Saint Diana.
If she had lived *and* continued in her negative behavior? Tide would have turned against her and towards Camilla.
Diana was run off, and hounded to death.
She wasn’t the petty one, of the three (and more) in that marriage.
Diana was plenty petty, like how she deliberately targeted married men. If she hadn’t died tragically, she was headed into Fergie territory.
I think the “married men” was overstated. Towards the end of her life she wanted to marry Khan who was single–she was with him for about two years and she was single and divorced for part of the time they were seeing each other.. It was a cultural issue but they did date and were happy for a time. Hoare tended to comfort unhappy wives. And Diana was vulnerable. The nature of the relationship never was told publicly by Diana and Hoare since they are both dead. Hoare and Mrs Hoare were till death did them part. Hoare had a long term lady friend who was betrayed by her husband when he had a child with another woman. They broke up and the ex spoke to the press about it. Dodi was also unmarried , Diana was divorced then. Diana was nowhere near Fergie. I cannot picture Diana running to Oprah and promoting table ware and Weight Watcher. ANd the Fergie-Andrew dynamics were a lot different. I think Will and Harry would have been better off with two living parents as they grew up. If Diana had lived, I think it would have taken longer for Charles to remarry. I can’t see the tide turning to Camilla.
Repeated targeting of married men, including Will Carling. Sneaking her lovers into KP in the trunk of her car. Dropping almost all charities and making demands of the remaining few. She wasn’t in a good place publicly when the accident happened.
As long as she had her space at Kensington and a reasonable allowance? She wouldn’t have turned into Fergie when it came to money raising. Hell raising and grabbing headlines out of petulance? Yes, she still would have done that. If she’d kept acting out like that, people would have looked at Camilla as the calm option. Much as they do now, with many people seeing her as someone who shows up, does the job in an engaging way, and who doesn’t cause waves. They’ve recast her much in the mold of the Queen and Queen Mum, even down to similar outfits.
Camilla is no Queen Mother. The Queen Mother could not stand Camilla. Camilla can wear the big hats and so forth but she never had royal children so she can be Queen Dowager. Camilla has limited capacity to do royal work, she has health issues and the heat bothers her so she has cut tours short. I don’t think she would have the stamina the Queen Mum had, due to her cigarette smoking for many years. I doubt Camilla would ever have been more popular than Diana. Ever. Diana would have been the mother of a future King, not Camilla. And Carling BTW denied an affair with Diana. Though I think Diana should have avoided him entirely. Married Charles would sneak Married Camilla in and out of Highgrove and in safe houses. So they are not saints themselves.
“Who in their right mind mind would enter into a marriage with Harry after seeing what he and Meghan have been put through?”
Answer: Pippa
It seems for a time a match was being pushed between Pippa and Harry. There were some “rumors” about them which I found hard to believe.
Well who created the drama ?!
You could have stopped all these nonsense easily, don’t tell me it’s difficult to have a car ride with Harry and Meghan or carry their son! You cut a deal with the royal rota and you sacrificed them. We see you.
And your understanding of the younger sibling syndrome must also include throwing them under the bus when it’s convenient. You’ve showed little to no understanding despite 90 over years existing.
Harry has been thrown under the bus for years. As a teen in the tabs he was compared unfavorably with the “virtuous” brother.
Somebody needs to shut “palace sources” and people like Seward up. They are doing the Royal Family more harm by the day.
Indeed!
I never think these comments come from the Queen, I always think they come from the “grey men.” This is what they think, what they are planning. . .I’m beginning to think that at this stage of the game, The Queen gets dressed, goes about her business of cutting another ribbon, and comes home to put her feet up and drink tea.
All this intrigue at the palace–she’s like “Whatever” and probably toddles off for a nap before dinner.
She has had 65+ years to figure it out starting with her sister.
This article is an attempt to slow down a story that has spun out of control.
If this gossipy piece in any way reflects her actual thinking then she is really out of touch and in denial about the Cambridges
If she knew about this “syndrome” then why didn’t she do something to stop it, starting with Margaret? This family makes my family of origin look completely functional.
“Her job is to survive- and to endure that the monarch survives”….well that sums it up for me. Her majesty shares her basic drive with most non vertebrate species in animal kingdom. And with viruses. Harry did you a big favor granny, a last wake up call.
Precisely
Ugh! Just disgusted by this.
God, what a B.
Here’s my thought: Stop controlling everything. She should have left the role to Charles at LEAST 10 years ago. WTH is she doing still working? Gift up the reins; it just diminishes Charles and although he’s not perfect she could have been his advisor in the wings. It’s about trust. Don’t get me started on Andrew. Lord.
If we are being totally honest “your majesty” I think Nasty siblings syndrome might also be a problem. She is infuriating
I’m starting to think the Kardashian’s are classier than this family (and I can’t believe I’m saying that). All the royal family do is sling mud at each other and try to tear each other down, and then they have the nerve to pretend they are ‘dignified’. Margaret’s life ended up the way it was because of the Queen, her insecurity over her sister and not wanting to be outshined by her. One thing I will say about the Kardashian’s is that together they are publically solid, if you trash one, then another one will step in to defend them. They might fight with each other all day long, but they understand the concept of being stronger together.
Yes, the Queen know this well through the tragic life of her own sister. Margaret begged her for a meaningful role, she refused out of spite & jealousy. Played out this season on “The Crown” & is true