Prince Harry ‘was adamantly opposed’ to the one-year Sussexit review process

Prince Harry and Jon Bon Jovi record Invictus Games charity single at Abbey Road

For months now, I’ve been saying that the courtiers and the British press overplayed their hands with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and they’re still overplaying their hands. Their original goal was to bully Meghan out of the country, to find some way to get Meghan to leave Harry (or better yet, get Harry to “send her home to America”). When Harry was like “f–k this, we’re leaving and taking Archie,” the press and palaces’ new goal was trying to get Harry back… and Harry alone. It’s all so toxic and dysfunctional, I can’t imagine why Harry isn’t persuaded by their efforts, right? Well, speaking of… when Harry was done, HE WAS DONE. Once he saw the family’s unhinged reaction to the Sussexes’ desire to leave, he never wanted to come back. The whole “one year review” thing was cooked up as a face-saving thing by courtiers who didn’t want to admit that they smeared and bullied a blood royal out of the country. All of this hand-wringing that “Harry and Meghan have burned every bridge with Finding Freedom” is moot, because those palace bitches have known for months that Harry peaced out.

The Duke of Sussex was so intent on quitting the royal family that he initially refused the offer of a trial period allowing him and the duchess the chance of returning to the UK, The Times can reveal. His determination to make a clean break without the option of review after 12 months emerged after three days of revelations about the unhappiness felt by Harry and Meghan and the battles they fought with both family and senior courtiers.

Sources on both sides of the family divide admitted that no one has emerged from the weekend’s coverage of Finding Freedom looking good — except the Queen. One said: “People are aware that this does not look good for anyone.” Before the weekend palace insiders were nervously bracing themselves for the worst. Today, however, while several of them felt exhausted by the “uproar” of recent days, there was a palpable sense of relief that it had not been worse. “I don’t think anyone looks at all of this with any particular happiness,” said one source.

However, a suggestion in one newspaper that the disclosures meant the couple had “torpedoed” their chances of creating a new position for themselves within the royal family were dismissed by more than one source. For not only do Harry and Meghan show no sign of wanting to come back from their new home in California, but it has now emerged that Harry had to be persuaded into accepting the idea of a trial period in the first place. The idea of the review was suggested so that the couple would know that the door was always open for them. The Queen had always made it clear to Harry that he would be able to come back if he changed his mind.

“He was adamantly opposed to the review process,” said a source. He took the view that he did not want the press to write that there would be a review, suggesting that therefore they might change their minds and come back. He was also opposed to the idea because it had come from the institution, which in Harry’s view was enough to make it a bad idea. The source said that “under no circumstances would they ever admit ‘this was a big mistake’.”

However, one source said the purpose of the review was not so much to allow them to come back, as to permit some flexibility about their future role. A source close to the Sussexes said: “Do I rule out them taking on roles for the family in the future? Absolutely not. But a full-scale return soon is not likely. That is not down to animosity or anything like that. They have not yet reached what they were seeking to do.”

[From The Times]

LOL. The one-year review was the palace’s attempt to keep Harry and Meghan on a leash, to keep them tethered to their abusers for one more year. As soon as Meghan stepped foot in North America, she was done though. And now we know that Harry was done too. That being said, the Sussexes’ original plan, their original “Sussexit” idea, was to still be associated with the family and to still work on behalf of royal causes and the Crown. That was the “half-in, half-out” plan which apparently made the courtiers sh-t themselves, that was the plan which was rejected in no uncertain terms by the Queen and Willileaks. So, again, they could have had two bad bitches. But once the Sussexes’ terms were denied, they were like “LOL, okay then we’ll just move to America and never come back, SMELL YA LATER.” And the palace was like “no, one year review, Harry will be welcomed back with open arms AND ONLY HARRY, wait where are you going, come back to uuuuusssss.”

Duke of Sussex and Duchess of Sussex arriving at Mansion house

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN and Backgrid.

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130 Responses to “Prince Harry ‘was adamantly opposed’ to the one-year Sussexit review process”

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  1. S808 says:

    The wording in their website showed that they weren’t thrilled about the 1 year review. There’s no point to it if there are no structural changes within the palace.

    • Becks1 says:

      Exactly. What’s going to happen in a year? William is going to be told to stop leaking to Dan Wootton?

      That said, someone on twitter (I think it was Peter Hunt) said a few months back something like “what is not acceptable now may be acceptable in a year with a 95 year old monarch and an aging prince of wales” or something like that – which made me think that Charles was okay with the part-time idea, and the Queen and William were not.

      • Booker says:

        Peter Hunt was right. After all, QE2 came to the throne because a divorcee couldn’t be Queen, and here we are! Things will change, but maybe for the Cambridge kids… just based on how slowly the RF move.

        They don’t have the testicular fortitude to make decisions until they gauge public opinion, so it will be a while

      • Betsy says:

        I just don’t get how the Queen, after seeing the ruination and aimlessness of her sister’s life, STILL DOESN’T GET that the spares need lives, too.

      • windyriver says:

        At the time we commented here, too, that the one year review was possibly for Charles’ interests – the queen will be 95 next year, she could decide to step back, he would step up, maybe work out an arrangement then with Harry & Meghan, etc. H&M being gone puts a big crimp in Charles’ future plans – who can replace what they could have added as working family members, even part time? He has to know this. I agree he was possibly okay with the idea, but no way would it fly with William, for sure.

        And now that we know the part-time idea was in fact already floating around for months before everything became public, I look even more askance at TQ’s performance at Xmas – making the pudding with Charles, William, and George, and no pictures of Harry and family on the table for her address.

      • Nyro says:

        Betsy, I think it’s just that the queen doesn’t care. She’d need to actually care in order to see the bad decisions that were made that helped ruin her sister’s life. QE is a selfish jerk. If it’s not about horses, corgis, or her precious Andrew, I literally don’t think she GAF. And if she didn’t care to learn lessons from her own sister’s life, then she definitely doesn’t GAF about the well-being of the women who marry into her family.

      • Peaches says:

        What happened with the queens sister? I’m looking online but can’t get a real picture of how she ruined her life. Thanks in advance!!

      • Dl says:

        @peaches check out documentary on prime. Her sister wandered aimlessly through life. Very sad

  2. Char says:

    They really thought that Harry, who watched all that happened to his mother, would sit quiet and watch it happen to his wife? Even worst, abandon her? They really thought that low of him? No wonder why he left, good on them.

    • ADS says:

      Exactly! Why did they think he would do that? They are a bunch of bizarre people.

    • Lala456 says:

      yes! And what gets me is this narrative too that harry “isn’t a man anymore”…what kind of real man would leave his wife and kid? so sick

    • Elizabeth says:

      It’s because they still completely blame Diana. Anyone who leaves is dead to them, anyone who dares to defy their conventions is mad. And of course, Diana tragically passed, before she could really build a life of her own outside the palace. That allowed them to stay stuck in their self-serving narrative. Harry has shaken it up, but never underestimate the power of institutions to resist change or self-scrutiny.

      • Nyro says:

        Elizabeth, I used to think the conspiracy theories about The Firm having Diana killed were bonkers, but I don’t know anymore. I think her airing them out in the Andrew Morton book, the Panorama interview,and the fact that Diana had a serious relationship with a brown skinned Indian man was enough for them to want her home permanently. Also, the fact that she’d broken off from them and was going to be even more of a force, but with no control over her, played a huge part as well. It’s like history repeating itself, except for the fact that HM haven’t spoken a word against these people.

        The energy they are putting out toward Harry and Meghan is so violent and dangerous. They clearly want the both of them punished. And yes, I do think they’d be ok with something terrible happening to the Sussexes.

      • SomeChick says:

        I’ve always believed that Diana was purposely bumped off.

    • Natters5 says:

      These are the people who are shielding Prince Andrew the pedo so you know what side of the moral story they stand for.

    • Bread and Circuses says:

      I kind of wonder if part of the rift between Harry and William is that Harry (despite being okay with his father and Camilla now) has strong feelings about men who cheat on their wives, because he knows how much it hurt his mother.

      And William…has different feelings about cheating, which were apparent about the same time as Meghan was being treated so badly.

      I’m sure most of the reasons for Sussexit were simply the racism aimed at Meghan, but I believe there were other reasons for Harry’s heart hardening against staying buried in that family.

      • Tealie says:

        Yes, I can’t remember who said it (i think it was an RR type person on Twitter) but apparently their main argument was about Rose and William trying to brag about it to Harry, who thought it was disgusting I didn’t speak to him for a few days/weeks. i’m sure this added further insult to injury to Harry as it would’ve been around the time that William made those snobbish remarks about Meghan.

  3. Priscila says:

    “Sources on both sides of the family divide admitted that no one has emerged from the weekend’s coverage of Finding Freedom looking good — except the Queen. ”

    Says who? Oh , yes, the brainwashed courtiers who will be out of job as soon as Charles is King? talk about protect your paycheck at all costs!

    “People are aware that this does not look good for anyone.”

    REAllY? From where I am sitting, I am pretty sure it makes one faction look pretty, pretty bad- but hey, cannot have William looking bad all by himself, can we? So yes, since you cannot deny William is trash, you just say everyone is trash and call it a day!

    “He took the view that he did not want the press to write that there would be a review, suggesting that therefore they might change their minds and come back.”

    Telling you guys: believe Harry. He knows his brother, he knows the RF- he was right about this all along.

    “He was also opposed to the idea because it had come from the institution, which in Harry’s view was enough to make it a bad idea. The source said that “under no circumstances would they ever admit ‘this was a big mistake’.”

    Again, Harry telling no lies. LOVED IT! and again, I have been right about their purpose in continuing to smear the Sussexes: in their view, it would be admitting they did something wrong, which they cannot so blame the victim all the way to California they will.

    • TheOriginalMia says:

      On the one royal board I visit, they are overwhelmingly on the Windsors’ side. They truly believe Harry and especially Meghan should have shut up and carried on. They believe Harry didn’t prepare Meghan for Royal life. As if persistent and overwhelming negative stories, lies and racism should be accepted in order to have a title.

      • CrazyHeCallsMe says:

        Racists and abusers always think their victims should just shut up and take the abuse. Just be thankful for the crumbs you’ve received and appreciate that we allow you to exist in our presence. It’s like the slave masters who talked of how happy their slaves were to be enslaved while working them to death, raping them and physically and mentally abusing them.

      • Priscila says:

        @CrazyHeCallsMe I think, except for Charles, who actually said something on the subjects of colonialism, nobody there – and I mean Rf and courtiers- knows what racism is, because they are simply isolationist, uninterested people who lack empathy. Why would they have Empathy? The world, in their view, is there to serve them, and, as you say, it is a great honor.

        Racism, to The Queen, To William, to those guys, is those tacky trailer trash American, carrying torches and hanging people on the trees…of course, they are not racists! They sometimes deliver an OBE to a black entertainer…they sometimes have an second generation immigrant joining them for lunch, or whatever…they are bored with racism because it does not pertain them personally and, therefore, is not worth their time.

  4. Becks1 says:

    I do think its important to remember that they originally wanted to be half-in, half-out. They wanted to continue to support the Queen, and, in the near future, Charles as the monarch. they wanted to stay in the UK for part of the year. etc. It just seems that initially, the issues were 1) tabloid coverage (hence opting out of the rota) and 2) being held back from the kind of work they wanted to do. Their issues weren’t about being working royals per se. (I’m bringing that up just as a general point because I see so many comments about how they couldn’t hack it or didn’t want to do the work or abandoned Harry’s grandmother. They didn’t.)

    My guess is when the courtiers etc went ballistic, and when William was “incandescent with rage,” and the part-time idea was nixed, the Sussexes decided “we’re really out now, we’re going to LA.”

    I also always thought the “one year review” was kind of dumb. what was going to happen, the sussexes were going to sit down with the Queen and courtiers and say “okay we’ll come back, this isn’t working out” or the palace staff et al would say, “lets see your foundation paperwork and review your engagements over the past year so we can tell you what we think.” Nah. Harry and Meghan are never going back. the royal family had their chance, and they blew it.

    • Kris Jung-Un says:

      I also heard that right off the bat, Harry’s opening line in the negotiations was we’re paying back Frogmore repairs. What a Boss!

      Harry was setting the perfect blueprint for William’s kids. And William threw it all away for puff pieces from morons like Richard Kay.

      You’re right… they’ll regret it alright

      • BayTampaBay says:

        There is no way I would pay renovation cost for a home I do not own and have no control over.

        In my BITCHY opinion, Harry should not pay the renovation cost for a home he does not own and has no control over either.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Bay – I agree with you completely. But, I can see how Harry was using that bargaining chip to make it clear that they were DONE. “you have nothing over us at this point.” Even most of the stuff stuff they gave up – using Sussex Royal or HRH – are all voluntary. They can refer to themselves as HRH if they want. they aren’t because I think they genuinely don’t care about being HRH.

        (with the exception of the honorary military appointments.)

      • bluemoonhorse says:

        Technically I agree BayTampa BUT this is a hugely powerful way to negotiate. “I understand that you are going to use this as a bargaining tool – let me toss the board over. See what I think of your bargaining chip.”

        Shows them right up front, you have nothing I care a damn about.

      • Maria says:

        Didn’t the Queen give the house to Harry and Meghan as a wedding present? I think Harry does own it.

      • Ennie says:

        @Maria, they cannot own it, as I understand that home (and probably everything within Windsor), are public properties. He is granted possession, but it’s not his, as Royal Lodge is not Andrew’s either. I think that Andrew got a different, but very sweet deal where he pays a ridiculous ammount as rent, because the repairs were paid with the Queen’s private purse, so he doesn’t need to put up the correct ammount, I am not sure about the Wessex, I don’t think they pay, and Anne lives in private property Complete with stables, gifted by her mom, and that includes her daughter who has a home in the compound, and security and other expenses are, of course, paid by the public.
        Many of them also have a home in the country. Except Harry.
        Harry And Meghan were rentinG and, would probably had stayed in the Cotswolds (sp?) for a few years until it was decided where their definitive residence would be. Frogmore cottage was a poor relatives residence before it was employees quarters, and it needed renovations as a public building with certain historical importance.
        Other residences offered to them were MUCH MORE. Expensive.

    • Faye says:

      Yep, the major issue was that Meghan and Harry did not want to have to work with the rota that were pure shit to them. Once they were told that wasn’t possible they were done.

    • Bren says:

      At first, I thought the half in half out proposal was so they could maintain the Sussex Royal brand. Now seeing how content Harry & Meghan are away from the firm, I think the public proposal on their website was basically their exit strategy to get what they ultimately wanted.

      Considering how they were treated by his family/firm, they had to know the half in half out proposal would be rejected from the start. Maybe I’m giving Harry & Meghan too much credit, but I think they gamed their way to a public rejection of half in half out by the firm so they could make a clean exit.

      • Ennie says:

        I don’t think so. I think he modelled that after what other relatives and other monarchies do with the extended family.
        Those relatives work, do their thing, and come and help the queen or king.
        In Harry and Meghan’s case, they would ve much more involved because they are both philanthropist and have been for years.
        The RF were scared of them. They thought they’d overshadow the keens, they did not see that with their sick coverage they were doing the same.
        They drove them out.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Ennie – I agree. I think that Harry knew the way the royal family operated had to change, and he did the logical thing, which was look at how other royal families in Europe operate. I think he proposed something similar to other royal houses, and was shot down.

        And its unfortunate because like someone mentioned upthread, this could have been a blueprint for the Cambridge kids down the line.

      • S808 says:

        @Ennie I truly weep for the Cambridge kids cause Harry laid out a great plan for them in the future. It’d be petty cause of the grief they gave Harry but I hope it is adopted for Louis and Charlotte without pushback.

      • fluffy_bunny says:

        There’s no such thing as giving H&M too much credit.

      • Tealie says:

        @ S808 Oh, there is truly no hope for them. Their parents have completely scuppered their chances. a) With no Archie, Meghan or Harry around to take the fall (especially in their teenage years) Charlotte and Louise are going to have to be Georges and their parents complete scapegoats if anything goes wrong. (Which is what I think Kate really knew she meant in the Tatler article where she said Harry and Meghan had “thrown her children under the bus”) they will be at fauly b) they have open the door to such vicious media attacks, that there have become no boundaries in privacy in respect of human decency or anything and if they/when fall they will be come down on with stones and bricks.
        c)

    • notasugarhere says:

      I could see them wanting half-in-half-out now and for Charles’s reign, done after that. In a model like the Dutch royals, Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Prince Joachim of Denmark as you wrote elsewhere in this thread.

      The freedom to do charity things their way while also performing royal duties for the Queen. Do their outside personal-money earning interests now and when Charles is king too. Peace Out the second Charles passes. Thereby freeing them to walk away and never be back under William’s abusive thumb. Charles agreeing to that plan, William screaming NO, and the Queen caving to William because she’s old, tired, selfish, and done.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Nota – that’s a good theory, because I really don’t think they would have stayed even as PT royals under William, if he has behaved as poorly just in the past few years as we suspect (not even taking into account his lifetime pattern of behavior.) And maybe that was said or implied, and William freaked out.

        Well, now we are at the same end – the Sussexes not being working royals under William, only a lot sooner. So no wonder he was “incandescent with rage.”

        I think a huge part of it with William was jealousy – he knew that H&M would be able to go out and make a lot of their own money and be very famous for things besides being the future king, and he couldn’t handle that.

    • Anance says:

      Agree. The one-year review was like a performance review. An institutional idea.

    • Maria says:

      Ennie, ok, I get it, he is given possession but does not own it. So, in other words, it’s not really a gift. But way back in 1992, when Windsor Castle burned down, wasn’t there a big deal because the Queen wanted the taxpayer to pay for the repairs?I thought she owned Windsor Castle and that’s why people didn’t want to pay.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Maria – it gets confusing, but my understanding is that Sandringham and Balmoral are personally owned by the monarch (so Charles will own them when the Queen passes.) Windsor and Buckingham are NOT personal property of the monarch but belong to the Crown (maybe part of the crown estates? to be honest I get confused with the funding and ownership etc.) But the queen can dole out various properties/houses to members of her family – like KP 1A to will and kate, and anmer hall to Will and Kate.

        so money from the sovereign grant (….? maybe? someone here will know more than me, lol) was used to renovate Frogmore Cottage, and that is what Harry and Meghan are repaying (plus paying rent for it.)

        I think taxpayer money went to the structural repairs at 1A but Charles footed the bill for the rest of it (decorations etc.)

      • Ennie says:

        I think it is an intertwined mess.
        If they ever leave the crown, they’ll go with their pockets full to the top.
        .
        … and the queen was made to pay taxes, which she did not pay before. I think it was the same year the castle burned.

  5. Kris Jung-On says:

    I actually think in hindsight they might be glad of the declined “half in half out” role… because now they don’t even have to consult this mob on ANYTHING!

    Also, I saw on twitter that the RF updated H&M’s profiles on their website to include the statement “the duke and duchess still work for the Queen” or something along those lines. Talk about dysfunctional 😂

    • bluemoonhorse says:

      OMG – I mean – I really hope M&H are rolling their eyes and laughing their heads off. I just hope they can see the humor in this.

  6. Faye says:

    They always underestimated Harry. Them taking away his military appointments was a move to keep him there and he knew it. Harry saw how much they dont care about him and he was done done.

    They know how much he cares about veterans and they pulled that shitty move, but Andrew still has his.

    • Ginger says:

      And the fact that he still chose his wife over that. It’s sick what they did to him. He did so much for that family and they treated him and Meghan like garbage.

      I hope the press finally understand that Harry will never come back. Ever.

    • Elena Rindell says:

      Taking away his military appointments was a shitty move. The man actually served in the military and you have fools like Andrew who get to keep theirs. It might not be now but the BRF will come to regret the way they have treated Harry. It is abhorrent.

    • Phuggi says:

      I can never get over the fact that they took away his military titles–titles that he EARNED, by deploying. How can they just rewrite service like that—and on the other hand, offer military titles and commendations upon commendations to other members of the royal family at every landmark birthday or something? It took my breath away. Their pettiness was right there, encapsulated in that heartless petty move.

      • Feeshalori says:

        No, they only took away his honorary titles. Harry kept his titles he earned during active military duty, which l believe is rank of captain. Still, it was a low despicable move.

      • Ainsley7 says:

        They didn’t take the ones he earned away. They only took the honorary ones away.

      • goofpuff says:

        I can’t see this playing well with the UK military. Clearly the RF don’t give a shit about what the military feels or thinks. They’re just servants to them.

      • Candikat says:

        I think it was because the honorary military titles are “representing the Queen.” Harry served honorably and will always have his earned rank/honors and the respect of the real military. But retaining the “Honorary General Commander of the Someplaceshire Guards” or whatever title meant he’d have to come back to the UK periodically and ride a horse during parades, military reviews, etc. All for show benefitting the RF. Anne has at least one title like that and she’s never done a lick of real military service, but she gets a uniform and rides a horse for events. It’s just another Royal Duty, not one that means much in the true military sense. Harry may have enjoyed it and wanted to keep it as part of the half-in half-out scenario, but in the end it’s just another part of being a Working Royal and is essentially meaningless. He would have known that a clean break meant giving up those roles too, so I have a hard time thinking he’s too broken up about it.

    • Nic919 says:

      Taking away the honorary military appointments from Harry and not Andrew remains grotesque. Harry wants to be able to earn a living and gets punished for it whereas Andrew, friend of sex trafficker and likely rapist of underaged girls, keeps his. The people who didn’t realize how messed up that looks are utter fools.

      • Candikat says:

        I totally agree. I suppose it’s because Andrew has only “stepped back” from duties for awhile and someone (The Q or the courtiers, or both) still assumes he’ll eventually be reinstated. I’m pretty sure that, 12 month review notwithstanding, that same someone knows that Harry’s gone for good. “Grotesque” is a very good word for the whole disgusting mess.

  7. Loretta says:

    LMAO the royal family and palace stuff are so dumb. They really believed that Meghan would come back in US without Harry. They’are still in shock.

    • fluffy_bunny says:

      It’s the end of July. They should really be over the shock by now and realize what they lost and how petty they look.

  8. Lowrider says:

    Again, duuhh.

    There was no reason in placing a one year review on the Susssex’s.

  9. Brit says:

    This family is truly a joke. They saw the overblown stupidity in the press and knowing they want Harry back, they’re not saying Meghan but they do want her back because they need a scapegoat and diversity points from the commonwealth and Britain, are saying they’re still hopeful because they know the mediocrity with the heirs isn’t enough. The problem is that the RF is controlled by the media and government. They need to tell the media to back off because the more they attack and malign, its only pushing him away and it already has because it’s obvious he’s not returning. That’s why the media, courtiers, and everyone is upset because they don’t know how to reverse it. They literally shot themselves in the foot because the RF and media are losing badly.

    • Couch potato says:

      They only want him back, not her. She’d be an even better scapegoat for them if they divorsed, which is what they’re hoping for. I belive they live in their own little bubble of white privilege, they don’t understand the importance of diversity. They think they are above everyone, and can’t comprehend a world where POC are their equals.

  10. Sofia says:

    He’s been trying to get out for a while but let the daily fail comment section tell you that the evil Meghan is controlling him and everything is her fault.

    There’s not much that will change from now until April unless there’s serious systematic changes but that won’t happen. The only thing that could happen is HM’s and/or Philip’s death which will be major – most likely Philip’s and even then I don’t think they’ll change their mind.

    I think one of the main reasons for the 1 year review is because the palace thinks they won’t survive and they don’t want them too. They don’t want a precedent set nor do they want the Sussexes to show a life outside being the “spare” is possible.

    • Brit says:

      That last part and I also believe it was placate the media because they were clearly promised access to this couple and Harry/Meghan not coming back will only make the media, who is dangerously obsessed and in need of money because they’re clearly dependent on Meghan for revenue, angrier because they’re stuck with bores and the royals have too many secrets they want to keep buried.

      • Sofia says:

        Oh definitely. I think there are multiple reasons for why the 1 year review was set and I doubt a lot of them are because it directly benefit the Sussexes

  11. Ana Maria says:

    Willileaks 🤣

  12. Izzy says:

    I’m a little confused as to how the Queen looks good here. Her new granddaughter in law is getting dragged by the press for no reason and getting appalling racist treatment, but Queenie Meanie is providing cover for her pedo son. THAT is what passes for a good look with these inbred morons? Good grief.

  13. Tiffany says:

    Not only did they underestimated Harry, they truly underestimated Meghan and her character.

    They made her out to be this social climbing woman who would do and put up with anything to get close to the crown. First it was just getting rid of her, then they thought she would stay put and take the abuse because she was a social climber. Then she left alright, with her husband and child.

    That is why they are pissed, they underestimated just how much character and self respect Meghan had. Harry would not have wanted to spend his life with her otherwise.

    The Firm and the British Press really are stupid.

    • Faye says:

      Yep, they believed the narrative they created.

    • goofpuff says:

      I mean Kate did exactly that. They thought Meghan would just be another Kate they could use.

    • Sarah says:

      Kate, that is Kate. Got their duchesses mixed up there.

    • windyriver says:

      Integrity isn’t a word one associates with either the RF, or certainly the BM. No wonder they didn’t recognize it/know what to do with it when they saw it.

      Not just regarding Meghan; given what we suspected and is now being confirmed about what’s gone on for the past few years for this couple, it’s amazing Harry was even willing to continue working with the RF on a part-time basis. That’s a sense of duty and commitment to this family they clearly do not deserve.

      • Tealie says:

        Honestly it’s probably stockholm sydrome, because it’s clear they do not even vaguely act as a family even in private

  14. Lizzie says:

    I have to laugh at all of the anti Meghan blogs where they have ‘known’ with 100% certainty that her plan all along was to marry Harry and create drama so they would move to LA. They have written thousands of words on this for at least a year. Of course these are the same morons who have been saying since last year that he is leaving her and divorce will be announced within days.
    Let’s talk about the moronic idea. Meghan is from LA, if she were a social climber she would have her sights set on a big producer. Much more money and status. For a social climber like Waity the whole point of marrying a prince is to benefit from the HRH perks and status. Can anyone on earth imagine Waity giving up her HRH to support her husband?
    First Meghan gave up her whole life for Harry, then she gave up her HRH with him.

    • Sofia says:

      Or found herself a Rothschild or one of those old money families. Or do what Rose did and find some titled guy who needs a beard.

      If she’s so Machiavellian and smart like people say she is and she is manipulating everything behind the scenes, she would not have married Harry.

      • AMM says:

        If she really was a manipulative, evil, seductive genius she would hardly have had to marry Harry to become successful in Hollywood like they claim she wants.

        With those powers would you:

        1) Hook up with an A list star or top director/producer. Go to LA and be a megastar.

        Or

        2) Spend 36 years culminating a humanitarian profile in order to get the attention of people who may know a Prince interested in those types of things. Take a job in Toronto and make sure to make friends with important people. Arrange a blind date with the Prince. Make him fall in love with you while being abused relentlessly by the press. Get married while bringing your own family’s drama to the front of the world. Secure the bag by having a child while people send you and the baby death threats and accuse you of faking your pregnancy . Expose yourself and your baby to constant racism. Destroy at 1200 year old Monarchy. Go to LA and be a megastar.

        I just feel like plan B takes a lot of unnecessary steps. But maybe I’m just lazy.

    • tcbc says:

      Her good friend is married to the co-founder of Reddit! If she were a “social climber”, she would have gone for a tech billionaire.

      **Serena and Alexis are clearly a love match, if anyone is climbing, it’s him.

      ***I hate the term “social climber” in general. It’s always weaponized against women. In men, this would be called “networking,” but men, and many women, have a lot of trouble with ambitious women who know their value.

      • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

        No, they’re completely different behaviors. Men can be social climbers and women can network. And both can ‘marry up,’ which doesn’t even have to be about status or finances, and is how I’d describe Alexis’ love match with Serena.

  15. Dee says:

    That one year review idea just puts the image of King George III from Hamilton in my head, singing, “You’ll be back, soon you’ll see/You’ll remember you belong to me” and I’m sure Harry is all, “Nope.”

    • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

      Now I just want them to see Hamilton and realize they’re not alone, lol.

      • fluffy_bunny says:

        I’m pretty sure they saw it in London. Or watched it on Disney+. I doubt the Queen will send a fully armed battalion to remind them of her love.

      • Tealie says:

        They did! Because Meghan is the patron of the National Theatre, they met all the cast and the Lin guy (sorry idk his full name name) and everything! Harry even sang some of it onstage!

  16. Ennie says:

    Just a story: my sister has a difficult personality but (in her case) is a good person deep inside. She is bossy and wants her way, and Many times is right (in her case), but the was she goes around can be hurtful.
    She left home to study, at 14, very young to study, and my mom and I were complicit and guilty in letting her make decisions, for example, things at home, and when she left back to study, we unmade those, and we
    Did it To avoid confrontation.
    Lo g story short, my parents die, my brother leaves (to not deal with her) and she became unhinged and when I stopped her from her hurtful ways, Hell exploded and she blamed my husband and said that he “changed” me. No, I was always like this, but we made the mistake of going along And not speak up More frequently and tell her that some things were Not right.

    I think that Harry is living something that can be similar. He is fed up, but had acted pleasantly all his life, being able to do as much with the cards/privileges/limitations he was dealt with.
    The problem is that he grew up, he will not tolerate anymore Bullying, and that attitude, that character was there all along, but they blame Meghan.
    no, ugly reporters and dis functional family, See yourselves.

  17. bluemoonhorse says:

    My crystal ball: Harry never “comes back.” (hilarious they would think that). In 5 years time, the doddering queen will either be dead or hidden away so the public doesn’t see her deteriorating mental state. Charles steps up. William beings an all-out war against Charles because he is indeed that petty. Meanwhile, far from the UK, M&H live happily ever after, with at least two children. When Will becomes king, the monarchy is abolished.

    Oh and within the next 3 years, Scotland is out of there for sure.

    Not hard to see where this is all going —

    • molly says:

      I don’t know that this much will change in such a short time, but I agree that the Royal Family needs H&M far more than H&M need them. It’ll be interesting to see what Charles does when he becomes king. He’s going to need working royals, especially once the Kents and Gloucestershires are gone. He probably could’ve made it work with the York sisters, but he hates Andrew too much. Charles is going to have to change something in the next 5-10 years.

      • Lizzie says:

        Likely Charles will be working with much less funding due to two things. One, this pandemic isn’t over and is costing all countries a ton of money. Two, the public will turn against Cain and Unable. For average people who don’t pay much attention to tabloids to suddenly find out Cambridge’s made up even the one story about Meghan making Kate cry is a huge deal and will turn the tide. Folks will strongly object to the amount of money going to the Sovereign Grant when so many people are struggling due to the pandemic.

      • bluemoonhorse says:

        With how things happen now – like M&H walking OUT in a heartbeat, news happens fast. Liz isn’t going to be holding on to her marbles – she has shown she is an ineffective leader and meaningless figurehead. As things die down around M&H (which it will since they are gone), the Big Lens of the Rapacious Media will turn towards the royal family.

        It’s my understanding from reading from those who are from the UK, specifically England, the royal family isn’t a big news item anyway. Scotland isn’t going to play with nice Queenie much longer.

        If (fingers cross) Trump loses that is going to boomerang in politics to elsewhere (just like it did when he was elected). The protests are showing that things in the US must and will change. England’s people will be up to bat next.

      • Merricat says:

        The longer QE protects Andrew, the worse it’s going to be. Andrew will sink the House of Windsor.

      • tcbc says:

        Brexit happened before Trump was elected. I hope if (when) he loses, there’s a boomerang effect, but the rightwing takeover of Western governments did not start with him.

    • Anance says:

      William has turned out to be a real prize, hasn’t he? I remember talk about the Crown skipping Charles and going directly to William.

      Well, now, I’m thinking – skip William and go directly to George. Wills may be incandescent with rage, but finally quite happy cultivating roses.

      • bluemoonhorse says:

        here’s an idea. Abolish the Monarchy and they can go live in a 2 bedroom flat somewhere we don’t have to see them.

      • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

        If wishes were horses, it’s too bad that William did not just abdicate his line, as he obviously wanted for most of his life. Not only is Harry the true heir of Diana’s empathy and charisma, as several commenters have pointed out, but he’s also the heir to Charles’ (and formerly the Queen’s) sense of duty and responsibility.

        And imagine- they could’ve had Harry and Meghan helicoptering into devastated regions with aid, rather than Willileaks and Katie Keen helicoptering off to Anmer. Rather than struggling for survival, the monarchy could have been unassailable.

    • Tealie says:

      oh 100% is William going to try and get Charles and use the media to get Charles to abdicate the throne in his favour. Charles especially with Camilla and without Harry has left himself extreemly vulnerable, and i think that the plan. already in the last few months we’ve been seeing a few little letterings from paper such as the Daily Mail and the Sun that the crown should go straight to William and skip Charles.

      • Tealie says:

        The public truly can’t stand Camilla, although the hatred has become dormant for a while since Sussexit. However I think the realisation that she will be on the throne (especially whilst being confronted with the grotesque and ostentatious display of wealth of a coronation) and not Diana will hit people hard and have them repulsed. Which is how I think the little whispers of Williams campaign will start. Charles we probably have to either abdicate the crown or give Camillia a lower title such as princess or Duchess rather than Queen consort

  18. Aang says:

    I am a republican. Hereditary monarchy is deeply offensive to my world view. That said I see this as the beginning of the end for this particular institution. The courtiers don’t work for the Cambridges or the Sussexes they work for the institution. As do all members of the royal family. The only boss is the Queen and not her personally but as she embodies The Crown. Everything every one of them does has to be for the betterment of the institution or it will fail. Personal wishes are not paramount. Harry and Meghan are lucky they were able to leave. Because staying would have meant that they would continue to be trashed to prop up William. My only surprise is that they have hurt feelings about it. It should have been expected.

    • Ennie says:

      Thing is, other monarchies function. Some are more strict (Japanese), others are more flexible (some European).

      • goofpuff says:

        I’m not sure the Japanese one is functioning so well considering how they’ve treated their crown princess now empress. And they still didn’t pass laws I believe that allow women to inherit the throne.

      • Ennie says:

        I loathe what they did to Masako, and I actually prefer that their girl will not be an empress in those circumstances. The current emperor had a hard time finding a wife he liked because noone wanted that life.
        It still functions, tho , as do other monarchies that treat women in a way that I dislike in the Middle East, for example. Maybe in Jordan it is more open. And the king has only one wife. I have no idea how they work in the African continent.

      • Maria says:

        Ennie, Masako is Empress and is doing much better, which is great. I think the Imperial Court is really toxic.

      • notasugarhere says:

        If Aiko had been accepted as the rightful heir, it would have been massive for Masako’s mental health AND for women’s rights in Japan.

    • MsIam says:

      @Aang, I think Harry was resigned to it which is why he didn’t leave. But when he married Meghan and she told him that he had a right to his own personhood, that changed everything. I think that is the main reason why the courtiers and family hated her, and yes I know they are racist as hell too. But the monarchy seems like a house of cards and when one piece is removed the whole thing collapses. If Harry can be a person with his own mind, ambitions and most importantly earn his own income then why can’t the others? Why put them on a pedestal?

      • What...now? says:

        Remember in the documentary that Meghan said that the point of it is “to thrive, not to just survive.” I imagine that is kind of the impetus that drove them to make their break. Yes, they were surviving but is that how they wanted to go through life? Surviving. Enduring. Waiting.

        As is said here, “They coulda had a bad bitch.” But, no.

      • Merricat says:

        Yes, Harry finally had someone on his team, someone who supported him. That gave him the strength to leave.

      • L4frimaire says:

        I honestly think that if they had been treated with respect and Meghan supported, they would still be there, and maybe looked for ways to be more flexible once Charles was in. I read somewhere that it got so bad that Meghan was having panic attacks and was afraid to leave the house. Also, with Archie, there was no easing up and they were starting to attack him. When you hear the goal was to “ break” Meghan and put her in her place, how can that not be construed as racist and sexist. It’s just horrible to say it. To break a woman to make her pay for who she is and who she married.

      • Tealie says:

        Definately, if someone is seen to not only survive but thrive without the institution, it calls into question the validity and use of the institution itself. Which is why I think they ‘did’ what they did to Diana, she would’ve been TOO big had she been left to live a full life. and eventually would’ve become MORE famous and loved than the royal family. Which what i think and they have said they are affraid is happening to H&M now, and why they keep sligning mud to bring them down…

    • A says:

      @Aang, if I could give this comment thunderous applause, I would. You have hit the nail square on the head. The staffers are not loyal to the individuals, they are loyal to the institution. The Queen is not an individual, she is an embodiment of the Crown. And the death knells are starting to ring for the dying days of this particular institution, or at the very least, the present iteration of this institution as we see it right now. There is going to be a change, a significant one at that, and I’ll be interested in seeing what the monarchy becomes next.

  19. jferber says:

    As well he should be. It’s absolute bullshit and shameful to be treating Harry, Meghan and the baby in this way. I’ll never visit England again.

    • Vera says:

      and the USA has Trump and I still would not tar the whole nation with that brush.

      • tcbc says:

        Yes but American racism is widely discussed all over the world, and internationally, it’s considered one of primary descriptors of this country. Europeans, especially white ones, like to pretend that their countries are different. This story is just a very small part of a long overdue reckoning that is going on around the world.

      • Vera says:

        Tcbc
        Oh I agree, as an outsider I could see the racism and xenophobia here. A lot of people think UK isn’t racist because the police isn’t shooting black people.
        Take my brother-in-law for example. He grew up in a white Jewish area in London, now lives in a Scottish village. He keeps posting those ‘england can’t be racists because of blah blah’ Facebook memes and all lives matter bullshit. He doesn’t get that he should at the very least shut up, even that he gets called out on fb about it. BTW that nice Scottish village he lives in – they just finally managed to stop the big rock on the seafront being painted back to blackface by some of the locals (apparently according to them it wasn’t racist, it was tradition). Google Dunoon racist blackface rock

        I am glad the discussions are happening on privilege and microagressions and institutional racism, sexism etc because lot of people think we live in a fair society when it isn’t true. English people aren’t thought properly about the reality of the empire, they really believe in England the great trading nation. The debate around Churchill tells you a lot about their mindset, he is still considered as being the greatest Briton, a lot of people are unwilling to accept that he was a horrid racist even when the evidence is showed in their face.

    • Lady D says:

      It’s the blatant racism on display. I’ve wanted to visit the UK and Ireland my whole life. I’m convinced I was British in a previous life, my favourite authors are English, and I have more tea than blood in my veins. I am appalled at the racism she faced daily with not a word of support for her, from the palace, pundits, talk show hosts or even the general public. I had no idea so many were happy and complacent with their racism and it breaks my heart. I still plan on seeing the UK and Ireland, but it won’t be the same, it’s been tainted.

      • Vera says:

        All of Europe is racists to some degree or other. A lot of it is not as blatant though or you dont hear about it unless you look into it. All of Eastern Europe is really racists, anti semitic, homophobic, etc.. In my original country, it’s best to be a white hetero male and have money too and toe the party line.
        Dont get me wrong, I am not saying it is not racists here, I live in rural England currently, that quaint chocolate box you probably think of as England and I hate it. It’s full of right wing, entitled xenophobic and passively racists people. 99% are white here. I miss living in a more mixed, liberal city. They criticised Midsomer Murders for the cast being non diverse, but the truth is, I could count the number of non white people on one hand here.

      • Jane's Wasted Talent says:

        I’m so sorry for your predicament, Vera. I can’t stand to be away from a city for too long either. Hopefully you’ll get out soon.

        I still don’t understand what went wrong in France. They used to be generations ahead of us in respecting and valuing all races, and not that long ago.

    • Tealie says:

      I don’t blame you if I didn’t live in the UK I wouldn’t either!

  20. TheOriginalMia says:

    There’s no reason for them to go back. As we can see, nothing has changed. William & the couriers continue to use the BM to demean, abuse and berate Harry & Meghan. They won’t let them just live. H&M could have worked part-time for the Crown like Madeleine. She’s paid when she comes back to Sweden and isn’t when she returns to her family. In fact, Harry and Madeleine’s situations are very similar. She was abused by the press. Her privacy and family picked apart by the press and she just said I’m done. She was supposed to bring her kids back by age 5 to start schooling in Sweden. All so they could remain in the line of succession. She didn’t and finally things changed in the Swedish royal family to remove her kids and allow them and her brother’s sons to live normal lives. The BRF is archaic. The Queen could have used this situation to improve life for the Harry, Archie and William’s kids, but she is too old to see change needs to happen now or there won’t be a future. I truly don’t believe William will ever be king.

    • Aran says:

      But the difference is that Madeleine has never had any plans to monetize her titles, she lives on her husband who has a job. His marriage to Madeleine also had consequences for him. He is not allowed to work with companies that are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (stock exchange) or whose income derives from Nasdaq Stockholm.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Sideways swipe with more lies re. Harry and Meghan? From what we’ve seen, they were never planning on ‘monetizing’ their titles for personal gain. Take that back to tumblr.

      • Nic919 says:

        Why don’t we talk about the monetizing that Party Pieces has been doing for years as opposed to the non existent merching the Sussexes are being accused of.

    • Merricat says:

      I agree that William will never be King.

  21. Meg says:

    ‘the press and palaces’ new goal was trying to get Harry back… and Harry alone. It’s all so toxic and dysfunctional, I can’t imagine why Harry isn’t persuaded by their efforts, right?’
    Their tactics do reveal how toxic they are, ive had people in my life try to bully me into a relationship with them and look genuinely shocked when i tell then i dont want a relationship with anyone who bullies me. They honestly think it will work because they get their way in other situations by bullying and they think theyre entitled to that behavior- plus they dont want a relationship based on consent and free will, they want the satisfaction of knowing they manipulated and controlled you.

    • Lizzie says:

      Dysfunctional families everywhere ‘you selfishly want attention, too bad about the abuse, you must come back to your FAMILY’.
      Coworker from another country was in the US for several years with her husband. They divorced and it was very quiet but the reason was abuse. Four years later they remarried. The abuse did not end but family from both sides pressured her to go back. To those families the abuse wasn’t that bad and her husband was wealthy so she was being selfish. This is the same line of BS pushed by the courtiers.

  22. KellyRyan says:

    When you reach an intolerable limit, you say over and move on. Harry appears to be the one most sensitive to his mother’s death, entered therapy, learned it was no longer in his best interest, his wife and his son to remain. Adios. The BRF ploy to keep him in place and retain the upper hand was temporary. If H&M ever do return to the UK it will be post Covid 19 and to visit and support charities. Family is where you find healthy relationships.

  23. Jay says:

    It makes sense to me that nobody in the palace thought the Sussexes (well, Harry) would actually leave – what would any of them be away from their centre of power and privilege?

    I’m sure nobody in Harry’s family or the viper’s nest of courtiers and hangers on could cope in a world without titles, which is why they stripped Harry of his.

    It tells me more about what the palace think is most important, and also reveals how little they seem to know about Harry.

    • Lizzie says:

      They live in a small world where BP is the center of the universe. Harry is worldly enough to see a bigger picture.

    • ravynrobyn says:

      @ JAY-or how truly little they care…

    • Merricat says:

      It’s difficult for people who are all about dominance to comprehend that anyone would give up power. Surprise for them, Harry doesn’t care about their kind of power.

  24. Mariane says:

    I k new it. I said that this was pushed by RF to maintain control over them & for tabloids to keep attacking them and pushing lies about them being on taxpayers funding.
    Thankfully the times confirmed that they no longer take public funding and I think the book will discuss how they were pushed to this because of the hostility from the palace
    I’m hoping it links to Diana’s death and how the RF will be responsible if anything happens to them

  25. Valiantly Varnished says:

    Which is what Ive been saying all along. The one year review was a farce and made zero sense considering how much Harry actually gave up in order to leave.

  26. Chickaletta says:

    Were I in this situation, I think I would submit, along with my financials and whatever, a photo of my left ass cheek. Then a photo of my right. So they could “review” both and then decide which side to kiss.

  27. jferber says:

    Vera, you’ve got a point, but if I were a foreigner, I would not visit the U.S.A. because of HIM. As a born and bred American, I am just itching to vote the MOFO out in November. Too bad you don’t have the same chance with the royal family.

    • Vera says:

      I am an immigrant in the UK (white, but Eastern European) and I live in rural Hampshire. Most of my neighbours voted to get rid of people like me, although they always tell you, it’s not you it’s those other immigrants. Yes the UK is xenophobic and racists, but the country I was born in is much more racists and very homophobic, transphobic etc, as all Eastern European countries. Compared to them, it is so much more tolerant here.
      I dont have rose tinted views of countries, most of them are problematic in one way or another, there is racism in all, many have varying levels of dictatorships or very problematic governments. It would be really hard to travel anywhere if I expected that place to be utopia.
      I love traveling, but as I said there are problems everywhere. For example Australia has a very racists past and still locks up immigrants in appalling conditions on islands of it’s coast. Switzerland might be a democracy, very pleasant and well run and clean, but the local community has a say on who gets citizenship and in rural areas, you better be lillywhite to get it.

      Also it is exactly people like you are the reason that I feel ok traveling to the USA, I know that more than 50% of the people didnt vote for Trump. Btw I am an anti monarchy socialist, I think the whole family should go and all that massive land wealth should be redistributed from all the landed gentry. bring on the guillotines – it would help the struggling steel industry (joke).

  28. Marivic says:

    Yes, I too believe that the half in-half out arrangement was acceptable to Prince Charles. I think he loves PHarry genuinely enough to see him go. And I think he stood his ground even if William vehemently rejects the idea. Maybe the Queen was also ok with it because she loves her grandson but, because she’s become old and weary and was just going through the motions, she was overruled by her courtiers and William who all were out to punish the Sussexes. In the end William and the powerful courtiers won. But it was such a Pyrrhic victory. It wasn’t worthwhile after all.