It’s genuinely funny/sad to me to see how Prince Harry’s return to the UK is being treated like a state visit, or like one of the biggest celebrities in the world returning briefly to the salty little isle where he grew up. The whole point of Harry and Meghan’s exile, from the Windsors’ perspective, is that H&M were unimportant, they didn’t know their “place,” and their “place” was in the background. Leaving that salty isle made them even bigger celebrities, and it’s insane to see the oversized reaction to Harry’s return. He has returned – he arrived in England on Sunday.
Prince Harry is back in the U.K. PEOPLE confirms Harry, 36, arrived on Sunday from California, where he has been residing with his wife Meghan Markle and their son Archie, who turns 2 on May 6. It is the first time Harry has been in his home country in over a year. It is also the first time he will see members of the Royal Family since his and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey aired last month.
Meghan, who is expecting their second child, a baby girl, did not accompany her husband. News of Harry’s arrival comes two days after his grandfather Prince Philip died on Friday at the age of 99. The late royal is currently lying at rest at Windsor Castle.
On Saturday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duke of Sussex “will be attending” Philip’s funeral on April 17 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex “has been advised by her physician not to travel,” a royal spokesman said.
The Daily Mail claims he flew British Airways and went from Heathrow to Kensington Palace, where I guess he still has use of Nottingham Cottage, the tiny little home in the KP complex. He’s expected to quarantine there. The Mail also says that Prince William is likely at KP right now, but surely that’s wrong? I feel like we haven’t seen or heard from William and Kate in days because they’re in Norfolk.
Anyway, all of this drama is in advance of Saturday’s funeral for Prince Philip. Philip was a decorated Naval officer who served in World War II. His grandson Prince Harry was a decorated Army officer who served in combat in Afghanistan, the only royal man of his generation to do so. And Harry will be the one without a military uniform:
Harry’s attendance will mark the first ceremonial event since he was stripped of his official royal titles earlier in the year, meaning that his appearance will be significantly different to that of his father and brother. After losing his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, which he had taken over from his grandfather in 2017, Harry will not be wearing military uniform to the funeral. In contrast, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Earl of Wessex are expected to attend in their own military outfits. Instead, Harry, along with his uncle the Duke of York, who stepped back from royal duties in 2019, is thought to wear a suit for the occasion.
All this does is highlight how silly it is that Charles, William and Edward get to wear uniforms and Harry, an actual veteran of war, does not. These people… they claim to only care about the optics, but they’re so tone-deaf, they think it will “look good” to have a veteran of war in a suit, surrounded by his brother, father and uncle in uniform.
Update: Sussex spox have now confirmed that Harry is in quarantine at Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
I bet someone is incandescent with rage, and jealousy.
he had better watch out for high blood pressure, with all that anger all the time
It’s hilarious but also offensive that even Edward, who dropped out of the military 1/3 of the way through boot camp, gets to wear a military uniform and Harry, the actual war veteran, does not.
Sure, but paedo Andy will also not wear a military uniform. He is also a veteran of war, but having retired from royal duties (same as Harry), will wear civilian clothes.
Yeah. Not an Andrew fan, but he did serve and retire from the Navy. So technically he has more of a right to wear a uniform than the other cosplayers.
Yeah, I can’t stand Andrew, but as he served in the Faulklands War, he has more of a right to wear the uniform than Charles or William.
It’s just crazy that the only two war veterans in the family will be the only ones not wearing a military uniform to the funeral.
What a mess.
Edward didn’t even make it past boot camp so he really shouldn’t be wearing any type of uniform.
Edward who dropped out crying gets to wear a uniform but an actual one who served 10 years doesn’t.
I hope he shows up wearing his fatigues
That would be awesome. But I can see the headlines now. “The disrespect! The disrespect!”
My first thought was “they can’t prohibite you from wearing the dress uniform your earned” but then I got carried away and thought “nah screw that wear your fatigues and arrive at funeral service repelling from a helicopter!”
We know Meghan doenst look a pictures, and enjoys a very clean diet, but we can all enjoy that snack for her. The imaginary image of Harry repelling from a chopper in fatigues is an imaginary image I feel could sustain a lot of people for a long time.
I’m crying laughing over here. That would put William’s whole “I was kind of a helicopter pilot for a little while!” bit to shame lol.
If he can’t repel then he needs to parachute in. He’s going to steal the show no matter what so do it with flair.
Parachute, OMG! 😀
Or a well-tailored suit made from fatigues LOL. But seriously though – William is just jealous that Harry looks like some manly gingery goodness in those uniforms and no one will give him a second look if he’s beside Harry – the outfit does not make you a man William. Wondering if William could climb a rope as easily as Harry did in the late night bit? I’m guessing…no. How about whoever finishes the military obstacle course first gets to wear a uniform?
William couldn’t even walk a beam 3 feet off the ground without a whole bunch of spotters. I would pay to watch him try to climb a rope with just his arms and no safety harness.
Poor Harry. The British press and any number of public figure commentators have been vile about him and Meghan over the last few days. It’s pretty clear at this point that nothing less than total subjugation on his part will do. The onus will be on him to apologise, self-flagellate, do whatever is considered necessary to repair the rift. And meanwhile Andrew will weasel his way back into the public eye with the Queen’s blessing because no one is going to deny her anything for the remainder of her life.
If they expect an apology from Harry, they will be waiting a long time.
Can you imagine trying to deal with your grief and have to deal with all this 🐀Rota sh-t at the same time. Stay strong Harry! Don’t let the 🐀🐀🐀 get you down.
It’s so wrong. The whole world sees it.
Im very doubtful that most will care. And the royal ass lickers will probably think it is right because in their head harry need to be punished.
The Twitterverse will absolutely notice and drag the BRF a hundred different ways once someone points out that boot camp dropout Edward is in a uniform while two tours having Harry is not. There’s actually already a meme going around about that. But if you don’t care about Twitter or social media, then yes it will seem like most people won’t care.
You are so right Cecilia. The Daily Mail commenters have shown just how deep in hate the “royal ass-lickers” are. Harry, a true war veteran, could walk on water and heal cancer with a touch and they would still hate him and want to see him punished for what they think he and Meghan have done to the monarchy. The hate for Meghan is even worse – I never read the comments before, but now I can see why Harry doesn’t want his wife or son in England anymore.
By the way, has anyone noticed that the comments on the DM articles are repeated from page to page? It makes it seem like there are more comments total than there actually are in truth. Is this a clue that bots are posting?
Plans are starting to be made to open up offices at my work. We’re being asked whether we want to go back to the office or WFH. It occurred to me today that all Harry and Meghan wanted to do was “work from home.” To have spurned their offer to continue to serve, and strip him of his earned honors to boot, is just wrong and cruel. Worst Workplace Ever!
Ha! @Madmangomal I also hope he wears fatigues! Or his regular dress uniform, not the pompous overinflated costume his brother wears.
One thing I don’t get: why “quarantine” for six days? It’s 14 or it’s not worth anything, right?
Or is this just silly speculation, when in fact he’s been vaccinated and will be visiting friends and family the whole time?
Hope they are nice to him. O
You can quarantine for 5 days if you bring a negative test or test negative 3 times or something like that.
And you can also leave quarantine on compassionate grounds like a funeral.
I’m sure there are actual rules, but it is conveniently the exact amount of time he needs to avoid his family lol. Good plan! Quarantine, funeral, GTFO of dodge.
Is it different if you have been vaccinated? It might be shorter if he has had his COVID vaccine.
I find it wear that they would wear military uniforms to a funeral in general, but more so since this isn’t a state funeral.
Active duty military personnel will often wear uniforms to the funerals of other military personnel. My uncle was a retired Marine and was buried at Arlington (he had served in Korea). One of my cousins was in the Army (on active duty and stationed at the Pentagon) and wore his uniform to the funeral. Partially because it was Arlington and he felt he had to be in uniform and partly because he felt it was the right thing to do to honor our uncle’s service.
Since no one in that family is active duty, none of them should be wearing military uniforms. It is not a state funeral. And if Charles and William wear one but Harry doesn’t, they will look stupid. Neither did combat service and William in particular almost got kicked out for how little he did.
Why can’t he just wear his formal army uniform? That’s his by right, and the RF didn’t/couldn’t strip him of his actual
Uniform.
As I understand it, he could wear that uniform but would have to get special permission.
@ Sid~ from whom would he have to get the special permission? His army ‘boss’ (I’m not clear on titles…so, his Commander?
To MOD as a veteran as I understand it.
He’s 100% been vaccinated. It is not difficult to get vaccinated in the US and we don’t have a cueing culture. I’ve seen no outrage tweets about any high-profile person being vaccinated before anyone else. They are more concerned with vaccine hesitancy and vaccines going bad than people getting vaccinated out of turn. I got vaccinated early because not enough people were signing up. Other posters have said you can volunteer at a vaccine site and get a vaccine in CA, but I’m not sure he would have even had to do that. It’s just not that hard.
Arnold Schwarzenegger made a big show of getting his weeks ago. The US just doesn’t have the same issues with rich or privileged people getting things first, which is ironic since you’d think Brits would have fewer problems with actual Royalty getting things out of turn. It strikes me as so odd the way they want them to be simultaneously overprivileged by birth-right, but also fly commercial and get their vaccines in the same order as everyone else.
I am with you. I never got the concept of the British “cueing culture” either.
What? People were definitely outraged when politicians who claimed it was a hoax got their vaccines before anyone else. And depending on your state, for a while there it WAS hard to get a vaccine and there definitely was a queue for it. Our state had pretty strict phases, its only this week that its opened up to anyone over 16. Now within the last few weeks its opened up a lot, even before it was open to all adults you could just get your work to write a letter saying you were “essential” and you could get one, there wasnt really any verification, but in the beginning it was a lot harder. And that’s if you could find a vaccine appointment.
Now maybe it was easier and less strict in California, for sure, but the way the British are doing it isnt that different from a lot of states, it just seems a bit stricter for longer.
@Becks1 I imagine it does vary by state. Where I am in Washington State, it hasn’t been difficult. A lot of it is word of mouth. Someone who knows someone will tell you there are vaccines available at such and such place. I think it was in TX they had a big batch go bad because they were sitting around? My grandmother did have issues getting an appointment in Idaho. I didn’t do the appointment thing though. I just showed up, because I’d heard through my ex people were getting them that way. He and several at his workplace got them before they were technically eligible.
We had official phases, but they didn’t seem to be highly enforced. You could also just fudge the questionnaire as it wasn’t verified. When I went to the mass vaccination center in the overflow lane, they didn’t even ask if I qualified, because they had so many open appointments every afternoon, which meant they had vaccines that weren’t being used. I think a lot of people weren’t checking whether appointments were booked because they knew they weren’t eligible yet. I didn’t until my ex alerted me. His girlfriend alerted him.
Another poster mentioned a couple of days ago she and several people she knew in their 20’s were already vaccinated in CA.
From our discussions yesterday, plenty of people in the US are still desperately trying to get a shot. Often because 20somethings are lying and taking up slots, instead of standing back and letting elders and those with health risks get the appointments.
Not any trouble with the wealthy and privileged getting things first? What was that news story I read, that made international news, about the Florida governor essentially selling shots to his wealthy donors?
@Bloemheks – you are saying exactly what you said yesterday, despite the fact that you had several responses from people with completely different experiences. It’s nice so many open appointments were available for you but that is far from the experience in my state and many other locations.
I’ll repeat the one comment I made, and leave it at that – the reason no one made a fuss about Arnold Schwarzenegger being able to get vaccinated is completely unrelated to any privilege or high profile. He is 73 years old, which means he’s 65+, and has been eligible in every state since vaccination began. The reason he made a big deal about it, was to encourage people to get vaccinated, by showing HE was doing it. So if you decide to repeat your comment again about how people here don’t have an issue with rich or privileged people getting theirs first, at least pick a better example.
It wasn’t initially, but has since been pretty easy to get vaccinated in CA. There are pockets of super conservative areas with plenty of pharmacy appointments available. You can also show up at the end of the day and ask if there are any vaccines available.
It was a big deal in Portland and Seattle, when hospitals gave vaccinations to big donors, when it was supposed to be just senior citizens. People were mad. The governor of Washington had to intervene. And it’s not easy getting vaccinated. You have to call and email and work the Internet. It is getting better but no walk in the park.
Let them have their fake uniforms and medals. It’s all they have. Harry has more than they’ll ever have.
I wonder if it’s offensive to the UK military that literally none of the royals wearing a uniform have served or if it’s considered an honor that they do? Idk the culture of it that well.
If the uniform is important to Harry, I’m sad he can’t wear it but him wearing a suit around a bunch of guys in uniforms that never served just highlights the pettiness of the royal family and it’s superficial pageantry. As Jack said, you can’t handle the truth.
Charles, Andrew and William all served in the military. Edward served briefly before dropping out. They also have honorary military positions (as does Anne) and will be wearing the uniforms of those I believe.
If we get a picture of all of them together, Harry in suit and others in uniform, it will be a symbolic image of what royalty truly represents. It’s all just pomp and pageantry, unearned privilege and accolades. To buy into it, you’d have to suspend your disbelief. Here is Harry, the most recent royal to have served in combat, stripped of (honorary) titles for standing by his wife and child. Next to him, Andrew, adorned in medals even after befriending a convicted paedophile and himself engaging in sex with a trafficked minor.
@Myra ITA! I hope there IS such a picture. Because it will do the exact opposite of what the BRF/BM thinks it will do.
It won’t remind the world that Harry’s being “punished,” it will only serve to show what a joke this family is. Everyone knows Harry is the real veteran, so it will make the rest of them look like children playing dress-up.
I think UK military or most military is used to honorary ranks if they have a royal family. If they are so offended they can say something. I suspect Harry is past this though he is sad.
@Myra, And notice how they word it: “the Duke of York, who stepped back from royal duties.” “Stepped back”, nothing to see here. All on the up and up.
But they *have* served (except for Edward, who, you’re right, really shouldn’t be in uniform). Only Andrew (Falklands) and Harry (Afghanistan) are combat veterans, but Charles and William were both in the military for about 5 years or so.
They’ve served (well not Edward or Anne) but they dont usually wear the uniform of their regiments, they wear uniforms of their honorary positions, and they certainly don’t only wear medals or other “awards” that they actually earned (I’m sorry I know its not awards but I dont know a better word lol).
Charles and William get to wear uniforms while they have never been in the military while Harry is not allowed is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard of. How petty is this? So small minded and mean.
Makes zero sense. He’s a veteran FFS. Maybe he doesn’t want to wear his uniform, which is fine, but he should have every right to wear one if he so wishes. Honestly I can’t stand these petty people.
@India I know. I’m with Kaiser here, though — imo all this will do is make it more obvious that the rest of them essentially wear these uniforms/medals as costumes which makes them look ridiculous, when Harry is the REAL veteran. He knows it and everyone there knows it. And so did Philip.
Charles and William did serve in the military. They did NOT serve in combat roles. Harry went to Afghanistan twice and saw combat. Ironically before him Andrew was the last royal to see combat during the Falklands War.
They have been in the military (Charles in the Navy and then RAF, William in the RAF, for around 5 years each). They’re not veterans, though, in Charles’ case partly because the UK wasn’t actively fighting at the time (1971-76) and in William’s because … I don’t know, he was in the air ambulance or Search & Rescue or something?
However, you’re right in that the uniforms they were are, as far as I understand it, for their honorary ranks, and not the rank they reached while in active service.
That’s a horrible way to think. Just because you didn’t see combat you’re not a veteran?! Nope, that’s not how it works. Let me go down to the SAR unit at the naval base and tell them that their service doesn’t count. Non-combatant military personal are STILL MILITARY and play important roles.
I can’t speak for the UK, but in the US, you’re a veteran when you become a member of the armed forces. Combat duty has nothing to do with it.
William almost got kicked out of the RAF for failing to attend his barracks and low flight time so this is more than just criticizing those who didn’t serve in a combat role. William didn’t even do what a regular person in a non combat role would be expected to do. People who served with him at the time did not like him but the establishment kept most of that quiet. So it is even more insulting for William to wear uniforms that he didn’t even remotely earn.
There are no stories of Charles being like this. Sadly Andrew who did do a combat role was known to be a huge diva and his peers dislike him. I think we can see a pattern here.
When William took a helicopter and landed it in Buckleberry, it’s the kind of thing that would have gotten anyone else a dishonourable discharge since it would be considered theft, but William got a pass, as he has done with everything in his life.
Good lord, the reporting on this is out of control.
In a way, I think the “good” thing about Harry’s return for the funeral is that often the first [whatever] is the hardest, you know? This takes some of the drama away from the statute unveiling in July, because now Harry will have been back to the UK, he’ll have seen his family, including William, etc. the first visit home will be fairly somber, no real chance for William’s shenanigans because the focus is on Prince Philip and the Queen, etc.
I don’t understand why Harry can’t wear his dress uniform from his regiment? But I do think its a bad look if William and Charles are there with their uniforms full of unearned medals while Harry and Andrew are in suits.
(Andrew is a disgusting sex offender so he can wear a suit and I don’t care about that, but I do care that it seems that Harry is being pushed into the same category as Andrew, you know?)
I doubt he’ll even go to the statue unveiling.
At this point I think the only reason he wouldn’t go is because of Meghan and the baby, which would be a very valid reason. Or if something really ugly goes down this week between him and William.
Like I said, now he’s gotten the whole “first visit back” out of the way. Clearly the press is going to be unhinged every time he goes back (I’m hoping eventually they lose interest though?) but some of the tension around “first time Harry and William see each other since The Interview! First time Harry is at KP since The Interview!” is going to be happening now, not in July for the unveiling.
The reason why im doubtful he will go is because of the way they’d been talking about that statue unveiling in the days before philips death. “He better be there or else…”. It felt like they were setting up a narrative. Which makes me wonder if harry told them that it’s unlikely he’ll make it.
I agree with you tho that the reason for not going would either have to be their baby girl or covid related. If harry can help it he would want to be there. Simply because its about his mother.
I could see him skipping the statue unveiling. If I was in his position, I would be quarantining 14 days upon returning to the California both times. The UK rule about 5-6 days and a negative COVID test is a little lax for me. Just because the average person gets sick within 5 days after exposure doesn’t mean you couldn’t be the person who gets sick on day 7-14. Not to mention false negatives. I wouldn’t mess around with a baby involved. If he’s taking proper precautions, he’ll be physically away from Meghan 3 weeks this time. We don’t know exactly what it will be like in July, but another 3 weeks would be a lot. Can you imaging Harry being stuck in a guest room for 2 weeks while he could be enjoying his new baby girl? I really can’t!
Oh well of course quarantining is an issue and Harry may decide after this week that it’s not worth it for the statute unveiling.
I just think that some stans feel very strongly that “HARRY BETTER NOT GO BACK FOR THAT” and the truth is that Harry is going to do what’s right for him, and at least right now as it relates to the statute, there is one less “obstacle” – i.e. that the first visit home will have already happened.
But I’ve said all along that if Harry doesn’t go to the statute, it will be because of COVID and the baby, and not because of William or his birth family.
I don’t know why Harry wouldn’t be allowed to wear the dress uniform from his regiment. Under normal circumstances, he would be allowed. The only thing I can think of is that the Royals feel that only those who are actively “in” the military (even though it’s only honorary) should wear uniforms. Which would explain why Edward is wearing a uniform, but Andrew isn’t. I know at least one of Andrew’s military appointments dropped him and it was his most important. So, he’s likely either lost them all or doesn’t want to remind the ones he has that he still has them.
I think you can only wear uniform if you were above the rank of major when you left. The uniform Harry wore at his wedding was the ceremonial one that he inherited from Prince Philip (that patronage isnt his anymore though so it would be inappropriate if he wore it).
I’m assuming he will wear a suit with the medals that he earned while in the military (like he did when he laid a wreath in the USA in November).
@mynameispearl. The uniform he wore at his wedding is not what he inherited from prince philip. It from the blues & royals. The regiment he served in.
Yup, his wedding uniform was from his regiment, its why William’s uniform was more decorated, because he has more honorary “awards” in that regiment than Harry. Harry could have worn a different uniform that would have had more awards but he wanted to wear his regiment’s uniform.
(I know “awards” isn’t the right word but I don’t know what is lol.)
@pearl – Harry wore his Blues and Royals uniform for his wedding. That was his regiment while he was in the military. He inherited the Royal Marines from Prince Philip.
I did a small search to see what the rules were for the British Military because I’m only vaguely aware of what they are for Americans. Unlike in America, A person who has retired from the British military isn’t officially allowed to wear their full uniform after retiring unless they have been given specific permission. It would be seen as illegally impersonating an active service member. Which actually makes sense of some articles that were put out around the time of Harry’s wedding saying that the Queen had given Harry permission to wear his Blues and Royals uniform. I didn’t notice them at the time, but they came up when I was trying to find the rules. Veterans are often given a pass at weddings and funerals simply because it doesn’t usually cause problems. However, they should all be asking permission before they wear them. I can see the Royals being stricter about the protocol.
Thanks ainsley7 for looking that up. The rules do seem diff than the US. I’m thinking Harry could wear a blue suit as a nod?
If he wore a blue suit instead of a black one, he’d be dinged for not being in a true mourning outfit.
@ainsley7 well if that’s the case then I guess he can wear it if he wants.
I dont know why any of them would want to wear a military uniform once they done anyway, like if I was a retired obstetrician for example, I’d not show up everywhere in hospital scrubs lol!
I dont get it, but Ireland doesnt really have a military, and I despise the British army as I’m from NI so my knowledge of this is super limited.
Everyone should just wear a nice black suit and no fancy dress costumes lol
In case anyone asks, yes Charles wore a navy suit to Diana’s funeral instead of a black one. Why? Because Diana hated black at funerals and that was her fav of his suits.
I swear Becks, you and I are ALWAYS on the same wavelength!
I was thinking the same thing. In a a way it’s best that his first time back is a funeral. I hope out of respect to the Queen the PR shenanigans will be at a minimum. And the family will be on their best behavior. And the press won’t descend like a pack of wolves and keep their distance and be on their best behavior. Everything will happen based on Philip and the Queen’s wishes.
Of course that won’t stop the crazy articles but we all expected that.
Also, Harry can get this family visit out of the way before the baby is born because I don’t think he’s budging from Montecito for the next 6 months. And I’m more convinced than ever that Harry won’t come for the Diana statue unveiling. It’s far too close to the baby’s due date and after having spent several weeks away and quarantining from Meghan and Archie (1 week in the UK, 2 weeks back home), ain’t no way in hell he’s gonna do it again in 2 months.
Because you KNOW everything around the statue unveiling will be orchestrated by William and KP and he can’t be trusted one iota.
@Snuffles totally agree with you and Becks. Obviously it’s awful for Harry that his grandpa died, but that being said, the timing IS extremely fortuitous for him. People will simply have to behave themselves, be civil, and keep this about Philip and the Queen. It’s a funeral ffs and most people adjust their behavior accordingly and put their own issues aside temporarily in situations like this, in my experience. And if Harry doesn’t go to the statue event, the press can’t shriek, “He’s too ashamed to show his face in the UK!!!”
They’re placing so much importance on this unveiling, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Harry doesn’t go; he’ll have a newborn at home. He has nothing to prove to anyone. It’s not as if whether or not he attends this particular event has anything to do with his feelings for Diana — the entire world knows now much he loved and misses her.
Great point that this visit is like pulling off the band-aid. Although I think it’s less likely now he’ll come back for the statue unveiling, not more — from a covid standpoint we see he can make it if he really wanted to, but if he goes back in July he’ll have to go a week earlier than the unveiling to quarantine, and as much as he loves his mother, I just don’t think he’ll be willing to go through this insanity again with their daughter’s birth either imminent or having just occurred. It’s already gross with the headlines — People says something like “Prince Harry back in the UK for the first time without Meghan Markle”, as if she’s some shrew who is being unreasonable and refusing to see his family for no good reason. He really didn’t have a choice with this one way or another, between WANTING to be there for his grandparents and not really having the option to skip something like this bc of the optics, what have you, but I honestly don’t feel like a statue unveiling is that as big a deal, even if the statue is of Diana. It’s a whole lot of hullabaloo over something that’s just not that imperative to do at this particular time — the statue is always going to be there.
A statute is a written law.
These people and their prevailing pettiness. Do they not understand how bad it looks to purposely downgrade Harry with this obsolete protocol? To the rest of the world watching, and not just Daily Fail readers?
(I hope he wears his fatigues. And that Prince Andrew also purposely wears a dress uniform anyway.)
The fact that harry is prohibited from wearing his military uniform is shameful and just shows how low the windsors are willing to go. That being said, im irrationally angry at the fact that harry had to pay 2.4 million for that stupid cottage and now he can’t quarantine there. I know he has a good relationship with eugenie and she just had a baby and he needs to quarantine. But FFS that is HIS house.
It’s probably best that he doesn’t go there. Who knows how many bugs have been planted in that place. At least at not cott, he can likely go outside and talk to his wife. Paying for frogmore can be viewed as a “freedom tax” that he was fortunate to be able to pay: it was a “gift” with serious strings attached, which is part of the narcissist/abuser MO. The ratchets were salty about him paying for it because the “gift” was supposed to be an albatross that kept him obligated to the RF
Could bugs not be planted at Nottingham cottage though? If it’s in Kensington I’m worried if William isn’t there he will be soon and stalking Harry outside the doors and windows.
That is his house that he allowed other people to live in. Would you like it if your landlord told you that, hey, I have a funeral, I’m going to crash at my apartment that you’re living in, so make sure the guest room is made up? Nevermind your newborn baby and the fact that I have to quarantine and need my protection officers with me….
Like…that just wouldn’t be cool.
@lemons. I know all of that. And it still pisses me off. It pissed me of he even let eugenie live there tbh because if that were me i would let FC rot. But hey, harry is a better person than me.
Just made me think of Harry playing with their son after he finishes quarantine…that would be so precious.
Yes, but when he allowed them to live there, it was with the understanding that it was still his house in the UK and that he and Meghan were still going to stay there whenever they came back. It’s not the typical landlord situation. It’s more like if I go to my parent’s beach house and stay for a few weeks and my parents come down for a weekend. Even though they told me I could stay for a few weeks, its still their house and they can still use it for a weekend if they want.
But of course the quarantining and the new baby changes the situation a bit – but that’s why he’s not staying there, it’s not because it’s Eugenie’s house.
He’s at Frogmore now, so it looks like we can breathe easy.
Eugene and Jack probably have a lease and pay rent? Harry can’t kick them out if they’re tenants.
Eugenie and Jack probably feel horrible that Harry can’t stay there because of the quarantine rules; they seem to still have a perfectly good relationship with the Sussexes. But between Covid and their newborn, it’s too risky.
I don’t think Harry would have any animosity about it, and tbh, if I were him, I would want to be leftTF alone this entire week. I guess that’s the one silver lining to Covid; Harry is technically following the rules, but conveniently, it also happens to take the onus off of him to have to see or deal with any of them this week.
I don’t see why people are insisting Harry should kick Eugenie’s jack and the baby out. I imagine he has rented the place out to them – instead of having the place empty. Can you really see him kicking young parents with a baby out? Would you respect him if he did.
You can own a place but that doesn’t give you the right to treat tenants badly
Do they really have a lease and pay rent? I kind of question that. This feels more like the cousins’ version of a grace and favor setup maybe because Jack and Eugenie can’t afford a fully secured place of their own.
I question it as well, Sid, because Harry and Meghan have a formal/legal Crown Estate lease. The sublease has to be publicly purchased, as Angus Ogilvy (Princess Alexandra’s late husband) did for their Crown Estate home.
Nota, that is good info and makes me think they definitely aren’t paying rent.
Maybe he insisted that Eugenie, Jack and the baby stay put and he would go elsewhere. I could totally see him not wanting to disrupt them, esp knowing what it’s like with an infant. It’s easier for him to just set up shop somewhere else than for them to pack up everything to leave for a week or two. If he is truly close with them he would want to make it as uncomplicated for everyone as possible.
Exactly. And he can’t quarantine with 2 people he hasn’t been with in ages, much less their newborn baby. It’s not only common sense, it’s the definition of effectively quarantining!
Omid has remarked on Twitter that Harry is at Frogmore Cottage.
That would make more sense to me than NottCott.
I trust Omid.
Then maybe it is true that W (&K?) are at KP and everyone involved thought it best to keep Harry as far away from those two as possible.
Keep up the petty digs royal family, you’re just reminding him why he dipped on your asses in the first place.
Exactly! Every petty slight a reminder of why he is so much happier in California
Well if Chucky, Baldinham and sensitive Eddie can all wear uniforms none of them have earned the right to wear, then maybe it’s for the best Harry doesn’t because them wearing it makes a mockery of all that have served and earned the right to like Harry. I swear those people and the unhinged section of British are all cracked in the head.
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+1 at 💯
I imagine Harry has made some peace with not wearing a uniform? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the feelings of it have vanished but over a year later, he’s probably aware he’s not going to be wearing a uniform and expected it.
I think so. I mean, after all his father & brother done to his family, can’t wear military uniform is mild. Of course it hurt him. But, he’ll be fine
After the Remembrance Day wreath snub, I’m sure Harry isn’t surprised at the disrespect towards his service.
Which is why I don’t get his allegiance to his grandmother at this point since that was supposedly her decision. I have surmised before and I do so here, that Elizabeth is not with it and it’s being kept a secret because she represents stability. That’s the only reason I can imagine Harry is still so loyal to her after what she’s allowed to happen to him and his family. Frankly if I were Meghan, I would expect him to be done with all of them, but I’m that person and it’s obvious Meghan is just a better human than most. There is so much more going on in that family than we know and it’s obvious the media is aware of it and others are silent as the grave about it. Elizabeth is not running anything and hasn’t for awhile is my take away and it would explain why both Harry and Meghan are so willing to give her a pass on everything.
I also don’t think the Queen is “with it” anymore, and like you (and others) have surmised, is probably struggling with some kind of age-related cognitive decline that prevents her from actually taking charge of things and leading the monarchy and the family. Neither the family, the government, or the media would reveal this because, as you said, the Queen represents stability. Moreover, she’s a convenient figure to hide behind when they get criticized for their nonsense because at this stage she’s like Teflon and no criticism will stick to her. Harry and Meghan clearly know all about this (and probably know the wreath decision wasn’t made by her) but won’t reveal it because of the large consequences it could have.
(BTW, this is why Peter Morgan, creator of The Crown, said he’ll only write about this period of the monarchy’s history 20 years from now — because there’s too many things happening behind the scenes that we don’t know about and can only guess at but which will become more clear to us with the passing of time).
So Camilla’s Tampon, TOB, and Oops Baby will be wearing playskool dress up uniforms while the actual veteran of war will be in a suit.
Yeah, they’re not getting the apology from Harry that they think they’re “owed”.
And he won’t be there for the statue unveiling.
How bizarre, petty, and totally on brand. As Luanne de Lesseps sang: “money can’t buy you class”.
The Royal courtiers and Will were probably cackling at how to humiliate Harry symbolically at every big royal event and this was it. “Let’s take away his outfits!!”. What they don’t get is you can’t take away his charisma, and hard work. Stuff like this just puts a fire under his ass to work harder. Also he’s the big celebrity at this event, besides the queen. They are delusional if they think people will tune into into see the sexiest bald man alive just because he’s wearing a cute costume he didn’t even earn. lol!
Is wearing military uniforms to funerals a European thing? I haven’t been to a lot of funerals myself, but people were just dressed in “church clothes” in subdued colors. I can’t specifically think of ever going to the funeral of anyone who served in the military either, though.
Depends on the family and traditions but frequently if the deceased is a veteran, people who have served will wear their dress uniforms to the funeral. It’s not universal, but I’ve seen it a couple of times for people of my Grandparents’ generation who served in WWII.
Soldiers and veterans usually have a special uniform for those kind of formal occasions (weddings, funerals etc). Harry won’t be there army camo, but imo he should be able to wear his blues&royals uni (the one he wore at his wedding). But apparently he is banned from doing so.
Who banned him? Other than his cowardly father or his grandmother, who’s calling the shots and why would Harry even listen to them at this point?
The funerals that I’ve gone to where there are military service members–active or retired–wore their dress uniforms especially if the person being buried was in the service. When my grandfather as buried (he was exempt from the military) two of my uncles, one from my father’s side of the family and the other from my mothers, who their dress uniforms. It’s a sign of respect. I live in the U.S.
It pains me to put Harry and Andrew in the same sentence but they are both war veterans. Philip was proud of his military service and the best tribute would be his son and grandson, the only other veterans, dressed in military uniform. It’s a joke for Charles, Edward or William it so up in honorary uniforms. While the dm is whipped up to a frenzy they will be laughing stocks to the rest of the world.
I really hope that during the coverage every single non-UK broadcaster explains that those wearing the uniforms are the ones who aren’t actually veterans.
Charles did serve in the royal navy for a few years but, of course, not in combat and his medals are all for fake stuff having to do with “serving the queen”. Will went to Sandhurst and was an officer in the Royal Calvary but I have no idea what he supposedly did in the Calvary. He switched to the RAF in 2009 and did his air ambulance thing for a couple of years. Again, the medals he has are Queen-awarded. Edward, of course, dropped out of military training. For the number of non-combat years served neither Charles nor Will would be entitled to uniform wear as a veteran. I wonder if Anne will wear one of her fake uniforms. Harry and Andrew both served in combat and should be the ones in uniform, as well as, Tim Laurence as career military. How does it not irritate those who are career and/or served in combat to see all the fake awards and uniforms on these people? How do they themselves wear them without feeling like big frauds?
@Equality— your last sentence— exactly how I feel. If I was involved in this mess, I would be MORTIFIED to stand next to Harry wearing some fake-ass uniform as dress-up when he was the one who actually served significant time, including two tours in Afghanistan, ffs. I would feel like such a jackass! But we know none of these people have any self-awareness.
So, I’m not particularly plugged into the UK side of things, but has the British military rank-and-file come out in support of Harry with all this? I just can’t imagine what they must think of one of the few royals to have *truly* served in an active war zone being treated like this.
I mean, Harry wasn’t dishonorably discharged (or whatever Brits would call it), why wouldn’t he be able to wear whatever the traditional dress uniform it is for his branch of the military? Is that not allowed in the UK? In the US, veterans can still wear their dress uniforms for certain events even if they are no longer enlisted.
He outranks Will-di Amin for one, and TOB wants to be styled in “African Dictator Chic” without comparison (Top CEO is not the only one who loves shiny buttons!). Uncle Edward, who dropped out of the military during basic training, will be wearing Ye Olde Military Costume-y, borrowed from the Royal Theater. Any swords will just be pretend hilts (I know dress uniforms don’t have swords—I’m just snarking)
Can someone remind me what TOB stands for?
@dilettante, The Other Brother. I had to think about it a bit myself and figured it out the other day!
Thx swirlmamad!
Harry & Meghan attended the Mountbatten Festival of Music in 2020 as one of their last public events before last year’s Commonwealth service. The festival features musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines. They were surrounded by Royal Marines in dress uniform, and they were given a standing O. I’d say that Harry enjoys high support from UK armed forces.
I guess I just don’t understand British military protocol. Here in the US a veteran like Harry would absolutely be allowed to wear dress uniform for special events. But, it certainly wouldn’t be right for someone like Prince Edward, who dropped out of the military during training, to ever wear a uniform. It would be sort of “stolen valor” and I think maybe even some kind of criminal impersonation under some circumstances.
Stripping Harry of his honorary military titles was such a mistake. Here we are, at the first family funeral since it happened. Harry will look dignified in a suit. But his relatives will look ridiculous, as if they’re in costume. Which they are! Harry doesn’t need to wear a bunch of shiny medals on his chest; his service stands for itself. But everyone else wearing those shiny medals while doing very little to “earn” them…I hope they feel ashamed.
Can he not even wear his metals on his suit lapel? The ones he earned himself I mean?
Yes, my understanding is that he can (and likely will) wear the medals he earned himself on his suit. He just has special military dress, for lack of a better word, that he won’t be allowed to wear.
Any pictures that come out will tell the story themselves. In fact, the uniform debacle may even prevent pictures from being published at all— I’m sure TOB and Edward will be embarrassed to stand next to Harry in a suit.
Edward might have enough decency to be embarrassed but would Will? I hope Harry at least wears his medals if they won’t let him wear his actual earned uniform.
I hope he also wears sunglasses and his bracelets and is the coolest one in the place. It doesn’t matter, we know who’s picture wil be posted most.
Just here to say: I love that they have no photos of him arriving at Heathrow.
Yes! I was so relieved there were no pictures of his arrival. You just know the media had the airport staked out. Harry flew in and next thing you know he turns up at KP. Total stealth mode. And I hope there are no sightings of him until Saturday’s funeral. AND I hope he wears a mask during the service.
Also does British Airways mean he went on a regular flight?
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Are we sure he’s even there? Has anyone other than the DM confirmed he’s there?
Lady D- there were no pictures but the DM did have description of his wearing “chinos and a jacket” so I’m pretty sure it was a real sighting by someone who couldn’t get a pic fast enough.
This breaks my heart. He deserves to wear that uniform and will look starkly odd compared to the other royals. Hopefully Harry will only get stronger from being treated so poorly. I worry for his mental health…. I think all of this would break me.
I can’t imagine being forced to grieve alone for 5 days. But of course a lot of people have experienced that over the last year plus.
It is what is is re: the uniform, but I imagine it’ll be hard for him to have to confront everything he’s lost over the next few days, without the present reminder of why he sacrificed as he did (Meg & babies). I wonder if he’ll stay for a little while.
They might not allow him to wear his military uniform, but I’m pretty certain Harry is still going to salute his grandfather like a soldier.
Love this. The ultimate snub to the petty patrol! And you know he will look DAMN HOT (somberly) in his classy, well-cut suit, so there.
And he won’t have to wear Spanx to fit in his uniform either.
YES! Harry’s salute will be a very powerful moment.
I believe in the UK you only salute when wearing a hat or beret (not sure how they do it in the US)
In the US you can only salute our of uniform when the national anthem is playing. You never salute indoors, only stand at attention
I sort of hope they prevent him from wearing a uniform. It would totally bring out the pettiness of the BRF for the world to see. Given their PR is so incompetent I can see this happening.
I feel for Harry, but I’m sure he isn’t alone alone- seems as though the York princesses are team Harry.
Actually, wasn’t there a whole story about the princesses mean-girling Duchess Catty long before Meghan? And the press presenting them as the ugly Cinderella step-sisters? Funny how these things keep happening…
Kate bullied much younger Beatrice and Eugenie repeatedly when they were still in their teens. Goes to show how little William cares about his cousins, never stopping Kate from meangirling his teen relatives.
Does William really care about anybody other than William?
Doubtful.
Isn’t there an article in the Daily Fail though that Fergie txt P Moron her support. Something about missing his humour in the mornings. P Moron then tweeted that maybe they could have a morning show called Morgan and Fergie. They are all snakes. Total low lives.
If the Royal family thinks they’re going to make Harry look bad by wearing their fake uniforms while he is wearing a suit, they are sadly mistaken. This is another one of those things that will blow up in their faces — everyone knows who the real veteran is and visually they will look ludicrous in their play costumes while he wears a well-tailored suit adorned with his deserved/non-honorary military medals.
Again, who is doing these people’s PR? Why can’t they tell them that punishing (or appearing to punish) Harry and Meghan (particularly post-Oprah interview) looks unseemly?
EDIT: the fact that Andrew might also wear a suit will also reflect badly on the RF rather than Harry because it implies that the RF believes their transgressions (sexual assault vs protecting wife and kids) are on the same level. Any person of goodwill and reason knows they are not and those people will (and already have, at least on my Twitter timeline) call it out.
Agree with everyone here re uniform. I’m also surprised the palace actually told the truth re Meghan. Was expecting them to go the “no comment” route, despite the fact that H&M’s spokespeople already made a statement.
He’s going to dress to honor his grandfather, so I do believe he will wear a dress uniform. I’m looking forward to the photo of Harry the veteran saluting Philip the veteran.
This is going to be such a tough situation for him. The media is going nuts, he has to go by himself and stay around the terrible BRF for a week, and he’s mourning the loss of his grandfather. I hope he’s somehow able to tune out all that noise, pay for respects to his grandfather, and then head home to his loving family.
I also hope he wears whatever he wants. If the rest of the Royals wanna be mad about it, Oh well.
I was thinking this too, especially since having the press scrutinize his every movement during a funeral is something that caused him so much pain when his mom died. I hope he’s okay and he has at least one or two family allies to vent with this week.
Speculation, but I imagine Eugenie and maybe Beatrice will have his back.
Came back to share this awesome video. Twitter blowing up over the uniform debacle. https://twitter.com/royal_suitor/status/1381358596697464833
Omg…thank u for sharing this!
That made me tear up, and I’m not a crier! I think it was seeing him leave the interview and sprint to whatever was happening on the military base he was serving at, followed by all the hugging and joking.
He’s probably made peace with his grandpa’s passing to a degree already. I know with the family members who made it to Philip’s approximate age and health, there was a lot of time to mourn their decline.
I hope he has a peaceful, low contact time and funeral.
Woo, lord, that clip with Harry on active duty gets me every time…
OMG!!! Love this so much and love Harry!
Teammeg That video is awesome thanks for sharing. This is what a prince should be. ‘To those whom much is given much is expected’ and all that, Wow!!
Not surprised about Nottingham Cottage. I didn’t think he’d want to bother new mum Eugenie, even though he and Meghan are footing the bill for Frogmore.
I hope Harry doesn’t wear his uniform so that when Edward turns up in his, it will show how ridiculous this whole thing is.
This is so unfair to Harry, it makes me mad.
I doubt any of them will be in military dress- as it’s a private funeral not state one I’m more thinking normal black suits like when Margaret died. But anyway if they are hope Harry stunts in a sharp, tailored suit.
Also from latest reports in the U.K. sounds like the press don’t actually know where Harry is staying.
Yeah, I don’t think they know either. If I were to venture a guess, it’s at Elton John’s home. Doesn’t he live around the corner in Windsor?
I think they will all wear suits because it’s not a state funeral. But you know William will tell the tabloids they did it for Harry (like the Commonwealth service)
I agree. Maybe I’m too American, but I don’t understand the need to wear a military uniform to a funeral. Never seen that.
Not allowing Harry to wear the uniform is petty especially when drop out Edward can wear one. Just reaffirm why Harry left.
This funeral is going to be a mess. Bad enough Bad Dad gave a statement to the Fail for condolences and now Ma and Pa Middleton are leaking to Page Six they are going to the service although the official guest list will be announced this Thursday.
It’s not traditional service like Harry’s but Charles did serve several years in the Navy on 4-5 ships back in the 1970s (1971-75) after he graduated Cambridge. He also trained with the RAF at their school. He knows how to fly several military aircraft. It was seen as a modernizing move at the time to not go directly into the armed services and he became the first heir to graduate university. So he has military service but still the uniforms are all honorary. Edward and Anne have no service and William barely.
The uniform thing really, really bothers me. Poor Harry. He did more to earn that uniform than anybody else at the funeral.
According to Omid, he’s at Frogmore. I find it hilarious that the rags like the Fail keep thinking they’re in the know.
Call me superficial, but I don’t like that he got the smallest place in the huge KP and later, the servant quarters. While all the other spares live in palatial estates, each their own or wedding gifts. It makes me so angry.
I assume by other spares you mean the children of the actual monarch? Are you so angry that the other grandchildren were not gifted estates? William only got his as he is the future future monarch.
Why would the other grandchildren get gifted estates in this modern era though? The Queen’s children got estates because they were the Queen’s children. I figure William and Harry got estates because they were children of the future king and working senior royals. Just like the Cambridge kids can expect to be gifted homes when the time comes. It’s just that the Queen living forever has thrown off the timeline of when things would normally happen.
They were offered the massive Gloucester space at KP, next to W&K. They chose Frogmore Cottage.
@nota – Do you know “for sure” they were offered the Gloucester place at KP? I read it was never offered to the Sussexes. I am not doubting you at all as you have excellent sources. I am just wondering what really went down.
@Bay – the Sussexes themselves said they were offered it in one of their exit statements, but that it was going to take longer to renovate than Frogmore and that it was going be more $$, so they took Frogmore bc it would be ready before Meghan had the baby.
All ridiculous bc they were apparently happy in the Cotswolds but the damn British press couldn’t leave them alone.
I kind of like the idea of Harry just showing up in well-cut suit while his relatives wear all of their pomp and regalia. He’s a veteran, everybody knows that, and he doesn’t need to wear the uniform to be credible.
He might actually stand out more if he’s walking beside William or Edward in their fancy dress, and I think many of the photo captions would clarify that he’s wearing a suit because he has been stripped of his patronages. Kind of distracting for what should be a funeral for Philip.
Reminds me of Gilbert and Sullivan operetta HMS Pinafore, where the characters were not aware of their own absurdity. Just characters on a stage, the pretentious English class system on display.
Am I the online who finds it refreshing to see their CA home mentioned without immediately being followed by how much it cost?
It was a nice change.
I wonder if Harry told someone that he’d be at Nott cottage to see if Baldimort would keep on leaking? If so it was smart of Harry to do a litmus test immediately upon arrival.
+1
ooh interesting point, I think you’re absolutely right.
Definitely an interesting point, especially since it seems like Will and Kate might be in Norfolk right now. If they were in London, you’d think they’d know whether Harry would be on KP grounds.
I don’t think that it will matter to Harry that he can’t wear his uniform. It’s definitely going to sting to see his brother, father and uncle wear uniforms that they never put their lives on the line to earn while he and his sex-offender uncle are in suits. But Harry isn’t there to wear a uniform. He’s there to honour the grandfather he dearly loved. On the worst day of his life, Phillip was there, marching with his grandsons. Apparently Harry and William said they would only do ‘the walk’ if Phillip was with them. They didn’t care if their dad came along.
The British media and their audience are insisting on making the Duke’s funeral into a soap opera and, in doing so, they’re committing the crime that they’ve repeatedly accused Harry and Meghan of doing. They are disrespecting the memory of the Duke of Edinburgh and his service to his country. A pox on all their houses.
I’m glad Harry is isolating in his and Meghan’s UK residence. That Not Cott stay looked like an attempt for Billy the Bully to spy on Harry and report back to his handlers Piers Morgan and Dan Wotton.
A funeral is the worst time to be debating these things.. I hope PW finds all the support and help he can from the Middletons he seems to require an entourage to “get him through”. (The worst self serving ridiculous article I’ve read in a long time, shameful)
PH will return home to his wife and family sometime after the funeral and all of this will be nothing but old news.
It amazes me that the press and public don’t think family that lives apart have a relationship! How isolated is that Island?? Did Brexit not include international communication ability?
I wish the queen put an eight day halt on tabloids to honor the mourning days..
Now I’m laughing at the fact that they quietly corrected the rota’s incorrect info about Harry’s quarantine location. Either that, or it’s a false trail for security purposes. Either way, it’s salt in the wound for the rotten rota and I am here for it.
I hope it’s warm on Saturday, just so their fake chocolate medals melt.
Harry being the only one of them in a plain suit really highlights how inept the rest of them are. The only one who has served (I’m no counting the nonce) doesn’t get to wear the full military get up, but the oneS who haven’t do get to were their fake medals that they award themselves, it only makes them look like clowns not harry. Not to mentions it’s disrespectful to all those who have actually served their country, like their contributions doesn’t matter cos being royal is more important.
I know Harry respects the Queen but I would love for him to wear whatever military uniform he wishes.
It now seems that Harry is at Windsor castle. Musical chairs or a smokescreen?
If I were Harry I’d wear the uniform anyway. What are they gonna do? Bar him from the funeral? He earned his uniform.
He won’t wear it if it is against regulations for retired military.
I’m glad for Harry’s sake he has to quarantine. That means he can’t see his family members. He can be by himself right up until the funeral, attend the services, and jet out of there as soon as they’re done. I know the press will get pics but not of Harry’s entire week — just pics from the actual day of the funeral.
It is heartbreaking that Diana spent her entire life after the age of — what was it, 19? — being hunted by the paparazzi, up until her death, and now her son and his wife and his child (and soon, both his children) will be similarly hunted anytime they go to the UK or major cities in Europe.
My God. The main photo for this article says EVERYTHING.
I am sure that the Queen will be involved in discussions about the ‘dress’ for the funeral ie uniform or no uniform. As it is such a small ceremony l wouldn’t be surprised if they all wear suits. I wonder if the Queen will wear a black veil.
Harry looks so damm good in black.