There were several half-hearted pieces in the Mail on Sunday and the Sun over the weekend about how Prince Charles and the Queen feel about Prince Harry’s recent confessionals. I’ve said that the royal commentators seemed to be phoning it in as they tried to manufacture Windsor-sympathetic controversy around Harry’s Armchair Expert interview. But what’s really interesting is that Harry went into a full-on detailed analysis in The Me You Can’t See of what the Windsors had done to him and how much he struggled. He spoke plainly about his well-founded fears that the Windsors and the British media would not stop harassing, abusing and neglecting Meghan until she died. He spoke about his worries that he would have to raise Archie by himself. Instead of dealing with the very specific and detailed conversations Harry is having, the Clarence House communications office has been putting out these vague stories about how Charles is deeply sensitive, how he can’t even speak on his own behalf and he’s feeling wretched about big, mean Harry. Really? That’s the response?
The Queen is big mad: One source said: ‘Harry’s grandmother has taken this very personally and is deeply upset by what Harry has said, in particular his comments about Charles’s parenting and suggesting his father knows no better because of how he was brought up. It has been a very upsetting time.’
Will Prince Charles cut the Sussexes off? ‘I don’t think the Prince will cut his son off despite what Harry has said,’ one friend said. ‘Charles will want to engage, but it’s fair to say what Harry has said in both interviews with Oprah has been seen as very callous within the family. If Harry was to attack the Queen in a more personal way, Charles would close ranks with the Queen without a doubt and Harry would be out in the cold. Charles is such a gentle man and a dedicated father first and foremost. He’ll be feeling wretched. He wants to seek a reconciliation. He is not vindictive at all.’
Insiders don’t understand why Prince Harry is talking about his mental health: ‘Everyone is struggling to understand what he gets from, or hopes to achieve, by interventions like this. It is perfectly possible to campaign effectively on the issue of mental health without talking in such intimate detail about his own experiences.’
Charles feels like Harry is villainizing him: “Father and son relations are at their lowest ever point. Harry says he wants reconciliation, but has clearly decided to villainise his father. Charles is just at a loss about what to do. Harry doesn’t seem to take into account that parenting styles have radically changed over recent years, especially the role a father plays. It’s just so wounding to him (Charles), he’s a sensitive man and these personal attacks hurt deeply. He can’t understand why Harry is doing this to him. He did so much for the wedding and even helped him move to Canada — contrary to what Harry has said.”
Charles can’t reply, you guys: “Charles is also frustrated that he can’t respond publicly to these accusations and the outlets that Harry is using do not have the burden of a right to reply. Harry just has carte blanche to say what he likes about his father while Charles must remain silent.”
The Sussexes weren’t treated poorly, according to the Windsors: “Sophie Wessex reached out to Meghan to help, but she didn’t take her up on it. The Sussexes had a full household at their disposal with their own team that they chose and hired to help them. No one knew Harry felt this way. He never said so.”
Penny Junor speaks: “It’s ironic that Harry says he does not want history to repeat itself, but that’s what he is engineering here. It’s history repeating itself. He’s saying he wants to break the cycle. But if he really was serious about wanting to get away, wanting to protect his wife and his child, and breaking the cycle, he should have gone to the US and just kept their heads down and become private individuals. Is Archie really going to be able to settle into normal life, with normal friends, and be anonymous if he chooses, if his parents had made such a public show of what they felt about other members of his family?”
Ingrid Seward speaks: “I know a lot of people when they go into therapy are inclined to blame their parents for what happened to them. But I find it so hard to understand what Harry’s trying to do because he had the most magical childhood and should stop blaming his family. He was given everything. Diana spoiled him rotten and Prince Charles was a wonderful father to those boys. He is certainly blaming his family and indeed damaging them in doing so. It’s incredibly hurtful for them. I imagine it makes them very angry.”
A few things: “It is perfectly possible to campaign effectively on the issue of mental health without talking in such intimate detail about his own experiences.” The Windsors’ version of “campaigning on mental health” is to say “mental health” a few times while watching football, it seems. Having watched The Me You Can’t See, the intimacy of seeing different people deal with their mental health struggles was astounding and humanizing. Harry got raw and real, as did everyone else. He did that so that people would understand him, and so people would understand that they too could be that raw and real. Speaking about it helps. Stigmatizing people for telling their stories does not help.
“I don’t think the Prince will cut his son off despite what Harry has said.” What else is there to “cut off”? Harry is living his life independently of Charles in every way. These dumb threats do nothing but emphasize how out-of-touch Charles really is. “Charles is also frustrated that he can’t respond publicly to these accusations and the outlets that Harry is using do not have the burden of a right to reply.” Poor Charles, with only massive Clarence House and Buckingham Palace communications teams at his disposal to get his story out to sympathetic British media.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
Behold the craven coward.
I agree that Charles and William (and others) have behaved despicably. But I think a lot of people are missing the point. The more everyone disses them, rags on them and demonizes them, the more they will dig in their heels and not change. And in fact, they CAN’T CHANGE. They are what they are. Do you really believe that they can change? Do you really believe they will change? Dream on.
Prince Harry is cut from a different cloth. But do you really think that if he were the FFK he’d be so sensitive and independent? I doubt it, as much as I actually adore the man and respect him.
Prince Charles is a stunted, stilted product of his background, his era, and a thousand years of bullshi-.
The only way we might see change is if Prince Harry and Meghan drop more receipts, or ALL receipts. But I personally see no redeeming factors to the British monarchy – or any monarchy. It’s an outdated concept and institution. If receipts are dropped and it finally kills off the British monarchy some die hards will whine and piss and moan that they want – no NEED – their damn monarchy.
Meanwhile in Montecito…. 😀
Okay, but Charles was one of the people who put it out there publicly-that he didn’t have the best nourishing parental figures growing up-so if Harry said it then I don’t understand why they’re mad at him about it because Charles was the one who put it on record and allowed his biographers to even talk about it in his biography so Harry isn’t saying anything that we don’t already know.
And this is what I’m talking about. It’s the high levels of hypocrisy for me that really bother because everyone else is allowed to have a r3avesling moment of truth and bear their burdens to the world except for Harry. Just super weird.
There’s also the hypocrisy of FK Chaz moaning through anonymous sources about how he can’t respond to Harry’s public statements, that he’s in pain that he can’t share … whilst … sharing it. And that one of the things that caused Harry pain and distress before/during Sussexit was that the RF and Institution forbid him from responding publicly to media attacks on his family, while having no problem firing back at negative stories about Kate et al.
And does Charles not recall his months of blathering about how The Crown depicted him and Camilla?
LOL This weeping & moaning & gnashing of their mustard yellow teeth abt “no right of reply” policy by the media tht H is using (i:e Oprah & CBS) is just their way of admitting tht they tried to slip Oprah or Gayle their usual “palace source” info & refused to hv any VIP palace spokesperson go on the record to rebutt whatever untruths they want us to believe H spk abt.
Oprah prolly said sure I wd love to interview Prince Charles…..anytime. Please let him know we can arrange to hv a sit down….I’ll fly to whichever of his palaces he wants to use. Then he could use tht opp to present his side of the story and answer the questions I wd ask him…..just as the Sussexes did. LMFAO
Agree! Or Charles’ years of ‘blathering’ against Diana using every means at his disposal including friends like Soames and reporters like Junor and Seward. Please! Now Charles is using the same tactics against his own son, with the addition of bludgeoning Harry with his widowed, elderly grandmother and weaponizing William. Harry has the right to his own voice and his own actions. At least Harry is using his own voice and not ‘hiding behind the curtain pulling levers’ like his pathetic family. I’m beginning to see strong similarities between a cult and the loyalty and self-emolation the royal family demand.
Charles revealed that info about the parenting he received or lack thereof to evoke sympathy for HIMSELF. The problem now is that the same info about him evokes sympathy for Harry and anger for Charles. That’s the difference.
Cry me a river. Every protest against Harry’s right to share his life experience gives lie to the idea that the monarchy supports actual good mental health in any way.
People aren’t stupid.
Awwwww poor puddin’
It may just be ME (it usually is) but it seems like Haz is saying what most of that RF family is thinking but don’t have the stones to do so. They’re also mad because he’s ripped off the blackout curtains and let the light in.
As for QE2, at this point I don’t think she gives a sh*t about anything except wearing comfy jammies, watching tv and playing with the puppy and having a drink or two. “Big mad” my a$$
I suspect Haz is on good terms with the family that doesn’t benefit from the crown, those who have independent income. It’s the magnificent 7 except the queen who are mad at him because it threatens their livelihood.
Yup. I think Harry gets on perfectly fine with the relatives that don’t work for The Crown.
Because everything is so clearly transactional with them—if I do something for you, you owe me: “He did so much for the wedding and even helped him move to Canada — contrary to what Harry has said.”
It must have been a profoundly transformational experience to meet Meghan, who wanted to build a relationship and not a series of transactions.
I think this is why he’s close with the York sisters and Anne’s kids.
How precisely were they supposed to ‘live quietly in America’ with no money? The only way they could have avoided all publicity would be to effectively go into seclusion since everything they do is news and they would then have no money for security.
If that’s what the RF wanted, they should have gone for an iron clad NDA in return for appropriate housing, security and income. They didn’t.
Penny Junor’s words are just revolting : this is the same woman who said Diana was crazy..she writes on the royals but Harry has no right to talk!!!
The irony here is that is 100% Charles’s fault that H&M couldn’t go live quietly in America. He withdrew their security with no notice, leaving the whole family in danger. They had no choice but to start earning money as soon as possible.
Obviously, the Firm thinks the Sussexes should have joined a cloistered community with no outside access.
I find the way these people are talking about mental health and therapy in particular infuriating. This line – “I know a lot of people when they go into therapy are inclined to blame their parents for what happened to them” is just wilfully misrepresentative of what therapy is like. As Harry himself has said, it’s not about blame, it’s about understanding. I’m not a huge royal fan but to have someone with his platform speaking so openly about inherited trauma, his inner child, and how “the body keeps the score” etc is HUGE. We need to destigmatise therapy, we need to make therapy more widely available, and we need to ensure more and more people are able to access the services they need.
It’s condescending and reductive and really underscores the fact that supporting good mental health is only performative for the royals. We already know the rota’s stance, with Diana as Exhibit A.
Yeah, their reaction here shows us that the royals really arent serious about mental health and never were. If they were, their talking point would be “we support Harry as he shares his story with the public and hope his story inspires others to seek help, no matter their position in life.”
Instead its gaslighting, whining, telling him to shut up, etc. It’s really not a good look for the mental health campaigners.
This 100%. He speaks like someone that’s had a lot of therapy. He’s able to step back, out of the emotion and rationally explain the situation. He’s not assigning blame, he sees it for how it is.
This is Charles hearing valid criticism and not being able to hear it. Classic case of “If I have an emotional reaction to something someone does or says, the other person is responsible for my emotions. And if something you did hurts me, then you consciously intended to hurt me and you were malicious.”
@Iris Yes, exactly. Having watched several eps of The Me You Can’t See (it’s terrific) I guess that Harry, Oprah, Stefani, and other celebs are sharing their stories to destigmatize therapy and talking about mental health. It might be therapeutic for them but I believe their main motivation is destigmatization.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Well said, IRIS.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Well said, IRIS.
I worked with a therapist for about a year & a half; we didn’t discuss my family at all, not once. I agree, that line is a deliberate misrepresentation of what therapy is & how it can help.
I feel like therapy can really help you move beyond just blaming your parents, if anything.
Okay so the two things that most stood out to me here were these statements:
“It is perfectly possible to campaign effectively on the issue of mental health without talking in such intimate detail about his own experiences”
I would say no, actually, its really not possible. We’ve seen that with W&K for the past however many years. Every time they talk about “mental health” its vague, bland, and frankly not very helpful. The Shout text line was a great initiative, but you have to wonder now how much of that was H&M. And in an added bit of irony, it sounds like at least Kate assumes that everyone with mental health issues had a rough childhood.
And then this comment:
“he had the most magical childhood and should stop blaming his family. He was given everything. Diana spoiled him rotten”
Harry’s whole point over the past few weeks/months is to put it out there that he did NOT have the most magical childhood. Having everything you want from a material standpoint does not make up for missing emotional aspects. And even if Diana filled that emotional void, she died when he was 12, remember Ingrid??? I mean I would even argue that it’s not really that magical for your mother to die at 12 (when you are most definitely still a child) and you have to walk behind her coffin with billions of people watching. I know, I know, that’s a radical thing to say.
I honestly don’t understand what point ingrid was trying to make with that because harry talked about the parenting of his father. Not his mother. And he also clearly talked about pain that stemmed from AFTER his mother died
People like Ingrid are upset that he’s not discussing Diana’s parenting as being a negative on his life. They know that all of their efforts to rehabilitate Charles’ image is tenuous because these same people have reported on how disconnected he was at times when it came to the boys. The two examples that stick to me were his reaction to Harry being a boy and redhaired, and when William was hit in the head by a classmate wielding a golf club. William needed to go the hospital because his skull was fractured. Charles didn’t rush to the hospital. What he did was finish what he was doing, and then went to the hospital. Once he saw him, he kept his engagement at the Opera instead of waiting by his bedside.
After Diana’s death, his PR kicked into overdrive to portray the “single dad” angle. The fact certain people KNOW this, and are clutching their pearls because Harry isn’t towing the line is really something.
@Bex – I don’t think it’s unreasonable to consider the effect of Diana’s mothering skills. I don’t know how much time the boys spent with Diana, what with being at school, etc., but a mother who is suicidal, who has an eating disorder, who is being ignored by her husband and in-laws, who is persecuted by the media – that has to have an effect on her mothering skills. Therapy can help one to recognize one’s parents’ human frailties, to accept them and move on. I don’t know if Harry has completely worked through this with regard to Diana, but it definitely seems like William has a lot to unpack.
Don’t you know it’s really magical to loose ones mother at the age of 12? It’s really magical to have ones mothers name smeared in the press. And let’s not forget the utter bliss of hearing ones father wanting to be his misstresses’ tampon. /s
When I think about how my childhood could have been more magical, I used to only focus on the fact that it needed more castles and horses and military marching units saluting our home. But thanks to Ingrid Seward, I now realize that what it was really missing was my parents waging an all-out media war against each other, my father leaving our family unit to take up with his old girlfriend, and my mom getting chased and killed in a car wreck when I was twelve. Then after that, being sent off to boarding school to suffer in silence. Honestly, when will this woman stop talking?
Yes it’s like every Disney fairytale come to life!
Child’s parent dies tragically, child is surrounded by uncaring ‘caregivers’, distracted or absent other parent/guardian, unhelpful/evil step relatives, or people who hide the truth from them or refuse to ever talk about ‘what happened), is shipped away from home, is denied their heritage, lied to, is unfairly made to toil while forced to hide their light under a barrel again and again, suffers pain, humiliation, loneliness, but somehow starts to become a help to others due to their true nature, forms strong friendships and finds meaning in their life through acts of bravery and selflessness, and eventually their true magical heroic self comes beaming through. They come to do things no one ever imagined possible, become a joy and a beacon to others, win the heart and hand of a prince/princess who loves them for their kindness and humor and character. And some older or wiser or richer or more magical character sees the big picture and lends their support exactly when it’s needed to fend off disaster (Tyler Perry and his plane, security) though the one true thing that was crucial and needed was in the hero all along.
I mean add in a couple of talking animal companions and you’ve the plot of A LOT of Disney animated movies right?
Ingrid: I mean, it was magical for Harry (Potter). Both his parents died and what did he do? He turned that frown upside down, became a wizard and defeated the Dark Lord! He didn’t go and cry to Oprah about his hard life! No, he just learned MAGIC. It’s so disappointing that Prince Harry didn’t follow Harry Potter’s example.
And even before she died, his parents had a bad marriage, were separated, etc. That can’t have been particularly magical either. Also, being sent right back to boarding school after her funeral where everyone was told not to talk about her. Magical.
RIGHT??? It’s not like everything was sunshine and roses and then his mother died. Their marriage was on the rocks for most of his life (at least the parts that he would remember.) Even if they tried to shield him, children pick up on so much.
Becks this is so true. My kids had a “great childhood” with their indulgent father but he caused a lot of upset, anxiety and trauma for them and us as a family that they still can’t process their trauma because he was the money guy. I think it will take many years and possibly his death before they will fully realize the truth and how he really wasn’t so great.
My kids are Harry’s age but he’s so much further along in his healing process than they are, and it makes me sad and even angry. But it makes me glad that HARRY SEES THE PROBLEM AND WANTS TO HELP TONS OF PEOPLE all over the world. He’s so human and compassionate. In the first episode of “The Me You Can’t See” he was brilliant.
Since I’m the lone member of my own family still speaking out about an unresolved family crisis, I’m here to say it sucks, and is truly the only way forward. You can’t bury family trauma forever, or else my nieces and nephews will have the same issues I’m having now.
Strength to you, ce. Your nieces and nephews are lucky to have you.
Harry has already been cut off. That’s exactly what he said in the oprah interview. And harry was also very clear that he has a good relationship with the queen so idk why they’re choosing this angle. As for charles….. if he cares so much about his son maybe he should call him. And its pretty clear that their staff wasn’t allowed to do much when it came to press harassment.
I think the queen is used as a bit of a stalking horse here – IF Harry were to say something offensive about his grandmother (he hasn’t, and I don’t think he will) then Charles will retaliate. It’s a way to look tough, I guess. And most people will likely just skim the words “Harry” “attack” and “Queen” and assume he actually said something terrible.
This spoke volumes to me: “It is perfectly possible to campaign effectively on the issue of mental health without talking in such intimate detail about his own experiences.”
Going to events and doing photo-ops DOES NOT resonate with people the way that talking about your own struggles does. This signals how truly out of touch he is (like some, but def not all, his age) with the mental health crisis all over the world. Harry’s vulnerability is a strength. History will be clear on that one.
Prince Harry had a “MAGICAL CHILDHOOD!?!?”
If they’re talking about like how Voldemort killed Harry Potter’s mum and he relives that terrifying moment over and over at a school for wizards while fighting that same dark magic, then yes. I suppose she is right, Harry’s childhood was ‘magic.’
You can be privileged and have PTSD. You can want privacy but not want to be silent. You can have money and still struggle mentally. These people reporting on this are so daft, how do they not understand these simple things?
This comparison is hilarious and amazing! And just to further your analogy, Harry was made a public figure and vilified by the press to protect an institution.(The ministry)
The British press is awful and look 20 years behind the times whenever mental health is brought up.
Oh I bet they *understand* alright. They. Just. Don’t. Care.
Anything to sell papers, get clicks.
And anything to keep pushing the RF/ RR/ Institution cult lies that Harry’s bad and doing mean, undignified, uncalled for things to hurt his family and why won’t he just go live under a rock already blah blah blah HOW DARE HE ATTACK OUR QUEEN!!!!!
As much as these pieces are designed to keep the hate against the Sussexes, I almost find part of it funny. What is there to cut off exactly, Charles doesn’t even have the authority to strip them of their HRH yet and the queen would never do that.
How can this woman can comfortably say Harry had a magical childhood ?
They shouldn’t talk about mental health at all it’s damaging.
Charles is just a horrible father. I understand his upbringing was horrible too but he did nothing to ensure his children wouldn’t have to suffer as he did. I’m sorry but I hope someone else in H&M’s life gets to hold the “grandfather” role for Archie and Baby Girl Sussex because Charles does not deserve.
What else is there to cut off? He stripped them of security at such a crucial time and funding. I’m sure they barely talk as it know. Those titles aren’t going anywhere. What’s left?
Nothing and the british media knows it too. If charles wants to built bridges with his son maybe he should start showing some public support. But it seems like the windsors only know how to do that when your name is andrew.
Here charles is, instead of calling his son, leaking to the press about how he feels and in the same breath saying that he can’t respond.
Harry is very clear about what ge wants from his family
” If charles wants to built bridges with his son maybe he should start showing some public support.”
I think Charles needs to come out and vocally support Harry publically.
Charles is trying to make himself the victim in this situation. I hope the public does not buy it.
That was my immediate thought, too – what exactly could Charles take away that Harry would miss? He’s already cut off funding, privileges and communication, what, Harry won’t be able to bask in the warmth of his affection? He’ll have to do without Charles’ gold standard advice for dealing with the media or being a parent?
It’s really amazing to me that Charles cut off security for Meghan and Archie and Harry yet he is supposed to be so “gentle” and “sensitive”? Where was this gentleness and sensitivity when Meghan was suffering and suicidal?
So tired of Charles being puffed up for merely existing.
I’m voting for Oprah and Stedman to be unoffical grandparents. They don’t have kids so it would be perfect all around.
I believe Charles is a narcissist. Camilla (for some reason) figured out that she had to treat him like a king and efface herself. In any situation the narcissist is the “victim” no matter what. Always. The narcissist is always misunderstood and unappreciated. The narcissist does everything for everyone and never gets his right rewards.
The narcissistic parent is the worst! I think it’s a family disease: typically the children of narcissists become narcissists themselves and others try to get therapy or to reach an understanding, or become agoraphobics. My guess is that narcissism entered the family via Queen Alexandra and also Maria Alexandrovna in the mid 19th century (circa 1863 forward).
Prince of Wales/heir apparent being turned into a narcissistic petulant monster is a consistent pattern going back centuries. People can’t spend their lives being told they’re Special and Chosen by God, deferred to, told that their most ordinary actions are admirable, that they’re special and superior to everybody and destined to rule over them, excuses made for every mistake, and not be turned into monsters.
Agoraphobics? Serious question, I don’t understand the link with a narcissistic parent.
That top picture is too much. Sad, shrunken applehead doll with lots of shiny medals.
“Imagine growing up treated as if you’re hard to love…later realizing you were the most worthy of them all…finding you’ve been surrounded by toxic people full of self hate who gained light by putting out yours. An insight that makes you invincible”
– I don’t know who I’m quoting, but I carry this around with me as a reminder. It’s a good reminder.
Thanks for sharing this.
Sounds like my childhood GuestWho.
“Your own family will talk shit about you when you’re in the process of breaking all their generational curses. This ain’t for the weak.”
Denzel Washington
Harry had a MAGICAL childhood!? What crack are they smoking!? Maybe these rota rats DO think rich and privileged is the secret to happiness. Because Harry would give away every last farthing to have his mother back.
“It is perfectly possible to campaign effectively on the issue of mental health without talking in such intimate detail about his own experiences.’”
No, it’s not. But I do think they believe this. You can’t be an effective mental health campaigner while pretending your own enormous trauma doesn’t exist. It’s MUCH more effective when it’s personal.
Well, I suppose it was ‘magical’ in the sense of being very similar to that experienced in fairytales or stories involving magic. Often the early years are idyllic, then a parent dies (Harry Potter, Snow White, Cinderella) and the rest of the character’s childhood is what needs to be overcome before winning through in the end. Looking at it like that, ‘magical’ may be a good description. Somehow, I don’t think that is what they mean, though.
But royalty! Castles! Crowns!
That’s as far as they go because the big lie they’re all clinging on to is that nothing is better than royalty. It’s the fantasy all the peasants must hold onto and these people are genuinely better than us.
All they are capable of doing is repeating the lie and defending the lie.
Not sure what happened to my comment, but if it shows up twice, apologies. (It was there and then disappeared.)
The Wainwright clan has been writing confessional songs and putting them out there for years – Loudon on his children, and his children on him. And yet, they get together and sing and have managed to balance the realities of the hurts and injuries inflicted alongside the love that endures.
Here’s a songlist;
“I’d Rather Be Lonely” – Loudon on the year Martha (then 14) lived with him
“Bloody Motherfucking Asshole” Martha, 21, looking back at the year she lived with her dad
“Dinner at 8,” Rufus Wainwright on Loudon
You can find all these on youtube, along with multiple recordings of the three of them singing together, which they do on the semi-regular. (As long as I’m on the topic, Rufus and Martha’s mother was Kate McGarrigle; their sister Lucy’s mother is Suzzy Roche. And you’ll find combinations of all of them singing on youtube and they’re all wonderful.)
They are either very bad at what they are doing, handling this as any good old controversy, engaging in usual victim blaming, gaslighting and one side outrage when all there was to do was simply reach out in privately, apologised and send the press one press release stating they made honest mistakes when handling the situation, are eagr to move on and hope to do it respectfully…OR
they are simply playing for their audience and their audience it aint us. What is keeping the Monarchy is apathy of the younger ones and the nostalgy of the old folks- you know, the brexiters. Maybe they think this discourse when it comes to Harry and Meghan resonates with their audience because of their prejudices and of the old culture of ” be calm and carry on.”
Maybe they ARE very smart indeed and we are all missing the point. Charles should know better, and yet he lets Will do as he pleases, and what pleases Will is doing nothing and, at some point, when William is a sixty year old man waiting to get a job, all the good will towards the son of Diana and father of three will be gone.
Charles is old enough to know monarchy is not a popularity context, but dependes on the public. He might very well playing the game of ” I wont be the last King” version of the hot potato game- his greatest win would be William being the LAST one.
I’m so tired of these people. I used to admire that country but now I can’t even watch a program with anyone with a British accent. They are going to keep pushing until Harry really goes off . We are in the 21st century all monarchies should go especially these morons. King of what ? Of where? Gtfoh
I got to the point where I could no longer watch any British period dramas unless they were about regular people, working or middle class people, with no sentimentality or attempt to whitewash the class system and present it as gentler than it was. I soured on Downton Abbey after Season 3 and that was that. I think it was Tory propaganda, or Period Porn at best, even if there were servant characters. YMMV,
I do watch The Crown because of its insights into the Windsors as a family, because while it presents them as human (which they are) it doesn’t shirk from portraying their flaws and misdeeds, either, and doesn’t try to excuse them. And sure, I watched Bridgerton but that’s a fluffy fantasy and at least they have racially diverse characters.
All of this. I tried to rewatch Downtown Abbey a few months back and I just had to turn it off. I clearly see now that it’s just straight up British Establishment propaganda. I didn’t understand the criticism of the show a decade ago from some circles but I totally get it now. The way everyone stays in their place, and joyously so, is so screwed up. The worship of and reverence of the Crawley family is screwed up. There are just all kinds of little things in that show that are designed to reinforce the class system. I didn’t even see it like that before but now I peep the agenda 100 percent. And I also have lost my appetite for British period dramas. I used to love them but now? No thanks.
“Charles is also frustrated that he can’t respond publicly to these accusations and the outlets that Harry is using do not have the burden of a right to reply.”
What are they talking about?
Oprah Winfrey would gladly interview Prince Charles any time Prince Charles wants to be interviewed.
Exactly. The reason why they aren’t replying (tho ironically they are leaking their feelings to the press) is because they can’t. Harry is right and they know it too. Meghan & Harry were right in that oprah interview and they know it too. The windsors don’t have a lef to stand on and they are hoping and praying to God that harry and meghan won’t drop the receipts on them.
Why would the queen be angry about what Harry said regarding Charles’ parenting when Charles have said worse about her own parenting? Also, it’s a bit hypocritical to tell others to open up about their struggles when you, as an advocate, refuse to do so. Questions like “what do you know about this issue?” are bound to come up.
It’s not Harry’s fault he was unsupported. Charles hasn’t proven how or what type of support he offered Harry. We never saw it before or after Sussexit. Making yourself look good on the day of the wedding does not make up for the neglect which occurred before and after that day. The only thing Charles has shown us is that he stripped Harry of his honorary titles, withdrew security, leaked his exit plans to the Sun and refused to have a wreath lain down on his behalf. That’s not support, that’s punishment.
“ Everyone is struggling to understand what he gets from, or hopes to achieve, by interventions like this. It is perfectly possible to campaign effectively on the issue of mental health without talking in such intimate detail about his own experiences.’”
B.S. It is so much more effective when you were sharing your own story because it shows that you understand and aren’t talking some vague theory. If you have gone through something and come out the other side, it gives people hope that they can overcome mental health obstacles and it removes the stigma. It also levels the playing field in terms of celebrity status or wealth and those without celebrity or wealth. It reminds us that everyone is human and life isn’t always a cakewalk for anyone.
So Sophie, the one who said Meghan was a, ‘degree wife’, especially ironic given she had an arranged marriage, supposedly reached out. Right. Meghan is kind, Sophie married for position. Sophie mocked meghan at every turn. As if I’d believe that
It was Sophie who said that? I thought it was the courtiers!!! WTF,she is more evil than I thought
I was willing to cut Charles slack after he swooped in and stood up for Meghan’s trifling ass Daddy when H&M got married….but AFTER I saw him sit back & watch The Firm throw H&M UNDER the bus to cover up for William’s cheating & not step in to stop the BM from being racist troglodytes & to cut Harry off like he did Harry’s Mama…
Charles can KICK ROCKS & I’m SO HAPPY that Harry ain’t giving Charles NO SHADE FROM THE HEAT OF TRUTH!
Charles will become King with the UNIVERSE knowing he is a rancid leader of his family…who can’t even keep William in check
This is something that I just can’t wrap my head around. Charles isn’t dumb. He had to realize how much public opinion of him rose at the time of the wedding – walking Meghan down the aisle, handing her off to Harry who said “thank you pa” was a very touching moment, H&M attending his garden party a few days later, they seemed to all be getting along and genuinely having a good time. We even heard that H&M went to Scotland that summer to stay with Charles at Castle Mey (“of Mey”?) and that Charles called her Tungsten etc. These things all made Charles look good. They made him look like an engaged father, an attentive father-in-law, and even after Archie was born and christened, that November H&M released the christening pic of Harry, Archie and Charles for his bday and THAT was cute, even if by that point many of us were like “wtf Charles, step in and stop this madness.” But that pic seemed to imply that they were still close with Charles.
And charles blew it. He blew all that good will and positive PR. Had he stood up for H&M, or not actively worked against them, this would all be very different. Even if H&M still walked away, if Charles had supported that, then it would make the convos very different – Harry might still talk about how he was raised but then finish it “now my father and I are in a good place, our relationship is stronger than it’s ever been” and Charles would, once again, look engaged, attentive, loving, supportive, etc, and it would, once again, be a PR win for him.
Instead he just threw H&M and their children to the wolves and now is whining that Harry isn’t helping him score PR points anymore.
I think Charles made a choice, and it was short-sighted, at best. When you keep your children at emotional remove, their loyalty to you will also be unreliable.
My guess is William has pledged to support Camilla becoming Queen and support Charles’ reign. In return, Charles helps with keeping Meghan out which is something Charles wants as well. They both work with the right-wing tabloids to ensure favorable coverage while the BBC is dismantled.
William is supposed to be the problem child, not Harry, and even then only in terms of continuing the monarchy. Harry’s struggles do not matter to Charles especially if the papers print what he wants.
We can tell that Charles knows that walking Meghan down the aisle was a high water mark for him because it gets referenced so much in these articles ( “He did so much for the wedding…”).
I mean, comparing yourself to Meghan’s dad and his toxic antics would make anybody come off well, but you can tell Charles enjoyed being the helpful patriarch, swooping in to the rescue, and certainly didn’t contradict accounts that he was secretly financing the Sussexes in Canada. Maybe he assumed that he could keep getting credit as a peacemaker between Harry the prodigal son and his “loving” family, that H and M would flounder on their own and have to be bailed out by Charles’ largesse, or that Harry would come crawling back, alone, eager for the promise of a pension and a few shiny military badges. Then Charles would get to play the generous father and get his most valuable asset back under obligation, and Harry would be the flighty, troubled, son who acted out, took on too much, and had to sheepishly move back to the family home. If Charles had had the ability to blackball Harry and Meghan in California, I’m sure he would have tried, all while maintaining deniability. I’m sure he never dreamed that Harry would both speak openly about Charles cutting him off, AND be believed. That must have been a huge blow.
In short, Charles made a bad bet, and I think he’s just now realizing the extent of his losses.
I LOL when I read Ingrid Seward’s comments. Harry just said that his childhood anything but magical especially after his mother died. Plus if Charles really wanted to respond, he would have found away. What Harry’s doing is exposing the weakness and ineffectiveness of William and Kate’s mental health advocacy.
These comments on “why can’t Harry just deal with this privately.” and “Charles wants reconciliation” are very triggering to someone who has dealt with a toxic family life and an unhealthy childhood like me. My mother sees reconciliation as “we ignore everything bad that happened and no longer demand the apology she will never give” and that is exactly what Charles wants too. Harry is standing up and shouting NO with his whole chest.
I really appreciate that Harry is modelling limited or no contact with toxic family members because its something that should be normalized.
So Charles is also an elegant man devoted to his country and family. Crisis managers have found their theme. All Windsor’s are too elegant to be touched by real life.
The Vanity Fair article on William was very much the work of his crisis manager, and this is Charles’ person working for him. Behind the scenes, those two are still petty and raging.
Of course, Charles can reply. He can pick up the phone and talk to his son. I’m sure the vipers will be happy to leak that to the BM.
BTW, I love that the ad that popped up here was for a mug that says “World’s Best Dad.”
He doesn’t want to reply, he wants to retaliate!
Charles wants to hurt Harry or discredit him, yet I think he’s smart enough to know that it will hurt his own reputation, so he’s stuck talking through “royal insiders” on background about how he’s a wonderful, sensitive man and definitely not vindictive, and he’s real salty about it.
Yikes – does Charles have the worst pr instincts ever? He wanted to do a point by point rebuttal of the Oprah interview, and now he wants to invalidate his son’s experience of grief? I fervently hope those new crisis managers are forceful enough to nix that option, geez.
Having your pet reporters say that Diana “spoiled” her boys while Charles was magnificent doesn’t bode well for the next month or so before Diana’s statue unveiling, especially if he’s still openly talking about “cutting Harry off” (from what exactly? Nonexistent funding? Your affection?? Your advice???)
It tells us everything about this family that they are whining about Harry revealing his trauma. No, you cannot be an effective advocate for mental health just by vaguely “raising awareness” or getting cute photo ops with children. And as far as wondering what Harry “gets” out of it? Uh, is it not possible that he actually wants to help people who are struggling instead of mere lip service? The royals view everything transactionally, like why would we do an event if it doesn’t appear on the court circular?
Lolz forever that they are still sour about Oprah’s involvement, trying to paint her as some callous opportunist leaching off Harry. All I can say to Charles and his crack team is: “You come at Queen Oprah, you’d best not miss.”
Indeed. Let them keep trying it and they’ll find out who the real queen is. And she don’t live in Windsor Castle.
I think there are two reasons the media response seems more half hearted with regard to the podcast and the doc. First, they don’t go as hard after Harry when Meghan is not directly involved. Remember, ideally they still want Harry back. So they will go after him but there is always a tone of “he’s being a bad boy but he’s still ours and we want him back”. The Oprah interview highlighted and humanized Meghan and for a portion of it he sat right beside her. That is why they went full on, stark raving mad. The fury and the vitriol was because of their hatred of her. Secondly, I think the media colludes with but doesn’t really like or respect the BRF particularly Charles and the Cambridge’s. The tabloids have been smearing the Sussexes at the behest of the royal family and what did it get them. The two biggest cash cows left and are thriving elsewhere. And American media is benefiting. Yet, they still have to prop up the BRF. Charles has been a punching bag for the media. Now in order to “punish” the Sussexes they have to humanize him. Before Meghan came along the tabloids were clearly fed up with and disinterested in the Cambridge’s. Now they have to present them as ideals. I think BTS they are fed up with the constant propping up because not only has it gained them nothing it is backfiring.
Are they all on drugs over there?
“But I find it so hard to understand what Harry’s trying to do because he had the most magical childhood and should stop blaming his family.”
Magical = Watched mother suffer because of the tabloids; mother eventually killed with tabloids in pursuit; made to walk behind her coffin and having to comfort others; unable to grieve publicly or privately; sent away to boarding school; father publicly caught in the most tawdry conversations with his mistress, teased at school because of it; always being shown and told that your sole purpose in life is to be “the spare”; not allowed therapy; pulled out of the military by family; made into an accessory by your brother and his wife, to tag along with them; etc.
That’s magical, all right.
No one in the Royal Family knows what it’s like to lose their mom except William and Harry. So musty old Anne and doddering old Andrew whose mother is still alive at 95, and especially Elizabeth, whose mom lived to be one hundred plus, should have nothing to say. The only Royal adjacent who could probably sympathize is Fergie–who also lost her mom in a very devastating car crash, albeit when she was grown. What a truly awful, selfish, unsympathetic group of people that I would not want to be around.
When Harry turned 21 & did interviews people like Penny & Ingrid said Harry could do with more parental guidance due to club H & other shenanigans in the press. Penny has also said the Windsors are cold & nobody ever says well done on a good job etc. They always say it’s their coldness which is why William sought refuge with the Middletons. Funny to see the same people act brand new about Harry’s upbringing. I guess they don’t want their jobs threatened if you can hear from a royal directly.
I don’t know why Charles is pretending he isn’t responding through his press surrogates. And is it always fight mode for the palace or would it be so revolutionary to put out a simple “I love my son”. I personally think showing love would be a better PR move whilst still not endorsing what Harry is saying. Instead sources claim he may cut his son off but of course he isn’t vindictive..
Harry never said anything about the support getting to Canada so this is disingenuous. he said he was cut off when they stepped back which was against what the palace told the press-that there would be transitional arrangement on matters of security etc until they obtain financial independence. In fact breakfast shows & tabloids were suggesting last year that if Sussexes were getting funds from duchy of Cornwall then it was still taxpayer funds.
That’s why one of the only things that was surprising about Oprah was the reveal that there hadn’t been that transitional support. It’s funny that those leaky palace sources kept that under wraps. Probably part of Harry’s anger with Charles is that he had cut them off whilst putting out in the press that he was supporting them even with their house purchase. Seems it’s all about PR with him at times.
When did Sophie Wessex reach out & was it one attempt/was it sincere. Was it only after the ITV documentary? The rota claimed that nobody was supporting the Sussexes in October 2019 except the queen visiting Frogmore at times to try & settle them. But Valentino Low knew by the summer of 2019 that Meghan was in distress & Max Foster said a courtier didn’t think it was strange to see her crying constantly. So surely other royals knew & we should have heard of more support/attempts to reach out? Again funny how the leaky palace & press kept the knowledge about Meghan’s mental health issues under wraps until after their exit.
Megan needed support on two fronts, some sort of palace response to the awful racism and lies and professional help coping with suicidal thoughts. What was Sophie bringing to the table. A pep talk about how she survived tabloid attacks?
What? I knew about Valentine Low and the HR thing but Max Foster knew that Meghan was constantlty crying?Wow!!! This is a new low…
And Sophie never reached out for Meghan,they are taking out of context a quote to a question Sophie responded (the interviewer said: did you try to help Meghan who was a carreer woman like you and she responded : we try to help everyone who enters the family)
Poor, poor, helpless Charles. No access to a phone, or computer, or stamps to send a letter. No way on earth to communicate with his son. He tried to send a carrier pigeon over to Harry, but the bird wasn’t used to flying such long distances and was lost somewhere over the Atlantic. If only the servants hadn’t misplaced all his naval flags, he could send a message in semaphore. On top of that, he was tricked by that sea witch into trading his voice for legs, because poor Charles forgot he already had legs!
I laughed really loudly at the image of Charles determinedly scrambling to the highest hill on his estate with semaphore flags to spell out a message to Harry!
It was the carrier pigeon for me lmao.
Charles will never come out in support of Harry publicly, even if he DOES feel some remorse for what has happened (and I doubt he does — he doesn’t have the emotional maturity or clarity for that) because if he even gives the slightest hint of positivity towards the Sussexes, the BM will throw cold water all over this whole “gentle, elegant king-to-be who is in so much pain over his son’s betrayal” schtick. It’s all a crock of shit and everyone knows it. He and Will are both next in line for the firing squad if either of them put “put a foot wrong” (as they love to say). They’re both jockeying for position to stay in the rat rota’s good graces.
What Harry’s doing is not my style but everyone has their own truth and the right to speak about it. If the royal family doesn’t like it they should not read/ listen/ watch it. They are already ostracizing Harry and cut him off financially but apparently not as much effective as they thought. Harry has much more resolve and determination then I used to think he had.
Doubt they’re speaking, but if they are and Charles cut Harry off I don’t think he’d be surprised or feel too deeply about it he’s already passed his lowest of expectations he couldn’t be disappointed or feel too much any further that Boundry was crossed long ago.
The royal family is now on record that they do not support or even understand mental health initiatives at all. They actively undermine the work of mental health professionals every time they open their mouths. Their message is: shut up, suffer in silence, prioritize the feelings of people who hurt you over yourself. People in privileged positions should never complain because they have no problems. Everything is okay because I feel fine. Know your place and stay in it. Don’t inconvenience me with your problems.
Marrying into that family is dangerous to life and health. This toxic family is supposed to represent the best of British values and culture. What a shame.
the fact that they say Harry had a “magical childhood” when he suffered at least two adverse childhood events–divorce and his mother’s death–is just astounding. Watching his mother being hunted daily by the photographers, having to walk behind her casket in front of the whole world–Harry and William may have been privileged, spoiled boys, but they also suffered legitimate trauma and pain. And all the while their father is carrying on with another woman, practically in plain sight. That wouldn’t be a “magical” childhood for anyone.
Not only are Chaz and the Queen the PARENTS here, but they’re also the MONARCHS (to-be). Meaning, they need to be the FUCKING GROWNUPS and fix their own damn family and stop whining about how hurt they are.
It’s obvious to everyone that Harry would forgive them, that he wants to move on. He wants to be HEALTHY and FUNCTIONAL and give his kids the gift of a healthy and balanced family.
His dad sniffling to the press instead of picking up the damn phone and scheduling a weekly family counseling session is the very definition of dysfunctional.
Good G-d, Charles is thin-skinned. And he thinks this is a good look on him??
Even the best parents have moments when their kids are disappointed in them, angry with them, think they could be doing better. But as THE PARENT, it’s their job to take the higher road in those situations, try to look at it objectively and understand where the kids are coming from. Instead, Charles is making it all about him. It makes him look petty and weak IMO.
And it’s despicable the way the media’s painting Harry as mean and malicious. As many others here have pointed out, it’s not helping the cause of mental health to be shaming and blaming someone who’s being candid about his mental health challenges. It’s sickening, and I worry about the non-famous, anonymous folks out there who will see what’s happening to Harry and hide their own struggles for fear of receiving the same treatment.
The only reason this push back is going is that there may be internal polling showing the Sussexes’ words are getting traction in the UK and the Commonwealth. The bad old days of the ’90s and the War of the Wales may be percolating.
Penny and Ingrid need to be put out to pasture. Their comments sound like they are not living in reality.
The Windsors’ version of dealing with their problems in public is to give a tell-all interview about how lousy their marriage was and that’s why they cheated, and it hasn’t been a great look so far, so maybe Harry has the right idea here? If Chuckie is so KEEN to have a better relationship with his younger son, maybe he should stop treating Harry like human chum for the rota frenzy.
Good grief, if this is the best their crisis PR people can come up with, they should just give up now.
“Everyone is struggling to understand what he gets from, or hopes to achieve, by interventions like this”… They’re really blind to everything except themselves, huh? They cannot fanthom he would speak of his mental health to help others, that’s all he’s been doing.. Helping, but they’re so focused on their petty fights.
Also lolz at the “most magical childhood” , as if we don’t know.
Look, at this point, it really is what it is. I think it’s so wonderful Harry is doing what he’s doing and speaking out to help others. I’m happy he put himself and his wife and child first.
I have two very close people in my life who have experienced trauma because of their parents. I, personally, experienced trauma at the hands of a sibling for the whole of my adolescence and didn’t feel protected by my mother. My one friend, after 5 years of not speaking at all to her father and step mother, has finally gotten them to accept some responsibility for the abuse she suffered from her bio mom as a child. Finally, they have opened to ears to listen, but for decades they called her dramatic, gaslit her, wash rinse repeat, until she finally walked away. My other girlfriend is finally accepting her parents will never change or acknowledge a part in her trauma. She is doing her own intensive therapy at this point. My own mother and I started healing when I was about 20, and she and I are closer than ever 17 years later.
Some people don’t want to hear they messed up their kids. They can’t accept it. They deny it, call them ungrateful, and refuse to accept any personal accountability. This is Charles. This is really prevalent in the Boomer generation where they also grew up with trauma and were taught to get on with their lives. It’s frustrating. And sad. Mostly sad for Harry, but also sad for Charles who misses out and let’s anger and pride run the show. But it just is what is.
Can you imagine the reaction when Harry & Oprah win the Emmy (or Oscar?) for The Me You Can’t See? Salty brains will be exploding everywhere. The articles will be bonkers. I’ll be eating popcorn and enjoying the toxic circus.
Oh lordy I pray it gets nominated. It DOES deserve the recognition, but that will be sweet, sweet justice.
In the fallout of Oprah’s interview,Katie Nichols was claiming that Charles was supporting Harry still in the US and there were bank statements…now they say he was still supporting him in Canada which is March and it is exactly what Harry said….
I highly doubt the queen cares at all about any of this. She just lost her husband and she’s nearing 100 years old. This is all her son’s problem now.
All of this madness stems from his not acting like a man. All he had to do was grow a damn spine. I feel no sorrow for him.
I got a postcard in the mail headed, “Save the monarchs!” I was like, “Hell, no!” when I realized they were talking about butterflies. I will donate to the butterflies, but not one cent (pence?) for the deadbeat losers in the U.K.
Welcome to America, Harry. You’re in the right place. We fought by for our independence, too, for all the same reasons.
He is literally the Prince of Wales. How is it possible that Charles is so often a victim and helpless. Poor pudding can’t pick up a phone and call his son!
What i find most amazing about these “poor Charles” stories is that they never try to argue that Charles is trying to reach out but is rebuffed or that he has shown any worry or empathy over hearing that his daughter in law wanted to kill herself while she was pregnant with his grandson. Like they cant even for PR sake PRETEND that he gives a s*** about Meghan. Instead Charles’ favorite tabloid hacks spent the week of his father’s death trashing his son and the week after gloating about how he wanted nothing to do with his son and was going to cut off to turn around a month later and cry “poor charles just lost his father hpw dare the son he refuses tp talk tp talk aboit how Charles was not the world’s best father”.
It really is something as well to see them whining about Charles not being able to tell his side when they claimed H&M would have to suck it up about not being able to tell theirs. Also: if the Sussexes having their own office negates press abuse then how is Charles a victim when he has a much larger household? They’re just pissed because theyre plans to strip H&M of their HRHs, security, and patronages and their coordination smear campaigns didnt destroy H&M and that H&M have major international allies in the press, entertainment, and corporate worlds. The fact that they believe that Harry’s words are successfully villainizing Charles shows that they know they have lost on an international scale.
William and Kate may be in competition with Prince Harry and Meghan but surely there is no need for Charles to compete with Harry.
There is no need for Charles to feel too embarrassed for cutting off Prince Harry financially. This is what wealthy parents all over the world do when faced with adult children who made life choices that the parents cannot agree to.
Time for Prince Charles to bury the hatchet
Charles had his chance to fix this and he dropped the ball. When Harry flew across for Prince Philip’s funeral that was Charles’ opportunity to repair the relationship and what did he do? Fly off to Scotland the first chance he can get. A public slap in the face to his son. He is an incandescent rageaholic.