General News about the Sussex Family, Part One: May 2019 - March 2020

[Dman]

Yeah, the nasty stories can go and suck big eggs but I truly miss Harry and Meghan and hearing about Archie from the couple. I hope they’re having a nice and relaxing break though. A very busy royal calendar is coming up in the new year.

 

[Osipi]

With this being the holiday season, I couldn't help but think that with the Sussexes being on a hiatus out of the public eye, the public itself is getting to experience what its like if there were no Sussexes at all. Kind of a George Bailey "Its A Wonderful Life" kind of thing. It will make us appreciate them even more when they do return to their royal roles. ?

 

[Curryong]

I miss Harry and Meghan terribly too. So looking forward to seeing them both in January. However the Press will never leave them alone, unfortunately.

 

[wartenberg7]

I miss Harry and Meghan terribly too. So looking forward to seeing them both in January. However the Press will never leave them alone, unfortunately.

Now they will create even more of a spectacle after taking time out of the spotlight...

 

[Curryong]

Helping to make even more money for their charities, interacting and chatting/joking with people they meet on their engagements, Harry having a ball with children, Meghan making thoughtful speeches again. It will be great!

 

[ACO]

I am glad they have been away. It has been fascinating watching how the press has reacted to it and the stories they have attempted to come up with. Interesting taste of a real possibility in a future of them not being part of the monarchy (if it came down to it).

They will be back next year though and it will be back to normal. Hoping for a better 2020 for everyone.

 

[BaiSoSo]

Now they will create even more of a spectacle after taking time out of the spotlight...

What does this even mean? That they will get back to work promoting charities and worthwhile causes? Yep, that is their work and their passion.

 

[gerry]

I am glad they have been away. It has been fascinating watching how the press has reacted to it and the stories they have attempted to come up with. Interesting taste of a real possibility in a future of them not being part of the monarchy (if it came down to it).

They will be back next year though and it will be back to normal. Hoping for a better 2020 for everyone.

The fascination is how the BRITISH press has reacted to the Sussex Christmas gambit. Clearly they have not sent their intrepid reporters in pursuit of the young family spending Christmas in Los Angeles so that lessons have already been learned. What I find wonderful and impressive is how the US press and, more specifically, the Angelenos, have left the family alone. Correct me, fellow TRF members, if I am wrong, but I think even the paps realise that the Sussex family is kryptonite for tabloid editors. I have hopes that the new year will see a much improved relationship between the Sussex family and the press.

 

[Madame Verseau]

They are not releasing their location for the holidays probably to make sure the Markles don't try and show up with "presents" for Archie and a camera crew moaning why they have been ghosted. So far only a rehash story from Uncle Mike and he was dragged on social medial foe his trouble.

 

[Osipi]

They're not releasing their location for the holidays simply because it is their private time and any other speculative "reasons" are just that. Pure speculation and worthless. They're spending the holidays privately and that's all we need to know. ?

 

[ACO]

They not telling where they are because it is none of our business. And the press has zero idea where they are which is a good thing.

 

[Mbruno]

They're not releasing their location for the holidays simply because it is their private time and any other speculative "reasons" are just that. Pure speculation and worthless. They're spending the holidays privately and that's all we need to know. ?

Where does one draw the privacy line for public figures ?


Most people generally agree that the public has a "right to know" for example where the Queen or the President of the United States for that matter spend the holidays. At least that kind of information is normally publicly disclosed.


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the other hand don't rise to the same level as a Head of State , so I think it is by no means unreasonable that their holiday plans be kept private. The thing is , however, that they make such a fuss of withholding information from the press, whether it is Archie's place of birth or the identity of his godparents, or now their holiday plans, that the end result is getting even worse press coverage.


As some posters have said here before, that seems to be the "Hollywood celebrity" style of dealing with the press, while other senior royals in the UK or in other European countries take a much more relaxed and less confrontational approach.

 

[ACO]

Are they making a fuss or is it the media the ones having a fit for not knowing? There is a difference. I personally don't see them doing anything. I mean in this case they said they would be with Doria because they knew not showing up would cause a lot of questions despite the fact other members don't attend regularly either. It is what it is. It is not "Hollywood" but I do think the public feel entitled.

 

[Somebody]

I agree that this time no fuss was created by the couple. In the case of keeping Archie's birth private (and issuing false statements about the birth on the day itself) and even more so in the case of the godparents, I do think they were to blame for a lot of the fuss created. But most royals prefer to keep their holiday destinations private, so, that's just 'normal royal behavior' - if that is even a thing.

As for other European monarchies: the Spanish king and queen are very strict about not revealing where they go on holiday (other than the few days of 'obligatory holiday' to Mallorca). And regarding the other most senior European royals: in most cases the location of their holiday homes and their favorite skiing destinations are known, they typically don't inform the press about other locations they enjoy visiting for their holidays.

 

[Fijiro]

Where does one draw the privacy line for public figures ?


Most people generally agree that the public has a "right to know" for example where the Queen or the President of the United States for that matter spend the holidays. At least that kind of information is normally publicly disclosed.


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the other hand don't rise to the same level as a Head of State , so I think it is by no means unreasonable that their holiday plans be kept private. The thing is , however, that they make such a fuss of withholding information from the press, whether it is Archie's place of birth or the identity of his godparents, or now their holiday plans, that the end result is getting even worse press coverage.


As some posters have said here before, that seems to be the "Hollywood celebrity" style of dealing with the press, while other senior royals in the UK or in other European countries take a much more relaxed and less confrontational approach.

I hope they're having a good vacation wherever they are. I don't remember other royals announcing where they are going on vacation.
.

 

[Somebody]

The only thing that might raise some questions is the length of their holiday. If other royals are gone for 6 weeks (or more) in the winter they would normally explain that they were doing something educational (or a combination of work and family visit)... In summer, a long(er) holiday is more common.

 

[Mbruno]

I hope they're having a good vacation wherever they are. I don't remember other royals announcing where they are going on vacation.
.

Nonetheless, everybody knows/knew where Queen Beatrix, Queen Margrethe, King Carl Gustaf, or Queen Elizabeth are/were on the holidays and vacations.


We even know when the Belgian royal couple and their kids go to Egypt, India or Spain. It is hardly a secret and no effort is made to hide that information from the public.


That is what I mean by taking "a relaxed approach". H&M act like the press is out there to get them and they have to hide from them.

 

[ACO]

I don't think they are hiding. Just because the public is unaware doesn't mean they are hiding. We aren't entitled to know their location. And why do we need to know? I don't get the need for them to have to announce their vacation plans. We know they are with her mother. What more do we need? We didn't even need that.

 

[Somebody]

Nonetheless, everybody knows/knew where Queen Beatrix, Queen Margrethe, King Carl Gustaf, or Queen Elizabeth are/were on the holidays and vacations.


We even know when the Belgian royal couple and their kids go to Egypt, India or Spain. It is hardly a secret and no effort is made to hide that information from the public.

That is what I mean by taking "a relaxed approach". H&M act like the press is out there to get them and they have to hide from them.

More relevant comparisons would be where prince Constantijn & princess Laurentien, prince Joachim and princess Marie, princess Madeleine, and the earl and countess of Wessex and their families go on holiday - instead of comparing a family that is not in a direct line to the throne with kings and queens.

And I am not sure that other royals don't make efforts to hide where they go (the Dutch king at times tells the press with a very big grin that he is not going to reveal where they will spend their holiday as that is a private matter). Most of them seem to prefer to go unnoticed but some are (slightly) better at it than others.

 

[Mbruno]

More relevant comparisons would be where prince Constantijn & princess Laurentien, prince Joachim and princess Marie, princess Madeleine, and the earl and countess of Wessex and their families go on holiday - instead of comparing a family that is not in a direct line to the throne with kings and queens.
.

I did say a couple of posts ago that I agree H&M do not rise to the same level as a Head of State and that it is not unreasonable that they keep their holiday plans private.


I was just pointing out a pattern in their behavior where they seem to have this paranoid image of the press as the enemy from whom they have to defend themselves not to get hurt. They would be better off if they "chilled" as the Americans say.



And BTW, when CP and Sofia go on vacation in southern France or wherever, we also know about it.

 

[Somebody]

I did say a couple of posts ago that I agree H&M do not rise to the same level as a Head of State and that it is not unreasonable that they keep their holiday plans private.

Yes, that's why it was even stranger to compare their behavior in this respect to that of heads of states.

I was just pointing out a pattern in their behavior where they seem to have this paranoid image of the press as the enemy from whom they have to defend themselves not to get hurt. They would be better off if they "chilled" as the Americans say.

I agree with the general tendency - but in this case, I don't see what they could or should have done differently.

And BTW, when CP and Sofia go on vacation in southern France or wherever, we also know about it.

I am only aware of them spending time at Öland and in Southern France (both part of the aforementioned 'holiday homes') but not privy to all other holiday destinations but I could have easily missed it.

 

[ACO]

Chill from what exactly? What have they actually done to the media other than the lawsuit that is a very specific case? If anything the media should chill more in regards to the Sussexes. They are visiting her mother. That is all anyone needs to know.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Meghan and Harry deserve this break and I hope they're having a nice time away with Archie. I can understand why they wouldn't want to disclose the location of their trip; as they no doubt will have the press flying there within seconds if they'd announced it - especially given the recent lawsuit against such press.

 

[Dman]

Folks, the royals has never revealed the locations when they’re on a private break. The location only comes up when they’re spotted by locals and they talk to the press and/or their privacy has been violated by the paps.

May the Sussexes privacy continue to be respected and may they continue to enjoy their family time away.

 

[Fijiro]

Nonetheless, everybody knows/knew where Queen Beatrix, Queen Margrethe, King Carl Gustaf, or Queen Elizabeth are/were on the holidays and vacations.

We even know when the Belgian royal couple and their kids go to Egypt, India or Spain. It is hardly a secret and no effort is made to hide that information from the public.

That is what I mean by taking "a relaxed approach". H&M act like the press is out there to get them and they have to hide from them.

The Royals you mentioned above are Heads of State and people need to know where they are.

And yes, when it comes to H&M the Press="fake news", and looking for clicks.

 

[soapstar]

Let’s not go through another endless discussion about the Sussexes and their relationship with the media, please. Any further discussion about this will be deleted.

Posts discussing Christmas at Sandringham, have been moved here.

 

[Pranter]

I hope they are having a great holiday break wherever they are...and I don't think they are in L.A.


LaRae

 

[Helen.CH]

The only thing that might raise some questions is the length of their holiday. If other royals are gone for 6 weeks (or more) in the winter they would normally explain that they were doing something educational (or a combination of work and family visit)... In summer, a long(er) holiday is more common.

Thank you, I agree. A six week break from what? They have lost or never had a realistic idea of what work really means, I mean each commonor couple has maybe 4 jobs to keep the family going, plus care for the children and maybe elderly members plus cleaning the flat or house.....without nanny, servants.....
What have they done in the past to deserve a six week break?
May they enjoy it, but hardly working and keeping to complain about their hard life?
Nobody forces them to. Maybe what Meghan mentioned in the documentary like life is not just to get through might be some good advice for their future, though I do not believe Meghan could really live without the limelight, maybe Harry.
They should really be put in their place and make up their minds , not to fool the british people any longer.

 

[BaiSoSo]

Thank you, I agree. A six week break from what? They have lost or never had a realistic idea of what work really means, I mean each commonor couple has maybe 4 jobs to keep the family going, plus care for the children and maybe elderly members plus cleaning the flat or house.....without nanny, servants.....
What have they done in the past to deserve a six week break?
May they enjoy it, but hardly working and keeping to complain about their hard life?
Nobody forces them to. Maybe what Meghan mentioned in the documentary like life is not just to get through might be some good advice for their future, though I do not believe Meghan could really live without the limelight, maybe Harry.
They should really be put in their place and make up their minds , not to fool the british people any longer.

Did I read that right the royal woc and her husband need to "be put in their place"? Seriously??

The couple spent most of the summer working on and debuting projects and adjusting to life with a newborn, went on a tour with a 4 month old...all during a time in which most other royals were on 6-8 week holidays that is why they deserve their 6 week break now.

As for the limelight you say Meghan can't live without....outside of occasional post on their instagram highlighting important causes or emphasizing the spirit of the Christmas season we haven't seen or heard from them.

 

[muriel]

Thank you, I agree. A six week break from what? They have lost or never had a realistic idea of what work really means, I mean each commonor couple has maybe 4 jobs to keep the family going, plus care for the children and maybe elderly members plus cleaning the flat or house.....without nanny, servants.....
What have they done in the past to deserve a six week break?

I do not believe Harry or Meghan are answerable to us for when they have time off or the length of that break. If their bosses (HM, Charles and William) are happy, the matter ends there, as I see it.

May they enjoy it, but hardly working and keeping to complain about their hard life?
Nobody forces them to. Maybe what Meghan mentioned in the documentary like life is not just to get through might be some good advice for their future, though I do not believe Meghan could really live without the limelight, maybe Harry.
They should really be put in their place and make up their minds , not to fool the british people any longer.

I think a lot can be said about the way the Sussex' have conducted themselves over the last 18 months, but I suspect most of what anybody has to say, already has been. Therefore, I am not going to revisit old ground. However, I suspect "The Firm" is probably not unaware of the issues, and will be doing what it can to manage the said couple.