The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 6: Aug. 2021- Oct. 2022

[OwlBranch]

And they had to contrast their perception of his family with their perfect relationship- working and personal. Got hit over the head with it imo.

The more I reflect on this entire interview- the worse they come off imo.

That quote is a bit confusing. I think it meant to say that Meghan lost HER Dad, but it does not have to be the case for Harry.

 

[Granada]

Oh, and I think Princess Anne is on Megan's list of NOT favorite People too !
Back in April of 2020, right after The Sussex's left, Anne gave an interview with Katie Nichol for Vanity Fair about work, philanthropy and not forgetting the basics of a "tried and true approach" to carrying out duties.

She said "Nowadays, they (the younger generation) are looking for a A LETS DO IT A NEW WAY". Anne goes on to explain that " I'm at an age, where we have been there..... done that.....lets NOT try to reinvent that particular wheel".

And what did Megan specifically mention in her interview.....That, when Harry and Meghan "asked" for financial freedom, they were not asking to "reinvent the wheel". Waaay to much of a coincidence phrase for me !

Like I have said before, this book of Harry's will be all settling scores and targeting individuals that they don't like or didn't drink the Sussex koolaide.

 

[Sionevar]

That quote is a bit confusing. I think it meant to say that Meghan lost HER Dad, but it does not have to be the case for Harry.

I also think that's what the statement meant, especially as the text immediately before it was talking about the lawsuit that involved the letter she wrote to her father. It was either poorly worded, or poorly transcribed - I'm not sure which.

 

[Erin9]

That quote is a bit confusing. I think it meant to say that Meghan lost HER Dad, but it does not have to be the case for Harry.

I think I have this right:

she says she lost her dad, Harry (via Meghan) says he lost his dad too and she says to the author it doesn’t have to be that way for him, but it’s his decision.

From my reading- doesn’t sound very good.

 

[crm2317]

Every time one of the Sussexes opens their mouths I like them less.

Why can’t they just get on with their philanthropy and new life in California? They have nothing to be famous for now apart from repeatedly airing their grievances against the royal family.

The worst part for me is that they know fine well they can keep stating all sorts as fact and that nobody in the royal family will come out to the media and tell their side. You’re not going to get William and Kate sitting down with Piers Morgan for a tell all interview!

 

[HRHHermione]

Every time one of the Sussexes opens their mouths I like them less.

Why can’t they just get on with their philanthropy and new life in California? They have nothing to be famous for now apart from repeatedly airing their grievances against the royal family.

The worst part for me is that they know fine well they can keep stating all sorts as fact and that nobody in the royal family will come out to the media and tell their side. You’re not going to get William and Kate sitting down with Piers Morgan for a tell all interview!

I’m not sure they can get on with it because I’m not sure they know what their brand is beyond exiled royals. It’s hard, for example, to create a cohesive brand out of an instinct for effortless and expensive luxury on one hand and “authentic causes” on the other. The magazine mentions Meghan burning a certain type of candle in her house that retails for about $100. I’d imagine the package she had her security give the homeless man in the story was valued at less than a single candle in her home.

There’s a lot about their brand that feels hypocritical and that’s why it’s struggling to land. Stuff like desperately wanting privacy on the one hand but selling a tell-all book, a podcast with personal anecdotes, a Netflix documentary about their “love story” if that’s what it turns out to be and all the rest of it.

If Harry really wanted to step away and be private, there were limited options but they were there. Working on conservation causes privately in Africa until the kids were school aged would have been a good option. Unfortunately, none of the good options available came with luxury homes and living conditions so this is where we are and it seems like their brand is spoiling pretty fast

 

[MaryVirginia]

As shallow as most celebrities are, I don't believe I have ever heard one describe hesitating to tour a 14 Million Dollar estate because, like "window shopping" as a chlld, it would feel so bad if you like it but cannot have it. She goes on to say that once she did tour the estate, they did whatever they had to do to buy it. (I am paraphrasing but I do not think I am askew from the import of her words.)

And she, Harry and her plebes continually imply/suggest that the RF is "out of touch"?!!! I doubt very seriously her attitude reflects a person "in touch" with the good people of the UK and it most certainly is out of touch with most people in the U.S. At least the RF has the good grace not to gloat over their fortune. I am sorry but the faux duchess needs a class in manners far more than her children.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

As shallow as most celebrities are, I don't believe I have ever heard one describe hesitating to tour a 14 Million Dollar estate because, like "window shopping" as a chlld, it would feel so bad if you like it but cannot have it. She goes on to say that once she did tour the estate, they did whatever they had to do to buy it. (I am paraphrasing but I do not think I am askew from the import of her words.)

And she, Harry and her plebes continually imply/suggest that the RF is "out of touch"?!!! I doubt very seriously her attitude reflects a person "in touch" with the good people of the UK and it most certainly is out of touch with most people in the U.S. At least the RF has the good grace not to gloat over their fortune. I am sorry but the faux duchess needs a class in manners far more than her children.

They (her fans) think that the two of them are so interesting and special that they will turn a blind eye to their tone-deafness and dismiss you by saying you are racist or so nasty when some of the things they do are silly and unnecessary.

 

[suztav]

She was a B-grade actress and he was the fifth in line to the throne. They could have had a very fulfilling life in Britain just by nature that she could have been an incredible role model for racial justice. He was charming.

Now ... they both sound like entitled spoiled brats! They only get invited to things because of their *titles* ... they haven't really done anything to position themselves as philanthropists.

A $100 candle! Give me a break!

 

[SirGyamfi1]

She was a B-grade actress and he was the fifth in line to the throne. They could have had a very fulfilling life in Britain just by nature that she could have been an incredible role model for racial justice. He was charming.

Now ... they both sound like entitled spoiled brats! They only get invited to things because of their *titles* ... they haven't really done anything to position themselves as philanthropists.

A $100 candle! Give me a break!

Sorry but you’re being too generous, she’s more of a Z-List actress and they are delusional and believe their own hype and thought they could pull it off to be this big brand.

 

[Durham]

“At one point in our conversation, instead of answering a question, she will suggest how I might transcribe the noises she’s making: “She’s making these guttural sounds, and I can’t quite articulate what it is she’s feeling in that moment because she has no word for it; she’s just moaning”

“We’re fixing all these things, the pipes, but that’s a whole story in itself,” Harry explains, exasperated.”

Is this satire?

You know Netflix would make an absolute fortune if they made a mockumentary on these two. MM groaning while H does home improvements.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

“At one point in our conversation, instead of answering a question, she will suggest how I might transcribe the noises she’s making: “She’s making these guttural sounds, and I can’t quite articulate what it is she’s feeling in that moment because she has no word for it; she’s just moaning”

“We’re fixing all these things, the pipes, but that’s a whole story in itself,” Harry explains, exasperated.”

Is this satire?

You know Netflix would make an absolute fortune if they made a mockumentary on these two. MM groaning while H does home improvements.

That’s a perfect idea for the two of them and it will be so easy to do because they have easily made fools of themselves since landing in Montecito. They’ll get their money from Netflix in no time with that idea. Maybe you should manage H&M instead of Sunshine Sachs.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

That interview left me with more questions than answers.

1) It contained the very serious allegation that members of the royal rota of reporters allowed access referred to Archie using a racial slur. This doesn’t seem likely to me, though perhaps she was referring to commenters on their articles rather than the reporters themselves. It felt like such a bombshell allegation that caution in how it was expressed would have been prudent.

2) Meghan stated several other members of the royal family have the “half in and half out” deal that she and Harry wanted for themselves, but no names are given. It’s hard to imagine who she could be referring too. Eugenie and Beatrice are the only two who come to mind, but their jobs are private and do not involve speaking to the media. So who did she mean?


3) She stated that if she lived in the UK, she couldn’t do the school run without a press pen of 40 photographers. That seems to go against press guidelines and as we know, William and Kate do the school run regularly and are almost never photographed during it.

It was a peculiar interview. It seems like the estrangement only gets more solidified with every interview given.

#1They will never admit who said because it because they are milking it for sympathy just like she did in the Oprah interview when she mentioned that someone talked about Archie’s skin color. Till today, she hasn’t mentioned names.

#2 As for that, we know the people she’s taking about the York’s, the Kent’s, Gloucester’s etc. She is consistently showing how little context and perspective she lacks. They have mentioned them in some previous dramas.

#3 very deliberate and directed at the Cambridge’s.

 

[HighGoalHighDreams]

#1They will never admit who said because it because they are milking it for sympathy just like she did in the Oprah interview when she mentioned that someone talked about Archie’s skin color. Till today, she hasn’t mentioned names.

#2 As for that, we know the people she’s taking about the York’s, the Kent’s, Gloucester’s etc. She is consistently showing how little context and perspective she lacks. They have mentioned them in some previous dramas.

#3 very deliberate and directed at the Cambridge’s.

Yes, particularly the bit about this making her a good and protective mother.

What is fascinating about the shots they repeatedly take at members of their family is that according to the Sussexes themselves, they were not able to speak up about their treatment during their time in the Royal Family. So why pepper shot after shot at people who, according to them, don't have the power to respond?

 

[HRHHermione]

#3 very deliberate and directed at the Cambridge’s.

That’s how it seemed, especially given it’s followed up with how her approach makes her a good parent. The implication seems to be that she disapproves of William and Kate’s parenting.

I honestly can’t tell at this point how much of her media persona to ascribe to ignorance and how much to ascribe to malice, but I will say this: at this point in her marriage and career, she’s had years to try to understand the institution her husband came from. You’d think maybe someone who wants you to believe she’s a serious thinker would have picked up a Sally Bedell Smith biography or maybe the Shawcross about the Queen Mother and at least tried to get a sense of the history and dynamics so she’d stop walking directly into situations where she reveals how little she understands about the monarchy and the British press.

 

[camelot23ca]

Is it just me or does anybody get the impression that the pair of them are constantly trying to hold something over the royal family. Drip feeding little nuggets without actually saying anything. Hinting about what they could say.
Remind me was the Lion king when he asked for voice over work and he could have been at an army event but choose the premier instead.
But Meghan says it was an awful time.
I am done. It is so obvious they are nothing without the titles.
The school run with a pen of reporters . Maybe the first day as agreed. With the family.
Not wasting any more energy on these pair.

I think she’s trying to convince people they’ve got something they’re holding over the RF. I don’t think we’ll ever get beyond this drip feeding because that’s the sort of thing that keeps people interested in this couple. Nothing they’ve come up with since leaving has been original or trailblazing - it’s a crowded market for podcasts and shows done by privileged “inspirational women” that mix gossip and the sort of whining they choose to call feminism. And what becomes more clear with every interview the Sussexes do is that they’re calculating but not especially intelligent or even charming. What they, or more likely their team, understand is that the longer they can draw out this so-called dark, secret history of the BRF, the longer they can put off having to rely on their own limited talent.

Also, I think someone much smarter than them has drilled it into their heads that they need to avoid lying or exaggerating with any specific claims they do make. A decent lawyer (and this pair certainly has a few of those) will tell them making vague accusations is one thing, but adding any sort of detail is where you get into trouble unless you can prove every single word. Certainly the Royal Family’s one statement signalled very strongly that they’re not scared of any threats these children make.

 

[FigTree]

I read it through probably. She just comes across as a very wealthy, shallow, delusional person. I don’t think the interviewer had any opinion on them personally but obviously found the lifestyle just too much. Meghan did herself no favours with this interview.

 

[Somebody]

One thing that is clearly missing is 'self-reflection' and it is unlikely to change given that they only surround themselves with those singing their praises.

 

[intothesea]

No Scobie

This interviewer was not Scobie, and I think Meghan will be livid at how she is portrayed, although I think the interviewer was justified in describing her carefully curated image process (from explaining the candle to the Bachelor comparison).

It may be the first American press that isn’t positive.

The photos are nice overall, and I’m sure her fans will concentrate on that and the tidbits they like (Harry and Meghan dancing and beatboxing to make their little girl smile, for example).

But, I think it is becoming more clear that their future plans are still very tied to their grievances with the Royal Family. Her comments about still being a princess to little girls is very telling. She wants to be royal, even as she dismisses the institution. She’s determined to keep that Duchess title.

I don’t know how long that can last…obviously it gives them success in the moment (#1 podcast, Harry’s book will sell very well if it gets published by holiday time) but how can it be renewed…that house costs a lot to maintain, and I did not listen to the podcast (even though I like Serena Williams) because I’m growing tired of the complaining. I can’t be the only one tuning out, or planning to tune out to their upcoming projects.

I am curious if Meghan is beginning to be willing to take some negative reviews as long as she’s still a headline. Will Harry like that? He seems so defensive of her, I can’t imagine he’ll be encouraging her to continue if she’s getting one star on her podcast by the “evil” press. That may cause their trees to grow further apart.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

That’s how it seemed, especially given it’s followed up with how her approach makes her a good parent. The implication seems to be that she disapproves of William and Kate’s parenting.

I honestly can’t tell at this point how much of her media persona to ascribe to ignorance and how much to ascribe to malice, but I will say this: at this point in her marriage and career, she’s had years to try to understand the institution her husband came from. You’d think maybe someone who wants you to believe she’s a serious thinker would have picked up a Sally Bedell Smith biography or maybe the Shawcross about the Queen Mother and at least tried to get a sense of the history and dynamics so she’d stop walking directly into situations where she reveals how little she understands about the monarchy and the British press.

A bit rich for her to comment on someone else’s parenting when she’s only just become a parent for the first time and was trying to put Archie’s pictures to certain American publications before British ones.

 

[Nico]

Frankly i thought it was hilarious (the paper and the pictures !). It's like the Stepford Wives meeting Bree Van de Kamp : controlled, sanitized, gated community fake smile with the muffins basket at the end.

She's the only Queen in her sunny, white-walled pillow stuffed kingdom, something she couldn't get, to her much despair, inside the BRF.

The cringe level might be for us, "old Europeans" a bit stratospheric, but i guess this paper is very much more calibrated for the American audience, as it was always the case from day one with "M" (the once dashing "H" being reduced to be the in-house plumber apparently : how fun). The not-so-veiled irony might confuse some die-hard fans though ...

Some might find the current life of this pair endearing, inspiring, exciting. Why not after all. I just find it void and vain, borderline sad.

But again it's just my grain of salt, my opinion so to speak. I gave up a long time ago fighting about them on this forum.

Now i just laugh. And , thank to Meghan, Queen of Montecito, by the grace of Oprah Winfrey and the Hallmark Channel, i laughed a lot today.

 

[Granada]

Just got off the phone with my best friend and fellow Royal Watcher. She made a comment that really struck me.
She said the cover photo of Meghan and her demeanor reminded her of Jada Pinkett Smith. She hoped (or feared) that Harry wouldn't blow up EVERYTHING, irrevocably in an Interview OR more allegations in the forthcoming book.

Will Smith, like Harry had such a amiable, good guy persona that blew up .....overnight. One punch to a fellow actor, out of nowhere. At the Oscars no less. He was a ticking time bomb, probably for a while .....too. All over a lame joke about his wife.

So much so, that many of us thought it was fake.....staged. It wasn't.
She said it wouldn't surprise her if Harry goes all "scorched earth" against the Family and Institution, in the Book. Off the rails.

Momentary satisfaction, but ultimately a dark, cheap, unreasonable shot to his Father, Brother, and Cousins.
That he will rue and regret. For himself AND his children.

 

[FigTree]

Frankly i thought it was hilarious (the paper and the pictures !). It's like the Stepford Wives meeting Bree Van de Kamp : controlled, sanitized, gated community fake smile with the muffins basket at the end.

She's the only Queen in her sunny, white-walled pillow stuffed kingdom, something she couldn't get, to her much despair, inside the BRF.

The cringe level might be for us, "old Europeans" a bit stratospheric, but i guess this paper is very much more calibrated for the American audience, as it was always the case from day one with "M" (the once dashing "H" being reduced to be the in-house plumber apparently : how fun).

Some might find the current life of this pair endearing, inspiring, exciting. Why not after all. I just find it void and vain, borderline sad.

But again it's just my grain of salt, my opinion so to speak. I gave up a long time ago fighting about them on this forum.

Now i just laugh. And , thank to Meghan, Queen of Montecito, by the grace of Oprah Winfrey and the Hallmark Channel, i laughed a lot today.

You are so right. It’s so sad but what is the point. Even that make up artist friend saying: they are good people. I’m sure they are but it’s all just desperately sad. Like the most vapid influencer you can find, so twisted about what was their choice 3 years ago. Side by side thrones to work together. I really find it quite distressing. No one wanted to see any of this for them. They have a lot to ge grateful for and hopefully they can just get on with their lives.

 

[HRHHermione]

Momentary satisfaction, but ultimately a dark, cheap, unreasonable shot to his Father, Brother, and Cousins.
That he will rue and regret. For himself AND his children.

I agree with this. I genuinely hope he takes a pause and delays the book or reverts to the more careful and deft media handling he was raised with, if only to keep the door open a crack for himself and his children should he need to walk through it in the future.

 

[Erin9]

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 6: August 2021-

You are so right. It’s so sad but what is the point. Even that make up artist friend saying: they are good people. I’m sure they are but it’s all just desperately sad. Like the most vapid influencer you can find, so twisted about what was their choice 3 years ago. Side by side thrones to work together. I really find it quite distressing. No one wanted to see any of this for them. They have a lot to ge grateful for and hopefully they can just get on with their lives.

I’m not holding my breath on them getting on with their lives. They officially quit 2.5 years ago. Oprah was 1.5 years ago. Yet- here we still are hearing about Meghan’s less than 2 years as a working member of the family. She’s now been out of royal life longer than she was ever officially in it.

Honestly- I really felt like RME through the interview. It’s just awful. Who thought this was a good idea? I mean, besides them? Seriously.

I guess it’s a good thing I never wanted to be a professional journalist. I doubt I could have made it through this without my thoughts written all over my face.

Never complain, never explain sounds so good right now.

 

[FigTree]

I’m not holding my breath on them getting on with their lives. They officially quit 2.5 years ago. Oprah was 1.5 years ago. Yet- here we still are hearing about Meghan’s less than 2 years as a working member of the family. She’s now been out of royal life longer than she was ever officially in it.

Honestly- I really felt like RME through the interview. It’s just awful. Who thought this was a good idea? I mean, besides them? Seriously.

Well she has to promote her stuff and as am sure she may have been leant on to do interviews. The interviewer was a subtle Lynn Barbar. If you don’t know who that is oook up the demon barber or Fleet Street. The only interviewee she didn’t shred to bits was Shane McCowan because the two old soaks went around Dublin getting plastered. But in fairness Meghan handed it to her on a plate. I mean she is so delusional. How could the interviewer not be snarky.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

I’m not holding my breath on them getting on with their lives. They officially quit 2.5 years ago. Oprah was 1.5 years ago. Yet- here we still are hearing about Meghan’s less than 2 years as a working member of the family. She’s now been out of royal life longer than she was ever officially in it.

Honestly- I really felt like RME through the interview. It’s just awful. Who thought this was a good idea? I mean, besides them? Seriously.

I guess it’s a good thing I never wanted to be a professional journalist. I doubt I could have made it through this without my thoughts written all over my face.

Never complain, never explain sounds so good right now.

Sunshine Sachs and the “Yes men” definitely encouraged and co-signed this nonsense.

 

[TLLK]

I’m not holding my breath on them getting on with their lives. They officially quit 2.5 years ago. Oprah was 1.5 years ago. Yet- here we still are hearing about Meghan’s less than 2 years as a working member of the family. She’s now been out of royal life longer than she was ever officially in it.

Honestly- I really felt like RME through the interview. It’s just awful. Who thought this was a good idea? I mean, besides them? Seriously.

I guess it’s a good thing I never wanted to be a professional journalist. I doubt I could have made it through this without my thoughts written all over my face.

Never complain, never explain sounds so good right now.

Thank you for pointing out the fact that she has now spent less time as a working member of the British
Royal Family, sadly though she can't seem to stop complaining about this brief interlude in her life. I wish that Meghan and Harry could find some contentment and peace, but it seems that won't be the case.

 

[US Royal Watcher]

I don't understand the purpose of the interview. What are they trying to accomplish. I could understand if it had been part of their deals with Spotify or Netflix and they were making money but that is not the case.

I feel sorry for her if she really believes that hurting other people will make her happy. People who are truly happy with their own lives do not hold grudges and seek revenge.

 

[Erin9]

Well she has to promote her stuff and as am sure she may have been leant on to do interviews. The interviewer was a subtle Lynn Barbar. If you don’t know who that is oook up the demon barber or Fleet Street. The only interviewee she didn’t shred to bits was Shane McCowan because the two old soaks went around Dublin getting plastered. But in fairness Meghan handed it to her on a plate. I mean she is so delusional. How could the interviewer not be snarky.

Thanks. Interesting about Lynn Barbar.

Meghan absolutely gave it to her on a plate to write a snarky article. I know Meghan has to promote her stuff- but her choice of topics, stories, imagery, and so on left a lot to be desired.

I could pick on a lot of things but Nelson Mandela probably takes the cake on bad story ideas. But there are SO MANY to choose from. Like the whole thing.

It blows my mind. That was a lengthy interview- I’m trying to think of one thing that didn’t sound like a combination of: absurd, over the top, not believable, controlling, ridiculous, nasty or even remotely relatable to a reader. I thought Meghan had more PR savvy than this. I may need to revise my opinion.