The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 8: April - August 2023

[angieuk]

Surely, it would be like asking the New York Police Department to protect him when he is visiting the Big Apple; rather than using his own security. So why does he expect the Met Police to protect him in London? Two cities, two police forces. The only thing I understand is; his security team can carry their guns in New York, and possibly, rely on any Intelligence Services; whereas, in London, his security team do not get Intelligence from the Met, and are NOT allowed to be armed in London. Have I got this right??

 

[Tatiana Maria]

The full court ruling is free to read here:

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2023/1228.html

It explains the litigation history and arguments in the case.

 

[Alison H]

Angieuk, yes, you're right. Private security guards in the UK aren't allowed to carry guns.

They don't automatically get intelligence info, but, if the intelligence services received any credible information about a threat to the Sussexes, or indeed to anyone else, they would act on it.

 

[kalnel]

Surely, it would be like asking the New York Police Department to protect him when he is visiting the Big Apple; rather than using his own security. So why does he expect the Met Police to protect him in London? Two cities, two police forces. The only thing I understand is; his security team can carry their guns in New York, and possibly, rely on any Intelligence Services; whereas, in London, his security team do not get Intelligence from the Met, and are NOT allowed to be armed in London. Have I got this right??

I would point out that no matter where Harry is, the local police do protect him, just as they protect everyone else. The other day, for instance, the New York Police Department assisted with the paparazzi. Had things escalated, they would undoubtedly increased their assistance and protection instantly.

I'm sure Metropolitan Police in London do the exact same thing. Harry gets the protection he needs, even though it may not be the "personal" bodyguard protection he wants.

 

[Curryong]

https://www.newsweek.com/meghan-markle-bouncing-back-us-public-polling-prince-harry-1801736

The Sussexes have bounced back somewhat in popularity since January. These figures give Harry a +15, Meghan a +5. Other royals are featured in this as well.

 

[Sunnystar]

https://www.newsweek.com/meghan-markle-bouncing-back-us-public-polling-prince-harry-1801736

The Sussexes have bounced back somewhat in popularity since January. These figures give Harry a +15, Meghan a +5. Other royals are featured in this as well.

Yes, well, that poll was conducted on May 17th, the same day they issued their "near-catastrophic car chase" press release, so I'd be curious what their numbers look like in a survey conducted on, say, May 20th after that was picked apart by the intrepid NYC-based media.

 

[Curryong]

Many senior Royals, and indeed celebs, go up and down in polling all the time. Look at Charles’s poll numbers over the years after some of the bad publicity he experienced.

 

[FigTree]

Many senior Royals, and indeed celebs, go up and down in polling all the time. Look at Charles’s poll numbers over the years after some of the bad publicity he experienced.

As Harry is not a public servant polling of his ‘popularity’ is unimportant. There is absolutely no reason to poll about celebrities.

 

[Curryong]

Tell that to polling company YouGov, then. Harry and Meghan haven’t been working royals for three years yet they continue to appear in popularity polls of members of the BRF published by that company. And the results are then reported in British newspapers.

 

[FigTree]

Tell that to polling company YouGov, then. Harry and Meghan haven’t been working royals for three years yet they continue to appear in popularity polls of members of the BRF published by that company. And the results are then reported in British newspapers.

Does any of it matter? It doesn’t matter one bit what people think. His PR team don’t have to go into overdrive to rehabilitate him.

 

[victor1319]

As Harry is not a public servant polling of his ‘popularity’ is unimportant. There is absolutely no reason to poll about celebrities.

Just my humble opinion, but I would say, Prince Harry plus his wife are still seen and somewhat rightly so as part of the Windsors. And this wont change, as long as they are the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex and invited to events like the Coronation.

And Harry is only the half lost son of the reigning King. And he is still in the list of potential heirs to the Throne.

These relationships exist - and they are well known and because of this important for the Royal Family. So, it makes sense to include Prince Harry and Meghan into the polls.

 

[Asteria12]

They will appear in the polls for a few more years to come because this is one of the media talking points. For example "polls show the Sussex's are tanking in public opinion" or "latest polls show an improvement in the Sussex's standing" etc. Harry was consistently high in the polls for so many years, so it must sting a bit to have dropped so low over the past few years, particularly as his ability make a buck now depends on the public having a positive opinion of him.

 

[Hallo girl]

It all depends on the questions and how they are positioned.
You can achieve any result you want. Those who want Harry to have tanked an other poll will show them doing well.

 

[angieuk]

Allegedly, he may have to fork out £500,000 in legal costs to the Home Office for losing the case. [Allegedly, he is trying to appeal paying all the legal costs].

Apparently, he can now Appeal against yesterday's Ruling.

Why not just ride off into the Sunset, and live your life, where you won't have to Appeal anything. Unless of course, you have no productive life in the first place; and Litigation is just your full-time hobby.

 

[muriel]

Allegedly, he may have to fork out £500,000 in legal costs to the Home Office for losing the case. [Allegedly, he is trying to appeal paying all the legal costs].

Apparently, he can now Appeal against yesterday's Ruling.

Why not just ride off into the Sunset, and live your life, where you won't have to Appeal anything. Unless of course, you have no productive life in the first place; and Litigation is just your full-time hobby.

I do hope he is made to fund the legal costs of the Home Office. And I hope he learns from the experience not to bring unnecessary litigation and waste governent resources.

 

[Hallo girl]

Allegedly, he may have to fork out £500,000 in legal costs to the Home Office for losing the case. [Allegedly, he is trying to appeal paying all the legal costs].

Apparently, he can now Appeal against yesterday's Ruling.

Why not just ride off into the Sunset, and live your life, where you won't have to Appeal anything. Unless of course, you have no productive life in the first place; and Litigation is just your full-time hobby.

The annoying thing it had already been agreed that if he is here on royal/ family business the security would be there.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

The annoying thing it had already been agreed that if he is here on royal/ family business the security would be there.

The thing is he wants it also outside of royal events too.

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

I wonder if any of Harry’s lawyers are advising him against so many lawsuits? Of course, the more the Sussexes sue, the more money the lawyers make. Isn’t there anyone who can help him see that ultimately, he’s just throwing money down the drain? Any ethical advisors out there? Perhaps there are and he won’t listen?
The coronation was obviously a royal event, so I assume he received protection? And between his strained relationship with his family and looking his behavior in the last three years, how much time is he really going to spend in the UK? My rambling is about how IMHO, the majority of these lawsuits don’t really matter. It’s a way to keep his name in the papers, continue to be indignant that he’s not treated as an internationally protected person just because he is Diana and Charles’ little boy. He is a prince AND a duke, by golly

Oh, and I’ll bet that growing up, William had one more/bigger/stronger/better bodyguard than Harry did - life is SO UNFAIR

 

[KristehH]

Just my humble opinion, but I would say, Prince Harry plus his wife are still seen and somewhat rightly so as part of the Windsors. And this wont change, as long as they are the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex and invited to events like the Coronation.

And Harry is only the half lost son of the reigning King. And he is still in the list of potential heirs to the Throne.

These relationships exist - and they are well known and because of this important for the Royal Family. So, it makes sense to include Prince Harry and Meghan into the polls.

I don't know. Of course, technically, they're still royal. But I think a lot of people think of them merely as celebrities, not real royals anymore. I know I do.

 

[Denville]

Lots of people have titles, are in the RF and in the succession but they do not get police protection or a lot of media attention.

 

[Alisa]

Lots of people have titles, are in the RF and in the succession but they do not get police protection or a lot of media attention.

True, but they certainly don't have the profile that Harry has being the second son of the King.

 

[muriel]

I wonder if any of Harry’s lawyers are advising him against so many lawsuits? Of course, the more the Sussexes sue, the more money the lawyers make. Isn’t there anyone who can help him see that ultimately, he’s just throwing money down the drain? Any ethical advisors out there? Perhaps there are and he won’t listen?

This is not about ethical or unethical advisers or lawyers. Harry should be able to make these decisions on his own. Just like he should be the one to decide what goes into his book nad Netflix series and what doesn't!

 

[Granada]

Prince Harry is expected to back in London next month in his legal case against Mirror Group Newspapers for alleged phone hacking.

I just have a feeling that how Harry reacts there is going to be pivotal for him too. A real make or break situation.

One, because I fear he will attempt to bring The Royal Family-Firm into the proceedings as being complicit with the Media in a "quid pro quo" situation. Just keep upping the ante to settle scores and grievances.

Second, I really think he might falter BADLY while giving testimony AND then under cross examination by The Mirror's skilled, smart and I'm sure cutthroat lawyers.

Harry just seems so lost. Seemingly very neurotic, looks so unhappy and acting so unpredictable. Those pictures of him, Meghan and Doria in the car last week were very telling to me. Doria looked exhausted, (her head was down) Meghan actually smiling, (bizarrely) and Harry intently filming the situation with his phone.

It just seemed like such a letdown. The Sussex attempt to craft a victim narrative around a "near catastrophic car chase" failed. Then the pushback was loud and brutal from nearly all.

Meghan is in her Hollywood "element" and has her new representation with The WME powerful Agency to promote her, "And build out her business ventures", according to their statement. She, to me is made of very strong stuff....as King Charles himself recognized. "Tungsten" was back in the day, his fond nickname for her.

Harry, not so much. Surprisingly to me, I'm actually starting to worry that something might go very wrong at next months Trial for him.

 

[angieuk]

The Court case/s are expected to last for 6/7 weeks in the High Court in London, in June 2023. The question is, if things don't go his way, will he spend the next 2 years of his life in the Appeal Courts. The papers will just move on with their lives, whatever the outcome.

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

Prince Harry is expected to back in London next month in his legal case against Mirror Group Newspapers for alleged phone hacking.

I just have a feeling that how Harry reacts there is going to be pivotal for him too. A real make or break situation.

One, because I fear he will attempt to bring The Royal Family-Firm into the proceedings as being complicit with the Media in a "quid pro quo" situation. Just keep upping the ante to settle scores and grievances.

Second, I really think he might falter BADLY while giving testimony AND then under cross examination by The Mirror's skilled, smart and I'm sure cutthroat lawyers.

Harry just seems so lost. Seemingly very neurotic, looks so unhappy and acting so unpredictable. Those pictures of him, Meghan and Doria in the car last week were very telling to me. Doria looked exhausted, (her head was down) Meghan actually smiling, (bizarrely) and Harry intently filming the situation with his phone.

It just seemed like such a letdown. The Sussex attempt to craft a victim narrative around a "near catastrophic car chase" failed. Then the pushback was loud and brutal from nearly all.

Meghan is in her Hollywood "element" and has her new representation with The WME powerful Agency to promote her, "And built out her business ventures", according to their statement. She, to me is made of very strong stuff....as King Charles himself recognized. "Tungsten" was back in the day, his fond nickname for her.

Harry, not so much. Surprisingly to me, I'm actually starting to worry that something might go very wrong at next months Trial for him.

Thanks for reminding me about the phone hacking! While I’m still a bit confused about why something that happened so long ago is just coming to trial, phone hacking is just an unbelievably unconscionable and sleezy invasion of privacy, and I hope that those responsible will pay for what they did.

Hopefully, Harry will be well prepared for this. But testifying with such a media circus- I cannot imagine - how very awful for him!

I used to have to testify in divorce and child abuse situations. Even with notes and in a small town courtroom, it was discombobulating to say the least. It was hard to say what I wanted to say with the way questions were asked - I was very anxious indeed and never felt like I was able to say everything I wanted to say. And my experience was no where near in the same league as what Harry will face.

 

[Queen Claude]

What is interesting and surprising to me about the Newsweek poll is that this is a poll about feelings towards the Sussexes in the U.S. They were both net negative in the previous poll and have "bounced back" to low positives in the latest poll.

I am not sure whether or not this is a harbinger of doom. To be sure, there are public figures who are viewed negatively who still manage to make money and gain status, either through thick-skinned-ness, playing their cards right and/or perseverance.

I was going to say that I do not think that Harry is up to the challenge, but I am re-thinking that. He has shown that he is up to the challenge of making high dollar deals and delivering juicy and salacious content, so there's that, but I wonder if he is able to pay the price, both literally and figuratively. By literally, I mean the same [.....] mind who is delivering juicy and salacious content is also the [.....] mind that is filing lawsuits left and right, therefore he is making big bucks but he is also forking over big bucks to attorneys. By figuratively, Harry has shown that he can convince himself that he is in the right and has been victimized by numerous parties, but at the same time engaging in contradictory behavior like lobbing highly charged criticisms towards "the institution" and then showing that he feels connected to "the institution" via attending events and clinging to titles. The question is can he sustain this weird bubble he created or is it destined to burst.

Meghan is someone I viewed favorably from day one, but I started to see red flags back when she was a girlfriend. To be clear, I was never opposed to her marrying Harry and becoming part of the BRF, except for the fact that I think that she and Harry rushed into marriage, and willfully failed to do due diligence, or worse took calculated risks and then played the victim card when certain risks did not pay off.

Anyhoo, I am not under any illusions about Meghan, but I sense that she is trying to forge a path where she pursues the fame, wealth and status she craves but has come to the realization that the "I am a victim of 'the institution'" narrative has run its course. I hope I am right and that she is allowed to get back to hustling like she was pre-Harry, but now thanks to Harry and his family, she is hustling in a higher end and much more lucrative pool. I hope that she has developed a thicker skin, keeps her Markle inherited quirks (to put it kindly) out of the public domain, and not let Harry and his issues hold her back.

 

[Erin9]

Thanks for reminding me about the phone hacking! While I’m still a bit confused about why something that happened so long ago is just coming to trial, phone hacking is just an unbelievably unconscionable and sleezy invasion of privacy, and I hope that those responsible will pay for what they did.

Hopefully, Harry will be well prepared for this. But testifying with such a media circus- I cannot imagine - how very awful for him!

I used to have to testify in divorce and child abuse situations. Even with notes and in a small town courtroom, it was discombobulating to say the least. It was hard to say what I wanted to say with the way questions were asked - I was very anxious indeed and never felt like I was able to say everything I wanted to say. And my experience was no where near in the same league as what Harry will face.

I may be confused. There are so many cases. But isn’t the (or one) phone hacking issue currently not whether or not he was hacked, but whether the statute of limitations has passed on anyone being able to hear the case at all?

The hacking itself is horrible, agreed.

You nicely articulated one reason why a lot of people settle. It’s stressful for everyone involved.

 

[Erin9]

What is interesting and surprising to me about the Newsweek poll is that this is a poll about feelings towards the Sussexes in the U.S. They were both net negative in the previous poll and have "bounced back" to low positives in the latest poll.

I am not sure whether or not this is a harbinger of doom. To be sure, there are public figures who are viewed negatively who still manage to make money and gain status, either through thick-skinned-ness, playing their cards right and/or perseverance.

I was going to say that I do not think that Harry is up to the challenge, but I am re-thinking that. He has shown that he is up to the challenge of making high dollar deals and delivering juicy and salacious content, so there's that, but I wonder if he is able to pay the price, both literally and figuratively. By literally, I mean the same [.....] mind who is delivering juicy and salacious content is also the [.....] mind that is filing lawsuits left and right, therefore he is making big bucks but he is also forking over big bucks to attorneys. By figuratively, Harry has shown that he can convince himself that he is in the right and has been victimized by numerous parties, but at the same time engaging in contradictory behavior like lobbing highly charged criticisms towards "the institution" and then showing that he feels connected to "the institution" via attending events and clinging to titles. The question is can he sustain this weird bubble he created or is it destined to burst.

Meghan is someone I viewed favorably from day one, but I started to see red flags back when she was a girlfriend. To be clear, I was never opposed to her marrying Harry and becoming part of the BRF, except for the fact that I think that she and Harry rushed into marriage, and willfully failed to do due diligence, or worse took calculated risks and then played the victim card when certain risks did not pay off.

Anyhoo, I am not under any illusions about Meghan, but I sense that she is trying to forge a path where she pursues the fame, wealth and status she craves but has come to the realization that the "I am a victim of 'the institution'" narrative has run its course. I hope I am right and that she is allowed to get back to hustling like she was pre-Harry, but now thanks to Harry and his family, she is hustling in a higher end and much more lucrative pool. I hope that she has developed a thicker skin, keeps her Markle inherited quirks (to put it kindly) out of the public domain, and not let Harry and his issues hold her back.

I don’t think the chase incident is going to help whatever Meghan is trying to pursue now. Neither she nor Harry came out of that looking good.

 

[Denville]

True, but they certainly don't have the profile that Harry has being the second son of the King.

but he is not a working royal any more. He's not expected to do any work, and if he wants to appear at award ceremonies in the US, he can manage his own security, and deal wiht any problems himself.

 

[Granada]

Very interesting post and perspective Queen Claude. But I do VERY worry that Harry "is up to to the challenge". Especially in a tense, and highly emotionally charged Courtroom situation next month. Its almost to intensely personal for him. His judgement might lapse greatly over maintaining balance and control.

You write that you wouldn't want "Harry and his issues to hold Meghan back".

I think, that his closet advisor ( enabler ???) and "partner" Meghan is the brains behind all the lucrative deals with Netflix and The Spare Book. Harry had a very well accomplished and regarded "ghost writer" craft the Book. But I think EVERY page was reviewed and approved by Meghan.

Meghan in my opinion, is a skilled and accomplished "player". She is very successful at marketing herself, and can take and deal with the slings and arrows that life throws at her in stride. Meghan moves on.

Harry, on the other hand, I don't think is ANY WHERE near as resilient as Meghan. And in spite of claiming to be healing, he seems to me to be still reeling from everything. That's gone wrong and damaged him. That, as a nearly middle aged Man, he won't OR can't move on from.

Diana's death, his self esteem issues, and mostly the failure to successfully navigate the denied Half In-Half Out proposal. He just doesn't seem to have a "purpose" now that he is OUT. I think that is the driving force behind his anger too.

OUT of his working role in The Monarchy, Military Patronage's lost, out with Family and Friends, and out of his previously popular and comfortable life in The UK. Such a come down.

I hope as a Husband and Father he can find happiness and direction, but he seems soooo aimless.
Except for attacking His Family and The Media.

Meghan will be fine, but I'm not sure about Harry. As I posted earlier, I think this Trial next month will be pivotal in Harry's "journey".