The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 9: August 2023 - July 2024

[TLLK]

Some interesting tidbits from the Times article.





Considering how much the Sussexes rail against the tabloids, I’m surprised they agreed to work with them.

This is interesting information. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Lee-Z]

I think that was likely to be Ms Hansen's doing in an attempt to "normalise" press relations. The “no corroboration and zero engagement” policy was an emotive reaction by the couple, but not really helpful to them in the long run and would have made it very difficult for the communications team.

i would say any attempts at getting relationships normalized are welcome, hope the new year brings the Sussexes a more balanced state of mind and more focus on the positive

 

[shady lady]

Ashley Hansen is moving on from her role as Archewell's global press secretary.

The original article has now been removed from The Times' website, but the archived version can be read here.

Thanks for posting! Very interesting indeed, especially this part:

"Hansen, an American of Iranian heritage, is not leaving Archewell for another role. A source said: “Ashley has been putting the feelers out for doing some freelance work on her own. It hasn’t worked out with Harry and Meghan. She is really good and highly rated by their team — it’s just the clients don’t always listen to the advice.”"

That (and the turnover of staff) says it all really.

 

[Ista]

Several posts have been removed. Please stick to discussion of the current topic. In addition, posts that involve bickering or point scoring between members derail the discussion and are tedious for most members to have to wade through. Further posts along those lines will be removed.

 

[TLLK]

Thanks for posting! Very interesting indeed, especially this part:

"Hansen, an American of Iranian heritage, is not leaving Archewell for another role. A source said: “Ashley has been putting the feelers out for doing some freelance work on her own. It hasn’t worked out with Harry and Meghan. She is really good and highly rated by their team — it’s just the clients don’t always listen to the advice.”"

That (and the turnover of staff) says it all really.

As I recall the claim that the couple wouldn't listen to advice was made known by their KP staff and now it appears Ms.Hanson has had a similar experience.

 

[shady lady]

As I recall the claim that the couple wouldn't listen to advice was made known by their KP staff and now it appears Ms.Hanson has had a similar experience.

It's not a good sign when a competent and well-regarded member of staff quits just before the New Year, and historically they have a noticeably sizeable turnover of staff, those that we know about, both during MM's brief spell as a royal and since they quit the BRF.

It's not just about acquiring good staff and paying them well, it's about respecting your employees and making them feel listened to and valued. Working in a high pressure job for a good employer is difficult enough!

 

[Curryong]

Prince Harry's explosive memoir Spare was the bestselling book of 2023 in the UK, figures have revealed.

The Duke of Sussex's autobiography, which was published in January last year, sold more than 700,000 copies - meaning it outsold the second entry in the list by around 180,000 copies, according to data obtained by The Bookseller.

Elsewhere in the top five books from last year are two entries from Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die and The Bullet That Missed - as well as a Bored of Lunch cookbook and Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...ichard-Osman-Guinness-Book-World-Records.html

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

It's not a good sign when a competent and well-regarded member of staff quits just before the New Year, and historically they have a noticeably sizeable turnover of staff, those that we know about, both during MM's brief spell as a royal and since they quit the BRF.

How many does this add up to now? It seems someone on the team doesn't know what staff means. Why hire people to advise if you won't listen to them.

 

[shady lady]

How many does this add up to now? It seems someone on the team doesn't know what staff means. Why hire people to advise if you won't listen to them.

Well this archived article is just over a year old, and estimates at the time of publishing (December 2022) at least 14 people have quit since their wedding in 2018:

https://archive.ph/HYgbT

...so add Ashley Hansen and you have at least 15 that are known about. That doesn't include any resignations that wouldn't be in the public eye and ergo as high profile, such as domestic, security staff etc.

I think it's a reasonable assumption to make that working for H&M can be very challenging!

 

[Hallo girl]

Prince Harry's explosive memoir Spare was the bestselling book of 2023 in the UK, figures have revealed.

The Duke of Sussex's autobiography, which was published in January last year, sold more than 700,000 copies - meaning it outsold the second entry in the list by around 180,000 copies, according to data obtained by The Bookseller.

Elsewhere in the top five books from last year are two entries from Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die and The Bullet That Missed - as well as a Bored of Lunch cookbook and Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...ichard-Osman-Guinness-Book-World-Records.html

A follow up book should be on the cards if the publishers are happy with the figures.

 

[GondorHasNoPants]

Prince Harry to be inducted as a 'Living Legend of Aviation' on January 19:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...e-marc-parent-and-steve-hinton-302031626.html

 

[HenRach Dominion]

Prince Harry to be inducted as a 'Living Legend of Aviation' on January 19:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...e-marc-parent-and-steve-hinton-302031626.html

It cool to see that John Travolta is hosting since there's that famous picture of him dancing with Diana, Princess of Wales.

 

[Lee-Z]

I honestly never realised how many awards there are handed out in the USA...

 

[crm2317]

Pardon my ignorance but other than the flying he did in the army which to my understanding would simply be standard for someone in his post what has Harry done to be classed as a “Living Legend of Aviation”? This is laughable!

 

[Misskitty]

Pardon my ignorance but other than the flying he did in the army which to my understanding would simply be standard for someone in his post what has Harry done to be classed as a “Living Legend of Aviation”? This is laughable!

I hate to criticize him but that's what I thought when I read this too.

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

Pardon my ignorance but other than the flying he did in the army which to my understanding would simply be standard for someone in his post what has Harry done to be classed as a “Living Legend of Aviation”? This is laughable!

If I were a serving member of the British Defence or United States Defence Forces, I would not be impressed too. Although he was on duty, this is a slap in the face to so many countrymen and women who have served faaaaar longer than he did. If Harry was clever, he should have turned this down.

 

[HRHHermione]

Pardon my ignorance but other than the flying he did in the army which to my understanding would simply be standard for someone in his post what has Harry done to be classed as a “Living Legend of Aviation”? This is laughable!

This appears to largely be a PR type award. Past inductees include Jeff Bezos and Kenny G. It does not appear that special achievements in aviation are required so much as a famous name and any connection to aviation.

 

[shady lady]

Pardon my ignorance but other than the flying he did in the army which to my understanding would simply be standard for someone in his post what has Harry done to be classed as a “Living Legend of Aviation”? This is laughable!

I did laugh when I read about it, I must admit!

 

[Anna1519]

"The "Living Legends of Aviation Awards" are produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization. Kiddie Hawk's mission is to educate children about and spark their interest in aviation. Visit LivingLegendsOfAviation.org for more information."

A cursory review of their website suggests this is a great fit for Harry - it's a natural area of interest for him and something he has experience in. I imagine it is a boost for this organization to be associated with a high-profile figure who has that experience. Maybe the award has some PR elements to it for both the organization and Harry but honestly, good for them both. For Harry, I think it's a fair counterbalance to the constant disparagement and denigration of his military service and accomplishments (including Invictus) done by the media and others. Good for him.

I also fail to see how Harry receiving this award is a "slap in the face" to others who have served longer. [.....] But I suppose it is a matter of perspective.

 

[changemysoul]

I honestly never realised how many awards there are handed out in the USA...

I'd think a lot of countries have a lot of awards. It's just that most people won't know unless it's someone a person is interested in personally and you follow them or something like, it's posted on a forum like this.

For those who don't know why, on the link that was given, they tell exactly why for not only Harry but the other three men nominated.

// Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex- A British Army veteran and pilot with ten years military service, flying training missions in the US, UK and Australia, as well as combat missions in Afghanistan saving the lives of allied forces and countless civilians, and creator of the Invictus Games for wounded service members and veterans around the world. //

So, not only was he a famous pilot (even if people don't like it) but he went on to create a very impactful sporting event for servicemen and women. One that has a lasting impact and increased every year.

So, I'm unsure how it's not wise for Harry to accept the award and I'm not to sure servicemen and women feel slapped in the face as a great deal credit him for helping them through their struggles by creating Invictus.

And while one or two popular people can be cited, if you look at the list of people over the years, they've obviously done work in the industry or did work and went on to create more. So not a PR award, even if one would like to call it that to downplay Harry getting it.

So congratz Harry and hopefully, he and Meghan make an appearance.

 

[HRHHermione]

"The "Living Legends of Aviation Awards" are produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization. Kiddie Hawk's mission is to educate children about and spark their interest in aviation. Visit LivingLegendsOfAviation.org for more information."

A cursory review of their website suggests this is a great fit for Harry - it's a natural area of interest for him and something he has experience in. I imagine it is a boost for this organization to be associated with a high-profile figure who has that experience. Maybe the award has some PR elements to it for both the organization and Harry but honestly, good for them both. For Harry, I think it's a fair counterbalance to the constant disparagement and denigration of his military service and accomplishments (including Invictus) done by the media and others. Good for him.

I also fail to see how Harry receiving this award is a "slap in the face" to others who have served longer. [.....]But I suppose it is a matter of perspective.

I will post the website of this organization here, if members wish to explore:

https://kiddie-hawk-air-academy.myshopify.com/pages/about-us

They are a very small non-profit that mostly share its founder’s kid flight simulator with interest groups.

I would note that clicking on the “blog” link to see their posts is particularly edifying on the size and scope of the organization.

 

[TLLK]

I will post the website of this organization here, if members wish to explore:

https://kiddie-hawk-air-academy.myshopify.com/pages/about-us

They are a very small non-profit that mostly share its founder’s kid flight simulator with interest groups.

I would note that clicking on the “blog” link to see their posts is particularly edifying on the size and scope of the organization.

Thank you for the information HRHHermione.

 

[Mirabel]

A follow up book should be on the cards if the publishers are happy with the figures.

But what is there left to say?
I guess he could continue airing his grievances, but I think most people have grown tired of hearing it.

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

Pardon my ignorance but other than the flying he did in the army which to my understanding would simply be standard for someone in his post what has Harry done to be classed as a “Living Legend of Aviation”? This is laughable!

I agree - this is silly! As an American, I’ve never heard of this award. And if John Travolta is hosting it’s a celebrity thing

 

[Alison H]

Er, yes, that's like inducting a local Sunday league player into the football Hall of Fame!

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

Ah, ok. Thank you to all the US members explaining it

 

[shady lady]

I agree - this is silly! As an American, I’ve never heard of this award. And if John Travolta is hosting it’s a celebrity thing

Er, yes, that's like inducting a local Sunday league player into the football Hall of Fame!

My thoughts entirely. There's something very iffy about it IMO and it's impossible to take seriously. I did laugh out loud when I saw the headline.

According to the original article linked here, the purpose of the awards is to "honour those who have made significant contributions to aviation/aerospace".

The three other nominees at a glance seem to be more genuine and qualified candidates. IMO the organisers have had to "big up" PH's inductee notes in an attempt to justify his inclusion. I'm pretty sure he didn't create the Invictus games all by himself as those notes imply and let's face it, in Afghanistan he was presumably just doing his job like every other pilot, as other pilots have done in countless conflicts. Does this mean that every other pilot in Afghanistan has also "made significant contributions to aviation/aerospace" and should get an award too?

I read an article last year which suggested H&M had become friendly with John Travolta last year after falling out with the Beckhams. Obviously that's just rumour, and should by no means be taken as fact; but it's strange how this business made me recall that story

Moreover, I doubt if this award ceremony was what H&M had in mind when they set out to "take Hollywood by storm". Surely being present at the Golden Globes or even the Oscars would have been more their target in terms of cementing their "celebrity status". Indeed, at the 2024 Golden Globes several of the other Suits cast were present:

https://parade.com/news/suits-cast-reunites-2024-golden-globes-amid-new-show-chatter

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

I agree - this is silly! As an American, I’ve never heard of this award. And if John Travolta is hosting it’s a celebrity thing

Exactly. In that perspective, its okay to give this award to Harry. He's an accomplished pilot who has flown helicopters in war zones. You could give the same award to Tom Cruise, who has flown his own stunts in movies in helicopters and airplanes.
Harry is in Hollywood now, and the shoe seems to fit.

 

[Mbruno]

Er, yes, that's like inducting a local Sunday league player into the football Hall of Fame!

Maybe he is being honored for (allegedly) killing 25 Taliban fighters.

 

[muriel]

Isn't it amazing that anything that H&M involve themselves in these days is seen with scepticism and derision? And for good reason, IMO! Such a sorry state of affairs.