The Heir, The Spare and the “Baby Brain” -The Prince Harry and Meghan show rumbles on…

[Habs]

Whether she is openly criticized or not, she has been very much the matriarch of the family and this certainly attacks her legacy. She was never some doddering old dear there in name only but, although she wisely began involving her heirs in decisions, I doubt much got past her.

It doesn't attack her legacy, though.

It's clear Harry loved his grandparents very much. He loved his mother. He loves his father, who comes across as mostly well-meaning, if maybe a bit bumbling. IMHO, the person who doesn't come out of this looking good is William.
But honestly, this is not the nasty book full of salacious gossip and hate that people seem to want to believe it is.

 

[canbelto]

If I had my wish, I would awake from a long winter's sleep and never hear about "Spare. I don't hate anyone, I have just so loved the royal family, especially the Queen. Whether she is openly criticized or not, she has been very much the matriarch of the family and this certainly attacks her legacy. She was never some doddering old dear there in name only but, although she wisely began involving her heirs in decisions, I doubt much got past her. As my mother would have said "and with her barely cold in her grave!!". I don't personally know anyone who has read the book and when I saw that head line it made me hope that perhaps the media was just ignoring some wonderful stories of the brothers growing up together.

This does touch home to me as I am the matriarch of a large family. I have 3 sons and their wives, 3 daughters and their husbands and 19 grandchildren. I can think of many moments I would like to take back and have a do over but I certainly hope none of them have the feelings that Prince Harry does. Of course, we aren't royals, but we dealt with sibling rivalry, etc. etc.

Genuinely curious -- what do you love so much about the BRF? I feel like people who love the BRF really love the old world order where imperialism and colonialism are celebrated.

 

[Tesla]

If I had my wish, I would awake from a long winter's sleep and never hear about "Spare. I don't hate anyone, I have just so loved the royal family, especially the Queen. Whether she is openly criticized or not, she has been very much the matriarch of the family and this certainly attacks her legacy. She was never some doddering old dear there in name only but, although she wisely began involving her heirs in decisions, I doubt much got past her. As my mother would have said "and with her barely cold in her grave!!". I don't personally know anyone who has read the book and when I saw that head line it made me hope that perhaps the media was just ignoring some wonderful stories of the brothers growing up together.

This does touch home to me as I am the matriarch of a large family. I have 3 sons and their wives, 3 daughters and their husbands and 19 grandchildren. I can think of many moments I would like to take back and have a do over but I certainly hope none of them have the feelings that Prince Harry does. Of course, we aren't royals, but we dealt with sibling rivalry, etc. etc.

Then why do you keep coming into this thread and talking about it? Why do you keep reading articles about Spare? If the book bothers you so much, just ignore it or is that harder to do in Canada? I am in the US, so I really don't get where all the Meghan hate comes from because I don't read and am not inundated by articles about Harry and Meghan. Perhaps you should read Spare and make your own judgements. It sounds like you have a wonderful family but not all families are the same. No two people are the same.

 

[skategal]

It doesn't attack her legacy, though.

It's clear Harry loved his grandparents very much. He loved his mother. He loves his father, who comes across as mostly well-meaning, if maybe a bit bumbling. IMHO, the person who doesn't come out of this looking good is William.
But honestly, this is not the nasty book full of salacious gossip and hate that people seem to want to believe it is.

This! 100% agree.

So far (halfway) any complaints are:

90% the press sucks
5% the institution sucks
4% I suck but I recognize this and I’m trying to do better
1% William sucks

 

[puglover]

I had understood this was a more or less open forum as it begins "The Heir". Obviously, a big mistake to share my feelings here. Won't happen again.

 

[marbri]

I had understood this was a more or less open forum as it begins "The Heir". Obviously, a big mistake to share my feelings here. Won't happen again.

I read the title the same way you do...

 

[Habs]

I had understood this was a more or less open forum as it begins "The Heir". Obviously, a big mistake to share my feelings here. Won't happen again.

You can share your feelings. Just don't pretend to be surprised that others might not agree with you.

And I seriously question anyone who rushes in here with judgements about a book that they admit to not reading.

 

[clairecloutier]

If there's anything the Spare controversy has revealed, IMO, it's that there's little to admire about the BRF as an institution. These two articles make that case pretty well:

Opinion | Prince Harry Is Right, and It’s Not Just a Matter of Royal Gossip (Published 2023)

Britain’s most revered institution plays ball with one of its most revolting institutions, even if family members are hurt.

www.nytimes.com

26 Stories That Show How The Palace Press Team Defended Kate Middleton Vs. Meghan Markle

A review of negative published stories about Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton shows disparities in how the royal press office defended them.

www.buzzfeednews.com

While I agree that there were admirable aspects of the Queen's character, she was also very human and there were clearly areas where she struggled (like most of us).

 

[Husky]

And it doesn't help victims to be quibbling over technicalities

Yes, it does. We should be interested in distinguishing crimes. There are good reasons why prosecutors/judges are carefully protocolling all charges.

If Andrew had been guilty of pedophile crimes there should be no way to get away with a fine or come to some settlement behind closed doors. At least I hope so!

I am puzzled that there are people who share your point of view.

 

[Allskate]

This does touch home to me as I am the matriarch of a large family. I have 3 sons and their wives, 3 daughters and their husbands and 19 grandchildren. I can think of many moments I would like to take back and have a do over but I certainly hope none of them have the feelings that Prince Harry does. Of course, we aren't royals, but we dealt with sibling rivalry, etc. etc.

You're assuming that Harry has certain feelings without reading the book. If you want to believe the tabloids and headlines and get upset about them, then that's on you. You could just read the book and realize that many reports are misleading and selective. If you think that the book is just a hatchet job on the queen and on Charles, you are wrong.

Harry seems to have loved and respected Elizabeth as grandmother, queen, and commander. He is not critical of her and anything negative would be a question of judgment for the reader.

From reading the book, I do get a strong sense of affection between Charles and Harry. Harry's anger seems to mostly be related to the tabloids and security (and relatedly to Camilla). I already had watched the Netflix show and knew how Harry felt about those issues with Charles. Aside from those issues, though, I think Charles actually came across better in the book than I expected him to. Harry does write about Charles walking Meghan down the aisle. There are other smaller moments, too. And it is these smaller moments, at least for most of the book, that do the most to show the love between Charles and Harry, even if the book does also indicate that Charles was not always a very present and engaged father and that Camilla may have been a bigger priority.

Harry did seem to spend a lot of time not being around his family (including both Charles and William), which is not unusual for that family, but sad nevertheless, especially as a kid after his mother died. Charles may not have a lot of empathy in some situations, but that doesn't mean that Charles wasn't understanding and kind at other times, even when Harry was screwing up, and Harry does discuss some of those times.

I don't get the sense that William and Kate spent much time with Harry even before Harry met Meghan. Although the book definitely includes conflicts (including physical ones) between William and Harry, it is much more complex than that. Harry writes about his uncle being upset about Harry and William having to publicly march behind Diana's coffin and the proposal someone made that only William march. The palace said both had to march, but Harry says he never would have wanted William to have to deal with that alone. Harry writes about being excited when he became an uncle and offended when someone assumes he would not be excited (because it sends him further down the line of succession).

But, if you want to assume what Harry's feelings are and be upset or angry about it or not learn about any of the flaws some of his family members have, that's your choice.

 

[taf2002]

The library contacted me to tell me that Spare is now available to borrow. I need to pick it up in the next few days but it's finally cold here.

 

[once_upon]

I figured the purpose of this thread was to demonize Meghan for being a gold digger, only wanting to profit from her marriage to Harry.

Except in my opinion the only way that plan would work is
A) if they never left the "firm" and just lived off the BRF
or
B) people watch and buy their products, looking for the worst

They didn't seem to want to do A. The people who seem to be demonizing Meghan for being a gold digger and destroying the BRF are the people buying what they think Harry and Meghan are selling.

Thank you for those who are reading the book and reporting some positives you are reading.

 

[Karen-W]

They are supporting themselves. How does that make them a parasite?

As others have stated, Harry and Meghan feed the worst traits and feelings in each other, IMO. Just because they're supporting themselves doesn't make them parasitical in some respects. YMMV, and clearly it does.

 

[Spikefan]

It directly impacted them, because they would have more workload with two people less covering the existent comitments to charities and so on. I mean, Catherine is now royal patron for rugby. Harry was a much better fit.

Oh no! No one to be royal patron for rugby. The world will end without that. You do hear how silly that sounds, right?

Additionally, kind of sexist. Women can like rugby and if nothing else she probably enjoys being surrounded by a bunch of rugged sportsmen (unlike those polo stiffs).

 

[canbelto]

So the part about Afghanistan and the leadup and training is actually my favorite part of the book. It sounds like Harry really felt like he had a purpose when he was in the army and that energy comes through in the book.

 

[Allskate]

So the part about Afghanistan and the leadup and training is actually my favorite part of the book. It sounds like Harry really felt like he had a purpose when he was in the army and that energy comes through in the book.

And visiting injured veterans and doing the Invictus Games seemed to give him the purpose he craved after leaving the military. It definitely seemed more important to him than cutting ribbons or being a rugby patron. (I don't remember him even mentioning rugby in the book, but perhaps he has a secret passion for it. )

 

[Rainbow]

Oh no! No one to be royal patron for rugby. The world will end without that. You do hear how silly that sounds, right?

Additionally, kind of sexist. Women can like rugby and if nothing else she probably enjoys being surrounded by a bunch of rugged sportsmen (unlike those polo stiffs).

As long as there is the Monarchy there will be pratronages. But yes, you`re right on the other point. In my country rugby is non existent, so I didnt even know there were women playing already. After all, there are still olympic sports with only one sex allowed to participate.

 

[skategal]

Women’s rugby 7s is one of the best sports on the planet.

We loved it during the last Olympics!

 

[Parsley Sage]

Wheelchair Rugby is awesome.

 

[taf2002]

As others have stated, Harry and Meghan feed the worst traits and feelings in each other, IMO. Just because they're supporting themselves doesn't make them parasitical in some respects. YMMV, and clearly it does.

I asked you why you call them parasites when they are supporting themselves & you come up with this. IOW you can't defend your hateful statement but you will cling to it anyway. Why are you in this thread anyway when you clearly despise them? I guess other threads don't have the troll value that this one does.

 

[Lemonade20]

I asked you why you call them parasites when they are supporting themselves & you come up with this. IOW you can't defend your hateful statement but you will cling to it anyway. Why are you in this thread anyway when you clearly despise them? I guess other threads don't have the troll value that this one does.

You can always leave this thread if it bothers you so much. My issue with them is they are still whining and complaining about the royal family for years now. They wanted to leave and live a quiet life, but somehow they can't make a living without the titles and the royal family. That's what makes them so toxic and they feed off on that.

 

[sap5]

If there's anything the Spare controversy has revealed, IMO, it's that there's little to admire about the BRF as an institution. These two articles make that case pretty well:

Opinion | Prince Harry Is Right, and It’s Not Just a Matter of Royal Gossip (Published 2023)

Britain’s most revered institution plays ball with one of its most revolting institutions, even if family members are hurt.

www.nytimes.com

26 Stories That Show How The Palace Press Team Defended Kate Middleton Vs. Meghan Markle

A review of negative published stories about Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton shows disparities in how the royal press office defended them.

www.buzzfeednews.com

While I agree that there were admirable aspects of the Queen's character, she was also very human and there were clearly areas where she struggled (like most of us).

Thanks for the links. That's what I've been looking for -- specific examples and admissions from the press re: the BRF/press offices leaking stories about members of the family.

 

[Jimena]

They wanted to leave and live a quiet life, but somehow they can't make a living without the titles and the royal family.

As it's been pointed out several times, a quiet life is not what they wanted.

Not that I'm invested in this at all (really), but it boggles the mind how they make some people froth at the mouth irrationally.

And frankly, this is the Harry and Meghan thread. The people who just come here to hate make me scratch my head. Why do you care so much? Just ignore them! Go to the other royalty thread to talk about Kate and William and all the other royals and their tiaras, children, patronages, etc.

I have a feeling I'm going to regret writing this.

 

[once_upon]

As it's been pointed out several times, a quiet life is not what they wanted.

Not that I'm invested in this at all (really), but it boggles the mind how they make some people froth at the mouth irrationally.

And frankly, this is the Harry and Meghan thread. The people who just come here to hate make me scratch my head. Why do you care so much? Just ignore them! Go to the other royalty thread to talk about Kate and William and all the other royals and their tiaras, children, patronages, etc.

I have a feeling I'm going to regret writing this.

Because there cannot be enough hate for Meghan-as she is the worst of womankind? Or something like that.

@clairecloutier thank you for posting those, I wanted to but figured I'd be burned at the stake

 

[Winnipeg]

I read the article noted above. Sounds like truly horrible treatment from the press and his family if true


The quote about having Megan ride naked through the streets and having people yell at her and throw excrement is so bad I can think of no words that can express how disgusted I am after reading it. What a horrific thing to say about anyone. What a jerk.

 

[overedge]

Yes, it does. We should be interested in distinguishing crimes. There are good reasons why prosecutors/judges are carefully protocolling all charges.

If Andrew had been guilty of pedophile crimes there should be no way to get away with a fine or come to some settlement behind closed doors. At least I hope so!

I am puzzled that there are people who share your point of view.

Look at how long Epstein was able to pimp young women - including underage girls - to his social circle, and get away with it without any penalty at all. There was pedophilia plus abuse, sex trafficking, entrapment, and all sorts of other crimes going on for years, and no one did a thing about it.

And if you believe that Giuffre was the only young woman that Epstein or Maxwell pimped to Andrew, or that all of those young women were legally adults.....that's naive. At best.

 

[Parsley Sage]

If there's anything the Spare controversy has revealed, IMO, it's that there's little to admire about the BRF as an institution. These two articles make that case pretty well:

Opinion | Prince Harry Is Right, and It’s Not Just a Matter of Royal Gossip (Published 2023)

Britain’s most revered institution plays ball with one of its most revolting institutions, even if family members are hurt.

www.nytimes.com

26 Stories That Show How The Palace Press Team Defended Kate Middleton Vs. Meghan Markle

A review of negative published stories about Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton shows disparities in how the royal press office defended them.

www.buzzfeednews.com

While I agree that there were admirable aspects of the Queen's character, she was also very human and there were clearly areas where she struggled (like most of us).

The first article was written by Zeynep Tufekci who is a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. The Berkman Klein Center has received funding from Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation.

Zeynep Tufekci

Zeynep Tufekci is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill at the School of Information and Library Science with an affiliate appointment in the Department of Sociology. Her research revolves around the interaction between technology and social, cultural and...

cyber.harvard.edu

Funding & Support Policies

The Berkman Center for Internet & Society was founded in 1997 with a generous gift from Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman. Over the past decade the Berkman Center has received financial support from foundations, corporations, private donors, international organizations, and government entities...

cyber.harvard.edu

 

[taf2002]

You can always leave this thread if it bothers you so much.

What an asinine thing to say. Are you saying I can leave a thread I'm interested in if trolls ruin it? Am I understanding you correctly? I think a better suggestion would be that the trolls leave.* YMMV

*I know several of you are having way too much fun to leave but a girl can dream, right?

 

[becca]

As others have stated, Harry and Meghan feed the worst traits and feelings in each other, IMO. Just because they're supporting themselves doesn't make them parasitical in some respects. YMMV, and clearly it does.

In fairness I don’t think I can say that they feed the worst traits in each other. I don’t know either of them personally. We only know the public persona.

A lot of people think very highly of Meghan. If they are happy good for them. Harry was clearly unhappy well before Meghan came into the picture

No one is all bad or good.

I don’t care for their public persona. The projects they have that make the most money involve ripping on Harry’s family:

Maybe most of this books isn’t I hate my family but even 1 percent of family private conversations is unfair to the family members who did not give consent.

Unless everyone here wants their family members to blast on social media their bad actions.

I am not going to be buying said book I don’t want them having my money.

I just feel that Harry and Meghan seem to think we are going to set the story straight and don’t understand that blaming William and Kate for Nazi uniform, the lip gloss stupidness, the bridesmaid thing, and the complaining only makes them look petty.


At some point of your going to be in the public eye or just in general you have to realize not everyone is going to like you there are going to be crazy stories.

Both of them looked way better before all that.

It reminds me that sometimes you can just be way to focused on what others think of you. I do that as well. A nun once told me if you are overly focused on what others think you will always be performing.

 

[airgelaal]

If there's anything the Spare controversy has revealed, IMO, it's that there's little to admire about the BRF as an institution. These two articles make that case pretty well:

Opinion | Prince Harry Is Right, and It’s Not Just a Matter of Royal Gossip (Published 2023)

Britain’s most revered institution plays ball with one of its most revolting institutions, even if family members are hurt.

www.nytimes.com

26 Stories That Show How The Palace Press Team Defended Kate Middleton Vs. Meghan Markle

A review of negative published stories about Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton shows disparities in how the royal press office defended them.

www.buzzfeednews.com

While I agree that there were admirable aspects of the Queen's character, she was also very human and there were clearly areas where she struggled (like most of us).

It seems strange to me to compare a new wife and a wife who has been in the family for 6 years
In any field there is such a thing as reputation, which is earned over the years.
Such a very obvious manipulation