Royalty Thread #16: the best of times, the worst of times

[MacMadame]

I assumed there were requirements one has to fulfill. Apparently, I assumed so wrongly, however, I don't see what is so funny about it.

I wasn't laughing at you but at how easy it is to get into the military. They pretty much take anyone with a pulse. There are some minimal requirements but they are extremely low. That doesn't mean anyone with a pulse can stay in the military. It's one of those "take as many as you can and weed them out later" kind of situations.

So, there are requirements/a test one has to go through? This was my point, regardless of how difficult it is to pass or not, did Harry and William? Were they treated like everyone else?

The competency test is mostly to see where in the military you would be best suited, according to the British Army website.

But if you enter via the officers' program, you bypass that. It sounds like Harry might not have made it in if not a royal, but the military doesn't mess around. If someone like Harry were completely hopeless, he wouldn't be flying helicopters. He'd have a desk job where he couldn't kill people.

 

[taf2002]

@Karen-W, why do you always know what Meghan has thought/is thinking? I don't understand why you state, not as an opinion, but as a fact.

 

[canbelto]

@Karen-W, why do you always know what Meghan has thought/is thinking? I don't understand why you state, not as an opinion, but as a fact.

Royal rpf’ing.

 

[Karen-W]

@Karen-W, why do you always know what Meghan has thought/is thinking? I don't understand why you state, not as an opinion, but as a fact.

Why do you always find reasons to excuse her behavior and conduct? Those are pretty telling indications of what she has thought/is thinking if one isn't peering at everything she does through rose-colored glasses that need their prescription updated.

 

[canbelto]

People love to think they know the royals. They really don't. For the longest time people thought it was Kate and Meghan who had an issue with each other, when it was actually William and Harry who had the deeper rift.

 

[puglover]

The one bit of advice supposedly given by many including Queen Elizabeth was for Prince Harry to wait a year or so before marrying. Everyone seemed to take that as a vote against Meghan (especially Harry) but I am now thinking that would have given her a much better picture of what her life would be. The ones he dated before her clearly were not prepared for the scrutiny. I was just watching a lovely greeting (semi public) between Catherine and Camilla and following the very warm loving embrace Catherine quickly dipped her knee in a curtsy. That would be Meghan's position for the rest of her life at every event. Catherine married into the family about as prepared as you are going to get.

There is talk that Harry could loose Invictus as he is now becoming more of a distraction and fundraising is down. Names being talked about to take over are Mike Tindall, Mike and Zara, Sir David Beckham (all amazing athletes). Come on Harry - focus! Or should I say focus the attention where it is truly needed. This was your baby - don't let it go!

 

[taf2002]

Why do you always find reasons to excuse her behavior and conduct? Those are pretty telling indications of what she has thought/is thinking if one isn't peering at everything she does through rose-colored glasses that need their prescription updated.

Or why do you always find reasons to judge? All my posts in this thread have been about Will & Harry. Where was I excusing her behavior & conduct? FTR it's not up to me or anyone else to judge a person not known to the person judging. But I doubt Meghan is someone I would be friends with in RL. People who have A personalities are not restful sometimes to be around, esp at my age.

 

[Sylvia]

Prince Harry made an appearance at the Time100 Sports Gala in NYC last night and here he is chatting with 2 figure skaters : https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/...a-liu-and-madison-chock-news-photo/2286444972

 

[Winnipeg]

I really dislike Liu's dress.

 

[Judy]

I have no problem with Harry and Meghan. I really like them actually.

 

[Winnipeg]

I hope they stay together because I think if they do not, Harry will have a more difficult time coping. Just IMHO. Hope it never happens and there is certainly no sign of it!

 

[Winnipeg]

Isn't it Prince George's 13th Birthday today?

 

[Karen-W]

Isn't it Prince George's 13th Birthday today?

It is! Two IG posts from The Prince & Princess of Wales account.

The Prince and Princess of Wales on Instagram: "Happy 13th Birthday, George! 🎉"

310K likes, 5,996 comments - princeandprincessofwales on July 22, 2026: "Happy 13th Birthday, George! 🎉".

www.instagram.com

The Prince and Princess of Wales on Instagram: "Thank you for all the birthday wishes for George today!🎂"

285K likes, 3,899 comments - princeandprincessofwales on July 22, 2026: "Thank you for all the birthday wishes for George today!🎂".

www.instagram.com

 

[Winnipeg]

Wow, is he ever cute and handsome! Looks like William for sure!

 

[SHARPIE]

Well this is an unexpected turn ….


Prince Harry and Meghan to return to UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62ey03z9d1o

 

[canbelto]

I'm shocked. Meghan seems to have finally found her groove doing the lifestyle influencer stuff in Cali.

 

[Cachoo]

I'm shocked. Meghan seems to have finally found her groove doing the lifestyle influencer stuff in Cali.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/world/europe/prince-harry-meghan-return-uk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.61A.I77a.HmJ6boNOUVvo&smid=url-share

 

[Barbara Manatee]

That is quite an about face. The spin around this might be enough to reverse El Nino.

 

[millyskate]

Oh dear. I find them utterly insufferable and now they will be all.over the British news and impossible to ignore.
From whining about not having tax payer funded security for a 2 week trip to moving here full time... They must have run out of money. Or Harry's visa was going to be put in question.

 

[JJH]

According to the BBC News article, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are enrolled for a British school in September. Whatever anyone's opinions of Prince Harry and Meghan might be, Archie and Lilibet deserve to experience Britain.

 

[millyskate]

I really really feel for Archie and Lilibet. The vast majority of the country despises their parents and they won’t be shielded from it like in the US. I hope they will be ok.

 

[clairecloutier]

I don’t understand this move at all. I don’t see what the advantage is for them. Who is going to welcome them back with open arms (aside from possibly Charles)??

 

[skategal]

I think someone on Reddit may have hit it on the nose when they detailed:

Charles is dying. William will be King. George is under 18. If something happens to William there will be a need for a regent. The regent must be domiciled in the UK.

Catherine can’t be Regent until the UK Parliament changes legislation to allow it. The UK Parliament is a mess right now.

Assume William will make this change when he is King but in the meantime, if Harry couldn’t be Regent, it would fall to Andrew or at least he could claim it which would be the death of the Monarchy.

All that plus giving the kids a chance to know their grandfather before he passes makes sense to me.

All of this is speculation but I can see Charles not wanting to leave any loose ends before he passes.

 

[Jenny]

Being closer to Charles I can see. But they've spent years talking about how totally awful it was for Meghan in the UK and how terrible the family/royal staff were to her and how she's in constant physical danger, and now she's going to live there as a private citizen and send her kids off to school among the masses?

There is more to this, has to be.

 

[Finnice]

The Finnish press speculate that Harry and Meghan hate Trump so much that living in Britain is a better option. But what do they know?

 

[Jenny]

Can't imagine Trump has anything to do with it given that Meghan and Harry are cosseted among the elite. However, while there may be a reason or two for them to live in the UK, my suspicion is there is an equal or greater reason for them to leave their life in America - maybe something to do with their many struggling or failed business ventures, or their continually reshaping charitable activities.

 

[attyfan]

Being closer to Charles I can see. But they've spent years talking about how totally awful it was for Meghan in the UK and how terrible the family/royal staff were to her and how she's in constant physical danger, and now she's going to live there as a private citizen and send her kids off to school among the masses?

There is more to this, has to be.

Hate crimes are becoming increasingly frequent in the US, so maybe they no longer see the US as a good alternative. After all, it is more difficult for the perpetrators of hate crimes to get guns in the UK than it is for them to get guns in the US.

 

[Vagabond]

Belgium has a new, adult prince.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

I cannot see Charles encouraging Harry to establish residency just in case a regent is needed. He knows it'd be a disaster for the monarchy and the family. And it would only give William extra incentive to start the process to remove Harry and Andrew from the line of succession as soon as he becomes king.

My guess is that Harry is very unhappy in the US having found nothing really to do with himself. He's realized that "freedom" isn't all it's cracked up to be and being treated like a prince was actually kind of awesome. And he is frustrated and baffled by the smoking crater that is his popularity. I think he imagines that if he goes back home and starts visiting hospitals and kissing puppies like a real royal, everyone will love him again.

 

[once_upon]

There seems to be a lot of hate for this couple. Granted I'm not British or a person who lives in a monarch nation, but it seems to me, there is a need/desire to make someone a scapegoat.

Now that Camilla has become accepted and named Queen, Andrew the Disowned formerly known as Prince Andrew has been banned, Harry and Meghan - but Meghan specifically - are the most hated. They were hated before but they are now the sole target.

Does it really matter why he is coming "home"? I think all the reasons are reasonable to return.

Or it could be just to piss off some of you.