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

[clairecloutier]

Interesting piece in today's LA Times by Mary MacNamara, the LAT culture & media critic. She observes that one of the aspects that truly pisses off the tabloids is that Harry is making money on the material they consider their province for money-making. They have no trouble reporting that sources tell them about this spat or that bit of gossip, and now they're livid because his reveals have earned him millions. I never thought of it that way. https://www.latimes.com/entertainme...rry-and-meghan-beat-the-press-at-its-own-game (Might be behind a paywall. Sorry.)

Great article, thanks for sharing. As you said, it offers a different & perceptive view of the situation.

Strange to think that the BRF’s primary function at this point may be to sell newspapers, essentially. Like they exist just to provide fodder.

 

[Jot the Dot Dot]

Ah, one rumor Harry fails to put to rest, is the question of whether he and conservative columnist Mark Steyn were separated at birth! I present to you: The Brothers Grimm !

 

[Husky]

IMO, it is unfair for a parent to rely on a child as a confidante and/or surrogate spouse. It would be a huge surprise to me if Prince William didn't have a very different combination of feelings about his mother than Prince Harry.

I just want to mention that, a few years ago, I read in a British newspaper (don't remember which one) that at some Diana-anniversary, when William went through old photographs with the guests he asked one of them how his mother was because he could hardly remember her.

I thought this was weird since he was not that young when she died. But if even William could hardly remember how limited must be Harry's memories of her?

BTW I blamed the particular upbringing with probably a lot if courses of all sorts, the Buckingham Palace with nannies, and the divorce for the lack of memories.

 

[canbelto]

I just want to mention that, a few years ago, I read in a British newspaper (don't remember which one) that at some Diana-anniversary, when William went through old photographs with the guests he asked one of them how his mother was because he could hardly remember her.

I thought this was weird since he was not that young when she died. But if even William could hardly remember how limited must be Harry's memories of her?

BTW I blamed the particular upbringing with probably a lot if courses of all sorts, the Buckingham Palace with nannies, and the divorce for the lack of memories.

I don't think he actually can't remember her. I think that: 1) it might be very painful to remember her; and 2) he might not remember much about her in the context of Diana, global icon. He'd want to know how she was when she wasn't "mummy."

 

[quartz]

How busy was your store?

My store continues to have an excellent third quarter - Harry is certainly helping!

 

[Husky]

Maybe. But they hadn't seen their mother for 1 month before her death. It just doesn't look to me as if they were that close.

 

[antmanb]

Work wife bought it and says that the impression she got from all the leaks to the media etc is not what she's getting from the actual book. She's shared some of her thoughts about it so far with me and it's piqued my interest. I'm going to borrow it off her when she's done with it.

 

[antmanb]

Some of us are going by a life-long love and interest in the royal family, especially the Queen. My daughter and friends planned way ahead and went to the Queen's jubilee. She was gobsmacked by the very public display of love for the Queen and the tremendous celebration held in her honour. She found it beyond amazing to see a country come together in that way. To us, her life and legacy are not just entertaining.

The British public did not get a say in whether the Queen would get a jubilee celebration. It was simply done. Plenty of people thought the money wasted on a celebration like that could have been put to much better use especially post covid.

I also don't think you can get a measure of the entire country by the tiny percentage of people that attended the jubilee celebrations especially since a good portion of those attending will not have been from the UK, rather from abroad.

 

[PRlady]

Israel puts on a YUGE and often borderline tasteless show every Independence Day. If you judged by the people who attended, you’d think this is the most patriotic rah-rah country ever. You don’t know about the folks rolling our eyes so hard they pop out the back of our heads.

 

[screech]

Forget about him writing more books--his career as a "personality" won't be complete until he does a home renovation tv series, preferably for a deserving charitable cause. (Sorry, couldn't resist .)

I honestly would not be surprised if they presented Best Picture at the Oscars this year. I mean, they've had Michelle Obama do it, so why not Harry and/or Meghan?
I could see Meghan being one of the judges on Beat Bobby Flay or a show like that.
I also think a show about the Invictus Games would be interesting.

 

[taf2002]

Sorry, can you provide examples? (And don't bother saying her father...)

I know in a gossip FB group I'm on, Meghan was applauded for publicly disassociating herself from Jessica Mulroney, her former BFF, after Ms. Mulroney got into it with Sasha Exeter, a Black Canadian fashion influencer. I hope you don't mean that...?

@Karen-W probably thinks Meg is the only person to cut an ex-husband out of her life. Or people who have stabbed her in the back. But I think she Meghan is adhering to the adage don't surround yourself with toxic people who will only bring you down.

eta: for clarity

 

[matti]

Prince Todger and Princess Ski Nose - the Royal Couple of USA

 

[PRlady]

This is a sympathetic but realistic view: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/prince-harry-spare-memoir-meghan-monarchy/672701/

 

[airgelaal]

It seems strange to me that Harry does not like the institute so much, but he does not want to give up titles. Don't like being a spare? But you can refuse to be one, especially now!

 

[Cachoo]

This is a sympathetic but realistic view: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/prince-harry-spare-memoir-meghan-monarchy/672701/

Fantastic piece---I love her review and her conclusions.

 

[Spikefan]

Now I want to read The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.

 

[barbk]

It seems strange to me that Harry does not like the institute so much, but he does not want to give up titles. Don't like being a spare? But you can refuse to be one, especially now!

There was an article I read long ago about a couple who had a second child (chosen through testing IVF embryos? I don't quite remember) specifically so that child could provide something biological their older child medically needed. I remember being horrified that any child should grow up knowing that a key part of their origin story was something like that.

In Harry's case, I suspect that the full realization of what being the "spare" meant developed slowly over time. Even kids in very dysfunctional families don't necessarily want to leave all their connections behind. I've known two people adopted out of abusive situations who eventually reclaimed their birth names, even though they were toddlers when they were taken into foster care and then adopted.

 

[airgelaal]

There was an article I read long ago about a couple who had a second child (chosen through testing IVF embryos? I don't quite remember) specifically so that child could provide something biological their older child medically needed. I remember being horrified that any child should grow up knowing that a key part of their origin story was something like that.

In Harry's case, I suspect that the full realization of what being the "spare" meant developed slowly over time. Even kids in very dysfunctional families don't necessarily want to leave all their connections behind. I've known two people adopted out of abusive situations who eventually reclaimed their birth names, even though they were toddlers when they were taken into foster care and then adopted.

I am not saying to renounce the family, but only the institute. Princess Anne has renounced titles for her children, but they remain part of the family and can still claim the throne.

 

[jadingirl]

I say Kudos to Harry and Meghan for beating the tabloids at their own game! Spilling all their dirty laundry themselves and raking in the cash.
It's a wonder to see how the tabloids have cherry picked stories and spun their own webs around them compared to Harry's actual book.
I hope H&M are both happy with the success can take a deep breath that the stories been told and move on to something more positive and productive with their milllions and millions. That would really be the best.

 

[easilydistracte]

Now I want to read The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.

Excellent story by Ursula K. LeGuin. Set in the same universe as her novel The Dispossessed.

Correction: Sorry, I conflated the story with another story by LeGuin about the founder of the society in The Dispossessed. LeGuin described that character as "One of the ones who walked away from Omelas."

 

[MacMadame]

It seemed to me that the veterans did not really like his confessions in the book

Those confessions have been reported on for ages. Nothing new here.

DH has no interest in the RF, Harry or any of it but we always watch Colbert from the night before after dinner. It was a really good interview, he still doesn’t care but thought Harry was authentic and liked how he explained the tabloid spin of his military service. Harry may not be welcomed back in the UK but I think he will do just fine in the US, he’s a one man Boston Tea Party.

I think he came across as warm and funny and reasonably smart. The part where Cobert asked him about his frostbite member was hysterical and I learned something about dressing for a trip to the Arctic.

 

[skatfan]

I think he came across as warm and funny and reasonably smart. The part where Cobert asked him about his frostbite member was hysterical and I learned something about dressing for a trip to the Arctic.

I agree, the Colbert interview was pretty much a home run. Colbert shares a history of having lost a parent while young, which made for some terrific sharing. Harry seems to be getting a feel for American audiences. The extended interview is up on YouTube.

 

[Andora]

@Karen-W probably thinks Meg is the only person to cut an ex-husband out of her life. Or people who have stabbed her in the back. But I think she is adhering to the adage don't surround yourself with toxic people who will only bring you down.

Selfishly I like to think Karen went to find examples and didn't catch any that she could verify. But to be fair, I sincerely doubt actresses out of LA are bastions of generosity and compassion, so I'm sure Megs has spurned a few friends at some point, fairly or not.

But the notion that she's left a trail of used-up friends behind isn't something I've seen other than from tabloids/her detractors, so I'm wary.

Prince Todger and Princess Ski Nose - the Royal Couple of USA

With full disrespect, did they kick your dog or something? I'd enjoy your acerbic takes if they were funny or sensical. Are we really shitting on someone for having a good nose?

In Harry's case, I suspect that the full realization of what being the "spare" meant developed slowly over time. Even kids in very dysfunctional families don't necessarily want to leave all their connections behind. I've known two people adopted out of abusive situations who eventually reclaimed their birth names, even though they were toddlers when they were taken into foster care and then adopted.

Bold mine - agreed. It's hard to stay non contact with family, even when it's best. It's hard to stay firm as an adult when it comes to childhood trauma. And sometimes there's not enough therapy in the world that can make you stop wishing your family will come around and make things right.

I am not saying to renounce the family, but only the institute. Princess Anne has renounced titles for her children, but they remain part of the family and can still claim the throne.

I would very much like it if Harry stopped vocally supporting the institution he is taking apart "unintentionally". If he's just gaslighting them while breaking it down, well... that's a sub ideal way to treat family. I can appreciate if he's having a tough time cutting the last of these threads while he's throwing a flame thrower around - but he's going to run out of the ability to compartmentalize it all.

 

[MacMadame]

I'm sure Megs has spurned a few friends at some point, fairly or not.

Haven't we all though? I've heard some murmurings about Meghan doing this but haven't seen anything concrete.

he's going to run out of the ability to compartmentalize it all.

Nah, as an adult with childhood trauma, I would say that compartmentalization is my superpower.

 

[Karen-W]

Selfishly I like to think Karen went to find examples and didn't catch any that she could verify. But to be fair, I sincerely doubt actresses out of LA are bastions of generosity and compassion, so I'm sure Megs has spurned a few friends at some point, fairly or not.

Nope, just busy at work yesterday/today and last night I was more interested in continuing to read Harry's memoir than responding to your specific request.

I will throw out there that her first husband was a TV producer and there were more than a handful of insinuations about his connections and her landing the Suits role, though I pretty much ignored them at the time because Hollywood is like DC - you often get far based on nepotism.

 

[MacMadame]

I forgot to say that one of the things that impressed me about Harry's Cobert interview is that he as very empathetic and also was sure to mention that others had gone through what he had (i.e., other people who lost a parent young, soldiers who killed and came back from the war broken, not others whose mom was a Princess. )

I think that article about the Press being outraged that H&M are telling their story and profiting off it instead of them was spot on too.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

I think that article about the Press being outraged that H&M are telling their story and profiting off it instead of them was spot on too.

Oh, but the press are making bank on this, too. Outrage and indignation sells all around.

 

[Allskate]

It seemed to me that the veterans did not really like his confessions in the book

DH has no interest in the RF, Harry or any of it but we always watch Colbert from the night before after dinner. It was a really good interview, he still doesn’t care but thought Harry was authentic and liked how he explained the tabloid spin of his military service.

That was the saddest part of the Colbert interview. The reported "confessions" aren't in the book. It has been reported in the past that he killed while in Afghanistan. The details that "reportedly" are in the book and have been criticized are not there. (Surprise! There are false reports about Harry.) The really sad part is that he discussed his experience in the book in order to help other veterans who are dealing with similar issues and may be suicidal. I really hope that the lies and consequent criticism do not interfere with the good work he has been doing for veterans.

I;m up to the S. africa trip where Harry meets the Spice Girls. Honestly, Charles comes across rather well in this book. He wasn't the perfect parent but he did try. I thought the letters he left on Harrys pillow were sweet.

Harry seems to say that Charles did try, and he acknowledges that Charles was ill-equipped to be a single dad and that it would be difficult for any parent in his position. It does seem, however, that Charles was largely absent. Even on breaks from boarding school, Harry sometimes wasn't with Charles. Charles didn't come with Harry the second time he went to Africa. A nanny did. And, at that time, William didn't want to spend time with his baby brother. When Harry discusses the notes Charles left for him, it seems as if Harry wishes that Charles had said those things out loud to him. Their in-person interactions, such as at dinner, sometimes seemed pretty formal. And, Harry clearly would have preferred it if Charles did something different with him rather than take him to see Shakespeare plays. But, I don't get the sense that Harry is mad about how Charles treated him as a kid after Diana died (aside from Camilla and tabloid issues). He just seems a bit sad that he was largely left alone to deal with his grief at a tender age. He did seem to relish time alone with Charles.

 

[mattiecat13]

I do not believe the reason Diana had Harry was to serve as a “spare” should something happen to William, the “heir.” The fact that Harry was the “spare” was just coincidental. Diana loved children and was clearly a loving mother, despite her faults. I read she wanted to have more children (especially a girl) but by the time of Harry’s birth, the marriage to Charles had broken down and more children weren't going to happen.

 

[Sylvia]

Mark Hanretty's tweet in response to a Megyn Kelly video : https://twitter.com/Mark_Hanretty/status/1613401061422678019
(with some expected replies, of course)