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

[Karen-W]

I don't associate being incandescent at staff with taking responsibility and working cooperatively to improve. But of course now I am the one taking unsourced rumors as truth, so my bad.

Fair enough. They haven't had another major overseas tour since then, so who knows what sort of changes will happen, if any. At minimum, I do think William is, as a future monarch, very aware of and takes care with how the institution of the British monarchy is received by the public - not just in Britain but throughout the Commonwealth. Whether he realized before or after just how bad of a look it was, well, at least he realized it.

I just don't think there's much evidence to support the notion that either he or Kate are afraid of POC.

 

[Karen-W]

I am now up to the Africa part of the gap year and the start of the relationship with Chelsy. Charles and Camila get married. Its a real nothingburger according to Harry -- doesn't seem like he really objected.
I was surprised that Elizabeth didn't go to the wedding.

I think that she didn't go because it was a civil wedding, but I can't recall the discussion around it at the time (17 years ago and all that!).

 

[Badams]

I think it's gross that these 2 women have been pitted against each other. I am willing to bet that this situation wasn't created by either one, and both feel like they are on the defensive. I am also willing to bet that they have way more in common than they differ.

 

[MacMadame]

I said there was negative press all over. Them being terrified was remarked on in social media.

This is what you literally said.

This was a goodwill tour of the Caribbean, and the woman in question was a Jamaican minister.
Throughout the Caribbean tour W&K acted terrified of black people. They cowered in fear. It was picked up by all the major news channels.

So yes, you did say they cowered in fear and it was picked up by all the major news channels.

 

[once_upon]

I'm glad that some of you have families that cohense when attacked by others outside the family, even if they disagree amongst themselves. But it is simply not true for EVERYONE.

In my experience nothing about a wedding goes as planned. Dresses rarely fit perfectly the first time around.

 

[MLIS]

Charles and Camilla were married in a civil ceremony at the Windsor guildhall (kind of like a city hall, I believe?) with only their children (William and Harry and Camilla’s son and daughter) present, to avoid criticism of marrying in a church as divorcés (Camilla’s first husband is still living). This was followed by a blessing and prayer service in the chapel at Windsor, attended by the Queen, Prince Philip, and all the royal family and 800 some guests.

Edited: I was curious and googled, and was mistaken about how small the civil ceremony was, Charles and Camilla’s siblings and their partners and children were present as well. The reason given for the Queen not attending the civil service was to allow it to remain “low key.” She did attend the church blessing.

 

[taf2002]

Look at this picture:

https://i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article26561352.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200c/0_JS261415528.jpg

They both look terrified of black people even though they are all behind a fence.

What am I supposed to look at? I see 2 people smiling. As for the chain link fence I've seem many pictures of celebrities landing at a airport or at a meet-n-greet with fans behind a barrier to protect the celebrity (think Elvis or the Beatles).

 

[Andora]

It's a big leap to suggest anyone in the Royal Family is afraid of POC. They are very privileged and no doubt engage in other subtle racist behaviour, but that doesn't include such overt displays of racism ridiculously suggested here. Hell, I even believe William when he said they're not not a racist family-- at least I believe he believes it. They're tone deaf and clueless about this stuff, but knowing how the (not too distant) history has played out, members of the BRF would no doubt see the progressive changes they've seen and been part of over these decades as extraordinary. It doesn't mean they're right, but it's their reality.

I wish people would be more reasonable with their points so I don't have to defend celebrities I'm not a fan of.

 

[Winnipeg]

I find it very hard to believe that William and/or Kate are afraid of POC.

 

[Judy]

I find it very hard to believe that William and/or Kate are afraid of POC.

Of course not. It wasn’t the best tour set up at all with all the protests etc. I was surprised it happened at all.

 

[Winnipeg]

I would suggest if W and K, or any public figure for that matter, look uneasy it may be because they feel or sense a security risk regardless of what race or country?

 

[canbelto]

Harry refuses to believe Henri Paul was drunk and says even if he was, the car was "only" going 65 mph. He has an idee fixe that only the paps are responsible for Diana's death.

 

[starrynight]

Harry refuses to believe Henri Paul was drunk and says even if he was, the car was "only" going 65 mph. He has an idee fixe that only the paps are responsible for Diana's death.

100 km per hour through a tunnel while 3 times over the legal alcohol limit?

If I’d drunk that much I’d be probably bumping into doorways walking around, and getting behind a wheel at speed would have been a disaster.

I would say that whole tragic affair was caused by a whole mix of factors that led to the accident: alcohol, no seat belts, pressure to move quickly because of photographers etc. But the heavy intoxication of the driver would have been a major factor.

 

[Karen-W]

Harry refuses to believe Henri Paul was drunk and says even if he was, the car was "only" going 65 mph. He has an idee fixe that only the paps are responsible for Diana's death.

100 km per hour through a tunnel while 3 times over the legal alcohol limit?

If I’d drunk that much I’d be probably bumping into doorways walking around, and getting behind a wheel at speed would have been a disaster.

I would say that whole tragic affair was caused by a whole mix of factors that led to the accident: alcohol, no seat belts, pressure to move quickly because of photographers etc. But the heavy intoxication of the driver would have been a major factor.

@starrynight beat me to it, but add in the lack of seat belts...

I think that, in large part, Harry cannot allow himself to believe that his mother made a series of incredibly bad decisions that night, each of which contributed to her death. To do so would mean admitting his mother was merely human after all. She's not the immortal goddess he's built her up to be in his mind.

And, it's painfully clear to any reader, only a few chapters into Part 3, that he has transferred all of that adulation onto Meghan. The only way for him to move past his mother's death (not that he really has, IMO) was to find another woman as perfect as Diana. Hence, Meghan can do no wrong and he will brook no challenge to the contrary - not even from his own brother. Where things stand now between them (and the rest of his paternal family) is tragic, but I really can't help but feel we're far from the end of the story.

 

[canbelto]

@starrynight beat me to it, but add in the lack of seat belts...

I think that, in large part, Harry cannot allow himself to believe that his mother made a series of incredibly bad decisions that night, each of which contributed to her death. To do so would mean admitting his mother was merely human after all. She's not the immortal goddess he's built her up to be in his mind.

And, it's painfully clear to any reader, only a few chapters into Part 3, that he has transferred all of that adulation onto Meghan. The only way for him to move past his mother's death (not that he really has, IMO) was to find another woman as perfect as Diana. Hence, Meghan can do no wrong and he will brook no challenge to the contrary - not even from his own brother. Where things stand now between them (and the rest of his paternal family) is tragic, but I really can't help but feel we're far from the end of the story.

I was thinking this too. One day Meghan will probably get tired of a husband who worships her so much. Because they have children and businesses together I doubt they'll actually divorce, but she will eventually find it as juvenile and irritating as everyone else does.

 

[MLIS]

Yes, it is painfully clear that Harry thinks he can “save” Meghan in a way he couldn’t save his mother, and it has become his fixation to the detriment of everything and everyone else in his life. You can debate the finer details of how much Meghan needed/wanted/deserved to be saved, but that’s the core of it. It’s desperately sad.

 

[4rkidz]

For everyone who thinks Harry has said too much … He claims there’s a lot MORE he could have said (and that most of it involves his brother and, to a lesser extent, his father):

Prince Harry: I left out details as I feared family would not forgive me

Duke of Sussex tells Telegraph that he has enough material for another memoir and his original draft was twice as long

www.theguardian.com

P.S. Another opinion piece in The Guardian argues that Harry should renounce his royal title (in part, because it’s possible it could get stripped from him at some point):

Why hasn’t Harry given up his ridiculous title yet? | Arwa Mahdawi

I don’t think anyone should be going around calling themselves Duke or Duchess in 2023. Unless they are a stripper or a dog

www.theguardian.com

Some of my very divided family in England go out on the ‘hunt’ with ‘Lord $&@‘. Lots of bowing and scraping by the peasants, silly titles are alive and well in England. Some like to think its just in historical fiction dramas or books, but the class system is alive and well. Especially in the countryside.

 

[Karen-W]

Jimmy Kimmel strikes again. DYING!

https://twitter.com/JimmyKimmelLive/status/1615176712471601153?t=V40Sx11gOmgvTCvM82cuIg&s=19

 

[Coco]

Wow, I could have done without all the reference to Diana. But I've always found Kimmel to be a little too mean to be funny.

 

[Judy]

100 km per hour through a tunnel while 3 times over the legal alcohol limit?

If I’d drunk that much I’d be probably bumping into doorways walking around, and getting behind a wheel at speed would have been a disaster.

I would say that whole tragic affair was caused by a whole mix of factors that led to the accident: alcohol, no seat belts, pressure to move quickly because of photographers etc. But the heavy intoxication of the driver would have been a major factor.

My sister has visited the tunnel. Not inside of it but above. She said the cars drive at crazy speeds.

 

[Winnipeg]

IMHO, there is absolutely no doubt that Diana had some culpability with the accident as did Dodi and the drunk driver. It was a very sad event and nobody would want that to happen to her but one has to be held responsible for their own decisions and unfortunately for her, the consequence was loss of life.

Speeding + reckless driving + drunk driving + no seat belts = recipe for disaster

 

[Judy]

IMHO, there is absolutely no doubt that Diana had some culpability with the accident as did Dodi and the drunk driver. It was a very sad event and nobody would want that to happen to her but one has to be held responsible for their own decisions and unfortunately for her, the consequence was loss of life.

Speeding + reckless driving + drunk driving + no seat belts = recipe for disaster

Photographers were surrounding the car taking endless pictures. Then they were arrested. The tabloid press def played a big part. They can become millionaires from their photos. The backlash was severe against them ... horrific crash but def the very aggressive tabloid played a huge part.

 

[Winnipeg]

Yes, I am sure the photographers did not help either. Everything added up..........sadly

I wonder why they could not find a way to avoid these press people either by security or going incognito or ?

 

[Barbara Manatee]

The tabloid press def played a big part.

The paparazzi behaved shamefully in those days. But they didn't force the driver to be reckless, he chose to be. (Or was told to be by his boss.)

 

[overedge]

The paparazzi behaved shamefully in those days.

They still do, whenever they can get away with it.

 

[Parsley Sage]

I think overseas tours for the Royals are planned by the host country and the Foreign Office with some input from the royal staff.

I remember when Will and Kate first visited Canada in 2011 they said they wanted to "do" things on the visit and not just be shown things.

 

[chantilly]

The paparazzo are gross. However, Diana used the press for her own advantage, specifically when divorcing from Charles.
I understand why she did as it was a way for her to have some sort of power to control the narrative.
But she was partially responsible for their interest in her.
And clearly it was a shit show that accident that night, with alcohol, lack of seat belts, panic, speed and, yes being chased by paparazzi that caused the crash.

 

[MacMadame]

Wow, I could have done without all the reference to Diana. But I've always found Kimmel to be a little too mean to be funny.

I thought that was gross and uncomfortable to watch, myself.

 

[Habs]

I thought that was gross and uncomfortable to watch, myself.

I did too. That was really done in poor taste.

 

[Judy]

I think overseas tours for the Royals are planned by the host country and the Foreign Office with some input from the royal staff.

I remember when Will and Kate first visited Canada in 2011 they said they wanted to "do" things on the visit and not just be shown things.

Yes I went downtown to see them for Canada Day .. so freaking HOT that day (So humid).

I remember they did a lot of other stuff too in different provinces. Different stuff. They likely felt blessed being away from humidity in the west.