Harry and Meghan

[bellewood]

The news here is full of Oprah Winfrey's interview with Harry and Meghan which aired earlier this evening, and what damage it could possibly do to the Monarchy, in particular the Queen. I would assume that given your interest in our Royal Family that some of you will have watched the show. I'd love to hear your views on the subject from the other

Comments

[primula_baggins]

I didn't watch it. I had enough drama when Princess Diana was alive. When Meghan married Harry, I gave it a year, mostly because of what her life would be like living there. But her and Harry chose a different path. They are brave. It would be very hard giving up one's family as he did. I just wish them both well.

What are your thoughts on it?

[bellewood]

I wish them well too. I do think though that whatever their motives for speaking out, i'm not sure that their timing was the best. Apart from the fact that Harry's grandfather is ill in hospital, there's the added complication of the unprecedented situation we're all living in right now. Times are tough enough as it is without having our Monarchy at war.

More of my thoughts in comments..

[shirebound]

I watched it with great interest. I'm always aware that an interview is one side of a story, but I was very moved by Harry's insistence, more than once, that his main motivations were always to keep his family safe. We assumed that he and his brother must have been deeply scarred by their mother's experiences -- physically, mentally, and emotionally -- but here seems tangible proof. This was my main takeaway from the interview, in addition to an appreciation of Oprah rarely letting a subject drop before getting an answer to a question. I get impatient with other interviewers who seem to skim along the surface and just go down a checklist of questions.

If your voracious media/press is anything like ours, however, I suspect that this was taken as a disrespectful attack on the monarchy and "the way things have always been and should always be". I'd love to hear your views.

[bellewood]

Yes, two sides to every story, and yes our press is having a field day allotting blame. But our Monarchy being what it is we'll never get to hear the real story from the other side, so it seems we have no choice but to either take what they have to say at face value or read deeper meaning into it. Harry has admitted on more that one occasion to struggling with his mental health and i can well imagine him being terrified that what happened to his mother will repeat itself, especially given the way the media treated Meghan while she was here. Harry has always been one to go his own way, he doesn't have the responsibilities that his brother has, so if moving away and turning his back on his family, at least for now, is the way he sees to protect his family then that's what he'll do.

[romeny]

I must admit that I don’t quite “get” the interest in the royal family. And to be perfectly honest some AA families have a thing about skin color so it’s not unheard of or as shocking a fact of life that Oprah makes it sound.

I do dislike that M & H chose to air their dirty laundry and question whether M wants to better control H by taking away his family ties which were quite tight to match the ones she has with her own family which are nonexistent. I think a truly loving wife would have moved heaven and earth to get along with their husbands family but M seems to have jumped in with both feet to force a split.

I know someone like Megan and don’t trust her motives in the slightest and see her as very manipulative of H.

[bellewood]

AA? All American? I wonder perhaps if Oprah was more shocked that it was a member of the Royal family that made the statement rather than a passing remark from someone else. The press were quite vicious in their comments while the couple were here, so i can well imaging Meghan having trouble with her mental health, just as Diana did. She too, as well as dealing with problems in her marriage, suffered at their hands. You're not alone in your view that Meghan is doing everything she can to control Harry. I'm not really sure what to think about that. I think that Harry will move heaven and earth to please and protect his wife and their family and in that respect then maybe he wouldn't have taken much persuading to cut their losses. If that's what happened. I doubt we'll ever know for sure.

[romeny]

Sorry, AA=African American. I just think she could have prevented things from getting to this point, especially being so early into their marriage. How about their children? They don’t need to grow up estranged from family. I think it’s sad all the way around.

[bellewood]

African American.. of course. I should have realised.

I agree. With things having got to this point so soon it does seem to strengthen the feeling that it's what she wanted all along.. and that really is so sad.

[addie71]

I was left scratching my head wondering 'What's the point here?' I don't understand what they were trying to accomplish, but do believe they succeeded in causing a bigger rift between the Royals.

I didn't find Meghan's claim of naivety when she met Harry very believable. I do believe what was said about racism from the British press and can believe that she had issues with depression (which should be noted, can also be a side effect of pregnancy).

What's true and what's not, only they know for sure and Shirebound is right, there are always two sides to a story. But what Romeny said felt more in line with how I felt after watching their interview.

[bellewood]

I don't understand why they felt the need to air this in public either. If it was an attempt to bring the injustice within the 'institution' to light, then they've no chance. It's been that way for generations, and while the Monarchy have to move with the times I can't see the fundamental way it's run changing any time soon. And yes, i agree, their public comments about the family in particular are hardly going to heal any rifts. The vitriol from the British press was beyond a joke> I thought at the beginning that being an actress she would have been used to public attention and would be able to deal with it, but it went way beyond that so i'm not surprised that her mental health suffered.. and yes, pregnancy couldn't have helped. I doubt we'll ever know the full and exact story.

[yeuxdebleu]

I watched it and wondered from the onset what they thought they would accomplish with this interview. I'm sure "the firm" is very structured and being a part of it is not at all like living a normal life. However, that interview isn't likely to change the way the royals conduct themselves.

I did wonder about Meghan's claim that she "did no research" about what would be expected when she became a member of the royal family. She hadn't even learned how to do a proper curtsy?!?! Meghan is (I assume) an intelligent, independent and world-wise woman so I find it difficult to believe she had no idea what she was getting into. I guess she simply expected it to be different than it turned out to be.

You're right about Americans being fascinated with your royal family. That interview has been analyzed to death by the media here.

I do hope that the move to the US will make them happy.

[bellewood]

Sorry.. Only just spotted this.
As you can imagine the interview has been analysed to death here too. One well known TV presenter even quit his job after getting into an argument for calling Meghan a liar, live on TV. Then there's the claim that there was a private wedding before the televised event. The archbishop has apparently said that it didn't happen, and anyway, it couldn't have been just the two of them, wouldn't they need witnesses? Makes you wonder!!

I agree. The Royal family institution is never going to change. Perhaps when William takes over it may adapt a little, but the traditions will stay the same.
I can see that they are frustrated and disappointed and so needed to speak out, but I fail to see why they did it so publicly. It surely won't endear them to the family that for sure. But like you, I hope they'll be happy.

[yeuxdebleu]

One well known TV presenter even quit his job...

Yeah, Piers Morgan, right? It made the news here.

...it couldn't have been just the two of them, wouldn't they need witnesses? Makes you wonder!!

Yes, it does. I don't believe it really happened. And speaking of weddings, I thought the inclusion of the Black bishop and gospel choir was a bit over the top at their wedding. It would have been OK if they'd married in the US, but it wasn't appropriate for a Westminster Abbey setting. The Queen must have been horrified and I don't blame her if she was.

...needed to speak out, but I fail to see why they did it so publicly. It surely won't endear them to the family that for sure.

I totally agree with you. I think they just created even more of a rift with that interview.

BTW, I have subscribed to a publication called "Royals" published four times a year by People magazine. It's very well done. As it has been said before, Americans are captivated by your royal family. Hee!