Harry & Meghan stepping back from RF

I agree with your comments of 11.33 Maw It's greatly to their credit that the Middletons behaved with dignity and restraint.
Harry & Meghan would have done well to wait longer to be married so she had more of an idea of the problems there could be. No good being wise after the event though.
I don't particularly have a problem with them stepping back but I do think the manner and timing of things was ill judged and thoughtless.

Can I point out that nobody has any real idea who or what had been privately discussed within the RF. I think everybody is aware that quite often in families when serious issues are raised the individual concerned is dismissed and it is considered that they will get over it and things will go on as they always have done. As for saying they want to support the RF I can imagiine how they would have been vilified on here if they had said they were off for good!

This is going to make future episodes of The Crown very interesting. Especially as the true reasons for leaving will no doubt be aired.

I don't think. from what I've read, that this has come completely out of the blue for the RF. As has been said, the Queen did have an appointment to talk to Harry about it but it was cancelled. Maybe he lost patience after that.

It's their life, but I do feel sorry for the Queen, Still, none of us can everything we want. No doubt she will suck it up.

Wonder what will happen about all the engagements that are most likely already in their royal diaries. Suppose some junior members will have to step up. There will be disappointments.

summerlove I turned off when you started using ‘woke speak’. Micro aggression? Really?

I just saw that bit about racist micro aggression - what does that actually mean?

I took my engagement ring back to the jeweller, kept the same diamonds, changed the design and changed from white gold to yellow.

That was over 40 years ago.

Tom Bradbury, friend to Harry and Meghan said that it had been made clear to them, in their absence, that there was going to be a slimmed-down monarchy and they weren't really a part of it."

He said there had been a lot of arguments, adding: "Certainly the rest of the family find Harry and Meghan very difficult and, from Harry and Meghan's point of view, they're just being driven out as they see it."

So I'm confused! If they so desperately wanted privacy and a lower public profile, why would they be so disappointed and annoyed that they weren't "a part of it"? Do they want privacy to follow a private life away from media glare or are they actually hacked off that their public profile was about to be reduced?

SirChenjin I just saw that bit about racist micro aggression - what does that actually mean

I wondered that to and I also , but got no response. So I'm still

Steady Ladies!
This is gransnet and we don't slag each other off - or do we?
We really shouldn't be commenting how other people deal with their family members, we are all Grandparents (or so I suppose) and can put ourselves in the Queen's place - imaging how you'd feel if your Gson was in Harry's shoes.
Hurt, OK, but you'd get over it and want the best for him.
They'll be OK, let them get on with it, its only if they expect us, on our feeble incomes, to help pay for it that it becomes any of our business.
Harry's dad has plenty of money and can spend it on his son if he wishes. I don't suppose for one moment that this will make Meghan happy though.

She’s been planning this for a long long time. She has deals in place already. He’s her ticket to stardom that she couldn’t achieve on her own merits. I’m happy to see both go but no more funding and strip their titles so she merches on his and her own merits. No royal anything. It won’t last long.

There are no junior members to step up. The working royals
are Charles and Camilla. William and Kate. Anne, Edward and Sophie.

Edward is taking on his fathers patronages. Sophie does much as does Anne but the press are not interested.

These three carry out their public duties without drama and
‘Look at me’.

According to a black American woman on sky yesterday the
royals are racist, when the black pastor gave his sermon at the
wedding some of the family laughed !

Maybe Andrew will get his wish and roles will be found for Beatrice and Eugenie.

Agree Anniebach, the other 3 work hard, keep their heads down and just get on with it. Maybe the thought that H&M weren't going to be the "stars of the show", was just too much for them and they decided to bail out and seek their fame and fortune elsewhere?

when the black pastor gave his sermon at the wedding some of the family laughed

We were in stitches looking at the expression on Zara Tindall's face.

It was nothing to do with his colour. He just went on and on and on and......on.

While visiting my brother in Windsor glanced through a local Windsor and Maidednhead newspaper. The news on the Royals is huge particularly in Windsor and I am not sure where the paper got their information but they have printed that although it is unfortunate that Harry and Meghan want to live elsewhere for six months of the year they have said how they will return to the place they describe as "home" being the Frogmore mansion for their return visits to U.K.
I have no intention to make the Queen feel upset as now she is 93 this is all so invasive for her she deserves much better in her senior years after a life time of dedication to the country but as the owner of Frogmore Cottage she should at least make Harry and Meghan pay for that royal bonus or maybe they could get a list of accommodation to rent and find somewhere of their own after all they do want to be fully independent and they would not been seen as sponging off grand-ma.

Agree Chewie. So much talk about slimming down the numbers , only 8 take on royal duties and support approx 3,000 charities worldwide.

Camilla does much for osteoporosis charities, abused women, encouraging children to read and many more. Never any mention of these.

merlot the sermon and the look on the faces of the
family caused me laughter , nothing racist, he just rambled on.

The look on Harry and Meghans face was funnier it looked like Harry was doing all he could to hold in his laughter particularly as the sermon went on on and on, the Queen did not look amused she seemed oblivious of it all.

He was making the most of his time in the spotlight, unfortunately dragged on until it was a laughable embarrassment.

At the hairdresser's yesterday, I was surprised to hear all the negative comments about Dim and Sparkles from young people! To quote one;
"Would she have even looked at him if he wasn't royal"
"How dare she try to rubbish this Country and the RF"
Best they go before it gets worse.

If we count the six months away from now they will be back in time for the publicity jolly which is Ascot, lots of photo opportunities and lots of new clothes.
Wimbledon of course when all their friends will be here to cheer Selena on, and to show how we can have lots of space for ourselves.
Then of course back across the pond for Christmas again,.
Bitchy old hag? Moi?

merlotgran

We were in stitches looking at the expression on Zara Tindall's face.

Yes me too and I must admit I did end up switching channels a few times because of how long he went on. NOTHING whatsoever to do with his skin colour. I find white people boring too. I find M woke and the writing on bananas type behaviour cringe making but I find the whole Hollywood virtue signalling over the top too regardless of colour. I honestly don’t believe this has anything to do with racism and a black woman on the panel on The Jeremy Vine show said the same.