Trapped???

He met and talked to people, showed an interest in the work at the church. he has visited it before and remembered the previous visit in some detail.

The people there seemed really cheered that he was visiting and taking an interest in what was happening.

I expect you will sneer at this kind visiting, but I doubt you come from the same demographic, inner city and poor. For many people like that who so often feel overlooked and isregraded a visit like this is immensely important.They feel that they do account for more than nothing because they have had a royal visit.

exactly MOnica, well said.

I don't sneer at anyone, but one would hardly class it as a difficult job.. I admire the charity workers. I have been one myself whilst doing full time work.

Years ago as part of my job I had to visit a hospital. We had a tour of some wards and spoke to patients. They were all pleased to have someone to talk to, I guess they were bored! It was an uplifting experience, I had a vague idea of what it might feel like doing this on a regular basis. It was a positive experience, nothing like the daily grind and real struggle that is the lot of most people dictated by their birth. Harry said that he didn't realize that he was trapped until he met Meghan. That's quite telling.

If often thought it was a pity that the only work the Royals seem to be allowed to do, apart from "Royal duties" is military service. They might have benefitted from a spell in the civil service, or the NHS.

Daisymae - good point. Harry always seemed perfectly happy until he met MM

Aveline he did talk about problems wth his mental health before MM came into his life, and I did always feel that we were only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

The difference is between marrying someone who will support him and help him deal with his demons and someone who indulges them and shares in them.

I had an aunt who never let her poor health come between her and what she wanted in life. He family had always encouraged her and she had a successful career, but then in her 40s she married a man who worried about her health constantly, clucked around her and fussed when ever she was less than in full health, and she changed into someone always talking about her poor health and making a drama over every little thing that went wrong. Her health became her only interest. and limited her life.

Something like that is happening here.

Prince William seems to have come out fighting today when he and Mrs William visited a school. In reply to a question he said 'we are very much not a racist family' and when asked if he had spoken to his brother he replied that he had not but that he 'planned to'. Good on yer, Wills. You tell him what's what while yer at it.

I expect it's relative to what you are normally used to.

To someone stuck in a refugee camp for year after year, with no access the decent food, proper health care, bathing facilities, etc, etc, even living in a horrible flat with little children during lockdown might seem preferable.

Saudi princesses may welcome living a much less opulent lifestyle in exchange for freedom to go out on their own or with friends when they want.

Meghan Markle perhaps did not grasp how much being part of The Firm would impinge on her freedom to make choices that had originally been available to her. And to be constantly under attack in the country she had moved to must have made her feel very trapped and depressed.

Meghan must be pretty dim (maybe she is) if she didn’t realize that joining the RF would restrict her freedom. On one hand there is the protocol and you can’t just go to Sainsburys, or the cinema, other big celebrities have the same problem.

It’s a cosseted life for sure, most recognize there is a downside, if I was a cynic I might think she decided marriage first and if it all went wrong she would have a meal ticket for life, tough choice. Harry just allowed it all to happen.

Eloethan I agree with everything you said in your last post.

Ironically, one of the things Prince Harry has against his brother, is that he advised him to take his time about marrying and to make sure that his potential wife really knew what she was letting herself in for. Lets face it, Prince William and his future wife were an item for about 8 years befor they married and their marriage seems to be a resounding success.

It is a shame that Prince Harry did not listen and learn. In his case it has been marry in haste and then he and his wife making more and more life changing decisions in a precipitate fashion that I think they will soon find that they have plenty of leisure to repent.

Apparently Megan has complained that no one helped her learn the national anthem, she's an actress?!

I dont think anyone can know if someone's marriage is a resounding success. I think this really odd romantic ideas have been partly responsible for the situations the rf often find themselves in.

She really gives the impression that once she came to Britian, all her get up and go got up and went and that she was a passive tool in the hands of the palace,

I find that very difficult to believe. You do not succeed in show biz in the US in particular unless you are really pushy, and self confident and can fight back through rejection again and again and again.

Frankly Prince Harry comes over as a big wimp, which again seems very out of character with his clearly successful military service and his initative with the Invictus Games and work with disabled soldiers.

NotTooOld

Prince William seems to have come out fighting today when he and Mrs William visited a school. In reply to a question he said 'we are very much not a racist family' and when asked if he had spoken to his brother he replied that he had not but that he 'planned to'. Good on yer, Wills. You tell him what's what while yer at it.

Exactly. Though I expect he has had a real go at him already.
I think H &M thought they would get sympathy to deter any lack of popularity they may have suffered. After all Harry was always loved and really popular. Most people wanted him to have a happy family life. That dimming of popularity is hard to swallow.

All that matters to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is how the interview went down in the States, The Duchess is certainly not remotely interested in how it was received in the UK. It went down a storm in the US and that is all that mattered.

Prince Harry may have some interest in how it played in the UK, but his main interest has been to pay-off old scores with members of his family, particularly his father and brother, which he did in in a spectacular fashion.

I’m not sure that’s still the case now they have had time to reflect either M0nica. I’ve been reading the CNN coverage, this is the latest analysis, which is interesting. Obviously this isn’t the gutter press though, who have a non-factual bent, as in the UK.
edition.cnn.com/2021/03/13/uk/royal-accountability-intl-gbr-analysis/index.html

I wonder why our RF can’t be a bit more like the Scandinavian versions. They seem much more down to Earth. Don’t forget they are related to our RF too.

nadateturbe

But what did PC actually do there?

Years ago I used to volunteer regularly at a Riding for the Disabled centre which was hard work, getting there early to prepare the ponies, before a full day of helping with the various clients, from autistic children to disabled adults, all of whom loved their time of comparative freedom on a horse.
Princess Anne visited one day as it is one of her favourite charities. I know you’ll say, but what did she do? She made us feel special, that our work was worthwhile, she talked knowledgeably to us as helpers, to the teachers and physiotherapists who came with the children. We had a lovely day and went home proud of our work.

grannysyb

Apparently Megan has complained that no one helped her learn the national anthem, she's an actress?!

I guess she choked in the “God save the Queen “ line

Katie59 You win the thread! ???

Princess Anne visited one day as it is one of her favourite charities. I know you’ll say, but what did she do? She made us feel special.

Ok, thats nice. But personal I don't understand how the RF have this effect . Or for example why a royal wedding cheers everyone up. I just don't get it. They are only people. And I still can't see it as work.

Kate Adie wrote in one of her books that when people get near to royalty, they simper, and it is true, even on zoom meetings.
I don't know why weddings cheer people up, they just do. Sorry if it doesn't do it for you, Nadateturbe, but don't begrudge us our simple pleasures.

I'm not talking about weddings I'm talking about royal weddings and visits. Reporters say things like "just what the country needs to cheer us up.. . a royal wedding." As if its some magical medicine to make us forget our problems. Why do they have this effect I wonder.

Nadateturbe, many people’s jobs only exist in that they make other people happy - the whole of the entertainment world for instance. I can’t say why Princess Anne’s visit made the RDA centre feel valued and special, - we knew it was anyway as we saw it in the clients’ faces every week, - I just know that it did.
Yes, they are only people, as are Paul McCartney, Will Smith, Bono, Adele, JK Rowling etc, etc, but many people still see them as special somehow.