Meghan and Harry pay off Frogmore

He couldn't stay in the Army except on desk duties as his presence would have brought danger to others.

He's not a desk man, he's an action man.

I suppose I find even the concept of a woman choosing to do little more than look after a house and a family completely alien. I was raised by a mother who always worked and had a grandmother who always worked. My brother and I were both taught to cook and clean and shared chores. I always knew I would have a career. So maybe others are right and it is OK for Kate to be a supportive wife. It's just something I see as alien to women progressing in society and acheiving equality.
I do think there is a lot of antagonism amongst women towards women who seem to be the decision maker in a marriage. For some I think it goes along with not liking men being the main carers and women the main wage earner. That seems to be one of the main criticisms of Meghan that she is the one taking the decisions and Harry is just following along.
As for them staying here and doing their jobs for the Firm, well particularly in the current pandemic I think even more of the Firm should go. After all everyone else will be cutting staff.

I don't think you realise just how many charities etc Catherine supports or is patron of, trisher. That will increase too as they both take on more.

Perhaps you haven't seen much of her because of COVID which followed on not long after maternity leave?
I thought you'd believe in women's rights too, eg maternity leave?

I think even more of the Firm should go

Who, exactly? There aren't many left now.
Those that carry out royal duties get paid on an expenses only basis from the Sovereign Grant.

It is an acceptable choice trisher, as you say, for a woman or a man to become the primary carer of children, or indeed the primary home maker in a marriage or partnership. I myself, spent ten years in that role, bringing up children. When the youngest went to school I resumed my career. However, I don’t think Catherine fits that description. She is not a housewife as she works. It’s not a paid job in the normal sense, but nonetheless she does work. It’s probably not a job many of us would like, despite the obvious perks. Plus it’s a lifetime job, she cannot retire, ever. Look at Prince Phillip, he has finally been allowed to retire at nearly 100 years old.
Catherine really cannot be compared to Meghan. The trajectory for both women, assuming they stayed married, was always going to be very different. The limelight on Meghan would have faded over time, and she could have had an extremely luxurious lifestyle in the UK as a royal, with few engagements as William’s children grow up and take over the duties. It’s clearly not what she wanted. A luxurious life, with few royal duties, and able to live quietly in the UK can never have been in her mind, because the decision to quit came so quickly. Maybe she’ll be happier in her natural environment in LA, but how Harry fares will remain to be seen. I’m not sure, although he confided in me, that almost total estrangement from his family was ever in his game plan. Will he find true fulfilment working for Netflix? I don’t know, but I have my doubts. Time will tell.

We've been taking a closer look at the curious idea that the royals work hard. Ha Ha

They don't. More to follow

It is true that most royals are “patrons” of a string of charities, but very often this is only on paper – their name may appear on the letterhead, but they are not an active ambassador for that cause.

Some royals certainly do help to raise the profile of certain charities they care about, but so do many actors, singers and sportspeople. And what about the millions of ordinary Britons who make donations and give up their free time to volunteer for good causes? They do so without any of the glory - or luxury trappings – that the royals receive.

It's also worth noting that when a member of the royal family visits a charity, it can cost taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds – often vastly exceeding any increase in donations. The royals gain more in PR than the charities do in support.

But, as with the tourism argument, the amount of charity work the royals do or don't do has no bearing on the question of whether we should have a monarchy. And of course, the Windsors would be free to continue their charitable activities as free citizens in a republic.

Mistake, ........although he NEVER confided in me.......

As if I’d ever have a direct line to the royals

Just as a matter of interest look in the Times (or go on to the Times website for a shortened version) and read what duties the Royals performed yesterday. They do sound riveting, but they have to be done, whether you have a headache, or your feet are hurting. A far cry from film premieres etc.

You’re right Lexisgranny, it’s not a job I’d want. Most of the work they do is not very glamourous, and most of it never reported. It’s only the more glamorous visits that are reported. How many times do we see Princess Anne in the news? Yet she is one of the hardest working royals, and she still has a very private life when she’s not working for the firm.
Harry may have moaned but did absolutely nothing about leaving his family, and he clearly said whilst being interviewed that he had explained to Meghan what was required if she agreed to marry him, and she said she was going to hit the ground running. I saw her say these words. His previous girlfriends are documented as saying they didn’t want all that royal life entails, and that is why they split from Harry. Meghan appeared to be enthusiastic about royal life on the engagement interview. I suspect she thought it was far more glamorous than it actually is, and her expectations were were totally out of line for the reality.

I did wonder if you'd let slip your close relationship maddyone

Surely a husband and wife support each other.

Why is Kate seen as a 1950’s housewife ? She is a future queen
consort which is no different to Phillip. She is patron of many
charities, she doesn’t seek the limelight for herself . She doesn’t get involved in politics, as a member of the firm she
couldn’t and not because she is obeying her husband.

I always admire Katherine Kent, she did so much for charities,
publicly and privately, I know she worked on the Samaritans
Help line.

I no longer respect feminism, or perhaps I mean some who
speak out about feminism by mocking women who choose
a life different to theirs.

maddyone

Mistake, ........although he NEVER confided in me.......

As if I’d ever have a direct line to the royals

I was beginning to wonder if you had had a hotline to Frogmore maddyone

I think Anniebach hit the nail on the head weeks ago on a previous H&M thread when she said that M wanted to be Queen Bee and did not like being below Kate in the hierarchy and was riven with envy/jealousy/call it what you like. She did not understand the way the RF works.

I think she did understand, Sparklefizz. She's far too savvy to enter into anything without a game plan in place.

It's clear she was hoping to make changes and build up her own high profile but when it was obvious that was never going to happen she/they put plan B into action.

I wonder how far along the line they would be now if Covid hadn't happened?

I don't bear them any ill will. Meghan wants to be 'home' amongst the shallow glitz of Hollywood. That appeals to her a lot more than opening a new toilet block on a wet Wednesday afternoon in Wigan. I do feel for the Queen, though.

I think it would be difficult for anyone who lives in a country without a monarchy to marry into the royal family and then deal with royal life and royal protocols. The higher the profile of their intended spouse, the greater the difficulty I suspect. Nonetheless the Meghan appeared to enthusiastic about the prospect. Well, she is an actress I suppose.

Absolutely agree with you merlot and Sarnia.

I have great admiration for Katherine Kent who actually stepped away from royal duties to teach music in a Primary school in Hull on what might be termed a problem estate.

More to royal duties than opening toilet blocks. Meg had the
opportunity when in S.A. to speak in support of the women ,
but no, she gave a tv interview all about her, - ‘no one asked if
I was ok ‘.

Did she suddenly realise she would one day walk behind
Charlotte and curtsy to William. She would be 12th in the line

I’m afraid that came over as utterly self indulgent Annie. Meghan does not appear to have any empathy at all, otherwise she wouldn’t have complained in that way for the whole world to hear in an impoverished country. I wonder how the women of South Africa took it. Their lives must be so difficult, many living in abject poverty, in a society that seems to be very male dominated, and living amongst all the horrendous violence that seems to be never ending in SA.

maddy the women spoke of having boxing lessons to try
to protect themselves from rape attacks, yet Meg moaned about herself .

I did not read this in the press, I base my opinions on what
she says and does. Who would write ‘you are loved’ ‘you are
strong’ on bananas for food parcels going to prostitutes ,
for me she insulted them.

Camilla visits safe houses for battered women not writes them
messages on flipping bananas

trisher

I have great admiration for Katherine Kent who actually stepped away from royal duties to teach music in a Primary school in Hull on what might be termed a problem estate.

Yes, indeed.
However, as her husband is a cousin of the Queen, she was one of the more minor royals. As a member of the aristocracy she was more used to the peculiararities of the British system (although she's descended from Oliver Cromwell!).
We miss seeing her at Wimbledon.
She is, however, still a patron of various charities.

Her husband is still carrying out duties on behalf of HM (without any fanfare) - I think it was hoped that Harry would take on some of his duties because the Duke is nearly 85.

But perhaps the best thing to do would be to let those "Royal Duties"(whatever they may be) just lapse and move into the 21st century.

trisher

But perhaps the best thing to do would be to let those "Royal Duties"(whatever they may be) just lapse and move into the 21st century.

No, I'm afraid most people would not agree.

Someone mentioned having sports stars or celebrities as patrons of charities. I'm sure there may be some, but frankly I can't think of one offhand.
Which overindulged celeb would be interested in setting up a Trust to get young, disadvantaged people into work or setting up in business? Or setting goals like the DoE Award Scheme - and see these enterprises through year after year?

Well you’ve hit the nail on the head Callistemon. Meghan was not interested in anything except setting up an extremely lucrative deal for herself. Which with the benefit of the royal connection is exactly what she has done. I do not believe she would have landed the contract with Netflix without the kudos of the royal connection. And that’s why I don’t understand anyone supporting her. She is not a self made woman. She has used Harry to get where she is. And the reward she wants is monetary, which with Harry’s world wide fame, she has achieved. Whatever she says, she is not remotely interested in the under privileged, the poor, the disadvantaged. Meghan’s interest is money and shallow fame, the same as the rest of Hollywood.

Anniebach

I criticise them from their words and actions not from reading the press Summerlove

...and how do you find out about their words and actions?