Gransnet forums

News & politics

Sympathy for Harry anyone?

(290 Posts)
TG3465 Mon 06-Jul-26 15:57:53

Is there anyone left who has any sympathy for H&M after the recent pantomime? I’ve been in the ‘against’ camp since the birth of Archie when they deliberately misled the press and public with delayed announcements and made it clear they were doing things their way. Since then….well. I have a close friend who still thinks the sun shines out of Harry’s backside, he’s had a terrible upbringing and life, he should get an apology….I’m avoiding contact with her this week as I know she’ll have another excuse about him.

Indiebee Thu 09-Jul-26 14:37:29

Yet another hate-filled thread about H and M. Boring and predictable.

Yes, do pile onto me! Yes, I know I can scroll by. Yes, I know it’s your opinion and therefore valid to you. But I think Gransnet doesn’t need this level of frequent personal hate and vitriol about these two. Leave it for Mumsnet?!

Smileless2012 Thu 09-Jul-26 14:41:12

No hate here just justified criticism.

cc Thu 09-Jul-26 14:45:06

Nope. No sympathy for him at all. He's made the most of his privilege and done very nicely out of it, thank you.

I agree with others that Megan is a big part of the problem, no doubt pecking away at him. She's not got what she expected out of her marriage, but then she wasn't prepared to put in what is expected of members of the "working" royal family.

At the moment it's all very sad (particularly for the children and their elderly grandfather) but it's hard to imagine how they can remain married without significant changes.

If they separate and Harry stops behaving in such an entitled way I'm guessing that he could be accepted back into the fold. But we've seen from the behaviour of Harry's uncle Andrew that his behaviour may be too ingrained.

merlotgran Thu 09-Jul-26 14:48:34

Indiebee

Yet another hate-filled thread about H and M. Boring and predictable.

Yes, do pile onto me! Yes, I know I can scroll by. Yes, I know it’s your opinion and therefore valid to you. But I think Gransnet doesn’t need this level of frequent personal hate and vitriol about these two. Leave it for Mumsnet?!

Please don’t tell us what to do or think. We’re discussing a subject that has been in the public domain for a very long time.
It’s not personal hate it’s opinions and relevant comments or are these things mutually exclusive to Mumsnet?

62Granny Thu 09-Jul-26 15:00:11

He always seemed to be happy with his place as the "spare" , he was able to certain extent to misbehave and act the clown, enjoyed life and his army life and friendships , he seemed to have a lovely relationship with both Wills and Kate, the laughter and the smiles couldn't all be for the cameras , they seemed to have genuine love for each other. Then after Meghan came on the scene it changed very quickly, it's such a pity. I would hate this to happen in my family.
As others have said she didn't like being second best, it's not in her makeup. She soon realised that she would always be in their shadow if they stayed in the UK.
I don't approve of how they went about, the whole song and dance about privacy and they have been more in public and on the media than any of them.

TG3465 Thu 09-Jul-26 15:02:42

Indiebee

Yet another hate-filled thread about H and M. Boring and predictable.

Yes, do pile onto me! Yes, I know I can scroll by. Yes, I know it’s your opinion and therefore valid to you. But I think Gransnet doesn’t need this level of frequent personal hate and vitriol about these two. Leave it for Mumsnet?!

As the OP - no hate or vitriol here. Just exasperation that it’s all gone so horribly wrong for H&M and sadness for the way the family has been fractured.

cc Thu 09-Jul-26 15:07:13

Cold

TG3465

Jaberwok

The only person in the RF who had a difficult, rather lonely upbringing was the then Prince Charles! Prince Philip in particular was very tough on this shy sensitive little boy who shook hands, and bowed to his mother. Gordonstone, although splendid for Andrew was the last school where Charles should have been sent, he was deeply unhappy and hated it. But for the support and love of his grandmother that boy would have had a desperately miserable time. Curiously the QM always appeared to be in Scotland during term.time?! Prince Harry did NOT have a difficult upbringing, any more than William did, parents divorce? along with many others, does not excuse bad behaviour. Sandhurst with two unaccademic A levels, only a Prince can do that, a mother who spoilt and encouraged bad behaviour, a father who did his best. Best of everything, money no object, grandparents who loved him, and whom he betrayed and now this drama! No sympathy at all for Harry. Plenty for the King who would love to see his grandchildren. What's wrong with arranging a family week at Balmoral? Plenty of security there, the estate is enormous. Princess Margaret had lots of faults, but she was never ever disloyal either to the crown or particularly her sister the Queen. No interviews, no books, no comment.

Yes. This. My sympathetic friend also spouts - lost his Mother young…all his Dad's fault because of Camilla……his Dad was never around when Harry needed him… All of which is regretful but I’m afraid that in his early forties his air of total petulance and grievance has worn thin with me now.

Yet his mother was happy to pack him off to boarding school at age 8 to pursue her own interests and then be the "fun mum" in the holidays

I always think that Princess Anne must have had a lonely upbringing - home schooled until she was 13 and then sent to boarding school when her younger brothers were born. Yet she has managed to carve out a life without demanding royal perks all the time.

Cold Yet his mother was happy to pack him off to boarding school at age 8 to pursue her own interests and then be the "fun mum" in the holidays.

Yes, both boys went to boarding school at 8 and after the divorce her butler Burrell said that she “only ever had the boys for two weeks every year because she gave them up”.
Diana was happy enough to go to France with her boyfriend during the school holidays before she died. Harry still suggests that the loss of his mother was a major trauma, which is obviously true in most cases. But in reality she saw very little of them.

Mollygo Thu 09-Jul-26 15:07:24

Indiebee

Yet another hate-filled thread about H and M. Boring and predictable.

Yes, do pile onto me! Yes, I know I can scroll by. Yes, I know it’s your opinion and therefore valid to you. But I think Gransnet doesn’t need this level of frequent personal hate and vitriol about these two. Leave it for Mumsnet?!

IMO Your post shows more of the level of . . . personal hate and vitriol towards GN posters that is expressed on this thread.
Maybe learned from your experience on Mumsnet?

Isla71 Thu 09-Jul-26 15:08:21

Harry is not a war hero. He was protected by the Regiment and the Ghurkas. This was well publicised in the media. An insult to all of our brave service personnel who actually went through it. So many of them still suffering and living on the streets. Shame on the MoD for allowing this. Shame on successive prime ministers who won't tackle this due to cost. We are, however, bountiful to the stranger who can't even speak our language or who hasn't given life or limb for this country.

Marmight Thu 09-Jul-26 15:09:07

I think Harry has finally crossed the Rubicon and I doubt there’s any chance he’ll have any normal relationship with his father or brother again. He reminds me of the tiger who turned into butter. All this will he, will they, won’t they, won’t she, is ridiculous. He just had to accept the offer of accommodation at BP, with or without his family, not changed his mind continuously, been realistic about security (they appear to cope in every other country they visit without a fuss 🤷‍♀️), carried out his visit to court and the Invictus thing, visited his father quietly and privately without all the fanfare, shouting, screaming and wailing about the injustice of life, and all would have been well. They need to put on their big boy and girl pants - and grow up!
So, my answer to OPs question is no. Not one iota of sympathy

polnan Thu 09-Jul-26 15:22:22

no, no sympathy, no hatred.. boredom hearing about them..

Nanny27 Thu 09-Jul-26 15:35:14

Newatthis

Why can't everyone just leave them alone. For goodness sake - he is a war hero, both he and his wife do an awful lot for charity especially military veterans who have been traumatized and maimed. Let's face it, as the 'spare' he really didn't have much of a role in the Royal family so if he chosen to lead his life the way he sees fit then let him. It would seem that no matter what he and his family do, then it's wrong. Whereas C & W can do the same thing and it's 'wondefrful'.

Can you explain how Harry is a war hero?
His regiment went to Afanistan and he served a few months there like thousands of other soldiers. I've never heard of him doing anything outstanding whilst there and he came home in one piece unlike many many others.

LinkyPinky Thu 09-Jul-26 15:39:46

I have read ‘The Palace Papers’ by Tina Brown. I strongly believe Harry’s account of the appalling press intrusion into his life. I also believe he was sold down the river by his father in order to render Camilla acceptable to the public, who initially blamed her for Diana’s sad life, but now accept her as queen. . Nor can I expunge the memory of him as a bereaved and traumatised 12 year old boy being made to walk behind his mother’s coffin in front of the world’s ogling millions.He observed his mother being hounded to her death by the paparazzi and did what needed doing to prevent the same thing happening to his wife.

Mollygo Thu 09-Jul-26 15:41:39

He observed his mother being hounded to her death by the paparazzi and did what needed doing to prevent the same thing happening to his wife.
You mean by courting publicity?
Make up your mind.

Indiebee Thu 09-Jul-26 15:58:46

TH3465 - thanks for your comment. I do also think that there have been many interesting points discussed on the thread and perhaps the ‘haters ‘ are the minority. (?!).

undines Thu 09-Jul-26 16:18:43

I truly struggle to see why anyone would feel sorry for the disgustingly rich and privileged royals over anything!

Barbadosbelle Thu 09-Jul-26 16:18:59

.

William will do an AMW and strip him of all his titles etc when he ascends the throne.

He is so so angry with him (and rightly so imo) and can't forgive all he's said and his timings, at a time when QE2 and the DofE were both so old, frail and sick.

But I really think the King should 'man-up' and be the one to take this action now, so that William isn't lumbered with having to do it in the future.
.

4allweknow Thu 09-Jul-26 16:22:02

Harry znd Megan wanted away from it all and all they seem to do is complain saying they are ignored. Surely they've been given the hand they wanted.

Sparky51 Thu 09-Jul-26 16:44:13

Yes..leave him alone.Surely you have better things to do..like getting a life.

Peaseblossom Thu 09-Jul-26 16:56:09

Isla71 I am in total agreement with you.

Willow68 Thu 09-Jul-26 17:03:55

No!!! but I feel Sorry for
Her father, no royal titles, no money, nothing to offer them, so both ignore him, but stay desperate to reconcile with the royal king.. Harry is spiteful and bitter, both an embarrassment.

Leavesden Thu 09-Jul-26 17:04:03

I like them, you can’t blame Harry for wanting to step away from royal life, after the poor treatment of his mother, there is nothing wrong with wanting to protect his family, the press is vicious.

Beeb Thu 09-Jul-26 17:06:24

No one has lived his life. If I’d raised in the royal family under the intense media focus and lost my mother at 12 , then I’d feel free to comment.

Beeb Thu 09-Jul-26 17:07:17

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course.

Juicylucy Thu 09-Jul-26 17:07:42

Don’t forget about the book and interview he did throwing his family under the bus. That could have been done privately but no he wanted an audience. Reap what you sow.