Polly Toynbee.

Luckygirl3

I do not really know PT's writings, but I do know that the royal family had the opportunity to be inclusive and failed at it. But then we all know how dysfunctional a royal upbringing is.

I don't think they failed.
I know, despite claims to the contrary, that every effort was made to introduce Meghan to the protocols of Royal life and she was welcomed into the family.

Unfortunately, joining not just a family but a firm where your duties might be directed by others and then proclaiming you are "going to hit the ground running" and forge your own path was never going to bode well. Alienating staff and family members to the point of distress would make anyone unpopular and to then claim this was due to prejudice is disingenuous.

Luckygirl3

I do not really know PT's writings, but I do know that the royal family had the opportunity to be inclusive and failed at it. But then we all know how dysfunctional a royal upbringing is.

I would like to agree with you Luckygirl so can you outline just how the RF could have been more inclusive where Meghan was concerned?

She started off as a very popular ‘new member, greeted enthusiastically on her early visits but it soon became clear that she was dissatisfied and petulant. Her self pitying interview with Tom Bradby in SA overshadowed what should have been a shoo in for her future role on a world platform. Nobody else who professes to aim for the goals she preaches about has had that chance.

She should have heeded Michelle Obama’s advice and given it time.

Going back to the original argument, there are so many variable factors that can affect the public's attitude as to how popular or not popular the royal family will be in the future much of it is conjecture. Of course a lot of that will weigh heavily on young George's shoulders, I feel sorry for him already. My feelings are that Charles does have a reasonable rapport with the public. He has made massive faux pas in the past such as "am I the only Prince/King not to have a mistress?". Then again people mature and I'm sure many of us retrospectively wouldn't say or feel some of the things that we could possibly attribute to the shallowness of youth. In many ways it's been a long road, but I think he and Camilla have redeemed themselves and have won over a good section of the public which William and Catherine have built on. As long as they model themselves on the Scandinavian royal ideal, not become too out of touch with public opinion, maintain a very slimmed down monarchy. That's to say no place for Andrew, or his family. Conspicuous privilege consigned to the past then I think there is a 50/50 chance they could be around in the future. Much depends on the state of the nation and the mood of the people. As for Harry and Meghan......just too much has been written about them, other than to say there was a nano second when they could have been fantastic for our nation but the writing on the wall emerged after a very brief honeymoon with the public.

I do not really know PT's writings, but I do know that the royal family had the opportunity to be inclusive and failed at it. But then we all know how dysfunctional a royal upbringing is.

Polly Toynbee crossed a massive red line for me when, I found out, like Diane Abbot she sent her kids to a private school. I have zero respect for anyone who professes to lean to the left and opts out of the state system. One or the other, send your kids to private school, always a personal choice, but don't bleat on about your left wing credentials because clearly you are not someone who believes in a level playing field.

Other than that, as posters have said, she comes across as humourless, patronising and arrogant, obviously an intelligent woman , but to me she exemplifies certain characteristics, I don't like, in particular sanctimony, she is not the type of person i would wish to be around in the real world

Not a fan!
Patronising, arrogant and sour as other posters say.She also needs to get her roots done or choose a different hairstyle😬

Polly Toynbee is undoubtedly intelligent but also arrogant and one who always believes her own publicity.

She is rather annoying, but I completely agreed with her comments on Harry and Meghan.

merlotgran

A lot of us felt that MM would have been an asset but short of locking William and Kate up in the Tower and proclaiming Harry the heir it was never going to work. She’s not a team player and her demands would never have ceased.

Totally agree merlotgran .... and I don't forget her comment that she and Harry "are only a plane crash away from the throne".

Is that because she totally disagrees with you on most things, and makes the point as to why succintly and clearly ;)

Never liked the woman. Pompous and arrogant is a good description of her.

Exactly Merlotgran.

Callistemon21

I'm not keen on Polly Toynbee, always thought she was a humourless and pompous individual but I do agree that she is probably right.

Even as a pragmatic royalist, in a way, I do hope so for George's sake but I hope it's a benign progression, not an acrimonious change of circumstances.

Agree on all points. I’m a Guardian reader and, while I agree that PT is intelligent on most subjects, she is not always right.

A lot of us felt that MM would have been an asset but short of locking William and Kate up in the Tower and proclaiming Harry the heir it was never going to work. She’s not a team player and her demands would never have ceased.

I feel so sorry for both of them

Can’t agree, they brought most of it on themselves.

Calendargirl

Yes Merlotgran, her view seemed to be that H&M were a great addition to the family, but the RF didn’t make the most of it, and it was their fault how things ended up.

Well, that was the impression I was left with after her speech.

I can’t see George becoming King - I probably wouldn’t be around anyway! She’s right about H&M. They would have been brilliant but it wasn’t just the RF who ruined it all, the right wing media didn’t help either. I feel so sorry for them both.

Grandma70s

I agree she is intelligent, but I thought she came across as very sour.

Didn't see it, so can't judge this. But she is indeed very intelligent and I usually agree with her.

Yes Merlotgran, her view seemed to be that H&M were a great addition to the family, but the RF didn’t make the most of it, and it was their fault how things ended up.

Well, that was the impression I was left with after her speech.

Callistemon21

I'm not keen on Polly Toynbee, always thought she was a humourless and pompous individual but I do agree that she is probably right.

Even as a pragmatic royalist, in a way, I do hope so for George's sake but I hope it's a benign progression, not an acrimonious change of circumstances.

I think you’re right about George, Calli. I didn’t see PT on the News but is she implying that Meghan Markle would have saved the monarchy?

I'm not keen on Polly Toynbee, always thought she was a humourless and pompous individual but I do agree that she is probably right.

Even as a pragmatic royalist, in a way, I do hope so for George's sake but I hope it's a benign progression, not an acrimonious change of circumstances.

Ok visagirl, I’m what way is PY a ‘vile individual’? I reserve that kind of dreadful description for people like sex offenders. I dislike Sarah Vine’s political views. I sometimes feel irritated by what I see as political bias. But i can’t imagine calling her a vile infivudual

I saw that too. It reminded I wrote to her many years ago when my children were very young. I can’t recall now exactly why I wrote, other than it being in response to an article in The Guardian. However I do remember clearly her rather patronising reply and how how small it made me feel at the time. She clearly had no time for the opinions of a stay at home mum!

M0nica

I always thought she was a total prat.

That's putting it mildly...vile individual.

Polly Toynbee,
Of course she's going to lambast the monarchy. Have you read her family history. Not sure she's an impartial onlooker.
Wrong re Markle too.

She's a Guardian columnist. She writes well.
But no surprise here, she has been calling the monarchy utterly useless for ages.