Queen Elizabeth funeral and looking forward

[footballmouse]

BTW did Harry and Meghan go back to the US yet?

I read that they flew home right after the funeral.

With all this talk of Harry bashing his family, do you think he really doesn't like them or do you think he's supporting his wife? I'm just wondering if all this bad stuff that they say happened to her really played out that way. I guess I'm just really doubtful of her. I feel like some things she complained about were things that Diana also complained about. She could have gotten all that from watching all the Diana TV movies that have been made. I don't know, is that family that hateful towards their family members? I'm just really up in the air on her. I like Harry and it looks like California is more his style but I wish it didn't play out like it did. I'm sure there are times that William wishes he had Harry's life, playing at the beach with his kids and dog, riding his bike when he wants.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Checked out the daily mail online yesterday and was bummed they went back to other global news. No more Royals only on the homepage. Feel now like its really all over..

BTW did Harry and Meghan go back to the US yet? didnt catch anything online about that or not. I am surprised they didnt fly their kids over...or maybe they did and nobody caught wind of it.

FWIW There was an article with Gayle King (Oprah's BFF) spilling tea. So yeah...no big surprise there.

 

[Turn the Page]

I read that they flew home right after the funeral.

With all this talk of Harry bashing his family, do you think he really doesn't like them or do you think he's supporting his wife? I'm just wondering if all this bad stuff that they say happened to her really played out that way. I guess I'm just really doubtful of her. I feel like some things she complained about were things that Diana also complained about. She could have gotten all that from watching all the Diana TV movies that have been made. I don't know, is that family that hateful towards their family members? I'm just really up in the air on her. I like Harry and it looks like California is more his style but I wish it didn't play out like it did. I'm sure there are times that William wishes he had Harry's life, playing at the beach with his kids and dog, riding his bike when he wants.

I think a large part of the problem is Meghan really had no idea what she was getting herself into. Were things said and done by the firm that your standard, garden variety American would find awful (not talking about the discussion about Archie's skin color, that was likely terrible) probably. But a lot of the things she was claiming in the Oprah interview such as Archie being denied a title due to his skin color was just not true. That is not how titles work. Surely, Harry at least would have known that.

I firmly believe Harry did a terrible job preparing her for the role she was stepping into. Kate took a lot of flack from the press and such for the length of time she and William dated. Waity Katie I think the press dubbed her. But I think he even publicly stated at their engagement photo call that he purposely gave her a lot of time to get used to the role and really understand what she was getting into so she could leave if she needed to. Harry didn't do that. I'm sure Meghan was blindsided like a deer being caught in the headlights of a mack truck. But a large part of that is on Harry for not preparing her adequately.

All that said, I think Harry is much happier with his more low key life in California and if that's the case then good for them. Now take your lovely life in Califonria and hush up.

 

[Karin1984]

That has been the main problem, Harry and Meghan should have taken a year at least, maybe a few more. It was not just a new lifestyle, a new culture, a new everything. To hit the ground running was not a smart idea. If they had been patient, they would have been able to make changes.
The royal family can change, it takes time and you have to do it gradually.

I hope they are happy, and that the price Harry had to pay was worth it.

 

[Turn the Page]

That has been the main problem, Harry and Meghan should have taken a year at least, maybe a few more. It was not just a new lifestyle, a new culture, a new everything. To hit the ground running was not a smart idea. If they had been patient, they would have been able to make changes.
The royal family can change, it takes time and you have to do it gradually.

I hope they are happy, and that the price Harry had to pay was worth it.

I'm honestly not sure how high the price actually had to be. I mean give up patronages and such, sure. But I think the rift with his family was largely their own doing.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Nope, not even slightly. Personally, I love the show but it's important to remember that it's not an authorized biography of any of the Royals and considers itself a work of fiction. There are some very distinctive characterizations of them that should not be taken as fact; we actually know very little about who they really are; their emotional motivations, private temperaments and behaviors.

Well said, and bears repeating.

Thank you; I am interested and I'll check it out. I'm hoping some portrayals will be debunked, most specifically how abominably the Royals treated Margaret Thatcher while she was their guest at Balmoral and the way they crafted a teenaged Prince Edward as a completely obnoxious little prig.

DH and I have been watching some YouTubes on Balmoral. The thing that’s come out at me most is that: You either love it, or hate it up there. Diana hated it. And apparently, Mrs. Thatcher was one who hated it, as well. I have never watched The Crown, so I don’t know how this was portrayed. But from what I saw on the factual coverage of the actual event, it seemed to be Mrs. Thatcher who was the unpleasant one.

 

[Skywalker]

I think a large part of the problem is Meghan really had no idea what she was getting herself into. Were things said and done by the firm that your standard, garden variety American would find awful (not talking about the discussion about Archie's skin color, that was likely terrible) probably. But a lot of the things she was claiming in the Oprah interview such as Archie being denied a title due to his skin color was just not true. That is not how titles work. Surely, Harry at least would have known that.

I firmly believe Harry did a terrible job preparing her for the role she was stepping into. Kate took a lot of flack from the press and such for the length of time she and William dated. Waity Katie I think the press dubbed her. But I think he even publicly stated at their engagement photo call that he purposely gave her a lot of time to get used to the role and really understand what she was getting into so she could leave if she needed to. Harry didn't do that. I'm sure Meghan was blindsided like a deer being caught in the headlights of a mack truck. But a large part of that is on Harry for not preparing her adequately.

All that said, I think Harry is much happier with his more low key life in California and if that's the case then good for them. Now take your lovely life in Califonria and hush up.

And if Meghan's story is true that she didn't know she had to curtsy to the Queen, and that Fergie had to teach her quickly moments before the meeting, then I would fully agree Harry must have done a TERRIBLE job of preparing her for anything.

 

[fla4fun]

I read that they flew home right after the funeral.

With all this talk of Harry bashing his family, do you think he really doesn't like them or do you think he's supporting his wife? I'm just wondering if all this bad stuff that they say happened to her really played out that way. I guess I'm just really doubtful of her. I feel like some things she complained about were things that Diana also complained about. She could have gotten all that from watching all the Diana TV movies that have been made. I don't know, is that family that hateful towards their family members? I'm just really up in the air on her. I like Harry and it looks like California is more his style but I wish it didn't play out like it did. I'm sure there are times that William wishes he had Harry's life, playing at the beach with his kids and dog, riding his bike when he wants.

I don’t think the BRF is immune from the same emotions that everyone else experiences. There are going to be people who love each other, people who tolerate each other, and people who dislike each other. They may try harder than the average family to hide the negative from the public, but it’s there just the same. I don’t think they are hateful to each other, but I do believe there are times when they argue and give each other the cold shoulder just like you and me with our relatives. The media then latches on to the least sign that there has been a disagreement, and blows it out of proportion and drags it on forever, because drama sells and happy families don’t.

It takes a very specific personality to fit in and live a life where you are constantly putting your own wants and needs aside to follow traditions and protocols which may be hundreds of years old. I could not do it. The Queen did it well, and I think Charles and William also have that ability. I think Catherine has that personality as well. I don’t believe Diana did, although her youth when she joined The Firm hid it for a while. When she matured, she appeared to want to live a royal life that was different than the protocols would allow (outside of the fact that she and Charles were a poor match). I don’t think Harry has it either, and I see the same in Meghan. She was used to being strong, fighting for every role and taking care of herself her own way. That’s the only way to survive in the entertainment industry. If you don’t push yourself forward, no one else will. She married into a family that values submission over strength, and it wasn’t a good fit at all.

There are some who say Harry deliberately left her in the dark about what a royal life entailed so he wouldn’t lose her. I can believe that. He knew The Firm wasn’t going to change and that it had played a major part in the demise of his previous relationships. I think he knew Meghan well enough to know her personality wasn’t going to fit in, and he probably knew from the start that there was a good chance they would have to leave to be happy. I don’t agree with most of what Harry and Meghan have done since they left, but I always felt that leaving was absolutely the correct decision for them.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think a large part of the problem is Meghan really had no idea what she was getting herself into. Were things said and done by the firm that your standard, garden variety American would find awful (not talking about the discussion about Archie's skin color, that was likely terrible) probably. But a lot of the things she was claiming in the Oprah interview such as Archie being denied a title due to his skin color was just not true. That is not how titles work. Surely, Harry at least would have known that.

I firmly believe Harry did a terrible job preparing her for the role she was stepping into. Kate took a lot of flack from the press and such for the length of time she and William dated. Waity Katie I think the press dubbed her. But I think he even publicly stated at their engagement photo call that he purposely gave her a lot of time to get used to the role and really understand what she was getting into so she could leave if she needed to. Harry didn't do that. I'm sure Meghan was blindsided like a deer being caught in the headlights of a mack truck. But a large part of that is on Harry for not preparing her adequately.

All that said, I think Harry is much happier with his more low key life in California and if that's the case then good for them. Now take your lovely life in Califonria and hush up.

I don’t think this is completely or necessarily true. Meghan seems to know more of what she was getting herself into than she lets on. There is a picture of her in front of Buckingham Palace when she was a teen, despite her later claiming she knew nothing about the Royal Family or who Prince Harry was. Her friends have said that she actually studied the life of his mother, Diana. If that were the case, then she knew that there were plenty of issues that had plagued Diana as a member of the RF and wife to the [cheating] Prince of Wales, and that she’d had very little emotional support from others within the family.

Meghan moved to London to be with Harry and live with him at his cottage at Kensington Palace when they were still dating, where they were surrounded by, and immersed in, the lives of Royals. She’s said they sat around roasting chicken dinners there and taking for hours. Surely, Harry both voiced his frustrations with royal life then and explained what she’d be in for if she were to become his wife, which she later chose to do. Meghan is a very smart, even calculating, woman. She knew what she was getting into. She just didn’t like the way things were, with others telling her what she could and couldn’t do - probably more than she imagined. We’ve all seen these past couple of weeks how strong traditions and protocols are within that lifestyle. As an American, Meghan didn’t like that. Harry had had two long term girlfriends from the UK who decided that life wasn’t for them. Meghan could’ve, too. I do think that Harry was happy to have a ‘way out’ through her, and together they decided to do things their own way, but it backfired a little. They wanted to be “part time” working royals, and the Queen said no: in or out. But she didn’t actually take them out fully; only partially. And they’ve exploited their use of their royal titles for financial gain, as well as trashed them all over the place, including as late as the week the Queen died, which is why the RF can’t trust them. Harry is about to publish a tell-all book that has the potential to really blow things up. Harry and Meghan were in the UK for another matter this month and the Queen had asked them to visit her, and they‘d declined. It’s no wonder they’re getting the cold shoulder there. (There’s so much more, but that’s enough.)

And before someone comes along to laugh, or say it’s not relevant to the thread, it’s being discussed already here.

 

[Turn the Page]

I don’t think this is completely or necessarily true. Meghan seems to know more of what she was getting herself into than she lets on. There is a picture of her in front of Buckingham Palace when she was a teen, despite her later claiming she knew nothing about the Royal Family or who Prince Harry was. Her friends have said that she actually studied the life of his mother, Diana. If that were the case, then she knew that there were plenty of issues that had plagued Diana as a member of the RF and wife to the [cheating] Prince of Wales, and that she’d had very little emotional support from others within the family.

Meghan moved to London to be with Harry and live with him at his cottage at Kensington Palace when they were still dating, where they were surrounded by, and immersed in, the lives of Royals. She’s said they sat around roasting chicken dinners there and taking for hours. Surely, Harry both voiced his frustrations with royal life then and explained what she’d be in for if she were to become his wife, which she later chose to do. Meghan is a very smart, even calculating, woman. She knew what she was getting into. She just didn’t like the way things were, with others telling her what she could and couldn’t do - probably more than she imagined. We’ve all seen these past couple of weeks how strong traditions and protocols are within that lifestyle. As an American, Meghan didn’t like that. Harry had had two long term girlfriends from the UK who decided that life wasn’t for them. Meghan could’ve, too. I do think that Harry was happy to have a ‘way out’ through her, and together they decided to do things their own way, but it backfired a little. They wanted to be “part time” working royals, and the Queen said no: in or out. But she didn’t actually take them out fully; only partially. And they’ve exploited their use of their royal titles for financial gain, as well as trashed them all over the place, including as late as the week the Queen died, which is why the RF can’t trust them. Harry is about to publish a tell-all book that has the potential to really blow things up. Harry and Meghan were in the UK for another matter this month and the Queen had asked them to visit her, and they‘d declined. It’s no wonder they’re getting the cold shoulder there. (There’s so much more, but that’s enough.)

And before someone comes along to laugh, or say it’s not relevant to the thread, it’s being discussed already here.

I totally do not disagree. I agree with everything you said and I also do not believe she didn't know who Harry was on their first date. But, I will say, I do think she was insulated from the extent of the protocols and things before they were married and, let's face it, who amongst us REALLY knew what we were getting ourselves into when we got married? I know I sure didn't. There is knowing and then there's KNOWING. Meghan may have known but I don't think she fully understood. And I do think Harry rushed into it before she could really understand.

 

[mousefan73]

It's been reported often from "reliable sources" that what started the whole estrangement between the brothers was caused by William telling Harry to take it slow. Had Meghan maybe had more time to adjust or maybe bail would have been beneficial for her.

Seeing how extremely private the royal family is and they almost never publicly comment on any family-internal stuff, I would be very nervous being open around those two knowing that anything can be said on a future Oprah show or in a book. I wonder if that is the coldness, issue within the family because of the distancing.. I mean are you going to open up now knowing what you say might get out?

I also think King Charles is thinking from a PR view on the value of the Monarchy how would his subjects feel if a non-British ( ok maybe the kids are dual, but still living in a non-realm country and are more American now) person received a prince/princess title. Though Beatrice and Euginie are also non- working princesses officially, they still are in the UK and represent the family, country and crown. I cant see a future british prince going to a US High School playing baseball and I dont think many british folks can too.

Like many other jobs there are basic requirements and I can see for the royal family, a title means being near the place of work.. This is why many felt that also Harry and Meghan should have been stripped of their titles.. At least the marriage ones,, most would let Harry be Prince Harry as he was born on england so.

 

[mousefan73]

the fact that Meghan claims she didnt know who harry was, says it all. Seriously. They were set up..

 

[mousefan73]

Well said, and bears repeating.

DH and I have been watching some YouTubes on Balmoral. The thing that’s come out at me most is that: You either love it, or hate it up there. Diana hated it. And apparently, Mrs. Thatcher was one who hated it, as well. I have never watched The Crown, so I don’t know how this was portrayed. But from what I saw on the factual coverage of the actual event, it seemed to be Mrs. Thatcher who was the unpleasant one.

I compare Balmoral to me saying to my kids, hey we are doing a hiking trip in the mountains. Either you love it or hate it. And the weather there, even in the summer, can be wet, foggy etc... You either hike, hunt, ride and bike.. or sit indoors and have tea.

diana was probably like " I wanna go party!" and Charles was like " let me finish my scenic watercolor painting"

 

[Skywalker]

Speaking of Harry, I thought it was a really sweet moment when Princess Charlotte looked up at Harry during the service and he looked over and gave her a reassuring smile. I liked that. I hope he stays connected to William's children, and they with him.

Speaking of William, I also enjoyed a video that showed him visiting the people that were lined up outside, and they asked him which football team he supported. He then asked a boy which team he supported and the boy supported a different team. William's response was "Well, we can't all be perfect."

Also a funny moment with King Charles when a lady in the line handed him a pen and said "just in case" because of all the pen drama Charles has had lately lol. And he burst out laughing.

I like to see their more human sides!

 

[ronandannette]

I totally do not disagree. I agree with everything you said and I also do not believe she didn't know who Harry was on their first date. But, I will say, I do think she was insulated from the extent of the protocols and things before they were married and, let's face it, who amongst us REALLY knew what we were getting ourselves into when we got married? I know I sure didn't. There is knowing and then there's KNOWING. Meghan may have known but I don't think she fully understood. And I do think Harry rushed into it before she could really understand.

...and either didn't grasp, or wouldn't concede to the fact that all this will apply to YOU, whether you like it or not; non-negotiable. Very few modern women raised in the culture of North America, would adequately fathom such a situation.

 

[Marrila]

...and either didn't grasp, or concede to the fact that all this will apply to YOU, whether you like it or not; non-negotiable. Very few modern women raised in the culture of North America, would adequately fathom such a situation.

Maybe? But many wise women have moved to the UK and various other places overseas and made it their business to learn. Take 6 months to a year and get a sense of what's done and why.
I realize royaling is in its own category, but the same basics apply.
MM? She was all about hitting the ground running. She had her own agenda.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I don’t think this is completely or necessarily true. Meghan seems to know more of what she was getting herself into than she lets on. There is a picture of her in front of Buckingham Palace when she was a teen, despite her later claiming she knew nothing about the Royal Family or who Prince Harry was. Her friends have said that she actually studied the life of his mother, Diana. If that were the case, then she knew that there were plenty of issues that had plagued Diana as a member of the RF and wife to the [cheating] Prince of Wales, and that she’d had very little emotional support from others within the family.

Meghan moved to London to be with Harry and live with him at his cottage at Kensington Palace when they were still dating, where they were surrounded by, and immersed in, the lives of Royals. She’s said they sat around roasting chicken dinners there and taking for hours. Surely, Harry both voiced his frustrations with royal life then and explained what she’d be in for if she were to become his wife, which she later chose to do. Meghan is a very smart, even calculating, woman. She knew what she was getting into. She just didn’t like the way things were, with others telling her what she could and couldn’t do - probably more than she imagined. We’ve all seen these past couple of weeks how strong traditions and protocols are within that lifestyle. As an American, Meghan didn’t like that. Harry had had two long term girlfriends from the UK who decided that life wasn’t for them. Meghan could’ve, too. I do think that Harry was happy to have a ‘way out’ through her, and together they decided to do things their own way, but it backfired a little. They wanted to be “part time” working royals, and the Queen said no: in or out. But she didn’t actually take them out fully; only partially. And they’ve exploited their use of their royal titles for financial gain, as well as trashed them all over the place, including as late as the week the Queen died, which is why the RF can’t trust them. Harry is about to publish a tell-all book that has the potential to really blow things up. Harry and Meghan were in the UK for another matter this month and the Queen had asked them to visit her, and they‘d declined. It’s no wonder they’re getting the cold shoulder there. (There’s so much more, but that’s enough.)

And before someone comes along to laugh, or say it’s not relevant to the thread, it’s being discussed already here.

“What Meghan wants Meghan gets” didn’t happen with the RF. So she decided to play victim and have them cancelled. It’s really sad The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh spent their last years dealing with that heartache.

 

[dcassetta]

That has been the main problem, Harry and Meghan should have taken a year at least, maybe a few more. It was not just a new lifestyle, a new culture, a new everything. To hit the ground running was not a smart idea. If they had been patient, they would have been able to make changes.
The royal family can change, it takes time and you have to do it gradually.

I hope they are happy, and that the price Harry had to pay was worth it.

I suspect that part of it was their desire to have children and Meghan's age at their marriage.

 

[BayouQueen]

I read that they flew home right after the funeral.

With all this talk of Harry bashing his family, do you think he really doesn't like them or do you think he's supporting his wife? I'm just wondering if all this bad stuff that they say happened to her really played out that way. I guess I'm just really doubtful of her. I feel like some things she complained about were things that Diana also complained about. She could have gotten all that from watching all the Diana TV movies that have been made. I don't know, is that family that hateful towards their family members? I'm just really up in the air on her. I like Harry and it looks like California is more his style but I wish it didn't play out like it did. I'm sure there are times that William wishes he had Harry's life, playing at the beach with his kids and dog, riding his bike when he wants.

Long before Harry even met Meghan, I saw him give an interview where I understood him to say that the whole idea of a monarchy, based on who happen to be your parents, is just nonsense. Those are not his words, but that was the idea he conveyed to me listening and I remember at the time thinking, wow, how subversive.
Dang I wish I could find that clip. Who knows if that's what he thinks or if he's just jelly that he's not the eldest. But anyhow, he was ripe for someone like Meghan to egg him on. Kind of a shame they met.

 

[Tink-osophy]

Yes, it's sort of like the Olympics - for a lwhile there's always something interesting to watch, and then when it's gone there's an adjustment period.

This is so true about the Olympics. I find the same after tennis grand slams!

Nope, not even slightly. Personally, I love the show but it's important to remember that it's not an authorized biography of any of the Royals and considers itself a work of fiction. There are some very distinctive characterizations of them that should not be taken as fact; we actually know very little about who they really are; their emotional motivations, private temperaments and behaviors.

Yeah, hardly any humour. Takes itself deadly seriously lol. Still very fascinating, however I think the first season was the best. It seemed to try and get to the humanity behind the crown, the struggles of a young woman being thrust into being Queen.

Later seasons seem to have a change in tone, showing everyone in the worst, cynical light possible. Its as though they are all portrayed as being nothing more than their worst Daily Mail headline lol.

Its well done though, and an interesting look at certain historical times, if you take it for what it is.

Well said, and bears repeating

Thanks all! I don't think I will watch it. I knew, of course, that there'd be plenty of fiction mixed in with fact; I just wasn't sure if it had a lighter side.



Also, I don't think it's disrespectful or irrelevant to talk about the topic of succession; especially with the question of Counsellors of State being immediate. The thread wasn't created purely for remembrance and people haven't been sensationalising ideas of tragedy that might lead to the different possibilities, but focusing on the various directions in which the Monarchy could go. IOW, the focus has been on the succession rather than any cause. Public mourning has ended and talking about aspects currently at the front of our minds is natural and it's relevant to the lives of many of us (the UK and beyond).