Prince Harry -

[Aerides]

And let's remember that his great-uncle walked away from the throne itself...to the admiration of many

...putting his unprepared stuttering brother on the throne, leading in part to his early death, and changing the life of a young girl who would have been mostly carefree and instead became Queen forever (at least, as far as his now-late-wife, the Queen Mum, and the Queen, see it.)

Anyway, I get it, and I've no real feeling one way or the other. He's the spare, after all.

I do think though, if they are going to step away, then all this "sussex branding" and selling stuff is ridiculous.

Can't turn your nose up at royal cake and eat it too.

 

[Rianne]

I enjoy British history before Elizabeth. The abdicating King Edward Vlll, also known as "David" and how he chummed around with Hitler. If he were king, the world would be a different place. He hated the limelight as well. But lived in luxury, so the monarchy certainly took care of him and Wallace.
Poor Diana, she just couldn't get it together. Diana got sick of the BS and went her own way, a life sadly interrupted. Charles was in love with Camilla long before Diana came along. He wanted to marry Camilla but that plan got intercepted by his mom and her cohorts. Apparently, Camilla was not as pure as they wanted.


Prince Harry is aware of this history and is probably disillusioned by it all. I don't blame him one bit. The Windsor's even faked their real identity.
"The name was changed from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor (from Windsor Castle) in 1917 because of anti-German sentiment in the British Empire during World War I." They're of German descent.

 

[Bestwifeever]

I’m seeing “Megxit” in the headlines—clever! Anything to get the Kardashians into the hasbeen column on the grocery store tabloid covers....

 

[GrayHare]

Ah, the good ol royal family. Im still not sure what they do? And im really not sure what the fascination is with them.

They're Kardashians done British-style.

 

[Chuckanut]

With apologies to our British members and other members of the Commonwealth, didn't we (meaning the Americans on this site) kick the monarchy out of our country over 200 years ago?

I fail to see the fascination for them except as a historical learning exercise. After all, a lot of people live and die based upon which fool is on the throne. IIRC, we might all be spelling color as 'colour' and drinking from the bubbler if George III had been a more reasonable fellow. Or maybe we would have been sold to the French or Spanish. Heck, we might all be Canadians!!!!

 

[Bestwifeever]

I think I'm finding this and the Netflix series, The Crown, more interesting because I did an Ancestry.com DNA origins thing and I am pretty sure my ancestors were cleaning the royal stables back in the day. If only we had stayed--I might have worked my way up to grooming the horses.

 

[ivinsfan]

And let's remember that his great-uncle walked away from the throne itself...to the admiration of many

Not sure many people actually admired ex King Uncle, in fact I'd say the opposite was true.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I feel like with privilege comes responsibility. Prince Harry has lived a life of privilege. By that I mean, for example, he has never had to get up at 6 AM to walk across town in order to work a full shift at McDonald's.

Not quite accurate. Prince Harry served in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking two tours of Afghanistan. I understand that he was probably protected because of his station in life, but still more than a "job at McD's"

 

[CRLLS]

She’s dead, Jim.

I guess that shows how much I follow this Royal Family stuff! The point still stands that Queen Elizabeth II wants Harry to stay as a visible part of the family while Harry wants to retire from the whole deal.

Maybe my OMY is a bit off. IMO, it is not unlike your boss asking "The company has been so good to you. Stay a while longer so we have time to find your replacement, won't you? " Similar, except the "replacement" part.

 

[friar1610]

After all, a lot of people live and die based upon which fool is on the throne. IIRC, we might all be spelling color as 'colour' and drinking from the bubbler if George III had been a more reasonable fellow.

Here in Massachusetts, we (or at least some of us) have been drinking from the "bubblah" ever since elementary school. Tea Party notwithstanding.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

FWIW, they reportedly have a joint net worth of about $41 million. (He inherited a boatload from his mom and she had a successful career.)

I get this. But I went to their "new" website and in multiple places it emphasizes that they want to be able to work and earn their own money likes lots of the minor royals are able to do. SO if they've got plenty of money, why are they demanding the "freedom" to go earn a living? That's the part I don't get. Unless she was blackballed from acting and she really wants to act.

 

[HFWR]

Don’t much care, but I can see, given the treatment they, and other “celebs”, get from The Press, why Sinatra punched so many photographers in the face...

 

[Amethyst]

All this and more. And I myself could only stand a job so long that requires wearing a fascinator while bending down to talk to non-related little children who are too young to have conversations.

Actually I don't think they are looking to FIRE - quite the opposite. The articles I've seen, imply that they don't enjoy the "royal" duties, would like to work at something else, and raise their son that way, too. Harry can tap into his dad's private money when necessary.

She has such an odd family situation the press can’t let go of and that will never get better, and the paparazzi are ruthless. Harry is never going to be king so why not leave the castle and create a better life? They are already a brand unto themselves—I’ll be interested to see what they do next.

 

[Amethyst]

Because they are not minor royalty. They are the future king's brother and sister-in-law.

Truly, one needs to be British to understand the different "grades" of royalty, but Dukes and Duchesses that close to the throne are definitely expected to behave in certain well-defined ways.

I get this. But I went to their "new" website and in multiple places it emphasizes that they want to be able to work and earn their own money likes lots of the minor royals are able to do. SO if they've got plenty of money, why are they demanding the "freedom" to go earn a living? That's the part I don't get. Unless she was blackballed from acting and she really wants to act.

 

[CaptTom]

I don't really "get" celebrity worship. Sports figures, actors, politicians, CEO's, whatever. They're all people. Some of them happen to do their jobs very well, and I admire that. But I also admire a teacher or police officer or carpenter who do their jobs well.

They're royals? So what! It sounds like they have good reasons for wanting to go in a different direction. Maybe some friction with other royals, as well as from the press. Good for them. None of my business, and their decisions hold none of my interest.

Probably the one thing that surprised me was that some headlines talked about racism because she's black. Really? I didn't even know that. I had to find a picture and look closer. Yeah, I guess she is dark skinned. I probably wouldn't have noticed if she were green. Are people really that petty? Wow.

 

[HFWR]

Are people really that petty?

Is that a trick question?

 

[Retire52]

I don't really "get" celebrity worship. Sports figures, actors, politicians, CEO's, whatever. They're all people. Some of them happen to do their jobs very well, and I admire that. But I also admire a teacher or police officer or carpenter who do their jobs well.

 

[Retire52]

I don't really "get" celebrity worship. Sports figures, actors, politicians, CEO's, whatever. They're all people. Some of them happen to do their jobs very well, and I admire that. But I also admire a teacher or police officer or carpenter who do their jobs well.

Yes, celebrity worship is a point of friction with me also. If I never hear, see another story or image about the Kardashians, it would leave a little band width for science, philosophy or something more meaningful.

There are some exceptions worthy of our collective admiration of course, like John Bogle CEO Vanguard, George Washington, or Jesse Owen's German Olympics, etc. That have gone above and beyond to serve the greater good. But what Kim and Kanye our wearing on the red carpet is the last thing on earth I care about.

 

[audreyh1]

Honestly, I think celebrity worship is mostly a product of nightly news as well as very busy publicity orgs. People would quickly forget them if they weren’t covered all the time.

 

[Sue J]

When we are born we are all allowed to be private and anonymous. Unless you are born into The Royal Family. Sure, there is wealth, etc but not the right to be a private person. Meghan Markle CHOSE to give up her privacy when she became an actress. Harry never had a choice in the matter. The circumstances of his birth decided things for him.

I read an interview with him once where he talked about how horrible it was when his mother died. He was told he had to walk the funeral route behind the casket with his father, uncle and brother. He was so shattered and had to be brave and out in the public with millions of people watching.

Some people have the personality and temperament to fulfill a role in the royal family. Hopefully William is like that. Maybe Harry isn't and needs privacy and choices in his life.

When William's son, George was born it was big news and he's an adorable kid. But I thought, what a horrible thing to do to a real family. Your child is born and his path in life is already preplanned and all out in the public.

 

[Chuckanut]

How could we survive our pathetic, boring little lives if we could not live vicariously through the lives of the celebrities And now that the celebrities are telling us the right way to think when it comes to scientific, social and political issues, we have even more to be thankful for!!!

 

[marko]

When we are born we are all allowed to be private and anonymous. Unless you are born into The Royal Family. Sure, there is wealth, etc but not the right to be a private person. Meghan Markle CHOSE to give up her privacy when she became an actress. Harry never had a choice in the matter. The circumstances of his birth decided things for him.

Right. There are tons of people born to extreme privilege who we've never heard of, and never will. They get to enjoy the benefits of wealth without having the media hiding in the bushes everywhere they go.

But as far as Markle, what did she think was going to happen?

 

[lucky penny]

I'm kind of surprised at the number of people who have posted to comment (brag?) that they have no interest in this subject.

There are plenty of threads on this forum I have zero interest in but I respect that others do & just ignore them.

 

[Gumby]

They are as entitled to a shot at happiness as anyone else. I wish them well.

 

[Bigdawg]

Right. There are tons of people born to extreme privilege who we've never heard of, and never will. They get to enjoy the benefits of wealth without having the media hiding in the bushes everywhere they go.

But as far as Markle, what did she think was going to happen?

I've said many times that I wouldn't mind being rich. I just don't want to be famous.