While the British tabloids can be brutal royals have dealt with them by focusing on duty and principle. Meghan is clearly used to getting her own way. I believe she has shown no consideration to the royal family that has been gracious and accommodating to her wishes.
She appears to be ungrateful, and self absorbed. She and Harry should be allowed their independence-- without royal titles and subsidies.
7
If they wanted to retire into private life, they can afford to do so with Harry’s multimillions inherited from his mother. I think what bothers some people is that they seem to want the perks of celebrity without the burdens of royalty. If Kate gets better press, it’s in part because she is willing to abide by royal protocol.
11
Britain's suffering from a rash of 'xits'.
The only reason a lot of us are only interested in the Royals lately was because of the Sussexes. Now that they are stepping back, I couldn’t care less. We have an election and impeachment to focus on. I do hope Prince Andrew’s disgusting connection with Jeffrey Epstein is given the scrutiny and attention it should be getting now that this soap opera is shutting down. The UK has real issues to deal with in Brexit so leave these people alone to raise their family and start the next chapter of their lives.
1
Remind me again why I should care about this.
1
First Harry. Soon followed by Scotland. Then northern Ireland. UKexit
1
For a second I thought I as reading the NYT.
It seems I wandered into TMZ and Kardashian territory.
1
I wish I could shut down every tabloid newspaper in England. God himself would call it justice.
1
Honestly, the British tabloids sound so brutal...I, too, would flee! They are completely exploitative. Why would anyone want to let them exploit you endlessly, when you are smart enough to just go get a normal job somewhere, and be useful?
The whole royal family thing looks so patently absurd to outsiders--a fairy tale with some drama for children. I would hate to be trapped in it myself.
Hopefully they escape and go on to do something about the climate crisis instead of being stuck inside the panopticon of the royal family.
11
The UK politics and social environment is - unlike any other country I have visited - in the hands of the press, particularly the Tabloid Press.
That is why it is possible for a perfectly respectable couple to end up being villified and - in some cases - destroyed.
People like Piers Morgan of the daily mail can and do act with impunity to destroy whoever it takes to keep their own profiles up high.
The Brits who accept this, get what they deserve.
I wish Harry and Meghan well. They deserve that happiness.
3
Both Brexit and Megxit are guided by racism and "othering" those who don't conform to the way things used to be, either by heritage or behavior. Simple as that.
4
Watching Harry's latest outing--He is adorable. WOW Buckingham Palace really messed this one up. Hoping the best for the Queen and her Family.
4
Not much discussion about the rift between Harry and William. Doesn't really lend well to the racist Brexit Britain narrative. The press reported on this months ago and of course it was denied until Harry had his 'pity' interview on tv and declared he and his brother were on different paths. Even William issues the ambiguous; I can't put my arm around my brother anymore. Maybe the tabloid press fermented this discord between them?
Or William is a racist?
Kudos to Meghan and Harry for living life on their own terms. Wishing them and baby Archie all the happiness in the world.
3
The underlying question that Britain is avoiding is why it continues to hold to the trappings of monarchy. The queen is a figurehead England doesn't need. If the royals want to leave merry old England, let them.
@John The Queen is a wonderful head of state. Just look at the alternative—Boris Johnson.
Americans have a very limited understanding of the role of the royal family in Britain. The Queen has an important ceremonial duty as head of state which requires her to be politically neutral and allows her to function as a symbol of unity for the UK. No law comes into effect until she has signed it. No government is formed until she approves it. She has performed her job with a dedication and duty that is remarkable since 1953, but it has demanded enormous self-sacrifice and the endurance of criticism to which she cannot reply. The other members of her family are restricted to charity sponsoring, ribbon-cutting, small-talk, smiles and handshakes. While they may appear to be celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé, they have to demonstrate the same restraint and endure criticism in silence as does the head of the royal family. However, the Queen has seen her uncle Edward (the Duke of Windsor) choose private happiness over duty, her sister, Margaret, destroyed by unhappiness and self-indulgence, three of her four children divorce and recently Andrew besmirched by accusations of exploiting underaged girls. Why would anyone want to have such a job or join a family that has such a track record?
5
Funny. Nobody seems to notice the parallels between the current second heir and his counterpart in the preceding generation.
Prince Andrew's devotion to "The Firm" and the press attacks it engendered cost him his marriage, his relationship with his children, and ultimately he was sacked in disgrace.
Why would Prince Harold risk the same result?
1
@havnaer His name is Prince Henry. Not Harold
1
Canucks, are you wary of having to indulge Brit royalty? It's worth noting in the context of current events that 30+ years ago Canada moved its embassy in Washington away from the cluster of other embassies and relocated to the foot of Capitol Hill. Why not carry this to its logical conclusion and join the US?
1
@Charles Packer
Are you nuts? Who would want to join the unending, vicious family quarrel that is the United States? We have our differences in Canada, but we still consider our political opponents to be human beings.
4
@James, Toronto, CANADA I often bemoan that after the Revolution, Royalists went north. If only they had settled Florida, I would have immigrated years ago. But Canad is too cold for me.
2
Enough already with the self-righteous moaning about money.
First, by likes of this article, the same people decrying Sussexit are Brexit supporters. The hastily and poorly considered Brexit will be orders of magnitude more harmful to the UK economy than any imagined expense of Megan and Harry.
Second, $1M (estimated annual security cost) is just not a material sum when it comes to governments. Canada's government spends $330 BILLION each year. I challenge any Canadians to care so fervently about any other $1M line item in Canada's budget.
This seems to be producing much ado about nothing, which is after all the primary output of the royals. By my view, Harry and Megan are still doing their jobs.
4
@Sarah
First of all, it's more like $2 million CAD, and that includes only RCMP security. They have no housing. They are currently relying on secretive billionaires to to let them live free in their mansion and celebrities to travel on travel on their private jets and vacation at their villas.
Second of all $2 million is quite a chunk of change when it comes to cutting the budgets of Vancouver homeless shelters, hospitals, and universities and other vital social services that have seen cuts. Funny how such a small sum is not considered small and therefore worthy of leaving alone.
6
I suppose that if Harry and Megan want to relinquish their royal duties and privileges, they could do so--just so long as they relinquish the privileges along with the duties. Like palaces to live in and an income to live on. It's difficult to see how Harry can support himself without trading on his name and rank, and the same goes for Megan,too.
From what I have read, Elizabeth's third son, Edward, was allowed to live a more or less private life until recently. However, Edward has been summoned back to take over some of the royal duties that his father is now unable to perform, given to his advanced age and infirmities, and it's a shame that Harry & Megan don't want to help out, too.
I think the analogy between Brexit and Mezit is a false one. There are plenty of oldsters who are against Brexit and against Meg-xit too. I happen to be one of them.
8
What’s your take on Prince Andrew since you’re so concerned with “ Royal privileges”? Ask yourself that.
2
@Piri Halasz I entirely agree!
@MsLiz I don't think much of Prince Andrew, either, but I don't go by one size fits all.
1
"Stoked by a zealous news media", seems to be extending some sort of unwarranted professional courtesy!
The Brit rags can make the National Enquirer look like the NYT.
These jackals hunt in packs and stock their prey unrelentingly.
Harry has seen first had what a kill looks like, and it's traumatic.
He rightly wants better for his family, who on earth can blame him?
14
If this doesn't get British readers to reconsider their support of the tabloid culture that Rupert Murdoch spawned in the UK, nothing will. These papers don't buy or read themselves.
16
I spent a week in London in early fall and could not believe the animosity toward Megan when I was there. Americans have no idea how bad it is- how tabloids rule there. It was shocking to me!
Have we not learned anything from the past? Diana’s untimely death? How about the destruction of The Duke of Windsor’s life because of his choice of wife? All one has to do is watch The Crown to see how Charles was railroaded into the lane they chose for him. How are the British so spiteful and catty? Harry deserves to be happy who has struggled with mental Heath issues and Megan is a good young woman trying to do her best in a situation any normal human would struggle with. This is the facts. Not some garbage about them being spoiled, unappreciative and privileged. Wake up Britain. You are losing the respect of the world by the way you are treating Harry and our girl.
14
Or, alternatively, Harry & Meghan are losing the world’s respect. Being a member of the royal family is a JOB. There is nothing wrong with walking away from it, if it’s not your cup of tea. But you cannot expect to get paid and enjoy all the privileges and perks that come with the job if you’ve quit it! Every story you’ve referenced is much more nuanced than the headline. Research it (not through fictionalized versions) if you’re really interested.
13
I meant to say, Harry who has struggled with mental heath issues, deserves to be happy.
2
The geezers are a political plague all over. Fortunately, they will soon be gone, and a much better world will blossom in their aftermath.
5
And this is important to how many non-Brits???
5
@joel bergsman
It's important to 35 million Canadians and others in Commonwealth countries who are currently legally obliged to spend millions per year on their security just because they don't feel like living in Windsor.
Nobody would care if they were stripped of their security status and paid for their own lifestyle. Problem is they don't, and left plenty of charities in the lurch.
14
@Viv Harry and Mehan don't want Canadian taxpayers to pay for their security. They are going to live without it.
1
I find horrific that you keep on spreading this "Megxit" idea as if it's Meghan Merkel the one to be "blamed" here. As Far as I know it's a couple that took a decision and no only her.
19
Truth be told they’re being spoiled little brats. Wouldn’t we all like to ‘step-away’ from our responsibilities. And Royal responsibilities no less. I mean really? Because of tabloid press? Then don’t read the papers. I’ll trade with them any day of the week. Heck, all expenses paid and all you have to do is show up? And take some bad press? I’ll do it anytime.
14
One of those alternative ”truths”!
1
Using the Afua Hirsch rule of thumb for spotting racism directed towards Meghan Markle, her father, Thomas Markle, would be outed as a racist. Would Afua Hirsch consider Meghan Markle's father to be a racist - methinks not - doesn't fit the narrative.
The non-racist racists are synonymous with duplicity and double standards.
Another parallel is that the Irish press, which has been just about unanimous in its criticism of Brexit has also been just about unanimous in its support of the Sussexes. People feel sorry for them.
10
@kate
The Irish have no stake in any of this. If they wanted to live in Ireland instead of Canada, the Irish press would be singing a different tune.
2
The title of this article gives the impression that this is something that people actually care about in the UK. No one cares!
4
Is he really leaving because he doesn’t like what he sees in Britain. More likely he is leaving because he doesn’t like not being able to dictate to the media and has 30 million given to him. An entitled Hollywood brat as a wife doesn’t help. They need to grow up
8
They want to live in peace. Why shouldn’t they?
4
This article is lacking in a lot of facts. Twitter and Buzzfeed News paint a more accurate picture and is more thorough. Please note the term Megxit was not invented by some magazine editor, but has been a hashtag used by anti- Meghan websites and racist pundits like Katie Hopkins since she became Harry’s wife. Their goal to drive her, and only her, away. It’s actually quite hateful. Also, you mention the press was welcoming at first, but that’s not quite accurate either. One of the very first headlines in the tabloids over there, when they first found out the couple were dating was “ Straight out of Compton “, I kid you not. Also, you fail to mention that Piers Morgan, cohost of a morning tv show, goes on national tv attacking her every day on air and in print, basically since the marriage. I can’t imagine a Today or GMA host being allowed to spew sexist/ racist insults about a First Lady or even first daughter on a daily basis, attacking her motivation, her family relationship etc., that sounds incredibly misogynistic and stalker- like, based on her going to a baby shower or taking a private plane. Also that fact that the attacks intensified after their first tour aboard, and during her pregnancy. I get the cultural context with Brexit, but if you saw the actual stories and reason behind the attacks, it is both trivial and vicious. It is really to drive content and traffic to tabloids and as well as work toward attacking an individual WOC for existing.
26
They are young people, was this so urgent to require breaking the heart of a 93 years old woman?
Also, to throw the hand grenade of “racism” into the mix, was highly irresponsible.
For a woman from Los Angles to now claim the racism directed at her as a British Royal is now unbearable - is laughable.
She has throw the entire UK under the bus with her racism comment. The effect it will have is that those who accepted her and gave her the benefit of the doubt are now saying “I knew it”.
9
The U.K. deserves it quite frankly.
4
Oh, honey. Clearly you missed the public comparison of their child to a chimpanzee. Race card? Explain.
2
Megxit?... Yeah, once more, blame the woman. As if their decision was not taken together. As if Harry had no choice but to obey whatever she says. Just blame the woman, again. But I suppose Harmegxit doesn't sound as snappy.
18
Why is the American public so interested in the adventures of the British Royals. They are wealthy and live in luxury beyond most folks wildest dreams but are of zero importance and use to America. Remember that in 1776 we declared indepence to get away from the British royal parasites who live in luxury on the backs of the less fortunate.
3
What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.
6
The Brits clearly don’t deserve Prince Harry and Duchess Megan.
10
Clever of the Queen to shield Prince Andrew with this drama about Harry and Meghan. It worked.
Who leaked the news to the tabs? One of the Queen's courtiers, or one of William's? They all knew (duh) that Harry and Meghan would be leaving. How could they stay in an environment where they and their baby are treated like animals in a zoo? The fear of violence from haters drove them out.
(Can a British tabloid compel an American to come and testify in court against his daughter?)
10
Meghan bit off more than she could chew! She had no clue what being a royal was all about! She thought her acting chops could put on a good face. Their exit is the best for both parties! Let's move on.
6
When I visited England, I was shocked at the complete absence of professional journalism. Every city has tabloids, but London had nothing but tabloids.
But what really disturbed me was all the passive-aggressive Londoners getting behind the wheel of a car and turning into murderous opportunists. I learned very quickly that standing too close to a curb while waiting to cross the street made one 'fair game' to drivers who appeared bent on hurting a pedestrian for a cheap thrill. If you think I'm making this up, you need to take a look at the pedestrian and bicyclist traffic fatality rates in London. These fatalities are not the result of bad driving, they are the result of well-targeted and well-timed driving.
The upshot: There is something seriously wrong with the English people. They all need to go to therapy and sort out why they are so hateful and murderously aggressive behind the wheel, but all fake smiles and cold politeness in the every day world.
12
@BlackJack
Passive aggressive Londoners driving around trying to murder cyclists?
We've got some of the safest roads in Europe. Really sorry if you had a bad experience in London.
Alloy lear jet wheels or aluminum jet wheels? Will we have to pay our landscape help a fair wage or find a loophole to allow migrants to come in on special visas to save our money? Will a deeper dive into the issues confronting the Eton-set follow?
Couldn't ask for a better movie script. However, the ending I might write may not be a traditional fairy tale one.
But H&M are not about tradition are they?
But forging their own life...in a blaze of resentment...among commoners.
We may see them soon at the local diner eating soup and crackers.
2
Secretly, the royalists must be thrilled with this development. The bi-racial Archie is 7th in line of succession to the throne. Should (God forbid) something happen to William and his children, they would never accept a not-entirely-white man as the King of England.
The British Empire ruled over hundreds of millions of people around the world, mostly racial minorities, for 200 years. They used violence to suppress revolts and independence movements. To believe in the empire is to believe in white racial superiority over non-whites. The vitriol directed toward Meghan isn't only about race, but racism is a big part of it.
12
@Steve Acho
The Mayor of London and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have Pakistani heritage. The Home Secretary has Indian heritage.
8
@Steve Acho, for those in the back who may not have heard you the first time:
To believe in the empire is to believe in white racial superiority over non-whites.
7
Rule Britania, Britania rule the Channel - but even that is now connected to Europe by train.
The English -- not the British -- the English need to come to terms with being a much diminished nation.
7
I think the REAL facts are consistently missed in this story. And left out of a lot of coverage.
1. Meghan & Harry are not fleeing for more privacy and a simpler life, just the contrary...they want to be international, wealthy celebrities, just on their own terms. They want to be free to make as much money as they can, unbound from any restrictions. This would be fine, except for the dark irony that they want to do this by selling the very thing they are “rejecting”- their royal status.
2. They still want other people to financially support them. Tax dollars should fund their security and homes, and Charles should fund their lives.
3. I think this comes down to the fact that a clever, (?) ambitious couple could NOT accept the fact that they had to play supporting and not lead roles in the family. Perhaps they thought they could establish a parallel “court” across the ocean, with huge and adulatory coverage that they could control.
4. If they really wanted “out”, why not stay off social media, give up your titles, quietly negotiate your exit? Of course not. They are an independently wealthy couple that could have done this, but have chosen not to.
5. You could easily find another 40 front pages of tabloids- this time with 20 praising Meghan and 20 critical of Kate. The wretched tabloids tear down EVERYBODY, not just Meghan.
This couple will NOT step out of the limelight. Quite the opposite. Wait and see. Maybe older and wiser people can see through them.
20
Yeah you know all about it.
1
The "Megxit" coined phrase goes back much longer than after Harry & Megan announced their planned departure. It was derogatory & used often on social media by a particular segment of the population who wanted her gone.
8
Maybe the older Brits are a just bit wiser in their assessment of Meghan.
It appears Meghan would prefer marketing herself, in Kardashian style, rather than cut ribbons and shake hands as a third tier royal.
Blame the evil tabloids and you've got the sympathy of the public to work you're way back to Cala forn i a...and as a Duchess. Pure gold!
10
@dsmith Older English, the older Brits ie the Scots & the Northern Irish are wise enough to realize Brexit is a disaster & so is the denigration of Meghan & Harry, not so the unwise older English.
10
It's Sussexit, not Megxit.
The husband and wife are both exiting. Harry is part of this. Focusing on Meghan is simply continuing to abuse her.
18
Every country that has a monarchy needs to get rid of it. It is the most antiquated thing and a ridiculous concept. First, should be Spain, who actually DID abolish their Monarchy to become the Spanish Republic, only to have it restored posthumously by the Fascist Franco.
5
' Two people divided by a common language' was the way that Winston Churchill once described the ' differences' between his American mothers and English fathers people.
5
Here, don't look behind the curtain! Altho Brexit looms with potentially devastating or at least highly disruptive consequences for real people and economies, the focus has been hijacked by celebrity endeavors. Branding, the new opiate for the masses.
8
As an American I ask how can so many people honestly care.
These people are basically powerless and irrelevant, I can understand being unhappy with having to support their lifestyle but this attention is ridiculous. Still to this day we are hearing about people who have accomplished absolutely nothing noteworthy and have no relevance to anyone's lives Yet apparently their is a whole tabloid industry surrounding their family.
It seems to me like the royal family has devolved into the British version of keeping up with the Kardashians.
5
If you're a boomer brought up when Britain still had an empire, God Save The Queen was sung every morning at school before lessons began. Thus, a 5 year old mind was indelibly stamped with the importance of the Head of State. Perhaps this explanation goes a little way towards understanding the difference in attitudes between the older and younger generations. That the Duke of Sussex, who spent 35 years as a member of the Queens family is without a stronger sense of duty is disturbing to most older people.
10
Here’s the problem: “UK” is a has-been country, just like the US is a has-been country. Both have lost all power, ideals, values, morals. They are gone in terms of world influence and power. Let’s just bury both.
9
Excellent article, as a Scot albeit an old one, I can also see the Brexit/Megxit comparisons. I was recently in England & Scotland & when a 75 year old guy from Birmingham told me he was proud to vote for Brexit because, wait for it, "I hate rich people", & then went on about how great it was growing up in the 50s, when in reality it was really dreadful with rationing, rotten food, low pay, I realized many old English people are imagining a fantasy world that did not exist, & it is because most people remember their youth as wonderful. I told him you cannot relive the past or go backwards & unfortunately that is what many old English people want, a past with no Meghan & Harry making their own decisions, & getting away from the disgraceful tabloids, good on you two, may you have a long & happy life.
14
It seems like most of the older conservatives don’t understand the word “boundaries”. Kudos to the couple for breaking the cycle of trauma and sticking together just because they should.
51
The trauma of living in palaces and jetsetting around the world at the tax payers expense, and not having to work a real job. Oh the horror!
3
There's a big debate here in Canada too. Should or should we not boot the Sussexes out? The take is they (like the Trump-clan) embody narcissism and entitlement, combined with a light-touch when it comes to reality and the truth. Paying for their keep, especially the millions in security costs, does not sit well with Canadian taxpayers. Prime Minister Trudeau is keeping quiet, not wanting to get on the wrong side of either the public or the queen. Just like Brexit, there are no winners here -- just anger and division. Most of us wish the Sussexes would decamp to Hollywood or Florida where they'd fit in.
6
the buzzfeed article is shocking, until you realize it isn't. the british press demonized behavior by meg that was lionized when kate did it. more "othering." sadly, the media's fixation on meg as the problem here misses the mark as well. i do not believe that she has deliberately isolated her husband from his family; rather, prince harry is to be commended to supporting his wife, and for refusing to allow the tradition of stoic silence to cow him into accepting unreasonably harsh treatment. it's a shame the monarch herself did not do more to support meg; apparently, no one learned anything from diana's death. except harry.
28
@Andie, I admire Harry greatly. He sees the family into which he was born for what it is, and frankly rejects it.
Stand by your woman and your son!!!
1
Look at the monetization of their lives in the media and tell me you would gladly give up your life to live as these royals do.
No amount of money can detract from the constant barrage of the minutia of their lives. While royalty is still kind of interesting to we commoners, the current hubbub is boring and repetitive.
Let them live as they choose. She obviously still wants to be a TV and movie star and he wants to shield her from the horrors that lead to his mother's death.
Why would anyone, much less the Queen, stand in their way?
34
@Pamela L. It is not obvious to me that "she obviously wants to be a TV and movie star."
5
@Pamela L.
No one is standing in their way or documenting the minutae of their lives without permission.
Unlike Kate Middleton, she was allowed to have a private pregnancy without monthly reports about morning sickness or gossip about her weight.
Nobody stalked her at the hospital, even though she of course arrived with security and it was obvious who she was.
Unlike Kate, she was allowed a private honeymoon without topless pictures or her emerging, or nasty comments about her weight. Nobody is stalking her at the grocery store or while she is running errands, either.
Literally every photo of them is taken with permission, and accompanied by her own PR team's info about her designer clothing and accessories.
Meghan's negative press started when she blew up at her father in public for the egregious crime of staging a photo op of himself getting fitted for suit.
It's the height of hypocrisy to blame a poor 75 year old man (who lives in a Mexican hovel) for trying to take advantage of a bit of fame while she is literally monetizing on the very same thing.
The negative press continues because they want the continued perks of security and housing paid for, while doing none of the work. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Nobody gets to keep the company car and corporate housing when they've quit their job.
Meghan's ultimate problem isn't the spotlight; it's having to play second fiddle to Kate.
7
@Viv You really hate Meghan don't you? I've read the Mail's description of how it sees Meghan's case, soon to be before the courts, and it's quite simply disgusting. The rag says that Meghan should have accepted that her letter to her father would become public just because. Then, what kind of father welshes on walking his daughter down the aisle? His 'heart attack' didn't amount to much and could have been an anxiety attack triggered by him having to leave his comfort zone. He's making money off his connection to her instead. His ghastly white family seems to have resented Meghan since childhood(look at photos). It just wants to milk her financially. I hold no brief for Meghan (or the anachronistic Royal Family), but really can see that she was treated abominably. The tabloid spin has been merciless as has been the ludicrous member of the Royal family who wore a blackamoor broach to meet her. I hope she makes a go of it. Canada's an expansive, kind country and she won't have to suffer here. I speak as a UK/Canadian citizen.
4
Very close to what I wrote from here in Canada a few days ago: the Megexit squarely raises very different questions of what it means to feel "at home" or to think somebody else belongs, for loyalists in Little England and the second-class subjects of it's gradually disintegrating Empire.
We traveled to Britain in the summer of 1997 and were shocked at the constant barrage by the news media about Princess Diana and her relationship with Dodi Fayed. In particular, there seemed to be little news on anything substantive that related to civic engagement at all. Rather, we walked past countless newsstands with tabloids (Rupert Murdoch comes to mind) with outlandish headlines about the couple. I recall wondering why there was so little serious journalism available as we took in the sights of London. Approximately a month later, after our return home, was the terrible accident that resulted in Diana’s death. Given England’s current tabloid environment, which in some ways is even worse that what previously set the stage for the tragic loss of his mother, I was not surprised at the news of Harry and Meghan’s desire and plans to forge a different path. Totally understandable.
37
Dodi Fayed thing was supposedly never a real relationship. Her true love was a cardiologist called Hasnat Kahn. He loved her but was understandably apprehensive about marriage. The British establishment would have hated her marrying Kahn a LITTLE less, because they despised Dodi’s father for owning Harrods (and being a foreigner). Harry was having a hard time finding anyone to marry him. I just hope going to Canada solves the problem.
3
Yes, the last paragraph sums it up: the British are living in the illusion that they still have an Empire but when the economic isolation and catastrophe of Brexit sinks in they will get a come-uppance that even binge-watching Downton Abbey, The Crown or Merchant Ivory films will not soothe. Megan and Harry are smart to leave before the worst arrives and the reality of Brexit crushes the British economy, its soft power and its political importance on the world stage.
42
Unfortunately, is anyone really surprised?
10
"Traditionalists" are little more than a clutch of buck-toothed racists who long for a past where their feet rested on the throats of millions. Our girl was treated horribly there- she is entitled to a life with basic human dignity, for which a drafty castle or stifling "duties" are not viable alternatives. God bless them as they find their way.
33
They want all the benefits and privileges of royalty without the duties and obligations that go with it. How selfish and self-important! I hope the Queen locks them both in the tower.
24
@CJT No, they want to get away from the disgraceful tabloid press criticizing everything Meghan does while praising Kate for doing exactly the same thing, if you do not think this has a racist tinge then read the buzzfeeds 20 comparisons.
7
I just don't get Brexit and 'Megxit.' It comes from the trash tabloids who are distressing for their bad circulation figures and feeble views. The more interesting question is whether the ageing really don't like a member of the 'Royals.' I think that younger citizens of the the UK like (up to a point) Harry and Meghan but don't are interested in the Monarchy. Many old are bigots in Britain. However in your paper a Canadian writer said that Britain was more uninteresting and nasty - because of Brexit. Is that true? How about successful black footballers in Britain? However, there are many bi-racial citizens on Britain - better than in the media, business. Not enough but nonetheless better. - Lisa Nandy who biracial (half Indian and white) made a remarkable speech where says she wants a a PM - and no complaints about Britain and 'race'.
3
There is something wrong when a person isolates his/her partner from all previous friends and family.
Yes, "the firm" was dysfunctional as a family, but the two brothers seemed very close (including Catherine), and they made a great complementary team. And Harry had many longtime friends.
Rather than trying longer to fit in, Megan appears to have decided to blow it up---yes, her support of the downtrodden is admirable, but she could eventually have carved out space in the royal business to do a lot there--after all, that is what the royal family does. But clearly money is a factor, also--even though they certainly had enough to pursue these goals.
Harry is responsible too--unfortunately he was too eager to find a mate and have a family that he rushed and got in too far before realizing Meghan wouldn't like the life of a royal.
The firm is responsible, too---they should have put a stop to the disgusting vulture-like behaviour of the tabloids---which have ruined many lives, I'll bet. And, clearly, they could have been more visibly supportive.
I hope in the end Harry is happy with whatever happens.
He certainly would be welcome back into the fold--with or without Meghan, where he could continue with his impressive work with veterans and the environment.
24
@SLB Britain has a free press. There is no way the Crown could have put a stop to tabloid coverage. I really don’t understand why they can’t just ignore the tabloids.
How sad to watch a once great Great Britain turn into Little England.
But, having lived there myself for several years, and watching the Brexit and Duchess of Sussex drama from afar, I’m not surprised. The British tabloids are absolutely awful. And the fact that they’re so popular just baffles the mind. It’s just shows how small, petty, and racists ordinary british people are. These horrific tabloids don’t sustain themselves on air. People hungrily buy them and, in the process, sanction and even celebrate their methods and their messages.
Yes, I know. Not all brits are like that. Look at London, blah, blah. Unlike the US where the electoral college accounts for our disastrous electoral outcomes (remember- the anti-trump faction of the US is the MAJORITY), a true majority of brits are, in fact, exactly like that. They chose nativism and populism over the global community. They chose racism and hatred over inclusion. They chose lies and conservatism over a progressive reality. Twice. Racist grandparents condemned their grandchildren to a bleak economic future all along that they wouldn’t have to live or with with Eastern European or Pakistanis. Twice.
I guess, in hindsight, we all should have know that Princess Meghan would never be accepted. But the truly dispiriting part of this whole sad affair is the fact that the monarchy would rather defend a pedophile-by-association (if not an outright pedophile rapist) than stand up against the masses for their daughter-in-law.
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For Britain's sake, fortunately they don't get to vote on this one.
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One can hardly blame them for bouncing out of Britain. The vitriolic comments I've read on various social media posts and news outlets are really amusing to this American. I can't imagine how bored and small one's life would have to be to drum up so much emotion over a family wanting to preserve itself by moving. And, yes, it's always directed at Meghan calling her spoiled.
She fell in love, thought she could handle being there and realized a life of sheltered uselessness, boredom, scrutinization, racism and grey skies would be tolerable. She changed her mind. Godspeed to sunny America, Harry and Meghan!
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Brits being subjects rather than citizens just about sums up how nonsensical the Constitutional position is.
Trying to turn the clock back to an inglorious past is being driven by a right wing tabloid press and will do nothing to improve the position of the Everyman or Everywoman and is pure fantasy in any case.
Rock on Megan and not taking any of the nonsense thrown at an outsider.
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Prince Harry and Meghan are a young, active couple who wish to be more independent and not forced to live a fishbowl existence with constant criticism. Their charitable activities are more relevant than the typical PR role assigned to royals. Celebrate them and their vision for change. Britain is no longer master of the universe. Get over it and move on.
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Ah, but Hollywood types do enjoy their fishbowls, to varying degrees, their lives in front of cameras; otherwise, they would have gotten more private jobs. And Meghan Markle is a child of Hollywood. Or at least TV.
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Megxit and Brexit are both about racism and white supremacy. It may be churlish to say so, but that’s the naked truth. Many older, white Brits miss their empire, resent the immigrants they see around them, and long for the days when being white meant being superior. The irony is that by pursuing their nativist agenda and by pushing Harry and Meghan out of the country, they’re only further diminishing their role in the world.
More power to Harry and Meghan!
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@JDH
Britain's role in the world has very little to do with Harry and Meghan. It is a sideshow which might help keep Britain's attention past the Brexit dilemma. Brexit is the activity that will define England ten years from now, or sooner, when Scotland decides to stay with the EU and Ireland reunites and goes EU.
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@JDH, it’s the same situation here in the U.S. also: the people who support Trump and want to “Make America Great Again” want to return to a world where being white means being superior. And we are sacrificing our technological progress, our economic stability, our standing in the world, our environment, the education of our citizens, every aspect of our stability and most importantly, our Democracy to fight against the hard fact that change and evolution is inevitable. White men will not always be the Top Dogs. They will fight hard before letting go of all the power, though.
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Such nonsense! The British taxpayers gave Harry and Princess Meghan four million to renovate their country estate. Apparently it's "racist" because it wasn't five or ten million.
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If this article’s premise of Brexit is true, that Britain “yearns” for its past “colonial glory”, then the world needs to brace for at least one bad offshoot of that former glory, the dastardly actions of the East Indian Company who stepped into India as traders in the early 1600s only to eventually recruit and train an unholy cadre of Indian sepoys to set Indians against each other, enslave the vast majority, loot and decimate India’s wealth solely for the purpose of enabling Britain’s Industrial transformation. The Indian people, once a world trade leader, was reduced to poverty, disease, and third world status, a fate that they are still trying to overcome today, such was the devastation.
One shudders to think what might have happened had Britain won the American war of independence in 1776. Sobering thought, that.
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@Krishnan Narayan Indeed, the whole colonial exercise, disastrous for India (as outlined brilliantly by Shashi Tharoor in his Oxford Union speech some years ago, which can be seen on YouTube), has been near totally ignored by Britishers today.
They keep harping on the railways (which they built to more speedily bring diamonds, gold, tea, cotton and silk to the coast and then to England). Or the bureaucracy they left behind in India - a mixed blessing at best. The rest was a history of pillage, exploitation, rape, suppression, and poor taste in clothing.
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@Krishnan Narayan ....yeah you left out the part about the Mughal empire, which was the biggest oppressor of Hindu- Indians. You know the Mughals they were the ones responsible for the biggest genocide in history during their invasion of India and kept them as Hindus as slaves and second class citizens for hundreds of years. But I understand the Britain is a much more convenient scape goat and fits nicely into your world view as the "western oppressor".
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@Krishnan Narayan
We could always look at Canada and Australia. Dare say slavery may have ended sooner and maybe some sensible firearms regulation.
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If I was a British citizen of Harry & Meghans age, or younger, watching them up and leave at the precise moment that my ability to freely live and work in 27 other countries is curtailed would really rub salt in the wound.
That Big Ben isn’t able to “bong” about sums it up : the party’s over, the last guest is leaving.
England you are about to get a hangover that just won’t go away.
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I read the article in BuzzFeed and it was appalling how differently
Megan is treated vs. Kate. It looks like racism.
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@Joan
It was astounding! Our family lived in the UK on two separate occasions. For the most part, the people were lovely. The right wing press astounded us. My wife and I enjoyed buying various papers and comparing their content. The Sun, a Murdoch tabloid, had a daily photo of a topless woman on page three. The Mail, The Telegraph and The Sun carried abysmal amounts of international news. The Guardian and Times gave one a typical good dose of international news, as did the weekly Economist.
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@Joan it could also just be American vs British. Kate is an Englishwoman and Meghan is a divorced older American.
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@Joan
Looks? Is!
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Let the Sussexes be independent. But I do wonder that a grandson who knows all the rules and presumably loves his granny should choose to break the news of his departure on his website before informing said granny.
Like Rudy Giuliani telling his wife by means of a radio broadcast that he's divorcing her.
His doing so was unkind.
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@B. By all accounts, it seems like the family knew. Then someone in the palace leaked it to the tabloids, which prompted Harry to make the announcement earlier than planned. Then, to get back at him, the tabloids lied and said the queen had been blindsided. The only blindsiding that seems to have happened was the timing, but that wasn't Harry or the royal family's fault.
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The Evening Standard a UK newspaper listed the numerous occasions that Harry had tried to meet with Charles and the Queen, but was given the run around. There’s no way that the Queen didn’t have a sense this departure was coming. I think she was hoping it would blow over and they’d get used to Royal life.
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"Star-crossed couple" - the reference from Romeo and Juliet doesn't seemed apt at all, given that it refers to astrology and means, in essence, "doomed by fate".
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Finally, a royal who gets it. This isn’t the 1500s when there needed to be a host of successors to the throne because one never knew when the plague, jousting, war or murder would leave the throne vacant. Poor Wills and his children are stuck, just like Charles, in the direct line of succession. Bully for H/M to realize that they do not have to be swallowed up in this circus designed as entertainment for the masses.
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The Irish are very familiar with the concept of British supremacy. They were on the receiving end of it for 800 years. How wonderfully poetic to finally see the British crash and burn while the Irish flourish in the EU.
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@John
Right you are. Ireland has a GDP per capita of about $78,000 while the UK has one of about $41,000. To gauge what this means, the figure for the US is $65,000.
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@John good for Ireland! How they must be laughing at this entire situation.
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The British royal family is part of the global industrial-entertainment complex.
Just think of how many newspapers, magazines, TV shows, movies, merchandise, etc. have and will continue to be flogged based royal family stories, exposes and 'scandals'.
A cynical part of me thinks 'Megxit' has been orchestrated by the royals to stir up the publicity that they are now getting. Harry and Meghan are getting coverage exponentially beyond mere celebrity crack-up like Brad and Angelina. Meghan is cast as the villainous outsider up against a beloved old granny in the Queen. Everyone else is - Charles, William, Kate - are all playing their supporting roles.
You can't make this kind of 'drama' up - or can you?
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no one would care if they don't keep the money.
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The tabloid press, which by now includes the Times of London and the Telegraph, is doing exactly what it did when it was responsible for Diana's death and wanted no one to notice: it changed the subject. With Diana this meant blaming the Queen, who apparently didn't feel sad enough at Diana's death, and then whipping up a kind of mass-hysteria. This time it's blaming Meghan and Harry for - what? it's hard to tell, but it seems like the beef the tabloids have settled on is the two are not showing proper deference to the Queen. The actual fault doesn't seem to matter, just that they are at fault somehow, because as long as the tabloids are able to focus the blame on someone else, no one will be questioning their absolutely toxic role in British society.
8:05 16 Jan
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There are so many wasters in that family. The public should receive a full accounting of what each of them receives from the taxpayers. Congratulations to Harry and Meghan for breaking loose. I would throw the titles in the trash, take what money they have on their own and have a happy life. The family desperately needs to be thinned down like other such families in Europe. Monarchical days are long gone. Other than the Queen, none of them are respected.
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@Philip W They do. In fact its Parliament that sets and authorizes the funding (Sovreign Grant). Both the legislation and the financial report on its use are both public. MOST of the money is used in the upkeep of the estates and palaces which are actually owned by the public and pays for the official engagements carried out by the royals. The Duke of Edinburgh is the only royal to get an actual "pension" (Parliamentary annuity). The crown and members of the royal family do outright own some property that generates most of their income (Duchys of Cornwall and Lancaster). Its all quite publicly available information
14
This whole saga has caught my imagination, for reasons that I cannot explain. Like most Americans I have always thought the notion of royalty and titles to be totally absurd. When stripped of the royal fanfare, this is about a 35 year old married father asking his grandmother’s permission to work for a living and live outside her purview. Ridiculous. The man will never be King, yet is expected to live a live with his wife under the scrutiny of an hateful press. The press is giving Meghan the full Yoko Ono treatment- it’s amazing Harry and Meghan have any support at all! There is a posting making the rounds on Facebook which humorously points out the anachronism : the only people who should be upset are the poor inhabitants of Sussex, whose Duke is leaving them defenseless against an onslaught from Norfolk.
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@Demelza
"the only people who should be upset are the poor inhabitants of Sussex, whose Duke is leaving them defenseless against an onslaught from Norfolk."
That would have to be an airborne or naval onslaught, as Sussex is on the southern coast of England and Norfolk is northeast of London. The Facebook poster presumably confused Sussex with Suffolk, as any onslaught against Sussex would more likely come from Hampshire, Surrey or Kent.
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@J.J. Hunsecker The Habsburger flank, together with the Orange Falange from the Eastern Netherlands would put Sussex into a classic "scissors" grip, while a merely Aquistrados-oriented seaborne attack would result in a "lobster" pinch.
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I find the claim that Meghan attracts overtly racist coverage to be by and large fake news, written by the US media (including this publication). I think articles that say the UK dislikes her because of her colour are not only false, but harmful, especially in today's society. It just shows how the media oftentimes serves to divide us more than unite us.
As an American female living in London, I would in theory love her and support her but I cannot:
-I found the dismissing of her entire family besides her mother at her wedding, in favour of celebrities like Oprah and the Clooneys to be nouveau rich. I would have loved to celebrate someone who was proud of where they come from and the people who she grew up with.
-The unnecessary secrecy of the birth and christening of Archie which is in stark contrast to everyone who came before her. Don't forget she is benefiting from a vast amount of public money for housing, security, and wardrobe.
-The documentary of their African tour where they juxtaposed the hard lives of the people living in Africa with their interviews chronicling their own first world pain.
-(Not to mention preaching about environment and then flying around on private jets all summer)
The next chapter will be the Daily Mail trial where she will be faced with the argument that she tried to manipulate the press via People magazine in the story of how she dealt with her father. He released the letter only to show her narrative wasn't true.
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@L Ludlow It's not uncommon to avoid inviting unsavory, manipulative family members to one's wedding regardless of one's royal status. Meghan's father has proved himself to be a self-interested cad. And celebrity invitations would probably have been on the part of the royal family and not Meghan. All of your arguments against her are ridiculous--Meghan is not bound by tradition or station to sacrifice her well being or that of her child.
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@L Ludlow
-As an American you know that we are mostly an immediate family kind of folk. Meghan's step sister is old enough to be her mother and has admitted she never really liked her younger half sister. Her father sold her baby pictures and private correspondence to the press. Would you have those people at your wedding?
-Meghan's mother was basically raised as an only child (with step siblings who were either much younger or older) and the grand-parents on both sides are deceased. So who exactly should have been at her wedding?
-The public saw a few official photographs of the baby's christening. But why would the public need to see the christening of a child who has no titles and will never be king? And why should a princess/duchess who isn't giving birth to an heir be forced to basically deliver her child in public? Especially after members of the press call your newborn a monkey...
-The money she receives from the state is in exchange for the appearances she makes at charitable and state events. Not for access to the hospital where she gives birth.
-There was no narrative in the press, because she hasn't discussed her father in the press. Also, her father didn't release anything. He sold it. To the press. Hardly the way to try to solve a family feud/clash...
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@BB Wow you are incredibly biased and defensive, do you work for her? You misunderstand, no one is demanding "access to a hospital" or asking her to "deliver her child in public". This is the problem with this discourse, it is so unnecessarily extreme and black and white. I am referring to the fact that she refused to release the names of the godparents, would not release pictures of child for months, etc.
I agree that the money she receives from the state is for appearances. Since she will not be doing them anymore in the UK, I wish it would be cut. But I fear that it won't be because of the need for security.
As far as family goes, I would not cut off my father for having a heart attack no matter what he did with the press. I am not up to speed on the intricacies of every outspoken person in her family, but I find it hard to believe that none of them were "good enough" to be invited.
The Daily Mail lawsuit will play itself out. Meghan will have to release private texts that will show whether she manipulated the press via People magazine and then sued the DM for releasing her letter which was in direct response to her friends speaking about it first in the press. She may end wishing she never filed it.
I have no problem with her leaving, but I am just stating that I dislike her and it is not from one thing, but a pattern of events where she has shown her true character. No amount of comments here or anywhere else is going to change that.
12
The British public may be divided by the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for Canada, but this is not Brexit. I see their situation more akin to that of the 1930 movie "The Blue Angel" directed by Josef von Sternberg, starring Emil Jannings and the unknown Marlene Dietrich. The Prince may have captured his Lola Lola, but at what price to himself?
5
Should we remain in England, cloistered inside a creaky old monarchy that has somehow come to resemble the Vatican (Prince Randy and Epstein), or go to Hollywood where we can leverage our titles and fame into cash and prizes?
Hmmm.
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I feel sorry for them as I do not see a comfortable way out. They seem like a nice couple, but they are trapped. While much has been made of her status as a racially mixed American actress, I am not sure it would have been much easier for any outsider. William and Kate have not only had more time to get used to it, but a purpose, and calmer personalities. The younger sibling always seems to have had a tough time - look at Princess Margaret or Prince Andrew. Harry and Meghan want to live normal lives, but I don’t see how they can. They will always require 24 hour security, but who is going to pay for that. It is unlikely that any other “normal” couple could earn enough to pay for that, so all they have to trade on are their royal titles and positions. To do so without being working members of the family does mean that the British taxpayer is paying for them, much like it paid for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. So, while, in the one hand, they deserve freedom, on the other, there is no fair way of paying for it. I hope they are successful in this and are happy, but I am not optimistic that happiness and the British Royal family go together. Princess Anne and my old schoolmate Mark Phillips were wise to turn down titles for their children, and Zara Phillips is much happier as a result of being raised to earn her own way in the world. I only hope Archie will.
15
The desire to remain a monarchy will last until the death of Queen Elizabeth. She's in her 90s now. Whilst the Queen remains (deservedly) popular with all British age groups - including the young - the rest of the Royal Family are much less so. Whilst William and Kate have some approval with the older Right-wing British citizens, the hatred displayed towards Megan isn't much greater than that manifested towards Charles, Philip and Andrew. Of the lesser Royals, few people know, or care, who they are.
Being Queen is tough and Elizabeth works (and continues to work) incredibly hard. Whether true or not, her portrayal of selflessness, modesty and duty plays well. The rest of them are not viewed in the same way here.
Yes, many of us will object to this 'it was the old folk voted for Brexit' schtick. I'm in my 60s and voted Remain in both 2016 AND 1975. I'm passionately in favour of the European Union. In fact, there is a much stronger correlation than that between age and Brexit approval. People with education - university degree level, high school, even - were much more likely to have wanted to remain. Lefty liberals, us, and proud of it.
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It's up to Britain to choose an outmoded model of government (a constitutional monarchy).
But I predict this model of a privileged, uneducated elite family (only Charles and William ever went to university) nominally in charge will come crashing down on their heads in 10 or 15 years, when the negative effects of Brexit on the economy are felt, and a younger, more educated, more cosmopolitan voter gets the upper hand.
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@Prof Dr Ramesh Kumar Biswas Many of them have attended university. Prince Edward, the queens youngest son, has a degree from Cambridge. His wife, The Countess of Wessex, likewise, studied and had a career before marriage. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie both studied and work in the art world. Don’t forget that Meghan has a degree from Northwestern, while Kate has a degree from St. Andrews.
6
Having your personal life under the scrutiny of the press day in and day out would be torture. Given the history of his mother’s death it is understandable that Harry is very protective of his young family. It seems that Meghan may have thought she was prepared to live in the public eye after the celebrity she acquired as an actress in a cable television show, but the role she took on was much more than she anticipated.
Of all the things that were written about this squabble, it seems that Harry resented his older brother’s advice to be cautious about rushing into a relationship with someone who might not be prepared to handle the scrutiny. William may have been thinking of their mother as well, though. Her transition to royal life was a difficult one and ultimately she and her boys paid a steep price. William courted Kate a long time before they married and she had plenty of time to adjust to the idea of what her future life would entail. She made her choice with eyes wide open.
Harry and Meghan have every right to reject the royal life and the press intrusion they resent to pursue an independent path, but from the outside looking in, it appears they want to retain the perks without the responsibilities.
What is truly sad is that for all the money, status and glamour, they are losing the support and closeness of family. Meghan is going to get the blame because any rift that has occurred was not apparent until she arrived. Hopefully, they will work it out as a family.
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It is sad that the older Brits clamoring to recover faded glory cannot accept the natural evolution of humanity away from feudalism. As an American I have no understanding of the "need" for royalty (or religion either) to help people center their lives on something outside themselves and their personal responsibilities to live productive lives.
90
The UK empire really ended around 50 years ago with the Suez crisis. Imagine, up to around the end of WWII, the British Empire ruled over one third of the Earth. Humility comes slowly.
25
When life is easy going and smooth of course they are not needed neither the religions nor the monarchs. The trouble is that things change...
4
Britain's romance with its royal family is all about a nostalgia for empire?
And yet royal families are popular in many other countries, including Sweden, The Netherlands, Denmark, and Japan, none of which are ever accused of that hang-up.
Brits like their royals because they represent a sense of Britain's specialness, its ability to do something better than the French, Germans or Americans. Republicans, including Alan Rusbridger, struggle to explain how their alternatives would improve on this.
38
News flash. Britain - the U.K. - ain’t special. Unless you regard the appalling legacy of Empire as denoting some form of specialness. And the Monarchy is just an attachment to an imperial past. Britain doesn’t do anything better than Germany or the US. Literally nothing. But some people in the UK believe they are special and that is definitely related to a nostalgia associated with their former Empire because it cannot possibly be linked to their current state.
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@John E What exactly are the British doing better these days?
2
It's not about empire it's about the devine the monarch is the bridge.
1