UK United Kingdom Royal Family / Royal Families Drama General Thread - formerly "Prince Harry and Meghan to step back as senior royals"

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they will step back as "senior" royals and work to become financially independent.

In a statement, Prince Harry and Meghan also said they plan to split their time between the UK and North America.

The BBC understands no other royal - including the Queen or Prince William - was consulted before the statement and Buckingham Palace is "disappointed".

Senior royals are understood to be "hurt" by the announcement.

In their unexpected statement on Wednesday, also posted on their Instagram page, the couple said they made the decision "after many months of reflection and internal discussions".

"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen."

They said they plan to balance their time between the UK and North America while "continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages".

"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity."

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said discussions with the duke and duchess on their decision to step back were "at an early stage", adding: "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through."

The couple's announcement on Wednesday comes two months after the Duke of York withdrew from public life after a BBC interview about his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in August.

Harry and Meghan to step back as senior royals

No other royals were consulted before the couple's announcement, the BBC understands.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Morethanabitfoolish]

This nonsense is for the American audience that represents their public these days. As soon as you realise that a lot of it makes a lot of sense.

 

[PotatoSalad4711]

im not sure if i buy the whole "meghan is a genius manipulative mastermind" angle
i think it's more a case of him simply being a spoiled brat with a big ego, a chip on his shoulder, and "fuck you dad!" syndrome

Oh, of course, Harold is complicit. I’m not giving him a pass. He’s just very easy to manipulate, and Sparkles took her chance.

It's not normal or good etiquette to go around blithely bringing up your kill count though, especially outside of talking to other military people. Don't know the exact book context but I'd venture its crass to even throw it in your autobiography unless there was some necessity to bring up the specific number. By all means talk about his service and go into detail, but the kill count? ...just seems crass.
Just tell us more about how your wife reminds you so much of your dead mum or your frozen cock or something.

Then again, he's enlightened now and has mastered his unconscious prejudice so I'm sure he can lecture everyone about how it's really woke to hand islamists an excuse to target your family or other serving British forces for high publicity retribution.

Again, I agree. No one I know as a veteran really talks about that outside of our inner circle. It is crass (or insensitive). I may not have wrote my comment properly on the subject.

 

[Flan Handler]

Nah, Harry's real father is Charles. Not only he looks like him, but he also looks like his grandpa, Charles' father, prince Phillip. The fact that he's a ginger like Diana's lover means nothing because they're all Brits and that's common Celtic trait. That'd be a problem if they were Japanese.

View attachment 4206614

People don't see them similar because Charles' not very attractive, while Harry is a more attractive version of him. They have the same features, only that Harry's looks are more "harmonious" to look at. He's also younger. Once he starts aging, he's gonna look more like Charlie.

Now, they all know about the rumors, and I'm sure some joke about it because they all know it's not true. I can see why that was a problem for Harry if he didn't like it, but I'm also sure that it wasn't much of a problem until Meghan started to dig up all these info to use it as weapon against Harry's family and to put him against them.

Oh I agree, but how embarrassing. Imagine publishing an indignant book listing the times your dad more or less just teased you, especially if it makes you look like even more of an outsider.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

The mind-blowing thing about the book is how much it sounds like self sabotage, especially bringing up subjects like real parentage. It's a pandora box that will doom the couple.

 

[Angry New Ager]

I laughed my ass off about the royal beatdown. Am not a man, but isn't this just how brothers be sometimes?

Yeah, I know plenty of men who have ended up in knock-down fights with their brother or bestie, only to turn right around and be all, "I love you, man!" in no time at all. They've usually been younger men, and alcohol has usually been involved. By no means do all men do it, but if there's sufficient provocation—if the offending party has crossed an important line, or pushed too hard on a known sore spot—many of them will.

That William went so far as to give Harry a beat-down over his and Meghan's behavior, and Harry's attitude about it, and that this was a novel experience for Harry, makes it obvious that this was uncharacteristic of William, and their relationship. They grew up together, and got through young manhood, without getting into the kinds of fights young men often do—or at least not with Will as the instigator. Had William given Harry other beat-downs, you can be certain Harry would have aired that dirty laundry in order to make William look worse. But he doesn't. So this is a first.

William has never done this before, yet here he is as an almost 40-year-old, stable, settled man, who was likely sober at the time of the event, assaulting his stupid, cunt-struck kid brother and knocking him to the floor.

The provocation on Harry's part must have been off the fucking hook. But Harry only gives the sketchiest version of what he might have said or done. He's obviously left a lot of important details out—details that would make him look bad, but that he knows Will won't stoop to providing himself.

I wonder if he’ll ever realize that with this book, he’s become the laughingstock of the world.

I doubt it. By now we've seen that he's very good at placing blame on others for his own failures. And while Megs is egging him on, she doesn't have to work too hard at it. I think she's brought out a tendency he's always had, but kept in check because it didn't work on the people around him.

Writers earn more or less, only 8% of each book sold.
Harry for being an illiterate cry baby, had to hire a ghoshwriter, meaning he had to split that low amount.

I don't see how his book will reach millions of sold copies.
How does he expect to make a living of that?

He's really whoring himself out for 15 minutes of fame.

He got a huge advance—something like $20 million—for his book. With advances, it's usually 1/3 paid at the signing of the contract; 1/3 upon delivery of the finished manuscript; and 1/3 on the publication date. So he's about to get a $6.6 million payday (of which his agent will get a significant cut).

If Spare ever sells enough copies to cover the advance, he'll start to earn royalties—but that's a lot of books, and the tide of public opinion is turning against him. So it's likely he won't see any further earnings from the book. Meghan supposedly has her own memoir in the pipeline, with a similarly-huge advance, and the same thing will happen to it.

he's still a fucking royal, money isn't and will never be a concern for him
when he writes books, he does it purely because he wants people to hear what he has to say, not for money. it's an attention and ego thing.

Oh, it most definitely is a money thing. Because as much money as Harry and Meghan have had thrown at them by Spotify, Netflix, and their respective book publishers, it's not going to be enough, especially now that similar deals are drying up. They've received all the huge, blockbuster deals they're ever going to get, and none of them have produced blockbuster results. There may still be a lot of smaller deals available to them, but the well of big, easy money has run dry.

Spoiler: spoilered for length

Meghan's acting career (such as it was) is over, and while she may get residuals from Suits, that's not going to be anywhere near enough to cover their expenses. She was well-paid while on the show, but still had to pay her agent and manager, and lived an expensive lifestyle. She didn't own a home of her own, and complained about trouble with her finances before marrying Harry. So there's nothing there. She did get a deal to write a children's book (called The Bench), but it was a flop, so again, there's no steady, reliable stream of future income there.

They get no money from the Royal Family. Diana left £13 million to her sons when she died, and Harry has said that his share (we can assume half, or £6.5 million) financed their "escape." The Queen Mum may have left him additional funds upon her death in 2002, but we have no way of knowing how much. And Charles himself gave them a significant amount of his own personal money as part of their Megxit agreement, but again, we don't know how much (my guess is around £5 million, because that's what the Royal household spent on them in the year before Megxit; if it was more than £10 million, I'd be shocked).

That sounds like a lot of money, but keep in mind, they have enormous overhead, and they now have to cover all of those costs themselves. Meghan bitched about Frogmore Cottage, but she didn't have to fork over the cash to live there or maintain it. Now they've got a $9.5 million mortgage on a $14.7 million house* (9 bedrooms, 16 baths, 7 mostly-landscaped acres), along with all the property taxes, insurance, utilities, staffing, and maintenance costs that go with that. Those expenses could easily run them $4 million a year. Plus, they need to hire their own security, both at home and when traveling, which, for 24/7 protection, is going to be in the low millions per year (and will likely go up now that Harry has stupidly bragged about killing 25 members of the Taliban).

Then there's the costs of living Dat Sussex Royal Lyfe. The vehicles, clothing, furnishing and decorating the house, kids' schools, nannies, travel and lodging costs, personal assistants, therapy bills, concierge medicine, agents and business managers, attorneys, all of the costs involved in keeping Meghan looking good (hair, makeup, Botox, dermatologist, aestheticians, etc.), Harry's polo playing, countless incidental expenditures—it goes on and on and fucking on, and nothing is done on the cheap.

One thing they don't have is a private jet, but it's not for environmental reasons; it's because they can't fucking afford it. They really, honestly, just cannot. You're looking at $4-5 million/year in costs, and that doesn't even count the cost of the plane itself. The plane that flew them to Vancouver when they escaped belonged to Tyler Perry (who was convinced to take pity on a poor, oppressed sistah fleeing vicious racism), and ever since then Meg's been hitting up their much-wealthier Montecito "friends" for flights on their planes. I can't recall where I heard it (maybe from Lady Colin Campbell, who is a fucking riot), but apparently she's wearing their patience thin.

*Oh! And the house they're paying that big mortgage on? It was recently identified by Santa Barbara County as being smack in the middle of a mudslide zone. After the fires in 2017 burned the shit out of the surrounding mountains, leaving them without adequate vegetation to hold the soil in place during the rainy season, the danger of land-/mudslides has increased tremendously. So if, for some reason, they had to sell that house, they would have a very hard time of it, and probably have to sell it at a loss. Their property taxes might go down because of that, but their insurance costs will be astronomical.

He is cut off from the family purse and must pay for his own security. The UK doesn't provide him with anything and he was recently in a legal fight to try to pay the UK police to protect him, although I'm not sure how that went exactly. I'm sure he's wealthy of course but because of who he is, he has considerable costs and on a long enough timeline he will run out of money. I'm not sure he has much of a choice other than to use his fame to write scandalous hit pieces on his family, probably with the help of a ghostwriter. What other skills does he have?

"What other skills does he have?"

Literally nothing. And there's only so far you can go on notoriety.

If he had some interest or ability he could parlay into at least the pretext of a career, he could have done okay for himself. If Hunter Biden or Johnny Depp can have art careers, I'm sure there's something Harry could have launched himself into. I think the general attitude toward him would be a lot more lenient, because he'd at least be making the pretense of doing something, even if it's just romantic "following my muse" wankery), rather than living an idle-rich existence while slagging on the family who gave him the entire means for that existence.

But he's dumb, and has nothing he can fall back on. He's been famous since birth for little more than being famous since birth, and...that's it. When he still had a position within the RF, he at least had a bit of influence that others might have found useful, but that's gone. In fact, he's a liability now because a lot of famous and powerful people are going to look at him and say, "Is aligning myself with him short-term worth antagonizing the Royal Family long-term? No." That's why Hillary Clinton has kept evading all of Meghan's attempts to meet and collaborate. Say what you will about Hillary, but she knows the game.

My guess is he just can't say no to his wife.

The more he says about himself and his family, the more I realize what a perfect target he was for Meghan's manipulation and mindfuckery. Not too bright, extremely sheltered, lacking in self-awareness, with clear small-n narcissistic traits, and with a lot of Oedipal emotional baggage? Yeah, he had a bull's-eye on him, and Megs hit it dead center. And the poor, stupid thing can't see how adeptly and totally he's been manipulated, can't even begin to think his way out of it, and in the event he does, Meghan will always have a reason why she's right and he's wrong that he can't refute.

 

[Falcos_Commisar]

As for cash, Harry and Megan probably got tens of millions in easy cash from Netflix, Spotify and the book deal. Harry is also probably paid a ridiculously salary for his "work" at that tele-therapy scam.

That said the other person higher up is right, they are almost certainly living WAY outside of their means.

 

[BelUwUga]

RE: @LordofTendons

Elizabeth Hurley

My man's don't want none unless you got B's hun: Beige skin, Brunette, Busted face, Big nose, and Big chin. Seems like he's fallen for the insane horse girl nookie. In fairness to the ginger that's some potent strange.

 

[Tasty Tatty]

The mind-blowing thing about the book is how much it sounds like self sabotage, especially bringing up subjects like real parentage. It's a pandora box that will doom the couple.

That's only if you think he really wrote it. Or if the ghostwriter wrote it on his behalf.

Honestly, I doubt it. I think Meghan is the real author, or the "ghost author" to be more precise. She's the one collecting all these memories of Harry, putting them all together, and having a pro making a book out of it. Because this book doesn't feel like something Harry would say. It feels like something Meghan would say if she was in Harry's position.

 

[Angry New Ager]

The mind-blowing thing about the book is how much it sounds like self sabotage, especially bringing up subjects like real parentage. It's a pandora box that will doom the couple.

Bringing up the rumors about his parentage was just...ffs, Harry.

He says this shit, and I keep getting reminded of all the munchies who talk about their diagnoses, and what their HCPs said, safe in the knowledge that nobody will step forward to say, "Uh, no, totally not true, didn't happen, you're lying like a rug," because to do so would violate HIPAA regulations.

The RF isn't going to say anything, because that's simply Not Done. The institution of the monarchy has weathered far worse than Harry and Meaghan—and everybody within it is aware of that. The best response, in this case, is no response at all.

So Charles won't step forward and say either, "Those terrible rumors were all untrue; Harry is indisputably my son, and I am willing to use genetic testing to end such speculation once and for all," or (better yet), "Unfortunately, the rumors were true, and Harry's real father is [X]. But I decided to accept him anyway, to love and raise him as my own flesh and blood, and grant him all the titles and privileges and place in the line of succession that any natural-born son of mine would be entitled to. I apologize for not doing a very good job of it, else he wouldn't have grown into such a spoiled, ungrateful, unmanly little cockwomble. My bad. But now that I've set the record straight, and since he clearly despises being my son and a member of this family, I've relieved him of the burden of a title. Harry is no longer the Duke of Sussex. So good luck to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mountbatten-Windsor in their new life as honest commoners."

 

[Screamer_2]

This nonsense is for the American audience that represents their public these days. As soon as you realise that a lot of it makes a lot of sense.

Yeah, it's very important to understand that this is for the US audience. Their view of the Royals and lack of knowledge is behind a lot of this. I have been told that it's very apparent in the Netfucks show that they always negatively represent the media as the "British Press." Even when they are citing examples of the US media. It's all about the evil "British" media.

 

[Tasty Tatty]

@Angry New Ager

The more he says about himself and his family, the more I realize what a perfect target he was for Meghan's manipulation and mindfuckery. Not too bright, extremely sheltered, lacking in self-awareness, with clear small-n narcissistic traits, and with a lot of Oedipal emotional baggage? Yeah, he had a bull's-eye on him, and Megs hit it dead center. And the poor, stupid thing can't see how adeptly and totally he's been manipulated, can't even begin to think his way out of it, and in the event he does, Meghan will always have a reason why she's right and he's wrong that he can't refute.

Spoiler

 

[No. 7 cat]

Bringing up the rumors about his parentage was just...ffs, Harry.

He says this shit, and I keep getting reminded of all the munchies who talk about their diagnoses, and what their HCPs said, safe in the knowledge that nobody will step forward to say, "Uh, no, totally not true, didn't happen, you're lying like a rug," because to do so would violate HIPAA regulations.

The RF isn't going to say anything, because that's simply Not Done. The institution of the monarchy has weathered far worse than Harry and Meaghan—and everybody within it is aware of that. The best response, in this case, is no response at all.

So Charles won't step forward and say either, "Those terrible rumors were all untrue; Harry is indisputably my son, and I am willing to use genetic testing to end such speculation once and for all," or (better yet), "Unfortunately, the rumors were true, and Harry's real father is [X]. But I decided to accept him anyway, to love and raise him as my own flesh and blood, and grant him all the titles and privileges and place in the line of succession that any natural-born son of mine would be entitled to. I apologize for not doing a very good job of it, else he wouldn't have grown into such a spoiled, ungrateful, unmanly little cockwomble. My bad. But now that I've set the record straight, and since he clearly despises being my son and a member of this family, I've relieved him of the burden of a title. Harry is no longer the Duke of Sussex. So good luck to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mountbatten-Windsor in their new life as honest commoners."

I suppose Meghan and her pet believe all publicity is good publicity, but if Harry is James Hewitt's son, say, the US billionaires funding them no longer have pet royals, just two very annoying people.

 

[Gunter Hatherer]

US billionaires funding them

Do tell. I though he had "his own" money. Or do you mean Netflix etc?

 

[Tasty Tatty]

I suppose Meghan and her pet believe all publicity is good publicity, but if Harry is James Hewitt's son, say, the US billionaires funding them no longer have pet royals, just two very annoying people.

He's not, though. But, let's say he is, Charles' never admitting it, either because he really loves the kid he's raised or because her own pride.

The only confirmation we could have then would come from Harry, and the only way for him to prove it is to have a DNA test, and I dunno why he could do such a thing, unless Meghan is going full speed into really separate him from his family, despite this would make them both lose everything. Is she this stupid? Of course she is.

 

[WonderWino]

Kate ‘demanded’ apology from Meghan for saying she had ‘baby brain’

The Princess of Wales demanded an apology from the Duchess of Sussex after she suggested Kate had “baby brain”, according to Prince Harry’s autobiography.

ca.style.yahoo.com

Unsurprisingly, the ginger shit for brains is stupid enough to publish this little tidbit and think it actually reflects well on him and the hoodrat. The utter lack of self awareness it takes for both of them to sign off on making themselves look like vindictive twits in this obvious of a way is astounding

Man, that royal inbreeding sure does lower the IQ and common sense. Remind me again how the british managed to create the largest empire in history

 

[Retarded INTP]

Again, can't reply to @LordofTendons but the book having William repeatedly use "Harold" over Harry's real name of Henry, especially when it's allegedly done several times in front of their father, has me thinking that whoever wrote this book (probably Meghan) has no idea what Harry's real name is. This is an absolute train wreck and I love it.

I will forever assume that all of his relatives call him Harold just to fuck with him. Anyone saying otherwise will be met with intense autistic screechings.

 

[Kulee Baba]

Concerning the William attacked Harry story I absolutely hate Harry because who would have a doggy bowl that isn't either made out of Plastic or Metal? That the dog bowl broke and cut up Harry's back implies it was made out of some kind of ceramic is which utterly stupid since a dog's bowl can easily break since it's on the floor.

I think the conspiracies are true because this publicity stunt has only helped in making me like the upcoming King of England. All Harry needs to do is proclaim "Protect Trans Kids" and I'm fully on board with the Hapsburg Royalty.

 

[duckbutter&toejamsandwich]

I will forever assume that all of his relatives call him Harold just to fuck with him. Anyone saying otherwise will be met with intense autistic screechings.

I prefer to believe Megan has no idea what his name is.

"Harold, it's time to go to bed."
"Henry, we need more money. Write down more embarrassing stories from your life that make you look like a prat."
"Hunter, no one else will ever love you."

 

[Retarded INTP]

I prefer to believe Megan has no idea what his name is.

"Harold, it's time to go to bed."
"Henry, we need more money. Write down more embarrassing stories from your life that make you look like a prat."
"Hunter, no one else will ever love you."

[ Intense autistic screechings ]

 

[teriyakiburns]

Man, that royal inbreeding sure does lower the IQ and common sense. Remind me again how the british managed to create the largest empire in history

The monarch wasn't making the decisions by that point.