The Sussex Family General Chat Part 2

[HistoryGirl2]

I can?t speak to Harry specifically or even someone who is a parent, but I know someone who does mushrooms and he?s not a drug addict. He?s actually one of the most well-adjusted people I know. I think it?s definitely person-specific.

?Particularly since it becomes more obvious by the day that their grievances are less to do with systemic inequality and more to do with feeling they didn?t get a big enough slice of the born-with-privilege pie.?

This. A thousand times this. As someone who straddles the fence of believing in the monarchy?s benefits and ideologically more in line with the Republican view, I actually was excited when they first announced their decision to leave. And I would love it if they had actual conversations about systemic racism because yeah, it?s very real. But my issue is the fact that it?s all about them. It?s not about the inherent unfairness of monarchy and its roots in promoting slavery and thereby promoting the status quo of inequality. It?s about how *they* were treated unfairly. It?s about how *Meghan* was treated by the papers. Not about how black people are treated by media and institutions in general. It?s not about how princes start off on third base. It?s about how *Harry* can?t handle not being born first.

If they?d just mentioned this stuff once and moved on, I wouldn?t care because most people usually start in with their own experience and then branch out. But they just won?t stop talking about themselves. I?ve mentioned this before, but the Obamas are great at explaining and dealing with issues of systemic race. They never stop at *their* experiences. It?s all about others. The ?me me me, please validate how hard *I* have it? schtick is something that?s personally off-putting.

[Nightowl]

This doing whatever drugs Harry is on and saying it in public how they are important in his life will cause him big trouble.  Here, he is not an American citizen yet he is married to one, why someone who is close to  him doesn't warn him that just for saying what drugs he did and how important they are to him on national TV that someone can and must might call the cops and or child services and start a process of removing the children from that home.....I have seen that done when I live in NJ, children removed from a home where parents did drugs and more....I am shocked at Harry lack of mouth and brains in doing this.  He could at some point get himself in serious trouble like being shipped back to the UK,,,,,,,My sister used to tell me all the time ....*There is no cure for stupidity* and boy that is Harry and his ego and mouth. Meghan being married to him had better watch her back now if she is doing any drugs.

[Amabel2]

?Particularly since it becomes more obvious by the day that their grievances are less to do with systemic inequality and more to do with feeling they didn?t get a big enough slice of the born-with-privilege pie.?

This. A thousand times this. As someone who straddles the fence of believing in the monarchy?s benefits and ideologically more in line with the Republican view, I actually was excited when they first announced their decision to leave. And I would love it if they had actual conversations about systemic racism because yeah, it?s very real. But my issue is the fact that it?s all about them. It?s not about the inherent unfairness of monarchy and its roots in promoting slavery and thereby promoting the status quo of inequality. It?s about how *they* were treated unfairly. It?s about how *Meghan* was treated by the papers. Not about how black people are treated by media and institutions in general. It?s not about how princes start off on third base. It?s about how *Harry* can?t handle not being born first.

If they?d just mentioned this stuff once and moved on, I wouldn?t care because most people usually start in with their own experience and then branch out. But they just won?t stop talking about themselves. I?ve mentioned this before, but the Obamas are great at explaining and dealing with issues of systemic race. They never stop at *their* experiences. It?s all about others. The ?me me me, please validate how hard *I* have it? schtick is something that?s personally off-putting.

No offence but did you really think that Harry was all that bothered about race or political issues? Or that he and Meg left the UK and the RF out of a noble desire to do good in hte US or Canada?  Certainly SPARE has made it clear that the inequality that bothers Harry is that he was born the SPARE, and was never going to be so privileged as his older brother.  But if he HAD been born the heir, I wonder if he would still have found a grievance, in that the heir has less wriggle room, and unless he walks out of the job completely, which most heirs in the end dont do, he is stuck with a particular role and has far less chance to lead a reasonably ordinary private life.

[Amabel2]

This doing whatever drugs Harry is on and saying it in public how they are important in his life will cause him big trouble.  Here, he is not an American citizen yet he is married to one, why someone who is close to  him doesn't warn him that just for saying what drugs he did and how important they are to him on national TV that someone can and must might call the cops and or child services and start a process of removing the children from that home.....I have seen that done when I live in NJ, children removed from a home where parents did drugs and more....I am shocked at Harry lack of mouth and brains in doing this.  He could at some point get himself in serious trouble like being shipped back to the UK,,,,,My sister used to tell me all the time ....*There is no cure for stupidity* and boy that is Harry and his ego and mouth. Meghan being married to him had better watch her back now if she is doing any drugs.

Hes not going to get shipped back to teh UK because he uses drugs,some of which are now legal in the US. But that does not mean that drug use is a good idea for someone like Harry. He clearly has been a heavy user in hte past and even now, the incoherence of his writing and his aggressive paranoid mindset seems to me to show that hte drug and drink use is not good for him.

[Nightowl]

First I never said he was being shipped back to the UK, These illegal drugs are not good for anybody, people use them to as an excuse to not deal with their life, just like someone who over eats or goes shopping, addictions take many forms in our lives.   I am saying that someone regardless of who it is could report Harry and Meghan to child services all because Harry opened his mouth about how many drugs he has used and how they are important to him even in his life now.  I have seen families broken all because of drug use and the courts got involved.  Courts/judges have the final say in their cases and not all courts/judges are pleasant people either. What Harry is doing is damn stupid for his words and behavior have consequences like it does for all of us.  I just shake my head in total disbelief on how some just sidestep the use of drugs and what they can do after all the information out there about how deadly they are.  I am not an expert yet I am not stupid either as I make sure I learn daily in my life's journey.

[HistoryGirl2]

No offence but did you really think that Harry was all that bothered about race or political issues? Or that he and Meg left the UK and the RF out of a noble desire to do good in hte US or Canada?  Certainly SPARE has made it clear that the inequality that bothers Harry is that he was born the SPARE, and was never going to be so privileged as his older brother.  But if he HAD been born the heir, I wonder if he would still have found a grievance, in that the heir has less wriggle room, and unless he walks out of the job completely, which most heirs in the end dont do, he is stuck with a particular role and has far less chance to lead a reasonably ordinary private life.

I can only go by the words that people say and then see if their words match their actions. They?ve discussed institutionalized racism (as in used the word) and have been given an award for it. They?ve also used hot button words like misogyny, gaslighting, bigotry, and unconscious bias. Harry?s discussed how his kids are mixed race and that their world is different than his in a lot of ways. So, when a person uses those kinds of words and delves into those topics, I expect them to fully cognizant of the weight behind them and be knowledgeable on the subjects.

There?s definitely been a PR attempt to brand their desire to leave the monarchy because its ?old-school? mentality (read: whiteness) couldn?t handle a biracial American because it?s stodgy and rooted in racism. Now, there?s a conversation to be had there that could be productive and enlightening.

But what I?m saying is that it?s only a surface level conversation because it?s not really about any of that. They?re just words that do not match the actions. This is about their grievances with being second and not being able to cope with not being the most important members of the family. How do I know that? Because it?s the only thing they delve into extensively, both have been plenty happy to accept the trappings of royalty and use their titles for monetary gain, and want that for their children as well.

[Amabel2]

First I never said he was being shipped back to the UK, re about how deadly they are.  I am not an expert yet I am not stupid either as I make sure I learn daily in my life's journey.

thiis is waht you said -- "He could at some point get himself in serious trouble like being shipped back to the UK,,"

That seems to indicate that you think he could be shipped back to the UK,

[Amabel2]

I can only go by the words that people say and then see if their words match their actions. They?ve discussed institutionalized racism (as in used the word) and have been given an award for it. They?ve also used hot button words like misogyny, gaslighting, bigotry, and unconscious bias. Harry?s discussed how his kids are mixed race and that their world is different than his in a lot of ways. So, when a person uses those kinds of words and delves into those topics, I expect them to fully cognizant of the weight behind them and be knowledgeable on the subjects.

There?s definitely been a PR attempt to brand their desire to leave the monarchy because its ?old-school? mentality (read: whiteness) couldn?t handle a biracial American because it?s stodgy and rooted in racism. Now, there?s a conversation to be had there that could be productive and enlightening.

But what I?m saying is that it?s only a surface level conversation because it?s not really about any of that. They?re just words that do not match the actions. This is about their grievances with being second and not being able to cope with not being the most important members of the family. How do I know that? Because it?s the only thing they delve into extensively, both have been plenty happy to accept the trappings of royalty and use their titles for monetary gain, and want that for their children as well.

Honestly, I think it was obvious  in fact tehy SAID it, that they wanted to leve the UK because they wanted to make money.  They wanted to be half in ad half out of the RF, and I believed then that the HALF OUT would have become bigger and bigger becuase making a lot of money takes time and effort.  They used a lot of stuff about racism and US politics to give the impression that they were humanitarians, becuase they need that image to look good. But it was obvious that Harry had little idea what he was talking about and Meghan probalby didn't have much more.

[HistoryGirl2]

^Harry sounds completely out of his depth, but I don?t know about Meghan. She seems very intelligent, but I?m not sure that she has an interest in any of this unless it?s directly affecting her. It?s difficult to tell because in this climate, it?s very easy to make money by talking about these issues without having to go in depth.

I gave them the benefit of the doubt in the beginning because I don?t like to think that people are being disingenuous. There was always something in me that doubted her authenticity, but I tried to tamp down on it because I didn?t wanna be judgmental. However, the reports of her treatment of the staff and the comments she made to and about Kate just tells me that my instinct was probably correct. He just seems spoiled and completely out of touch with reality. But I?ve always felt that about him.

[Amabel2]

I dont think she's all that intelligent, if she had been, she could have tried harder to handle coming into the RF, and learning about royal and British life...That way, she would have had more sympathy from the RF probably, and the public, but when she does things like make a mocking curtsy and say that she didn't know she had to do this or that for the queen, she just looked stupid.

But H is pretty dim, so I suppose she's smarter than he is.
I think that Meg probably THINKS that she is a serious humanitarian because she can talk a lot of stuff about racism, feminism etc in a superficial way.  and of course she and H need the humanitarian image to gloss over the fact that what they really want to do is make more money.  but if she and H had had much brain power they would have realised that they were never going to get permission to be half in and half out of the RF, that if they did want to run a business, as royals, it would need to be done with a lot of being careful and restrictions which they did not want to follow.  THey would have known about Edward and Sophie's attempts to run a business and do a bit of royal work, which had ended badly. THat in short, British working royals are not supposed to go to the US and make mega money selling themselves, even if taht is acceptable for private individuals.

[HistoryGirl2]

I dont think she's all that intelligent, if she had been, she could have tried harder to handle coming into the RF, and learning about royal and British life...That way, she would have had more sympathy from the RF probably, and the public, but when she does things like make a mocking curtsy and say that she didn't know she had to do this or that for the queen, she just looked stupid.

But H is pretty dim, so I suppose she's smarter than he is.
I think that Meg probably THINKS that she is a serious humanitarian because she can talk a lot of stuff about racism, feminism etc in a superficial way.  and of course she and H need the humanitarian image to gloss over the fact that what they really want to do is make more money.  but if she and H had had much brain power they would have realised that they were never going to get permission to be half in and half out of the RF, that if they did want to run a business, as royals, it would need to be done with a lot of being careful and restrictions which they did not want to follow.  THey would have known about Edward and Sophie's attempts to run a business and do a bit of royal work, which had ended badly. THat in short, British working royals are not supposed to go to the US and make mega money selling themselves, even if taht is acceptable for private individuals.

I think some of this is due to entitlement not really stupidity. People who are disingenuous rarely realize how they come off. In their minds, you?re buying what they?re selling. In Hollywood especially, if you can win at the PR game, you?re golden regardless of what your true character is.

Sympathy is the name of the game now. Finding out how to make people feel sorry you simultaneously wins you attention but also protects you from criticism in a way because heaven forbid someone question your victimhood. Only a few people are courageous enough to do this and withstand the Twitter backlash. Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle are examples of people that will call it like they see it and not care what people have to say about their comments.

I personally think she?s a smart person. She?s managed to get to where she is today by being pretty wily. Her intelligence is actually why I doubt the innocent doe lost in the woods act. The bit with the curtesy seemed like exactly that to me: a bit; an act to appear like the clueless American, which is an overused?but crucially?recognizable trope in American movies, TV, and literature. It seems like she?s trying to sell us an image of the fairy tale where the prince unwittingly falls for the hardworking ?normal? girl from the States. Like a bad Hallmark movie. That?s what those clips evoked in me.

[TLLK]

Discussion of Lilibet's christening can be found in the Sussexes birthday, anniversaries and milestones thread. Thread is linked below.

Sussex family birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones

[Kristeh-H]

I think Meghan is very intelligent in some ways, but she can often come across as clueless and tone deaf.  She doesn't always seem to have emotional intelligence (I think that's the term for it), and that's important too, particularly when you're trying to build a brand based on public sympathy.  I think she focuses exclusively on doing what she needs to do to achieve her goals, to the point of ruthlessness, and ignores anything else.  In my opinion, "wily" is an excellent word to describe her.  It's definitely the impression I have.

Harry, on the other hand, just seems like the proverbial bull charging around in a china shop.         

[changemhysoul]

From this American (I don't know how many others are)

It's not shocking that Meghan didn't know. I wouldn't know how to curtesy properly, let alone making sure I do it well enough for a surprise meeting the Queen when I wasn't expecting to see her.

As well as knowing about the family in general, I didn't know the Queen had other kids until Meghan came along. There are Brits who didn't know that Anne was the Queen's daughter. Yes, it's possible to know of royals....but know nothing about them.

Also, Meghan tried extremely hard, even reports came out that she was too friendly. That she tried to work too much (after being implied to be lazy for taking a break during her leave and then when people got wind of Vouge the story switched that Meghan needed to stop working.)  This woman had started working for the people in the UK before the ring was on her finger. And she was willing to endure the abuse, if there was support.

There was none, what she got was "get over it." as in, get over racial abuse and flat-out debasing of her. There was no support, none that mattered to someone who wouldn't have been able to turn on the tv for escape even if she didn't read the papers. I fail to see where Meghan didn't try hard enough.

Hey, even when asking for in-patient care they told her no but was able to pass information about her mental state and wishes to reporters like Low. Some support.

But to bring it back, just because Meghan isn't a smart woman and even if the royals are famous, it didn't doesn't mean people will know. Seeing royal on tv and in fiction, would be nothing compared to actually meeting the Queen. The clip also showed that despite people saying that the Sussex's can't take a joke, even at the risk of being attacked by people, Meghan knows how to make fun of herself.

She didn't mock a curtesy, she mocked herself for being nervous and trying to overboard to impress the Queen.

[Amabel2]

Ie?s managed to get to where she is today by being pretty wily. Her intelligence is actually why I doubt the innocent doe lost in the woods act. The bit with the curtesy seemed like exactly that to me: a bit; an act to appear like the clueless American, which is an overused?but crucially?recognizable trope in American movies, TV, and literature. It seems like she?s trying to sell us an image of the fairy tale where the prince unwittingly falls for the hardworking ?normal? girl from the States. Like a bad Hallmark movie. That?s what those clips evoked in me.

well if she had used her brains to get the hang of life in hte RF, she might have won more sympathy in the UK.  I dont mean superficial things but if she had shown that she understood how the RF work, and what their purpose is, and stuck out royal life for a few years before pulling out, I think the British public mgiht have liked her better.. but one gets the impression that she really did not know what she was doing and did not make any real effort to understand her role in a deeper sense. she seems to have said a lot of goofy things to the RF and created a rift, and she told so many fibs in her TV interviews that I think a lot of the American public have picked up on them, and dont much like her either.  But enough DO i suppose for her to be able to sell her brand.. which seems to be being a Princess in a rrepublic!
the thing about the US is that its such a huge place that there is bound to be a market for all sort of things.

[TLLK]

I can only go by the words that people say and then see if their words match their actions. They?ve discussed institutionalized racism (as in used the word) and have been given an award for it. They?ve also used hot button words like misogyny, gaslighting, bigotry, and unconscious bias. Harry?s discussed how his kids are mixed race and that their world is different than his in a lot of ways. So, when a person uses those kinds of words and delves into those topics, I expect them to fully cognizant of the weight behind them and be knowledgeable on the subjects.

There?s definitely been a PR attempt to brand their desire to leave the monarchy because its ?old-school? mentality (read: whiteness) couldn?t handle a biracial American because it?s stodgy and rooted in racism. Now, there?s a conversation to be had there that could be productive and enlightening.

But what I?m saying is that it?s only a surface level conversation because it?s not really about any of that. They?re just words that do not match the actions. This is about their grievances with being second and not being able to cope with not being the most important members of the family. How do I know that? Because it?s the only thing they delve into extensively, both have been plenty happy to accept the trappings of royalty and use their titles for monetary gain, and want that for their children as well.

I believe that in part, the perception that their words are not matching their actions, is why their popularity is dropping not only in the UK but in the U.S.A. too especially among those who had been supporters of the couple or at least were sympathetic to their decision to step back from royal duties.  Had the couple chosen to retain but not use their titles at all, while simply being known as "Harry Mountbatten-Windsor or Meghan Markle/Mountbatten-Windsor" or "Harry and Meghan Sussex" that action might have given more weight and substance to what they choose to publicly state in interviews and in written publications. I suggested the latter as this is what the Duchess of Kent did when she stepped back from royal duties. She simply goes by Katherine Kent now.

[Kristeh-H]

well if she had used her brains to get the hang of life in hte RF, she might have won more sympathy in the UK.  I dont mean superficial things but if she had shown that she understood how the RF work, and what their purpose is, and stuck out royal life for a few years before pulling out, I think the British public mgiht have liked her better.. but one gets the impression that she really did not know what she was doing and did not make any real effort to understand her role in a deeper sense. and she told so many fibs that I think a lot of the American public have picked up on them, and dont much like her either.  But enough DO i suppose for her to be able to sell her brand.. which seems to be being a Princess in a rrepublic!

I agree with you, but I think this ties in with Meghan's seeming lack of emotional intelligence and lack of desire to learn about things she's not interested in, at least that's my opinion.  Diplomacy takes empathy, consideration of others' POV, and an ability to think long term.  I think her real goal was always to be a celebrity, make money, and spend as much time as possible in California, and that's what she focused on.  She was willing to be a part time royal because that was helping her achieve her real goal.  And she didn't take the time to learn what being royal really was like--and that is a big weakness, an Achilles' heel.     

ETA that I guess what I'm saying is that I think Meghan is intelligent in some ways, but not in others.   

[HistoryGirl2]

^Good distinction. She lacks emotional intelligence and awareness. I think in her Harry has found someone that will validate his emotions. I did happen to read an excerpt from his therapy session that I found interesting. That Meghan saved him from the RF. That he could never be himself as a royal and that how he thinks and acts today would not have been possible as a royal.  I actually agree, but probably not in the same words.

I don?t think he?s someone who is capable of separating the professional from the personal. I personally was never under the impression that any royal is being their ?authentic self? whilst performing royal duties. It?s a job; a very strange job, but a job nonetheless. We can be cordial at our job; polite, pleasant, funny, agreeable, congenial, and hardworking. But that doesn?t mean that we are (or should) be our full selves. The people they meet are not their friends. The public is not their friend. These are charities and organizations of which they are patrons and the public is people they exist to serve. This means that a level of professionalism is required. They owe the public their duty but never their personal feelings and selves. Every person, royal or not, deserves the right to keep their personal selves to the people they care about the most: friends and family. Just because they don?t share their innermost secrets with any Tom, Dick, or Harry doesn?t mean they?re being inauthentic.

His desire to overshare and want to be beloved at every turn is indeed incongruent with royal life. He was right to leave because I don?t think he?s cut out for it. And I do agree that she gave him the courage to do this.

[Amabel2]

do you honestly think he's all  that hapy in his new life?  He seems to be still rabbiting on about things that most people would have forgotetn about, in his past, as a royal.  He has plenty of money, 2 kids and a wife.  Why not enjoy that rather than writing books?

[Curryong]

do you honestly think he's all  that hapy in his new life?  He seems to be still rabbiting on about things that most people would have forgotetn about, in his past, as a royal.  He has plenty of money, 2 kids and a wife.  Why not enjoy that rather than writing books?

Harry has written one book, not a thousand!

[HistoryGirl2]

Do I think he?s happy? I don?t know that this word is apt. Happiness is fleeting, no matter how good your life is. It ebbs and flows. Do I think he?s content and at peace? No. I think it would be difficult for anyone to leave the life they have always known (and such a peculiar life at that) to a life that is so vastly different. He sounds conflicted. I think he wants to love his life, but I don?t think he?s come to terms with the change.

I think he?s deeply hurt that his family have moved on so easily. I think he?s hurt that William didn?t beg him to stay and that he and Charles didn?t move Heaven and Earth so that they could remain part time royals.

I think the root of his conflict is that, actually. He didn?t really wanna fully leave it all behind. He wanted to dabble in Hollywood celebrity but still have his royal life. And that?s such a great example @TLLK. Katherine Kent was someone who was ready to leave royal life. It was entirely her choice and she quietly asked the Queen her permission to retire. She wasn?t conflicted because she?d likely considered it for a long time. Harry didn?t really. He made the rash decision after his first offer was rejected. That choice still hurts him, in my opinion. I think that?s why he won?t stop talking about it.

[TLLK]

I think Meghan is very intelligent in some ways, but she can often come across as clueless and tone deaf.  She doesn't always seem to have emotional intelligence (I think that's the term for it), and that's important too, particularly when you're trying to build a brand based on public sympathy.  I think she focuses exclusively on doing what she needs to do to achieve her goals, to the point of ruthlessness, and ignores anything else.  In my opinion, "wily" is an excellent word to describe her.  It's definitely the impression I have.

Harry, on the other hand, just seems like the proverbial bull charging around in a china shop.         

I too believe that Meghan is intelligent, however I have come to the conclusion  that she is also easily intimidated by other women who have more experience and knowledge that she does in a particular field ie: understanding and acclimating her role within the British Royal Family and as an official representative of the monarchy and the United Kingdom. After all the courtiers and staff in the 21st century are no longer just retired military personnel or aristocrats aka "the grey men."  Typically they are university educated and  have built  resumes which were built upon time spent working in the public and private sector in human relations, communication, finance etc.. However Meghan who had chosen a career in acting, didn't really have the knowledge and experience that her staff did and IMHO that rattled her as she was trying to adjust to a new life in the UK, marriage, pregnancy etc...For someone who really desires control in their life and how they are presented, this would have been extremely difficult.    IMHO this explains her  behavior especially towards  some of the female members of the  staff who worked for the Sussexes. Based upon what I have read, I get the feeling that Meghan who had very little experience with working in a business role or office setting as the  apart from her short internship in Buenos Aries at the U.S. embassy.  I believe that she found it challenging to acknowledge and accept that her staff knew more about her  new role and how to proceed in it than she did. From what I have read, Meghan's expectations appear to have been a bit unrealistic. It also appears that Meghan made little effort to contact the many people who were suggested to assist her in understanding her new role apart from reaching out to some fashion designers. While I do believe that in time Meghan would have found her footing and have been an excellent representative of the monarchy and the UK, this was ultimately not what she and Harry wanted. I wonder if they could turn back time, would Meghan have considered the original option to continue acting and not become a full time royal. That might have been an easier transition to a new life in the UK.

Now we  know that even British born current and former members of the BRF found this transition to be very challenging and have certainly made errors along the way. Even those who had business and office experience like Sophie, Sarah and Catherine had to initially struggle in their roles as well and ultimately Sarah realized that could not continue in this role.   I can't imagine what it was like for someone without it.

[TLLK]

^Good distinction. She lacks emotional intelligence and awareness. I think in her Harry has found someone that will validate his emotions. I did happen to read an excerpt from his therapy session that I found interesting. That Meghan saved him from the RF. That he could never be himself as a royal and that how he thinks and acts today would not have been possible as a royal.  I actually agree, but probably not in the same words.

I don?t think he?s someone who is capable of separating the professional from the personal. I personally was never under the impression that any royal is being their ?authentic self? whilst performing royal duties. It?s a job; a very strange job, but a job nonetheless. We can be cordial at our job; polite, pleasant, funny, agreeable, congenial, and hardworking. But that doesn?t mean that we are (or should) be our full selves. The people they meet are not their friends. The public is not their friend. These are charities and organizations of which they are patrons and the public is people they exist to serve. This means that a level of professionalism is required. They owe the public their duty but never their personal feelings and selves. Every person, royal or not, deserves the right to keep their personal selves to the people they care about the most: friends and family. Just because they don?t share their innermost secrets with any Tom, Dick, or Harry doesn?t mean they?re being inauthentic.

His desire to overshare and want to be beloved at every turn is indeed incongruent with royal life. He was right to leave because I don?t think he?s cut out for it. And I do agree that she gave him the courage to do this.

:goodpost:

[Kristeh-H]

Great posts, everyone!  I think everyone is making some valid points and bringing up interesting ideas.

No, I don't think Harry is happy but I think that is because he is so troubled within himself.  You can never control what other people think or say or do, so you have to concentrate on how you personally act and react.  Peace and happiness can really only be found within one's own self.  Harry doesn't seem to have that and unfortunately, his therapy doesn't seem to have helped him so far.  I'm not sure if that's because his therapists aren't giving him good advice, or if Harry just doesn't want to hear what they're saying--that he's not willing to work on his attitude and actions that might ultimately help him to be more at peace with life.

[HistoryGirl2]

From this American (I don't know how many others are)

It's not shocking that Meghan didn't know. I wouldn't know how to curtesy properly, let alone making sure I do it well enough for a surprise meeting the Queen when I wasn't expecting to see her.

As well as knowing about the family in general, I didn't know the Queen had other kids until Meghan came along. There are Brits who didn't know that Anne was the Queen's daughter. Yes, it's possible to know of royals....but know nothing about them.

Also, Meghan tried extremely hard, even reports came out that she was too friendly. That she tried to work too much (after being implied to be lazy for taking a break during her leave and then when people got wind of Vouge the story switched that Meghan needed to stop working.)  This woman had started working for the people in the UK before the ring was on her finger. And she was willing to endure the abuse, if there was support.

There was none, what she got was "get over it." as in, get over racial abuse and flat-out debasing of her. There was no support, none that mattered to someone who wouldn't have been able to turn on the tv for escape even if she didn't read the papers. I fail to see where Meghan didn't try hard enough.

Hey, even when asking for in-patient care they told her no but was able to pass information about her mental state and wishes to reporters like Low. Some support.

But to bring it back, just because Meghan isn't a smart woman and even if the royals are famous, it didn't doesn't mean people will know. Seeing royal on tv and in fiction, would be nothing compared to actually meeting the Queen. The clip also showed that despite people saying that the Sussex's can't take a joke, even at the risk of being attacked by people, Meghan knows how to make fun of herself.

She didn't mock a curtesy, she mocked herself for being nervous and trying to overboard to impress the Queen.

One comment and one question. While there?s likely many, many Americans who like you had no clue about anything relating to the RF, none of those people were about to marry a British prince. They would have had no need to know any of it. Before I meet a boyfriend?s family, I wanna know it all. I want to know what?s appropriate or inappropriate to bring up and how I should address them (Mrs. So and so or first names); are they more casual or dressy type of people? And that?s just me, a regular American meeting another regular American?s family. I find it hard to believe that a bright woman of nearly 40 didn?t think to ask the many staff members whose job it is to help, her boyfriend the prince, or even Google about this information before meeting the Queen of England. But hey, maybe I?m overestimating her.

The question: how is it that Harry was able to have a therapist on speed dial but Meghan was supposedly denied access to one?