January 9, 2020

"Megxit."

A nice coinage.

I'm reading "Megxit: Harry and Meghan are doomed/The only quick way out of a royal family is via the guillotine" by Dominic Green (in Spectator/USA).
The language of Wednesday’s announcement is that nauseating blend of self-affirmation and Hollywood PR that is Harry and Meghan’s equivalent of baby-talk: ‘After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.’ They want to ‘work to become financially independent’, while also ‘continuing to fully support’ the brand formerly known as Queen Elizabeth II....

It’s possible for a people to ditch a royal family — revolutionary Americans did just that — but it’s not possible for a royal family to ditch the people.... [T]here is no progressive new role for monarchy, other than renouncing titles and hereditary privileges, returning the palaces and parks to the people to whom they once belonged, and then rejoining us...

What they mean is ‘We want to use our status to lecture you ignorant plebs on institutional racism, environmental paranoia and other pet causes of the righteous rich — and because we think we can use our status as a soapbox, we’re going to retain as much of it as we can, titles and freebies and security details and exotic foreign holidays on Elton John’s private jet.’...

We will rapidly tire of their patronizing petulance, and only then will they finally attain the meaningful life they think they seek — as human sacrifices on the altar of celebrity.
That was well-written! I'm going to follow Dominic Green on Twitter. A sample Dominic Green tweet:

112 comments:

PaoloP said...

The Royal family's palaces and parks always belonged to them, not to "the people".
It may be wrong, but it's so.

Rory said...

"They will make documentaries for Netflix and will attempt to monetize their titles in the way that Barack and Michelle Obama are monetizing theirs. They will pretend to be financially independent of their in-laws, but they will become financially dependent on the kindness of rich strangers and the kind of people whose idea of fun is taking a ‘progressive’ private jet to ‘progressive’ fundraisers in ‘progressive’ Hollywood."

That's the important part. Hunter, Chelsea as role models.

Danno said...

Thanks for sharing. This would not be something I would have run into in my normal internet information-seeking routine.

I Callahan said...

I’m with Nicki Mosby on this one...

tim in vermont said...

They should open a restaurant in LA. They could make what would seem like a lot of money to us plebeians, if only a pittance to them. Work, business, it’s bracing! Work is the next thing to ‘woke’! Leave your world historical patrimony behind! Ha ha ha ha, jklol. They are just ditching the responsibilities and keeping the perks. This seems like a good time to use the word vainglory in relation to the coddled, cosseted boy and his new wife, but it’s one of those words you have to be a Faulkner to properly handle.

Maybe he could be king of the wife guys?

rehajm said...

Very nice! Thanks Ann...

Jeez- how ugly is Netfilx now on so many levels? The proselytizing content. The money laundering equivalent of Al Gore’s VC firm or a Ukranian gas company...

rehajm said...

I can see their point- the politics they want to preach doesn’t fly from the balcony of a palace. Too much if the let them eat cake vibe

mesquito said...

They’re still young so I imagine they’ll be insufferable for years to come.

Ann Althouse said...

"and exotic foreign holidays on Elton John’s private jet."

Made me think of Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein's private jet.

Watch out for offers to fly on private jets.

Marcus Bressler said...

Just here for the comments. Have a blessed day.

THEOLDMAN

rehajm said...

Watch out for offers to fly on private jets

I used to believe you looked the resourceful bohemian if you managed to score a ride on someone else’s private plane, like you stuck out your thumb and hitched.

wendybar said...

I can hardly wait for them to start lecturing us Peons on using our cars and air conditioning, while they fly in their private jets all over the world spreading their wisdom!!!

Left Bank of the Charles said...

My favorite part of the announcement is saying they are moving to “North America.”

Rick said...

It's interesting how many left wing celebrities are asserting the couple were "attacked" and this is some sort of heroic escape.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7866207/Celebrities-voice-support-outrage-Harry-Meghans-shocking-announcement.html

In fact the coverage was fawning and this a path to limit scrutiny during the cash grab possible only because of their royal status.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7866799/Couple-plan-launch-lucrative-careers-raking-MILLIONS.html

I don't care about the royal family but I find the commentary revealing that the most pampered and protected people on the planet still see themselves as victims.

Birches said...

I can't believe how many people don't think Markle is ruining Harry. I'm reminded of Pual McCartney's second marriage after Linda died. That crazy woman ruined him too.

Molly said...

(eaglebeak)

When the engagement was announced, I figured these two would be together for seven years or so. Didn't expect them to divorce his family, though.

Harry certainly takes after his mother: stupid and self-involved. Of Meghan, the less said the better. But Harry is pathetic, and the pathos will only deepen as the years go by.

Meanwhile, the Queen is tougher than anyone else in England, and long may she reign.

Daniel Jackson said...

Like father like son.

At least Dad got out while he could.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Wikipedia says Dominic Green is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Arts, so I call bullshit.

Balfegor said...

but it’s not possible for a royal family to ditch the people

Sure it is. See, e.g. the Duke of Windsor.

Michael K said...

I hope she is good in bed. Like Kaepernick, the woman is really messing with his head. (both the big and little one)

rehajm said...

Sure it is. See, e.g. the Duke of Windsor.

My thought as well. They could renounce, move to LA and Kylie Jenner themselves. If only Posh and Becks hadn’t already skied that powder.

Kevin said...

The woke left has transformed from a movement to an infectious disease.

England will have to start quarantining people from America like they do their pets.

Leland said...

I tried to read that article yesterday, but my freebies expired.

Of course, Harry has little to give up other than his stipend. Prince Andrew figured out how to get out of that without a guillotine. I'm not sure if Meghan will like that option but then she is a modern progressive woman. She may join in.

Narayanan said...

Love Boat Cruises

With exRoyalCouple Captain

ThunderChick said...

I never heard of Meghan Markle until she was dating Harry. Out of the two offspring of Charles and Diana, I used to think Harry was the more relatable of the two. Boy was I wrong. He sure picked a doozy of a wife. It seems women like Markle that come from ordinary backgrounds but then become a "celebrity" are arrogant, self-aggrandizing, patronizing scolds who constantly feel the need to lecture the rest of us about how woke and compassionate they are and how the rest of us can never live up to their standards. Go away Harry and Meghan. Hang out with your Hollywood leftist hypocrits and I am happy to say I will tune you out like I do the rest of them.

Leland said...

If you substituted women for the men in Elton John's playboy lifestyle, he'd been MeToo'd by now. Being gay is giving him a pass.

exhelodrvr1 said...

"He sure picked a doozy of a wife"

There are probably some benefits that aren't being made public.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Reality TV show? "Meghan and Harry's Big Adventure"?

Michael K said...

The Duke of Windsor was "Third mate on a tramp out of Baltimore."

I guess Harry would be second mate and LA, not Baltimore.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

How long can the queen possibly have left? They couldn’t wait until she passes to drop this shitbomb? Sounds like Meghan rewired his brain with some good old fashioned American self-absorption and childishness.

etbass said...

Not one comment thus far that is supportive of the two royals. Where is the "fair and balance" of this blog?

Browndog said...

Never date a woman that tries to separate you from your family. A good sign this is happening is if she's happiest when you're miserable.

Heartless Aztec said...

Funny stuff. I'm crying - waugh, waugh.

Nichevo said...

No heroes here but though I disliked the choice of Markle, after all, Harry made it. Most likely explanation: he was already broken by Di drama. That's why he picked a yachter.

Wonder if he thinks he can get back in if something happens to William.

Daniel Jackson said...

"Wonder if he thinks he can get back in if something happens to William."

More than likely, he can be like his father and dump the bimbo, chill out, and get a grip.

Michael K said...

Not one comment thus far that is supportive of the two royals.

Go ahead. Be the Babylon Bee of the moment.

rehajm said...

Probably not what etbass is looking for but I had some fondness for Markle and her Suits costars who are rather anti-Hollywood and Harry was the jocular spare with the requisite royal appetite for shenanigans. Now ‘grown up’ apparently the belief is to keep the royals ‘relevant’ they needed to be woke. Not sure if it’s Harry’s idea or who’s idea that was. I suspect somehow princess Anne is involved..

mockturtle said...

He totally gets it. It would be great [but unlikely] if they were, as a result, treated like ordinary citizens and ignored.

rcocean said...

They should probably reserve the title "Princess" "Prince" for the next two in line for the throne, and call everyone else "Lady" "Duke" or "Lord". Nobody cares about these small-fry royalty. The only ones that are important are the Queen and Princes Andrew and Charles.

You knew that when he married a mulatto Hollywood actress, who's older and divorced, that the Prince Whoever was looking for a way out.

mockturtle said...

I read somewhere they are moving to Canada. The Canadians may be leftists but aren't quite the celebrity cult that the US is.

tcrosse said...

The Telegraph has a piece giving 5 reasons why Harry and Meghan should not move to Canada. The best is:
2. There's only room for one Justin Trudeau.

Skipper said...

Royalty...just another TV reality show.

Lucid-Ideas said...

I saw something floating about on the net at Dailymail (I know I know) and a comment at the Guardian yesterday:

Rumor has it that Meghan A) wanted access to Diana's crown jewels and wardrobe for her wedding and B) wanted access to them thereafter as well. Apparently the Queen and Prince William were none to happy and shot this down immediately. Harry pitched a fit but still didn't get his way.

A few psych-nuggets come to my mind. 1) Harry knows he's going to end up like Prince Andrew (we all know how that turned out), so he needs to make a bigger splash to 'garner' any attention. 2) Meghan has no royal tact or grace and everyone can see this. He knows this. William knows this. The Queen knows this. 3) If the rumor is true Meghan is either A) obsessed with Diana and/or B) thinks that she can play that role within the royal family despite being an outsider...talk about hubris. 4) Harry knows he could've done better everytime he sees his sister-in-law, and that will become clearer and clearer with time.

Overall, not my circus, not my monkeys. I'm glad we Brexit'd before it was cool.

stevew said...

This would not have appeared on my radar without our host posting. A couple of random thoughts pop into my head:

Has Ricky Gervais weighed in?

Is Megan the new Yoko?

I'm one of those Americans that just doesn't understand the relationship the English people have with the Royals.

Lloyd W. Robertson said...

It seems a hundred years ago, but I worked in an office where the immediate response to Lady Diana's death was a flurry of "dark" jokes via e-mail. One that might still be current: what is the Queen going to get Fergie for her birthday? A lovely gift: trip to Paris, dinner at the Ritz, a limo ride. Some American content: why didn't Superman rescue Diana? He was in a wheelchair.

tim in vermont said...

"Where is the "fair and balance" of this blog?”

You can curtsy or kowtow if you like, but we are Americans.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

It seems that they want nothing to do with the annoying, restrictive, Royal culture of duty first and person second.

However, they still do want to swan around as "Royals" and take their money from the British People to support their lifestyle of being woke and nagging the rest of the world.

Taking without working. Sneering at the 'underlings' who need to be woken up and made to care about..whatever.

What self absorbed twats.

rcocean said...

Does anyone believe they are really moving to Canada? Next year, they'll be in NYC and/or Beverly Hills.

Ralph L said...

There was a tweet that Meghan did it so she could play herself on The Crown.

Considering their nutty mother, it's no wonder William married a coathanger and Harry a harridan.

Amadeus 48 said...

We cannot imagine how awful it is to be a member of the royal family. The Queen solved the puzzle by by being rigorously duty-bound and apolitical. But she has the top job. What about Charles? His job is waiting for his mother to die so he can get the top job. And he is not apolitical. He is green and feckless, with great and poor ideas on how to improve the monarchy. He and I are the same age, and I have had my entire career. He is still waiting for his.

So let’s think about Harry. What is he supposed to be? He is well down the line of succession. He did his bit in the army, but he wasn’t going to the top. He married fifth-tier Hollywood talent. He is a showpiece for the hangers-on of the Hollywood- Eurotrash consortium. If he gets out, he may have a happy life. But he won’t get out. He’ll be there, trying to make a difference, but making no difference. I think he wants to be a good person, but his wife is ambitious and not prepared for the role.

It’s going to be sad.

rcocean said...

The only reason to have Royalty is for them to act in a classy Royal fashion. Give people, especially women, something to look up to. If they're just going to act like Hollywood celebrities, they might as well move to Hollywood. So, I applaud the move.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

“Overall, not my circus, not my monkeys. I'm glad we Brexit'd before it was cool.”

That pretty much says it all. I’ve always been baffled by the whole Royal trailer park and the idea of valueless celebrity. Do so many people really know no one of character in their own lives?

Fernandinande said...

I heard somewhere that the wife is a mulatto who looks European, so she should be able to get a decent job in Canada* pretty easily, but not so much in Mexico even though their unemployment rate is about half that of Canada.

* In Britain, "America" = the US, so "North America" probably = Canada or Mexico.

rcocean said...

Amedaus - needs a sarcasm tag.

Amadeus 48 said...

I think Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is quite different and will be a success, but William is going to get the top job and will do his duty.

Kate comes from a solidly middle class background. Her parents started and built a successful small business. She is discreet, and she and William had a long courtship before they took the leap. She is self-effacing. No drama from her (or him).

nob490 said...

Wait until Harry has to fix the alternator on the minivan. Then I'll know they've become "regular" people.

rehajm said...

It could be simpler. Woke and royal family don’t mix. If you’re a royal you’re a tax dollar whore. Netflix producer is the laundry for big bucks and woke purity.

Maillard Reactionary said...

Who the fuck cares?

Didn't we fight a war to get rid of these people?

Amadeus 48 said...

Rcocean—yeah, it could also be hilarious at one level. I don’t think that they will live happily forever after. I give them five years as a couple.

Dominec Green has it ight about them.

But being a member of the royal family is awful.

paminwi said...

So they are starting The Sussex Foundation. I read they have trademarked “Sussex”.
So....IMO the foundation will be like the Clinton Foundation.
Raise a whole shitload of money from all kinds of connected people for supposedly good deeds and then they’ll skim a boatload off the top to live a good life. Their rating on the charity scale will be awful but......who cares - they’re royals!

As an aside I follow the royals on Instagram and am amazed how many visits they make to various charities. It appears their support helps many groups raise lots of money for the individual causes. In the US we more of the public events where they are all dolled up wearing jewels but I think they do a lot for charities in their country. Just my opinion.

Maillard Reactionary said...

nob490: "Wait until Harry has to fix the alternator on the minivan."

If it's an English car, he'll get to fix that and lots of other things on it sooner than he might expect.

Maybe Meggie can hold his spanner for him.

William said...

I saw The Crown. It's an entertaining series. It was suggested by a true story....I don't have any intense pro or con feelings about English Royalty but,going back to Shakespeare, they have given English writers something to write about. More often than not, the writings are sympathetic and admiring. King George III was stupid, bigoted, and occasionally crazy, but he got a sympathetic biopic. Queen Anne struggled with obesity and gout. There was a movie about her brave struggle with those afflictions. There was even that movie about the king who mastered his stammer. Is there something in the works about William's struggles with male pattern baldness? They're ordinary people with ordinary challenges and extraordinary privileges, but they do manage to inspire good writing and fine screen performances. So they've got a use. What have our plebeian lives ever inspired?

Freeman Hunt said...

From Daily Mail:

"In the past few weeks, the couple have trademarked their Sussex royal brand on more than 100 items, from T-shirts, books and magazines to teaching materials and emotional support groups.

"They submitted trademark applications for textbooks, footwear, headgear, coats, jackets – and even pyjamas."

Okay.

William said...

I guess Hollywood stars are the equivalent of our royalty. But those Hollywood lives are too sacrosanct and beyond criticism to inspire fine writing. Those Hollywood stars have so special lives that we can't relate to them the way we do with royalty.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Made in Chinese sweat-shops.

Freeman Hunt said...

Everything says they're leaving to try and make more money. Gotta escape the hard knock life.

Sebastian said...

"that nauseating blend of self-affirmation and Hollywood PR that is Harry and Meghan’s equivalent of baby-talk"

IOW, basic progspeak.

Ralph L said...

If they moved to the US, the taxpayer won't pay for their security people. The RCMP will probably get stuck with the bill when they're up there.

Ralph L said...

At least they didn't use "transition" as a verb.

Nonapod said...

Who the fuck cares?

Didn't we fight a war to get rid of these people?


While I agree that all of this is pretty inconsequential to us Americans, it's certainly entertaining to watch these awful people trying to figure out how to both maintain their unearned great wealth and privilege while simultaneously trying to pursue being what C.S. Lewis termed "moral busybodies" of our times. They're even worse than wealthy Hollywood celebrities since at least such celebrities, at least theoretically, did something to earn their status.

They represent the absolute pinnacle of old fashioned decadence. They have no marketable skills or talents (well, Meghan can act a bit I suppose) and a hilarious combination of entitlement and idiocy. They really are stereotypical blue blooded ninnies.

Wilbur said...

stevew said...
I'm one of those Americans that just doesn't understand the relationship the English people have with the Royals.
_________________________________________

I'm one of those Americans that just doesn't understand the interest the American people have with the Royals. I was stunned at the outpouring of grief over the death of Di and the attention given the royal wedding.

Then somebody told me it's like the Super Bowl for women. Uhhh, OK.

traditionalguy said...

The bold and brave duo seem to feel excluded. And Harry is just the spare, not the heir. And he may not be a Windsor. The Windsor heir is William and he will be made King any day now, just so the only Star in the entire family, Kate, can save the Monarchy by her personality skills.

Harry will be used by the Hollywood star that bagged him, until she wants a better man.

Rusty said...

"Where is the "fair and balance" of this blog?”

OK. That's funny.

stevew said...

Quite right Wilbur. I'd forgotten about all that. I do remember all the fawning attention that was paid to Charles and Diana's wedding, back in 1980-whatever.

Michael K said...

Maybe Meggie can hold his spanner for him.

I think that's how they started out,.

Megthered said...

According to the British news, they didn't inform the queen first. She is not amused.

narayanan said...

Maybe they can Do a Kind =Hearts and Coronets= by hiring some Arkancide experts

https://g.co/kgs/vR3fse

Browndog said...

Blogger William said...

I saw The Crown. It's an entertaining series


I still can't believe that was a category on Jeopardy last night. I bet neither could the contestants.

rcocean said...

Blog About UK Royals = 20 "I don't care" comments.

Yawn.

Sam L. said...

I coulda been KING! I coulda been SOMEBODY! Now, I'm just a bum. With lotsa money, but still, a bum.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

I saw The Crown. It's an entertaining series

I watched a part of it and got very annoyed that they skipped entirely over WWII and went right into a story line about coal pollution in London.

Yes. That pollution and the new environmental regulations to curtail coal pollution are significant. HOWEVER...WWII, Elizabeth II's contributions, the significance of the Royal family in the War, political dynamics..... were a teensy bit significant too (that last statement was sarcasm)

How the Hell can you have a biopic about Queen Elizabeth and then completely ignore WWII, Churchill during that period and his relationship to the Crown? You can't and therefore, the rest of the "story" (since it is highly edited and no longer a biopic) is suspect and not worth my time to watch.

I'll read a history book instead.

ThunderChick said...

So they are starting The Sussex Foundation. I read they have trademarked “Sussex”.
So....IMO the foundation will be like the Clinton Foundation.
Raise a whole shitload of money from all kinds of connected people for supposedly good deeds and then they’ll skim a boatload off the top to live a good life. Their rating on the charity scale will be awful but......who cares - they’re royals!


You don't know how right you are about this being like the Clinton Foundation!

So Meghan and Harry's plan to become "financially independent" is to set up a foundation that will help them carve out their "progressive new role" in society? I googled the Sussex Royal Foundation and learned that their PR director, Sara Latham, previously worked for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Clearly, the Sussex Royal Foundation is a slush fund in the making!

CJinPA said...

I thought shortly after their wedding that 'she's going to work to undermine the British monarchy.' Diana was celebrated for the perception that she did the same. It is impossible to achieve universal (pop) acclaim while protecting tradition. You must trash it.

And they let her into the family.

You lost your capital city and soon your monarchy.

Helluva job, Limeys!

Ken B said...

It’s very easy for them to become financially independent. She was a highly paid second rate TV star after all. Renounce all claims and move toHollywood .

Howard said...

Sounds like they want to make their own money. Why do you people hate capitalism?

Ken B said...

I favor two conflicting things, a republic, and not fixing what isn’t broken. As long as QE2 is Queen the monarchy is not broken in Canada. But if we are to be afflicted with King Charles AND these twerps living here that would push me over the edge. I think we should pass an amendment ending the monarchy at the next change.

Ken B said...

Howard
No it doesn’t actually. It only sounds like they want credit for earning their own money whilst still enjoying perks and subsidies. If they wanted to actually earn their own they could start tomorrow.

Gahrie said...

Harry has figured out what a disaster his "father's" reign is going to be, and is trying to get out while the getting is good.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Sounds like they want to make their own money. Why do you people hate capitalism?

That would be an admirable goal. However, to accomplish that they must give up any and all money that is derived from the British taxpayer and from the money that Prince Charles gets from "his" Cornwall estates.

Until they are off of British 'welfare' they are not making their own money. They are using Other People's money. Until they do that, they are hypocrites.

Bill Peschel said...

It's not just the royals we're interested in. It's people, and since they live their lives in public, we see a lot more of them to chew on.

What's also interesting about them -- about aristos in general -- can be the idea of family history. The Windsors are trailer-park Kraut trash compared to Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, whose family line can be traced back to Edward Longshanks a.k.a. "the Hammer of the Scots" or King Edward I (1239-1307).

To a history nut like myself, I think that's pretty cool.

Of course, Eddie William Fitzalan-Howard might be a blithering idiot, but as a reader of Wodehouse, that's part of the British charm. Eccentrics about, like Lord Bath.

ThunderChick said...

Sounds like they want to make their own money. Why do you people hate capitalism?

I love capitalism, but am always amazed why so many celebrities, who earned their riches via capitalism, trash it and want to promote socialism. IMO, it is their way to appease the middle class and poor people. They have a lot of money, but by god, they are compassionate and want our government to take care of everyone and make everyone equal (except them of course). In reality, though, not everyone is equal under socialism. There are the government leaders, rich and elites, who are untouched by the ravages of socialism and then there is everyone else.

Why don't Harry and Meghan start a company instead of a nonprofit? Because it's too much work. Setting up a nonprofit is easier and they can take from the coffers because they can.

Bill Peschel said...

Howard asks: Sounds like they want to make their own money. Why do you people hate capitalism?

According to Marie Claire, they're giving up the Sovereign Grant, whi represents five percent of their income. The other 95 percent is supplied by income from the Duchy of Cornwall, which Chuckles owns.

In other words, they're not giving up as much as you think. If they were really leaving the firm, they would give up their titles and the money and perks that goes along with it.

But they won't. Standard Comfy Class behavior.

Bill Peschel said...

Which brings up an interesting question: Who owns Britain. Specifically, the land.

Answer: No one really knows, and the people who own most of the land want to keep it that way.

Seeing Red said...

Elizabeth needs to pull the HRH title.

Then they really can work for their money and who in the English Patent Office allowed them trademarking a title? And didn’t tell The Firm? That head should roll.

Let Archie be normal.

Albert Grimaldi managed.



I went to The Daily Mail for the gossip.

I read she Was offered the use of a selection of tiaras from the queen. But that they weren’t the one she wanted.

I’ll bet it was The Lovers Knot.

Kate wore it.

Seeing Red said...

Meghan is a media hound. If anyone was suited for that job, she was. She grew up in a post-Diana world. It’s not like she didn’t have a clue.

Seeing Red said...

Howard asks: Sounds like they want to make their own money. Why do you people hate capitalism?

That’s not what they want. If they want to do that, give up the title.

They want their cake, and eat it too.

That announcement was insulting. By most calculations they were already rich, but they whined and poor us. They’re only “poor” because of the circles they move in.


Daily Mail:

A right royal cash in! How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle trademarked over 100 items from hoodies to socks SIX MONTHS before split with monarchy - with new empire worth up to £400m
Couple have £34million fortune to fund new life after quitting as senior royals
But they can make millions Sussex Royal products after trademark application
They want to stamp their name on items including T-shirts, hoodies and gloves
Couple can procure a fortune through book deals, public speaking and fashion
Expert says Sussex Royal product empire could generate revenues of £400m

tcrosse said...

What's kept on the down low is the question of whether Charles is actually Harry's father. Harry is far enough down the order of succession that it doesn't really matter, but wars have been fought over the legitimacy of the heir.

Narr said...

Eurotrash is the Trash with Flash. Hitler made a wisecrack once about forcing the German aristocracy to breed with the stablehands, to improve the aristocratic bloodlines, but I doubt he'd approve of this union.

Utterly boring and witless people, the Windsors. The Markles don't seem much better.

That whole Princess Di phenom was astonishing to me. The mourning (especially outside the UK) was a spectacle of cultural decadence, if not degeneracy.

Narr
Her driver was a French fighter Jacque

frenchy said...

Harry is part of this. He's doing all this willingly, including the rebellious act of marrying Meghan to begin with. Harry knows Charles is not his father and the idea that's a prince is fraudulent, and that his only relation to the royal family is that he's William's bastard half-brother. This is the age of DNA and everybody in the royal family knows it. Harry's stepping away.

Seeing Red said...

After he served, he should have gone to university and gotten a degree in finance.

James K said...

Like father like son.

Yes, it's as clear that James Hewitt is Harry's father as it is that Frank Sinatra is Ronan Farrow's father. All you have to do is look at photos and know that there were affairs.

Gospace said...

Nichevo said...
...
Wonder if he thinks he can get back in if something happens to William.


WIlliam already has an heir - next in line after him. Prince George.

William said...

Those who bitch about the historical accuracy of the The Crown should check out Shakespeare's history plays. There's a guy who got it wrong.... Claire Foy was very good as Elizabeth. There was one scene where Prince Phillip, resentful of her royal prerogatives, demands an act of oral sex. I recognize great drama when I see it.....The two Elizabeths have long supplied aging English actresses with their grande dame manners a reliable source of living and awards. Claire Foy was something new. She copied some of Queen Elizabeth's mannerisms, but brought a wistful Irish charm to the role....Meghan Markle is a different kind of royal. In about fifty years, I'm sure there will be many excellent shows about her travails. There's something about the privileges and drama of royal lives, however bland, that inspires interest in the masses, good writing by the dramatists. and good performances by the actors.

William said...

Grace Kelly made a good royal, but it was a step down for her. She mistakenly thought that royals had more status and privileges than movie stars. She came to resent her decision,but she had a nice wedding.....Michelle Dockery was very good in Downton Abbey. She had just the right amount of aristocratic languor....The children of landless Irish peasants like to play the part of aristocrats. They're attracted to the glamour and want to inhabit it. They're not like us Yanks who only want to piss on them.

narciso said...

and dockery, can play a very unroyal character in good behavior, yes Shakespeare was following the line of the tory propagandists, hilary mantel, puts a different spin on the first tudors,

tcrosse said...

A story at the Telegraph points out that all this was predicted in the play King Charles III.

Nichevo said...

Claire Foy was very good as Elizabeth. There was one scene where Prince Phillip, resentful of her royal prerogatives, demands an act of oral sex.


Did he get it?

Ralph L said...

I’ll bet it was The Lovers Knot.
Kate wore it.

The Queen loaned it first to Diana, then to Kate, so it would have been Will & Kate's decision, not hers. I'm guessing it was the Girls of Great Britain because it looks most like a classic little-princess tiara. I wonder if we'll hear more Bridezilla stories about Meg, since the knives at Buck House are bound to be out.

Jim at said...

I think Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is quite different and will be a success

Admittedly, I think Kate's a babe. That's about as much of my opinion on anything royal.

However, at Wimbledon last year - during the awards presentation - she came out as part of the ceremony and, as is tradition, stopped to meet and greet each of the ballboys and girls.

You could see she had real, honest class, and the kids loved her.

Unknown said...

Despite having a PhD, Dominic Green is an excellent critic on high culture, especially literature and art. He's also the son of the very beloved British jazz sax player Benny Green.

Anonymous said...

Always thought it was a bit infra dig for an American to pay more than cursory attention to the goings-on of British royals.

Marc in Eugene said...

Guido Fawkes has posted about a poll that says 61% of Canadaians would welcome Prince Harry as next governor-general. I don't know if the Sussexes can make that office into one that will allow them to remain fully-fledged members of the private jet flying celebrity class but perhaps. Justin may or may not welcome the spotlight being drawn away from him.