Unless Harry literally wants to couch surf, Eugenie’s London home is too small for overnight guests. Beatrice lives in the Cotswolds, which is 75 miles outside London.
Since we’re talking about H not having a place 8n the UK anymore, this brings to mind Frogmore Cottage. Does anyone know if H&M received some money back when their lease was not renewed? I had thought they prepaid some rent? But at the very least they paid for substantial improvements to the residence (not just for their taste, but also substantive improvements that increased the value of the property) which they undertook at a time when they believed they would have the right to remain in the property.
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The taxpayers paid for the refurb. H&M had to reimburse those costs.
I would not let anyone sleep on my couch who would potentially go to the press and say disparaging remarks about me and my family… just not worth it. Plus just how awkward for everyone. I am really surprised that Harry would want to stay on any royal property given his press tour and book.
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Yes, it was originally paid for by the taxpayers, but then H&M reimbursed, which means that the funds ultimately came from them. My question is whether anyone ever reimbursed H &M as they enriched the property.
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They were the ones that decided to leave the UK and their responsibilities. So it should not be incumbent on the royal family to reimburse them. Unless there was a contractural provision for reimbursement should they move out?
Oh, that is an interesting perspective.
For me, when I think of what is fair, I think about who received the benefit of the renovations. My understanding is that most of the cost of the renovations were for long-term improvements that were necessary (rather than personal updating according to the occupant’s taste), which would last, say 20+ years, yet H&M were only able to enjoy those benefits for a short period of time before they were required to leave. I also put weight on the fact that H&M would have wanted to continue to rent Frogmore Cottage, but were not allowed to. The Crown certainly had the right to terminate the lease, but at the time H&M committed to pay for the renovations, I don’t think it was on anyone’s mind that H&M wouldn’t continue to live there.
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Yes their choice completely. No one asked them to leave the UK. I am sure the Queen, when she gifted Frogmore Cottage, did not expect that they would leave their duties and country.
We’ll soon see how Harry’s imminent trip plays out in London and the UK media.
Public opinion can be fickle.
From the article:
“Looking ahead, Prince Harry had a surprising answer about the future of the Invictus Games.
“Look I’ve said this over and over again over the years, every time I’ve been asked a similar question, which is, ‘How long does Invictus go on for?’ And the answer to that is, for as long as it’s serving a purpose. I would love more than anything — and there will be people in this room who go, ‘What is he saying?’ — but I would love more than anything to put this in a box, put it on a shelf, and to let that box be covered in dust because we don’t need it in anymore,” he said. “But as we in this room probably understand more so than most, that’s just simply not the case.”
“I’m a big fan of trying to solve the root cause of a problem, and the root cause of the problem is conflict. I can’t fix that,” he continued. “So we will always be here to be able to spread the message, tell the stories, change the perspectives and to help as many people as humanly possible because Invictus transcends borders, it transcends politics. It is what it is. There is this magic within this community that exists.””
(*note: I highlighted the points I think are important to acknowledge)
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So Harry went to his Invictus Games ceremony in London today and not a single member of the Royal family showed up. Not even a second cousin twice removed. (Uncle Charles Spencer was the only family member present)
I think this is very telling. I realize the Palace had the Garden Party at the same time with the major players present, but the fact that a York or Windsor cousin couldn’t make it does not bode well for relationship healing.
Although from afar and not involved of course, I like Harry. Saying that, if a family member wrote an international tell-all book about me, I’d have nothing to do with them, either.
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I 100% agree. I will be curious to see how the press handles the event. To me, this is the first prominent event in England involving Harry that the Royal Family has decided they would have no part in. William, is obviously, in the midst of an incredibly stressful situation with Kate, so the last thing he wants is any drama with Harry. The lower branches on the tree clearly have read the room and are not doing anything to shake things up.
Even so, it is hard not to feel a teeny bit sad for Harry. Coming to town and not seeing any members of his family is certainly not what he hoped for.
My favorite royal is Sarah, Princess Margaret’s daughter. Sarah seems to stay low key, helps when asked, but otherwise just does her own thing. She had days with the Queen when they would paint and do other artsy things. Sarah doesn’t ask for anything and lives a private life but is very supportive of causes she likes, usually involving the arts.
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I disagree. I can’t imagine cutting ties with one of my kids no matter what they did. I consider it an unbreakable bond on my part. And if one of my kids lived 5500 miles away and they were in town, I’d make time to see them no matter if I were king and had a full schedule … wake up a half hour early, go to bed an hour late… there’s a way. I find it sad for Harry and petty of his dad and second wife.
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I digress. I agree if my child did that, I wouldn’t ignore them. I was thinking more a sibling, etc.
Maybe Charles and Harry did meet quietly and neither wanted that publicly known. I doubt they did, but that’s how I’d do it if I were either Charles or Harry just to not have to explain what was discusses, what they ate, how they feel afterward.
From this article:
“While no members of the royal family will be joining Prince Harry today, members of Princess Diana’s family, including her brother, Charles Spencer, and her sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, were in attendance at the event. In addition Harry’s cousins Lara Spencer, Louis Spencer, and George McCorquodale were also spotted entering the cathedral.”
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I’m glad to hear that his mother’s family was there to support Harry.
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Unfortunately, I think Harry & Meghan made their bed so they can’t be surprised by the cool reception whenever H returns to the UK. It’s too bad they (H&M and the major Royals) couldn’t come to a compromise whereby H&M’s duties were diminished or downgraded but they could somehow still remain recognized members of the family. And it’s too bad that Meghan felt like there was no way she could make even a diminished royal life in the UK work - even part of the time.
A lot of damage has been done. I don’t see how they come back from it unless KC takes the lead and tries to mend fences before he passes on.
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