Not for me to have an opinion on…no different than any other physical fight between adult brothers.
The actual fight could have certainly damaged the relationship, but Harry making that public likely took it to another level, IMO of course.
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At times like this, I’m so sad that Princess Diana passed away so young and tragically.
I don’t think the King is doing himself any good by ignoring his son. It looks heartless, even when there are good reasons.
I get that Harry wrote a book, had an interview. But since his father and sil are battling cancer, it would seem prudent to show compassion and let your son have some time with you.
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That’s a very good point about Diana’s premature death. I think she would have made a big difference in this whole situation.
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Everybody seems to be forgetting that before the book and the interview was family’s awful treatment of Harry.
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This was sort of my point. Harry is/was no angel. But the acts/events that created the text in the book already played out in real life - the book just documented them (at least telling Harry’s side).
I also agree with the Diana comment - how might things have been different, for better or worse.
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When i read so much judgement of Harry, all i can think about is the traumatized 12 year old boy who was told not to cry and forced to walk-with the whole world watching-behind the casket of hi dead mother who he had witnessed being relentlessly emotionally abused by his father and stalked and ultimately killed (basically) by paparazi.
IMO, any expectation that the adult that boy became would cope with an impossible family dynamic, public expectations, the child abuse he suffered and de ja vu experiences with the paparazi and his own wife and kids, in a way that would be ‘normal’ or acceptable to both the firm and William and Kate’s groupies is dehumanizing.
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Charles hasn’t been much of a father and has always prioritized his second wife Camilla over both his first wife (Diana) and his sons with Diana. So not sure why anyone is surprised that he is continuing to do so.
I’m sure Camilla didn’t appreciate being called out in Harry’s book, especially after she had worked so hard to rehabilitate her image. And Charles did throw both his sons under the bus in his sanctioned biography to make him and Camila look good. So really, none of this is surprising to me.
What’s ironic is that Harry is being given such hate for prioritizing his wife over the rest of his family when that is exactly what Charles has done (well, at least his second wife) and is continuing to do.
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I believe Diana would approve:
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https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/10/africa/prince-harry-meghan-nigerian-visit-intl-scli/index.html
There are some nice photos in the CNN article.
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Family drama aside, it seems like a huge strategic PR mistake for the working royals to ignore Invictus given its global popularity. The royals are struggling with relevance and here’s a hugely popular event for a great cause, literally started from scratch by a royal, that they seem to be ignoring in a fit of pique.
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Interestingly, when the 2022 games were held in the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander, his aunt, Princess Margriet, and his cousin, Prince Pieter-Christiaan, all managed to find time to attend.
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This wasn’t the Invictus Games, this was a church service in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
I am sure that the date of the King’s first garden party was set a long time ago. He has been out of commission since the cancer diagnosis. I am also sure that he is trying to keep attending the events that he has had on his calendar for a long time. The Royal Garden parties are an important part of the royal calendar. Those invited are local big wigs and people who are being honored for their charitable or community work. Being invited is considered an honor.
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There’s a vast difference between the King not attending, and no royals at all attending though. The King having previous commitments is understandable (although it’s weird not taking 2 minutes to issue a public “Sorry I couldn’t make it but I think the 10th anniversary is hugely significant and great job Harry and my appreciation to all our wounded service members”).
But when zero working royals attend that’s a clear statement. Maybe they didn’t intend it as such and it’s purely accidental, but it comes across as a statement of non-support. Combine that with the lack of acknowledgement and yeah, it looks like a boycott from where I’m sitting.
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Exactly what I was going to say. Somebody’s 2 minutes (probably his staff) to say per his directive something positive about the Invictus Games and the positive impact they have had on so many people. Doesn’t even have to credit Harry! Surely the public is eager for something positive to sink their teeth into about the Royals.
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IIn the past has the British Royal Family attended or been a part of the Invictus games? The Queen? King Charles? Just wondering if this is new or has always been the practice…
If it wasn’t posted here on CC, I wouldn’t be unaware that Harry was doing the service in England or traveling to the actual games. It has worldwide support, but it’s getting the coverage that Gaza, or the college protests, or Trumps trials etc are getting on news channels (and I watch a lot of news).
I like my royal gossip, but don’t go searching for it. I don’t think this story had as much of a following as say Catherine’s cancer or Charles resuming duties.
I agree and it’s not a good look for the royal family.
I also saw this story, which stated:
“Royal expert and author Tom Quinn exclusively told The Mirror: “King Charles’ announcement that Prince Harry is being stripped of his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps is a real kick in the teeth for the son who always felt marginalised and underrated. What makes it much worse is that the role is being given to the very man who Harry sees as the cause of so many of his problems – his brother. And the announcement was deliberately made during Harry’s brief visit to the UK to have maximum impact – it shows Harry that he really is no longer welcome.”
Mr Quinn claimed that the senior royals “knew” that the announcement would “really hurt” Harry, before revealing that “he is said to have been in tears when he heard”. He added: "But they have decided the gloves are off and that Harry needs to realise that when you betray the family, you don’t just escape the things you hated doing as a working royal. You also lose the things you loved."
The strange part is that the following article clearly states:
““In August 2023, following His Majesty’s Accession, the King was pleased to announce military appointments including that the Prince of Wales would become Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps. The role was previously held by His Majesty the King, as Prince of Wales, for 31 years.””
Note the announcement was August 2023! Why create the news story while Harry is in London? Why would Harry cry at old news? Sounds suspect to me. It makes the Royal family seem vindictive and a bit pathetic.
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The royal family in many ways is a business. Harry has broken pretty much every written and unwritten rule regarding etiquette, behavior and loyalty within the royal family. He chose to move himself, his wife and his family from England to California. He wrote a tell all book that while it may have been cathartic for him was a catalyst for this new normal with the royal family. I am not in any way surprised that the family has chosen to cut him off. Harry has much of himself to blame for it. He did not need to do an Oprah interview. He did not need to write a book airing all of his grievances which should’ve been reserved for the therapist’s couch. As a result, he is now in the position being the black sheep of the family.
My advice to him, live your own life. Stop looking for acceptance, validation or acknowledgment from your family. Harry and Meghan set the tone. Posters on CC can’t imagine cutting off one of our children in this way, yet I can absolutely see why it’s happening with the royal family. They are not an average family. They live their lives in the spotlight with constant publicity, and there’s a code of conduct within the family that Harry and Megan willingly and intentionally chose to violate. There are consequences and repercussions and they are now living with them.
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An op-ed about the Nigeria trip:
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4651318-harry-and-meghans-heart-of-darkness/
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I’m so glad for H that the Spensers were there to help celebrate his achievement. I genuinely want to like H, but I mostly think of him as a man-child: charismatic yet emotionally needy man with a distorted sense of importance. But his devotion and success with the Invictus games is a huge contribution, a life-time achievement actually. I would love to see H gain maturity and strength, and I think people do that by learning from their achievements and failures, and having people in their lives who are genuine and give accurate feedback. I’m glad H had people in his life with him to celebrate this achievement.
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