You guys are nicer than I am. My first thought was it’s about money. With Meghan’s projects not succeeding, they need to shine-up their brand, and the real value lies in the fact that Harry is a member of the RF. And I’m wondering if they are going to try to push for the half-in half-out again. I’ve seen a couple of articles about how they would have been such an asset to the monarchy, and I saw one article criticizing Queen Elizabeth for refusing that request. I’m assuming those articles were planted by H&M’s PR team?
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Such a surprise. I am sure that having Meghan’s enterprises flop so spectacularity was part of the picture. The main questions are where will they live? Are there any royal properties that are available. I am pretty sure that William would say no for anything that would be in Windsor. The Royal Lodge is open now that Andrew has been kicked out. However, it is in need of some much-needed renovations.
The next thing is will anyone in the Royal Family speak to them? Of course, the King will and Camilla to a lesser extent. The problem is that no one in the RF really trusts them. Would their next conversation end up in a subsequent book or interview? It will be interesting, that is for sure.
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The British press has been particularly gruesome as of late. If I was a likely target like M&H, I’m not sure I’d feel great about moving there at this exact moment.
But I infer from the reporting that they’re going for more of a country life. There are lots of celeb enclaves in the countryside where they could probably live nicely.
The article said they would not be staying on a royal property.
I envision something in Gloucestershire
Yes. It’s money. They weren’t making enough to support the lifestyle. They want to get back on Charles’s good side so that he gives them money now and when he dies.
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My observation is that their social lives here never took off the way they envisioned. We (Americans) just weren’t that into them. Meghan was never fully embraced by A-list celebrity culture and no one stepped up to help her promote her Netflix show or the jam & candle enterprise. Maybe she thought she’d become “America’s Dutchess” and we didn’t bite. Harry’s tell-all book was not the flex he thought it would be.
I do think the move back is surprising, given the extreme negativity when they left and towards Meghan in general. I don’t think those feelings towards her have changed or that she’s done anything to facilitate a change. Given her previous comments on becoming depressed with life in Britain and over how she was treated while there, it will be interesting to see where this goes. I do hope that the move is an attempt to mend fences with the family in some way and at least give their kids a chance to spend time with KC & their cousins.
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I’m not a big follower, but I can’t think of anything that’s improved related to them being in Britain, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. And I don’t envision the kids having play dates or whatever, given the animosity.
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Maybe there is an offer on the table there for one of them to work. Another show or product for Meghan or some opportunity for Harry. Maybe they don’t care for American schooling. Or just America itself - there sure is plenty not to like these days….
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Hate to be cynical and I hope I’m wrong…but their decisions typically seem to come down to money, media attention, and/or being part of the “in” crowd.
Fingers crossed that this move is being done for the “right” reasons – especially with their young children.
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My money is on St. George’s Hill.
It’s too close to the Pizza Express
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I’d put money (or a jar of fancy fruit spread) on something in Chipping Norton. Soho Farmhouse, casa Beckham etc…
My first thought was Charles’ health. The more I think about it, there is probably something they are working on that necessitates them being in (or close to) the UK.
I think a lot of people in this thread project their family values onto the royal family. I can’t remember which thread it was but there was one (maybe holiday related) where CC members were talking about being estranged from their children/grandchildren, not liking their child’s partner, or that they hadn’t seen their relatives in years.
I remember moving into the dorms my freshman year and realizing how different my roommate’s upbringing and family dynamics were from mine. That was many years ago. I live 10 minutes from my mom. I have one child that lives locally and another that lives on the east coast. I know many families whose children have loving relationships with their grandparents through FaceTime. Everyone lives life differently.
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I think I’ll be more interested in them back in the UK. I really didn’t find what they did here intriguing at all. After visiting London last year and this year, I’d want to go back, too.
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I read somewhere that they are keeping the house in Montecito. If true, maybe they intend to keep one foot in the California incase things are still on the chilly side in the UK.
I heard that it’s quietly on the market, so who knows.
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I just read something on FB. I guess when they left they did say they wanted to split their time between the 2 countries. Also, before he even met Meghan, he had expressed a desire to give up his royal life in lieu of a non royal one, but the Queen talked him out of it. And of course, everyone blamed Meghan.
I’m sure there have been numerous discussions between all family members before this delicate decision was made. We will never know. But I do think if H&M felt threatened in any way, either physically or emotionally, they would not go.
I was estranged from my sister for 11 years over a lifetime of hurt, cousins did no see each other in their 20’s. Last month, we all spent the entire weekend with the family, including everyone’s spouses and girlfriends at our lake cottage and had a blast.
Sometimes, estrangement is necessary. We had such a dysfunctional relationship. But age, separation, can really result up in introspection. We see each otger about every 3 months now, but there are boundaries I have and she’s learning to not cross them. But would she have without the separation and sadness that came with that? Would I be willing to forget all the hurt without it also.
I think the brothers will eventually be ok, even if it’s just private, even if it’s just enough to be in each others lives.
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On Meghan’s part, the only thing that makes sense to me is her love of family. She was treated so badly by the British media, so I can’t imagine she has any real desire to return. For Harry, though, it’s his home and the life he’s always known. I can understand the pull for him, and I believe what’s been reported about his wanting his children to experience the best parts of his childhood.
The kids are also school-age now, so perhaps educational opportunities are part of the equation. It’s been widely reported that they’re keeping both their California and Portugal homes, so this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re giving up their life elsewhere.
Harry also told the BBC, in reference to security, “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.” So, if they are now considering spending more time in the U.K., I have to believe something has changed, or that some kind of arrangement has been made.
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I think the house in Montecito is an albatross. It would make sense to move on from there
I do wonder if there’s been some sort of private agreement to pay for the children’s education in the UK.
Also I wonder if the Sussex’s will have one of those arrangements where they both spend most of their time apart.
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