(11o) Influence of media on royal family
Recently at the start of 2021, the British royal family came more than once in the news as a result of the bad relationship with part of the media, and certainly between Meghan Markle who is married with Prince Harry, also known by their titles Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
An interview by these Duchesses of Sussex with Oprah Winfrey made things worse, including the relationship within the Royal family such as between Prince William and Prince Harry. Indeed, certainly Prince Harry always had visible troubles with the (gossip) media as he blames them for the death of his mother Princess Diana. That is also one reason why over one years ago the Duchesses of Sussex decided to withdraw as senior Royals and moved first to Canada and later the USA. This decision already put strain on the Royal family and their relations between each other.
Things became even worse when Prince Philip was in hospital at the time when the interview was broadcast and certain gossip media even blamed the Duchesses for Prince Philip's death shortly after the interview. An overview of what I wrote on Facebook (except the last few posts) in relation to summarised events.
The year 2019
29/10/2019
I support Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their fight against invasion of privacy and certainly against the illegal practice of phone hacking. The case by the Duchess of Sussex against the publication of her letter that she wrote to her father seems to be more complicated. Still, the media needs to obey certain rules if it wishes to remain free.
The year 2020
09/01/2020
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have decided to step back as senior royals. Some people understand while others are not amused, mentioning that they didn't seem to have consulted the Queen; indeed, one would expect they discussed their situation although for how many years? And, should the Queen not retire in favour of her son Charles?
Also tabloids are angry but this because they have no self reflection or worse, they are angry because they find royals don't have a right to a more private life as they increase sales for media. They stalk royals, even resulting in Princes William's and Harry's mother's death when her car was chased by paparazzi. Now the tabloids were chasing Prince Harry and his wife, for a large part because tabloids are angry Prince Harry polluted the bloodline by marrying a non-white American woman.
I always find it strange the tabloids can do as they do because of the royal rota system. Still, royals, as first in the country, should be able to demand they can live a private life although of course they have to fulfil public duties. Now it seems Prince Harry and Meghan escape their duties. Probably they will be present during certain official engagements. And, they will cost tax payers less. But, to remain sane I think Prince Harry had no choice or one day he may attack a journalist when the person comes too close. Indeed, also royals (and other celebrities) need some privacy in return to provide sometimes pictures and public engagement.
To be honest, it is not healthy to be destined to be important from birth, whether they like it or not. Being part of nobility, it is a curse today as it was in the past when you see the behaviour of some.
09/01/2020
I've never understood why Prince Charles doesn't have more support to become king of the UK. He's always been a moderniser although not recognised for this.
He's always been supportive for his children, even now for Prince Harry according the article.
He shows his sensitive side towards his sons but also his mother while he patiently waits for his time to become king.
Yes, he was forced to marry a woman he didn't know while he was not allowed to marry the woman he loved until recently. For this he is still blamed. And yes, no-one is perfect. Ok, as an adult, he can't stop speaking his mind what many fear although often he was right such as on climate change and environmental destruction.
14/01/2020
For anyone who doesn't understand Prince Harry and Meghan's decision to live more abroad and away from the press, this article shows the difference in media coverage between Kate Middleton (a white woman) and Meghan Markle (a mixed white-black woman). It's unbelievable the difference in treatment.
15/01/2020
I completely agree with the support celebrities are voicing for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's decision to step down as senior royals.
Indeed, tabloids never apologised for in effect murdering Princess Diana although they agreed for a brief ceasefire while during that period hack more ordinary people.
Now the princes are adult and certainly with one of them married to a foreign mixed race woman, the tabloids are full on against the couple to further discredit them, even when they live outside the UK.
The Leveson Inquiry a few years ago offered solutions although they could have been discussed further in Parliament but even serious media were against more regulation and control. Maybe it's time to finally set rules to which the media should adhere and how control agencies and justice should check and if needed judge media.
25/01/2020
Certain media will not stop hunting down celebrities, even when these same celebrities fled their country because they are tired being hunted.
I've never understood why the photographer(s) were not arrested at the spot. It's not only royals, it can be anyone.
The year 2021
As if Princess Diana is back. It all has such a déjà vu feeling. The difference: Prince Harry remains loyal to his wife.
08/03/2021
Meghan Markle has spoken. A nearly repeat of Princess Diana's interview, ie lonely and unprotected in a big and strange family. Concerning the discussion by some of the skin colour of Duchess Markle's future child, is that surprising as Western royals have white skin that shows their blue blood?
The Queen, as Head of State and respected by the media (they say), she could have demanded decades ago the media would behave. She didn't and this resulted in the death of Princess Diana after her protection was lifted.
Princess Diana was lucky: as a 20-year old shy white woman, she had time to become loved. Meghan doesn't have that advantage: an adult black woman who speaks, just as Princess Diana did once she was an adult.
The Queen should have told the gossip media to behave, not only towards her family but towards the population in general. Her silence may now start to destroy her family because the gossip media is now uncontrollable after all their past freedom. And Prince Harry? He stands behind the woman he loves and accuses the media and his family. Indeed, Princess Diana's spirit out the bottle, first after a TV series about the Royal family and now because one of her sons who blame the media for harassing his family.
09/03/2021
Piers Morgan and Mrs Markle's interview. Always right in his criticism and thus people shouldn't dare to question his behaviour.
Not only brexit divides the British, now add Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. A study may suggests mainly Brexiters don't side Mrs Markle.
10/03/2021
The UK left the EU because it wanted to demonstrate its greatness as a standalone country. Of course, for this it needs the Commonwealth, a larger group of countries than the 27 EU countries. But now, not only did the UK lose serious influence in Europe but after the Duchesses of Sussex their Oprah Winfrey interview, Commonwealth countries with a mainly black population may start to question their membership with Queen Elizabeth II as their Head.
Royalty, no longer something of today's world as it assumes birth makes people special. Further, try to keep the lid on troubles and they boil over one day. Still, I think the Queen and Charles liked Meghan but they too are only part of a greater machine.
Prince Charles, if ever his mother allows him to become king, will it be as King of England? He was good during Royal visits as he interacted with the people. If only he never had to marry Diana to produce a heir but instead was allowed to marry the love of his life, ie Camilla, it may all have been different.
11/03/2021
UK's gossip media, indeed, vermin that publishes stories about anyone, not only royals. It is also unbelievable that people continue to buy them. They write against the EU, they are racist and ridicule LGBT people. In short, they have no respect for anyone.
They write for their readers who are mainly what is called working class, or those who managed to climb the ladder to leave that class; yet, whenever the gossip media can, they call their readers "scum" and whatever I have forgotten. This media also spies on their readers just as they spy on the powerful and whenever possible they release rotten news such as about the McCann's and their missing daughter. The gossip media, it hates everything and poisons society, up to the highest levels.
As Prince William says, the Royal family is not racist and often they are not. But, it is a cold family: I remember the last official duty of the Duchesses of Sussex: although the family knew the whole world was watching, they didn't mind to show how the family, including William and Kate, ignored them. I fear the family may have done little to create a comfortable atmosphere for a newcomer, ie Meghan Markle. This together with a hostile press that also reminds Prince Harry about his mother for which he can't forget and forgive that media, and I understand that people can develop a depression when they are locked inside castles without the right support.
That's why the Duchesses left and as they explained in the interview. For this, the gossip media hates them even more and wants that the public hate them. What about their family?
12/03/2021
Piers Morgan. Off he was. I think the woman in this video is right: it is not only personal but he is also a man who can't have it that people disagree with him because then, he walks away because he is furious. Even his co-host didn't agree during his speech.
It is often with so-called free speech advocates: it is THEIR free speech and not yours when you don't agree with them. They don't want to hear whether you may be right, they go or turn inwards. In addition, it seems he had once a good time with Mrs Markle before she met Prince Harry so he felt young again; afterwards she was gone.
Still, Mr Pierce may return to the screen as over 200,000 people signed a petition in his favour.
Prince Harry, also involved. Once the favourite of the British gossip media as he wore the wrong uniform at a fancy dress party that suggested he was one of them, and who was sometimes drunk in public and more things.
And then, he marries not only a foreigner but even one with a darker skin colour. They decided: he must be destroyed.
12/03/2021
Prince William spoke twice, even when the Palace suggested they shouldn't speak.
However, how not to speak when someone ask you whether you are a racist family? And I do think the brothers are not when you see how they behave towards others. But, they are born in a family with a history of slavery that now sticks to their skin.
The interview has been damaging for the Royal family and for their relations with each other. May they heal? It may be good they live apart so tensions can soften.
But, it is correct: in the past the Queen should have spoken out against the gossip media that what they do is not done as it hurts. Similarly, the serious media should stop defending media that misbehaves as it hurts everyone in society. Stand up against the bully or people will side the bully.
In order that a free media can exist, there need to be an organisation that can fine media while justice can sentence those who overstep lines. That didn't happen sufficient while even the right to insult, ie absolute press freedom, was defended out of fear press freedom may otherwise be limited.
Now the boomerang returns to hurt many victims of the bullying media while the serious media now face accusations of being fake news. Then press freedom is in danger.
14/03/2021
Meghan Markle, she was a real asset as younger but also non-white people could identify with her and thus with the Royal family. Because, at this moment, the only real beloved royal is the Queen and mainly by an older white population, and we know she is slowly coming to her end.
The UK is increasingly non-white, partly because an empire removed non-white people from where they were born, and some ended in the UK, certainly because now the Commonwealth still includes many non-white countries so people from these countries move to their mother country. And thus Mrs Markle suggested inclusiveness. Still, the picture in the article in the above link shows only Harry within a metre of Meghan (although this can be coincidence).
Like Princess Diana, also Duchess Markle felt the need to speak out, now to a non-British media as the British, and certainly the tabloids, hated her and made her feel unwelcome. This interview suggested not only racism but also a family that doesn't defend their members against bullying.
Also Prince Harry's position is important: not only does he stand with the woman he loves, it also pictures Prince William in a bad light who even refuses to call his brother after the interview, suggesting he didn't support Harry and Meghan when they lived in the Palace. This may result in even less interest and more disagreement with the royals among mainly younger people who have friends of whatever skin colour and defend those friends.
After the Queen, a heir of 72 who is not really beloved because of his treatment of beloved Princess Diana but also because he waits as a good son for his time, in today's career driven world not seen as positive. Now the division between the brothers also causes a division in society whereby many who loved Diana now oppose Harry as that rebel who married a foreigner.
Monarchies, not from our time. Certainly when they remain too long in power as they fear their own offspring will destroy the monarchy. And yes, in the end the UK may end as a normal country that doesn't punch above its weight.
Afterthoughts
09/04/2021
Prince Philip, husband for 72 years of Queen Elizabeth II, dies. He is honoured throughout the UK and the world.
But, certain media can't stop their attacks against the Duchesses of Sussex. Indeed, Prince Philip didn't die from old age but instead the gossip media claims he died as a result of the interview of Mrs Markle and Prince Harry with Oprah Winfrey. Of course, also Prince Harry is blamed as he betrayed his country. Thus, it is not that the gossip media was biased in the reporting of Duchess Markle and as a result she spoke. Nope, according themselves, the gossip media never does something wrong, always others are to blame. Still, their coverage is slowly destroying the British Royal family while people working for these media believe they are good Brits. But, what would you expect from media that is mainly in the hands of Mr Murdoch, an Australian republican who wouldn't mind the Head of the UK is no longer Head of Australia but instead Australia has its own Head, a president.
And in one of the many articles about Prince Philip's life, it is mentioned how he too found it difficult to adjust to the life within a Royal family. An extract:
The transition to life in the Palace was brutal. Philip was constantly being squashed, snubbed, ticked off, rapped over the knuckles... I felt Philip did not have any friends or helpers. Philip may not have helped himself; one biographer writes that in the early years Palace staff felt he was difficult to deal with... prickly... arrogant... defensive. He was looked upon with suspicion by some in the court, as something of an adventurer, as perhaps a fortune hunter.
Quite similar with Meghan who complains she is ignored and left on her own after she married into the royal family while staff complains she treated them badly.
04/05/2021
The Duchess of Sussex will publish a children's book in June. And already she is criticised by Pierce Morgan who cannot get over the fact she never called him after they first met. And so he continues to influence opinion against her and continues to refer to an interview that he thinks should not have taken place so he is sure the interview will not be forgotten.
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