The Queen is far from a “poor elderly granny.” She is a strong resilient woman that deserves respect and compassion in just losing her husband. Just like anybody else who has just lost someone. I find Harry’s timing of these negative comments in the media very sad.
True enough @bouders. Diana and Charles aired too much dirty laundry in TV interviews and Diana to Andrew Morton. Diana got sympathy. Maybe that is what Harry hopes for but Charles got derision and his popularity fell.
I have never understood the purpose of the Oprah interview. You want to leave the royal family, then leave. But don’t get upset when you lose funding from them, your kid doesn’t get a title, etc. You can’t have it both ways.
I understand that it isn’t quite this simple in reality and it is too bad the transition didn’t go better. (And since Charles wanted a smaller set of working royals, you think they at could have all used Harry’s wanting to leave to all of their advantages!)
They are inking all these big money making deals lately and maybe just in time . Strike while the iron is hot and there is still some goodwill for them and their brand. Good idea in case the public tires of them. I liked Harry and never disliked Meghan but find all this recent nonsense tiresome and distasteful. But I still wish them well as a family with Archie and the new baby!
He just can’t shut up. Now he’s saying the First Amendment is ‘bonkers’, although he admits he doesn’t understand it. (Now a lot of Americans don’t understand it either) I’m beginning to think Harry isn’t very smart.
Well, to be fair, the 1st Amendment is very hard to understand, especially if you’re not American, and even Americans don’t really understand it.
However there was a clue as to his not being super smart in the fact he only passed 1 A’Level, meaning no college. On the other hand, his mom failed her GCSE’s TWICE and by the time she was in her 30s she’d figured “real life” things out.
Finally, I do believe that aristocratic upbringing, especially for kids sent to pre-prep at 7 or 9 or being raised by people paid to care for you whom you’ll rarely see once you become a teen, the idea you should manage your feelings on your own or, preferably, not have any, as duty should overcome them… is very unhealthy.
MYOS1634 I think that you are being a little hard on Harry. He was reported to have passed 2 A levels, geography and art, and indeed needed to in order to qualify for consideration for entry to Sandhurst. There were rumours long ago that he is dyslexic but I have no idea whether that is true. One of Prince Andrews daughter’s has publicly stated that she is. That said, I think that he needs to think very hard about what he is saying and to whom. Such thoughts should remain private. Perhaps he is buying into minor celebrity life too enthusiastically. I agree that the traditional aristocratic educational upbringing is hard on many people.
Harry says it’s ‘genetic pain’ so he moved to the US. Genetics don’t change by location.
For someone who claims to want their privacy, he sure talks to the press a lot.
And his two year old started pre-school. If he wants to change to the American way, don’t send your kid to school so young.
I don’t have a problem with kids going to day care or pre-school (mine did), but don’t complain that your parents sent you away too young and didn’t spend time with you and then continue the cycle.
Err, sending your kid to preschool is QUITE different from the pre-prep+BS system.
2-3 hours a day in a local school is different from boarding school at 9.
Right now, choosing preschool in most parts of the US is a class thing, for only the very poor who have varying-quality Headstart and the affluent who can afford to send their toddler to a $12,000+/year preschool for a couple hours a day before the nanny comes pick them up send their kid to preschool. Harry’s just behaving like all Americans with money.
BTW, there’s no glory in depriving kids from educational opportunity. ALL Americans should have the opportunity to send their kid to preschool at age 2 or 3 if they want. It’s a few hours a day to be in a different environment, to realize you’re not the center of the world, see new faces, develop manipulation skills, master tantrums, use politeness skills learned at home with new people, listening to stories read to you, etc.
Research has shown it was actually helpful for toddlers not to spend all their time with just 1-2 people. At age 2-3, they can spend a couple hours in small groups with other adults, preferably trained. As they grow, age 4 or 5, they can start learning in a very structured way. It’s hugely beneficial for them.
Preschool is not like sending your kid away at age 7 or 9 or 11.
Depriving your child of something they could access isn’t a badge of Americanitude. AFAIK, in fact, all American parents try to provide everything they can for their kid.
In fact, I’d appreciate it if H&M fought for the right of all American children to access preschool at age 3 rather than just assuming it for those of their own class. That’d be more American than British, having a sense of equality and how to achieving it.
(More seriously, for some reason the US hasn’t caught up with the rest of the developed world on that front. Having public preschools for middle class 3 to 5 year olds would just be catching up on what we’re behind on and shouldn’t be a litmus test about Harry. Another benefit would be schools for 3 to 5 year olds that would keep the 5 year olds separate from 10 year olds, and thus have appropriate recess time and toys and playgrounds.)
I agree with most of your post, except that pre-school is only for the very poor or very rich. In my area, it is the low SES who misses out on pre-school. We have several church based pre-school programs for kids ages 2-4 varying from 2-5 days per week, usually 3-4 hours per day. When my kids went, it was roughly $50/week for 3 days/week. (Note we grossed <$60K back then.) I just looked up the current rates at my kids’ private school preK-8 school. They tend to be one of the most expensive places in town (and not where we sent ours for pre-school). 5 days/week for 4 hours/day is $4500 a year. They also have shorter & cheaper options.
A few years ago, our public school district expanded pre-school. We have two separate schools for those grades. Most years there is plenty of space for additional kids. And we have no shortage of qualifying kids, as everyone in our district gets free breakfast/lunch. It’s hard to say why it’s not better attended, but they are working on it.
But I don’t look down upon anyone sending kids aged 2-4 to pre-school for a few hours a day, a few times per week. Even for SAHMs (not me), it gives them a bit of a break while the kids learn social skills.
I am sure that this thread will not become an OT discussion about preschool in the US.
That’s fine, but then don’t complain that your parents didn’t spend enough time with you and do the same thing with your kids. It’s not Harry putting his child in preschool I have a problem with, it’s him complaining about his parents having done it and then doing it to his own kid(s).
Also, in the Time of Covid, different decisions are being made about exposing your kids to other people. My own kids loved daycare/pre-school at age 3, but at age 2 it was just one big germ factory that we had to survive because I had to work and couldn’t afford a nanny. If I could have afforded the nanny, that would have been the better option health wise; I was only worried about mine catching the flu or bronchitis, not covid.
Baby Archie isn’t 3. He just turned 2 and immediately went to preschool. I’m sure there are many people at the Santa Barbara castle who can read him a book or play with him. I’m sure they could arrange playdates for him if they believe he needs socialization. Caroline Kennedy had other kids come into the White House for Kindergarten.
Many people must use daycare or preschool and that’s fine. Many people think it is best to start preschool at 2. That’s fine too (although I think 2 is too young and that 3 is better). Don’t complain about your parents taking those steps and how bad they were and then repeat them. What is he doing different than what his parents did?
It’s just his complaining that I have an issue with, not his sending his son to preschool.
Harry was sent away to boarding school at age 9, I believe.
Officially he was very happy there but I can see why he wouldn’t want his children to be away for 7 or 8 weeks at a time at age 8 or 9.
Totally different from spending a couple hours a few days a week with a few other kids, then going back home to your parents.
I don’t see preschool as a suboptimal place where you “have to” send your children when you have to work, but as a school dedicated to toddlers and young children, thus something that’s highly valuable. A couple hours a day, a few times a week for 2-year olds, part time preK3 and full time preK4. YMMV!
Do you think Meghan will ever go back to the U.K.? I can’t imagine she will, her reception from everyone would not be a good one. Harry did say he wouldn’t have left if not for her. Of course, I think he wanted to leave, but to say that sort of puts the blame on her for anyone who dislikes her to begin with.
I’m still feeling a bit disappointed in him. I can only think things must have been so bad, even prior to his marriage, for him to be lashing out like this. He’s very angry at his father. I wonder if he feels the strength to express that anger now that he has someone. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is lingering resentful for Charles and Camilla. How could there not be for someone who loved their Mom so much. I wouldn’t be surprised if William feels the same, but he’s in a tougher position. Plus, he’s always seemed to be calmer, more level headed and in control of himself.
I’d love to know what Harry’s goal is in all of this.
I think they have figured out that its easier to stay in the news with negativity than it is something positive.
I don’t think they are trying to be negative.
But playing the victim all the time gets tiresome
I agree. I don’t think they are setting out to be negative. To them, they are just telling the truth. Setting it all straight. But the way they are doing it is short sighted and immature. He needs to stop now. He’s losing any sympathy he gained.
More from Harry.