What strikes me is the use in this thread of “his truth”. I thought there was no such thing as “his” or “her” or “their” truth, just THE truth. He and she and they are allowed their personal OPINIONS, but not their personal truth.
Just a by product of the world we live in. There is “a” truth in this story, that most probably lies somewhere in the middle of all these personal truths.
Totally agree.
“his truth” = his point of view
“her truth” = her point of view
THE truth = what ACTUALLY happened
I think that being the victim has been elevated in our current society. Even the title of his book “Spare” denotes how “less than” he has felt his entire life. It does not matter all the privilege and opportunities afforded to him.
Where have you been the last few years? 
I hear “his truth” and “her truth” fairly frequently. Drives me up the wall.
I’m all for criticizing where warranted, but this is unfair. While the Queen may have the titles of Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she doesn’t actually set CoE policy. Her options were to allow them to marry or to not allow them to marry. That’s it. Of course, they could have married without her permission, but there were consequences involved.
It wasn’t until 2002 that the Church of England allowed remarriage in “exceptional cases” to divorced members whose former spouses were alive. The “exceptional cases” is now pretty routine.
Anne remarried in 1992, a decade before the change, so a CoE wedding was not an option. I don’t think Charles and Camilla ever sought a church wedding when they married in 2005, likely in part because they were in their late 50’s and a more intimate gathering was their preference. In contrast, Harry and Meghan were in their mid-30’s
One would think that someone in the British tabloid press (a former employee or a journalist wanting to make more news) would corroborate Harry’s claims that Camilla, Charles, William and their PR offices were planting unfavorable stories about them. So far, nothing. Harry has no proof, just speculation.
A rather long and rambling post…
I initially had no opinion of H&M, and no particular interest in them, so not sure why I even started reading this thread. I did find it interesting to read the contrasting opinions voiced here, and even began to be swayed by some of the pro-H&M arguments. Now, like the proverbial train wreck you can’t look away from, I’ve found myself drawn in by this soap opera. I haven’t quite joined Team They All Suck yet, but will probably put in an application soon.
I can understand the desire to tell their version of events, and figured Harry’s public confessions, while a bit distasteful, are nothing different than what both his parents have done (equally distasteful). However the more he is revealing about himself the more I question his judgment and find it increasingly difficult to accept his version of things at face value…not only are there are always two sides to any story, but two people can have entirely different interpretations of the exact same event, as illustrated by posts in this thread.
Losing his mother so tragically at such a vulnerable age must surely leave a scar that lasts a lifetime. But I get the sense Harry hasn’t developed a scar yet. It appears to remain a raw open wound that has colored his entire life and the decisions he’s made.
I also get the impression he was unhappy with royal life long before Meghan, and never found a meaningful path for his own life. So I find it hard to believe that his relationship with Meghan was the cause of his problems with his family and “the institution”, as if everything was fine until they mistreated her. It seems more likely their relationship was the catalyst that brought forth a lot of dissatisfaction that was already there. While I do believe she was subjected to some ugly racism, I also think she would have been treated harshly for being a 1) divorced 2) American 3) actress, regardless of race.
I found this quote (from Harry’s ITV interview) interesting:
“Prince Harry said his brother never tried to dissuade him from marrying Meghan, but expressed some concerns and told him, “‘This is going be really hard for you,’” Prince Harry recalled during his interview with Bradby.”
Maybe William knew Harry better than Harry knew himself.
Finally, he loses credibility when his actions contradict his words. He left royal life because he feared for the safety of his family, yet nonchalantly publishes that he killed 25 “chess pieces” in Afghanistan. He does realize the Taliban is still in power, right? Angering them to the point they accuse him of war crimes doesn’t seem like a good way to protect his family. He wants to reconcile with his father, then names his father’s wife as the source of attacks against M. Did it occur to him that his father may feel just as protective of his own wife, and criticizing her (however truthful) is not likely to soften his feelings toward H? For all Harry says it’s all about his family, apparently his wife in the midst of giving birth to their child is not sufficient to deter him from getting high using up all the laughing gas that was meant for her pain. Everyone gets a pass for the stupid things they did in their early 20s, but this man is nearly 40.
He wants apologies and accountability from The Firm. Fair enough. As far as his ability to change the complex workings of a 1,000 year old institution, well, good luck with that.
And as for pulling back the curtain on The Firm itself…it’s always unpleasant to see how the sausage is made. Time will tell how they adapt (or don’t) to this latest royal drama.
Oh no, @MaineLonghorn , this is not new to me–we been hearing about “alternative facts” since Jan. 20, 2017. I was more struck by how badly muddled fact vs opinion has become.
Well written!
Amen. I second everything you said.
Well, H & M are having to live some real life now. Montecito is being evacuated due to the threat of mudslides from these downpours.
Lettiriggi, a little off topic, but you are a very entertaining writer! Is this what you do for a living?
Two journalists were talking on one of the British talk programs and one (#1) teased the other (who was a former press office something or other to the Queen) that #1 thought they were friends and why didn’t #2 ever feed her stories? #2 said that in all her years with the queen’s office, nothing had been released about another royal to get the press off a story about another royal.
Lol, thank you 
but no, not at all. I do read a lot though, and back in the stone age used to write long letters to my friends which they always appreciated. Maybe I missed my calling! 
(I have a long story about how writing, or more accurately attempt to avoid it, influenced my choice of career. But that’s a tale for another thread…)
Random thought. I wonder how much Meghan’s ex-husband was paid NOT to write a book about her and their marriage. 
I am not the biggest fan of Harry right now but I don’t wish a potential evacuation on anyone . Hope all will be well with his family and others in Montecito.
I am surprised we have not heard a thing from the ex-husband. Was he also an actor?
That’s how it seems to me, too. I get wanting a big property for privacy. I get wanting to be in Southern California to be near her mom. But even in Southern California, there are much cheaper places to get an estate/farm than Montecito. You don’t need to be Oprah’s neighbor. Why do you think you get to live like a billionaire? Even most movie stars can’t afford that lifestyle. And then it’s too expensive to pay for security? If you weren’t too good to slum it on a ranch in Ventura County or San Bernardino County, you’d have plenty to spare to keep your kids alive.
No, just an average guy. But i have a feeling that he has been well provided for.
I do not think it is a money thing as much as The Institution has always paid for everything; and Harry is probably missing that benefit. Perhaps when they initially stepped away the assumption was his dad or The Queen would continue footing some of the bills since there was a little royal Archie? His uncle who abdicated was supported throughout his life I assume by the palace and maybe Harry thought it would continue the same for him?