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senseandsensibility

(16,713 posts)
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 08:30 PM Mar 2021

My two cents on the Royals. That's a warning...

Don't click if you're not interested.

I used to be a Royal Family fan. I was literally a fan of the British Royal Family for some reason. Not sure why. This was during the eighties and very early nineties. I had a subscription to a fan magazine sent monthly from Britain with tons of glossy photos of the Royals and spent good money on all the hardcover bestsellers written about them. I don't honestly know why, but apparently I enjoyed it.

Then Diana divorced Charles and as if a curtain was lifted, all the magazines and journalists I followed turned on her. She became the evil woman overnight. I saw what was happening and why. Di gave a few interviews and made it clear. I canceled my subsription and stopped buying books about these people. I had seen them for what they were. Di was hounded by them until her premature death. After that, I lost all interest in those people. I had seen what they were capable of. I never "follow" them now. I barely know who Meghan and Kate are.

But I do know that the Royals and the press are capable of what she describes.

48 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My two cents on the Royals. That's a warning... (Original Post) senseandsensibility Mar 2021 OP
Are you me? LOL 50 Shades Of Blue Mar 2021 #1
I hope not senseandsensibility Mar 2021 #2
ROFL! Confession... 50 Shades Of Blue Mar 2021 #15
You mean Jeane Dixon was wrong? Mickju Mar 2021 #45
I know, shocker! 50 Shades Of Blue Mar 2021 #48
Fuck 'em PJMcK Mar 2021 #3
Same here. The whole royal thing bamagal62 Mar 2021 #5
Agree. Look at all the posts here on DU in the past 24 hours question everything Mar 2021 #9
Because the Murdoch Empire (a/k/a) Fox News in the U.S. tells us to. Texin Mar 2021 #32
The "Royals and the press" are two different groups pandr32 Mar 2021 #4
Absolutely. senseandsensibility Mar 2021 #6
Meghan last night said they Mr.Bill Mar 2021 #12
That means little pandr32 Mar 2021 #23
There's nothing special about them, except Oldem Mar 2021 #7
If Meghan exposes the irrationality of the Monarchy and the following media. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2021 #8
Netflix, The Crown, pretty much took the gloss off of them. 3Hotdogs Mar 2021 #10
Sure did! KT2000 Mar 2021 #20
Agree... Mike Nelson Mar 2021 #11
Queen Elizabeth.... Useless in FL Mar 2021 #13
I watched her coronation on TV. Mickju Mar 2021 #46
M&H live in a 15 mil house, through no talent of their own. Not that they have to empedocles Mar 2021 #14
15 Mil house silvermiller Mar 2021 #43
This message was self-deleted by its author empedocles Mar 2021 #16
A long time ago Deuxcents Mar 2021 #17
It's true that Princess Di was treated so unfairly FakeNoose Mar 2021 #18
currently watching "The Crown" on netflix... interesting to see behind the scenes Demovictory9 Mar 2021 #19
I have never understood why Americans fetishize the British royals Orrex Mar 2021 #21
In my case it started with senseandsensibility Mar 2021 #27
Not really interested in the current Royal family maryellen99 Mar 2021 #33
Yes I agree. luvtheGWN Mar 2021 #31
re: the president Orrex Mar 2021 #35
WHY do people with your opinion... MicaelS Mar 2021 #37
Well, let's start by observing that that's an asinine question Orrex Mar 2021 #42
I'm British. That's always confused me too. The King of Prussia Mar 2021 #40
"not hard working" Orrex Mar 2021 #44
This sums them (and the "Great British Public") up neatly The King of Prussia Mar 2021 #47
..... Tanuki Mar 2021 #22
Royal Family, same as WWF. Waste of time. kairos12 Mar 2021 #24
Axe the monarchy, including Meghan and Harry. Coventina Mar 2021 #25
My Royals jayschool2013 Mar 2021 #26
I used to follow the Royals. Aussie105 Mar 2021 #28
did you have the princess Diane wall hanging plate? n/t spike jones Mar 2021 #29
Yup. Big blow to The Firm. Joinfortmill Mar 2021 #30
I think Meghan needed to watch "Rude Britannia" over on You Tube before the wedding. Warpy Mar 2021 #34
Why Brits fund a "royal family" is beyond me. Goodheart Mar 2021 #36
I totally agree with you. I think the reason for M&H to go public w all this FlyingPiggy Mar 2021 #38
I can't accept that a baby is not accepted by its extended family stollen Mar 2021 #39
I'm amazed at the number of Americans who fawn over the royals. Liberal In Texas Mar 2021 #41

50 Shades Of Blue

(9,771 posts)
15. ROFL! Confession...
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 09:22 PM
Mar 2021

I still have my copy of a National Enquirer Diana/Fergie special edition wherein Jeane Dixon predicted that Diana and Charles would reconcile and Diana would give birth to a girl.

Mickju

(1,794 posts)
45. You mean Jeane Dixon was wrong?
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:33 PM
Mar 2021

How shocking! I read her book a million years ago. I was kind of naive in those days.

PJMcK

(21,916 posts)
3. Fuck 'em
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 08:33 PM
Mar 2021

The British royal family is a throwback.

Why do Americans find them interesting?! I find it baffling.

question everything

(47,264 posts)
9. Agree. Look at all the posts here on DU in the past 24 hours
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 08:41 PM
Mar 2021

Especially since before the program started 60 Minutes aired a heart breaking story about millions here in our country suffering from the recession with no hope in the future (you can find it if you scroll down on GD)

pandr32

(11,446 posts)
4. The "Royals and the press" are two different groups
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 08:35 PM
Mar 2021

Here in America we ought to know how awful the press can be. Remember Sec. Clinton?

Mr.Bill

(24,103 posts)
12. Meghan last night said they
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 08:52 PM
Mar 2021

work very well together. She said the Royals throw parties for the press at Buckingham palace.

pandr32

(11,446 posts)
23. That means little
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 10:05 PM
Mar 2021

Sometimes they will report something favorably, but only if it sells. It isn't Buckingham Palace that is the source of the trouble with Meghan and Harry.

Oldem

(833 posts)
7. There's nothing special about them, except
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 08:38 PM
Mar 2021

that they're especially wealthy and privileged. Too often, that leads to corruption of one kind or another. I've never seen any reason to revere them just because of the accident of their births.

OAITW r.2.0

(23,813 posts)
8. If Meghan exposes the irrationality of the Monarchy and the following media.
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 08:40 PM
Mar 2021

No problem with me. Harry is supportive, they decided to live in the USA because -hard to believe - we don't have a political institution like GB's Monarchy.

KT2000

(20,544 posts)
20. Sure did!
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 09:47 PM
Mar 2021

I just finished watching it and then the "interview" on Sunday. I now believe the institution is inhumane. It is of course up to the British as to whether or not they want it to continue, but from my perspective - why? It is weird that they submit to a thing and sacrifice their humanity when they deem necessary and that is just for the survival of the thing. They do not even have moral authority so what is the point beyond being museum pieces.

They are really a mess and kudos to Harry for getting his family out of that mess.

Mike Nelson

(9,903 posts)
11. Agree...
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 08:49 PM
Mar 2021

... never was interested in them. I see the clips on the news, but did not see the Oprah show. I wish they would go away.

Useless in FL

(329 posts)
13. Queen Elizabeth....
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 09:17 PM
Mar 2021

You know, I was born in the mid 40's and when Queen Elizabeth was married in the early 50's we had just purchased our first TV. We watched her marriage and then shortly after, her coronation to the throne. I was mesmerized. I loved the Queen and admired her, was envious of her position.

I'm sure many little girls felt the same as I did. I have followed her family and the events around them for years. Though I love the Queen, I think this is an anachronism in our current society. Their family has its foibles just as we do, though with lots of money they can make it disappear. We're here living with out situations, but they are isolated from scrutiny, unlike us.

So, this loving queen who captured my attention for many years, is nothing more than a white racist. So sad. Their station in life is as threatened as mine. However, they deserve it.

Mickju

(1,794 posts)
46. I watched her coronation on TV.
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:40 PM
Mar 2021

I was in the third grade and a parent brought a TV into our classroom. At that time there were no TVs in classrooms so it was a novelty. I found it kind of exciting at the time, but what did I know.

empedocles

(15,751 posts)
14. M&H live in a 15 mil house, through no talent of their own. Not that they have to
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 09:21 PM
Mar 2021

totally clam up or anything.

However, there may some 'complex' motives on M&H part; behind very aggressive, inside family allegations/exposures.

Most families can do without aggressive warfare it seems. Not taking sides here. Just . . . ?

Response to senseandsensibility (Original post)

Deuxcents

(15,777 posts)
17. A long time ago
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 09:36 PM
Mar 2021

A rag tag group of colonies picked a fight with the most powerful at the time. With the help of the French n others, we finally broke away from this archaic form of governing. Personally, I could care less about the royal families n find it nutz that we’re all in a uproar about them today. Do t we have our own inequities, racism n just plain problems that we gotta be concerned about this couple? I feel bad..did not watch the interview but I’m pretty sure they’re gonna be better off than a whole bunch of our own. So.. carry on with this fascinating bs

FakeNoose

(32,340 posts)
18. It's true that Princess Di was treated so unfairly
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 09:40 PM
Mar 2021

... but you know what? The media hounded her ever since Day One. While she was married to Prince Chucky, she got all the favorable coverage in the world. To the point where Chucky was jealous of her. Heck even the Queen was jealous of the great coverage Diana got in the media. But as we all know, the wheels came off rather quickly. The couple separated and then divorced, and Diana suddenly became "the witch."

Her treatment in the media post-divorce was as unfair and ugly as anything I've ever seen. She had never asked to be a media star, it was all thrust upon her when she was too young and unprepared. There was precious little support or understanding from the Windsors, ever.

Here in the US I can only think of one parallel, and that would be Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Jackie Kennedy as a young widow, took back her privacy and demanded that the press leave her alone. For the most part they did leave her be, but the times were different then. I don't believe Diana would have ever been able to finesse that, sadly.

The fact that Harry and Meghan are so done with the royal family, it's understandable. They want to protect their children and hopefully take back their privacy a little bit. I don't blame them.


Orrex

(63,084 posts)
21. I have never understood why Americans fetishize the British royals
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 09:51 PM
Mar 2021

And over the years I've been attacked a number of times here on DU for questioning that bizarre fascination.

The whole notion of "royals" is an offensive anachronism and should be jettisoned.

Yet America loves nothing so much as the latest news about the dynasty.


Why?

senseandsensibility

(16,713 posts)
27. In my case it started with
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 10:18 PM
Mar 2021

an interest in British history. I enjoyed reading biographies of English royalty because of the background details as much as anything else. It wasn't so much them as the way they and others around them lived. It was interesting to me then. The living Royals were part of that but I think I followed them for escapism as much as anything else. It was a long time ago and I was very young. Otherwise, I have no idea.

maryellen99

(3,781 posts)
33. Not really interested in the current Royal family
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 10:51 PM
Mar 2021

But love reading about the Tudors, wives of Henry VIII,Queen Victoria, Princess Diana etc.

When QE2 dies I’ll watch for the historical aspect of it. Hopefully Charles will never get to be king.

luvtheGWN

(1,336 posts)
31. Yes I agree.
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 10:37 PM
Mar 2021

But......you Americans raise your President up on such a pedestal, while playing "Ruffles and Flourishes" when he (and someday hopefully, she) enters the room which, to me, is the equivalent of bowing and scraping!

What this interview makes abundantly clear is that the Queen's allegiance to the Commonwealth -- of which the great majority of members have populations 95% black -- is in name only. The Royal family should have welcomed Meghan with arms wide open, proving that ALL Commonwealth members are part of the family. Instead, it's really all for show.

The monarchy is totally dependent on the goodwill and affection of the UK, the British Parliament (and the UK economy), the Commonwealth and THE PRESS. Otherwise it would be done away with tomorrow.

Orrex

(63,084 posts)
35. re: the president
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 10:56 PM
Mar 2021

You make a good point, but at least the president isn't automatically born into it. Let's hope that Trump is the last of that festering bloodline to pollute the Oval Office.

Orrex

(63,084 posts)
42. Well, let's start by observing that that's an asinine question
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:22 PM
Mar 2021

Not least because it can easily be extended to "Why do you care why I care what other Americans like?" ad infinitum

It's also very similar to the pathetic response of "well, you must care, because you replied." Let me count the ways that that is nonsensical.

But, to the point: you and other Americans can like whatever they want; I honestly don't give a shit.

But when the Royals saturate the American media, with the same outlets each playing both sides of the game ( "We love the Royals" vs "Those terrible Royals!" ) then it makes me want to vomit, and it hardly seems unreasonable to wonder why my fellow Americans lap up the Royals' droppings as fast as they can.


But if you embrace that sort of nostalgic, feudalist worshipful nonsense, then go on with your bad serf.

40. I'm British. That's always confused me too.
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:19 PM
Mar 2021

After all you, very wisely, got rid of them.

They are the epitome of white privilege - not very intelligent, not hard working, entitled and bigoted. I loathe them, and I loathe the idea of them.

I watched about 5 minutes of the bombshell interview - didn't learn anything and found it dull.

Orrex

(63,084 posts)
44. "not hard working"
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:27 PM
Mar 2021

When I've made that exact point in the past, some Royal-worshiper immediately gives me a laundry list of how hard Harry or Diana has worked in this or that cause.

That's marvelous, of course, but it's the goddamn least that they can do. The entire family should be working for social and charity causes full-time, rather than luxuriating as dynastic, entitled beneficiaries of public welfare.

47. This sums them (and the "Great British Public") up neatly
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 10:15 AM
Mar 2021
Having a monarchy next door is a little like having a neighbour who’s really into clowns and has daubed their house with clown murals, displays clown dolls in each window and has an insatiable desire to hear about and discuss clown-related news stories. More specifically, for the Irish, it’s like having a neighbour who’s really into clowns and, also, your grandfather was murdered by a clown.

[link:https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/harry-and-meghan-the-union-of-two-great-houses-the-windsors-and-the-celebrities-is-complete-1.4504502|

Coventina

(26,846 posts)
25. Axe the monarchy, including Meghan and Harry.
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 10:08 PM
Mar 2021

I'm finding it hard to feel sympathy for Meghan and Harry.

I mean, you marry into a family that is the living embodiment of Anglo-Saxon superiority and find *gasp* they're BIGOTS?!?!?
Really? This is in any way shocking or surprising?

GMAFB

Aussie105

(5,211 posts)
28. I used to follow the Royals.
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 10:25 PM
Mar 2021

And not just the British ones, either.

Then I realized most were empty people, with the only skills they appeared to have was their imagined superiority over the citizens of their country.

Took the shine right off.

Treatment of others 'not like them' who were slow or unwilling to conform, ie Di, Kate, Meghan, etc just confirmed their narrow outlook on life.

I'm wondering who asked the question on the baby's skin color though, and the exact words and intentions behind that.
So no 'shock horror racist' response from me without those details.

As far as I'm concerned, Meghan has a lovely permanent tan. Very becoming. Her babies are free to have the same.

By al means keep Monarchies as they are, link to the past and all that.
But the media? Just . . . .back off, show no interest.

Warpy

(110,900 posts)
34. I think Meghan needed to watch "Rude Britannia" over on You Tube before the wedding.
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 10:52 PM
Mar 2021

The British gutter press is nothing like our own, it has savaged everybody in power since printing was invented. Before that, it was the bawdy topical song, something which could spread across the whole country in weeks.

I'm sure the rest of the royals wondered what the hell the fuss was about.

Oh, I think they're well out of it, However, a little discretion can go a long way and I suggest the best revenge is a life well lived.

There's a reason fairy tales always ended at the altar.

FlyingPiggy

(3,373 posts)
38. I totally agree with you. I think the reason for M&H to go public w all this
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:10 PM
Mar 2021

For safety’s sake. I mean, c’mon. What ‘family’ is known as “The Firm”? It’s like some cultured mafia.

stollen

(414 posts)
39. I can't accept that a baby is not accepted by its extended family
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:13 PM
Mar 2021

due to color, in this case, 1/4 black. Reminds me of my aunt telling me she's not racist but she would hate to have a dark skinned person be her neighbor. I didn't tell her that her comment was racist. But WTF, a royal family refuses to accept a baby into the family because "how would that look?" It looks racist.

Liberal In Texas

(13,453 posts)
41. I'm amazed at the number of Americans who fawn over the royals.
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:20 PM
Mar 2021

Real bad cases of Anglophile-mania. Some kind of weird star worship I guess.

Frankly, I couldn't care less about the royal family and had no interest in watching the Oprah interview.

My wife also shakes her head when she sees Americans gushing over the royal family and has a few choice words to anybody who asks her about them. (She was born and raised in England.)

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