Excellent piece. Although I was born and raised in the US, I have always had great respect for the tradition of the monarchy. My son is a recent college grad and very conservative as I am. We both were discussing the American Revolution and, given our love of tradition and our devotion to orthodox Christianity, we both have wondered if perhaps, in days past, we would have sided with the empire rather than with the colonies. One never knows. But the monarchy represents something ancient and in its own way beautiful, even if it is less political and perhaps more cultural than in centuries past. If I were invited in, you can be sure I would honor the traditions; and if I really wanted to do good, would do so within the well established pathways already in place. Such hubris! It's the sort of thing that I think Roger Scruton found disturbing. Love your writing.
That's a question I've asked myself many times. My paternal line did in fact support the crown in the Revolution, to their great personal loss in New York state. The widow and her six children lost everything, were deported from NYC to Parrtown, NS in 1783 and eventually moved to Upper Canada (Ontario) where they were given a land grant by Sir Guy Carleton which allowed them to rebuild their lives. I recommend a superb historical novel on the Royalist experience in the American Revolution: "Oliver Wiswell" by Kenneth Roberts. Written in 1940, it is a very readable novel that gave me some pride about the perspectives and sacrifices of my UEL forebears. But I am a Yankee now and identify as such, although I personally honor and am proud of them.
I remember during their first Africa trip after the wedding when a member of the British press traveling with them asked Mehgan in soft, empathetic tones--as if she was the survivor of a horrific, fatal car crash--"How are you doing?" She teared up. No one knows what she's going through, she replied without elaborating. The Sussex's banned the media after that trip. A veteran Fleet Street reporter who'd covered the Royals for years had no idea what their beef was and lamented that Harry had been their favorite, "a good bloke" who'd do a gig and then join them all at the pub afterwards. "Something's happened to him," he said, puzzled. Well, yes.
I actually met him years ago when he was sent out on his first solo trip to the U.S. He was really good with people. I watched him squat down to eye level while talking to little kids as if it was just him and them alone in the backyard and the only objective was enjoying them. Genuine, kind, full of good will. So, I can imagine the consternation among those who actually know and care for him. The racism charges he has allowed Meghan to assert against his family before all the world had to enrage his father and brother. This won't end well...because Meghan holds the trump card: their children. Harry, who lost his mother at age 12 and no doubt adores them, is in for a rough ride.
(Thank you for sacrificing your time on our behalf!)
Bravo! Thoughtful & insightful piece. A very appropriate note to end on as well: we are done with the elites. Bring on the ordinary man, preferably a farmer or a trucker.
Your comment on her sheer ignorant arrogance to think she was entitled to marry into and then upend the royal family is so on point. Not to mention demand tiaras. Such a world of ignorance on her part. I wonder what they'll do now that the easy money from Netflix and other companies is gone and the UK and the US are both in high inflationary recessions.
That's easy. They'll leverage their fame and monetize their popularity in the social-emotional-grievance industry. Only the little people are badly hurt by recessions.
Interesting point about a movement away from big glitz fame towards normal people. Social media allows this. We actually see into the minds of different people. And some of them are really interesting. Way way way more interesting than Whoopee or Kamala or Hillary. Or Bill or Chuck Schumer etc. There are lots of good minds out there. And we have access to them and a means of finding them.
Loved your insights into the daily operations of the royals as they travel about the realm interfacing (a modern term, but useful) with their subjects. You make the duties of position sound more like hell than heaven. Much more.
By the way, the poor Queen must be having fits over all this. Have you noticed what a lovely smile she has? Trump brought that out gloriously when he visited. I think they truly liked each other. She hasn't been smiling much since.
Insightful. The irony is that Harry and Megan originally stated that they wished to remove themselves from the limelight.
Excellent piece. Although I was born and raised in the US, I have always had great respect for the tradition of the monarchy. My son is a recent college grad and very conservative as I am. We both were discussing the American Revolution and, given our love of tradition and our devotion to orthodox Christianity, we both have wondered if perhaps, in days past, we would have sided with the empire rather than with the colonies. One never knows. But the monarchy represents something ancient and in its own way beautiful, even if it is less political and perhaps more cultural than in centuries past. If I were invited in, you can be sure I would honor the traditions; and if I really wanted to do good, would do so within the well established pathways already in place. Such hubris! It's the sort of thing that I think Roger Scruton found disturbing. Love your writing.
That's a question I've asked myself many times. My paternal line did in fact support the crown in the Revolution, to their great personal loss in New York state. The widow and her six children lost everything, were deported from NYC to Parrtown, NS in 1783 and eventually moved to Upper Canada (Ontario) where they were given a land grant by Sir Guy Carleton which allowed them to rebuild their lives. I recommend a superb historical novel on the Royalist experience in the American Revolution: "Oliver Wiswell" by Kenneth Roberts. Written in 1940, it is a very readable novel that gave me some pride about the perspectives and sacrifices of my UEL forebears. But I am a Yankee now and identify as such, although I personally honor and am proud of them.
I remember during their first Africa trip after the wedding when a member of the British press traveling with them asked Mehgan in soft, empathetic tones--as if she was the survivor of a horrific, fatal car crash--"How are you doing?" She teared up. No one knows what she's going through, she replied without elaborating. The Sussex's banned the media after that trip. A veteran Fleet Street reporter who'd covered the Royals for years had no idea what their beef was and lamented that Harry had been their favorite, "a good bloke" who'd do a gig and then join them all at the pub afterwards. "Something's happened to him," he said, puzzled. Well, yes.
I actually met him years ago when he was sent out on his first solo trip to the U.S. He was really good with people. I watched him squat down to eye level while talking to little kids as if it was just him and them alone in the backyard and the only objective was enjoying them. Genuine, kind, full of good will. So, I can imagine the consternation among those who actually know and care for him. The racism charges he has allowed Meghan to assert against his family before all the world had to enrage his father and brother. This won't end well...because Meghan holds the trump card: their children. Harry, who lost his mother at age 12 and no doubt adores them, is in for a rough ride.
(Thank you for sacrificing your time on our behalf!)
Bravo! Thoughtful & insightful piece. A very appropriate note to end on as well: we are done with the elites. Bring on the ordinary man, preferably a farmer or a trucker.
Your comment on her sheer ignorant arrogance to think she was entitled to marry into and then upend the royal family is so on point. Not to mention demand tiaras. Such a world of ignorance on her part. I wonder what they'll do now that the easy money from Netflix and other companies is gone and the UK and the US are both in high inflationary recessions.
That's easy. They'll leverage their fame and monetize their popularity in the social-emotional-grievance industry. Only the little people are badly hurt by recessions.
Interesting point about a movement away from big glitz fame towards normal people. Social media allows this. We actually see into the minds of different people. And some of them are really interesting. Way way way more interesting than Whoopee or Kamala or Hillary. Or Bill or Chuck Schumer etc. There are lots of good minds out there. And we have access to them and a means of finding them.
Diana brought this to the monarchy.
Haha. She so deserves this. You nailed it
"Why don't they love me, Harry?!"
Loved your insights into the daily operations of the royals as they travel about the realm interfacing (a modern term, but useful) with their subjects. You make the duties of position sound more like hell than heaven. Much more.
By the way, the poor Queen must be having fits over all this. Have you noticed what a lovely smile she has? Trump brought that out gloriously when he visited. I think they truly liked each other. She hasn't been smiling much since.
"Empowered." LOL
Brilliant!