I don’t know why the Royal family Instagram allows the public to comment if it is causing so much grief.
I'm behind on reading this thread which has been set on FIRE!
I wanted to show support for
@gregjrichards for the extremely common sense statement. There's no reason for many public figures to live half their lives on Instagram ( or in the case of some other public figures who don't always have thick skin, Twitter). Each SM platform is pretty much like the others if comments and replies are allowed.
When a person is a public figure, they assume both the benefits and the public opinion of their actions
in public.
Many of us have removed ourselves from all social media because we've realized that people will post things which they'd never say to the person's face. None of us are perfect,but adults know when they've stepped over the bounds of politeness. I want a peaceful life more than I want anything else. Harry and Meghan have to figure out what their hearts truly want, and if it's even the same thing.
IF Meghan and Harry want a private life, then they'll have to retire from royal appearances and patronage of charities in the name of the Crown and the Commonwealth nations and that's so clear they should know without a doubt.
I believe that, as children, Harry and William suffered greatly from their mother's changing opinions of photographers and daily gossip rags, so one of them should recall how bitterly unhappy the issue made their mother and them, when they were with her. Harry says he doesn't recall a lot about those years, and while
I expect he has very defined opinions and feelings, he might not recall which ski slope they were on when Diana had a meltdown about the press. Likely, he does recall the last summer of her life when she was calling for photo ops on the Jonikal, as they were on jet skis and he was definitely old enough to operate one and should recall the photo calls she initiated very well. The paps affected him too, as he and William have been photographed all their lives and we've seen the photos of that last summer with Diana.
Forward to today- Knowing what part the paps played in his mother's death, and most of us do think the pursuit of the couple was a contributing factor to the speeding, change of driver and car at the last minute because Diana wanted to leave the Ritz, thus Dodi wanted to leave the Ritz immediately, Harry has reason to want to leave public life. He doesn't have the right to criticize what the reporters and photographers say if it's opinion and if the photos are undoctored and not invading private space or decency.
He and his wife are quite old enough to make good decisions for a life together, including what his core family ( he, Meghan and their children) want for their futures. I don't think Harry is used to making decisions. It seems to me he wants things both ways and life doesn't work that way for celebrities, whether royal by birth, or actors by choice.
Social media is extremely fickle and cruel. I don't want any part of it. I do not believe my life is unduly influenced by what others think about any posted things. Harry has to know this himself. He's failing to face the truth. Both he and Meghan are dithering about what kind of lifestyle they want to pursue.
I'd have thought this would have been decided long before the wedding. They are in their mid 30's, not their early 20's.
I'm all for them either devoting their lives to public service if they can deal with the pressures and potential dangers of being in the crowds often, but I'm also just as much for them retiring to a private lifestyle in the location of their choosing.
I'd hope they'd choose a place which would be healthy for their child, otherwise, the world is their oyster.
Harry is wealthy, having inherited what I consider to be great wealth and the opportunity to choose royal- owned property which is their private property all over the world! ( Frogmore Cottage, for example but not limited to this one house).
Or, to cut ties and buy his and Meghan's personal and permanent home.
I don't know what Charles taught them but I expect it was for both boys to grow into full roles of royal patronage and service. He's never really shown anything but allegiance to the Queen and after Harry settled down after his wild years and did take counsel from his father and likely his grandmother as well. I believe he loves both of them enough to listen to what they have had to say and what they may start to say really soon. Charles also paid a high price for not acting with dignity during his marriage to Diana. He knows the distress and destruction his actions caused his former marriage. We all do, now. No one's perfect, and I seriously doubt he's behaving in such a manner now.
I'd find a lovely place, get the powers that be to change their legal names with revised passports and documents, and totally disappear into a private life where people would more or less forget the " prince" factor after a while.
Do I think this is what Meghan wants? Not for one millisecond at this point in time. Whether or not she is able to transition to a private life remains to be seen. I believe she is the driving force, not Harry.
From a royal standpoint, Harry should be the one who decides what to do about HIS royal status and position, as he was born a Prince to the kingdom.
From a modern personal standpoint, they should decide together and stick to it, uncomplainingly. Likely, they could still change direction if their choices turn out to not suit them as a family.
JMO, of course.
