The epilogue first
That Prince Harry has decided to tell
his own story is his own prerogative, just because he is royal does not take
away both his agency and his individuality. Prince Charles and Princess Diana
gave primetime interviews and ghost-authored books too. In the same vein, no
one is under any obligation to read his book, it is not being forced on anyone.
Then this and much more…
As a monarchist, I vow
Maybe I should start with a statement
that I believe the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland serves a purpose. For broader reasons, I would
say I am both a monarchist and a democrat.
However, as a matter of necessity, all
institutions need to adapt and undergo changes, some radical to remain relevant
or they risk extinction. There is a difference between the institution and the
people who for whatever period of time get to helm those institutions, be that
the monarchy or government in the office of the Prime Minister.
The weaknesses of our democracy
Sadly, I cannot report that the crop
of politicians we have today exhibit the qualities and abilities of leadership
that can persuade me that ridding ourselves of the monarchy is wise at this
time. The political parties especially the Conservative Party which once was a
broad church of diverse representative views have evolved into one where there
is only one persuasion and any deviation from that leads to expulsion.
That is what the Brexit situation
wrought on the Tory Party at the 2019 election, they got rid of the reasonable
and acquired the reactionary. Looking back over 12 years of predominantly
conservative government, I think we can agree that the nations are not better
off now than when they took power in May 2010, but I have already digressed
from the purpose of this blog.
Changing is banging at the door
The state of our monarchy after 70
years of Elizabeth II calls for a review of how they exist and operate, their
ability to adapt would require Solomonic wisdom with Churchillian persuasion.
We have a clear line of succession, the King, his heir, the Prince of Wales,
and the grandson, Prince George but they do not have the obscurity that
conferred the mystique on the aristocracy that Queen Elizabeth started with,
and there was much radical change in how the monarchy conducted itself over those
70 years.
To many, Queen Elizabeth was a symbol
of stoicism, rarely did you see displays of emotion or expressions of character
that might look interesting. King Charles pen wars at his assession that continued
during his visit to Northern Ireland or the much-rumoured fiery temper of Prince
William, the Prince of Wales, we know a bit more about Prince Harry, the Duke
of Sussex and we would soon learn more still.
The press of the press
I doubt I have the spare change to buy
Spare, the memoir by
Prince Harry to be released on the 10th of January 2023, but some
revelations that have been shared would suggest there is a firestorm coming for
the monarchy and I am not sure there is any dexterity to hand to manage the
blowout.
What I know is that Harry and Meghan
have had the most unfavourable British press that is followed closely by the
Australian version, we have been swamped with stories and regaled with tales,
there had to be a time when the people affected could talk back and clear the
air.
It began with their exodus to America
and the Oprah interview, however, people have taken sides and formed whatever
impressions about the couple that the entrenched are totally unpersuadable
about a different narrative. That the sides could be along racial lines is something
I have observed too.
The whoredom of the press and the
royal family
If we go back to when Princess Diana
was alive and had issues with the press, it is sometimes believed it was
the pursuit of the paparazzi that contributed to the automobile accident where
she lost her life in Paris, one can say the press is unrelenting in its quest
for celebrity tittle-tattle, you need to be in a totally different domain to escape
it.
When reading up about Franz Welser-Mรถst
who conducted the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert, he alluded to the
relationship between the press and the Royal Family and his time as the
conductor of the London Philharmonic “Look at the press about the royal
family,” he noted. “There’s no other country where the press is just so
weird as it is here.” That was in 1995, you can draw whatever conclusions
you want from that. [Los
Angeles Times: Conductor Battles Burden of Success]
Angry black woman loading…
One widely reported excerpt from Harry’s
leaked book was one related to a confrontation between Prince William and him, captioned
below:
Describing
a confrontation at his London home in 2019, Harry says William called Meghan “difficult”,
“rude” and “abrasive”, which Harry calls a “parrot[ing of] the
press narrative” about his American wife.
[The
Guardian: Prince Harry details physical attack by brother William in new book]
I do not know Meghan Markle, but as a
once successful and independent woman who married into the royal family, she
had her work cut out. That beast called love would put you in unintended
situations for which you have to battle for your survival.
Yet, as is indicative of a monarchy at
risk of being found moribund, the Queen asked her most trusted aide from a
certain age and time to help Meghan adjust to entering the royal family, this
without considering the same lady failed to help Lady Diana Spencer integrate
well too. Yes, that Lady
Susan Hussey, has met a shockwave of opprobrium and is on a crash-course on engaging with diversity in these times. Having a stiff upper lip is not enough
for getting on with life, regardless of status, means, or privilege. We have
long left the war years, and nostalgia is keeping us back.
However, back to William’s view of
Meghan, he said, she was difficult. Well, ask any black woman who has had
trouble in any settle because they have dared to have an opinion, initiative, a
voice, or exuded a sense of independence. The first loaded word to castigate
them is difficult and the straight journey to an impossible angry black woman has
already begun. Meghan never had a chance, the moment she gained the epithet of
difficult and the long tail of descriptions that followed.
Tell your own story
The difference between Prince Harry
and Prince William is Prince Harry was ready to stand for his relationship, and
stand up for his partner and wife. That cannot be said of how Prince William
first broke up with Kate Middleton before he saw the sense to rekindle their
relationship and marry her.
Blog - A
welcome but unprincely separation
(April 2007)
That Prince Harry has decided to tell
his own story is his own prerogative, just because he is royal does not take
away both his agency and his individuality. Prince Charles and Princess Diana
gave primetime interviews and ghost-authored books too. In the same vein, no
one is under any obligation to read his book, it is not being forced on anyone.
However, if anyone has readily
consumed whatever the media has said about Harry and Meghan without disregarding
the apparently cosy relationship between the press and the royal family that
offers access and patronage to portray the principals in the best light whilst
reducing others to inconsequence, then it would only be fair to see what Harry
has to say.
Finally, until we have met those
persons and made their acquaintance to the point of knowing who they are, what
we have is a media persona, a depiction crafted by benevolent and malevolent
agencies over which the persons concerned gain or loss benefits and have a portrayal
they have little control over. Harry and Meghan have chosen to make their lives
in America, and they need to earn a living with the skills, opportunities, and
even the privilege of birth. I bid them Godspeed.