Meghan and Harry

[Sarah]

Prince William is concerned for his brother Harry and his wife Meghan after the couple said they were struggling, a Palace source has told the BBC.

The Duke of Cambridge is said to be "worried" about Prince Harry and hopes he and Meghan "are all right" after the admission in an ITV documentary.

The Palace source added that there was a view the couple were "in a fragile place".

Kensington Palace had no comment on the ITV film, which aired on Sunday.

The documentary followed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their tour of southern Africa earlier this month.

Meghan, 38, said adjusting to royal life had been "hard".

"When I first met my now-husband my friends were really happy because I was so happy," she said.

"But my British friends said to me, 'I'm sure he's great but you shouldn't do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life'."

In interviews, the couple both said they were struggling with the intense scrutiny from elements of the British tabloid press.

Asked by ITV's Tom Bradby if it was fair to say she was "not really OK", the duchess said: "Yes."

Prince Harry, 35, described his mental health and the way he deals with the pressures of his life as a matter of "constant management".

He said: "I thought I was out of the woods and then suddenly it all came back, and this is something that I have to manage.

"Part of this job is putting on a brave face but, for me and my wife, there is a lot of stuff that hurts, especially when the majority of it is untrue."

The Palace source played down suggestions that Prince William was "furious" with his brother after the documentary aired on Sunday.

It followed Prince Harry's admission in the film that he and William have "good days" and "bad days".

The duke added: "We are brothers. We will always be brothers.

"We are certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him as I know he will always be there for me."

The royal brothers previously campaigned together to help open up conversations about mental health.

In 2017, the siblings and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, took part in a charity fundraiser for their Heads Together initiative, which they set up to challenge stigma around mental health.

In May this year, the Cambridges and the Sussexes teamed up to launch a text messaging service for those experiencing a mental health crisis.

The couples later announced their charitable foundation would split, but vowed to continue working together on issues like mental health.

Prince Harry's comments about the pressure of media scrutiny comes as he and his wife pursue legal actions against the press, with Meghan suing the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters.

The duke filed his own proceedings at the High Court against the owners of the Sun, the defunct News of the World, and the Daily Mirror, in relation to alleged phone-hacking dating back more than a decade.


I'm not sure what to make of it, I will have to watch it in full. Did anyone else see it? My gut feeling is that Kate's nose is out of joint since Meghan joined the family.

 

[Barbara Fan]

I used to think Harry was a great guy and along with the Queen and Princess Anne, one of my fav Royals but after his wedding he has changed and not for the better and I think his wife has had a helping hand in doing that.

I admire all that he does for Soldiers, ex Serviceman, The Invictus games etc but he has changed since he married and I cant say I warm to Meghan who must remember she is part of the Royal family and not the Clooney dynasty. I had high hopes for her but she has disappointed on so many levels, wont go to Balmoral to see the Queen but can jump on a jet and go to watch good friend Serena at the tennis and spends an absolute fortune on clothes. Its a bit gold digger ish

She also needs to sort things out with her father pronto now that she is a parent, he is her dad and if she doesnt he is going to cause more embarassment in the future. And then they are suing the press, thats not winning them any favours.

They get £££ from the UK public and I dont like the fact they wouldnt name the Godparents, release photos of his christening etc etc they are also very hypocritical but typical of many so called celebs, "dont do as I do do as i tell" you with ther pontificating on all things green, carbon emissions etc etc but jump on a private jet at any opportunit or dear wee Elton loans them his plane - like all those celebs who turned up at a Green Summit in Sicily in the summer in their private jets! All right for us but not for your average man!

I still feel for Harry - who lost his mum as a young boy and I can undertsand his dislike of the Press - but if public office is not for him and he wants out - then he cant take the perks that go with it

I have always liked the Swedish Royal family, in the 80s foreign mags were full of Carl Gustav and Sylvie and their nice family, they seemed normal and i see they want to scale down the Royals roles in 2019.

I hope Im wrong about Harry and he is just going thro a bad phase right now, but he was a top bloke, very personable and i hope she isnt manipulating him as "What meghan wants , she gets" according to some reports

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

She just seemed so …. obvious … from the very beginning.

 

[Alexis]

I was just talking about this in work tonight and a co-worker said, oh just wait. She'll divorce him, she's an American after all! I just thought, well Henry VIII wasn't an American but there you go.

 

[Angela Channing]

When Harry and Meghan married they were so much more popular than William and Kate which the older brother wasn't happy about because he is the heir so felt he should be the more prominent one. There appeared to be discussions behind the scenes to make Harry scale down some of the work he was doing to enable William to increase his profile which contributed the rift between the brothers. Then there were rumours of an alleged affair between William and the Marchioness of Cholmondeley which Harry was particularly angry about because he saw how much Charles affair with Camilla hurt his mother and that further soured relations between the brothers. There was a news blackout of this story in the UK Press on the insistence of Buckingham Palace but many tabloid newspapers here hinted at it. It however made headlines elsewhere:

The UK tabloids have had to focus on Harry and Meghan as negative stories about William and Kate are embargoed and this is what lead to the relentless pursuing of the Sussexes by the media. Buckingham Palace chose not to protect them as it shifts attention from William's alleged affair which is why Harry and Meghan have had to try and take control of events by themselves. Harry who previously admitted to having couselling to deal with his mother's death said that the current Press intrusion has caused a relapse in mental health problems.

Given that series of events, I'm not at all surprised at why the Cambridges and the Sussexes aren't as close as they used to be and why Harry and Meghan are more distant from Buckingham palace than William and Kate.

The documentary showed there was a genuine love and closeness between Harry and Meghan so through all the current difficulties they still seem to be able to rely on each other for the support they don't seem to be getting from elsewhere.

 

[Richard Channing]

Here's the full documentary:

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Oh, she's a drama queen. A poser and a manipulator. I hate her. I just hate her. Every gesture, vile and deliberate and pseudo-soulful.

Several years ago, I said she'd do something within the family and make sure Kate would be blamed for it... I don't know what that is yet, but the idea that William is jealous of the attention is just stupid.

Not that I idealize the royals, by any means, but Meghan is exactly what her family says she is.

 

[Michael Torrance]

Oh, she's a drama queen. A poser and a manipulator. I hate her. I just hate her. Every gesture, vile and deliberate and pseudo-soulful.

I feel that you are holding back. I wish you would feel comfortable to express your emotions (said in DYNASTY voice).

 

[Rove]

The UK tabloids

I'll ask a difficult question. Who is the lesser of two evils? The revolting tabloid industry (justifying their very existence) by writing such garbage...or the people buying it?

 

[Sarah]

To be honest, now having watched it, I still don't know what to think of either of them.

I've met Meghan and she seemed to be very nice, charming, kind and humbled by how many people wanted to meet her. I liked her very much. To be frank, I am not a fan of Kate. I feel that her agenda is to be Queen - and that there is no great love affair with William. Every photo of her seems posed, false and staged. I think she is trying far too hard.

In comparison, I find Meghan quite genuine. However, the one thing I cannot abide, is the fact that she left her dog in America. Being a huge animal lover, there is nothing and no one would make me leave my pets behind. It just wouldn't happen, so that was strike one for me with Meghan. It's something for me that you just do not do.

Likewise, this crusade Harry is now on to save the environment, where commendable, is slightly hypocritical when it comes to animals considering before he met Meghan he was killing wild boar - and his family are active shooters. I'm glad he seems to have taken a different stance on this, and Meghan I believe has helped that.

I'm still not convinced Meghan totally loves Harry and I feel he is maybe more besotted than in love. They haven't known each other that long. But I could be wrong.

With regards to their private life, I feel it sad that they are being stifled by the public and press. Some people do have the capacity to do an enormous amount of good, and it would be a shame if they were stopped from doing that, whether by nastiness or spite. I do feel a lot of what is aimed at Meghan stems from jealousy (not any of us here) but on Twitter and in the press.

With regards the documentary I do feel if the press intrusion is becoming too much, they should leave. I hope it wouldn't stop them doing charity or beneficial work though. It isn't going to change and they aren't embargoed like Kate and William so they shouldn't wait around as it isn't endearing them to people if they give off about it and then keep doing the same thing. Take a stand and they will find someone else to talk about.

I don't understand why the other senior Royals don't intervene - the Queen specifically. I don't have any time for Charles, but he could speak out too.

ITV news did a superb job in completely twisting Harry's words to make out there was a rift between him and William. They totally left out the segment where Harry said he loved William. Pure sensationalism.

I'll wait with interest to see if the marriage lasts. But I'd rather she divorce him and carry on with the work she seems to have set out to do, than to be permanently silenced and stifled, which is what the Royal family do. They shut you up if they don't like what you're saying and they have the power to get rid of you permanently. It is a ridiculous institution and it's far from an ideal environment for a girl with such a spirit (if it's to be believed).

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Firstly, the "reality" tone feels most undignified for our Royal Family.

Lines like "especially as a woman" and "not many people have asked if I'm OK" don't sit well with me. They suggest someone who feels their own difficulties are more important than others'. The first statement could arguably be viewed as dismissing the feelings of a male spouse (it certainly displays a lack of empathy towards the feelings of men in general). The second statement seems quite guilt-inducing towards the people who have probably given the most support. Perhaps the words were just poorly chosen in the moment.

Royal life comes with responsibilities. I'm sure it's incredibly difficult. I feel for Harry because he didn't choose that life and he's seen it at its ugliest. If Meghan didn't understand those responsibilities when she chose to pursue a relationship with Harry, she would certainly have been enlightened about protocols very early on in the game.

Media attention can't be easy. I can understand people wanting to step aside from that circus. And there are ways of doing that discreetly and with some success... if that's what one really wants. But as BF said, you can't have it both ways. These very public soundbites are only going to garner much more attention focussed directly on them. Meghan is an intelligent women. It's difficult to believe she wouldn't understand this.

 

[Sarah]

Yes @Mel O'Drama - I can't help but feel that both Duchesses are trying to emulate Princess Diana to a degree. Which is some ways is good, but in other ways as we know, could lead to disaster.

 

[James from London]

I'll wait to see it on The Crown.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Much as I detest her uber-fakey ass, the UK tabloids are so much worse than the ones in the States. The ones here are just kind of silly stuff that no one takes seriously. In Britain, they seem determined to destroy people's lives.

That said, I'm sure that "victimization" was a key part of the appeal of being a royal to Meghan.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Firstly, the "reality" tone feels most undignified for our Royal Family.

Lines like "especially as a woman" and "not many people have asked if I'm OK" don't sit well with me. They suggest someone who feels their own difficulties are more important than others'. The first statement could arguably be viewed as dismissing the feelings of a male spouse (it certainly displays a lack of empathy towards the feelings of men in general). The second statement seems quite guilt-inducing towards the people who have probably given the most support. Perhaps the words were just poorly chosen in the moment.

She's just a standard-issue 21st century quasi-feministic, narcissistic crybully.

So of course she's going to say things like "especially as a woman" and "not many people have asked if I'm OK" when she gets the chance. It's how she's wired.

Royal life comes with responsibilities. I'm sure it's incredibly difficult. I feel for Harry because he didn't choose that life and he's seen it at its ugliest. If Meghan didn't understand those responsibilities when she chose to pursue a relationship with Harry, she would certainly have been enlightened about protocols very early on in the game.

Media attention can't be easy. I can understand people wanting to step aside from that circus. And there are ways of doing that discreetly and with some success... if that's what one really wants. But as BF said, you can't have it both ways. These very public soundbites are only going to garner much more attention focussed directly on them. Meghan is an intelligent women. It's difficult to believe she wouldn't understand this.

Exactly. And Meghan relishes every moment of the torment.

 

[Sarah]

Did you follow her much when she lived in the States @Snarky's Ghost?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Did you follow her much when she lived in the States @Snarky's Ghost?

No. She was, obviously, nowhere near as famous then.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I've met Meghan and she seemed to be very nice, charming, kind and humbled by how many people wanted to meet her. I liked her very much. To be frank, I am not a fan of Kate. I feel that her agenda is to be Queen - and that there is no great love affair with William. Every photo of her seems posed, false and staged. I think she is trying far too hard.

In comparison, I find Meghan quite genuine

Oh, God. You've taken the bait. And you've switched them. The "genuine" qualities of Meghan are polished and performed, her "humility" utterly put on. She's the social climber, just as her family said about her.

Of course, one assumes that anyone who marries into this situation is potentially a social climber. But the entire Meghan thing is going to end badly, and she'll ride it out to the end, and make sure she looks like the victim of it as all her supporters cry "racism!" whenever she gets any warranted criticism.

And better Queen Kate than Queen Meghan, no matter how the latter has won you over with her "nice, charming, kind" burlesquing.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Oh, she's a drama queen. A poser and a manipulator.
but Meghan is exactly what her family says she is.

oh I agree, she is an actress (mediocre one at that) comes from a dysfunctional family and she has just got her biggest starring role and the whole issue over "her dad" has been handled very badly by all sides. I think some of her stunts have been cringeworthy ie writing on bananas for sex workers you are brave, strong etc make me want to vomit.

I agree with Sarah, they are a bunch of hypocrites as they are often spotted out on a hunt on Boxing day and killing for sport and its OK for them to do it but then dont preach to us.
Dont fly to summits about Global warming in private jets and dont take 2.5 million to do up your house then not release a photo of the royal sprog, you cant have your cake and eat it.

I think and always have that Waity Katie - who never did an honest days graft in her life and William are Bland and Blander, she has all the personailty of an insipid Stepford wife but they played a blinder in pakistan and fair play to them.

And I always said Diana was the Katherine Wentworth of the Royal family - turned them into a soap opera -and was nice to look at but underhand, scheming, devious and slighlty kookie boo with it. And there is truth in it that she both used and got abused by the press - but she used them when it suited her. She fell out with people and held grudges (fergie, Elton John, her mother included)
I do think its tragic how her life ended but the moral of any fairy tale is dont get in a car with a drunk driver and wear a seat belt.

in the 80s the press used to compare dallas with our own Royal soap opera "Palace or Pallas" !!! And this is one which will run and run and be more entertaing than half the TV progs!!

 

[Daniel Avery]

"Oh, woe is me. Followed everywhere by photographers, having every move I make analyzed and critiqued by journalists on the evening news, unable to have quiet time with my spouse and child[ren]. They're the scum of the Earth and live to destroy people. So let me rush to the nearest reporter to tell him all about how awful it is. That'll help."