Yesterday's open post, with more than 300 comments, was fascinating; thank you for everyone who shared their insights, expertise, and gossip. (I particularly enjoyed the rumor that Coutts, the bank of British aristocrats, turned Meg down when she applied for a personal account.)
The thread was energized halfway through by Prince Harry's announcement that he was taking initial steps towards a lawsuit against two British news groups in relation to a phone hacking scandal that took place more than 15 years ago.
Why is he suing, and why is he suing now?
Of course, they may just want a payout or a settlement. The British press has paid out many times in the past, including suits brought by the Cambridges and Prince Charles. Just recently, it paid out a few settlements related to the phone hacking suit.
Still, a 15-year-old case seems to be an odd way to get rich, particularly when the phone hacking affected Prince William so much more than Prince Harry.
Granny's picture is on the money for crying out loud, and the family has access to vast riches. How much more do they need?
Also, any lawsuit exposes Harry to discovery (although it apparently much more limited in the UK than it is in the US) and possibly to testifying in person.
Since Harry isn't the world's brightest fellow, being forced to field questions from sharp, highly-paid lawyers for the media companies could be an invitation to disaster.
What do they have to hide?
Many observers are guessing that Harry and Meghan have gone so hard against the press at this inopportune time - they have completely negated whatever good publicity they got from their trip to Africa - because they have something to hide.
Perhaps, they say, a big story is about to break, and Meghan and Harry are trying to inform the outlet in advance that they're lawsuit-happy.
This threatening posture can work: when was the last time you read anything about Tom Cruise's personal life?
But enough people are following the Sussexes that it is pretty easy to guess what they might be trying to suppress.
The thread was energized halfway through by Prince Harry's announcement that he was taking initial steps towards a lawsuit against two British news groups in relation to a phone hacking scandal that took place more than 15 years ago.
Why is he suing, and why is he suing now?
Avoiding unflattering stories
The general consensus is that Harry and Meghan are hoping to intimidate the press into agreeing to avoid unflattering stories about the Sussexes, such as their extensive use of private planes while supposedly advocating for the environment.Of course, they may just want a payout or a settlement. The British press has paid out many times in the past, including suits brought by the Cambridges and Prince Charles. Just recently, it paid out a few settlements related to the phone hacking suit.
Still, a 15-year-old case seems to be an odd way to get rich, particularly when the phone hacking affected Prince William so much more than Prince Harry.
Royals grasping for cash
The spectacle of Royals publicly grasping for cash is also rather unappealing.Granny's picture is on the money for crying out loud, and the family has access to vast riches. How much more do they need?
Also, any lawsuit exposes Harry to discovery (although it apparently much more limited in the UK than it is in the US) and possibly to testifying in person.
Since Harry isn't the world's brightest fellow, being forced to field questions from sharp, highly-paid lawyers for the media companies could be an invitation to disaster.
What do they have to hide?
Many observers are guessing that Harry and Meghan have gone so hard against the press at this inopportune time - they have completely negated whatever good publicity they got from their trip to Africa - because they have something to hide.
Perhaps, they say, a big story is about to break, and Meghan and Harry are trying to inform the outlet in advance that they're lawsuit-happy.
This threatening posture can work: when was the last time you read anything about Tom Cruise's personal life?
But enough people are following the Sussexes that it is pretty easy to guess what they might be trying to suppress.
A few guesses
I have no inside information about what type of story the Sussexes are bracing for. But here are a few quick possible scenarios:
- Ex-employees. Melissa Toubati, Meghan's first personal assistant under the Royals, quit after supposedly having a hot pot of tea thrown at her. Could Melissa be planning an interview, perhaps accompanied by video or audio of Meg behaving in an unladylike manner?
- The surrogate. Perhaps somebody found the register receipt for the baby formerly known as Archificial, or the surrogate contract used to produce him. Maybe one of the many fired nannies is ready to speak out, about Archie's incorrect date of birth if nothing else. (He appears to be about two months older than advertised.)
Or, if a substitute has been used to represent Archie - for whatever reason - perhaps someone recognized him and went to the media. "That's my grandson from Leeds - why is Duchess Meghan holding him?"
- Merching contracts. Many of us were surprised when no media organizations wrote about Archie being used in an H&M advertisement. Could some media organization be planning to use the ad as part of a larger story on Meg and Harry's merching?
- Frogmore Cottage. Those of us following the Sussex story have long been hearing that no one lives at Frogmore Cottage, despite reports of millions of pounds supposedly used on its renovation. Is some news organization ready to break the story of where the Sussexes are really living, and if they are living together? And what happened to all that renovation money?
- Drug use and drug smuggling. Many sources have described both Meghan and Harry as longtime cocaine users. Could there be video of them using the drug, or some type of letter or text messages sent by them trying to acquire the drug? Even more seriously, could there be a case of either Meg or Harry using their position to bring drugs into Britain?
All of these scenarios are pure speculation, and I have no evidence whatsoever that any of them are true.
But these would be the type of scandals that it might be worth the Sussexes' while to head off with lawsuits against the press.
Comments
Alice, your English is fine. No worries.
Nothing faked or phony, just genuine delight in being able to help the causes she cares about, no Me Me Me speeches, just hands on good works with vulnerable people.
Doesn’t she evef get tired of self promotion?
@ALICE:
your English is better than some native English speakers' French, so don't feel bad.
Nah, her English is better than some native English speakers. Full stop, no qualifiers necessary.
/I speak Southern American
Why would you say that? My in-laws are celebrating their 71st wedding anniversary this week, and they are in their 90s, live independently, and have all their cognitive skills. Actually, we have several relatives in their 90s who are active and healthy.
It's true tho.
IDK why the best ESL speakers/writers apologise for their English the most.
like it's a legit wrongdoing against HER.
Why isn't anybody talking about how CONTRIVED it is.
Why are none if these media outlets investigation the very possible possibility that she concocted this to troll and trap someone (anyone, even her own father) just so she could file this lawsuit.
Why isn't anyone investigating the possibility that this was her plan all along?
I know people (acquaintances) who do this. They provoke you in these little drips and when you snap/try to defend yourself, they make it like you're the bad person.
I also live with unpredictable people (family members) who use dramatic victimy language Like, "how could you do this to me after I've given you so much love all your life?" And you never know what seemingly-innocent thing will get you in trouble next despite your best efforts to be a good daughter/housekeeper.
It's hard to digest how a real-life legal system an ACTUAL COURT OF LAW with REAL LAWYERS is getting involved with these games.
The whole thing just feels uncomfortably unjust.
It's not right.
The day before she died, the day we got all those photos of her in a swimsuit on Dodi’s yacht with an unusually (for her)rounded stomach. She actually paddled out to one of the media/pap boats on a board, she knew them by sight and name and happily chatted with them. As she paddled away she called out something along the lines of ‘Have I got news for you’. Of course that set them off on a frenzied “she’s pregnant” line.
Another thing is, just one day ago there was a snippet from Elton’s biography where he says she was an incredible gossip “Ask her anything and she would tell you’.
Note that one of the lines in Harry’s rant was about the Media pretending to be friends just to get information, is he trying to say “if my mother told them things it was because the were dishonest and they duped her”.
Also William didn't always blame the leaks on phone hacking, at one point he said he set a trap to see which of his ‘friends’ were leaking to the media.
@Unknown......there have already been stories about how Harry doesn’t see many of his old friends anymore, the insinuation is that she has made him drop them, typical act of a Narcissist who needs complete control of their mark.
@Unknown.......re Camilla, she was quite happy being Charles mistress for the rest of her life and living out of the spot light. She almost didn’t turn up at her own wedding because of her reluctance and had to be coaxed by her friends to go through with it.
It was Charles who made it a big drama and insisted they marry, it was almost Edward/Wallis epic at the time, he told the Queen and Philip point blank ‘either I can marry Camilla or I’m out, make a choice, it’s not negotiable’, the Queen gave her permission (reluctantly). Now she is very happy that Charles has Camilla who has weathered all the mud and vitriol thrown at her for years with a ‘just get on with it and never complain’ attitude. Anyone who ever meets Camilla can’t help but like her. Harry and Meghan have had a stellar first-hand example of how to handle the negative press heaped on a wife, but he decided to go nuclear instead.
@Charlotte.....don’t be fooled that the Queen doesn’t know what’s going on, she is smarter and more astute than virtually anyone else in the family, and an elephant would love to have her memory, I can’t guess her end plan but she knows enough to realize she simply can’t get involved.
“These things have a way of working themselves out” is her mantra because in all likelihood any public interference by her could make things worse and possibly even cause a constitutional crisis .
The Head of State does not become involved in slanging matches with the media nor in private legal actions of any kind because she is literally above the law in the UK and can’t be seen to take sides, family or not. When Harry makes public decisions which go against palace advice then Harry has made his bed and he will be left to lie or possibly die in it.(mataphorically)
Not to mention how dangerous Meghan could be if Harry has likely spoken about private family things. I think this whole thing has been brewing for some time, hence no Harry or Meghan at Balmoral this year.
The Queen will never show her displeasure publically but in private I’m sure many are getting an ear full and she is getting the very best advice from the very intelligent and experienced people on her privy council . Simply because we aren’t seeing any action from her doesn’t mean there is paralysis behind the scene. It wouldn’t surprise me if Charles has decided to follow his mother example on this and we will not be hearing from him either. ‘Tungsten’ has no doubt disappointed him as well,he's found out she’s not even Teflon.
@Alice....don’t worry about mistakes, I am miserable at spelling, best education money could buy, but I must have been behind the door when the spelling genes were handed out. Thank heaven for spell check. I have nothing but admiration for people posting when English is not their first language. Any mistakes will be forgiven instantly.
@Nelo......that Framlingham Castle article was a joke,a sly dig at the Frog Cottage renovations and M&H being exiled to the swamp-cemetery , Framlingham is mostly a ruined wall and enormous, it would certainly need lots of renovating and keep them far far away. The castle is owned by Framlingham College and run by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, it's a tourist attraction. British humour,you often don't see it till you get to the end and figure out your leg is being pulled, even then it had me taken in until I looked up Framlingham Castle.