Your analysis makes all the sense in the world. Harry has already said he fears for his family’s safety in Britain so that excuse could let him come alone.
I 100% agree with you. This was a brilliant move on HM’s part. I also do not believe they will attend. No way does Meghan want to repair the relationship. You do not make the kind of allegations she made on global TV and want to repair the relationship. She has taken a scorched earth approach and I dont think there is any going back. She wants to have just enough of the Royal fairy dust to make them relevant. It was the height of their hypocrisy for me when they named their daughter Lilibet. If you weren’t trying desperately to cash in on the Royal connections why would you name your daughter after the woman who heads the institution you supposedly hate.
Genius, Jane. Exactly right. Meghan has once again trapped herself in a corner of hypocrisy and is hoping no one will notice. I wonder the most about their strategy in terms of burning down the institution later on, which is the very institution that makes them special. Is the goal for their legacy to be the couple that brought down a thousand-year-old monarchy?
On point as always. The Queen has always embodied not just duty but graciousness. Inviting the Sussexes is the gracious thing to do, and if the invitation helps to defang Harry and Meghan's efforts to undermine the BRF, so much the better.
I don't think Harry really wants to go either -- with no uniform when Charles and William will be in theirs (something he will have in common with Andrew), no carriage ride, and then relegated to the back or side of the balcony with the other non-working royals.
"once the Queen dies, and there is no more to be gained, Meghan will attempt to discredit and damage the monarchy to the most grievous extent possible" All day this. If they can't have a starring role in the Firm on their terms (half in, half out, fully monetized), then they will burn it down to the ground. What the BRF needs to do, working with the UK government (and I realize it's not particularly helpful to have such corrupt/incompetent leadership currently), is to start addressing the issue of slavery, with proper apologies and reparations.
I'm in Canada, and this week the Hudson's Bay Company was in the news for giving/transferring its downtown landmarked Winnipeg store to a First Nations group. The Bay is now an American-owned department store but as a long history in Canada -- after incorporation by English royal charter in 1670, the fur trading company functioned as the de facto government in parts of North America for almost 200 years, and had a monopoly on the fur trade, until HBC sold the land it owned (the entire Hudson Bay drainage basin, known as Rupert's Land) to Canada in 1869. Also worth noting that the Canadian government officially apologized delivers an apology to residential school survivors and all Indigenous people, but the subject of reparations has not made much headway.
What I find fascinating is how HBC handled the situation with the building, which had become a huge liability for the company. The building at 655,000 sq feet was too large for current retail, is landmarked so it can't be touched, and in 2019 was appraised at $0; there were estimates that it would cost $111 million to bring it up to code while maintaining heritage elements. All while the current department store business, like all department stores in North America, is struggling. HBC closed the building in 2020. There has been little cynicism in reporting about the transfer -- instead, HBC is getting praise for giving a colonial store to Indigenous Peoples as a "beacon of hope". It's surprising and reassuring to see that this could be done with hope and optimism on all sides. Apologies for turning this into a novel.
Great analysis. I think, though, it could go either way. If Meghan doesn’t have the excuse of some important project (and isn’t pregnant again—unlikely since two was their limit) I think she may decide to tough it out and come. Those final photos of her in Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day—you could almost see her thinking “I’m sailing with my head up.” I wouldn’t put it past her to force the issue by appearing on the balcony. Especially if H & M can figure out a way to get the Netflix cameras trained on them.
This analysis is excellent, Jane, as always. I am one of the BRF fans who are desperate to keep Harry and Meghan away from the Jubilee celebrations because I abhor their hypocrisy and insensitivity which I just find so appalling as to leave me gasping. Again and again, the timing of their "pronouncements" are made at particularly vulnerable moments in the Queen's life. The idea that the BFR would extend an olive branch to this couple after all of the slurs they have cast is very hard for me to stomach. You didn't mention the latest--Harry's allegation that he needs to ensure that his grandmother has the right people around her!!! There are no words. However, I can appreciate the points that you made and agree that the invitation, if one has been issued, makes sense. I, however, fondly hope that I can enjoy being a spectator at the Jubilee events without having to endure H & M's presence. As an American and a long time fan of the BFR, I was thrilled to see Meghan join the family and make a difference in the world. When they decided to stop being senior royals, I wished them well. What a huge heartbreak it has been to see them try to deal body blows to the senior royals again and again.
I agree with this almost entirely. True, Victoria Ward at the Telegraph made it very difficult to ascertain her source but I have no doubt it's true regardless of whether it was a palace source or came from the Sussex camp. I could see reasons why both sides wanted the story out there. If they don't come the Queen still looks magnanimous she extended the invitation and from the Sussex perspective they have bragging rights they were invited even if they don't attend. I will say though there was an uproar in comments at the Telegraph. Over two thousand (a lot for a DT story) almost all very angry that the Sussexes had been invited. And it's a shame, once again an important event is being overshadowed by Sussex drama --"will they or won't they come?"
I am not of the opinion they will show either because there is no way Meghan is going to attend if she's not up front and center and they can't be because they are no longer working royals. Look at the stink they raised when they weren't going to be included in the procession at the Commonwealth service at their last engagement in March 2020 and her miserable expressions during her balcony appearances when she had to stand behind Catherine. The only time she looked satisfied was when William magnanimously moved to the side with Catherine at the RAF Centennial so that there was a large gap between he and the Queen and Meghan could be seen in the 2nd row in full view (she wore that dark navy fit and flare Givenchy). As it looked very unnatural my thought was that William had done this because Harry complained that Meghan wasn't happy not standing in full view.
That said, I do think they would like to come over in the near future with their children in order for the Queen to meet Lilibet, see Archie again and hopefully get a photo. There's also the matter of Lili's christening to consider.
Interesting your thoughts re the Sussexes' becoming more overt in their attempts to damage the monarchy from their platform once the Queen passes. If they feel it is in their interest to do so they will. Obviously they are still very bitter and Harry doesn't seem to have a loyal bone in his body. I was noticing the other day that some mainstream American publications (Harper's Bazaar, Newsweek) now have royal reporters who are actively hostile to the Monarchy. Prior to Megxit I wasn't aware of any such thing existing.
Excellent analysis Jane; I've also heard from Neil Sean on Youtube (and it doesn't contradict you in the least) that the Queen and Charles received Harry alone for the first half of the meeting while Meghan was in another room with footmen waiting on her: so a very short reunion and certainly not as friendly as Harry later claimed!
I suspect (IMO) that the Queen extended an invitation to the Jubilee BUT may also have taken advantage of this meeting to announce Harry that, living abroad, he could no longer be "Councillor of State". As it is a severe loss for Harry's prestige, she had to tell him that in person and preferably with a witness. All this makes sense as 3 days later Harry told the NBC interviewer that the USA were "home" to him now....
I wait with baited breath to see what happens.
Good points.
Brilliant observations. Thank you.
Your analysis makes all the sense in the world. Harry has already said he fears for his family’s safety in Britain so that excuse could let him come alone.
I 100% agree with you. This was a brilliant move on HM’s part. I also do not believe they will attend. No way does Meghan want to repair the relationship. You do not make the kind of allegations she made on global TV and want to repair the relationship. She has taken a scorched earth approach and I dont think there is any going back. She wants to have just enough of the Royal fairy dust to make them relevant. It was the height of their hypocrisy for me when they named their daughter Lilibet. If you weren’t trying desperately to cash in on the Royal connections why would you name your daughter after the woman who heads the institution you supposedly hate.
Genius, Jane. Exactly right. Meghan has once again trapped herself in a corner of hypocrisy and is hoping no one will notice. I wonder the most about their strategy in terms of burning down the institution later on, which is the very institution that makes them special. Is the goal for their legacy to be the couple that brought down a thousand-year-old monarchy?
Excellent analysis. We will have to see what happens in June.
This is brilliant as always. Thanks for sharing 🙏
Thank you. Very, very good analysis… have been thinking about the angles on this one.
On point as always. The Queen has always embodied not just duty but graciousness. Inviting the Sussexes is the gracious thing to do, and if the invitation helps to defang Harry and Meghan's efforts to undermine the BRF, so much the better.
I don't think Harry really wants to go either -- with no uniform when Charles and William will be in theirs (something he will have in common with Andrew), no carriage ride, and then relegated to the back or side of the balcony with the other non-working royals.
"once the Queen dies, and there is no more to be gained, Meghan will attempt to discredit and damage the monarchy to the most grievous extent possible" All day this. If they can't have a starring role in the Firm on their terms (half in, half out, fully monetized), then they will burn it down to the ground. What the BRF needs to do, working with the UK government (and I realize it's not particularly helpful to have such corrupt/incompetent leadership currently), is to start addressing the issue of slavery, with proper apologies and reparations.
I'm in Canada, and this week the Hudson's Bay Company was in the news for giving/transferring its downtown landmarked Winnipeg store to a First Nations group. The Bay is now an American-owned department store but as a long history in Canada -- after incorporation by English royal charter in 1670, the fur trading company functioned as the de facto government in parts of North America for almost 200 years, and had a monopoly on the fur trade, until HBC sold the land it owned (the entire Hudson Bay drainage basin, known as Rupert's Land) to Canada in 1869. Also worth noting that the Canadian government officially apologized delivers an apology to residential school survivors and all Indigenous people, but the subject of reparations has not made much headway.
What I find fascinating is how HBC handled the situation with the building, which had become a huge liability for the company. The building at 655,000 sq feet was too large for current retail, is landmarked so it can't be touched, and in 2019 was appraised at $0; there were estimates that it would cost $111 million to bring it up to code while maintaining heritage elements. All while the current department store business, like all department stores in North America, is struggling. HBC closed the building in 2020. There has been little cynicism in reporting about the transfer -- instead, HBC is getting praise for giving a colonial store to Indigenous Peoples as a "beacon of hope". It's surprising and reassuring to see that this could be done with hope and optimism on all sides. Apologies for turning this into a novel.
Great analysis. I think, though, it could go either way. If Meghan doesn’t have the excuse of some important project (and isn’t pregnant again—unlikely since two was their limit) I think she may decide to tough it out and come. Those final photos of her in Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day—you could almost see her thinking “I’m sailing with my head up.” I wouldn’t put it past her to force the issue by appearing on the balcony. Especially if H & M can figure out a way to get the Netflix cameras trained on them.
This analysis is excellent, Jane, as always. I am one of the BRF fans who are desperate to keep Harry and Meghan away from the Jubilee celebrations because I abhor their hypocrisy and insensitivity which I just find so appalling as to leave me gasping. Again and again, the timing of their "pronouncements" are made at particularly vulnerable moments in the Queen's life. The idea that the BFR would extend an olive branch to this couple after all of the slurs they have cast is very hard for me to stomach. You didn't mention the latest--Harry's allegation that he needs to ensure that his grandmother has the right people around her!!! There are no words. However, I can appreciate the points that you made and agree that the invitation, if one has been issued, makes sense. I, however, fondly hope that I can enjoy being a spectator at the Jubilee events without having to endure H & M's presence. As an American and a long time fan of the BFR, I was thrilled to see Meghan join the family and make a difference in the world. When they decided to stop being senior royals, I wished them well. What a huge heartbreak it has been to see them try to deal body blows to the senior royals again and again.
I agree with this almost entirely. True, Victoria Ward at the Telegraph made it very difficult to ascertain her source but I have no doubt it's true regardless of whether it was a palace source or came from the Sussex camp. I could see reasons why both sides wanted the story out there. If they don't come the Queen still looks magnanimous she extended the invitation and from the Sussex perspective they have bragging rights they were invited even if they don't attend. I will say though there was an uproar in comments at the Telegraph. Over two thousand (a lot for a DT story) almost all very angry that the Sussexes had been invited. And it's a shame, once again an important event is being overshadowed by Sussex drama --"will they or won't they come?"
I am not of the opinion they will show either because there is no way Meghan is going to attend if she's not up front and center and they can't be because they are no longer working royals. Look at the stink they raised when they weren't going to be included in the procession at the Commonwealth service at their last engagement in March 2020 and her miserable expressions during her balcony appearances when she had to stand behind Catherine. The only time she looked satisfied was when William magnanimously moved to the side with Catherine at the RAF Centennial so that there was a large gap between he and the Queen and Meghan could be seen in the 2nd row in full view (she wore that dark navy fit and flare Givenchy). As it looked very unnatural my thought was that William had done this because Harry complained that Meghan wasn't happy not standing in full view.
That said, I do think they would like to come over in the near future with their children in order for the Queen to meet Lilibet, see Archie again and hopefully get a photo. There's also the matter of Lili's christening to consider.
Interesting your thoughts re the Sussexes' becoming more overt in their attempts to damage the monarchy from their platform once the Queen passes. If they feel it is in their interest to do so they will. Obviously they are still very bitter and Harry doesn't seem to have a loyal bone in his body. I was noticing the other day that some mainstream American publications (Harper's Bazaar, Newsweek) now have royal reporters who are actively hostile to the Monarchy. Prior to Megxit I wasn't aware of any such thing existing.
Excellent analysis Jane; I've also heard from Neil Sean on Youtube (and it doesn't contradict you in the least) that the Queen and Charles received Harry alone for the first half of the meeting while Meghan was in another room with footmen waiting on her: so a very short reunion and certainly not as friendly as Harry later claimed!
I suspect (IMO) that the Queen extended an invitation to the Jubilee BUT may also have taken advantage of this meeting to announce Harry that, living abroad, he could no longer be "Councillor of State". As it is a severe loss for Harry's prestige, she had to tell him that in person and preferably with a witness. All this makes sense as 3 days later Harry told the NBC interviewer that the USA were "home" to him now....
Excellent analysis!! Agree wholeheartedly!
Brilliant Jane!