Love that Meghan and Harry have used their FU money to say FU!

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

Good for them!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/118676201/what-does-financial-independence-mean-for-harry-and-meghan

[Lucky13]

Also love that they announced this in an Instagram post :D

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

Also love that the palace left them to deal with two years of fall out with the stiff-upper-lip-say-nothing tactic, sidelined them, left out their pictures during the queen's speech and then was shocked when they quit. The Firm sounds like your typical shitty employer, really.

[SpreadsheetMan]

Let’s see if the renounce their entire income from the civil list and pay out of their own pockets for the round-the-clock security they will require for the rest of their lives before we congratulate them.

It’s nice to say you want to be independent, but the reality isn’t so easy.

[vand]

They're a total irrelevance and have nothing to do with FIRE or FU.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

They're a total irrelevance and have nothing to do with FIRE or FU.

I think they do. They've professed to be trying to establish financial independence from one of the biggest institutions on the planet, one into which you're born. They don't like their life and their responsibilities, ones that Harry at least didn't actually ever sign up for, and so they're using their financial independence to create their own way. Isn't that what we're all here for, one way or another??? And if you can leave The Firm, you can leave anywhere. FU is the first thing I thought of when I heard the whole dramarama. I lol'd.

[Paper Chaser]

As an American, who has little interest in The Royal Family, can somebody explain what exactly they're giving up?

Harry's odds of seeing the throne seem pretty slim anyway, so I'm not sure there's much to lose in that regard. The article in the OP makes it sound like they'll keep receiving income from The Family in some form. They're keeping their gifted 10 bedroom cottage as their "official residence". And their tax payer funded, around the clock security is still in place. They'll be traveling on commercial flights "when security allows", which is likely to be pretty uncommon I'd wager.

This really seems to me like they just want to be able to live and raise their family in a location with less constant scrutiny. There's nothing wrong with that at all, but I'm not sure what they're actually giving up to make that happen? It seems like having the British Government pay for constant security and travel between two continents just makes the situation worse?

[vand]

They're a total irrelevance and have nothing to do with FIRE or FU.

I think they do. They've professed to be trying to establish financial independence from one of the biggest institutions on the planet, one into which you're born. They don't like their life and their responsibilities, ones that Harry at least didn't actually ever sign up for, and so they're using their financial independence to create their own way. Isn't that what we're all here for, one way or another??? And if you can leave The Firm, you can leave anywhere. FU is the first thing I thought of when I heard the whole dramarama. I lol'd.

They take private jets and party with Maharajas.. their idea of FI is probably a little different to yours or mine.

[Panly]

Overwhelmed by privilege.

Cry me a river.

[ender]

They're a total irrelevance and have nothing to do with FIRE or FU.

I think they do. They've professed to be trying to establish financial independence from one of the biggest institutions on the planet, one into which you're born. They don't like their life and their responsibilities, ones that Harry at least didn't actually ever sign up for, and so they're using their financial independence to create their own way. Isn't that what we're all here for, one way or another??? And if you can leave The Firm, you can leave anywhere. FU is the first thing I thought of when I heard the whole dramarama. I lol'd.

Yeah, the magnitude might be a lot higher but this is a pretty good case of FU money. Just because they are FU'ing on 35M instead of 1M doesn't change that.

Arguably it's worse for them to even try this too because of the social pressures they experience. Will be curious to see in 5 years where they are at.

[PMG]

What’s interesting to me about the article is that while the couples Instagram post said they were planning to spend time with their son and start a charity endeavor the author spent a lot of time discussing their past careers and potential jobs they might have. The Author just ignored what they said they would do and the fact that they don’t need to work.

Those asking questions above, the article gives both of their net worths and says that their security will continue to be paid out of tax dollars but that is a decision the palace doesn’t control.

[Car Jack]

So Harry, who has been receiving his welfare checks for 35 years for doing absolutely nothing has declared that it's too hard to do absolutely nothing so is declaring that he's independent.  Great.  And we care why?

[Kris]

So Harry, who has been receiving his welfare checks for 35 years for doing absolutely nothing has declared that it's too hard to do absolutely nothing so is declaring that he's independent.  Great.  And we care why?

It’s funny to me when people seem to think Harry’s life is this super-easy, awesome time doing nothing.

To me it looks like being in prison. I wouldn’t trade places with them for anything.

Harry has said in the past he almost decided to leave the royal family, before ever meeting Meghan. I don’t blame him.

[AMandM]

What FU money? The article I read said that the (tax-funded) Civil List covers 5% of their expenses and the other 95% is paid for by income from Charles's property holdings. Sounds like EOC to me.

[NorthernBlitz]

Let’s see if the renounce their entire income from the civil list and pay out of their own pockets for the round-the-clock security they will require for the rest of their lives before we congratulate them.

It’s nice to say you want to be independent, but the reality isn’t so easy.

This was my thought too.

[Kris]

What FU money? The article I read said that the (tax-funded) Civil List covers 5% of their expenses and the other 95% is paid for by income from Charles's property holdings. Sounds like EOC to me.

She’s pretty rich in her own right. And he has a large inheritance from his mom, from what I understand.

They said they are moving toward financial independence. I assume they plan to use that money. 

[Captain FIRE]

Let’s see if the renounce their entire income from the civil list and pay out of their own pockets for the round-the-clock security they will require for the rest of their lives before we congratulate them.

It’s nice to say you want to be independent, but the reality isn’t so easy.

This was my thought too.

Security for family members of Very Important People are often to prevent VIP from caving to demands, rather than directly of benefit for the family.  It completely burns me that the US pays SO MUCH for Trump's family security (more than any other Presidential family in history, reports say), many of whom don't do anything for the public, but I'd never suggest that it be withdrawn unless they can pay for it themselves.

To be clear, it's higher because of the 1) greater number of kids he has, 2) older age of kids+grandkids, who travel separately from Trump & Melanie as a result.  That doesn't burn me, it's 3) the sheer frequency and lavishness of their personal trips, the multiple residences, the choice to live separately for months in a horrible location to provide security, which impacts the security costs.  E.g. if the protected stays in an expensive hotel overseas, the protectors need to as well.  If the protected chooses to live apart from her husband for months in a poorly secured location, the public pays for the additional required security.  And if the protected stays at his personal hotel, well, the protector gets to pay the protected for that privilege as well, which is particularly galling how it lines his own pockets...

If you want to talk about the Economic Outpatient Care (EOC) of the entire British aristocracy on the other hand, that's a valid discussion, though unlikely to change anytime soon.  But we actually don't know yet if they intend to forego that as well (unlikely, as it's not related to their public duties they are giving up).  They have large personal inheritances that they may choose to live on along with any money they receive from running their charity.  Let's applaud rather than condemn this first and extremely unusual step by a member of the immediate British royal family.

ETA to clarify for the nonmustachans that EOC is Economic Outpatient Care

[seattlecyclone]

So Harry, who has been receiving his welfare checks for 35 years for doing absolutely nothing has declared that it's too hard to do absolutely nothing so is declaring that he's independent.  Great.  And we care why?

It’s funny to me when people seem to think Harry’s life is this super-easy, awesome time doing nothing.

Yeah, my understanding is that being a "senior royal" is basically a full-time job traveling around being a ceremonial figurehead wherever the government has requested the presence of a ceremonial figurehead. They get paid nicely, but it sounds like a job that would get old after a while, like most any other job.

[Just Joe]

Yeah, my understanding is that being a "senior royal" is basically a full-time job traveling around being a ceremonial figurehead wherever the government has requested the presence of a ceremonial figurehead. They get paid nicely, but it sounds like a job that would get old after a while, like most any other job.

Endless small talk and fancy wardrobe requirements. VIP accommodations.

It would get old eventually. I'd do it to earn FIRE money though (maybe just a couple of months prob at my family's burn rate).

[Captain FIRE]

Uh oh, people are using acronyms without first using the phrase it represents. I did the GOogle and learned that EOC means Emergency Operations Center. Seems to half-fit for protection of Very Important Peoples, but I bet you all mean something else. Externalizing of the costy things?

You lose your mustachian credentials for not recognizing a reference to The Millionaire Next Door, first alluded to by AMandM.

EOC = Economic Outpatient Care.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

So Harry, who has been receiving his welfare checks for 35 years for doing absolutely nothing has declared that it's too hard to do absolutely nothing so is declaring that he's independent.  Great.  And we care why?

It’s funny to me when people seem to think Harry’s life is this super-easy, awesome time doing nothing.

Yeah, my understanding is that being a "senior royal" is basically a full-time job traveling around being a ceremonial figurehead wherever the government has requested the presence of a ceremonial figurehead. They get paid nicely, but it sounds like a job that would get old after a while, like most any other job.

It's not really a job, though, is it? Sure, they get compensated, but they were drafted into this crap at birth. They never had a choice about being involved and I suspect that someone as senior as Harry would face HUGE pressure to toe the family line. They have a public role whether they wanted one or not, and one that's all subject to the whims of a very elderly lady. I love the fact he's decided to jump ship. Did you know they refused a title for their son? Whatever they end up doing, I hope it's world's away from the BS of being a royal. Rock on FU, even if it's FU on millions of pounds!

[LifeHappens]

The posters focusing on Harry and Meghan's wealth are missing the real FU part of this. This is a forum that is in part about rejecting the roles society has assigned us to and making our own path.

Harry has just rejected a role he was literally born into. He didn't ask to be a royal, he didn't ask for all his privileges, and for the most part he has towed the line. He went to the prep schools, he did his military service (and was well respected by his peers, by all reports), he smiled when required and looked solemn when required. He even did the requisite partying and womanizing required of the "spare."

To say FU to all that, when you've been trained from infancy, is pretty bold IMO.

[Panly]

To "all that"?


Let's start with a divorce then, coz as a commoner he'd never have met that lovely lady.

[gatortator]

This gem of a quote came to mind when I saw the articles yesterday

The question is never whether or not someone else's choices are inline with your priorities, but whether or not their actions are inline with their own priorities.

They have thought of their priorities and values.  They are now acting according to that.  And are being forced to do so in a very public manner,  like all aspects of their lives.  No stealth wealth options for them.  That takes courage.   I applaud them and wish them the best in their new path.

[Kris]

This gem of a quote came to mind when I saw the articles yesterday

The question is never whether or not someone else's choices are inline with your priorities, but whether or not their actions are inline with their own priorities.

They have thought of their priorities and values.  They are now acting according to that.  And are being forced to do so in a very public manner,  like all aspects of their lives.  No stealth wealth options for them.  That takes courage.   I applaud them and wish them the best in their new path.

Right?

I mean, just think of the "courage" it seems to take "normal" people just to start rejecting the spendypants lifestyles of the environment they've been raised in. And how hard it is for them to pull back from that while the eyes of their families and peers are on them.

Which is so freaking silly, really. But it's still true.

So, mocking Harry and Meghan for giving it a shot, but then realizing they need to create a family/life together in accordance with their own values, when literally the entire world's eyes are on them to mock, deride, take potshots, etc. at every single decision they make...

I'm not a royal watcher. And I don't really care about the royal family. But I can see them as human beings, and drawing from the magic of empathy, I can very easily put myself in their places. It would be much easier for them in many ways to just go along with the flow that is literally being dictated to them from above. And continue to be miserable, but doing what society dictates they should.

I can't blame them, and I can see that it would take a lot of courage. Courage that I'm guessing they draw from the strength of their union. I wish them well.

[partgypsy]

I wish them the best too. This does get the heart of this website, of living a purpose-filled life, and getting to a place you can live life on your own terms. If you are first family Royal, it IS a full time job the obligations and schedule that you fill. There are probably some people who would be thrilled to live such a life. For me, and I'm sure a number of people on this thread you would not want to live that life day in and day out, especially from birth till the day you die where you had absolutely no choice in the matter.

I also don't know what this means regarding: a) are they still going to keep their inherited family monies, just not the 5% that some from being "royal" and b) i don't know what this means regarding are the quitting all their royal functions and obligations or simply cutting back and having the ability to say "no" to not doing everything. I think if they said "no" to everything they may need to abdicate or something. 

[Kris]

I wish them the best too. This does get the heart of this website, of living a purpose-filled life, and getting to a place you can live life on your own terms. If you are first family Royal, it IS a full time job the obligations and schedule that you fill. There are probably some people who would be thrilled to live such a life. For me, and I'm sure a number of people on this thread you would not want to live that life day in and day out, especially from birth till the day you die where you had absolutely no choice in the matter.

Yes.

Also, for those who are delighting in mocking Harry for having this awesome easy life of doing absolutely nothing, and scoffing at this decision, let's remember that his mother was killed while being pursued by the paparazzi for the tabloid press. And his wife has been hounded, heckled, called abominable and racist things, and had all sorts of disgusting things speculated about her by the British press. And when their baby was born, it got even worse. Damon Young, a Black American commentator, wrote this:

"My interactions with the 'real' London when I was there in May—the London I’d picture when I thought about London—were scant. But on the radio in every cab and Uber I rode in, on the cover of every newspaper I’d see, and in every pub I jaunted into, conversations about then-newborn Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor dominated discourse. A popular BBC commentator had just been fired for comparing baby Archie to a chimpanzee, and this predictably sparked 'debates' about the racist intent of the beloved media figure, the same way you’d 'debate' that a bucket of warm piss is wet."

So yeah, I dunno. Maybe their decision isn't just the decision of some whiny, moneyed toffs, after all.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

To "all that"?


Let's start with a divorce then, coz as a commoner he'd never have met that lovely lady.

Why do you think "giving it all up" should be backdated??? Much like any of us when we FU, Harry has reached the end of his tolerance NOW, and he's changing the situation he's in NOW.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

I wish them the best too. This does get the heart of this website, of living a purpose-filled life, and getting to a place you can live life on your own terms. If you are first family Royal, it IS a full time job the obligations and schedule that you fill. There are probably some people who would be thrilled to live such a life. For me, and I'm sure a number of people on this thread you would not want to live that life day in and day out, especially from birth till the day you die where you had absolutely no choice in the matter.

Yes.

Also, for those who are delighting in mocking Harry for having this awesome easy life of doing absolutely nothing, and scoffing at this decision, let's remember that his mother was killed while being pursued by the paparazzi for the tabloid press. And his wife has been hounded, heckled, called abominable and racist things, and had all sorts of disgusting things speculated about her by the British press. And when their baby was born, it got even worse. Damon Young, a Black American commentator, wrote this:

"My interactions with the 'real' London when I was there in May—the London I’d picture when I thought about London—were scant. But on the radio in every cab and Uber I rode in, on the cover of every newspaper I’d see, and in every pub I jaunted into, conversations about then-newborn Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor dominated discourse. A popular BBC commentator had just been fired for comparing baby Archie to a chimpanzee, and this predictably sparked 'debates' about the racist intent of the beloved media figure, the same way you’d 'debate' that a bucket of warm piss is wet."

So yeah, I dunno. Maybe their decision isn't just the decision of some whiny, moneyed toffs, after all.

That awesome easy life can be summed up in one little story: quite awhile ago someone overheard William speaking to little George in public. George was a bit fractious and saying he didn't want "to Prince today". That's the life Harry has had. He's been required to have a public role from the day he was born. He was hauled out of his cradle and exposed to the world press before he was a week old. Yes, he's had access to things many of us never will, and access to choices we may never have, but he's paid a high price for them IMO. His first real step towards independence from his family is being discussed and mocked all over the world ffs.

[MrUpwardlyMobile]

What FU money? The article I read said that the (tax-funded) Civil List covers 5% of their expenses and the other 95% is paid for by income from Charles's property holdings. Sounds like EOC to me.

She’s pretty rich in her own right. And he has a large inheritance from his mom, from what I understand.

They said they are moving toward financial independence. I assume they plan to use that money.

At the time of their marriage, reports estimated her net worth was $5M with new income of $450k per year provided she continued working.

[Captain FIRE]

Uh oh, people are using acronyms without first using the phrase it represents. I did the GOogle and learned that EOC means Emergency Operations Center. Seems to half-fit for protection of Very Important Peoples, but I bet you all mean something else. Externalizing of the costy things?

You lose your mustachian credentials for not recognizing a reference to The Millionaire Next Door, first alluded to by AMandM.

EOC = Economic Outpatient Care.

Ha I know you're being tongue-in-cheek but I can't be in THIS club because people are cheating on our club and hanging out in some other club and using THEIR lingo here? FUH!

;)

[Plina]

I think it is interesting that they are continuing to work towards financial independence. In an article I read it said that they where sponsored with 5 millions pounds per year by daddy Charles so with that burnrate they are pretty much broke soon if they also plan to skip daddys help. I understand that it sucks to be born into a royal family or marry into one but it seems to me that they are to keep their state sponsored apartment and security but not do the job that comes with it. Or they can always make money from their royal status by selling stuff or speeches. I would much more have respect fot their decision if they had grounded the decision with their family AND actually lived independently.

[TVRodriguez]

This gem of a quote came to mind when I saw the articles yesterday

The question is never whether or not someone else's choices are inline with your priorities, but whether or not their actions are inline with their own priorities.

They have thought of their priorities and values.  They are now acting according to that.  And are being forced to do so in a very public manner,  like all aspects of their lives.  No stealth wealth options for them.  That takes courage.   I applaud them and wish them the best in their new path.

Right?

I mean, just think of the "courage" it seems to take "normal" people just to start rejecting the spendypants lifestyles of the environment they've been raised in. And how hard it is for them to pull back from that while the eyes of their families and peers are on them.

Which is so freaking silly, really. But it's still true.

So, mocking Harry and Meghan for giving it a shot, but then realizing they need to create a family/life together in accordance with their own values, when literally the entire world's eyes are on them to mock, deride, take potshots, etc. at every single decision they make...

I'm not a royal watcher. And I don't really care about the royal family. But I can see them as human beings, and drawing from the magic of empathy, I can very easily put myself in their places. It would be much easier for them in many ways to just go along with the flow that is literally being dictated to them from above. And continue to be miserable, but doing what society dictates they should.

I can't blame them, and I can see that it would take a lot of courage. Courage that I'm guessing they draw from the strength of their union. I wish them well.

Ditto.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

I think it is interesting that they are continuing to work towards financial independence. In an article I read it said that they where sponsored with 5 millions pounds per year by daddy Charles so with that burnrate they are pretty much broke soon if they also plan to skip daddys help. I understand that it sucks to be born into a royal family or marry into one but it seems to me that they are to keep their state sponsored apartment and security but not do the job that comes with it. Or they can always make money from their royal status by selling stuff or speeches. I would much more have respect fot their decision if they had grounded the decision with their family AND actually lived independently.

They don't need their family's permission. Besides which, it sounds as though many attempts were made to have meetings and they were shot down. As for living independently, remains to be seen what they will do.

[Plina]

I think it is interesting that they are continuing to work towards financial independence. In an article I read it said that they where sponsored with 5 millions pounds per year by daddy Charles so with that burnrate they are pretty much broke soon if they also plan to skip daddys help. I understand that it sucks to be born into a royal family or marry into one but it seems to me that they are to keep their state sponsored apartment and security but not do the job that comes with it. Or they can always make money from their royal status by selling stuff or speeches. I would much more have respect fot their decision if they had grounded the decision with their family AND actually lived independently.

They don't need their family's permission. Besides which, it sounds as though many attempts were made to have meetings and they were shot down. As for living independently, remains to be seen what they will do.

I didn’t write that they needed the permission. It is a different thing to have the necessary discussions beforehand with your family then to make the announcement before the discussions have started or have been concluded, whatever is the case here. In Sweden the kids of the siblings to the crownprincess have been excluded from the royal family by the king after discussions in the family. The limits have been set which does not seem to be the case here.

[skp]

I don't know. It depends on the particulars.   To me it's akin to a family business. Many times people get out of family businesses.  But they just don't quit.  THey negotiate.   For whatever the reason it sounds like  they haven't negotiate their way out. They just quit.       You don't tell family to FU (quit without negotiating) unless they are abusive (no evidence of that is there?) and you can totally support yourself.  You also have to expect some hard feelings among family.

[DadJokes]

If "The Crown" is accurate, I certainly wouldn't want anything to do with being in the royal family. They may have luxury, but they have almost no freedom.

[Trudie]

I read an opinion piece in the British press today about how people of color in Britain intuitively grasp why Harry and Megan are stepping down... racism.  Some may only see this as a story of two rich, privileged people complaining about their lot in life.  But Megan has faced overt racism in the press, been unduly criticized for roles she has taken on — like writing and editing in popular publications— that other members of the royal family have been praised for.  I’m sure they are deeply concerned about what kind of life any of their children will have and want more control over how and when they are in public.

The relevancy and cost of the monarchy is worthy of discussion, but I have sympathy in this situation.  Sure, Harry was born into it, but he hasn’t had a laugh a minute and the monarchy destroyed his mother. 

[MrUpwardlyMobile]

The important takeaway from all of this is that it apparently spawned a RoyalsOnFIRE twitter parody account that is quite funny.

[Bloop Bloop]

What they are doing seems to me to be like someone taking an inheritance, renouncing the bequeather and disowning the family...but saying "BTW thanks for the inheritance guys."

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

What they are doing seems to me to be like someone taking an inheritance, renouncing the bequeather and disowning the family...but saying "BTW thanks for the inheritance guys."

Harry's inheritance came from his dead mother. The one killed by the same thing he has mentioned many times over the years as wanting to get away from. I think it's interesting that they took Archie out of the country, left him there in Canada while they made the surprise announcement and then Meghan quickly went back to him. The Queen has technical legal custody of Archie. Perhaps that's been used as a point of leverage in the royal family before?

[marty998]

Must be a really slow news week in Britain. Makes a change from all the talk about Brexit.

954 years of history tells us that members of the royal family are more likely than not to fall victim to case of regicide. How quaint that this prince has been eliminated by simply saying "nope, not for me".

Perhaps it's time for the whole thing to be abolished. The family doesn't really serve any useful purpose. They certainly haven't got there on their merits in the last several hundred years anyway. As a subject of her majesty am I supposed to bow and scrape to her and her sprog? Why the fuck should I do that?

What they are doing seems to me to be like someone taking an inheritance, renouncing the bequeather and disowning the family...but saying "BTW thanks for the inheritance guys."

Sometimes its easier and cheaper to just pay people to leave than to engage in protracted negotiations.

[Panly]

https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/01/09/harry-and-meghan-go-private


they're unlocking value :-)

[shelivesthedream]

I really doubt this actually has that much to do with racism. Not saying that they haven't been subjected to the most horrific stuff in the press, but this has clearly been coming for a long time. Harry was a bit of a knob for a while as a younger man, but in recent years he's actually sorted himself out and garnered a lot of respect for his charitable work with veterans. He spoke out a while ago about how awful everything was when his mother died, and I think he's probably still hurting from the knowledge that she was hounded to her death because of her position in the royal family. He's never expressed any interest in being king, and has congratulated his brother on having so many children and pushing Harry down the line of inheritance.

William and Kate have stepped into the "official heir" roles very dutifully. Harry never did.

It will be interesting to see how he balances his relationship with the rest of the royal family with their desire to be independent - financially, socially and publicly. He'll never *not* be Prince Harry even if he actually abdicates (or whatever it's called when an heir does it), and as the article (weirdly and repeatedly) points out, he could make a lot of money off that. Interesting to see whether or not he will try to cash in on it.

[AMandM]

If they want to step back from public royal duties, that's fine, and I applaud them for trying to create a healthier environment for Archie and any future siblings of his. There is plenty of precedent for that--Princess Anne and Prince Edward, for instance. But they seem to want to have their cake and eat it, too--they won't fulfill royal duties, but they'll trademark the name "Sussex Royal." If they were planning to live on the proceeds from Markle's $5M, I'd be more impressed.

[Linea_Norway]

In Norway, the princess who is the crown prince's only sister, did the same thing some years ago. After becoming independent, she has gotten jobs as fairytail reader at schools/preschools. She also started an angel school with a friend, where adult people could learn to discover their own inner angel. Recently she wanted to start a theater show called The Princess and the Shaman, with her new shaman boyfriend, doing unscientific things like turning around your atoms. She can do all these things because she is independent. But she does sometimes embarrass her royal relatives. She also uses her princess title in the theater show, which seems wrong for in independent person. I am not sure she was alowed to continue the show with that title.

[Linea_Norway]

Didn't Harry do some real work when he was in the army? I had the impression that he liked it there, being one of the boys.

[partgypsy]

I remember my breath was taken away at the virulently hateful things said about her even at the beginning, when the engagement was first announced. She was tried and hanged before she even assumed the role. It is both racist, and not any better but also classist. Therefore no matter how good nice, etc she is she doesn't "measure" up. 

There is no amount of money for me, that is worth being a public punching bag.

From what I understand the Royals are both, an incredibly rich "family", lots of inherited wealth. Similar to any other family in any other country who has held onto wealth for generations. We can argue the merits of inherited wealth, but whether Harry or Megan inherit money from their family is just as wrong or right as anyone inheriting family monies.

And then there is a system of the "Monarchy". It seems largely symbolic, part of the identity of Great Britain (on their stamps etc). From what I hear from tourism etc the Monarchy generates more wealth than it "costs." Though there isn't a complete parallel but it is like being born into a family business or farm aka (KIWTK) where you are assuming to represent that business day and night and assume responsibilities of it. It seems that is the part they want to step away from.

I also don't have a problem with the government covering their security detail. It is kind of like how former presidents get security from the government, even after they become private citizens again. I went to a book signing that Jimmy Carter did, and even though he is a very unassuming person, yes they were there.   

[shelivesthedream]

Didn't Harry do some real work when he was in the army? I had the impression that he liked it there, being one of the boys.

Yes, I think he did very well there and was well-liked. It was presumably nice being just Harry and not PRINCE Harry.

I must admit I haven't read much of the stuff that was written about Meghan because I barely touch the news, but I wonder if she wouldn't have got the same vitriol if she had been white just because she's foreign. American, French, whatever, I can imagine people taking against her for not being English even if she was a white Westerner. Hard to speculate on what might have been, of course.

[YttriumNitrate]

Perhaps it's time for the whole thing to be abolished. The family doesn't really serve any useful purpose. They certainly haven't got there on their merits in the last several hundred years anyway. As a subject of her majesty am I supposed to bow and scrape to her and her sprog? Why the fuck should I do that?

There would be significant financial costs associated with getting rid of the tourist attraction that is the royal family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhyYgnhhKFw