image: pinterest Elizabeth Peyton
“They spoke as though these Princes are so remote from life as we know it that the smallest sign of humanity, the mere fact even that they communicated by means of speech was worth noting and proclaiming.”
Nancy Mitford
It was harder than I thought to for me to steer clear of the topic of the release of Harry Mountbatten-Windsor aka Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex's explosive memoir Spare this January. Although there are far more desperately important issues and crises to turn our attentions to both here in our mutually-adopted storm-drenched and flooded home state of California as well as his and my own native UK , the turmoil of the times has been most lavishly topped by all of the sensational coverage reminding me of a thick new layer of royal icing to peel back from a dry and unappealing, terribly outdated fruit cake.
Oh that any author may see 400,000 copies of their book sell on day one. But then again, it being a memoir means that there is meat on the bones of each sale and the scavengers are out to either gobble down greedily or spit it aside like a thick and slimy slice of tainted fowl. I wouldn't trade places with Harry for all the crown jewels in England.
I'm not in a hurry to read his infamous ghost-written book. What with all the leaks and mis-haps with its early release, there are dozens of reviews out there already. I've poured through quite a few. And as with all things when it comes to the debate of the British Royal Family, there are a myriad different responses so far depending on which side of which fence you happen to be on. Or which side of the Atlantic.
Yes there are die-hard British royalists and then there are just as many Brits who are far more worried about how they will pay their heating bill and/or if they need to call an ambulance in any kind of emergency, do they have a hope in present-day hell of drastically over-stretched and striking services showing up? Some American friends I've talked to are staunch Anglophiles and supporters of the Queen's antiquated institution, others can't see the point in King Charles not handing the crown to his more popular progeny. And there are those that consider the whole concept of modern day royalty as ridiculous.
Some British friends tell me that Harry has become so Americanized they simply can't stand it. That makes me a bit sad as I too have undoubtedly become more than a bit Americanized and is that so bad? It's as if the old antagonistic WWII taunts of the brash and outspoken American stereotype have risen back to the grimy surface over the pond. The reserved nature of many who suffer in silence in Britain cannot bear for Harry to be in therapy. I used to think that way myself having been raised in an era with the mindset that there's nothing you can't do if you simply pull up your socks, grin and bear it. But a lot has changed on both sides of the Atlantic. Life has become so much of a struggle post Brexit, deep into climate change, in the midst of the American democratic system attack, post pandemic. Heck, it's not even post pandemic is it? Reports from my neck of the woods both in Northern California and in the UK are that the current strain of COVID is so powerful, coupled with all of the many cold and flu bugs, this is shaping up as the winter of dramatic mis-content. Pair that with widespread havoc of storms and flooding heading to Europe next, I think a spot of therapy this winter would do everyone good.
“A King will have his way in his own hall, be it folly or wisdom.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
I've tried to remain neutral on the Harry and Meghan subject in any writing I do, but after absorbing the admittedly one-sided but detailed Netflix show, the jolting reminder of semi-fictionalized versions of Harry's childhood in the last season of The Crown as well a having read a barrage of articles on the Duke and Duchesses' decision to put it all out there, I'm hoping this will be it on the subject for a while.
I think they made a good choice in settling and raising their family in Montecito. I'd be quite content with a bike ride down to the beach, waving at neighbors Oprah and Ellen en-route! They now have every tool and platform, backing and resource to get on with things in their own way, as a completely separate entity from the working British royals.
My optimistic/idealistic hope is that there will be some degree of healing in time and that Harry, William and Charles (not sure about Camilla) will find a way to repair their relationship at least enough to be civil with one another. The British public is forgiving, as we've seen with the general acceptance of Camilla, by many, but it appears that the slings and arrows fired in such an extended attack from across the Atlantic may take a lot longer to absorb and repair.
I googled What's the point of the Monarchy? just for the sake of it and this is what came up via the royal.uk site: "The Sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service. In all these roles The Sovereign is supported by members of their immediate family."
Okay, so let's focus on that. Each part of it.
If anything, it's about time we all stop acting so aghast when one of them defects. I would have if I were him. And defecting to the States is not an act of treason in itself. It doesn't mean that Harry doesn't identify as British, as the Duke of Sussex by birth, but he's at least recognizing that he needs to grow up and give being his own man a chance. And most of his celebrity neighbors, I'd wager a bet, don't treat him as anyone any more important than the next. Right now the Sussexes are either sheltering in place or have been evacuated along with kids, dogs, household entourage. And I wish them all well, the whole messy, modern family, on both sides of the Atlantic.
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