Monday, August 19, 2024. Beautiful weekend in New York, warm but with a heavy rain visiting us last night beginning in the early evening. Meanwhile JH and family are up in Connecticut where it’s been raining for the past 24 hours. And cooler too, with temps in the 60s.
Yesterday in the Daily Mail, I was reading about Prince Harry and his Duchess who were in the midst of a three-day visit to Colombia. I tend to follow their once-Royal Highnesses, especially since with my profession, my ear is frequently aroused with new information.
I don’t know exactly what the main issues are with the Sussex couple and Prince Harry’s brother, the so-called heir to the throne. Although I’m never surprised when I hear there are various kinds of prejudice found in that family, which is generally common. Saturday’s New York Post reported (true or false) that Prince William doesn’t want his brother Harry at his Coronation because Harry’s been “disloyal.”
They say King Charles is very disappointed in Harry, also. The father who was rarely there for his boys and treated his mother (Princess Diana) poorly, particularly during those years favoring his then girlfriend who is now The Queen.
Because I am, and was born an American, I learned long ago that we separated ourselves from the Brits to avoid having that “royal family” as our “superiors.”
I’ve not met any of them from time to time including Prince Harry. But occasionally I’m reminded of a moment years ago when one princeling of the immediate family was in New York publicizing some project he was involved in. After the exhibition everyone moved over to a Hotel Carlyle reception room for cocktails.
I’d covered it so that I could tell our readers about the exhibition, as well as photograph the principals which included that member of the Royal Family. Before I was ready leave, I spotted the princely member who was behind the event and asked if I could take his picture — no big deal.
His response: “No, there’s been enough photographs” and he turned away. I’m sure there was an established reason for his trip to the exhibition being shown, although his presence was the whole reason for the public media attention. And there weren’t enough photographs, including a decent one of him. And so it was.
I am pre-disposed to the favoring of Harry (as an Outsider from another country). I was especially impressed with him when, before his marriage, he was often sent out across the world as a representative of his country and his people. He was a big hit. For it was literary, semi-historical and Harry milled about closely with “the people.” Just as he was with people I know who’d run into him on the street here in New York. Good for everybody.
The British Throne has long been a popular reference for the past seven centuries when the Brits were The Power in the world. The passing of Elizabeth II closed that book with her last Royal Act just before she died, signing away the last of the family’s governing powers.
Elizabeth had been a great Woman of Her Time, an historical figure who’d even been through, and prepared for, World War II. Privately she also loved her horses and her dogs right to the end, although, alas, she was not a hands-on mother with the son who would succeed her. Although a lot of us non-Royal people are unaware of that and other national details of the Throne, the fascination.
But the world has been changing all along. Because we’re in it, we’re often unable to see it in ourselves but can frequently see it clearly in others. I just happened upon this week’s Daily Mail article on Harry and Melanie’s visit to Colombia. I wasn’t inclined to read the article’s copy, but did follow the captions.
As we all know, Harry and Meghan’s marriage has been a well publicized trip. None of us really know the story behind their separation from the rest of the Royal Family. But she, the Duchess, as a longtime successful actress, always had to be ambitious in order to succeed. Marrying the Prince was taking on quite a production. I’ll bet she had no clue until she got there. How could she know?
So here’s my part in the drama: She and her husband are both fond of the public eye. It’s a gift; it’s why people become actors: you notice them. It’s a big part of who we are as “civilized” creatures at this time in the universe.
Looking at the Daily Mail was a little like watching a film clip. And a good one. Harry looks sort of like a movie star but just a touch above. There’s a shot of him participating in an impromptu dance. I’ll bet his brother, the King-to-be, couldn’t do that. You could see Harry gets off on it; it’s fun and he participates with the people — like everyone else. And then the photo of Meghan the Duchess looks like a well-dressed older movie star partaking of the Outside World. Society.
If there were a British Royal Family that was still participating in the governing, you can see that Harry has all the makings of a modern 21st century monarch. He’s particularly successful when he’s out there among the people, as one of them.
Although I was also thinking that these two international ambassadors also have two little ones at home. Maybe, realistically for their children’s future, they should stay home more and take care of those little ones who will soon be having to deal with the world their ma and pa live in.
But that, alas, is none of my business. Or yours. I hope they succeed in their ventures out in the world; we can all use Glad Tidings. Big time; especially these days.
