Only children believe in fairy tales. Yet it took the tragic life of Princess Diana for many to realize that royalty is no fairy tale. Her son, Prince Harry, is reinforcing this realization. He’s claiming that British royals are trapped in gilded cages. And that makes their fairy-tale lives seem very grim indeed.
British royals trapped
The Diana Chronicles dramatized the dark side of royal life. But Harry’s Megxit scandal is playing out like an even grimmer sequel. After all, it already features Meghan claiming suicidal ideations and accusing other royals of racism.
Even so, the royal family survived Diana. And they will survive Meghan. Theirs is a Shakespearean tragedy. And we’ve watched grim scenes play out time and again.
I always thought the royal family held the tabloids captive. However, Harry made clear in his “bombshell” Oprah interview that it’s the other way around.
He insists the tabloids have everyone – from the queen to little Georgie Porgie – feeling trapped. And that much of what passes for royal engagements is little more than staged tabloid fodder. Because royals often perform like hostages suffering a regal form of Stockholm Syndrome.
The gilded cage
Imagine how you’d feel if a gaggle of reporters were waiting to hound you every time you stepped outside your home. And what if they were not just taking pictures but badgering you to defend accusations of racism? That is the very definition of being trapped.
Meghan even insinuated that the royal family planned their wedding as tabloid fodder. She told Oprah that she and Harry wanted a private wedding. And that this is why they had an intimate ceremony in their backyard days before performing that royal spectacle for the tabloids.
Except that, we know nothing is ever as Harry and Meghan say:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have admitted they did not get married three days before the Royal wedding after an official certificate blew their claim apart. … The U-turn comes two weeks after the couple made the comments in their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Britons were left fuming as it raised questions why the £32million taxpayer-funded wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018 was necessary.
(The Daily Mail, March 23, 2021)
Even first-year law students are fond of asserting the Latin drop-the-mic phrase, falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. It means “false in one thing, false in everything.” Alas, it applies to everything that comes out of Meghan’s mouth.
But everyone knew this was the case before Megxit. Yet Americans like Oprah have willfully undermined their reputations by associating with Harry and Meghan.
Meanwhile, you’d think Prince Albert of Monaco would know better than to throw stones:
These types of conversations should be held within the intimate quarters of the family. … It doesn’t really have to be laid out in the public sphere like that.
(USA Today, March 25, 2021)
Sure, like the quarters where Albert held conversations to ensure his Black son never inherits his titles.
Of course, William is the heir to the British throne. So, it is shocking that his brother Harry is airing grievances about their long-simmering feud. And it’s titillating that their not-so-merry wives of Windsor are involved.
Frederick is the heir to the Danish throne. His brother Joachim is airing grievances about their long-simmering feud. And their wives are involved. But this unfolding Danish scandal makes the British one look like a Tempest in a teapot.
With all due respect to Kate and Meghan, the Danish wives seem straight from central casting. Picture Frederik’s wife, Mary, as the ‘Snow Queen,’ and Joachim’s wife, Marie, as the ‘Ugly Duckling.’
Meanwhile, every Danish woman of a certain age is probably snickering with schadenfreude. But all Danes must wish these princelings could have spared their country this decidedly British-style soap opera. That is if, instead of the Aussie Mary, Frederik had married a Dane. And if, instead of the French Marie, Joachim had married, well, a Scandinavian at the very least.
Of course, many of you must see this as much ado about nothing. That is, given life in our time of Covid.