I recently read Jane Maguerite Tippett’s “Once a King,” which is a wonderful book about the life of Edward VIII with a heavy focus on the process of him writing his memoir during his time as the Duke of Windsor.
Dense is exactly what I think Harry is. I don't know why he ever imagined that he could be half in/half out AND not live in the UK. There is sort of a precedent for half in/half out, namely the case of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. To marry her, a Catholic, he had to give up his place in the line of succession and his Civil List income. They both worked in the private sector, he in private banking and she in interior design, but were allowed a grace-and-favour residence in Kensington Palace, performed such public engagements as they could schedule around their professional activities (without logistical support from the Palace), and attended family events. The crucial difference between the Michaels and the Sussexes, of course, is that the former stayed in the UK and didn't bad mouth their royal relations. There's also the case of the York princesses, who are not working members of the royal family and have private sector jobs, nonetheless keeping their titles and styles, but again they live in the UK and don't bad mouth anybody. As for the comparison between the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Windsor, I agree with all your points, but I'd add one more: I believe that deep down both wanted out and chose wives who would get them out.
I agree with your last point. Edward had to know it couldn't work, and Harry has to have had some sort of conversations with his wife beforehand.
And it's a shame, as many amazing qualities as Harry has, it has been sad to see him tear his family down continually. It speaks volumes that the rest of them just keep chugging along. It also unfortunately makes him look more ridiculous.
Thank you so much for reading and for the comment!
The Duke of Windsor was not a reliable man: childish and grotesquely self-centred. The government stopped sending him confidential documents during his brief reign because he discussed them with Wallace and left them lying around; he was very sympathetic towards the Nazi régime; typically antisemitic; made public statements in 1940 that were verging on the treasonous; and hated the Bahamas, which he called a “third-class British colony”. Utterly unfit to be king. The country had a lucky escape, however heavy the toll it took on his brother.
I agree. What I do appreciate with him compared to Harry is just the tact he had in interviews, etc. but that could just be a sign of changing times.
I have a book of letters Edward wrote to Freda Dudley Ward when he was POW. You see how self centered he was and how he just needed a mothering figure essentially to coddle him.
He really was a man-child, wasn’t he? With FDW and with Wallis among others. More tact than Harry, I suppose, but his Verdun address in 1939 was deeply inappropriate and wrong-headed (to be charitable). It’s as if Fate just forgot him when handing out a sense of duty and service.
Truly is. He just seemed very spoiled in a way. But also, I wonder if you just carry a sense of resentment when your life is already mapped out? I think his tours in general were not appropriate. I also don’t like how he was not honest about his income.
A really interesting comparison that has crossed my mind many times too. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for reading!
Dense is exactly what I think Harry is. I don't know why he ever imagined that he could be half in/half out AND not live in the UK. There is sort of a precedent for half in/half out, namely the case of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. To marry her, a Catholic, he had to give up his place in the line of succession and his Civil List income. They both worked in the private sector, he in private banking and she in interior design, but were allowed a grace-and-favour residence in Kensington Palace, performed such public engagements as they could schedule around their professional activities (without logistical support from the Palace), and attended family events. The crucial difference between the Michaels and the Sussexes, of course, is that the former stayed in the UK and didn't bad mouth their royal relations. There's also the case of the York princesses, who are not working members of the royal family and have private sector jobs, nonetheless keeping their titles and styles, but again they live in the UK and don't bad mouth anybody. As for the comparison between the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Windsor, I agree with all your points, but I'd add one more: I believe that deep down both wanted out and chose wives who would get them out.
I agree with your last point. Edward had to know it couldn't work, and Harry has to have had some sort of conversations with his wife beforehand.
And it's a shame, as many amazing qualities as Harry has, it has been sad to see him tear his family down continually. It speaks volumes that the rest of them just keep chugging along. It also unfortunately makes him look more ridiculous.
Thank you so much for reading and for the comment!
The Duke of Windsor was not a reliable man: childish and grotesquely self-centred. The government stopped sending him confidential documents during his brief reign because he discussed them with Wallace and left them lying around; he was very sympathetic towards the Nazi régime; typically antisemitic; made public statements in 1940 that were verging on the treasonous; and hated the Bahamas, which he called a “third-class British colony”. Utterly unfit to be king. The country had a lucky escape, however heavy the toll it took on his brother.
I agree. What I do appreciate with him compared to Harry is just the tact he had in interviews, etc. but that could just be a sign of changing times.
I have a book of letters Edward wrote to Freda Dudley Ward when he was POW. You see how self centered he was and how he just needed a mothering figure essentially to coddle him.
Harry is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He sadly has unresolved Mommy issues which the Duchess exploits to her advantage.
Interesting that now yet another documentary is coming out.
He really was a man-child, wasn’t he? With FDW and with Wallis among others. More tact than Harry, I suppose, but his Verdun address in 1939 was deeply inappropriate and wrong-headed (to be charitable). It’s as if Fate just forgot him when handing out a sense of duty and service.
Truly is. He just seemed very spoiled in a way. But also, I wonder if you just carry a sense of resentment when your life is already mapped out? I think his tours in general were not appropriate. I also don’t like how he was not honest about his income.