Well, you knew this was going to happen. Prince Harry is being criticized for taking Cressida Bonas on a skiing holiday in Kazakhstan. The lesson here, my children, is this: never, ever listen to dodgy Prince Andrew. If the Prince of York ever tells you that he knows a guy who knows a guy who owns a fabulous little chalet, you better run. Harry took Cressida away for a quiet little vacation a few days ago, and at the time, it was said that Prince Andrew had set the whole thing up, and that Harry & Cressy were staying at the chalet of one of Randy Andy’s friends. You KNEW that was going to come back and bite everyone on the arse. And so it has.
Prince Harry was attacked by human rights campaigners last night for taking a private jet to enjoy a weekend’s skiing in Kazakhstan. The 29-year-old and his girlfriend, Cressida Bonas – accompanied by a team of taxpayer-funded Scotland Yard bodyguards – were flown to the billionaires’ playground of Shymbulak. They were put up in a luxury chalet at the resort, which is part-owned by oligarch Serzhan Zhumashov, a close friend of Kazakhstan’s despot president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Lambasted by the international community for his repressive regime, Nazarbayev also enjoys a warm relationship with Harry’s uncle, Prince Andrew, with whom he has enjoyed private goose hunting trips. The country’s leader has been accused of torturing – and even killing – political opponents, stifling press freedom, and profiteering from his country’s vast reserves of oil and gas. In 2007 Nazarbayev’s son-in-law, Timur Kulibayev, also bought Andrew’s former marital home, Sunninghill, for £15million – £3million above the asking price – prompting repeated questions about the morality of the deal.
Although sources close to the Prince have strongly denied the president, or indeed Prince Andrew, had a hand in the trip, Harry’s party was given free use of a government-owned helicopter to ‘chauffeur’ them to the slopes. The official government helicopter was deployed to whisk them to the slopes each day.
Kensington Palace refused to discuss who bankrolled the holiday yesterday, although the Mail understands them to be a businessman from Kazakhstan. A spokesman for the Prince said it was a ‘private holiday’. Sources close to Harry said the trip had been organised by another member of the party. He and Miss Bonas had been invited to ‘tag along’, they claimed.
A friend said: ‘The Prince did not meet with any government officials while he was there and the trip was not at the invitation of any. It was very much a private holiday. Part of the reasoning behind it was that he and his girlfriend were the subject of huge paparazzi attention last year [skiing in Switzerland] and wanted to go somewhere where, ostensibly, they would not be spotted.’
But campaigners including Amnesty International roundly attacked Harry for unwisely choosing to holiday in a country with such a poor human rights record. Amnesty spokesman Allan Hogarth, said: ‘There’s no law against Harry going skiing in Kazakhstan, but he might want to spare a thought for the people who aren’t going to be sharing the slopes with him. These include jailed dissidents and tortured oil workers. Forget Borat, Kazakhstan is a repressive country where torture is rife and political opposition is crushed.’
Wow. I figured it would be bad, but this is worse than I thought. Harry, Cressida and his bodyguards being ferried around on government helicopters – the same government with an oppressive regime? Yeah. That’s bad. Is it better or worse than Prince William taking a private plane to Spain to go boar-hunting with his ex-girlfriend? Is it better or worse than William and Kate leaving Prince George behind to go on a luxury vacation in the Maldives? I have no idea. It’s all pretty bad, isn’t it?
Here’s another question I have… Duchess Kate’s people made such a big deal about how she doesn’t accept freebies for anything (although it’s been documented that she asks for discounts on occasion), but I’m starting to feel like it’s “business as usual” with these younger royals. I think they ALL accept freebies, and the more lux and fab the freebie, the better. I still think Will & Kate went to the Maldives as some kind of promotion for that resort. And it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Harry and Cressy’s Kazakhstan vacation was entirely paid for by a mystery third party as well.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Scroungers is as scroungers does.
Well said! He’s no different from Wills or the rest of them. He’s also as boneheaded as Wills.
Not smart or thoughtful to go there, and dumb to listen to Andrew. Remember when Sarah F. was recorded by a reporter offering access to Andrew for money, and when it came out, she insisted he knew nothing about it and it was all her? I never believed that. I think Andrew is as skeavy as they come. Figures he would be goose hunting with a torturer murderer as long as it’s free. I hope Harry learns to keep his distance after this.
I don’t know why all of this blame is going to Andrew. Harry is almost 30 years old and should be fairly cultured. When we’re talking about any country that used to be part of the Soviet Union there may be some unsavory activities going on from high ranking individuals. I love Harry , but giving him a pass and scolding Andrew, is the a deflection game similar to what is done with William and Harry. He’s shown poor judgement in the past, so it’s not hard to believe.
I don’t get it either.
The Harry standom is on some Justin Bieber level.
He makes racist remarks (3 on record) – It’s Williams fault
He hunts/dresses inappropriately – It’s Williams fault
He travels with shady company – It’s Andrew’s fault
Anything to exonerate Harry from any responsibility of any of his actions.
Lets blame Randy Andy, or Dastardly Billy & Shady Katy are out to deflect from them and destory him.
Maybe Harry will know left from right when he hits 40 or when the others are dead!
I wouldn’t call myself a stan, but I will admit to being a Harry apologist. I’m just not ready to admit that he could be as tone deaf as Charles, as entitled as Andrew or as lazy as William.
Not yet anyway.
But, at this rate, Harry may just earn his own tag as being… well… dangerously simpleminded is the nicest way for me to spin it.
Mena
I’m with you. Harry isn’t perfect, but he isn’t as bad (imo) as the other royals. He’s great (for a royal).
In this way, I some what (some what) appreciate Andrew’s ability to keep it 100% real. He’s a prince and he takes advantage of that status. Always has, always will. I think the issue when it comes William, Harry, Kate, and maybe Beatrice and Eugenie, is that they’re attempting to be more than what they are: privileged, rich kids doing charity work. As a result of this, we’ve come to expect too much of them. So when we see pics of them on a yacht, hear about their vacations, learn about connections to unsavory individuals, we get more disappointed than we should (myself included). I’ve always wanted Harry to be more because he has so much warmth, charm, and charisma. He also seems to genuinely like the causes he’s involved with and I hear little cute stories of his sweet personality. But sometimes, I think he’s just privileged, rich kid who does nice things, but his mind will always be in a bubble. A privileged, rich bubble. I’m still going to criticize them when wrong has been done because “to whom much is given, much is expected,” but I will try not to make my disappointment personal. I think I’ve given up on Harry. *tear*
HH
This made me think. Great post.
I kinda agree with HH. Rich, spoiled people are like this. They do crappy things. And I don’t think it’s entirely confined to a) the BRF or b) posh Brits in general. Super-rich people – of any country – associate with and benefit from one another regardless of any particular individual’s shadiness. That’s just how it is. I don’t like it, but short of dismantling the world order, there isn’t much I can do about it.
Where I think things change in terms of the RF, is that I can see a royal the same way I see all the super-rich (generally a negative influence on the world, but I’m not going to take to the streets about it) IF AND ONLY IF they are seen to be fulfilling their public service obligations in a willing way.
So personally, and speaking as a British taxpayer, I’m more prepared to accept Harry’s wankly doings than I am William’s, simply because he is doing more public service – both in terms of hours/effort and in terms of clarity of emotional commitment.
@Snark – Thanks! Andrew can be shady, but he’s not playing a PR and/or personality game. And I appreciate THAT particularly aspect.
@Sixer – I think that’s why Harry tends to get a pass even when negative attention is deflected his way. He genuinely served his country; he genuinely loves doing work with his military comrades; and, he takes on charities he genuinely has a passion for. Harry does things from the heart which is appreciated, but as Mena posted above, he can be “dangerously simpleminded.” Which is a shame because he’s got access to so much.
Harry is a grown man who makes his own decisions and choices. And isn’t he doing his country and the monarchy proud?
@ HH et. al. I think the fact that he does work – and appears engaged in that work – counters a lot of this when it probably shouldn’t. Serving in the infantry, bringing the Invictus Games, the WWTW trek. Those show him engaged in service. Countered with this idiot move of trusting whomever he trusted (not sure it was Andrew, others have said it was a WWTW trekker who arranged the trip) and not thinking for himself. On the one hand, he does do his country and the monarchy proud. On the other hand, that whole “thick as a plank” thing as his mother would have said.
I don’t think either brother would ever give up their life of wealth and privilege. Whether or not either realizes that they owe something in return for that 1% existence remains to be seen. They have to decide to 1) work and try to live up to it (and sometimes fail) – Harry, or 2) be dragged kicking and screaming to work and not try all that hard to live up to the role they were handed because they don’t think the peasants matter – William
I’m with Sixer on this one.
M2P – absolutely, yes.
You make a lot of sense, HH.
I can see how you took it that way, but it wasn’t my intention to absolve Harry of responsibility. You’re right, he’s an adult, and he should have done his own research and rejected the idea on his own. I just got caught up in my dislike for Andrew, and meant that Harry shouldn’t have taken his recommendation for this or anything else.
Understandable and sorry if it came off as mean. I think my issue was that Harry has made some pretty simpleminded mistakes, but his personality and age has made us want to excuse him. Now he’s older, but maybe not wiser. I’ve come to this realization and it’s a sad day for this Harry fan. Homeboy better take some pictures with a puppy soon. 🙂
Not at all mean. You made a good point and I was unclear. A picture with a puppy would be an excellent idea about now!
It may have been a “private” holiday but Harry or his advisors should have known better. Andrew does NOT know any better.
Not to get all conspiratorial, but I think this might be another case of ‘hey Harry do something bad to take the heat off your ever-vacationing brother and sister in law.’ Especially because these Harry stories will be buries under all the Cressida speculation soon enough, plus the positive PR from a whole lot of engagements that he does. Way more than his bro. For whom bad PR has become a pattern.
*tips tinfoil hat* Hmm… You might be onto something Anna.
Yes. Agreed.
The press sat on the story for *over* a week and it comes out now?
What are they trying to hide that William’s done?
For the record, I think Harry made a serious error in judgement. He’s human which I get — but there are plenty of places in the world that still have snow late in the season AND are fairly private.
And privacy, while I understand it’s importance, is not worth losing your reputation over. It’s just not.
(To me, it sounds as if all the Royals need to chuck out their ‘yes men and women’. There’s too many instances when they flub that could’ve have easily been prevented)
Re: your conspiracy theory. It worries me thatthere are stories on hand in the first place, for that kind of use. This reallly is pretty bad.
LS: it’s not as simple as chucking out their courtiers. The issue is really whether they listen to any advise, good or bad.
1. Diana in her day
2. Sarah as recently as the fake sheikh scandal were her advisors did everything possible to prevent that meeting and she still took it
3. William is on record saying he deliberately opposes or doesn’t do anything advised by the courtiers.
So really, you can take a horse to water, can’t make it drink.
As much as courtiers are feared as the fabled ‘grey men’, gone are the days of Robert Fellowes and The QM.
Oh LAK, I know it’s not nearly that simple. Sorry if it sounded that way.
BUT I do think they are often surround by ‘yes men’ so that merely compounds the problem (friends are often the worst ‘yes men’ offenders). And not listening to advise, as several past and present Royals have done or do, is another issue that compounds an already bad one.
Did anyone else watch the WWTW special last night? Harry was SO LIKEABLE. Encouraging everyone, hugging everyone, congratulating everyone. I like that he chooses charities that he genuinely cares about.
Not related to this story at All, just wanted to talk about it!
Kimmy… Yes it was awesome! He was just a normal guy no airs and graces, can’t see William doing that. And how caring he was for everyone there can not be faked. What a great and inspiring show!
And when he arranged for all to meet his granny and when she said the one guy was very brave for doing it and Harry chirped in that he shared a tent with Harry and they giggled about that being brave.
Oh and Skarsgard! OMG!
This theory doesn’t work because the criticism came from an the international human rights community, not the ridiculous royals-obsessed media outlets.
The Sun broke the story. Someone leaked it to the Sun with a lot of damning details meant to create a firestorm. Otherwise, it would have been just another weekend getaway story.
Agreed Dame S! What does it matter that it got leaked or how it was timed? Facts are facts.
Not true hmmm. Someone leaked the damning facts. Otherwise this would be a non-story.
Lady
It doesn’t matter who leaked damaging facts or not, they are facts none the less. Even though I don’t agree with criticism over this incident, Harry has made plenty of dumb mistakes and it’s high time people stop excusing for. It’s true palace always uses bash the spare strategy but he gives them plenty of material to work with and that’s completely on him.
@LS
I’m confused. The story is true, yes? It’s about the facts and not about the source. That was my point.
Conspiracy theories often deal with *how* information is presented and ask people to think outside the box with information given.
Example, the world has had sophisticated surveillance equipment for decades. And 20 years ago the thought that governments would use their sophisticated equipment to spy on innocent people was laughed off as a joke. Governments surely have better things to do than spy in someone’s trash? Right? Not so far fetched today. So we had the knowledge but didn’t connect other relevant dots.
So on to this topic, I have no idea whether or not this story is true. The Sun isn’t known for being a reputable paper. However, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely made up either. Several key components DO sound legit but how do we know everything is really true? We honestly don’t. (For the record, I suspect it is true)
So I while I question the facts, I am *very* suspicious on how and why the story leaked in the first place. Why is Harry’s trip being called out for human rights violations but not William’s? This leak (and Tanna hinted at it) was spun in a way to be damning. Why? Again, there isn’t a right or wrong here. But the focus of each trip is very suspect. (William’s cost and Harry’s human rights)
Also, a weekend getaway isn’t going to get the same look at as a full weeks vacation. They both are viewed differently. So while I DO think Harry made an error in judgement, I can see it being an honest error. Same with William. Why? I didn’t know either country had any human rights violations. Most people don’t look that deep into their vacations spots. They just don’t and as I’ve said before — I try and give everyone the same benefit of doubt I would for a ‘normal’ person. (I’m strictly talking about locale and not cost)
The press has long had their own agenda. I mean above and beyond the bottom line. So what gives? That’s what I’m suspicious about.
Lady
I don’t get it, if people aren’t complaining about Maldives visit then they shouldn’t about Harry either? Just because someone else did something wrong doesn’t make Harry’s mistakes any more less wrong or right no matter how much anyone spins it.
Good,
I was blaming US for there actions and not what’s happening in the world. Just because US donate max money, that doesn’t mean they can whatever they want, act above the rules, aren’t accountable for the wars they started or huge human rights violations they continue to carry out and act holier then thou all at the same time.
Angelic,
No, not at all. I question the motives of the people leaking and spinning. Not the public’s ability to question. But, I do believe if we call out one, we should call out the other if the same issues apply.
(My answers are both in general and specifically to this issue).
If the US is donating the max money, I want it back home. What wars have they started? What violations of human rights? If my country is doing this, then I am totally ignorant.
It sounds like the royals need watchers (sort of like babysitters). Bad move being friendly with torturers, or caught with your top off! Innocent mistakes and big consequences, being on a world stage. I’ve thought Harry was adorable from the time he stuck his tongue out the car window to the cameras…too darling!
If they just tried to get top marks on their on the “side job”, I bet that they would get to love it…being kind to others, that is.
Going to Kazakhstan was such a dumb move, it’s not as he can’t pay for him and his Cressida girlfriend.
It’s like all the stars who perform for didactors or dictators’ children. Is there any limit to their greed?
ITA. But, then I’m not surprised as none of them seem inclined to or capable of self-reflection. I’ve tried to give Harry his due for being a soldier and wanting to emulate his mother, but he just can’t sustain the image of a mature, altruistic royal for more than a few months at a time.
The private plane used for Spain was the Duke of Westminster’s, not even comparable to this jolly. Harry needs A) better friends B) never to listen to Andrew and C) not holiday in countries where they crucify people. How no one thought this was a bad idea is beyond me.
What about countries that use untested and possibly tortuous chemicals to kill people that could cause the person to die a very slow and painful death? coughUSA
This.
Dan
I love you! If people stop going to countries that show utter disregard to human rights, USA and UK will be number 1 countries where people stop vising in west after Iraq war. It’s unbelievable how much double standards and judgement people have.
US and Uk would be number one countries to show utter disregard for human rights. We’re certainly not perfect, but I think that’s the one of the most uninformed opinions I’ve ever seen on here. Or anywhere else.
Goods,
I’m sorry but everything that happened after 9/11 shows how little US and British citizens cares about human rights after 2 wars, multiple prisons that are in par with north Korea torture schemes, Patriotic Act where anyone can be taken by govt. without any proof, lawyers, family visits and anything can be done to them etc. So yes whether you like it as an american or not but US and UK have shown there true colors re how much they care about human rights , it’s not an uninformed opinion at all.
Guantanamo Bay.
Guantanamo Bay.
I freakin’ adore you GoodNames, but I gotta disagree. The US was on shaky ground with human rights violations prior to the 2000’s and then Bush went batsh*t crazy after 9/11 and whatever credibility we had was blown out of the water.
Yeah, I’ve seen WAY too many protests on our human rights violations and was in a region crawling with Al Qaeda who often talked about those same violations (they supposedly set up shop ACROSS the street of the entrance to Yokosuka Naval Base). In Japan, we were flat out told NOT to travel with our military passports because of global terrorism but also because of the US’s human rights record. We were getting a ton of flak globally, compliments of Bush and Cheney. And there was plenty of ‘not safe or recommended’ spots in that region. Wowza.
Dan, whether you like it or not, has a VERY valid point.
I adore you, too LadySlippers, and you make some valid points. But to say the US and UK lead the world in human rights violations is simply incorrect. You are welcome to have the last word, but after that, I am going to drop it, because I don’t wish to argue about something that gets me so emotional (yes, I know, I started it), especially with you. I respect your right to have a different opinion, and to express it. I shouldn’t have started something I didn’t want to finish, so sorry everyone.
Oh my dear, I cannot confirm or deny that any *one* country has the worst human rights violations. All I’m saying — is the US ain’t some holier than thou angel in the human rights department (I’m not British so will not comment on the British record). And that’s all my comment was meant to address. To put it mildly, we Americans have a lot of room for improvement.
That’s it.
I do have a question, and if it hits too close to home, I will 100% respect it. But why does this hit such a tender spot with you? Again, feel free not to answer.
{{HUGS}}
I think Angelic is ACTUALLY trying to say that the US and the UK (and, by extension presumably, its citizens – ie those of us commenting on here?) have no room to complain about human rights violations in any country since they take turn and turn about to either screech about them or to turn a blind eye to them. Whichever suits their geopolitical interests at the time. And also that their involvement in foreign wars are in themselves human rights violations.
I don’t think they’re saying the US and the UK have the worst human rights violations INSIDE their own respective countries.
I’d agree that’s pretty much the case regarding both our govts (although the war point is arguable, however much I disagree with those wars). However, I retain my right and integrity in saying what I want to say when I want to say it. I marched against Iraq. Sometimes I support my govt’s decisions but oftentimes I don’t. I don’t agree with conflating a country with every individual within it.
Hugs back to you, my friend.
To answer your question honestly, I’m not sure why it upsets me so much. When someone addresses issues clearly and specifically, as you did, it doesn’t make me angry. Believe it or not, I agree with almost everything you said. I just get really angry with blanket remarks like those made by the others – the US doesn’t care about human rights, etc. or blatantly exaggerated or inaccurate statements that are just parroting anti-US propaganda. Part of it is the confusion of the government with the people. I work with a lot of people who care very deeply and passionately about human rights at home and abroad. So the remarks seem very unfair to me. Part of it is childish. I can call my brother a dope but don’t you dare call my brother a dope. I love my country very much, as I know you do, too, and I believe in the good intentions of most Americans when it comes to other countries. We give more to others than any other country in the world, yet people can still blame us for absolutely everything that happens and say we’re worse than a country where a woman is sentenced to flogging because she was raped. I believe America has room for improvement, but I believe Americans are good and well-intentioned for the most part.
I didn’t explain it very well, even to myself. I should have gone with the short answer. I really don’t know. So much for my not answering. Lol
Sixer,
yes that’s what I wanted to say. USA and UK doesn’t care about human rights, that’s the old US and old UK, now they just don’t want to get bombed and it doesn’t matter how many human rights are sacrificed in the process.
Sixer,
No disagreement from me. But when chatting with GoodNames I wasn’t factoring in Angelic’s comments and was addressing only GoodNames’.
GoodNames,
I think you explained it very well. You take offense with blanket and overreaching statements. They often can appear true but it usually isn’t, i.e. appearances can be deceiving and too simple. Blanket statements are VERY upsetting and there are a lot on this and every post that CB does.
I agree, *most* people aren’t consciously trying to be ‘bad’. Even public people like the Royals. Or even Americans.
I think a lot of people (including myself as I’m just as guilty although it something I strive to remember) forget we are talking about human beings that are full of faults and positive attributes in equal measure. Human beings are complex and cannot be fully captured in two dimensions which so many try to do (including me).
Goodnames
If i made the comments Angelic made but inserted the name of another country then citizens of that country would go ballistic about it.
Angelic
If you toned down the rhetoric and limited your comments to the actions (usually secret actions) of the government then average citizens would not be so offended about what you’re saying.
Sixxer
Everyone with a heart, a conscience and access to the truth is allowed to speak out against injustice anywhere – even if their passport shows they live in a country with a poor record.
Thank you, Dame Snarkweek. I agree with everything you said.
Sixer, thank you, too, although I think your interpretation of what Angelic was saying is very…generous.
Angelic, you sound very upset. What happened to you that you have shrouded in innuendo and generalities? Americans have the rights of free speech, and we really use it here – it’s great!
And maybe William and Kate Middleton shouldn’t spend:
– over $100,000 of taxpayer money on airfares
– $500/per meal of taxpayer money for everyone in the party for a week
– the additional ($100,000s+) cost of renting out a whole resort
to vacation in countries where they hand out flogging sentences to 15-year-old rape victims for “engaging in extra-marital sex”.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/maldives
My2pence, thanks for the link I had no clue, there are no words for what the poor girl had to suffer.
also +1 to never having anything to do with Airmiles Andy, wasn’t he involved with Jeffrey Epstein, who used his fleet of private aircraft to traffic under-aged girls for sex.
I agree, not to mention maybe he should be paying for private bodyguards (if he thinks he needs them) instead of using tapayer funded bodyguards. If it’s a *private* holiday as they say. I can’t believe they went there…do these people not think at all?
Plus it kills me, their mother had to undergo an exam to prove she was a virgin before she could marry Charles, but her sons can have their gf’s staying overnight at their Kensington Palace apartments and can take them on holiday. Boy, have times changed! And in such a short time!
To add to your list, Harry needs a brain and a conscience and less of the the divinely entitled.
huh, i wasn’t aware that my country had an oppressive regime.
I would have said the same thing a few years ago.
Have a question for all you Royal loonies (and please, don’t rain on my parade).
Being that I am a poor teenager, whose only job skill is writing–and I seem to love boring you with all my posts for FREE, so I thought I would write some stuff up and hopefully get paid. Amazon has a free ebook/kindle thing, where you can publish online, and they get something like 30% of the profit-you get the rest.
Being that I seem to be writing more gossip than actual stories lately, I wanted to do some celeb writing–sort of like an unauthorized biography, but not. Obviously, I would draw from interviews, and also interject my own opinions.
Anyway–I wanted to do something on the Royals–basically how freaking lazy William and Kate are….so, Royal Loonies, does anyone have any good sites for that?????????
I bow to your knowledge.
I’m not your best source, but I do have a suggestion for you – What Kate Wore. It gives her official schedule, and shows what she wore to different events. There are some ahem, gaps, timing wise, where they stall and her next public appearance isn’t for a long time, but it might fill in some part of what you’re looking for.
I’ll read your stuff, little sister!
Don’t worry, GoodNames–I’ll email it to you 🙂
But a celebitch has gotta eat, and adopt some babies soon 🙂
I was also thinking of writing about the Triangle of Doom (typical of me, yes), Tom Cruise and Scientology, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard (how he ain’t changed ONE BIT)—and also am working on writing the most amazing disclaimer ever, so I don’t get sued. But I’ll let you guys know when I put something up….
Exciting!
VC maybe Duchess or Diva, that blog is not the biggest fan of Kate or her antics, ahem.
I highly discourage DorD as a resource. The “facts” are often made up or exaggerrated to feed the frenzy. And many posts are admitted fanfiction, but delivered at truth. Kate M. criticism is slightly better, but still not a real resource and bases little on fact.
It’s a site of instigating hate in a non-entertaining way. And I’m not a kate fan, but i’ve found myself defending her there.
I’m thinking VC wants to write things potentially along the lines of DoD. I’m trying to think of resources that help her find facts plus multiple opinions from all sides, from which she can draw her own opinions and conclusions.
My2Pence
From my experience… This site is about as good as it gets for a balanced back and forth on the BRF even though the articles are written with a bit of bias it doesn’t sway the whole thread. And the posters here are some of the most knowledgable and diverse.
If you want facts you’ve listed the best resources imo.
I’m just worried we’re overly-influencing VC’s opinion. That’s why I included The Royal Forums. For all their refusal to look at multiple sides of an issue, they do have lots of history on there. So maybe she’ll look at lots of different sources, learn to view them all skeptically, and develop some opinions of her own.
If you want to read Waity Katy kind of stuff (and lots of lazy stuff) there are two forums that I can think of that are full of that stuff. Royal Gossip and Royal Dish have huge William and Kate seconds that are heavily populated. However, they are serious non-fan sites and, frankly, a bit too hatey for me so I don’t read them often. There was a fabulous blog that has since shut down, but the old posts have been migrated and I was going to post the link but when you click on the articles it takes you to Buick’s Enclave page.
Sorry I don’t have more; I bet Ladyslippers will have some recommendations for you.
(Darn, it just seems to have eaten my whole post! Trying again, with edits. Apologies if this posts twice.)
@VC. We’ve sucked you in, haven’t we?
UK Court Circular – Search past events
www(dot)royal(dot)gov(dot)uk/LatestNewsandDiary/CourtCircular/Todaysevents(dot)aspx
UK The Royal Diary – Future events
www(dot)royal(dot)gov(dot)uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Royaldiary/Locationsandtimes(dot)aspx
A man named Tim O’Donovan does an unofficial count of UK royal engagement totals every year using the Court Circular. Trick is, UK royals count every little thing while other families tend to count “days worked outside of office” or whatever. Example for UK royals:
– Fly to military base and are greeted (1 engagement)
– Meet “inspect” troops (1 engagement)
– Eat lunch with troops (1 engagement)
– Watch troops practice (1 engagement)
– etc.
Other royal families would count that as Visited troops = 1 day. Makes comparisons difficult.
As bluhare said, there are RoyalDish and RoyalGossip (I think it has a .de extension). They can both be pretty harsh, definitely not Kate Middleton sugars, but they do have a lot of info about non-British royal families. The non-British sections of the site *tend* to be a little less snarky, depending upon which family you read about.
The Royal Forums (known to many as the “sugar forum” where you’re not allowed to say anything against Kate Middleton or really anybody else)
www(dot)theroyalforums(dot)com/
Where else should we direct her folks?
I like your resources.
Good stories over at Royal Foibles. Grains of truth with lots of embellishing. Sort of a fun read, actually.
Victoria Arbiter now has a blog. There’s also one called Kate Middleton Review. Also I forgot about Royal Insight Forum. Their William and Kate sections tends to be pretty balanced. There’s a couple of fans there with a penchant for facts.
VG,
Since I often play devil’s advocate I’ll take up that mantle for you. 😀
How will what you write be different than what’s out there? There are A LOT of pro-Cambridge sites as well as anti-Cambridge sites. So what about you will be different?
Have you visited any pro-Cambridge sites? I suggest looking at those in equal proportion to the anti because you really need the full perspective in order to successfully argue whichever position you take. In addition, the pro sites aren’t all ‘stans’ and often have some really fantastic points. LAK, for example, has respectfully spoken about a British republican blog and that’s a wonderful example of knowing both sides of a coin.
Have you contacted existing blogs to see if they are hiring? A friend of mine on Tumblr was hired by another blog to write and get paid for it! I’m sure she’s not the only one either.
And look at all the Royal news you can — anywhere you can find it. Unofficial Royalty at http://www.unofficialroyalty.com often has the most Royal news links but it doesn’t hurt to have a few other Royal news sites as well. Also, they have a very very long list of decent blogs and other facts you can meander through (above and beyond what’s mentioned here).
Hope that helps and Good Luck. 🙂
I’m ‘interning’ at Celeb Dirty Laundry, so we’ll see how that goes….
And yes–I have a ton of work to do, because beyond knowing that Kate and William are both freaking lazy, I don’t know much about everything that goes behind doors.
VG,
Congrats my dear!!!
There are a lot of great suggestions. Go on Tumblr too — you’ll see the whole gamut from pro to anti.
I wish there was a way to privately communicate on here but oh well.
Congrats and good luck!
Yikes, yes, tumblr. VC, just promise yourself that you won’t take any of it personally and you might survive tumblr.
One that might give you some insight, and quickly show you some pro or anti is http://royal-confessions.tumblr.com/
This is worse than William’s hunting holiday, or at least it feels that way. Probably this is Andrew’s fault but Harry should have been thinking.
I like Harry, but he’s not the sharpest knife in the block. He has more charisma than Willy will ever have, but this was not a smart move. For someone who’s been in a war zone, he really should know more than he does. Like his choice of costume for a party years ago or using racial slurs. I don”t care how old he was, he should know better. Very unaware. And for heaven’s sake, stay away from Uncle Andy.
100%
I agree, at their age and w/their position, both brothers should wise up and know better.
Did you ever do anything stupid or thoughtless at age 19 or 21, which is when those other things happened? Should he and his brother have known better then, yes, and apparently they didn’t. Will they ever learn from their mistakes? Time will tell.
– The shopkeeper is on record stating that William picked out the costume and goaded his little brother into wearing it.
– Interesting perspective:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/is-prince-harry-really-racist-6873302.html
– Just like William should have known better than to drive home drunk 5 years ago. Caught outside the pub with the whole blatantly obvious “let’s distract the public from Uncle Gary’s drug scandal” kiss captured exclusively by Tanna at Ikon. Stumbled to the car, got behind the wheel, and drove home. Seeing as his mother was killed by a drunk driver, William should know and act better, shouldn’t he?
Yes he should, but that’s a straw man argument here, Tuppence. Harry’s 30 and he should know better too.
That being said, I think too much is being made of this and I do think that if they were looking for privacy, there are other places off the beaten track.
@bluhare, that’s the point I was trying (poorly) to make. They BOTH should know better, and should have had the best advisers overseeing every thing they did from step one. We just tend to hear more about Harry’s mistakes than William’s, which again leads to the heir vs. spare, golden child vs. fall guy debate.
They have to have solid advisers AND listen to advice. Maybe JLoP advised William to take the heat off the Uncle Gary sting by being photographed publicly with Kate Middleton. I would *hope* he didn’t also advise him to drink too much and then drive home, that was William’s personal choice.
I remember when the Bush twins were caught underage drinking. Some people blamed their security detail. The detail pointed out quite rightly that they are there to save their lives – not babysit, live their lives, or make better choices for them.
There is a point – long passed now I think – where they all (Harry, William, and Kate Middleton) have to step and be responsible. It looks like Harry (and whomever is advising him) trusted a colleague from the WWTW trek. That was another stupid mistake for which Harry SHOULD be held responsible.
Fully agree!
Tuppence
Pulling William’s folly into a response that should be about Harry’s follies is as bad as the blame game the media plays with the princes. Harry’s mistakes stand entirely on their own whether or not those mistakes are over reported to make William look better. Harry as the whipping boy is part of the reason his dumb mistakes make the papers, but no one makes Harry do dumb shite but Harry.
Absolutely agree! Harry tends to be portrayed as the victim of PR and the media, and excused for his very real choices. And besides, things haven’t been going well for William lately either in the press. So now it’s even- they both are schmucks.
Hmmm
You made me inhale cocoa! Lol, yes the honeymoon is o-vah!
Harry also proved himself to be capable of just as much arrogance and cranky rudeness as Wills that day when the media ‘found’ them volunteering on the line during the floods.
Cynical
Ah, sadly, I had almost forgotten about that one.yes, true.
As just a tiny example of the royals getting around the “We don’t accept freebies” rule, we’ve seen Kate wearing a necklace that was given to Pippa by the maker, which she then gifted to Kate. Seems like following the letter of the law, but not the spirit of it.
There was a story around the same time about the Queen accepting a gift of a babygro with an image of her corgis on it, which she passed on to PGtips, which is pretty much the same situation as the Pippa/Kate necklace. For every token gift that makes the media, there must be hundreds more that don’t. We see them receive gifts all the time when out greeting crowds and are told of the many gifts from heads of state, etc, which we will see W&K receiving on their NZ/Aussie tour, including loans of private estates for their ‘downtime’. All of which are nothing compared to the numerous private jet, helicopter, yacht, vacation property, and probably a lot of services, etc which are comped to all of them regularly, with or without a corresponding “leak” which results in massive global PR for the provider in return, or they ‘tag along’ with paying friends. So unless there exists an official written policy on gifts (which they are obv not being held accountable to) I don’t think there is any truth to this idea that the BRF doesn’t accept freebies, they definitely do and the bigger the freebie, the better.
Cynical
In her day the Queen Mum was notorious for casually admiring beautiful/expensive items – fully expecting said items to be packaged up and delivered to her as a “gift”. In almost every instance this worked. Jackie Kennedy used this tack when refurbishing the White House, as well. Rich people are truly…interesting.
Queen Mary was the same way with jewelry, wasn’t she?
Tuppence
Correct! Few people know this 🙂
Yes, that amethyst tiara “won” in a raffle (because what would happen if the Queen lost in a raffle?) comes to mind.
http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.com/2013/08/tiara-thursday-on-wednesday-queen-marys.html
Lol tiara jacking is the modern version of off with their heads!
Oh, Harry! One step forward. Two Huge Steps Back!
Do they not teach TANSTAAFL in the UK? There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch! Learn it, Harry!
He may have thought this holiday was FREE, but it sure is costing him.
I suspect this is a big part of it, and I agree!
Poor decision. I don’t know why some are incapable of a little research, but anything questionable like this should be avoided.
Right? Even if they don’t do it themselves, don’t they have “people” who could say not a good idea?
Does it occur to any of you that “they”, Harry and the others, really don’t care, won’t care, and do know who is paying their way. You would have to have an army of pathetically stupid people not to know where this stood on the list of unsavory actions by rulers.
Maybe the courtiers have it in for Harry and have left a leash long enough for him to embarrass and hang himself with. What’s next, Parity at Putin’s?
I’m surprised he isn’t afraid of radioactive tea…
Personally, if I cared about my reputation, I wouldn’t be seen within 10 miles of this great buffoon.
All Harry has to do is be photographed at a charity event with children and all is forgiven. Or maybe it is time to trot out Prince George for a photo opp. But I don’t think Wills and Waity would ever try to take the heat off Harry. This might be the perfect opportunity for then to slip away unnoticed on that ski trip you guys have been predicting. I don’t think Harry gives a rats *ss about human rights or whatever anyway. They all just want to enjoy their life with as little expense as possible. Same goes for many of our American celebs.
Or just look at the gif from last night’s NBC special on WWtW, of Harry and Alex:
http://marvelandwhimsy.tumblr.com/post/80849352100
That’ll distract people.
And apparently involved in arranging this trip was Inge Solheim, who worked with Harry on the North Pole Trek in 2011 and last year’s Trek.
He should have known better as well.
Yeah, I wish were were talking about the TV show. Harry’s a hugger!!
I agree. Harry is living his life as he wants to, a life of entitlement, and could care less what others think. And to accept freebies? With his privilege and wealthy? How cheap and trashy can you be!
Hear! Hear!
Firstly, it was only a weekend trip so they were there about 3 days and have been back for a week already. Secondly, the government apparently gives helicopters to all high profile guests so there really is no problem with that. And finally, yea it was dumb but do you honestly think that anyone would care if this was Will and Kate? Im sure the press would find some way to spin it positively, probably by saying that they were trying to bring attention to a country such as that.
No, this is bad. Sorry.
Could be worse, but yes… it’s not great.
It IS interesting, however, that a human rights organization is criticizing Harry for this and did not criticize William and Kate Middleton for the Maldives jaunt. http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/maldives
Yes, thank you. Everyone goes on and on about how glamorous the Maldives are, but they are an extremist religious state that perpetrates some serious human rights abuses on their citizenry. Why does one location get a pass but the other gets massive criticism? It’s all social engineering and politics.
This is because W+K’s holiday could not be directly and embarassingly linked to the government. Otherwise, as Angelic points out, no one would be allowed to vacation anywhere.
Apparently Kate Middleton is still accepting freebies (if she ever stopped), just via her sister.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2565622/How-charming-Kates-token-love-two-Princes-89-necklace-Pippa.html
Note: Edit to add, Deedee I didn’t see your comment above before mine posted.
It’s safe to say Royal attitudes have always been the same in regards to freebies, discounts, and gifts, “We’ll take them.” They just spin a different story later. The only thing changing is the press’ ability to access this information. With all of the silly stories that should have never happened over the years, Someone should tell the royals about the internet. And camera phones. Or at least that the jig is up. I just don’t know how much longer the charade can go on.
I have a question…Do William and Harry’s vacations and vacation destinations have to be approved by the Palace?
Excellent question. I wish I knew the answer! I’m assuming he had to take security with him, so somebody had to know other than his party.
The palace has to be notified. Their permission is not required. But the more political the destination or if the destination is on an international advisory list or no fly zone the game changes. So technically there would have been no red flags but as far as common sense/sociopolitical awareness goes – surely somebody could have raised an eyebrow?
Now I know i’m goon NH to get yelled at but I don’t see what was so wrong in going to a country with poor human rights, absolutely everyone does it.
Let’s see Queen invites dictators, kind etc at the height of Arab spring to her jubilee celebrations, UK contentment accepts billions in investment from these regimes, do business with them, sell weapon etc to then and actual ly participate in the regime, prince Charles just did a state visit some Arab country recently with very put right (which is payed by tax payers and endorsed by government), rf i.e. state accepts diamonds worth millions if not billion from these dictators but it’s not okay for Harry or William or Kate for that matter to go skiing for 3 days?
As I said I don’t get, we all visit to countries with poor human rights like China, Egypt , Russia etc, our governments do business with them so I don’t see it’s was bad that Harry went too. IMO people i’m general also agree because I didn’t read or see any backlash over this except on dm and even then it’s a human rights charity complaining not general people. Maybe it’s just me but this would’ve been bad if he were a patron of a human rights charity which he isn’t. It’s was bad when he went hunting but this I don’t get it.
I’m not gonna yell at you, Angelic. But I don’t agree with you.
It’s true that lots of countries can be called out on their human rights records (including my own country, the Good Ol’ U S of A), but ya gotta draw the line somewhere.
Kazakhstan’s human rights record has gotten increasingly violent in the last 5 yrs. Torture, bogus imprisonment & disappearing political opponents & journalists.
Harry wasn’t there doing diplomatic work. He wasn’t there on behalf of any good causes, he was there on behalf of himself.
To me, this is like if Prince Andrew got caught enjoying a free holiday in Sun City during apartheid.
It’s just indefensible.
Either Harry is shockingly entitled or shockingly out of touch.
I hate to think Harry is anything like that buffoon Andrew, so I’m crossing my fingers & hoping Harry was just shockingly out of touch, which is hardly a good enough explanation for what he did.
People make mistakes. Honest mistakes too.
But I do hope he learns his lesson.
I’m clinging to the hope that Harry just made a mistake. That he’s just stupid and he can learn from this.
But like so many have pointed out, he’s almost 30yrs old. He can’t keep claiming ignorance.
At the very least, I hope Harry realizes that whoever encouraged him to go on this holiday or whoever told him that it was no big deal, I hope he realizes that those people may not have his best interests in mind. That those people might just be using him.
Mena,
I don’t get again, China forces abortions ,spies/jails it’s political activists and many more offences yet US practically funds it’s debt by them, people from all over the world visit China, same with Egypt and most part of Arab world. So in theory it’s okay for normal people to visit countries with poor human rights, okay for governments to do business with them, sell the weapons which are used to maintain these regimes, okay for Queen to invite them, mingle with them, accept jewelry worth millions from them but it’s very out of touch and entitled of Harry to go there for a weekend.
Nope still don’t get it.
World Leaders, like the Queen or Dictators or Presidents have to maintain relationships with each other. That’s what global diplomacy is about & that’s how countries work together to slowly bring about large scale change.
Working stiffs, like you & me, going to visit hotspot countries, while it’s not a good idea, it doesn’t directly affect global diplomacy.
Prince Harry is not like you & me. He never was. He might not yet have the actual political influence of the Queen, but he has represented her on multiple occasions. So even if he is on his ‘private’ time, he is still a Prince representing Britain.
Prince Harry accepting very expensive gifts from politically powerful players in a volatile country makes it look like he can be bought. Like perhaps The Queen can be bought too. Is the Queen for sale?
Again Queen herself has accepted jewelry worth millions from dictators, so obviously they feel they are welcomed by her and the govt.. I agree he is not like you and me and yes diplomacy works by keeping relations and businesses with such countries and since we do keep relations and business with such countries, it makes it okay for him or any other person to visit there. I don’t get what difference does it make him not going there or going there? Nothing, it’s just a single human rights charity making a big deal, who also made a big deal re queen inviting Baharian king but common people don’t care or think it’s wrong for him to visit a country with poor human rights because they do too and that’s what I think. We visit these countries, our countries have self serving relations with them and hence it’s okay in my book for him to go there for merely 3 days too.
The gifts the Queen accepts from world leaders do not belong to her, they belong to the state. And in the spirit of diplomacy, the Queen reciprocates with gifts given back on behalf of her own country.
Harry kept that gift for himself. That could be seen as stealing or withholding from the state. And it’s unclear how Harry plans to reciprocate with a gift to give back to the Kazakh businessman who paid for this luxury holiday.
Obviously, your mileage is varying on this. But at the very least, it’s wise for anyone, not just Harry, to be wary of people who want to shower you with very expensive gifts. They might say it’s FREE, right now, but they’re eventually gonna wanna get paid back somehow.
Mena: it would appear that the trip was organised either by Andrew (boo!) or people he was trekking with for WWTW (dilemma?)
Andrew: never take advise from him
WWTW – he just spent a month or more with these people trekking to the pole, good way to not consider that what is good for other private citizens and i’m including the Viking and Westie here, is not good for someone with his platform. To misquote him,’acting more private citizen and less a prince.’
Either way, decision is/was on him.
This is why Princing sucks. And the sooner these people realise that Princing can’t be removed except by the will of the people, the better they would act. I don’t think it puts them in a straight jacket, they simply need to work with what they have. If he was so desperate to go skiing, perhaps a visit with Uncle Harald in Norway might do….
Angelic
It is different because Harry is a royal and not a regular citizen. He is simply under a different microscope. That’s how it is.
When HM or other royals deal with/accept gifts from other dignitaries it falls under the auspices of diplomacy. This comes with a large degree of transparency and accountability that helps keep everyone honest. There are none of these factors in place during a private trip.
Unfortunately Harry could be easily connected directly to the government on this trip. That is not good at all. When we visit China, Egypt or any of the other countries you mentioned we are seen gazing at the pyramids or enjoying a trek on the Great Wall – not being transported about in government vehicles or lounging on estates owned by top ranking government officials.
LAK
Who is Harold?
I’m stealing ‘princing’, btw.
King Harald V of Norway I’m guessing
http://www.kongehuset.no/seksjon.html?tid=28730
Thanks Tuppence 🙂
Angelic,
I think you make some great points, I really do. But I don’t 100% agree with them.
Although, I might. Hmmmmm…..
I think the crux of your argument is (and correct me if I’m wrong), people in glass houses shouldn’t be throwing stones.
I think that’s the heart of a lot ‘complaints’. People do have a right to object BUT we (individually or as a group) rarely take that same analysis to our own behaviour and adjust or respond in the manner we want the public personalities to. And that is unfair.
Hmmmmm. I totally can see your point — what we ask of the celebs and countries we should be actively doing. And since none of us are perfect, we often don’t and are lacking in judgement — the same charge we throw at others.
Hmmmmmm
I still need to reflect as I can still see the other side.
Regardless of where I fall post reflection. Great comments.
So “everyone does it” makes it right? And, NO, not ‘everyone’ does it. What powerful hypnotic magic does Harry possess that turns even the strong minded into the weak, where people will excuse even his basest, most craven behaviours? smh
We all do it, hmmm. I bet hater forums are full of people right now slagging William and Kate missing George’s first crawl. Granted that’s not an international incident, but I hope you get my drift.
Harry’s done some idiotic things in the past, but he has appeared to learn (I hope he has anyway). Maybe he’s just got more careful at covering his tracks. But this isn’t going to turn me into a HarryHater. Not yet anyway. It’s been noted as a demerit, though.
So if I don’t find him or anyone else for that matter (William,Kate or anyone else) going to a country with poor human rights wrong, I’m weak?
I’m not talking about Harry only but in general, I don’t like when people don’t follow certain morals themselves but judge others on something they themselves do. Most people visits various countries with poor human rights without giving it a thought, so did he. I don’t find fault with people who visit China or Egypt or any other country with dictators and I don’t find any fault with with him doing so either and yes I have also been to many countries with dictators and I don’t think it reflects poorly on me. It’s not me being weak or Harry having some magic dust, I just don’t agree with people judging him or anyone else on visiting a country with poor human rights.
@bluehare,
How can you state categorically that everyone does it? No, everyone does not do it. And how would that be a justification for what is indefensible?
So, now it’s Harry “hate”? When someone points out that what he did is not justifiable?
Let’s agree to disagree. I think Harry has charm but in the end, is little better than Wills when it comes to divine entitlement. I would like to be proved wrong but the evidence is piling up.
@Angelic,
Fair enough. Obviously, our moral yardsticks are different. Meanwhile, to tar everyone with the same brush, that “everyone does it” is a logical fallacy because 1. not everyone does it; 2. it doesn’t make it right. Thanks for explaining your viewpoint. We will disagree on this for forever so I’m done on this point. 🙂
Hmmm,
Up and down this thread you have thrown out some very negative blanket statements in regards to Harry. While it’s not ‘hate’ per se, you are throwing significant shade that might be unwarranted.
Should we be able to discuss this? Absolutely. But that also doesn’t mean that this is the sum of his worth either and in several of your comments — you are saying just that.
To me (and this is strictly an opinion) every mistake Harry does only seems to confirm your negative opinion of him. In reality, that’s no better than the rabid stan that forgives any celeb’s(or Harry’s in this instance) transgressions. Neither is healthy.
@LS
That’s a comment that is unfair, patently biased and getting personal. Enough already. I don’t follow your posts and decide on your complete stance on someone, nor use it as a (weak) rebuttal. And yet Harry alone deserves the benefit of the doubt while someone not enthralled by Harry is close to being called a ‘h8er’. Heh, kinda ironic.
I don’t find what others have stated to be personal. What is confusing in your statement, hmmm, is that you’ve chosen to make the argument personal. You’ve pretty much stated that anyone who sees a different side to this debate (different from your opinion) is “weak” and under some magic Harry power. And you’ve basically stated that your moral yardstick is superior to other people’s.
Most people on here are not defending his behavior, we’re discussing it. It is difficult to have a logical discussion with someone who just keeps re-stating the same thing over and over. This is close to what was posted in the earlier Maldives thread, where some people had a logical discussion about it and other people just kept stating, “You’re wrong, you’re jealous, leave them alone, they should be allowed to vacation, etc.”
Hmmm,
I actually disagree hmmm. I can go and copy your statements (plural) that I was referring to if you’d like to see what I was comments I found objectionable. You’ve made several categorical assumptions that I thought were unfair and very biased. I have no issues with differences in opinions but do strongly dislike people getting unfair assumptions thrown their way.
I also don’t consider myself ‘enthralled’ by any Royal. Harry has many redeeming qualities but screws up like any other human being. If what we’ve been told is true, Harry made some serious errors of judgement, no question. As have the rest of the family and I wish they all would do some serious introspection about their actions as a whole and individually. Perception is 9/10ths of opinion and no matter how you look at this situation (and other similar ones), it looks bad. Unfortunately, I don’t see a lot of them practicing introspection.
@hmmm I feel you have been somewhat unfairly treated here.
Honestly I am amazed at some of the comments here. Some of the posters on this thread (including me) have been very critical of Kate Middleton for her behaviour (e.g. lack of work ethic, poor work attire and general aversion to charitable causes) since her marriage to Prince William. As a mature 30+ year old women, most people believe she should know better. However, Harry (who I am usually a fan of) has made a serious error in judgment here and as a 30 year old man should. know. better. I honestly feel like hmmm was (perhaps a tad too firmly?) trying to put across this argument and yet certain posters here have felt the need to lump hmmm in with the ‘You’re so jealous’ brigade and brand them a hater. Calling someone a ‘hater’ isn’t really conducive to a proper discussion is it? It gives across a hypocritical vibe even if this isn’t what was intended.
No one here has called her a hater that I can see, Eyeroll.
@LS
” I can go and copy your statements (plural) that I was referring to if you’d like to see what I was comments I found objectionable. You’ve made several categorical assumptions that I thought were unfair and very biased. I have no issues with differences in opinions but do strongly dislike people getting unfair assumptions thrown their way. ”
You found comments “objectionable”? You found opinions offensive? You think that certain things I said were ‘unfair’ and ‘very biased’. Did I say them against you? I didn’t. I stated my opinion about some royal kid and yet you find it offensive? For whose sake?
Agreed, that Harry is suspect like the rest of them.
@My2Pence
I stated the magic Harry power as a general observation. Besides, Angelic clarified her position and I acknowledged it. And there are, indeed, people who are strongminded and yet melt for Harry. Such is the power of charm.
As for suggesting my moral yardstick comes off as superior. I am not a champion of moral equivalency, and it seems that you are so there is no way to reconcile those two stances, so let’s agree to disagree. Meanwhile, in the spirit of moral equivalency, condemning me is rather superior in its stance as well.
As for qualifying my *opinions* as rigid, repetitive and no better than the sugars? Just. wow. And you got that from one thread? And yes, some people are justifying his behaviour.
I backed most of my opinions up and yeah, I also bitched, and that makes me different, how, from you and the rest?
@Eyeroll
Thank you!
Yes, the inadvertent implication is “h8ter” which I find ironic. Yes, it is a hypocritical vibe. Yeah, I think even the strongminded melt in the face of charm.
I find it hard not to be sucked in by Harry. Yet, he continues to disappoint. There are mistakes, and then there is a way of life.
@hmmm. You don’t seem to be understanding what I wrote, and you assumed that I said things about you rather than about the format of discussion in general. Discussion being give-and-take, references and rebuttals, not just blanket statements thrown down.
I do not see me condemning you here. I didn’t state that your moral yardstick is superior, you’re the one who inferred it. I in no way stated that I am the morality judge here, again you’re the one making that leap and accusation. As someone else said a few threads ago to you, not going to bother and will skip your replies from now on.
He should be criticized. He’s been doing well, but he should have never taken this oligarch up on his offer. He has enough money to pay for his own weekenders with his girlfriend and his pals. Or maybe he doesn’t, since he just bought a brand new Audi coupe the other day.
Actually, the royals have a deal with Audi – they receive a major discount on that as well!
60%
I don’t think he is very bright. He has showed that before with the nazi costumes. I wouldn’t blame prince Andrew or friends, Harry is pushing 30 he shouldn’t need people to tell him that it’s not wise to be associated with a dictator.
He should be called out on this stupid stunt and not be forgotten!
Other things wrong with this trip is Taliban are nearby and known to go over the borders to cause trouble. If Harry’s security had to beefed up so much in the UK then why the heck would he be so foolish to risk his chances to go into such a well known country that has terrorism? One paper printed that palace said he did NOT have bodyguards yet, one photo has the same bodyguard who was with Harry’s Vegas trip.
I also noticed the night before his gf posted a photo of a sunset taken from inside the plane. Why would she make this available after crying about intrusions? Note she did so the eve before the trip was reported so is this significant since the trip was 1 1/2 weeks ago. Once again she has made available photos of her there after many doubted she went since 1st set of photos printed did not have her in them. Also why would she and Harry pose for photos with people who asked if they want so much privacy? One contradiction after another with these two.
We can draw our own conclusions, but overall the trip was another major screw up on Harry’s end. The crying wolf for having photos taken or “stolen” as she claims is highly questionable due to the fact she still permits strangers/media access to her photos. A bit Forrest Gump if you ask me… “stupid is as stupid does.”
Randomly, another post on CB today is about Emma Watson. Now that would have been a nice match with Harry if I was matchmaking. Earned her own $60 million, well-educated, fluent in French so she can chat up HM (who likes to speak french at meals), works with sustainable fashion, and knows how to handle global media attention while staying sane. Too many possible jokes about how she ended up with Prince Harry instead of Harry Potter, however…
And she’s awfully cute 🙂
As someone currently living in Kazakhstan right now, I can agree with whatever it is everyone else is saying.
This place sucks.
Annually my husband and I go through our magazines to toss. National Geographic had a great story with gorgeous pics of Kazakhstan! Shame it isn’t like that in person…
Hope you move to somewhere better soon!
Oh Harry. I hope you not only learn from this, but you can redeem yourself soon. Very, very soon. The sooner the better.
Personally I hope Harry acknowledges this screw up in the future, rather than go on acting like it never happened. It wouldn’t hurt.
So glad I live in a country where I am not expected to call these kinds of people “your highness” and be a “subject” of theirs. Ha! Earn your titles (doctor, reverend, president) don’t sit and inherit them.
Does anyone else think this is a shell game or wag the dog like move? We r hating on Harry about this but where r Will and Kate? Could they be off on a freebie skiing somewhere?
This is pretty bad. I think he of all people knows what governments are repressive. He is not 19. He is a man already and should be more responsible, especially in these types of situations. Bad idea all around. I’m sorry but if my boyfriend invited me on a vacation that he didn’t pay for, I’d be insulted. But I guess people have different standards.
Inge Solheim speaks out about the trip he arranged and on which he invited Harry to tag along.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-harry/10730857/Prince-Harry-enjoyed-holiday-for-young-lovers-says-trip-organiser.html
Well it looks like Harry is the victim of the press who deny him privacy. And that it matters more than any other reprehensible issues: Harry’s privacy is paramount! Who gives a darn about that country’s human rights issues or the government? After all, Harry just wanted to chillax (as if he couldn’t do it anywhere else in the world). Also, this was a spur of the moment thing according to his friend, so I can’t begin to imagine the scrambling that the RPOs had to do to accompany him. Let’s not focus on the freebie, either, because, of course, it was a friend’s invitation, a friend who did not pay for the trip.
No, Harry is not a public figure representing a country and an important family with influence. No, he has no bodyguards paid by taxpayers. It was just a casual invitation, so what’s the big deal?
Well said hmmmm. It’s not that I dislike Harry, I’m just sick and tired of all the excuses people make for him.
@My2Pence
Huh? I was addressing the subject in the article not you and how it tried to excuse him other ways. Sorry it came across differently to you.
@NIch
You said it better than I! It is irrelevant who planned the trip. The article is just more balderdash to distract from Harry’s culpability.
PS This comment is showing up in the wrong place. Aimed at response by 2 pence below.
Kindly read what I actually posted, instead of inferring and throwing shade my direction for things I did not write. I made no excuses for him, I merely posted an article related to this discussion. Many people on this thread were blaming Harry for trusting Prince Andrew. Now we know Andrew had nothing to do with it. Does not absolve Harry of the choice he made, merely gives more facts as to who was responsible for planning the trip.
Huh?? I’m not sure what shade means but no shade was thrown your way. My comment refers to the article. I agree with hmmm’s comments in reference to the article. It’s not relevant as to who planned the trip; either way, it was Harry that agreed to go. Dumb move and he’s not a victim. This is a PR move to ‘throw shade’ (did I use that correctly?) on something in order to deflect from the backlash.