Harry and Meghan: at the end it is (again) the queen who wins
The agreement reached between Elizabeth II and the couple - who renounce their royal titles - marks the triumph of the queen who knew how to maneuver perfectly.
An unexpected victory for Harry and Meghan who will be able to stand on their own feet by marketing the “Sussex” image from North America where the couple will spend most of their time? Or the triumph of Queen Elizabeth II determined to rid herself of a potential "rotten branch" by defending tooth and nail the order of succession to the throne of England?
To read the press release published on Saturday evening on the settlement of the dynastic crisis, if appearances are more in favor of the first version, the reality is much closer to the second. "They are out," proclaims the Sunday Times, summing up the general sentiment of the Sunday press.
Indeed, Queen Elizabeth II won her case across the board. The sovereign takes over from the duo the title of Royal Highness reserved for members of the royal family exercising representative functions. She had done the same with Princess Diana after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996. No more reverence for ladies and nodding for men! The new noble title of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, granted in the wake of the highly publicized wedding of May 19, 2018, is void of any content.
In addition, Harry and Meghan will have to reimburse the taxpayer the 2.4 million pounds (2.8 million euros) cost of the renovation of Frogmore Cottages in Windsor Park. The mansion remains their British base, but they will have to pay rent at the rental rate to the owner, namely Her Majesty. The police protection they enjoyed is also going by the wayside, which allows the police, in great demand, to make substantial savings.
Their only consolation, they remain members of the royal family. Belonging to a knot of vipers that the Borgias are fond of is not easy, however.
A clear separation without hesitation or wavering: in the eyes of Elizabeth II, brutality has the benefit of clarity. During the Sandringham summit, which took place last week between the head of state, his son and his two grandsons, to resolve the crisis, the queen had prevented Meghan from participating by video conference from Canada. Clearly, Harry is no match for the trio. The 93-year-old queen has a formidable ability to get rid of all troublesome things. The elimination of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Lord Mounbatten, Diana Spencer, Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, underlines a formidable know-how in the matter.
William and Kate, the big winners ...
In addition, the agreement is not a good deal for Prince Charles forced to settle the financial side of his own pocket. However, his personal fund, the Duchy of Cornwall, is facing economic difficulties linked to Brexit. In addition, de facto regent of the kingdom due to the advanced age of the monarch, this supporter of the soft method was once again bypassed by his mother.
On the other hand, William and Kate are the big winners of the showdown. The Duke of Cambridge and his son George are now at the heart of the succession of a monarchy reduced to acquests. His wife, Kate, who made a flawless "be beautiful and shut up" mode, crushed her rival Meghan in the hearts of the British.
... and Harry the big loser
If Meghan has apparently pulled out of the game to lead her new career across the Atlantic, her commercial room for maneuver will be limited by the careful protection of the royal brand, a controlled designation. The "Firm", as the company Windsor Inc was called, intends to remain at all costs the guardian of the temple and its derivative products.
Finally, Prince Harry is the big loser. The duty pegged to the body, the former officer, hero of the war in Afghanistan, lived all his life inside the royal clan. Today he risks knowing the sad fate of the former King Edward VIII who had abdicated in 1936 in order to marry the American Wallis Simpson. In exile in Paris, the Duke of Windsor led an idle and sad existence under the rule of his wife.
