There is much irony in the upcoming interview between a multi-millionaire TV personality and the multi-millionaire former royal couple in which we learn the latter will be portraying themselves as victims. Victims of what, I am not sure. Certainly not poverty or hardship. Unlikely to be physical violence. Hurt feelings, yes oh yes, in bucket loads.
One titbit to seep out of the well-trailed chat on the patio is that the Duchess seems shocked and horrified that her pre-wedding telephone conversation with Ms. Winfrey was observed or listened to by courtiers. We are told that Ms. Winfrey was attempting to get an interview.
I have spent most of my life working for large organisations and I consider my self fortunate. If Piers Morgan, for example, wanted to interview me (not very likely but stick with me on this), would I expect the Press department of my employer to be present? Too right I would and this is where I think the greatest misunderstanding in all of this sorry tale lies.
Either she wasn’t told or failed to understand but Ms. Markle was joining one of the most influential and established corporate organisations in the world. This is a job. Your salary is the privilege, titles, castles, palaces, cottages and staff that come with it.
When joining any company large or small, you might immediately feel that changes need to be made. However, you do not go in shouting the odds and if reports are to be believed, throwing your weight around telling everyone they have got it wrong. No. You take time to learn why things are done the way they are, you learn and adopt the culture of the organisation. You respect and recognise the difficult jobs done by those you run the company: the Chief Executive, the Finance Director, the Chief Operating Office and the Head of HR in my world or the courtiers in the royal household.
Some people have the image of courtiers as lazy, foppish individuals crawling around their employer. Not so. These are people who could walk into any FTSE100 company at very senior levels. Any reasonable level-headed person would realise that you first need to gain their trust and confidence. Show that you want to be part of the team working for the greater good of the firm. This might mean biting your lip on occasions and keeping opinions that they may find uncomfortable to yourself, for now at least.
Be nice to your co-workers and those that work for you. Be understanding and appreciative of the hard work they do. Accept that they are human and may make mistakes which everyone can learn from.
Once you are seen as a good soul for everyone to work with, you can start suggesting change and you will be listened to.
The Duchess came from the media world. Even if you are only a B rated actor, when you are a regular character in a long-running series the production company will treat you very well. They know that for many actors a key driver is the adoration and applause. Nothing wrong with that. We all need a reason to get up in the morning.
If, let’s say, you ask for a red blanket they will be at pains to find out exactly what sort of red you want because they know that this will be really important to you. They know that you might see the wrong shade of red as an insult and evidence that no one listens to you and no one cares about you. Your day job is to channel feelings you might not have into your character and it drains the emotions. They know that this makes your ego and feelings fragile and that you are likely to kick off (see red, if you like) at what others may feel is trivia.
The clash of worlds between Hollywood stardom and working for a commercial organisation was always going to be seismic. They are poles apart. Being a Duchess whose husband in 6th in line to the throne does not mean super-stardom it means damned hard work and towing the line. You cannot pick and choose your script when you are a newcomer.
How you respond when things aren’t going well is critical. Take this week’s claims of bullying of staff by the Duchess. A considered response would be to say that you were sorry if people felt that way but it was never your intention and you feel terrible if you have offended or upset anybody. This is the best way to make yourself sound reasonable. We all make mistakes and say things we regret sometimes. You wouldn’t rubbish the other person’s feelings and turn yourself into the victim, would you?
Neither side really understood the other. There are those saying that the Duchess set out to deliberately take Harry away. I don’t believe that for a moment. I just don’t think she knew the personal cost of the job which includes a loss of personal freedom to say and do as you wish at any given moment.
So where do they go from here, post broadcast of the interview?
I imagine that there is a real chance that the Duke and Duchess will lose their remaining titles. Harry would still be prince but not a Duke and thus Meghan “plain old” Mrs. Mountbatten-Windsor. Why? Well the titles have been used to make the couple tens of millions of pounds personally which is quite repellent considering they walked away from the job that goes with these titles.
The Duchess will come out of this OK. She has already secured her stardom in America and is now upper A-List. Her appeal to the woke is stratospheric and she is gathering her disciples around her, one of which is tomorrow’s interviewer. Don’t be surprised to see Senator Meghan in the future.
What of Harry? He says he is happy but his eyes and demeanour betray that. Fair play; he stood by his wife. Her perception is her reality which is just as valid as the perception of the people who worked for her.
Had they stayed, I can imagine Harry being the hero for the NHS, championing doctors and nurses, supporting them and keeping spirits high in the way that he does so well. The government would not have dared to give only a 1% pay rise. As it is, he will now forever be in the shadow of his wife. It will be a marriage of unequals. Maybe he will be happy to fade into semi-obscurity but what happens when he has outlived his usefulness to his wife and there is someone else who can better further her ambitions, I wonder?
The real tragedy about all this is that they could have been a massive force for good, with the clout of “The Firm” behind them, if only she had been prepared to play by the rules for a little while.
Stay safe and be kind to one another.
A bit bewildered 