One of the dumbest stories this weekend was this piece from the Daily Express/Mail, which is just part of a rather unhinged campaign around Prince Harry. To recap, when Prince Harry negotiated his exit from the royal family, the Queen and her courtiers insisted upon several punitive measures, perhaps because the Queen is a petty a–hole, or perhaps because they wanted to somehow force Harry to choose between his obvious interest in serving the military and veterans versus wanting to protect his wife and child. In any case, the Queen forced Harry to “give up” all of his earned and honorary military titles, including the prestigious position of Captain General of the Royal Marines. After badgering Harry about everything under the sun for months on end, the courtiers seem to feel like THIS is how they need to attack him now: that Harry is awful for… withdrawing from his military positions because he was forced to by the Palace. So here’s the latest in that particular smear campaign:
The Major General who commanded British forces in the Falklands War in 1982 has told how the Royal Marines need ‘someone who lives here’ for the role. It comes after Prince William, 38, was reportedly invited to take on Prince Harry’s role Captain General of Royal Marines after the Duke of Sussex, 36, was stripped of military appointments after stepping back from royal duty, according to sources.
‘The Royal Marines have had sovereigns serving as Captains General since George V, but the royal link stretches back to James II,’ said Major General Julian Thompson, speaking to The Express. ‘In that regard, and for many other reasons too, the Duke of Cambridge would be perfect. The Royal Marines deserve someone who is an active participant for the role, someone who lives here. The point is to have someone who understands us and protects us. It cannot be done by someone who has decided to make his life in Los Angeles. It matters.’
Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West also told the publication: ‘Prince William is a future king of this country and as such the Royal Marines would be very proud to have him in that role.’
Prince Harry entered into negotiations with the royal family after announcing his withdrawal as a senior royal in January, and was said to be ‘devastated’ by the agreement to give up his military honours, including the role of Captain General of Royal Marines. However, sources claimed the Duke of Cambridge was ‘approached’ with the view of taking on the role, and was ‘keen’ to take up the appointment. Insiders told the Express: ‘The decision has been made to invite Prince William to take over this important duty, largely on the basis that the Duke of Sussex has given no reason to believe that he will alter current arrangements.
Quite the opposite, in fact.’ The source revealed: ‘The Corps is, in effect, without a Captain General and we really must get on and fill this role.’
Harry would have loved to remain as Captain General of the Royal Marines. The Queen made him give it up, along with all of his military titles and honors. It’s not a matter of “Harry should be doing more!” He was forced out. And all of this talk about William taking over the role is just… obvious. It’s all very obvious. William wants everything Harry had and has. William also wants to keep punishing Harry for leaving, for choosing his wife and child over a lifetime of being William’s doormat.
Omid Scobie also tweeted this:
A source close to Prince Harry says claims that the duke has not been in touch with the Marines (made by "informed sources") are not true. https://t.co/9XToZfXuey
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) October 25, 2020
Okay. I’m sure Harry has been in touch! But he’s not going to come back to England *just* to have this position, especially since they would also demand that he leave his wife and child in America. Jesus, these people are psychos.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red, Backgrid.
“the Duke of Cambridge would be perfect. The Royal Marines deserve someone who is an active participant for the role”
Oh my dear Major General, you are setting yourself up for such disappointment.
I can’t possibly see how this could go wrong in and way. Oh you poor fools if you actually believe that!!
Let them have William if they want him. I’m sure he and his keen wife will be excited to take on extra roles because this is their year to shine, as long as it doesn’t keep them from the school run, and as long as the marines don’t expect them to attend appointments every single time as one would hate to create the expectation that they will do it every year. If all else fails, Andrew can fill the appointment. I hear he is also keen to get back to work and his royal highness has no intention of going to America any time soon.
Seriously. Not just William but how many royals are active and genuine participants of the military honours they have? Answer: not many.
Lol. Be careful what you wish for, you silly Major General.
Right? If he is so perfect, let him get on with it. These people are nonsensical.
Billy barely participated in the royal heir tailored service he did at the RAF and Charles had to step in to save him from being booted for doing so little. Only Harry in the current generation of royals actually served and frankly the reason why the military guys like Harry because he risked his life along with them and unlike any royal since Phillip. (Andy did the Falklands, but that was more of a colonizer skirmish and not an actual war – also they hated him because he was awful even back then)
Landing a helicopter at Buckleberry is not the same as serving in Afghanistan and the military guys know this.
I think what he did with the Invictus Games by honoring the injured warriors probably means even more to the marines than his service.
I wonder if this is a KP set up…
It definitely seems like it! I think this is William trying to take the position for himself, and of course he sees the best way to do it is to trash his brother in the press.
It certainly follows the standard KP talking points. Its like they have a multiple choice sheet and the interviewee must hit on a minimum 3 of 10 items. Bonus points if they get 5.
This guy is an 86-year-old retired Military Historian. It’s strange that they left that fact out, making it seem like he is speaking for active service men and women, when he is no longer in active service.
Palace aides and courtiers (or perhaps, Prince Phillip) brought him out to ease the way, because after the first article saying William was taking over the position, there was blowback because Harry is ‘still’ very popular with the military. They respect his two tours of duty in Afghanistan. When he tells them he understands how they feel, they know he actually does.
William will only be a figure head, and they know that as well.
You’ll be lucky to get a zoom call every four years or so, sir. Enjoy!
If I was a marine, I would rather have Harry represent me rather than William. Didn’t Will just barley skate along? He also seems to SWFing Harry. Harry has done so much for veterans, not only raising awareness of their mental health struggles, but coming up with solutions like the IG and the Endeavor Fund. What is Will going to do? Tell them PTSD is boring?
I think William was triggered by the applause Harry received at the Royal Marines event in March.
I also am willing to bet that if that same event is held again this coming March, Kate goes and wears a bright red dress.
The General is another mouth piece in a long line of mouth pieces. William needs to understand that no amount of undermining on land or over the sea will earn him half the respect and admiration the Marines had and still have for Harry. Per Mare Per Terram
Don’t forget that around the same time Bill and Katie walked (late) into a silent room at Bafta.
I think people in the industry and media know the truth but don’t want to comment. When you consider how ABC and other news channels have been silenced, that gives you an idea of the BRF reach.
You know William is going to ask for a three cheers for Prince William.
+1, especially on Kate’s future red dress. Lol. The Cambridges are pathetic.
It’s not a question of which bright red military esque button coatdresses Kate would wear – it’s whether she would buy a new one special for the occasion!
Another scheme from Miniwillie himself. So, as the military just adores Harry, the optic of being rejected by the military because they know how petty he was for pushing his brother away, is so scary he had to get someone to say something bad about Harry so he can move it and take over his position with the least opposition. The plan is so simple, i’m laughing. Are the military that stupid not to see in this cheap game?
They do see it but their spokesperson is obviously in bed with the RF. I say let the man child have it. Luckily he has the anti midas touch. Everything he touches turns to rust. His handlers need to let him know that moves like these is exactly why he has not endeared himself to the public.
The sadim touch–everything he touches turns to shit!
That kind of spokeperson from the military must get his position by association with the RF.
Useless and dangerous to the real soldiers who were risking their lives just like willie.
“Miniwillie” I love it!!!! @Bibi
Yep, this is the PR promo to garner support for Cain. Well we have news for him, Cain will only visit them one day a year, so how significant is it to permanently have a presence on the ground.
It could also be a lowkey attempt to force a decision on the Sussexes to move back to the mainland and setting this up as a natural consequence when the year end review comes along.
I don’t doubt your last paragraph is true from the royal family’s viewpoint (like they are trying to “force a decision” for Harry) but from anyone else’s standpoint….they have a gorgeous estate in California. I’m pretty sure they’ve decided, lol. It’s kind of pathetic the BRF doesn’t see that.
Harry was not forced to give up any military titles or honors he earned. Only the honorary ones given to him because he was a working Royal. I get why it hurt him to lose the positions, but he only had them because he was a working Royal. Everything he earned is still his.
Yeah in fairness it makes sense for them to want a UK based person to fill the role? The newspaper is making this much more controversial sounding than it really is.
It makes sense but are presently active marines that concerned or is this only being pushed by two retired individuals with close ties to the monarchy?
Equality, by the way the *soldiers* gave Harry that standing ovation, you can tell it wasn’t *THEIR* wish to give Harry the door. This has PWBigT’s sticky little fingerprints all over it. Found a couple of Bitter Brass Brexiters to put it out there, as he couldn’t nominate himself without looking like MORE of an a$$wipe than he is.
This IS bitter, bitter WeeWillie wanting to take ALL the toys, not realising that it isn’t the toy that gives the joy.
Hard to imagine any of them would GAF, but I knew a guy who was a captain in the British army (mid 30s) and he absolutely loved all of this ceremonial British nonsense so I’d not be surprised.
I’m surprised the Marines genuinely want a royal (someone who’s going to see them at a max of 3 times a year). I would have thought an actual marine be much preferred.
This 86 year old general also seems to be a big Brexit fan.
Of course.
British people have a military fetish, and it goes hand in hand with nationalism, fetishing the Royal family and other jingoistic British nonsense.
It actually sickens me how people go on about the British Military, Im Irish so in my eyes, as an organisation- they are the baddies! Insert peepshow gif right here.
“The point is to have someone who understands and protects us.” William? Seriously, sir?
This is just plain silly. Anyone else struck with a Gilbert and Sullivan ear worm here?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSGWoXDFM64
windy thanks for that it brought back sweet memories. In school I was one of the daughters in the production of the pirates of penzance. Absolutely LOVE Gilbert and Sullivan and Willieleaks will be the bumbling major general.
@RoyalBlue – so glad to bring back happy memories! I enjoyed doing plays when I was in school but luckily for everyone I knew better than to try out for anything involving singing!
To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about William here; I read, Major General, and my mind just went to that song. My parents love musicals, and Pirates was one of many things I heard frequently growing up.
The lyrics though, are sort of apropos of the gentleman quoted in this article; it’s about someone extremely educated in one sphere, but clueless in another.
I’d be surprised if the rank and file that applauded Harry in March agree with what’s said here; plus Harry’s attorneys have sent a legal warning to the MOS about this article, so the Major General is likely to see some blowback for his remarks.
I’m really grossed out by how many people in the UK would be perfectly okay with Prince Harry abandoning his wife and child. What kind of person thinks its okay to abandon the family that he loves for the sake of his brother? How many of them would abandon their own families because a jealous sibling asked them to?
But that’s the point. They do not see Meghan or Archie as his family. The cognitive dissonance is astounding. Some cannot bear the thought of a black, undeserving person being anywhere near the throne. It triggers every negative emotion in racists that Harry chose to be with Meghan, so they want him to see sense. What makes it worse is that he treats her with the kindness and respect they wish the other Prince would demonstrate to his wife.
well, obvious William is obvious. Clearly, someone knows that the Queen looks petty for stripping Harry’s honorary appointments, and clearly someone also knows that the recent leaks that William was going to take over for the royal marines are looking like a petty “power”/position/influence grab, so these men were sent out to soften the narrative. It’s not that William wants to take this position from his brother you guys, its really not! The marines just think he would be SO PERFECT so how can he turn them down!?!?!? He’s the future future king, remember!?!?!?!?
This is what happens when you’re idle and don’t have a real job. William needs to learn to work, for real.
The marines gave Harry a standing ovation – when is the last time anyone did that for William?
I just watched this on YouTube. Very moving–it looks like Harry is trying not to cry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zKHPmKPZoY
Awww the hand holding in that video, you could tell he was communicating his emotions to her through his thumb brushing and just gripping. I’m so happy for him that he found a person he could truly lean on and that will support him.
I went back to watch the way he’s holding her hand. Yes, you can see how he’s trying to keep it together. Very sweet.
Ah, yes, more “news” about the “inconsequential” couple who are “irrelevant” and to whom no one pays attention anyway, yet somehow they sell papers.
The Daily Fail will never leave the Sussexes in peace.
Then let’s drink to the failure of the Daily Mail.
At some point, Bill is going to run out of toys he can snatch away from Harry and then he will realise he has lost all power and control over Harry.
The fact that the BRF are willing to hurt their own son like this to punish him for marrying a biracial woman speaks volumes to how shortsighted they are. They really are in danger and haven’t figured it out.
When the guard changes in the UK as it eventually will, the left-wing press will skewer the BRF and there will be no hiding places….
The RF really is on the wrong side of history here–they are making problems for William and even for George, if it actually lasts that long. I have a feeling we’re maybe 6 months to a year away from “Woke Willie”–who will desperately try to glom on to Biden and Harris when they come to the UK for a state visit. Will any of the RRs call him on it?
I don’t see Biden making a UK state visit anytime soon.
Biden is FIRMLY on the side of the EU and has said as much openly.
Boris Johnson has postponed any publicity or talks around Brexit until after the US elections. His mandate will disappear when Biden/ Harris are in power and then the Tory Party will have to decide on a new strategy. The right wing takeover has essentially failed without Trump or a Trump like figure.
I can however see the BRF trying to woo VP Harris in some capacity as a means of soft diplomacy and to look right on.
Such a shame bc the BRF had the perfect candidate for that, but they drove her away….
The US will always have some sort of trading relationship with the UK, but the main difference is that outside of the EU, the UK is a nation without as much bargaining power and the US will take advantage of that. At least with Biden the negotiations will be above board and won’t involve payoffs, which i am sure dump would do, especially in a second term.
Harris has publicly supported Meghan several times on social media. Cannot see that going over well with WilliLeaks.
Regardless of the “ special relationship “ the US has with the UK, the US puts its own interests first, and all the lobbyists for big AG, big pharma, and big tech will be circling and pressuring the US government to make whatever deals with UK favorable to them and American business, regardless of who is the next administration.
I agree. I don’t think the skewering will just be from the left wing press though. I think it will be a free for all pile on as soon as the queen dies. Even lots of royalists have said they won’t support William due to his sudden wokery politics.
So these two old “former” guys speak for the active marines? What is the importance of this role anyway besides ceremonial? And, at a time when large gatherings aren’t feasible, it is suddenly important to fill the role? Interesting that the two weighing in are a former aide-de-camp to the queen and somebody given an OBE and CB by the queen. I wasn’t familiar with the CB and looked it up. It actually stands for “Companion of the Bath”. What is the need for all these different ceremonial organizations that all seem to be conferred based on kissing up to a monarch?
What is the need for the “Companion of the Bath”? So many of these baubles are given out to so many that it gets to the point that they mean nothing?
Look at the number of “Knighthoods and lesser orders” awarded compared to the number of “Presidential Medal of Freedoms” awarded and you will see my point.
Actually, I think the Presidential Medal should be discarded also. Look at the problematic individuals who have received it like Bill Cosby, John Wayne and Rush Limbaugh. Then there are those awarded for political reasons or frivolous ones like Louis L’Amour. There is also no precedence to revoke one if issues do arise with a recipient. The US got along very well without such awards until Kennedy’s presidency. These things may be started with good intentions but they usually don’t progress well. Even the Nobel has become somewhat of a joke now with some recipients actually declining the supposed honor. I’m with Greta Thunberg, we need fewer awards and more actual action.
Yes, these men don’t just seem like your “average” Marines sent out to extoll the virtues of William being made Captain General, which is why I said above this is obviously coming directly from William or Buckingham Palace to try to pave the way for William being given Harry’s former position.
Who shows up for a job they were suspended and likely fired from? They suspended him for a year. He likely won’t be able to keep the appointment. I know this is just BM creating controversy so it makes William look better for having taken over but the marine officials are doing the most. Harry is not going back just to be their representative, their best bet is him just being a non royal patron. If that’s even possible.
P.S. Meghan’s red dress is still SICKENING!
Are you referring to the beautiful red caped dress as pictured above? I love that dress. She wears it with elegance and class. Fits her body type well, also.
I’m pretty sure Harry knew this was coming and was prepared for it. Although I’m sure it still stings a bit.
And William, you can PR spin this all you want, you will NEVER command the same respect and admiration of military men and women like Harry did. They will, at best, grudgingly tolerate you because they have to.
I agree. I have no doubt that he was hurt in the beginning but he accepted that this was their choice and I believe he has made his peace with it. They can do what they want with the title now and he will keep on working with veterans in his current capacity. He probably has more time to focus on them too now that he doesn’t have to slow down his calendar in case he shows up the petty one.
Is there a way to just give William the position without trying to make it look like Harry ‘abandoned’ the Marines & is neglecting his duties? The top boss decided he couldn’t keep these military honours- stepping back from the Marines isn’t what Harry wanted but ultimately part of the exit deal, so is there a need for all of this?
In William’s world, this is absolutely necessary. He needs the word to get out that they, the Royal Marines, like him. They really, really, really like him. And they like him WAY more than they ever liked Harry because he’s William. And he’s the important brother. And if Harry really wanted the Royal Marines then he wouldn’t have left, but now they belong to William because he’s there. No, wait, that’s still not right. They belong to William because he’s the bestest brother and everyone loves him. (way more than Harry). It will be repeated ad nauseum in some form until finally people believe it, or just get too tired of it to really care.
Yeah, he is now “People’s Prince” – now that Harry left (I can’t believe how dumb RR could be to actually write this). So, Royal Marines have no choice but to love our PWBT.
The BRF must have their additional pound of flesh, don’tcha know?
What Willileaks wants Willileaks covets. Someone needs to let him know that positional authority with no credibility, authenticity or hard work is naught. It is fun watching him make a grab for more titles or charities when he has no intention of serving any of them.
Brilliant wording! I’m not sure it would work on Wills though.
What I’d really like to see happen in the UK is charities make the decision to drop Royal Patrons.
That would really put the cat amongst the pigeons …;
“Lord Admiral Lord West” sounds like a dodgy alias. Prince RageyWills, is this you?
Real hard working Royal Marines are with Harry. It’s only the ‘Ruperts’ who agree with the Major-General & would be happy with Wills.
My money says Waity is behind this – just imagine the buttons she could wear.
Good one!
Harry earned the title of Captain in the army, that’s the only military title he needs and hopefully he has come to terms with that and it no longer bothers him. While these people are still pontificating about honorary titles taken away as punishment for honoring ones wife and protecting ones child, Harry will just keeping moving forward with his little family.
Why all this incessant royal coverage? You’re not British or even members of the commonwealth. Even in commonwealth countries we don’t give a crap what these people are up to. It’s bizarre to see an American royal fan girl page – truly, this is the last place I’d expect to see one.
Americans have loved the royals for years. Especially since Di. It’s not a surprise.
I remember when there were like a million post on the Kardashians on this board. I was lurking then and never went into those post because those ladies didn’t interest me even a little bit. This board covers most popular pop culture going ons and if the interest is high in any particular thing, it continues hence royalty coverage.
You are welcome not to read any of the royal coverage. Why come onto a royal post, increase the clicks on it, and then complain about it? By clicking and posting, you’re only encouraging more royal-related posts.
Unless of course, you’re yet another W&K stan masquerading as a general anti-royal poster. They come on here every so often and try to bully Kaiser to stop posting about royals, because Kaiser calls out W&K on their BS.
Meghan is a biracial American who married into the Royal Family and was then chased out by the RF in collusion with the BM and a well of support among their hateful audience who are now quite literally addicted to hating Harry and Meghan. What is happening to them and in the RF right now is historically significant and It isn’t just Americans who are interested, its POC all over the world.
I had no interest before Meghan married Harry and even then it was lukewarm until I could no longer ignore the awful way she was being treated. It was shocking to see multiple headlines every single day attacking her for merely existing. The mere fact you’re here betrays your own interest.
It’s an obvious ploy to comment that no one cares about royals on a post about royals on a blog that has multiple posts about royals daily.
@annie Are you lost? How did you get here? Do you need a dang millennial™️ to teach you how to use the google box?
I feel sorry for Harry because he has this brother .. but if baldy takes the position of Captain General of the Royal Marines and then Harry forgives him for this, I will laugh a lot then…..
I think any reconciliation shown on television will be for show. I think it’s in Harry’s long term best mental health to forgive them all, but just because you forgive doesn’t mean you forget. I think those relationships as they were, is finished. For the sake of diplomacy, I can see them showing up occasionally and being polite towards everyone including William.
Yay, another patronage for Billy Boy to ignore and then complain that nothing is being done.
As a descriptor to anyone not Harry, and a general comment: arseholes.
Did Major General Thompson also stop sweating when he went to the Falklands?
The Falklands are more effective than Bikram yoga!
I love that the DF has received a letter from Harry’s attorneys about this crap article. He is done with their BS. Apparently, whatever correspondence was sent to Harry (from two marines apparently) was not forwarded to him – intentionally would be my guess. His family is horrible. The DF is horrible.
He wasn’t stripped of earned titles, just the honorary ones representing the RF.
This guy is clearly not the model of a modern major general.
They have no integrity–none. This is a low blow.