A new book "Finding Freedom" by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand will be published on 11-August-2020 and currently being serialised by The Times is causing a stir.
When the rift was first announced in January I thought it would be much more complex than just walking away. It now appears, if the book's facts are correct, that the couple were niave to believe they could do just that. The couple's ambitions were going to be hard to reconcile with the responsibilities of the monarchy and the lines drawn between the interests of the couple and the royal family. A straight split would have been ideal, however, a partial split would have difficulties.
Money comes from the public purse and is paid for duties concerned with activities taken on behalf of the royal domain, removing this cushion but keeping the HRH connection for the purpose of producing an income, should never have been considered. The book makes it appear that the couple tried to force the issue by the announcements made by Harry in Jauary, which caught everyone off guard, however, it now appears that some behind the scenes work had already been done with the Queen in agreement.
It is interesting to note that at this time, polls in social media showed a marked poularity difference between the Cambridges and Sussexes with Harry & Meghan running at 83% higher in world interest. Was this down to them being new on the scene with a new baby Archie, or a reflection of what had happened the previous month where the media seem to be grappling with an idea that the two couples were drifting apart?
Harry & Meghan had not anticipated any of the complexities that arose from their demand to be allowed to earn private money while remaining royals. The result has been a much deeper split that they had originaly contemplated.
p.s.
You would think that a #Lockdown would have given me more freedom to write, however, it appears to have had a reverse effect.
