“Don’t underestimate the symbolism of a royal marriage. From now on, it will be impossible to argue that being black is somehow incompatible with being British”
1. Who said that she wants to be British anyway?
2. Who are the people arguing this ridiculous point?
3. How will anything change because of a minor royal marriage that doesn’t affect the lives of 99.99% of people in the country?
I never even noticed or thought about her colour, but I’m (nearly) Canadian.
fentonsteve says
Neither are being ginger and a bit thick an obstacle to marriage. Speaking as both myself.
RedLemon says
Maybe that’s what’s been holding me back though?
Moose the Mooche says
Find a woman with appalling eyesight. I did! 👍
paulwright says
Hey, I did that too! ( though I’m not ginger, and being scottish she would not have cared anyhow)
fentonsteve says
Me too, although she now wears specs. I fear she has figured me out.
Moose the Mooche says
But now… it’s too late… bwaa haa haa!
Dogbyte says
He’s marrying Angela Merkel, right?
Does this mean we can move on to trade talks?
fentonsteve says
I heard it was Mrs Marple. I know she’s older than him, but isn’t Angela Lansbury getting on a bit?
Gary says
She’s bloody rubbish at being British.
bungliemutt says
Sidewalk is ‘path’? Who knew?
Gary says
Me. I have a lovely little garden sidewalk that leads to my atrium.
bungliemutt says
Get you. I have to go down some apples and pears to the pavement where I keep my trashcan.
mikethep says
Well, she thinks Vegemite is better than Marmite so she’s obviously never going to be a true Brit.
Mike_H says
Fell at the first hurdle.
Diddley Farquar says
It is though.
Vincent says
Until The Guardian mentioned it, i thought the lass was just darker skinned, just like people can be. They are as “one-drop”-focused as their right-wing mirror image. she is from Hollywood, not Watts.
Alias says
This story clearly passed you by then.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37908096
Black Celebration says
The royals are powerful though. Diana ended AIDS and personally destroyed all the landmines. The Queen Mother stood defiant, arms akimbo, chin to the sky, singing Vera Lynn songs on top of Buckingham Palace every night during the Blitz as bombs rained down either side of her. The important ecological work of Prince Charles has allowed us to reverse global warming with temperatures in the northern hemisphere tumbling down from the high 20s in London in August all the way down to near-freezing in November. if anything, he’s done rather TOO well (brrr!).
And now Harry is ending racism forever. People of colour in the UK can now stand to their full height, and carry themselves with dignity – as equals!
As always, letting the side down is the Queen – she’ll be at the wedding, studying her fingernails, sighing, with a face like a smacked arse. We all say she’s wonderful because everyone else does – a very complex game that only the British understand. Philip is actually a kind, tolerant and gentle man – the racist commnts serve to deflect criticism from the figurehead. Honestly, sources close to the family tell me it she’d be in the Tower if it wasn’t for him.
davebigpicture says
Prince Charles, guesting with Madness on the roof of the palace while they play Embarrassment.
ganglesprocket says
I have found a stupider article than that. Sophie Money Coutts in The Tatler on why eligible bachelors are going for Americans. (Basically it’s the blow jobs)
http://www.tatler.com/article/why-british-men-love-american-women-prince-harry-meghan-markle
davebigpicture says
Which reminded me of this. Absolutely NSFW or anywhere really.
Moose the Mooche says
That is rude. I am shocking.
davebigpicture says
That NSFW was catnip to you wasn’t it?
Moose the Mooche says
I usually take it to mean Nicely Saucy Foxy Womens.
Other pitiable sexism is available.
Johnny99 says
An American version of the wonderful Fascinating Aida
“Fuck me in the arse cos I love Jesus” – would it sell that many T shirts though ?
Kid Dynamite says
Well I never. I didn’t realise Tatler magazine was a coded call for revolution.
mikethep says
Sophia Money-Coutts? Satire, shirley?
slotbadger says
No its her real name! She’s an acquaintance, very nice girl.
SteveT says
The Royal Family is ‘Quintessentially British’? Funny I thought Prince Philip was Greek.
Black Type says
You’re implying that the house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha is somehow not the very definition of Britishness?
SteveT says
Yeah Liz should pull some strings with Angela and get this bloody Brexit nonsense sorted.
fentonsteve says
They’re 100% Anglo-Saxon Brits, just like the rest of us, according to a UKIP candidate I heard once. So, that’s Angles and Saxons. From Anglia and Saxony. In Germany. Um…
Moose the Mooche says
Is that daft ginger get going to stop trying so hard now?
(hmmm…. where have I heard that before?)
Black Type says
Regardless of his privilege etc., Harry seems to be a pretty decent sort of chap, and has used his advantages for some good purpose. He seems ambivalent and somewhat embarrassed about his royal status, indeed the very concept of ‘royal’, which I find quite a healthy attitude. So I wish them well, and hope that Meghan doesn’t lose her strong sense of self in the process.
I’m just dreading the wall-to-wall coverage from now to wedding day and beyond.
Skirky says
^ This.
Some people I don’t know are getting married. It happens all the time.
fentonsteve says
Quite. He once landed the air ambulance on the village football pitch and seemed as decent a young man as any of the other heli pilots. I don’t envy either of them having to live their lives in the spotlight.
Getting myself prepared for the media onslaught, does she have a sister? And if so, what’s her bum like?
Skirky says
Wasn’t the air ambulance guy the other one?
nigelthebald says
Yep.
Moose the Mooche says
He was excellent in Twin Peaks.
salwarpe says
Male pattern baldness is no laughing matter.
Rigid Digit says
Depends what the pattern is.
Moose the Mooche says
I think the “Peninsula” has not quite the comedy value of the “Portland Bill”
mikethep says
Just checked so you don’t have to: 14 separate (but probably not very different) stories on Mail Online front page. Meghan (wouldn’t it be great if she was a veghan?) Markle has new youth-boosting brows, apparently.
David Kendal says
I thought it was interesting to read the reaction of a black woman to another black woman joining the Royal Family. She won’t speak for all black people, who could?, but some of what she says chimes with what I have heard from some non-white people about this wedding and the Royal Family in general.
I live with someone whose family came here from India in the seventies. Both of her parents were left-wing. They were in professional jobs, and on a couple of occasions, they were invited to attend functions where members of the Royal Family were present. They jumped at the chance, which I found odd when I heard about it. But to them, it was important to be seen as respected, and for other Indian immigrants to see that – you could be seen as someone in your own right by Princess Anne, if not some of the people you worked with.
The same with this wedding. I don’t know if it causes change or reflects it. But there is something significant about a black woman about to join royalty and a mixed race couple to be seen now as normal. If you had parents who were spat at in the street forty years ago for the way they looked, no matter what your views on republicanism or the monarchy, you might see this in a different light to a white person like me –or I guess everybody else who has commented here.
dai says
But that’s my point. It is normal. So why write articles about how apparently abnormal it is, especially talking about some notion of “Britishness that is quite outdated and the 🚺 in question is an American who lives in Canada.
dai says
Don’t know how I did that symbol!
Harold Holt says
Is it a Tornado jet taking off ?
Rigid Digit says
And the last divorced American to marry into the Royal Family went well …
retropath2 says
Bet Uncle Andy ain’t so sanguine, film star and, um, 2nd hand…..
Harold Holt says
Well, if it were a gay royal, then where would we be ? Musical theatre I’m guessing.
Baron Harkonnen says
Fuck the lot of them off to an uninhabited island somewhere cold so the lazy bastards can do some work to keep warm.
royal family? royal scroungers more like.
slotbadger says
If we didn’t have a royal family, what would we have in its place – an elected President? A PM as head of state? Or nothing? Not trolling, genuinely curious what you think.
garyt says
That sort of sums up my feelings. I’m no royalist, but the Queen is the only head of state I’ve known, and I will be sorry when she goes. But an alternative system does take some thinking about. Some countries do the elected head well, e.g. Ireland, and others not so well, e.g. Trump. The problem is an election is a popularity contest, and depending on who runs, we could end up with someone much, much worse than Charles representing the UK on the world stage. Nigel Farage anyone?
Tiggerlion says
Just do without. We have a democracy and a Prime Minister. We don’t need more.
The second chamber would need a lot of changes, though.
Gary says
Not often I can say this, but I think Italy handled it well. They dumped the outdated Royal Family back in 1940something and since then the two chambers of Parliament have elected the Head Of State, for a term of seven years. He (no she yet) has a role not that dissimilar from the Queen’s, but is far less of a tabloid celebrity and his family are not involved (and he’s not connected to the church). Every elected Head of State since I’ve lived here has fulfilled the role with quiet and and respectable dignity.
count jim moriarty says
The difference there is, of course, that In the USA (and France, for example), the head of government is also the head of state. In Ireland, the President is purely a ceremonial position (as in Germany). If we got rid of the monarchy, we would have to decide which we wanted.
Baron Harkonnen says
For me it`s all about how they got to the position they hold in this country. It would be a long and in depth discourse to explain and debate on here. I just can`t stand the bastards and all they stand for. That one with the red head, got engaged recently, he`s not really a proper royal is he, wasn`t his mam friendly with the servants?
Jackthebiscuit says
Yep.
Moose the Mooche says
And yet, and yet, Newsnight on the so-called “British” Broadcasting Corporation are STILL talking about Brexit, as if they hadn’t been SPECIFICALLY instructed by, yes, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE to talk EXCLUSIVELY about the wonderful royal wedding and NOTHING ELSE for the next six months.
They can’t get THIS royal wedding right either.
Communists. Traitors. HANG THEM.
Sitheref2409 says
Did we all miss the Spectator then?
How Granny is Supreme Governor of the CoE and that therefore marrying divorcee is really really bad.
Now. Check the history of the CoE and how it came in to being. Now look at the rest of Granny’s kids. It strikes me their issue may not be that of divorce. What on earth, he innocently wonders, could an old fashioned right wing journal have against that nice not-entirely-100%-caucasian Ms Markle?
Douglas says
Assuming you’re referring to the Melanie McDonagh article, then yes I agree it is a silly rather mean piece. But as a subscribe to the magazine, and having no fixed abode myself as far as politics is concerned, I’d also say that one thing I like about the Spectator is the diversity of opinion it allows in its published articles. So there have also been two other pieces they blogged yesterday, one celebrating the good news aspect, and another (written by a mixed race woman) welcoming the injection of non-Caucasian blood into the British royal family.
The Spectator confuses a lot of people, because they assume it’s right wing, whereas a more accurate description would be “old school liberal”.
Sitheref2409 says
Owned by well known liberal Andrew Neil and edited by well known liberal Fraser Nelson who described “The Spectator magazine under his editorship as “right of centre, but not strongly right of centre””
Mike_H says
“right of centre, but not strongly right of centre”
Isn’t that what Old School Liberals (in the political sense) were?
JustB says
The only indispensable Speccy writer at this point is Alex Massie, for me. He really *is* what you might call a classical liberal: fairly traditionalist in some ways, right of centre economically, laissez-faire on matters social. Loathed in equal measure by lefties and Brexit / indy fanatics, so pretty sure he’s doing something right.
The decline of the rest of the Spectator has been sad to watch, though. Trolling paleo-right bollocks from the likes of Liddle. Really horrible stuff.
fentonsteve says
Talking of trolls, in other news yesterday, Katie Hopkins has been given her P45 by MailOnline. Hurrah!
Moose the Mooche says
The final straw was when she dissed Hull’s Christmas lights. Apparently that made Dacre vomit blood from every hole in his head.
Tiggerlion says
And he has loads of holes in his head.
Moose the Mooche says
Not as many as I’d like.
Mike_H says
I could think of a few more that’d be of benefit. But not necessarily to him.
ganglesprocket says
The Spectator just offered me six issues for a quid. I resubscribed. But I agree, basically Massie and Parrish are holding the magazine afloat; Liddle, Delingpole, Murray, Taki, Young are unspeakably terrible, Forsyth is a bit crap, it’s only ever any good of there’s a piece by a Paul Wood or an Ahmed Rachid but these ain’t weekly. Hell, Massie isn’t there weekly either.
Mike_H says
I’m surprised so many of us find this interesting enough to pass comment on.
Mind you, there doesn’t seem to be much of interest going on in film, literature or music this week.
The budget didn’t provoke any riots, the Oxford Circus bomb scare turned out to be a couple of guys arguing in a tube station and Brexit’s become even more of a yawnfest.
Harold Holt says
As a republican, i don’t really care what they do as long as i don’t have to pay for it. Since i don’t pay tax in the UK it’s a moot point. However i thought the bigger issue would be that she’s catholic AFAIK… i say this as the atheist participant in a catholic marriage, so i don’t care about this issue either.
garyt says
I’m not sure her faith (or lack of) is an issue here. Barring a massive calamity, Harry is not going to get his arse on the throne, so it’s no problem. Anyway, AFAIK, it is the monarch that is prohibited from being an RC, not his/her spouse.
Harold Holt says
So divorced, catholic, American, mixed-race, actress who might have scantily clad pictures out there somewhere…. Jeez, I don’t envy her and the microscope she’s signed up to be under. Seems like a nice enough girl in interviews, but what does that tell you.
Gatz says
Don’t not forget self-identified feminist with a record of civil rights activism. She could have two heads and the tabloids would give her an easier ride than they will if she dares voice an opinion, particularly one which might suggest an independent thought outside their own narrow range of approved conservative agendas.
Mike_H says
According to one of today’s two BBC News website gushes on the subject, she is in fact a protestant but will be confirmed into the CofE before the wedding.
She will also be seeking British citizenship. Probably won’t be compelled to sit an exam.
Sniffity says
Madonna could give her some tips on how to acquire a British accent.
chiz says
Good luck to them. They seem like nice people.
Bingo Little says
Who are these outliers who still have an issue with people of a different ethnicity, here in the 21st century?
Well, formerly Prince Harry, for one.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7822883.stm
Moose the Mooche says
In Suits her father was Bunk off of The Wire. Interesting? I thought so.
Tahir W says
Jesus, you are all politically boring. Think I’ll boycott all this til mid January or so, when you might have got over your apparent Christmas induced stupor.
Moose the Mooche says
Are you a Robespierre or a Holinshed?
Black Celebration says
We’ve disappointed him. I for one am going to take stock. I think we should all take a long hard look at ourselves and try harder to be more politically interesting. It’s a wake up call and no mistake. Cock a doodle doo people!
JustB says
Yeee hawwwww sugah!
Moose the Mooche says
I think B.C. should be on mini’s thread.
Tiggerlion says
Wot?!
Black Celebration says
Not everything is about rumpo, willies and front bottoms, you know! I am engaging in the frantic to-and-fro of political discourse.
Tahir W says
In-out in-out
Moose the Mooche says
Oh no missus
Tony Japanese says
I for one am pleased for the future Mr and Mrs Prince Harry. I only request that their wedding day doesn’t clash with my own in May. Friends and relations have already suggested they may be tempted to accept invitations to St George’s Chapel if they should be forthcoming.
Gary says
Invite Harry and Megan to your wedding. Problem solved.
Tiggerlion says
Congratulations to you and the future Mrs Japanese. Having watched the coverage on TV of Harry & Meghan, I believe the questions I should ask are, “Did you design the ring?” and, “Children?”
Black Celebration says
Congratulations Tony. I got married on the same day as the Beckhams. My wife and Posh had a real standoff over it, with neither side backing down. We haven’t talked to them or anyone in the Beckham family since.
Moose the Mooche says
Why has it taken him so long? I got my answer when I saw him on telly yesterday – the genes are asserting themselves. Nobody in that family is allowed to get married with a full head of hair. He had to wait for that.
retropath2 says
And, after all those tales about how he looks the spit of his father, now he is beginning to look just like Charles. So maybe the rumours are wrong and it was Di missing from his conception. Stranger things, eh?