Jan. 26, 2025

Palace Weekly - a deep dive into the Vanity Fair Meghan Markle article

Palace Weekly - a deep dive into the Vanity Fair Meghan Markle article

Our new weekly roundtable Palace Weekly takes a look back at the big event of the week, which was the Vanity Fair article on Meghan Markle.

A normal episode of Palace Intrigue with Mark Francis went out at 3:05am Eastern, check the feed.

Deep...

Our new weekly roundtable Palace Weekly takes a look back at the big event of the week, which was the Vanity Fair article on Meghan Markle.

A normal episode of Palace Intrigue with Mark Francis went out at 3:05am Eastern, check the feed.

Deep Crown's weekly episode (for subscribers only) was published at 12:05am Eastern, check your subsciber feed.

Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed! You also get 20+ other shows on the network ad-free!

WEBVTT

1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:14.279
Caloroga Shark Media.

2
00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:18.160
Hello and welcome to the Palace Weekly. I'm your host,

3
00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:21.359
Mark Francis, and every Sunday we are going to take

4
00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:25.519
a conversational roundtable approach to all the stories that happened

5
00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.760
this week in Royal News. Take it away.

6
00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:33.359
It feels like just yesterday we were glued to our

7
00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:37.719
screens watching Harry and Megan step back from royal life. Yeah,

8
00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:39.439
five years, can you believe it?

9
00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:40.200
It's hard to believe.

10
00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:42.759
Well, today we're going to dive deep into a Vanity

11
00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:45.119
Fair article that kind of takes stock of their journey

12
00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:49.240
since then, and they actually talked to dozens of people

13
00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:49.960
who've worked with them.

14
00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:52.520
It's a fascinating piece. Yeah, gives you a peek behind

15
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.640
the curtain of their California life, their businesses, you know,

16
00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:58.280
the charity work, and even some bumps in the road.

17
00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:00.200
Okay, let's unpack this right off the back. But the

18
00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:03.479
article jumps into their life in Montecito and paints a

19
00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:08.560
picture of this grand mansion fourteen point six five million dollars.

20
00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:10.000
Eighteen thousand square feet.

21
00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:13.079
What a steal. It does sound like a steal. What's

22
00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:17.000
really fascinating is that this luxurious estate became the base

23
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:21.280
for Archwall, their ambitious blend of like philanthropy and entertainment.

24
00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:24.480
It's a real shift from that traditional, more formal model

25
00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:25.359
of royal life.

26
00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:28.560
So it's like a deliberate move, a physical and symbolic

27
00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.000
separation from the constraints of the monarchy.

28
00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:33.079
Yeah, you could definitely see it that way. It's like

29
00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:35.879
they're trying to build a new kind of influence. Yeah,

30
00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:36.799
on their own terms.

31
00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:41.120
Okay, that's really interesting. Now the article touches on their

32
00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:44.799
philanthropic work, and it seems like Harry's still dedicated to

33
00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:49.519
his charities, infect his Games foundation in Senta Veil, and

34
00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:53.239
there's a mention of him having this certain Gravi toss

35
00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:54.840
when he talks about his work in Africa.

36
00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:58.000
It makes sense, right, He's got this deep connection to Africa,

37
00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.799
both personally and through his chairar work, so his passion

38
00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:02.879
really shines through.

39
00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:06.519
Now on Megan's side, there's her forty by forty initiative, which,

40
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:09.800
just to clarify for our listeners, focuses on encouraging people

41
00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:12.680
to dedicate forty minutes of their time to support women

42
00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:16.360
re entering the workforce. The article also mentions her podcast

43
00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:19.159
archetypes will be returning for a second season that we

44
00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:21.280
don't have a title or a premise just yet, right.

45
00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.000
And then of course there are the Netflix projects, A

46
00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:27.039
docus about Polo and a reality show called With Love Megan,

47
00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:29.639
which actually got delayed because of the California wildfires.

48
00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:31.960
It's funny you bring up those wildfires because that actually

49
00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.800
plays into one of the anecdotes that they shared about Megan. Okay,

50
00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:38.319
despite the disruption to the show's filming schedule, she was

51
00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:42.240
apparently very calm and collected, even making jokes about.

52
00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:42.520
The whole thing.

53
00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:46.639
Wow, that's pretty impressive given the circumstances. Sounds like they've

54
00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:48.919
been keeping dizzy on the entertainment front. Yeah, but the

55
00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:53.080
article also hints that their venture into the podcasting world,

56
00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:57.240
specifically with Spotify, wasn't exactly smooth sailing.

57
00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:01.439
That's putting it lightly. Apparently some of Harry's podcast ideas

58
00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.159
were well, let's just say a little.

59
00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:04.759
Out there, okay.

60
00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:08.520
To tell he reportedly suggested a podcast where he'd interview

61
00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:13.280
Get This sociopaths like Mark Zuckerberg and Donald Trump, which

62
00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:15.319
kind of raises the question of what's his definition of

63
00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:18.199
sociopath and what kind of conversation is he really envisioning

64
00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.639
having right? He also pitched a hot chocolate review show

65
00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:24.840
and a show where he'd solve problems from fixing flat

66
00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:27.280
tires to tackling global warming.

67
00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:32.599
A sociopath podcast and fixing flat tires. Those are some

68
00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:35.319
wildly different concepts. What was going on there?

69
00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:37.159
It does seem a bit all over the place, doesn't

70
00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.280
It Almost like a struggle to find their footing in

71
00:03:39.319 --> 00:03:43.960
this podcasting landscape. Clearly they want to tackle big, meaningful themes,

72
00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:48.280
but maybe lacked concrete ideas to make those themes come

73
00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:50.080
alive in a podcast format.

74
00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:53.319
And speaking of big personalities, wasn't there some tension with

75
00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:54.479
Bill Simmons? Oh?

76
00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:59.000
Absolutely. Bill Simmons, a Spotify executive, huge name in podcasting,

77
00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:03.080
reportedly had a pretty frustrating Zoom meeting with Harry Yeah,

78
00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:07.360
and ended up calling the couple grifters publicly. Not exactly

79
00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.479
a glowing endorsement.

80
00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:11.599
Ouch, that's got a sting. It sounds like they weren't

81
00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:14.199
exactly embracing the nitty gritty work that goes into producing

82
00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:15.360
a successful podcast.

83
00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:17.720
That's the perception. At least, It's like they wanted the

84
00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:20.639
benefits in the reach of podcasting, but without putting in

85
00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:23.040
the same effort as other celebrity podcasters.

86
00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:27.160
That's interesting. So amidst all this, their podcast archetypes did

87
00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:30.079
eventually emerge, and the article flames that the idea actually

88
00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.279
originated from a Spotify employee.

89
00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:32.600
It did.

90
00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:36.480
Yeah, the podcast dells into various stereotypes about women, you know,

91
00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:41.000
like Diva and Bimbo, aiming to unpack their historical context

92
00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:44.040
and their impact on women today. Right, so it sounds

93
00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:47.199
like a great concept. Did they manage to snag those

94
00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:50.199
A List guests they were hoping for? The article mentioned

95
00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:52.079
Beyonce and Megan de Sallient.

96
00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:54.600
Well, it seems like securing those high profile guests was

97
00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:57.480
a bit of a struggle actually, and even behind the

98
00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:00.560
scenes there were some reports of tension. He would an

99
00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:05.040
executive producer from Oprah's team apparently clashed with Meghan over

100
00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:08.160
her you know, evolving demands for the podcast.

101
00:05:08.279 --> 00:05:11.560
The article also mentioned some claims about Meghan's treatment of staff,

102
00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:16.079
warm and approachable initially, but allegedly becoming cold and undermining

103
00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:17.680
when things didn't go her way.

104
00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:19.519
You know, we have to take those claims with the

105
00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:22.439
grain of salt. They are coming from anonymous sources, after all,

106
00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:24.560
it's hard to get a completely unbiased view.

107
00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:27.160
Fair enough, Now, before we move on, I want to

108
00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:30.959
touch on Harry's personal perspective, especially as it's portrayed through

109
00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:33.399
his memoir Spare Spare.

110
00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:36.079
Was incredibly revealing, wasn't it. It offered such raw and

111
00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:40.199
honest insight into his inner world, you know, his experiences

112
00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:43.920
with trauma and those fractured relationships within the Royal family.

113
00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:46.959
He was incredibly candid and that definitely resonated with a

114
00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:50.600
lot of people. But the article also points to the

115
00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:55.680
potential fallout from such public disclosures, especially if Harry hopes to,

116
00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:57.800
you know, mend those broken bridges with.

117
00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:01.279
His family exactly. Spare My have been cathartic for Harry,

118
00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:04.160
but it also added another layer of complexity to his

119
00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:05.800
relationship with the Royal family.

120
00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:09.079
And then there are his ongoing legal battles with the

121
00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:12.759
British tabloid press, his fight for security in the UK,

122
00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:16.480
and you know, according to sources, he's not currently in

123
00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:19.160
contact with his family. It sounds like a very difficult

124
00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:20.360
and isolating situation.

125
00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:24.160
It highlights the immense pressure he's under juggling these legal battles,

126
00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:26.480
his personal life and his desire to carve out a

127
00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:29.519
new path for himself and his family. The article even

128
00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:32.040
mentions that he skipped a close friend's wedding potentially because

129
00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:33.560
of his security concerns in the UK.

130
00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:36.279
It really makes you think about the personal cost of

131
00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:39.240
their choices, even with all the privilege and resources they have.

132
00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.839
Absolutely, their lives might seem glamorous from the outside, but

133
00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:46.360
they're dealing with real human challenges just like everyone else.

134
00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:49.800
Yeah, it's a good reminder that even with their wealth

135
00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:54.680
and global platform, they're still navigating you know, family dynamics

136
00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:57.319
and public scrutiny and personal struggles.

137
00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:03.879
Right. Absolutely, now, shifting years a bit, I want to

138
00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:06.759
talk about the dynamic between Harry and Meghan themselves. Okay,

139
00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:10.079
a recurring theme in the article is this like palpable

140
00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:13.000
love they have for each other. Yeah, and multiple sources

141
00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:17.279
actually describe Meghan as the driving force in their partnership. Ah,

142
00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:21.360
It's like she's become the caregiver and facilitator, guiding your

143
00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:22.000
path forward.

144
00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:25.639
It is an interesting evolution, isn't it. Meghan, who was

145
00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.279
initially navigating the unfamiliar world of royalty, is now the

146
00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:32.000
one steering the ship. Right. Makes you wonder how those

147
00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:35.600
shifting roles might be impacting their relationship. Yeah, it does.

148
00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:39.560
And while the article highlights their strong connection, there's also

149
00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:44.480
this subtle suggestion of Harry possibly feeling isolated.

150
00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:44.920
M hm.

151
00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:48.240
You know, he's no longer in that familiar royal bubble,

152
00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:51.160
and he seems to be searching for his purpose outside

153
00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:52.079
of that context.

154
00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:55.680
That's such a crucial point. Imagine trying to define your

155
00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:57.279
place in the world when you've come from such a

156
00:07:57.399 --> 00:08:00.360
unique and restrictive background. Right, it's no wonder he might

157
00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:02.800
be grappling with those questions of identity and purpose.

158
00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:05.240
Yeah, it makes you think about all the assumptions we

159
00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.920
make about people based on their public image totally, especially

160
00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:11.439
when someone like Harry's made such a dramatic shift in

161
00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:12.680
his life Exactly.

162
00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:16.279
We tend to view public figures through a very narrow lens, right,

163
00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:19.199
but there's so much more happening beneath the surface.

164
00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:23.439
Speaking of public image, there's this interesting contradiction. The article

165
00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:27.360
points out their continued use of their royal titles even

166
00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:29.240
after stepping back from royal duties.

167
00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:33.360
Yeah, it definitely raises eyebrows. Their children, Archie and the

168
00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:37.240
Lillabete automatically became prince and princess when Charles became king,

169
00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:40.919
and there are even anecdotes about staff being asked to

170
00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:44.759
address Harry and Meghan as sir and ma'am.

171
00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.000
It's almost like they want to distance themselves from the

172
00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:51.159
institution of the monarchy but still maintain those privileges, and

173
00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:55.960
that elevated status sends a mixed message when you say, it.

174
00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.320
Does create a bit of a perception problem. As one

175
00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:01.200
commonator pointed out, you know, when they appear together in

176
00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:04.879
contexts outside of Harry's work with Invictus Games, it's not

177
00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:06.919
always clear what they represent right now.

178
00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:09.799
That's a great point. It makes those public appearances feel

179
00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:13.279
less impactful, like maybe there's still figuring out how to

180
00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:14.759
use their platform effectively.

181
00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:17.279
It also ties back into that criticism they receive for

182
00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:20.799
some of their royal tours, oh specifically those visits to

183
00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:22.480
Nigeria and Colombia.

184
00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:26.159
Right The article touches on that, highlighting this inherent conflict

185
00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:29.279
wanting to brave free from the constraints of the monarchy

186
00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:31.919
while still leveraging its symbolic power.

187
00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:34.720
It's a delicate balancing act and one they haven't quite

188
00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:36.240
mastered yet now.

189
00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:39.519
Beyond their global image, the article also delves into their

190
00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:43.679
life in Montecito. Oh, and it suggests that their relationship

191
00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:47.440
with the community hasn't been entirely rosy. Oh, they've actually

192
00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:53.320
become somewhat of local villains, with some residents blaming them

193
00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:56.440
for rising housing prices and increased media attention.

194
00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:00.759
It's a fascinating example of the unintended consequences of fame

195
00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:04.399
and wealthy. You know, they might have envisioned a peaceful

196
00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:08.120
retreat in Montecito, but their presence has clearly disrupted the

197
00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:10.720
community in ways they may not have anticipated.

198
00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:14.200
And it doesn't help that they're rarely seen interacting with locals. Yeah,

199
00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.639
they've been spotted at high profile events like Ellen DeGeneres's

200
00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:21.240
vow renewal, Seragoy, right, or Harry playing polo, but they

201
00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.799
seem to exist in a bit of a bubble.

202
00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:25.480
It feeds into that perception of them being detached from

203
00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:27.639
the realities of the community they now call home.

204
00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:30.200
Okay, before we move on, I have to ask about

205
00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:36.320
Megan's new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard or Aro. Okay,

206
00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.600
it sounds intriguing, but apparently it's already encountered some obstacles.

207
00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:44.000
Oh yeah, definitely for starters, the trademark application was rejected,

208
00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:47.559
and there's potential conflict with another brand called Harry and David.

209
00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:48.080
Oh wow.

210
00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:51.440
And then there's the name itself, American Riviera Orchard.

211
00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:51.919
Yeah.

212
00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:54.799
The article mentions that no one really calls Montecito the

213
00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:57.960
American Riviera anymore, so the brand feels a bit dated

214
00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:59.039
right out of the gate.

215
00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:03.080
It's a stark contrast to her previous success with her

216
00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:07.360
lifestyle blog The Tig, which really resonated with a certain audience.

217
00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:11.399
With ar it feels like she might have misjudged what

218
00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:15.320
people are looking for. Yeah, and speaking of misjudgments, there's

219
00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:18.919
this pretty shocking rumor. The article reveals about Megan's team

220
00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:23.000
exploring a book concept centered on a hypothetical divorce from Harry.

221
00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.799
Now, it's crucial to emphasize that this was simply an

222
00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:29.080
exploration of a potential idea. There's no indication that a

223
00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:32.200
divorce is imminent or even being seriously considered.

224
00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:35.679
Still, it's a pretty eyebrow raising detail to include, especially

225
00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:39.320
an article that's largely focused on their post royal life together. Yeah,

226
00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:42.080
it does make you wonder what's happening behind closed doors.

227
00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:46.120
It speaks to the constant speculations surrounding their relationship and

228
00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:49.080
their future. Even though they've shared so much of their

229
00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:53.000
lives publicly, there's still this sense of mystery that keeps

230
00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:53.799
people guessing.

231
00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.799
It's like we're all invested in the next chapter of

232
00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:00.320
their story, even if we don't fully understand what motivates them.

233
00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:03.080
It's the power of a good narrative, yeah, keeps us hooked,

234
00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.960
even when we're not sure where it's headed.

235
00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:09.480
Absolutely now. The article concludes by reflecting on their ongoing

236
00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:13.440
efforts to change the world, a phrase they've used repeatedly,

237
00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:17.159
but even those who've worked closely with them seem unsure

238
00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.840
of what that actually means in practice.

239
00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:22.519
It's a valid question. Are they truly committed to creating

240
00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:26.399
meaningful change or are they more focused on the optics

241
00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:28.360
of philanthropy and activism.

242
00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.879
It's easy to be cynical, especially given their lavish lifestyle

243
00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:36.480
and their tendency to court media attention, but I also

244
00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:40.720
want to believe that they're genuinely motivated by a desire

245
00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:42.360
to make a positive impact.

246
00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:45.200
It's a complex issue, and ultimately it's up to each

247
00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:48.480
individual to decide what they believe right. But what we

248
00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:51.799
can do is analyze their actions, understand the nuances of

249
00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:54.919
their approach, and assess whether their efforts are aligning with

250
00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:55.879
their stated goals.

251
00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.320
That's what we're aiming to do here, right, to provide

252
00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:01.000
our listeners with the information and insights they need to

253
00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:02.360
form their own opinions.

254
00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:05.600
Exactly. We're not here to pass judgment, but to encourage

255
00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:08.440
critical thinking and thoughtful engagement with the topic.

256
00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:12.360
So, five years into this post royal life, where do

257
00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.799
you think Harry and Megan stand. Are they finding their

258
00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:17.559
footing or are they still searching for their true place

259
00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:18.080
in the world.

260
00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:20.399
I think it's a bit of both. Okay, they're clearly

261
00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:23.120
forging their own path, but it's been far from a

262
00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:28.000
smooth journey, right. They've encountered setbacks, made missteps, and faced

263
00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.759
a relentless barrage of criticism.

264
00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:33.039
And yet they seem to be pushing forward undeterred.

265
00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:37.320
There's a resilience to them, a determination to defy expectations

266
00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:40.039
and create their own version of success, whatever that might

267
00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:40.440
look like.

268
00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:43.080
And whether we agree with their methods or not, there's

269
00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.879
no denying that they're keeping us all captivated. Yeah, their

270
00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:46.919
story is far from.

271
00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:50.240
Over, absolutely, and this deep dive into the vanity fair

272
00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:52.919
article has given us a glimpse into the intricacies of

273
00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:56.519
their journey, the challenges they've encountered, and the questions that

274
00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.240
still linger.

275
00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:59.960
They're shifting gears slightly. I want to talk about one

276
00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:03.840
one particular aspect of Megan's approach to creating change that

277
00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:08.279
the article highlights. Okay, her focus on personal connection and empathy.

278
00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:08.600
Huh.

279
00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:11.559
Several people shared stories about her reaching out to them

280
00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:14.519
during difficult times, offering support and solace.

281
00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:17.399
It's a fascinating parallel to Princess Diana.

282
00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.519
Yeah, it does make you wonder if that genuine empathy

283
00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:26.080
is part of what fuels her drive to change the world.

284
00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:28.559
As they say, Yeah, it's like she sees those individual

285
00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:31.960
acts of kindness as a microcosm of the larger impact

286
00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:32.759
she hopes to make.

287
00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:36.000
Right. But the article also touches on this specific anecdote

288
00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.480
that Megan often brings up about writing a letter to

289
00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:41.720
Procter and Gamble as a teenager complaining about a sexist

290
00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.519
soap commercial.

291
00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:46.159
Oh right, I remember hearing about that. Yeah, she claims

292
00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.279
her letter led them to change the ad. But do

293
00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.759
we actually know if her letter was like the catalyst

294
00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:51.519
for the change.

295
00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:54.960
Well, Procter and Gamble has been pretty evasive about confirming

296
00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:58.639
Meghan's direct role in the AD's revision. Ok, However, they

297
00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.559
did partner with archwell you years ago, right, so there's

298
00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.960
clearly some connection there.

299
00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:05.679
It seems like that story holds a lot of significance

300
00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:06.120
for Megan.

301
00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:06.639
It does.

302
00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.240
Yeah, It's almost like she sees it as a model

303
00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:13.080
for her aspirations, a demonstration of how even a single

304
00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:14.639
voice can spark change.

305
00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:18.159
It's a powerful narrative, Yeah, But it also raises questions

306
00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.639
about the effectiveness of such symbolic gestures and the grand

307
00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:25.080
scheme of things. Right, Can a letter or even a

308
00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:30.519
celebrity endorsement truly create lasting systemic change.

309
00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:33.559
It's a valid point. Maybe it's about planting seeds, shifting

310
00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:38.559
perspectives rather than expecting immediate, sweeping change. Yeah. But circling

311
00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:41.679
back to this idea of changing the world, the article

312
00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.279
quotes someone who worked closely with Harry and Meghan saying

313
00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:46.960
they don't seem to have a clear definition of what

314
00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:49.759
that actually means for them. Yeah, and that's a critique

315
00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:52.360
they faced repeatedly. Isn't it that their vision for change

316
00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:56.399
lacks focus? That they're spreading themselves too thin across various

317
00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:59.759
causes and ventures. Yeah, it's easy to get caught up

318
00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.320
in the world wind of opportunities when you have platform

319
00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:04.960
as big as theirs, Right, But I also appreciate their

320
00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:09.639
willingness to experiment, to try different approaches, even if they

321
00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:11.399
haven't quite found their sweet spot yet.

322
00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:14.480
I think that's a fair assessment. They're clearly passionate about

323
00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:16.960
making a difference, but maybe still figuring out how to

324
00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:20.320
channel that passion into concrete, impactful action.

325
00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:26.799
Okay, So, as we wrap up this deep dive into

326
00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:29.639
Harry and Meghan five years after their royal exit, I'm

327
00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:32.480
curious to hear your final takeaway. Okay, what stands out

328
00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.559
to you most from all of us?

329
00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:37.840
I think for me, it's this constant tension between their

330
00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:41.600
desire for privacy and their need for attention. They seem

331
00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:46.039
to crave both simultaneously, which creates this you know, push

332
00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:49.320
and pull dynamic that's fascinating to observe.

333
00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:51.320
I see that. It's like they're trying to rewrite the

334
00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:54.639
rules of celebrity, Yeah, but haven't quite cracked the code

335
00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.960
yet exactly.

336
00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.759
They want to control the narrative to protect their privacy,

337
00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:02.840
but they also need the spotlight to amplify their message

338
00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:06.359
and achieve their goals. It's a constant balancing act.

339
00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:08.440
And we haven't even touched on the impact all of

340
00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:10.799
this has on the people around them, you know, staff,

341
00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:13.480
their collaborators, even their neighbors in Montecito.

342
00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.160
That's an important point. The article does shed light on

343
00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:20.799
the ripple effects of their decisions and actions, both positive

344
00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:21.440
and negative.

345
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:21.759
Right.

346
00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:24.759
It's a reminder that even those with the best intentions

347
00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:27.359
can sometimes create unintended consequences.

348
00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:30.039
Right, which brings us to the central question that lingers

349
00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:33.359
after this deep dive. Can Harry and Megan truly win?

350
00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.079
Yeah?

351
00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:37.400
Can they achieve their goals, find fulfillment and earn the

352
00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:41.240
respect they crave, all while navigating the treacherous waters of

353
00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.519
fame and public scrutiny.

354
00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.279
Only time will tell, right, But one thing is certain.

355
00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:48.640
Their story is far from over. They're still evolving, still

356
00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:51.200
figuring things out, still searching for their place in the world.

357
00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.920
It's been a fascinating journey so far, and I have

358
00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:56.359
a feeling the next chapter will be just as captivating.

359
00:17:56.559 --> 00:18:00.200
I absolutely agree, and this Vanity Fair article has has

360
00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:02.359
given us a lot to think about as we continue

361
00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:03.279
to follow their story.

362
00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:06.720
It's been a truly insightful conversation and to our listeners,

363
00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.680
we encourage you to continue exploring this topic, forming your

364
00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:13.039
own opinions, and staying tuned for more deep dives into

365
00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.839
the most fascinating stories of our time.

366
00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:18.160
Thank you, and that is it for this edition of

367
00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:20.920
Palace Weekly. Please follow us on Spotify, Apple or the

368
00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:23.519
app of your choice. I'm Mark Francis My thanks to you,

369
00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:27.240
John McDermott. This is Palace Weekly. Good Times