Good morning,
Royal Damage Control
The why’s and what for’s about Meghan’s attempt to take down the Royal Family will swirl for years to come, with many either seeing her as a sad victim or racism and insensitivity, or many believing she was disingenuous and calculating in her Oprah interview that has deeply damaged The Queen and ‘The Firm’.
I don’t think anyone can question her claims of depression and her stated thoughts of suicide. But I would remark, she and her husband Prince Harry are the poster celebrities for mental health charities and it surely wouldn’t have taken much to reach out for help. Oprah didn’t pursue that, and gave her a pass on her suggestion of racism in the Royal family.
But, clearly the Royal family is not just a private dysfunctional family, but is funded by taxpayers, and these very public revelations deserve an investigation. I don’t think the Queens statement will suffice;
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately”.
Key in that was the phrase “recollections may vary” about a conversation Harry had with an unidentified member of his family who supposedly asked about the color of skin his future baby would have, but the question seems on the surface to be inappropriate and racist and the public needs to understand action is being taken.
A TV personality here on ITV, Piers Morgan had a virtual meltdown on air claiming he didn’t believe Meghan’s suicidal claims, and branded Meghan “Princess Pinocchio” which stirred a public backlash with over 40 thousand complaints against him to OFCOM the broadcast regulator in the UK. Piers has now resigned and was off air permanently today because no one can question the mental health of someone especially as society is learning to be sensitive to high rates of suicide and adjusting approaches to illness and depression.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html
On Back Story with Dana Lewis today, a special edition of our podcast on The Royals and the interview that was with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle including a discussion with former Royals Reporter Nigel Nelson and how the media approaches coverage of The Royals.
https://backstorywithdanalewis.buzzsprout.com
A poll here shows most Britons believe Harry and Meghan were wrong to air their dirty laundry in pubic, have damaged the Royal family, and should be stripped of their titles. The poll says most people disbelieve Meghan’s claims of racism, and incredibly she is the least popular member of the Royal family second only to Prince Andrew who doesn’t appear in public anymore after being wanted by the FBI for questioning for what he knows about the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal and his alleged involvement with a teenage girl who was trafficked by Epstein.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9344121/Poll-reveals-majority-Britons-want-Harry-Meghan-stripped-titles.html
Schools and Covid
Big questions today about the accuracy of tests that are being given to students in UK schools and whether a positive test should result in students being isolated at home.
There are two tests, one a lateral flow test, and the other more accurate test is a PCR test. The lateral flow test involves taking a sample of mucus or saliva from the nose or throat and mixing it with a solution that will break down the virus.
The solution is placed on an absorbent strip which identifies the presence of antigens within the solution. These antigens are produced in response to the presence of the Covid-19 virus. But they are not as accurate as the lab PCR test. Schools are giving students the lateral test, but a positive result should only signal a student could have Covid and he/she should be sent for a more accurate test, which if the PCR is negative means the student should no longer me isolated.
That’s exactly what didn’t happen in one school where all 30 kids got sent home even though a follow up test (PCR) showed the child was negative.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14288814/covid-schools-testing-pupils-sent-home/
Meantime while vaccinations in the UK are bringing down numbers of ill Covid patients over 65, other age groups with the virus are surging driving home the message we are not through this yet. In France where vaccinations are well behind the UK hospitals are being filled to capacity.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210310-paris-hospitals-near-capacity-as-severe-covid-19-cases-surge
I am having a vaccine this week and will write later on how it went! But I see the vaccine as a way to protect myself, and eventually ease travel abroad for the summer. Not to mention my kids are in school, and that increases my personal risk to new variants. Take the vaccine!
That’s a quick update for today. Please, if you want to leave comments you need to become a paying subscriber. If not, at least support us by sharing the news letter.
Have a great day everyone.
Dana
ps. Excuse any spelling mistakes! This letter is delivered at light speed.