Tag: years-
How the pain of Harry and Meghan’s exit defined the Queen’s final years
THROUGHOUT her reign and service, the Queen’s role was chiefly head of state while the Duke of Edinburgh was left to be head of the family.
But when Prince Harry and Meghan revealed on Instagram they were quitting royal duties to live in America, it was a crisis that required the Queen to be both.
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/meghan-duchess-sussex-britains-prince-640290541-1.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
When Harry and Meghan revealed they were quitting royal duties to live in America, the Queen was required to be both head of state and head of family[/caption]
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/britains-prince-harry-meghan-duchess-654589458.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Harry and Meghan told ‘their truth’ to Oprah Winfrey[/caption]
At a hastily convened summit at Sandringham in January 2020 her decision was swift and final; the Sussexes can leave the family business but not have the trappings that come with being royal.
The wantaway couple were told there was no “half-in, half-out” role and that they could not have their cake and eat it as they were wished good luck in their new life.
In her statement the Queen thanked them for their “dedicated” work saying she was “particularly proud of Meghan”.
She added: “It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
Read more on the Queen’s death
This new beginning was anything but peaceful for the Queen. Because although the couple had quit royal service, they remained in the family.
As one palace insider put it: “They might no longer be working members of the Royal Family but they are not in exile.”
Leaving royal life and service to the crown and state was never a consideration or choice for the Queen. She was catapulted into succession when her uncle Edward VIII quit royal service to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson in 1936.
Seeing the impact on her father scarred the Queen’s early years but she rose to dedicate herself to a life of service.
Most read in The Sun
So in her mid-90s — forced to isolate in Windsor Castle as Covid-19 raged — the Queen was asked to step up and deal with this cross-Atlantic family crisis, again and again and again.
Throughout the pandemic there was the overriding national feeling that Harry and Meghan would be best served in the UK by supporting the Royal Family rather than firing increasingly bitter pot-shots from across the pond.
When the one-year review came round, The Queen acted as both head of state and head of the family when the couple said they would not return.
Meghan was stripped of her patronages. Harry’s honorary military titles were formally removed.
They were relieved as President and Vice-President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust after claiming the former Empire “must right the wrongs” of the past.
In her final Megxit statement the Queen explained: “Following conversations with the Duke, the Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.
“While we are all saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much-loved members of the family.”
The Duke of Sussex responded to the final Megxit deal — struck with Prince Philip in hospital — with an incendiary retort.
Their spokesman said: “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role.
“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
While we are all saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much-loved members of the family.
The Queen on Megxit
Harry had initiated the review two months early because the couple wanted to tell “their truth” to Oprah Winfrey. The “tell-all” chat which aired days after the swapping of Megxit statements sent shockwaves around the world.
The couple alleged there was a racist in the Royal Family and claimed Meghan’s mental health concerns were ignored.
Astonishingly, the Queen was not told about what was planned, as palace insiders revealed “as non-working members of the Royal Family they are under no obligation to inform the Royal Household of such plans”.
Faced with an onslaught of accusations, many later proven to be untrue, the Queen waited more than 38 hours to respond publicly. She ordered a private family-led probe into the claims but tellingly, issued these words: “Some recollections may vary”.
She kept it civil by saying the Sussexes remain “much-loved family members”.
A source close to the Queen said: “She is not angry, she is just sad. They have always worried about him and the Queen feels very protective about him (Harry).”
Two months later Harry went further on a mental health podcast, blasting his upbringing saying he wanted to “break the cycle” of pain caused by his father.
This felt a more personal attack on the Queen, Charles and the whole Royal Family.
Faced with overwhelming public sympathy, coming after the shock and horror of the first Oprah interview, and grieving the loss of her husband, she stayed silent.
Just a few years earlier the Queen had welcomed divorcee Meghan into the fold and issued an Instrument of Consent for their May 2018 wedding saying she was “delighted for the couple”.
She was understanding
She gifted Meghan a set of pearl earrings and a necklace for her engagement and presented Frogmore Cottage to the couple.
The pair shared a tender moment when the Queen placed a blanket on Meghan’s knees on their first joint-engagement together in Cheshire. Meghan later told Oprah: “The Queen has always been wonderful to me.”
An insider said: “She was understanding that Harry and Meghan wanted out but it could not come at the detriment of the whole family.”
Because stepping away from royal life has never even crossed the Queen’s mind during her reign. She remembered only too well the huge toll that Edward VIII’s abdication had on her own father and the Royal Family.
When Edward quit royal duty to marry American Wallis Simpson, the line of succession passed to her father.
George VI called it a “burden” as he was the second-born and the spare and so was never meant to take the crown, let alone pass it down to his eldest daughter.
But he was regarded as a successful wartime king although he succumbed to the stress and heavy smoking and died aged 56 — leaving Princess Elizabeth to become Queen aged 25.
In a worldwide radio message on her 21st, she said: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.”
The thought of abdication, or quitting royal service to enjoy life elsewhere, even stepping away as head of state or head of the family, was never ever an option she wanted or explored.
The Queen was true to her word. And her service was universal to family and state.
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-britains-queen-elizabeth-ii-759103619-1.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Harry’s public comments have felt like a personal attack on the Queen, Charles and the whole Royal Family[/caption]
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NINTCHDBPICT000227028967.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Queen was only catapulted into succession when her uncle Edward VIII quit royal service to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson in 1936[/caption]
AirPods Pro first look: Hands-on as earbuds get biggest upgrade in years
APPLE’S new AirPods Pro are finally here – and I’ve had a sneak peek.
The next-gen wireless earbuds were unveiled at this week’s Apple event.
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Here’s what the new Apple AirPods look like[/caption]
I’m on the ground in California and had a chance to check them out.
From the outside, this iPhone accessory looks pretty much the same as the first-generation AirPods Pro that launched in 2019.
But they’re packed with much smarter tech.
And so they should be: the AirPods Pro are the most premium of Apple’s wireless earbuds.
Read more on Apple
There’s a new H2 chip inside to deliver better sound quality.
And Apple says sound quality is ”transformed” with a low-distortion driver and amplifier.
The AirPods Pro support spatial audio (just like the old version) so you can hear full 360-degree sound.
And there’s a new iOS 16 iPhone feature that lets you use the camera to scan your ears to personalise your sound experience.
Most read in Tech
Unsurprisingly, the AirPods Pro also ship with active noise cancellation, shutting out ambient sound – great if you’re on a noisy train or busy street.
Apple says the new model doubles the amount of noise cancelled versus the original pair.
The AirPods stems are now touch-sensitive so you can lightly swipe them to control your audio.
And Apple says a single charge offer six hours of listening time per charge – that’s 33% up on the old model.
It means you get 30 hours of total listening time with the charging case.
So how much will the AirPods Pro set you back? You’re looking at a $249/£249 bill.
They’re available to order on September 9.
And the release date is September 23.
There’s also an option to get free engraving from Apple on the case, including with Memoji.
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It’s great to see Apple continuing to put effort into AirPods.
They’re a cracking product and deservedly popular.
Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacks
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Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered…
- How to delete your Instagram account
- What does pending mean on Snapchat?
- How to check if you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp
- How to drop a pin on Google Maps
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- How to go live on TikTok
- How to clear the cache on an iPhone
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- What is OnlyFans?
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Get all the latest WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other tech gadget stories here.
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Twenty-six years later, Quake gets ported to … Apple Watch?
Ever looked at your Apple Watch and thought “Dang, I just wish I could play the classic 1996 first-person shooter Quake on this thing!” … No? OK. But now you can! Developer Tomas “MyOwnClone” Vymazal was able to get Quake up and running on the watch; while Vymazal notes that existing open source Mac/iOS ports […]
Twenty-six years later, Quake gets ported to … Apple Watch? by Greg Kumparak originally published on TechCrunch
Rolls-Royce shares have fallen 75% in five years. I’d buy them today with one proviso
Everybody loves a bargain but just because Rolls-Royce shares have fallen a long way does not automatically make them a good investment.
The post Rolls-Royce shares have fallen 75% in five years. I’d buy them today with one proviso appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
Red Giant Betelgeuse Was Yellow Some 2,000 Years Ago – Phys.org
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‘I’m Not a Spy:’ Israeli Defense Minister’s Housekeeper Sentenced to Three Years For Offering to Load Computer With Malware for Iran-Linked Hackers
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A former housekeeper for Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantz will spend three years in prison for allegedly attempting to infect the official’s computer with malware in exchange for cash from Iran-linked hackers. The cleaner, the BBC notes, agreed to a plea deal to avoid being prosecuted under espionage charges which…
Keanu is back for next year’s Cyberpunk 2077 expansion Phantom Liberty
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In a new Night City Wire tonight, CD Project Red played the strongest card they have in their Cyberpunk 2077 deck, that being Keanu “Nicest Guy In Hollywood” Reeves. America’s bad-ass actor dad played semi-imaginary rock anarchist (I know I’m being reductive, don’t leave comments) Johnny Silverhand in the main game, and he popped up to confirm he’s back for 2023’s expansion – which we now know is officially called Phantom Liberty.
There’s also the Edgerunner update dropping today, a tie-in for the Netflix anime Edgrunners (more info on that was also revealed tonight), and free-to-play mini game featuring Roach the horse, because we all like Roach the horse.
Hot 100: Britney Spears Scores First Top 10 in TEN YEARS with Elton John ‘Hold Me Closer’ Collab
Britney Spears and Elton John have blasted straight into the upper echelon of the Billboard Hot 100 with their new collaborative single, ‘Hold Me Closer.’
Full story below…
The track, which re-works and re-imagines John’s 1971 classic ‘Tiny Dancer,’ has launched at #6 on the coveted count.
Delivering on predictions,
The post Hot 100: Britney Spears Scores First Top 10 in TEN YEARS with Elton John ‘Hold Me Closer’ Collab appeared first on ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. – Thirsty?.
Jaws is a box office hit again, 47 years after it first hit theaters
![A still from a Jaws movie poster featuring a shark sneaking up on a swimmer.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nez5dVY9603Ul_0Jl-qiXs9Pg7o=/150x0:1770x1080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71326920/iQRcffM.0.jpeg)
This Saturday was dubbed “National Cinema Day,” in which theaters around the US cut their ticket prices to $3 in an effort to keep bringing people back to the movie theater. And it worked! More than 8.1 million people went to the movies on Saturday, Variety found, compared to 1 million the day before and 1.7 million the day after. National Cinema Day brought the biggest crowds to theaters of any day in 2022, which leads to one inevitable conclusion: people will go to movies when movies only cost three bucks. Who knew!
One thing not needed to get the butts back in the seats? New movies. August has been a month-long movie doldrums, the result of so many pandemic shutdowns and general supply chain issues. Tom Cruise always has the answer,…