Americans will never truly understand the arcane rules of British society
The Meghan and Harry brouhaha brought to mind the scope for mishap caused by our different ways of talking
13 March 2021 • 1:00pm
None of what follows should be regarded as an intervention in – or even a comment on – the Great Royal Matter of recent days. I don’t know any more than anyone else about what was said to whom and with what intention, within the monarch’s family. Nor do I have any particular sympathy, being a half-hearted republican who finds the whole brouhaha rather absurd.
What I can claim to know something about – and which the events in question brought back to my mind with particular freshness – is the enormous scope for mishap and misunderstanding that is presented by the differences between British and American attitudes and expectations, especially those involving things that should be said or not said. Having grown up in the United States and then spent my entire adult lif
The couple are preparing to welcome their second child, a girl, this summer and are expected to stay in the States for good.
After quitting The Firm, Meghan and Harry had to shut down their Sussex Royal Foundation and have now launched a new non-profit organisation called Archewell.
According to a description on the Archewell website, its aim is to uplift and unite communities local and global, online and offline one act of compassion at a time.
While Meghan and Harry are based in the USA it seems the couple wish to reinforce their British ties by backing UK charities via Archewell.