# What the heck is going on with the Royal Family ("Megxit") **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2020, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203 "2020-01-10T04:12:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/81 "2020-01-12T05:34:08Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > You’re capitalizing like it’s 1799. As for myself, I hold that no man or woman is above the lowercase. App shahid bhool chuki hain kay meh kahan saay houn? 😉 Look we hold onto the proper rules. Just because all of you lot have forgotten doesn’t mean we have. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/82 "2020-01-12T07:42:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But _“Queens Reign”_ most certainly is. I don’t think “Queens” is the word being singled out there. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/83 "2020-01-12T09:24:10Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > There are only 5 people ahead of him. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip could easily die of the ailments of old age. Prince William and his three children could all die in an airplane or motor vehicle accident. The latter possibility being why such a family is supposed to travel in separate conveyances, with, for an example, William and one or two of the children in one airplane and Kate and the others in another airplane. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/84 "2020-01-12T11:57:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > The latter possibility being why such a family is supposed to travel in separate conveyances, with, for an example, William and one or two of the children in one airplane and Kate and the others in another airplane. A convention that has been relaxed in recent years, possibly because flying is so much safer than it was in the Queen’s younger days. I think they still avoid travelling together in helicopters though. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/85 "2020-01-12T13:21:04Z")
[Moderating] I am not going to take a stand on the capitalization question. In fact, I’m going to do the opposite: I’m officially declaring that, for purposes of this thread, any capitalization convention is acceptable, and if you have a problem with any particular convention, you should take it to another thread. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/86 "2020-01-12T17:00:06Z")
cx > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Man reading the Daily Mail is fun now. Anyway, re our immediately preceding lubrications… I didn’t even check I was so proud of myself, and of course autocorrect wronged me: lucubrations ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/87 "2020-01-12T19:53:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > [Moderating] > I am not going to take a stand on the capitalization question. In fact, I’m going to do the opposite: I’m officially declaring that, for purposes of this thread, any capitalization convention is acceptable, and if you have a problem with any particular convention, you should take it to another thread. Very Solomonic. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/88 "2020-01-12T20:39:14Z")
The Brit royal family this go-round is fairly tame. At least potential heirs aren’t physically slaughtering rivals to improve their chance at succession. Being a royal sibling or cousin has often been hazardous to one’s health. Now they’re only assassinated by the press. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/89 "2020-01-12T21:08:01Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > The Brit royal family this go-round is fairly tame. At least potential heirs aren’t physically slaughtering rivals to improve their chance at succession. Being a royal sibling or cousin has often been hazardous to one’s health. Now they’re only assassinated by the press. A proper House of Sussex vs. House of Cambridge civil war would certainly liven the UK up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/90 "2020-01-12T21:36:59Z")
Of course, if Harry really doesn’t want to be king he doesn’t have to convert to Catholicism. He could simply abdicate as soon as the throne came to him. If there isn’t a way to take yourself out of the succession, maybe he could announce his intention to do exactly that under the circumstances, and maybe a graceful way to formally take oneself out of the succession would get implemented. After all, parliament can now pretty much manage the monarchy in any way that they see fit. I don’t see that much of a crisis anyway. Skipping all the way down to Eugenie and Beatrice doesn’t seem that bad. I don’t know of anything really horrible they’ve done themselves, whatever Andrew has gotten up to. The biggest problem is that they also have their own careers and incomes, and might not really want the throne any more than Harry does. One of them is recently married, and the other is engaged. Pretty good chance they’ll be popping out further heirs in the near future. I also think that, while it could happen, the chance of William and all his children dying is slim. Even the chance of William dying before his oldest attains his majority doesn’t strike me as likely. Another wrinkle we haven’t discussed is that in that latter case, there would have to be a regency. I seem to recall that it has been codified somewhere that in the event of a regency, the next capable adult in the succession becomes regent. That would presumably put Harry on the throne again, albeit temporarily. At least in that case, you would have a regent who was perfectly willing to turn the throne over when the kid became old enough. When monarchs had actual power, that was often not the case. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/91 "2020-01-12T23:14:49Z")
No, I haven’t forgotten where you’re from. > [@AK84](#): > > App shahid bhool chuki hain kay meh kahan saay houn? 😉 > > Look we hold onto the proper rules. Just because all of you lot have forgotten doesn’t mean we have. > 😃 😃 Now I’m picturing you wearing one of those funny little wigs and saying “M’Lud.” Thinking of how the English nobs dressed their servants in 18th-century knee breeches, powdered wigs, tricornes, ages after those were obsolete. No wonder they still make you use 18th-century capitalization. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/92 "2020-01-13T02:23:03Z")
On Australian TV, the people who have been upset have been the royal press gallery. Which makes sense, because they are the blood sucking leaches who killed his mother. Some of them may have to find another job or somebody else to stalk. When his brother comes to the throne, Harry will be fourth in line, and his kids will be a bit older. At that time he may be willing to step back into a role. I’d like to think that he could handle some of the travel, but if Africa is anything like Australia, “brother of the King” won’t really signify anything outside the home territories. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/93 "2020-01-13T17:29:52Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Harry and Meghan are not getting any respect from the tabloids. I meant in general, not in the tabloids. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/94 "2020-01-13T19:10:24Z")
I’m not a prince, I’m Harry. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/95 "2020-01-13T20:41:51Z")
Here’s an interesting reference to what the problem is… > **[Here Are 20 Headlines Comparing Meghan Markle To Kate Middleton That Might...](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-double-standards-royal)** > > Over the years, Meghan has been shamed for the same things for which her sister-in-law, Kate, has been praised. Meghan does the same as Kate and the headline is 180º different. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/96 "2020-01-13T21:19:30Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Harry and Meghan are not getting any respect from the tabloids. Like, who on Earth ever does get respect from the tabloids? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/97 "2020-01-13T21:30:48Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Here’s an interesting reference to what the problem is… > > [Meghan Markle And Prince Harry UK Royal Reporters Coverage Compared To Kate Middleton And Prince William](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-double-standards-royal) > > Meghan does the same as Kate and the headline is 180º different. Ok, this one is just hilariously over the top. The fluff piece got dark real quick here. > [@](#): > > **Kate** : “Bumping along nicely! The Duchess was seen placing a protective hand on her tummy as she exited the event.” Daily Mail: March 22, 2018 > > **Meghan** : “Personally, I find the cradling a bit like those signs in the back of cars: Baby on Board. Virtue signaling, as though the rest of us barren harridans deserve to burn alive in our cars.” Daily Mail: Jan. 26, 2019 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/98 "2020-01-13T21:42:46Z")
There are so many instances of weird British press bashing Meghan that it’s just astounding. One instance: She flew to NYC for a baby shower. The press went off on her due the to the “expense” of the trip as well as all the expensive gifts she got. (Um, not really for someone in her position.) Does the press not know what part of the world most of her friends live in? In 1979 Queen Liz did a tour of the Middle East and got [millions](https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/26/archives/elizabeth-on-arab-tour-gets-gifts-that-are-worth-millions-family.html) in gifts. Here’s a look at just [one](https://gulfnews.com/uae/buckingham-palace-reveals-what-late-ruler-of-dubai-gifted-queen-elizabeth-40-years-ago-1.1571551806696) of them. That was one trip and they weren’t even baby gifts or anything. Pure money-down-the-drain sort of things. Upper crust Brits throw _much_ more expensive parties (many with overseas travel) with a lot fancier presents all the time. Why is Meghan being treated differently? Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/99 "2020-01-13T21:46:35Z")
I think Harry would make an excellent Governor General here - or if he wants to live in Toronto, a Lieutenant Governor. It would be a refreshing change from the used politicians who typically inhabit the post. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/100 "2020-01-13T22:16:00Z")
So someone spends 5 weeks vacationing on Vancouver Island and decides to move here. No mystery to me - myself and thousands of others have fallen into this trap as we live in an awesome place. Now that they have Grandma’s OK their biggest problem might be finding available real estate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203.md?page=6)