# 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:** 6
**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 13, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/101 "2020-01-13T23:59:30Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#): > > Now that they have Grandma’s OK their biggest problem might be finding available real estate. I don’t think that should be a big problem - here’s a nice little country cottage with plenty of room for staff and security, plus any number of sprogs. > **[Luxury Markets For Sale Properties](https://www.luxuryportfolio.com/luxury-home-markets)** > > Search luxury home markets for properties ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/102 "2020-01-14T05:39:36Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > 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. Nitpick: by the time William comes to the throne, he may have had more children, or may have grandchildren. If Wales lives to the age his father now is, William will not succeed until he is 64 by which time his children will be 33, 31 and 28. Harry could be rather more further off than 4th in line by then. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/103 "2020-01-14T06:17:05Z")
Maybe the problem is that royalty isn’t dying at a fast enough rate any longer. I mean, think about it. Queens were always popping off right and left due to childbirth and its complications. Tons of infants died in their first year or so. Plagues sweep over the land, taking out up to 40% of everyone. No sanitation to speak of. Not to mention royalty actually getting out there onto the battle fields. Now with life expectancies of 90+ years common enough, but people still starting to breed in their 20s and 30s, you end up with all these rich and pampered heirs with no really important tasks to look forward to for decade after decade after decade… ---
**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 14, 2020, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/104 "2020-01-14T07:19:08Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Like, who on Earth ever does get respect from the tabloids? Kate Middleton, apparently. Mighty white of them, to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/105 "2020-01-14T07:48:23Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > No, I haven’t forgotten where you’re from. > > 😃 Now I’m picturing you wearing one of those funny little wigs and saying “M’Lud.” Not the wigs for at least 10 years. > [@](#): > > 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. Not the British though. Back on topic, the celeb rumour mill has had the Duchess looking to cash in for months. Lets see how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/106 "2020-01-14T07:49:24Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Kate Middleton, apparently. Mighty white of them, to be sure. _Waity Katey_? Surely not. ---
**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 14, 2020, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/107 "2020-01-14T08:21:07Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > _Waity Katey_? Surely not. That Buzzfeed link would suggest so. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/108 "2020-01-14T08:23:54Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > Nitpick: by the time William comes to the throne, he may have had more children, or may have grandchildren. If Wales lives to the age his father now is, William will not succeed until he is 64 by which time his children will be 33, 31 and 28. Harry could be rather more further off than 4th in line by then. When you look at older films of HM reign, the Royal Dukes and their wives, and Princess Alexandra were front and center. Not anymore as the younger generation has come of age. Those guys have mostly gracefully withdrawn from the spotlight. Wonder if the Sussex’s will be so understanding when _their_ time comes. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/109 "2020-01-14T10:36:38Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > That Buzzfeed link would suggest so. AK84 is right. Back in the day, especially when she was still fiancee rather than wife, KM did get the shitty end of the stick from tabloids. Not as shitty as Meghan has got, by any means, but there were unpleasant stories about “Waity Katy”, about her parents being common, and (IIRC) about faux pas regarding appearance etc. Like I say, nothing on the same scale (can’t think why) but it was there. For some reason - who can say? - she has been getting much more positive coverage of late. It’s almost as if the people writing the stories found a more kickable target recently. In fact, it’s almost as if there’s some point of difference between Kate and Meghan that mandates that one be held up as a paragon while one is held in contempt. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/110 "2020-01-14T11:16:21Z")
Well old chap \*one must always think remember that at the end of the day pure English breed is better than a foreign mongrel, no matter how fine. \*. That’s the thought process TPTB have. ---
**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 14, 2020, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/111 "2020-01-14T11:39:28Z")
One of the smarter things this British royal family has done is marry outside their class. Mongrels are healthier than purebreds. Exhibit A being [Charles II of Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_II_of_Spain) although some of the Egyptian pharaoh mummies also show why marrying your close relatives isn’t a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/112 "2020-01-14T12:16:00Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > It’s almost as if the people writing the stories found a more kickable target recently. In fact, it’s almost as if there’s some point of difference between Kate and Meghan that mandates that one be held up as a paragon while one is held in contempt. Twas ever thus, though the frequent race-based nods and winks make it worse in this instance. That’s what the tabloids do, whether it’s royals or TV personalities. Someone’s the target for a Two Minutes’ Hate (every other day for a few years, if you’re a royal), and then they move on to someone else. Most of the royals, apart from HM herself, have been on the receiving end over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/113 "2020-01-14T13:37:06Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Twas ever thus, though the frequent race-based nods and winks make it worse in this instance. That’s what the tabloids do, whether it’s royals or TV personalities. Someone’s the target for a Two Minutes’ Hate (every other day for a few years, if you’re a royal), and then they move on to someone else. Most of the royals, apart from HM herself, have been on the receiving end over the years. It’s really a great example of intersectionality: KM gets tabloid stick based on class and gender. MM gets tabloid stick based on class, gender and race. But the impact of the third isn’t just additional, it makes everything worse. E.g. when KM got attacked for her background it was “Her parents were air stewards and don’t know how to curtsey properly”. When MM got attacked for her background it was “Her ancestors were slaves and she’s (almost) straight outta Compton”\* Just nastier all round. \*NB She is not even indirectly outta Compton. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Peebles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Jim\_Peebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Peebles)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/114 "2020-01-14T15:09:31Z")
New theory: Harry wants to divorce Meghan. If they relinquish all of their royal assets first, she will get none of it in the divorce settlement. Then after the divorce he rejoins the royal family and gets it all back. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/115 "2020-01-14T16:46:52Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Maybe the problem is that royalty isn’t dying at a fast enough rate any longer. > > I mean, think about it. Queens were always popping off right and left due to childbirth and its complications. Tons of infants died in their first year or so. Plagues sweep over the land, taking out up to 40% of everyone. No sanitation to speak of. Not to mention royalty actually getting out there onto the battle fields. > > Now with life expectancies of 90+ years common enough, but people still starting to breed in their 20s and 30s, you end up with all these rich and pampered heirs with no really important tasks to look forward to for decade after decade after decade… Just a complete aside - same problem everywhere. I give Benedict the kudos for deciding that a pope did not need to hold on to a job for life, that when they got far too old and tired then pass it on to someone who could do a better job. Same with everyone - if a boomer is hoping to live their retirement by using the parents’ income - good chance they’ll be in their 70’s before the parents even kick off and they probably blew it all on Old Folks’ Home or Alzheimer care before they died. I sot of wonder whether Charles will follow the papal example and maybe, once he hits something like 85 or so decide to “retire” and let Willy have a go, so to speak. Bets I probably too old school for this, but then, it will be decades before this will be a Charles option. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/116 "2020-01-15T06:42:38Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Well old chap \*one must always think remember that at the end of the day pure English breed is better than a foreign mongrel, no matter how fine. \*. > That’s the thought process TPTB have. (For the benefit of those not keeping track:) They always have been foreign mongrels, at least since 1066 (William the Conqueror). And William of Orange, and George of Hanover and Phillip of Greece, and ring-ins like James of Scotland. And that’s just the blokes… ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/117 "2020-01-15T07:37:43Z")
> [@Jim\_Peebles](#): > > New theory: > Harry wants to divorce Meghan. If they relinquish all of their royal assets first, she will get none of it in the divorce settlement. Then after the divorce he rejoins the royal family and gets it all back. Harry doesn’t have any “royal assets”. He has personal assets, which he is not relinquishing. The “royal assets” are all owned/held/controlled by others - principally the monarch and the Prince of Wales. Most of Harry’s income is comprised of whatever those others decide to dole out to him each year - he has no right to a dole. On the ordinary principles applied in UK divorce courts, when making a financial settlement in the hypothetical divorce of Harry and Meghan, the court would take into account Harry’s prospects of receiving income from that source (and others) in future years, even though he has no absolute right to it. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/118 "2020-01-15T07:41:37Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > . . . I sot of wonder whether Charles will follow the papal example and maybe, once he hits something like 85 or so decide to “retire” and let Willy have a go, so to speak. Bets I probably too old school for this, but then, it will be decades before this will be a Charles option. Not decades. Charles will be 85 in a bit under 14 years. The problem is that abdication undermines the whole mindset that supports the system. If you’re born to this, it’s your duty to do it. You do it as well as you can, whether that be well or (because of age, infirmity, etc) badly. If it’s not your duty to do it, then on what basis do you reckon that you have any _right_ to do it? ---
**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 15, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/119 "2020-01-15T13:57:49Z")
Note that there is significant “pruning” going on with the British royal family. Princess Anne’s two kids have no noble titles. (QEII offered them but the parents declined.) While Princess Margaret’s son inherited his father’s earldom (granted by QEII), her daughter is merely “lady”. Prince Andrew’s daughter is also a lady by exception. (His son got a title due to stodgy male-line stuff.) And on and on. It is odd that Edward’s daughters are princesses given the rest. It’s not like like every single descendant of Victoria or some such is a royal leeching off the British treasury. So William has merely decided on their own to opt out rather than having his parents do it for them. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203/120 "2020-01-15T14:03:32Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > (For the benefit of those not keeping track:) They always have been foreign mongrels, at least since 1066 (William the Conqueror). And William of Orange, and George of Hanover and Phillip of Greece, and ring-ins like James of Scotland. And that’s just the blokes… You’re forgetting that the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Danes were also foreign mongrels. So let’s push that date back to A.D. 450. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-royal-family-megxit/846203.md?page=7)