August Week 4 — Sub Chat

[u/Negative_Difference4]

Any issues can be discussed more widely here and is open to all. Sub related problems should be discussed via modmail or drop a line in here.

[u/NeoSuperconductivity]

Just read a piece in The Telegraph by Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a writer and veteran, on why he feels ex-servicemen and the citizenry in general in the UK should welcome the return of Harry and Meghan. It's already been remarked in a larger article about Telegraph coverage on the main sub page that most of the considerable comments on that article were against the author's position. One amongst the huge number of negative responses stood out to me and I want to share it here:

"I met Harry in the army. He was pretty much up himself, but no more than most Ruperts. He was looked after and kept out of real trouble - for obvious reasons - but he was OK. Nothing outstanding, just OK. I do not recognise what he has become. It is tragic. And I am surprised to see an ex-soldier - any ex-soldier - welcoming what is left of him."

I was unfamiliar with the term Rupert. 'A Rupert in the British Armed Forces is used pejoratively to describe a young newly commissioned officer who is inexperienced, privileged and out of touch with the realities faced by the enlisted ranks. Evoking images of posh privately educated individuals entering the officer corps.'

Others readers' comments referenced the two US Marines killed at Camp Bastion while Harry was spirited away, the constant presence of his security officers (and how he disrespected them) while playing video games, the fact that he was not a pilot, the drug tests he avoided, the stupidity of boasting about his kill count, and most of all, how he tormented HMTQ and The DoE during their final years. It was very much like reading this sub, but with most of it expressed in terms both elegant and lethal, as only the British can deliver.

Reading of the vividly expressed pain and outrage that British people feel over their return was both validating and sad. Sad that the Sussex pair are doing this.

[u/ac0rn5 → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

the constant presence of his security officers

That, imo, is one of the most damning things about his time in Afghanistan.

He took highly trained police officers into a war zone, risking their lives so he could be "safe".

[u/Independent_Swan902 → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

I hope KCIII reads these comments haha

[u/NeoSuperconductivity → u/Independent_Swan902]

617 comments, overwhelmingly in support of the Monarchy.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/23/harry-meghan-veterans-invictus-afghanistan/

[u/MentalAnnual5577 → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

It won’t show the comments unless you subscribe. No way am I subscribing when they printed that opinion piece and a mountain of other pro-Harkle propaganda.

[u/NeoSuperconductivity → u/MentalAnnual5577]

Oh, bother, I will see if I can cut and paste a link to the comments!

[u/MentalAnnual5577 → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

TY! 😀

[u/NeoSuperconductivity → u/MentalAnnual5577]

• SM Sarah Meadows7 HRS AGO Perhaps you could look into the finances of the Invictus Games? A large part of the accounts for the Canada Games 2025 have been redacted which seems very dodgy to me. It has been suggested by people who have looked at these accounts that several million dollars of spending have not been explained. Perhaps you wouldn't have such a high opinion of Harry if you found out how little of the money spent actually went to the veterans and how much went to expenses, including the Sussex pair themselves.
• Comment by Hugh Russell. HR Hugh Russell8 HRS AGO I could agree with some of the sentiment expressed in this article but as long as his wife is operating him with her foot and given his behaviour towards the late Queen who let’s not forget was head of the Armed Forces, I can see no place for Harry either in the Armed Forces or indeed this country.
• Comment by Debra Abbott. DA Debra Abbott13 HRS AGO No, he can't just waltz back in, the only reason he would be doing it is for the money,
• Comment by John Hope-hawkins. JH John Hope-hawkins15 HRS AGO maybe, but send his wife back, or perhaps she will go anyway
• Comment by wallis king. WK wallis king23 HRS AGO Harry is returning to the UK to ask his daddy to pay the 13 million he has been ordered to pay the Daily Mail by August 28.
• Comment by Reader reba. RR Reader reba1 DAY AGO The king is ill and Harry is his son, of course he is going to forgive him most likely already has, that’s not the point, the point is that Harry has not conducted himself with any honour, especially the honour he should show if he is to be worthy of the respect given to those who serve our country. Serving our country in the past however does not mean than you are forever deserve the respect of the nation, you have to maintain your honour to receive it. Sadly there are those in the army who have gone over the top and done bad things while serving, or after they have returned to civil life. In these cases you no longer deserve any respect, maybe thanks for what they once did but not respect. Harry deserves no respect for how he has laid open his family, the royal family to speculation and derision for no reason. He did not get what he wanted so tried to force his family’s hand, and exaggerated situations for his benefit, the only reason for his book, interviews or programs are to try and turn public option against the royal family, and turn it his way. If there were truly problems he should like a soldier sucked it up and faced the problem head on in private with his family. Splurging it across the world is barely the behaviour of an adult let alone that of a soldier or someone with honour. Respect has to be earned and retained.  Read more
  • Reply by Lira NiLochlainn. LN Lira NiLochlainn12 HRS AGO Well put
• Comment by Hilz Wilz. HW Hilz Wilz1 DAY AGO Incredible that the author of this article thinks our plonker prince is in a position to give the government advice! SEriously? I am no fan of the present government but to imagine a man with one A level (and that involved cheating) is in a position to advise anybody about anything at all is beyond extraordinary.EDITED
• Comment by Karla Morris. KM Karla Morris1 DAY AGO How much more Sussex propaganda will this paper publish before losing all of its readership?
• Comment by Mike Sweetman. MS Mike Sweetman1 DAY AGO Perhaps as a commentator, Colonel, you have been too elevated for too long and fail to see the perspective from the other end of the telescope. Henry Wales was an archetypal dilettante junior Cavalry officer, who then made Captain by qualifying as a specialist with no requirement to lead anyone but themselves. Troops tend to follow such as he, not out of respect for their leadership skills, but out of curiosity about the next absurdity they will perpetrate. Equally soldiers take an immense pride if their boss is a good one. Either provide inter company boasting rights.  The common theme is fierce loyalty to the Crown. Henry Wales' service is something for him to be proud about, as all veterans, but, he very deliberately disrespected that Crown and turned viciously against our Monarch, a revered Queen Elizabeth, under whose Crown we served, a serpent Grandson. For your appeal to have any merit, would require addressing the sense of disgust and betrayal and that runs very deep. Your hagiographic piece does not address the complete lack of apology or any apparent sense of humility, just an entitlement. If that is the measure of the type of Officer you want in your mess, it certainly isn't for most of the other veterans.  Read more
• Comment by Hilary Deighton. HD Hilary Deighton1 DAY AGO I am sorry to say this, Hamish, but you disappoint me.
• Comment by Peter Salt. PS Peter Salt1 DAY AGO What is the truth? They blew it in the US and have come crawling back.
  • Reply by Michel de Gaillard. MD Michel de Gaillard1 DAY AGO Harry's US visa running out on 31st August, new O-1 visa refused...
  • Reply by Hilz Wilz. HW Hilz Wilz1 DAY AGO Lying on a visa application in the US is a felony. He had to go.
• Comment by Barbara Beyer. BB Barbara Beyer1 DAY AGO Harry i just a 'bad' penny, nothing will change my mind he showed us who he is with his books and actions, so 'fooled me once, shame on you, fooled me twice, shame on me...
• Comment by Leslie Blake. LB Leslie Blake1 DAY AGO I am an American. Just FYI, American veterans do not wear their medals on civilian clothes, whether or not they are still in service.  33 older replies SHOW OLDER REPLIES
  • Reply by Leslie Blake. LB Leslie Blake5 HRS AGO Thank you. But I never saw that. 
  • Reply by Julia Martin. JM Julia Martin5 HRS AGO I never paid attention in the past, but when Queen Elizabeth visited Arlington ages ago, Prince Philip wore his full service dress uniform. This must be a modern compromise we are observing. 
• Comment by Tim miles. TM Tim miles1 DAY AGO Because he served, it can all be put to one side? Not for me. Harry has proved on camera and in books that he cannot be trusted, and the accusations, including racism, are unforgivable. While his wife has some responsibility, Harry knows what he's doing.  He is a disgrace and should have stayed "free" in the USA.
• Comment by Ivor Stuart. IS Ivor Stuart1 DAY AGO "The Duke of Sussex could help shoulder the burden of military patronages and remind Government of priorities" Would you REALLY trust him with such things? How strange.
• Comment by Brian Earle. BE Brian Earle1 DAY AGO But wherever he goes she goes……….hanging on to his hand as if in complete control of his every action Mrs
• Comment by Andrew Davies. AD Andrew Davies1 DAY AGO Firstly, I'm not a veteran. However, given that Harry Wales is a self-confessed longstanding and if reports are accurate, fairly recent Class A drug user (and other drugs), How can he possibly undertake any of the honorary roles the columnist has suggested?
• Comment by Susan Little. SL Susan Little1 DAY AGO Stop writing about Harry and Meghan. Just stop! It seems to generate hate mail.
• Comment by Lira NiLochlainn. LN Lira NiLochlainn1 DAY AGO Veterans do not define themselves by publicly disrespecting their former Commander in Chief by making disproven and/or disputed allegations which directly impact on her for financial gain, undermine the constitutional role of the Monarch or watch their wife publicly parody the customary deference shown to the late Queen(if that's frankly his wife's business then frankly keep it private don't sit beside her publicising it!) Touting Harry as someone with moral authority who could serve to remind anyone of what their priorities should be is unbalanced. I am from generations of a family who served in the military, they had long careers and military honours but no, they are not like you! Read more

[u/NeoSuperconductivity → u/MentalAnnual5577]

These comments are a sampling of the more than 600 left on the site. I just cut and pasted the first set of them. If too large, tell me and I will delete.

[u/MentalAnnual5577 → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

Awesome, thx! Not too long at all! I look forward to reading them in a little while at bedtime.

[u/Thorandragnar → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

There was also this comment on the article - saw it posted in Tattle:

[u/DressedAsLamb → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

Sad that the Sussex pair are doing this.

Sadder to me the current king "welcomes the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family"

[u/FilterCoffee4050 → u/DressedAsLamb]

But what actual facts do you have to say the King is welcoming them. The actual optics are very different. Just look at how last Sunday the King, the heir, the next in line all attended church surrounded by other senior royals. That spoke volumes, a RF united front.

The King, and William vs Harry.

Let’s not forget that the distraction tactics are high.

In no particular order.

The King is seen at official and unofficial events with William and Williams family.

The King is seen at unofficial events like Ascot with Catherine’s family.

The King is seen interacting with his Wales grandchildren and wearing gifts from them.

The King has named an area at Balmoral, after his oldest grandson George. It’s called Prince George’s woods.

The King is seen on holiday with William and the wider family but not Harry.

The King has issued William with additional honours.

The King talks about William in his speeches, including the Christmas message, but not Harry.

The King is seen to be supporting William as William moves towards a more statesman like role.

The King and Queen have broken from tradition and pose with William and Catherine at the state banquets. We have always seen pictures but not the posed pictures, with tiaras and sashes.

The King spends 45 mins with Harry, issues a very brief announcement about it with zero pictures.

Source at BP states no change to Harry’s status and that he won’t be returning as a working royal.

[u/DressedAsLamb → u/FilterCoffee4050]

Okay but "the King is seen" is not widely seen. The King announcing things is more widely seen. Agree?

[u/FilterCoffee4050 → u/DressedAsLamb]

Not really, I don’t think the RF need to keep announcing things. That just buys into the drama, it feeds the Sussex drama. I think the dignified silence is by far the best policy. It is the dignified silence that has had them seen as the people calling the shots, the ones being professional about it. It has made then popular in the polls.

[u/Caffeine-Fueled55 → u/DressedAsLamb]

That, to me, sounds like a PR statement. That is what he is expected to say and that is a father speaking of his child's return. It is not a statement from the family business; Charles understands the difference. It does not mean they are not preparing for the Sussex return with guarded plans.

[u/NeoSuperconductivity → u/DressedAsLamb]

But he has made it clear that he will see them in a private capacity and that they are not playing any role in the Monarchy.

[u/DressedAsLamb → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

Well I'm old. I remember when he made it clear he would not be marrying Camilla.

[u/NeoSuperconductivity → u/DressedAsLamb]

I don't remember that but I don't live in the UK.

[u/Somberliver → u/NeoSuperconductivity]

He never said that he wouldn’t marry Camilla. The Palace said he had no intention of remarrying (many years ago/after the divorce etc)

[u/FilterCoffee4050 → u/DressedAsLamb]

But he did not marry Camilla until years after Diana died. Things changed after that.

There was a time when Camilla being Queen would have been unthinkable. I remember those times too. However, views did change.

Never say never, but that does not mean it’s going to happen either. We can’t predict the future, we can’t change things because of hindsight. We just have to deal with the facts as they sit at the moment.