This is not – definitely not – a newspaper column about Meghan and Harry. How could it be? I've never met them. All I know is what I read in newspapers – although lack of knowledge does not seem to deter British tabloids.
Every day there are stories about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex based on “information", from anonymous “royal sources” and supposed “friends”. These stories read not like journalism but romantic fiction. There are long-suffering heroes, dastardly villains, glamorous locations, English palaces filled with flunkies and Californian sun-kissed movie-star hideaways. Like eating junk food, some crave more of this stuff, while reading it leaves me empty inside.
For example, a popular British tabloid's front page revealed Meghan was involved in a "plot" to appear on the The Oprah Winfrey Show, well before she married Prince Harry. A plot? Terrorists conspiring to blow up a building or hijack an airliner construct a "plot". A young actor, Meghan Markle, wanting to be on Oprah Winfrey's show is not a "plot". It's a public relations opportunity. Yet, in romantic fiction style, Meghan is cast as the Wicked Schemer manipulating the Naive Prince Harry, a cross between Cruella de Vil in the Disney film 101 Dalmatians and Scarlet Overkill in Minions.
Millions of eyeballs in Britain and America were glued to an interview Meghan Markle and Prince Harry gave to Oprah Winfrey this week. AFP
This caricature, however, sells some newspapers. It takes everyone's mind off coronavirus and Brexit in the UK and permits otherwise normal people to believe that they have an insight into the lives of the rich and famous, who – apparently – endure family crises and unhappiness. Like the rest of us.
Perhaps I am also trying to explain why, for all the years I have been a broadcaster and journalist, I have often gone to great lengths to avoid what is called “royal reporting”. It's not a lack of respect. It’s the opposite. I have been lucky enough to meet Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and others. I appreciate their sense of duty. The monarchy historically brings stability to the UK, especially in difficult times. Prince Charles, in particular, has suffered tabloid newspaper caricatures, presenting him as eccentric. At one event I attended in Scotland, the heir to the throne spoke eloquently about organic food, advocating better ways of farming and what we would now call a “greener” environment. He quipped that 30 years ago, when he first spoke about such matters, newspapers suggested he was “crazy”. In fact he was thoughtful, prescient and ahead of his time.
But I confess my own judgement on what makes a “royal story” is seriously flawed.
I once reported on Queen Elizabeth II’s state visit to Washington in the 1990s and apparently got it all wrong. She was warmly welcomed by then president George HW Bush, but Bush was very tall. And when he moved away from the White House podium it was clear that the lectern was adjusted to his height but not right for the Queen, since she was considerably shorter than the president.
As she made her speech, the head-on TV camera showed viewers just the top of her hat emerging from the podium. Since there were half a dozen other live TV cameras recording the event, in my report I cut away from the silly hat shot to a side view in which she could be seen clearly. Other TV networks stuck with the “talking hat” shot. That – apparently – was “the story”. Even now I persist in thinking it was, in actual fact, about the renewed close relationship between the US and Britain after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the affectionate words from the British monarch to the American people, and the generous welcome from Bush. Wrong!
Prince Harry cited the excessive interest of the media as a primary reason for leaving the UK. AFP
The moment Diana died those same newspapers turned 180 degrees, speaking of their 'heartbreak' at losing the 'people's princess'
And I was probably wrong again when Princess Diana was killed in the Paris car crash in August 1997. The glamorous but often unhappy woman had been tormented and pursued by newspapers and supposed “royal” reporters, who wrote negative stories about her relationships including that with Dodi Al Fayed. The moment Diana died, those same newspapers turned 180 degrees, speaking of their “heartbreak” at losing the “people’s princess”.
The word hypocrisy is too soft for all this, but this same hypocrisy continues today. It tortures Prince Harry, the man who as a little boy in 1997 had to bury his mother and has apparently found happiness in his marriage to a woman strong enough to have her own opinions. For Prince Harry, this new witch-hunt against his wife must be an unimaginable repetition of the cruelty endured by his mother.
I am not naive enough to believe that all the newspaper codes of conduct and supposed soul-searching among British tabloid editors will ever stop the bullying of Meghan Markle. The fact that she is African-American seems to ignite even more vitriol from some. Yet royalty-obsessed tabloids supply stories for which there must be some kind of demand. Maybe royalty-obsessed readers should ask themselves what is it about such stories that appeal. The soap-opera? The destruction of people in the public eye? The cruelty? Don’t ask me. I always get royal stories wrong.
Gavin Esler is a broadcaster and UK columnist for The National
TEAMS
EUROPE:
Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson
USA:
Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Webb Simpson, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau ( 1 TBC)
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
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12,500 - highly active
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
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MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Results
Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
The Undertaker beat John Cena
The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
