REPORTAGE. The day after the release of the first three episodes devoted to the princely couple, Londoners are torn between sympathy and weariness.
By Laure Van Ruymbeke, in London
© LVB
Published on
– Modified
Dn the Fitzrovia district of central London, a supermarket displays newspapers at the entrance. It’s hard not to be drawn to the catchy headlines of British tabloids. “Harry the Nasty”title the Sun (“Harry the Wicked”). “Palace anger at attack on Queen’s legacy”, chooses the DailyMail, which denounces this “Megflix”, whose agenda would aim to overthrow the monarchy. “Stop this royal circus”, claims the Mirror : two months after the death of “our queen”, Harry “still complains” and William “vents his anger, again”. “Meanwhile, thousands of Britons are having to choose between food and heating. »
Ben, with graying hair, doesn’t take his eyes off the Sun. “I don’t believe what they write. But I read them anyway. He will form his “own opinion” by watching the series. The first three episodes of Harry & Meghan have been streaming on Netflix since Thursday, December 8. The next three will follow on December 15.
“Racism and paparazzi”
This Friday morning, the streets of this district mixing shops, residences and offices are quieter than usual: Friday is synonymous with teleworking since the Covid. But it’s not hard to get Londoners talking about Harry and Meghan: royalists or not, young or old, everyone has an opinion on the matter.
“I’m almost done, it’s interesting to hear their version. We have always known only one, ”reacts Charlotte, 16, pink blush on her cheeks. Schooled in a fashion school, she and her friends are on break. It didn’t take more than a minute for everyone to speak at the same time. “They are very much in love and Harry wanted to protect his family. It’s crazy to see what they went through between racism and the paparazzi, ”continues Charlotte.
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“Yes,” adds Paloma. She didn’t know what awaited her when she went out with Harry. “Oh, she knew very well what she was doing,” Ellie replies. She loves fame. “How can they ask for privacy and make a Netflix documentary?” Me, I will not look, ”intervenes Lois, categorical. “Perhaps the only thing that bothers me is the curtsey to the Queen that Meghan didn’t know how to do. She could have made more of an effort to learn about our culture,” moderates Paloma. “It’s total disrespect,” Lois said.
“Emotionally excessive”
Rosemary, in her fifties, doesn’t want to hear about it. She walks slowly pulling her market cart. “Why would I look? It’s due rubbish [des âneries, NDLR] ! All they care about is money. They just know how to put on a show. A little further on, two thirty-somethings are having a coffee. “My family started the series, they think it’s very Netflix, notes Jean-Luc (his grandmother is French). Is it too dramatized? he asks, turning to Johnny who watched the beginning.
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“It’s premeditated and staged. Americans tend to be emotionally excessive. And the way Meghan talks about her experience, you can tell she’s an actress. But beyond the scenario, I have sympathy for Prince Harry, for what he has been through and because he sticks to his principles, he is surely the most “human” of the family. As for Meghan, her sense of injustice is perfectly justified. She was mistreated here. »
Both work in advertising. “Once, Johnny continues, Harry came to our office to meet our CEO, one of his former advisers. He went through a small door and the curtains were down. Both with Meghan are excellent in communication and they know how to surround themselves with the best. At least everyone agrees on this point.