In an earlier
post, I discussed the daunting obstacles that would face Prince Harry's future wife (assuming, of course, that he gets married). A logical question might then be "what qualities would she need in order to succeed?" In no order of importance, those traits are:
(1) Discretion. The golden rule of life within the royal family, whether upstairs or downstairs, is discretion: "never complain, never explain." Indiscretion is the kiss of death for any royal relationship, as many paramours have found to their surprise.
Trust is linked to discretion; lose the Royal Family's trust, and it's all but impossible to regain.
(2) Being grounded. The adjustment to life as Prince Harry's (hypothetical) wife would be difficult and confusing. As Princess Diana aptly put it:
One minute I was nobody, the next minute I was Princess of Wales, mother, media toy, member of this family and it was just too much for one person to handle.
A woman who is self confident, has adequate levels of self esteem, a relatively stable background, and a good support network would stand a better chance of dealing with the far-reaching changes inherent in marriage to Harry.
(3) Adaptability. In both her public and private life, Harry's wife would face new experiences. Among other things, she would eat unfamiliar cuisine, press the flesh with total strangers, and have her life scheduled in excruciating minutiae. And not everything in life goes according to plan. This is the case even in the Royal Family. Tour schedules might be adjusted. Transport vehicles may break down or be deemed unsuitable. Being adaptable would definitely make life easier for her.
(4) Having a sense of humor. Being able to see the absurdity and humor in situations would be an effective coping mechanism. Laughter is indeed the best medicine.
(5) Assertiveness. As a member of the Royal Family, Prince Harry's wife would be building relationships with numerous parties, balancing a meaningful public role with a fulfilling private life, maintaining her own style, and trying to avoid exploitation and manipulation by those with ulterior motives.
Being assertive would help her stay true to herself and what she believes in.
(6) Perseverance. Being new to the game, Prince Harry's wife would make mistakes. Whether she sinks or swims would depend on her ability to hang in there and learn from her errors.
(7) Empathy. Being empathetic would help Prince Harry's wife be more down-to-earth, more compassionate, more approachable, more likely to touch people and relate to them, and more likeable. That's always a good thing, no?
What do you think? Leave comments and questions below.
