1/ The biggest weakspot of the British monarchy is the confusion between the public and private.

The interview with the Sussexes will test what is really private and public when it comes to the monarchy in a new way. #HarryandMeghan https://twitter.com/cbs/status/1361362229522690048

2/ Throughout the Queen’s reign, the biggest moments have all raised the question of what should be public or private.

3/ At the Coronation itself, the biggest issue was whether to televise it all, when it was - a compromise was reached where the anointing (the most sacred part of the ceremony) was not broadcast.

4/ The 1968 Royal Family documentary, again was seen by the Queen as too great an intrusion into the private lives of the Royal Family, never to be seen again (until it resurfaces on YouTube every now and again).

5/ The big question with the “War of the Waleses” was to what extent did Prince Charles and Princess Diana used their public positions as royals to deal with their private problems.

6/ The sharpest distinction was in 1997, when the Queen chose private over the public, choosing to look after her grandchildren rather than as one newspaper wanted, “for her to be with her people”. The Queen was right, but it showed a monarchy out of step with public demand.

7/ Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview was fundamentally flawed, attempting to use his public position to explain a private choice he made his friendship with Epstein. He subjected himself to a level of public scrutiny no politician would willingly choose. It was a disaster.

8/ The “Queen’s Consent” issue that arose last week through the Guardian, has the same problem at its core. There’s a real legal confusion (dating back centuries) between the public capacity of the Queen as Monarch, and her private capacity as a legal person like anyone else.

9/ The same applies to the financing of the monarchy, which has been a perpetual sore point (and not just for the Queen).

10/ Yet, overall, the Queen understands this. There are some changes that need to made in the next reign to further this distinction.

11/ Prince Charles, indicates that he wants to “slim down” the Royal Family hints that he understands this, but this may also cause some problems if the monarchy cannot meet the demands it faces for engagements and so on.

12/ The Cambridge’s clearly understand the public/private distinction.

They are extremely careful about their privacy, and the best they can keep it separate from their public roles. Remember them suing the French version of Closer magazine over photographs of the Duchess?

13/ With the Sussexes the distinction between the public and the private has yet to fully resolved. It maybe impossible. They are seeking a life as private citizens, away from the Royal Family.

14/ Yet so far, everything they are doing ultimately stems from the position they once had within the Royal Family.

15/ By contrast those members of the Royal Family who are not “active royals”, can pursue a private life (give or take the odd magazine story) After WWII, even the Duke of Windsor managed this.

16/ Alternatively, for someone like Zara Tindall, their status in the public eye is derived primarily from their own success in sport rather than as a member of the Royal Family (of course she would have had every assistance, but the talent still had to be there to do it).

17/ This is perhaps why certain military appointments have been kept open for Prince Harry, as his career in the army is his distinct “stamp” on the world.

18/ Yet so far, one year on from “Megxit”, it’s perhaps best described as being in a holding pattern. What is the ultimate aim of the Sussexes? The pandemic and now her pregnancy may have all impacted on their plans.

19/ But what the above tells us, is that they need successful, substantive private interests. Say (for example) a production company developing genuinely interesting films/tv shows. It could be doing things in a different way, perhaps using first time writers?

20/ (I don’t know - I’m not in the film or TV game - but hopefully you get my point).

21/ They attract attention from people who would otherwise have never have heard of them. If it wasn’t for the royal connection, I would not be tweeting about a TV actress from California (and neither would you be reading this).

22/ Their profile create the opportunity to do something different.

(Of course, Prince Edward tried something similar - only to end up trying to make a programme about Prince William at St Andrews - again showing how confusing the public & private backfires).

23/ So far, we’ve just had celebrity and - going by their podcast - the most excessive, tepid word salads.

The risk is that they are famous, simply for being famous. Usually, this only lasts for so long.

24/ You made it to the end!

Unfortunately, there isn’t a prize.