From enviable to pitiable – often just a small step
“Envy is a really stupid sin, because it’s the only one you could never possibly have any fun at. There’s a lot of pain and no fun. Why would you want to get on that trolley” Charles T. Munger
Envy destroys
Charles T. Munger, usually called Charlie, the successful 99-year-old investor, vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and close partner of investment legend Warren Buffet, often talks about envy in interviews.
And is thus in the best company with philosophers such as Kant, Kierkegaard or Schopenhauer and writers such as Shakespeare, who are fascinated by this topic.
We are all familiar with envy. However, most of us instinctively follow Charlie Munger’s advice.
Not so Prince Harry. According to psychologists, envy often arises in people whose starting position is not very different. Envy leads to the desire for others to lose the things they envy.
If, as in the case of Prince Harry’s book, these are your own family members, there is a great danger of ultimately losing everything and thus destroying yourself.
With a cool look
Prince Harry’s autobiography “Spare”, or “Reserve” in the German translation, and his interviews, are overflowing with emotive descriptions of perceived hurts, rejections, supposed intrigues and hints that much more could be revealed that he has considerately (so far) withheld.
Waterstones bookshop in Piccadilly © Jeff Gilbert/Alamy Stock Photo
When asked why he doesn’t give back his aristocratic title from the English royal family, from whom he feels so betrayed and booted out, and from now on enjoy the California sun exclusively as a private citizen, Prince Harry’s gaze suddenly turns ice-cold and the answer is “What would that change?”.
Our analysis is just as cool: The Prince negotiated the fees for his statements well with his publisher, Netflix and other partners in the media business, but ultimately lost everything.
It remains to be seen whether this was due to calculation and/or naivety. Envy seems to have played a decisive role.
“The fig leaf of envy is moral indignation” (Karl Kraus). This is one reason why envy is often instrumentalized politically.
What’s wrong with the reserve as heir to the throne?
No one knew the line of succession in the British royal family better than Prince Harry, who certainly felt it in the early days of his life. Back then, after his first-born brother William, he was still high up in the order of potential successors to the throne for Queen Elizabeth II.
But unlike a hoped-for job promotion, where favoring a colleague, for whatever reason, hurts a lot, Prince Harry was clear that there are clearly defined rules of succession that award the succession to the first-born.
It was equally clear that everything would be done with regard to his education and other privileges so that he would be in the same good position as his brother should the situation arise that he would succeed to the throne.
His father Charles and his brother William were only allowed to work with an exemption from the former regent Queen Elizabeth II to travel together on an airplane. This very rare exception was granted when Princess Diana died in an accident.
Despite the constitutional monarchy, being at the head of the British royal family is only a pleasure at first glance. When King Charles III was officially declared British King by the Accession Council, he accepted this task with the words:
“And in carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of almighty God”.
Curtain closed and no questions left unanswered
Naturally, Harry and Meghan will receive an invitation to Prince Charles III’s official coronation in May this year. The days of drawing swords in such cases are over.
Of course, Harry and Meghan will happily accept this invitation, as the worldwide media coverage will increase their own market value for further books, interviews or Netflix series.
Of course, there will be smiles on everyone’s faces when the cameras are rolling.
No one can judge the supposed or real feelings of others. But there is one thing they can no longer expect: an open, honest conversation within the family that might help.
The Neue Züricher Zeitung ran the headline: “The prince who sells his family”. None of the people involved and mentioned in his book will feel the slightest inclination to be sold again in new episodes.
The English royal family will survive
Envy often arises between people who are competing for similar things or are close in some other way, such as siblings, colleagues, friends or experts.
However, envy is not a law of nature.
If you are envious yourself, take comfort in the words of Jacques Prévert: “It is better to arouse envy than pity”.
Even in his old age, Charlie Munger attends Berkshire Hathaway’s annual general meetings in Omaha, which are attended by fans of value investing.
He is known for saying “I have nothing to add” after his long-time partner Warren Buffet.
Cover picture: Prince William and Prince Harry at the premiere of Star Wars 2017, The Royal Albert Hall, London © Doug Peters/Alamy Stock Photo
