The Firm, what is it and who is in it?

Since Harry and Meghan were in a lovely garden (I see a peak in the pergola trade here) talking with Oprah, it's about The Firm. Nothing new for Meghan by the way, because in Suits they call it that too. Has anyone noticed this parallel? Only now we all want to know what The Firm is and, even more interesting: who is in it?

First of all, The Institution, because that term came up both appropriately and inappropriately. The Institution encompasses everyone who works for-at-by-under the British royal family and thus Queen Elizabeth. Don't think this is just a small company, because The Institution is a large, well-oiled business and the oldest in the UK. However, The Firm is an even more select group within the institution.

According to experts, it was King George VI, Elizabeth's father, who first referred to the royal family as The Firm. But it was our beloved Prince Philip who popularized the name among the public, although he meant that title ironically. The Firm is a club of people within The Institution specifically appointed to protect the reputation of the monarchy. Suddenly I understand the allergy, because this sounds like you could be tapped on the fingers by a chaperone at any moment of the day? Meghan also explains that the people within The Firm are obsessed with how something might come across to the outside world. Which actually means nothing can happen, at least not publicly.

So it remains a bit unclear who all belongs to The Firm, but what is clear is that there is a New Firm within The Firm. Just to keep it easier. This inner circle is quite new, as Queen Elizabeth established the group only in December. In the New Firm within The Firm are the senior royals of the family, which are Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, Kate, Prince Edward, Sophie, and Princess Anne. In this case, they are the working royals, who will increasingly be seen together in the future. Insiders say.

Meghan emphasizes in the interview with Oprah that The Firm and The Institution are absolutely not the royal family. The Firm includes exactly those executive royals, their most involved staff, and people who handle the communication and PR of those royals. If you look at the new firm within the firm, the suspicion is that they have quite a bit of influence within The Firm. And according to Penny Junor, who wrote a book about this phenomenon, there is only one person at the top of all these little clubs within the monarchy. It starts with an E and ends with Lizabeth.

By the way, The Firm and The Institution are not nicknames for the business behind the palace doors. They simply call it The Monarchy and Royal Family there. Experts suspect that Harry and Meghan use these names in the interview to evoke the feeling that they are outsiders. Mission accomplished, I think.