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What's up at Frogmore? Plus 2 new angles to the Meghan story

Not quite four months ago, this blog posed the question of Frogmore Cottage, where Meghan and Harry supposedly live but where none of the locals has seen anyone come or go.

No construction vehicles, no supply vehicles, no waste removal vehicles, and certainly no Royals.

Since then, there have been numerous articles detailing the Sussexes' glamorous life in the cottage, which is located on a swamp, looking out on a graveyard, directly under the Heathrow flight path and perilously close to a public road. (An odd location for a family so worried about security that they are forced to fly on private planes.)

However, I've yet to hear about any local sightings of the Sussexes. Have you?

More money put into the cottage

Instead, the past week has brought two new stories about ongoing improvements at Frogmore Cottage.

One suggested that Harry and Meghan were putting in an 4000 pound outdoor barbeque area at Frogmore.

Barbeque areas work great in Mailbu, where Meghan supposedly really wants to live, but they are chancey with the British weather. Outdoor cooking is really only suitable from May to perhaps early September, and from mid-July on your guests will be feasting on barbeque while the mosquitos feast on your guests. (Frogmore is a swamp.)

Why is more money being put into a residence where it appears that no one currenly lives, and in fact no royal person may ever live?

The house was originally being fitted for Royal staff members, who will likely be the ones to inherit it whenever Harry and Meghan either move abroad, divorce, or convince King Charles III to give them something fancier.

Garden alternations

In addition, the Sussexes made some changes to Frogmore Cottage's approved garden arrangement without telling the local council. They are now applying for retroactive approval.

This may seem like a small thing, but it's part of a pattern with the Sussexes of ignoring the rules when they feel like it.

Refusing to announce the names of Archificial's godparents, which hard-working reporters discovered is legally required even for Royals, is another example. (It was suggested this week that PR lady Izzy May, who accompanied Soho House's Markus Anderson to the Sussex wedding, may be Archificial's godmother.)

At any rate, it's hard not to wonder how many rules and regulations are being shortcutted in the setup and operations of the Sussex Foundation.

More press drumbeats against the Sussexes

The British press has continued its low-key negative coverage of the Sussexes, which is part of a triangle of difficulty for the Royal Family that includes the Queen's role in Brexit and the continuing disclosure of Prince Andrew's misbehavior and ties to suicided sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.

However, two major US outlets ran slightly negative stories about the Duchess of Sussex connected with last week's unveiling of her unimpressive "capsule collection" of garments that were already available elsewhere. (And in the case of the cheap-looking M&S dresses, had already been available for more than a year.)

Both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times raised questions about the collection, which the Los Angeles outlet called "so generic it is tabloid-proof" and referred to Meghan as "a duchess who invested in her own public image."

Could this be a break in what has been largely positive coverage of Meghan in the US?

There have also been trial balloons sent out that Meghan and Harry will do a sit-down tell-all with Gayle King to address the "unfair criticism against them."

Small violins all over town are being booked in advance of what will inevitably be a right Royal self pity party.

New image of Archificial

Finally, Harry's birthday on Sunday, September 15 was an occasion for the @SussexRoyal Instagram account to release a brand-new image of Archificial.

Or new to the public, at least. The image was part of the shoot for Archificial's baptism in early July, although image data at the time revealed that at least some of the baptism photos were taken in early May.

Even if this shot was taken in July, that would make it more than two months old, which is a rather odd choice for besotted new parents. If babies change a lot in two weeks, as Harry bumblingly said at the birth announcement, they change even more in two months.

Don't they have iPhones? Aren't they taking new shots several times a day of Archificial doing something adorable?

Most new parents tend to overshare, not undershare, images of their newborns, particularly their first child.

But those parents, of course, have custody of their babies.

Maybe the Sussexes don't.



Comments

SwampWoman said…
I was wondering how long you could stay away, Elle, because this is fascinating stuff! I so enjoy your lessons (grin). Glad to see you back.

Since you are on the left coast, do you think that Gayle King's interview of the Harkles (if it happens) will be a big ratings winner? I have read that CBS This Morning has been struggling in the ratings since she's been the lead anchor.

/I'm not a TV watcher and prefer actual facts to opinions and happy talk.
gfbcpa said…
I wish Dominick Dunne was still alive. He could write a book about this whole thing and stylize it as a roman a clef novel , like he did with Another City, Not My Own with the O.J. Simpson trial.
Lurking said…
It's not Smeg. It's some woman who likes to write pretentious shit to wind people up. Her former Twitter is just as bad. You are correct, however, that someone who has to bang on about how great their life is, most likely is miserable in their existence. Do you really think that if Smeg was in a public place taking pictures, no one would have noticed her? She enjoys the spotlight too much to eschew being recognized.
SwampWoman said…
I suppose the habits of a lifetime (relying on PP for the family guidance) are hard to overcome. Or, it could be that she expects PC to discipline his errant family member(s).

That being said, I know how hard it is to watch an adult child make a very bad decision in a marriage partner who can best be described as a bad train wreck waiting to happen. The only thing to do is step back and see if any pieces can be salvaged when said train jumps the tracks because criticizing the marital partner only makes the one that made the bad decision dig in their heels over their decision. This is most likely the situation that the RF finds itself in.
Lurking said…
Well this isn't flattering... Buckingham Palace aides 'warn guests not to bring up Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the Queen' ... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7467367/Buckingham-Palace-aides-warn-guests-not-bring-Sussexes.html
punkinseed said…
Great minds think alike. I was just about to post something about that documentary regarding the queen and her ability to duck and dodge away from conflict and confrontation. She's an expert at distracting herself away from anything that gets the slightest bit controversial and giving it all to Philip to sort out. However, now that he's retired, the Sussux are blatantly taking advantage of the void he left behind. Charles is too self absorbed and wishy washy to act on anything as Markle runs rampant over everyone. This must be very frustrating for Wills and Kate, along with Princess Anne. I'd put Anne in charge of Philip's former duties on all things enforcement of keeping the family members in line.
So, the queen's aloof behavior is her normal way of doing things, but her inaction is causing a lot of damage to her legacy.
If I was Anne, after thorough investigation and evidence, force the Sussex to dissolve their foundation and all other bogus charity connections to money making enterprises attached to them. If they refuse, the consequences would be dire. Press would be given the green light to expose all of Meg's grifting and lies, including the fake baby, surrogate, all of it. And that's just for starters. And I'd advise them that any attempt, so much as the whiff of any attempt to cause a backlash or play victim would also release the press to expose them with the facts.
Royal Fan said…
@Aquagirl awwww yes I see it now with Baby George and Kate’s Louis dress and photo shopped generic PH kneeling. I thought it was suspiciously blurry and strange not to include a new photo of them together for his birthday. Makes a very strong case for there being no permanent Archie or atleast not one in their custody. All very fishy!!
SwampWoman said…
Oh, dear, I tried to thank Mrs Trestle as well for her on-the-spot reporting and it didn't come through. Thank you, Mrs Trestle, for being our intrepid investigative reporter! (Picturing Mrs Trestle climbing through a window and taking photos from the inside of Frogmore Cottage while her friend stands in the garden as a lookout.) Oh, my! Just reporting on the view from the car window is fine and no bail money would be involved!
Girl with a Hat said…
LOL. yes thank you Mrs Trestle.
Ava C said…
Nelo, you're right to bring up Charles as he seems to be doing zilch about this, and it's so frustrating as he could easily make a real difference as he controls the real spendable riches in the BRF. He continues to be visibly jolly and relaxed in his public appearances, as if he hasn't a care in the world. I know they have to preserve a good shop front, but it's going too far. He's Harry's father and the next in line and if anyone's responsible it's him.

All I can say is that I hope H&M are put in their proper box and kept there (or Meghan runs off into a Californian sunset) before he becomes Charles III. Otherwise, if we continue to have to put up with this AND have a monarch whose personal extravagance would rival the Prince Regent, there will be a perfect storm.
abbyh said…
Oh man. I miss Dominick Dunne too. He would be all over this and on target with every phrased point.

sigh
Lurking said…
It's not Smeg. It's some woman trying to wind people up. She gets her jollies by people talking about what she posts.
Royal Fan said…
@Cookieshark My family is currently awaiting the birth of twins and we are all on pins and needles. No one says 5 weeks early is “no big deal”. It’s ludicrous! She’s so ugh!! I just can’t even come up with the proper adjective!!
Lurking said…
We all know she wants more money. Reportedly she demanded $400K (could have been GBP) for performing her official duties. There were also articles comparing the Sussex's wealth/income to the Cambridge's, with the Sussex's pleading poverty. Could her appearance be about pushing the poverty narrative and a subtle way to get more money out of Chuck? "I could look more royal if I had a larger budget for clothes and stylists."
Lurking said…
The M_Mount_ had photos of some random hotel in the South of France that looked rather budget... and weirdly Polyanesian.
Nelo said…
Blind Gossip has a post today on Archie. Apparently, Meghan wanted to sell the photos and 'donate the money to charity' but the BRF were asking too many questions.
"You were wondering why sightings of this child of two celebrity parents have been so rare, we have some insight for you!

She isn’t being coy because of concerns about child safety or because she is trying to be artsy. She is frustrated that her team has been unable to figure out how to monetize the baby. She feels like the coverage should be worth millions.

She wanted to do a sale of the first full photo (cover and exclusive). Even though they were trying to be creative about it (publicly announce $X million to charity but with another $X million quietly going to a “private” account), there were too many people involved. The confidentiality issue was a nightmare and people within the family were asking questions so it was deemed too risky. She is facing a lot of scrutiny. If it had leaked that she was trying to profit off those photos, she would be in a much worse position than she is now. The recent photo was her trying to deflect any speculation about that."
Royal Fan said…
Just to clarify by current WHO growth charts that would place Archie in the 92% for a baby boy at that age. Actually about the same size as my cousin’s breast fed little boy who’s dad is tall and thin like PH. However, MM is certainly not breastfeeding any child, given her regular trips abroad sans baby. The truth will probably be stranger than fiction here!
Girl with a Hat said…
1. what kind of scum skims off donations for charity?
2. what kind of scum makes money off pictures of their kids?
3. what kind of scum insists on privacy except for money for their kids?

she is truly pond scum.
Girl with a Hat said…
the express says that Kate might be pregnant again because her calendar is locked for the next few months. LOL. Wouldn't that be funny.
NeutralObserver said…
Speaking of magazines, apparently Glamour magazine is having a big 'Women of the Year' gala in NYC on Nov. 11 at Lincoln Center. I was thumbing through my most recent New Yorker & saw their big full page ad. The tag line is 'Celebrate the leaders & changemakers who are pushing the world forward.' Sounds like that's exactly what Megs considers to be her wheelhouse. Wonder if she'll be honored there. I'm getting a bit queasy just thinking of it. Well, 'Archie' will be about 6 months old then, so easier to leave or travel with. ; - ).
Jen said…
All very good questions...questions no one has answers to.
NeutralObserver said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
NeutralObserver said…
Speaking of magazines, apparently Glamour magazine is having a big gala at Lincoln Center in NYC on Nov. 11. I just saw their big full page ad in the New Yorker. The tagline is 'Celebrate the leaders and changemakers who are pushing the world forward.' Sounds like this is exactly what Megs considers to be her personal wheelhouse. I wonder if she'll be honored there. Just thinking about it makes me a bit queasy. Maybe Nutty, you know more about this event, as it's in your line. Oh well, little 'Archie' will be about 6 mos. old by then, so easier to leave or travel with ; - ).
Mrs Trestle said…
Hi Paisley girl, you don't need to apologise for your English. It's excellent.
Mrs Trestle said…
Hi Paisley girl. You don't have to apologise for your English. It's excellent.
Hikari said…
That would be an excellent development, Mishi (#TeamLittleSisterforCharlotte).
1. This would be a public slap-down of the asinine 'More than two kids harms the environment' comment by Hapless at the Google Summit.
2. Murkle would be chewing on her own liver at the thought of more positive press for the Cambs. Poor Kate does not have an easy time of it for the first three months, but afterwards she sails though. What better rebuttal to the ridiculous, cynical posturing of the Archificial Show than a glowing Duchess of C. with a healthy, normal pregnancy, looking beautiful in normal maternity outfits and another beautiful baby for the House of Cambridge?
3. Owing to #2, Murkle might be forced by her rapacious envy into announcing another Fauxgancy . . .this time with Twins!! If Kate's pregnancy is confirmed, I look for Smegs to come back from South Africa 'noticeably pregnant' . .that is, if they go, after all. If not . . .maybe a divorce for Christmas for Harry? We'll have to wait and see what's up with Kate's uterus.
punkinseed said…
Hikari, and everyone as well. I so enjoy reading your intelligent and insightful comments. And Nutty, you're the best. You have a great nose for news and know what topics to write about and give us to chew on. Appreciate it very much.
If Will and Kate choose to have another child, excellent. I can't think of better parents.
I guess I'm rather old school, but to me, being a parent and having as many children as one wants or not is not about quantity. I feel that if people can afford to have as many kids as they want, and are loving, caring, healthy parents, then go for it.
SwampWoman said…
Good grief, if Kate is pregnant again, I expect MM to visit Octomom's fertility doctor.
SwampWoman said…
Oh, my, that sounded as if I were disapproving of the Cambridges. Not at all. When you produce children that darn cute, you should be obligated to produce as many as possible.
TTucker said…
Yes! I agree with both of you. Also relatable to MM is that the grifters who enter folklore are those bringing down the otherwise invulnerable (like the royal family), operating against the odds, originally somewhat close to poverty and occasionally wealth. I also liked the explanation about grifters' rejection of the raw deal of birth, and that they do not really steal - it is always the trusting victim (Harry) who showers them in wealth.
This Blind Gossip has to be Murky and Harry! I have no words...just none, other than complete disgust! 😡

https://blindgossip.com/big-baby-bucks/
Hikari said…
My parents had four. They, like the Queen, were not giving a thought to the environmental impact. It just kind of . . happened. At least they used eco-friendly cloth diapers on me! If the Cambs have a #4, they will tie the Queen and PP, then I suppose they will stop.

I hope it's a little sister for Charlotte. It'd be a little sister for the boys as well, but then the sides would be even. :)
Oh I just read it and posted the link down the blog post. It’s totally and absolutely disgusting, and I hope the royal family find out what she had or had plans for.
TTucker said…
Mrs Trestle: you are my idol!
Mrs Trestle said…
Well, you could be right Lurking. At first, I thought it was an imitation, but as I read on it so reminded me of the Tig, same phrases, vocabulary, sentence construction, badly written rubbish. If it's an imitation I'm relieved because if it's really her she's dangerously unstable.
Mrs Trestle said…
Elle, glad you're back. I always enjoy your contributions.
Hikari said…
This is the only reason Murkle had a baby. Monetizing instinct, not maternal instinct at all. Great white sharks are more maternal than this one.

I had, along with millions, bought into Harry's image as the fun-loving, child adoring uncle that wanted nothing more than to be a father himself. Cynicism now clouds everything the Suxxits touch. Harry *was* adorable with babies and small children in ways that seemed natural and genuine . . but now I'm wondering if it wasn't just all part of the 'optics' to pad his popularity.

Kids have an instinctive feeling for people who like them and who to be wary of. Children always flocked to Harry; note how they recoil from Smeg and refuse to cooperate during staged photo ops.

I wanted to believe Archie was real, but Harry's reaction to him (it?) during the polo match was non-existent. Meg had no real baby on her person that day. Whether Archie is real somewhere else, with all the gallivanting the two have done since he was 'born' . . I'm very sure they can't have custody. They can't keep a nanny, so who would be watching him?

I hope Catherine has twins if she is pregnant again! 🤗
Trashy T said…
I checked California Birth Records on Ancestry.com and Rachel Megan Markle, mothers maiden name Ragland, WAS born in 1981. Anyone on Anestry can check. I was surprised. I think she looks older than dirt.
Catty said…
If you mean the Gayle King documentary that aired months ago - Meghan & Harry Plus One it didn't have high ratings - didn't even win it's time slot on a Friday night - The Blacklist beat it with their season finale. It had a 0.5/3 share in the coveted 18-49 demographic & 5 million total viewers. To compare a repeat of NCIS had the same share 0.5/3 & 5.20 million viewers.
Anonymous said…
@Marie, you're probably right. I think she just looks much older than vintage 1981 should look lol, but re Fauxrchie, the thing is, the late pregnancy/birth is when things really became surreal, and I commented before that is the reason I believe there was a surrogate. Also, why no new photos? I know she's trying to monetize, but that latest photoshop was a travesty. FFS, PH has mutton chop sideburns! If I were him, I'd divorce her just for that.

Ditto @AbbyH
Anonymous said…
Thanks Nuttiers. I know when to put myself in a time-out. I have spent so much professional time correcting the work of others that I just have little patience and get quite frustrated with fanciful financials, so I know when it's time to step away from the blog.
Anonymous said…
@SwampWoman, you won't believe this, but I've no idea about ratings or TV. I've never even watched Friends. I do binge watch the good stuff, but that's it. I know nothing. None of my friends even knew who markle was and it was considered laughable and trashy even before the wedding. My BFFs aren't the types to embrace a grifting former hooker who made her money on her back/knees/stomach/etc. The only reason I'm following this is b/c she offends me so much and turning the BRF into a reality show and BP into a potential Stuckey's is OTT wrong, so I must watch it.

I am going to just skim posts and if I see the words IRS, money laundering, laundering, 9 million, etc., I'm going to look away and scroll fast b/c it does frustrate the hell out of me otherwise. I have a problem when things aren't logical -- lifelong issue -- and I know that interjecting things like facts and details doesn't help lol, but damned if I don't hit my head against a brick wall trying. But no more because otherwise, I will just go mad and I don't like myself when I get so frustrated. If I need to talk about it, I'll just bounce out and type on Tumblr where no one will see it :)
Hikari said…
"It's not the years; it's the mileage." Indiana Jones

All that yachting takes a toll. And grifting is hard work, too. All those lies to keep track of.

Maybe if Smegs washed off the bronzer, went to a facialist, stopped snorting cocaine and freebasing the Tig, removed the matted wig of horsehair and embraced a more natural style, she'd look more youthful. She's making the classic mistake . . .a woman approaching 40 who is still convinced that she can pull off the styles and lingo of someone in her early 20s. Smeg is living in denial of an inescapable reality: She is old enough to be Kylie and Kendall Jenner's mom, when she's acting and dressing like she's one of their peers.
SwampWoman said…
Smoking also ages the skin badly. My younger brothers are smokers; people assume I'm their younger sister (grin). My 90-year-old mother in law, who always wore a hat and long-sleeved shirts outside in the Florida sun when gardening, has firm, taut skin at 90 with just the slightest suggestion of one tiny, surface line on her forehead.
Ozmanda said…
I was having a look at celt news you tube clip on the photoshopping allegations. When I first saw it mentioned I was thinking "oh come on, that cant be happening", but looking at the pictures and the analysis that celt news put up, it is really compelling.

NeutralObserver - I agree the obvious mistakes made in this whole trainwreck is really amateurish - considering the resources they have available you would think they would not make the most stupid errors? This has me wondering if there is a intent for people to find out? Or maybe I am thinking too much about it all :)

It is clear to me that Sparkles is trying to cultivate herself as a "lifestyle/fashion" brand person - ala GOOP but without the style (As much as I dislike GOOP I cant deny she has a style with her fashions) Everything She is doing is showing that goal -


1) The vogue UK train wreck

2) the smart works debacle - highlighting her friend and the person she stayed with at NY

3) Pictures of her talking to Anna Wintour while at the tennis.

I know there are other things but it is early and I need a coffee:)

Lurking said…
@Mrs Trestle: I thought it was her as well. Agreed on the poor sentence construction, badly written rubbish. The person claims to be from the US, married to an Englishman, living in the UK. On the old M_Mount account they posted a picture of Charles as a baby (christening I believe) with a caption (paraphrasing) "bubs looks just like his grandfather." They then posted it wasn't a picture of bub's grandfather with no explanation of why they would post a picture of Charles. There's also a photo on M_Mount that they supposedly took at a hotel in the south of France at the same time Smeg was visiting. Hotel poolside looked rather budget... lots of lounge chairs, decor looked dated, etc. Unless they cleared the entire pool area for Smeg, someone would have noticed she was there.
SwampWoman said…
Only one coffee, Ozmanda? I find that I need multiple coffees to start the day. You must have far stronger blood than I because my blood has to be mostly caffeine before people stop hiding behind or under things.
Emily said…
Regarding the new photo of Archie released for Harry's birthday, if you make the photo bigger you can see his face. I got a hit of a shock. It's not the same baby and the eyes are weird. Been suggested yet again that it's a photoshopped photo.
SwampWoman said…
Oh, my gracious, WHERE have my manners gone? Thank you very much, Trashy T, for looking that up and verifying her age for us. I had my DNA done by Ancestry but did not join. I did get a letter from a 3rd or 4th cousin wondering how we might be connected since we did not appear to have any connection, but the DNA said otherwise. Her maternal family and my paternal family did live in the same area of the south. Apparently a male relative of mine who was not the husband fathered a child in that family.
Royal Fan said…
@Louise500 Do you know what a surrogate birth certificate would look like in the UK? Is the released one a forgery?
hunter said…
Glad to see I'm not the only one spending unforgivable amounts of time following this and waiting for the baby part to play out.
Ozmanda said…
I apologise if this was already posted -

https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/guests-warned-not-to-ask-the-queen-about-meghan-and-harry/news-story/965b3f5c762d93d8e3d066827cabf93d
Mischief Girl said…
Oooooh! Blind Gossip ran a blind today (Monday) and said the reason we aren't seeing little Archie is that Smeghan is trying to figure out how to monetize those pictures! She wants cash, cash, and more cash, pimping out pictures of the little one, looking for one large sum to go to a "charity" and another large sum to go to a "private account". Now this is a blind item I can believe.

p.s. apologies if this has already been mentioned on this thread today. 254 posts are a lot to scroll through.
Mischief Girl said…
Sorry guys, I just saw Team Nutty Awesome Sauce Commentors is already ALL OVER this!
hunter said…
She's already admitted it's her, so strange, so dumb. Yet it appears to be true. Shines a light on how narcissistic she is, all she does is court her haters all day.
Anonymous said…
I hope I am chosen to live on the Welsh estate in place of the Dumbartons so that I can be there for my BFF Cambridges while Kate is eating for two (and I am drinking for two... well, I mean, she can't, and what are friends for, after all!)

Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ozmanda said…
https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/harry-and-meghans-son-archies-godmother-revealed-reports/news-story/c7ac7bbb8a3cc011eca61594ed4e4938

So apparently Isabel May is the godmother - was introduced to Sparkles by....Markus Anderson and apparently is a PR s"Specialist" who used to work as the head of communications for Burberry and is currently employed as chief marketing director for David Beckham’s company, DB Ventures.

I could have called that Markus would have something to do with this, I am guessing she would need to start paying him back pretty soon.
gabes_human said…
You are so right about NY birth certificate. When last I checked (2007 ish) there was a three year wait. So much has changed since 9/11 that is intended to make obtaining a fake ID impossible. Remember when we got married and just dropped a form in the mail for a new SS card with our new name? I was pulling my hair out in frustration when my youngest lost his (issued at birth!) and the red tape involved just so he could get his first drivers license. I digress-I was just surprised that Cali asked what sex I was BORN rather than what sex I am now. Way back when no one transitioned into the other sex.
gabes_human said…
Mrs Trestle, here is your honourary 007 trench coat and hat. Or would you prefer a Sherlock Holmes caped coat? It’s terrific to have our own eyes in the field that verified what many of us had been told but didn’t have living proof of.
gabes_human said…
Welcome back Reine. We missed you. I get that some of us have specialized knowledge and it’s frustrating when someone thinks to gain say you. I’ll listen if you need to vent even if I bow out of conversations that I have little knowledge of.
marjorie said…
@Louise: BP is Buckingham Palace. KP is Kensington Palace.
SwampWoman said…
We must be the only two people in America that didn't watch Friends. I haven't seen a sitcom in literally years. I, uh, confess to binge watching "Fringe", but I am not sure that is considered the good stuff. Various PBS offerings like Downton Abbey, HBO's Band of Brothers, that sort of thing, but I prefer science and how-to videos.

Re the IRS, we're just going to have to agree to disagree. I worked for them after I left construction. I know what a cluster**** it truly is. IMO, the best thing for this country would be to abolish it ASAP.
gabes_human said…
Cookie and Emily, I have figured five ways from Sunday to figure out how M could be the bio mother of Archie. If she was expecting when they married she would have delivered in Oct. so while she may have faked a pregnancy to get the ring she wasn’t unless she miscarried early. First pregnancies can be hidden for months-small bebe and an untried uterus. I had patients in the delivery room that still didn’t look pregnant. I’m assuming that she practiced good birth control and oral contraceptives can take some time to leave the system. Some girls conceive on their honeymoon. We’re all different. Now I wish she or Harry would just fess up and stop making the RF look like fools.
gabes_human said…
Elle, I’m glad to see you again. I chimed in last night but didn’t realise until I high Publish that I was still in Safari and not Chrome. There is room for all of us so I’ll be sure to visit you at both blogs.
abbyh said…
No, I didn't watch Friends (makes us 3 but I am certain there are more out there). We do watch PBS. I have a lot more time now that I'm not watching much TV.

We cut the cord and have not regretted it. We do have some streaming stuff (Netflix, Phileo which has cable channels I like but none that I dislike - like $16/mo).

gabes_human said…
My tin hat may be too tight but I’m at the point of believing that MI6 could have altered her birth date on Ancestry. I’ve let my membership expire but maybe I’ll go look on some of the other genealogy sites. I was defending the pregnancy for the longest time because I just couldn’t conceive of someone being so evil or the possibility of being able to get away with faking a pregnancy and baby but as stated above, some of the evidence is just too compelling not to believe it.
Anonymous said…
@Swampwoman - I never said the IRS wasn't a cluster. I said that the things that were being proposed were nonsensical. The money that was being discussed is FINCEN territory, not IRS, although there is overlap. SARS and CRTs go thru FINCEN, not the IRS. The $10K is FINCEN territory. I have a fairly credible background as well and I can tell that there is some confusion on many fronts. I'm not going to argue w/you, however, and I'm sure as hell not going to explain again because just no one wants to dig deep into that. I may do it on my own blog/time. I really am skimming over any future discussion of it from this point forward, however.

@Gabeshuman, I forget and try Safari, too, and nothing happens for me. nothing will post. Is that what happens for you? I'm not going to do a blog -- I just don't have the time, and I'm about to be slammed beyond busy again. But I'd love to chat on Tumblr and process things.
Ozmanda said…
Elle, welcome back - I honestly didn't notice any of that behavior but I always enjoy your contributions. I can relate to the feelings you stated - as my career involves investigations in criminal activity - especially within the fraud arena I can also be a little "testy" So I have to check myself more often then not:)
Anonymous said…
@Gabeshuman, some of those public record sites are less than perfect from the start. Even deep background databases are only as good as the info provided (or updated, as you suggest.) I know from my own professional experience.
Ozmanda said…
SwampWoman - I should clarify - but a coffee I mean my triple espresso of what I consider my "proper" first coffee for the day - I follow a three step caffeine process for the benefit of mankind before I even leave the house
The first cleanses the palate
the second sets the flavor
The third gets me out the door..

The guys I work with tend to ask me how many I have had before they deal with me;)
Ozmanda said…
gabes_human - I don't think sparkles is "evil" per se - I think what may have happened was she trapped Haz but saying she was pregnant and made announcements about their engagement etc that he had to go along with for some reason. I think this whole train wreck has been them trying to stay one step ahead of the lies - after the first big lie the others tend to be easier to say.
HappyDays said…
Interesting item on Blind Gossip dated September 16, 2019. See ‘Big Baby Bucks’ blind item. It makes total sense why the photos of Archie have been so scarce, and it’s not because H&M crave privacy for their child. Meghan wants to monetize any spread of Archie photos, but she wants a big chunk of money for the Sussexes, which basically means herself. She’s having a hard time trying to figure out a charity angle that would allow them to skim some money off the top.
HappyDays said…
Thank you, Mrs. Trestle!! Yes, the writing is quite pretentious and vapid on the petal account. I had to chuckle as I read it.
Ava C said…
I've been looking at some of the older coverage of Meghan again and trying to understand how 'non-sugars' can defend her. One rather took my breath away, in the New Statesman of all places, from February this year:*

"Meghan is a gift to the royal family – an outreach worker to make up for Catherine Cambridge’s decision to project nothing beyond a faint idea of shopping at Waitrose."

To many now, Kate's contented motherhood and her steady preparation to become Queen Catherine have unquestioned value, for her family and for us. We see three happy children and a family that is obviously united, and that is such a change from previous royal generations. I for one think that is a tremendous achievement. Yet people manage to stand this on its head and represent Kate as the empty, meaningless one and Meghan as the deep and meaningful one. And yet again the writer accepts unquestioningly Meghan's Proctor & Gamble story that did not stand up to investigation:

"She served at soup kitchens and persuaded Procter & Gamble to change a sexist advertisement for cleaning products. 'At the age of 11 I had created my small level of impact by standing up for equality' she wrote later. This is a typical Meghan sentence: pared down to nothing."

If that's pared down I'd hate to see flowery.

On her ethicity:

"She wasn’t, she wrote in Elle, 'black enough for the black roles and I wasn’t white enough for the white ones, leaving me somewhere in the middle as the ethnic chameleon who couldn’t book a job'."

This week I found a photo of Meghan's card she used as an actress. As many have pointed out, she is defined on there as 'Caucasian'.

When future historians study this period, they'll wonder how on earth Meghan (aided by complacent journalism) could get away with this. Research will need to include readers' comments to realise they didn't. It's like a recent DM reader's comment that they hoped the Queen reads the newspapers, to see how people feel about Meghan. I responded that she would need to read the online versions to see that for herself. I have an awful feeling she still receives her daily papers the old-fashioned way.

* https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/02/meghan-markle-duchess-sussex-princess

@Royal Fan, the birth certificate was released by either BP or KP, you can view it online. I have no idea what a surrogate birth certificate would look like, but there would be a lot of people to hush up if the released one was a fake. However, I do wonder why no medical staff were mentioned when Archie’s birth was announced (like they normally do). All down to the Sussex’s being very contrary. 🤔
Jen said…
Mischi, she's Hollywood. She thinks that she's Angelina Jolie, who can garner millions for photos of her first born. The ONLY reason anyone is interested in HER child (if such child exists) is because he's Harry's son. She is inconsequential to the entire thing but she just doesn't get it. HIS star is far brighter than hers, and quite honestly, always will be.
Jen said…
I find Harry's comments about more than two children being bad for the environment is also a slap to his grandmother, who also had more than 2 children. Guess he didn't think of that when making his asinine statement, eh?
Lottie said…
Perhaps they made the birth presentation at Windsor hall other than on the hospital steps...simply because she didnt give birth to a child at the hospital
Unknown said…
As a Stylist and former model I can say that she is truly a fashion & beauty disaster most of the times. Why? It's easy...she thinks she knows everything, plus she wants to seem genuine and not made up.
The thing is with any people in media (or who are/were dressed and had makeup & hair done every other day) is that they learn what looks good on them.
Usually a team of people (stylist, hairdresser, MUA) create several looks for them in which they look the best. They consider their body, skin, eyes, hair type + their personality or what they try to sell/represent. After that it's easy to stick to those formulas and recreate the same look. For example Duchess Catherine always has the same looks...1: the nature look with her boots, jeggings, sweater, etc. 2: the elegant evening look 3: the tea dress look, 4: the coat dresses, etc. She sticks to those & plays with different accessories and hair looks. This helps her being recognisable by the people as well...and that is the point! She is not a fashion icon who rocks different looks everyday, she is a public servant who has to be recognised by the public. On the other hand she still looks herself and not so made up as they considered her own personal style (before being royal).
MM however, were dressed for Suits for years...and she looked good as they considered her body type (which in her case is super important as she has a particular one with her skinny legs, no waist, short torso, no boobs, etc. not like Catherine who is tall, skinny and more proportioned therefore she looks good in a lot more outfits ). In her personal life and TIG days, she wanted an IT girl casual look...with always the same type of stuff. Which were okay for her to go to yoga class, etc.
But the game changed when she started 'dating' Harry...I believe after the engagement she had help...you could see there were colour coordinated, season appropriate, and fresh looks...but there was only a handful of them...After it escalated. I think her narcissistic self came out and said I can do everything and I wanna stay me! Ever since she always fails with her looks...as she wants to be Diana 2.0, Fashion Icon, Young Princess, Hot Girl, Humanitarian, New Mom, etc. It's too much and she doesn't realise she needs a permanent team who helps her.
SwampWoman said…
If nothing else, it was a slap to both Andrew and Edward!
Hikari said…
@Lottie,
That's the way I lean. Notice how the big kerfluffle over 'privacy' and making fun of Kate for showing off her newborns in front of the Lindo wing and all this 'we want time to bond as a family', etc., etc., was announced only *after* it was evident to everyone that Megs was significantly 'late' from her supposed due date. We were waiting for a birth announcement and this is what we got instead.

Had their intention to not take a photo call so soon after the birth been announced earlier on, say, a few months before the due date and not 'the week the baby was supposed to be born', there would have been time for the press and public to get adjusted to the idea and there wouldn't have been such a backlash. It was their prerogative to decide when they were comfortable taking photos with the new baby, but the way it was sprung on everyone last minute was sneaky and controlling.

But of course it had to be sneaky and controlling, just like the entire pregnancy and everything else Smegs touches because she simply did not know when her surrogate baby would arrive and how soon she would get him. Had she genuinely been pregnant with her own baby, I don't think she would have missed the opportunity to show up Catherine with a post-baby photo call that was bigger and splashier. She probably would have wanted to say a few word salads, too, because Catherine generally lets William speak at these things, and then just a very few words.

Her ploy was so transparent. She still hasn't been officially called on it, and instead gets to frame it with more of her faux-female empowerment mantras. Look at Meghan, standing up against the patriarchy by refusing to be exploited for pictures so soon after birth and trying to conform to unrealistic expectations for post-partum mums!

It is not an unrealistic expectation for a new mother who claims to have just delivered a baby to actually produce a baby . . but Smeg couldn't. Any chance to slam the Cambridges, however, she grabs with both claws.

And then after all that claptrap, the Sussexes paraded 'Archie' in a grand hall at Windsor 48 hours after his alleged birth. All their 'private bonding as a family' was a bit more than one day. What hypocrites these two are.
SwanSong said…
Love your blog, Nutty.

I am not buying the theory that Archie does not exist or is older than his true age for the very fact that William, despising MM as much as he does, would not show up at the christening and allow himself to be photographed in the official portrait if the baby was a scam. He despises Meghan of late (I.e. Scarfgate) and, as he is known for being petulant. He rushed George & Charlotte into a waiting car directly after Meghan & Harry's wedding so they would not be photographed with the two of them. He knew Meghan’s father was never invited to the wedding and didn’t want his family participating in that charade once their official duties at the service were over. It’s also why Kate did not approach Meghan & Archie at the polo match: William in no wants Markle in the same frame as his family as she knows how to manipulate the press into thinking they are all great friends when that is not the case.

Bottom line: William is the future king. No way would he participate in a lie and risk ruining his reputation, even if it’s for his little brother. He would have skipped it instead.
gabes_human said…
The problem with telling lies is that you have to keep them straight and remember who you told what too. You have to count on people who know the truth never meeting the people you lied to. It’s mind boggling that someone could fake a pregnancy without realizing that in a few months you would have to produce a child. It’s not like you can just waltz into WalMart and choose one. It looks like you can order a Reborn Doll to your specifications but then what? Do you claim to employ private tutors instead of sending the child to school? The spur of the moment act of announcing a coming baby to get back at Eugenie for wearing the emerald tiara you wanted was not well thought out to say the least. So far as William and Catherine going along with the deception, they arrived at BP wearing other clothes and were photographed in the ensembles they wore over Christmas. They may have been in the building that day but it wasn’t at any so called christening IMO. The whole family has been quite evasive when asked about anything to do with Archie which makes me think they don’t want to call H&M liars but don’t want to go on the record as being complicit in the deception either.
Anonymous said…
Thanks, Gabeshuman! I appreciate the thought, but it's Nutty's blog, and I thought sharing/clarifying would help, but alas... and I guess it is somewhat specialized knowledge, but it's not like it is information kept in the palace vaults, the basics are available online. I try not to drag out the more arcane areas of anything in my professional life (permanent eyeroll would be the inevitable result if I did lol). And it's my own character flaw that I get frustrated. I recognize it and I try to walk away. It's like the indirect political discussions - I don't want to read those, not even the veiled passive-aggressive comments - but it's Nutty's blog and she gets to decide what to allow and not allow. I just have to learn to scroll faster lol. Still, thank you.
Anonymous said…
Hi Ozmanda, lol on the testy front. I didn't slap anyone, but it was just that the theories were wonky AF and I suffer from the same form of "testiness" that you do. I get frustrated with others *but* mostly I don't like the way I feel when I get that frustrated. So, I pointed out the biggest gap re the process being discussed and then bounced out.

I have a financial / legal background that has also involved white-collar investigations and internal review in some of the more arcane areas of the financial world. Even with my peers, there are times when their general knowledge of a financial issue doesn't mesh with the reality of the underlying documents, and I have to "well, actually" them. OTOH, I know that I'm *not* the person to consult re GAAP lol and I will never, ever be doing consolidated corporate financials. Do I have the background and certification to do those? Yep. Do I stay on top of the area and have any expertise? Hell, to the no, and I'm keeping it that way. I try to stay in my lane and I bow to the expertise of others *when* they have that expertise.
SwanSong said…
@gabes: very good points. I still think the baby is real. Photoshopped or not, I don’t think William would give his consent to be in the same frame as H&M if any part of it was a sham. It’s his reputation and the future survival on the Monarchy that’s on the line, not Harry’s. Makes you realize how shady the Sussex’s really are....
Hikari said…
SwanSong,

>>>>William, despising MM as much as he does, would not show up at the christening and allow himself to be photographed in the official portrait if the baby was a scam.<<<

In this, you are absolutely correct. William has too much integrity to give his stamp of approval to a hoax of this magnitude by allowing himself and his wife to be photographed formally with 'Archie'.

This is why, I believe absolutely in my core that William did NOT allow himself to be photographed in any alleged christening portrait taking place supposedly at Windsor Castle on July 6, 2019. The little baby in the picture on that occasion is real, but I believe the so-called portrait sitting is entirely faked up. Consider that MM is not only willing, but adamant that she's going to monetize her child and essentially sell him for pictures to pad her own bank account . . while allegedly contributing to 'charity' at the same time. This woman is shameless and will manipulate anything to her advantage. Photoshopping--the means by which she can manipulate 'reality' itself is one of her favorite hobbies and feeds that inner beast which so delights in the acts of deceit which emanate so plentifully from her.

Since Archie's alleged birth in May, I contend that there has been *no* official acknowledgement of Meg's child at all. No gun salute. No title. No signatures on the framed birth announcement out front, which renders it null and void as far as being 'official' in any capacity. There is no handwritten date, which is customary. The entire thing could, and no doubt was, prepared in Word and set out with the conviction by Meghan, if nobody else, that it would 'pass' as looking 'official enough'. Except if one takes 2 minutes to compare it to other royal baby birth announcements, readily available online, it doesn't. Archie's distressingly bare birth announcement includes Doria by saying how delighted she is at the birth. Non-royal grandparents are never included on birth announcements emanating from Buckingham Palace, because this is the sovereign's announcement, not theirs. I confess that this item does trouble me more than any of the purported (doctored) images of Archie because it's hard to imagine any BP equerries traipsing out solemnly with the gilt frame and stand for this very special historical tradition except on Her Majesty's order, or someone very highly placed at the Palace. Meghan does not have the authority to order members of the Queen's staff to place fake birth announcements at the gates of the heart of the British state. That does flummox me.

Hikari said…
As for the presentation photo with HM, PP and Doria . . . I think that's fake. I doubt in my waters that Meghan's mother has been in London since last October at the Grenfell cookbook fiasco, but I might be wrong. If she came to London and stayed for 5 weeks in April and May as was reported, that would fit in with the 'optics', so dear to Meg, that her mother was happily bonding with first grandchild in the vegan nursery at Frogmore and making herself indispensable since the Sussexes were both the parents of newborn and entirely without staff in their new home. Frogmore (or Fraudmore) as we have taken to calling it, is another gigantic deception for another post. It's really weird, though, that no one, and I mean no one, glimpsed Meghan's mom, now a celebrity in her own right, on either side of the Atlantic, in any airport, or neither arriving or leaving Fraudmore in over a month. And that place was under 24-hour surveillance by the British press for all of that time.

See, I believe that Meg really and truly thinks that everyone in the world is an idiot, except for her, and she's actually getting away with her scams.

The 'official' photos released of Baby Archie with his great-great grandparents . . or with his grandparents, Charles and Camilla, or with Harry's aunts, or with the Cambridges are not copyrighted by Buckingham Palace as is customary, but by Meghan's own copyrighted media outlet, SussexRoyal, and created by Meghan's personally hired photographer, not anyone officially employed in that capacity by the Queen herself. Images taken by Buckingham Palace belong to Buckingham Palace,and Meg was not having any control over this little fiasco of hers granted to an outside party.

Ergo, no official portraits of Archie with members of the Royal family exist. All of the Royals' images were lifted from ones already existing, some blatantly so. William and Kate are wearing their Christmas clothes. Kate is known for re-wearing some of her favorite outfits, but it is unlikely she would rewear her Christmas outfit for a summer christening. Likewise, Chas and Camilla were wearing their identical clothes they had on at Louis's christening almost a year to the day earlier, down to the identical flower in Chas's buttonhole. Is this not instructive? I'm no Photoshopping expert, but when there's a roomful of adults posing for an official portrait and only Meghan and Harry are the ones actually making eye line with the camera, I get suspicious.

Hikari said…
This is why the entire Royal family has remained absolutely schtum on the subject of Archie. If you notice, he has not been mentioned once by any of them since that awkward day in early May when the Cambridges and the Cornwalls were separately accosted by the world media in separate countries. The mouthed some vague platitudes before escaping as soon as humanly possible. I don't believe any of them see Meg or Harry or their alleged spawn, speak to them or share the same room with them if it can be avoided. When it cannot, they grit their teeth, stiffen their upper lips and Carry On. Meghan has crashed every event she has been seen at since her 'maternity leave', and the family had to make way for her in such highly public venues, but they didn't have to speak to her or play her games . . and they didn't.

What allows MM to continue this charade is the deafening silence on the part of BP that it is in fact going on. They are all engaged in a public united display of 'We all know what's going on here, but we are going to carry on as if we know nothing and everything is normal." They must have their reasons for that, though it is decidedly infuriating from out here. You'd have thought one word from the Queen would have shut this down months ago, but I have to feel that whatever is happening behind the scenes at the various houses, it's monstrous and they are trying to contain it as best they can. A Markle infestation is unprecedented in the RF and there's no blueprint for dealing with this. This is a family accustomed to, and comforted by, relying on rigidly proscribed rules and codes of conduct. There is no rule book for this and they are floundering a bit. I think (I hope, fervently, at least) that their strategy is to hold their cards very close to their vest and acknowledge nothing until they can find a legal way to dismantle her completely. Until then, they have plausible deniability that they have in fact, let a crazy woman into their midst.
Anonymous said…
@Hikari - question: would HMTQ allow the faux Fauxrchie photo to be placed on display in BP? I've read that it is prominently displayed (I wish I could cite the source) and for that reason, I think that there must have been a real bebe (albeit surrogate-born and potentially MIA at this point). As you know, I agree w/you re the utter wackness of all of this, just the details vary a bit. No doubt, it was late pregnancy and birth when surreality became the norm.
d.c. said…
Aquagirl, I agree with you. My random thoughts are too long to post as a comment with pics, so I started a blog to keep up with my ramblings:

http://dorothycrabtree.blogspot.com/2019/09/archies-newest-christening-photo-whats.html
JenS said…
It wouldn't have been hard to alter the sleeves and fill in the neck. If you look closely you can see what looks like pixel sampling/fill where the V-neck should be.
Hikari said…
Elle,

I wish I knew anything. Markle has us all questioning if down is up and the properties of time, space, the human body, everything.

There is a baby, but something happened and they don't have him now. They may have only had him for a couple of days, long enough to arrange various photo shoots, and that under supervision. Would you leave Murkle alone with your baby? I wouldn't. I wouldn't let her touch my dog. If there was any doubt that the baby wasn't going to be staying with them permanently, why were these photos allowed in the first place? Were they Murkle's way of forcing the surrogate's hand? "You have to let us keep him now since we've just flaunted him in front of the world as ours." Not so fast, sister.

Why would the Queen proudly display a photo of the baby at BP and yet deny the mite a 21 gun salute or a title? Either Archie's in or he's out. He got a press conference and has sold tons of magazines, so he's out there as a member of the Royal family . . except that he is persona non grata. Megs is as maternal as a cactus. Somebody has that baby, but it's not her, flying off to America as high as a kite. If Meg had a baby and was still driving her own car, she'd be the type to leave him in the back in the 98 degree LA heat while she was getting her hair weave redone.

Someday I think it will all come out . . Archie, Fraudmore, all of it. I just wonder if we will still be alive. The really damning stuff about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor didn't come out until this century.
Anonymous said…
"Markle has us all questioning if down is up and the properties of time, space, the human body, everything."

----True that!

"There is a baby, but something happened and they don't have him now. They may have only had him for a couple of days, long enough to arrange various photo shoots, and that under supervision."

----Agree completely.


"Would you leave Murkle alone with your baby?":

----I was always very careful about who could care for my dogs. I wouldn't have let Markle near my house, much less my dog. Or cat. Or goldfish. Or chickadees. Or anything that could easily be converted to cash or liquid asset.


"You have to let us keep him now since we've just flaunted him in front of the world as ours."

----I suspect the buy-off was more complicated, but IGI.


"Why would the Queen proudly display a photo of the baby at BP and yet deny the mite a 21 gun salute or a title?"

----This is the big question. I believe that the BRF must have known about the surrogate birth. I believe that they had to "not know" what they knew to maintain plausible deniability. Other than that, beats me. The 21-gun salute and title sure make it seem like Fauxrchie isn't the favorite grandchild.


"If Meg had a baby and was still driving her own car, she'd be the type to leave him in the back in the 98 degree LA heat while she was getting her hair weave redone."

----True, but thankfully silicone is heat-safe to about 425 F.


Someday I think it will all come out . . Archie, Fraudmore, all of it. I just wonder if we will still be alive. The really damning stuff about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor didn't come out until this century.

----I think it will all come out much sooner on this one. The truth will serve as the garlic to ward off the Vampiress Markle. Besides, think of the magazine sales and click-bait profit potential for the media. By the time they finish with Markle, Pamela Anderson will look like a role model.
Mailcrate said…
Was it an official certificate? It has been reported to be lacking signature, or seal, I don't quite remember what, or whether all was resolved about the copy shown.
Mailcrate said…
Ellen said he weighed 15 lbs. But your point remains. Archie would grow at a rate consistent with his birth weight -- 7 lbs. 3 oz. At 3 mo. (Aug 6) when Ellen supposedly saw him he would be 13 lbs. At 5 mo. (Oct 6) he will be 15 lbs. (about double his birth weight). Give or take a few oz. If he is as big as Ellen joked then it could indicate an earlier birth date as you suggest, although I have my own reasons for believing surrogate on May 6. As a side observation his round head indicates a cesarean delivery.
Ozmanda said…
Elle - I feel like if we were ever to sit down for a couple of bottles of wine we both would have stories to tell :)
In doing what I do I know a fair but about the profiles of offending - everything from the IT component and methodologies to the psychological elements - it is something I continue to educate myself on and people will be pretty amazed by some of the nuance behaviors.

One of my biggest struggles was learning about the nitty gritty of forensic accounting - not my strong point but I needed to know the methods for a task. I admire anyone who does financial services work because it took a while for me to grasp, then when it came to blind trusts and those structures I never wanted to drink heavily more in my life :)
Anonymous said…
Re the financial side "they don't make it easy!" lolololo

And yes, we would. And we'd have to take solemn blood oaths b/c IDK about you, but I can't talk about anything specific at all.

With financial crime it seems the biggest element is integrity. I was happy when that was added to the triangle to make it a diamond, because the triangle is too simple and the diamond adds the critical element.
KCM1212 said…
Oh my stars!!! Thislittlepetal@twitter! It has to be her! She even refers to her son as "my little pumpkin " and "bubs". And what a nightmarish look into her worldview it is!
I am constantly surprised by the lengths she goes to. Any normal person would just stay the heck off social media if that is one of the requirements for the great benefits she enjoys.
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