Here's an open post to discuss Duchess Meghan's speech tonight at Royal Albert Hall, which comes just a few hours after a Sussex "source" told CNN that "the institution around the British Royal family is full of people afraid of and inexperienced at how to best help harness and deploy the value of the royal couple who, they said, have single-handedly modernized the monarchy."
Meghan is wearing a long purple dress and a long dark wig for her speech, which will address a global youth organization.
Meghan is wearing a long purple dress and a long dark wig for her speech, which will address a global youth organization.
Comments
I think in the US, it varies depending on where you live as each state has their own "department of education" that dictates what is required for graduation. This does sound similar to our SOL tests (standards of learning) and at least in VA, they are required to pass 5 tests in order to get a diploma.
These two really do alienate everyone they touch, don't they? I notice not too many of their celebrity 'friends' are rushing to Twitter to express their support this time round.
They really are rank amateurs.
The communications secretary won't speak to the national broadcaster? Well, who's been made to look foolish! The Palace who pay her might want to have a chat!!
****
[Re:] The source said that Harry and Meghan "have single-handedly modernized the monarchy."
The BBC has repeatedly asked to speak to the couple's communications secretary, Sara Latham, but has had no response.
A friend of Ms Latham told the BBC that the comments defending Harry and Meghan, and criticising the Palace, did not come from her.
Briefing wars are rarely won. They trudge humiliatingly on, each side dipping a little lower with every response. And the Monarchy dips with them. The echoes of the unhappy Diana-Charles years are loud, and getting louder.
****
This reminds me so much of Patrick Jephson's book (Diana's private secretary) when he realised she was out of control briefing press directly and for a brief time he went to ground (in his office) while considering how to respond, then realised, once Panorama went out, his position was untenable.
I actually think if anyone is being lied to in the press, it is the wider public. The papers must have all the dirt - which we have uncovered in our joint sleuthing - but are not releasing for whatever reason.
@JL. Agree with you that intelligence comes in many forms. It is not all about exam passes. However, if Harry even had a modicum of it he would know when his opinion is not wanted. He should stop to consider that he is only able to confer his views on the long-suffering taxpayer by dint of his position in life - and use that platform wisely.
Somewhere I read on the DM that her car had approached from the wrong direction and had to circle back so she could exit from the "correct" side. And that really did look like a triumphant victory walk.
Ava - I started looking for a copy of the Anne Glenconner book. It is not in the USA for interlibrary loan. I would have to get it from Australia or New Zealand. However ... Amazon says that it will be out next year and I can preorder. Lucky you.
sigh. This is train wreck imploding in front of us, the world stage.
I would almost bet that Latham thought being communication for a Duchess would be easy compared to her previous employment for Clinton. Boy, was she wrong!
@lizzie, I imagine she asked a friend to speak on her behalf because she knows that the statement was out of line and incorrect, and did not want to be associated with it. WHICH means it came from Meghan herself, probably directly to CNN. So pathetic.
Also, this is unrelated but HRC is slated to speak at King's college soon. She will be launching a series of lectures (world questions) with Jullia Gillard, on female world leaders and equality. This hasn't been oublicized much but almni have been sent notification about bookings. There are a lot of negative comments on this announcement from students and alumni on the alumni networks. The universe isn't responding to the negative comments, only questions regarding how to book.
"I knew the PR team was nuts, but they pitched a story yesterday to the US tabloids that everyone else should get out of the way and let the alliterate royal's husband be King. Yeah."
https://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2019/10/blind-item-5_23.html
I suggest searching in Princess Anne's quarters. Zara also seems sharp - not sure about Peter.
Edward and Sophie have also acquitted themselves well in middle age - supposedly Edward is Phllip's second-favorite child, after Anne, and the couple spend a lot of weekends with the Queen.
I hope they survive the upcoming "slimming down" of the monarchy.
Really?? Sara Latham is actually denying it? This just keeps getting better and better.
Oh, my. If I weren't saving all my available carbs for the red wine in the evening, I'd make some popcorn and pass it around. This movie is getting interesting!
H O L Y S H I T
Markle is out of control now. Time up, bye bye.
One of my favourite Philip quotes is his reaction to the news that his intellectually unspectacular 3rd son had been admitted to Jesus College, Cambridge:
"What a friend we have in Jesus!"
Or the friend could be Hillary Clinton. She's lived long enough to know when to cut her losses. And she's like run Sara run. Lol
Except that she really doesn't know when to cut her losses. She is still saying she won the election against Trump because she had the popular vote, even though that is NOT how Presidents have ever elected in this country. She will never admit it's because SHE failed to show up in key battleground states, and would rather blame the Russians. She is as much a narcissist as MM is! Her failures are actually others fault, not hers.
I cannot believe King's College would ever want someone like her to do a lecture on anything. She is a failure who rode on the coattails of her horrible husband. She berated and ridiculed all of the women who were victimized by her husband and continues to do so to this day. Her husband has more of a relationship to Epstein then PA does, why would they want that reminder?
She's done.
This is hilarious:
"I knew the PR team was nuts, but they pitched a story yesterday to the US tabloids that everyone else should get out of the way and let the alliterate royal's husband be King. Yeah."
Do they think it's like Dancing With the Stars, where the public votes for the winner?
Also, even if that were true, would the public really vote for the guy who has just disclosed his mental instability in a documentary filmed by a friend? It wasn't like some malevolent reporter caught him unawares - this was planned.
Hahahahaha!!!
Oh God, please...PLEASE let some media group run with that headline. Lord knows we need a laugh.
This just gets better and better (or worse and worse...)
That 'documentary' was so monumentally stupid! That the son of Diana, of all people, could take such a moronic step - having seen how a similar 'too clever by half' move turned out for his mother - is even more proof of his stupidity than his lousy A levels.
I don't even bother going to have a look at what Lainey wrote any more because her 5000 word essay on Meghan's documentary was a word salad. A big one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_treason_in_the_United_Kingdom
Life imprisonment.
She was almost orgasmic.
That 'documentary' was so monumentally stupid! That the son of Diana, of all people, could take such a moronic step - having seen how a similar 'too clever by half' move turned out for his mother - is even more proof of his stupidity than his lousy A levels.
That's because he's not at the helm of this ship, SHE is. Had he consulted anyone in the Firm, they'd have given him a million reasons why this was a bad idea. SHE probably told him it was PERFECT, that they would be able to tell THEIR story, THEIR way. She doesn't realize that this documentary will now be used in court. Their words will be used against them. They are idiots.
Sorry, but I cannot access the article nor the photographs on the original site.
Thomas Markle has a new SUV. He also has a couple of English security guards who have installed cameras and are using drones to check the surrounds. This final paragraph sums it up:
'Thomas was photographed in his new SUV as his left his home to run errands. A neighbour said: “The two men have been visiting Thomas every day for a week. They arrive early and leave at about ten at night. They speak with English accents, too. They flew their drone low around cars to see if anyone was inside. It's the first time we've seen guys like this at Thomas’s house.'
Meghan or the Daily Mail? One of the sides is protecting him as a witness for the lawsuit. My bets are on Meghan. She uses people and she wants a BIG payout from this lawsuit (plus control over what they publish about her, plus revenge). She knows she can use her father's love to manipulate him. She hinted at this strategy with that hint about her father being used by the media.
If it is the Daily Mail, she has gotten herself into a war that is too big for her (in favour of this scenario is that a narc never lets go of a grudge, no matter how irrational and destructive that is).
Maybe that is why she looked so triumphant (other than loving the attention, and the more showbiz it is, the better ... come on down, the price is right!) because she has her father under her control as well as Harry.
That is what is so perplexing! I'm sure I'm not the only one here reading, saying "But...but...what?" while simultaneously face double palming and shaking my head. I must say that if they wish to be admitted to an asylum to live (or exist) for an indeterminate amount of time, they are doing a very good job.
The source might have been Harry. He is simply an extension of her now. This is such a mess. And the resignations (from the office and the Foundation) starts ...
I'm seriously starting to wonder if she's even going to come back to Britain after her 'family time'. The whinomentary was only 3 days and yet things are starting to unravel at a rapid - by royal standards - pace. Hubris always catches up with you in the end, but in this case the end might be sooner than any of us had expected.
But what about Archie? If she doesn't come back, he likely will remain with her....what then?
Then we have an ugly custody battle... assuming Harry doesn't decide to stay in Los Angeles with them. Poor little Archie. He's the only innocent here.
Besides I don't think MM would have the imagination to make sure TM was kept onside. I think I'm right in saying that if she is involved in this she could be deemed as interfering with a witness which the Court takes a very dim view of.
If it was Sunshine Sachs or Meg's US backers, why would they go for British muscle?
Local muscle is cheaper, even the ex-military Isreali security guards favored by Hollywood types.
Maybe? When I first started down this rabbit hole of she's breaking a lot of rules, the sugars were rigid in their assurance that M would be Queen in the DM comments to the point I was concerned someone might actually try to do something to K/W/kids. What should have been easily shut down by facts turned into a flying monkey attack.
I don't think someone/somewhere ever gave up on this as a possible end goal. Perhaps the plan is that if she can't have that, it further solidifies the idea they need to go where they can really fulfill their dream jobs.
As for Archie, would the Queen let a baby go? maybe? The law doesn't list great grandchildren as that just wasn't a major possibility so legally it might be viewed as could swing either way (until Charles steps up as King and the law applies).
As a side note, Emeraldcity would certainly know better than I, if Charles became Regent, would the law apply now? If so, how soon could something like that appear and then the law come into play? Something like that?
This may be rather splitting hairs legally except for the court of public opinion to holding onto the baby to insure return which would bring back memories of the Soviets holding onto the family so the athlete, musician, someone allowed out but not leave the family behind to escape.
Would I trust the statement that this is only for a visit? Sure. In the same way the comment about the documentary was about a trip to Africa for the family. (sarc off).
(oh, good point about tampering with a witness comment). Nice catch.
If the divorce takes place in a US court, it will be very interesting and uncharted territory.
Not sure if interesting is the right word, more like terrifying. That could very easily blow up in to a crisis between our nations. You know as well as I do that it could get VERY ugly, VERY quickly. I pray it does not come to that.
" If there is a divorce would the Queen have custody of Archie?"
I've read that she does not have custody of great grandchildren.
"If the divorce takes place in a US court, it will be very interesting and uncharted territory."
Can that happen though? They were married in Windsor. Harry has never lived in America. Unless they were to become resident in California, would the courts there have any jurisdiction?
After her speech, back at KP, she was tremendously buoyed up, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with all the sympathy, all the media attention, only to be floored by her empty diary. I've mentioned this before, but it's such an informative insight. She was a badly-educated compulsive strategist who only worked on one stage at a time.
I do think Harry is more and more Diana at her worst, and he's married to someone who has all the same faults and more to spare. In addition, of course, the fact that Diana had a most able advisor meant nothing as she didn't listen to him. We're seeing the resurrection of this issue too. Compared to the excellent improvements we've seen with William and Kate since Catherine Quinn joined their team. Harry and Meghan are beyond such help now, even if they had it.
I am pretty sure a reconciliation is on the cards. It gets her a lot of positive publicity in and outside the US. Who knows... even UK might forgive her.
It is possible for Smeg, possible, if she did not give up her California residency. For Californians, we have to take proactive steps to sever residency with California. Things such as relinquishing CA drivers' licence, registering absentee voter and not voting in any California elections, selling a home here and purchasing elsewhere, moving pets with you, finding new doctors, dentist, accountants, agents, managers, pr in the new location. Doesn't matter where they were married, if residency in CA for one of them, they can divorce here.
With how people on both sides of the pond feel about her, I doubt she would garner enough sympathy to cause an international incident.
>>>she was tremendously buoyed up, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with all the sympathy, all the media attention, only to be floored by her empty diary. I've mentioned this before, but it's such an informative insight. She was a badly-educated compulsive strategist who only worked on one stage at a time.<<<
So very like Megs. Two immature, vindictive and impulsive women who operated on what provided them with immediate gratification. Both products of chaotic broken home environments when they were small. Diana had learning difficulties (likely dyslexia, same as Bea and potentially, Harry). Meg is not dyslexic but despite attending expensive schools bankrolled by her father has an extremely limited frame of reference for anything outside of herself. She might have impressive handwriting (it impresses some, though I find it incredibly labored and twee) and a stockpile of big words, but that doesn't make one educated.
Diana had a lot in common with the negative traits we are seeing in Meg, but she did have saving graces which Meg entirely lacks. She was a nurturing, tactile mother. She had emotional warmth when connecting with people. Whatever her private pain and dramas, she carried on bravely with the stiff upper lip and Windsor brand in public for 10 years, and dressed and comported herself as a princess on duty at all times. Her capacity for unhappiness was profound, and no man could have been the paragon of attentiveness she expected . . but she did have positive things to contribute to her role and time spent on the planet.
The Markle contributes nothing of worth. Never has, never will.
Re: 'Fairness' in the press. I hate to break it to the Brits here, but the Harkles will be treated with fawning & kid gloves in the MSM here in the USA. All of the big city major papers, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, etc. are falling all over themselves in their rush to 'wokeness.' The women's mags are all the same. Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Cosmo, Town & Country will probably fall all over themselves to do glowing stories on them. Here in the US media people lose their jobs at worst, or have to issue abject apologies at best, for any comment deemed 'racist,' ie critical of a person of color. That's what Megs means by 'fair.'
My guess the Harkles want to continue their royal perks, but decamp to the friendlier climes of the US. We have tabloids here, yes, but no one admits to reading them. We do have the NY Post, which is the nearest equivalent to the Daily Mail.
JL, I agree with you about grades not necessarily showing intelligence. In fact ,a friend & I were talking about that very subject over coffee this morning. I would describe myself as very much like you, could write an essay, & had a knack for multiple choice tests, so got more credit for intelligence than I deserve. I know a lot of people who are brilliant, but too cool for school, others who had a lot of practical smarts or emotional intelligence, & others who were just late bloomers. Those people can thrive as adults. Harry does not seem to be any of these, but maybe I'm jumping to conclusions.
I do know that people of all stripes hate being talked down to. A lot of good posts here on how we've all become inured to divisiveness. All sorts of people are exploiting this. I think both Trump & Megs are experts at starting bun fights. It's interesting that publicly those two seem to be at odds, but that might be false as well.
From what I hear CA state tax rates are high. I don't know if she'd have wanted to pay state taxes all the years she was in Canada. Of course, she had to pay federal regardless. Also I wonder if a CA driver's license can be used in Canada for longer-term residents? (I know US licenses can be used by short-term tourists.)
I’ve been wondering this, or would Harry come back in his own; she might refuse to return to the UK. How the next few months play out, will be a pantomime to watch.
Also this media mess is only going to get worse, so even if they want to being on a vacation they wouldn't be able to keep away. Oct Nov would probably be the busiest their brain has ever had to be.
With how people on both sides of the pond feel about her, I doubt she would garner enough sympathy to cause an international incident.
If the US media stays out of it, then you are correct, but they won't and they will turn it in to an international incident. Our media in the states are horribly dishonest. They'll do anything for a buck.
I think Meghan's goal, above all else, is to return to America. If Harry does not agree to go along with her, she will discard him. Hence, divorce.
It’s having a real dig at the Sussex’s source and the modernising the monarchy bit.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7604803/ITVs-Tom-Bradby-Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-interview.html
"When Princess Diana heard that Henry had died, she made an effort to comfort me personally by writing a letter of condolence. She had sat with and spoken to Henry at his bedside shortly before he died. She’d been there filming some of her meetings with the young patients on the ward to raise awareness.
"At the end of the filming, she had asked the nurses if there were any patients too ill to be there. When the nurses said there were two, Princess Diana visited both of them on her own, without the film crew. One of them was Henry. [ ...]
"In the letter she wrote she said it had been lovely to meet Henry, even though under sad circumstances, and said she wanted to tell me how brave she thought he was. She wasn’t afraid to confront the situation head-on, which was a complete contrast to a lot of people we knew, who just simply didn’t know what to say at all.
"Normally I found it hard to relate to somebody so openly emotional, so different from the mould I was used to, but when it came to dealing with Henry’s death, she got it right. Her acknowledgement of his bravery made me feel proud of him, which was a comfort, especially when I was faced with so many other people distancing themselves from us [...]".
Isn't that a poignant reminder of the good we lost with Diana? Especially that she thought to ask if there was anyone too ill to take part in her visit, and then seeing them privately? Many, including myself, would not think to ask that question. I also think younger people cannot truly understand how terrifying AIDS was at that stage. I was at university when the first public information films started. We were frightened of anything to do with it. Diana's shaking the hands of AIDS sufferers changed everything.
>If the US media stays out of it, then you are correct, but they won't and they will turn it in to an international incident. Our media in the states are horribly dishonest. They'll do anything for a buck.
All this is true, however their image has already been tarnished on social media and sites like this blog. Not sure the well can be un-poisoned.
This public reaction is a very British thing she ignores at her peril. Don't blow your own trumpet. Know your place. Just do your job quietly and then go home. Preferably without reminding us we paid for it.
Lizzie said .... From what I hear CA state tax rates are high. I don't know if she'd have wanted to pay state taxes all the years she was in Canada. Of course, she had to pay federal regardless. Also I wonder if a CA driver's license can be used in Canada for longer-term residents? (I know US licenses can be used by short-term tourists.)
Speaking from experience by dealing with expats from the US to Canada, the UK, and the Netherlands, expats were required to "give up" - either show or turn in their valid drivers license within 3 months of accepting an assignment in Canada if their stay was 1 year or more. So all my managers and engineers (I worked for a multinational corporation) had to get Canadian - specifically Ontario drivers license within 3 months. Just my 2 cents - unless this has changed.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/queen-moves-photo-meghan-markle-20707140
@EmeraldCity, thanks for the kind remarks. I would hope that Megs won't linger long on our huge entertainment/media scene in the US, but there are lots of knobs pulling in big bucks here. I could never make it through more than about 5 minutes of an Oprah Winfrey show, but she's the billionaire, not me, LOL! There are many who are much, much worse than she is who have thriving careers. All of the streaming services are throwing huge amounts of money on almost anything that moves. Megs will draw lots of viewers in the US simply because we've never had royalty, so there's a huge novelty factor, plus the racial thing makes her even more of a curiosity. So yes, it's been apparent from the first that she's been aiming for some sort of big splash in the US, & she'll most likely get it. Hope that the UK & the RF can protect themselves from bankrolling her schemes for global glory. Ellen, Oprah, Hillary, Michelle O, all appeal to the same sorts of media consumers, so they're all keeping their networks healthy.
Harry is dyslexic; he has said so. Nutty I don't want to go OT here but I'd like to address this briefly. My son is dyslexic. There are MANY misconceptions posted here about dyslexia. Dyslexia and IQ are unrelated. There is no "one size fits all" dyslexia. Instead it is diagnosed by looking at discrepancies in subsets of learning. For my son for example, his verbal ability is 145 while his processing speed is an 8. These types of strengths and weaknesses account for why so many dyslexics flourish after the finish the torturous years of school.
Harry himself may not be bright in addition to having dyslexia, but that is an individual thing and not true of all dyslexics.
@AvaC, thank you for the information about Diana. She was a remarkable person despite her very human flaws.
Agree with everyone that the "Harry should be King" ploy has been in the works for awhile. She is really disgusting.
"She’s really hoping the critics will give her a break now they’ve been made aware of how the negativity is affecting her,” says the source.
Meghan is taking a few notes from her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, who also experienced a similar scrutiny. “Princess Diana was always open about her emotions, and one of the reasons she was adored by millions is because the public could relate to her,” says the source, “and Meghan is planning to follow in her footsteps.”
At the end of the day, “Meghan’s happy that she made the statement and plans to be more honest with the public,” adds the source. “In fact, it’s something she wishes she’d done earlier.”
Thank you for your insights re. dyslexia. I have a good friend who is dyslexic and typically found school a real struggle. When we were learning Japanese together, and essentially having to start at square one reading a new language like kindergartners, I'm sure it was a traumatic flashback for her. But she is bright and social and as an adult has learned to love reading. A lot of dyslexics have perfect recall auditory memory since they can't rely on text a lot of the time. This is how Tom Cruise learns his lines--by having them read to him and memorizing them perfectly.
I believe Haz also suffers from AD/HD, which would further make school a torment. His IQ might be perfectly acceptable but so many other conditions are masking his ability and/or desire to learn new things or retain what he has learned.
When one is born a royal there is really zero accountability for a failure to excel, unless one is the heir. Charles and William have been subjected to a great deal more pressure than any of the other royal kids through time, including Harry. All of them are guaranteed a cushy berth through life despite the fact that out in 'the real world' uncossetted by their Royal position, they wouldn't be deemed clever enough to ring the register at a chippy. Unless they will be inheriting the Crown, there is no incentive to excel and no consequences for failing to excel. Haz might be intellectually slow or he might just be lazy AF. After all, whether he does his work or not, shows up or not . . he's still incredibly entitled. No matter what he does, Granny and Dad will always see him provided very comfortably for--even if they hate what he's doing. If he weren't Harry of England and just 'Harry Regular Guy' who'd flunked out of school, got tossed from the Army, issued a big FU to his family and ran away from home, he'd be on line for welfare within a matter of days. He doesn't have any skills because he was never required to develop any, not because he lacked the internal stuff. At 35 years of age, his ability to develop into a self-sustaining adult seems fatally compromised.
At the end of the day, “Meghan’s happy that she made the statement and plans to be more honest with the public,” adds the source. “In fact, it’s something she wishes she’d done earlier.”
Let me ask something stupid: Why would you start out being less than honest to the public?
So very, very true. A modern comparison would be walking to the bedside of somebody with Ebola and shaking their hand. (We now know that there is no comparison, but not so much about HIV/AIDS was known then plus it was quite deadly.)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201701/11-warning-signs-gaslighting
blaaa blaaa blaaa and Trudeau tries to focus and stay awake.
p.s. and really!!!!! she absolutely needs to do something about that HAIR!!!!!! It is NASTY!!!!!!!!
You aren’t alone nor with being in a hurry. I only comment via my mobile (iPhone, and OS hates Blogger) it has a tendency to take over, so I end up with numerous typos, and grammatical errors galore.
First, she is self-delusional and believes that she is a global style icon, global humanitarian, the smartest person in the room, a successful Hollywood actress with A-list celebrity friends ...
Second, she has a pattern of using and discarding men (after intense love bombing). The last before Harry, the chef - she was sitting on his lap showering him with adoration, doing the lovey dovey abut him on Instagram (interspersed with sending the message out through other channels that she was ready to move on) just a month before she met Harry. If the BRF do not cave in and give her free reign to become the celebrity, most famous and adored royal (all their fault and the media that she is being held back), then Harry is of no more use to her and he starts to become a liability.
Lastly, it is a shallow world out there and she would get attention and earn a lot trading on the royal connection and the love story gone wrong (Harry will always blame the media and his family for her leaving him). Before that fades and she becomes an Ivana Trump (ageing, given up trying to lose weight and far to much plastic surgery), she will marry a very wealthy man.
It's a cynical projection of how this will play out, perhaps, or a realistic reading of the red flags that have been flapping in the wind from the beginning. (Neither of them grew up with a role model for a happy marriage or healthy love at home so perhaps they are not even capable of recognising that they are in an unhappy marriage and blaming the BRF, media and bullies and racists is deflection and scapegoating.)
If Harry was smart he would keep Britain as his (and Archie's) residence and then the Hague Convention would ensure Meg could not keep him in Cali as the jurisdiction of a court fight. The Hague convention (in short) is international law for 98 member countries to ensure a parent does not flee illegally with a minor child and seek a venue in their new country of residence.
Lastly, it is worth noting that in America, the African-American population is only 14-16% of the population total. Then looking at the potential demographics for Meg's AA fans is reduced to a very small number (only females in the 18-30 yr old bracket) so it becomes just a single digit!
Edward VIII gave up the throne and was exiled but him and Wallis were still considered ROYALTY and had all sorts of people kissing their behind inviting them every where just so they could brag about it. And if what I have read is correct, he was a notorious cheapskate and never paid for ANYTHING....he EXPECTED others to pay for everything....he expected the people who loaned them their chateau in Paris to pay for their servants and even the thousands of dollars he wracked up in phone bills. So who knows, maybe H and M (or just M herself) may get the same kind of treatment here in the U.S. It will definitely be something to watch play out.
Highlights from Dan Wootton article:
"PRINCE Charles is “absolutely furious” a growing row between Prince Harry and the rest of the Royal Family has undermined his work overseas as well as his own TV documentary.
Royal sources have also told The Sun that the Prince of Wales is worried about his youngest son in the same way he used to fear for his ex-wife Princess Diana."
"Charles is adamant he has supported Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and was let down when his daughter-in-law, 38, cancelled a meeting with him at the last minute.
However the future king — who yesterday dropped in on the Welsh rugby team in Tokyo — will continue to defend them publicly."
"The monarch remains close to Harry given they both live on the Windsor estate. But she does not want to be dragged into the mess and is deferring to Charles, 70, to help bring her grandsons back together."
“To do it to your brother is one thing. To do it to your father and paymaster is a completely different matter altogether.”
Staff at Clarence House are also said to be disappointed that the two-part ITV programme Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall – which starts tonight – has been virtually ignored.
The source explained: “This is a documentary about his life’s work and it really meant a lot to him. It’s been completely and utterly annihilated, all because these two think they’ve reinvented the wheel.”
"The Queen is urging her two grandsons to sort out issues privately but is supportive of both."
-----So, as we have all guessed by now, The Queen is not interested and Charles is not capable. That leaves William to save the Monarchy from these two.------
https://spectator.us/meghan-markle-lost-sparkle-prince-harry/
Here are some excerpts, but please read the entire article, which is one of the best that I have read on this subject.
"....her stuffy in-laws aren’t treating her with the respect that court protocol has historically accorded to third-tier legal-drama actresses who’ve also done a bit of gameshow and catalog work."
"Worst of all, Meghan expressed an unconstitutional desire to be ‘happy’. That’s all very well if you’re American, with the pursuit of happiness as a constitutional right. The rest of the world, however, no more believes in the right to be happy than it does in the right to shove dog turds through other people’s letter boxes."
"This isn’t just short-sighted, hypocritical and entitled beyond the dreams of the grandest duchess. It’s also cruel to Prince Harry, and to Prince William too. Meghan claims to be protecting Harry, but by manipulating the press against her royal family, she’s actually bringing about his nightmare scenario: a return to the trauma of his parents’ divorce, when Charles and Diana competed for the nation’s sympathy through tell-all interviews, and to the media frenzy which culminated in Diana’s terrible death — exit, pursued by paparazzi."
"Nothing is more likely to make Diana’s history repeat itself than this ingeniously thick-headed intimacy with the media, which colludes and exploits attention one day, then complains tearfully about it the next. If Meghan and Harry wanted privacy, they’d have it. Nobody forced them to sign up to Instagram, as they did earlier this year, at a time when Meghan, she now says, was feeling ‘vulnerable’ to the public’s attention. Nobody forced them to do high-profile plutocrat things like fly by private jet to New York City for a baby shower. Nobody forced them to make a documentary about how hard their lives are. They chose to do all this, and they’re still choosing to do it, even when they’re complaining about it."
Re: Divorce. I agree with Sandie that Megs won't divorce Harry. Everything I've said about her making a killing in the US goes out the window if she doesn't have a tangible connection to the RF. She'll just be another aging divorcee. If the divorce is really messy, she'll get a brief notoriety, & she'll get a little boost from that, but after that. Yikes! If she were realistic, she would be terrified of that.
To all of you who can't believe she thinks she can get away with mimicking Diana, you have to remember she's probably aiming at an audience that didn't follow Diana or the BRF much, or weren't even born then. As I've said before, we Americans, especially generation Z ,or whatever they are, have the attention spans of gnats.
I would recommend the Spectator link. I'm a fan of Dominic Green, who's a hoot.
I wonder if it will ever be shown here.
I can’t begin to tell you how much those pictures have upset me. I live on my own so I haven’t anyone else to vent to.
If this is not allowed Nutty please remove my post.
His use of the George photos did not seem abusive.. rather, he wrote it as though George was making the observations about Smarkle.
However, he has apparently recently stopped criticizing Smarkle and it is thought that he needs her publicists to flog some book that he has written.
Clarissa, I just looked up the book the guy photoshopped onto the hand of Prince George.
Look up it up on Amazon and you can read a portion of it. My mini review would something along the lines of how the author seems to have have quite the entitled world view and how just then the uncooperative the world is to him. I think he is trying for funny but funny in these circumstances (like temp job cleaning toilets when he should be serving champagne at art openings) can easily go wrong by coming off way whinney. And it would if that is the whole book.
If the Queen just wants everyone to make nice and Charles is kicking the can down the road and William does not really have the authority to do anything else other than protect his own family, there comes a point where inflicting more damage is pointless so she will leave. As long as she needs him, she will keep Harry around and there might be a legal separation and some kind of long-distance relationship for a while (the Oscars, Rodeo Drive, the Met Gala is where she really wants to be), and if the BRF is not going to pay for the private jets and designer dresses and give her tiaras and other jewellery, and let her be free to do whatever she wants to set up an independent global brand, subsidised by the BRF and the taxpayer, they are not of much use to her. An adoring, loyal sidekick like Harry is useful but he has become unstable and she does not want to be babysitting him for the rest of her life. (At present, he is twisting every which way to please her and give her what she wants, but a narc is never satisfied and the game never ends.)
I will be very surprised if she turns up for Trooping the Colour and Christmas at Sandringham and plays nice (and it would be fun to watch), but if she does, I read it that she thinks she has a chance of getting all the goodies (including a castle - why can't I live in Windsor Castle ... there's plenty of spare rooms; why can't I have a tiara to wear to the Met Gala ... that's modernizing the monarchy!).
Firstly, they are a side show that engulfs a huge amount of negative publicity from Air Miles; and secondly, I think QEII is expecting Charles to handle this since it is his son. However, all signs always point to Charles being a big whomping pussy with little propensity to man up when it really matters.
So my prediction: The Sussexes will be front and center on Remembrance Day and make a prominent appearance at Sandringham. The Sussexes hold the power here and Charles has said MM has stood him up on at least one occasion and then there was Balmoral. But I do believe the Sussexes will choose to be at both places mentioned, because cameras yo.
Doing something like this, secretly yet again, seems to be her MO. And mm is not one to be deterred. If anything she seems to be over confident because in her mind she has given the public honesty from her side by showing raw emotion. She has also cause so much discord between Ph and gua family openly and PH is publicly unravelling, which would give her an extra boost. She'll slip up soon.
That's a programme she has in her hand, not the speech she never gave? Surely?
Geez Louise, no one on that stage has any rhythm!
See that Women in yellow? That's Professor Thuli Madonsela, who used to be the Public Protector and is revered as much as Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu in South Africa. Now, if Meghan truly was who she projects herself as being, she would be all over Thuli like a bad rash, but I bet she does not even know who she is, or Thuli is hotfooting it out of there to get away from the claw hand!
SwampWoman, what’s for dinner tonight?
I am sorry to say that I was out too late today trying on clothes and shoes. I had planned on putting half a pork loin in the Instant Pot with with a couple cups of beer, sliced onions, some salt, some garlic cloves stuck into the loin, then putting it on the grill for some smokey flavor, then shredding it and mixing it with BBQ sauce to make pulled pork with coleslaw. The other pork loin half will go in the Instant Pot with Mojo Criollo (a Cuban marinade) https://thehungrycuban.com/mojo-criollo/ and I'll probably shred the pork and use it to make tamales. In addition, we would have fried platanos maduros if the plantains at the store are black, or tostones if the plantains are green and, of course, black beans.
But tonight, since SwampMan was sitting in his lazy chair reportedly dying from hunger when I got in, I made fast food: Bell peppers and onions sauteed in butter, removed from the pan, beer brats (bratwursts) tossed into the buttery frying pan, cooked until done, then the peppers and onions tossed back in for a warm up.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10199573/harry-william-feud-meghan-markle-cancelled-prince-charles/
This will cut deep and I guess he needs to feel the way Wills and Kate may feel about their tour (which required both of them to be 5 days away from their children) in order to actually get some fire in his belly. We shall have to be patient and keep our fingers crossed. But honestly, how long can this go on? She's trashing everything.
And WOW, that Spectator article was fantastic! Thanks Louise! I was almost up to my limit for free articles. Close thing. So glad I could read it.
'Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle are well placed to ride out the media storm around them and avoid the pitfalls that tore apart his parents, Charles and Diana, for the simplest of reasons, Diana's former butler said: They love each other.
'Paul Burrell, a longtime royal servant who became Princess Diana's personal assistant and confidante, has watched as Harry has pushed back against media intrusion and sought to protect his wife, the American-born, biracial Duchess of Sussex.
'"They (Charles and Diana) didn't have what Harry and Meghan have," Burrell told Reuters on Wednesday. "They didn't have love. And they (Harry and Meghan) love each other. It's quite obvious when you see them together."'
His idea of love is surely different to mine.
We are more and more alive to being authentic now. My hair is going silver after years of dyeing and I've never been happier with it. Feels right. Hasn't scared men off either. If anything they're getting younger! :-)
I hope you are right about Charles. I don’t feel much hope because I have witnessed first-hand how parents guilty over a divorce allow too much and act too little, usually to the kid’s detriment. Imagine Charle’s level of guilt toward his sons? Not just divorce guilt but the guilt that their mother might be alive if he’d managed to stay. And Prince Harry seems to be playing that guilt like a fiddle.
They do love Harry and probably blame the wicked witch of western California for everything.
I have seen it commented that the wig makes her look like Caitlyn Jenner.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7607099/Prince-Charles-furious-sons-reported-feuds.html
We are well into Diana territory now. Prince Charles so bitterly resented her activities overshadowing his. Now he's had years of Camilla providing unshowy but effective support and the BRF co-ordinating calendars, Diana's regular grenades having ceased. Must be awful to feel it all slipping away again.
Remember Harry said to Tom B that he'd thought he was out of the woods about his mother but it's all come rushing back. Not only does he not see it's because he's enabling his wife to make that happen. He's also standing by while she does it to his brother and his father.
If you look at Twitter, allll the word is that they are stronger than ever, “checkmate” against the tabloids (not sure why that’s a big word among the sugars, but it is). You’d never know the rest of the world was questioning. It’s so strange, like an alternate universe.
ThisLittlePetal is still up, but not MM. can’t spell, no word salad, nothing but inane happy life stuff. WriteLifePR, supposedly MM or a Hollywood insider friend, is still up but locked down so no tweets to be seen. Twitter is a mad mad world.
The privacy crap is what’s turned a lot against them. The weird birth of the child...she was rushed to the hospital, birth announcement weirdly blank, etc. No signs of life at Frogmore. The Twitter sugars are championing this privacy.
Her entrance at the Royal Albert? I was waiting for her to start dancing down the aisle like Ellen. And that weird desperate hug.
We’re gonna see a big explosion soon. I stocked up on microwave popcorn at the store today.
We are more and more alive to being authentic now. My hair is going silver after years of dyeing and I've never been happier with it. Feels right. Hasn't scared men off either. If anything they're getting younger! :-)
Hey, it works for Emmylou Harris, and who are we to argue with that? (grin) I tried coloring up the silver streaks but they were quite determined to be silver. It was easier to let it go and looked better, too. Once several of my friends saw that nobody was pelting me with rocks and calling me "old lady", they gave up the struggle, too.
Yes, I DO think that MM should go with her natural hair, but she may have bald patches from some of the straightening chemicals. I think she would look great in some of the Halle Berry-type pixie cuts (or wigs). She would not be able to hide behind nor nervously twiddle her hair, though.
SwampWoman, what do you make of her cancelling an appt. to meet with PC at the last minute? What a B - - - h!
She probably knew that she was getting invited to the royal woodshed, so to speak.
Re George III I think the play merely reflected common knowledge that Harry likes women of color. Sure Chelsey and Cressida were official, but if he had one offs well then...or if he hired escorts. He and Michelle Obama had quite a cute little flirtation going. I’ve written about this elsewhere. For me, so waht, except this: There is a Black woman who claims she was “approached” to target Harry, but refused. This rumor is in the context of the conspiracy theory that Matkle has backers and was selected to target him. Anyway what a horrid pair they are to deliberately ruin Charles’ doc. It isn’t even airing in the US and I for one am very interested in seeing it. Meanwhile I refused to watch the Harkle propaganda show that aired tonight. ABC is so gross. Though the networks all are gross.
I found this blog from CDAN and originally couldn't stand MM after the nauseating, fake engagement interview. The whole moonbump belly situation was just completely over the top. I'm usually a lurker but thought I could contribute something by explaining Soho House. They seem to be more interested in opening new houses (they also own The Ned in London, which is a a version for finance types opposed to creatives) than taking down the royal family. I have no stake in the game regarding Soho House. I'm just a member and I enjoy hanging out there. I've probably already said too much since as I mentioned, you aren't supposed to post about them.
FWIW, my take is she is a narcissist who cares about fame and fortune and will manipulate whomever she has to in order for the whole world to worship her.
There is no competition. William will become King.
I also understand it will be a long run race: BRF can’t cope with those two by taking aggressive actions. I am sure the honeymoon won’t last for MM and Harry because they’re can’t live without a chaperone and they can’t behave more than 10 consecutive days.
However, I look the damage caused by two persons and their PR team. From my understanding, HMQ won't act. BP is waiting for a so called reconciliation between the 2 brothers. That shows some of the weakness of the BRF.
MM may be drinking Champagne.
To William, I would say: la vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid….
https://blindgossip.com/outsider-accidentally-outs-herself/
I think it's too late for a sex tape, which might actually generate some sympathy for Meghan.f
More effective would be a tape in which she mistreats staff - particularly if racial invective is involved, as that would kill off her "my opponents are racist" approach with a single stroke.
Even more effective would be a recording - preferably video - in which she wishes the Cambridges out of the way so that Harry could take the throne. That could even be grounds for arrest.
Perhaps that type of video would best be released when Meghan is already in the US, so she simply cannot come back to the UK and remain a free woman.
I think if there is going to be a "big explosion", Charles would like to get his two-part documentary on the Duchy of Cornwall out of the way first. It's important to him, even if it isn't particularly important to anyone else.
It's significant, however, that Charles' complaint against Meghan has now been published, right after William's expression of concern about Harry. The Queen's own contribution was removing Meghan's image from her side table, which is heavy duty stuff in Queen-speak. (There's still a Harry image there, in another photo.)
The message is clear: Meghan has no allies left.
That came up again in the fabulous Anne Glenconner memoir because Lord Glenconner, her husband, would regularly throw himself on the floor and shout and scream and drum his heels and bite the carpet in temper (she didn't know till she married him). She writes that he did it once on a scheduled flight with Princess Margaret (even Princess Margaret didn't require private jets!!!) because PM and Anne G were guided to the front and he wasn't. Anne G was bothered but PM kept her firmly under control and told her not to pay any attention to him. Wasn't remotely fazed. All because she'd grown up with her father's gnashes.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1iMoLdJiYFE
She mentions Princess Margaret helping with chores(!), her beyond-eccentric husband is mentioned and it ends with her being asked about the current William and Harry issue, to which she responds with classic English understatement.
The BRF is now the best circus ever,no animals or acrobats.
Would it make sense for the new PR that Andrew just employed to be lobbing grenades to keep the heat off him ? Or is that too much of a stretch? On a lighter note, Andrew has been described as "a man with a fat bottom who laughs at his own jokes."
She looks like a mop in heels. Or infact a Royal version of Cousin Itt from Addams family.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2953899/Koo-Stark-reveals-truth-Prince-Andrew-32-years-silence-Prince-s-ex-lover-gives-account-affair-defend-sex-slave-claims.html
I wonder if she still feels the same as she did in 2015.
Also think she may want to consider a revision of him as a highly successful roving trade and investment ambassador for UK plc. He consorted with some morally corrupt, reprehensible individuals in that capacity.
https://twitter.com/kylieer/status/1186874972582694912
MM’s BFF Oprah is the fourth biggest carbon emitter (sounds weird but I don’t know how else to say it)...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7606535/Emma-Watsons-carbon-footprint-THREE-TIMES-average.html
Also, apologies for choosing such a similar username!
https://www.ibtimes.com/meghan-markle-grace-tatler-cover-after-refusing-vogue-because-its-boastful-2852763
image itself:
https://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/embed-md/public/2019/04/06/meghan-markle.jpg
I think Meg will lose the ISPO complaint because of thetig and her many interviews given prior to Harry
Why because the press HAVEN’T PURSUED HER Almost every article is just a rehash of info from stuff she put out there and all photos (except the couple in front of her house which were taken by a photographer Mark Large from Maryville TN who was there in Toronto on vacation) have been from her pr to advertise merchandise
the sun apologized for the Pornhub comment stating Meg didn’t know the clip from Suits was there illegally meaning she/her team hadn’t sold it or were getting paid since NBC owned copyrights not her
Miss Meghan Markle - An Apology
here are important parts of Meghan’s legal complaint
On the same day that Harry made his statement about the press, his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, had some lawyers write to IPSO on her behalf, asking them to tell their members to back off. Her lawyers also warned that, in taking an interest in her life and her fledgling relationship, the Editor’s Code was in serious danger of being breached.
They claimed that the UK media:
– “…is unfairly and wrongly creating a market for coverage and intrusive speculation about our client’s private life”
– “…should not publish material obtained as a consequence of harassment (anywhere) whether outside the jurisdiction of UK”
– “…should not under any circumstances harass our client if and on any occasion she is visiting the United Kingdom
Meghan’s problem is that she had deals/ contacts to promote her show Suits and other merchandise. so how do you blame the UK media for harassment while simultaneously sending them papwalks which are really ads for the clothes & jewelry your wearing? So no photographer has chased her British or otherwise The pictures from theater date were “from a cell phone” Soho was staged to look like harassment because they have private VIP entrances and could have parked his car directly in front of the door to avoid walking down the street where the RPOS had to know paps were. The pictures from Jamacia were taken by a local wedding photographer in public near the church of many people not just Meg & Harry so no harassment there and UK refused to print the others only leaks were from Megs friends Lainy who took a major hit for her blind item and balcony pic crap and Mio US WEEKLY who is now fired
Now that the Virgin Money Marathon pr is done and they really did make the trio look fantastic imo The KP office is back doing there own thing and keeping Harry busy
May 8 is 6 month expiration date from Harry letter which I think he tried to do the right thing to protect himself from her blaming him and BRF for the harassment and we will get a split amicably soon maybe after Pippa gets plenty of attention & $$$ for her wedding photos
I wonder what Tom Bowers has up his sleeve?
The RF is symobolic of the good ol British life, we would be delusional to say they have actual constitutional power. They are figureheads who represent the British way of life, and for Charles (and his generation) that would be a long walk in the park tending to his farmland making sure the estate is running like a well oiled machinery. Mind you, it's tricky business running an estate the size of the Duchy of Cornwall. Lots of livelihoods depend on it, it brings in a lot of money and we talking millions of pounds every year. It's what keeps his family in the.luxury they are accustomed to, and also many many other people. In the 50 years that he has taken over there have been so many new advances in how farming is done, and how to monetise the industry. Not to say that he has been a pioneer in bringing many sustainable practices, organic farming, livestock farming to the forefront. The documentary brings all of that to the forefront. It's his way of passing his legacy on, and he is very Very passionate about the work. So he's right to be cheesed off by his listless sons temper tantrum.
And we forget, for things to have gotten to the state they are right now, the whole circus being oalyed out for the world to see, the situation must have been so much worse behind the scenes for the entire family. They must have been dealing with this for quite sometime while getting in with their actual duties and work. It is most certainly an inconvenience to say the least. Everything, and I mean every single thing they do, is being overshadowed by Harry and Meghan's bruised egos.
However, it seem that the whole family is imploding and at loggerheads. The queen furious with Chaz, Chaz annoyed with his sons, everyone irate with Andrew, William and Harry not on speaking terms, no love lost between their wives. I am beginning to see this as the end... and not just for the Megster.
They seem totally absorbed in their own dramas as opposed to concerning themselves with the greater good of the UK at a time when we need stability.
It says, "A royal spokesman said this afternoon: 'The discussion will cover how these young leaders are driving meaningful change for empowering women. They will share achievements and best practices that have helped empower communities to overcome complex challenges and significant obstacles."
Some key words in there..."meaningful, empowering, empower"...sounds like Meg.
As a Texan who raised sheep (and heritage poultry breeds) and an organic gardener on a large scale I have been interested in what Charles has done with the Duchy in these respects. I feel sad for him that his son is creating such havoc with the family and overshadowing his work (in the form of P.C.'s documentary). Worse, he was so kind and accepting and she (Meghan) 'bites the hand that feeds her';
I feel it is only going to get worse before Charles (or the Queen) will be forced to act. Harry may be constitutionally irrelevant but he may be trying to make his situation a constitutional problem.
@JL I know. Despite having the additional letter I am saddened at the lack of personality in my username, but now I have made a few posts I don't really want to change it! I guess I could add a hyphen; JLC - Cookie Destroyer, JLC - Kraken Tamer. Than again, maybe not!
I think JLC aka Cookie Destroying Kraken Tamer is a great name! I'd have to abbreviate it to JLC aka CDKT to save the wear and tear on keyboard and fingers.
https://nypost.com/2019/10/23/save-the-tears-meghan-markle/
Doubtless behind the scenes she has been a total nightmare, behaving as though she's untouchable. There's the truth about the baby, Frogmore, whether they are living together - the RF have been complicit in a stream of lies to the public and it has to stop otherwise bye-bye House of Windsor.
The book by Tom Bower will be published soon and he has no limits apart from the truth. My personal belief is that they do not have a baby, their behaviour is inconsistent with a 5 month baby in the house, whatever support they allegedly have. Ths Royals want to control the narrative and now that the Sussexes have gone rogue they have no choice but to speak out.
Thank you, but with great username comes great responsibility to deliver thought-provoking analysis of the RF situation along with witty repartee. It may be too heavy a burden to carry!
However, it seem that the whole family is imploding and at loggerheads. The queen furious with Chaz, Chaz annoyed with his sons, everyone irate with Andrew, William and Harry not on speaking terms, no love lost between their wives. I am beginning to see this as the end... and not just for the Megster.
They seem totally absorbed in their own dramas as opposed to concerning themselves with the greater good of the UK at a time when we need stability.
And yet even with all the (alleged) interpersonal drama, everybody except two members are doing their jobs in an exemplary fashion focusing the attention on the causes and countries that are being visited, not whining to the press about how hard it is.
I say alleged interpersonal drama because this is all coming out through leaks to the press whose main interest is selling advertising and, to do that, they have to have a lot of eyes on them.
I would think that the BRF are (rightfully) angry at the Harry and Meghan show but also very fearful for them (or at least for Harry). Nobody could check Princess Diana's behavior, not her birth family, not her royal family, not even her children. People that are mentally ill tend to make very bad decisions. Bad decisions can lead to very bad consequences for the people around them that love them as well as for themselves. Of course, the royal family isn't the only family that is struggling with the special snowflake syndrome and addict behavior.
Charles has every right to be angry, but I think his anger is misplaced. He seems a bit selfish to be focused more on HIS works and HIS documentary, when he should be angry over the disrespect to HIS country! He's angry the boys are feuding, but really, he should be angry at JUST Harry for his attitude and his disrespect to HMTQ and his heritage. Why "the boys?" William has done nothing wrong, IMO. I think I'm upset at Charles on behalf of William.
great great article to read with your morning coffee
I agree. I was irritated when I read Charles was angry with both his sons. William hasn't put a foot wrong, and has just had an impeccable tour (although it was sadly overshadowed by his other son and his wife.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10199573/harry-william-feud-meghan-markle-cancelled-prince-charles/
Some attention from the RF has to be on Will since he was mentioned in H&M's film.
And I can see why Charles is angry about his Duchy documentary being overshadowed. (The above article said he was also angry about the overshadowing of the Pakistan tour.) Sure, concern about the Duchy film may be ego but I expect Charles also thinks a focus on that sort of contribution is good for the UK and good for Will since it is his future work and Will is featured in the film.
Jen and JLC. Maybe Charles is old school about keeping rifts contained in the family, and only meant to criticise both sons for making their feud public, but not William's recent good works. Did he not prevent his friends bad-mouthing Diana when things got really toxic in their relationship? I think his generation don't like sharing problems so publicly. They don't seem to have a choice now, though, thanks to Megan. Shame really. It removes their mystique and makes them just like the rest of us.
I get your point about Charles, it is just a shame that William possibly is being tainted by association.
Yes, their mystique is definitely under threat by Meg. I just can't fathom how she is still getting away with everything she is doing.
Hope Harry is seeing his therapist. Privately.
now. Now, when the British people want her upfront, as she promised she would do as promised she was going to be "Hitting the ground running", they expect her at the various openings of schools, hospitals and the like...she wants to retreat from them and begs for her privacy! It is like the child who plays the game of hide and seek...yada yada I'll come out and play when I want to and I do not want to now...