When you get married, you don't always know exactly what you're getting; when you marry a celebrity that's even more true, since most famous people are adept at creating a persona for the cameras that is quite unlike the human they are in real life.
Linda McCartney married Paul McCartney shortly before the breakup of the Beatles, upon which time Paul took his young family and retreated to a rural area of Scotland to nurse his grievences with alcohol.
"I married a famous rock star and then I found myself in an isolated cabin with an angry drunk," Linda reportedly said.
"I married a famous rock star and then I found myself in an isolated cabin with an angry drunk," Linda reportedly said.
Meghan Markle married a famous prince who is increasingly resembling an angry drunk.
But they're not going to Scotland - they're going to California.
The documentary they would have enjoyed
Even Meghan's fans would have to acknowledge that she has never really fit in in the UK; her non-fans might argue that she didn't really try.
A truly "whip-smart" woman, as Meg supporters call her, would have started out her tenure by doing a tour of the country and making a big deal about viewing its historical and natural treasures, from Hadrian's Wall to Snowdonia National Park to the White Cliffs of Dover to the British Museum in London.
That's a documentary the Brits would have enjoyed watching: a newcomer asking respectful, if sometimes naive, questions about British history and culture.
Instead, Meg brought her California "woke" culture and celebrity glamor with her and tried to impose it on the Brits.
It hasn't been a hit.
California here we come
So it was announced last month that the Sussexes will take a six-week break from royal duties, for what the a palace source told the Sunday Times was some "much needed family time."
Although Meghan was officially on maternity leave for several months this year, she chose to perform a guest-editorship of Vogue UK during that time, plus arranged a (very) miniature capsule collection to support Smartworks, one of her patronages.
Numerous media accounts suggest that the two are headed for California, where they will visit the only member of Meghan's family they appear to be on speaking terms with, Meghan's mother Doria.
Over the past few days, it's been suggested that the two will stay not only for Thanksgiving, but for Christmas, and perhaps beyond that. They are reportedly looking for a house in Malibu to serve as a "second home base."
Who would pay for that house, and the security the two Royals would require during their time in the US, is still unclear.
He has agreed to work on the production of a documentary on mental health with Oprah Winfrey for Apple's new streaming service. But he has no experience in production work, so it's unclear exactly what he will bring to the project.
He can sit in on some meetings and share his personal point of view. He might even serve as an on-air host of the project, or do some interviews - although nonprofessionals tend to not be very good at this. (JFK Jr. was a nice man, but when he attempted to play journalist at his magazine George the results were not encouraging.)
But documentary production is often slow process, with a great deal of time spent in research, finding interview subjects and setting up interviews, and then prepping the subjects and their surroundings before the star talent arrives.
After the star talent leaves, skilled editors select clips and piece the whole thing together to make it watchable and give it a continuing narrative. Music and titles are added, and short packages are made for promotional use.
I can't imagine Harry doing much of the pre-production work, or any of the post-production.
What is he going to do all day?
I have no input on whether or not that is reliable.
But if he isn't drinking yet, being far from home with nothing to do sounds like an excellent opportunity to start hitting the sauce, particularly for someone who has been struggling with addictions for most of his adult life.
There was some gossip at some point that the "time off" was actually medical leave for Harry go to to rehab, but I haven't heard much about this recently.
Will Meghan find herself isolated in California with an angry drunk?
It seems unlikely that the six weeks (or more) in the US will be a new beginning for the Sussexes.
It seems more likely to be the beginning of the end.
Although Meghan was officially on maternity leave for several months this year, she chose to perform a guest-editorship of Vogue UK during that time, plus arranged a (very) miniature capsule collection to support Smartworks, one of her patronages.
Numerous media accounts suggest that the two are headed for California, where they will visit the only member of Meghan's family they appear to be on speaking terms with, Meghan's mother Doria.
Over the past few days, it's been suggested that the two will stay not only for Thanksgiving, but for Christmas, and perhaps beyond that. They are reportedly looking for a house in Malibu to serve as a "second home base."
Who would pay for that house, and the security the two Royals would require during their time in the US, is still unclear.
What will Harry do?
Even more unclear is what in the world Harry will do with his time in California, where he has few friends, no family, and no defined work assignments.He has agreed to work on the production of a documentary on mental health with Oprah Winfrey for Apple's new streaming service. But he has no experience in production work, so it's unclear exactly what he will bring to the project.
He can sit in on some meetings and share his personal point of view. He might even serve as an on-air host of the project, or do some interviews - although nonprofessionals tend to not be very good at this. (JFK Jr. was a nice man, but when he attempted to play journalist at his magazine George the results were not encouraging.)
But documentary production is often slow process, with a great deal of time spent in research, finding interview subjects and setting up interviews, and then prepping the subjects and their surroundings before the star talent arrives.
After the star talent leaves, skilled editors select clips and piece the whole thing together to make it watchable and give it a continuing narrative. Music and titles are added, and short packages are made for promotional use.
I can't imagine Harry doing much of the pre-production work, or any of the post-production.
What is he going to do all day?
An addict with time on his hands
There are rumors circulating, courtesy of an Italian newspaper, that Harry had fallen off the wagon during his trip to Tokyo for the Rugby finals and had begun drinking again.I have no input on whether or not that is reliable.
But if he isn't drinking yet, being far from home with nothing to do sounds like an excellent opportunity to start hitting the sauce, particularly for someone who has been struggling with addictions for most of his adult life.
There was some gossip at some point that the "time off" was actually medical leave for Harry go to to rehab, but I haven't heard much about this recently.
Will Meghan find herself isolated in California with an angry drunk?
It seems unlikely that the six weeks (or more) in the US will be a new beginning for the Sussexes.
It seems more likely to be the beginning of the end.
Comments
I can absolutely believe that the reason H&M aren't going to join the family for Christmas has to do with the fued. This is THEIR fault though...they have nobody to blame but themselves.
I think something happened very recently to alter her grand plans. Who knows what, but as usual, this drama is bonkers.
Most interesting to me, as one who suspects there is more to this con than Meghan’s raging narcissism, is that HRC paid Prince William a visit yesterday.
If M is still a CA resident, that would mean she's still paying CA state income taxes and has been every year since she moved to Canada? Somehow I doubt that. Rates are high.
I agree completely. William is more popular now than he has been since his student days, when every teenage girl was madly in love with him. Kate is getting great press too, and I don't think it's all PR games - though let's not imagine the Cambridges are above all that. This hinting that William is to blame for them skipping Sandringham just makes Haz look petty and bitter. And all this cozy 'just the 4 of them'. Please! No way is Meghan going all that way without some serious schmoozing and pap walks. The only people who will buy this are their idiot fanz. It won't do William's reputation the slightest harm.
Pa? Grandpa? God they can't do anything with even a semblance of maturity or decorum, can they?"
I think they do this to show how close they are to Charles. They dropped Charlotte's titles altogether also to show that they can be informal. It comes off as bragging to me.
@PaisleyGirl, perhaps they did not do the tour of the UK because Harry won't be king as Willem would have been then (sorry if I got it wrong that he was king already. I only follow the British Royals really and occasionally a peek at Letitia's wardrobe)
Pushed into politics - there are residency requirements before you start to get people to sign your name to be put on the ballot.
Back to the great residency questions. She may have really last lived in Toronto but ... this is where dotting your i's may be an ankle grabber. She probably still has a CA driver's license and a checking account she never closed there as well. What would be interesting for the intel is where did she lived for her tax returns (the Canada years, 2018 which was due last month) and, just for grins, her divorces. I'd bet she is still listing as living at her mother's. We have a family member who still lists our address for their voting.
Politics would eat her alive. Not just that her opponents would be looking to smear her but you have to make decisions that people don't like and want you to vote another way. If you can't handle the coddled by British media, you won't like the mosh pit USA media.
So this it about Archie's first Christmas? How much is he going to participate or remember?
No place to go for Christmas? oooh, going to get a little real, maybe? and there is such hype about how happy and joyful and family Christmas is.
New photo from the christening: eh, again the timing issue of why did you pull it out now? Unless it is a recent photo shop. Notice in the DM don't include the big one of everyone to compare (and it is in black and white).
>>>Only and last time Charles has seen Archie seems to be at Archie's christening.
They don't have any other photo of "grandpa" playing with their child....<<<
I'll go you one further and say that Grandpa Charles has never even met Archie. Or several further still and say that no members of the Royal Family have been in the same room with this baby. And I mean everyone, including Meghan's mother. The two 'SussexRoyal official portraits' we have of Archie with his Royal family are fakes. Not good ones, either, but certainly audacious.
The presentation tableau and portrait sittings at Windsor are head-scratchers. The Harkles had access to those rooms, but I'm banking on it being on a day which the Queen was not in residence at Windsor. Philip spends almost all his time at Sandringham these days, so I think Meg's tale of 'running into the Duke' on the way to present the baby was a fabrication. Meg loves to embroider all her stories with these little details that she thinks will convince people she's telling the truth, but she always goes several details too far. On Easter Sunday she tried to convince the world that Her Majesty the Queen made a detour from St. George's Chapel to Frogmore Cottage to 'drop in' on the expectant mum for a house tour and a cuppa . . despite it being Easter AND Granny's own birthday. Meg followed this up with a tale about a steady stream of family, 'friends' and well-wishers to FrogCott in the days following Archie's 'birth'.
The Queen of the United Kingdom does not 'drop in'. One prays to get an audience with *her*. Her own son and heir has to make an appointment to see Mummy--is Meg so daft she thinks Her sovereign Majesty is going to deviate from her schedule to drop by a construction zone with a Bundt cake?
I'll go on the record in my belief that Doria Raglund has never set foot in Windsor Castle. It will be interesting to see the 'copyrighted SussexRoyal' images purporting to show Doria enjoying Christmas in Windsor. I can't wait for those.
I did find this link which does say a person can petition to be released from state residency while living abroad (if living abroad for at least 6 months each year) and still owe federal taxes, of course. https://www.usexpattaxhelp.com/Expat-State-Tax-Return.php
It does mention CA residency is hard to get rid of (as a poster here had also mentioned) so maybe she still has it. But if this link is correct, it's not automatic that one must hold residency in a state if one is a US citizen living abroad. Good grief, in those cases I'd think most people would prefer to be residents of states without state income tax (especially those like M who don't own real estate! ;) And as @Abbyh says, she'd need a residential address too if she's a CA resident. Doria's?
I can't find the link right now but believe her tax squabble was with the IRS not CA. It related to the tax year 2009 or thereabouts and was settled with about $900 owed. So that was before Suits. But maybe there are others.
Wow. As I am trying to boycott Harkle faux-news on the Internet, I am just now hearing this.
Hmm.
Prince William--future head of state of the United Kingdom, and therefore above politics
Hillary: Washed up, demonstrably corrupt American politician and failed Presidential candidate with no current legitimate role on the public stage
Why would William even take this meeting? Unless Hillary has vital information relevant to the Epstein inquiry & about Meghan Markle's role in any nefarious plot against the Royal family. In which case, William would want to take the meeting, and is most likely the only senior royal with the stomach to hear it. Unfortunately, though he's got the stomach and the will, he does not have any executive power to act off his own bat and has to get Dad and Granny on-side.
I hope Will wore his silver cross and a necklace of garlic bulbs under his shirt for this meeting.
Glowworm
And we established earlier that Doria was probably not in the UK when this christening was supposed to have taken place.
However, I am trying to get my head around the audaciousness of posting fake pictures involving the future King of England on your Instagram account.
How do the Harkles even have the nerve to do that? Aren’t they worried that the BRF will comment on these pictures and proclaim them to be fakes?
In Dutch we would say the Harkles are “rude as a dog”, however, in this case that would be an insult to the dog.
I don't believe for one moment that the Queen pops round regularly to see the toads at Toads Hall. There are numerous people residing nearby who comment regularly stating that the place is empty with no sign of life. Unless of course they are staying in a suite at the castle?
Nope, can't see that either.
>>>@IEschew, yes Hillary's visit with William is intriguing, especially as she's only a former Secretary of State, & the spouse of a former president who hasn't held any government office in almost 20 years, so not really a US political VIP anymore. Would love to know what was discussed. My guess is that William isn't a big HRC fan, but I'm sure he put on a master class of royal graciousness, unlike Harry during the Trump visits.<<<
Indeed. I too wondered what these two could possibly have to talk about.
Hillary and Meghan have a lot in common, besides their ultra-liberal politics.
Both market themselves as 'whip-smart'. Hillary at least is very smart, possibly smarter than her husband. Together he and she made such an effective team, because she was the brains and he was the charm. Like MM, HRC struggles to connect with people on an emotional level and can be grating, polarizing and incredibly abusive to her staff and protection officers. She's also been known to try on the 'girlish coquette' act on occasion that sits poorly on her. Mostly HRC comes across as a b*ll-buster.
But the salient quality that she shares with Meg is, though touting herself for life as an ardent feminist here to empower women, she rode to national prominence on her husband's coattails and charisma. Once installed in the most powerful house in the land by dint of her husband's position, she proceeded to set herself up as a co-President, at least in her own mind, and disregarded completely the traditional and Constitutional boundaries of the consort to the President. She'd parlay her husband's name recognition and former post into high-profile positions which were fast-tracked/gimmes to her as the former First Lady, like establishing the minimum residency in New York so she could get elected to the Senate from there, and then on to a Cabinet post. Her tenure as Madam Secretary of state was not an unqualified success, to put it mildly, but it still served as a springboard to launch her ultimate ambition--to be the Queen of America in her own right, not as an adjunct to her husband.
These two ruthlessly ambitious, amoral American narcissists are sisters under the skin really. Hillary will be the next public figure MM fancies herself as, except that copying Hills' wardrobe most likely will not be happening.
William had to figuratively hold his nose during the meeting, but maybe Hills had valuable information he needs, or he was hoping she did. He's getting a taste of the sordid side of 'Kinging' early on--wonder how it's going over.
Liver Bird, I have come to the conclusion that the reason we are seeing and hearing all this misplaced in time drips because the great plan for a tidal wave of support swelling up for M has gone wrong.
What we are seeing is them throwing everything short of the kitchen sink trying to regain lost ground of what was even moderate supporters.
We are seeing thoughtful responses to this chaos by real players in the art of war.
The chess game continues.
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2019111480569/prince-charles-birthday-new-photo-archie-harrison/
These two make me so tired. Their entire lives are like an episode of the Truman Show.
************
Many happy returns to the Prince of Wales on his birthday today. I'm sure there will be a small family party today and I'm equally sure Megs and Harry are not invited.
Tomorrow there will be a blurb in the Daily Express and Hello! saying they *were* invited, but they opted to Skype with Sir Elton John instead prior to heading down to a home for retired drag queens and passing out turkey legs with empowering messages written on them in Sharpie, thus rendering them inedible.
Riiiiight....
I agree. Meghan thought she was going to be loved as Diana was. Nobody would care about dull Kate once she and her celeb 'friends' and super-woke fridge magnet aphorisms came alone. And when she found out that people did not, in fact, love her, her reaction is to ratchet up the PR and ensure she's never ever absent from the headlines. When in fact the only chance - and a fading one it is now - of having any sort of popularity would be to quietly go about her duties and keep away from the bloody headlines for, oh I don't know, maybe 5 minutes or so?
But she can't do that. She just can't.
I wouldn't dismiss her out of hand. She's allied herself with the Clintons, Oprah, Cloony, Serena Williams who's husband is political himself. She's 38 and has time to lay the framework for an eventual run. The tricky part will be where. She has to find a place to live that is sympathetic.
Harris and Beto both sent up trial balloons. Politicians do it all the time. The first few failed runs are valuable for getting name recognition among the voters and networking with donors. It's not the last we've heard from Harris, she's too ambitious. Smeg already has name recognition, even peripherally for people who don't follow the royals, and she's working on her political network.
Now for another cuppa
So are you all saying the queen is guilty of deception and possibly treason (after all, I guess you think the baby is fake also).
That is a hell of a charge for only internet spectators to figure out 🧐😁
@Lizzie, thanks, I haven’t had a chance to look at the link to see how expat contractors’ residency is handled. Actors are not full-time, permanent workers as I understand it. They have hiatuses during which they often earn income in the States, and their roles can end on a dime. I think it’s different for them and they must keep a US address. I think the IRS proceedings took place during the Suits years even though the income was earned earlier. I can’t pull up the public records right now, but I thought they showed her as a current CA resident. Apologies if I have that wrong! The other, recent piece about states is the basing of the Sussex Fdn in Arizona.
I am interested in federal tax issues because the IRS suits would bother to welcome her home personally. They are the ones I would fear were I a merching, suddenly unsupported and no longer carefree, taxes-be-damned American.
>>>>Once again, MM is the most powerful woman in the world! She photoshops the queen and PC into photos and there is no way her mother attended the christening of her only grandchild. Nope. I guess the entire wedding was a hologram, the BRF is complicit in lies and deceit and oh, the photographer Chris Allerton has been paid off to say nothing about his doctored photos.<<<
Careful, you may have inadvertently blundered into the truth in spite of yourself.
Unfortunately for us, the BRF and most of all, Harry, the wedding was not a hologram and actually took place. I call the rest of it up for grabs, though.
Doria didn't rate being invited to the baby shower in New York, a considerably easier and cheaper flight than across the Atlantic; what make you of that? Why would Markus Anderson and George Clooney be in attendance at Meg's first baby shower but not the grandmother of the impending bambino?
Whichever side of the Meghanoit line one falls on, digital media manipulation is very common and not difficult. Either side has to be open to the possibility that various photos and documents have been doctored. In this day and age it would be incredibly naive to believe that all photos and statements we get on the Internet and in the press rigorously represent reality in every instance. I am not singling you out here or just talking about the Markle narrative, but in general.
Chris Allerton is not an impartial witness. He is directly employed by Meghan and Harry and works for SussexRoyal (c). I do not find it a bizarre suggestion that Meg and Harry's employee is going to support the narrative he is told to and which he is being handsomely paid to support. It works that way for most enterprises. I work for a public institution and the staff have already been told in direct language that were we to contradict the organization's message to our public or do, say or post anything negative on social media, our termination would be assured and immediate. I'm sure Chris Allerton is interested in retaining his job for as long as it lasts, so I would not expect him to contradict the veracity of his own work in public.
Putting aside any talk of manipulation for the moment . . do you find it logical or likely that the Queen would allow her image to be commercialized for sale by SussexRoyal (c), who owns the photo in which she allegedly appears .. or any of the rest of the family, either? For official portraits of life events, the Royal photographer is used and the images are owned by Buckingham Palace. As they should be.
I think I have been very explicit in all my posts that these are my *theories* only. They are ones I plan to keep subscribing to until such time as I receive new and reliable confirmation to the contrary. You are always free to disbelieve anything that doesn't ring true to you.
I often think the endless will-they won't-they articles we're seeing are because Meghan has nothing else to do, or rather she doesn't want anything else to do but amateur PR. She's on a permanent diet of candy-floss. As mentally vacant as Lady Di at the start, but far worse because Meghan had the benefit of a proper education (as far as we know). If Meghan had shown the slightest degree of intellectual curiosity or willingness to read something more substantial than Hello, she wouldn't be making the rookie mistakes she continues to make after two years - remembrance services being only the latest example. You surely can't run for public office for more than a couple of weeks if intellectually and practically incapable. Doe eyes and lip gloss will get you nowhere in an interview with a proper journalist.
Oh when will an experienced investigative journalist get onto her case? We've been waiting so long. So many avenues to explore. So many inaccuracies, distortions and downright falsehoods.
Maybe the work has been done already, but we're not 'allowed' to see it. A risky strategy as most of us have run out of patience already. Criticism of the Queen and Prince Charles grows by the day, while William and Kate continue to climb higher in the public's affections. Now that will worry Prince Charles. I was reading yesterday about how cross he was when W&K's first tour was so successful, because he and Camilla had visited the same areas and received only lukewarm interest. Maybe if William continues to get rave reviews as the scarf warrior Charles will finally stir himself. Realise dealing with Meghan would guarantee unlimited brownie points.
>>>@Hikari, @JDubya, et al. I wonder if it was the reverse and William asked to see HRC to share information with her and ask her to kindly keep her large arse out of UK/BRF business. Maybe he needed to enlighten her. What do you all think?<<<
Personally, I find this suggestion a lot more palatable. Dovetails nicely with the "William is a covert bad@$$' theory.
Seeing as she is no longer First Lady or Secretary of State, she has no official capacity whatsoever to be meeting with William. As she has very publicly (and bizarrely) come out as such a big rah-rah supporter of Meghan's, for what possible benefit to herself I can't even fathom--if Hillary thinks aligning herself with Meghan is going to somehow win her the Democratic Presidential nomination again, I'd like some of what she's smoking--could she have solicited a meeting with William to see about the possibility of poaching Meg away from the Royal family to run as her VP in 2020--ooh, I just snorted some of my latte up my nose, how droll . . . I can't imagine a better explanation for this pow-wow with the future King. Was William tapped to deliver the 'Knock it off, *Ma'am.' message? Obviously it would not have been suitable for the reigning monarch or her immediate heir to meet with a person who has no function on behalf of the U.S. any more.
You get a virtual latte of your choice for this:
>>>Doe eyes and lip gloss will get you nowhere in an interview with a proper journalist.<<<
Or onstage at a political debate, or in front of a House sub-committee. Any decent lawyer or proper journalist, not a paid sycophant, would tear her to shreds. I hope that happens some day and I'm looking forward to it.
>>Seeing as she is no longer First Lady or Secretary of State, she has no official capacity whatsoever to be meeting with William. As she has very publicly (and bizarrely) come out as such a big rah-rah supporter of Meghan's, for what possible benefit to herself I can't even fathom<<
Possibly positioning herself as the king/queen maker for the future. I could very well see HRC, Champion of Women™, surrounding herself with women who have political aspirations. If not positioning herself as king/queen maker, than older stateswoman mentoring the next generation.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7686111/Queens-former-spokesman-says-Harry-heal-rift-brother-William.html
Lots of people have been pointing out that W&K have had two Christmas hols with the Middleton's since their marriage but I do think H&M's is different because they also skipped Balmoral this summer. Article includes ...
>>>> But an aide insisted: 'The duke and duchess see a lot of the Queen as they now live at Windsor. 'That's why they didn't go to Scotland this summer and why the Queen is supportive of their decision about Christmas.' >>>>>
First it was that Archie was too young to fly to Scotland (he only does longer-haul trips) and now it's because they live in Windsor (yeah right).
>>>Maybe if William continues to get rave reviews as the scarf warrior . . .<<<
William, the Scarf Warrior. What a nice ring to it.
Over the years my understanding of Charles has expanded and I can be somewhat more sympathetic toward him than I was during the Diana years. I'm the eldest born of four, with a critical mother and an emotionally distant father, and the weight of parental expectations on me. Like Chas's family, we are Germanic and can be chilly at the core, and somewhat competitive with each other . . my siblings are all really close together. I've largely been able to forgive Charles for his conduct during the Diana marriage--he did not have an easy row to hoe there--but I continue to be flummoxed by his juvenile jealousy of his own children. Camilla plays it smart and doesn't try to upstage him, but owing to her part in the breakup of the marriage with Diana, she will never be fully embraced by the British public at large, even though she is well-liked by the people who have actually met her. But she's a safe bet--he'll never have to compete with this wife.
What father wants his kids to not be a resounding success? Shouldn't he be relieved and proud that William is proving so adept at what is going to be his future role for decades? That he and Mummy would be leaving the Crown in safe hands? If by accident of birth, William and Harry had changed places, we really would be looking at Edward VIII all over again. Being jealous of his heir does not reflect well on Charles as a human being but I guess it's par for the course with Kings. I can't imagine William, when the time comes, wanting to undermine George.
What an interesting family.
Your reply to Ava was actually my comment, re HRC's meddling in Meghan's affairs.
>>>Possibly positioning herself as the king/queen maker for the future. I could very well see HRC, Champion of Women™, surrounding herself with women who have political aspirations. If not positioning herself as king/queen maker, than older stateswoman mentoring the next generation<<<
I particularly like the TM symbol.
Well, you are likely right. In which case the next generation will get the guidance they deserve.
HRC had a documented very serious head injury during the last campaign. Now that she's 72 years old, there's a fair chance that not all cylinders are firing like they used to. Affiliating herself with Meg gets her name in the news again, but I don't think it's the best kind of attention.
Mimi,
Do we suppose a lack of permission would stop Meghan? When has it ever?
It's crucial that the images are copyrighted to SussexRoyal (c) and therefore Meg and Harry's legal property to disseminate as they wish. The Queen could sue and force them to retract those, but taking on her own grandson in the courts is probably proving too upsetting. Suing a tabloid newspaper is one thing, but I think it's been decided to let it go rather than sue Harry in open court and air all the dirty laundry.
The complete non-involvement of the official Royal photographer in these 'official' portraits is for me the smoking gun.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7685267/Sussex-Royal-shares-unseen-picture-smiling-Meghan-joining-Smart-Works-photoshoot.html
Proof - if we needed yet more - that something is seriously wrong with her. Off the scale narcissism. Her body language here is as subtle as an old Disney or Tom & Jerry cartoon of someone being bashful.
The reason no comment is passed on MM's photoshopping is because of the RF mantra of 'never complain, never explain'. Complaints and explanations give a story legs and the RF just want to kill the stories.
I suspect she is enormously frustrated at not being able to provoke a public argument so she continues to poke the bear. They're letting her dig her own grave.
>>>Harry was fine before she came along though, at least as far as the public were concerned. Yes, he'd had his scandals with that silly strip poker in Las Vegas thing, but he - or rather his private secretary Edward Lane Fox - had done a very good job of rehabilitating his image in recent years. Not saying he's blameless in this by any means, but if he'd married, say, Cressida Bonas (not that she would have him) none of this would have happened.<<<
Respectfully, I have come to the sad conclusion over the last 18 months that, however successfully Edward Lane Fox and the BRF curated Haz's image for public consumption, he was not fine before Meghan. I don't think he was fine even before Diana died. He was *better*, as he had more structure and expectations and people who cared for his welfare looking out for him. Now he's got none of that and he's unraveling before our eyes.
It's his own worst impulses driving the bus now. Cressie or Chelsy would have been different wives to him, surely better wives--but maybe he'd have been the one to destroy them just as Meghan is destroying him now. I have come to see the Harkle marriage as, not the Sadistic Narcissist and her Wounded Empath victim, but more of a Leopold and Loeb situation, in which a stronger Dominant A Narcissist targeted a weaker B Narcissist for a partnership of joint megalomania. Meg has been so successful at grooming Harry because she promised him what he wanted. Even as a little boy, he was jealous of William and prone to acting out. Diana's untimely death just hastened what likely would have developed with Haz even if she'd still been here. He was highly susceptible to what Meghan was offering, but he's no innocent lamb to slaughter. He actively seeks to undermine his brother and his father and grandmother--the Elected Line.
I'd like to believe that Harry will repent and return to his family and be a good boy, but I think the time for that to happen has passed. They have both taken this too far. Harry will retain his title and some support from the RF, but whether Meg divorces him or not, he will be effectively exiled. Like the Duke of Windsor . . supported, (barely) tolerated, but never invited around. He has essentially removed himself from the family and given them no choice but to concede. You want to go? We will let you. The further away the better.
>>Hikari, wow! I can be so naive, I didn’t think it was possible for them to do that without permission!<<
Most of us would have assumed the same, up until now. Meg may not be an intellectual but she's savvy about social media--she skirted any legality issues by setting up SussexRoyal (c) straightaway, despite the prohibition about Royals having separate accounts of their own. The legal ability to merchandise the Sussex brand is always what the separate court/household thing has always been about.
That photo of Her Maj and Philip with the baby is not real, in my opinion, but is a cobbled-together image of pieces. The composition is so very odd. It still represents an unauthorized image of the Queen, but I think for reasons unknown to us, BP is not fighting this particular battle.
He may well have been a mess behind the scenes, but my point was that public perceptions of him were very positive for about 5 years before Meghan came along. He consistently came near the top of 'most popular royal' surveys, often just behind the queen herself.Meghan enthusiastically brought out the very worst in him, though of course she couldn't have done so had he not been willing to go along with it all. Had he married a normal woman - or found one willing to take him and all his baggage - his darker side would probably still be hidden from the public for at least a while. Royalty is all about public perception.
Here you go. It's a pretty active blog andcwasxalready in archives. I noticed DM also mentioned it ( with a much better take, of course).
https://ladygreyhound93.tumblr.com/post/189018640120/wow-harkles-have-reached-a-new-low-let-wk-to-do
@Hilary
Lol on the Truman show post. Almost festooned my computer with coffee on the "aging drag queens home
Damn autocorrect. And my deepest apologies!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B41zRstlfEY/
So in effect, that "christening" photo of Archie was bogus. SMH
That one really tore the biscuit, didn't it? Even more brazen than the first attempt, since so many more people were involved.
The only answer I have is that legally, owing to owning the Sussex Royal copyright, the Harkles do not need legal permission to publish wherever they want. As for Royal disapproval, they are well used it and until recently that didn't seem to go any further. That might be changing now.
Taking my tin-hattiness to the extreme, I do not believe there was a photo sitting with Archie in Windsor Castle in either May or July. The first the subjects would have known they were 'in a photo with Archie' is when they appeared splashed all over the Internet outlets and papers that had bought the privilege. Horses were already out of the barn at that point, so to what avail to shake a finger at the Harkles? The RF was also dealing with Andrew and Brexit at the time. Fudged images of happy family with Archie really were the least of those evils.
Given the narcissistic chutzpah....
Could Hilary have been urging William to be a little kinder to Megsy?
Oh to be a fly on that silk-covered wall!
Did the guards forcibly remove anyone from KP yesterday?
That's where me and my tin hat lean, yes.
I don't think the Queen has met Archie, either. Nor Philip. Nor Meg's own mom, if I'm honest. Fake from soup to nuts.
If Meg forgot to put in Charles wearing the right suit from before, she really is a f*ckw*t for details, isn't she?
Or we could just go flat out and say she's crackers. As in, sectionable.
What do you see different in the clothes that Charles is wearing?
It looks like the same outfit to me.
So long as Meghan remains a 'working' royal she is entitled to taxpayer funded security. This could not be withdrawn on an ad hoc basis. That's not how the royals operate.
We’d never hear the end of it.
BTW I'm loving the Ladygreyhound93 site at the moment. Nutty for the narrative and Ladygreyhound for the clips. We need all the enjoyment we can get to keep up with this saga.
Also, when the photos originally came out, @KayeC told us that her husband, a pediatrician who had seen thousands of babies in his career, was quite confident that the babies in the photos were two different babies.
>>>So the RF is allowing the Harkles to photoshop their images onto official pictures for reasons we do not know. IF they truly were not present at these occasions but allowed to be photoshopped in, doesn’t that make them complicit in the deceit? A HUGE deceit?<<<
As much as it pains me to admit . . .yes. That's the way it appears to us in the cheap seats, anyway. I comfort myself by saying there must be long-range operational reasons--court intrigue at the very highest levels--as to why they have seemed not to act upon all the Harkles' outrageous behavior until now.
A 1000-year-old institution will ultimately outlast Meg at a long game. Her attention span is just not long enough for the adversaries she has taken on. This episode will be a flash in the pan for the monarchy, but the flash is dragging out. May end up being a 3-5 year flash. But they will outlast her and grind her down. Her base of support, always shaky at best, is fickle and it's eroded. Support from American figures is ultimately meaningless as well.
In the context of the monarchy, Meghan is a Mayfly. Mayflies are born, live, reproduce and die all within 24 hours. So I'm told.
I think one day we will get all the answers but, as with anything having to do with this family, those will not be quick in coming, but will be a slow trickle. Perhaps they must wait until the Queen has passed away for any further information to be released, or books published.
Meg chose her moment, I can say that for her. If she had arrived on the scene even 5 years ago, I think Prince Philip and the Duke of Glouchester would have put the frighteners on her enough that she'd have buggered off and stalked a footballer instead. Alas, PP's and HM's strengths are not those which in former days they were. There's a complacency at the top and that's where Madam slipped in. Elizabeth probably just wanted to see Harry married and settled before she died, and wasn't going to go through another Captain Townsend situation and all that resultant bad feeling.
The Royal foot should have been more firmly put down with certain conditions, but it's too late now.
Hilary's concussion occurred in 2012 not during the campaign of 2016. Have you actually heard her speak lately? When I'm 72, I hope that my cylinders are firing just as rapidly as hers are. And I think that the tin foil hats are on a wee bit tight today. Hilary was Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013. I'm frankly shocked at posters who are acting like this is a akin to her being head gardener at the White House, and the BRF is taking pity on this poor woman by given her a few minutes of their time. How condescending. I will point out that the Secretary of State in the third highest ranking position in the U.S. government, only behind the President and Vice-President. Would you dis Madeline Albright this way? Given that the U.K. was our number one foreign ally during the Obama administration, I don't think it's a stretch to assume that she has met with numerous members of the BRF numerous times. This might only be a courtesy on William's part, but this speculation that some sort of nefarious plotting is going on rather than a typical polite gesture is IMO, a little far-fetched. Also, I will point out that given William's rather marked and deliberate "scarfing" of Ms. Markle, I sincerely doubt he would meet publicly with Hilary if there was something sinister going down. Reminder: she won the popular vote by 3 million votes. That doesn't sound particularly washed up to me. I don't know why she's championing Ms. Markle. I just know that a cursory read over of her Wikipedia page contains example after example of her championing children, women, and the disenfranchised through legislation (not word salad) and did so while collaborating with politicians on both sides of the aisle.
https://people.com/royals/archie-royal-christening-differs-cousins-george-charlotte-louis/
Mind you, Archie's actual christening photo itself I do doubt. I don't trust anything about that. The christening dress is probably more genuine than the baby in it.
(I think Nutty may want to shut this HRC discussion down as too political.)
I even posted to that effect on their post - I anticipate my comment will disappear in 5...4...3..
I agree that Nutty might not like the political turn this is taking, but I will just respond if I may.
It was not my intent to demean the Office of the Secretary of State. I was only observing that Hillary left that position seven years ago and currently serves no official function in government. Her exit from that office was rather ignominious if you recall, and HRC has proven often that like Meg she has an elastic relationship with the truth. She has no particular status *now* to take meetings with foreign royalty, so I just wonder what she is up to.
Head injuries can be cumulative. I'm glad she's recovered, but I find she speaks in wonky word salad at the best of times.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7687095/Hilary-Clinton-visited-Meghan-Markle-Frogmore-Cottage-Tuesday.html
If anyone's interested, HarryMarkle blog has a rather scathing post regarding Remembrance weekend. Enjoy - I did ;)
I may lose my lunch
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7687095/Hilary-Clinton-visited-Meghan-Markle-Frogmore-Cottage-Tuesday.html
Absolutely agree with you on Chris Allerton, etc., but to me the smoking gun was the hat that one of the Spencer aunts was wearing. Her hat looked like something you'd wear to walk the dog in, or to play a quick round of golf, & you wanted to shield your pale, English complexion. No way an an English aristocrat with a lifelong knowledge of the intricacies of proper royal etiquette would wear that hat to a royal christening.
@tatty, Like I said, you admit the videos of Megs en flagrante delicto are real, & I'll concede that perhaps the dodgy christening photos might have a some authentic details, regardless of the meta data, etc.. You obviously are unfamiliar with the RF credo, 'never apologize, never explain.' It would be highly embarrassing for the RF to own up to Meg's alleged peccadillos. As someone on this blog has pointed out, they can't exactly say they let Megs wear a fake baby bump for funsies. The RF is losing credibility, however, because of their ostrich-like behavior. The British public is getting impatient, & it could turn around & bite the RF in the end. I've pretty much given up on the RF coming clean on little Archie, but I do know that heirs in the British succession aren't allowed to have names like Archie.
https://blindgossip.com/the-enemy-diaries/
YMMV. Take that for what it’s worth
"They agreed to leave William alone at university bar a few formal sessions, so could they agree on the grounds of Harry's mental health?"
That wouldn't make sense. If someone has mental health issues which mean he cannot stand attention from the press, then by definition that person should not be a public figure. Working royals, since they are effectively funded by the public purse, MUST be accountable to that same public. That means press coverage, some of which will be positive but some of which might not be, however much the Harkles might whine.
Now back to your regularly scheduled program.
Totally agree, too fantasy- fantastical to be true! The Sussex’s PR machine is on stupid overdrive mode.
@Trudy, apologies for the duplicate Blind Gossip piece, we posted at the same time.
There’s a public footpath that goes right past and around Frogmore Cottage. Not a particularly private property for anyone, let alone any royal living there.
Trudy said…
And now we have a new BLIND - apparently MM has been keeping a diary (we have heard this before) which the BRF are allegedly very upset over and is one of the reasons they do not want her around during their personal holiday time!
https://blindgossip.com/the-enemy-diaries/#more-99498
One of the other gossip sites, I believe it was CDAN (but not positive) reported quite some time ago, I can’t remember when, but it could be as far back as summer 2018, that Meghan was keeping very detailed notes and she’s been shipping packages of them to someone in North America for safekeeping. My guesses are either Jessica, or her girlfriend from college who was with her this year at Wimbledon. Meghan will write a scorching but highly embellished book after the divorce or use the documents as bargaining chips in a divorce battle.
I believe Meghan is incredibly dangerous to the RF and the monarchy in general, and the longer they allow her to remain in the family, the worse it will get. If she’s not already pregnant, she likely will be by their second anniversary, which means the marriage will continue through the pregnancy and for another year or two at the very least beyond that. That is, if Harry lasts that long. I truly fear for his physical and emotional health.
Perhaps the RF with help from Lord Geidt and experts at interventions, could take action to get Harry out from under Meghan’s complete control and domination. He is basically a shell of his former self.
I personally find your comment to @neutralobserver a few posts up, highly inappropriate on many levels. I think you should Delete It.
There are different ways one can deduce the accuracy of something without direct observation (such as watching).
.
Narcs like to gather all the dirt they can so that they can dish it out at their leisure.
Bloody old boot. I really despise her now.
So there you have it folks, Harry and Meghan are confirmed by an independent source to live at Frogmore Cottage and he has seen them driving away from their house that they share in their real marriage with their child Archie.
So there was a large information drop today. 👏👏👏
Can you link that particular tweet please, as I'd like to read it.
That doesn't prove anything. So we are to believe it because a reporter says it?!!!!! How many times have reporters been known to Not report the truth...or to outright lie? Rhetorical Question,
Yeah, it's a load alright....right out of the stables at Windsor and it stinks!
“I know you lot won’t accept anything that conflicts with your world view but I’ve actually seen the car in the drive, windows open, the lawn being watered, the couple driving out.
I have a simple explanation: They were over there to pick up the copper tub and go to the Pawn Shop, They heard the price of copper was up and lord knows they need some cash!
Since you need an explanation.: It......Was...... A .....Joke! lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
Thanks! Yes if they did move in it;s because their credit card doesn't work anymore at SoHo, as the Queen cancelled it.
Seriously, there were just too many people reporting no signs of life at Frogmore. Maybe the renovations were even more extensive than originally reported. Construction at the level that was planned could have been delayed by unanticipated problems Maybe it's just a temporary move so they can hold a Thanksgiving holiday and have Doria show up for pictures and the benefit of the press.
Personally, I would be surprised if anyone in 2019 wrote on sheets of paper that could be bundled up. Don't most people keep electronic records? Of course she must be making notes.. I would , as well,... but in a paper diary?
I realize this isn't your full time job but could you consider going back to the 200 comment limit and start anew?
I skipped to "newest" comments and even that is an unyielding sea of 150 comments, extremely daunting and definitely not reader friendly :(
Did you put that link in your space bar? It popped up for me. Drats!
And, according to Palmer, the monarch isn't happy with the tactics the Sussexes have employed in regard to the press.
He also added that the Queen "is disappointed with them".
.
It would be easy enough for someone to hack a twitter account.
Regarding this alleged diary: Someone her mentioned that it was being Bundled up" and sent for safekeeping in North America.
Personally, I would be surprised if anyone in 2019 wrote on sheets of paper that could be bundled up. Don't most people keep electronic records? Of course she must be making notes.. I would , as well,... but in a paper diary?
Don’t forget she wrote that letter to her father. Not too many people write letters like that any more. Electronics can be hacked, but Fedex and a trusted friend can’t be beat for security. I’m thinking Jessica is her ‘safe’.
Oh dear, that is a lot of incorrect information about Wallis! Unfortunately, most stories about Wallis are myth and gossip. Wallis did not want to be royalty, nor did she want to be famous. David actually did not want the pomp and ceremony of being royalty either. Wallis was brought up being taught the manners of high society and wanted the life of weekends in the country, private dinner parties, because that was the life she understood and did very well. Wallis and David did have a happy life together, although from a modern perspective it does seem shallow: jewels, designer clothes, high-end social engagements, one long holiday, lots of high society (not celebrity) friend and engagements. The interviews were to make money (the allowance from the BRF and David's personal wealth was not sufficient for their lifestyle) not because they wanted to be famous. Wallis and David did end up happy together. David was bitter that Wallis was not given the status of HRH but, unlike how she was portrayed in The Crown (mostly fiction), Wallis did not give two hoots about that status.
In today's world, the life of Wallis and David would be unbearable for Harry and Meghan, the former who has only known BRF life (and Meghan has cut him off from the high society social life he had and replaced it with a celebrity life) and the latter who wants the attention and to endlessly drone on in her opinionated way from a global platform.
The “never seen before” photo of Charles, Harry and the child currently known as Archie is truly making its world debut. It’s is a complete photoshop job.in the photo released, Charles is wearing the exact same suit, tie and pocket square as he wore at Louis’ christening-right down to the blossom on he’s lapel. When was the last time we saw Harry with that much hair on his head? He’s been sporting a flesh yarmulke longer than Archie has been around. I’m surprised that the EXIF data hasn’t surfaced yet. However, tomorrow is another day.
Tangs my .02 cents worth for now. I’m going back to nursing this migraine that has become a permanent presence for the past three weeks. Yeah, I’m one of the chronic pain patients caught in the crossfire of the opioid epidemic. Some of us need pain relief and not to get high. Quality of life has plummeted to zero but that’s a subject for my blog and twitter. Someone out there have a glass of red wine for me as I don’t dare indulge at present.
For those commenting about this blog format, I don’t like it either. Replies get lost amongst all the other comments and I can no longer delete my own comments (I only use my iPhone).
Thanks, I found the post by Richard Palmer this morning. (but not through the link you sent.)
So it appears they are finally spending SOME of their time there after all.
Maybe their neighbours will get to see Meghan pushing Archie along in a stroller one of these days!?
And pigs will fly...............!
"Buckingham Palace’s statement about the Sussexes spending Christmas with Meghan’s mother instead of at Sandringham did not specify whether they would be in the UK or abroad. I’m now confident to report they will be abroad."
So where will they go? Bets are on!!
Nutty has posted a new article. (if like me, you were unaware) :)
Now we can play a stupid game of "Where in the world are the Harkles?" Well, we astute Nutters maybe won't...we have better things to do with our time. LOL Confession: Nutty Flavor Blog is my guilty pleasure.
Thanks for letting us know!