Nutty Flavor Blog

Earlier this year, in response to a blind item on Crazy Days and Nights, I predicted that Duchess Meghan would be out of the Royal Family by the end of the year. This prediction was received with a great deal of mockery - you're delusional! you're a racist!, etc. Now it is December 31. Was I correct? It's hard to tell. The visit to California Meghan is clearly not in the UK at writing, although it is difficult to puzzle out where she is and who she is with. Originally, the "six week break", now in its seventh week and counting, was supposed to give Meg and Harry a chance to relax and reconnect with family in the US. "Family in the US" would presumably be Meg's mother in California, since she has cut off everyone else. But there's no evidence that Doria ever spent time with the Sussexes during the period, or that the Sussexes were in California at all. The Canada stay Several items have been leaked suggesting that the Sussexes are st...

Today Royal watchers will be looking forward to the annual Christmas walk, as the Royals leave the Sandringham estate and walk to St. Mary Magalene church for the 11am service. Who will be there, and what will they be wearing? Will this be the first Christmas walk for Prince George and Prince Charlotte? Will Edo show up looking handsome - and what will they do with Andrew? Here's an open post to discuss. ---------- The Cambridges released a black-and-white photo of their family this morning, a shot taken by Kate of her husband kissing their youngest son, Louis, while Charlotte and George look on. Louis looks adorable and Charlotte looks fine, but George looks as if he'd rather be elsewhere. If Royal photoshopping has now become acceptable, how about 'shopping in a more flattering shot of the son and heir?

The next few days will be exciting for Royal watchers, as the Christmas celebrations take center stage. The most exciting event is likely to be the Christmas walk on December 25, as the Royals walk from the Sandringham Estate to the 16th century St. Mary Magdalene church for the 11am service. Will Prince George and perhaps Princess Charlotte make their debut this year? If so, what will they wear? Being as it's the middle of winter, I hope Prince George won't be stuck with short pants again. Isn't it time for him to wear full-length trousers year-round, anyway? Prince Andrew will supposedly be arriving at the church by car, so as not to dampen the mood. The Queen also arrives by car, and in fact rode with Andrew last year. ( Here's some info on how to see the Royals walk in person if you are so inclined .) There's also talk of a "major announcement" by the Cambridges this year - perhaps Kate's first solo tour? Sophie and Anne regularly undertake...

Prince Philip has been hospitalized, just a few days before Christmas. He reportedly walked into the hospital, and is being treated for a "pre-existing condition." Of course, we all hope Philip will recover and go on to enjoy Christmas with his family - but he is 98 years old. What do you think this means for the Royal Family in general and the Sussexes in particular?

The  New York Post  has carefully examined the tax records of British royal family charities, and suggests strongly that Americans should not be donating to any of them. The news hook is Duchess Meghan's fundraising tour of American high-earners, but the article doesn't spare the Cambridges, Prince Charles, or even Prince Philip. "As she draws up plans for a mega-charity, Meghan Markle is following a time-honored tradtion among British royals: Go to America. That's where the money is," the Post article reads. But "while the stateside branches of charities connected to the British royal family rake in millions of year from Americans enamoured with the House of Windsor, they spend heavily on administration and travel and sometimes skimp on the cause, according to a Post review of their federal tax returns." At last, some real journalism! Read the article here .  It's not good for Meg, but it's also not good for the rest of the Royal Famil...

Now that the British election is over the Royals, who have been lying low a bit in order not to take attention away from Boris & Co., should be a little more visible. (And yes, I am a little bit salty that we didn't get any photos today of Boris meeting the Queen and getting her permission to form a government. This could be the last time in her long reign the Queen will do so. Was Charles present today? Was William?) The next couple of weeks will be interesting for Royal watchers. Here come the Christmas cards Very soon - possibly as soon as tomorrow, Saturday December 14 - we'll start getting the various family Christmas cards. The most interesting one will be the Cambridges', since Will and Kate do such a good job of hiding their kids from the public for most of the year. How tall will George be? How cute will Louis be? Will "Warrior Princess" Charlotte's personality show through? (I recently saw a compilation photo of the Lovers' Knot t...

Not much news on the Sussex front this week, except for a "remember when" post on @SussexRoyal Instagram. (Remember when Meg helped the women from Hubb Kitchen publicize their cookbook in 2018? @SussexRoyal does!) I'd like to share an excellent post from another blogger, however - Robert Hazell, a professor at University College London, who offers us " Prince Andrew: Six Lessons for the Modern Monarchy ".  While he doesn't mention the Sussexes by name, a couple of his "lessons" have relevance for them. For example, Lesson Three,  Be Wary About Fundraising ...and Lesson Four, Keep Tight Control of Royal PR .  And, in particular, Lesson Five: Understand the plight of minor royals, and allow them a means of escape. You can read Hazell's full blog post here.