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.
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 tiara as worn by Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, and Duchess Kate. How will Charlotte - certainly the future Princess Royal - look in the tiara circa 2040?)
Will it feature little Archie engaging with Desmond Tutu's daughter and trying to wriggle away from his parents? Meg merching tiny jewelery or ill-fitting clothing? Harry looking drunk and wrinkled?
I must admit that I do not shivver with anticipation when it comes to the Sussex card, which is bound to be awful.
Prince Charles and Camilla will also release a Christmas card, which will be examined for signs of their good health or lack of it.
The Queen seems determined to bring Andrew along, showing the sort of stubborness that has been the Achilles heel of so many otherwise effective leaders, from Douglas Macarthur to Steve Jobs.
If Andrew is there, Will and Kate will do everything possible not to be photographed in frame with him. The Christmas Walk is where William so effectively "scarfed" Meghan Markle; he knows very well how to avoid taking a picture he does not want to take.
Kensington Palace has also emerged as a major chess player against the Sussexes. Could it have been behind the recent rebuke to Hollywood jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer for using Duchess Meghan's photo to sell her tacky pieces?
It was embarassing timing for Meghan, who is presumably in Hollywood trying to set up deals for her soon-to-debut Sussex Royal Foundation. A public reminder that the Sussexes are not power players and are not even well-liked must have been bad for business.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would beg to differ, and so would the world's other top foundations, backed by the founders of IKEA, Wellcome Pharmaceuticals, Getty Oil, and Johnson & Johnson consumer products. Those foundations have an ongoing flow of resources from the world's largest and most powerful corporations.
The Sussex Royal Foundation has...Meg, asking for donations. Plus Harry when he gets out of rehab. Good luck.
So where will they go instead? Doria, Meg's mother, might be persuaded to appear in a publicity photo with her daughter, but that doesn't mean that Doria's female partner wants Meg, Archie, Harry (if he gets a day pass from rehab) and their security personnel to join them for the actual holiday.
Unconfirmed Twitter gossip says Meg was trying to get into Canada, but no one has claimed to see her trying to get into Mexico, where her father lives.
There's also a chance that the Daily Mail, which probably paid for the security guards surrounding Thomas Markle, would not allow it. Thomas is a key witness in the upcoming lawsuit filed by the Meghan against the Mail, and they wouldn't want his testimony influenced by a tearful holiday reunion.
Whatever happens, the Sussexes will release some publicity about their Christmas location, and it will be Instagram-friendly. Beautiful tropical island? Rockefeller Center Christmas tree? Homeless shelter, with Meg serving turkey and potatoes to the down-and-outs?
What are you looking forward in the Royal world for the rest of 2020?
(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 tiara as worn by Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, and Duchess Kate. How will Charlotte - certainly the future Princess Royal - look in the tiara circa 2040?)
Have a grey Sussex Christmas
Inevitably, the Sussexes will also come up with some sort of Christmas greeting. Perhaps in festive black and white?Will it feature little Archie engaging with Desmond Tutu's daughter and trying to wriggle away from his parents? Meg merching tiny jewelery or ill-fitting clothing? Harry looking drunk and wrinkled?
I must admit that I do not shivver with anticipation when it comes to the Sussex card, which is bound to be awful.
Prince Charles and Camilla will also release a Christmas card, which will be examined for signs of their good health or lack of it.
The Queen's stubbornness
As Christmas approaches, we also have the Queen's speech to look forward to - what in the world will she say about the Andrew situation? - and the annual Royal Family Christmas Day walk to church.The Queen seems determined to bring Andrew along, showing the sort of stubborness that has been the Achilles heel of so many otherwise effective leaders, from Douglas Macarthur to Steve Jobs.
If Andrew is there, Will and Kate will do everything possible not to be photographed in frame with him. The Christmas Walk is where William so effectively "scarfed" Meghan Markle; he knows very well how to avoid taking a picture he does not want to take.
Ruthless William
One of the most interesting Royal developments of 2020 is William's increasing ruthlessness. He was a significant player in Andrew's removal from active Royal duty, and made sure the media knew that.Kensington Palace has also emerged as a major chess player against the Sussexes. Could it have been behind the recent rebuke to Hollywood jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer for using Duchess Meghan's photo to sell her tacky pieces?
It was embarassing timing for Meghan, who is presumably in Hollywood trying to set up deals for her soon-to-debut Sussex Royal Foundation. A public reminder that the Sussexes are not power players and are not even well-liked must have been bad for business.
The big foundation
Speaking of which, Meghan seems to be under the impression that her super-intense work-ethic will make the Sussex Royal Foundation "one of the biggest and most successful philanthropic organizations in the world."The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would beg to differ, and so would the world's other top foundations, backed by the founders of IKEA, Wellcome Pharmaceuticals, Getty Oil, and Johnson & Johnson consumer products. Those foundations have an ongoing flow of resources from the world's largest and most powerful corporations.
The Sussex Royal Foundation has...Meg, asking for donations. Plus Harry when he gets out of rehab. Good luck.
Where are the Sussexes?
The Sussexes have already famously turned down an invitation to Christmas at Sandringham - if, in fact, they were even invited, giving that Meg leaks like a sieve when it comes to sharing family information. Hard to let your hair down and enjoy one of Prince Philip's very strong cocktails when she's around.So where will they go instead? Doria, Meg's mother, might be persuaded to appear in a publicity photo with her daughter, but that doesn't mean that Doria's female partner wants Meg, Archie, Harry (if he gets a day pass from rehab) and their security personnel to join them for the actual holiday.
Unconfirmed Twitter gossip says Meg was trying to get into Canada, but no one has claimed to see her trying to get into Mexico, where her father lives.
What about Daddy?
Reuniting with Meg's father for Christmas would bring the Sussexes some much-needed positive attention, but it is one of the last arrows in their quivver - is it too soon to use it?There's also a chance that the Daily Mail, which probably paid for the security guards surrounding Thomas Markle, would not allow it. Thomas is a key witness in the upcoming lawsuit filed by the Meghan against the Mail, and they wouldn't want his testimony influenced by a tearful holiday reunion.
Whatever happens, the Sussexes will release some publicity about their Christmas location, and it will be Instagram-friendly. Beautiful tropical island? Rockefeller Center Christmas tree? Homeless shelter, with Meg serving turkey and potatoes to the down-and-outs?
What are you looking forward in the Royal world for the rest of 2020?
Comments
Re: the Christmas walk. I assume that if Andrew comes this year, William and Kate will not make it the debut walk for George and possibly Charlotte, which is a shame. That could have been a nice distraction from the Andrew situation.
I wonder if Beatrice will bring Edo, in part to show that he isn't running away.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/stefanie-powers-meghan-markle-prince-harry
William will take the Monarchy.
Charles is not up to task as evidenced by the Sussex debacle.
Ruthless William
One of the most interesting Royal developments of 2020 is William's increasing ruthlessness. He was a significant player in Andrew's removal from active Royal duty, and made sure the media knew that.
My alternate version is that Prince William was called on by Prince Charles to tell The Queen face to face what must be done with Prince Andrew. Charles is the ruthless one, but in a good way.
Charles was in far, far away New Zealand and The Solomons, going by the photos having a grand old time on his Royal Tour. Complete with Solomons natives putting on a show. I thought I was looking at an old National Geographic. Anyways... Charles phoned William and directed him. My guess is that at her advanced age The Queen does not get everything over the phone. Hard of hearing and so on. So face to face was needed to convey the urgency, to really get the point across that Andrew needed to be dealt with harshly.
Of course Charles phoned the Queen, short and sweet about Andrew. But William had the prime role as Charles' stand in and agent. William is not ruthless...yet.
I agree Andrew's presence may complicate photo op aspects of the walk. But I don't really agree the Queen is being stubborn (or wrong) not to insist Andrew skip church services. In addition to being Andrew's mother and the "boss" in the family firm, she is the head of the COE. I don't think banning "sinners" fits with church teachings (especially during the second most holy season of the Christian calendar.) Plus, the walk IS a family time. He's not been kicked out of the family and presumably his daughters will also attend.
If I were TQ though, I definitely would allow Bea to bring Edo. If nothing else, it would show Meghan's invitation the first year wasn't because she was just so special.
It's too bad for Harry. He was dearly loved but has become completely insufferable due to his association with MM. If he can break free of her, perhaps he can turn it around. There are lots of clips on Twitter recently of how she literally pushes him around. A new one I hadn't seen was from SA. She waves a staffer out of the way who is blocking her photo.
It's very quiet on CB. Nothing about her recently, not even the Jennifer Meyer kerfuffle. It makes me wonder if Kaiser is beginning to see the truth about MM.
I really hope that Harry & Meghan divorce soon. But I have a feeling she is trying hard to have another baby with H.
They were foolish to skip the Christmas walk this year, though I suspect they didn’t feel welcomed after all their shenanigans.
It is extremely unfortunate that Harry and Meghan could not see fit to put differences aside so that Harry could spend a little time over the festive period with his grandfather. It appears that Harry is still being influenced by others unfortunately and you can’t help those who don’t want to be helped at the moment.
I, for one, am really looking forward to William and Catherine’s Christmas card with their children.
Agree with you Kate that they most likely would not be welcomed if they had showed up (to the infamous family she never had.
And the cards. Can't wait to see what happens next.
For a person of faith (which the Queen is), church is exactly where Andrew should be.
I really hope and want to think Archie is happy and healthy with whoever has him.
"The actress charged that the Duchess of Sussex has tried to turn the Royal Family into her own personal TV show, 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' 'The Adventures of Meghan in the Palace'.
'[Meghan] wants to be a star, which, I'm sorry, is not what she is supposed to be doing,' Powers said. 'Meghan's role is not about being a star.
'It's her job to be Harry's wife, not change the royal dynamic.'
I look forward to a true radio silence from MM's teams. The fact that Smartworks recently posted a gushing bit about her seems like a reversal of roles. She, as the patron, ought to be bringing positive attention and PR to Smartworks, instead of Smartworks working to get positive PR for Meg. I'll also look forward to the Sandringham walk. One of my favourite things about royal watching is seeing the hats, suits, coats, pearls. It's a shame this last bit of formality is slowly going the way of the Dodo and/or northern white rhino. It also seems that Kate has debuted fewer new pieces of jewellery since Megantoinette was added to the budget.
I really don't think H&M are out. Their lack of presence might be simply Charles and the Queen respecting their wishes and hoping that with time off, they will come around. Some parents are terribly irrational and forever optimistic towards their deadbeat children, and Charles is probably using Meghan to get to Harry. I imagine Harry has very much used the Diana death guilt card on Charles as well as the hapless overlooked second son of a monarch card, and that both are quite effective. I also don't think Meg's wokeness disturbs Charles too much. He's very much a refined British version of her - hypocrite when it comes to luxury yet fiercely environmental/organic food advocate, easily flattered, likely into New Age spirituality more so than steadfast CoE, probably believes Meghan when she says she enjoys reading books as he does, etc.
On a side note I think the Sussex marriage is over. They haven't publicly announced the divorce but it's a done deal. The BRF can't take the continued barrage of bad PR coming from Meghan's antics. Between Meghan and Andrew the entire family's future is on thin ice. I wish Harry healing during his inpatient mental health stay. I'm hearing that's what this sabbatical was meant to accomplish. So poor Harry could get some long overdue therapy.
Marie ... omgosh, you have no idea
Charles and the Queen respecting their wishes and hoping that with time off, they will come around. Some parents are terribly irrational and forever optimistic towards their deadbeat children
At one point in my life, I was a volunteer with a local group offering support (suicide/financial/life issues/sex addicts and so on).
I may not remember my first suicider (oh profanity) but I can still remember the parental unit calling in about free drug rehab. The call I will remember until I die. So, I'm asking about what is going on.
Turns out the parents have dragged the kid through drug detox (forced) through insurance. Then the kid was dragged through detox (forced) court ordered. I (what ever stupid or just trying to get clarification) asked: Why do you think it will work this time? meaning you have run out of money and court backing ...
"Because I want it to."
@Ann, I wasn't able to find the DM story you mentioned. But I can't believe 20-month old Louis is going to walk or that anyone including the Queen would think it's a good idea. So I kind of doubt the DM story even though I haven't read it :)
https://twitter.com/Dripdro74842947/status/1205170091949797376?s=19
I don't understand risking a life of leisure and luxury for measly merching bucks. If she wanted to be a Kardasian, she should go after the son, whatshisname. She would seem Klassy compared to Kim. I haven't watched the show, but I would tune in to see a Katfight with Meg's and the Klan.
Also, they would be the last ones to release their Christmas photo, maybe around next weekend? After the endless speculation of will they/won't they reaches it's utmost frenzy.
That's my guess, anyway. Off to bed again.
I'm skeptical on the Twitter report of Meg and Harry's arrival in Canada. The account named has only 160 followers and no other inside information that I can see.
I have more followers than her on a non-Nutty branded account and could just as easily say I'd seen Meg and Harry on the teacup ride at Disneyland with Archie flying out the side, and somebody would believe it.
At any rate, perhaps some net detective will be able to find the flight tracking. @Drabredcarpet is correct that Americans do not need a visa to enter Canada. There are also some alternatives to a passport for regular visitors.
A masterstroke would be to have Andrew skip the walk but be photographed leaving the church with the family. He was inside, asking forgiveness! He's still part of the family!
He could be surrounded on exit by his loving daughters, who have been supportive way beyond the call of duty.
The Xmas walk to church will be interesting. Both Jack and Edo have family that they are close to so it would be sad if they are at Sandringham and away from their families (as with Kate and others who married into the family). But perhaps the Xmas day walk to church will be a show of solidarity and other than that they will divide their time between Sandringham and their families. As for Andrew ... I think Nutty's suggestion is perhaps the most diplomatic: show his face (suitably subdued if he can do that) leaving the church and getting into the car with his mother (she is his mother and as such should not ghost him as Meghan does with inconvenient family, but she should not shield him from consequences of his actions, i.e. from the press or the law).
The cards will be predictable, but it will be nice to see the Cambridge family as their family moment will be genuine. As for the Sussexes ... it will be arty/trendy and will show a family unit that is actually a bit of a lie (I disagree with other commentators and think that the marriage is in real trouble, which they unfortunately may try to fix by having another IVF child).
The Queen's speech will probably be the most difficult she has ever given. I think she will focus on love and forgiveness, reconciliation, working together, pledging to be of service (her legacy) ... I am looking forward to her speech and think it may be the most important she has ever given.
The Christmas lunch will be sometime next week and it will be interesting to see who attends and who doesn't. Would be lovely to get a photo of the children enjoying the celebrations, but that is not the tradition.
More scandal before 2020? Is there anything else that can be revealed about Andrew? I am sure there is plenty of gossip about the Sussexes that is just waiting to be spilled. One cannot control all the people all the time, and wherever they are, they need food and servants so they are not alone (and I doubt they are all holed up in Doria's house).
I also see that Beatrice cancelled her big engagement do last week, for fear of the paps targetting Andrew (which begs the question as to why have your engagement party at a well-known celeb haunt, and let the press know all about it in advance?) We are told that there has been no mention of the wedding date due to the elections, though quite why the marriage of the 9th in line is such a sensitive subject is puzzling. I suspect the wedding may not happen. I get major grrifter vibes from Edo and he may have figured out that marriage to Andrew's daughter would be a liability. We'll see.
As for the Harkles, I have my doubts that Meghan is really in LA networking. i don't think she'd be able to resist dropping hint or arranging pap walks if she was. What does seem clear to me is that this 'family time' has been imposed on them rather than the other way round. As for the Xmas card, a joyless black and white 'throwback' photo is my guess.
That's the one where Princess Michael wore the brooch of Balthazaar, one of the three wise men, correct?
It was assumed to be a racist reference to Meghan joining the family, and maybe it was, but I also don't see any reason to erase Balthazar from the wise man group. Would it have been considered OK if the brooch had also included Melchior and Caspar?
I remember on Lipstick Alley, which is dominated by Black women, there were some ladies saying they wouldn't have been opposed to wearing the brooch themselves. It's a very pretty brooch made in Italy, and perhaps on a Black woman it would be seen as an expression of pride.
Unlike Meg, he has a pretty good business going, which the Telegraph went into detail about a couple of weeks ago.
Edo renovates, decorates, and sells extremely high-end London real estate to extremely high-end people, so I wouldn't be surprised if his circles and Andrew's creepy oligarch circles intersect. At his new project, the apartments *start* at 6 million pounds. Not many nice-guy customers with that kind of cash.
They're both over 30, he already has a kid, and her father has shamed the family beyond belief. There's absolutely no justification for a fancy fairy-princess wedding in England.
The official excuse why they have not planned for this is that the Queen and Prince Philip can't travel, but that'll just have to be too bad. They can watch a nice video from the comfort of home.
My guess is that the only one who still has fairy-princess wedding hopes is Andrew.
I just think the lack of a date for the wedding is a bad sign. Usually with royal engagements, the wedding date is announced very soon after the engagement announcement. But it's been 3 months in this case. The elections are over now, so if we don't get a date this side of Christmas, my guess is the wedding isn't happening.
Usually with royal engagements, the wedding date is announced very soon after the engagement announcement. But it's been 3 months in this case.
Given Andrew's problems, this isn't a "usual" royal engagement.
So why publically announce the engagement at all? Bea is only 9th in line so no reason she couldn't have just had a quiet wedding in Italy and only announced it afterwards. And that planned flashy engagement party at notorious pap hang-out, the Chiltern Firehouse?
I realise I didn't consider those cases. Charles even showed signs of strict behaviour when, if I remember correctly, Harry was caught smoking marijuana at Eton. But I think it is different with choosing a wife. Of all people, I do imagine Charles would be the last to intervene with Harry's love life. I do think Harry is besotted with her. Meg and her "mission" to save the world gives him that high of giving him purpose in life, which as a second brother to a future king he probably quite lacked.
I also think profligate spending or saying stupid things is not on the same level of concern for Charles or the Queen. Look at Princess Margaret, or Sophie's misstep in the beginning. Even the Queen has a purported soft spot for Fergie, after all her tackiness. Charles (or someone else) acted rather swiftly, clearly, and high-profile with Andrew, and yet they still waited until after the dreadful interview to intervene. So I extrapolate and say that Meg and Harry have to have decades of bad relations and then be caught on photo or camera doing something either illegal or morally distasteful before they are asked to step down from duties or meant to felt like second-class citizens. We might see Meghan's weaknesses and possible consequences; I don't imagine Charles is neutral enough to see past the charming reverence and flattery, just as Justin Welby cannot. Doing just one of the aforementioned isn't enough. I imagine H&M are fearful about the money tap, though, when William would become king. Which explains why the incredible speed of PR to use their shrinking window of relevancy to establish their own foundation.
The announcement came in September end, while the Harkles we're famously still on tour in Africa. At the time the situation regarding Andy and the Brfs stance about him very very very different. He was still a working royal. He was still very ambitious for his daughters and especially for Bea who, it seems to me, is pretty uneventful otherwise. Drumming up interest in Bea this way could very likely have been a way to make her, a blood princess!!, more relevant in the coming times. Andy's ouster since then derailed that plan.
It also seems like a deliberate snub by the Yorks of the Sussexes who had famously 'stolen the limelight' at Eug's wedding a year back with their unnecessary pregnancy announcement. While some have been skeptical to accept this theory I think the royals could absolutely be this petty. A lot of things that have happened since indicate that.
I don't thinkEdo is a social climber or a grifter. Nor do I feel he stands to gain anything socially/financially by this BRF connection. However, he is rich. Comes from a rich, well known, aristocratic family. He is genuinely blueblooded and to some that does matter. So he infact is a good match for Bea, whose future is secured so to say upon marrying him. (I know, I know, I'm been very sexist. The demi it's are going to haunt my dreams for weeks for this one!). But Bea seems to be quieter, less ambitious, we don't really know what she does at work or how good or bad she is, but the fact that we haven't heard much says something. She doesn't seem much interested in a career or doing any charity work. We just see her at these society do's. So she is the one who does stand to gain from this match.
And for what it's worth, I do think k they are a genuine, in love couple, who just landed themselves on gossip blogs just because of who their parents are. Bad luck more like it.
I also agree that Bea doesn't seem to be an ambitious person in terms of career. Some people are just born to be stay-at-home moms or dads, and she seems to be one of them. Supposedly she has become one of the primary carers for her stepson. She seems very eager to get the ceremony underway so she can start her own family.
The stepkid's mom is ambitious (and a little publicity-hungry). Maybe Edo found himself better suited to a quiet partner.
Here is an interesting article from my local rag. Comments were less than enthusiastic.
https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/pellerin-how-to-save-the-monarchy-make-prince-harry-canadas-next-gg
This will not happen. I cannot even begin to imagine MM presiding over the genteel Annual Garden Party or hkm delivering the speech from the throne.
I am with the other ... K don't care what they do as long as they go away and do whatever they do o their own coin.
I do agree she can't have a wedding like Eugenie's but there are options between that kind of wedding and having a tiny secret wedding in Italy.
Well, something we agree on *smile....you took the words out of my mouth. Also, the fact that probably most of Bea's and Edo's friends are in the UK would be a consideration. Heaven forbid if most had to fly and put all those carbon emissions in the air.
>>>She could have been denied entry if she had a criminal record or maybe wanted by Uncle Sam - IRS. But I think that is unlikely.<<<
Unbelievably the IRS can be very diligent, even aggressive. Case in point, I was critically ill, with a death sentence and an IRS agent showed up at my door because I didn't file a return on a minuscule business I had (small because I was told I had a fatal incurable illness and could not work, and it was never big anyway. An aside: Alive to wrtie due to miracle). I invited the agent in to talk and very quickly talks broke down and he would not leave. He called the police. I called the main local office which was within 5 miles of me. Outcome Me 1, IRS 0. But It was ugly for a few minutes so they can be brutal. BTW if anyone needs help ask for the IRSTaypayer Advocate and they will help you.
So IRS could show up at border for Megs but I highly doubt it especially with family in tow. If she is in LA then all bets are off iif they want to talk to her!
Re: Charles & Megs, yes Charles, like many, may be susceptible to flattery & charm, but he also takes the monarchy & his family's role very seriously. I doubt he'll tolerate for long anyone or anything that might damage the RF in the public's perception. He already seems to have reined in the Harkle spending as well as their public profile.
Re: the Harkle marriage. I don't think things are too rosy & idyllic in Frog Cott.. Harry has seemed impatient with Megs in most of their recent public appearances together, including his glum expression when they were exiled to a back row at the Remembrance gala. In fact, he's seemed done with her since Archie's alleged birth last May. He very obviously snapped at her on TOC, he seemed to avoid her & be embarrassed by her in her high-as-a-kite appearance at the baseball game. He adroitly evaded her 'claw' at the Lion King, while he supposedly shopped her to Iger for work. Even in Africa, scene of their stagy looking snogging, much of their time was spent apart. He also looked pretty fed up when Megs kept edging closer to him at the Remembrance Day wreath laying ceremony. I know that newspapers are always dragging out those idiot 'body language experts' to say things about celebs & royals, but you don't have to be an 'expert' to see the obvious. Actors who hate each other behind the scenes do a much better job at seeming to be best buddies in public. Of course, Harry isn't an actor, & Megs has never been a very good one.
I'd add Sarah, Duchess of York to that equation.
Poor Sarah. I find her tragic in the extreme. She's made poor choices in her life and the one big bet she gambled on (totally my conjecture)--supporting Andrew no matter what, with the hopes of remarriage after Philip dies, and if not remarriage at least a formal reconnection as a couple, so she could live her last decades without worrying about money--have all come to nothing now that Andrew is so disgraced.
She is just a mess. I'd feel bad for Sarah but she, like Meghan, had it all and managed to blow it. Sarah, like Meghan, failed to realize that the BFR as an institution isn't going to change just because they married into it and that they needed to accommodate themselves to the BRF, not the other way around.
Hard to garner sympathy for people who piss away such amazing opportunities.
I suspect that behind the scenes, the Harkle marriage is very volatile. Lots of lovey-dovey moments, but also lots of tears, shouting and sulking. Obviously pure speculation on my part, but there have been a few moments here and there - like the 'turn around' on the balcony for Trooping - that give us hints of what things might be like behind closed doors.
I don't disagree about Sarah making poor choices. But I do wonder what would have happened if Andrew hadn't been in the Navy. He and Sarah spent an average of 40 days a year together while married because he was deployed (although he did get an extra 10 days of leave when Bea was born.)
Many marriages don't survive those kinds of separations. And while some people tend to think of Sarah as an older bride because she was older than Diana (and therefore should have been able to "settle down" better) Sarah was only 26 when she married 26-year old Andrew.
While Will was still in the RAF when he married, he and Kate lived together while he served in Wales. While they seem to have a strong marriage today, I do wonder what would have happened had they spent only 40 days a year together for the first 6 years of marriage. And H&M whine about needing family time when it seems they've had alot. Harry does fewer royal events than most "senior" royals and has been out of the service for years.
I have my doubts that Andrew will make the walk this year, he's just too toxic right now. While it is a Christian tenet to forgive, it is also a Christian tenet that there are consequences to actions. He would be booed by the crowd and that's the last thing the monarchy needs if they expect not to be thrown to the curb like one of the parties was in the GE.
I do think George will make his walk debut this year because of all of the above, as will Bea's intended - to dilute Meg's appearance before she was a royal - as she must face consequences for her actions, too. I think that's what the people want, a fresh start, a new beginning, hope for the future and something to immediately look forward to I think will be served up for this Christmas' royal dinner.
The Queen's speech will be interesting, but I think it will not reflect too much on the train wrecks that have happened this year with Mrs. Engleson and Randy Andy. I can see more of a focus on positive changes ahead which will not include Her Maj stepping down or making any moves of that nature whatsoever.
If there have been decisions made behind the curtain by Charles or Wills, I think that would continue behind curtains. People want stability and tradition, they have spoken out for it this week and the Queen will honor that decision. After all, she is only where she is by the love and grace of the people, and she will respect that like she has done for the last 60+ years. She has never jumped the shark and I seriously doubt she would choose now of all times to do so.
I don't think Bea should be deprived of having a wedding in her own country simply because of her father's behavior. I also don't think she should be deprived of having a wedding her grandmother (and possibly her grandfather) could attend. Both York princesses are said to be very close to the Queen.
Having two weddings being trendy these days. How about the first and main one in Italy. W lots of the Italian familia attending. With Pr Andrew attending. And all having a grande old time. With lots of good photos for the tabloids etc. This discharges some of the electricity from the Andrew controversy.
Then have the second in England where the Queen and Prince Philip and other Royals can attend. Also other select family and friends. With Andrew making a very brief appearance for the walk down the aisle. With only few photos
Interesting idea of two weddings. I don't think it will work but interesting idea. The reasons I don't think it will work as you've suggested:
It would be very odd IMO to have a *second* wedding for the Queen. I'm not even sure that would be acceptable within the COE if the second was to be done as an actual wedding. Within the COE (as well as other Protestant churches), marriage isn't a sacrament but it is a sacramental rite. Not sure those can be repeated for different audiences but I'm not an expert on the COE.
Sometimes when a first marriage ceremony is civil, say in a government official's office, a wedding is later held in a church. But in that case, the church can say it didn't recognize the civil ceremony so the second ceremony is the first and only ceremony in the eyes of the church. And I don't quite see how the "big Italian bash" you describe fits with a civil ceremony in a registry office (although I guess the big bash officiant could be a civil servant.)
If it was done in the order you suggested, I'm not sure why Andrew's appearance would have to be brief at the private second wedding you've suggested it would. IF a private family wedding WAS held, I'm not sure why the public should care how much Andrew----Bea's father and the Queen's son--- participated. To me that level of intrusion does cross the line.
If it was done the other way around (private first in UK with the Queen) then there would be lots of bashing of the RF over the expense of a second wholly unnecessary wedding in Italy. (They could bleat all day about it being privately funded and it wouldn't matter.) And the same issue re: the church would arise if the first wedding (the one in the UK) had been church based. And it would have had to be for the Queen to attend, I expect. She didn't attend Charles' civil ceremony.
I guess there could be a church blessing in the UK after a civil wedding in Italy (as there was when Charles and Camilla were married in a civil ceremony in Windsor.) But that would tar Bea in a way she does not deserve.
I'm sticking to my belief Bea deserves to have her wedding--her only wedding--in the UK if that's what she wants. I do not think choosing the UK is at all unreasonable---it's where she was born and where she lives, where her family lives, where Edo was born and where he lives, where most of Edo's immediate family lives (including his son) and where many of Bea's and Edo's friends live. It's also where Bea is expected to live given her future role as a counselor of state.
Her father's behavior is not of her doing.
As for H,M &A in Toronto, it’s another choice. I agree the idea that The theory A isn't with them and is with someone else is preposterous. I do hope a web sleuth can track a private jet from LA area to Toronto around December 4. Seems possible. I’m not up on tracking flights.
What I am looking forward to is the Christmas special with Mary Berry, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It will hit just the right festive sweet spot for me and I am curious to see Catherine's personality more in detail and she and William in a more casual setting. If I am not mistaken, it airs this coming Monday evening. I just hope those of us outside the British Isles or without Sky will be able to stream it once it broadcasts on the BBC.
I see that Bea and Edo were out together last night at the Evening Standard owner's party, also attended by Mick Jagger and Boris Johnson. So Edo hasn't run away yet.
Yes, I should have also added the Mary Berry with the Cambridges episode to my list of upcoming events.
No Christmas card photo today! I'm surprised - I thought it would be a natural for the Sunday papers.
Now, I'm not familiar with all the teachings of the Church of England but I imagine family, love and forgiveness are important aspects of it.
Should Andrew join the BRF on "the Walk"? Yes. It shows that despite his misgivings (not actual crimes) he's still a part of the family, goes to church and is supported by his family. Unlike a certain new member of the family who drops friends & family like hot potatoes when it suits her. Is QEII stubborn if she lets Andrew join them rather than make him sneak inside and only appear to the public exiting as suggested? No, I don't think so. She's supporting her (foolish) son and, according to her religion, is probably working on forgiving him for all the hardship he's caused his family and all that stuff.
Should Andrew be in QEII's car while driving over there? Probably not. There's supporting your son and rubbing it in the public's face. It also wasn't a wise move when she let him join him in her car (which is allegedly quite an honor) right after the public accusations and his train wreck interview. It would have reflected much better on both of them if they'd arrived separately, her putting a hand or whatever on his arm when they met up in front of the church (with him bowing/kneeling as they do) as a sign of support and then go inside together.
Is Beatrice entitled to the kind of wedding she wants, wherever she wants it? Yes, she is. The sins of the father and all that... As long as she, Edo and/or their parents are paying for it, she should have as nice a wedding as Eugenie with the BRF attending. I can imagine she might not want that much of a spotlight on her due to her father's reputation and perhaps being less fond of it in general (that's always the impression I've gotten from her, possibly due to the harsh comments she often got from the public/media because she's not as photogenic as her sister and has/had a bad taste in style), but all of that should be her and Edo's (and her father's choice). Hopefully for her, this will be her only wedding and why should she not do it however she wants, with her grandmother the Queen attending and her father escorting her down the aisle? He is still her father and you can say whatever you want about him and Sarah, but they both love their daughters and seem to have raised them pretty well compared to some others in the BRF/public eye.
Besides, if Harry gets to have a glamorous wedding to his two/three-time wedded fiancée he barely knows and who isn't even a British (tax-paying) citizen with over 30 million tax-payer-funnded security and with no relatives but her own mother present, then why wouldn't Beatrice who's rarely put a foot wrong (some celeb parties and too many vacations aside)?
Doing two weddings, one in Italy and one in Britain, with one being a big fancy fairytale wedding and the other a "normal" or even civil wedding, is a bad idea, though. I agree with @lizzie on that. And honestly don't know why anyone who's opposed to Beatrice having a proper wedding in the UK with the BRF attending, thinks two separate weddings would be a good idea. Aside from the carbon emissions and Airmiles Andy stuff it would involve, there'd be a lot of money in a time when the BRF is already being criticized for both bad behavior (Andrew, H&M, QEII's support of Andrew, PP's car crash earlier this year etc.) and spending too much money.
I do wonder what she is up to - plastic surgery for nose no.3, interviewing new surrogates, searching for hubby no.4, updating her secret diary..I do hope though that PH is in rehab for his addiction issues and hopefully speaking to a psychologist about dealing with a narcissist.
Looking forward to seeing the Cambridge kiddos on the Christmas card. They are all cuties.
You're right, Andrew and Sarah spent waaaaay too much time apart during their marriage. She lacked his encouraging, steadying presence and support. I'd bet she had to find her own way in the family without a lot of guidance.
I remember reading a story that I found so telling of the myriad ways a newbie to the family could trip themselves up. I can't remember the castle (Balmoral? Sandringham?) or if the story involved Diana or Sarah, but they entered a drawing room and were told to (basically) "have a seat, anywhere!" and went to sit down and screams erupted "Not in THAT chair! That was Queen Victoria's!" I mean how does one survive those minefields without a loving and supportive spouse present who can tell the rest of the family to stand down and take a chill pill?
Sarah seemed to find an ally in Prince Philip, and I'd bet Sarah turned to Diana for support and guidance, but Diana had her own issues. I'd also bet that Diana wasn't averse to letting Sarah "fail" so she could be the lightening rod and focus of negative press rather than herself.
Maybe one reason Sophie and Kate seem like such a breath of fresh air (to me) is that they appear to be on an even emotional keel. Diana, Sarah, and Meghan all came into the BRF with some heavily damaged emotional baggage.
I like your plan for Andrews church attendance plan better than mine. I hadn’t thought of that but it would perfectly. Hopefully, this is what the RF does but we shall see.
As for the trio, I for one do think that H&M do have technical legal custody of Archie, although I think he mostly lives at Frogmore with his nannies and staff while H&M party etc with their respective friends all over the world. I think Meg is in Canada and H is probably on some hunting trip with the boys. I think rehab is wishful thinking.
Thanks for the DM info. I'm not sure I believe it. The article says "I’m told we can expect the ceremony to be in early June, as the racing-obsessed Monarch has stipulated the date must not interrupt her favourite meeting, which next year starts on June 16."
Somehow I wouldn't think the Queen would want the wedding date to interfere with Trooping the Colour either but that's not even mentioned in the article. The main TOC event is on Saturday June 13 but there are other related events the two weekends before that. So we'll see.
I have a solution, agree to start over or just don't engage one another period.
wanting nutty to hire someone to scrub insults from an anonymous blog hurled by anonymous people is laughable at best
I prefer the dailymail and harkles for my daily drama fix so i find the infighting silly and high school. But cat-fights and hissy-fits seem to be human nature and is what often happens on these types of forums.
Nutty shouldn’t have to play nursemaid and clean-up after your messes. If you offend easily and can’t take the heat after posting, then go to your safe space off line rather than bore the rest of us with your squabbles.
Maybe the queen will have randy ride with her in the car. I don’t think most of the family want to be photographed with him at this point and will avoid it. But i hope the york girls do show up and make the walk. They’re innocent in this mess and shouldn’t be penalized for their dads/parents mistakes. Plus it will show up the harkles who will be mia.
I appreciate nutty's blog and her insightful comments. None of us has the right to add items to her already long Todo list.
The queen doesn't need to be booed on her way to church. A walk with the scandal free royals and their children would be more appropriate.
I think the wedding should be in Italy. An expensive UK royal wedding with PA walking the bride down the aisle is a terrible idea. The queen can receive the couple for tea or other discrete honor.
Prince Andrew should have retired from public life a long time ago. He invited Epstein and Weinstein to his daughter's teen party. What kind of shady types would he invite to a wedding? Enough is enough with that twit. Sex scandals and financial irregularities need to be taken seriously.
What kind of wedding did Zara have? Was it highly publicized like Eugenie’s? What about the Windsor cousin weddings? I think Bea can have her U.K. wedding but unfortunately not with the fanfare of her sister or Wales cousins.
As for the Harkles, I don’t think they left the U.K. The break was definitely imposed on them, which I think meant no trips abroad because that would entail travel costs including RPOs.
I don't know how "publicized" Zara's wedding was but there were pictures released. It wasn't a "secret" wedding at all.
Peter's wedding was quite controversial because he and Autumn sold pictures to Hello mag. It was a big deal. See https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/2004590/Queen-halts-celebrity-magazine-deals-after-Peter-Phillips-Autumn-Kelly-Hello-wedding.html
And, boy, did she stroke that immature side of him and play him like a frigging violin. She pooh-poohed the whole concept of classic British stiff upper lip, essentially mocking the entire concept in that pathetic docu-ME-tary. That this is an indelible part of British cultural history and identity seems to have been lost on both of them. I can hear Philip admonishing Harry to get a grip and stop all this "nonsense:” the message would be loud and clear: Grow up, Harry, and stop sniveling. This is the exact opposite of Ms. Markle's raison d’etre. She's ALL about indulging the self as often as possible, witness her blog, The Tig. The idea of getting in touch with your inner child would appeal big time to these two selfish, immature narcissists, who don't want to be told what to do by anyone (especially Harry who has repeatedly criticized the royal family in not so veiled barbs in his recent speeches). After all, this IS the selfie generation. The promotion and indulgence of self is practically a religion.
I honestly think Harry thought this marriage would free him from previous expectations. The two of them would be a juggernaut, and their popularity would protect them from royal censure. And it worked to some degree in the beginning. But it appears that the majority of their support was paid for by bots and fantastical PR stories planted in the media (that they allegedly hate). The constant contradictory PR dumps and truly egregious use of badly photoshopped images made people start to question exactly who they are. And despite the rumblings, they kept doing the same stupid crap, with that docu-ME-tary the death knell to their ambitions. Now, they are mocked and ridiculed because of their hypocrisy and constant whining. Plus, neither of them have the stamina and focus to realize any of the causes they promote. So much easier to put slogans, quotes (not even their own!), and memes up on their IG, attend the rare curated photo shoot, and then take a private jet and party with their pals. I think that they share a lot of similar traits and feed each other in the most unhealthy way possible. They have come to believe their PR.
behind closed quarters he can interact with family but publicly there is no decent reason for him to be seen. already extremely evident the Queen loves and supports her son so why let the rest of the family and public enjoy the day
Definitely. But what makes it a little weird and hard to compare is that W & H are princes, Eug & Bea are princesses, and Anne's kids have always been "private citizens." Some say Andrew insisted his daughters be styled as princesses but I kind of doubt he had to insist. As grandchildren of the monarch through a male child they **were** princesses. It was Edward who had to request his kids not be styled that way although technically Louise and James are princess and prince, respectively.
But certainly a repeat of Peter's approach would be bad (not that I think either Bea or Edo would want to do that.)
Balmoral has everything— backdrop, scenery, pomp and circumstance and privacy like you said. Seems all good to me. They should hire us as wedding planners 🤔
Anyway, great to hear that Bea has some kind of wedding date, even though it still seems a little squishy. Apparently she has a date to announce the date in January.
According to the Daily Mail she lost out on one of her preferred venues, however, The Guards’ Chapel, St James’s Park, because her father is no longer a Grenadier officer.
The "Poor Bea" narrative is really taking hold, which might actually be good for her in the long run. It replaces the "party girl Bea" narrative, which was probably fair in her early 20s but less so in her early 30s, and might give her some sympathy with the public. The Brits do love an underdog.
http://ib.adnxs.com/seg?add=1&redir=https%3A%2F%2Fhoney.nine.com.au%2Froyals%2Fstefanie-powers-says-meghan-markles-job-is-to-be-harrys-wife-not-change-the-royal-dynamic%2F07ede878-a567-4b35-bfa0-51e40fc2cb19
I think as this has been such a tumultuous year in the UK and for many in the Commonwealth and indeed the world, it will be interesting to hear what the Queen says. I think it may have to do with healing and/or forgiveness. Healing our differences whether it be politically, socially, physically (ie. The Bahamas & hurricane Dorian etc) and healing within families.
I/My family usually have the speech on in the background and rarely watch it closely but this year I might have a proper watch.
Regarding H&M, I'd like this relatively quite break to continue. It has been bliss not hearing (much) about them.
https://nypost.com/2019/12/14/americans-donate-big-to-british-royal-family-charities-which-skimp-on-their-cause/
References MM setting up the Sussex foundation and then looks at donation and disposition figures from other royal charities and where the money may actually go. NYPost is an American tabloid.
Why Americans are wasiting money donating to British Royal charities
While Meg is in California trying to drum up donations!
Who in the world could be behind that article? It's certainly not flattering to any of the Royals.
The Post is a Murdoch paper, and so is the Sun, which Harry is suing as part of his phone-hacking lawsuit.
Clearly Murdoch is telling the royals that if they don't behave, he will go after all of them, not just Harry.
Just put up a new post to discuss this.
I feel for the position that Bea is in. It is regrettable and unfortunate, but her father’s disgrace is going to impact her wedding plans. A big splash out televised wedding like her sister got would not be well-received at such a time. The timing is unfortunate for Beatrice, but things are what they are. However unfairly, and it is, the York princesses are forever tarnished by the shenanigans of their parents. Andrew and Fergie’s selfish and reckless behavior has reflected poorly on their daughters for years before this Epstein scandal came to light, Besmirching their daughters’ reputations at least in public perception, if not within the family. Reports are that the Queen is very fond of her York granddaughters, though she does not favor them enough to advocate that they stayed in the ranks of working royals. I know that decision was largely driven by Charles, who does not like his younger brother and never has, and that may have been out of retaliation for Andrew always having been the Queen’s favorite child. I’m surprised that she did not override Charles for the same reason. I think Eugénie in particular would be a great asset to the Firm given how active she is with charitable causes on her own initiative. I have become very impressed with Andrew’s younger daughter, who seems to be in a very good place personally these days. Beatrice is more enigmatic, and has always seemed to be more fragile and less self-directed. She’s dyslexic, like the late Diana was, and I think her confidence has been impacted by it. Seeing as she is now over 30 and has chosen a man who already has a child, and they are already living as a family, Maybe the white princess fantasy wedding is no longer that important to her. One is no more married by having a big public wedding than a small intimate one. Given the Duke of Edinburgh’s fragile health, I would think that a private family wedding at Sandringham sooner rather than later would be best. I think waiting a month to announce that the wedding will be taking place in another six months is silly. This may be Phillip’s last Christmas; If I were Bea, I would petition to have the banns read now, with a small wedding to follow after New Year. A winter wedding at Sandingham would be lovely, and completely different than other royal brides have had. It all comes down to how much she wants her grandfather to attend. If she holds out for a June wedding, he may not be around, or able to travel if he is. The couple could have a party for their friends in Italy at a later date Edo’s dime. I really think this is the best solution. There’s really no reason for a mature couple who has already announced their engagement to wait 7 months more to throw a “traditional” June wedding. Surely the marriage is more important then a wedding splash.
This is not a safe space, this is the internet.
I was fully prepared to let it all go as it is so juvenile but wanted to acknowledge your comment
I don't understand how many get so bent out of shape IT IS THE INTERNET, wholly expected
too sensitive on here but I do enjoy most comments but I'd rather see 30 quality thoughts than 500 bleats of bullshit
I hold no ill will toward anyone and I hope to see allback
We don't know the particulars about Philip's health, but the fact is he may be already unable to attend. He hasn't been seen in public for awhile.
At the very least, he knows that Bea is happily settled (we hope) with plans to marry and I'm sure that helps put his mind at rest.
Bea's marriage isn't for love. We Americans need to remember that fact. The British aristocracy marry for business or to improve social ranking. This is how it's been done for centuries. They have the obligatory children for inheritance and then both members take lovers and enjoy life. Timing sucks but Bea will need to have a small intimate wedding thanks to Daddy dear. She should be used to disappointment since she waited ten years for her last boyfriend to marry her. Instead he broke up and quickly married the new woman he found. Edo is a consolation prize. I hope she's happy since that happens so rarely in aristocratic marriages. As Enty reminded us Pippa Middleton's husband is already cheating on her and she hasn't borne the obligatory two children yet.