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 Family.
Their slightly-shady foundations pay for a great deal of the good works that boost their popularity. The NYPost is widely (if guiltily) read by precisely the sort of wealthy New Yorker who now might reconsider their donation. Nobody wants to look like a fool.
Harry is suing the Sun 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 and Meghan.
From a journalist's perspective, I can tell you that this story took a fair amount of time to research. Newspapers are thinly-staffed these days; they don't often use resources for stories that require several days (at least) of a reporter's attention.
My guess is that the green light for this story came from the top.
Apparently this isn't a total surprise for people following the lawsuit. As a piece in the Guardian stated when the lawsuit was filed:
Meghan really is a destroyer. Will this speed up efforts to remove her from the family?
Oooooo, this is going to be good.
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 Family.
Their slightly-shady foundations pay for a great deal of the good works that boost their popularity. The NYPost is widely (if guiltily) read by precisely the sort of wealthy New Yorker who now might reconsider their donation. Nobody wants to look like a fool.
Who's behind it?
Remember that News Corp., the Murdoch umbrella organization, owns the Post as well as the Sun.Harry is suing the Sun 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 and Meghan.
From a journalist's perspective, I can tell you that this story took a fair amount of time to research. Newspapers are thinly-staffed these days; they don't often use resources for stories that require several days (at least) of a reporter's attention.
My guess is that the green light for this story came from the top.
Not a total surprise
Apparently this isn't a total surprise for people following the lawsuit. As a piece in the Guardian stated when the lawsuit was filed:
Experts said the prince’s attempts to take on elements of Fleet Street risked backfiring.
The PR specialist Mark Borkowski said Harry was backing himself into a corner with the media.
“I think this was a very tactical ploy yesterday,” he said of the latest legal action. “What he’s hoping, what he’s demonstrating is, ‘You want to take me on, mate, I’m a different breed to other people, I’m a fighter, I’m not going to play to any rules and I’m going to come and get you.’
“Either he’s buying time [or] sending a message and trying to frighten newspaper proprietors who are deeply scared of Leveson [the inquiry into press ethics]. It’s a really, really dangerous game."Yeah, Harry's a "fighter" who is going to protect his wife (or get a quick and lucrative settlement, whatever comes first) and the media is going to go after the family as a whole.
Meghan really is a destroyer. Will this speed up efforts to remove her from the family?
Oooooo, this is going to be good.
Comments
In the past each card was released by the appropriate office (Clarence House, BP, KP) rather than the public just seeing blurry copies sent to participants. Since that hasn't been done by anyone I'm assuming there was a decision to delay.
Another sign how desperate MM is to show off her new found status? When Reese Witherspoon publicly revealed she had received an invitation to the wedding but declined (evidence of her Reese's own correct understanding of etiquette) because she had never met the bride nor the groom and even wondered at the incredulity of being invited.
As for the Sussex Christmas card yet to be revealed. It's so obvious MM is waiting for the Cambridge card to first be released so she can upstage. As bad an actress as she is, this is just spiteful mean girl one upmanship she is attempting. Nothing with her is authentic. All is petty contrivance. Yet more evidence how vacuous is her character.
By the way, I actually love the Cambridge Christmas card. Sweet, genuine, modest, and simple but elegant in its simplicity. They demonstrate they have more class in their silver spooned pinkies than Sussexes will ever hold, and I respect that they refuse to get in the mud with the trash.
And the question left hanging will be, Charles who?
https://twitter.com/secretofellie/status/1207320047615655936/photo/1
Could we kindly talk about the Royals and not each other? Thank you.
What would I feel if I was photographed at various unflattering angles? How would I feel if people commented on my nose/teeth/wrinkles/skin/hair? How could I cope with constant expectation of ideal hair style, perfect clothes, ideal makeup, warm demeanor, dignity, gracious yet down to earth conduct?
No doubt MM has serious issues but I wonder if her erratic behavior got worse because she is not fit to operate under such pressures? I probably wouldn't be able to live in a royal fishtank, I would fall apart under unrelenting scrutiny.
If she realized she can't perform in her new role it would explain why she is merching non stop. She knows her royal life will not last and is trying to make the most of it.
I have no sympathy for her, she got what she deserved but I can admit I would probably have a nervous breakdown seeing my unflattering pics in front pages of the papers. One has to have a very thick skin or serious willpower to operate under the microscope.
Or, like Camilla, to pour a stiff gin, hug my dogs and not to care.
It truly must be hard to live a life under a magnifying glass and then add on the general meanness of places like Daily Mail.
In answer to the last question you posed to me . . .
"Do you honestly believe she didn’t get an extensive background check before she married in?"
Prior to Meghan's entre into the royal family, I would have said that any prospective spouse or even business partner of a royal would be exhaustively vetted by the Queen's own staff and the security services. There are a number of things in Meghan's background which are now common knowledge that, in former times, or perhaps, for other grandchildren other than Harry, which I would have expected to rule her out as a suitable royal bride. Now that 3 of the Queen's own children have been divorced, HM has loosened up that restriction from former days and this current generation have all lived together before marriage as well. The Queen is considerably more relaxed than when she had to deny her little sister marriage to the man of her choice who had been divorced. On balance, the former husband(s), myriad sexual partners, problems with the IRS, fraudulently claiming she had a SAG card when she did not, evidence of past drug use including distribution of cannabis as party favors at her first (or second) wedding in Jamaica, a Commonwealth country--none of this was deemed sufficient grounds to put a stop to the wedding. Which to me is quizzical, since at the time of his engagement, Harry was 5th in line for the throne and HM used to care about since things.
I believe she did have an extensive background check, but for her own reasons, Her Majesty chose not to act upon the information she received for the purposes of stopping the marriage. Perhaps we will never know why. Maybe Tom Bower will be able to winkle out some truths for his planned biography on Meg which will not pull any punches. If Harry and Meg had presented HM with a fait accompli--they'd secretly wed in Botswana and she was pregnant! . . the 90+ year old monarch may have decided that she did not have the stomach to fight it, even though she'd have been within her rights to insist that a rogue marriage performed in a Third World country without her knowledge or consent be voided.
This is that pure speculation which you do not like . . but Her Majesty has acted out of character over the Sussex marriage, and reasonable people are curious as to why. The strain on the House of Windsor is evident to even a casual onlooker who doesn't follow this saga in detail. Who among us could have imagined a time when Diana's sons, at one time so very close, are no longer on speaking terms? That is not speculation but heartbreaking fact.
I did wonder once upon a time if Meg were some sort of sleeper agent who'd been inserted into the BRF to destabilize the monarchy, but I've scotched that idea. Meg is too erratic, too much of a loose cannon and incapable of sophisticated long-range planning. She's all Id and Ego . . a garden-variety narc operating on a world stage. She's a chaos agent all right, but Meg only answers to Meg. She's in this for Meghan and anything she can grab before they kick her to the curb. The kicking to the curb may already be in progress.
Starting the Instagram account, editing the Vogue magazine and doing the SmartWorks collection (and placing herself squarely at the middle of all of these endeavors) is someone who lives for all attention. Not only does she want it for herself, but she appears to be willing to drag down others in her quest for it. I have never read as many negative stories about the rest of the family since she came on board. Of course it could be a coincidence.
Archie was born in May(?) He has been seen how many times since then? I find this to be no accident, as I am sure she would not want to share the limelight with him. His big debut was in SA meeting Tutu, an admirable individual but a complete stranger to him. She and Harry proceeded to carry him around the compound, alternately smushing him to their chests or dangling him in the air. Can any mothers here relate to that?
I do think the Margaret fiasco as well as Chuck and Di has influenced her decision making along with the divorces among her own children.
>>>What would I feel if I was photographed at various unflattering angles? How would I feel if people commented on my nose/teeth/wrinkles/skin/hair? How could I cope with constant expectation of ideal hair style, perfect clothes, ideal makeup, warm demeanor, dignity, gracious yet down to earth conduct?
No doubt MM has serious issues but I wonder if her erratic behavior got worse because she is not fit to operate under such pressures? I probably wouldn't be able to live in a royal fishtank, I would fall apart under unrelenting scrutiny.
If she realized she can't perform in her new role it would explain why she is merching non stop. She knows her royal life will not last and is trying to make the most of it.
I have no sympathy for her, she got what she deserved but I can admit I would probably have a nervous breakdown seeing my unflattering pics in front pages of the papers. One has to have a very thick skin or serious willpower to operate under the microscope.<<<
These are reasonable questions/grounds for a nervous breakdown from a regular civilian like you or me. None of the other royal brides entered the Family prepared for such a high profile public life. Diana, Fergie, Sophie, Camilla, Kate . . they've all suffered under the glare of the spotlight. Even the Queen herself, a shy and retiring daughter of a second son who always felt herself plain and outshone by her more vivacious younger sister was not temperamentally suited at first for the role which history thrust upon her.
But by becoming Duchess of Sussex, Meg was getting her heart's desire, one thought--the culmination of everything she'd been hungering and thirsting for since she was 15 years old--global superstardom! Her picture plastered all over the world's media! Her name on everyone's lips! She's not universally adored and praised, and that's been a terrible shock to her Narc ego. Rather than take the criticism as an opportunity to improve herself, she's reverted to crying victim and lodging lawsuits to force everyone to accept the version of herself which she wants to promote.
How's that working for ya, Megsie? Not too well, given current events.
Oh yes I think Harry feeds into the big wedding and white dress. Also he dotes on her so she gets what she wants even if it is a giant green tiara and Harry will throw and tantrum to get it to his gam gam. Thankfully they actually went with a much more tasteful choice in the end.
The conclusion I have come to re. the Sussex relationship is that it’s a dysfunctional partnership between an Alpha Narc and her Beta. Haz is Loeb to her Leopold. They want the same things...easy money and celebrity; love and deference without the effort, Without having to do anything boring. They want to hobnob with movie stars, and most of all they want to eclipse William and his wife. Haz isn’t as fond of cameras as his wife but their goals are aligned. Harry is none too bright, Poor lamb,, and he’s had his way smoothed and padded his entire life. He’s got a child’s temper and petulance, and short attention span, but has not honed streetwise survival skills the way Meg his had to. As the more dominant of the two personalities, she’s the boss and he defers to her constantly despite being the blood royal. We’ve all seen it. He may not be happy about this, but he’s not swift enough to take the reins, not that she would let him anyway. It’s quite a Shakespearean little drama we have going on in the house of Windsor, as the rest of disloyal younger brother and his selfish, malignant wife plot to steal that which rightfully belongs to the crown air and his wife in terms of position, crown resources, and public attention. This is why I think Harry is acting the way he does and defends Meghan. It really grinds his gears that he was born second and is therefore excluded from the true power circle. That’s why if he’s micromanaging decisions like what tiara she’s going to wear that’s why he’s inserting himself in matters that traditionally are not the province of Royal husbands, Like which tiara she chooses period Charles couldn’t even be Arsed to choose Diana’s engagement ring himself. That was particularly cold and I didn’t condone that, but Harry involving himself and details of Meghan’s wedding outfit is beyond the boundaries of a typical groom’s purview.
I’ve seen two warnings issued to Tatty by Nutty and seen her posts removed (if the the owner/moderator removed a post it leaves no trace). I don’t always disagree with what Tatty has to say about Meghan etc., but I see the side others do too.
It’s Nutty’s blog, if she allows Tatty to continue to comment, there’s little anyone can say or do. What can I suggest or anyone say? Scroll past, ignore when you can, have time away from reading/posting.
Sorry to hear about your awful neighbour, horridly stressful for you. :o(
We really do need to stay on topic....
I’m doubtful Meghan and Harry are going to issue an actual Christmas card, I still think it’s going to be solely on IG.
Yes, I think in the end they are probably “that asshole couple”
@royal fan completely agree. I do think the Queen Mary’s tiara was as glamorous as whatever emerald tiara she supposedly wanted. I think HM bent over backwards to make her feel included and worthy of something splashy and glitzy.
@raspberry ruffle I was also assuming that they aren’t going to issue a Christmas card
https://radaronline.com/photos/amal-clooney-obsessed-meghan-markle-close-friends-duchess-sussex-prince-harry-george-clooney/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7806619/Brighton-Hove-City-Council-debate-stripping-Meghan-Harry-Sussex-titles.html
Petition started by Brighton resident Charles Ross brands titles 'morally wrong'.
It has been signed by 3,800 people and will be discussed by council this week.
“The petition claims Sussex residents should not have to refer to the royal couple as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as the titles are 'entirely non-democratic' and a 'symbol of oppression by the wealthy elite'.
Campaigner Charles Ross has accumulated more than 3,800 signatures, which means Brighton and Hove City councillors will have to discuss the motion on Thursday.
But the council cannot strip the couple of their titles, which are given by the Queen, so the petition calls on officials to stop calling them the Sussexes in council documents.”
————————————
Seems like an exercise in futility
I’ve seen several articles that state the card with be a compilation of family photos that will include Doria. I’m assuming this is supposed to prove to us that they’ve been in LA having a picture perfect holiday. Will they be baking cookies with woke sayings on them? Some sort of baked good or fruit with random writing and the family in strange “artful” patterns is my prediction. It will hailed as modernizing the monarchy. They’ve already said it’s to prove that Doria is really part of Archie’s life. This is very strange to me. Why would anyone feel the need to “prove” a grandparent is part of a child’s life? Is she setting up post divorce negotiation strategies? Or is it because Doria hasn’t seen Archie since the christening like I suspect?
Bea’s engagement party was tonight. Andrew did not attend.
I’ll do you one better and opine that Doria has never met Archie. She has appeared with a baby into extremely odd looking photos copyrighted to Sussex Royal. She may get a third opportunity for adventures in Photoshop this holiday season. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
@tatty,
Sneaky Bea and Edo! They had put it about two weeks ago that their engagement party at celeb watering hole Chiltern firehouse had been cancelled due to Andrew’s disgrace and fears of an ugly press mob. I guess that’s one way to throw the press off their scent…pretend the party’s not happening and have everyone sneak into the back. Hope it was the event she wanted; I wonder if the waiting list at the Firehouse was really so long. The couple got engaged in August and are just now having a party? I guess it’s to combine it with the Christmas festivities if a lot of their friends were coming home to London for the holidays. If I were her, I would’ve pushed granny for a New Year’s wedding, seeing as they’ve been engaged plenty long enough, but I’ve already covered that and it’s definitely not what Bea’s going for. Well played at out-witting the plebes over the engagement party though.
Looks like there is a town that doesn't like Harry and Sparkles....
Charlatan Duchess' H&M card is hilarious!
There was another poster called @LeanneNormann I also scrolled past a lot. I haven’t seen either on CDAN for awhile.
Open boards, by nature, attract persons you may dislike or disagree with. The alternative is a closed board, in which I have to approve every post. That slows down conversation to a snail’s pace.
It’s also possible to close off comments entirely, as The Hollywood Reporter has done.
As a person with a full-time job and a family and home to care for, this blog is just fun for me. I make no money from it. I like to write about the Royals. It’s enjoyable.
What I don’t like to do is mediate petty arguments among people old enough to know better.
I do miss everyone who leaves - Elle and Mischi in particular - but I wish you happiness and good luck wherever you go.
Would be nice to see Edo do the Christmas walk, since post-Markle fiancées seem to be permitted, but I read somewhere he was spending the day with his son and his mother.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Royals handle Woolfie. Perhaps they can take some inspiration from the Norwegian Royals, since Mette Marit had a son before she married into the family. He was included in everything until he turned 21, when he opted out of public life.
Like you, I miss Mischi, Elle, emeraldcity, and some other fonts and I will be sad to see other fonts go. I personally started to regret participating on this blog and considered leaving for obvious reasons. However, I reconsidered and still read all the comments but just move on from the negatives.
Whatever happens, thanks so much Nutty! I love hearing your thoughts and get a kick out of your humor. I hope you and your loved ones have a Happy Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!
I never for a moment thought Edo was getting cold feet. I thought Edo & Bea were considering a delay to let the drama die down so they could have a true blue Princess wedding in the Fall.
@Charade, glad you're here!
I also have faith in Edo. He's "one of them" in a way that Meg never was; he's an aristocrat who knows the rules of that social class.
He's also a bit of a nerd, judging by the interviews with him that have been published. He goes on and on about the types of building materials he uses for his fancy apartments. In particular, he has a hangup about marble.
I must admit that while I find him good-looking, he would bore me to tears.
Even his Instagram is dull. Wanna see several hundred photos of earth-toned apartments and 2-3 photos of Beatrice? That's where to go.
https://the-charlatan-duchess.tumblr.com/post/189742844934/harkle-festive-holiday-season-card-leaked#notes
Someone got tired of waiting for the Sussex Christmas card (and the endless teasing that Meghan thinks builds up hype and gets her attention) and created a perfect one!
Happy Christmas All
I've started a new policy, right here and now, of deleting any comments about how people aren't having fun any more and how things used to be so much better.
Everyone is welcome here, and everyone is also welcome to leave if it's not the right fit for them any more.
People ebb and flow, it’s the natural order of things.
Don’t take it personally, because most times life just changes, and that’s all it is.
Well we saw more of baby Yoda in the first episode of the Mandalorian than we've seen of Archie in his entire life on...
That is the truth!
I love this blog and appreciate all the work you do maintaining it.
Thank you. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
I think a lot of fabrication about him is now being accepted as the absolute truth.
1. The mother of his son become pregnant very quickly. On paper they seemed a perfect fit, because of their work, and he seems to be a proud and loving father. So, he did the right thing and they became engaged.
2. She seems to travel a lot and it must have been useful to have a base with him, who became the primary caregiver for their son. That the engagement never became a marriage is perhaps an indication that they were never compatible, but he seems to be the type who will quietly get on with everyone so I doubt there was animosity or hostility in the relationship.
3. When him and Beatrice met up again, he was smitten, she was free (after a very long relationship where she was sort-of jilted, but she had more than a year to get over that), and the situation of an engagement that was not going to end in marriage and the mother of his son using his home as a base was no longer workable. Until he fell in love with Beatrice, there was no reason for him to actively end the 'sort-of' engagement and set up different households.
4. I think it is quite telling that the son lives with him and Beatrice (both of whom work and have busy lives).
She seems to take on a role for herself that she likes (and seems to spend a lot of time picking quotes she likes from the Internet), but if you analyse rationally, she does not live up to it.
1. She says she never wants to be a lady who lunches, but marries into one of the most privileged families in the world (she does not even drive herself - everything taken care of). Let's face it, her 'work' as Harry's wife is indulgence and not really work.
2. Wasn't she a guest on a show about fashion, where she confidently pronounced that good tailoring is everything? Yet, she wears clothes that don't fit (too loose or too tight) and her and Harry are often wrinkled!
3. She keeps going on and on about caring and being kind, yet her behaviour to her father and rest of her family is completely devoid of caring and kindness.
4. Didn't she say that charity work must achieve 'actionable change on-ground'? Does her 'charity' work actually measure up to this? Following groups on IG? A clothing collection that is neither original nor inspiring? A guest edit spot on Vogue? Turning up at round-table discussions or lunches to give a speech? Wearing another designer outfit and more new jewellery to give a speech at an awards ceremony? (As an example, the Prince's Trust of Charles is actionable change on the ground.)
5. Says she wants to change the world with her foundation (Harry useful for the name and connections and status). Yet, a year later, and all she has done is hire staff (registration as well) and use PR to promote herself. What specifically do you want to change Meghan? Do you want to build private schools for girls, like the one Oprah did in South Africa? Lots of work to set that up but you could be breaking ground for the first school now and could have raised the money you need as well.
Am I being unfair in my assessment of her, and my expectations of her?
The Sussexes,however, do not get the basic concept of a Christmas card. So, they obviously think this is an opportunity to show off,raise their profile, clap back at the imaginary slight from the rest of the BRF. I mean, honestly, the article said they will be releasing a series of photographs. How is that supposed to work when you are sending the picture as part of a Christmas card? A single simple Christmas card? So I do think think they have sent out cards yet either. They are just doing this as a social media frenzy gathering ploy. They'll wait till Christmas day probably just to keep people guessing and waiting.
They'll probably realise a little too late the Christmas cards are actually meant to be sent by Christmas day to actual real humans in actual real physical forms. They'll do a last minute Xerox job, printing and stapling all these pictures together and sending them out to their real imaginary friends - Holly Lynch and the other women MPs. Jameela Jamil, miserable cow that she is, still wouldn't get one.
What a disappointment she has been as a wife, mother, role model, and representative of the Queen.
it's hard to believe that she has squandered so many opportunities.
@Nutty, I will echo how much I appreciate this blog. I always loved the royals, but never really spent a lot of time focusing on them (I am American). I come here in the mornings during the week while I'm drinking my coffee, and sometimes throughout the day. It gives me a break from work and I enjoy reading other people's opinions...even if I don't agree with them. So thank you!
@Alice, I only send our "real" Christmas cards to my grandmother's. Everyone else gets a shout out on FB. HA
I also read today that Oprahs announced she will be doing some sort of world tour thingy with the Harkles?? Haha! That's probably Meghan going ballistic post the Mary Berry Christmas special and frantically releasing that bit of genius nugget as Oprahs "friend". Wishful thinking much!
As for the idea that Edo is like Meg, she wishes. If he had been in her orbit, she would have tried to nab him for herself. I am extremely well-versed in real estate specifically NYC. London is more similar to NYC then it is different. I can’t tell how much he is leveraged but there is no doubt that Edo is where he is because of very deep pockets and enviable contacts.
Edo-Bea is a classic case of money marrying aristo/royal. Bea wants money and Edo wants prestige. I think they are compatible, level-headed, and share the same life goals which in my opinion is a very good start to a marriage.
H&M is a classic case of a gold-digger where Meg is in it for both money and prestige. The fact that H&M are not compatible in terms of life goals, class, culture, family values, and so on makes it even more volatile and setup for failure. I see Archie as their only glue and Harry avoiding the bad optics of abandoning Meg as a new mother.
I don’t know how Harry sleeps at night knowing how much his wife smears his once beloved sister-in-law. The Mary Berry Special did not air in America and yet American media is dissecting a milliseconds reaction Kate had to Wills touch. Clearly Meg pushed that “Trouble in Paradise” narrative on people who don’t know BRF protocol and didn’t see that heartwarming Mary Berry special.
My first reaction to see that "shrug" was that maybe when he put his hands on her, she got the chills. As someone who gets the chills all the time, randomly and without any known reason, I involuntarily shrug. I don't know the reason, but I'm not going to put a lot of stock in it. It's truly unfortunate that that was the take-away though...
Oh my God I made the beetroot chocolate cake and it's Devine! I used butter cream and chocolate sauce, I did not have white chocolate. Half of it is already over. I wasted it on the worst holiday movie ever, it's called a Royal wedding or something. It's about this American girl who marries a the king of aldocia and how she navigates royal life. I'm guessing, Meg's binging on this 3 part series currently on Netflix and planning on sueing them for copyright infringement. She probably thinks it's based on her life 🤣🤣🤣
I saw a gif of the shrug and my thought was oh she is shy infront of Mary Berry, I would be too she reminds me of my grandmother who is always making scathing remarks about anybody's pda in my family. That being said I still don't see it as awkward or gossip worthy. It's barely 1/10th of second.
I have always thought he and Bea were very well suited. He is getting better, not worse with the cameras/media. I never thought he was after money (does Bea have money?) and was comfortable in the royal circle, given his aristo background.
I can't remember who pointed this out (@Hikari, maybe) but the way MM was allowed to join in before marriage was a huge break in tradition, and always left me questioning why, especially if Edo is not given the same treatment.
The eldest gets all the glory.
The youngest gets coddled.
Seen elsewhere and copied and applies to Charlotte
Very good and long. Acknowledged. At least from me. :)
Daily Mail throws some back handed shade, touché
An overweening sense of self-importance?
Is there anybody here who gives two flucks about what their Christmas card is going to look like? They are so deluded.
For a refreshing change from the Harkle Hazards, I have just finished watching Wills' and Kate's Christmas special on YouTube. Thoughts:
1. Mary Berry was previously unknown to me but what a sweet, gorgeous lady. She reminds me a lot of Honor Blackman. What beautiful eyes, and so warm.
2. I am in danger of shorting out my keyboard as the drool repository for Mary's yummy-looking fig tarts in particular. I can never pass up an intriguing appetizer. Stew looked great, too.
3. You can put beets in cake! Who knew? That is one wickedly chocolatey cake. Hope Louis gets to taste it.
4. I enjoyed learning about some of the Cambridges' patronages. Imagine . . just a quiet morning at the the homeless shelter . . you're sitting round the table decorating cookies and in rolls the future King of England with the tea trolley. There's a memory to dine out on for life.
5. I finally have confirmed what 'roulade' is. Of course, French for 'roll', innit. I was thinking it was some kind of . . cheese sauce?
6. Was that "Fairytale of New York" playing as background music toward the end there?!
7. It shouldn't have surprised me that Luke Evans sings--I saw "Beauty and the Beast". Wonder if he is a personal friend of the Cambs'.
Well done, Your Royal Highnesses. For royalty, you both seem so normal.
In a dark hole in some unspecified location, the Harkles are wailing and gnashing. But I feel like I've just had a dose of the Christmas spirit. Great job to William and Kate. More, please! Might as well make this an annual event . . or whenever there's a family crisis: Put William and Catherine on TV, stat!
Wasn’t the special lovely? I have adored Mary Berry since the first season of Great British Baking Show (I recommend the seasons that include her, @Hikari, if you enjoyed her on the special!). She seems very kind and strong, and I think the Cambridges are, too. That was a real treat.
@nutty thank you
>>>Wasn’t the special lovely? I have adored Mary Berry since the first season of Great British Baking Show (I recommend the seasons that include her, @Hikari, if you enjoyed her on the special!). She seems very kind and strong, and I think the Cambridges are, too. That was a real treat.<<<
I had to endure commercial interruptions about every 2 minutes on YouTube but I'm grateful I got to see it at all. My niece probably knows Mrs. Berry as she is a great fan of British baking shows.
If anything, the special was too short. I think they could extend it to 90 minutes and cover even more of the charitable work that goes on all year. Wills and Kate are natural TV personalities. The BBC will have a built-in ratings winner if they did specials with the Cambridges more than once a year. Perhaps a summer edition, too, spotlighting different things, like the Cambridges' mutual interest in sports. Kate is patron of Wimbledon, and they both do that regatta every year.
This is really the first time I've heard both of them, but Kate in particular, at length. They are so down to earth and the true future of the monarchy. Let's hope they stay as unspoiled as they are and just continue to get better and more confident in their leadership. Wills got himself a fantastic partner, which is so important to his present and future happiness and success. Bravo to everybody concerned. Maybe they can do another holiday special (different holiday) that will focus more on the Cambs and Mary Berry in the kitchen and making a dinner themselves for a smaller group of charitable recipients. That would be fun to see.
Tatty, I used the exact specifications from the recipe, 2225g beet grated. Only I used a round tin instead.
The DM has just posted a story that the Sussexes have changed Insta settings so that no one can tag them in posts anymore. The article guesses it’s to prevent anyone leaking their Christmas card. That gave me a laugh. Anyone have theories about the actual reason they would do that?
In the words of Harry Markle...WE DON'T CARE :)
MM seems to have an obsession with "secret" projects and surprise reveals. Or she just has a need to hide a lot of things. It speaks to some experience, perhaps as a teenager or young woman, with a surprise that seems to have left quite an impression on her. But this is where they've missed the mark. It now appears unprofessional that they don't have their card out. As first time parents, you'd think they would waste no time getting that together.
I had to watch the commercials every few minutes, too @Hikari, it was so worth it though and yes, Mary Berry is a treasure, trying to work out the grams to American measurements to try her recipes.
All that being said.... where in the world are they?
She has to be, did you see the comments? SO many sugars in there defending MM it was sad.
Couldn't agree more.
There are any number of places to discuss politics. Not so many places to discuss the Harkles. The two don't neccessarily mix.
I'm still on a festive high from the Cambridge-Berry special and don't want to spoil it by dwelling overlong on the gruesome twosome, but I'll venture a reply.
>>>MM seems to have an obsession with "secret" projects and surprise reveals. Or she just has a need to hide a lot of things. It speaks to some experience, perhaps as a teenager or young woman, with a surprise that seems to have left quite an impression on her. But this is where they've missed the mark. It now appears unprofessional that they don't have their card out. As first time parents, you'd think they would waste no time getting that together.<<<
Yes, this overreliance on 'SURPRISE BIG REVEALS!' is tediously over-played. Meg's Hollywood roots are showing . . this tired stunt is exactly what the TV networks do to try to whip up interest in their programming. Cliffhangers!!! Big Twists You Didn't See Coming!!! Tune in for Extra Special Top Secret Guest(s)!!!!
The problem is that these stunts are only effective once. To keep on recycling them points to a lack of originality or content or both. Basically, I think Meg is flying by the seat of her pants all the time. She's obsessed with her SM numbers and clicks and the number of times she can get her face and name in the media, but there is no content behind what she's doing. She wants to be a Kardashian, really--over the years those girls have started fashion lines, and perfumes and who knows what, so there is some actual product behind them, but mostly they are famous for dressing and acting slutty and having illegitimate children/ill-advised micro-marriages with NBA players. Meg is essentially notorious for the same reasons . . dressing slutty and screwing lots of guys. Now she's screwing a Royal, or did once, 2-3 years ago, and we are supposed to care passionately about her as a personality into infinity for it.
There's no There there--the woman is a vacuum. Greed, vanity, moneymoneymoney and her face on magazines, that's all that drives her. We have seen myriad examples of her Narcissistic inability to come up with original thoughts or ideas. She has no intrinsic creativity or imagination and is a vampire of others' ideas and activities. She issues these "Stay tuned for a Huge Surprise!" announcements when she is desperate to keep her name on everyone's lips but has no actual activity/product to show anyone. I don't think she's got a clue what she's actually going to come up with to follow through on her 'Surprises' until the last minute and counts on 11th hour 'inspiration' to strike. As I write this she's probably combing through 10 years' worth of Diana's Christmas cards deciding which she's going to poach.
She and her "Stay Tuned!" announcements are like a third-rate local cable station that has nothing to show so they just have placards saying 'We'll Be Right Back!" or just endlessly loop old community photographs from seasons/years ago. She and Harry are big fat Voids who still think they have anything to say worth listening to.
Perhaps the delay in the Harkle Christmas card (5 days til Christmas is kind of pushing it) is due to the fact that Meg knows that everyone will be *expecting* to see Archie in a cute Christmas outfit in their first holiday card as a family. Problematic, if, as I suspect:
a) they are not a family
b) they do not have custody of Archie and never have, and he's with his real parents
c) they are on different continents altogethe
d) Harry is currently in an in-patient detox program without Internet access
She'll still find a way to post a 'family' card . . she'll dig up another 'secret' christening photo or the like. Nothing recent because she just doesn't have the baby or ht resources at her demand. If she did have the child and the wherewithal to take a cute card, we would have seen it by now. It would have been released to counter the Cambs' TV triumph.
Christmas crickets are chirping in Harkle land. 2020 is going to be interesting, and I can't wait to see what unfolds for Meg and the House of Windsor.
She and her "Stay Tuned!" announcements are like a third-rate local cable station that has nothing to show so they just have placards saying 'We'll Be Right Back!" or just endlessly loop old community photographs from seasons/years ago.
Ha ha, @Hikari!
What really made me laugh was when the one singled out bullied poster wasn't online and hadn't posted in a while, the other posters would ask where he/she was. So like the other posters were so bored and looking for an online fight they were asking where he/she is. One poster was ill with the flu and hospitalized, another poster commented and said something like who cares my relative is sicker than you. It's like what the????? That was just not ok. As Nutty said this is aplace to express an opinion about the Royals and should like that. It's supposed to be fun.
Reminded me of the game Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
I have a mental image of a game board of a world map with pin-up faces of Cringe and Ginge and a card deck of "clues"(secrets?) that they have dropped or leaked about their possible whereabouts during their 6-week break. That would be entertaining to map out, IMHO!
LOL That's exactly what someone with no imagination or substance would do. And from what we have seen, MM does not have a creative bone in her body!
It reminds me of a coworker's statement about someone she was dating. He has no personality. Just like his house, he is entirely beige and empty inside.
Does anyone know if Eugenie and Jack will release a card? In the past the Yorks would send a family card from them all, minus Sarah after the divorce. (Do not want to discuss DoY, just Eugenie and Jack as a family.)
LOL, I remember that game/show! MM even wore her Carmen Sandiego outfit to the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
I had not thought of her outfit at the Cenotaph as Carmen Sandiego but you are right!!!! ROTFL
I would love to see a Christmas card from Eugenie and Jack released! They seem like such a genuine loving couple. They are a pleasure to behold. He looked quite handsome yesterday for the Queen's Christmas lunch!
Then in a brilliant stroke of genius, here comes Eugenie (in first marriage no less) --SANS VEIL-- absolute perfection showcasing a beautiful updo setting off that spectacular tiara.
Eugenie had said she would not wear a veil and have a lower back to her dress that usual to show the scar from her successful scoliosis surgery, to help people with similar scarring, nothing to do with showing up MM. Eugenie was absolutely perfect though, i totally agree. Genuinely happy and wore her dress so well, and the tiara perfect for her too.
Jack is downright adorable and I hope they release a card and also get on the baby train soon.
Well, I find it quite absurd that people would complain about anyone commenting/commenters on an open forum blog, esp the number of times anyone does so and Miss Elle politics is such a divisive subject.
I am also aghast that anyone would be slighted for personal honesty, as that is a trait this is rare and treasured, indeed.
I understand the passion behind it, but remember a gentler time, when perhaps people were tolerant of others viewpoints. I am an odd duck, I refuse to hate my neighbors or family members whose politics are opposite my own.
We need bridges not walls, and I am incapable of hate for my fellow humans.
We are seeing the unhealthy coping mechanisms play out right now with PA and Sarah, as well as the Farkles, poor Archie is just another victim of the Windsor family generational unhealthy dynamics.
Diana was far from perfect as all humans are, but oh how the light shone from her, I am grateful I was alive to experience it first hand.
>>>Does anyone know if Eugenie and Jack will release a card? In the past the Yorks would send a family card from them all, minus Sarah after the divorce.<<<
I would also enjoy seeing a Brooksbank card with the happy twosome, but as this is their second Christmas as a married couple, I would have expected to see one last Christmas if it was going to become a thing. Papa Andrew has not made anything easy for his family this year, and I suppose his girls will be lying as low as they can for a while. I doubt the Brooksbanks' card (they probably have one they've sent privately) would ever be released as an 'official' Royal card, seeing as they are not working Royals. I expect the same will be true for Bea and Edo.
While the Palace is not commenting on the exact timing, both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Prince William and Kate Middleton had shared their respective holiday cards by this time last year.
As for the content of the card, the insider has heard that Harry and Meghan have had a "selection of family photographs" taken along with their son Archie Harrison. Some of the photos, the source says, may also include Meghan's mother Doria Ragland.
As fans are well aware, Harry and Meghan have been spending some "extended family time" this holiday season and are expected to celebrate Christmas with the duchess' mom.
"Harry and Meghan are said to want [to] ensure that some of their Christmas card images reflect that Doria is very much part of their family and of Archie's upbringing," the source says. "It is a break with protocol from traditional royal Christmas cards, which haven't historically included grandparents. For instance, Kate's parents"
Maybe the card will be a collage like the Vogue cover.
"Harry and Meghan are said to want [to] ensure that some of their Christmas card images reflect that Doria is very much part of their family and of Archie's upbringing," the source says. "It is a break with protocol from traditional royal Christmas cards, which haven't historically included grandparents. For instance, Kate's parents"<<<<
More word salad from the Harkle outlets.
If one is being charitable (or willfully obtuse) and accepts the 100% real-world authenticity of the 2 photographs which feature Doria and the baby known as Archie together, Grandma Doria has not seen the tyke since the first week of July . .(or May . . .or not at all . . but that's just me. I am *not* charitable).
Half a year is a really long time in an infant's life. I know Doria is alleged to have cared for Archie during the first month of his life at the uninhabitable FrogCott where no one is ever seen coming or going. But two photographs of dubious authenticity in the interim do not speak to Doria being an active family member for the Sussexes. Meg needs some positive PR so she's pulling out the grandma card. Specifically, the black grandma card. Archie's paternal (white) side aren't a part of Archie's daily life or upbringing at all. In fact I don't believe any of them have actually met this tyke.
Let's hope the Photoshop on this latest effort will display a bit more craftsmanship than the last two we've had. It's really beyond embarrassing now. If Meg wants to convince us that they are playing happy families with Doria in Los Angeles she's going to need to do better than one pasted-together image on their IG. Or a collage. I'd like to see live footage of Grandma D. jouncing Archie on her knee and talking to him. We haven't seen an image of this kid for over three months--shall we lay bets that *this* Archie will be the same baby we saw with Tutu?
Ball's in MM's court. Bring it on, sistah. We are going to be putting your efforts through our BS detector and looking for anomalies. I bet some will turn up, too.
People have been fighting and it is distressing for all, I want no rancorous discourse with anyone. I have a huge amount of knowledge about the Royal Families of past and present day and am thrilled to discuss the past and present dynamics with all of you.
Elle, I've missed you too.
Topic: why have they changed the setting on Insta?
Is it because they haven't been tagged enough (in her mind) so they build up interest? then release the Christmas photos and then make a big deal of undoing the change because "so many" people pleaded to be be able to share the card?
I did see the article in the DM about how it was all up to Kate and M to save the monarchy. I thought: I thought most firefighters don't want to try to play team anything with arsonists.
Let’s focus and figure out where the crazy Harkles are and how MM is going to go down. Will it all just fizzle out, or are we in for more Harkle histrionics in the new year?
I asked earlier if others believe Meg really is manning the Sussex Royal Insta page on her own. What do you think? No tags spikes attention for today but ultimately means less attention. Will that impact her ability to merch? Might TPTB have wanted to effect that change, or is this simply Meg playing her games and she’ll reinstate tags tomorrow? Or is she trying to limit visibility of rogue photos that she doesn’t want outed?
This is why almost every time that the Harkles do another event, they become less popular. It's also why so much effort was put into the South Africa trip, to try to finally get it right. That trip was better, but still missed the mark. But it's probably about as good as things can get for the Harkles given their personalities and their approach.
Contrast any Harkles appearance with the Cambridges' Christmas special. 180 degrees of difference. The Cambridges come off as down to earth, kind, interesting and genuine. They are not actors performing for a camera, they are real people.
I've only commented maybe three times or so here in the past. And when I did, I tried to say something which Hikari said better. A huge problem for Meghan going forward is that she is running out of stunts and gimmicks. The wedding is complete. She had her first child. We've seen her first outings. And so on. Pretty soon, if you don't have something real to offer people will simply tune you out or even resent your continued presence in their lives (people don't like being force fed personalities they don't like). Just as Hikari says, there is no "there there" with Meghan. There is no other speed or gear for her, this is it. She is only stunts and gimmicks. And that will wear poorly with the public.
Once a scammer loses his or her hold on one audience, they have to try to sell their wares to another audience. So Meghan takes her act from the UK to the USA. But eventually, you run out of new audiences to scam. I think Meghan is on the fast track to that ending, even if she can likely gather up some millions from suckers willing to finance her via her foundations.
On the nature of the board her and infighting and so forth -- I would agree with @Nutty that you probably want to just scroll by and ignore people you don't agree with or who you might go back and forth with in an unpleasant way. I don't comment here frequently enough to be part of those exchanges, but we've all had those encounters on various sites and it always seems, to me, to end up a huge waste of time that really no one else cares about.
I feel comfortable here, enjoy reading the site and comments, and will continue to feel that way even if every other commenter dislikes me and writes bad things about me. I'm here to follow the Harkles and talk with other people who do the same, I honestly don't care about the rest of the stuff. Whether it is politics, personal grudges, or anything else.
Many happy days and nights listening to The Floyd
And I do agree on a couple of points:
If @hikari is not a writer, she should be. I always look for her comments.
@unknown who said "Diana was far from perfect as all humans are, but oh how the light shone from her, I am grateful I was alive to experience it first hand.".Beautiful! We should all have that said about us.
@nutty Thank you for providing us a place where we can discuss our passionate opinions regarding the Sussexes. I hope an aide to the RF reads your blog. There is a lot of information here the RF needs.
And thank you to all the commentors. I learn something new every time I catch up. It's such relief to be among like-minded folk.
Hikari is a master of words. She really nailed it, in my opinion. Thanks again, Hikari.
@Elle
I totally understand and sometimes it's just not worth it to get in the middle of it all. As you said, Nutty's blog and Nutty's rules. There are people here who say things I don't agree with, on a variety of subjects, but I try to tune it out and stay focused on our shared focus (Harkles). There have been times I've been tempted to say things, but I just don't think it's worth it in the long run. I hope you continue to participate, at least at times, as I think you have a lot to say of value.
@Unknown
Good point, nuance is easily lost on this platform
“What if Prince Andrew was the Duke of Sussex or next in line to be king? Would you still be in favour of the monarchy?
“Are we still obedient serfs or are we ready as a forward-thinking town to throw out these perverse ceremonies and traditions which enshrine the class system and let many sleep in shop doorways while others sleep in palaces.”
Mr Ross said: “In no way is my petition intended to be any sort of personal attack on Harry Windsor or Meghan Markle. Indeed, I respect his army service and her acting career.
“I would hold no objection if Harry Windsor were to be invited to Brighton for his actions as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan – but then call him Harry Windsor and not the Duke of Sussex.”
He added: “This is an ideal opportunity to put this city on the map as a forward-thinking and modern city that rejects archaic and outdated feudal ceremony and doffing our caps to the aristocracy in favour of social justice and fairness for all.
“Indeed it would be a fine honour and a proud moment if our good councillors would have the courage today to set Brighton on the path to beig the first openly republican city in the United Kingdom.”
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18113652.duke-duchess-sussex-titles-discussed-brighton-council-meeting/
All they did was acknowledge the petition was handed in and discussed.
P.s. I believe you understood already that English is not my first language. I hope you got what I wanted to say!! Best of luck and happy holidays!
@tatty -- thanks for the welcome back!
@Nutty -- Thanks for taking the time to do this blog and give all of us a place to learn and vent about the Harkles. Very much appreciate it, and I can only imagine how much time you've spent on it (trying to fix comments format, etc).
What will tomorrow bring, do you think? I am guessing crickets.... no card, no nothing, as I believe the Hs have been truly banned.
S
this article is DELICIOUSLY-WRITTEN🔥 and captures my sentiments/feewings perfectly: https://spectator.us/please-america-take-meghan-markle-back/ 🍹
if you run the above URL on Twitter search, you'll find it on highly RT-ed/liked tweets with equally delicious comments.
(you're welcome!)
PS: it takes about 0.0001 calories (and literally usually about 1–4 seconds, depending on comment length) to scroll pass [anyone i personally suspect of being] a troll and the responses of those who choose to engage with them.
the purpose is to distract, derail, disrupt. and seeing that half of the 2nd page of this post's comments are about a commenter, they've achieved just that... stop giving it to them! JUST IGNORE. i refuse to even acknowledge their name(s).
maybe it's a Sunshine Sachs thing: i recall the same thing happening with the #MeToo hashtag (not that it's made me suddenly warm up to Harvey Weinstein.)
happy holidays, Nutty, and thank you for everything you do. take care. 💜
I am also about done and feel like the rabbit hole is getting deeper. I loved finding a place of friendly, intelligent discussion about the strange behavior of MM and PH. Thank you, Nutty, for providing the topics for discussion and this space.
I do not want to see any more bullying/meanness here. For those who are acting out, please stop.
—-brown-eyed
(NOT SAFE FOR LUNCH-BREAKS! 🥪 🥗 appetite-killing.)
Ha! Cute name! ☕
@Nutty! Yay!! I will be posting again now, YAY!!
And Mea Culpa: I didn't know about this, I just saw you getting dissed and had to call it out. My apologies for that, but I was fighting the noble fight lol.
So, as for the Rach & PH circus, I think they may have been given a one-way ticket to that undisclosed location abroad (those sound just like her pretentious words!). They have just done so much damage with SA and that whiny documentary and leaking gossip about Wills & Kate, etc. I just don't see how they can worm their way back. So, to my burning questions:
1. Christmas cards - have the BRF shut them down or will Rach and her sidekick PH wait till Christmas Day to (try and fail to) compete with the church walk?
2. The Jennifer Meyer slapback - was that the BRF shutting down the merching or Rach's own short-sightedness?
3. Were they even invited to Sandringham? I tend to think that they were not and this was another BRF master stroke -- not inviting them, but then releasing the news that R&PH had chosen not to attend because Rach would never admit to not being invited, so...
Also, the shade in the Mary Berry special when Wills joked about doing a roulade cookbook and it would be a bestseller and Kate joking about how babies can come anytime, even on Christmas Day... And then Mary Berry talking about how W&K are the real deal. The only thing missing were the red scarves.
So, those are my immediate thoughts/questions, and looking forward to hearing from Nutties. I'm sure this has been discussed, and I apologize if I've missed it, but I was in an undisclosed location lolololol.
Disagree.
You made me look and I find the Edo Instagram account really nice & calming/comforting.
Good motivation for me to finally clean my room. Might even follow.
This one in particular is gezellig: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzlH8hegzqc/?igshid=1r1ilza6sgabu
Altho yea the marble fetish is a little weird... eeeeeeeeeh lol
I thought Edo was Japanese.
Edo's insta is very basic and reassuring in a basic way. You know he is like most working aristos - blonde, an architect, having that a close knit circle of friends with whom he is always holidaying at beaches,mountain climbing, marble loving the way aristos love their marble/hydrangias/kitchen gardens/pugs/landscaping/teas/Renaissance paintings/basic black wellies/silk pyjamas/fountain pens...did I leave something out??
Lol... he's alright, I don't think we'll be gossiping about him for much longer. They'll get married and continue with their lives and stay under the radar.
Now, the Christmas card. I'm thinking it'll be released in Christmas Eve. Mm thinks the rest of the world should be very interested and available to talk about her super awesome non-traditional piece of art. Also possible that she had a bunch of pictures ready, but then she saw the Cambs on BBC and they we're warmer and cuter than she could ever be and she saw their leaked Christmas card and it's more realistic and candid than she ever is and so she is making last minute changes. Chucking some and adding some new images. I really hope its not a collage. My eyes don't want to put in so much effort.
Undisclosed location - of course it is. Because it's so lame and uncool that she is embarrassed and angry about it currently. If they were anyplace exotic or anywhere close to having fun and bonding as a family we would have been inundated with reports from "palace sources" and "close friends of the couple" about how they are bonding as a family, watching Archie taste sour lemons for the first time, how Harry has taught him jingle bells and is helping Meghan decorate the Christmas tree.
They weren't welcome to the Royal Christmas celebration and probably walked away in a huff after throwing a hissy fit infront of charles and Camilla. And maybe Phillip put his foot down and demanded that be nowhere near the family. That's likely why we haven't heard directly from them, seen then , nor know where they are. The orders came explicitly from higher up.
Jennifer Meyer, perfect slapdown from BP, a warning to Meg & an embarrassment to all concerned.
Ah, Sandringham, I don’t believe they were invited, nor to Balmoral. We all saw at TOC how Meg was excluded.
I do think they have been put out to grass. No PR team can turn around their negativity, they’ve tried, & failed, constantly. They are a lost cause, the RF have finally realised how damaging she is. I expect an announcement in the NY, relocation/separation? The Crown always wins, is true.
I am not sure whether this idea has been put forward before but I am of the opinion that MM & H may choose to release their official card on Christmas Day. Given MM's delusional conviction that she is the most important person in the RF, she would assume that it would completely distract the British people from watching the Christmas walk and also the Queen's speech, especially if HM has put her foot down and that is why MM and PH are on a six-week sabbatical.
MM would never entertain the idea that the Brits would rather watch the Cambridge family doing the Walk and listen to the Queen's speech than pore over pics of her and PH, even if Archie is also portrayed. Okay, if the pics are released on that day, some people may take a cursory glance through them but in no way will it impinge on our Christmas traditions (and listening to HM's speech is one of our biggest).
On a lighter note, I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year and I look forward to reading all your posts in 2020.
Whenever I read PR fluff pieces from Meg, I have decided to believe the opposite of whatever she says in the article. Thusly, Prince Charles has been a big problem for Meg. Does he want her gone she is threatening to make his reign not so nice?
I believe that Paid PR put their clients names first in articles, all advertising, you wouldn’t put the product you were selling last.
Does anyone think that this (relative) quiet is before a coming storm?
All the social media activity and non-stop media stories have seemingly slowed to a trickle. What is going on behind the scenes?
Yes, I do think she would release her so called card on Christmas Eve or during the Christmas walk. She would try to rationalise that as getting back at the BRf for taking away her Christmas glory, ie., Her Christmas walk. Her fame. Her husband. Her money. We've seen snipets of her megalomania. Her ratty hair. Her terrible fashion. Her insufferable speeches. Her in-your-face PDA. It's all indicative of how difficult and volatile it must to be in the same space as her.
As for the Christmas lunch and Sandringham Christmas walk - well I'm sure the whole BRF, collectively, must be sighing in relief. I think of the walk that could have been and I just keep.seeing Zara's face during the wedding- mouth agape, snorts drowning in the signing of the choir. There's also some images that show Kate and Cam exchanging a side-eyed silent look, Bea rolling her eyes. And Jack's look a total bewilderment is the absolute best. What I wouldn't give to hear their actual, unabridged, slightly tipsy views in the ceremony.
By HANNAH WOODSIDE
PUBLISHED: 19:03 EST, 15 September 2018 | UPDATED: 19:03 EST, 15 September 2018
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-6139641/The-women-making-fortune-Meghans-move.html
From late 2018
>>>Perhaps wishing divorce on Harry and MM is beneath us, we are not nasty people here including you, and if Harry is happy with her so be it.<<<
It seems that many posters here are predicting it (a divorce) and no doubt some may be wishing it...but they could be nice (not nasty) as they see Harry as a victim, much like a domestic violence victim (as a Narc can be abusive). Just a thought that divorce might be better for all concerned, Personally I believe in doing everything to make a marriage work and so I theoretically think that for the Harkles.
I was thinking more along the lines that MM is now is probably sulking and plotting her next move (s). We have a few MM stories the last couple of days, clearly PR. This on the heels of all the glowing PR the Cambridge's have accrued recently. I pictured her, wherever she may be, screaming in frustration.
@Fairy Crocodile If Harry is happy fair enough. Judging from their own words they are not happy. " They are surviving and not thriving ", if I remember the quote.
Harry in particular looks a right state.
I don't wish divorce on them but I doubt that Harry is in a good place. I hope that he is getting help, therapy, or rest in this "self-imposed" break.
Doria is not funded by the British people or the royal family (one assumes) and has no role in representing Britain or in the Sussex foundation or any of their public work (even though she was, inappropriately, highlighted at a Royal Foundation event about that cookery book - I wonder if that was the final straw for William?).
The royal family use the Christmas card to send good wishes to their charities and all their connections through their official work.
Therefore, Doria should not be part of the Christmas card, and the Christmas card should not be used to push any artsy woke personal agenda.
How can Meghan be so tone deaf that she does not get it after all this time? Where are her advisers and who are they that they do not explain this to her? How can Harry not understand when he has been part of the Firm his whole life?
I worked with an MD like Meghan. She dragged her family into work space all the time, and it was completely inappropriate. Family were very occasionally included in work events, but we even had end-of-the-year events (for the group of companies) at a fancy hotel with no family or partners invited - just staff. For our party (just our company), the MD would organise a picnic and all the kids and partners (wives, girlfriends, boyfriends) would be there and it would be a family get-together. I am ok with a family appreciation day, but then call it that and don't fund it through the company and discriminate against singles or those who have independent partners (it was a young company so there were many singles).
Maybe sanity will prevail, good sense and manners will be found, and Meghan will release an informal but professionally posed photograph of her, Harry and Archie (all three clearly seen and looking at the camera) in colour and the message will simply be Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year (after all, it is a Christmas card and the Queen is the head of the Church of England, which is Christian). She can be a rebel and add a Thank You for your work and Support in 2019!
https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/alist/prince-charles-camilla-christmas-card-2019-a4318801.html
I sense that Harry will resist divorce and keep trying to fix the marriage and make Meghan happy.
Meghan loves herself, not Harry or Archie (acting is not real Megsy). If she stays, she will probably become more destructive for the BRF and like Andrew, will be booted. If she leaves, it is because she is deluded enough to believe the hype about herself or because she finds a much wealthier man that she can capture and use (and besides, the narc actress wants to play the breathless, girlie so in love role - gosh, imagine her doing that when she is in her 60s and on husband number 5!).
The Sussexes did yet another throwback Thursday on a Friday. They, sorry meg is shining a light upon how once upon a time she visited Brinsworth house, or as she likes to think of it - " The Bespoke Vintage human collection". This she did as the beloved patron of the Royal Variety charity. And she would have you know that since she has been patron they renovated their kitchen and dining area.
And she also attented the Royal Variety show show last year. She has put all the very many photographs of herself to highlight this wonderful, life changing event that happened Iver a year ago. This my dear people, THIS, is what she wants you to about this Christmas. Family shmamily be damned. Holidays polidays pfff. We all should remember what Meghan did like 450 days ago.
Charles and Camilla released their Christmas card and I love it. I was firmly in the Diana camp, wailed like a baby when she died, and despised Camilla. Time and maturity have intervened, as has Camilla’s unwavering duty to the Monarchy and Britain and I find myself quite admiring of her now. Their photo is brilliant and I think it captures the essence of the two of them.
Harry and Meghan are constitutionally irrelevant, you don’t see other minor Royals releasing Christmas cards and I really couldn’t give two figs about theirs. Especially with Boss Baby Louis to look forward to! I look at everything they do as phony, phony, phony, I can’t get past it. I’ll save my feelings about poor Archie for another post, but that poor boys’ first year has not been fair on him. Having two parents so wrapped up in themselves, their agendas and self pity to not put him first makes me want to weep.
I think we’re in for a roller coaster ride, there are so many things brewing on the Royal front and I too feel something big is coming.
Meghan may view herself as the Royal Variety Charity patron but she's not. The Queen is.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Variety_Charity
@xxxxx Thanks for the smiley face early yesterday :) That article about Meghan’s Mirror, very interesting...
@Blue Haired Witch I’ve been going through some stuff and always meant to respond to your message about my comments on Meg in Suits. So sorry it took so long. First, thank you. Welcome to the blog! I hope you stick around and bring some IMDB-style snark about Meg here. My eyes roll to the back of my brains whenever the words Hollywood and Meghan are in the same sentence. Oh my goodness the sacrilege :)
@Elle I am so happy to see you back! I used to just lurk when Nutty didn’t even have a blog and loved reading your posts. I can’t wait to read more. I hope you stick around.
Meg keeps posting old material because she doesn’t have new photos. Going on a 6-week sabbatical on IG will have an effect on her IG follower numbers. Not sure but it could effect the IG algorithm too. I know that YT algorithm penalizes you if you don’t post regularly.
Yes, definitely it's because she does not have any new content or images. But u also think that it's because back when these engagements happened, they were sharing thier insta page with Kensington royals. So the images were in kP insta and not the Sussexes IG. So she wants these pictures in her own IG as well.
You give this back and you will get success.
@Jenx I hope Prince Phillip gets well soon. I think the late and subdued rollout of the Christmas cards has a lot to do with the elections and the storm of crazy surrounding the BRF at this time, namely PA and H&M. I think they want to keep things quiet with the media so things blow over. That call for the Sussexes being stripped of their titles was futile but highly embarrassing. I am pretty sure it’s not a coincidence they are on sabbatical when it was being addressed.
@xxxxx Thank you so much :) I hope you have a Happy Christmas and a Joyful Holiday Season!
Thank you @Vince love Floyd, too
Happy Christmas All