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Meghan and George: Why does a 40-year-old woman envy a 6-year-old?

Apparently Photoshop is not required when releasing photographs of Royal children. Prince George appeared today in a historic image of four heirs to the British throne - Elizabeth, Charles, William, and George - and both his blue-piped white shirt and Black Watch long trousers were hopelessly wrinkled.

That's an easy Photoshop fix - the white shirt is, at least. But the Royal family seems more interested in authenticity than perfection.

They don't have to be Kardashian-smooth. They have the security of old money and it shows.

Meg and her Photoshop

By contrast photos of Meg and Harry's son Archificial, whomever he is and wherever he comes from, are tweaked within an inch of their lives. Backgrounds don't match, faces are imposed, and sometimes the whole thing is reduced to black and white to make the tampering less obvious.

Archie does not have a title, even though he is technically 7th in line to the throne. (And I have my doubts about that.) 

He doesn't have the security of a steady income the way the heirs do, whether it is the Duchy of Cornwall or the Duchy of Lancaster. For Royal income and privileges, he will always be dependent on somebody else. 

So he's got to look good. And he needs the sort of publicity that proclaims that he is going to be a "confident social butterfly." (Which sounds to me like one of those wealthy wastrels out of an Evelyn Waugh novel from the 1930s, but I digress.) And he needs to be admired by glossy celebrities.

At least his mother thinks he does. 

Meg and Envy

Meg is well-acquainted with most of the seven deadly sins - lust, greed, pride, wrath, gluttony, sloth, and envy. When it comes to George and his sister Charlotte, envy seems to be Meg's primary emotion. 

George and Charlotte have something Meg can't hustle her way to. They were born into their roles, born into immense privilege. 

This frustrates Meg, who feels she should be able to hustle her way into everything

Thus we get Sunshine Sachs-style publicity that emphasizes the superior people skills of poor Archificial (whomever he is) and how the Cambridge children should spend more time with the little Mountbatten-Windsor, so they can watch and learn.

(Meg hasn't gone after Prince Louis yet, but give her time.)

Prince George's personality

Usually the only people concerned about a six-year-old's personality are his parents and perhaps his first-grade teacher. 

George is a little different, of course, given his future position. But kids' personalities can change. William was a difficult and arrogant child - his school nickname was Basher - but seems to have matured into a calm and responsible adult.

And George - who is reportedly called "PG" at school, leading to the inevitable nickname "Tips"- seems to have friends, hobbies, and loving parents. 

With his father and grandfather ahead of him in line for the throne, George also has the advantage of many years to live his own life, which would allow him to pursue his own interests. Japan's emperor Akihito was a marine biologist, for example, and of course Prince Charles has used his extensive waiting time to get involved in environmentalism and architecture. 

Does George look miserable when forced into formal clothing and interactions with adults he doesn't know? Yeah, he does. That's pretty normal for a six-year-old boy. 

(And personally, I think it is highly inappropriate that he and Charlotte are being asked to hug random members of the public. Shaking hands is fine for that circumstance.)

Meg's personality

Meg's personality has been extensively discussed on this forum, but her constant craving for publicity and approval is what runs her headlong into George. 

How can she understand someone who was born with all the fame he'll ever need? 

Comments

DesignDoctor said…
Ugh! All the same sloppy look. Unkempt hair, unbuttoned coat, and skirt hanging inches below the coat hem. Obviously, she does not know how to look well-dressed, chic, and pulled together. Not a good look for all the money spent on her clothes.
Glow W said…
I thought she looked nice. He looks happy. As I predicted, nothing has changed and they are getting back to work, still married. She is still Duchess of Sussex. They arrived in the same car. He was smiling (though his back was turned a lot so you could only see a bit of his smiles): the cameras focused on her and she is IMO glowing (pregnant glow ?? IDK).

Glow W said…
@designdoctor just because I’m unclear, is it expected she would wear a coat down to her ankles?
CookieShark said…
@ SwampWoman: Great resolution! Come to the dark side, we have cookies! ~ CookieShark

(I am also trying to eat less cookies. I go to my favorite bakery only once a month now and it makes me sad)
CookieShark said…
They still have not credited the photographer for the third photo on their latest IG post!

This surprises me, given MM's preoccupation with copyrighting all the things.
KayeC said…
@tatty, fashion wise, if you wear a long coat over a dress, the coat should be the same length or slightly longer than the dress so that the dress hem doesn't show. These are, of course, traditional fashion rules, not followed by everyone, but BRF ladies tend to be traditional.
SwampWoman said…
PaisleyGirl, I happen to look good in poo-colored clothing! I don't know what that says about me other than I go through life looking like a giant turd.

Lots of hand holding, camera seeking/posing and keeping hair out of eyes (can nobody get this poor woman jeweled barrettes to merch?). I was hoping to see if she had been liposuctioned.

Her shoes aren't falling off. I can't tell with the coat how well her skirt and sweater match; with the different textures I don't know. All in all, I think they look pretty good. Not sure why they are there besides PR and to show that they are together.
Miggy said…
They both look crumpled. I wish someone would gift them a steam iron!
And as usual, no tights.
Girl with a Hat said…
the coat was a cheap wool blend and was wrinkled from her sitting in the Range Rover. Really bad for a "British" royal when the UK prides itself on its wool fabrics and garments.

The skirt looked cheap and had static cling.

The coat was shorter than the skirt and didn't present a nice line

Her hair looked awful. It didn't look shiny like healthy hair. She could also use a trim.

No stockings.

She looked a right mess.
EFarrell said…
It’s also fashionable to not wear a wrinkly coat. Looking at pictures of them from behind, it’s as if they didn’t bother to check what they looked like in a mirror. Megan’s coat looks like a cheap H&M number. Her hair looks like she’s wearing a burka it’s so thick and over done. Fried at the ends. She is a mess! And so is he! I usually am not too disturbed by her clothing as I think she has very Southern California sensibility and since I’m from SoCal my eye is used to it. But, this is just wrong no matter where you are. A satin/silk slip dress? Her 90’s obsession continues. Matching pump stilettos in the middle of winter? The bronzer, the constant clutching of the straw mop on her head. I really had some hope with them. I was hoping she would come back with a newer, streamlined, natural look. But I see she’s still the narcissistic wannabe D List actress, trying to copy Kate Middleton, she will always be.
And just so no one accuses me of being a misogynist, Harry looks horrible too. Skinny, scrawny, with fried hair and a wrinkly suit.
Ok I’m done. They’re just gross.
KayeC said…
PH looks like he has lost ALOT of hair, my goodness. MM same, sloppy look. Why not button your coat for goodness sakes!
DesignDoctor said…
@KayeC I could not have stated this traditional fashion rule any better. Perfectly explained.
Sandie said…
This is bizarre: that they would invent a completely unnecessary public appearance and pretend it is a part of royal work (and make sure everyone knows they went to The Hub, which, by the way, she is not a patron of). USA media are apparently contacting Richard Palmer with some bemusement wanting to know if this is or isn't regarded as an engagement in the royal calendar!

That is definitely rent a crowd. Folk went back to work this week, they have mini flags, and they are not behaving like an organic crowd. Actually I think it is staff from Canada House who were rounded up to stand behind the barrier and wave mini flags.

Meghan looks delighted to be in front of the cameras again. Harry definitely not so much.

She is wearing lots of make up, but it looks like she is trying to hide bad skin so I sympathise.

Harry is looking very smart and neat. I think he has been sympathy dieting with Meghan because he is looking very thin and she looks as if she shed a few kilos.

The folk at LSA are 100% that she is wearing hair extensions!

No announcement about a royal tour? I'm not sure that was the reason for the visit (timed for USA media). This was about getting the attention from the cameras and grabbing headlines.
CookieShark said…
She needs to get back together with her hair stylist from Suits! It looked much better then.

I think the coat may have been left open to generate pregnancy buzz.
Girl with a Hat said…
@Kaye, because she's hoping for a rerun of her pregnancy rumours as happened at Eugenie's wedding, and I see, being spread by tatty for no apparent reason. She looks awful and tatty s saying "pregnancy glow?"
Miggy said…
DM keep updating the photos.

My goodness - her outfit is awful.
KitKatKisses said…
Her face looks so different from when she got engaged. It's shocking. Harry looks even thinner (his suit just hangs on him) and has lost even more hair.
Miggy said…
And she has a huge sweat stain under her armpit. YUK!!!
IEschew said…
Why do some women wear such high heels in the daytime? General question.

They look rumpled and basic. “Basic” meaning common. But whatever. Still trying to understand if there was an objective for this visit other than to scream “I’M BACK, BITCHES!”

It occurs to me that Meghan’s face is as shape shifting as Archie’s. It looks full again.

I just can’t with these two.

SwampWoman said…
Loved that short story "They Grind Exceeding Small" abbyh.
Bravura said…
*waves to all the Washington ladies* Good Morning! Another dreary, wet day here in the PNW! I'm over on the Kitsap Peninsula area and am praying for snow next week :) Anything but more rain, lol. I did have a good laugh at the Sasquatch hiding in Sequim bit. I have family about 20 minutes outside of Sequim in the mountains (it's technically Sequim but you have to drive into the boonies a bit). Lots of bear, deer, and bobcat, but sadly, no Sasquatch. My husband would probably keel over if he saw a local Washingtonian Gigantopithecus lurking in our fauna.

And Elle, those lavender lattes are the stuff of magic. I'm partial to lemon lavender shortbread though ;) Pairs well with an occasional cuppa of Earl Grey.

***
Back to the subject at hand - during my daily morning peruse of all things Markle, it looks like the main question that folks seem to have is: Why are Harry and Megan going to Canada House tomorrow to "thank" the Canadian High Commissioner for their "time" in Canada? From what it seems, most cannot discern why they need to need to do it at all? Is it purely for optics? Photo Op? Justin Trudeau already tweeted about them being in Canada, so is this standard for them to publicly "thank" the Canadian High Commissioner about something that wasn't a formal tour or visit to Canada? For something that was supposed to be kept on the the "hush hush" so to speak?

If their visit had been a public event and one that was commissioned and ordained by HRM, then I can surely see the need for pomp and circumstance. Is this standard operating practice for any Royal who visits one of the Commonwealth (or former CW) countries, regardless if it's for business or pleasure? Just something that stuck out as odd to me.

Thoughts?
KnitWit said…
@tatty, she looks tacky!

Fine for a secretary on her lunch hour, but not royal at all!
Sandie said…
Pregnancy glow? She has a few layers of make up on to hide bad skin. It is the red lipstick that is brightening her face (probably a trick she picked up from YouTube videos, but not a bad one).

I am back to feeling sorry for her, and Harry for being dragged along behind her with no one to filter out bad ideas.
Sandie said…
@Bravura: No, it is very odd indeed. They were not hosted by Canada but were there on a private secluded holiday. What did Canada officially provide for them that they had to make such a public visit and grab the headlines and get photographed?

The Sussexes have hit the ground running on their return in terms of going rogue and using the BRF for a very personal agenda. BP is not going to get them under control.
CookieShark said…
@ Bravura:

This visit was engineered, in my opinion only, to put to rest rumors of a split and to "prove" to the public they were in Canada together, while showing them "at work", having also made a visit to the Hubb kitchen this AM (I believe).

What visits or work has MM done recently with any of the patronages given to her by HM? Genuinely asking, not trolling.

There is footage on Twitter of her last year coat-flicking and rubbing her stomach during official visits. I have never seen an expecting person act that way. It is quite bizarre.
Humor Me said…
Nutty - please, close this thread. There is fresh meat being thrown and the wolves are nipping.
PaisleyGirl said…
@KnitWit, I am actually a secretary and I look a hell of a lot better than that! Wrinkled clothes, dead hair, over the top extensions. I would get fired if I showed up to work looking like that. And I thought Harry didn't look good. Very thin, crumpled suit, he's lost a lot of hair - again.
Nutty Flavor said…
New post in 1 minute.
Nutty Flavor said…
New post is available.
NeutralObserver said…
In one of the Daily Mail photos, Harry seems to be pushing her hand/arm away. Hilarious. Not sure what this is all in aid of. My sympathies are for Canada if Megs manages to wangle some sort of move there that will support her in the style she so much wants to become accustomed to. This is more fun than reading about Iranian generals, however, IMO. It is trivial, but then the misadventures of Paris Hilton were around to lighten things up during one of our last financial crises, so Megs does have entertainment value. Some years ago, I read that one of the Kardashians, Kim, I think, was dying to meet the Duchess of Cambridge. I thought to myself, 'that will never happen.' Megs ,however, has moved Kim several degrees closer to the BRF. Megs' BFF Serena Williams was a guest at one of Kim's weddings, & Kim has been in the Oval Office of our White House, I'm embarrassed to say. So anything could happen! A girl can only dream.
KnitWit said…
Sorry, I didn't mean "secretary" as an 8nsult. Most secretaries look professional and chic on modest salaries. MM has ( or at one time had) a large clothing allowance and access to tailors, stylists, other royals and looks like she is wearing off the rack discount rags.

I am a big discount shopper who could benefit from a stylist, but I am not in the public eye.
KnitWit said…
In short, Meg looks neither rich not royal. She dressed better in suits playing a secretary. She should hire the suits stylist.
Leela said…
I just love how many shots the DM published of her sweaty armpit stains!
Girl with a Hat said…
I look much, much better going for a job interview than she ever did as a royal.
Shaggy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
Another to the list of Archie’s Medical Marvels:
- In utero, keeps Mama’s frowns smooth and upside down by letting her have as much Botox as she wants.
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