Nutty Flavor Blog

It was just 682 days ago that the second Duke of Sussex came into being. The first Duke of Sussex, a red-headed wastrel with an older, unpopular wife, died in 1843, and the title had been vacant since then. But on May 19, 2019, Queen Elizabeth resurrected the title for use by her grandson Prince Harry, along with the titles Earl of Dumbarton (for use in Scotland) and Baron of Kilkeel (a fishing town in Northern Ireland, population 6887). It was hard not to see Prince Philip's humor behind the choice of peerages - Sussex , perhaps a reference to the Duchess Meghan's former employment, Dumbarton , a comment on Prince Harry's lack of intellectual chops, and Kilkeel - well, it just sounds funny. Earl of Dumbarton had actually been used previously, in the 1700s, but Kilkeel had never had a noble title connected with it before . And now it's all worked out as badly as anyone might have guessed it would in May 2018. The Sussexes have spent millions of pounds to no ...

Amid the avalanche of new Coronavirus developments in the media this morning - and images of people all around Britain applauding NHS employees for their devotion to Coronavirus patients - comes the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have moved "permanently" to Los Angeles . According to PEOPLE magazine, they are "living in a secluded compound and haven't ventured out." California was always the Sussexes' ultimate destination: nobody ever really believed that their move to Canada was permanent, probably not even the local women's charities Meg used for photo ops a month or two ago. All that was in question was the timing. And even though Meg reportedly told her ubiquitous "friends" who then told the media that she wouldn't return to the US while Donald Trump was president, that promise (like so many other promises) has been left behind in the service of expediency and publicity. Why now? According to the Sun's Dan Woo...

Prince Charles has tested positive for Corona Virus, the British media is reporting. According to the Telegraph , T he Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus and is working from home with mild symptoms. A Clarence House spokesman said he was "displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual". Prince Charles, 71, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 72, are now self-isolating at their home in Scotland. The Duchess has also been tested for the virus but did not have it, the spokesman said. What is your reaction?

The new video was released at 0700 British time today.  What do you think? Let's discuss.

With the world convulsed by coronavirus - see our sister blog on the topic - many people are rushing to return to their countries of origin or citizenship. So much for the "global citizens" that Meghan and Harry once hoped Archie would grow up to be . Meghan and Harry, however, are supposedly holed up in a secluded mansion in Canada, a country where neither one of them are citizens or have any special rights at all. Or are they? Latex gloves Corona virus can affect anyone; in fact, Prince Albert of Monaco recently disclosed that he had the virus. Far from home, who would care for Meghan or Harry should they become ill?  The two of them are in a risky area , near Vancouver. Harry is in an age group that has been severely affected by the virus, and has been seen in the company of several people who have fallen ill. Even if the Sussexes were isolated within a mansion on Vancouver Island , they would still be exposed to staff, who would be exposed to family and f...

A century or two ago, many people believed that Kings and Queens were sent by God to rule nations . Very few people believe that any more; in fact, hardly anybody attends the European churches which are headed, in name, by their local monarch. Instead, Royals are symbols of the nation. They are there to inspire, to unite, and to represent the contemporary moral code of the nation. Right now, the UK is facing a moral crisis. Asked to be their "better selves" and help fight the Corona virus by staying out of public places, checking on vulnerable neighbors, and buying only what they need, many British citizens are complying. Unfortunately, many are not. Present and visible This is a time when the Royal family should be present and visible. It should help boost public morale, as it did in World War II, and guide their citizens towards the behavior that will help others. Here's a few suggestions as to what the family should be doing right now. William Willi...

If anyone knows how to build up a tabloid story, it's The Sun. The London-based paper is at the top of the tabloid game, even though it loses an enormous amount of money , year after year. Like the New York Post, which has also lost money for decades , it's mostly an influence organ and vanity operation for its owner Rupert Murdoch, a plaything for a billionaire. It was The Sun that published on Tuesday the first transcripts of a phone call in which Prince Harry believed he was talking to environmentalist Greta Thunberg; the Russian pranksters who made it confirmed that the " rights to the recording have been transferred to the British media ," presumably The Sun. Getting those right must have required a substantial payout from Murdoch, who has been positioning the paper as a reliable source of Royal scoops - it also broke the "Megxit" story in early January. Maximum impact Given what Murdoch must have paid for the Greta transcripts - which seem...

After yesterday's hostility-fest  at the Commonwealth Day services at Westminster Abbey, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have completed their activities as senior members of the British Royal Family. Some reports suggest that they have already left for Canada, where their infant son Archie has been waiting for them for more than a week. It seems impossible, however, that this is the end of the Sussex story - and in fact, they will still officially be His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness until the end of March. What do you think will happen during the next three weeks? Will the Sussexes be silent?

The annual Commonwealth service,  scheduled for today at 1500 British time at Westminister Abbey , will be the last official appearance of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as Senior Members of the Royal Family. The Queen will also be in attendance, as will The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Apparently only the Yorks will be left at home.  Curious - I know that in the US when the President addresses a Joint Session of Congress, at least one Cabinet Member is left in an undisclosed location in case something catastrophic happens. Is Andrew that Cabinet Member? Is Anne? At any rate, let's discuss here as the event approaches and unspools. ------- Meg and Harry's Charity It was reported overnight that the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes will be setting up a charity that will help injured and homeless veterans in both the US and UK. This seems like a dreadful idea, and it w...

Over the next three days, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are scheduled to appear at what may be their final engagements as senior members of the Royal Family. Today, Meg and Harry will appear at the at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall, where they will hear the Royal Marines Band play a selection of music to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Tomorrow Meg has some kind of activity for International Women's Day - I don't believe a specific engagement has been announced, please correct me if I'm wrong - and on Monday she and Harry will attend a church service for Commonwealth Day. Putting on their best face Duchess Meghan and Duke Harry have been putting on their best face recently. In their appearances so far, they have been well-dressed and apparently sober. Will they be able to keep it up for three more days worth of appearances? And do they have an ulterior motive? Are they looking good so British citizens ...

Duchess Meghan has returned to the UK, and has been spotted outside a hotel ahead of her appearance at the Endeavor Fund Awards this evening. Let's discuss as she and Harry make their appearance before a crowd of injured service men and women who have taken on extreme sporting challenges. How will they greet the runaway Captain General of the Royal Marines and his spouse? Look your best, Meg If I were Meghan, I'd make sure my look was on point tonight. It's one of her highest-profile ways to advertise for future work in Hollywood or on the talk show circuit. Meg's outside-the-hotel style - a wrap coat and open back shoes with no stockings , despite the raw British weather - is not encouraging. Meg also went rather heavy on the facial bronzer; her hands and bare feet don't match her face.

Prince Charles received his last official job promotion in 1969, when he was crowned Prince of Wales at Caernafon Castle. He's been waiting for his next bump up, to monarch, ever since. Charles' big moment may be at hand. His father Prince Philip is reportedly bedridden, and his 93-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth, might have trouble continuing to keep up with even ceremonial occasions once the man she calls her "rock" has passed on. The Queen's upcoming 94th birthday, on April 21, might be an optimal time to announce a regency, in which Charles would formally take power without his mother having to formally advocate. Ducks in a row Charles seems to be getting his ducks in a row for a potential change in status. He has spent the last few years instructing William on how to run the Duchy of Cornwall; William now takes his own children out to enjoy farming in the English countryside. Last week Clarence House once again confirmed that Charles' wife, Cam...