I'm on vacation, but here's a space to discuss the developments in the Sussex saga over the past week.
Not much appears to be going on. Living Legends came and went without fanfare ... what's the next event? Super Bowl - Sunday February 11th? Oscar's - March 10th? In the mean time, some things are still rolling along in various starts and stops like Samantha's law suit. Or tax season is about to begin in the US. The IRS just never goes away. Nor do bills (utility, cable, mortgage, food, cars, security, landscape people, cleaning people, koi person and so on). There's always another one. Elsewhere others just continue to glide forward without a real hint of being disrupted by some news out of California. That would be the new King and Queen or the Prince/Princess of Wales. Yes there are health risks which seemed to come out of nowhere. But. The difference is that these people are calmly living their lives with minimal drama.
Comments
https://www.tatler.com/article/meghan-markle-is-our-girl-of-the-year-2018
Harry was not offended by this when Tatler named her a "girl"?
The Harkles whineography is stunning in its self-centeredness.
The part from The Times about Thomas and the other excerpts is amazing one-sided fantasy. It is filled with issues that leave gaping holes the size of Death Valley. Low-level actors and actresses’ frequently hire pap agency-affiliated photogs to photograph them at events to make sure the wannabe has photos to release to make it seem like they are farther up the Hollywood food chain than they really are. There are lots of photos of Meghan at red carpet events, gift rooms, etc, and it us said Raynor and his agency were Meghan’s go-to when she wanted to hire someone to “pap” her.
It’s difficult to believe that of all the photographers around these days, that Jeff Raynor “just happened” to contact Thomas to set up the photos and cut a deal with him. This has Meghan’s fingerprints all over it as setting up het father for a convenient fall from grace and eliminate him from the wedding.
Meghan MADE SURE Harry met Doria multiple times during their courtship by mostly flying Doria to locations where Meghan and Harry were in Canada. Why didn’t she do that with Thomas? Ah yes, Thomas was an overweight, unkept, old man who lived very modestly in Mexico because he couldn’t afford to live just across the nearby border in the US. Even though he had a pair of Emmys as a lighting director, that didn’t make Thomas “Brand Meghan” as she called her branding.
Thomas didn’t merit a visit from Harry and Meghan in Mexico or anywhere else. I absolutely do not buy into the excuse that has been given that Harry and Meghan’s busy schedules did not allow for some type of meeting. If you are dating a member of the British Royal Family and it is quickly headed for marriage, both Harry and Meghan needed to MAKE TIME for Harry to meet Thomas. This was a huge hint of where Thomas stood.
Meghan wanted a ‘“name,” preferably William or Charles, to walk her down the aisle. It makes for much better video and still photos to enhance Meghan’s brand while adding immense drama and press coverage to the lead-up to the wedding and the ceremony itself while making herself once again appear as the perpetual victim. Poor dear!
This entire drama could have easily been avoided, but why do that when she could have Jeff Raynor contact Thomas to set him up as the greedy family member. (Never mind he paid for private preschool through college for her which likely contributed to his bankruptcy and financial circumstances that left Mexico as his best option for a retirement he could afford.
If Thomas had been a wealthy, hip senior citizen living in a chi-chi neighborhood with chi-chi friends, who played tennis at his private club, before heading to Nobu for dinner, Meghan would have made sure Harry met her totally groovy dad.
The entire
The book seems to mention a lot of how they felt that they were being held back from their destiny (or something).
Or that what they wanted to start into or announce needed to be delayed because PC (or PW or one of the others) had something else going on, might be doing something similar (or worse - want it) and no one wanted to a conflicting opportunity. Nice subtle dig that PC and everyone ranked below him should have gracefully backed off and let them shine (and after everything he did to make that a beautiful wedding for them to remember).
One wonders how they thought the monarchy was able to survive and for so many centuries without JH&M to take control of it.
SO I'M SURE they could have spiffed up Tom with a series of facials and injections, cut and color from a master stylist, and a new wardrobe. He would have been quite presentable. Not bothering to do a search right now but I think Lord Althorp and Lord Mountbatten have in recent memory accompanied ladies down the aisle and they are not exactly Clark Gables. (Wild Boar will get my reference.)
The fact that Tom wasn't presentable is just despicable, but I don't need to say that. She is tying herself in knots to make up new excuses.
Harry’s own words during the engagement interview. “This.Girl.”
I shall add that I think “girl” is commonly used in Australia and England by people from all walks of life, with no classist associations.
One wonders how they thought the monarchy was able to survive and for so many centuries without JH&M to take control of it.
@abbyh: Oh my gosh! Yes, yes, yes! The monarchy has been bumbling along for the past thousand years or so, just waiting for the messianic Sussexes to show them “the way, the truth, and the life.” (With apologies to John 4:16 KJV)
Or maybe NOT!
@HappyDays, you nailed it.
@Nutty, we miss you!
These are interesting times.
“I’m in love with this girl, and I hope she’s in love with me.”
Harry’s own words during the engagement interview. “This.Girl.”
@Calypso: Ding, ding, ding!!! You win the prize for best research comeback to the snobbery accusation against William. Touche!
It’s always an absolute bonus when fellow Nutties give us info from the behind the paywall. Ava C and Nutty have done it previously. However I do wonder if it’s actually (legally?) permitted. We’re being given info that you’re supposed to pay for; we’re getting it for free. All that said neither Nutty or Ava seemed concerned, so carry-on regardless till we know otherwise. ;o)
Also, I’m new here; thank you Nutty for the blog (been reading since the first post), and thank you Nutties for your wonderful insights! I’m also new to blogger, will have to master how to reply etc.
Oh brother. What a crock. It was all about optics for that one. Prince of Wales walking her down the aisle? She was NEVER going to lose that opportunity.
As for William allegedly calling her 'that girl". He didn't know her! It's not like she was a family friend or in their circle. She was a stranger to him. She's lucky he didn't call her worse. That was more likely our Phillip Ha!
"I hear when tossing a salad
its best that your prince is quite pallid
To have and to hold
his crown jewels I’m told
Look better when poached
and ‘just’ flaccid"
:D :D :D
Magatha, thanks for the lightheartedness! I need a laugh so I don't burst a vein over the load of BS Malevolent Meg would like us to swallow whole...
Wullie Thanks again for the hard work getting these to us to read!
Kind of free advertising? It could be seen that way. ;o) For a long time all online newspapers were accessible for free. We’re led to believe it’s to pay for the service. If Nutty was around she’d probably know. ;o)
I suddenly saw the weight William carries in that one look in the photo. He's an upstanding man who like his Grandmother puts his duties as future monarch first before his feelings and intuitions. He comes across as very astute and his warning to Harry should have been heeded.
He also seems kind and concerned as Diana was but also a bit like Phillip in the scarf blanking he did. I cheered at that.
He has every right as future King to cut through that web of lies as strongly as he feels he should. And his wife does too. They have been more than tolerant and this coming from a person of color...
So she expected Catherine to do what, precisely, with regard to William and his family?
Of course Catherine is `fiercely loyal’ to her husband and his family. Any wife should be loyal to her husband, in the face of a seriously unpleasant sister-in-law, to say nothing of a someone who owes loyalty to the Queen, both as her Monarch and her husband’s grandmother.
Now a giggle: Radio Times (a UK publication giving radio & TV schedules) has a backpage feature each week called View from my sofa’ , in which a celebrity is interviewed about their viewing habits. This week it is the glamorous Miss Piggy’s turn:
`What ... do you enjoy watching on your giant television?’
`I adore musicals, epics and musical epics, ideally featuring moi. I’m not big on reality – either on TV or in real life…’
`Sounds like you watch quite a bit of TV – are you a binger or do you limit your viewing time?
`…I only watch closely when I’m on screen. Otherwise, I’m texting, tweeting, Instagramming and keeping in touch with all of my close personal friends in Hollywood…’
Who do you share the sofa with and who is in charge of the remote…?
`I prefer to share it with my fellow Hollywood A-listers, but when they’re not around I have the Muppets over. As for the remote control, I am the only one who is allowed to touch it…”
Does this sound familiar, even if one is greedy for chocolate and the other for money?
If the Harkles are really Muppets, which one is Harry to Meghan/Miss Piggy? Certainly not Kermit, he’s too nice. What about Animal? Crazy Harry?
See:
https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Top-25-Muppet-Characters-Ranked-28058.html
Howdy! I'm learning too but having fun. Glad you're here :)
"Kate did little to bridge the divide. She was fiercely loyal to her husband and his family.’
So she expected Catherine to do what, precisely, with regard to William and his family?
Of course Catherine is `fiercely loyal’ to her husband and his family. Any wife should be loyal to her husband, in the face of a seriously unpleasant sister-in-law, to say nothing of a someone who owes loyalty to the Queen, both as her Monarch and her husband’s grandmother".
So true!!
"Does this sound familiar, even if one is greedy for chocolate and the other for money"?
Yes! Thanks for sharing :D
Int: And it's an immense change: you're getting a new country out of it. A husband obviously, but also giving up your career.
Meghan Markle: Yes, but I don't see it as giving anything up, I just see it as a change.
So why is she whingeing that she gave up her life for the Royal family?
Meghan Markle: Yes. His family's been so welcoming and...
Prince Harry: You've met quite a few of them actually.
Meghan Markle: I have! On both sides of his family. His mom's side as well which has been really important to me too. But yes the family has been great, and over the past year and a half we've just had a really nice time getting to know them and progressively helping me feel a part of not just the institution but also part of the family, which has been really, really special.
I don't think she remembers her lies.
Hear! Hear!
She's always going on about shining a light - perilously close to John I,v5 `And the light shineth in in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.' (AV, aka KJV)
In time, her messianic delusion will take over. She'll go from channelling the `Blessed Diana' to self-identification with our Lord, albeit in female form, if it hasn't already started.
I've just had a look at this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_complex
Be afraid, be very afraid.
The Harkles whineography.
Best laugh!
I agree with you about that one (which is her official nickname now... in my mind). She was flat out embarrassed by her own dad. That's one of the things I dislike about her . She thinks that people can't read her or see through her intentions. Strange how she can't produce the entire thread of her texts only the cherry picked ones. Hmmmm.
If Mr. Markle were a well polished Big Shot, she would have have rolled him out from the beginning. That says a lot about who she is.
:)
"I am guilty of referring to Megs as a cable TV actress, not in a snobbish way but to to emphasis her lack of experiences in dealing with large institutions and Royality".
Not to worry. Being a cable TV actress sounds good, nice, kind of cool. But NOT when you are marrying into a Royal Family Eee gads. Just that she went there shows she does have balls of tungsten!
So which is it? Is she brave or plain stupid? Rhetorical questions.
Is it that they believe their readers want to know what's been said without demeaning themselves by buying the book?
If so the Times appears to have been sorely mistaken. The comments by subscribers are overwhelmingly and virulently negative, castigating the Times for slumming by publishing the excerpts.
You mean they're saying something like `Is this what we're paying you for???'
Long time lurker here. I enjoy this blog very much and wanted to participate. While I agree that Harry and Meghan are disrespectful and ungrateful, I don’t think the monarchy is anywhere near a crisis, as some have worried. The RF will keep chugging along, and the Sussexes will be an annoying side show, for years. While we take umbrage at the disrespect towards the monarchy, The Queen, the UK, the Commonwealth, people over forty, and many others, the monarchy is in no peril from these two. The abdication crisis, the War of the Wales’s, and the days following Diana’s death were much worse, and the monarchy endured. I don’t think there is a game plan, a nuclear option, an end game...to deal with the Sussexes. They can howl and cry from LA all they want, like flies buzzing around a lion, it won’t affect the monarchy. The British public is mostly annoyed or against them. The RF just needs to keep on being good public servants, and they will be fine. Beatrice deciding to postpone her wedding photos in lieu of Captain Tom getting media coverage is a good example. That simple gesture earned her positive PR points from the British public, the only people the RF should care about, aside from people’s from Commonwealth nations.
I’d also like to reiterate that the ducal titles cannot be removed, except by order of Parliament, and that will never happen. Harry will be the Duke of Sussex for life. Meghan will be Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex as long as she is married to him. If they divorce, she will become Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. She will only lose the title completely if she remarries. The Queen can only take away their HRH styles. That wasn’t done for the Duke of Windsor, so I doubt it will be done here. They are already prevented from using the styles, so they are effectively neutered.
If this book is the best the Sussexes can do, the RF is fine. They are unpopular, unemployed, hemorrhaging money, with no assets. This is key. They have no money or property for Meghan to take in a divorce, as Meghan can’t get his trust funds. She needs to create stories of her being hounded by the press to 1) continue her victim narrative and 2) pressure Charles into buying them a secure house which she can take in the eventual divorce. My advice is to just sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show. These two idiots are self destructing in front of us. I’m reminded of the line from Hamilton. “You ever see somebody ruin their own life?” We are watching that. Day by day, these two just keep digging their hole deeper. In a world turned upside down, I am distracted and amused by their antics.
Keep up the reassurance - I need it.
The Harkles have never heard the maxim `When you're in a hole, stop digging.' With luck they'll dig so far they'll disappear from sight.
"They are already prevented from using the styles, so they are effectively neutered".
Except they do use HRH on letterheads and in official court documents, for instance.
Hapless must have also told her that although William was the 'important' one by birth he was actually superior but the RF was not paying him his proper dues and giving him equal if not more prominence. He banked on the combination of her American drive and media-savvy skills with his popularity and social impact ideas to topple his brother. What he didn't realize was that just as he exaggerated his qualities and ideas so did she. He wanted to use her as a hammer to break down his family structure and she wanted to trade his global fame and fortune to fulfill her thwarted dream of ruling Hollywood with Oscar-worthy roles and enjoying a luxurious life enhanced by the sight of all the bigwigs, who had refused to aid her quest for stardom, now falling at her feet. But they were not honest about their true intentions. Instead, they bonded over feeling ignored, suppressed and unrecognized and joined forces to get the world they wanted. But their ploy is failing and sooner or later they are going to turn on each other with vicious fury, accusing the other of leading them up the garden path! It is like they were each other's karma. He has to learn not to bite the hand that feeds him and she has to realize that there is no shortcut to lasting fame and fortune. In any case, a relationship based on avengance can never last.
@Pugs
Many Of the angry commenters are threatening to cancel their Times subscription. This reminds me of all the celebrities who loudly pronounced that they would move to Canada if Trump was elected. Which never happened (unfortunately).
Could be a million reasons, you're right.
Another reason might be that Catherine already had her number.
If someone had tried to sneakily take pictures of my young child (during the first time they met me, no less) I wouldn't be too interested in going shopping with them.
IMO, mm wasn't so interested in spending time with Catherine, getting to know her, as she was in being publicly seen with her.
Mm probably had already speed dialed the paps before she realized Catherine would say no to the outing.
Which might be why Kate didn’t offer to shop with Meghan.
Could be a million reasons, you're right.
____________________________________
Not to mention having to coordinate two security teams, major headache, extra expense. Even at their height of friendship, I don't remember Diana and Fergie going out together shopping.
@Wullie'sBucket -- wheee! :)
One of the best comments "His 7 inches of makeup do not take away 6 years of his age"
Scobie is publicly branded as a liar.
So wouldn’t it be very simple and easy for Parliament to strip the Duchess of Sussex styling, because Meghan abandoned her plan to gain citizenship (as required)?
Blogger Fairy Crocodile said...
@ Oh Floof
"They are already prevented from using the styles, so they are effectively neutered".
Except they do use HRH on letterheads and in official court documents, for instance.
I thought they were allowed to use Duke and Duchess but not the HRH?
Ahahahah
This reads like one long ad between the mention of the restaurant and the deluxe tents. It sounds exactly like the Tig.
um, perfect pose?? yeesh!
The revelations in Finding Freedom, which lays bare the Sussexes’ reasons for leaving the royal fold, may bring the couple some closure — but at what cost?
Roya Nikkhah
Royal Correspondent
Sunday July 26 2020, 12.01am,
The Sunday Times
For a couple so totally devoted to their privacy, this book, seemingly written with Prince Harry and Meghan’s blessing, is an extraordinary invasion of their own privacy.
No personal detail is spared. From their son Archie’s expression as he entered the world, to the name of their labrador, sensitive conversations with members of the royal family and even the exact “perfect pose” that yogi Meghan stretched her body into after discussing marriage with Harry on holiday in Africa — it is all in there.
The authors tell us that they have spoken to more than 100 sources, including “close friends of Harry and Meghan’s, royal aides and palace staff (past and present)”. As “fact-driven, objective journalists”, they say, they have made sure that “all information in this book has at least two sources”. Hmm. I wonder who they might be.
The official line from the Sussexes is that Finding Freedom is not an “authorised or endorsed book” and the authors insist they have not had on or off-the-record “interviews” with the couple, although Team Sussex told me Harry and Meghan were “relaxed” about the authors’ access to their nearest and dearest.
On the eve of its serialisation, a Sussex spokesman said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom. This book is based on the authors’ own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.”
Fans and critics alike may find those assertions hard to believe. However much the Sussexes distance themselves from the book, it reads like a ghostwritten autobiography. A Diana: Her True Story Mk 2, if you will.
Andrew Morton’s 1992 account of the late Princess of Wales’s troubled marriage and struggles in the royal household was dismissed on publication. But that all changed when it was revealed the princess was the source. It was her side of the story — and an explosive one at that.
“These are versions of events both of us believe to be true,” say the authors. The book is certainly an authentic version of events — it is Harry and Meghan’s version.
The authors of Finding Freedom are Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand. Scobie, 39, a former celebrity reporter for Heat magazine, is the royal editor of Harper’s Bazaar. Durand is a US journalist based in America who previously worked for ABC News in London and now writes for Elle.
The pair are keen to champion the Sussexes’ philanthropic and campaigning agenda. “The aim of this book was to portray the real Harry and Meghan, a couple who have often been inaccurately portrayed and victims of those with personal agendas,” they say. That may have been the original aim, but over 24 chapters of score-settling and swipes at the royal family, the institution of monarchy, royal aides and the media, their admirable charitable endeavours are swamped by bitter recriminations.
The book is likely to make particularly hurtful reading for the Queen, the grandmother Harry has said he “adores”, if indeed a copy finds its way to Balmoral, where she is about to decamp for her summer break with most of her family.
The ink is barely dry on the January “Megxit” deal, when the monarch made a public point of sending the Sussexes on their way across the pond with the affectionate words: “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family”, thanking them for their “dedicated work” and concluding a painful and turbulent chapter in the royal family’s history with her “hope” that the agreement would allow them “to start building a happy and peaceful new life”.
Whatever the past turmoil, the Queen’s hope was certainly shared by the rest of her family. But they come under heavy artillery fire in Finding Freedom, page after page. We are told Harry has lost respect for part of the institution and certain family members, and that the Sussexes left the UK “battered and bruised by … lack of support from members of the royal family”.
The body blows come thick and fast for the Duke of Cambridge, who will need to brace himself, though I am told that “nothing has the power to surprise him any more”. Not so long ago, Harry said his brother was “the one person on this earth” he could talk to about anything. “Every year we get closer … we understand each other.” How sad those words seem now.
Harry’s feelings of indignation towards his brother in the book are palpable. As William encourages his younger brother to take all the time he needs in his new relationship — something their parents did not do, with devastating results — Harry does not see a protective sibling and an understandably cautious future monarch looking out for him and the institution.
Instead he sees “a snob”. Perhaps William wishes he had handled things differently now, but if two brothers cannot sit down for an honest heart-to-heart about one of the most important decisions in life, who can?
The suggestion that the Cambridges cold-shouldered Harry and Meghan from the start will also raise bemused eyebrows. William and Kate hosted the couple at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home, for Christmas in 2017, and the “Fab Four” — remember them? — strode out from Sandringham to church on Christmas morning as one.
Grenades are also lobbed at Prince Charles, who memorably saved the day for his “darling boy”, accompanying Meghan down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor when her own father was a no-show. “Thank you, Pa,” Harry beamed at Charles as his bride joined him at the altar. But now, a source in the book tells us, Charles is so focused on his public image that at times Harry feels that takes precedence over everything, including the relationship with his younger son. That will sting the Prince of Wales.
Harry and Meghan’s exit deal is due to be reviewed next year, and the Queen and the royal family are said to have made it clear to the couple the door will always remain open to them. Once this book is published next month, neither the prospect of a reconciliation nor the resumption of their royal life seems likely soon.
“The old Harry would never do this,” a disappointed, bemused but still fond friend tells me. “It’s needless drama, drama, drama. He’s so far gone. They got most of what they asked for, they got the Queen’s public support and they’re out in California with Archie planning their new life the way they wanted it. But they can’t let go of the past and move on. It’s so sad.”
It is true that Harry and Meghan’s still-raw rage leaps off the pages — it is “us against the world” at every turn — and readers may wonder what happened to the royal mantra, “Never complain, never explain”.
I have interviewed Harry three times in my decade as a royal correspondent and have always found him entertaining, engaging, honest and definitely keen to get it all off his chest.
So perhaps the Sussexes will feel relieved everything is now out in the open. Perhaps it will give them the “closure” they need. Perhaps it will lay ghosts to rest and, in time, help to heal the gaping wounds that are clearly still sore from their premature wrenching from the royal fold. Perhaps. But was it really worth it?“
___________________________________
"It was summer, and she was newly single. Although her two-year relationship (her first serious one since her divorce three years earlier) had only recently ended, Meghan still very much believed in finding lasting love. During her visit to London, however, she joked to a pal that she’d settle for “a nice English gentleman to flirt with”."
AAAAANK. It was May. Still with Corey.
She specifically told "a pal" she wanted to hook up with a rich English chap. (Flirt with indeed.)
__________________________________
And that's just the first graf! The rest is airbrushing beyond belief, if not outright lies.
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan ‘rejected offers to help protect Thomas Markle’
Roya Nikkhah, Royal Correspondent
Sunday July 26 2020, 12.00pm, The Sunday Times
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex blame the media for their broken relationship with Meghan’s father and his absence from their wedding, according to a new book.
Thomas Markle, 76, a retired lighting director who lives in Mexico, failed to attend their wedding after suffering from heart problems after it emerged that he had collaborated with paparazzi. A new biography of the Sussexes describes the saga in May 2018 as a “public drama” that made Meghan “feel embarrassed”.
In Finding Freedom, serialised in The Sunday Times today, a source close to the couple said of Meghan’s father: “He would have been at the wedding if the media had left him alone.” Meghan also told a friend: “He’s vulnerable. He’s been baited. A lot of the tabloid journalists have been coaxing him and paying him. I don’t know if he really even had a chance.”
However, in the latest twist surrounding the account of events presented in the book, palace aides told The Sunday Times that Harry and Meghan had refused to “engage” with Markle during their courtship and had rejected offers to help protect him.
It is understood the couple “repeatedly” ignored advice to meet Thomas Markle, before and after their engagement was announced in November 2017. They also rejected suggestions from aides about how to help Markle, who courtiers feared would be overwhelmed by media scrutiny without support from the couple and the royal family.
At the time of the Sussexes’ wedding, a senior royal source told this newspaper: “We repeatedly sat down with Harry and Meghan before the engagement announcement to say this needed to be handled sensitively, but that it had to be handled. We desperately asked them to engage with Thomas, but they wouldn’t. Aides also offered to go personally and see him to try and find a way to protect him. There is genuine disbelief and bemusement in the household at the couple’s approach to him and that Harry has still not met his father-in-law.”
Another aide said: “Thomas is troubled, but Harry and Meghan would not engage in the issue of going out to see him and for Harry to meet him. It was raised before their engagement and again constantly in the months afterwards, leading up to the wedding. Everyone knew it would be a huge issue that would explode if they didn’t address it and deal with it.”
It is thought that Meghan has not seen her father since she began dating Harry in the summer of 2016. The couple spoke to Markle on the phone and texted him during their romance, but the duchess ended all contact with him after their wedding. Harry has still never met Markle“
You are right. They are still lying about the timeline aided by Omid.
From the book: "We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news,” Meghan said later."
Since the news broke at the end of October, obviously they didn't start dating in July, the date she made VF use in the article rewrite.
Seems to me it was May also. And in this photo supposedly from May 2016 she looks pretty comfy with Cory.
https://amp.tmz.com/2018/11/25/meghan-markle-kissing-ex-boyfriend-cory-vitiello-before-prince-harry/
This is bogus. It makes the whole Royal Family look bad. At the very least, the younger ones should have their staff check with the senior ones, i.e. the Queen and Prince Charles, to make sure their events don't compete.
The other thing I'm left with is a keen sense of deja vu. Harry is his mother's son for sure. Tell-all books ... never leave the Royal looking anything but petty, IYAM.
@Lt. Nyota Uhura
You are right. They are still lying about the timeline aided by Omid.
_______________________________
I've seen it in multiple places -- if I get a chance I'll jump down the rabbit hole and find some receipts.
Prince Harry's frustrations with his father revealed: New book tells how Duke felt Prince Charles valued his own public image above their relationship - and resented his and Meghan Markle's lower position in Royal pecking order
° Harry felt Charles puts public image above everything, Finding Freedom states
° Biography reveals Harry 'grown frustrated' that he and Meghan 'took a back seat'
° Charles said he was always going to include Harry and Meghan in royal family
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8561885/Prince-Harry-felt-Prince-Charles-valued-public-image-relationship-book-reveals.html
Lived in the system 35 years, doesn't get how it works.
Amusing and sad.
On one hand they talk about how PC really only cared about his public image, not his kids (basically the neglectful dad story) and yet, buried in the wreckage of how JH&M met, there is this little bit about how JH had (just had) to make a public statement defending her from the evil media, he attempted to notify his father of the need to make an announcement who was on a big Middle East trip and was about to make the public show when JH was cautioned by the palace over concerns that the defending a girlfriend would overshadow all the work on the Middle East project.
The palace still made the JH announcement (which was basically his work, not theirs), PC's work fell to the bottom of the news cycle but, in the book, PC was "understanding" which means he was accepting Harry's need to choose girlfriend protection over BRF policies.
But yet PC is being kicked about as the bad dad in the book.
Roya Nikkhah, Royal Correspondent
Sunday July 26 2020, 12.00pm, The Sunday Times
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan ‘rejected offers to help protect Thomas Markle’
Yup she (RN) pretty much calls the Megs-Scooby book account on Thomas missing the wedding a pack of lies. Well done by Roya Nikkah! Many details from RN, and, she quoted what her palace sources told her at the time Megsy was generating this fiasco . A disgrace by Megsy in one of her most out of control episodes. We all wonder what lies Megs told Harry to get him to steer clear of the father of his bride. And to get Harry to help Megs sabotage Thomas coming to the wedding.
SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020
Blind Items Revealed #3
July 18, 2020
Each time this tabloid calls out the lies or omissions of the former actress turned royal, she plays the victim card. If she thinks what she is going on is bad now, she should read the transcripts of the Johnny Depp trial. If she did, she would settle in a day. She has offered to settle, but wants to make it seem as if she was on the winning side.
Harry doesn't understand why his father has to put duty first? He doesn't understand why the Cambridges were quite busy, and probably gave the middle-aged, "happy couple" too much credit by assuming they could deal with their own jobs and problems.
The Palace response is such a delight! The wisdom of revenge served cold, complete with receipts. If H&M thought their side of the story, full of rage, self-pity and bald-faced lies, would go unchecked, well it's delicious that the BRF can finally correct the record.
Of course the Palace would have tried to resolve the Markle family drama as quietly and discreetly as possible. Clearly Meghan repeatedly lied to the Firm @ her actual attempts to communicate with her father. The curious silence of Samantha & Thomas in the midst of all these revelations, leads me to believe they have been handsomely rewarded for staying quiet until they can be of help, for instance the court case.
@Wullie'sBucket Thank you, thank you.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/726701/prince-harry-meghan-markle-suits-actress-girlfriend-royal-family-relationship-secret-lover
It is thought Harry met Meghan in May when he was in Toronto to promote the Invictus Games for disabled Servicemen. Meghan, who was born in Los Angeles, has lived in Toronto for several years and made it her home because Suits is filmed there.
And from Piers -- (talk about treacly tone! Beware if you read it! This is Before Markling, obviously) -- (dated Nov. 27, 2017)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5121713/PIERS-MORGAN-Congrats-Harry-pal-Meghan-keeper.html
"‘I’m in London for a week of meetings and Wimbledon,’ read the Twitter Direct Message from Meghan on June 29, 2016. ‘Would love to say Hi!’
‘Fancy a drink in my local pub?’ I suggested.
‘Love to!’ she replied. ........ Meghan was at Wimbledon tennis that day (June 29, 2016) to watch our mutual friend Serena Williams.
Around 7.45pm, Meghan received a flurry of text messages and eventually apologised and checked her phone. We ordered an Uber and Meghan left for her dinner party at 5 Hertford Street, London’s most exclusive private members club.
The story of Meghan’s romance with Harry broke in the UK press several months later. Buried away in the details was a line saying they got together during her trip to London back in June, after a dinner party in a Mayfair private members club. It must have been THAT dinner party at 5 Hertford Street. And those flirtatious texts she received in the pub, I’m pretty certain, were from Harry.
__________________________________
So ..... I'm getting from Piers' piece that M and H were already in the throes by the time she met Piers for a drink. (Or 3, for her, according to him.) After all, I read that NO ONE gets into 5 Hertford Street without an invite, and strictly the top of the heap are members. Markle on her own? Well, maybe, if she was still yachting. But Harry had to have been the member, and she the date.
Aaaaaaand ... much earlier than July.
Thank you for all the excerpts!!!
I read the Times is going to publish entire book in these excerpts. Is that normal thing to do? An entire book? Does this imply it isn't selling? Why would this be done?
I think one of the main reasons for the book is to get the Harkle version of history out there. I mean the Times, an establishment newspaper of all places. Maybe they are just desperate for readers. I think the Harkles use court cases and now this book to make their fairytales an official version of events-because they no longer have a palace press office or a royal IG account. So, this is more important than sales--which might not bring in that much anyway.
AAAAANK. It was May. Still with Corey.
She specifically told "a pal" she wanted to hook up with a rich English chap. (Flirt with indeed.)
_____________________________
Exactly what I thought. It looks like she's/they're revising their stories (/lies). Why would you want to meet rich English men just to flirt? It just doesn't make any sense.
Expect more backtracking/denials and Omid Scobie to be ghosted/sued.
Harry and Meghan will never resume official roles following the bombshell biography laying bare their rift with the Royal Family.
The couple have 'torpedoed' any chance of creating a new position with the help of the Queen and senior royals when their 'trial period' in the US ends, sources believe.
The book, which reveals their soured relationship with the monarchy in excruciating detail, is likely to scupper any hopes of renegotiating their royal duties when 'Megxit' is reviewed.
To be expected but it now seems official. Maybe their one year 'probation' period will be much shorter now.
The DM has just published this:
Harry and Meghan will never resume official roles following the bombshell biography laying bare their rift with the Royal Family
_________________________________________
To be honest, if they had tried to slink back with their tails between their legs, I believe the British public would have gone deeper into republican territory, and the Royal Family knows it. As it is, the Harkles have already done untold damage. There must be some way to stuff them into oblivion as quickly as possible.
Quite. There is still a lot of time until their situation is reviewed and they could have been on their best behaviour. But no, they couldn't help themselves and had to help write that book. This has backfired spectacularly and they have tried to detach themselves from it. Omid, your days are numbered.
The Telegraph understands that the controversial new biography, “Finding Freedom”, is likely to be drawn into the privacy action against the Mail on Sunday over whether the Duchess’s friends, aides and public relations team spoke to the authors or acted on her behalf.
In the court case against the Mail on Sunday, Meghan has denied that she gave the green light to the “Five Friends” to speak to People magazine. But her case would be potentially undermined if the Mail on Sunday could show that the new biography was based on information provided by well-placed sources with the couple’s consent.
In the court case against the Mail on Sunday, Meghan has denied that she gave the green light to the “Five Friends” to speak to People magazine. But her case would be potentially undermined if the Mail on Sunday could show that the new biography was based on information provided by well-placed sources with the couple’s consent.
Talk of being hoisted on your own petard.
Where could Omid have gotten the texts to Thomas except from H&M? OS claims there was no recent rewriting so could not have come from the court filings. Are we supposed to think the same 5 friends talked to OS without M's knowledge and they not only have copies of the letters but also of the texts?
----------------
I've had the feeling all along that Scobie was going to be the fall guy ... and I guess Durand, too, tho I'm not sure she was the "source" person (probably more the editor/researcher).
Piroska said ... In the court case against the Mail on Sunday, Meghan has denied that she gave the green light to the “Five Friends” to speak to People magazine. But her case would be potentially undermined if the Mail on Sunday could show that the new biography was based on information provided by well-placed sources with the couple’s consent.
----------------
Very good point.
Its Jonathan Yeo wallpaper and its everybody's parts. Although subtle.
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/did-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-notice-they-were-surrounded-by-this-on-their-first-date
Did you see the documentary on last night, it was called something like Princess Anne, The Queen we never had? It was very good. I didn’t know about the one on Wednesday, I will record that as it sounds good. ;o)
Agree, Harry might have turned out rather different if Anne had been involved in his upbringing.
That wallpaper is a bit worse than I thought. I saw it awhile ago and didnt notice things I now see.
please proceed with caution. Its photographic quality porn.
Ah Soho House! Another elegant example of Markles taste!
Oprahs print magazine closing.
I like to picture him finishing the last page, leaping up from his armchair, and flinging the book into the fire.
How dare they!
@Wullie'sBucket Thank you so much for all the excerpts. Wow, there is so much to unpack from Scobie's book.
@Girl with a Hat Not quite, HMTQ had a sit-down interview with Alistair Bruce for a 2018 Smithsonian Channel Documentary about her Coronation. I remember AB stating how asking HMTQ questions was not done but he managed to get tactful questions in and rare responses from her.
https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/the-coronation/0/3455604
https://youtu.be/8AA58-djqPM
lucy said...
I read the Times is going to publish entire book in these excerpts. Is that normal thing to do? An entire book? Does this imply it isn't selling? Why would this be done?
................
Wow, I'm just tuning back in...where did you see this? I don't see any mention on the Times website that they are serializing the whole thing - unless I missed it. So far I got all the excerpts.
Does anyone else know about this?
An interesting question is why the Times got the excerpts to begin with. As others have mentioned it is an unusual pick. Why not the Daily Mail? Unless the Times is one of the few papers left that the Harkles are not boycotting. They swore off working with several of the tabloids ever again. If this is the case then it's more proof that they are involved with the publication of the book.
______________________________________
I don't know anything definitively, but my first thought was if they go for the "high-brow" publication it will somehow lend gravitas to their tale of woe. Probably their PR people's idea. How the Times got talked into it I'll never know. Another Nutty up above said the comments are scathing, even people threatening to unsubscribe.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8561875/Oprah-closing-print-edition-O-Magazine-20-years-embattled-Hearst-Publications.html#comments
Oprahs print magazine closing.
Hunh. I suppose the OWN will be next. I was REALLY pissed (as in angry, not drunk!) when the Discovery Health Channel was sold off to her and really good programming was taken off the air.
This Soho House is sounding like an upscale brothel.
KCM1212, wonder if like the Epstein house Soho House has hidden cameras
-----
Harry Markle has been pretty eloquent in her disdain for Soho House and the role the various clubs have had in the Harkle Debacle.
Of course, Scobie used to date Markus Anderson and they remained friendly which is how Megs and Omid met. All roads lead to Soho house, it seems.
I too am surprised at the balance in the book. I expected a non -stop sucrose-laden bucket of bilge water.
So far, just bilgey.
Like the rest of the dread duos initiatives, they seem to have done themselves more damage than good through incredibly tone-deaf expectations of sympathy for their plight.
It is simply too late for the public to be swayed. We have all seen the exaggerated self-pity, the lies, the cruelty, the opulence, the maniacal spending, the outright hypocrisy, the fakery and the utter self-absorption of the Harkles. We believe nothing they, or their toadies, say.
For me, its all downhill from here. I cant imagine any scenario where I have even an iota of sympathy for the pair.
Scobie and Durand will be ghosted in order for the Harkles to maintain their version of plausible deniability.
The MOS trial promises to be the best entertainment coming our way.
You know, the most amazing thing about the Harkles is that these two, out of the entire population of the world, were somehow able to find the one person whose weaknesses,greed, madness, vanity, and calumny aligns perfectly with their own.
It really boggles the mind. I hope, hope, hope the child they present as Archie is safe from this couple. He has virtually no chance with parents such as this. For a chikd, one such parent is devastating. With two? Who will protect him?
In other words, they found their soulmate! Another way to look at it is that they aren't destroying some poor innocent person's life right now, just their other half.
https://mobile.twitter.com/CamillaTominey/status/1287482128461070336
"A point of clarification on #FindingFreedom - Harry absolutely did not know I was about to break the story of his relationship with Meghan in October 2016 since aides were, to coin a phrase, completely "blindsided" by the scoop. We told no one, including the palace"
Going back to the excerpts though it says:
"One night late in October in Toronto, Harry was happy, and so was Meghan. Until they received a call from one of Harry’s aides at Kensington Palace. It wasn’t good news.
A tabloid was going to run with the story of their relationship."
A good one from Jan Moir
It's a hill of half-baked beans and one long howl of childish petulance: JAN MOIR on the Meghan and Harry biography that has put the whinge into Windsor
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8562519/JAN-MOIR-Meghan-Harry-biography-whinge-Windsor.html
Just read the Jan Moir...she can be so pithy, she referred to Madam, as Veruca Salt (a la the spoilt rich girl in Charlie and the Chocolate factory, but also a wart found on ugly feet! We all know how Madam feels about her feet.
That Jan Moir article is scathing!!
I love that the gloves are off.
THIS was MM's first narc "I'm going to hog the spotlight and step all over your important event" moment towards the royal family. We've seen her do it over and over again.
You can't tell me she didn't push Harry to ensure the announcement of their relationship was revealed to steal ALL of Charles' and Camilla's thunder.
I do hope the gauntlet has been thrown down.
Seriously, if the Windsors are not willing to defend their castle and keep, then they are not worth defending as an institution in the 21st century.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8562517/ROBERT-HARDMAN-Harry-Meghan-just-hell-bent-finding-offence-everywhere.html
I'm beginning to think the Kraken is this book.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8562521/Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-face-PERMANENT-exile-Royal-Family.html
There's a new story on Crawfie TQ's nanny and teacher of many years in the DM. I had heard of her but never read up on what happened. She basically pulled a Gruesome Twosome by going against the RF and publishing a book without their ok. Consequences were she was frozen out and never got to see her charge again.
.......
This is interesting Pink Peony! I wonder if comparisons are being made with some people anticipating some major steps being taken against griper and viper?
“Feels like a good time to repeat that the person I know who worked for them said that Meghan didn’t make eye contact with staff, often brought team members to tears and caused Harry to dramatically change the way he treated aides he was previously close with.”
This speaks for itself, I do not need to state the obvious but imagine thinking you are so far above people that you don’t even need go look at them. Also making staff cry...appalling.
My pleasure on Harewood Park. Imagine having the chance to life there and be a part of the renovation. Who would turn that down?
Elle would certainly be offering contemptinis, wouldnt she?
Sorry if I walked on your Kraken comment!
@Calypso
wow. just wow. That is the first I've heard of Meghan not making eye contact. And making staff cry. Despicable!
Megs: the great humanitarian
The empress truly has no clothes.
Elle would come back but she's too busy with her obligations.
@Wullie'sBucket Thank you so much for all the excerpts. Wow, there is so much to unpack from Scobie's book.
.................
To Charade and all the other Nutties who kindly thanked me for the excerpts - you are very welcome!
It's been a lot of fun and I think we'll be feeding off this for a while. We also have Lady C's book coming out in the US this week!
I don't know how anyone else feels but I am actually rather overwhelmed with all the Harkleness right now....in an exciting way but overwhelmed nonetheless.
Between all the info in the excerpts, the fact that there appear to be many lies in their narrative, with us wanting to look up all that we know we have read in the past to compare,
and with the returning fire launching from unexpected places, it is all one huge ball of kraken to play with!!
Re: friends of W&K speaking out.
I hope that's not happening. I definitely can understand the temptation. The biography info from The Times does contain unkind and almost certainly false things to say about W&K. But if their friends are speaking to reporters now, that suggests maybe they did for the Tatler article too. And it suggests they might keep doing it.
I think either would be bad.
Thanks again for post Times posts!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8562471/Branding-William-snob-unjust-shows-deep-chasm-brothers-says-RICHARD-KAY.html
The whole article is well written, but the most telling part is here:
Harry's tragedy is the sense of resentment he now appears to have — along with misplaced notions of grandeur.
'He and Meghan seem to believe that they were responsible for all the goodwill that cascaded down on the Royal Family following their wedding,' says a courtier.
It was typified by their reaction to an invitation for Meghan to join Prince Charles as his guest at an exhibition at Buckingham Palace. Insiders say that when the Duchess learned television cameras would be recording the event, she pulled out.
'She and Harry allowed the idea to take root that Charles wanted to ride on the coat tails of their popularity,' says a figure. 'Quite apart from the staggering discourtesy of not going, it demonstrated their ludicrous sense of entitlement.'
For William the temptation must be to wish that he never had that conversation with Harry in the first place. Or, if he is feeling charitable, he might wonder if he ever really knew Harry at all.
I’d read about Meghan’s refusal to attend PC’s event, but the reason was never given. Wow—she really is a piece of work.
Yes, I believe it was a documentary. But for Meghan to refuse to appear because she thought PC was riding her coattails/exploiting her popularity?!?!?! The nerve.
Harry and Meghan seem to bring out the worst in each other
While she has become one of the most famous women in the world, his shine has faded
Part I
Just before Prince Harry got engaged to Meghan Markle, he invited me to Kensington Palace for a chat as I was writing his biography. One of the things he was keen to get across was the importance of teamwork.
“If you want to be a success you have to be a team player,” he told me. “You get taught in the Army that you can’t get anywhere without the support of other people. I agree.”
He even brought up the subject during the BBC interview he and Meghan gave on their engagement day, 27 November 2017. Proudly, he told how he saw Meghan as “an added member of the family. It’s another team player as part of the bigger team,” he enthused.
Meghan gazed into his eyes as she replied that she was looking forward to a “new chapter” in her life adding: “Now it’s time to… work as a team with you.”
Finding Freedom, the new biography by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, confirms what we had already guessed — that, when it came to her role in the Royal family, Meghan wasn’t a team player, but a fiercely ambitious woman who wants to be number one and seemingly finds it difficult to compromise.
Her time with the Royal family has been more of a paragraph than a chapter even, but it’s been long enough for her to become one of the most famous women in the world. Yet in the book she is quoted as having “given up her whole life” for her new role.
I was given generous access to follow Prince Harry on his engagements for more than a year in 2018. He is charismatic and, like his mother, wears his heart on his sleeve, which meant that it was always easy to guess his mood. Every now and then a wave of irritation or resentment would cross his face. But most of the time he was an irresistible combination of royal stardust and accessible everyman, someone who oozed confidence and mischief.
Less than a year on, however, I witnessed this warm young prince morph into a nervy, tense man who seems constantly on edge. It is as if the dark side that we had only had glimpses of previously, have fully enveloped him. It is ironic that the book quotes Harry bemoaning the state of society, asking “where is the positivity? Why is everyone so miserable and angry” - for these are surely questions he must ask of himself.
I watched Harry become increasingly uneasy when Meghan began to make most of the speeches, walked in front of him or pulled his sleeve to sit down – as she did at Canada House in January this year – while he was mid-conversation. She is a mega-watt attention grabber with the eyes of the world upon her and Harry’s shine has faded in her shadow. Does the torment he feels come down to believing he hasn’t done enough for her? But can he ever do enough? Perhaps Meghan is one of those people who never has enough, who, unless everything and everyone around her is not 100 per cent going her way, will always zoom in on the negative.
Sadly it’s this double downing on the bad stuff which seems to have engulfed Harry, to the extent that the closest members of his family are now at the top of his list of grievances.
He told me that William was “the only person in my life I can say anything to and trust completely.” But Finding Freedom reports that he now barely speaks to him for suggesting he took “as much time as you need to get to know this girl.” A source in the book said Harry felt the comment was too snobbish and “p----d him off.”
Harry also told me: “I absolutely adore my grandmother.” The feeling was mutual. Once she passed her 90th birthday she asked Princes Charles, William and Harry to help out more. Harry said: “The Queen has been fantastic in letting us choose what we’d like to do. She tells us to take our time and really think things through.”
Yet in Finding Freedom the complaint is that there were no photographs of them on the desk when Her Majesty delivered her 2019 Christmas message. In fact, there were only kings and heirs to the throne on show, which Harry, at number six in line to the throne, is not.
Harry also no longer seems grateful to his father Prince Charles, who walked with Meghan down the aisle when her father couldn’t come to the wedding because of illness. Charles let it be known that he saw both Harry and Meghan as having an important role in his slimmed-down monarchy and is keeping them afloat financially. Yet we hear the Sussexes complaining that Charles, heir to the throne, had first pick on choice of engagements and dates. Similarly, there are swipes at Kate for not helping Meghan enough, sending flowers, but not checking in on her.
The sad truth seems to be that however much Harry and Meghan stare blissfully into each other’s eyes and however tightly Meghan hangs on to her husband’s arm, they seem to bring out the worst in each other.
The pair of them — described in the biography as “impulsive and impatient” — are said to want to “be in charge of their own narrative”. Where then is the team playing spirit Harry had been so enthusiastic about? Meghan arrived in this family very much as an individual, one whose needs and desires have now seemingly been serviced to a worrying degree.
It’s true, however, that Harry often thought about leaving the Royal family before he met his wife. He confided in me how much he hated living in a “goldfish bowl”, ached to be “something other than Prince Harry” and wanted to lead a “relatively normal life.”
It’s a wish that couldn’t be more misplaced in Los Angeles. Seeing Harry look so dour, claiming to be a victim, it's obvious to me the peace he desires continues to elude him. Settling scores is likely to lead to more unhappiness. Maybe it's time for Harry to take a step back and remember who he was and what was really important to him before all this began.
How does Meg and Harry not understand they are infamous/more clicks due to controversy? and negativity? The couriers must have been grateful the men in suits made the decisions.
It's all soo cringe. Like, really? Meg? Harry? Really?
lol
The 4 newspapers that the Harkles refuse to engage with are:
the Daily Mail, The Sun, the Daily Express and the Daily Mirror, 'saying that they do not want to offer themselves “up as currency for an economy of click bait and distortion”'. In that case, I'm not sure the book was such a great idea...
________________________________
Golden Retriever said...
@Wullie’sBucket
Yes, I believe it was a documentary. But for Meghan to refuse to appear because she thought PC was riding her coattails/exploiting her popularity?!?!?! The nerve.
--------------------------------
I think poor old Prince Charles, who only ever tries to please people, is discovering that it's not Meghan that is Diana 2.0, but Harry.
Her whole tone is sad, tho she does a great job of summing up the situation as far as Harry goes -- he has squandered a lifetime of some good deeds, a bright future and a loving family, only to marry Markle and find his inner selfish child.
Along with the RF, Archie is the biggest loser, IMO. I foresee him growing up shallow, hanging with the druggy crowd in Hollywood, morally and spiritually adrift, when he could have been wrapped in the loving arms of his father's family. I hope and pray I'm wrong.
SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020
Blind Items Revealed #3
July 18, 2020
Each time this tabloid calls out the lies or omissions of the former actress turned royal, she plays the victim card. If she thinks what she is going on is bad now, she should read the transcripts of the Johnny Depp trial. If she did, she would settle in a day. She has offered to settle, but wants to make it seem as if she was on the winning side.
Daily Mail/Meghan Markle
No I did not see it and I missed it the first time it was on too and they don't seem to have it on MY5 either.
Times owner News UK subsidiary of Newscorp owned by Rupert Murdoch
Harper Collins publishers of Finding Freedom owned by Newscorp
Brilliant observation about them finding each other, thereby not creating hell for other partners - I wish I'd said that!
Soho House as a Parisian brothel of the Belle Epoque -indeed! Not that I've ever seen one but I can imagine Edward VII's chair fitting in very nicely. Still, I've seen so many versions of female bits from feminist artists that I'm not shocked by the wallpaper but it would put me off my food.
Soho House? The word `sewer' comes to mind.
Btw, in England & Wales, a legal case, no matter how long it drags on, is conducted under the names on the original papers - been there, done that...
Narcissist-story warning:
I started divorce proceedings against my narc under my married name but by the time circumstances had changed in my favour (I was about to be made redundant and be penniless - this was the era of mortgages at 13% interest), I'd changed my name by Deed Poll, I loathed even the sound of his name. It didn't matter - the case went ahead, I gave him the chance to escape and he bought me out of the matrimonial home, pro rata of what I'd contributed to the purchase.
In addition to my freeedom, this was all I wanted, in accordance with the rules on marriages of `short duration' - 11 months together but with almost 9 years between marriage and Decree Absolute.
That was decades ago - it seems like a bad dream now.
Isn’t Harry suing the Sun newspaper though? This is such an odd case. Both the book publishers and the Sun are owned by Murdoch....
Good and bad publicity and revenue streams for the Murdochs. Total hypocrisy for the duo though.
There was someone who `modernised' the monarchy by both her good behaviour and her less good, in terms of the effect an abusive marriage had on her.(10pm BST, Smithsonian channel `Private Lives of the Windsors')
I can't imaging MM has ever seen this.
The TV programme is called Anne at 70: The Best Queen We Never Had?
It was on Channel5 on Saturday at 7.45. I didn't watch it and unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available on My5.
Thank you for the article. Angela Levin pretty much chewed and spit out Markle. She is more sympathetic towards Harry but more for the old times sake. She doesn't excuse or justify his behavior.
Best of all she quotes him and her in contradiction to the book claims. Essentially calls their lies!!
But if I remember from my own memory I believe PH was in Africa late July 2016.
Many moons ago I'd mentioned I'd sorta met pH at the Intl AIDS conference in Durban, where I was working. The official part of the conference was 19-22 July, H was there for the inauguration in 19th evening with the likes of Elton, Charlize Theron etc.he had supposedly landed earlier that day.
I checked my insta and I have a pic with him from the 19th and later on 21st.
He attended more events for the same documented ones, till the 23/24th. Then supposedly went on to Botswana for his own charity etc work and stayed there for a while. We were told he goes there this time every year.
So if that was correct then what's with this info in the book? Did they do their Botswana trip in July, when he was there for the conference. Or did he fly back.for the blind date briefly, then flew back again a week later.
I did watch it, but didn’t record it. It was on for an hour and a half and was good. I couldn’t find it on catch-up either, but I’m sure a re-hash of it will be on again.
Next week we have a documentary about Princess Grace, I’ll record that one. ;o) Don’t forget the one on Anne on ITV on Wednesday (the one Piroska told us about).
While I don't have a dog in this fight, a horse in this race, or a monkey in this circus (grin), I wonder whether this isn't just a tiny subtle hint to JCMHFKAP and Medusa that their, er, self-serving misstatements and giant pity party (some people might call them blatant lies, but not ME) are no longer going to be tolerated by the family members that have had a covert PR assault and poo-flinging campaign directed against them for so long. Griper and Viper need to grow up, piss off, and stop the giant whine-a-palooza and sense of entitlement. Nobody owes them anything. Enjoy your opprobrium, former royals. You have earned every bit of it.
Sadly, I don't think the kraken couple Griper and Viper understand subtlety and understatement.
If Griper and Viper are sooooo very extremely talented with better ideas about how they can do everything better than the BRF or anybody else, why haven't they done it? SHOW THE U.K. YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, Harry and Medusa! Show the world your accomplishments! WHERE ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY? The only one I can see is conning people into letting them stay rent free at their expensive houses. (I am in awe at that. How gullible are these Hollywood people who obviously have too much money that they need help jettisoning? Maybe they were trying to drop a house on her a la Wizard of Oz and missed.)
Just for clarity, I don't count going online and wasting people's time talking about the wonder that is them at meetings as accomplishments.
Apologies. Yes, you did say you'd watched the TV programme on Anne. I forgot that I'd read about it in your earlier post.
Thanks for the reminder about the other documentary on Anne on Wednesday.
A thought came to my head. They have managed to change the debate. We are no longer discussing how they wanted out of the BRF from the beginning. We are now discussing how they were feeling hard done by, and that's a minor victory for them.
We all know they had no intention of staying in the BRF. Nothing the BRF did was ever going to satisfy them, except having the Queen abdicate in their favour.
Charles had them pegged for the top role in the Commonwealth after he ascended the throne, so that was not a minor role. Their argument that they weren't going to be important in the BRF thus disappears.
The rest of the book is just a crazy, twisted psychological mess to keep us away from the real story which is that they wanted to be rich and famous in L.A.
In local good news, two vaccine trials are asking for phase 3 volunteers in Jacksonville, Florida. I might have gone if I were promised superpowers but nope. They just want to see if people develop bad side effects along with their immunity. From what I understand, they are only interested in younger people anyway, but I will call later to be sure and report back.
The bad news part is that they are doing vaccine trials here because coronavirus was spreading like wildfire in a windstorm. We seem to be plateauing again as some people, maybe half, start to act like they've got some sense and are taking rudimentary precautions.
This is interesting Pink Peony! I wonder if comparisons are being made with some people anticipating some major steps being taken against griper and viper?
The thought I had on reading the Crawfie piece is the DM is stirring the s#!+ pot and giving a warning in one go.
Though I think Harry will always be welcomed back (David was just Uncle whereas Harry is Grandson), he may find himself seated next to Andrew at the family table from this time going forward.
La Markle will also be given the kibosh until forever Ha! Harry may go back to family only after he has had it with her and pays her dust enough to say, "I'm going to visit my folks. See ya in a few weeks". Then, the split will become permanent and he will leave L.A.
That's how I see it going down.
https://twitter.com/messymegsy/status/1287732732794036226
I've been reading excerpts from the book and what is glaringly obvious is that JH has a long-standing and deep-seated resentment of his family. I wonder where that comes from - is it just because he hates playing second fiddle to William? Is it because he hates the restrictions and responsibilities of being royal? What the dimwit fails to realize is that those restrictions and responsibilities are the price of having an incredibly privileged life. He also fails to realize that the greater the role, the greater the responsibilities - does he not see that William's role of being a future king comes with the duties of a future king on his shoulders.
I wonder how much of his attitude was imparted to him by his mother. Diana made no secret of her feelings towards the royal family and the courtiers - did she tell him those feelings, too, and poison his mind against his family when he was at an impressionable age? We know that she used William as her confidante to complain about the way she felt she was treated by Charles and his family; might she have done the same with her younger son?
Or the loving arms of his mother's family.
That's the saddest part of this whole thing.
In some ways, I hope it is a rental baby.
La Markle will also be given the kibosh until forever Ha! Harry may go back to family only after he has had it with her and pays her dust enough to say, "I'm going to visit my folks. See ya in a few weeks". Then, the split will become permanent and he will leave L.A.
That's how I see it going down.
My Harry leaving scenario is:
Megsy-Wegsy dear, I have you all stocked up on avocados. Why don't you make some avocado toasts for Doria, Arch and yourself. I must go off with a few of our security team. It is Jimbo's 34th birthday. We are off to Canter's delicatessen to celebrate with pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. Then we are off to the go-kart track and miniature golf to have some fun. The lads (body guards) have been cooped up for too long at Tyler's bloody mansion, so I am taking them out.
With this Harry is out the door. After all their high-jinx Harry is driven to LAX to fly home to London and his family. For good.
..... I wonder how much of his attitude was imparted to him by his mother. Diana made no secret of her feelings towards the royal family and the courtiers - did she tell him those feelings, too, and poison his mind against his family when he was at an impressionable age? We know that she used William as her confidante to complain about the way she felt she was treated by Charles and his family; might she have done the same with her younger son?
____________________________________
Excellent observation. I've read enough about Diana to know that she never made any secret (in private) of her disdain for the RF and how hard done by she felt. Undoubtedly Harry, her twin soul in many ways, absorbed it.
Plus there are the stories where Harry kicked people as a tot and never was punished.
-------------------------------------
@Mel -- You are quite right about Markle's family. From what I've read, they're a close-knit, loving group of people who seem to have the right values in life.
Their only accomplishment so far has been to crib. Crib about the RF, British press, the courtiers and soon it will be Hollywood.'s turn for not giving her leading roles due to - you guessed it - racism! The latest book is the longer print version of the sobfest 'no one asked if I was ok,' video. The irony is that the gospel according to Meghan and Harry dictated to Scobie only lays bares their petty, whiny souls. They have no skills, no staying power to learn any, and zero tolerance of sage counsel. In a year or so when all the freebie house-sitting dries up and the world tires of this nursery tantrum show, we can see the ugly end.
You have pointed out a huge hole in my Harry leaves scenario. I will pretend that with zero friends or contacts in Los Angeles, Harry had no choice but to become chummy with the Sussex security men.
***** Anyone with a Harry exiting scenario please post. Exiting meaning he flees back to the bosom of his Royal Family and to living in England/ UK. Hapless is a fish out of water in LA.
PIERS MORGAN: Meghan and Harry's new book only confirms they're the world's most tone-deaf, hypocritical, narcissistic, deluded, whiny brats - AND that most of the stories the 'lying' press wrote about them were 100 percent true!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8564033/PIERS-MORGAN-Meghan-Harrys-new-book-confirms-theyre-worlds-tone-deaf-whiny-brats.html
This article is the most genuine he has written in ages. He really is astonished by the Markles lies, behaviour and ego and disgusted by them. People obviously detected his sincerity and there are some of the best comments I have read.
Scobie's book set the record in spontaneous combustion it seems.
Its immoral that Frogmore cottage stands empty after such an expensive refurb. Its clear these two will never come back so it should be used for other royals or Royal staff. If Harry ever comes back he can be put somewhere in KP.
Or Africa, since that's where he seems to want to be. If/when he ever returns to the UK, he will be persona non grata.
That's the saddest part of this whole thing.
In some ways, I hope it is a rental baby
I agree. So sad, the child will be a pawn no matter what happens. I hurt for him because a narc with a Messiah complex (as was mention here today) for a mother is hell on earth. Add a weak dad, well it's just tragic :(
It may have not been today. I'm not feeling well so I won't go through all the pages to find the quote but it was very interesting and I want to read up on that a bit more! Thanks to whomever mentioned it!
How delusional are these two to feel this book was great idea?
"Plus there are the stories where Harry kicked people as a tot and never was punished."
True. William was known as "Billy the Basher" for a few early years too.
There are reports the Queen told Charles and Diana they needed to do a better job reining in their kids as reportedly both of them would simply laugh at their antics. I don't know if that's true, but here's a video of the Queen chasing William to keep him from being run over as he chased the wedding carriage of Andrew and Sarah. No telling what Charles and Diana were doing. https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9619527/video-queen-running-prince-william-fergie-andrew-wedding-viral/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8563657/Kate-Middleton-sent-flowers-Meghan-Markle-peace-offering.html
“...Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl has revealed how Kate did send flowers 'at one point' to 'rectify the situation', but the Duchess of Sussex was nonplussed, with the royal author writing: 'Meghan told Kate in no uncertain terms that flowers were not enough.’”
Why did Kate bother to attempt to appease that deranged viper?
And Nutties who noted in earlier posts that Palace will “leak” stories to counter these 2, you were right!
@Lt. Nyota Uhura wrote
"Plus there are the stories where Harry kicked people as a tot and never was punished."
True. William was known as "Billy the Basher" for a few early years too.
There are reports the Queen told Charles and Diana they needed to do a better job reining in their kids as reportedly both of them would simply laugh at their antics. I don't know if that's true, but here's a video of the Queen chasing William to keep him from being run over as he chased the wedding carriage of Andrew and Sarah. No telling what Charles and Diana were doing. https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9619527/video-queen-running-prince-william-fergie-andrew-wedding-viral/
__________________________________________
Ha! Good find :) Proves HM is after all, a Mum --
Yes, I remember reading about William and his own antics -- tho he somehow seemed to grow out of it, and Harry never did. I remember also reading about William in his 20's boozing it up with friends, which he did quietly and behind the scenes, while Harry never grew out of that either, creating scenes wherever he went in London (and elsewhere).
I've saved that video you shared, made me smile :)
https://64.media.tumblr.com/b75880782db8decaba9f3846a1ef9af4/0244a38e8c224470-46/s1280x1920/d2a332d4cc8f0860504ea6cb7ab7038a36824f98.jpg
Less than attractive pastry, I must say but the quoted price is fifty THOUSAND pounds. What a farce
Important life lesson nobody ever taught her, the world owes you nothing.
Now even more awkward and cringy!
https://mobile.twitter.com/Awakepeople1/status/1273860254720069632
The sting in the tail, though, only if it's appropriate for H's wish to be an ordinary bloke!
He should be grateful if Dad buys him, at most, 4-bed barely-detached house on a developer's `executive' estate:
- Open-plan front garden, garage too small for anything but a Smart car; Main bedroom may be en-suite, with a shower, `family' bathroom [bath with shower over, basin, loo] + a downstairs loo, perhaps under the stairs; 3 other bedrooms - referred to as `double' but really only slightly large singles;
- Kitchen too small for a range cooker, perhaps a separate sink for when Meghan does the washing, room to have breakfast; sitting room and dining room which can be opened as one (if they want open plan, it's up to them to fix it.
- No cellar, roof pitch too low for an attic. Tiny back garden enclosed in 2m high fragile panelling and builders' rubbish 4" below the surface.
The allowance? Pegged to the `average British household income', which he'd have to earn on
a 39hr-week, in,say, the local council offices or secondhand car dealership.
Even if Pa were paying the mortgage, he'd find it hard going.
But Hey! That's what he always said he wanted!
Be careful what you wish for, laddie. You might get it!
Of course, the neighbours wouldn't be quite what he's used to, either.
maybe thee Harkles can sublet Frogmore or post it on Travelyst AirBnB to help pay their expenses. :)
Loved Piers column, with friends like the Scoobie writing comlimentary fluff pieces, who needs the tabloid press
Obviously, flowers were not enough. Remember that 'Meghan was upset that she didn't 'check in on her' (DM). Kate didn't ask her if she was ok!🙄
You're more than welcome.
I love presents that can be eaten, drunk, worn out by use or allowed to biodegrade, preferably in the compost bin. Who wants permanent clutter? Or things that are time -dependent, like tickets to somewhere interesting.
Anything that doesn't allow Stuff to accumulate. I do enough of that without help!
Good. Someone else noticed the article about Catherine being told that flowers were insufficient.
The Crown Jewels would have been nice but I expect that the level would have been raised until someone else was curtseying to her.
The comments are brutal.
Biography contains string of claims about how Harry and Meghan were shunned
Finding Freedom has been dubbed the ‘gospel according to the Sussexes’
Contains score-settling and vicious swipes at family, courtiers and the media
Said to be written with their blessing and authors had access to their inner circle
Courtiers have been quick to insist that the version of events from friends is false
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8562723/After-Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-biographys-explosive-claims-royal-insiders-side.html
^^^^^^^^^ The Queen and the BRF courtiers doing a great works via the UK media to do counter attack __The Empire Strikes Back__ at the Megs-Scooby Do book and stories. The Times and the DM did a great job of putting the Megs-Scooby book into widespread internet circulation so that everyone, including the UK peasantry could scrounge and evaluate. The juicy parts at least. So that the BRF was able to reply in kind. Not just the BRF but their loyal to semi-loyal adjacents such as Piers Morgan. This is only getting better for the next 7 days.
I hope you're better. As you're/were not well I did go over the posts to find the Messiah one. Meanwhile, Wild Boar Battle-maid confirmed it was hers.
Here it is:
Wow!
I've just had a look at this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_complex
Be afraid, be very afraid.
July 26, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Let's see if they sue. If they sue over possible photos being offered for sale then they they should want to sue over clear defamation, thus to 'clear' their name.
The Sugars are trying (and failing) to fight the bad reviews on Goodreads by giving Finding Freebies (best title ever, thx @dupers_super) 5* reviews and accusing everyone else of being racist. They're not very diverse when it comes to their tactics, funnily enough.
it is Champing at the bit
And jibe not jive
also
shoo in NOT shoe in
Martial law NOT Marshall law
back to your usually scheduled H$M shite show. I lost count of the number of Megan articles today at DM. Had to be at least 18.
Lainey really seems to come from another planet. She thinks the book would make a great romantic comedy, and compares it, of course, to Crazy Rich Asians, that movie that she is obsessed with.
She has a few comments about how the papers are defending their bad behaviour with tons of stories about Meghan and Harry.
She doubles down on the Sussex' claims that they were not involved in the writing of the book.
It's amazing how she twists things to suit her agenda.
Yes! I think she was doing her very best to angle for a picture of herself with William. A bonus would have been to walk in with them.
Reminds me of one of the Christmas services...they were exiting the church, coming down the stairs. Instead of her usual glomming onto H, she was terribly focused on trying to get a pic of herself with W (who scarfed her).
When that didn't work, she put her hand/arm on Catherine's back and pretended to 'help' Catherine down the steps. Like Catherine was the new person and didn't know the way. Looking for that shot of her and Catherine being all chummy.
More phrase for your collection:
'Hunger pang' not 'hunger pain'
'You have another think coming' not 'You got another thing coming'
'One and the same' not 'One in the same'
'Homing in' not 'Honing in'
'Spit and image' not 'Spitting image'
'Statute of Limitations' not 'Statue of Limitations'
'Free rein' not 'Free reign'
'Exact revenge' not 'Extract revenge'
'Palmed off' not 'Pawned off'
'Moot point' not 'mute point'
A few of the old original phrases have been replace by incorrect versions which almost make more sense now days.
Never Never Give In, Oxford, United Kingdom, 8 minutes ago
Both of these losers are miserable ... and thus, they create unhappiness wherever they go. Word on the street is that even the So HO House crowd, incl./the Obama-Hillary Clinton cabal; the J P Morgan/Goldman Sachs financiers; and, the "woke" celebs are distancing themselves from the malignant narcissist MM and the dim-wit "H". MM-"H" have gone from royal to laughing stocks to toxic. The Queen should strip these hypocritical grifters of all of their titles, patronages & privileges NOW!!!
LET me start by cutting the crap and calling out the fibs surrounding Harry and Meghan’s biography Finding Freedom.
The author Omid Scobie is NOT a journalist. He is a fully paid up member of the Sussex fan club.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12238454/harry-and-meghan-biography-hypocrisy/
Yes! And Dan Wooton brings it up that Megsy couldn't deny Kate told her off for rudeness to the staff. So she is simply silent about it.
She was rude and haughty and bullying. Period.
It doesn't matter; the amount they are paid will NEVER be enough.
Just scratching my head at them at this point. They are SO out of touch with anything and everyone alive. I echo the rest of you when I say I feel sorry for Archie. Hopefully Doria can care for the little guy the best she can.
So Finding Freedom was more less penned by Meghan. Even reading it, certain phrases leap off the page. The sentence "Over drinks (beer for Harry and a martini for Meghan) reminded me of her "Over a lunch of chicken tacos" bit she used to try to act like she literally had lunch with Michelle Obama (which she did not....) There are other lines that really vibe with Meghan's writing style. Super busy day at work but I'll try to pull up more examples.
The article about how Kate sent her flowers and Meghan told her that wasn't even close to being enough was ghastly. What a BITCH Meghan is.....actually far worse than I dreamed. I think William and Kate have been treated like absolute crap by Harry and Meghan. It's actually those two I'd like to ask.... Are you guys okay?
I read a comment that I thought was poignant; Harry and Meghan espouse the ideas of preaching about a ‘whole new world’ and want to buck snobbish behavior and elitist think. Tear down the pillars. Yadadadada. Well, why haven’t they renounced the Monarchy and be true to their ideals? Hanging onto it is doing them both an extreme disservice.
It seems with everything in life they want half in/half out, and that is why they’ve never been successful. You have to commit and cannot go through life halfhearted. You can, but won’t see any results from it. Which is what we are seeing here.
The utter humiliation they are bringing to the BRF, for approving this union, has gone too far for my opinion.
Meghan has been decent at faking it until she makes it, which she has said herself. It only works to a point in life, unfortunately for her.
They’ve put their relatives in a difficult position. The BRF cannot afford their PR thorn in their side for years to come, as Meghan uses it to keep herself in the papers. The only way to stop it is to cut the funding, which then puts Harry and Meghan in difficult living circumstances, which the BRF clearly doesn’t want either.
Purely speculation but I think Meghan has a connected deal on the back of this book. She needs money, to keep up her expensive PR.