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Meghan, Harry, and Community Property in California

This is what happens when I take too long to write a post. My original idea - that Meghan and Harry should consider purchasing one of the "cheap old houses" popular on Instagram and fix it up as part of a reality series - seems to have been overtaken by events.

Page Six is reporting today that Meghan and Harry already have a house in Santa Barbara, near Oprah and Ellen's pads, and in fact have been living there for at least six weeks. (This is not entirely unexpected; Harry's most recent hostage video had a different background than usual.)

"This is the first home either of them has ever owned," writes the couple's PR agent via Page 6. "It has been a very special time for them as a couple and as a family - to have complete privacy for six weeks since they moved in."

They could probably still be having complete privacy if the couple's PR team wasn't leveraging their real estate news in order to promote the new book "Finding Freedom" - which the Sussexes, of course, insist they had nothing to do with. 

Bad timing

Meg must be a little peeved that the timing of the house announcement conflicted with bigger news about another biracial Californian; it was announced late yesterday that Kamala Harris would be the Democratic nominee for US Vice President.

You can almost hear Meg's screams in her publicity team's hastily-concocted story headlined Meghan Markle reveals why she's voting in the 2020 election. (Spoiler: it's because she wants her "voice to be heard.") 

Roughly 130 million Americans voted in the last election, so I look forward to Page Six's in-depth accounts of why the other 129,999,999 will be voting this time. 

Paired with the fact that Megan Thee Stallion is rapidly becoming America's most famous Megan (with Meghan McCain probably in second place) and the news cycle just isn't being kind to the Duchess of Sussex.

Community property

Anyway, what interests me most about the Page Six story is the quote that "this is the first home either of them have owned." 

Could Harry - or Charles, who probably provided the downpayment if not the full purchase price - really have been dumb enough to put the house partly in Meghan's name? 

First of all, there would seem to be obvious tax benefits as well as privacy benefits to putting the house in the name of a corporation, and Meg seems to have registered several over the years through her business manager. By this time, there must be a corporation in which Meg and Harry are both directors - Archewell? 

Secondly, any good financial manager would plan carefully when a married couple purchases a significant asset - particularly a couple with two different citizenships and two different tax liabilities. Even moreso when the family strongly suspects the marriage might not last. 

Could Meg possibly have convinced Harry to make her an equal partner in a home that was financed by his family or his inheritance?

I'm no lawyer, but California is famous for its 50-50 community property settlements

While these aren't fully in force unless the marriage has lasted 10 years, it seems clear that Meg would be able to walk away with at least half of any house that had her name on it.

What do you think?

Comments

lizzie said…
@JHanoi,

I think they were disparaging the Cambridges for having live-in staff. Apparently "day staff" are A-ok with the Sussexes to do everything. (That is, when they don't make their security guards run their errands.)

They did make a big deal of Nanny Maria's Norland uniform. I guess that was just to be mean but it also may show that neither M nor H was ever around the Cambridges very much. We've all seen plenty of pictures of their nanny working in regular clothes. (And I seem to recall H&M making some negative remark about nanny uniforms long before FF.)

I can't imagine the amount of labor required to keep those grounds manicured. Maybe not live-ins but it seems to me they'd need daily work done, or almost daily. And lots of it. Year round, I'm guessing. They'll need a "pool man/woman" too. I just can't imagine having to have that many people around to maintain my property. And that doesn't even include housekeeping staff to clean and maintain not just the interior but to sweep off the exterior spaces. Ugh. I hate it when I have to have people in and out for home repairs!
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
JHanoi said…
19th summit - so checked out the speakers to compare to the cdan or blindgossip post.

i thought the former first lady was Michelle Obama, but it’s Hilary!!
an the Talk show host has to be Sunny Hostin, kinda of a nobody from Babs/ABC The View.

and the other intersting tbing to me at least was, all the speakers (all women) have their name listed then career or most notable thing with 2 exceptions. for instance Hilary is listed as Hilary Clinton, former Sec of State, Sunny, is Sunny Hostin, Co-Host, The View, Meryl i Meryl Streep, Actress.

the 2 exceptions are - MM is Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. No career/ accomplishemnet ( reason for being there speaking) LOL
and The Go Go’s ( an 80’s or 90’s girl band)


CookieShark said…
"The book is an unwitting tribute to what appears to be the Duchess's titanic self-obsession and the tragic ease with which the Duke has apparently decided to let himself be swallowed up by his wife's narrative."

Titanic self-obsession sums it up. The expressions of the rest of the RF at the Commonwealth service show how aghast they were at H&M's presence. I believe it was the day before when her team stole the show from Camilla's speech on domestic violence by posting her visit to the National Theatre (something her team had been specifically instructed not to do). In the context of their selfish exit and disrespect to Camilla, they then pitch a fit because the Cambridges were walking in the procession and they weren't. To top it all off she shows up looking like an aggressive caterpillar, and their complaint is that no one greeted them warmly enough? Why on earth would anyone greet them after how they had behaved?
Fairy Crocodile said…
Can somebody in the US or anywhere help to sum up estimated expenses for the house like that? I got:
Mortgage
Property tax and other state taxes
Utility - water Bill's must be awful
Property security
Service staff
Regular upkeep
Insurance

Other expenses
Health insurance
PR
Grooming including plastic surgery
Day to day costs
Travel, vehicle taxes
Personal bodyguards
Lawyers
Assistants

Even my incomplete list must bring annual cost of living to way way over a million dollars.
Hikari said…
Found this today, compliments of a poster over on Skippy’s blog.

I was never much one for conspiracy theories...And then came Meghan. Something about her just seems to attract them. I can see the appeal of the theory that says that Meg has had a cadre of “shadow backers” Who bank rolled her ascent into the royal family and continue
to be involved in this whole mess, With the end in view of destabilizing the monarchy & Other societal institutions and bringing about a race war and anarchy. Real New World order stuff. Whether or not one find merit in this theory, this is a bit of an interesting read.

https://skippyv20.tumblr.com/post/626416780434341888/sandiedog-skippyv20-skip-julie-here-this
Aquagirl said…
@Fairy: I would say that the first half of your list is, at a minimum, $1,000,000. To the second list, I’d add (depending whether or not you think there’s a baby), childcare (whether it’s Doria or someone else.) Also court costs (in addition to lawyers), agents, (both her acting agent & the speaking engagement company), clothing, medical care (costs beyond insurance), therapy (wishful thinking on my part), wine, and hobbies.
Aquagirl said…
Plus paying back Frogmore.
SwampWoman said…
CookieShark said: Titanic self-obsession sums it up. The expressions of the rest of the RF at the Commonwealth service show how aghast they were at H&M's presence. I believe it was the day before when her team stole the show from Camilla's speech on domestic violence by posting her visit to the National Theatre (something her team had been specifically instructed not to do). In the context of their selfish exit and disrespect to Camilla, they then pitch a fit because the Cambridges were walking in the procession and they weren't. To top it all off she shows up looking like an aggressive caterpillar, and their complaint is that no one greeted them warmly enough? Why on earth would anyone greet them after how they had behaved?


Classic manipulation technique to make somebody appear in a negative light. Did it purposefully and then was oh, so hurt but privately exulting that she had elicited the behavior that she had desired (SEE! They're RAAAACISTS! I had to leave because they are so very mean to me)! You see it a lot in middle school girls, the teacher's lounge (grin), and corporate life. It can be countered by being SO sugary sweet to her in public and dropping a couple drops of Liquid Ass on her unobtrusively from behind could assuage the bad taste of the sugary behavior.


NeutralObserver said…
Hi everyone. Haven't been paying much attention to the Harkles, but did today to try to raise my too low blood pressure. So many thoughtful & well informed comments, as usual. I can't really add anything except my opinion that the reported to move to Santa Barbara is absolutely genius in terms of 'Archie,' if he exits, not in terms of it being a good environment for a young child, but because a huge, isolated house in a neighborhood of mostly elderly rich white people who love privacy is the perfect place to hide a child, or a non existent one. Neighbors won't be dropping in with casseroles, lol, & even if they did, the house is so large, it would be easy to imply the child is in some far off room with Nanny. Megs could even at some point claim that 'Archie' is in some Santa Barbara private school, under an assumed name, 'for security.' All the headmasters & headmistresses of any nearby schools would just assume 'Archie' is in some other school, not their own. Private schools aren't eager to spill the beans on their parents in any case. To me, a neighborhood like Santa Barbara would mean a child would spend all of his time in a car, chauffeured, by someone other than his parents. Children have playdates, enrichment programs, lessons, sports, etc.. All 'Archie' would see is the backseat of a car.

Re: the 'mortgage.' A fairly sophisticated looking reporter on some UK tv show said right after the 'Megxit' announcement last year, that he had no idea what kind of peer group poor Harry would be able to find minus the royal family. The reporter said the only type he could think of that would want to hang out with Hazzah would be shady Russian billionaires. He seems to have been prescient.
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
@NeutralObserver -- We all take brief "sabbaticals" from the Harkles here and there, as we might suffer "overload" otherwise!
----------------------------

Could someone please share this article in its entirety? TIA!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/biography-books/finding-freedom-makes-one-thing-clear-americans-know-nothing/
Fairy Crocodile said…
@ Aquagirl

Thank you for adding to the list. Looks like a conservative estimate of the living costs in that estate will reach and jump 1.5 million dollars a year easily.

Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
New Harry Markle up -- "The Californian Harkle Tower Begins to Crumble"
AnyaAmasova said…
@Golden Retriever
Thank you very much for sharing the Simon Heffer/The Telegraph book review. It was very interesting and straight to the jugular. On a side note, I have wanting to read a book about Queen Mary and I will order his recommendation, The Quest for Queen Mary (2018).

As for FF he has correctly summed up the book as "tripe." One word, simple and done. I wish someone would state the obvious as I believe it to be, though I understand they cannot. Megs wrote this book herself, or at least the first draft, and passed it to OS (and Durand?) via a third party, perhaps an attorney. Much of the language is so fawning, puerile, and tripe-ish, it has to be directly from the horses mouth straight to paper. I can just see her pounding away at her keyboard, 5:00am to yoga-time everyday, starting in mid-November when she was banished from the RF. I believe that basically happened at that time. Sometime after the ITV/TB documentary and between the debacle at The Well Child event and her grand entrance in the purple dress with her new wig in the large theater (forget the event), HMTQ said nuncio mas. That trifecta of Megs shenanigans closed the door shut.
Bright on said…
part 1 "If FF was designed as a piece of PR for the Duchess of Sussex, then her team needs sacking. Because once again, the people trying to make Meghan “likeable” have done a woeful job. Her characterisation in the book is painfully earnest, and eager, and completely – sorry, friends across the Pond – American.

Finding Freedom doubles down on this characterisation, using anecdotes and descriptions that I would never dare use in fiction for fear of the red-pen treatment my editor would give me. Case in point: “Theirs was a love story that took hold in Africa – where now Meghan, on the last day of an incredible three-week stay, stretched her body into the perfect warrior pose.

“She quietly took in her surroundings from the grounds of their final home away from home on this trip, a modern villa in Livingstone, Zambia, just under ten miles upstream from Victoria Falls. The rising sun washed over her makeshift yoga garden, while an exotic flock of birds that looked as if they had just had their tails dipped in pots of colourful paints serenaded her.”

Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have been working the royal beat for years, but without wanting to question their expertise, I’ve got some thoughts on how they could have done it.

Let’s take a line about Meghan’s childhood. Finding Freedom reads: “Meghan’s willingness to help others and her drive to excel meant she often was deemed ‘fake’ by classmates at school who felt it was impossible for anyone to be that ‘perfect.’”

A more Brit-friendly line would have been something like: “Meghan’s willingness to skive lessons and share her stolen Marlboro behind the PE block, or use her older sister’s ID to buy bottles of White Strike, meant that she was deemed a ‘total legend’ by classmates at school.”
Bright on said…
part 2 "Finding Freedom tells us: “A good friend of Meghan’s called her Grace Under Fire, because despite whatever pressure she was under, she didn’t fall apart.”

Her work ethic is described thus: “From the time she was a student, juggling school and jobs, through her years grinding out auditions for bit parts, to her becoming a successful TV star who continued to push the boundaries of her career by launching a popular lifestyle website, Meghan always had a plan.”

In my Meghan propaganda, it’s slightly tweaked to read: “From the time she was a student, she knew how to do the absolute bare minimum and get away with it. She’d turn up to work half an hour late for work, carrying an industrial coffee and swallow down a fistful of paracetamol. But she always knew which bars would have creepy old dudes who’d ply you with free drinks – Meghan always had a plan.”
Wow!

https://skippyv20.tumblr.com/post/626416780434341888/sandiedog-skippyv20-skip-julie-here-this

Well done, Hikari!

Julie on Skippy has expressed my original thinking about this - I had hoped it was just the product of my over-active imagination.

Interesting - Harry Markle, way-back-when, discussed the possibility of sinister backers but dismissed on grounds that no `sensible' plotters would use MM because she was too unreliable, a real loose cannon. They should have trained her properly regarding dress and behaviour or used someone else. As it is, I reckon she's out-Doolittle-d Shaw's Eliza.

Unfortunately, that Harry Markle post's not available at the moment, presumably because A Boffin is working on it.

Just think, she may, in a very oblique way, have done us a favour, as her `predecessor' can be seen to have done in the 1930s.

On her 21st birthday, the then-Princess Elizabeth stated: `I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service...'

I doubt very much that she's abdicated responsibility and deserted us now - she probably has far better idea of what's really going on than we have.

@Lt Nyota Uhura said:

"Now more than ever do we need strong and determined journalists (mm, jury's out on most of my so-called brethren), bloggers, Tweeters and above all commenters, to bring everything out in the open.

Nutty Flavor Blog is one of the linchpins -- maybe THE linchpin -- in this brave new world of exorcising the evil that, for now, has the Harkles as its poster children."


Hear! Hear! I've wondered if I been kidding myself when I've thought we might be helping in something important - glad to know I'm not the only one to think this!
Bright on said…
part 3 "The line that many Brits will find hardest to read without squirming is when the book dips into issues ecumenical: ‘‘Part of what helped Meghan get through this difficult time was her faith. Her relationship with God and with the church is extremely important to her,” a close friend said. “That’s something most people do not know about her.”

A proposed rewrite on the topic of spirituality would go something like: “She probably believes there’s something up there – I mean it’s a nice thought isn’t it? Anyway, how have you been? Terribly hot recently isn’t it? More tea?”

It’s not Meghan’s fault that we’re a nation of horrible cynics who only really like watching other people fail, and it’s not the book’s authors’ fault either. But the woman presented in Finding Freedom, however accurate a portrayal it may or may not be, is not the kind of woman the British public were ever going to be able to hold to their chest.

We don’t like people who do yoga and look at sunsets on holiday. We like people who drink three double gin-and-tonics before dinner and then try to speak Spanish by doing English with a slightly offensive accent."
Bright on said…
part 4 "We don’t like people who pack their suitcases using dryer sheets (a story recounted in the book). We do like people who shove two outfits into a duffle bag and turn their pants inside out if needs be. The only part of the book that seems to do the Duchess any real favours is the bit where they claim she was very happy to urinate in the bushes on a camping trip with Prince Harry.

Because the Sussexes have become earnest LA types, they’ve become more and more like characters in the kind of soap opera that the middle classes who consider Hollyoaks beneath them can permit themselves to enjoy: entertainment puppets, who are useful given that The Archers is currently unrecognisable, but not an ideal outcome for a couple who seem to crave the affection of the world.

If they’re reading any news at all, they can’t be unaware that the tide of public opinion is often against them, which must be a miserable thing to live with. Despite the fact that both the couple and the authors have been clear that no interviews were given for the book, it seems plausible that they hoped Finding Freedom might help their popularity.

It is, on the face of it, a very sympathetic portrayal of a beautiful young couple in love, striving to find their place in the world. But then, perhaps the misplaced belief that the characters in this book are likeable to your average Brit is born of the same thinking which caused some of the Sussex Royal problems in the first place. "
Bright on said…
The above 4 pieces from the Telegraph. as per request "Could someone please share this article in its entirety? TIA!"

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/biography-books/finding-freedom-makes-one-thing-clear-americans-know-nothing/
lizzie said…
@Fairy Crocodile,

According to DM, they face annual expenses of around $4.4 million
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/article-8624963/Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-face-eye-watering-bills-4-4-million-new-home.html

That doesn't include some things on your list like health insurance and plastic surgery.

Also not sure either list includes food or vacation costs. (Normal people stretched by a mortgage would skip vacation but post-pandemic I'm pretty sure H&M won't.)
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
Thanks @Bright on! :)

“She quietly took in her surroundings from the grounds of their final home away from home on this trip, a modern villa in Livingstone, Zambia, just under ten miles upstream from Victoria Falls. The rising sun washed over her makeshift yoga garden, while an exotic flock of birds that looked as if they had just had their tails dipped in pots of colourful paints serenaded her.”

Blecccchhh. One guess who wrote THAT drivel!
__________________________________________

@Wild Boar Battle-maid -- (Copying some posters' use of bold for names to make it easier for them to find, especially during this blitzkrieg of Harkleness and comments thereabout!)

When the dust finally settles, I think it will be found that Nutty Flavor Blog has been either ahead of the curve or surfing right along the break on the whole fantasmagorical saga. Can't hold a candle to you guys who have much better insight and writing skills than I, but I like to think each of us has contributed something to putting the whole picture together :)
SwampWoman said…
Interesting. If this is some kinda pre-divorce payoff, she would have to be paid a helluva lot more than Diana to afford to continue to live there, and she's just not that important.
Miz Malaprop said…
Between the extravagant mansion and the uncontested Finding Freedom rendition of events, Charles looks more foolish than Harry at this point.

He has indulged every whim of these two petulant thirty-somethings and will continue to hand over millions of dollars into their high-level maintenance for as long as he lives. They've insulted the Queen, lied to the courtiers, trashed William & Kate, and their reward is a sumptuous property, no duties, no apologies, no repayment of Frogmore.

Megsy may not have gotten away with taking a picture of the Cambridge kids, but maybe she did find something to hold against the BRF to explain Charles' indulgence? Maybe it's worth burying Prince Andrew's ongoing legal troubles with their outlandish story?

HM is untouchable, but with his own actions, Charles looks weak and out of touch, he's been bested by an aging starlet whose grifter tendencies have blossomed during her time with the Royal family. They never need to earn a penny, as Charles will keep handing over his "personal" (aka not publicly reported) funds.

Sure, Daily Mail comments or a few opinion pieces may mock the Sussexes, but aren't they having the last laugh?
SwampWoman said…

@Lt Nyota Uhura said:

"Now more than ever do we need strong and determined journalists (mm, jury's out on most of my so-called brethren), bloggers, Tweeters and above all commenters, to bring everything out in the open.


In a world where ABC Report does an "Inside the boogaloos extremist movement" (which was a joke by the Chans) as though it is an actual thing, well, I'm wondering what sort of intelligence test one must fail to headline for the MSM. The ONLY investigative reporting being done appears to be done by independents.
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
@SwampWoman -- Sad, but true. Watergate seems like it happened in the Late Cretaceous era. I'm thankful I write for a publication aimed at veterans, thus not allowed to cover any other topics than what are relevant to them. So I've gotta get my Harkle frustrations out on the 'net :)
Nukleopatra said…
With the sunshine yesterday, I took full advantage on getting my dose of vitamin D. My library had a copy of FF available (which means no one in this area cares) so I took one for the team. First my advice, don’t buy a copy, most of the excepts that been released are the bulk of the book. Anything else was just word salad we’ve already heard. I wish I would have written specific things down, but like everyone else, I agree, she had complete control over the narrative. There are just too many items that there is no way a third party would have the information. One thing that did stand out, IIRC the Disney voice over was already done when they attended the Lion King premiere. It does paint Catherine as cold and aloof, but always follows it up with comments about how MM didn’t care, it sounded like backpedaling and they didn’t want to completely throw her under this bus. William on the other hand, it was death by a thousand cuts, but never any apologies or reasoning. All in all, it was a laugh, I think we have a better understanding of this than most people, but having said that, people not following the story, may be bamboozled by the BS.
Nukleopatra said…
As for the house, I’m not sure where I stand on this one. Part of me thinks the settlement is underway, part of me thinks they still may be so delusional that they think they can make a go it. Either way, the Never Complain, Never Explain mantra may blow up on the BRF on this one. I know there are things behind the scenes that we will never know, but I think the citizens of the U.K. are owed at least some answers on this.
What I find the most frustrating, those that shouldn’t often get, because it’s not worth the trouble to fight them. I remember being called for jury duty, and a woman was just so obnoxious and obstinate, that the judge dismissed her. He said it wasn’t worth everyone else’s time. But, we that were left felt frustrated, because she played a game, and won. Sound familiar??
NeutralObserver said…
@Lt. Nyota Uhura

Yes, overload is right. There are so many good researchers on this blog that keeping up can be exhausting! An embarrassment of riches.
We don't know if Charles was the financial backer or if it was the Russian oligarch/shady businessman or even Oprah or the SoHo House. There are a lot of very questionable people surrounding The Harkles. Before we blast Charles and the BRF for funding this new mansion, let's get the facts first.

I believe that MM, and whoever her cohorts may be, are actively trying to bring the British monarchy down. Because The BRF's code is to "never complain, never explain," we haven't heard their side of the story yet. I'd hate to see the BRF fall because of misinformation and propaganda that was put out by MM's camp.

Let's tread carefully until we can unearth the facts. Keep digging!
Nukleopatra said…
@Unura
OT, While you’re here, let me send a Thank You for your service! My Ex’s family are mostly retired Navy, and I wish everyone could hear people’s stories! Fascinating, scary, heroic. Veteran’s are unsung hero’s, and salute to all!
Crumpet said…
Nutties,

You all are on fire!

Love the potty reference, @unknown! Love all the house names, everyone.

A song to go with the house? How about Welcome to the Hotel California...by The Eagles. It could have been written for these grifters.

Lyrics
On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinkin' to myself
'This could be heaven or this could be hell
Then she lit up a candle
And she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor
I thought I heard them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (any time of year)
You can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
She got the Mercedes Benz, uh
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys
That she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard
Sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember
Some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain
"Please bring me my wine"
He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice
And she said, "We are all just prisoners here of our own device"
And in the master's chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember
I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
"Relax", said the night man
"We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave"
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Glenn Lewis Frey / Don Felder / Donald Hugh Henley
Hotel California lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
lizzie said…
@Nukleopatra,

Thanks for the FF info.

If the voiceover work was already done before the Lion King premiere, then when? The premiere was on July 14. The mysterious Archie was purportedly born on May 6.

I suppose Harry's "you know she does voiceover work" comment to Iger could have been a joke...he has a bad sense of humor (I don't think it's just a dry British sense that I don't get it as an American, I think it's bad.) Under those circumstances I guess Iger might have looked shocked...plus, no matter the purpose, it took attention away from the honorees....
SwampWoman said…
JocelynsBellinis said...
We don't know if Charles was the financial backer or if it was the Russian oligarch/shady businessman or even Oprah or the SoHo House. There are a lot of very questionable people surrounding The Harkles. Before we blast Charles and the BRF for funding this new mansion, let's get the facts first.

I believe that MM, and whoever her cohorts may be, are actively trying to bring the British monarchy down. Because The BRF's code is to "never complain, never explain," we haven't heard their side of the story yet. I'd hate to see the BRF fall because of misinformation and propaganda that was put out by MM's camp.


Since shady Russians (which seems to mean ties to organized crime) appear to be involved, is Harry aware enough to know the consequences that he could be incurring?
Bennie said…
New Harry Markle.... :)

"The Californian Harkle Tower begins to crumble"

https://harrymarkle.wordpress.com/2020/08/14/the-californian-harkle-tower-begins-to-crumble/
@Nukleoptra,

I've been reading FF, and I so agree with you. I got it the first day it came out, and am only on page 168 because I keep falling asleep while reading it. It is a complete waste of time and money, and seemingly written by an inexperienced writer. All of the good/funny/word salad parts have already been published online.

As for the "never complain, never explain" concept, I don't think the BRF should be forced to respond just because a two-bit hustler and her deadbeat husband are pushing their buttons. The BRF is above that kind of gutter gossip. We do know that the Bank of Dad is not a bottomless pit, so I think there my be more going on in the background than we may think. I hope!
@Swampwoman,

I think Harry is fully aware of who he is doing business with, and he doesn't care. It's all about the money, no matter how he gets it. Harry has shown his true colors over these past few months, and those colors aren't pretty.

OKay said…
JocelynsBellinis said...

I believe that MM, and whoever her cohorts may be, are actively trying to bring the British monarchy down.

I think the conspiracy theorists give Meg far too much credit. She's nowhere near as smart as she or anyone else thinks.
Cass said…
“Sussex Sewer”. “Grifter’s Gutter”
Cass said…
My favorite of course comes from Magatha....CASA CUCARACHA!!!!!!!!!!!
Nukleopatra said…
@Jocelyn
I do agree! I reread my comment, and my brain didn’t reach the keyboard!! I didn’t mean they need a full explanation. But, I do feel the tax payers in the U.K. should at least be given at least some clarification. There are just too many questions. The two grifters don’t deserve a free ride. I and most everyone else works hard for what we have to be supporting this woke joke. Without some background the public pushing of the envelope with these two had reached absurdity.
Midge said…
Here's another critique of FF that you might find interesting:
https://thecritic.co.uk/right-royal-rubbish/
@OKay,

I don't think MM is very smart, either, but she is certainly cunning enough to do somebody else's bidding if it brings her money or a mansion.

She wouldn't the leader, she would be the conduit. We all know that "Anything For Money" is MM's middle name. She has no moral base, even though Scoobie tells us in FF just how very religious and pious MM is. Does anybody really believe that? She even pushed that religious aspect with the Madonna with crossed hands at her heart pose, eyes turned upward toward heaven in that video. She also got H to to the same thing in one of his videos. Nope, she's not smart enough to be the leader.

Now, I'm not pushing this as fact, but it is one possibility that should be pursued. How did a third rate actress end up married to a British prince and buying a multi-million dollar mansion in the US within just a few years? She's just not smart enough to do that by herself.

I also think we should try to find out how Marcus became so powerful so quickly. I smell a very interesting story there. Why has no media outlet thoroughly investigated Marcus? I wonder what the BRF knows about him, and I'm sure that he's been well-vetted by the men in gray suits.
SwampWoman said…
JocelynsBellinis said...I think Harry is fully aware of who he is doing business with, and he doesn't care. It's all about the money, no matter how he gets it. Harry has shown his true colors over these past few months, and those colors aren't pretty.


Hmmm. Seems to me that those associations would raise lots of alarm flags in the UK and intelligence assets would be poring over their travels and communications. *sigh* If only James Bond were real.
PrettyPaws said…
Hi, Nutties

As with many of you, I am getting totally fed up with the Harkle saga but felt moved enough to do this quick note:

If they are getting involved with any Russian oligarch, then they had better be very careful - these people can become very nasty if someone happens to p*ss them off. I doubt if JH understands very much about mortgages/finance as he's never, ever had to before but MM does and if he's left all the "arrangements" to her then he may be in for a nasty surprise one dark and stormy night. Or is that just my wishful thinking?
Jdubya said…
I'm getting tired of the drama and find myself really not caring who they bought it from. If they bought it all by themselves, then buyers beware. If Charles was involved, i'm sure it was checked out thoroughly. I didn't ask any background on the previous owner of my house.

I think they released the house stuff because they were getting beat up from the book FF. She has the deal coming up on the 19th and is trying to distract.
Mel said…
I think Harry is fully aware of who he is doing business with, and he doesn't care.

He doesn't care is true. But aware, hard to tell.

Look how he was taken in by the posers pretending to be Greta T. He seemed remarkably naive in that conversation, in addition to not having vetted who he was speaking with.
@Nukleoptra,

I see what you mean.

We live in an age in which we want everything done so quickly, and that's where mistakes are made- by doing things too quickly and without looking at all of the ramifications. MM is a perfect example of that. She rushes in without thinking things through to a logical conclusion.

The BRF just doesn't work that way, and I am hoping that time will tell just what they are doing about the Harkle problem. I don't think they are hiding their heads in the sand, but are actively looking at all of the angles to best rid themselves of the Harkle problem-permanently.

My guess is that there is a signed legal agreement that the BRF can't do anything until the year is up. They aren't going to do an agreement with The Harkles without getting it in writing. Little did they know that Harry would care so little for his own family and heritage that he would lie to them about having all of this in the works before he even married MM. I don't think they ever expected Harry to be so horribly deceptive and outright lie to his own family about his plans with MM for world domination.

One final thought. To those who have read the book or excerpts, have you noticed that on nearly every page a product is mentioned? I think some major money is being made there by merching through the book, and The Harkles are going to get their cut.

It's a beautiful day here, so now I'm going to take a walk on the beach and get some sun! Have a good day, everybody!
SwampWoman said…
PrettyPaws said: If they are getting involved with any Russian oligarch, then they had better be very careful - these people can become very nasty if someone happens to p*ss them off. I doubt if JH understands very much about mortgages/finance as he's never, ever had to before but MM does and if he's left all the "arrangements" to her then he may be in for a nasty surprise one dark and stormy night. Or is that just my wishful thinking?

I'm sure that those oligarchs are all filled with the milk of human kindness and are in service to their fellow man and LIVE to provide elegant flophouses for the not so rich who want to be famous while expecting nothing in return. Bwahahahaha.

I idly wonder just what it is that Just Harry and Medusa are providing for whoever is covering the bills because I can't see how it could possibly be them. The cachet of hanging out with former royalty? Future influence? Present intelligence? Blackmail material that they are acquiring to use on PC or PW in the future?
Bright on said…
The Windsors are oblivious and rather naive tbh. I used to hang with Michael Ball when he was an item with Edward, the wines that were couriered to his Hyde Pk. flat from the buck house cellars, let's just say one bottle would pay an average monthly mortgage on most levels. Fergie, I dated Alastair Blair and folk would gather around his answerphone to her pleading to have a design specifically made for her. There is a reason Yorks are shit on the fashion front, they're avoided by the fashion world. Hazza is as thick as shit and if you check his Eton exam journey, always by someone else doing his exams, namely the waistcoat painting being the pinnacle of 'his' talent :D Army career, think officers mess 24/7 outside of a drunken nap 3 or 4 times a day.
Lucky Dog said…
QUESTIONS FOR NUTTIES, PLEASE!

1. Diana didn’t get as much in the divorce from the Prince of Wales, who had the Duchy of Cornwall, and is direct heir to throne than it appears MM is accumulating. Why??? She was the mother of the future king, and she couldn’t afford half of what Harry and Meghan are.

2. Where have all the real journalists gone? Most are social media gossips on par with high school nonsense. Why hasn’t there been an expose on Markus? How come Soho hasn’t been more unearthed?? Are there Epstein ties?? Why is Samantha is so quiet?

3. Harry is not a permanent resident and can’t get a legit US bank mortgage. Has he leveraged his trust fund remainder payable at 40 to the Oligarch or someone else?? Thoughts?

4. Does anyone think a child who grows up in a house like that has a shot at normalcy?

5. why the heck did they release this news, give their move time frame, such that anyone can Zillow sold houses and guess precise location, yet filed a privacy lawsuit over supposed issues after they left TP place, yet site that address as their current domicile. That makes no sense at all. Nor does filing in SM, when it should have been filed in LA superior downtown. This all seems like a ruse. Something is very off. It’s like they want to set stage that Archie was killed by Russian mobster over a discount mansion loan gone wrong. No one gives millions off the price, which could be seen as an attempt at property tax fraud, for free...
@Mel,

Maybe you're right that he isn't fully aware. He has been very sheltered all of his life, and is very naive, as you pointed out. I think MM just tells him that everything's okay, and that he believes it. But we have seen an extremely vicious and money-grubbing side to him that makes me believe that he knows at least part of the things they have said and done are not on the up and up. Willingly plotting against his own family is just the tip of the iceberg. That takes a depth of deception that we are just beginning to see from Harry. Just how deep that deception goes remains to be seen.

I'll shut up now...lol.
LavenderLady said…
@HappyDays,
After all, narcissists view ALL people, especially their children, as objects to be used to advance the agenda of the narcissist. Archie has already been used as a weapon against the Queen and Philip by her refusing to bring him to the UK during their farewell in early March. Meghan no doubt uses Archie as a bargaining chip/weapon with Harry by holding Archie over Harry’s head to keep Harry in Cali. Even if Harry and Meghan eventually split, Archie will be used a weapon for as long as Meghan walks this earth.
______________________________________________________________________________

Yes! Thank you for this. I totally agree.

Nutties,

Just to clarify, I don't think for a minute that Archie will be the "star" of the family. Oh no. That will ALWAYS be her. She will make sure of it. But he will generate cash for her in the form of child support and whatever she can use him for to shake down the RF. Photos and merching the hell out of him, yet doing it covertly so it doesn't look like she's doing it. This is what I call a gravy train.

I also believe there really is a child. That's the formula for social climbing women. Bag a rich dude and pop out a baby asap to secure the bag. She is no different than a young girl doing it to many famous, rich men- hard to name them all. Whether it's by a surrogate or not, which I think there is a big possibility, there is a kid somewhere.

I can't fathom an institution as astute and careful as the modern BRF would be moronic enough to go along with a doll used in pics etc, with the Queen in the pic with the doll! It makes no logical sense to me. Maybe centuries ago stupidity as such would be tried but now? No way. I think a scandal or too yes, but lying and abetting a faked birth, is too far fetched for me to get my arms around.

@Unknown,
Finding Reliefdom

The rising sun washed over her makeshift facade-of-a-loving-wife, while an exotic flock of racist birds that looked as if they had just eaten massive amounts of colorful fruits serenaded her by raining their sweet shit down upon her.

With a sigh, she raised her lithe and graceful yoga-trim body from a woven wicker chair realizing she had 19 toilets from which to choose from for the morning deposit of her daily floral-scented release.

A great deal of debate and much contemplation was required before making the decision about which of the 19 porcelain thrones would be the winning receiver of her most perfect essence.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Not at all! I think this is the most cleaver parody I've read in awhile. I loved it! :) She better buy stock in poo drops for her abundance of johns lol...
Hikari said…
@lizzie

Re. Elephant Voiceover

This will just be me repeating a gossip that surfaced at the time of Meg’s voice over debut, but it has a specificity to it that makes it sound credible to me. It is rumored that Oscar winner Sigourney Weaver had already completed the narration for the Elephant film. I find is credible because not only does Miss Weaver have a wonderful voice for a voiceover project, but one of her nominated acting roles was Elephantas Dian Fossey, gorilla conservationist. If this is true, Disney should have kept her in reserve for a gorilla documentary rather than scrapping her elephant to work in favor of the brass Duchess. That whole episode was so weird, because Meg was not a natural fit for an elephant documentary. If Disney were so willing to use a royal as voice reader, shortly asking Harry, the real Royal With the Botswana elephant activism on his resume should have been the choice. Meg would’ve much rather been a Disney Princess.

I have not inflicted makes narration upon myself, but by all accounts, she bombed and the whole episode resulted in egg on their face for Disney and for Bob Iger. If Sigourney’s voice work is still in the vault, Let’s hope that we are gifted with a properly restored version of
Elephant after MM hits the skids.
@ Lucky Dog,

1. Diana wasn't merching to the extent that MM is.

2. According to Lady C., the British journalists know EVERYTHING about MM, but are holding back for the BRF and because of the MoS case. Samantha may have been told to be quiet until the lawsuit is over. Same with Thomas.

3. Harry doesn't need to be a permanent resident to get a mortgage. Plenty of people have homes in the US and a second or third home in other countries. No idea of the funding for it. There are so many possibilities.

4. Even if they didn't buy that mansion, Archie will never live a normal life with narc MM as his mother. Her excuse that she's too famous to go to Mommy and Me classes with him is a huge clue.

5. They want people to know that they've moved into a huge mansion. They think that's great PR for them, and it keeps them in the news. That sure backfired, didn't it?
I think they filed where the "crime" of taking their photos took place, not where they lived at the time. However, this is just the kind of thing MM does to gain attention. She makes things so convoluted that it keeps people guessing, and that keeps that her in the news.

These are just my guesses.
LavenderLady said…
@JocelynBellinis,
I don't think MM is very smart, either, but she is certainly cunning enough to do somebody else's bidding if it brings her money or a mansion...

Now, I'm not pushing this as fact, but it is one possibility that should be pursued. How did a third rate actress end up married to a British prince and buying a multi-million dollar mansion in the US within just a few years? She's just not smart enough to do that by herself.
________________________________________________________________________________________

La Markle is no super brain but she is "crazy like a fox". Very calculating and manipulative as we have seen over these past two, three years. She certainly gets others to do her dirty deeds by hook or by crook. PC for example! But Karma will bite her on the ass. Of this I have no doubt, though it may take a bit of time.
@Pink Peony,


Agreed. She is calculating and cunning, with no limits. It's going to catch up with her eventually. Karma, indeed.

Just wait until the MoS case is over and the year is up. I think the tide will turn, and I think the BRF already have plans in place. They have the best legal teams and advisors in the world.
Hikari said…
Major tea spillage on Skippy today.

Take this with a grain of salt, but there’s this:

royalteachitchat: Word on the Street… 🏠 Harkles Home Base is the SoHo House in West Hollywood. Has been for a very long time… ⭐️ 🇨🇦 Canada was a smokescreen… Hollywood mansion leaks are just for image... https://skippyv20.tumblr.com/post/626447460325376000

Also, in the post directly above this one, there’s a link to Ashli of the Danjazone on YT. Her house was torched, and her beloved dog is missing. Has a deranged sugar found her address and taken revenge?
Mel said…
I think MM just tells him that everything's okay, and that he believes it....

he knows at least part of the things they have said and done are not on the up and up. 


Yep. He seems to be easily taken in with her lies. You'd think he'd have figured out by now to vet everything she tells him.

She's always presented herself to him as the wordly one, she knows how it's done, and he believes her. No self confidence.

I agree that he's gotta know that some of this isn't legit. But if it means sticking it to William, then he's all for it?
AnyaAmasova said…
@Bright On
Ouch! Do tell us more.
lizzie said…
@Hikari,

Thanks. I'd read the same thing about Sigourney Weaver and it made sense to me. And I agree M did bomb (from the shorts blurbs I've heard and reviews I've seen.) I think Harry (or any other man) wouldn't have been a good fit though because of matriarchal nature of elephant society.

But @Nukleopatra seemed to think FF implied Meghan had completed the documentary before the Lion King premiere. I don't really see how that's likely timewise. I can see why M might want people to think that...I expect she didn't like people thinking Harry got her the job instead of her massive talent.

BTW, I read on another site (Quora) that the Bogart was too old to travel fake story is in FF (without any more details.)
-------

@JocelynsBellinis
wrote about the John Doe lawsuit:

"I think they filed where the "crime" of taking their photos took place, not where they lived at the time."

Maybe. BUT the July 23 court filing says they are "residents of the County of Los Angeles" at the time of the filing and apparently that was not true. Lying to the press for "privacy reasons" is one thing, lying in a court filing for whatever reason ought to be a problem.
CatEyes said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
CookieShark said…
She is wearing the bracelet from Trevor again today in her interview with Emily Ramshaw.
AnyaAmasova said…
@Bright On
As the years have waned on, I have come to see Fergie as a complete train wreck. Further, though it has always been by choice for PA, I think Fergie's need to hang-on, including residentially, PA never found or even looked for a new, perhaps beneficial, marriage. Had he happily remarried someone a bit more grounded, perhaps he would not have chosen to loiter with Jeffrey and GM.

Regarding PB & PE, I have always had a bit of a soft spot for them. They have been so ridiculed for their looks and dress all the while beautiful, tall, thin Duchess Catherine floats by like a gazelle. I do hope the three of them get along and I would guess they do. Now that Haz is in the waste bin, why can't Charles let them play some regal role, albeit without the HRH and stipend?
Hikari said…
@Mel

Sadly, I think we must conclude that this entire situation has come about because Harry hates William. Hates him to the point of wishing he was dead. I think Harry hero worshipped William as a little boy, But by the time he went to big school at the age of eight or so, he was old enough to recognize the disparity in their futures.

The tales we have been sold about the unassailable bond between the Wales brothers is largely more Palace PR. I’m sure Hazard used to be fun as a sporting companion, So long as he was getting his way, But in view of how we’ve seen Harry behave in recent years and always learned about his previous embarrassing conduct in the military and at school, It seems ludicrous now to still believe that Harry was ever William’s confidant and most important person. I think for many years, and starting long before Diana died, that William was dealing with the treacherous, whiny, childish little brat...But was compelled to smile and smile and uphold affection that his little brother was an emotional support and always had his back. Harry has stabbed William with thousand figurative knives. There’s no getting over this.
Miggy said…
@CookieShark,

She is wearing the bracelet from Trevor again today in her interview with Emily Ramshaw.

Indeed she is.
I had the misfortune of finding the Youtube link but have switched off now as can't bear listening to her voice.

You have to wonder WHY?? What message is she trying to send?
She does nothing without a reason.
Miggy said…
For any fellow Brits that can bear to watch, here's the link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzjg3dl9cGM&feature=youtu.be
NeutralObserver said…
Thank you, @Right on for sharing the Telegraph article.


"willingness to skive lessons and share her stolen Marlboro behind the PE block, or use her older sister’s ID to buy bottles of White Strike, " This was totally me as a teen, not legendary, just a normal teen who liked a bit of fun.

I have a rare cancer which makes me nauseated a lot of the time, but cancer isn't nearly as nauseating as the sick-making swill of FF! Anyone who can make it through that tome is a 'better man than me, Gunga Din!"

I think Megs is like a runaway, beat-up car driven by a drunk, lurching from side-to-side, heedless of any destruction. She has no sane organizing principal. The book & the house purchase have shown her to be someone obsessed with settling petty scores, & living out the materialistic dreams she had as child in La-La-Land. She seems to have a modicum of normal business savvy, but her id is firmly in control. As Lt. Nyota Uhura pointed out, Oprah, like many others in Hollywood, likely has some of the same underlying issues as Megs, but she's much more self disciplined & ruthless.

Movies about her life might be made at some time, but they'll be on the lines of The Grifters, or American Hustle. Her real character would probably be interesting to a very talented actress like Amy Adams, but not the plastic creature Megs has created as an image of herself to flog to the public.
CeeMoore said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Miggy said…
@CeeMoore,

You're welcome... and good luck. You'll need it. ;-)
lizzie said…
@Miggy wrote about M wearing Trevor's bracelet

"You have to wonder WHY?? What message is she trying to send? 
She does nothing without a reason."

Probably just an attempted dig at Trevity Trev Trev's pregnant wife. As if she'd likely care. But M would and even though M dumped him she probably does hate he's found happiness with beautiful woman and is expecting a daughter.
Bright on said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Miggy said…
@lizzie,

Probably just an attempted dig at Trevity Trev Trev's pregnant wife. As if she'd likely care. But M would and even though M dumped him she probably does hate he's found happiness with beautiful woman and is expecting a daughter.

Ah ok, just typical narc behaviour. Every one I have known, (and still know) are jealous as hell.
Girl with a Hat said…
@Hikari,

I recognize the situation between William and Harry because it resembles that of mine with my younger sister. I looked out for her all of my life until I realised she hated me and that for my own health and well being, I should stay away from her as much as possible.

We had a good relationship until out late teens, early 20's when it was obvious that I would have more success in my life due to better looks, more determination and higher intelligence.

It started with a few small incidents where it was obvious she was trying to get even with me for no reason, and it escalated to the point that I couldn't bear being with her because of the nastiness in her tone and words. And all of this despite the fact that our mother favoured her over me, and wasn't shy about showing it.

I can only imagine if I were the heir to the throne and she wasn't. I would fear for my life.
Shaggy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Girl with a Hat said…
this is an interesting bit of gossip about Edward's sexual preferences

https://www.ibtimes.com/prince-edward-bisexual-spotted-making-out-another-boy-netizens-discuss-2867712
HappyDays said…
I recall reading shortly after the wedding that Meghan applied for an account at Coutts and was turned down. It’s amazing two jobless spendthrifts like the Harkled were able to make a qualifying down payment and obtain such a huge mortgage.

Thank you, Royal Bank of Charles. Charles has been markled.
Girl with a Hat said…
I read a funny comment somewhere about the 19 bathrooms in their mansion. It went something like this:

I don't know why H&M wanted a house with 19 bathrooms. What they needed was a big lawn so that she we know she loves to piddle outside.
Shaggy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
Nukleopatra said...
@Unura
OT, While you’re here, let me send a Thank You for your service! My Ex’s family are mostly retired Navy, and I wish everyone could hear people’s stories! Fascinating, scary, heroic. Veteran’s are unsung hero’s, and salute to all!
-------------------

Thanks so much :) Wish I'd stayed in the Army longer, but former husband was Navy, and they don't station you together, so decided not to re-enlist so we could start our family.

And speaking of the Navy (sorry for OT! I'll get back to the Harkles, promise!) -- just this past week we ran a feature on the USS Indianapolis, that was torpedoed and sunk in WWII. Out of 1,200 men, 800 made it alive into the water. They clung together for a slap week. Heat and thirst drove a lot of them to drink salt water, which made them delirious -- some attacked (and killed) fellow Sailors, some became convinced the ship was serving hot food and cold drinks in the galley down below. They swam down beneath the surface, and got picked off by sharks. Lots, and lots, and LOTS of Sailors got picked off by sharks. It never let up. One Sailor said there was a square piece of netting with styrofoam floats on it, holding 15 Sailors, ALL of whom were eaten in front of the others' eyes.

The whole freaky thing is, they had just completed a mission to deliver top-secret components of the atomic bomb to the island of Tinian. They were on their way to Leyte in the Philippines -- it was 1945, so late in the war they didn't think they'd encounter any trouble. A Japanese submarine captain decided to take one more for the emperor. The Sailors -- only around 300 of them left -- were finally rescued on Aug. 6 -- just as Hiroshima was being blasted into oblivion.
________________________________________________

Bright On said ...

Hazza is as thick as shit and if you check his Eton exam journey, always by someone else doing his exams, namely the waistcoat painting being the pinnacle of 'his' talent :D Army career, think officers mess 24/7 outside of a drunken nap 3 or 4 times a day.
--------------------------

Now, WHY am I not surprised. I had heard snippets here and there about his Army service, how he threw tantrums and was a complete slacker, and babysat throughout his Afghan deployment. But that business with the Royal Marines memorial service in Deal was the straw that finally broke the camel's back for me. Dunno how long it's going to take for the years of hard work by the Palace PR on his image to wear off with the general public -- but the real Harry is a POS.
Miggy said…
@Girl with a Hat,

I now have images in my head of Megsy squatting all over her garden, sprinkling gold dust as she showers the greenery. 😆
Miggy said…
EXCLUSIVE: Welcome to the (very rich) neighborhood! Meghan and Harry's Montecito neighbors include a vineyard owner, a Forbes' billionaire and a Houston banker who bought the Scarface mansion – and most are more than thrilled to have them!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8625189/Meet-Meghan-Harrys-new-Montecito-neighbors.html
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
Re: Harkle house purchase -- Saw a possible scenario on LSA from a real estate person as to how they could manage "paying for it all by themselves."

The Russian oligarch creates an account with $X million or so in their name for them to "prove" to the bank that they have the means to make payments on the mortgage. The bank issues the loan for the down payment, which they turn around and pay right back (to the oligarch). From the sounds of things, some of the payback money might have come from the shady transfer of Sussex Royal funds (quickly transferred to MWX Foundation), and/or, of course, Bank of Dad. The whole connection with Frim Fram, M's company, is still elusive to me -- but doesn't bode well for Harry.

Didn't like to copy-paste, as it's making me increasingly nervous about "outing" internet posters on matters like these -- and I have ZERO understanding of real estate shell games -- so maybe someone more savvy can clarify.
Miggy said…
Oooh! Forbes' list billionaire Peter Sperling lives next door to Meghan and Harry.

Is he married? If not, Haz had better watch out!
@lucky Dog said:

" This all seems like a ruse. Something is very off. It’s like they want to set stage that Archie was killed by Russian mobster over a discount mansion loan gone wrong. No one gives millions off the price, which could be seen as an attempt at property tax fraud, for free.."

Now there's a thought!

Something fantastical along not dissimilar lines keeps going through my mind. Who remembers Frederick Forsyth's `The Day of the Jackal'?

There the assassin uses a fake identity, taken from the gravestone of a youngster who had died at 16 or earlier. A copy of the birth certificate was ordered and then used to get a passport with all the details of the deceased but the photo of the assassin.

I take we are dealing with the real MM? The alternative could be the basis of a good thriller- all that plastic surgery, an explanation for why she looks older than her stated age, the estrangement from her father?

Haven't worked out yet how to explain Doria but `The Day of the Cockroach' would be a great title.

The mobster idea would be a good way out of explaining the lack of Archie - think of all the sympathy she'd get, all the money the Sugars would raise.

In real life, her backers, if they exist, could still be benefiting from the chaos she creates.
@Miggy asked

`Is Peter Sperling married'

Looks like it - this is from an obit for his father:

"Sperling, who had homes in Phoenix and near San Francisco, is survived by his longtime companion, Joan Hawthorne; his former wife, Virginia Sperling; his son, Peter; his daughter-in-law, Stephanie; and his two grandchildren, Max and Eve,"

Not that that would bother Megsie.
Miggy said…
@WBBM,

Thanks. I looked on his Wiki page and saw no reference to marriage.
Grisham said…
I seriously doubt they did anything illegal to get a mortgage for the house. It’s very regulated. Highly regulated.
Grisham said…
So it looks like the house has 11 total bedrooms counting the 2 bedroom gate house. So that 11 bathrooms. Then 1 bathroom in the tea house, one bathroom in the gym, one bathroom in the media room. Now we are at 14 bathrooms. 2 bathrooms at logical places in the house... one probably near the kitchen and perhaps one by the pool. 16 bathrooms accounted for.
CookieShark said…
She made the interview about herself and took a dig at the UK more than once. She complained about the media and called them toxic. She was very rude when Emily Ramshaw said she wanted to ask her something. She has done that in interviews before. It is part of her horrible manners. You could see quickly when Emily corrected her and distanced her business from the tabloids MM was talking about.
@Miggy - I didn't check when his father died though - things may have altered since then.
SwampWoman said…
WBBM, I'd happily read 'The Day of the Cockroach'.

I agree that any woman standing between Medusa and a billionaire had best be wary.

I just don't get the incessant pursuit of rich men but, then again, I don't need 19 toilets or feel the need to impress anybody.
@Lt. Uhura,

Hi! Long time no see!

What you just posted about the oligarch putting up the money so that the bank sees enough funds for The Harkles to get a mortgage is exactly the thought that I posted last night. It would work, and when talking big money, the mortgage industry is not as regulated as it is for we peons.

I've read stories about mortgage bankers being so dazzled by con artists who appears to have deep pockets, that they put the loan right through. Money talks.

This may explain some types of scams people do with mortgages, including switching funds from one person to another to look like they have more money than they actually do:

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/10/how-mortgage-fraud-affects-markets.asp

@tatty,
I think you'll find that mortgage fraud is more common than you think after you read this article.
@Cookie Shark

She is wearing the bracelet from Trevor again today in her interview with Emily Ramshaw.

That’s so strange. If it is meant to make Trevor’s wife feel jealous, that is pathetic and childish. The new Mrs. Engelson is far wealthier than Harry may ever be, and younger and prettier than Meghan to boot.

I suppose it could be intended as a message to Trevor to please not spill the beans about their marriage and divorce, but from what I’ve read about the negative way Trevor is portrayed in FF, that is likely a lost cause.
Wolpertinger said…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8628937/Trevor-Engelsons-uncle-hits-claim-Meghan-Markles-husband-cope-fame.html
Miggy said…
@Wolpertinger,

Thanks for posting that article.

Loving it... they are finally hitting back! :)
Grisham said…
@joycelyn I have no doubt mortgage fraud exists and when caught, lengthy jail terms follow. I sincerely doubt the future monarch of the UK would allow his son to do some ram scam fraud with the possibility of criminal charges for what reason?? Charles doesn’t have enough money?

So sorry. That is beyond extraordinary to suggest they went into cahoots with the former owner of the house to enter into some kind of underworld criminal activity.

But then again, I suppose some people still believe Meghan and Doria are in jail in the Tower of London under the watchful eye of Lord Geidt. 🤷🏼‍♀️
Grisham said…
I mean, TL;DR: two wealthy millionaires, one a prince, buy a mansion in Montecito.
The silence from the RF about the financing for H and M’s McMansion is troublesome. I’d hope they’d release a statement either confirming or denying PC’s role in the purchase. Someone needs to tell him in a very direct and forceful manner that the sh*t has hit the fan and he is directly in its path.
Grisham said…
Why has the shit hit the fan?
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Grisham said…
I am unclear why shit has hit a fan.
Shaggy said…
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Blogger Wolpertinger said...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8628937/Trevor-Engelsons-uncle-hits-claim-Meghan-Markles-husband-cope-fame.html

Thanks for the link to this article. I’m glad someone is willing to go to bat for Trevor.
Per Wullie’s Bucket’s request. This is the article from the Telegraph on M’s interview today:

Meghan Markle criticises 'toxic' media as she says she is 'happy to be home' and can now 'use her voice'
'To come back and to just see this state of affairs, if I'm being honest, it was just devastating,' she said of returning to the US

Meghan Markle has revealed she is “happy to be home” after a years-long absence from the US, saying she was ready to use her voice in a way she had “not been able to of late.”

The Duchess of Sussex, in her first sit-down interview since returning to her native California in March, also took a swipe at "toxic" media, which she said had lost the public's trust.

She told Emily Ramshaw, founder of The 19th* News, a Texas-based nonprofit news organisation which launched earlier this year, that after spending years in Canada filming TV series Suits and subsequent time in the UK she felt she had returned to a different America.

"To come back and to just see this state of affairs, I think at the onset, if I'm being honest, it was just devastating. It was so sad to see where our country was in that moment," the Duchess, 39, replied when asked by Ms Ramshaw in a virtual summit about her “experiences as a biracial woman and mother” coming home to a troubled nation.
From my standpoint, it’s not new to see this undercurrent of racism and certainly unconscious bias, but I think to see the changes that are being made right now is really — it’s something I look forward to being a part of,” she said on Friday. “And being part of using my voice in a way that I haven’t been able to of late. So, yeah, it’s good to be home.”

After stepping down from their royal roles earlier this year, Meghan and Prince Harry moved to California with one-year-old son, Archie.

Several months later the US erupted in countrywide anti-racism protests following the killing of George Floyd by a white Minnesota police officer.

It was reported this week that the couple has bought a $15million (£11m) home in Montecito, Santa Barbara County, suggesting they were settling down in the US.
The Duchess, who recently revealed that she plans to vote in the upcoming US presidential election, also spoke about the importance of voting.

"We need to be really aware and not take (our vote) for granted. My husband for example — he's never been able to vote," she said, in what was seen as a slight to the Royal family. "The right to vote is not a privilege it’s a right in itself."

The Duchess, speaking with uncharacteristic candour, went on to criticise a lack of “non-partisan” journalism, saying she and the Duke routinely point to an “economy of attention” in the media that rewards the salacious over the truthful.

“What’s so fascinating, at least from my standpoint and my personal experience the past couple of years, is that the headline alone, the clickbait alone, makes an imprint,” she said. "There is so much toxicity out there."

The Duchess is currently involved in a lawsuit against Associated Newspapers in the UK, which published the contents of a private letter she sent to her father. She has previously criticised her treatment by the British tabloids.

She went on: “You wanna have trust in journalism, have trust in what you’re reading. We have become so sadly comfortable that we’re getting all this stuff and it becomes noise as opposed to truth and accurate journalism.”
Shaggy said…
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M is so full of it. The American media is controlled by liberals and is essentially the mouthpiece of the Democratic Party. And to complain about Harry not being able to vote in Great Britain because he happens to be a member of the Royal Family is further proof of how clueless she is.
AshleyWilco said…
@WildBoarBattleMaid
'I take we are dealing with the real MM? The alternative could be the basis of a good thriller- all that plastic surgery, an explanation for why she looks older than her stated age, the estrangement from her father?'
Amazing you should state this Agree with you .
This comment picture was
Taken from Skippy Tumblr blog
'Talking of Russian oligarchs and tin hat theories, anyone remember the supposed Megan doppelgänger Anna who is Russian?'
THERE’S TWO OF THEM!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH'
(Picture of Anna is on Skippy blog she is the image of MM )
SwampWoman said…
I'm going to echo the thanks from Golden Retriever. Sounds to me like the uncle is hinting at her adultery which makes sense if she'd decided that she'd climbed as far as she was going to go with Trevor. She'd never let go of that branch without having another convenient branch to grab onto that could get her closer to her goal.
Shaggy said…
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Shaggy said…
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Cass said…
I guess Hairy doesn’t mind that she wears her ex husbands gift to her of a costly bracelet. He is too cheap to buy a new/different one for her.
Shaggy said…
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Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
JocelynsBellinis said...
@Lt. Uhura,

Hi! Long time no see! Right back atcha, kiddo :) -- hope all's well in Bellinis-land!

What you just posted about the oligarch putting up the money so that the bank sees enough funds for The Harkles to get a mortgage is exactly the thought that I posted last night. It would work, and when talking big money, the mortgage industry is not as regulated as it is for we peons.

I've read stories about mortgage bankers being so dazzled by con artists who appears to have deep pockets, that they put the loan right through. Money talks.

This may explain some types of scams people do with mortgages, including switching funds from one person to another to look like they have more money than they actually do:

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/10/how-mortgage-fraud-affects-markets.asp


GREAT article. Thanks for that, very informative. Opened my eyes, for sure, especially where they say "“one in every 109 mortgage applications is estimated to have indications of fraud.”

The Harkles are dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to real estate. By their own admission they've "never bought a house before." Sergei Grishin must have salivated when he heard this, especially after the fake Greta debacle. If they went ahead and published their "we're leaving" manifesto without the Queen or Prince Charles' knowledge, I can easily see Grishin assuring them that such a "loan" is perfectly fine and above-board, so they went ahead and made the purchase behind Charles' back, presenting it as a fait accompli.
I hope you’ll forgive me for posting a second article from the Telegraph, but I thought this was interesting:

Are the Cambridges and the Straubenzees the new ‘Fab Four’?
He’s a childhood pal, she’s Prince George’s teacher. Cammilla Tominey on the Cambridges’ ‘circle of trust’


The recent marriage of Thomas van Straubenzee to Lucy Lanigan-O’Keeffe would have been unremarkable were it not for their rumoured Royal matchmakers.

Having been besties with van Straubenzee since their Ludgrove School days, Prince William and his wife Kate are suspected to have introduced the property consultant to his blooming bride – who just happens to teach at the London school attended by Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The Cambridges’ supposed Cilla Black moment in setting up the Thomas’s Battersea school mistress, 32, with Charlotte’s godfather, Thomas, 38, caps a long history of fierce friendship between the van Straubenzees and the Windsors.

With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now having settled in the California coastal city of Santa Barbara, some in royal circles are even suggesting that the newlyweds are now the true second couple in the so-called “Fab Four” – especially in light of this week’s revelations in Finding Freedom, the controversially hagiographic Harry and Meghan biography.

As Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty magazine put it: “You don’t get any more trusted than the van Straubenzees. They are as close to the Royals as it is possible for friends to be. They will certainly be playing an important role in William and Kate’s lives in the Sussexes’ absence.”

So chummy are the quartet that Charlotte, five, was poised to be a bridesmaid and William, 38, an usher at the wedding, which was due to take place in April before it was delayed and downscaled due to coronavirus restrictions.

Instead, the couple married at Chelsea Old Church, in south west London, on July 24 with only their parents and siblings present.

Having helped to spark the flames of romance between the pair, who are expecting their first child, the Cambridges regard the couple to be among their most steadfast allies – if not the most loyal.

Hence why Thomas, nicknamed “Van”, and Lucy were among the tight knit group of guests invited to Anmer Hall, the Cambridge’s Norfolk botlhole, to celebrate Kate’s 38th birthday in January.

They joined the couple, the Queen and the Duchess’s parents for a Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate, before returning to the Cambridges’ Grade II listed 10-bedroom country pile to kick off the festivities. HM is said to be particularly fond of Thomas, who has previously been invited for summer weekends at Balmoral.

Also present was Lady Laura Meade, one of two-year-old Prince Louis’ godparents, and her husband James Meade – another of William’s closest pals, as well as Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley and her husband, David, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, who are part of the Cambridges’ “Norfolk set”.
Part II

The show of support came just days before Harry and Meghan dropped their bombshell statement announcing they were stepping back as senior Royals.

Thomas’s youngest brother Charlie, 32, remains close to Harry – having given a speech at his May 2018 wedding to Meghan and now as godfather to their son Archie, one.

Yet after the Sussexes suddenly upped sticks to the US, cutting many of their British ties, it seems the senior van Straubenzees have found themselves very much at the heart of the Cambridge camp.

Members of the landed gentry of Spennithorne, North Yorkshire and boasting a strong military tradition, the van Straunbezees have always had a place at the centre of the Royal Family’s “circle of trust”.

That intimate bond stems from Princess Diana’s childhood friendship with William van Straubenzee, Thomas’s uncle, who admitted in a 2017 documentary that he was “in love” with her.

“Anyone from any gender or orientation who knew of her was in love with her,” he reflected as he painted a touching picture of the young Lady Diana Spencer who used to “pinch” his shirts and read “trashy novels”.

“She was shy and pretty unsure of herself, pretty naive and quite gullible really,” he revealed “Whenever you saw her alone… there was a side to her that she wished someone would sweep her off her feet.”

So when William and Harry joined Ludgrove Prep, near Wokingham in Berkshire, it was only natural that they should be befriended by the junior van Straubenzees.

Although Thomas later attended Harrow School, while the Royal brothers went to Eton, they remained in touch – with the van Straubenzees providing much needed support in the aftermath of Diana’s death in 1997.

The roles were reversed when the van Straubenzees suffered their own tragedy in 2002 when Henry, the middle son, was killed in a car crash aged just 18. Their parents Alex and Claire, to whom William and Harry are both close, set up a memorial fund in Henry’s memory, of which the Princes remain co-patrons.

Three years later, when William was invited to go on his first solo Commonwealth tour to New Zealand, he picked Thomas to accompany him – on the advice of his grandmother.

The qualified chartered surveyor, who works as a partner in the private office of estate agent Knight Frank, has also shown a huge amount of loyalty to Kate over the years.

When she split up with William in April 2007, after five years together, it was van Straunbenzee who reportedly encouraged the couple back into each other’s arms. But Thomas saved Kate’s blushes by sitting next to William at the Concert for Diana at Wembley stadium, while she sat in the row behind next to her younger brother James. It only later emerged that the couple had secretly reunited after their relationship “wobble”.
Part III

William and Kate could certainly sympathise when Thomas broke up with his first wife Lady Melissa Percy, daughter of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, after less than three years of marriage in 2016. ‘Missy’ as she is known to her close friends, including Harry’s ex Chelsy Davy, Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, cited van Straubenzee’s “unreasonable behaviour” as the reason for their “quickie” divorce – although insiders have suggested the straight-laced businessman had simply grown apart from his rather more extroverted wife.

Concerned for their newly-single chum – who gave a speech at their wedding in 2011 – William and Kate are understood to have set about finding him a girlfriend. Although the precise details remain sketchy, after George, now seven, started school at Thomas’s Battersea, he ended up being introduced to Miss Lanigan-O’Keeffe, who teaches mindfulness and outdoor learning, as well as being assistant head at its sister school in Clapham. The barrister’s daughter, whose brother is Irish Olympic pentathlete Arthur, is originally from Co Kilkenny, Ireland.

According to Mr Little: “William will be bursting with pride that this love match has ended in marriage. So will Kate – she has always been a big fan.”

The couple got engaged in June last year and moved into a five-bedroom home in Clapham in January. With the pitter patter of tiny feet already fast approaching, it is surely only a matter of time before William is asked to repay years of unwavering friendship by stepping up as godfather to the next member of the Cambridges’ most trusted clan.
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Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
@Golden Retriever -- Joining in thanks for the article!

You said, M is so full of it. The American media is controlled by liberals and is essentially the mouthpiece of the Democratic Party. And to complain about Harry not being able to vote in Great Britain because he happens to be a member of the Royal Family is further proof of how clueless she is.

This^^. Not to get political, but several surveys have been published of journalists admitting by an 80-plus percentage to "leaning left." Even Fox News, that bastion of "right-wing nut jobs," has been leaning more left than they ever have. Therefore, we are not getting proper opposing viewpoints as we should (IMO).

Me, I get all my news and analysis online. I read both left and right sites. Even for breaking news. Haven't had TV since dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Figures lefties will give Markle a pass, for the most part, as she knows how to speak to whatever pet cause she has adopted at the moment (she really wants to impress the HW types) -- but I'm seeing comments from a lot of left-leaners, male and female, really upset at Markle for posing as a fake *feminist.* She's still swimming upstream. (The love-fest of 19 Whatever it is Conference notwithstanding)
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
@Golden Retriever -- And thanks for the latest article as well! (You posted it while I was typing my post) Yes, all is forgiven, :)
Lily Love said…
@swampwoman

Not right now because he is about to have a baby, but I hope In the next 6 months or so that Trevor comes out and tells everybody about who Meghan really is. Harry and Meghan are not victims and it is time that people start leaking the bad things about them.
Shaggy said…
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Shaggy said…
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lucy said…
Trevor is too classy to speak out but I would love for him to say "I don't know why she is still wearing that, it isn't real."
This DM article says that The Harkles' new neighbors are just delighted that they have moved into the area. However, none of them have even met the couple. So how can they be delighted? They are just being polite. Many would not even give their names. I'm sure they aren't happy about photos of their homes being put online by the DM.

It sounds like most of them hide in their huge mansions and don't interact with each other. The Harkles are surrounded by people with so much more money than they have, so Santa Barbara wives, lock up your husbands! MM will be on the prowl for a richer man after Harry's money runs out.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8625189/Meet-Meghan-Harrys-new-Montecito-neighbors.html

Question about Trevor's bracelet: I have jewelry that has been given to me by boyfriends and my ex husband over the years and I still wear them, even after we've broken up. Luckily, all of my past relationships have ended on very good terms and we remain friends. Is it considered to be wrong to wear them? Is this a major faux pas on my part?
Shaggy said…
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Grisham said…
It’s perfectly fine to wear jewelry from previous relationships!! It’s not a faux pas. Not at all.
Maneki Neko said…
@Wullie'sBucket

@JocelynBellinis and @Nukleopatra

I agree that the BRF should not have to address every insult issued from the vile duo.
I do think however that they owe us some explanations and most importantly some sort of resolution to all of this. If they are not eager to provide them then I say they need to be encouraged!
-----------------------
I'd imagine that the BRF is keeping its own counsel. For a start, they wouldn't want to warn the Harkles of their plans and in any case, they have never do divulged their plans to the public, certainly not on family matters. I do understand that you feel we, especially the British taxpayers, might be owed an explanation but that's not going to happen.
@tatty,

Thank you! I wouldn't wear them in front of their wives, but these pieces bring back great memories when I wear them. I'd hate for them to just be left unworn.
Ian's Girl said…
I don't think there's anything wrong with wearing jewelry from exes at all, but to my mind, if you have married into royalty and are wearing jewelry from an ex-husband, it looks as though your current husband hasn't bothered to give you any himself.

I am frankly surprised she isn't wearing Diana's aquamarine daily, and wonder if she wasn't allowed to leave the UK with it. (Not sure how that could be, since it was Harry's to give her)

In all fairness, she has not ever struck me as being all that in to jewelry, but you'd think Gormless would have sprung for a few cheap pieces to stop her wearing things from her ex.

Maybe the message is meant for him, not Trev.
lizzie said…
@JocelynsBellinis wrote:

"Question about Trevor's bracelet: I have jewelry that has been given to me by boyfriends and my ex husband over the years and I still wear them.... Is this a major faux pas on my part?"

I don't think so. What is odd to me about M wearing Trevor's bracelet is that she's worn it twice very recently and both times were Zoom events that made her hands/arms front and center. So the bracelet was easily identified and quite prominent. Plus, you know she knows it was identified the first time so wearing it again especially so soon seems pointed. 
@lizzie,

It does seem very pointed, doesn't it? Revenge-wearing?

It's also an easily identifiable, iconic bracelet, so I wonder if she's merching it.
lucy said…
My opinion only. But wearing an ex's jewelry seems to be a slight against current beau. Didn't Harry supposedly buy her a necklace for her birthday? Why wasn't she wearing that?

If no one knows where jewelry originated, I see no problem in wearing it. Especially if parted on good terms otherwise I would think it would have been returned. MM plays too many games, she really does have zero redeeming qualities .
Ian's Girl said…
It's also an easily identifiable, iconic bracelet, so I wonder if she's merching it.

**********

Didn't even occur to me and I think you're right.

Seems like pretty small potatoes, but may that's all she can get away with.
NeutralObserver said…
Apologies to @Bright on for not getting your handle right.

@Wullie'sBucket
"That book is such a parody itself and I got “inspired” by her unbelievable number of toilets...which is not 16 as we originally read but 19 in total!!"

Re: Toilets. My mom was a very sweet woman who rarely said anything mean about anyone except Richard Nixon, whom she despised for some unknown reason, but she did comment on an acquaintance of hers who had a house with 13 toilets, she said, "It's probably because she grew up in a house that didn't have one." This woman used to flirt with my dad at Christmas parties, etc., so maybe Mom had a grudge. LOL. Megs may have felt similarly deprived, although she certainly seemed to have a fairly normal middle class life style, but she lived in a city full people with lavish life styles.
@Ian's Girl,

Well, after Harry designed her wedding ring, and she re-designed it, I wouldn't give her any jewelry of value, either. I wonder if she'll mail it back to him when she eventually leaves him.

lucy said…
Meg's super secret birthday party. Do we believe this?

https://youtu.be/PDf5oiPVwl8
Ian's Girl said…
Well, after Harry designed her wedding ring, and she re-designed it, I wouldn't give her any jewelry of value, either

****************

@JocelynsBellinis Wow. Didn't realize she'd done that ( or maybe I just forgot, it's been a rough couple of months)

Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
JocelynsBellinis said...
@Ian's Girl,

Well, after Harry designed her wedding ring, and she re-designed it, I wouldn't give her any jewelry of value, either. I wonder if she'll mail it back to him when she eventually leaves him.

She'll FedEx it -- that is, unless she sells it because she needs the dough-re-mi. Quite sentimental, our Markle.
Jdubya said…
Has this been posted? Youtube video of Megs interviewing Emily Ramshaw - wig and new outside and she is SO EXCITED

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mImToPM6ksA

Beachgal58 said…
@happy days. Had one of my Montecito customer’s come in yesterday and yes she is married to a well known actor who starred in a successful series based in Miami in the 1980’s, and has since gone to do many other successful TV series and movies. She and her husband are extremely down to earth people, very friendly. They live close to the area where the Harkle’s moved. Asked her if she had met her new neighbors and she responded no, I had heard they moved to the area though. She said she hoped they would enjoy their new house, but she wasn’t raving about how exciting it was to have a “royal” couple in the hood. On a side note, Ashton and Mila don’t live in Montecito, unless they bought a second house around there. They purchased their house on Padaro Lane, which is a gated community as well, but Padaro Lane is beach front property, located just past Montecito and close to the City of Carpinteria. Their neighbors include Kevin Costner, Rob Lowe, Ellen DeGeneris, and others. Honestly, since the day it was announced the Harkles had moved to our area, there was a few news paper articles, some talk on radio shows but after that nothing. Old news.
Magatha Mistie said…

@Ian’s Girl

I only recall Megs wearing Dianas aquamarine ring
once, the wedding night?
I’m sure if she had her grubby mitts on the ring
she would have flashed it endlessly.
@Lt Uhura,

I was just thinking that she might have sold Diana's aquamarine ring as part of the down payment on the house. She has no real sentimental connection to it. It's just a flashy piece of jewelry to her, and it doesn't really fit in with the young social justice warrior vibe that's she's currently portraying. However, she'll need it in Santa Barbra to keep up with the neighbor's jewelry collections.

Nah, Megs is all about the jewelry, according to Scoobie. He says in the book that she made it a habit to visit up and coming British jewelers. Gee, I wonder why? Finding Freebies?
NeutralObserver said…
@Jdubya, I watched a few minutes of the Emily Ramshaw interview, amazed that a 40ish woman would want that hair, (also amazed that Omid whats-it seems to want to look like a pre-pubescent girl, but whatever), & am very amused by the glazed look Megs gets when she has to listen to someone else speak. Good on Emily for making the interview at least partly about herself. LOL. She's the one supposedly being interviewed.
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
JocelynsBellinis said...
@Lt Uhura,

I was just thinking that she might have sold Diana's aquamarine ring as part of the down payment on the house. She has no real sentimental connection to it. It's just a flashy piece of jewelry to her, and it doesn't really fit in with the young social justice warrior vibe that's she's currently portraying. However, she'll need it in Santa Barbra to keep up with the neighbor's jewelry collections.

She could only wish! The only thing she could brag about was that the aquamarine ring was Diana's. And everyone knows Catherine got THE ring.

Nah, Megs is all about the jewelry, according to Scoobie. He says in the book that she made it a habit to visit up and coming British jewelers. Gee, I wonder why? Finding Freebies?

Finding Merching, maybe!
Magatha Mistie said…

@Tatty
Charles and the proverbial hitting the fan.
To be embroiled with shady Russian business men
isn’t a good move, at any time.
Also the reports of his funding H & M’s new house
whilst increasing the rents of his Duchy tenants hasn’t gone
down well in the UK.
So yes, Charles needs to be aware.
Grisham said…
Ok, thanks for explaining it. The duchy rents went up. I have been busy in the last few weeks, and don’t know about that part. I appreciate you saying it so I can go look it up.
CatEyes said…
@Lt Uhura said,,,

"She could only wish! The only thing she could brag about was that the aquamarine ring was Diana's. And everyone knows Catherine got THE ring."

Mo, Catherine got Diana's wedding ring, a huge Sapphire ring surrounded by diamonds.

Meghan got Diana's cocktail ring, a large aquamarine ring.
CatEyes said…
Sorry typo, meant to say "No" not "mo"
Lt. Nyota Uhura said…
CatEyes said...
@Lt Uhura said,,,

"She could only wish! The only thing she could brag about was that the aquamarine ring was Diana's. And everyone knows Catherine got THE ring."

Mo, Catherine got Diana's wedding ring, a huge Sapphire ring surrounded by diamonds.

Meghan got Diana's cocktail ring, a large aquamarine ring.


I meant that Catherine got the only ring that counts, the engagement ring -- sorry, should have made that clear. Markle's ring is just one of many Diana must have had, with no sentimental history at all. Not that M cares about that kind of thing, tho I wouldn't put even more jealousy past M toward Catherine because she'll never have THE ring!

Re: typo -- "Mo" worries! ;)
CatEyes said…
@Lt Uhura

LOL! I have a lisp so "No" comes out "Mo"...ROTFLOL!
CatEyes said…
Meghan is lucky she got any jewelry that Diana owned. Heavens know what else Harry might have given Megs that was of importance. Guess we won't know until the divorce (which can't come soon enough for me). :(

lizzie said…
I'm not sure if M was given the aquamarine ring. I don't know why she wouldn't have been, but I think we'd have seen her flashing it about in the UK at least once if she had it. I've wondered for awhile if it was something borrowed and blue for that evening. There are also suggestions it wasn't Diana's ring but a copy. And in some pictures it did look different. If it was a fake and she knew people knew, she might not have worn it again.
Magatha Mistie said…

I take it Megski was wearing ‘depends’
during her latest video.
Just in case she had the urge, caught short midstream,
to water her new lawns.
Sparkles the Sprinkler
@jdubya,

Thanks for putting up the link.

That "interview" MM did was 90% Megs just prattling on and on, and 10% of the other woman trying to get a chance to speak.

If this woman wants to be a true leader, she needs to learn to not let somebody take over her own interview, when she is the one who should be speaking. She also needs to learn not to appear to be a fangirl and gush over a celeb. I was not impressed with her at all. She spent far too much time discussing her kids and leading up to how the org got started. That could have been handled on one sentence. She did this org no favors with this interview.

I think the reason that MM got involved with this "interview" that the event was sponsored by Goldman Sachs, who have been involved with The Harkles before.

MM needs a new hairstyle. She looks like Morticia Addams. She also needs to slow down her speech and stop waving her hands around. It's very distracting. Her voice just drives me nuts. I just can't stand the timbre of her voice. I turned the "interview" off after about three minutes because I couldn't see much value in it.

One final thought. Megs was not stationed in Outer Mongolia for years, so US news was readily available to her when she was in Toronto and and the UK. So why was she so shocked about the state of the US when she returned to California? She should take her own advice and actually read the news.
CatEyes said…
@lizzie

Meghan famously wore Diana's aquamarine ring when she stepped out after her wedding when she changed into the slinky white halter gown for her reception (one of the few dresses she looked good in). It was reported she wore it and a photo taken when she went to an event in Tonga while on that tour down under. I haven't tried looking up other instances but I believe there have been other times as well.
NeutralObserver said…
Obviously have no clue if the Harkles have really purchased a house, or how they actually financed it, but am unsurprised they may have been helped by some shady Russian billionaire. After all, another constitutionally insignificant son and his wife took money from Jeffrey Epstein, not a very savory acquaintance. The Yorks are still hanging on. It would be ironic if the Harkles are indebted to Russian oligarchs, first the Canadian guy, & now the Santa Barbara guy, given the fate of the Queen's relations, the Romanovs.
Magatha Mistie said…

@Puds
Her speciality, sprinkling her tossed salad 🚿
pees on the side 😉
LavenderLady said…
I started to watch the 19th interview. Had to end it when she casually (cough cough) mentions she was talking to Gloria Steinem. I just thought oh F it I'm not watching this crap.

Her name dropping was meant to cement in people's mind that she is a feminist. I wonder if Ms. Steinem thought about how that Thing (I agree she looked like Morticia Addams!) must even begin to identify as a feminist when she got to where she is on the coat tails of her husband, a white male. How she got to *here* by all her men who were white males, whom she ditched when she no longer had use for them and someone more noteworthy came along. I wonder what was going through Ms. Steinem's mind at that moment?

If I were Gloria Steinem I would have called her out on that crock of crap so quickly her Chiclets teeth would have spun out of her lying mouth.
Magatha Mistie said…

@CatEyes
You’re right, she wore it in Tonga.
I had a quick google, wedding night and Tonga
are the only mentions of it?
Lucky Dog said…
The aquamarine ring was a divorce ring Diana bought herself, and I highly doubt Meghan still has it. I read William and Angela closed off the vaults to Meghan, and it sounded like William made sure that included Diana’s belongings. Who knows. But, since she never wore it again, it would make sense.

Thanks to the NUTTIES who answered my questions above!! Jocelyn and Wildboar - I appreciate your input!!

I know I’ve said this before, but TP house isn’t in SM. Their SM filing of the lawsuit against paparazzi is strange, and they indicate in it that they are residents of LA County. Their PR has now said they are residents of SB - for 6w at least. So, did they lie in the court filing?! And why SM?? TP mansion would be downtown district. Something is off.

I am wondering if this Montecito house is really going to be Soho SB. How else can they pay for it?! Why else get that many rooms and bathrooms?? And why throw TP mansion under bus as not to taste and then buy same wannabe Spanish Colonial 2005 knock off for their next pit stop?!

I don’t think the coincidences of Russian involvement, shell companies, soho affiliation, etc. are ever a coincidence when it comes to this trick and her get rich quick schemes... Harry is such a pansy.

And yeah. Whoever commended Trevors uncle, I agree. That man has maintained such a dignified silence against interest, and she has no shame shading him for not sacrificing his ticket for her. She relied on him as the breadwinner and whined he didn’t sacrifice every resource to her?! As a producer, he needs to network, and clearly he earned that ticket, not her, and he was paying the bills. And she faults him for it? What a selfish, greedy, entitled spoilt snatch. Excuse my French.
Lucky Dog said…
P.s. how funny is it that !eghan called and begged to interview the 19th gal, but all the headlines are calling it Meghan’s interview, as if she were interviewed. Of course she made it about her!! She’s insufferable....
lizzie said…
@CatEyes,

Yes, I know she purportedly wore Diana's ring to the evening wedding reception. (Hence my guess it could have been "borrowed and blue" item when I didn't see it again.) I did not know she wore it any other time (including Tonga.) I have seen pictures that suggest the ring she wore to the reception might not have been Diana's ring, however.
CeeMoore said…
@Wullie'sBucket ~ The house pics are still up on Variety Magazine (with link of 22 pics on Dirt) and The Irish Times ~ guess she can't scrub articles with pics

Variety Link ~ https://variety.com/2020/dirt/heirs-heiresses/meghan-markle-prince-harry-buy-14-7-million-montecito-compound-1234733871/

Dirt Gallery Link ~ https://www.dirt.com/more-dirt/heirs-heiresses/meghan-markle-prince-harry-house-montecito-1203333111/

The Irish Times Link ~ (only 8 pics) ~ https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/inside-meghan-and-harry-s-new-14-7m-nine-bed-16-bath-california-home-1.4329424

@Miggy ~ you were right needing luck watching MM, ugh!

@CookieShark ~ right on analysis of MM "interview", she never shuts up ...
Hikari said…
I think we should take an informal poll:

1. Who here believes unreservedly that Meg and Handbag have actually purchased a lavish mansion with 14 bathrooms in Montecito?
Is this really, really real-/Given what we know about this couple, Harry’s legendary cheapness plus his actual financial situation and the fact that gazillions of dollars are not rolling in for Meg in terms of offers? Is this Montecito McMansion just ramped up version of “megs BFF Oprah is throwing her a birthday bash?” Everything Meg does is calibrated to stir envy in those who made her feel small & flaunt a grandiose status she doesn’t actually have. Why should we except this is truth, even though it’s being widely reported? How many of these reports has Megan paid for? It’s in her interest to have people thinking that she and Harry are successful enough to afford a place like this.

2. If this house sale is just another one of Meg’s fantasias, Then Charles is being unfairly dragged through the mud for supposedly financing what may be an out and out lie. I’m leaning toward the dastardly duo being holed up in Soho house in West Hollywood, sans any Archie or Doria. I just start from the default position that everything I read about Meg is false. If they actually are in that Montecito place, I doubt highly that they’ll stay more than four months. I give it till new year, and she’ll release more bollocks about their new location...Something will be found lacking in this place and a reason given for why it’s not working out. Why, just a matter of a few weeks ago, we were reading stories about how much Harry loved LA and cycling down to the beach. Now all of a sudden he hates LA and moving 90 minutes down the coast is going to a race everything he hates about it. Whatever.
0@Pink Peony,

Haha! You're so right! Gloria Steinem is probably cringing that Megs even mentioned her name. Megs is known for name-dropping famous people she's never even met, so I don't pay much attention to her when she drops a name. It's probably made up.

Grisham said…
The windows where they do their zoom videos match the Montecito photos.
@Hikari,

The wood doesn't match up with either the Malibu or the West Hollywood Soho House, and neither does the chair. The wood matches with the Santa Barbara house and the chair looks to be one that's behind a small desk. It's in the background of the photo, so it's hard to tell.

I really don't know. MM tells so may lies, that's it's impossible to determine fact from fiction.
Grisham said…
Right, it’s the library corner, but her chair is a different one, I think. It’s that window side though: one window has two panes and the other window has one row of panes.
LavenderLady said…
@Jocelyn,
Haha! You're so right! Gloria Steinem is probably cringing that Megs even mentioned her name. Megs is known for name-dropping famous people she's never even met, so I don't pay much attention to her when she drops a name. It's probably made up.
_____________________________________
Lol so very true! Her and her porkies. Ugh. Thanks for that chuckle :)
Nukleopatra said…
Sometimes my procrastination pays off. I didn’t sync my Kindle after returning FF, and it was still available. Here is the passage regarding the Lion King conversation about the voiceover:

“The premiere provided yet another example of information about Harry and Meghan being skewed after the Prince was videoed talking to Bob Iger on the red carpet.
He was overheard joking to the then-Disney CEO, “You know she does voiceovers...” in reference to Meghan, who had agreed to narrate a Disneynature documentary, Elephant. When the clip surfaced in January 2020, tabloids spun it into an example of the couple “shilling themselves” to a Hollywood executive. In reality, however, Meghan had already signed on to the project that she recorded in the fall of 2019 in return for a donation by Disney to the conservation charity Elephants Without Borders”

So no, she hadn’t recorded it yet, but they claim the deal was done. Just wanted to make sure I was providing the correct info.

Something I also picked up on, and it really hit me when I was typing this~ There are a lot of “americanisms” in this book. For example, above fall not autumn. I know there were others, that at the time it didn’t sink in, but wondered why Obie Wan Sconobie would be using them. Could, this fuel more conjecture that she was directly providing him the prose? 🤷‍♀️
Nukleopatra said…
@Hikari
I hope it’s 2, that would be just one more nail! And I would be happy if Charles could save face. But, I think it’s 1. I don’t think we’re getting the whole story (and I don’t think we ever will). These two have pulled off so much in such a short time, that I think they did manage to buy this.
Shaggy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
YankeeDoodle said…
I am reading, from this blog to Daily Mail commenters, and on and on. Everything revolves about the word money. How much do the HAMS have, does H have money in a trust fund or new trust funds; who is paying the morons, and why.

The best thing about the USA these awful, criminally get out of jail free days is the underfunded (Democrat’s voted for less funding. One guess why). Although the IRS cannot publicly inform anybody regarding taxes (Trump does not have to show his IRS returns. If so, then everybody’s constitutional rights to privacy will be out the door. Enough rights have been taken away, but I doubt Obama, Pelosi, Kennedy’s want their income and she’ll companies exposed).

The simple thing is for Charles to declare his full income from all sources from the Duchy of Cornwall, the Queen, and any Middle East, or where ever he receives income, from cash, to paintings, jewels, etc. very easy for him to tally up his money. (I believe he even bought land in Romania. Harry named his black Labrador Retrievers Pula, which is a filthy Romanian word, and it means more than just the English interpretation. The HAMS have such nastiness.). How hard is it to write how much money the Crown, and its trusts collected from public monies, does H have in trust or cover-ups. Why don’t the British know how much they are paying a traitor and his tramp of a wife? Why in the world was the book, looking for free money, get published, and a day or two later, H owns a Santa Barbara home? By the way, the home cannot get fire insurance, as in just the last two years neighbors Have had their homes and “olive groves” burnt to cinder. Oprah ‘s house was one of the few left standing. Rob Lowe’s neighbors’ homes were all burnt to the ground. Then there are the intense earthquakes, and rain season with rock and mudslides.
lizzie said…
@Nukleopatra,

Thanks for the additional information re: the voiceover. IF the deal was done prior to the premiere, Harry's question to Iger makes no sense. So either his question was a joke or the FF stuff is a lie.

Your point about "Americanisms" is a good one. I guess those could have come from C. Durand who seems to have dropped off the earth so far as discussing the book goes. I vote the American expressions came from Meghan though. There are just too many tells.
HappyDays said…
Beachgal58: Thank you for the detailed update!

One of my high school classmates who was very successful in investment banking snd finance with a large international bank is retired and has a beachfront home in Montecito. I’ve seen some photos of the property, including the beachfront view from the house, and it’s magnificent.

I believe they bought their property decades ago before Montecito acquired the cache and uber high real estate prices it has these days.

I don’t know this former classmate well enough to contact them ask about the Harkles.Won’t see them again until our next class reunuion, which isn’t for a few more years.
They can get fire insurance under the Fair Plan, but it’s probably very expensive and they are probably underinsured.
Shaggy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Enbrethiliel said…
@Hikari
I've been taking for granted that the reports about the purchase of the house are true, but now that you're polling us, I have to admit that I'd bet on its being a fake story. It certainly fits Meghan's style of lying to and through the press. And it keeps her in the news for something other than her much lambasted Zoom calls and word-salad speeches.

Confirmation bias on our part (generally speaking) also had a lot to do with our accepting the story as true. We all know that Prince Charles is supporting H&M and that he has been a pushover for Harry for years; from these starting points, it was easy to suppose he had either willingly bankrolled the house or been duped into giving them a downpayment that he thought was for something else. But we don't know the last part for certain.

There have also been commenters here who have speculated that Meghan still has a very rich backer or two, who prefers to stay quiet. (Oprah's name gets tossed out a lot. I confess I've considered her myself.) Now it seems that the backer may be Russian! It fits our theories, so we accept it.

Now, confirmation bias automatically prove that the story isn't true! But I'll gladly wait and see for a few more months.
@Wullie's Bucket,

By saying she was shocked, she was implying she wasn't up to speed on US current events before returning home. I realize it was a grandstanding comment, but it made her sound even more foolish. But now, of course, she's THE expert on ALL world current events and plans to change them to her satisfaction. She is such a fool.
Girl with a Hat said…
https://twitter.com/emerald88604982/status/1294333300765597696

hilarious
WOW just saw MEG 2.0 in the DM.

She is UNRECOGNIZABLE.

Why would you change your look (and look dated) the lip job, the eye job, the threading, the hair?

I thought this was a brand to behold and covet according to her.

Amazing.

I have to pack for my holiday tomorrow, rest assured I will be back tonight to read all the comments!!!!

Meghan still forgets she is not the famous one. Harry is.
Fifi LaRue said…
@ Hikari: I always enjoy your comments, and you are insightful, but WOW, with the default that everything Meghan puts out is a lie. You really have something there. And the story we're fed about the closeness of William and Harry could be just PR also.

@Girl with a Hat: Thanks for your comment. I have a brother like your sister. Mother favored him over the rest of us, and he turned out to be one of the beta narcissists, I forgot the name, as opposed to grandiose narcissist. His behavior towards me got to be so toxic that I just had to let him go. It also may be true of William and Harry.
ICYMI: California gonna be baked this week: https://weatherwest.com/archives/7427
CatEyes said…
@tatty

Could you please provide a link to the specific room of the mansion that matches the zoom meeting(s) background. Then perhaps tell us which particular zoom meeting you are referring to. Thank you in advance.

Earlier or yesterday, you asked about what "sh*t that hit the fan"...maybe its the fact people are outraged that the HAMS hasn't paid off Frogmore and instead they are spending money on another home. Or that Charles may be shelling out money from the Duchy after he raised the rents on the tenants. Or that Prince Harry has turned his back on the UK and the Commonwealth by taking up residence in a wealthy American enclave. Or that the UK taxpayers are upset they have to support a royal million dollar security bill. Charles taking money out of one pocket to put in the other pocket to hide the transaction (to pay for the HAMS expenses) from the UK people might be upsetting to many.

Heck I'm upset that Meghan is shooting off her mouth about America in negative terms (like she has been on Mars and is oh so horrified when she came back from outer space after many years); she left the home country and pledge allegiance to another country/royal authority and didn't give a damn to keep up with what was going on in the US. Guess all that bling and baubles blinded her. Now she is going to tell us Americans how we are racist and have "unconscious bias". What nerve. She could have stayed in the US and worked for change. No, when she was in America she spent her time freeloading on others, going on trips to get PR photos and chase men, drinking copiously and frittering her money away whereupon she never owned a US home and contributed to property taxes for the good of the jurisdictions she lived in. I hope she does own the Montecito home so she can begin paying property taxes big time!
CatEyes said…
@tatty

I took too long to write my post...now I see you mentioned where the photo was taken. So forget that portion of my comment above.
Shaggy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
So Meghan hates both the USA and UK

But wants their money.

Right, ok.
Shaggy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
NeutralObserver said…
@Wullie'sbucket, Thank you for your kind concern & your informative posts.

I agree that Megs might have an underlying resentment of classmates & acquaintances whose lives might seem easier, as might all of us. I have no idea of what the Middletons are really like, for one thing, they're English, so very different from Americans. They might be a really horrible, dysfunctional family, but from what I've seen in my fairly limited perusal of UK media, they're a highly photogenic, functional, prosperous, self-made family, ergo, one that Megs would automatically resent, hence her preposterous attacks on Kate. Kate seems to have everything poor, sad Megs was denied by her chaotic, & colorful family. I think the Markles are harmlessly amusing, & are just another unique slice of Americana, but Megs, (like Emily Ramshaw, who was so embarrassingly craven in her 'interview' with Megs,) is a snob trying to claim 'progressive' cred. She's not unusual here in the US. She looks down on the people she's trying to claim as followers.
CatEyes said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Magatha Mistie said…

Megs will just be known as a Large Footnote
in future history books.
Uber Source and her Giant Feat...
Magatha Mistie said…

@CatEyes

California Screamin
Nyet, Megski
Pravda Megski

CatEyes said…
Well I am deleting my above comment meant to be humorous lest anyone gets offended.
Magatha Mistie said…

Megs maybe has a favourite tree
At which she cocks her leg to pee
She really is an outdoor girl
Shaking her lettuce, giving it a twirl
When she strikes her warrior pose
She has no need for a garden hose

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