Skip to main content

Complicated or Drama

A flitter here - The Cut.  Flitter there and it's Variety.  It hasn't been People for a while so maybe they're next in rotation.  

Oh, and building the playground.  Kaboom is actually pretty big and known nationally trying to help increase the activity levels of kids.  Great.  Uvalde is great, I get it but I cannot help but wonder if there would be some equally deserving places in LA. Closer to home.  Closer to local eyes (especially if there could be some sort of political something some time).  


Each participation  always seems to be something in a new direction from the last one - not settling and doing a deep dive into a single subject but more like skipping stones on a pond - shallow taps which drop.  Quietly.

The participation is lauded far and wide.  And how much they participated in getting it to happen is not disclosed. Ever.  If the financials get released, that would be an interesting read.  But numbers? that's boring stuff compared to the fun of trying to find the next project to get involved in - the wheeling and dealing.

But, why does everything seem to be just so complicated about them, around them, what they do and who they do it with?  The franticness reminds me kind of  a Jackson Pollock piece.   Splatters and swirls in all directions.


Meanwhile, the world moves on to the next event which catches the eye.  And what ever they just sparkled about is forgotten and only sometimes remembered in a news article by a reporter looking to add inches to their current article to make it appear longer.


Comments

Sandie said…
Bit odd to use 'his words' as marketing when he used a ghostwriter! But maybe the ghostwriter used some of his words!
Maneki Neko said…
The book is already advertised at half-price by WHSmith! So they reckon it's going to be a flop?
Karla said…
Well, I already said here that I'm the daughter of a narcissistic mother! Second, I belong to a group of daughters of narcissistic mothers.
No, no! I'm not going to talk about myself or get off topic H&M.
Once a month, openly narcissistic volunteers come to our group so that we can discuss a specific topic and they present their versions in light of their disorder.
I had already presented the Meghan Markle theme. And finally, his name was presented for debate

The lecture began, but more was said. But what caught my attention was what she said about MM's insistence on talking about racism in the UK and in the British press that MM talks about so much. She Said:

As a narcissist and assuming M wants to be Princess Diana 2.0, MM must believe the British and media never saw her as Diana, not because she doesn't possess all of Diana's qualities, but. for the simple fact that she is not white, blonde and blue-eyed like Harry's mother was.
Denying it to her was racism and she will spin it until someone says it for her.
Honestly, it made me think a lot about
Hikari said…
More on coronation, KCIII strikes me as more personable and less reserved (aloof?) than his mom. They need to play this up on and around the coronation. He smiles and people generally smile in his presence, and he seems to have a good touch with the common man. His pics as grandpa with Louis, is genuine smiles, they need to take the solemn occassion and expand the day for him to shine where he does best.

Charles's reputation as a stiff is undeserved and I think was plastered on him during the stressful Diana years, when he did often look unhappy in photos. I think he was only stiff when sharing engagements with his ex-wife, since she was bound to eclipse him wherever they went. On his own, or with people with whom he feels comfortable, he seems quite jovial and interested in the proceedings of wherever he is. When Charles is 'on', he's an appealing man. But I find that even his little moments of pique with leaky pens or obtrusive objects on tables have been blown majorly out of proportion. I watched those instances of him supposedly 'pitching a fit' according to the press. I saw the mild and momentary irritation of a man in his 70s who hadn't been sleeping much and was inundated with paperwork and speeches when he'd just lost his mother.

It gladdened my heart (and surprised me quite a bit, I daresay) when I watched middle aged ladies nearly rushing him like groupies at a Beatles concert during various walkabouts. One exuberant soul forgot herself altogether and kissed Charles on the cheek, while the ladies around her looked raptly at him with compassionate faces. Kissing the King. On his face. We wouldn't have seen that in the Queen's day. People weren't even allowed to touch her bare hands. If Charles was surprised, he didn't show it. Not sure what the RPOs thought but nobody chastised the lady. He seemed to enjoy it, in fact. The ladies knew he was sad, and he wears his heart on his sleeve as much as a Royal can. It brings out the nurturing side in certain women which is why he and Camilla are a good match.

This is the kind of warm-hearted reception that Charles needed and I think was quite surprised to receive. But I've seen the faces of the public around him and Camilla at other engagements for years and there are always lots of genuine smiles, just as there are when William and Catherine or the Wessexes are out and about. Contrast that with the miens surrounding Twunt and Twunter when anyone is forced to interact with them.

Neither of them get it: People don't dislike, recoil from them, even, because they aren't the Prince and Princess of Wales. People dislike them because they are nasty, talentless and selfish AF.

Hikari said…
Humor Me,

H knows.....the pronouncement of Harry and * living their lives overseas was chilling when you think about it. The man is starting his reign and settled all debts and family business with his second son in one sentence. The treatment of his brother and his son (regarding the uniforms) for the funeral was generous, and thinking of the Queen. Otherwise, he carried out HMTQ's wishes, period.

Yes, I agree. Kudos to Charles for holding it together during that speech. He must have been choking on the last bit about H & M, because it wasn't supposed to be like this. But he performed brilliantly. I think Hawwy's fatal mistake was underestimating his father. It really did sound like he was washing his hands of them, in a benevolent sort of way. The concessions about the uniforms and giving them both such a high profile during events was probably intended as a parting gesture, in a manner of speaking. How is Hawwy going to show his face at his father's Coronation after the one-two whammy of this book and Netflix?

When a toddler is having a full-out red-in-face screaming and kicking tantrum on the floor, the most effective way to get it to stop is to leave the room, when feasible and let them scream it out. Eventually the screamer realizes that no one is watching and it's fruitless to keep up the performance. The problem with Twunt and Twunter is that they *always* have an audience, even if it's not the audience they want.

Oy vey. I am glad I am not the King.
xxxxx said…
Quick reaction from Harry Markle blog. Usually she takes more time.
_______

Harry De Spare
The Overseas Son was only ever the Heir's spare
37 min ago

https://harrymarkle.substack.com/p/harry-de-spare

The book 335577TW, has now been called ‘SPARE’, and the public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. People are mocking the title, and many are coining phrases such as ‘Spare me’ or ‘Spare us’. Theoretically, the ‘spare’ is the second in line to the throne, and TOS has never been the actual spare— he was the Heir’s spare and was never higher than third in line to the throne. Anne was once a spare, as was Andrew, where both were second in line to the throne at some point.

(Excerpt of course)
Maneki Neko said…
I am listening to Lady C's latest video (3 hours ago): counsellors of state, Nigerian Meghan won't get Windsor Castle, attention seeking hustlers' tactics
Hikari said…
Rebecca,

The book will be published the day after Kate’s birthday. Deliberate?

New releases in the publishing and music industries always come out on Tuesdays. Occasionally there will be a special release on another day, usually Friday, if that occurs. I was a music store manager for a year and Tuesdays are always when new releases drop. Retail outlets will get new product in sometimes weeks in advance but they aren't to be displayed or put out for sale before the official release date, or the vendor can get in big trouble. That goes for public libraries, too.

Kate should be grateful her birthday is on Monday next year, because I'm sure Hawwy would have aimed for her actual birthday if he could've. The timing is a bit suspicious, yeah. Like, why the 10th, rather than the 3rd or the 17th?

I'm shocked that Penguin Random House capitulated to these edits and this delay on Hawwy's account, if that's indeed what's happened. Adding a chapter at the end of the manuscript about the Queen's death would have been doable and still had time to get the book out before Christmas. Extensive edits are a different story. The ghostwriter would have to be called back; entire chapters would have to be re-jigged if sections are going to be cut out . . and I'd have thought it would have reached typesetting stage already.

Once Hawwy signs the contract and accepts the advance money, the publisher owns the copyright, and dictates the publishing schedule, the press campaign, etc. Unless he's actually adding MORE to smear his family with, not taking it away. Releasing in mid-January is a poor strategy, businesswise. The weather is poor most places, people are tapped out from Christmas, so shopping for entertainment items is way down. On the other hand, books are a top Christmas gift. Buyers that may have shelled out $30 for Hawwy's manifesto in the first flush of Christmas spending are probably not going to have that in reserve after the post-Christmas sales are done. Movie studios sit on all their lamest crap films for the January - February period. Stuff that was lowest-budget and never going to contend for Oscars. Penguin's strategy with Hawwy's book is quizzical because he really shouldn't have that kind of power, especially as he's not even writing it himself. Do Penguin know they've got a stinker on their hands?
SwampWoman said…
Observant One said...
@Hikari and Snarky.
You can count on me to buy a copy of the Hunks of the Royal Household calendar. Major Johnny Thompson is a looker!


Shut up and take my money, whichever charity decides to make this calendar!
Hikari said…
Rebecca,

The book will be published the day after Kate’s birthday. Deliberate?

New releases in the publishing and music industries always come out on Tuesdays. Occasionally there will be a special release on another day, usually Friday, if that occurs. I was a music store manager for a year and Tuesdays are always when new releases drop. Retail outlets will get new product in sometimes weeks in advance but they aren't to be displayed or put out for sale before the official release date, or the vendor can get in big trouble. That goes for public libraries, too.

Kate should be grateful her birthday is on Monday next year, because I'm sure Hawwy would have aimed for her actual birthday if he could've. The timing is a bit suspicious, yeah. Like, why the 10th, rather than the 3rd or the 17th?

I'm shocked that Penguin Random House capitulated to these edits and this delay on Hawwy's account, if that's indeed what's happened. Adding a chapter at the end of the manuscript about the Queen's death would have been doable and still had time to get the book out before Christmas. Extensive edits are a different story. The ghostwriter would have to be called back; entire chapters would have to be re-jigged if sections are going to be cut out . . and I'd have thought it would have reached typesetting stage already.

Once Hawwy signs the contract and accepts the advance money, the publisher owns the copyright, and dictates the publishing schedule, the press campaign, etc. Unless he's actually adding MORE to smear his family with, not taking it away. Releasing in mid-January is a poor strategy, businesswise. The weather is poor most places, people are tapped out from Christmas. On the other hand, books are a top Christmas gift. Buyers that may have shelled out $30 for Hawwy's manifesto in the first flush of Christmas spending are probably not going to have that in reserve after the post-Christmas sales are done. Movie studios sit on all their lamest crap films for the January - February period. Stuff that was lowest-budget and never going to contend for Oscars. Penguin's strategy with Hawwy's book is quizzical because he really shouldn't have that kind of power, especially as he's not even writing it himself. Do Penguin know they've got a stinker on their hands?
Henrietta said…
Mel said:

Anyone think Mm got her Variety photo out there first to one up H?

Absolutely! The close-up photos aren't very flattering to her. I couldn't figure out why they were chosen for the magazine covers (both The Cut and Variety) until I saw the cover of Harry's book. Sociopaths are so emotionally immature.

Sandie said…
Bit odd to use 'his words' as marketing when he used a ghostwriter! But maybe the ghostwriter used some of his words!
Humor Me said…
@sandie -
Thank you for the exposingsmg article. Thought provoking.
unknown said…
Harry’s book is already a #2 best seller on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles under new releases
Henrietta said…
Thank you, Rebecca, for the Telegraph comments. I'm sorry to say, of the first 10 or so comments on the article about Harry's book on the Washington Post website, at least half were positive and encouraging. Thank God people closer to the story are holding Friar accountable for his actions.



Maneki Neko said…
Sorry for yet another post. Lady C is absolutely furious about *'s claims of 43% Nigerian heritage, she's in fact 'repulsed'. She also mentions rumours that have been circulating for some time that she is not Thomas Markle's daughter but the product of a relationship that Doria had with a black man. Have any Nutties heard these rumours?

https://youtu.be/j-4k8EWvK5I
27'35: Doria's heritage
34'16: * (36'02: rumours)

I don't think I've ever seen and heard Lady C so angry and upset.
Humor Me said…
Dan Wooton calls it - Harry appears to want to bring down the Monarchy.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11362181/DAN-WOOTTON-Months-Queens-death-Prince-Harrys-moir-bring-royal-family.html
Sandie said…
https://youtu.be/GcmEMwnhMD8

Newest Palace Confidential ... we will have to wait for Jo and Richard to return (next week) for some gossip!
Royal Household Hunks - wonderful idea!

I'm glad you said `dressed', because, for one moment, I thought of the homoerotic beefcake `Men in Kilts' calendar - a few years back they did their photoshoot just about as far from Scotland as they could go and still have a (slightly) convincing landscape - Dartmoor. If you search in Images, it's the one where they're posing in a the empty windows of a ruined farmhouse (right kind of heather on the moors, wrong kind of granite in the walls).

Am not in the habit of looking at such publications but we'd walked past the location on a Sunday trek so checked it out.
British idiom: `going spare' - here's just one version of its meaning from an online dictionary:

go spare BRITISH, INFORMAL
1. If someone goes spare, they become extremely angry. He had arranged a mortgage on his house for three hundred thousand. Katrina would go spare if she found out.
Girl with a Hat said…
I am just looking at the November issue of Town & Country USA which is the philanthropy issue for that magazine every year.

Not a single mention of the Deep Sixed.

If they were such a force in the world of philanthropy, I'm sure they would have been mentioned in this issue which seems to place a lot of emphasis on POC in the world of American philanthropy.
Waterstones is offering Spare at half-price.

One comment is that if it were reduced by a further £13.50, the `reviewer' said she might might consider it, especially if it would help with keeping her warm - though she didn't say whether that would be as firelighters, fuel for a wood burner or by placing the pages under her woolly jumper.

Respect to her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZu5ptAr9A

A brief posting from Body Language Guy - the sting is in the tail.
SwampWoman said…
Dang! I just saw the cover of Harry's book, which I am not going to buy, and the title "Spare". Just by looking at the cover, I'm pretty sure this book isn't going to be a celebration of how incredibly fortunate he was to be born into the BRF. is grandmother was QEII, his dad was going to be KCIII, and his older brother will eventually be king.

He should probably have book signing parties in Napa Valley because it sure looks like it is going to be a giant whine fest to me.

Pity. It could have been a fun read.
Hikari said…
Maneki,

S(Lady C) also mentions rumours that have been circulating for some time that she is not Thomas Markle's daughter but the product of a relationship that Doria had with a black man. Have any Nutties heard these rumours?

When Lady C. first started her channel and was doing Q&As with her son, I watched a few of them. I have not tuned in for many a moon. She's got style but I simply find myself unable to bear her affected and molasses-slow delivery for more than 5 minutes. Her videos go for 90 minutes when another vlogger could cover the same material in 20. It's crossed my mind more than once that Lady C herself has a dose of narcissism in her, if she thinks her voice is that captivating that every broadcast has to be feature film length.

She does not have that much tea to spill. And shame on her for repeating tittle tattle that is absolutely baseless. She's always going on about how impeccably connected she is to Palace sources, but that was a cheap shot. * is infuriating, but repeating that gossip didn't burnish Lady C's credibility. Though if rumors are circulating that her father isn't her 'real' dad, she's got that in common with HazNowt.

Take a look at this photo of shell-shocked 24-year-old new mum Doria and her baby (scroll down a bit). Doria looks puffy and rough . . Becoming a mother was a cataclysmic event for her as she looks completely . . stunned is the only word I can use. I would not have recognized her as the woman we know today from this picture. Doria was very cute when she and Thomas met.

Look at the very pale and self-possessed infant she's holding. This was taken in the hospital since she's still wearing the wristband on her little arm. Tell me it's not like Thomas Markle's head shrunk down and put on a baby girl's body. Totally. M favored her dad as a child and the older she's gotten she now looks more like her mother. But she's definitely Thomas's--no question.

I'd seen this picture before . . during the engagement period, before we knew what a horror show this marriage was going to be. The baby isn't more than 2, 3 days old in this picture. Her mother is still wearing her nightgown and looking dazed. Most babies this young still have their eyes closed. The baby is what I would call preternaturally calm and composed. She looks like she's contemplating a future in which she lays waste to the British Royal family in 36 years or so. Am I imagining things or do those feet seem abnormally large for a neonate?

Doria is staring at the camera with a look that seems to say, "I've made this and I have no idea what to do with it."

Baby is a dead-ringer for Thomas in features but even if she wasn't, the fact that she is so light-skinned argues in favor of Thomas as the dad.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6998877/Doctor-reveals-delivered-Meghan-shabby-Los-Angeles-hospital-37-years-ago.html
Hikari said…
I have a correction to my last post.

Just went back and realized that I'd failed to properly read the caption under the picture of Doria and *. I presume Thomas was the photographer though it doesn't say that, but . . .

This photo was taken mere hours after birth. Is it normal for an hours-old baby to have her eyes wide open like that? Why isn't she swaddled, either? The way Doria's holding her, she looks like a wizened little old man sitting there like a Buddha.

I feel disturbed looking at this picture now.
Henrietta said…
Maneki Neko said:

...She also mentions "rumours that have been circulating for some time that she is not Thomas Markle's daughter but the product of a relationship that Doria had with a black man."

Have any Nutties heard these rumours?


Nope, never heard them.

Amazon is still offering Spare at full price.

Why?
Henrietta said…
From the DM:

The duke was reportedly paid a $20million (£18.4million) advance for the book as part of a three-title deal worth £36.8m.

Guys, do you really think Harry received a $20 million advance for Spare? I personally find that hard to believe.

Rebecca said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mel said…
I'm going to have to take my comment back about MM trying to one up Harry with her photo. Apparently both photos were taken by the same photographer.

Kind of wonder if they weren't taken the same day since the composition seems so similar.

https://twitter.com/patrickwitty/status/1585626405882183682?t=rGEgbJkv4PIXj31aVuqSXA&s=19

https://twitter.com/patrickwitty/status/1585628015178182656?t=rGEgbJkv4PIXj31aVuqSXA&s=19
Henrietta said…
Hikari said:

Take a look at this photo of shell-shocked 24-year-old new mum Doria and her baby (scroll down a bit). Doria looks puffy and rough . . Becoming a mother was a cataclysmic event for her as she looks completely . . stunned is the only word I can use.

I've never liked this picture of Doria because she looks so young. If the provenance of this photo had been murky, I would have said Doria was between 15 to 18 years old -- way too young to become a mother.


snarkyatherbest said…
Mel. perhaps they did the christmas card too with both kids looking up with that purplish tan hues all around. lots of filters (and fillers on the mrs😉). someone did a closeup of the Spare’s mugshot. he looks like his left eye is a bit bruised. or is that the photography’s lighting. or was that the bender from the night before 😉
Henrietta said…
Mel said...

I'm going to have to take my comment back about MM trying to one up Harry with her photo. Apparently both photos were taken by the same photographer.

But would you describe Liar's as flattering? I wouldn't. IMO she looks like a simpleton.
SwampWoman said…
Hikari said...
I have a correction to my last post.

Just went back and realized that I'd failed to properly read the caption under the picture of Doria and *. I presume Thomas was the photographer though it doesn't say that, but . . .

This photo was taken mere hours after birth. Is it normal for an hours-old baby to have her eyes wide open like that? Why isn't she swaddled, either? The way Doria's holding her, she looks like a wizened little old man sitting there like a Buddha.

I feel disturbed looking at this picture now.


Swaddling goes in and out of style. Per Doria Ragland's reported age and *'s reported age, little Rachel was born when she was 25.

When my kids were born, they were *not* swaddled at the hospital. Grandkids were.



Hikari said…
Henrietta,

I know what you mean. Doria indeed looks like a teenage mom in that photo, but I double checked the dates— She was a month away from her 25th birthday, which is September 2, 1956. She was born in Cleveland, which is not far from where I grew up, and I didn’t realize this about her. I figured her for a native Angeleno.

According to Tom Bower’s book, Thomas became smitten with the 21 year old apprentice make up artist on the set of General Hospital in 1977. He had divorced his first wife two years prior, and was the custodial parent of Thomas Junior and Samantha, who were teens. Daddy’s new girlfriend was only 10 years older than Tom, Jr. True to the form later embraced by her daughter, Doria had moved in with Tom in a matter of weeks, though they would not marry until 1979, and * was born 18 months after that, so it was not a shotgun wedding. Tom was between shows for a year or so and was able to be at home a lot. The couple spent a lot of time getting loaded with friends. After Tom went back to long hours at the studio, things began to unravel. Doria was usually baked all day and not a reliable caretaker for a baby.

Wiki has her listed as an ‘American social worker and former yoga instructor and makeup artist.’ Wonder if her son in law the Chimpo got her a berth on the BetterUp roster. Haha.
Henrietta said…
A page of Harry's book describes a day on which he was walking down a street in L.A., a beer in one hand and a revolver in the other. He credits bowling for saving his life.

https://twitter.com/shadesofgreaves/status/1585676464355254272?t=VlxmR_esa5MQGydLNYN6vw&s=19

I take it this portion of text is part of a "sneak peek" on a bookstore website or a "page flip" on Amazon.com.
OCGal said…
@Henrietta, thanks for the link to Carlos Greaves' satiric "excerpt" about bowling from Harry's new book entitled SPARE, in which he channeled Harry waggishly by writing good stuff including the gem "Bowling saved my life that day". Spare is a bowling term, so this comedic writer was making a play on the book title, and oh, how I wish the real book would prove to be this delightful to read!

https://twitter.com/shadesofgreaves/status/1585676464355254272?t=VlxmR_esa5MQGydLNYN6vw&s=19
OCGal said…
In reference to the fun fake autobiographical SPARE excerpt by Carlos Greaves, he wrote:

"Megan and I had just decided to leave the royal
family and it was a really dark time for us. One
day, I was wandering down the streets of LA, a
40 oz in one hand and a revolver in the other,
ready to end it all, when I saw a building with a
bright neon sign that said Hollywood Star
Lanes. So I decided "fuck it" and went in.

Inside, they were playing this game l'd never
heard of called "Bowling." I guess it's pretty
popular in America. You grab a big heavy ball
and roll it towards a group of pins that you're
trying to knock over. When you're in the
bowling alley, everything else fades away and
there's just the sound of balls rolling down
lanes and pins falling over. It's like yoga but for
cool tough guys. Needless to say I was hooked.

Bowling saved my life that day." -end quote- But best of all, see that

A gal made a clever art rendering of the satiric autobiographical page, and she nails it! See and marvel at how she captured the essence:

https://twitter.com/belexrdz/status/1585768218001494016
Mel said…
Henrietta...I wonder if that's a spoof. The guy is a satire writer.
I took it as a play on the name of the book. But who knows.

No, I didn't think Mm's pic was flattering. I was wondering if she'd got wind of H's pic and quick did a copycat one to release before his to one up him.

But it turns out it was planned that way apparently, since they used the same photographer. Although....maybe not. She still could have played tricks there, I guess.
Sandie said…
'Meghan' is spelled incorrectly in that excerpt shared on Twitter. Plus, Amazon is not offering a 'look inside' option:

https://www.amazon.com/Untitled-3806-Random-House-Group-ebook/dp/B0BCP3JP6F

https://www.amazon.com/Untitled-3806-Random-House-Group/dp/0593593804/ref=sr_1_5?crid=16LVFVUYKM9IU&keywords=Spare+prince+harry&qid=1666936524&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjc2IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=spare+prince+harry%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C390&sr=1-5

I also find the story about the $20 million advance rather fantastical. This claim is repeated in the media by people who are ignorant of how book publishing works. Authors usually get a percentage of the profits, and the profits are the sum left after the book seller's discount has been deducted (usually 45% for trade books), and all the production costs have been deducted (editing, design, artwork, translation, proofing). In his case, there is also a ghostwriter who has to be paid. Additionally, the book is usually discounted before it is even published so not all books are sold for the original published price. The tens of millions of dollars is the estimated amount they could earn for 4 books, if all books do very well and sell millions. Neither his memoir nor her book have the added value of TV or movie rights (although his memoir has the possibility) or merchandising rights (like the Harry Potter books).

He will earn lots of money from his memoirs, for a nornal person, but not for them. She costs a lot to maintain and I reckon they have run out of favours for free housing, private planes, designer gear and so on.

I have hopes that he still has some decency in him because he has supposedly donated to two organizations. The sum he has supposedly given Sentabala is huge and I hope that it is not swallowed up by the 'costs' of running the foundation and the AIDS orphans directly benefit.
To me, Doria looks as if `the light's on but there's nobody at home'.

xxxxx said…
Top of DM right now----- The UK online edition
___________

Royals prepare for Harry's 'nuclear' memoir that's 'critical of everyone and everything' - with palace lawyers on 'standby' amid fear that reports the book has been toned down are 'overblown'

Royals 'dreading' Harry book: Prince's 416-page memoir 'is critical of everyone and
Billed as a work of 'raw, unflinching honesty', the controversial book will be eye-catchingly called Spare (left) - a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne (William, bottom right). The Spanish language version is even more pointed, having been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shadow'.

Publishers of the delayed memoir, set for release on January 10, have made it clear that Harry will not shy away from sensitive subjects, such as the family's decision to encourage him and his elder brother Prince William to walk behind their mother Diana's coffin. The claims surrounding such a 'candid' and 'personal' first-hand account of his life will do little to allay fears at Buckingham Palace that the estranged prince is out - once again - to try to settle perceived scores.

A spokesman for the King (top right) declined to comment last night. But it is understood that the Royal Household has already been warned that the 416-page, £28 book is 'critical of everyone and everything' and they are 'dreading' it. Harry was reportedly paid a $20million (£18.4million) advance for the book as part of a three-title deal worth £36.8m.


586 comments
Maneki Neko said…
@Hikari

Thanks for the article about * and Doria. I was very surprised to hear the rumours about TM not being *'s father, which is why I asked if anybody had heard the same.

Is it normal for an hours-old baby to have her eyes wide open like that? Both my children opened their eyes the minute they were born. It looked as if they were taking it all in and it's a strange feeling and we wondered what they could see.
Maneki Neko said…
@Wild Boar

Amazon UK is now offering the book at half-price. It's billed as '#1 Bestseller in Women's Biographies'!!! Is there something we don't know??
It hasn't occurred to * that slagging off one's venerable grandparents in such a public manner, especially when they are respected across the world, is not a good move if one is hoping to gather support from the continent of Africa.

My mother came to live with me after my father died and I found the task increasingly difficult as she succumbed to dementia (she'd been difficult for years but had become impossible). Social Services were very supportive and found her a care-home place lest my health gave way too. I had an African colleague at the time and she made her disapproval of me very clear. It didn't matter that I was completely alone with no support from from an extended family; in her view I had failed in my duty as a daughter.
Maneki Neko said…
King Charles replaces Prince Harry as Captain General of the Royal Marines: Monarch appoints himself as ceremonial head of the Duke of Sussex's beloved Commandos... a day after son's memoir announcement

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11365069/King-Charles-replaces-Prince-Harry-Captain-General-Royal-Marines.html
gfbcpa said…
I believe that there is no way Harry received $20 million for his book (or the couple's series of 4 books, depending on what you have heard).

Barack and Michelle Obama's $65 million was an outlier. Buyers in the U.S. don't know or care about Harry and buyers in the U.K. can't stand him.

Bill Clinton got $15 million and Hillary got $14 million for their books, just for a point of reference.

The only two people I can think of who might have possibly topped those figures are both dead....Princess Diana and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Yes, Maneki - I wondered if she'd repeat the Bench tactic paying over the odds to corner the market...
Captain General?

Nice one, Your Majesty!

Sandie said…
SPARE = Second Prince Always Remains Envious (comment from someone in the UK)

He was never the spare:

King George VI was the spare as his brother, King Edward VIII did not marry until after the abdication (and had no children). The spare became king.

Margaret was the spare until Elizabeth married and had children. Her and her children slipped ever further down the line of succession.

Andrew was the spare until Charles married and had children. Andrew and his daughters have and will slip further down the line of succession.

Technically, William was the spare until the Queen's death. (If something happened to Charles while Elizabeth was still Queen, William, as the spare, would have become the heir.) He is now the heir and he has an heir and two spares.

A spare is only required if the heir does not marry and have children. The spare is thus the back-up if something untoward happens in the direct line. The spare is destined to slip further down the line and away from the throne. No wonder there are still rumours that TBW spoke of her and her husband being one plane crash away from the throne (assuming Charles, William and all three of William's children were on the same plane).

The hapless prince carries a grudge that is not grounded in reality or reason. Rather than growing up and looking to his family for positive role models (Princess Anne, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexander, the Duke of Gloucester, the Earl of Wessex and even at one time Prince Andrew), he nurtured bitterness and resentment. His love for and marriage to the duchess of Montecito has not only encouraged that bitterness and resentment but led him to speak and act destructively. Love or toxic co-dependence? What they do seem to have in common is a need to be the most popular and to only get praise and attention on their terms. Character, not the position of spare, determines that.

@WBBM
I know there are a few cases of a spouse and/or family caring for someone with Alzheimer's at home, but I have always believed that a good care home is the better option for the person with Alzheimer's. You are quite right about the African view if family (just one aspect). Ironically, in my country, children would be left with grandparents in the country as parents went to work in a city, often in another province. This still does happen, and the small pension grandparents get is a valuable source of income for the family. A granny flat behind the garage was common in suburbia but the trend now is to rent the flat (city prices) to you youngsters. Personally, I still like the idea of the extended family living on one property (which is not the modern way), but I would never be able to provide adequate and professional care for someone with Alzheimer's, even with extended family support. The potential for something to go wrong is huge.
Sandie said…
Interesting ... Charles seems to be taking care of business quite promptly! Perhaps he has one of the Cambridge children in mind for taking over the role in future and he has stepped in as a placeholder. But, for now, the King does seem to be shoring up stability, and by taking this role himself, he shields other royals from attack.
snarkyatherbest said…
wbbm. yep. QEII and PP became beloved grandparents of the nation. bringing and trashing them for you childhood 25 years later isn’t a good look unless it is some fantastical claims (like the claims emerging in last 10 or so about a lord Mountbatten). whining because your needs weren’t meant or a special focus was placed on your brother just comes across whining, especially since they kept coming up for things to do (army, invictus etc). Unless he documents suicide attempts (not like his wife’s homicidal i mean “suicidal” thoughts) it because a pissy he said they said and they aren’t talking. the only part i will find curious is how he deals with the wife thing. love prevailing. let’s see what “details” will be woven in and how much is contradiction to what they have said and done publicly we know they can’t keep their stories straight. and let’s we what if any mention of the children we get. any pics anything that doesn’t suggest a read of mom blogs to find funny anecdotes to co-opt someone else’s stories
HappyDays said…
Harry and his first wife are one-trick ponies. After Harry’s book is published and eventually Meghan’s book (remember that the deal with Penguin reportedly includes a similar book by Meghan) their autobiography/memoirs will be done with. It will be doubtful there will be a second book of this type from either of them, and neither is an expert in any subject that would bring about future books.

Their “documentary” for Netflix is in the works, and that is likely a one-time product too. I think there will not be much interest in future programming featuring these two flouncing around as faux humanitarians who spout endless self-serving platitudes and word salad while doing very little for others as they collect a paycheck for themselves.

As this first round of contracts with Netflix, Spotify, and Penguin run their course, they will have little to offer other than venom, victimhood, and slagging off their families, the royal family and the monarchy, and former employers.

It will be interesting to watch them in the next three to five years as their downward spiral continues and income opportunities dwindle.

On the bright side, as business opportunities and public appearances decline, Harry and his first wife can spend their days playing timed Scrabble with their alleged children.
Hikari said…
@Maneki

Re. CRIII as Captain General Royal Marines

This came as a surprise, since I thought Princess Anne more or less had a lock on that job.

I wonder if it were felt in certain more unenlightened quarters among the Marines that they didn't want a woman who'd never served in uniform as their titular leader?

Another more palatable idea: Charles is engaging in brinksmanship here. The day after the release of the pre-sale of Hawwy: Pwince of DeSpair, comes this announcement. No particular pressing need to do it today, since the Royal Marines have been without an official Royal patron for 21/2 years. I think Anne has already stood in for some events, IIRC.

The King's new communications director is a veteran tabloid editor who Charles hired with a no doubt 'Fight fire with fire' mindset. It wouldn't surprise me if his ultimate intention is to appoint Anne to the post permanently after the Coronation--unless my first scenario is in play. The announcement today is underlining what he said in his first speech as King, and I do wonder if it presages all the other things which Hawwy will find taken back from him in coming days--the CoS berth, the Sussex title . . even his spot in the succession.

Interesting days ahead. The King is girding for battle.
Hikari said…
OCGal,

I'm relieved to read that the excerpt from Twitter was satirical. My first thought was, "OMG--who gave that unhinged foreigner a gun?"

We've got plenty of home-grown unhinged who have guns, but for a hot minute, I thought that scenario might actually be real, that's how detached from sanity HazNowt's life has become.

Maybe Hawwy could take up professional bowling and excise some of that aggression he feels towards his family by smashing pins.

Hikari said…
Charles seems to be taking care of business quite promptly! Perhaps he has one of the Cambridge children in mind for taking over the role in future and he has stepped in as a placeholder. But, for now, the King does seem to be shoring up stability, and by taking this role himself, he shields other royals from attack.

Good call . . I hadn't framed it that way, and was initially disappointed for Anne, who would be an excellent Captain General. But you are correct--By appointing himself, Charles asserts his absolute authority over ALL the titles/positions, etc. He's drawing fire to himself and protecting everyone else. He's the chief target of Hawwy's ire, so this is a declaration to Bring it On.
Observant One said…
@Hikari
I fully agree with your perfect description of Lady C. I have mentioned here in a previous post that I find her too tedious to bear. She doesn’t have enough believable information to justify the long drawn-out and coy delivery.

Re: Doria’s postpartum picture: she looks a little drugged to me. Maybe she had some pain medication. Baby *’s feet are definitely unnaturally long and skinny. I think I see the signs of bunions already forming and “the claws” are fully formed, but have not yet found their destiny.

New Title suggestions: SPARE and MARE.
SwampWoman said…
Hikari said...
OCGal,

I'm relieved to read that the excerpt from Twitter was satirical. My first thought was, "OMG--who gave that unhinged foreigner a gun?"


Heh. I was out to breakfast with another grandmother yesterday. We were talking carry weapons, and she proudly showed me hers in a holster inside her waistband. She and her husband are going deer hunting in the midwest in a couple of weeks.

/And young people think that grandmothers only talk about and exchange pictures of grandchildren and cats.

Sandie said...
Interesting ... Charles seems to be taking care of business quite promptly! Perhaps he has one of the Cambridge children in mind for taking over the role in future and he has stepped in as a placeholder. But, for now, the King does seem to be shoring up stability, and by taking this role himself, he shields other royals from attack.


Indeed! I saw that and silently cheered. As for the "royal family dread Harry's book disclosures" verbiage, my personal opinion is that they dread how Harry is going to expose himself as a complete idiot.
xxxxx said…
Hikari said...
Maybe Hawwy could take up professional bowling and excise some of that aggression he feels towards his family by smashing pins.

One twitter person said he saw H, haplessly bowling at Brick Lane bowling in London in 2010. That bowling is not new to H.
This must be the bowling emporium he mentioned. Lying and fantasy has become a way of life for H. Since M got her claws into him. She turned what was minor, into major. No doubt, Hapless have been skating by with his white lies since he was a teen. And was enabled in this, by a guilt ridden Charles and the rest of the BRF

https://www.allstarlanes.co.uk/locations/brick-lane/bowling --- Brick lane bowling

This book will be the equivalent of Hapless making a movie. With him starring in it. When this comes out in January, it will be debunked to oblivion. Unfortunately, it looks like H/M will make millions from it. Since when is a book listed at half price before the publication date? This makes no sense.
xxxxx said…
Hikari said
Good call . . I hadn't framed it that way, and was initially disappointed for Anne, who would be an excellent Captain General.

My bet is that Country life, living Princess Anne is a far better shooter than Hapless. And twice on Saturdays & Sundays, when Haps had his weekend shooting parties with his old buddies, he has since ghosted. Buddies that always had to pay Haps beer tab at the pubs. Haps figured, they had free ammo, free eat and drink at Sandringham. So we are all even.

Did they even eat the grouse they shot? Deer too. What else could they do in at Sandringham? Pigeons and hares? Field mice?
Henrietta said…
Thanks to everyone who caught the satirical nature of the "Shadesofgreaves" portion. I didn't know what to think of it. But the bowling reference should have clued me in!
Hikari said…
Swampie,

Just for the record, when I referred to homegrown unhinged with guns, I didn't mean the properly trained, licensed and responsible CC holders.

My sister has one. She used to teach court mandated traffic safety classes downtown, was alone in the building with people with records and it was a high crime area. She felt safer with it.

I love me a good noir thriller like L.A. Confidential, but I wouldn't trust myself with a handgun. I'm clumsy and my vision is none too good. Chances high that I'd trip and accidentally kill myself if I had a pistol.

Hawwy is not mentally stable enough to have firearms and as a foreign national whose father is the head of state of another nation, if Hapless got involved in a gun incident here that'd be very sticky for Charles.

Having Hapless freerange in the the world untethered by any Royal curbs on his behavior has to be the BRF's worst nightmare. God knows it's becoming ours.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Typo correction!


Re Lady C and Thomas Markle not being Maggot’s Father etc.

When I listened to the video the other day, I didn’t get the impression it was a real rumour, it came across to me that Lady C was trolling and making fun of Maggot particularly when she uses that voice and tone. 🥴Maggot is a known and proven liar, and her Podcast to date has been about deflecting and debasing all the things said about her. I just thought the Thomas is not your Daddy thing was to goad Maggot.

I beg to differ on the reliability of Lady C’s info though. I can’t think of anything (serious if anything at all) she’s got wrong, and she’s been on quite a few programmes in the UK showing her with many well connected individuals. I do agree she is hard work to listen to (I listen on 1.25 speed) and her laughter often obscures what she’s saying. Out of all the sources out there, she’s one of the best. 😊
Hikari said…
xxxx,

Unfortunately, it looks like H/M will make millions from it. Since when is a book listed at half price before the publication date?

I think your second sentence negates the first. As a public librarian who orders books for the library, I follow industry trends. I'd say it's practically unprecedented for a publisher to slash the price of a new title by 50% on the very day it's announced. We've got 3-and-a-half months to go before January 10. You know when we've seen this phenomenon before? I can think of two examples--Finding Freebies and The Stench

Decidedly a common element tying them together.

Here's what I think accounts for this brash move from Penguin Random House:

They know they have a stinkbomb of epic proportions on their hands. They have been saddled with Hawwy and his self-absorbed utter incompetence for what, over a year now? I had read a report, though I don't know about the veracity of it that ghostwriter J. Moehringer has walked away from the project rather than spend one more minute trying to cajole a story out of Hawwy that J.L. as the author wanted to have his name affiliated with. I guess a ghostwriter by definition is not listed anywhere as a collaborator on the project. Harry stands alone on the book jacket and in the editorial review on Amazon as sole author. But since J.R.'s involvement has been common knowledge in the press for months now, Harry would have looked like less of a tool if he'd agreed to bill his book as "Prince Harry as told to J.R. Moehringer.' Because too many people are all too aware that Hawwy can barely write his name. A levels, my eye.

I hope J.R. has deposited a FAT check into a Swiss bank account and he may be very glad that his name appears nowhere on that book jacket because 'the author' of record is gonna be in for some heat, to put it mildly.

This move by Random House says to me that they do not have confidence in the longevity of their product and are trying to maximize pre-sales now while the novelty factor is at its peak. This will guarantee that they get to list it as a Best Seller prior to publication ==It's #1 in its categories on Amazon and the book lists will follow suit. They are trying to secure press junket gigs for Hawwy based off these pre-sales. A presale is like a pledge to buy a book but there's still plenty of time for people to cancel their orders, or return them upon receipt. The negative public reaction alternates between hilarious and damning.

It's not unusual for outlets to offer a discount to encourage pre-orders, and a book will usually be reduced during the first week or so after release to drive sales. But 50% cuts deep into the publishers' profits. It's still more than cost, but a highly anticipated book by a proven top quality author doesn't have to be slashed to half price in order to coax people to buy it. People would gladly pay MORE for a book they really really want.

Hawwy's tome runs to 412 pages and list price is $36, which is excessive. Amazon's got it for $25 right now. The particularly masochistic could shell out $50 to have Hawwy make their ears bleed with his oral performance of his own sh*te. I guess he knows how to read.

As P.T. Barnum said, nobody ever got poor underestimating the public taste, so Hawwy's book may net some millions. But whatever the figure ends up, it'd be at least double those millions if it were actually a good book.

Now that the hatchet job on his family is a fait accompli, HazNowt might as well phone up Peter Morgan and offer his services as a consultant on The Crown and then this self-referential circus will have come full circle. He can be on set to watch their version of his 12-year-old self walk beyond the coffin of his departed mother all over again.
Henrietta said…
Something from a more reputable Twitter source, @LouLouLa10:

Interesring (sic) what was revealed on GB News yesterday. That Harry was told when over for the funeral, that if criticisms are raised in the book or otherwise of his and his grifting wife’s experienve (sic) attending the funeral, or comment made about the trip up to Balmoral with the Queen’s passing, Harry and Meghan will be well and truely (sic) out for good from the Royal Fold.

It's pheasants at Sandringham, I imagine.
BTW - I suspect H's obsession about George turning 18 stems from the fact that, once that happens, H would lose any hope of being Regent should anything untoward happen to William.

As if H would be tolerated as Regent...
Sandie said…
I am picking up a misconception in the media and on social media about the price of the memoir. The publisher has not reduced the published price of the book. The publisher sells to retailers at the published price minus the trade discount. For a major outlet like Amazon, that discount is huge (65% or more). The retailer can then sell the book at any price they choose. For each market the retailer will look at what price is suitable for that market and how many books they can sell at different prices. For example, it is better for a retailer to sell more books and more quickly at a lower price than sell fewer books more slowly at the much higher published price.

And the bestseller status is great marketing but is achieved by dividing book markets into more categories. As with her podcast, are products ranked weekly, monthly, daily, for all time? Even so, here is the ranking at present on Amazon:

Amazon.com Sales Rank #10 in Kindle Store
#1 in History (Kindle Store)
#1 in Memoirs (Kindle Store)
#1 in Biographies of Royalty (Kindle Store)

Amazon Hardcover:
#1 in Books
#1 in Royalty Biographies
#1 in History (Books)
#1 in Memoirs (Books)

Nonetheless, I think the book will do well and will continue selling so he is going to get royalties for the rest of his life.
Rebecca said…
@Hikari

I agree with you that Penguin Random House is slashing the preorder price of the book to juice the sales figures. Even though PRH is reportedly guarding the manuscript ‘like Fort Knox’ I still hope for a leak before publication. Take some of the wind out of the grifters’ sails.

I guess I am the cynic here, because I don’t believe King Charles has appointed himself Captain General of the Royal Marines in order to protect anyone in the Royal Family. I think he wants to essentially hold it in abeyance in case TOS ultimately returns to Britain and the royal fold. I do not trust KC to be able to put his personal feelings for his child/family members aside in making decisions—hence his failure to drop Andrew and Harry as Counsellors of State.

On a lighter note, someone commenting on the Telegraph suggested that William write his own memoirs and title the book
“Heir.”
snarkyatherbest said…
hikari. 415 pages. geez. that’s long. that explains why it took so long to get to the publisher. took the duke months just to read the ghost writer copy. when you layer in madam’s word salad. it makes sense. ow.

wbbm. dang i was hoping it was shooting peasants at Sandringham. now that would be a tell all for the Duke’s book.

still can imagine what he has to rambling about that would be worthy of even gossipy stuff. good tea like we used to do pantomimes of PMs as part of the christmas games or we all dressed in black face and rival costumes for halloween or there were satanic rituals at balmoral or as the Q anon folks believed there were underground passages for child human trafficking through out the castles ( and in new york and at nancy pelosi’s house) now these would be interesting. but the rest is gonna sound petty and stupid. good riddance.

and bold move KCIII. reassigned the military patronage to himself. the day after the book announcement. quick move in this game of chess. i like it.
Magatha Mistie said…

Vanity Fayre

By exposing himself
laying all bare
He’s proven once more
not a lot up there
Too late to retrieve
his pair from the mare
He’s dished his own dirt
for media fare…

Maneki Neko said…
I think H's book will do better in the US than here in the UK. We know what's been going on since H was born and before, we heard it first and there won't be much of a curiosity factor. I guess a lot of the stuff will be new in the US and also I think the Harkles are slightly more popular (it's relative) across the pond. I could be completely wrong, though.
Sandie said…
Random House has not slashed the price of the book. Random House is the publisher, but also a bookseller (the public can buy directly from the publisher). Random House sells the most books through other retail outlets such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. Random House sells the book to these retailers in bulk at a hugely discounted price (this is industry standard). The retail outlets can sell the book for whatever price they choose. Each retailer for each market will assess what price that market can carry and weigh up sales against discount. No one wants books sitting in a warehouse because they are too expensive. (Amazon works with the the model that if you want to sell lots of books quickly, you must offer a huge discount, which is why Amazon negotiates insanely high discounts from book publishers.) Michelle Obama has a book being published this November(her first was the fastest selling bestseller ever). Amazon has already discounted it.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727238/spare-by-prince-harry-the-duke-of-sussex/

The book is not going to flop but I am sceptical that it is worth the many millions he was supposedly given as an advance. And I doubt that the duo can deliver the rumoured four bestselling books that were part of the publishing deal.

xxxxx said…
snarkyatherbest said...
like we used to do pantomimes of PMs as part of the christmas games..... balmoral or as the Q anon folks

Your best stream of consciousness here. ....no sarcasm. But even better, this looks like a warm winter for the UK and Europe. So Bad Vlad will not get the energy crisis he wants.
Magatha Mistie said…

Cur Brer

I dare the spare
To challenge the heir
For a position
close by golden chair
Will’s could then royally declare
The brother I never had
is a mangy cur…

@Rebecca -

resumably it's necessary to treat A & H alike. To remove H would be to give the Harkles fresh ammunition. This is a neat solution to avoid having to use A or H, but without creating further problems - maximum effect, minimal stress.

We used to discuss Foyles War here - I've just been watching a repeat of one episode which ended just 10 mins ago. This looked at some of the compromises that have to be used in such situations. The solution may not be be perfect, or in accordance with what one might hope for in an ideal world where every decision rests on 100% moral foundations, but as long as it's good enough we may have accept its shortcomings.

The Harkles have declared war on the monarchy and our Constitution, jus as surely as if they had been landed covertly from a U-boat.

In addition, it also fits the recommended models of how to deal with narcissists where the less you provoke them with your solution, the better.
Magatha Mistie said…

@Observant One
I like ‘Spare and Mare’

@Snarky
How about
The Fall of the House of Pusher

Do watch this if you can, or at least read the reports if you can't access BBC internet content:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001djpq/the-repair-shop-a-royal-visit

It has been described as a `real feel-good programme'.
snarkyatherbest said…
oooh. so the duke and his duchass will not be returning for Christmas when you publicly announce it you prob weren’t invited ha. so will we have a church walk in Montecito or will they start dropping book excepts as a christmas present. the entire family must be released not to have them there!!
Magatha Mistie said…

Prats Menoir
Fifty Shades of Grey Shirt
Madams Churnal
43% Shades of Grey Cells

Magatha Mistie said…

Reasons Fleeting 🌲

So no room at the Inn
For haz and
Ring Bling Sin
Hardly a surprise
they’ve axed their own kin
Away in their mange(r)
on riven rock, high
They were never invited
more mince pie in the sky…

Fifi LaRue said…
@Hikari: Thank you so much for explaining the publishing world at 10/28 at 9:20pm.

Hawwy is not well liked in the UK, and not many here in the US care much about him. $36/book is a lot of money for a book, and folks are feeling the pinch of inflation.

We shall see in January.
Mel said…
Of course the Harkles had to say no to a Christmas invitation.

How could they possibly explain no children for that outing?
SwampWoman said…
Hikari said...
Swampie,

Just for the record, when I referred to homegrown unhinged with guns, I didn't mean the properly trained, licensed and responsible CC holders.

My sister has one. She used to teach court mandated traffic safety classes downtown, was alone in the building with people with records and it was a high crime area. She felt safer with it.

I love me a good noir thriller like L.A. Confidential, but I wouldn't trust myself with a handgun. I'm clumsy and my vision is none too good. Chances high that I'd trip and accidentally kill myself if I had a pistol.


I didn't take offense (grin). I'm prior military, she's a career military man's wife.

More importantly, I agree that Prince William should write a book entitled "Heir".

I found it interesting that Harry and * are planning to rebuff/reject Christmas with KCIII. (A) They probably weren't invited and, (B) if they were invited, they would be expected to present with children. I also found it interesting that Platell's People pointed out that Harry was cruelly monetizing his mother's death. My opinion is that he would dig her up and tie her to the top of the car for extra money.
Henrietta said…
Dr. Lady Hussey, President or Chunga Chang (@sage1411)

So the security detail and the nanny both allegedly have videos of how Princess Charlotte was bullied by Harry’s wife.

I hope to hell these things come out.



bluebird Books: “ Just popping in to say that #Spare became the #1 bestseller sitewide over the past 24 hours, both at my shop and across the @Bookshop_Org platform. 😉 Order now cause this is DEFINITELY gonna be sold out by release date!”
Petunia said…
Look out! Tom Brady is available! I wonder if someone's eyes are turning toward Tampa...
Henrietta said…
Our favorite Reddit source (who has asked that her Reddit username not be included with her "tea"):

...Nanny Maria was the one bringing Charlotte from school. Meghan would never have said that shit to Charlotte if Catgerine were yhere but she sees "staff" as beneath her. Both the nanny and the security detail saw need ro record this. When the Cambridges saw how bad it was, was when Charlotte was pulled...I don't think that princess Catherine, as stoic as she has always proven herself to be, lost her shit and took her child out of a fitting over the hem of a dress. And from what I've heard that's not why the conflict occurred. It occurred because of Meghan's abuse. And that's on tape.

I don’t believe they were invited to spend Christmas with the family….another PR piece just to try and bury the truth of the non-invite. 🫤
Maneki Neko said…
The DM says the 5s 'will NOT spend Christmas with the royals' in its headline but then says 'they could decline an invitation to spend the festive period with Harry's family.' I haven looked at the DT yet but which is it? Are they or are they not? I don't think they are, they're cowards and won't want to show their faces, plus they know they'll be given the cold shoulder treatment.


I'd say they've probably been invited, lest the BRF are accused of ignoring/insulting them/racism etc. I bet they won't turn down an invitation to the coronation, though.
abbyh said…
Poster with comment about the book/bookstore

Do you have link for this?

thanks
Magatha Mistie said…

Trawler Trash

If she managed to hook
a line to Bezos
She’d star in a
Variety act, peep show
Saccharine Heartburn
in de-nile, legs akimbo
Humpty Spare part
playing a Himbho
Tig Tug steamer
set to shoot her
Prime live stream
The Amazon Kween…

Sandie said…
I believe the Queen always had an open invitation for all family to join her at Sandringham for Christmas and at Balmoral for the summer. (Her staff had to co-ordinate accommodating family - certainly at Balmoral there are many and various cottages and large homes in addition to the castle.) TBW succeeded in never going to Balmoral (but was suddenly eager to get on that flight when the Queen was dying ... that was the first time the hapless prince had been to Balmoral since he married TBW). King Charles will probably follow his mother in always having that open invitation.

TBW uses 'will they, won't they' to get media coverage, but no way is she going to ever join the family at Sandringham or Balmoral, and the husband won't either as long as he is still with her.

Getting an invitation is not an olive branch but standard practice for the monarch.
-----

Prince William ... Heir. Brilliant!
-----

I am very wary about predicting a timeline in tarot, but various tarot readers have predicted that TBW has trouble coming her way in November. Would it not be delicious if that trouble was a recording of her being abusive during fittings before the wedding?
-----

She is probably going to do some appearances on talk shows. Was she not booked for Jimmy Kimmel and then had to cancel because the Queen died? That would be fun because she lies all the time so we can play 'spot the lies'.
-----

Random: her weight seems to fluctuate quite dramatically, within months. Do you think that is due to yo-yo dieting with the assistance of drugs? If so, by the time she gets to her 50s she is going to put on the weight and be unable to lose it.
Magatha Mistie said…

Anagrams of Spare:
Pares-eejits emasculation
Spear
Rapes
Reaps
All Par(se)-for the course
the expected outcome
of his book from the above.
Sandie said…
I am not sure if I am being referred to as 'poster'.

Penguin Random House is the publisher (but also sells books online through their website and may also own bookstores).

The publisher has not slashed/discounted the published price of the book.

The published price and the selling price are not the same thing.

The publisher sells most of their books through retail outlets such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, every bookstore everywhere. The publisher sells the books to those booksellers at a discounted rate, which is a standard practice. (A big retailer like Amazon negotiates huge discounts.) The booksellers set their own selling price. An outlet like Amazon uses discount as a marketing tool so, if they want to sell lots of books, quickly, they list it with a huge discount. They never intend to sell at the published price but simply use that price to trick people into believing that they are getting a great deal from them.

I am sorry if I am not being clear. My reference is decades working as a publisher so I know how the publishing industry works.
Teasmade said…
Has anyone yet suggested that the Princess of Wales write a book in this continuing series called "Hair"?

Imagine the cover!
Sandie said…
I found an interesting post by an Anon.

@WBBM and others who know and understand narcs well ... what do you think?
-----

Narcs like to keep their victims on rotation. They like to keep them on a shelf and draw fuel from them from time to time. Trevor has pulled himself off of her shelf and she can’t stand it. Narcs hate losing any of their fuel sources, but more so a constant source that has been there for decades. He was her longest constant. That’s why she keeps trying to bait him with small comments and that bracelet. She’s trying to lure him back in the loop, she can’t afford to lose a decades long fuel that has never let her down as a source. I’m sure Trevor has cut all contact with her and doesn’t talk about her with friends at all and she knows it now. I would almost bet she was the one that put it out there in the magazines that she made him sign a no kid contract and that she told him she couldn’t have kids but yet she now has kids with PH as a way to get a reaction out of him. ...

She most likely is still keeping in contact with Cory or he’s still talking about her to friends and they tell MM about it and that gives her enough fuel from him, hence why she hasn’t outright publicly baited Cory. She did it once with his roasted chicken recipe.

Narcs keep in contact with all of their shelved toys, might not be a constant contact or even a direct contact, but just hearing they talk about her at least once every couple of months is what she needs. She’ll have direct contact with them at least once or twice a year. ..

https://the-best-soap-opera-ever.tumblr.com/post/699391904332316672/narcs-like-to-keep-their-victims-on-rotation-they
abbyh said…
Nope, not you.

It is a poster who seems to be new to the mix. Amusing comment, a source is helpful.

Sandie said…
Richard Palmer seems to have integrity as a total reporter. So this is interesting:
-----

... After the Queen's death, the Daily Express's Royal Correspondent Richard Palmer said everything "seemed to be going swimmingly" between the Sussexes and the Royal Family.

He said: "And then suddenly, you've got the prospect of this book coming out.

"And I don't think anybody can be really sure what is going to be in it or not. There might be a few hints.

"Certainly some time ago, I was led to believe that there was some real concern in Harry and Meghan's camp, people working for them who had apparently seen the manuscript and were alarmed by it and thought that it would be disastrous for the couple." ...

https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1689300/prince-harry-meghan-markle-tell-all-bombshell-memoir-book-spare-duke-duchess-sussex-vn
Sandie said…
@Abbyh

Sorry to be so slow, but I still don't know which post you are referring to, so have probably missed something very interesting!
-----

@Teasmade
'Hair' by Catherine, The Princess of Wales. Brilliant
Sandie said…
Theresa Longo Fans
@BarkJack_
·
16h
I'm told from a solid source Palace lawyers and Officials have a copy of the latest 'bound galley'. They won't comment. I have not read the latest version since it was last edited.
https://mobile.twitter.com/barkjack_

Hmm ...

Publishers have not used galleys in the production process for a very long time, but the two guys running this social media account come from an era when galleys were standard.

There is no reason whatsoever that an American publisher would give 'Palace officials and lawyers' proofs to check before publication. Unless, of course, the prince himself did so, but why would he?
Sandie said…
https://the-cat-with-the-emerald-tiara-1.tumblr.com/post/699410805083504640/the-translations-for-the-book-title-are

The title in other languages, with translations. Hilarious! I guess they never thought that outside the context of the UK, the word spare does not translate well and does not even have the same meaning.
Observant One said…

@ Magatha I was secretly hoping you would like Spare and Mare. Wouldn’t the Mare be offended by that label?

I also love HEIR for William and HAIR for The Princess of Wales.
I’ll add DEBONAIR for Prince Louis.
DON’T YOU DARE or LOADED FOR BEAR for Charlotte ( could also work for Princess Anne).
PREPARE for Prince George. He was a tough one. He is also a RARE HEIR, due to being the third heir for Her Majesty.

It’s on Twitter,sorry, it took me a minute to figure out how to get the link.

https://twitter.com/booksatbluebird/status/1586105853190578176?s=21&t=a7-Xd_VzIz6GBA-WYhhBSQ

Ralph L said…
The book comes out 3 years and a day after Megxit began. Then COVID exploded, what will happen this time--blackouts across Europe?
abbyh said…
Thank you very much.

I wasn't seeing here which is why I questioned it.

https://bookshop.org/p/books/spare-prince-harry-the-duke-of-sussex/18815444?ean=9780593593806
Karla said…
16h
I'm told from a solid source Palace lawyers and Officials have a copy of the latest 'bound galley'. They won't comment. I have not read the latest version since it was last edited.
https://mobile.twitter.com/barkjack_
...
The copy may have arrived in unconventional ways.
Girl with a Hat said…
Care for Princess Catherine
@Sandie,

In a way, yes, I've come across this expressed in other terms online. It's called 'hoovering', with the meaning that they try to `suck' you back into the relationship.

It's like this - you've had enough of them and extricate yourself/they rage at you - after a couple of months you encounter them again & they are all sweetness and light and you wonder if you judged them too harshly/or that they're out of their dark place - the relationship starts again and is fine for a while, then the baiting, demeaning, blaming and informing you that the problem is you starts again... if you are not careful, you go round in circles.

I don't know if my most recent one had found someone else to dominate, or, if a new set-up hit the rocks or not. but she later sent me a Christmas card informing me that I had rejected a perfectly good friendship. Nevertheless she condescendingly wished me well for the New Year. I did not take the bait, kept quiet (even went on a coach trip to Austria over Christmas lest she turn up at the door) and I've heard nothing since.

When I left my narc spouse, I reverted to my maiden name, changed my landline phone number, went ex-directory and refused to communicate directly with him, only through my solicitor. He even sat right next to me once when I was doing some research in our public library but I focussed on taking notes from an impressive reference book and prayed for him to go away.
He did eventually, may not even have recognised me (my hair was greying by then and I wore specs, not contact lenses).

If one goes No Contact, one has to stick to it - otherwise they assume you don't mean it and that, if they persist, they will get their way in the end. This is what the RF needs to do but it's difficult for them in their position, given the politics and that just possibly there is a child fathered by Harry in the equation.
abbyh said…
Could they have put in a warrant or similar to get a copy as a concern about potential official secrets leaked to protect the family/government buildings?

I just remember how much detail came out about accessing the tiara that perhaps it was a wakeup call to people who are paid to think of these kinds of things.
SwampWoman said…
Sandie said...
https://the-cat-with-the-emerald-tiara-1.tumblr.com/post/699410805083504640/the-translations-for-the-book-title-are

The title in other languages, with translations. Hilarious! I guess they never thought that outside the context of the UK, the word spare does not translate well and does not even have the same meaning.


I like my definition better. We get two tries to knock him down with a bowling ball.
SwampWoman said…
abbyh said...
Could they have put in a warrant or similar to get a copy as a concern about potential official secrets leaked to protect the family/government buildings?


I would think that would be quite likely. It would probably never occur to the two malevolent toads that endangering the lives of KC, QC, and the P&PoW and children would be a bad thing. If she is on record as saying that they're only one plane crash away from being K&Q, what are the odds that security arrangements could/would "innocently" be leaked?

I would expect that all the security arrangements would have been reviewed and changed after the two decamped in a huff. The layout of the family/government buildings remains the same.
xxxxx said…
Karla said...
16h
I'm told from a solid source Palace lawyers and Officials have a copy of the latest 'bound galley'. They won't comment. I have not read the latest version since it was last edited.
https://mobile.twitter.com/barkjack_
...
The copy may have arrived in unconventional ways.
_________________

If MI6 cannot do procure a copy, then what good are they? Hopefully King Charles3 motivated them. One way or another.
Karla said…
" Could they have put in a warrant or similar to get a copy as a concern about potential official secrets leaked to protect the family/government buildings?
Yea!
Court order records an official judgment or way forward, as agreed by a Judge. A court order can be final (at the end of a hearing) or interim (which is in place until a final order can be made). What is in the order depends on the case presented to the judge and what evidence is necessary for just determination of the particular case.
How long does a court order take to process?
The time that it takes to secure a final court order depends entirely on the case. It also depends on how many assessments are required in the case and what evidence is needed to enable the Judge to make a final decision.
...
Question:
a) could this occur in secrecy?
b) Wouldn't MM leak this to the media to cause chaos?
...

xxxx
MI6 cannot do procure a copy, then what good are they? Hopefully King Charles 3 motivated them. One way or another.
I agree With you
Girl with a Hat said…
I think that there are enough Brits working in the American publishing industry that one loyal person thought of sneaking a copy of the Friar's fiction novel to give to the BRF.
lizzie said…
abbyh said...
Could they have put in a warrant or similar to get a copy as a concern about potential official secrets leaked to protect the family/government buildings?

Maybe but what American court would be asked to approve a search warrant for a manuscript held by a US company that a foreign power wants to be sure doesn't contain "official secrets?" I must be missing something but I do not see how that could work. And what a terrible precedent that would set for handling future publications that some foreign power didn't like. Saying "we're worried because Harry is stupid" or "we're worried we told him too much or let him see too much" wouldn't seem to do it. What standing would the UK have in the US?

If the Palace does have a copy I think it's more likely a leaked copy or an illicitly purchased copy that made someone at the publishing company pretty rich.
Maneki Neko said…
Spare and Mare. Perhaps we could also have Mare and Nightmare?
Maneki Neko said…
I don't know anything about publishing but couldn't H give/have given Charles and William an advance copy of his book out of courtesy? I don't know how feasible this is but I'm sure he could get two copies of his book, surely? We know, however, that courtesy is not his forte. According to Angela Levin the Palace will not get to read the book until it is out, with lawyers ready to examine it.
Girl with a Hat said…
breaking news - British Royal Marines implicated in the Nordstream pipeline sabotage.
Does KC3rd really want to be associated with this regiment now? Maybe being removed from his post wasn't a bad thing for the Friar.
Hikari said…
I am convinced that the Douches of Montecito are being surveilled as a matter of routine, along with their various activities and have been since decamping Blighty. I would expect that there are ways of obtaining information which has not yet been published for the general public, especially if certain “revelations” constitute a security risk to members of the Royal family.

Harry’s father is the head of state of the U.S.’s most long-standing ally. No matter what he thinks, Friar cannot simply be ‘a private citizen" anywhere he goes owing to his family. His activities and those of his wife over the last 2+ years have been of an agitatating nature specifically designed to destabilize an allied power. People affiliated with the couple have blatantly called for and plotted physical harm to the heir and the heir’s children and have disseminated those threats.

I would expect at minimum that the Douches are being surveilled by MI-6, with the cooperation of our State Department. The CIA would liaise with them as well as agents from the local FBI field office for Santa Barbara. Just keeping an eye on a potentially volatile situation. This might not rise to a full time surveillance—yet—but I think there are eyes on their movements from both governments. We can also be sure that that Harry’s tax status is of great interest to the IRS.

The next few months are going to be climactic in this ongoing saga.

He
snarkyatherbest said…
OMG just saw a trailer for a new movie coming out Jan 6. called M3gan. a horror film about an android girl. wow. didn’t realized the mrs had a story filmed about her life
Observant One said…
@GWAH. I really love CARE for Catherine, Princess of Wales. I also love it for QC Camilla and KCIII.

@ Maneki Neko Nightmare is just awesome!

@ Snarky Great list of rebuttal suggestions for the Palace. I am especially partial to anything related to Prince Louis. It wouldn’t take much from Louis to put Spare in his place.

@ Swamp Woman I was gobsmacked by a bowling spare. It’s so obvious, it went right over my head. You are a clever girl, but we already knew that.

@ abbyh, Karla and xxxx I really hope the Palace Security, MI16 or someone inside the print shop nabbed a copy to scour for hidden danger. I doubt Spare would have thought of it, but NIGHTMARE would have. I don’t like to wish bad things on anyone, but her comeuppance is long overdue.
I’m sure the royal family don’t need MI6 to obtain a copy of Mole’s book. The Security Service’s have far more pressing issues to deal with. 🫤

@Maneki Neko,

I’m pretty sure you’re correct with the Duo’s invite with the family at Christmas. They won’t go where they’re clearly not welcomed, but of course they need to make the invite public nonetheless. 🥴
Sandie said…
@Maneki Neko
Never thought about that but you are right. I would expect the Prince or the publisher to have an advance copy couriered to the palace immediately. Authors who pen royal biographies like to do this as a courtesy even if there was no co-operation in the research for the book.

However, my sense is that neither the publisher nor the Prince will send the palace or any of the Royals a copy, advance or not.

Things move so quickly nowadays that advance copies are not what they used to be, but I sure the printer still does deliver a box of the first bound copies to the publisher.

I wonder who in which royal office will be tasked with getting hold of a copy, reading it, and preparing a brief for principals. Surely someone will be tasked with doing this?
GWAH Did you check the source of these allegations?

They came from the Kremlin,

Karla said…
Prince Harry wrote book for himself as he couldn't spend life 'trying to make his family happy’
Duke of Sussex's memoir 'Spare'

Part 1

Prince Harry wrote book for himself as he couldn't spend life 'trying to make his family happy’
The Duke of Sussex wrote his memoir for himself as he could not spend his life trying to make his family happy, sources have suggested.
However, the book, which is called Spare and published on January 10, is not considered a “takedown of his family” but a relatable narrative of a human journey.
It is described by those familiar with the manuscript as a “beautiful read”, a tale of family idiosyncrasies and struggles with which readers from all walks of life will identify.
The experience of addressing certain issues is said to have been cathartic for the Duke, who since leaving the UK has made no secret of the difficulties he has faced.
He is aware that the Royal family, his father and brother in particular, are braced for impact, fearing an explosion of personal “truth bombs” that will once again rock the institution.
Sources acknowledge that for good or bad, that was the undeniable result of the now infamous Oprah Winfrey interview. But they insist the book is wholly different.
And while the Duke is not blind to his family’s concerns, the rift between the two camps is now thought to be so deep rooted that any attempt at appeasement would have been considered futile.
“You can't kind of always live your life trying to make your family or your siblings happy,” one source said. “You have to choose your own happiness.”
The Duke of Sussex's memoir, titled Spare
The Duke of Sussex's memoir, titled Spare
Prince Harry’s intent is to share the message that you can go through hard times, struggle with grief and uncertainty about your future but still come out the other side.
While it may not have been his motive, the book is expected to take aim at members of the Royal family by delving into the cycle of "genetic pain and suffering" that he has previously described, for which he appears to blame his father, the King.
As it was announced last week, publisher Penguin Random House said: “For Harry, this is his story at last. With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.”
Karla said…
Part 2

Both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace were informed of the book’s title and publication date just ahead of its announcement on Thursday morning.
However, no member of the Royal family has yet been shown a manuscript, with their aides and legal advisors also kept in the dark.
Duke could travel to UK to promote book
Originally scheduled for release to capture the lucrative Christmas market, it was delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Reports that Prince Harry got “cold feet” and asked for sections to be edited after witnessing the wave of public affection for the monarch are said to be exaggerated. A note will explain that the book was written before the death of his grandmother.
The book is unlikely to be accompanied by a huge publicity blitz, although when it comes to promotion, the Duke and his team will be operating largely at the behest of the publisher.
It is thought that he may travel to the UK in the New Year to take part in some promotional activity that sets out his “intent” and his hopes for the book.
Aides are aware that, while they have stepped away from official royal duties, the Duke and Duchess are still members of the Royal family and as such, could not embark on an all-singing, all-dancing publicity drive in the same vein as other celebrities or those paid to promote a project.
The Duke has announced that he will give almost £1.5 million of the proceeds to charity. He is reported to have received a multimillion-pound advance for the book, written with Andre Agassi’s ghostwriter JR Moehringer.
Related Topics
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, The Royal Family
The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy.


Karla said…
Part 3


Duke could travel to UK to promote book
Originally scheduled for release to capture the lucrative Christmas market, it was delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Reports that Prince Harry got “cold feet” and asked for sections to be edited after witnessing the wave of public affection for the monarch are said to be exaggerated. A note will explain that the book was written before the death of his grandmother.
The book is unlikely to be accompanied by a huge publicity blitz, although when it comes to promotion, the Duke and his team will be operating largely at the behest of the publisher.
It is thought that he may travel to the UK in the New Year to take part in some promotional activity that sets out his “intent” and his hopes for the book.
Aides are aware that, while they have stepped away from official royal duties, the Duke and Duchess are still members of the Royal family and as such, could not embark on an all-singing, all-dancing publicity drive in the same vein as other celebrities or those paid to promote a project.
The Duke has announced that he will give almost £1.5 million of the proceeds to charity. He is reported to have received a multimillion-pound advance for the book, written with Andre Agassi’s ghostwriter JR Moehringer
https://archive.ph/2022.10.29-191109/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/10/29/prince-harry-wrote-book-couldnt-spend-life-trying-make-family/
@GWAH,

Are you trying to stretch a story? 😏The Royal Marines are just part of the Infantry that makes up part of the Royal Navy. Both Prince Philip and King Charles served in the Navy, but neither were Royal Marines. It sounds like a nasty smear campaign against The Royal Navy and Britain. As it happens the rumour started with Putin and his tactics to stop grain getting to Europe. 🧐
Karla said…
"MI6 is an organisation where integrity, courage and respect are central to what we do. We encourage and admire difference. Many MI6 staff are based overseas while others work from our headquarters in Vauxhall, London. Although our work is secret, everything we do is legal and is underpinned by the values that define the UK"
People who work for MI6 come from all walks of life, with different skills, interests and backgrounds.

We’re #secretlyjustlikeyou

https://www.sis.gov.uk/
...

I personally agree more with Lizzie's option.

*If* the Palace does have a copy I think it's more likely a leaked copy or an illicitly purchased copy that made someone at the publishing company pretty rich.
Maneki Neko said…
@Wild Boar

I was very surprised by the allegations about the British Royal Marines. I checked and most headlines say 'UK accuses Russia of 'peddling false claims' after Moscow blames Royal Navy for Nord Stream pipeline blasts' and the Mirror says 'Russia accuses UK's Royal Navy of carrying out Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions'. These headlines mention the Royal Navy but not the Marines specifically. Not sure I:s trust the Mirror!

The DM says 'The British Ministry of Defence has described it as an 'invented story' which 'says more about arguments going on inside the Russian government than it does about the West'.
Girl with a Hat said…
@WBBM,

yes, I did check the source, and they should know.
Sandie said…
https://youtu.be/eR3LVkYnXYM

What in the heck is this?
Sandie said…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11369235/Prince-Harry-return-Britain-promote-bombshell-memoir-Spare.html

Why does he hate his family, his country, his friend so much that he would be this destructive?

The above article paints a very grim picture of him inflicting as much damage as he can. To me, the worst is the personal heartache he is causing for his family. All for that trashy woman he married. Very sad!
Sandie said…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11369235/Prince-Harry-return-Britain-promote-bombshell-memoir-Spare.html

Why does he hate his family, his country, his friend so much that he would be this destructive?

The above article paints a very grim picture of him inflicting as much damage as he can. To me, the worst is the personal heartache he is causing for his family. All for that trashy woman he married. Very sad!
Sandie said…
I came across this from an Anon:

-----
Well it seems my son’s next door neighbor is a botox doctor whose clinic is run by Soho and she goes from Studio City to Malibu delivering services to celebs. Murks is one of her clients. And according to one of the Malibu bakeries, Murks often stops there. So she is in Malibu much of the time it seems. I didn’t believe the bakery person at first. But now that I hear she gets her treatments at someone’s home in Malibu, I believe she is there much of the time. This is no news as people on this blog have said she doesn’t really live at that Montecito mansion. But this is more proof for me. I wonder where she stays when in Malibu. I hear nothing about Harry on the other hand. That is one strange relationship.
-----

Genuine or someone just making stuff up? Isn't Montecito to Malibu a lengthy commute because of traffic?

If it is true, she is out and about and the paparazzi are obviously not interested unless she calls them and arranges to be photographed.
SwampWoman said…
Wild Boar Battle-maid said...
GWAH Did you check the source of these allegations?

They came from the Kremlin,


Meh. I read that. Didn't they already accuse Joe Biden of diving down and planting the charges?

Some of the oil field people that I've read think that it was a maintenance issue, and their opinion is that the Russians are woefully inadequate at maintenance. (For 'woefully inadequate' substitute swear words of your choice.) If it is a maintenance issue, I don't know if anybody would tell him.
SwampWoman said…
Sandie said: The above article paints a very grim picture of him inflicting as much damage as he can. To me, the worst is the personal heartache he is causing for his family. All for that trashy woman he married. Very sad!

I say, let 'er rip. I doubt that they will have many readers here (I suspect the majority of their supporters are paid or bots). I doubt they will have many readers in Europe because Europeans, like us, are going to have bigger problems when the book comes out.
Fifi LaRue said…
@Karla: Thanks for the re-posting. IMO the book will never be "cathartic" for Spare. Rather, his complaints and whining will get anchored deeper into his psyche.

@Sandie: More information that the Harkles do not live together, no do they live in Montecito. My new friend who lives there has never seen the Harkles. If a person lives in a small community, they get coffee, get groceries, get manicures and pedicures, go to the local drugstore, etc. The Harkles have never been seen out and about in Montecito.
OCGal said…
@Sandie, I find it entirely believable that Ms. 43% could be in Malibu often enough for her botox treatments to take place at the Soho House outpost located in Malibu, and/or treatments in one of two nice hotels each of which are walkable from Soho House in less than five minutes by water's edge.

Soho House's small outpost in Malibu is named "Little Beach House Malibu" and it actually shares a parking lot with renowned restaurant NOBU. Ms. 43% is a known superfan of NOBU. Soho House outpost is day use only for food and drink, socializing, no overnight stays. However, an easy sand walk just two doors down from Soho House and NOBU would be the Malibu Beach House for overnight stays and her beauty treatments could take place there.

Or she could stay a couple doors away opposite direction from Soho House at NOBU RYOKAN but I suspect it to be far too chic for her gaudy taste.

Alternatively, the distance from Montecito to Malibu is a little over sixty miles, so that is a realistic option you mentioned, too, in case Ms. 43% needs emergency cryogenic freezing/s or botox or whatever.

Soho House outpost: https://www.sohohouse.com/en-us/houses/little-beach-house-malibu
NOBU: https://www.noburestaurants.com/malibu/home/
NOBU RYOKAN: https://malibu.nobuhotels.com/
Malibu Beach House: https://www.properhotel.com/malibu-beach-house/
Rebecca said…
Reportedly just 5 people at Penguin Random House have read Twat’s manuscript and have access to it. I don’t believe a copy has been leaked to the Royal Family. I wish it would be, though.
What we have seen of our king engaging with his people informally, be they the well-wishers outside the Palace or those engaged in the Tv programme the Repair Shop, reveals him to be a person of great natural warmth, completely at ease with ordinary people. He is the polar opposite of Harry's wife.

The way he has been treated by his second son must be deeply hurtful; if `Spare' is as vile as we expect, I hope it means that H has, metaphorically speaking, signed his own death warrant.


See: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11369235/Prince-Harry-return-Britain-promote-bombshell-memoir-Spare.html

"A source added: 'The book is much worse than people think."
Rebecca said…
I haven’t seen this posted here yet. From the Sunday Times:

Rod Liddle: Here’s Harry’s sob story. If he were happy, his publishers wouldn’t be smiling


I have Harry’s autobiography, Spare, on order, as part of the unofficial contract we journos have with the intellectually challenged ginger creature formerly known as Prince. This contract stipulates that we will buy all Meghan’n’Harry merch in the hope that it will provide us with further reasons to intensely dislike them.

We will then hone our recently acquired slab of animus into vituperative prose directed against the ghastly couple, thereby publicising whatever it is they are flogging this week, as well as encouraging them to produce more vacuous, self-serving tripe — which, again, we will write about and thus subject to the nitrous oxide of publicity.

Meghan knows this is the deal and it is possible that Harry is dimly aware of it too. I think they would both be a little disappointed if a hack reviewed one of the Netflix documentaries, or Harry’s book, and concluded: “What a compelling and insightful piece of work this is, entirely worthy of this supremely likeable twosome.”

Nobody ever actually says that over here (not least because neither of them is capable of real insight). We buy the stuff because we hope and expect that Harry and Meghan are going to say something simultaneously spiteful about the royal family and hilariously self-pitying about themselves. If they cease saying spiteful and self-pitying stuff nobody would be remotely interested and the books would pile up in the couple’s 16 bathrooms, providing an environmentally sound alternative to Kleenex.

I’ve read the blurb. I am told that “With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief”. Yeet. I sincerely hope it isn’t, although I expect that the “self-examination” runs to several hundred interminable pages.

We are also informed that the ginge is a “husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental-wellness advocate and environmentalist” who “resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs”. Finally, Harry tells us that it is an interesting story because he has “worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively”, which made me worry briefly that this would be a book solely about Harry’s favourite hats, those he liked and those he felt were less attractive — which would in my view be an account which risks teetering into tedium, even if it keeps his dad happy.

The Sussex rumour mill, meanwhile, has suggested that, since the Queen’s funeral, Harry has been busy striking out of his text stuff like “Camilla — that horrid old racist ratbag who kept dobbing my dad while Mum wasn’t looking” and “Dad doesn’t just talk to plants, he takes detailed instructions from them,” and so forth. I hope this rumour is wide of the mark, otherwise it’s 13 quid down the swanee.

But as I say, Harry knows the contract — and even if he doesn’t his publishers do, much as do the executives at Netflix. There has to be the intimation of bile directed at his old family — however vapidly expressed — otherwise his new family will lose a lucrative source of income and sink into a kind of D-list sleb obscurity, which is roughly where Meghan Markle resided before he popped the question.
Rebecca said…
In a sense this is Harry’s only real tragedy, and one that he has created for himself. His continued existence in the public eye is exclusively predicated upon him being a sullen counterpoint to the rest of the royal family. Without that, what could he possibly have to tell us all? And yet by the same token, the more and more estranged he becomes from the Windsors, the less impact his whining revelations carry. So the temptation will be to up the condemnations of both the institution and the individual members of it, to compensate for that inevitably growing sense of distance. He seems destined to become a kind of mirror-image of Meghan’s father, seething with anger and ready for a damaging quote every time Oprah or CNN wander along desperate to portray our country as a nation of colonialist bigots.

Harry’s disaffection with the monarchy has a lot more purchase with the dim-witted liberals in the United States than it does over here, where the overwhelming majority of people are not in the least bit sympathetic to the formerly royal couple. He can survive on that for a while, although with ever-diminishing returns.

He called his book Spare because of his subordinance to his brother in the royal rankings — but when used in my neck of the woods, in the north of England, it can also mean either angry or mentally deficient. I don’t suppose he knew that.
Maneki Neko said…
@OCGal

Thank you for the links. The pix are beautiful. One can dream...
How many times can someone have botox? I know * is addicted to all these procedures but she can't be there every week - unless her beauty treatments are an excuse for seeing someone?
Sandie said…
Off topic warning:

@SwampWoman
That is very interesting. I have been avoiding reading articles about the Ukraine conflict as the propaganda is off the charts, and the anti-Russian agenda colours everything. (This is a great place to be informed!) Accidents happen, for whatever reason, and Russia has a history of horrendous accidents ... at a nuclear power station, in a nuclear submarine ... I can believe that someone in the West would carry out an act of sabotage to try to destroy Russia, but blowing up a gas pipeline causes hardship for Europe. It just does not make sense.
-----

@Rebecca
For 5 people to read a manuscript is more than usual, but I think this is a tricky one for the publisher. Forgive me if I do not use the same terminology here as in American publishing, but my guess would be: Commissioning editor, legal person, foreign rights editor, marketing director, production editor.
-----
@OCGal
Thanks for filling in the details we would not find in the media. If you look at her history, besides the merching, self promotion, and grabbing freebies wherever she can, she loves eating out, holidays, fashion shows, and any event where she can walk a red carpet. I can't believe that she has changed so much that she stays at home 'working' most of the time. Besides, she must go to the hairdresser, even though her hair does not seem to be in the great condition that it has been in the past. From the state of her skin, it does not seem that she has regular skin treatments (even a good facial a couple of times a month would make a difference). She loves shopping and dreamed voraciously about Rodeo Drive when she was young. Surely Montecito does not meet her needs? My guess is that she is out there, but just not being papped.
Sandie said…
@Fifi LaRue
Yes, manicures and pedicures have to be done often. Perhaps she has a beauty salon at home and service providers go to her?

I suspect that she thinks grocery shopping is beneath her, and she does not have friends that she can meet for coffee or lunch locally or in LA. But, how does she do shopping for the kids?
Maneki Neko said…
Excerpt from a DM article

Part 1

Prince Harry 'will return to Britain to promote his bombshell memoir Spare' as royal watcher claims King Charles could strip him and Meghan of their titles if they go 'fully rogue' in the book

It has now been claimed that Prince Harry had to submit his book more than once before it was accepted by publishers, sparking fears that it was 'sexed up' with revelations about the Royal Family.

A source told The Sun: 'The book has been back and forth between Harry and [ghost writer] JR Moehringer and the publishers a few times. They wanted more than was in the first draft, and then Harry wanted to refine things after the Queen passed away.
'But there has been extra toing and froing that people don't know about. This is because the publishers wanted more areas covered and more detail on some things that were already included.

Prince William 'has barely spoken' to Harry since news broke of memoir title
Prince William 'has barely spoken' to Prince Harry since news broke of his brother's memoir Spare, royal experts have said.

The Royal Family are also apparently on 'tenterhooks' to read the memoir, which is to be released on January 10, and have lawyers ready.

Prince William, 40, has barely spoken a word to his brother Harry, 38, since the news of the book broke.

Billed as a work of 'raw, unflinching honesty', the controversial book will be called Spare – a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne.

Royal author Angela Levin said she thought the palace were on 'tenterhooks' for the book's release.

'They have lawyers ready to read it but they won't see it until it's out. If it's too bland it won't be worth the millions they've already paid him,' she told The Sun Online.
Maneki Neko said…
Part 2

Details of the bombshell book were revealed and publisher Penguin Random House's description read: 'With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

'Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror.

'As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling - and how their lives would play out from that point on.'

Family members were not informed of the title of the book before the announcement yesterday, while the Spanish language version is even more pointed, having been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shadow'.

The publishers of the delayed memoir have made it clear that Harry will not shy away from sensitive subjects, such as the family's decision to encourage him and his elder brother Prince William to walk behind their mother Diana's coffin.

He could also reveal which member of the monarchy he claims made a racist comment about the potential skin colour of his then unborn son Archie, or shine a light on his strained relationship with his father and troubled times with William.

The brothers have had a troubled relationship since Harry moved to the US with his wife Meghan Markle.


'There is a real concern that that means Harry has had to sex up the book and include revelations that even he might not even be that comfortable with.'

It is now reportedly feared that Harry will expand upon a claim made to Oprah Winfrey that a family member questioned what the skin colour of his and Meghan's son Archie would be.

A source added: 'The book is much worse than people think.'

Bower told The Sun: 'This book is really make or break. I imagine that King Charles has been warned that any retaliation won't be pretty.

'All that King Charles can really do is to withhold the titles for his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet. Ultimately, I suppose, he could take away Harry and Meghan's titles as well, but that's pretty drastic.

'I don't know what else he can do. If it is as bad as I think it is, then Harry and Meghan have gone fully rogue.'

He added that the best thing the royal family could do in this scenario would be to 'break ties' with the pair.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11369235/Prince-Harry-return-Britain-promote-bombshell-memoir-Spare.html

What about security? Is is safe for H to return to the UK? (sarc). And why would he need to promote the book as it's already a '#1 bestseller'?
Maneki Neko said…
There is a good article in the DM by Alexandra Schulman. She says 'Her misreading of the world is so delusionary that it makes one gaslight oneself.' So true!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-11369675/ALEXANDRA-SHULMANS-NOTEBOOK-Meghan-staggeringly-good-giving-poor-advice.html
Sandie said…
An opinion piece that ends with these two paragraphs:

"Meghan seems obsessed with what she sees as the twin disadvantages of being a woman and being mixed-race.

Her podcasts deliver a relentless California-style rant – soft-voiced whining – that is intended to bolster women's self-image. But all they do is give the impression that her reading of the world is utterly narcissistic as she doles out the poor advice and observations of a marshmallow."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-11369675/ALEXANDRA-SHULMANS-NOTEBOOK-Meghan-staggeringly-good-giving-poor-advice.html
Henrietta said…
Guys,

Our favorite Reddit source has now said one of Bookworm2's videos agrees with what she is hearing about Liar and Friar. Hopefully this link will take you to the Reddit page with a link to Bookworm2's video:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SaintMeghanMarkle/comments/yh7qmy/i_had_lots_of_tea_about_harry_and_meghan_fighting/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Some highlights:

-- Liar was the reason that Friar missed the family flight to Scotland when ERII was dying.

-- Liar and Friar have been having more serious fights since they returned from the UK, not yelling/screaming, but more serious exchanges.

-- Apparently Friar did confront Liar about some of the lies she told on Oprah. He didn't think he could do it while filming. It's come up again because Netflix and Penguin had to confront him about discrepancies between the book and the documentary, and at some point, Friar blew up because Liar had made him look like a liar when he had told her that he wasn't going to back up her lies again.

-- Legally neither Netflix nor Penguin can be held responsible for the conflicts between the book and the documentary because both were unscripted. (Content came from the Sussexes only.) They're now hoping viewers and readers just won't notice them.

-- One of Bookworm2's sources talked about how divorce is a question of when, not if. Source also referred to "child," not children, in describing how Friar would have already left her if he could have. He went early to San Francisco conference and was in no hurry to get home. Rumor that he was flirting with recently divorced polo player.

-- Apparently Friar has a list of grievances against Liar, one of the big items is her constantly complaining all day long about everything (e.g., either the phone's never ringing or ringing too much).

Feel free to add to my list! Hope you can navigate your way to Bookworm2's video!


Sandie said…
https://archive.ph/2022.10.30-004530/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/9d52ea0c-56e7-11ed-8e9a-37443e2955cd?shareToken=8adf32f76263de9ad657853b4c7b6a85

Rod Liddle: Here’s Harry’s sob story. If he were happy, his publishers wouldn’t be smiling

Sunday October 30 2022, 12.01am BST, The Sunday Times

I have Harry’s autobiography, Spare, on order, as part of the unofficial contract we journos have with the intellectually challenged ginger creature formerly known as Prince. This contract stipulates that we will buy all Meghan’n’Harry merch in the hope that it will provide us with further reasons to intensely dislike them.

We will then hone our recently acquired slab of animus into vituperative prose directed against the ghastly couple, thereby publicising whatever it is they are flogging this week, as well as encouraging them to produce more vacuous, self-serving tripe — which, again, we will write about and thus subject to the nitrous oxide of publicity.

Meghan knows this is the deal and it is possible that Harry is dimly aware of it too. I think they would both be a little disappointed if a hack reviewed one of the Netflix documentaries, or Harry’s book, and concluded: “What a compelling and insightful piece of work this is, entirely worthy of this supremely likeable twosome.”

Nobody ever actually says that over here (not least because neither of them is capable of real insight). We buy the stuff because we hope and expect that Harry and Meghan are going to say something simultaneously spiteful about the royal family and hilariously self-pitying about themselves. If they cease saying spiteful and self-pitying stuff nobody would be remotely interested and the books would pile up in the couple’s 16 bathrooms, providing an environmentally sound alternative to Kleenex.
Sandie said…
Cont.

I’ve read the blurb. I am told that “With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief”. Yeet. I sincerely hope it isn’t, although I expect that the “self-examination” runs to several hundred interminable pages.
We are also informed that the ginge is a “husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental-wellness advocate and environmentalist” who “resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs”.

Finally, Harry tells us that it is an interesting story because he has “worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively”, which made me worry briefly that this would be a book solely about Harry’s favourite hats, those he liked and those he felt were less attractive — which would in my view be an account which risks teetering into tedium, even if it keeps his dad happy.

The Sussex rumour mill, meanwhile, has suggested that, since the Queen’s funeral, Harry has been busy striking out of his text stuff like “Camilla — that horrid old racist ratbag who kept dobbing my dad while Mum wasn’t looking” and “Dad doesn’t just talk to plants, he takes detailed instructions from them,” and so forth. I hope this rumour is wide of the mark, otherwise it’s 13 quid down the swanee.

But as I say, Harry knows the contract — and even if he doesn’t his publishers do, much as do the executives at Netflix. There has to be the intimation of bile directed at his old family — however vapidly expressed — otherwise his new family will lose a lucrative source of income and sink into a kind of D-list sleb obscurity, which is roughly where Meghan Markle resided before he popped the question.
Sandie said…
Cont.

In a sense this is Harry’s only real tragedy, and one that he has created for himself. His continued existence in the public eye is exclusively predicated upon him being a sullen counterpoint to the rest of the royal family. Without that, what could he possibly have to tell us all? And yet by the same token, the more and more estranged he becomes from the Windsors, the less impact his whining revelations carry. So the temptation will be to up the condemnations of both the institution and the individual members of it, to compensate for that inevitably growing sense of distance.

He seems destined to become a kind of mirror-image of Meghan’s father, seething with anger and ready for a damaging quote every time Oprah or CNN wander along desperate to portray our country as a nation of colonialist bigots.

Harry’s disaffection with the monarchy has a lot more purchase with the dim-witted liberals in the United States than it does over here, where the overwhelming majority of people are not in the least bit sympathetic to the formerly royal couple. He can survive on that for a while, although with ever-diminishing returns.

He called his book Spare because of his subordinance to his brother in the royal rankings — but when used in my neck of the woods, in the north of England, it can also mean either angry or mentally deficient. I don’t suppose he knew that.
Sandie said…
Apologies for the repeat posting!
Sandie said…
"because Netflix and Penguin had to confront him about discrepancies"

The gossip sounds plausible, but the above statement is obviously nonsense. Netflix does not know what is in the memoir; Penguin does not know what is in the reality show they have had made. Yes, there will be discrepancies because Twit and Twat lie every time they speak, but Penguin and Netflix are not talking to each other.

There is still so much chatter about the memoirs being a failure because the publisher has had to slash the price of the book to half price. Retailers are offering huge discounts because that is their business model. A retailer like Amazon wants all books sold before they are even delivered to their warehouse. Offer discounts and market it as a major bestseller ... that is the business model. The publisher, Penguin Random House, has not reduced the published price of the book. The publisher, the retailers, the ghostwriter and the hapless one are all going to earn big money from this book. Who might financially not benefit and may even lose money is the bookstore (the physical one) who buys too much stock and then struggles to sell the stock. That is why the book is going to end up in bargain bins in stores, but for the prince and publisher, those books still count as sales. Next year he adds a chapter on the coronation and sells some more books.

Sandie said…
I would love to take the hapless one by the shoulders, look up at him, and say 'Take a good look around. Do you really want to die on this hill?'
OCGal said…
@Rebecca and @Sandie, thank you so much for presenting for our reading pleasure Rod Liddle's piece in today's Sunday Times about Harry's sob story autobiography.

What a treat that was to read!

I love when generous Nutties find good stuff for us that we each, on our own, may not find because real life intrudes.

My favorite part of the article: "...Harry tells us that it is an interesting story because he has 'worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively', which made me worry briefly that this would be a book solely about Harry’s favourite hats, those he liked and those he felt were less attractive — which would in my view be an account which risks teetering into tedium, even if it keeps his dad happy."

That made me choke with laughter on the myriad Halloween treats I've been naughtily eating with my morning coffee (chocolate and coffee is, i submit, the best combination on earth). I might need to go to the store and get more treats for the costumed tykes when they make the rounds tonight...
OCGal said…
@Maneki Neko, in reference to the real possibility that Ms. 43% hangs out often in Malibu you wrote "....she can't be there every week - unless her beauty treatments are an excuse for seeing someone?"

Oh my gosh, you just gave me a jolt and a wild supposition about that. Yes! She is delusional enough that perhaps she is delusionally hanging around Malibu's Soho House outpost trying to woo someone, anyone, with high profile and megabucks, then at night she can repair to NOBU for a languid dinner then to NOBU RYOKAN for her beauty sleep.

Guess who is co-founder and owner of the NOBU empire? Accomplished actor Robert de Niro.

De Niro owns 50 gourmet restaurants & 13 luxury hotels along with partners (world famous) Japanese chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, hence the name NOBU, and film producer entrepreneur Meir Teper. Any of those three men could be in her cross hairs.
Did I mention she is delusional?

Robert de Niro has been married twice to women of color (Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower) and has been estranged from the second lovely woman for a long time. Although he lives in New York i wouldn't put it past Ms. 43% to think she could hook him if she parades around Malibu long enough. As i mentioned yesterday, she is a self-described superfan of NOBU.

Oh well, all this is conjecture on my part but lots of fun to think about, and each time I hope she has reached bottom in her ongoing shenanigans, to my revulsion and amazement she goes lower still.

What'll she do this week?
Karla said…
because Netflix and Penguin had to confront him about discrepancies"
The gossip sounds plausible, but the above statement is obviously nonsense. Netflix does not know what is in the memoir; Penguin does not know what is in the reality show they have had made"
Yes! And the doc-series is being carried out by Archewell Productions which will sell the content to Netflix.
Interestingly, Netflix is ​​silent, said nothing about the series.
The PR spin of this series came from MM (The Cut)
And the only ones who can know between the discrepancies between the book and the series are H&M themselves.
If there are discrepancies
the greatest interest in correcting this is from H&M, because the docu-series different from the book, can burn the naked truth said by H in his own book. H&M's own way of asking NF for permission to reshoot or edit new shows. If it is true that there are discrepancies, the greatest interest in correcting this is from H&M, because the docu-series different from the book, can burn the naked truth said by H in his own book.
...
MM Narc
If M is really narcissistic, I think the real reason she is doing this spin is to pressure NF to pay for this series that maybe NF doesn't want.
OCGal said…
@Sandie, you wrote in reference to Ms. 43%:

"...besides the merching, self promotion, and grabbing freebies wherever she can, she loves eating out, holidays, fashion shows, and any event where she can walk a red carpet...My guess is that she is out there, but just not being papped."

I love that thought: that all the paparazzi who swarm Southern California recognize her and totally ignore her as the kryptonite she proves to be to anyone who hitches their wagon to her star. Only the Backgrid paps she hires will give her the time of day. Being ignored would drive her wild with rage and whatever other negative feelings she burbles over with.

Comparing Ms. 43% to fictional kryptonite makes me think of isotopes and their half-life. I believe i could successfully defend my position that her half-life of fame and worldwide appeal and approval has proven to be shorter than any isotope known in the galaxy: she went from 100% to zilch in those regards in the blink of an eye, while in the converse her radioactivity went from zilch to 100% in the same blink of an eye. An amazing feat.

This dangerous new isotope I've discovered i shall dub "Markleite". Watch for it to appear when you next buy a poster of Periodic Table of the Elements.

Maybe i will win a Nobel Prize for this earthshattering scientific discovery. I will then naturally appear at the awards ceremonies she covets, beautifully gowned and fêted, modestly giving keynote speeches for the rest of my accomplished life, and be photographed everywhere by thrilled onlookers. Ms. Markleite would rage!


Is the idiot that wrote this a visually impaired idiot:

`...one of the most searing images of the twentieth century...'?

How about images of a napalmed child in SE Asia?

-of soldiers in Japanese POW camps?

- of charred bodies in Hamburg or Dresden?

- of corpses in the stinking mud of Flanders?

- of liberated prisoners at Belsen?

- of the broken bodies of sweatshop girls on the pavement/sidewalk in NY 1911 after the Triangle Shirtwaist fire?.

- images of the Twin towers or Grenfell Tower burning?

I'm sure we've all got our own lists; the image of the boys with father, grandfather and uncle behind Diana's doesn't even come close to that of Jackie Kennedy and her tots at JFK's funeral in the `searing stakes'.

Poignant, yes but `searing'?
SwampWoman said…
We seem to get angriest at the people that tell us when something is a really bad idea because they can usually see what we are blind to because we are too close to the situation. We can't step back and look objectively at the situation because we are blinded by emotion or desire for a different lifestyle. (If I marry an ex-felon that sells drugs, I'll be blissfully happy!) What are the odds for that?

If we don't listen to the advice proferred whether about love or career (maybe you should not take on over $100,000 debt for a career that will pay less than $45,000 per year if there are even jobs available), they blame the person offering the advice because it is all their fault for not trying harder to talk them out of it. Most of these things happen as kids go off to start their lives and tell their parents to butt out when the parents say things like "This is going to effect your well-being long term. You might want to consider other options."

I think Harry is very immature for his age. I think he's going through the "It's all YOUR fault because YOU didn't keep me from doing stupid things!" phase. If he's getting therapy, it must not be effective. He needs to own the responsibility for his life situation. The fact that he has a sea lamprey attached firmly to his wallet isn't the fault of his family. They tried to tell him.
Karla said…

* Is the idiot that wrote this a visually impaired idiot:

`...one of the most searing images of the twentieth century...'?*

OMG!🤔🤔

JFK Jr.'s heartbreaking salute to his
father's coffin The story of one of the most iconic images in American.

JFK Jr.'s heartbreaking salute to his father's coffin
The story of one of the most iconic images in American history.

...https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/jfk-jr-heartbreaking-salute

And JFKJ and his sister, like Prince William, never explored the death of their father or mother. Today, some defend Harry as if he were the only one "suffering from it". Because America forgot about JFKJ!

Karla said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Teasmade said…
@Rebecca and Sandie: Re the mentioned five people who have read the manuscript*: Sandie mentions all executive-type positions. What about the people who actually work on the book: layout, copyeditors, proofreaders, indexers, and then when we get down to printing and press checks? (I excuse the cover artist because this one had no need to read the text to have an idea of the cover art concept.)

*Not saying that either of you came up with the number, just referred to it.

Also: Botox is, like, an every three- or four-month thing. But I can't speak for the frequency of the insertion of fake hair. Wish I knew.
gfbcpa said…
OCGal:

My husband and I met Robert DeNiro at a memorial service. I was terrified beforehand, but he was very cordial and easy to talk to.
Henrietta said…
From the Sun:

"BOOKED UP How Prince Harry’s pals and ex-girlfriends were left stunned over his memoir request"

However, it is understood former close associates were stunned to be asked to speak about the most intimate areas of his life, relationships and upbringing.

At least one sent Harry packing — shocked that, after being ordered for years never to speak to the media, they were then asked to contribute to the book.


https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/20267078/prince-harry-pals-ex-girlfriends-memoir-stunned/?utm_campaign=native_share&utm_source=sharebar_native&utm_medium=sharebar_native

snarkyatherbest said…
Swamp Woman. sadly some therapists are not about individual responsibility. some do keep the victim narrative going had or. sister in therapy and eventually the therapist told asked her when are you going to take responsibility for you decisions. own them and move on. another sister she forum shopped til she found one who fed her poor victim narrative. so every few years we get emails spewing why we dont we take responsibility for her unhappiness. it’s been 25 years of this. it’s also like they say with computer programming. garbage in garbage out.

as i posted before unless Harry has some startling revelation like physical or sexual abuse or he comes out of the closet. i think all we are going to get is a whine fest and i don’t think that will sell well

and he better watch himself. if any or part of the rumors are truth about how he treats women when he is drunk or high internet sleuths may be helping to fact check his memoire. just as paul pelosi 😉
Fifi LaRue said…
Liar is going to stay glued to Friar as long as he has money that she can spend. She's a nobody without him. And Friar, on his own not connected to the Royal Family, is a big nothing. A nobody married to a big nothing.
Fifi LaRue said…
Liar is going to stay glued to Friar as long as he has money that she can spend. She's a nobody without him. And Friar, on his own not connected to the Royal Family, is a big nothing. A nobody married to a big nothing.
Rebecca said…
Twat has a kindred spirit in NYC. From the Post:

Man in Nazi uniform kicked out of Manhattan bar: ‘Want to get f—ed up?’

https://nypost.com/2022/10/30/man-in-nazi-uniform-kicked-out-of-manhattan-bar/
Maneki Neko said…
@SwampWoman

If he's getting therapy, it must not be effective.

True. I would hazard to say, however, that I think H was as well as he could be pre TBW. He said he had psychotherapy and frankly, when we saw/heard him on television he wasn't full of anger and seems fairly relaxed. He looked infinitely happier. I know much has been said about the Palace covering his shortcomings and that may well be true to some extent but I believe he's gone seriously downhill ever since he's had the misfortune to hook up with *. God only knows what she's told him/convinced him of but whatever progress he may have made in the UK has been well and truly neutralised. I don't reckon much on his Californian therapy, i.e.tapping on his shoulders. It ain't working, I'm afraid.
Henrietta said…
Our favorite Reddit contributor has specified what she knew independently from Bookworm2 and what she learned from Bookworm2's video:

WHAT I KNEW:

-huge discrepancies between what (Meghan said) in book vs. what she said in Netflix crock-u-series were making the legal teams nervous, but since it wasn't scripted or coerced and there is evidence that it was freely said to the camera/ghostwriter, neither NF, nor Peng. are legally liable for defamation if they print it.

That doesn't mean the person who said it isn't legally liable. I'd love to see His Majesty take that little scrubber to court -- and Harry too if necessary, but what I hear is that it is Meghan whose...recollections definitely vary.

- they were having very serious fights. That's what [sic] I've still got #DivorceWatchMarch2023

- Harry hasn't been home in a couple of weeks.

- shit hit the fan when they got back from the UK, and that a lot of it was because Meghan got caught or Harry was shown evidence of some of Meghan's more serious lies.

- Harry and Meghan fought because Meghan lied to Oprah about the color of their child conversation.

- I knew Harry blew his top when Netflix and Penguin approached them about the discrepancies in the narrative, almost all of which were in Meghan's words. He is LIVID about that.

- He's sick of Meghan's schemes for money and her lying cons

- and as #DivorceWatchMarch2023 will attest, I know, as said one of Bookie's sources, that divorce is a question of WHEN, not if.

I DID NOT KNOW:

- the stuff surrounding the book launch and Catherine's birthday -- I don't care, and I don't think it really matters, honestly.

- Harry's not accompanying Meghan to Indianapolis

- I did NOT know that a huge part of Harry's anger with Meghan was that her bullshit made him miss the plane that he was scheduled to take with his brother and uncles at the time of the Queen's death.

- did not know Harry has allegedly warned Meghan to stop lying and scheming

- didn't know he allegedly prefers living in the US. (Personally, I prefer the rains and fogs of Blighty, but the weather in SoCal is pretty fantastic.)

- I did not know about this alleged statement that "if it weren't...for the kid..." he'd have split already, and I too wonder if he just misspoke... kind of like he misspoke when he said "babies change so much in the first two weeks" when Archie was a day old.

About these babies, I have to say, I believe in Archie. I think they are both his genetic parents, and I believe Meghan carried him and he was born by C-section. I think she wore the moonbumps over her pregnancy with Archie to make herself look bigger to get more attention. Plus when they did present him -- the stillest and quietest newborn, I've ever seen (I think they showed us a doll), her face and her body looked full of post-pregnancy fluid -- and her belly looked unevenly deflated and thus C-section-y to me.

I do believe the subsequent images of Archie that we've been shown (aside from the one where she's grinning at the paps and the lifeless babydoll is about to fall out of the carrier) are Archie. I don't believe, however, that he has red hair. I think he has her natural hair.

Lilibet? There is still no valid birth certificate on file in the state of California for a Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. The one listing her father as the Duke of Sussex is not valid. We require names here in the US and a birth certificate is public record, so there shouldn't be any reason we can't see it.

I don't know if it was just a slip of the tongue for him to say if it weren't for the "kid", and for that matter, I don't know for sure if it was said at all, but something strange is going on surrounding Lilibet.


OCGal said…

@gfbcpa, I like hearing that you and your hubby met Robert de Niro and found him to be gracious. I think he is a fantastic actor.

I pray Ms. 43% doesnt set her cap for de Niro. Maybe her bleating and braying about being 43% Nigerian is an attempt to woo de Niro, in the knowledge that his two wives have been African American.

Run, Robert de Niro! Run!

In fact, any man, if she even looks at you: run!

For that matter, any woman out there, if she even looks at you: run!
Maneki Neko said…
@Henrietta

Harry has allegedly warned Meghan to stop lying and scheming and is also sick of her lies and cons. As Lilibet's existence seems in doubt (e.g. no birth cert), perhaps that's another of *'s cons, and a major one at that. If there's no Lilibet, then I think that H, already fragile psychologically, must be about to crack up. How could you keep a secret like that one? If so, that was a con too far.
xxxxx said…
Prince Harry asked his friends and ex-girlfriends to feature in his upcoming autobiography Spare - even though 'he would hit the roof' if they spoke to the media, source claims
Prince Harry's controversial autobiography Spare will be released on January 10
Sources have revealed he asked friends and old flames to feature in the book
It was claimed they felt his request was 'ironic' because he was asking their help even though he would go 'through the roof' if they actually talked to the media
(DM Today)

lols ensue
SwampWoman said…
IF he were on psychiatric meds/mood stabilizers and she convinced him to stop them ("Don't you see! That's how they control you!"), that could be detrimental to his mentation.

I have no idea, of course, if he was ever on psychiatric meds. If he was, I'm not sure how the military went along with that.
Birth certificates in California for a living person are 100% not public record and the only people who can order one are a parent or someone who legally is allowed to access one. (Again, has to be ordered on record with person’s name and relationship).
Ralph L said…
I don't believe, however, that he has red hair. I think he has her natural hair.

As a little kid, H had straight, very blond hair, not red. Archie has curly deep red hair in photos. It would not surprise me if she talked H into putting a wig on Archie for security reasons.
Henrietta said…
Santabarbaranative,

Isn't there a public look-up for dates of California births? I'm sure one was posted on this blog at some point in the past when we were discussing the probability of Liar having lied about her DOB. I used it to look up (confirm) her DOB and one of my siblings. It was historic (not updated to 2022), but included a good chunk of time.
Fifi LaRue said…
Just got done watching a couple of Lady C videos. A commentator called * Lie-Gerian. That she is, 100%.
lizzie said…
Ralph L wrote:

"As a little kid, H had straight, very blond hair, not red. Archie has curly deep red hair in photos. It would not surprise me if she talked H into putting a wig on Archie for security reasons."

That's possible. But, to me, Harry was more of a "strawberry blonde" when young. His hair most definitely was straight. It suddenly turned curly/frizzy at age 14-15. Seemed odd to me without a perm. Here's a good look at his hair over the years.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/g22878098/prince-harry-photos/

Hair color can change and the change in Harry's color may not be unusual. (Princess Beatrice was much blonder as a child also.) But you'd think Harry's son's hair would follow the same pattern as his. Of course the texture could be coming from Meghan's genes as could some influence on the color. If Archie is their biological child, both contributed a red hair gene, after all. And based on pictures of a young MM, her hair is not naturally straight or at least it wasn't when she was young.

Will's hair is also odd though. He started off very blonde then his hair darkened to a light to medium brown. A very common pattern. But then in later adolescence it turned blonde again. Not platinum blonde but very blonde. That's definitely not common without hair dye!

So we don't really know when looking at pictures of the progression of hair changes from childhood to adulthood how much was natural. It seems in the last few decades it's become more acceptable for young men to use the perms, straighteners and dyes young women have used for much longer.
snarkyatherbest said…
xxxxx. yes but do we know if any friends actually contributed to the book or did they politely decline. if he has mostly shunned his friends til now why help harry now. and if you live in britain why hurt your own capital. you have to live and work there. harry may have asked and putting it out there is to build his book credibility or make his family think some things will be verified but i’m guessing most friends don’t want to be bothered.
Sandie said…
@Teaamade
Yes, once the book goes into production, there would be at least 5 people who have access to the entire manuscript, depending on the production model the publisher uses. (In the production model I worked with, it would be at least 7, and more for educational books.)

The one person who is acutely aware of the discrepancies between what is said in the memoirs and what is said in the reality show is the prince himself. I cannot imagine her not trying to influence the memoirs. He cannot have a victory/success that she does not try to make her own. Remember the Invictus Games and how she took over that TV interview they did? (Is he not sick and tired of it now? He was the 'rebel' prince after all.)

If what is said in the reality show contradicts what is said in the memoirs, Penguin Random House is probably not concerned. (They are marketing the book as 'his story' ... memoirs, not a biography.) Netflix does not seem to care about the truth so I do not think they care either. Both companies know that they will make a profit no matter what the controversy is.

The royal family will probably not go further than a 'recollections may vary' statement, but King Charles has been known to get friends to 'correct the record' in the media so it might get messier than what would have happened if the Queen was still monarch. However, if he crosses the line in what he says about his tours of Afghanistan, the DOD in the UK may take legal action. The UK government is probably watchful about what he says about RPOs as well. The prince has gone rogue ... I don't think it is too 'out there' to assume that the government is 'watching him'.
* is, apparently, no longer patron of that animal charity.

An article from `People' (dated April 2022) to that effect popped up in another search so I checked it in Wikipedia entry for the Mayhew:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayhew_(animal_welfare_charity)

Under `References' it says this

1. "Meghan Markle writes emotional open letter sharing 'heartbreak' after death of friend". The Independent. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022. Although we have mutually agreed not to extend the patronage, as a committed rescue pet parent, The Duchess will continue to support Mayhew and champion our ambitions.
'When, however, one reads of a witch being ducked, of a woman possessed by devils... then I think we are on the track of a lost novelist, a suppressed poet...'

- Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

Enjoy your Halloween, folks, although I doubt if `our' woman apparently possessed by devils is in reality `a lost novelist, a suppressed poet...'

BTW I've long thought that my female narcissist is lucky to be living now rather than in the 16th or 17th centuries. Three cheers for No Contact!
Sandie said…
@WBBM
That is interesting. I don't think she has any patronages left in the UK.

The section on her on the Royal Family website is still a mess and riddled with grammatical and factual errors, in my opinion. I would guess that is because she is not on the list of priorities for the monarchy. It still reads as if it was written by her, which it was. She looks rather a mess in the cover photo of her on the website!

https://www.royal.uk/duchess-sussex

The section on him could also do with some work!

https://www.royal.uk/The-Duke-of-Sussex
Henrietta said…
If what is said in the reality show contradicts what is said in the memoirs, Penguin Random House is probably not concerned. (They are marketing the book as 'his story') ...Netflix does not seem to care about the truth so I do not think they care either.

No television or entertainment company, like Netflix, is going to knowingly air something that is going to get them sued. That's why they have legal departments. There's a big difference between a fictional film or drama based on historical events, like The Crown, and a reality show or documentary, like what the Sussexes are supposedly filming. Netflix has to care about content that appears false and potentially defamatory when it is presented as a true, first-hand account of public or historical events. You can't equate Netflix's legal interests in The Crown to its legal interests in the Sussexes reality show and/or documentary.



Sandie said…
Question to Americans: are birth certificates a matter of public record? Is there somewhere one can access them, for free or for a nominal administrative fee? Online or at the Registrar's office?

My understanding is that the reason why the birth certificates for royals such as the Cambridges are published is because the parents gave the Registrar permission to make the signed and verified original available for the media to see and photograph. Was that simply a courtesy to make access easier or could any reporter, for an administrative fee, request to see and be shown original and notarized birth certificates?

I was just thinking that if one was doing historical research one would want to track down and see original birth certificates. I assume that is possible.
lizzie said…
MM appears to still be a patron of Smart Works

https://smartworks.org.uk/about-us/our-team/patrons-ambassadors/the-duchess-of-sussex-5/
snarkyatherbest said…
i saw the pic in one place but couldnt confirm it but saw someone post Don Lemon and his partner dressed at the Duchass (complete with orange face makeup all dolled up in funeral gear) and the partner as the duchass’s husband. yeah she’s not getting any time with A listers anytime soon
snarkyatherbest said…
sandie. good catch on the website. they are so trolling her.
Maneki Neko said…
Just a thought about H asking friends/exes to contribute to his book. Even if they did, how do we know their comments won't have been twisted? Would the friends/exes want to get the record straight publicly? Or maybe they'd get on the phone and give H an earful if they were misrepresented.
Question for Nutties: do you think he asked Tom Inskip, aka Skippy? 😉
Anonymous said…
Yup Tim Malone and Don Lemon as D$D Sussex


https://mobile.twitter.com/magalidmathias
snarkyatherbest said…
Sandie it depends on the state/county. usually at least in the midwest in the few states i’ve been in yiu can’t see the record at least from the clerks’ office unless you are related and have all the exact details date of birth full name full name of parents. and that may trip up some if california is like that. exact birth date and exact name of parents.

Popular posts from this blog

A Quiet Interlude

 Not much appears to be going on. Living Legends came and went without fanfare ... what's the next event?   Super Bowl - Sunday February 11th?  Oscar's - March 10th?   In the mean time, some things are still rolling along in various starts and stops like Samantha's law suit. Or tax season is about to begin in the US.  The IRS just never goes away.  Nor do bills (utility, cable, mortgage, food, cars, security, landscape people, cleaning people, koi person and so on).  There's always another one.  Elsewhere others just continue to glide forward without a real hint of being disrupted by some news out of California.   That would be the new King and Queen or the Prince/Princess of Wales.   Yes there are health risks which seemed to come out of nowhere.  But.  The difference is that these people are calmly living their lives with minimal drama.  

As Time Passes and We Get Older

 I started thinking about how time passes when reading some of the articles about the birthday.  It was interesting to think about it from the different points of view.  Besides, it kind of fits as a follow up the last post (the whole saga of can the two brothers reunite). So there is the requisite article about how he will be getting all kinds of money willed to him from his great-grandmother.  There were stories about Princess Anne as trustee (and not allowing earliest access to it all).  Whether or not any or all of this is true (there was money for him and/or other kids) has been debated with claims she actually died owing money with the Queen paying the debts to avoid scandal.  Don't know but I seem to remember that royal estates are shrouded from the public so we may not (ever) know. However, strange things like assisting in a book after repeated denials have popped up in legal papers so nothing is ever really predicable.   We are also seein...

The Opening Act of New Adventures in Retail

 I keep thinking things will settle down to the lazy days of spring where the weather is gorgeous and there is a certain sense of peacefulness.  New flowers are coming out. increasing daylight so people can be outside/play and thinking gardening thoughts.  And life is quiet.  Calm. And then something happens like a comet shooting across the sky.  (Out of nowhere it arrives and then leaves almost as quickly.)   An update to a law suit.  Video of the website is released (but doesn't actually promote any specific product which can be purchased from the website).  A delay and then jam is given out (but to whom and possible more importantly - who did not make the list?).  Trophies almost fall (oops).  Information slips out like when the official date of beginning USA residency.  (now, isn't that interesting?) With them, it's always something in play or simmering just below the surface.  The diversity of the endeavors is really ...