I'm taking notes and also getting down some questions
Not much appears to be going on. Living Legends came and went without fanfare ... what's the next event? Super Bowl - Sunday February 11th? Oscar's - March 10th? In the mean time, some things are still rolling along in various starts and stops like Samantha's law suit. Or tax season is about to begin in the US. The IRS just never goes away. Nor do bills (utility, cable, mortgage, food, cars, security, landscape people, cleaning people, koi person and so on). There's always another one. Elsewhere others just continue to glide forward without a real hint of being disrupted by some news out of California. That would be the new King and Queen or the Prince/Princess of Wales. Yes there are health risks which seemed to come out of nowhere. But. The difference is that these people are calmly living their lives with minimal drama.
Comments
I'm trying to catch these before press the button
sorry
Thanks ... the book seems to have far more than the media have shared. The ghostwriter really asked him to share every little detail.
I do not condemn him for what he says about the war. It is honest and realistic. But, governments really hate that kind of honesty and he must have known there would be a big backlash, just as his mother experienced when she tried to highlight that landmines, leftover from a war, were still maiming and killing people. In the times of the Vietnam war, the peace movement was strong, but now people protest about carbon footprint. Perhaps hapless is not interested in a peace movement and just provided the ghostwriter with every detail, without discernment.
His story about Sandringham, like all his personal family stories, seems to be rather unkind. Does he share anything positive, and does he like anyone in his family at all? Besides, aren't they at Sandringham for Christmas, when it is cold, so why would one have the windows wide open to let in a cold draught when you are trying to eat lunch?
PG born
wants to teaching lots of things including Rorke's Drift (where a much smaller British force held off larger Zulu one), "...and maybe a few pointer about how to survive life in the fishbowl."
is irritated that he is asked if he is miserable (no mention if there were other questions)
happy for his brother and wife but
"Indifferent to my place in the order of succession."
"But nothing to do with either thing, I wasn't anywhere close to happy."
Aug 2013
Official trip to Angola, Halo Trust which isn't doing as well as hoped for
mention that Diana had been in Bosnia for similar land mine issues just before she died
Returns to GB, tells his father of his troubles, PC sends him to a GP who wants to give him a pill, 5 doesn't want to go pill route first, tries homeopathic (magnesium in excess can create bowl issues - at a wedding now less)
you know, why go to a GP? This is the BRF he's part of - they have access to doctors. He's in the military - they have access to doctors who probably know about the latest thoughts for PTSD therapy ... this comes off like he is 6 years old and being taken to the family pediatrician by his dad when the kid has a broken arm instead of A&E. He's old enough even to drive himself.
Coming up on 29th birthday
"Last dregs of my youth."
Normal feeling a tad bit lost, not certain of future kinds of things but then the press was asking them as well.
Lots of stories about his love life such as flirting with Carmen Diaz but they never met.
I'm still stunned by the amount of drinking and the smoking. He does seem to always view things a negative toward him compared to the others. And it only gets worse
bold is my insertion
"...whole underpinning of the monarch, which was based on marriage ..." with comments about who married whom, the kids produced, "...You weren't a fully vested member of the Royal Family, indeed a true human being, until you were wed."
Ref: the Queen would begin every speech with "My husband and I ..."
So...when PW married, they not only became the D/DofC, it's a household thing now so "... entitled to more staff, more cars, bigger home, grander office, extra resources, engraved letterheads."
"I didn't care about such perks, but I did care about respect."
well gosh, I think there is a missing part of reasoning that because PW now had someone else who would be stepping up, taking things on, that having more staff was needed or that they needed more space. It is difficult for double the number of people to be working in the same space where half of that used to work.
odd for someone who claims not to care about perks to be able to list some of them. Odd he seems to view this a respect issue when, in fact, it is a logistical issue. Things like engraved letterhead was because it all had to change and they couldn't just use up the old stuff before getting new.
Bottom line, PW's situation increased so they needed to make changes in many areas but 5's did not, so they didn't make changes for him.
Decides to do the Walking With Wounded do the South Pole (even colder)
again we hear of todger freeze concerns
a friend (close friend unnamed) had a "bespoke cock cushion" made to help him which he does give a some description of
doesn't have any extra's made for the others
Nov 2013
Enter ELF stage right
they have the money for I, he suggests a good organizer Sir Keith Mills who had just done the London Olympics, invite for tea and makes the pitch
soft no, holiday starting tomorrow, cutting back but 5 keeps at him, you are our first, hire who you like, think of the soldiers, oh, and btw, this is in 10 months to link up with celebrations of WW1.
p 234
carb loading for the Antartic trip, the stillness, no animals, wind
hobbling around on broken toe (Norfolk) drinking, smoking and he dropped a chair on it (and it wasn't a light one) but he's not going to "whinge"
Behind Duncan who has no legs
In front of Ivan who is blind
"clean the hard drive" suggested by polar guide
so he reviewed other difficult walks (the coffin and others)
"...continuity..."
"Life was one long walk. It made sense."
Dizzy there
Can't camp on the pole so they camp near it and there is some drinking.
Next day they rush the Union Jack flag. And they might have been drinking champagne out of a leg prothesis
ick. ick. the other thing is that when I did my camping in the really cold wild, we could not bring alcohol. Not being able to make good decisions was only one concern. I think (not that I remember everything) but I think it lowers the body temperature which could lead to hypothermia maybe.
Another thought is can alcohol freeze? Well yes, sometimes. Champagne is usually between 20 and 25 proof. https://home.binwise.com/blog/does-alcohol-freeze
there is a cafe there (in what he describes is ugly especially considering the beauty of the pole around it). Cafe is not open so they get water and a souvenir of a test tube of "cleanest air in the world".
Goes from South Pole to Sandringham "Hotel Granny" where it is full up. He is put in some tiny room near office for Palace staff. "...but I also felt a bit unappreciated. A bit unloved. Relegated to the hinterlands."
p 237
Court Circular (annual record of who did what) results soon to be compiled and the press discussing who worked hard and who was a slacker.
"It didn't create the feelings of competitiveness that ran in my famiy, but it amplified them, weaponized them."
Works in how some people do things which he or PW would not think of listing to up their numbers.
"Nine private visits with veterans, helping with their mental health? Zero points."
"Flying in a helicopter to cut a ribbon at a horse farm? Winner!"
Don't know who that was but clearly it was a real thing. That there could be some reason for it is not mentioned.
"...was a joke, a scam, was that none of us was deciding in a vacuum how much work to do. Granny or Pa decided, by way of support (money) they allocated to our work. Money determined all. In the case of Willy and me, Pa was the sold decided. It was he alone who controlled our funds...To be publicly flogged for how much Pa permitted us to do-that seemed grossly unfair. Rigged."
segue
into fears about ending the monarchy.
"...The family was feeling the tremors of global change, hearing the cries of critics who said the monarchy was outdated. The family tolerated, even leaned into the nonsense of the Court Circular for the same reason it accepted the ravages and depredation of the press-fear. Fear of the public. Fear of the future. Fear of the day the nation will say: OK, shut it down."
this is not a book supportive of the monarchy. I am grateful that The Queen passed before this was published.
Moves into Nottingham Cottage
Thought it would be all about him being able to drop by with a bottle of wine, play with the kids and then be offered to stay for supper.
not how it rolled.
They are now about 10 m away, close enough that he could hear the workmen renovating the place
he could see the nanny out walking about
"I assumed they'd have me over any minute now. Any day."
"But day after day it didn't happen."
what we aren't reading is that he made any effort to have them over (get away from the kids). Or that they were not living there during the renovations (I believe someone here mentioned it). And he seems to think that they should know he wants this from them.
p 239
March 2014
WE day at Wembley Area, Cressida there 2 years of secret dating down the tubes when papped
brings it back to the Diana concert years before
he and Cressida go skiing when she asks about Diana
"her tone was just the right blend of curiosity and compassion. The way she reacted to my answer was just right too."
He cries for the first time over Diana.
And, he breaks up with her.
I don't know who Mr R and Mrs R are, per this excerpt. Can you clarify? Sorry if I missed their full name if given in one of your precious chapter reviews. Thanks! You wrote:
"now living at KP in lower ground floor so "half underground"
3 tall windows but still not a lot of light
Upstairs a couple with kids (the R's)
two beefs with them
Mr R would park his car (4.8 m or almost 16 feet) so that it blocked what little light he got, tried to get Mr R to move it slightly and the guy became angry enough that he complained to the Queen
Mrs R dumped cut hair from one of the kids out the window where the wind blew it into his open windows when a friend was over and they were drinkign
but the real egregious fault was that she parked in Diana's old parking spot
"It as wrong of me, and I knew it was wrong but on some level I condemned Mrs. R for it."
Visits Graceland en route to a wedding (Guy).
"The King's interior decorator must've been on acid." and they all wore blue suede shoes at the wedding to dance.
He wonders when he will find that special someone? What if he never does?
I hear it is an accurate description. what I wonder is how he would know what an acid trip could look like
p 242
June 2014 Phone Hacking Scandal court case resolved
Rebecca (if she is the one he describes so unflatteringly) is acquitted and possible her husband as well.
This despite what he thought was enough evidence.
The reason this all came out was the Milly Dowler murder and some people in the press had been able to get into her phone and were clearing out messages as her box was full. This gave hope to her family that she was still alive.
People didn't care.
5 lost respect for the legal system
Goes to Okavango to see Teej and Mike
P243
gets very solitary but when he does go out, he sees paps everywhere
Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber almost get shot by his bodyguard when one reaches for something at his hip as someone yells "GUN!"
Aug 2014
Tower of London for the Poppy art for 100 year anniversary of WWI
888,246 poppies, for each person representing a loss to the Commonwealth
representing life not death
3 weeks before the anniversary of Diana's death, but her death was Jul 1
which was Battle of Somme (the most deadliest day of the war)
The three PW C 5 were asked to plant one of the poppies
Then they were given a tour of the Tower
Glowing Crown Jewels
the crown especially seemed to glow more as he looked at it
the jewels and the ermine trim
he remembered Granny saying how heavy it was
he then thinks of it as tragically trapped within the Tower
PW and C say nothing
"Maybe they were lookin at that band of ermine, remembering my wedding remarks."
"Maybe not."
This was fun to investigate. I looked up to see who lived at KP back then, and my guess (I stress my guess only) would be that Mr and Mrs R refers to Prince Richard and wife Birgitte (aka Princess Richard) of Gloucester. Per royal.uk website they married "...and thereafter the couple were known as Prince and Princess Richard of Gloucester" so Harry referring to them as Mr R and Mrs R is close enough to identifying them as Prince Richard and Princess Richard in my book.
Prince Richard worked as an licensed architect before his elder brother died, at which time he became heir apparent to the dukedom, so is used to working in the "real world" and wouldn't suffer fools gladly and wouldn't kowtow to loser Harry.
Additionally Harry complains about Mrs R (throwing?) child's hair out an upper window. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have three charming looking kids, and a few years ago the photos showed the kids had stick-straight hair, with extremely simple hair styles that scream out that anyone could trim the hair and follow the simple cuts. I think Mrs R maybe trimmed some bangs and went to window and threw the tiny bits into the wind.
I don't know if my guess is right, but in any event the exercise was worthwhile because I discovered that the Duke of Gloucester is an accomplished gent with many interests at which he excels. He and his wife have been hard-working assets to the crown for lo these many years.
If loser Harry dared complain about them, i hope he got a well-deserved smack-down from HM The Queen.
Sources speculate that he could be Charles Richards, an adviser to the Queen at the time.
https://nybreaking.com/prince-harry-spare-the-squabbles-over-parking-spots-in-palace-flat/
...
Anthony Charles Richards
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Charles Richards, CVO (born 1953) was Equerry to HM The Queen, and Deputy Master of the Household of the Royal Household since 1999.
Following Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, Richards was promoted to a CVO for his service during the Diamond Jubilee and to the Royal Family.
Your investigative power was better than mine. Congratulations!👏 I just informed who Rebecca English of the Daily Mail suspects to be Mr. R: Charles Richards. And I agree with everything you said.❤️
thank you
The Battle of the Somme was not a one-day affair but an offensive that lasted nearly 5 months, from 1 July 1916 - 18 November 1916. Diana’s birthday was 1 July, but her death was 31 August. It will shock nobody that Hapless is no historian, but does he not even know his mother’s birthday vs. her death? Were his brains always Swiss cheese or have all the drugs and booze eaten holes in his grey matter? He is so not a healthy individual in any sense.
Prince Harry's former Army instructor has claimed a story in his explosive new memoir about a 'suicide' training flight is 'complete fantasy' as the fallout over its publication continues.
In Spare the Duke of Sussex recalls a flight in which Sergeant Major Michael Booley deliberately stalled the Slingsby T67 Firefly propeller plane he was piloting with 'no warning', leaving him questioning whether it was an 'aborted suicide attempt'.
But the former Sergeant Major has blasted this as a 'fantasy', telling the Mirror students are always walked through all elements of flight training beforehand.
. . .
It seems recollections have varied a lot in H's book.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11661921/Prince-Harrys-army-instructor-says-Dukes-recollection-training-Spare-complete-fantasy.html
I am so glad he had children (allegedly) what with diaper blowouts, runny noses, sticky hands touching every surface they can, reenactment of a tornado when they play, bed wetting, etc. I know Harry doesn’t clean up after the toddlers but his life is no longer ordered with kids.
Invictus, Royal Marine who remembered William Ernest Henley poem to title the group
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51642/invictus
at opening, his "flight-or-fight" was rampant,
"Anxiety, by this point, was controlling my body, my life."
whole schedule running late, but real pressure was that all were "counting on me"
after it, he sits next to his father who puts a hand on 5's shoulder and says
"Well done, darling boy"
5 reads that as PC was being "...kind ... for once I as glad not to hear the raw truth from him."
all I've seen in the book is where PC has tried to be supportive, be there for 5, say kind words, perhaps not hug but at least reach out and physically touch - in good and in situations where 5 has screwed up. PC comes off as someone who won't tell you you are stupid, screwed up. He comes off as welcoming, I love you, I care about you, my child.
Being a parent is very difficult because you, too, are human, make mistakes. Also, there is a distinct sense of no matter how the response was by PC (or PW) that the worldview of how it was received had negative overtones.
p 246
"I knew Invictus would do some good in the world, I always knew but I was caught off guard by this wave of appreciation and gratitude. And joy."
Closing Ceremony - Foo Fighters
and with him helping a little girl whose father just won a gold medal, he lifts her to his shoulders so she can see the Foo Fighters.
his 30th birthday
leaving the Army, how to announce, ELF reappears for this
What to do now? full time Royal? and how to handle leaving known to unknown?
Ben (soldier from the 2008 flight) reappears to him while Ben is running a marathon in London which traces out as a poppy to raise money
"Seeing him out there, still being a soldier, despite no longer being a soldier--that was the answer to the riddle with which I'd been struggling so long."
TLDR: you keep on being soldier like even if you leave the service.
Invictus saga begins as does others
p 248
2015 papers are talking about how PW and C are not doing working as much as they ought to, C is pregnant,
PC, remember, controls the money so PW could only do so much
at KP, PC and C are all over PW and C for outshining them which makes PC and C look bad
"...They'd openly scolded Willy about it many times"
"Willy told me that both he and Kate felt trapped, and unfairly persecuted by the press and by Pa and Camilla."
So ... he thinks about dangling himself in front of the press to save them?
PW is alleged to have not allowed press access to his family so that was why they were after him (revenge?) and something about a speech which was considered slightly anti-Brixit (because Brixit was a big deal at that time)
PCa born, he is in Australia
"I was an uncle again, and very happy about it."
Still, some press wanted him angry or upset that he is down more on the LOS
"First of all, it's a good thing to be father down from the center of a volcano. Second, what kind of monster would think of himself and his place in the line of service at such a time, rather than welcoming a new life into the world?"
p 250
"I'd once heard a courtier say that when you were fifth or sixth in line you were 'only a plane crash away'. I couldn't imagine living that way."
grocery shopping - he uses his skills to evade people, to get in and out in 10 minutes
knows the layout of what he wants to buy and is outraged when they change it (he's told that it is so people will stay longer and spend more money now)
"You can do that? By law?
hears comments when he is there which question his sexuality, love life
protects an unnamed cashier when someone is yelling at her
clothing
not important all to him, not a fashionista
dries his clothes on the radiator in his place
p 252
gets annual clothing allowance from PC
TJMaxx because he can get Gap, J Crewe if out of season or slightly damaged
looked for "...nice, comfortable" and that was about the decision level
not color, look or current style
2015 stops going out
still eating over a sink but is getting some food from the PC chefs
so no more party life
concerns of his smoke drifting over to the garden of the Duke of Kent
agoraphobic
after a public speech
PW laughs at 5 at how much 5 is sweating
PW and C had been with him when he had his first panic attack
"He knew something was up, something bad. He'd told me that day or soon after that I needed help. So now he was teasing me? I couldn't imagine how he could be so insensitive."
"But I was at fault too. Both of us should've known better, should've recognized my crumbling emotional and mental state for what they were, because we'd just started to discuss the launching of a public campaign to raise awareness around mental health."
When someone is known for being a joker or plays around with teasing, it is not always easy for everyone around this person to know when or where that person considers a topic to be crossing a line.
p 253
Mildmay Mission where Diana held the hand of an HIV+ man
"She reminded the world that respect and compassion aren't gifts, they're the least we owe each other."
Diana visited many times
a woman tells him that she remembers sitting on Diana's lap at 2, being hugged
But 5 doesn't remember Diana all that much and doesn't remember her hugs
thanks, you have good eyes and a way with words
"If the Queen never spoke to H about the parking spot issue, how did he know that Mr. R did indeed report him to the Queen?"
You are SPOT ON!
Last night I wrote in response to you a reply and was typing so fast that my iPad mini flew off my lap and onto the floor, somehow signing me out of this website and losing my heartfelt comments which I couldn't retrieve because i had forgotten my password.
The world will never know my exact, perfect post. But more importantly, I was honestly trying to wave a red flag in front of the bulls that are Harry and Meghan. I was trying to provoke them into a reply here, or other action which could prove that they read Nutty Flavor Blog posts.
Harry and his owner Meghan are known to be fanatical obsessive followers of comments about themselves on social media, and any number of bloggers feel they can prove direct correlation between what they call out as lies or "mis-rememberings" and the almost immediate CYA comments in social media by H & M.
It has happened so often, so predictably, that bloggers and I really are convinced H & M read the best blogs obsessively and react. I think Nutty Flavor Blog is la crème de la crème, so imagine and hope H & M read this blog to get the zeitgeist about themselves in relation to the world.
So Harry, if you are reading this, answer Mel's simple question. I'll wait.
He does know her birthday was July 1st, my typo
what was death s/b birthday
and then it was 3 weeks before her death
I must have crossed my lines when reading for the typing.
I'm sorry.
Bostwanna Teej and Mike end of 2015
he tells them about his anxiety,
follows up on therapy as suggested by PW, doesn't find one he likes but does look at some of their suggestions or ideas, open to meditation, that he does have PTSD and using medicinally psychedelics which he had tried over the years but now therapeutically
"All great seers and philosophers say our daily life is an illusion."
realizes that there is a war (ding, ding, ding) to save the planet, Africa and Invictus
PW is claiming that Africa was his and his alone
"It as ever in his power to veto my thing and he had every intention of exercising, even flexing that veto power."
"We'd had some real rows about it ... askes: Whey can't you both work on Africa?"
"Willy had a fit, ... flew at ... for daring the make such a suggestion. Because rhinos, elephants, that's mine."
"It was all so obvious. He cared less about finding his purpose or passion than about winning his lifelong competition with me."
Several "discussions" later, it appears that PW "felt slighted" not to be asked to go to the North Pole and thought of this as giving 5 permission to do veterans and that PW got Africa.
He visits Teej and Mike, both are upset, encourage him to keep trying
and that Africa's problems and needs are big enough for both of them
Right on!
I think you're on to something!
Four month trip to explore the problems of Ivory and Poaching
Kruger National Park
this is being driven by the Chinees and Vietnamese crime
Black Rhino - rarer than White, more bush based, more likely to charge (always be aware of where the nearest tree is)
White Rhino - more common, more out in the open
sadly: to save money, they often just dart the animal, hack off the horn and let it wake up, wander off and die instead of killing it
Rhino - named Hope, trying to repair her "face", 5 and surgical team "traumatized"
p 257
Vultures help you spot the ones they have killed,
mother killed, horn taken, baby killed also
hunting the poachers is not easy as they don't stick around
Nambia - a doctor tracking desert lions (shouldn't that be a vet?)
his bed is not in a tent, they get a call at midnight, two lions darted
a soldier wants to take a photo like he had shot it, confrontation about this,
female lion comes too, staggers around and falls at his feet
they give him grief for sleeping outside in known lion area
but he feels a sense of security with her (chemistry of sorts)
Considering this is also supposed to be about ivory, he doesn't get into that here at least. Don't remember details but I thought I remember something about PW trying to get rid of the ivory in the Royal Collection, not 5. I could be really wrong
p 259
Jan 2016 in LA, Thomas has a girlfriend there so they go party hardy
5 asks for a gin and tonic, they laugh and teach him all about tequila
riff about strange time to be pro-American (that, I guess may have been the tequila talking) some British people are angry and feel they were in Afghanistan because of the USA
also: he was told to avoid Americans if possible because "Too loud, too rich, too happy. Too comfident, too direct, too honest." he sees these things as a plus, especially if you can tell people how you feel (honestly) doesn't cite any instance but does mention age 12.
p 260
The other nice thing was that there was no hangover from from the tequila
Winds up at Courtney Cox's house next
(he loved Friends and always thought about himself as like Chandler - he did mention that feeling before but I never watched that show and the reference escaped me)
She shows up and he's not quiet sure what to say or how to say it to her
Male Actor - not named but was in Batman, special laugh, shows up and it takes him a while to figure out who it is
They find "Black Diamond Mushroom Chocolates" in the frig, they eat some and to outside and "wait"
Has an experience in the bathroom (the toilet had like a dragon head when the lid lifts), he pisses in it, drops an empty cigarette wrapper in it to see it do it again and he sends his friend in to experience it as well (friend not named but possible Thomas)
Friend freaks out and "I led him outside gently, told him it would all be OK."
p 262
Another party, another day
Tequila, mushrooms, joints
doesn't hear the intro correctly and confuses people, this the male songwriter for Christina Aguilera, not the female singer he wrote Genie in a Bottle
Doesn't track the days or time well, implies possible drugs
sits on the beach with his toes in the surf, looking at the moon and the moon seems to be implying that this year will be a good year
he is almost the same age as his father when PC married Diana, "...considered a tragically late bloomer."
warning: the next section has a picture of the two them kissing
p 267
July 1 he is on Instagram and sees a friend, Violet with a woman he instantly falls deeply in love with, she is everything he could ever dream to find
"I'd never seen anyone so beautiful.", such beauty was "a relief from chaos" and he views his life as chaotic
he had just returned, with PC, PW and C, from ceremonies commemorating the Battle of the Somme. Poem "Before the Action" which ends with a plea to help die
https://allpoetry.com/poem/8562115-Before-Action-by-William-Noel-Hodgson
and now he wants to live instead
her beauty (did I mention that already?, you need to know just how beautiful she really is) long descriptions of her most wonderful traits that he can see from this clip on Instagram.
Violet: other guys have been asking for her as well
he has to leave for a boat race but they do connect up, texting (without ceasing if you must know) and bonding on that they both have been to Africa and so on
She's everything he isn't. ("free" versus "cage", "well educated" and the list goes on)
Sympatico, transcendent maybe?
lots and lots of pictures of her, all perfect, out on the net
he can sense his future awaiting him, from his room before the race, he can see an estuary which reminds him of that same sense of Africa
Can they meet? she is leaving London soon so where?
he offers to have her come to his place
Your place? On a first date! I don't think so.
She doesn't understand life with paps hidden and waiting to take a snap of him. She suggests Soho (gives us the address - was that a paid plug?) Ask for her.
NOTE: we don't read that this is his mother's birthday
at this point, four pages into it
TLDR: it was instant falling in love, karma, the perfect fit of jigsaw pieces, they are making plans to meet up
There is a feel of a romance novel here with the instant attraction and the descriptions of beauty. The come together, must separate, and bounce back and forth is a common part of said novels.
I almost expect to see the birds, other animals and music from, say, the original movie Snow White in my room. Hasn't happened yet. Maybe when they actually meet.
up a chunk of the night texting each other (this after he barely speaks to people at the dinner) boat is named Invictus
5 hour race, really awful, awful weather (many drop out), and he is afraid he might die before he has a chance to meet her,
difficulties in public and pees in his pants, doesn't really do much celebrating (won the class for the boat and second with all of them)
back to London for "...the bigger race, the ultimate race, was about to begin."
p 271
traffic woes, she's already there, wants him to walk (like that will be good for drawing the paps), has 3 body guards with him and he's half an hour late
he apologizes
she forgives
he doesn't know clothes but she is so put together, "chic" is the word I think he uses, beauty in reality without filters, so much so that he's having difficulty being able to have a conversation with her
memories from the movie Wednesday and the kid has the snakes for hair which temporarily turn people to stone for a mental image of 5 frozen
she frequently comes to London and he feels he should have known this, of this great beauty when it was in the city, she's lived all over (Argentina and so on) and visited Africa (did I mention the Africa togetherness?)
p 273
* "This is all part of the plan."
Plan?
"Help people, do some good, be free."
long conversation, perfect flow and then she has to leave
pissed at himself that if only he had been on time, he could have had 30 more minutes with her
he will pay the tab and she will send peonies to Violet
"Compared to her, Cinderella was the queen of long goodbyes."
Violet is believed to be Violet von Westenholz. What is interesting, interesting is that her sister, Victoria, had dated 5 way back when. Victoria went on to marry someone else in 2014. Not a whiff of this in the book.
no Snow White this time either. Still a feel of romance novel.
Need something light, funny. Maybe Thurber. The MacBeth Murder Mystery or The Night the Bed fell.
Grabby Piggy is evocative but for daily use, Splodge and Todge has better alliteration.
A British psychologist gives a very fair view of why he wrote the book (therapeutic), did it help him (no), and should he write another one (definitely not). Oh, and he definitely has some kind of Messiah complex!
There are rumours swirling that he wants another ghostwriter to 'fix the problems in the book' for the paperback edition. The publisher is not going to allow that. As with the book published, they did allow him to add a chapter in the Queen's death and funeral, so they may allow him to add a prologue or epilogue, and possibly to correct some small factual errors (such as an incorrect date). But even correcting errors might be impossible, because there are so many factual errors woven into the story, that the entire story unravels if you correct the error.
This was also in their mockumentary, but it is completely untrue. (The Sandringham Summit was 13 January, following the publishing of their manifesto 8 January.)
From the DM:
"On February 20, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) announced they would lose the right to taxpayer-funded security that senior royals are automatically granted."
And from Wikipedia:
On 27 February 2020, Bill Blair, the Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness issued a statement saying "As the Duke and Duchess are currently recognized as Internationally Protected Persons, Canada has an obligation to provide security assistance on an as-needed basis. At the request of the Metropolitan Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has been providing assistance to the Met since the arrival of the Duke and Duchess to Canada." The statement went on to say that Canada would cease providing security for the couple on 31 March, "in keeping with their change in status."
-----
They simply refused to hear what they did not like, and blamed everyone else for the sudden and shambolic way they left. Both Canada and the UK announced more than a month in advance that their security was being pulled.
what about ButterUp. private company funding by Mark Benioff of Saleforce. Sales force has an activist investor that has emerged. Benioff suggesting cost structure constraint. prob not paying any attention to Butter Up and lots of tech start ups are laying off.
glad the oat latte business is going strong😉
p 273
Giddy and doesn't want to share this with unnamed friend so he spills it
they drink, smoke pot to deal with the tension and stress
also watch Inside Out (which is supposed to be about emotions which I haven't gotten around to seeing yet)
Face Time initiated by her
she washes her face, he sees the freckles and loves them
When can we meet again? July 4th at Soho
p 274
July 4 Wimbledon to cheer Serena
at the meet up, he brings red white and blue cupcakes "They look amazing."
given some privacy by waitress but she catches them in not their first kiss. they order food but don't eat it, continue drinking
"Again the conversation flowed, crackled ... I felt an overwhelming sense of Overture, Prelude, Kettle Drums, Act 1. And also a sense of ending a phase of my life--the first half?--was coming to a close."
how to continue to meet?
Both have plans for the rest of the summer, her's includes "... the full Eat Pray Love."
stars align when her free week (which a friend had fatefully suggested she not be too rigid about planning, the ELP thing) happens to be the same week he is free!
How romcom? Do you still hear the music?
"I felt intimidated. She was so the opposite of me. She read. She was cultured."
Oh but he was taken to all kinds of culture things by his dad or something I thought
Botswana is a magical place and he wants to share that magic with her so they plan to do that
in the mean time, on this second meeting/date/what ever
"She stared."
""I realize it's crazy I said. But all of this is obviously crazy."
He can't meet her at the airport because then the paps would be on the chase so Teej picks her up.
She isn't grumpy after all the flying, plane changes, multi-hour layover and then the car ride is not air conditioned.
He gives her a chicken salad sandwich and later thinks it should have been flowers.
Fearful as to how this will shake out because (be still my beating heart) the air line crew are fan(s) and took a photo or two.
3 hour trip into the wild where he is pointing out flowers to wildlife.
They kiss (and it was sparks like before) but ... the body guards are trailing 150 or feet behind and "pretended not to see"
(how much can you see at that distance without binoculars?)
They see elephants
Teej has set up a mini camp for them, small, very small single tent but two beddings (something about not being presumptuous)
She has one small suitcase and he assumes that it will have (how all this fit before you get to clothes for a week is an IDK) "The mirror, the hair dryer (plug out where in the bush and most hotel places have that as a requirement) the make up kit, the fluffy duvet, the dozen pairs of shoes." She has a few clothes and a folded yoga mat.
(Really? I couldn't fold mine that well at all to fit in a small suitcase let alone have space for more than a toothbrush and maybe yoga clothes.)
Elephants outside, she assures her not to worry as "I'll keep you safe."
"She lay down, put her head on my shoulder."
"Trust me, I told her."
p 279
He's up early (leaves her sleeping) and when he returns, she is doing yoga
They go around looking for and at wild life.
p 281
The water in that location reminds him of Balmoral and the upcoming anniversary of his mother's death.
She tells him of her struggles as an actress, a "growing portfolio as an entrepreneur", the lifestyle blog ("tens of thousands" follow her), and how in her free time, she is also a philanthropist specializing in "women's issues"
"She's perfect, she's perfect, she's perfect."
Cressida and Chelsey both have/had mentioned that he could be a little Dr. Jeckle/Mr Hyde
which he defines as "Happy" in Botswana but "Tightly wound" in London
but with her beside him he thinks he can merge these two separate parts of himself
"Every moment of that week was a revelation and a blessing."
Revelation? they barely know each other, it's all new news at this point in a relationship. Not convinced he would normally call things a blessing - he doesn't really come off as heavy into the church or at least not to the degree of his grandmother.
Kind of defies the image of someone who is whip smart and studies her lines and plans a portfolio for being an entrepreneur or that asking questions is a clear indication she must not know these answers.
What I think is actually very telling is that the impression is that she is not impressed by his being royal and that she doesn't appear to know much about being royal translates to she cannot be contaminated by others. She will be his Eliza Doolittle. She will have his world view of how to be royal and what that means as well as for how he views the motives and actions of the various family and staff around him.
That was a good question of what or how to think about him ... still thinking about it. Perhaps it will come as a post for others to comment on.
Room service - nothing ever goes smoothly it is delivered by the assistant manager who adores *, no place for him to hide so he goes under the duvet and hopes the guy doesn't notice that she has ordered not one but breakfast for two.
That night they want to have friends (apparently not PW or C)
but they cannot go to "... Waitrose together: that would cause a riot." So they try disguises and won't acknowledge the other.
He's shocked how people don't recognize her as that star.
He does have a point that most people are not paying attention to what you have in your cart. Hers had multiple suitcases and two large bags from Soho.
They feel the presence of each other or at least he does in the aisles. She doesn't really "stroll" but more of a "saunter" which leads me to believe that watching the tape of them might well indicate that they were a little more obvious as together than they thought. They were texting back and forth about where certain ingredients she needed were. "Cackling"
The recipe, salmon is from Food & Wine (not clear if they purchased farm or wild raised).
Billy, one of the body guards, drives them back to Nott Cott.
On that drive, as 5 is looking at the people and all, "I thought: I can't wait for all of you to meet her."
"Nott Cott was palace adjacent that was the best you could say for it."
She didn't show any sign of dismay about it until she sees inside and describes it as "frat house". brown furniture including a bean bag chair and Xbox. "She wasn't far off."
He tells all about how he eats over the sink so why would the interior, doesn't care about a lot of how things look (clothing) so why would the interior be strikingly different? And, how does he know about what the interior of frat house looks like? Do they have that in the UK the way they do in the USA? and not all look like they could have filmed Animal House inside them.
Eugenie, Jack and Charlie are the guests
they all love the food, the wine (plenty of it) and after they start dancing, "silly hats" and move from wine into the tequila.
Suddenly * gets pale, upset tummy.
He thinks she is a "lightweight".
It actually is food poisoning from "British Calamari"
He thoughtfully holds her hair while she is throwing up (that is nice if you have long hair)
So this is like date four - how it ends
"Taking care of each other. That's the point."
p 289
Frogmore Gardens walk
chat about Eugenie and Jack (she loves), both about their work situation
their "...relationship, a subject so immense it seemed inexhaustible."
they need a plan to keep this going, so they vow to never spend more than 2 weeks apart
his side was more of a problem because when he crossed country lines, the body guards had to be swapped out and we all know how the press would follow him
so.. "...burden therefore would fall on Meg."
"It wasn't fair for her to shoulder the burden, but she was willing, she said. No choice she said. The alternative was not seeing me, and that, she said, wasn't feasible. Or bearable."
https://twitter.com/jimmyfailla/status/1617713313735135233?s=46&t=oRrZiVeHypxRuMqvxcKWmQ
Dinner invite to 5 from PW and C, not certain when in the timeline but the next piece is Oct 2016
they "know" something is going on, doesn't want to tell them but per past, does so anyway
"she and actress."
"Oh?"
"She's an American."
"Oh."
"On a show called Suits."
"Their mouths fell open. They turned to each other."
"Then Willy turned to me and said: Fuck off!"
"What?"
"No way."
"Sorry?"
"Impossible!"
"I was baffled until Willy and Kate explained that they were regular--nay religious viewers of Suits".
so he's worried that they will bug her for an autograph? Really, that is a concern he mentions. Really? The same people who do movie openings with Tom Cruise and others but he's worried about autograph seeking from his brother and SIL or maybe others within the family he doesn't know yet are fans of her?
They are told an edited version of meeting, Botswana, the Waitrose shopping run
still am not convinced that a riot would have taken place because the two of them were seen publicly together, especially knowing what all comes later on. But I could be wrong.
5 mentions that he has mentioned many times, this "dream" that he has wanted to bring an equal partner to this, to be a "foursome" together and, according to 5, PW has always come back with:
"It might not happen, Harold! And you've got to be OK with that. Well now I felt that it was going to happen, and I told him so--but he still said to slow down"
They all hug and he goes home.
Meet the Queen Oct 2016
has lunch with Marko, his family and others and decides to have * meet Fergie at the Royal Lodge since she has already met Eugenie
"Granny was there."
"She'd popped in."
"On her way from church back to the castle."
"Meg said:Fun! I love grandmas."
He tries to explain that this just isn't any plain old grandmother but the Queen. Curtsey is demonstrated by Fergie and, of course, * nails it
Some male friend of Fergie's is there, never seen before "I looked at him hard:Brilliant. Congratulations being present for one of the most consequential moments of my life." (no idea if the guy is later invited to that other big event of his wedding)
She deflects and changes the subject to Canada.
PA escorts his mother out, carrying her handbag for her.
* thought he must be some assistant to the Queen.
"She definitely hadn't googled us."
shade
The Queen asks her about Donald Trump.
What in the world would that absolute nobody, MM, know about Donald Trump?
hmmm the shade of andy as the Queen’s assistant. she knew of him and prob knew him. this only confirms the latter to me. she ran in those circles. she knew him
PW is next up for the meet and greet *, they go over and he is dressed nicely, 5 is more nervous when it was the Queen
* hugs him and "He recoiled."
"The moment was a classic collision of cultures..."
He questioned if PW had expected a curtsey (which 5 says would have been protocol at first meet but he hadn't told her that. Something about how Granny is Queen but his brother loves Suits
Yeah BUT. What is gathered from other sources (+-) is that she's a hugger and everyone else has to learn how to deal with it (and an implied hug me back). There is a movement to teach kids that you can say no to being hugged or kissed with the logic being that not allowing the kid autonomy is allowing them to possible tolerate increasing moves from a sexual predator.
P 294
Next in line is PC and C at Clarence House. He lived there from 19 (2003) to 28 (2012) and PC and C married in 2005
C redid his old bedroom after he moved out to be "her dressing room."
"I tried not to care. But especially the firs time I saw it, I cared."
Most parents don't keep bedrooms as shrines to their kids once the kid finally moves out.
He is full of advise this time, long hair like Kate, not much make up, curtsey to PC but not to C (he "didn't think it appropriate.")
PC nice supportive words even if he hadn't seen the show, tea cart arrives, they eat, she learns what is meant by light or dark tea. PC and * are talking with C not talking to him because she appeared to be "keener on eavesdropping"
He likens the topic changes as to being at a state dinner with the Queen.
PC re: * "Her confidence, her intelligence, I thought, caught him unawares."
when leaving it looks like she is going in for the hug but she does the "standard British cheek-to-cheek.
I always thought that was French and then maybe European
End of Oct 2016 Toronto
He goes to visit her, meet the dogs, they are careful when out, local Soho Halloween party - theme "Apocalypse". Eugenie, Jack and Marcus all there. He borrows the outfit of Mad Max from Tom Hardy for the party (just the way he seems to like it or maybe it's the costume helping but there is a certain heavy drinking factor).
The next day is Sunday
They get some warning that the story will break that day.
"We're going to be hunted. No two ways about it."
reference back to hearing lions in Africa and he will be protective
This doesn't really open up the press to them because there is no picture so not real yet.
"A moment's reprieve? Maybe, I thought, all will be well."
"Nah. Calm before the shit storm."
So now, "Meghan had 'gentle concerns' about Prince Harry's memoirs but 'stayed in the shadows' as he sparked media storm with US publicity blitz" according to a DM article (as one insider told the Telegraph)
* Duchess of Sussex may have expressed worries that Spare could ruffle feathers
* Meghan has been notably absent from any of Harry's promotion and interviews
* A source said: 'Is this the way she would have approached things? Possibly not'
Meghan Markle raised 'gentle concerns' about Prince Harry's decision to release Spare and was worried if it was the right move, it was claimed today.
As the Duke of Sussex's memoirs hit the couple's popularity on both sides of the Atlantic, his wife is said to have expressed concerns that it could ruffle feathers.
. . .
Really? She now sees the negative reaction so has now changed tacks. If she'd had genuine concerns she would have voiced them before H wrote the book. I'm sure she only aided and abetted him but is now keen to distance herself from the book. No, nothing to do with her, it was H's book... So much for having his back.
Nov 2016 it's out there (the news)
Unexpectedly racist. "Unrestrained lying."
Lots of awful stuff but I remember that there was some pushback from the public on stuff which isn't mentioned. He wants to speak out (cautioned no), he's trying to stage manage the uncooperative press which he disliked already on a good day.
He finally is ok (sorta) with not silence is best until there is a Huff Po editorial (doesn't say if it was by an individual or group or what their knowledge of GB or royal protocol was) which is that Britain is not reacting to the racism because it is racist, "heirs of racist colonists, but that it was "unforgivable" that 5 said nothing in response. This is why he sends out the back off letter.
1 racism is everywhere but less so in the UK (I have read elsewhere), 2 got out of the slave trade long before the USA did 3 does not understand the Never Complain rule or why that it is actually the wise response 4 um, it's not always wise to have another country, especially coming from America (where the term "ugly American" is actually sadly a real thing) to be telling another country they need to fix certain problems (especially when these problems exist in America - take the dust out of your own eye first Jesus)
She's leaving Canada to come to him but the paps are chasing her to the airport. It is unclear if they are in the airport or not but with all the other people there, someone with Air Canada sequesters her in a room and brings her food. By the time she arrives, the back off letter is out, "And changes nothing."
Except that now his family is all riled up because they never did anything like that for their special friend.
Instead of another relaxing visit, they spend their time with lawyers. And she cries frequently or is about to. Still bonded.
the trip to Whole Foods
She feels a need to make him lunch before she is about to return, he has something to do but gives directions to WF. There a man starts talking to her, asking her questions and ... recognizes her so he wants a photo. She says no and he doesn't like that. He starts following her and taking photos.
In line, she sees all the tabloid papers, magazines with her photo and so now people in line recognize her.
She leaves and 4 men outside start to chase her with their phones. She runs to the normal gate to get in but (alas) there is a parade with horses, carriages and so on in the Gardens so it is closed. She is forced to double back to the main gate, the 4 men have found her again and are chasing her.
He discovers her "...inconsolable. Sobbing. Shaking." AND has difficulty telling him of her awful experience. They hug, she calms down and he can smell lunch a delicious lunch in progress.
No idea if anyone has tracked down a closed gate at KP for some parade in the gardens. Might be interesting. Others have pointed out WF does not sell news papers (even the WSJ for the metrosexual who is watching his Roth) or tabloid papers. They sell lifestyle magazines to help you curate your image. But what I find interesting is that she has this awful scary experience, comes home, has started/made lunch and then he finds her in this fell apart state. I would have thought lunch prep would have come after she was able to calm down.
HIV testing in Barbados with Rihanna Nov 2106 Thanksgiving ish
* can't go to her home, her mother because of the paps. "Alone." "Adrift"
unnamed friend in LA has an empty house where she can go and both parents show for Thanksgiving (but her father brings tab papers with him to discuss but she won't.
sees assorted royal reporters and "feeling hostile"
a riff on the term "blue blood" (he was told by unnamed person it was because royals blood ran colder, his family said it was that they "were special) but it actually is most likely dating to the Castilian families claiming they had no Moorish blood in their lines, Spanish - Sangre Azul. This was in medieval times. They actually had people classified with red and yellow blood. It migrated to English in 1800's.
p 304
Canada 5 cars are chasing her "Wolfish" looking men trying to get photos of her on icy roads, running lights, tail gaiting and other bad driving offenses. This all leads back to memories of Balmoral and being told about his mother.
Local police are no help so she goes home where they knock and ring her bell all night. "Her dogs were losing their minds."
Neighbors tell her they are harassed as well. One allows a camera on their roof so into her garden can be seen.
It's winter. What are they going to see? Not likely she's out tanning in a bikini. They might get the dogs walking around doing their potty thing - that's not going to pay much
Doria is called "trailer trash" and "stoner"
paps are climbing fences, taking pictures and brings it back to his mother's last hearing moment - a camera going off.
Nope. She conversed with the EMT's in the ambulance.
Fav food for both - roast chicken except he doesn't know how to do this and she is teaching him. wonderful smells in kitchen and then a bottle of wine is opened
music - she is expanding his range - into "folk music, James Taylor, Nina Simone"
I think of James Taylor as more of a late 70's guy. Nina passed in 2003). there is talk of how she seems to be heavy into things which were happening in the 80's and this may or may not be part of that.
The first time he mentions trouble in paradise
he "was touchy" and says some very mean things to her. She leaves the room and he finds her 15 minutes later. She is the calm one and questions this interaction. He says that he had grown up hearing adults behave like this and that PW had suggested therapy, he hadn't found anyone he liked so "Didn't work."
"No she said softly. Try again."
given that he remembers very, very little about his mother, it is unclear when or how he would have heard adults arguing in this way. Not saying it couldn't have happened but seeing how he remembers so little, doesn't seem to pay attention to a lot of things, could this be a major source of his behavior or could it be something else? His parents separated in 1992 so he was 7/8.
p 306
going to the theatre, arriving late and it's Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber "... in brazen violation of stalking laws".
he knows who these two are and yet with all the other law suits he/she/they file, if this really was an illegal act, why not sue? I don't know.
p 307
Meets Doria, nervous
pictures of * from Suits show up on pornhub and tabs let the world know about that
* had been in India (World Vision) and Goa with Doria for yoga
5 has to explain to * why she cannot do a selfie at the Taj Mahal
this is the last calm dinner before it gets really bad
"Racism, misogyny, criminal stupidity - it all increases."
PC, again as he did with all the other things 5 did in the past, advises not to read that stuff.
5 is afraid - afraid he will lose her this is the dream on the line here, or that someone may try to hurt her.
"He said I was over reacting. This is sadly the way it is."
"I appealed to his self-interest. Doing nothing was a terrible look for the monarchy. People out there have strong feelings about what's happening to her, Pa. They take it personally, you need to understand that."
"He was unmoved."
Therapist reminds him of Tiggy, doesn't know where to begin, he says something which sounds silly to even him, eventually she asks: "Why are you here?"
he wants to get ride of the heaviness in his heart and be able to cry.
p 309
he explains his anxiety, heavy sweating, etc, for 2-3 years now and that he cried only that one time with Crissida
he talks more about his family, father, brother
stops periodically and thinks about how if the press knew he was in there talking about his problems, "...the papers would have a filed day."
segue to press
how the woman he loves did not deserve this AND how no one is taking this huge problem that he sees, seriously.
she now has panic attacks (unk sent her a text, her address and a desire to kill her)
this makes him angry
therapist points out that there are 2 Harry's, the adult in the room and this 12 year old
he hugs his therapist at the end of this session
I am unclear about how the laws run about doctor/patient physical contact. It's a power imbalance.
p 311
therapist has met Tiggy, discuss surrogate mothering, he is guilty because of conflict about feelings of his mother but also that Diana saw a therapist and it was just one more person who took advantage of her
They also talk about Diana's style as a mother: "over-mother, then disappear."
good conversation he feels "disloyal"
he also needs to learn how to think about her as a complicated adult, a complicated adult who played some adult games with the paps, single mother, she had needs, a life outside him (and PW) as well. Her therapist wrote a book about the sessions. I don't see how that was ethical full stop. That is taking advantage of her. I knew that bulimia was an issue, maybe cutting? maybe not, guessed that the marriage was discussed, have no idea if she talked about the kids but I didn't know she had difficulties post partum.
rants that common trope of how royalty don't have problems. His mother blew that fairy tale to smithereens. https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/g34766433/royal-family-therapy-the-crown-season-4/
Some famous writer, not named, who did an editorial calling the BRF pandas. Also how Diana's "...early death spared us a lot of tedium."
Not always certain why he keeps putting these painful stabs at unnamed people - not certain it is healing the holes inside him where the pain leaks out.
I don't think it would have been tedious. It think it would have been a sad spiral of making some bad decisions about who she let into her life. I think if she had been able to prevail about not Eton, things still might have been not so good for 5 but not quite so always trailing in the footsteps of his bigger brother.
"Do you think I have an addictive personality?"
asks about drug you (affirmative), a little shocked he isn't one and then tells him that
he does seem to have an addiction to the press
"Reading...raging ... obvious compulsions."
he laughs at this "True. But they are such shits."
she laughs "They are."
p 313
his memory of his mother starts to come back, the day to day stuff
smelling her perfume is "...like a tab of LSD."
or fun times when she slips candy into his socks so he can smuggle in
or the time she was driving them (tennis I think) and does a lot of frantic zipping around trying to escape them and then she stops, confronts them, she has the kids, leave us alone, and then she's crying after
or she was laughing as she led the kids in water ballooning bombs at them
a retraction for the pornhub photo headlines, very small print, page 2 and * has tens of thousand in legal fees
5 calls PC about this, who does the dad thing he's said in the past and
5 interrupts - he's tired of being called 'boy' and that this advise is nonsense to him
parents often have a pet nickname for their kid and I bet "darling boy" was PC for 5 and that this exchange was the first time PC had an idea that actually 5 hated it
5 tries to get PC to roll over on this topic, he tries a different logic
these are the people who "tormented" PC about beloved topics of his, now they are "tormenting" one of his sons and the son's girl friend
PC even appears to like this girl
But this is not causing pain in PC
5 gets mad, conversation ends and "I felt abandoned."
it is unclear what exactly he thought his father should do - especially since his father had been living with this as a problem for decades more than his son had and it still wasn't a fixed/end to the problem.
* reaches out to Camilla and she is no nonsense about this, everyone has to go through this and this also upsets 5
C also suggests Governor General of Bermuda which he interprets as a way for them to sorta solve a few issues, one of which is that they are not around London.
no such exact title, that's been out there but it continues the narrative that she wants to increase the space between he and his father for herself.
Aug 2017 Althorp with PW 20th anniversary of losing their mother
obviously an extremely emotional time for them
he tries telling PW about the problems of the press that he and * are having
PW "No one believes that shit." but 5 continues the rant
PW tells him that he feels like Diana is around, has been part of his life and that now perhaps she is helping 5 a bit.
5 agrees and mentions that he thinks that Diana is part of why * is in his life now
PW:"Well, now, Harold, I'm not sure about that. I wouldn't say THAT!"
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/transference
In my opinion, she was playing him and his obsession with the media. She wanted to get married as quickly as possible, but could not wait to get her hands on full-on security and funding. Neither of them could or can handle negative stories, true or not. But she adored being papped and before she met him would beg photographers to photograph her whenever she went out. She pretended otherwise to manipulate him.
obviously an extremely emotional time for them
he tries telling PW about the problems of the press that he and * are having
PW "No one believes that shit." but 5 continues the rant
Future King, you don't know me, I don't know you and never shall we meet, yet we are on the same page. Strange.
Yeah, I don't believe that shit either.
Re. page 315
In my opinion, she was playing him and his obsession with the media. She wanted to get married as quickly as possible, but could not wait to get her hands on full-on security and funding. Neither of them could or can handle negative stories, true or not. But she adored being papped and before she met him would beg photographers to photograph her whenever she went out. She pretended otherwise to manipulate him.
Yes, her career was over. She was desperate for a rich safety net.
Sept 2017 Nott Cott where love permeates and leaks out, garden and he talks of the garden next door where he grew up, now Princess Michael has cats which his mother always hated
5 "I love you."
* "I love you too, Haz."
So they talk about her moving in, logistics
*"I can't just leave my show and quit my job to give it a shot. Would moving to Britain mean a forever commitment?"
5 "Yes, I said. It would."
and she says yes ... but even with that wording by her, he had fears she would not because the drama around him would be too much
p 318
Toronto, Invictus before this, photos were being sold for 100,000 pounds of them
they had fun BUT BUT BUT some tabs in GB took her to task for wearing ripped jeans
"No one mentioned that everything she wore, down to the flats and button shirt, had been pre-approved by the Palace."
"And by "no-one" I mean not anyone at the Palace."
"One statement, that week in defense of Meg ... It might've made a world of difference."
Where he gets those prices for any of this, I have no idea. It seems to be odd that he happens to know his own value to a group of people he despises.
There is a real shift in tone above which almost sounds like menace coming from someone who about to say in the horror movie: "You shouldn't have done that. Now you'll be sorry." I could be wrong but it is kind of a where did that come from moment. It's all about about how wonderful this went but this eliminate all the good happy time they just had.
Decides to bring Jason and Elf in that he will propose to *. They congratulate him and then say that court protocols need to be checked before anything.
He learns he must get permission from his grandmother, as the first 6 in the LOS need permission to marry.
He asks if this really is a rule or one they "work around". "Doesn't make sense" He's a grown man. He doesn't remember his brother doing this, various cousins either but does reflect that he did hear something about his father asking when it was Camilla.
They remind him that others have in the family ran into problems especially when the intended had been divorced.
When ever he seems to run into some thing he doesn't understand, like why Never Complain or this or why the palace won't go after certain tabs for printing something negative or in some way thwarts what he wants, he calls it basically: stupid or similar.
And that's the end of that until it or something new comes up. He makes no effort to find out why this rule exists.
In this case, if you think back to say King Henry VIII, rule was much more enhanced for how the monarchy could respond to "problems or potential problems". Marriage was more of a political game and the wife was to be the pawn of her father's ambitions many times. So, back then, even nobility had to ask permission because the King was interested in who was aligning with who and how that might impact him (meaning potential support of a throne contender). One of the various Queen's sisters married (for love) and did not ask permission (I think the Queen was Anne). Henry was so livid that he banished her from court.
this is like (not that I know) being in a marathon
The ring, he takes at least one diamond from a bracelet of his mother (PW is ok with this) for the ring
status with PW: sort of seems to like * but C is of the belief that her husband would not want homeopathic from * when she tried to give him something
5 notices the difference between how the two women dress
* gives up her role and besides it was becoming more difficult because the Palace was asking for rewrites
Bogart had become aggressive (changed because the doorbell ringing and so on) so that was why he stayed behind
Guy disappeared and was found with multiple broken bones.
Nov 4 in the garden for the proposal "Yes." gives ring
P 326
He would have asked TM for permission but, divorced, complicated, complicated relationship, and that * felt strongly that he would not do well with the paps, already not doing well with the pressure from them before it went crazy
P 327
Apparently the Palace was not doing well at the decisions of where and when
The Intro Meg tour - crowds go wild, wild wild (I tell you, really wild)
What they really wanted for a wedding was barefoot, Botswana but this wedding was what they had to do for others
finally May 2018 is picked
Feb 2018 Royal Foundation aka Fab Four Film
with the press but we were having fun, cracks appeared later
Catherine is now in competition with *, "...forced to compete with Meg"
and the lipstick share request from * to C just before it stated
He doesn't seem to see that a request like that might be offsetting to someone who barely knows * or that it might be considered unhygienic to boot.
Granny (not Q) officially approved this and they got a new puppy - for Guy
5 is in a wonderful place, surrounded by love from 2 and 4 footed ones
P 330
All kinds of wedding news, the flowers or the cake are coming out
"Palace encouraged us to feed more details ... Royal Rota, we obeyed."
RR was set up years before for the benefit of the British press over others about Royal news. "It discouraged fair competition, engendered cronyism, encouraged a mob of hacks to feel entitled."
Remember that whole thing of not serving up the baby at the hospital but wanted a deal with one of the US networks? yeah
Music - bonding moment with PC over dinner when he offers ideas about music, supportive of their desire to have an orchestra instead of the all organ
asks his grandmother to keep his beard as he will be in uniform (Army nono) as he considers it part of how he helps deal with anxiety and besides * has only ever seen him that way
we also need to know how they love that she pulls on it to draw them close to kiss
Granny is ok but PW "bristled" a rules are rules
"I gave him a quick history lesson." mentions various British royals in uniform while wearing a beard
Finally tells PW that his opinion doesn't count because it is already Granny approved
to which PW tells 5 that he put her in a difficult position
and the fight is back on and spills onto the uniform 5 will wear but that was the one that PW wanted for his wedding
5 finally tells PW that 5 is getting married and PW can be in or not as he so desires
P 333
stag party where PW's goal is to get 5 so drunk that they can then shave off the beard
lots of "boy toys" such as arrows (when people are drinking heavily?), face paint (permanent markers would actually have been funnier), boxing gloves and so on. They dress him as a chicken and then he encourages them to toss fireworks at him.
5 hopes that getting married will help bring the two sons back together, closer.
- `When ever s(he) seems to run into some thing s(he) doesn't understand...or in some way thwarts what he wants, (s)he calls it basically: stupid or similar...S/he makes no effort to find out why (a) rule exists.'
It fits one of my cousins, along with letting you know they don't like a present you've given them' and the other little `tells' I've previously mentioned (but can't recall now)
Unnamed "powers that be" allowed her to wear a veil
why no name(s)? if Granny allowed a beard, gave the ok to get married, well, if it wasn't her decision, then whose was it?
Tiara - coming up
Initially offered the Spencer one Diana wore (the dress designer was working in a scalloped edge to match it) but then The Queen offered a choice of 5 from her collection at a private viewing within BP, the Queen's private dressing room. A historian and Angela are also there.
of the 5, one is all emeralds and one is aquamarine
TQ: "Tiara's suit you."
*: "Thank you, Ma'am."
So they try contacting Angela to try on the whole package deal(veil, hair, etc) and they cannot get in contact with her. finally they are able and she says that it has to be done this way, he asks about it and is told by her that it cannot be done because it can't be fit into her schedule.
"She was being obstructive, obviously, but for what reason?" and, he wasn't sure who Granny would pick in this fight.
"Also, to my mind, Angela was a troublemaker..."
P 335
Press has fanned the trolls so there are the obligatory death threats, racist comments
during the run up to the wedding, she is now the top target of the family
* was never given any sort of practical terroristic training because the "Palace had floated the idea not giving her any security at all, because now I'm 6th in line to the throne."
interesting. fears of no security run deep apparently
and still no tiara
so this all must be after Louis was born, April 23rd, which is 25 days before the 19th of May, wedding day
Finally in touch with her, he picks up it up
"I thanked her, although I added that it would've made our lives so much easier to have had it sooner."
"Her eyes were fire. She started having a go at me."
"She fixed me with a look that made me shiver. I could read in her face a clear warning."
"This isn't over."
we were not there and could not hear the tone of voice he used but it always seems that in these exchanges, 5 and * are always being polite about what they are asking for and everyone else around them is a jerk about it.
May 18 the night before the wedding Coworth Park Hotel
5 is distracted according to his friends
TM, the kid dresses, ;yada
and PW cancelled to be there that night on his way for tea with Granny (C and the kids)
5 wonders if this a fallout about the beard, that Charlie will be his best man
if PW was not the best man, could that be a reason why he did not sign the register or something? I remember that people questioned that at the time.
5 really wanted PW to be there just as he had been there for his brother the night before his brother's wedding He also wanted to go out and talk with some of the crowd like he had done with PW that night as well
P 340
He hoped the brotherly bond trumped like beards and dresses
6 pm, PW texts him leaving Granny that he will be there. They go talk to the crowd.
and then PW tells him that he is leaving, not staying for the dinner (C and the kids)
5 not happy about that
so 5 can't be happy with even part of what he wanted when he got it. It seems like when he has this vision of how something should be, if it isn't exactly as he wanted it, then he can't be happy for what did work out.
The Beard: it has ALWAYS been my understanding that 5 grew the ginger beard in defiance of Granny’s Army regulations while he was still enlisted and used his status as TQ’s grandson to keep it. This was understandably a source of friction for unit morale and was one of the many items of HRH’s systematic insubordination which ultimately got him S-canned from his unit. A new CO came on board, one less inclined to kiss Royal arse and told 5 that he had to either adhere to regulation uniform and pass the Major’s exam or he had to resign. Those were the options. Promotion to major would mean promotion out of the unit to take a desk job, where he would become some other CO’s problem. His commanders had had it with Royal soldier-cosplay. I can hardly believe that his former Apache flight instructor genuinely regarded him as an exceptional student. I think that man was blowing smoke. If 5 were exceptional, Why did he never pass the requirements to be a solo pilot and have to settle for gunner?
The Tiara: I’m sorry, but why in the hell would Earl Spencer have offered the Spencer tiara to his nephew’s two-bit grifting actress he’d known for 5 minutes? The Spencer tiara is for the use of the women of the Spencer family. Perhaps, maybe, if Harry had been a Spencer that Bint was marrying, she might have been lent it even though not Spencer by blood. Her eventual daughters would have been in that case. Why would the Spencer tiara have ever been part of the conversation? The fact that Diana had worn it on her wedding day would’ve had cachet for *, but at that stage there was no reason to choose that over an offering from the Queen.
The Wedding: Barefoot in Botswana?? Neither of them wanted a Royal wedding? Do me a favor. Have we reached the part in the memoir where Harry recalls screaming at Granny’s dresser “What * wants, * gets!!!?” I think the recollections of that particular episode are going to vary, because Madam sure as hell wanted the most elaborate Tiara out of Granny’s jewelry box at that juncture, along with access on demand. That’s at odds with wanting a barefoot Africa ceremony, isn’t it? Along with the 42 foot hand embroidered virginal veil and ill fitting couture gown? The queen, not to mention the taxpayers would have been thrilled with a scaled down simple ceremony for the third wedding of her third grandson‘s wife. It wasn’t the queen pushing for that extravaganza. Harry’s conveniently misremembering how he would’ve pitched an absolute fit if he didn’t get everything William got for his nuptials.
Give me strength.
What is unknown is if uncle responded to anything from his sister's kid based on past behavior despite his response at Diana's funeral about how there would be assurances that the two sons would know their Spencer history. He did/does allow, apparently, private visits at least on major anniversaries. (my guess - pick your time slot from now on)
To use it, would be Diana 2.0. (for someone else - image can be everything when you are re-branding)
But ... until you brought it up, I hadn't thought of it as that perhaps had not gone through. I wrote it off as doesn't make a lot of sense but oh look: the Queen - what options do I have here which could be flashier?
Notice the emeralds - we have heard of that (ahem) before. I seem to remember seeing flashy aquamarine with Camilla (how many aquamarine versions did TQ have? - please, I am certain someone knows or knows how to look that up). I do know that some pieces were on a rather permanent lend basis.
Thank you
Thank you all as this is interesting. And helpful to trying to understand what we (all) see.
ahem, no apparently he does not say anything at all -and I have read to the wedding - about that "outburst" of what she wants... The closest I can come to it is when he speaks to her about how unhelpful she was about accessing the tiara - and that he is uncertain as to whom his grandmother would support.
It is protocol to be clean-shaven when dressing in British Army uniform, unless the permission of the commanding officer is obtained.
Otherwise, there are only a few exceptions in the Army which allow for servicemen to have a beard, such as skin complaints or for religious reasons.
The service's policy on dress regulations, including facial hair, is, however, "routinely" reviewed, according to an officer speaking in 2018.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed in 2019 that Royal Air Force personnel would be allowed to grow beards for the first time in 101 years, bringing the service into line with the Royal Navy.
Some of the only Army roles allowed a beard on parade include Pioneer Sergeants, Drum Majors, Pipe Majors, Bugle Majors and Goat Majors.
https://www.forces.net/news/meet-pioneer-sergeant-one-few-army-ranks-allowed-beard-parade
See also: https://www.forces.net/uniform/what-military-regulations-say-about-beards-and-facial-hair
What do the Armed Forces say you can and can't do with your facial hair? - a more discursive article
H neither held a rank that would have allowed him to sport that miserable facial fungus he calls a beard, nor had he become a Sikh. Presumably, he twisted the arm of his ultimate Commanding Officer, Granny.
I se there several available on ebay at the moment - for a few pence each, we could send her one.
Noel Fitzpatrick went to the wedding (poor chap, had to wear a suit) in recognition of mending Guy's legs. So the injuries happened before 19th May 2018.
Do we know where the injuries happened? Canada, US or UK?
What was * really doing that day? Was she `working', unpaid on an engagement with the Queen perhaps? Presumably he wouldn't have been working in the usual sense, with pay, without the correct visa, would she?
Do we know when Guy was brought into the UK? Was he flown over in a crippled state?
Do we know if Guy was treated as soon as it happened? or did NF reset the bones?
NF may have had a childhood fantasy of being `Supervet', a qualified version of Superman, but I believe his practice is firmly on the ground, just outside Godalmimg in Surrey. He does treat animals from all over the UK (can't recall any from Ireland but it's certainly possible) and the near Continent but they have to be brought to him; as far as Iknow, he doesn't go to them.
Or did H just accept *'s account of being `at work' when the poor dog's legs were broken?
NF didn't give any details away when he was later interviewed for TV.
The law states that motorists are required to notify the police of any accident involving a dog - nothing mentioned about that?
What about the dog-walker - was she torn to shreds by*?
Accidents happen so easily - my mother's dog was killed when she jerked the lead out of Mum's hand & dashed after a cat, straight into a car. I had a heart-stopping moment when my newly-adopted collie X slipped her collar and dashed into a busy road. My fault - she had a thick ruff that misled me and I should have buckled the new collar to the next hole.
Mercifully, she was OK and we had over 15 happy years together. I still miss her,
They wanted to get married at St Pauls, as soon as possible. He complained that William said they could not get married at St Pauls. (This would have been an extravaganza wedding with lots more crowds and thus more expensive security, and a lot more guests.)
They wanted to get married barefoot in the African bush. It was not clear to me who would marry them and if there would be any guests. (Certainly in South Africa, there are luxury guest farms with a chapel and a restaurant and entertainment hall, for small weddings. But I think it is like Vegas and an interdenominational person conducts a civil ceremony.)
They got married three days before the spectacle wedding, and she even wrote special vowsl for that marriage ceremony. @abbyh, Does he even mention this in his memoir?
With regards to getting married in Africa, they would not qualify to be married by an Anglican priest (Anglican is CoE in Africa) and certainly not in the bush, without special dispensation from the Bishop, whom neither have ever met.
https://anglicanchurchsa.org/canons/chapter-c34-disipline/
Would their children still be in the LoS without a legal marriage in the CoE? Would she still have the titles without a legal marriage in the CoE?
abbyh. please. perhaps she convinced H she wanted to be married right then and there (get her claws on him) but was willing to sacrifice herself to a big “state” (not state) wedding for his family. she’s gaslighting her own wedding because 1) people are criticizing the expense 2) people are noticing the lack of strong details (fit of the dress, sloppy look to the wedding cake, i’ll fitting bridesmaid dresses) 3) no one looked happy and she looked smug. so she walks it back. i never wanted all of this it was foisted on me i’m just a california girl (setting up for husband number 3?4? wife 1? heck she could do it)
Could CS have said no to the request so they went to HMTQ expecting her to override the decision? I'm not sure why H would outright lie about CS originally offering it in that scenario though, unless this way they still get to claim "she could have worn it if she wanted"? Plus, "HMTQ wouldn't let me wear a certain tiara because the provenance might be dodgy" is a better victim narrative than "nobody will let me wear Diana's tiara".
I hope all that made some sort of sense, I'm just throwing half formed ideas around and I've managed to tie my brain in knots now haha
threats at the. time of the wedding. hadn’t seen anything really reported. then again was the mrs already pushing that narrative given how sensitive (obsessive) he was around it. was she already lining up sugars to help with this.
perhaps a scaled down wedding was called for but remember they didn’t hire PRince Charles party planner guy. and suddenly the $$$ or should i have said £££ seem to escalate along the way. did she get a cut of any $/£ for any vendor used with the idea they get publicity from it. did she also help encourage them to be sure to expense everything (including cake samples, dress samples,flowers) why should you be out because of a royal wedding. my FIL will pay for everything and but shhhh don’t bill him til after the wedding. that i could see happening.
Re the 5s wanting 'to get married barefoot in the African bush.' I'm surprised they didn't get Desmond Tutu to marry them! H met him in 2015, * could have pressurised him to ask D Tutu to officiate. Maybe he couldn't or wouldn't.
-----
Or....maybe he did.
Charlotte's bridesmaid's dress was an unholy mess and I can't help wondering if `Someone' deliberately sabotaged it by sending the wrong measurements. That hemline was criminal and I bet there's no end of amateur dressmakers who could have done it perfectly, instead of ruining a little girl's Big Day. Did * want to avoid the risk of guests thinking that Princess Charlotte looked better than she did.?
abbyh. interesting thread on before the wedding and william not being there the way H wanted. well if brothers soon to be wife (and your brother )was causing a ruckus to your wife and daughter and a big way you stand with your wife not your stupid brother. remember the cambridges left the church together. the kids were with them not the bride and groom
nice to see the queen having tea with all of the cambridges.
His idea for the perfect processional music: Handel - Eternal Source of Divine Light
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPWyQlil8KE
When he sees her for the first time at the wedding, his life flashed in front of him (but only that part of his life with her)
he notes that nothing about planning the wedding has happened quite the way the plan should have been but that the focus should be about their future life together.
usually when I read of a life passing before someone, it is just before they die. I'm going to leave it there and move on that his comment about the focus is the future is actually quite good. So many people are more focused on having a perfect wedding but have no real plans about all the days after the wedding.
Aunt Jane read from Song of Solomon
"... Love as strong as death, passion as fierce as the grave."
is that particular section, from that book, usually read at weddings? Inquiring mind wishes to know.
2 billion people watch the wedding we are told
um only 162 million for PW and 750 million for when his parents married by basic google but there is this source which says that actually PW's had 2 billion but that 5's was the biggest one after his brother (no numbers mentioned). https://englishhistory.net/famous-royal-weddings/ what is unclear is from the article is if there were others between the two brothers
As they are doing the recessional, he contrasts seeing the smiling faces and the protection people visible just in case.
P 342
Honeymoon was not as much fun as post stress, tension and they weren't feeling well
* begins adjusting to being part of the royal family
Trooping of the Color - Catherine asks what * thought *, "joking: Colorful." joking did not go over well with others who were there either
the trip with the Queen
she comes home and talks about how they bonded over dogs and HM offered advise on how to induce labor (bumpy roads in a car).
rather intimate conversation from a woman who is of the generation where many things were not to be discussed in polite conversation. A woman who was quite good at avoiding confrontation directly.
Trip, according to the press: "Disaster"
For example, entering the car - 5 says that she was doing what TQ told her to do
Or the hat: 5 says that the Palace called and told her not to wear a hat.
Again, TQ didn't do direct confrontation but was adept at handing a crisis and how to make it appear not a crisis. She also knew that * would need help and that was why she had put into place (before this) good people to help advise * how to avoid problems, and most of all, what the correct protocol for movement around TQ (never be in front of her, always trail).
5 about criticism on the no hat but that she was told not to: "The Palace will make a phone call. They'll correct the record."
They didn't."
do we really believe that the Palace actually called and said not to wear a hat/that the protocol people would not have verified as this is contrary to all their prior experience or do we believe that perhaps someone is trying to cover criticism? Either way, it is another example of how the expectations were that the Palace's job was go after criticism of *.
that tea sit down with PW and C
* in awe of their renovation, the furnishings, art and so on
small talk until * bravely talks about how there are some misunderstandings
and the dam broke
C thought * would like some fashion contacts but * had who she wanted already
the dress for PCa
note no mention at this time of the not inviting * to go shopping but it might not have happened yet but given how things rolled later, maybe not
PW and C, sulking about no Easter gifts. 5 and * apologize.
no mention that PW and C had given Easter gifts. Usually if you receive one, you need to give one. Or so I was taught.
the shifting locations of the name cards at weddings with this as American tradition of couples next to each other
PW and C are accused of doing this (outrageous breech of etiquette) at 5 and * wedding (they claim it was done by someone else) and respond with
accusations of 5 and * doing this at Pippa's wedding
5 and * respond with how they had not done so and suffered through the dinner with a large flower arrangement separating them
well everything I have ever read and observed is that it is not an American thing to force couples to sit together at a dinner party (basic which would logically be the same for very fancy/state level as well).
https://www.uexpress.com/life/miss-manners/2010/02/23
C now has white fingers (tension? anger?)
C demands an apology from * hurt feelings about the comment about hormones at the time of the PCa dress
* defends her position that that is just the way * is and how she responds to people, especially girl friends
"Willy pointed at Meg. That's rude, Meghan. It's not what's done here in Britain."
* "Kindly take your finger out of my face."
5 thinks this nuts and he knows (and even * says something to PW and C at the end) that * would not intentionally hurt someone else or anyone
tea ends, they all hug. "Kind of."
not willing to accept the idea that she isn't in California any more and that what could be considered normal in California might not be considered normal, acceptable, appropriate in another country (before you get into the whole formality within the BRF and rank). so telling her this doesn't go down well. what we don't know is the tone of voice used by anyone during this tea or how loud they used their words.
the stories of how she is a paragon of virtue continue
the shared office is now filled with strife, people are picking sides
"In such a climate there is no such thing as constructive criticism. All feedback was seen as an affront, an insult."
PW only blames * while 5 defends *, says that PW is "out of line" and that the source of the real problem was all the people PW hired, government types, they are the ones
"... in the midst of all this, Meg managed to remain calm. Despite what certain people were saying about her, I never heard her speak a bad word about anybody, or to anybody. On the contrary, I watched her redouble her effort to reach out, to spread kindness" it goes on, gives examples including: "... she shared all the freebies she received, the clothes and perfumes and makeup, with all the women in the office.
never a discouraging word was spoken. ok. all those freebies she was not supposed to keep - she gives what she doesn't want to the people who know the rules and aren't allowed to confirm any validity to her Lady Bountiful story.
Her kindness and thoughtfulness continues to show no boundaries.
Mr and Mrs R had an adult son who died. She, who didn't know either, wrote a note and mentioned wanting to offer a hug and sent a flower. Mr R appears at their door and is hugged.
"I felt so proud of her, so regretful about my feud with Mr R."
"More, I felt regretful about my family feuding with my wife."
perhaps. perhaps not enough to recognize that she was not perfect, did not take advise, direction, criticism or that his family might be on to something about how the problem was not all them.
not a fertility specialist but an ayurvedic doctor who advised her to gain 5 pounds
Castle Mey with PC, their bonding even stronger because her birthday is the same as GanGan
PC becomes light hearted, tells stories that 5 has "...never heard before"
selkies - singing mermaids, so you sing at seals, selkies may be able to grant wishes
discussed the paps situation with PC, "If we could just convince the papers to back off, we said"
TQ calls * who had written her a letter asking for advise, help about her father
first suggestion: go see him
yes but it would be difficult, you know, getting through even the airport
second suggestion: write a letter "Pa agreed."
are we to believe that she cannot be shepherded through? Is it mandatory she fly into a place in his small town (if there is one) or wouldn't it be easier to escape detection by flying into some other place and drive?
p 347
5 sings to the seal he sees, * joins them in singing and then more seals join
"She really is magic."
And then PC's chef tells him that it is bad to sing to seals because "...singing to the seals was like calling them to their blood-soaked deaths."
superstitions may vary
P 348
TMI her period is late, they buy home test kits and he falls asleep so she waits for him to see the results positive
"I thought: Thank you selkies."
"I thought: Thank you Mummy."
P 349
sharing the good news at Eugenie's wedding, at Windsor PC is thrilled, PW wants him to tell C right then, 5 is happy that they are happy
announces it publicly, she gets tired but no real morning sickness
and the tour is about to begin
She glitters, even gets a standing ovation
"You're doing too well, my love. Too damn well. You're making it look too easy. This is how everything started ... with my mother."
Diana was better at this than any of them.
No negative stories about this so now pivot into those stories which popped up
"... rubbish hit piece by a hack biographer of Pa, who said I'd thrown a tantrum before the wedding."
"...work of fiction about Meg making her staff miserable, driving them too hard..."
She was accused of making her assistant quit but actually that assistant was fired by HR because it was claimed there was evidence she was taking advantage of her job title and getting free stuff."
nothing about how * was also getting free stuff she wasn't supposed to (either)
starting down Duchess Difficult Drive
Tiara story - that * had "demanded" a specific tiara that was Diana's, TQ refused to give * what she wanted, the words about "what Meghan wants,..." were part and parcel
Bridesmaid dresses, that * had C in tears (2 sources for the writer) and that there was a chill developing between the two women
5 always hated that writer because stuff was always wrong "But this felt more than wrong."
"Haz, I made her cry? I made HER cry?"
this coming from the guy who writes at the Fab Four that now Catherine will be in competition with *
Summit to sort out the problems between the two couples
However, it is in their little front annex - "This time on our turf."
no opening small talk
C admits that the stories of * made her cry were false, C apologizes
"I know, Meghan, that I was the one who made you cry."
"I sighed. Excellent start, I thought."
* appreciates the apology but wants this story corrected, so why isn't C's office calling that in? C and PW evade, hedge
"... But I already know the truth ..." The Palace won't ever do that because then it will raise more questions about why or what really happened, so it is about protecting the monarchy and in this case, the future queen.
never complain isn't part of the logic, only that the real story of how * cried is not out there to undo the bad story that * made C cry.
So then they spend time trying to figure out who might have done such an awful thing? They go through names and names
Finally though, PW owns up that it could have been him. He "might" have mentioned to PC that there was some "strife" between the two pairs.
5 and * freeze "So now we know."
then 5 starts yelling at PW, basically a how could you, you know and so on
he doesn't get into what he is referring but later there is a time when PW is angry at his father a couple of pages from now which could likely be it as it is about how PC is having stories leak which make him look good by making the others look bad.
it is unclear why he would chose the two women when in fact it is actually the two couples as well if he really was the source. Tensions were between the brothers as well.
If you are going to throw so someone under the bus, why not everyone for maximum blast?
That way you can run multiple story lines when needed because everyone will already know that everyone is already involved instead of pull them in slowly
p 353
The bad or negative stories keep rolling out
avocado toast - when it is *, it's bad but for C, it is a good
Now it becomes clear that the source of these is from Palace, someone is enabling the paper and the source was inside "Someone had it out for her."
it was always something, a bra strap showing, awful dress, black fingernail polish, bad curtsey, shuts her car door again
Oxfordshire house - just to have a place to get away, Nott Cott was too small "And falling down around our heads."
He calls TQ and the Palace is showing them various options (and all are "too grand", "Too lavish" and she comes up Frogmore House? No Cottage
they go and look and like the potential yes and they start the plans for renovation
he calls on Kevin, PC's butler to help them make Oxfordshire home more homey
(mentions that Kevin would talk, etc with Diana as she would venture downstairs)
She was sitting on the steps crying and saying she wants to "disappear". This all just too painful, if she disappears, then it ends the pain "This exists because I exist."
He tells her they will get her help
what to do, it is the night of the Sentebale thing and she is afraid if he leaves her and goes for even a short time so they go
make up hint: if your eyes are really red, wear really dark lipstick as a distraction
he is "buoyed" by the tightness of her hand grip
"Trust me. I will keep you safe."
no mention (in the near future at least so far) as to when they will get her help or even of calling someone to be with her to help him as much as her then or later
Jason lets him know about the MOS printing of the letter to TM, he lets her sleep for a while
this is key moment according to 5
he no longer cares bout following the rules and all
(pay attention for because these things will seem to be stacking on top of the negative stories or the unwillingness to correct what they perceive as false)
MOS printed it knowing it was illegal for them
and that they did it because they knew that * "was defenseless" and that the family did not support her
the family lawyer was under Palace control when they start talking about suing
Nothing bad in the letter, just a daughter trying to ask her father "to behave decently"
she always figured a neighbor or someone would steal his mail
and that what was printed was edited to make her look less kind
criticism of the intention of this or that within the hand writing
Guardian: "Tormenting Meghan Markle has become a national sport that shames us
Both wanted to sue but Palace evasive
5 calls PC and PW who were successful in their suits but they are against this suit but have no good reason for them to go to court
"I told Meg: You'd think we were suing a dear friend of theirs."
PW want to come over and talk, just the 2 of them
5 mentions that PW comes over and into Nott Cott but hadn't been inside since * had moved in
technical question: how is the annex (summit on their turf) connected or something to Nott Cott?
"He looked piping hot."
5 is polite, offers drink, asks about his family but PW doesn't reciprocate such niceties
"Meg's difficult", ... the staff and so on (and this isn't the first time PW has told 5 this)
5 defends *, all that is lies, etc, mentions the idea that somehow PW would come over and have 5 agree that "my wife is a monster?"
5 expected PW to be better
* should be given "slack, PW should be trying to help her, she is adjusting to a lot
"He wanted me to agree that Meg was wrong and then agree to do something about it but 5 doesn't know what and neither does PW who "... wasn't rational." so 5 tries to slow, calm things down but eventually both are yelling at each other and neither is listening to the other.
PW starts calling 5 names.
and then said something about 5 not being responsible but won't give 5 an example when asked for one
5 was uncomfortable but progressed to being afraid of PW
They move to the kitchen and 5 gets himself and gives PW some water
"Willy, I can't speak to you when you're like this."
PW does the collar grab, breaks the necklace and knocks him to the floor where the dog bowl gets broken and leaves cuts and bruises.
5 gets up and orders PW to leave (he only goes as far as the sitting room for 2 minutes and then returns to 5 in the kitchen (not clear if he has started the clean up)
PW apologizes
PW mentions that * doesn't need to know this happened
5 "You mean that you attacked me?"
PW "I didn't attack you, Harold."
5 "Fine. I won't tell her."
PW "Good. Thank you."
and so, despite wanting to call *, he calls his therapist who just happens to be there and is willing to answer the phone he tells her of the fight, torn shirt and broken necklace. and that this is not like the other scraps they had as kids
he does deep breathing and is proud he did not hit back
* eventually sees the marks on his body and is only "sad"
they both always seem so saintly
Well said!
The duo come across to me as toddlers, and I find it strange that having children of their own has not assisted them in growing up.
They demand attention all the time, indulge in magical thinking, throw tantrums if they don't get what they want, and are completely unreasonable.
I find the the advice by the Ayurvedic practitioner about gaining weight a bit questionable. Weight is only an issue with falling pregnancy if it is a sign of anorexia since anorexia affects menstruation and thus fertility. Being skinny does not prevent pregnancy.
They ignore rules and justify it in a way that will fool a lot of people. Accepting freebies is against the rules, which are clearly and fully explained on the royal website.
https://www.royal.uk/gift-policy-2003
Accepting all and numerous freebies, and then justifying this by giving unwanted gifts to staff is not only against the rules but also very tacky. At no time did they go to a senior member of the royal household and ask advice on what to do with the 'free samples' that were being sent to them, and the staff member who tried to adhere by the rules by sending the gifts back was thrown under the bus and supposedly fired. On the one hand they justify accepting all the freebies because they 'shared some of them with staff', but on the other hand they fired someone for accepting freebies. This dies not make sense, unless you are a toddler. The story that Valentine Low uncovered was that TBW was furious when the staff member was sending back gifts because they were against the rules and instructed her to inform companies that free gifts would be happily accepted. Since he does not name the staff member, they think they are 'covered', but I predict/hope that, despite NDAs, staff tell the real story and have email evidence to back it up.
In reality, the world is innately unfair out the shoot.
My family has less money than the one across the street or they have a dog but I can only have fish - can't cuddle with me at night.
Later on, it becomes my hair is blonder than that girl but she has naturally curly hair and my frizzes when you look at it. That girl over there, she's got a new outfit every month and I get new clothes for birthday and Christmas. Only. Or that boy, he's smarter than me. And, he won the science fair project.
We can't make the world perfectly fair for everyone, everywhere.
The world is unfair. Every day. Every moment. To everyone.
P 349
sharing the good news at Eugenie's wedding, at Windsor PC is thrilled, PW wants him to tell C right then, 5 is happy that they are happy
announces it publicly, she gets tired but no real morning sickness
and the tour is about to begin
@abbyh: It was easy, even for a mediocre actress such as Harry’s wife, to feign tiredness due to pregnancy rather than sticking her finger down her throat numerous times to pretend she’s throwing up due to morning sickness.
Her portraits are argued to deliberately present one view - or the other. Some say her fairness was exaggerated to fit the beauty standards of the time, others that artists exaggerated her `African' features to express support for the cause of Abolitionism, which started in the 18thC, leading to the Act of 1807.
To call her `black' is to invoke the notorious `One-Drop Rule', by which I could be classified so, doubtless to the astonishment of everyone who knows me. At least it'd keep public bodies (like local adult education) happy when have to collect data to show that they are reaching the non-white community, even in areas with a negligible black population.
My interpretation of her entrance at St G's was that she was presenting herself, as a `Dea ex machina' (or perhaps even `Diana ex machina'), in the guise of an angel sent from Heaven, to redeem H and resolve all his problems. Or was she thinking of herself as the Holy Spirit, given the music?
No way is Eternal source of light divine suitable as processional music - I'd hate to have to try to walk to it; it certainly suit a goddess being lowered from above, or rising like the sun.
I bet Charles, as Prince of Wales, was behind the choice of the Handel - but not necessarily at that point. Elin Manahan Thomas is a Baroque specialist, with the finest Welsh female voice I can think of (eat your heart out, Katherine Jenkins).
@WildBoar
She only Handel’d haz…
Quite!
I doubt if Haz even knows the origin of the tradition of everyone standing for the Hallelujah Chorus tho' if * knew it, she'd insist on everyone standing for her.
Usually, it's both fathers when it's a young couple but it can be anyone, even from the highways and hedgerows.. Royals usually sign en masse, I gather.
Charles and Doria signed the register. William did not.
The Harkles might be out to attempt to shut down sites, groups, individuals and anyone they view as not bowing down to their woke nonsense and greedy self-interest.
Time is owned by the same corporation as the ultra-Sussex-friendly People magazine. I’m still SMH those two twits landed on a Time cover.
April 2019 new office, new home
5 is in the garden when PW calls, "seething", PC and C have planted a story about he and the kids, "Give Pa and Camilla an inch, ehe said, they take a mile."
"They've done this to me for the last time."
5 brings up that this had also happened to he and *
5 does explain that it was actually an assistant o PC's communications staff.
5 also believes they were the source of a 2017 story about how he was in Germany hunting when he was trying to help cull wild boar for farmers. This would allow closer contact with PC and C as well has help "suppressing of stories about Camilla's son who'd been gadding around London, generating tawdry rumors."
Unless you know of something else, at that time (end of the month), it was likely the Rose rumor as that was in heavy play that month.
Prior to this time, PW confronts PC at Clarence House that he is doing this to both sons but PC won't hear it. "He response was churlish, pathetic."
Granny has her person, why can't I have mine?"
By Granny's person, he meant Angela. Among her many services she performed, she was said to be skilled at planting stories.
Proof? This is a hit piece in this book which comes off as settling scores and the author had some difficulties with the alleged suspect
PW calls him on this, "Why would anyone in their right mind, let alone a grown man, want their own Angela."
5 is grateful that his brother has called him and tries to spin the conversation to their tale of woes with the press but PW redirects his anger to 5
"I've got different issues with you, too!"
5 tunes out, doesn't follow the argument, just waits for things to slow down
* comes out of the house, hears at least part of this as 5 had it on speaker
"Holding her stomach, she turned and walked back to the house."
she is a week past due, her mother is around, everyone is waiting
they slip into the Portland via a "non-descript people-carrier" and the doctor says they will induce
"Meg was so calm."
He feels he needs to enhance his experience so the body guards go get some Nando's (how late are they open and real body protection people don't do errands or hold bags because they need to be able to respond immediately when seconds count)
and he starts into the laughing gas they have for her labor (and he uses it all up)
She tries a bouncy ball, * goes into a bath (unclear if this a water birth thing because most hospitals have showers)
He puts on some Deva Premal https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVCvHjvfZpYUXmwubt3GXzg for some calming music. He also has the electric lights he had in the garden for the proposal.
deep breathing, two epidurals and two hours later it is go time
he sees before final birth the cord wrapped around the baby and then he's out
he doesn't remember calling or texting
what he does remember was the nurses doing tests on the baby and that they were back at Frog Cott 2 hours after the birth
The announcement that she was in labor went out
He goes after Sarah about how she knew that the birth had happened.
"She explained that the press must be given the dramatic, suspenseful story them demanded."
"But it's not true, I said."
so then he does the thing at the Stables, no explanation as to why there.
The papers are mad and feel gypped and that they (5 and *) are "bad partners"
but 5 is that considering everything they had done for 3 years (not mentioning all the baggage he has been collecting on them for years) well
a BBC person put out a cartoon with two people waking with a chimp and captioned it "Royal baby leaves hospital"
not nice on that person's part but it also says something about how the feelings are becoming not friendly on both sides perhaps. 5 has been depersonalizing them and individuals for years so ... IDK maybe maybe they are becoming desensitized to how they see them on the other side because they are not cooperating or only doing this with the people they like and feel can control?
Tea with Granny listening to his long tale of woes from the press
"She looked shocked."
"Appalling, she said"
She sends Bee to talk to him.
There are three people who do this kind of thing: Bee, Wasp and Fly
"middle-aged white men who'd managed to consolidate power through a series of bold Machiavellian moves" he goes on to describe them physically and I suspect these are the people he is actually referring to when he mentions his concerns about the people around TQ
"I disliked these men, and they didn't have any use of r me. They considered me irrelevant at best, stupid at worst. Above all, they knew how I saw them: as usurpers. Deep down, I feared each man felt himself to be the One True Monarch, that each was taking advantage of a Queen in her nineties, enjoying his influential position while merely appearing to serve."
So he talks with Bee and Wasp but doesn't hear back and nothing changes.
Visiting Elton and David (France) to get away This is the last night
"Why can't it be like this forever?"
Elton's biography is not just going to come out, it will be serialized in the DM
5 can't fathom this
"He saw my face, He quickly looked away."
"Elton, how in the absolute-?"
"I want people to read it."
"But Elton-? The very people who've made your life miserable?"
"Exactly. Who better to excerpt it? Where better than the newspaper that' been so poisonous to me all my life?"
"Who better? I just ... I don't understand."
Elton has sued them and won. this is from an interview after that 5 remembered
"They can say I'm a fat old c-. They can say I'm an untalented bastard. They can call me a poof. But they mustn't lie about me."
Sept 2109 The African Tour
another glorious success
"...people couldn't get enough of Meg."
So they decide to sue
Elton and David intro a lawyer who actually does know a lot about the phone hacking suit
when this happened is unclear
This guy asks why they aren't hiring their own lawyer instead of sticking to the Palace one who is saying not to
"It never occurred to me."
"I'd been so conditioned to do as I was told."
well not quite as much as he might think as earlier he made a point about he wasn't following as his father and brother had, he was going off on his own, creating his own trail
P 369
calls Granny, calls PC and texts PW that they are going through
Bee was notified in advance and later he and Wasp claimed no such warning
in his statement, he links his fears about his wife to what happened in Paris to his mother. He does not recognize that she chose to not to wear a seat belt. She chose to get into a car with someone who had been drinking. And, she had experience with them chasing her. Up until that point, wearing or not wearing a seat belt was not a factor in the chase. Eventually, however, it was.
It is always easy to blame others in a tragedy (which it really was on many levels).
P 370
He notes that the privacy laws will change in a couple of days to the benefit of the tabloids so timing was an issue.
Friends questioned why considering how well received the African tour was, why do this?
"That the whole point, I explained. "This isn't about wanting or needing good press. It's about not letting people get away with abuse. And lies. Especially the kind of lies that can destroy innocents."
He then goes on to cite an example of how lilies of the valley are poisonous and links it to the bridesmaid crowns plus a picture of PCa in pain and a picture of * not expressing concern. They were made by the florist, implies that * wasn't part of it and that that type of flower was in both Catherine and Diana's wedding.
Ordered by Bee to BP where he for "ambush", Bee, Wasp there but * and any of his staff aren't
There PC starts into him about how this lawsuit is creating friction, it is impacting all the members of the family and their relationship with the press.
He comes back with something about how their actions impact he and * as well
But how much has he really worked at trying to have a relationship with them? They offered details at the wedding but what else? When he talks about them, it's not humanizing them in any way.
He tries something else: asking how his suit is so different from theirs but doesn't get answers we are told
they may not understand his suit or realize how deeply entrenched his view towards the press was, you get the idea that people had moved on, PC remarried, PW was having kids and they were all out doing their jobs but he, he's kind of adrift and this gives him purpose think.
he also goes on to PC that this isn't just about protecting * but the monarchy
"We had no other option. And we wouldn't have had to do it if you'd all protected us and protecting the monarch in the process. You're doing a disservice to yourselves by not protecting my wife."
This is interesting. He's now believing that this will actually help the monarchy survive while also blaming them because they didn't do what he wanted or how he wanted his wife protected. He keeps putting in the book about how he will protect her. And, it's not his fault.
Nov 2019 Planning the great escape
Vancouver Island, lovely for 6 weeks and then someone printed their address. They had people trying to get close by sea, something about Steve Dennett (Splash!) described as dirty clothes getting close to the fence
This gets them thinking of how they could work part time for TQ and still have a private life.
Somehow this would "Free them from the British press, free from the drama, the lies. But also free from the supposed "public interest" that was used to justify" all that chase stuff.
how that would exactly stop the interest in them is not specified
So where? New Zealand or South Africa where he can be close to his charities and all?
5 mentions that he had started think kind of thinking before, TQ "signed off on it"
but now she baulks at it (PC and Wasp are there)
PC says to "put it in writing", which 5 says he did and it winds up in the papers
does anyone remember this, it would have been before Dec 2019
Dec 2019
talking with PC to let him know they are serious about part time
"I wasn't having it when he said I must write it down"
"Yeah, um, did that once before Pa. And our plan immediately got leaked and scuppered."
"I can't help you if you don't put it in writing, darling boy. These things have to go through government."
PC, this makes sense. He needs highly detailed plans, think blueprint level to where the nails go, to be able to make sense of how or if this could work. He's not trying to be a controlling jerk about it.
They send a letter to PC, ideas and "many details" including that they were prepared to make all kinds of changes, including giving up the titles of Sussex.
P 376
PC sends an email stating that we now need an in person, sit down to discuss this, soon
5 and * are coming in a couple of days to GB but he won't be back until toward the end of the month
5 worries that this will escape and get to the tabs and so on.
PC: "He responded with what felt like an ominous threat: You'll be disobeying orders from the monarch and myself if you persist in this course of action before we have a chance to sit down."
Jan 3
5 calls TQ, wants to meet and chat about the plan
"One good chat with my grandmother, I felt, would bring this ordeal to an end."
She may be his grandmother but she is also keenly aware of how things need to be done, how much power she has to be able to manipulate situations but looks like an attempt to get to her before his father returns and has the potential to point flaws or something. That he thinks that this visit be enough ... says something about him and his thinking.
As for the tone of the message detected by 5, it sounds almost as if his father is concerned that 5 might announce this before it had been fulling looked at. And, it might make it harder to set up as well as truly embarrassing to 5 if it fell through after public announcement. Dad trying to protect adult kid.
She invites them to stay at Sandringham and that she will be free all week.
On Jan 5
as they are about to fly, he gets notification from the Bee that she is busy and can't see him after all
Meeting later this month, probably when PC returns and
"No announcement about anything shall be issued until such a meeting takes place."
He views it as they are trying to keep him from his grandmother so he calls her only to have her tell him she's busy but doesn't say anything when he asks if certain people are there
She is backing PC on the wait for the meeting (unity especially if either has expressed any reservations about this to the other).
How likely is it that TQ has a whole week open without commitments? Or that she would not have checked before agreeing to meet up?
Sara hears that The Sun will run this story.
"a sad little man" "the show biz guy"
"He was sure to get everything wrong, as he'd got everything wrong on his last big "exclusive", Tiaragate."
5 believes that the Palace is working with him to spin the story to them somehow so he will not have control, may/will not look good.
This means they need to come up with something first. He calls TQ, explains what and why they need to do this. She agrees but asks no questions really. They finally realize they cannot put this off in time.
"Proceed, sad little man."
And ... it has some shocking accuracy - they are willing to give up the Sussex titles. The source was only in the letter to PC. The story comes off that they are leaving to go have fun and it is not the dignified exit he was aiming at.
Jan 7
Working with staff to prepare the statement, want to explain a reduced role but not a total exit. pilfers two corgi ornaments to give to the staffers
The staffers begin to realize that they will likely lose their jobs when all is said and done.
So the staffers let the staff of TQ, PC and PW warning notes of this is going out
PW's guy "This is going to go nuclear."
Sandringham Summit
Marko lets 5 know about the PW quote about can't continue to put his arm around his brother any more
5 wants to start with a private chat with TQ but the Wasp sees him and rallies PC, PW and staff so ... not the privacy he wanted
They all sit down and it starts
5 states that the press have been the problem with the family "looking the other way", staff working with the press, planting stories, but the family is also a problem.
he expected PW to back him in the PC plants stories to make himself look good.
But PW is complaining that the stories are currently about how PW has bullied 5 and * out of the family
5: thinks about how we didn't do that but what if you knew we had planted that story - this is how we feel about the stories that get planted about us all the time.
The 5 Options
1 status is unchanged, no exit and everyone tries to get along
3 half in/half out
5 complete exit
Everyone got a list of them at some point prior to the meeting so everyone understood what was under consideration
What is not clear is if the list was amended to delete options and if it was, not everyone appeared to have it (like 5)
He had used his time to talk to various unnamed people (sounded like Palace some people) he says had working knowledge of the Monarchy and they told him that 3 was the best of all worlds for everyone, They would live somewhere else, have security and pop in for "charities, ceremonies, events"
The family says you can choose 1. If not, then it is 5.
at no point does he attempt to explain why the family says that 3 is not longer an option
It seems that the duo decided they wanted option 3 and threw a toddler tantrum, not listening to the Queen when she said that 5 options were considered but only options 1 or 5 were workable and on offer.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11625563/Prince-William-complained-father-step-mother-planting-media-stories-Harry-claims.html
By REBECCA ENGLISH ROYAL EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 00:51, 12 January 2023 | UPDATED: 02:17, 12 January 2023 (my bold)
It's on our other thread in 2 parts, pp1-2. I thought it was all pretty garbled, which is why I hoped Nutties would be able to make more sense of it than I had. Was the DM report garbled or was the original bit in the book garbled? Or both?
I recall a story about Wm being criticised for going boar shooting but it wasn't in Germany, nothing about H.
Harry is incapable of thinking straight.
I think options 2, 3 and 4 were considered by the team, but they were never options that were being offered.
Everyone went above and beyond to try to accommodate the duo, but instead of showing appreciation, they threw toddler tantrums and have not stopped to listen and be grown up to accept they can't have anything and everything they want.
-----
I came across a remark that Tina Brown says in Palace Papers TBW and Jessica were getting freebies or huge discounts from designers etc., charging Charles the full amount, and splitting the difference. I have come across this rumour before. Practically this would only work if designers submitted a full invoice to Charles to pay and then paid TBW and Jessica their share. Someone would have talked so I doubt this is true, unless someone can think of a scheme that I have not imagined.
I assume nothing is said in Spare about this. Maybe the hapless one did not know. I reckon she is hiding a lot from him in secret companies. I also suspect that Jessica has remained a secret friend.
Sobbing = 3
Crying = 10, but only 4 were in reference to Meghan
Collapsed = 2
Willy = 107
Todger = 7
Penis = 8
Floor = 32, but only 8 were in reference to Meghan.
Diana = 6
Mum (including Mummy and Mother) = 222
(Pa was too difficult to count as it also included “pa” in words like part, spare, particularly, etc.)
Kate = 101
Meghan (including Meg and “my wife”) = 80
Discussed option 5 for an hour, Bee handed out a draft for a statement for this option
"In other words, the fix was in, this whole time? This summit was just for show?"
"No answer."
5 asks Bee if there are other drafts for the other options, yes but then can't produce any.
5 goes for air, sees people, including Mr. R
When he returns, he loses track of what option they are discussing, 2 or 3
this isn't making sense if 3 was never on the table or that 5 is a forgone conclusion
but even he admits, he was getting worn down by them
to the point he no longer cared what happened as long as they had security of life, 5 even offers to help defray the costs
"Look. Please. Meg and I don't care about perks, we care about working, serving-and staying alive."
"This seemed simple and persuasive. All heads around the table went up and down."
at end "...there was a basic, general agreement. The many fine, granular details of this hybrid arrangement would be sorted out over a twelve-month transitional period, during which we'd continue to have security."
meeting ends
he wanders around and finds Bee's printer able to work so he could have seen those other options but it was withheld
He and PW go for a walk after
5 is "braced" for a "lecture" which doesn't happen
PW actually wants to listen to 5
so ... 5 tells him of
an ex staffer of how they were "sabotaging Meg", "plotting against her"
another staffer, current employee, who has a friend who is getting $ for leaks about 5 and *
his sources are "above reproach"
he's even gone to Scotland Yard"
"Willy frowns .... He'd look into it" and said something about he and C had some concerns
"We agreed to keep talking."
P 384
announcement: He and PW both denied any bullying
"I was stunned."
he returns to Frog Cott and spends some time, days, helping with the final draft for the announcement
Jan 18 2020
They had agreed to "step back"
not formally represent TQ
the HRH titles were in "abeyance" during the transition
they would reimburse the Sovereign Grant for the Frog Cott reno
"A firm "No comment" on the status of our security"
He returns to Canada, mentally still in GB - reading all the comments which he describes as "No mercy" and likens them to "The language of war."
he concludes they view him as a threat which needs to be destroyed
And, he's really upset at the idea that he will go down in history books as having "blindsided the Queen".
he "broods" on this, money is at the root of it all
he's hears all these people talking about how expensive the monarch is, anachronistic and they have become "Exhibit A" the wedding
5 "the family paid for the actual wedding, and a huge portion of the remaining cost was for security, much of which was made necessary by the press stirring up racism and class resentments." Experts had told him of how necessary it was to have all those people out just in case someone started shooting, not at anyone in the BRF but an innocent public person.
"Maybe money sits at the heart of every controversy about monarch. Britain has a long had trouble making up its mind. Many support the Crown, but many feel anxious about the cost. That anxiety is increased by the fact that the cost is unknowable. Depends on who's crunching the numbers. Does the Crown cost taxpayers? Ys. does it also pay a fortune into government coffers? Also yes. Does the Crown generate tourism income that benefits all? Of course. Does it also rest on lands obtained and secured when the system was unjust and wealth generated by exploited workers and thuggery, annexation and enslaved people?"
interesting. those numbers (how much the BRF paid for the weddings vary slightly but what is clear is that most of the burden was security). Think like 2 million which sounds a lot but then the other number may be 30 million.
And, that's a nasty jab about the people who lived in a different time period. It is easy to look back at their actions from our time and criticize their actions on every level without being willing to consider any single thing I purchase today - could that be made by someone in an exploited situation in another country - and do I go ahead and buy it anyway?
"Can anyone deny this?
oops, this goes to the other post as well
History, if traced back far enough, could be described as: one group of people, using their power and resources to take the resources of the people around them so they can benefit from this. The why varies, greed and so on. The concept of equality in social relationships, society, government is a fairly recent idea and has had some difficulties in practical application
there's a lot here, some study about how the cost per taxpayer seems to about the cost of a pint (no reference)
long soliloquy
his problem is the press, not the monarchy
about how he loves his Queen who is also his Commander, he will always support her
the love for his country, his family, and that he wishes they had been there for him.
ends with "And I believe they'll look back one day and wish they had too."
What's interesting is that this was before her passing - but yet he knows she won't live forever and isn't in great shape. So we have this My Queen, right or wrong, I will support her after she goes (eh, what happens to that when the security is pulled? - by her?) but there is nothing about what happens when his father becomes King. It will happen and it will happen soon, she's 90 something but crickets about how he will/will not support now, his father.
My kids used that "You'll be sorry when I'm gone" when they told me they were planning to run away. Sometimes, with gritted teeth, it was hard not to say: Can I help you pack? NOW!"
He doesn't care ... "so long as the Palace fulfills its; obligation-and what I felt was its implicit promise-to keep us safe."
* asks 5 would they end security?
5: not not considering the hate and what happened to Diana and that there isn't any movement on the PAnd (he hadn't lost his)
but is this realistic or a looking back to see what I want to see? So far, there is limited concerns that she is actually the some special special target that he keeps viewing as ... so ... so ... why now would they suddenly see danger at every corner?
Feb 2020
Security is told to go. Now. Now,
"So much for the year of transition."
"Ultimate nightmare. The worst of all worst-case scenarios. Any bad actor in the world would now be able to find find us, and it would be just me and a pistol to stop them."
"oh wait. No pistol. I'm in Canada."
Tries calling PC but he refuses to answer the phone.
PW tells him that "it was a government decision."
What we don't hear about is how it went from being promised to suddenly not. So ... was it really promised? or was it a we will try but not promised?
We don't hear of anything that they could have possible done which might have been upsetting at any point in time. As long as we are talking about a missing list, her therapy is still on it.
P 387
Scrambling to find alternative security Quote is 6 million annually
P 388
Caroline Flack suicide
"I felt so awful for her family. I remembered how they'd all suffered for her mortal sin of going out with me."
Daily Mail One thing I have always thought well of them for is that when there is a suicide, they will try to post local UK resources for others who might be thinking that suicide is a way out of the pain.
Xanadu end of March 2020
Tyler Perry offers his house in LA, * is fearful that the borders will close and so on
it is furnished, art (priceless), swimming pool,
Archie has his first steps there
5 thinks of sharing this news with Grandpa and Uncle Willy but unclear if he does
Archie gloms into a painting of Diana - the Huntress which TP had forgotten about. Fate or something
P 390
at night, after others have gone to bed, he sits outside, alone and rolls a joint
it is similar to Botswana, feelings of life, safety
and then, 6 weeks into (yet again, perfect timing) their location is known by the press
people cut the fence, drones, and paps are everywhere
what to do?
they starting thinking budget: cost of security and how much house can they then buy?
suddenly: "Pa was cutting me off."
he was my banker and so on
"cutting me off therefore meant firing me without redundancy pay, and casting me out into the void after a lifetime of service. More, after a lifetime of rendering me otherwise unemployable."
rant or soliloquy of how he'd "never asked to be dependent on Pa. I'd been forced into ... being prohibited from learning independence after decades of being rigorously and systematically infantilized, I was now abruptly abandoned, and mocked for being immature? For not standing on my own two feet?"
the Diana inheritance - thinks of it as for his kids
Well this is what happens all the time to people in the real world - they lose their job (often with what they feel is no warning) and, often they haven't had any experience at dealing with hiccups in between jobs because they had parents who stepped in and helped. They may never have been without a job or ... never had to change careers (before). This happens all the time.
The snarky side thinks: what did he think the worse case of Option 5 could be?
They find a wonderful place but are told they need to find a koi person because the koi are stressed, "We laughed. First world problems."
July 2020 they move in, 13 suitcases
commentary on the lawsuit and how silly it of the DM claim that just because People had quoted it, they could too, DM also demands these friend's be named in the record.
Aug 2020 * loses the baby, eventually he digs the hole
P 392
Dec 2020
Christmas tree, they have some corporate partnerships , do causes, pay for security
Christmas eve - they keep with his family's tradition of opening presents on Christmas eve
* gives him an ornament she found locally which is of TQ, Archie breaks it immediately
P 393
Feb 2021 the review is released where they lose about everything they had before
"They made it sound as if there'd been an agreement between us. There was nothing of the sort."
"We pushed back in our own statement, released the same day, saying that we'd never cease living a life of service."
"The new slap-down from the Palace was like petrol on a bonfire." This sets off all kinds of real unpleasantness on SM, press and many claims to be "royal insiders" or "palace sources". He makes a point about how this is "presumably sanctioned by my family".
"We can all live a life of service. Service is universal." is the wording or so the sources say.
P 394
Remembrance Day 2021 most unhappy that he was unable to get anyone to place a wreath for him he eventually finds someone (a former instructor of his) who will do this
Page 382: After being told that there was only two options, all in or all out, 5 still thinks that his hybrid solution is gonna fly, and they'll get their security paid for while living in Canada and the US. And that's where the fantasy 12-month review came from, Mr. Todger's damaged brain that's full of holes.
Page 383: Someone's going to start shooting at the wedding? What? WTF? Mrs. Todger came up with that one, because as I understand it, guns are not common in the UK, and there certainly aren't the mass shootings we experience in the US.
Mr. Todger is a paranoid, delusional lunatic.
Apparently Todger doesn't mention once in the book that * got him off his psychiatric meds, because that would have been an on-going discussion with PC and PW, who both would have been alarmed at Todger's deteriorating mental and emotional states.
visits or they visit, some sort of spiritualist seer who tells him that Diana is with him, is proud, sees him living the life she could never have,
he asks for "proof" and she tells him of the Christmas ornament breaking by Archie
P 396
Sept 19 2022 Frog Gardens (back at the first chapter)
PC PW ask about the lawsuit against the press, not about *
5 states that PC hates the press but that he loves it when they love him and he is always looking for the love denied him as a kid
PC points out that PP had lots of problems with the press and yet they adored him in the papers
5 nice but he wanted things to be better for him in this life, without waiting like PP did
PC "If you could just endure it, darling boy, for a little while, in a funny way, they'd respect you for it."
"I laughed."
"All I'm saying is, don't take it personally."
p 397
"Speaking of taking things personally, I told them I might learn to endure the press, and even forgive their abuse, I might, but by own family's complicity - that was gong to take longer to get over. Pa's office. Willy's office, enabling friends, if not outright collaborating?"
PC PW "We've been down this road before a hundred times. You're delusional Harry."
"But they were the delusional ones."
"Even if, for sake of argument, I accepted that Pa and Will and their staff had never done one overt thing against me, or my wife-their silence was an undeniable fact. And that silence as damning. And continuing. And heartrending.
"Pa said: You must understand, darling boy, that the Institution can't just tell the media what to do."
5 laughs again. "It was like Pa saying he couldn't just tell he valet what to do."
PW mentions the Oprah which 5 explains that he was just doing what they had always done but they did it openly - collaborating.
Pa 1994 Jonathan Dimbleby
Camilla Geordie Greig
he does not mention, however, his mother
notes that the leaks about his wife being a bully happen to closely timed with the Oprah show
he knows that "they'd help orchestrate"
the they probably is PC PW, offices? and says about how they do this kind of thing
5 and * were so shocked by the claims that they put out 25 pages of a response, with evidence, to HR about the innocence
starts to tell them good by
PW is mad and starts yelling at 5 that 5 never asked for help "You never came to us! You never came to me!"
5 then explains that if PW ever considered helping his brother, 5 had to come "bend knee" and that the expectation was that PW would look at them in peril but wait until asked instead of asking if he could help.
5 brings up Sandringham when he lost what he thought he was keeping and PW didn't step in.
PW "That was Granny. Take it up with Granny."
PW tells 5 he loves him and wants him to be happy
5 says he loves PW "but your stubbornness .. is extraordinary."
"And yours isn't?"
The secret words on Mummy's life
special code, you have to listen to what I say next
PW says it to 5 that he he wants 5 to be happy
5 "I simply didn't believe him, didn't fully trust him. And vise versa. He saw it too."
very painful for all of them
p 399
"Willy wasn't quite ready to accept defeat. I've been properly sick and ill after everything that' s happened and-and I swear to you now on Mummy's life that I just want you to be happy."
"My voice broke as I told him softly: I really don't think you do."
He then thinks back to things they did together, real hugs between them, but also that death was always around. "Windsor Castle is a tomb."
As he's doing that PC and PW are both talking but 5 isn't listening he's thinking about going home
"Enough death-enough."
"When is someone in this family going to break free and live?"
p 400
Lili is born, only slightly less stressful as problems seem very far away
body guards bring In N Out burgers this time
he doesn't get into the laughing gas
afterward, he and * are "skin to skin"
she shares some thoughts, supportive of him
sigh, there are things which don't make sense to me either
the options are but one
This is almost done, I feeling like one of those people nearing the end of a marathon and they are weaving, swaying, stumbling but trying with every step to cross that line.
P 402 coming up
A marathon indeed, but you persevered and got to the last page!
What comes across is their selfishness and self-centredness. It is all about getting what they want, and he expects everyone to cater to his wife's every whim and mood and do whatever she demands to make her happy.
The manipulation from her combined with his lack of intelligence and their lack of consideration for others (exacerbated by alcohol, drugs and therapy) has the result of him not being able to listen, among other things. His father and brother reach out and profess how much they love him and care about him, and he feels nothing but just wants to get back to his 'fix' in California. Very sad.
You've had more stomach for it than I would have done, Abby. You deserve a medal.
I'd have hurled it across the room. It's totally self-centred, not a shred of love or concern for anyone else - they richly deserve each other.
I *used* to think that his family would take him back. After his expose of himself, I think that they would be foolish to let him anywhere near them. He can never be trusted. He has no love for them. I don't think that he had any love for his mother; he just uses her memory.
Commendations for taking one for the team. How are you doing? Do you need aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, some brain bleach, a nice quiet stay in a sanitarium/spa?
I've been taking a break from a lot of social media and have turned my YT notifications off. So I'm not inundated daily with Royal coverage. I did watch the Colbert interview, or at least as much of it as I could stomach. 5 was as high as a kite (Bolivian marching powder is my guess) which is why they plied him with tequila to maybe take the edge off and bring him down enough notches to actually conduct a conversation. I found out later that they could ply him with alcohol onstage because it was a closed set--pretaped with no audience and canned audience ambient noise. Tw*t. He's too important to appear before live peons, even though current POTUSs have sat in that chair or similar before.
At some point I will hold my nose and read Spare, if I can get a copy in a dustbin or for no more than $4. There's a lot to digest, even from the snippets you've provided. But I find myself fixated on this, at the end of your grueling, nauseating journey . .
they fly back the next day
He sees the kids and remembers how Archie did bows for her and Lili had a thing for the Queen's ankles
What in the actual . . ? He's still gaslighting us. 'Lilibet Diana' if she is a real child was never in the same room with HMTQ during the brief window of time they shared the planet together . .I would wager my pension on it. And yet Harold wants us to accept that 'his infant daughter' happily crawled around on the floor in front of Her Majesty long enough/often enough to get fixated on HM's ankles? Even supposing a child named Lili was corporeally in the room with the Queen, which I doubt very much . . the scenario of her crawling around close enough to Gan Gan to inspect her ankles does not sound like a scenario which the Queen would have encouraged.
back to day to day life routines,
still thinking of his grandmother and how they had a special relationship, their secrets
Ah, yes . . the SECRETS only her special favorite grandson knows. Twit and Tw#t just love their secrets, don't they? That does not sound like a charming recollection but yet another threat--Granny's told *me* and me alone SECRETS . . .I might even know what she wrote to the people of Sydney, so there.
a hummingbird flys in the house accidentally,
Aztecs thought they were reincarnated spirits
"Spanish explorers" called them Resurrection Birds
they migrate from Alaska to Mexico
"Is our home a detour-or destination.
He sets it free.
Well, that's 1000% his wife. Sounds like the book jacket blurb for her next children's book. What Haz knows about Aztecs or New World exploration could fill the head of a pin with some room left over. Either J.R. Moeringer, TBW or both attribute a vocabulary and frames of reference to 5 that he simply doesn't have. H is one posh accent away from being a clinical imbecile. He wouldn't be able to spell Resurrection unassisted if his life depended on it.
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That's what caught my eye, also. Far sicker than we had any idea.
Best to keep him in the US. Or someplace not the UK.
AbbyH...thanks so much for your excerpts. Quite the ordeal, eh?
I especially appreciated your comments associated with them.
Makes a good impact to see the excerpts and comments in the same post.
Another thanks to abbyh for her heroic labors.
The ending was weakened by the additional chapter of her death as it was supposed to be just where he left off in Chapter 1, after PP funeral (a bring you back full circle to it with the rest of that conversation).
One of the things which impressed me was the landscape of what was included but also what was not.
It was interesting to see what was not and wonder why?
Her lawsuit? left hanging about the result.
Or the what was allowed after all at the funerals (that uproar) but that PW barely spoke to him when they were side by side without any explanation.
Nothing about the usage of Royal - tempest in the teapot.
Or that the name of his daughter created a lot of conversation or why it was chosen.
There was quite an amount of underage drinking, just drinking now of age, drugs mentioned. Did we need to know this why? How does this help build respect? or something? The whole frostbite thing was cringy but I was thinking that if he was thinking that the reader would think it funny too, it would be in line with someone who uses humor to deflect. And humor can be difficult to get on paper whereas a live audience allow instant feedback of where to pull back or continue.
He doesn't seem to ask a lot of questions about why do we do things this way? He just seems to drift along. Things happen. He continues to drift.
He seems to have blinders on about his mother and things which she did which were not always the good choice. She never was able to stop being anything less than perfect in how he saw her.
The whole different offices leaking stories to try to gain positive press and the press will thoughtfully bury bad. But that would only work for like that 1 paper but what about all the rest of the pack? What's in it for them to bury the bad? Nada. In fact, they can make it an exclusive and gain clicks the other one lose plus do a recopy. That's a win-win.
Re: PC may have been the source of the Rose rumor? I could not find anything else that seemed to be happening that month which could make PW spitting mad even though it happened toward the early middle of the month and 5 says this was at the end. The rumor had some dotted line connections back to like Scob or Soho or similar so that looked more like a clumsy attempt to divert attention from the sources. But who cares about that now? That rumor - well, let's think about it: would someone want to reopen that?
If he had said something publicly or privately to the women, Camilla and Catherine, when they were living in hell from the media attention, I would be more receptive to his uproar of what happened when he and * ran headlong into it. Camilla had decades. Decades. And Catherine - had years as well (not as many as C but nothing timewise compared to *). So when he is talking about how their (his family) silence on the topic is somehow condoning the whatever, well ... was he silent for them? And, if he had spoken or reached out, perhaps everyone else might have listened closer, had more something for him/her when he started going off on how it was worse for her. Might not have at least he could have mentioned that he had tried to be kind.
I am not a doctor. I cannot diagnose mental illness ... but there is something going on there which would come out every once in a while that was just nuts in the response to the actual happening.
No one can convince him that the offices aren't out to try to get his wife, him. No one. Or that there could be any other way to view someone who works as a journalist. And, sadly, they cannot prove a negative. Ever. He knows what he knows and he knows they are in collusion. He talks of proof, says his sources are unimpeachable, he's taken it to Scotland Yard but he doesn't tell what or who they are ... or, what I would like to know, how he got this ( why it hasn't leaked or what SY thought of it) and what that proof actually is.
He knows what he knows and that is the final word on the discussion. Next topic?
There is this little part of me which wonders how much of his problems she was really aware of when they got together or how deep they ran or ... how much she thought he would bend on things she liked and he didn't. On paper, it looked really good. He did the dress up and she would love to do that kind of red carpet, photos in the papers all the time life, the money for those clothes supplied and it would be a really cushy gig. But ... he has some problems and not all that interested in being in the paper every day. Some of why there are limited photos of the kids may also be that, if there are kids, he doesn't want them to have the childhood he had and hated. A lot of what he hates is the parts of that which seem to be what she appears to be wanting. Layer in the over the top unrelenting view of the press, the paranoia - I can't help but wonder, when the wheels started coming off the bus.
Sometimes, one needs to be careful what you pray for.
Anon- I agree with you. I thought your comments were on target. Wish you would join us by adding a name (not anonymous or unknown). You have some good stuff.
"Been bitter so long, doubt he even knows why he's mad anymore."
I hope anyone who reads it, would also make some comments at some point on this thread so it is all together.
I would be willing to pay the equivalent of a Starbucks venti latte for “Spare”—$4 and some change in my market.
The latte would be more enjoyable but the entertainment value of 5’s book would last longer, even if I would have to freebase Rolaids for the duration. Library books are free—if one is prepared to wait long enough. I actually saw 2 copies in a holding area today, on reserve waiting to be picked up. New books are on loan for 2 weeks. We have 9 copies system wide. Even with a 14 day loan period the wait will be months. I can’t check the current number of reserves from my phone but I expect it’s in triple digits or will be very soon. 18 people per month can get a copy—Thats assuming they are returned in a timely manner. I expect 3 or 4 will never come back. I’d be lucky to get a copy by Labor Day. Maybe someone on eBay will want to unload their toxic waste for under five dollars if I wait another month or two. I could’ve had a Target copy the other week But I wasn’t going to pay $25. I wouldn’t pay $25 to fly to Montecito in the hopes of seeing Twit in the sordid flesh.
He is incredibly hateful to his father from the excerpts you’ve included, and almost as dismissive to the Queen, the little snot rag. I feel fairly confident that we are all in agreement that if only William had been an only child it would be a happier world right now.
Although, perhaps having to tolerate and mentor a defective little brother has made William a better person and a better future monarch. He might have been unbearably spoiled without this thorn in his side to be the cross that he must bear. Harry is irretrievably broken, but I think it’s only partially due to the tragic early loss of his mother. I think he would’ve been nearly the stunt it anyway and probably broken her heart as much as he is now breaking his father’s. Hairy is really and truly not all there, a completely lost soul who I don’t think is long for this world if he keeps up with the drugs. He will be a tragic footnote in the Windsor family history. I’ve been watching him since he was born, and he was always a wild child. I predicted a colorful life for Harry in the mode of his great aunt Margaret, but it’s so much worse than anyone could’ve known. It’s a real shame.
He's lived two years longer than his mother. He looks completely miserable, usually high, and aging quickly. I honestly didn't think he'd make it to 37. It would not surprise me at all to awaken to breaking news that he had died suddenly.
His family must see this as well, yet they are not able to force him into treatment.
I thought that was apt for Megs and Archetypes, except it’s a Megsplain (with varying ‘participants’).
Let's just say they met in May 2016. Engaged in Nov 2017.
Saw each every other week for 1.5 years.
None of that in everyday circumstances. More like vacation outings.
Not convinced that either of them really knew what the other one was like in everyday life.
As much as it pains me to say it, such news could not fail to be something of a bittersweet relief to the world and principally his family. As incredibly sad as it would be, it would also be like lancing an abscess. I don’t think the Windsors can heal from the loss of Diana as long as H is around to continually agitate and stir up painful memories. She’s their albatross and H insists on wearing her around his neck for everyone to see. Aided and abetted by TW of course. As long as they are around they will be a blight on the lives of their families. No real peace will be possible for either family as long as those two are in alliance, and the only way to break the evil spell is to break the unholy alliance.
Only 3 months and a bit now until the Coronation. I think the toxic Tw@ts have peaked but they can still do mischief. It remains to be seen if any American network will be foolhardy enough to put H on the roster of Coronation commentators. That will be epically bad but also impossible for craven media to resist. H is barreling headlong into his own destruction just like his mother. Dance with the devil and you will get burned. The barbecue is underway. But the piles of blood money for selling out his family will insulate him for a little while. They probably already spent half of it. Or more if he decides to buy his own jet. Self immolation is not a pretty spectacle but it does make for a big flash and bang while it lasts.
They claim that the rule was to not let more than two weeks go by without seeing each other.
Although they announced their engagement in November, he actually proposed in September. This is confirmed in the mockumentary, where the proposal took place outside at night, so it was not winter. Hapless was wearing a shirt-sleeved top.
Assuming they met in July, as they claimed, they had known each other 14 months when they got engaged. But she made sure the relationship became public within months (end of October), and claimed they had been dating for 5 to 6 months by then. (That would make their first date in May, and she claimed in an interview that the first meeting was in Toronto, but then retracted.) She pushed him for a public commitment by threatening to leave him before she got the ring (the love shield statement was published supposedly about 5 months after they met, 8 November).
They have been married for almost 5 years now and I still think they do not actually know each other. She knows how to manipulate and control him, most of the time, but he has no clue as to her real character. I suspect that she lies so much that she sometimes does not know what the truth is. Either he does not mind and foolishly assumes that she would not lie to him, or he believes her lies, or is persuaded that there are good and pure reasons to lie.
I think we need * to be with him when the metaphorical conflagration takes place - ideally before he comes into his inheritance. Otherwise, she'll just get her leech suckers/Black Widow fangs directly into the RF.
Hikari. the only good i think about for william will be how he parents the next generation. not just george but charlotte and louis so as not to have another disaster (harry and andrew) my family dynamics have been a big factor on how we raised our kids. and i don’t have a future king of the realm you may be a future king but you will clean up your room and finish your veggies. 😉
thanks abbyh for the big read. now go find a lighter more fun read you deserve it
so yesterday they tried to highlight all the great works of archieisntwell and it didn’t go down well. had to send out a sources close to the sussex clan had to clarify via people magazine about funding/assets. even scobie do was getting it on the chin. when will they learn when they try to one up the Princess of Wales it never ends well for the duo. guess we will be back to the will they or won’t they with the coronation. it’s rinse and repeat the PR grand strategy. how boring.
oh and rumors of additional Spare details or sequel. lot of criticism about Pamela Andersone’s second autobiography - why weren’t some of these things covered in the first one. i imagine the same criticism will come up if he does a follow up book. also sales of the first one and how fast they drop off will impact what if any book is the second one.
Swampie,
As much as it pains me to say it, such news could not fail to be something of a bittersweet relief to the world and principally his family. As incredibly sad as it would be, it would also be like lancing an abscess. I don’t think the Windsors can heal from the loss of Diana as long as H is around to continually agitate and stir up painful memories. She’s their albatross and H insists on wearing her around his neck for everyone to see. Aided and abetted by TW of course. As long as they are around they will be a blight on the lives of their families. No real peace will be possible for either family as long as those two are in alliance, and the only way to break the evil spell is to break the unholy alliance.
Sadly, I agree.
Finishing a good book is bittersweet. You enjoy reading but regret reaching the end.
Attempting to read Spare was not a good experience for me. As a child of a narcissist with a deceased baby brother with substance and narc mommy issues, it is triggering. I am still trying to work past this, but haven't been successful. I knew reading from H's point of view would be difficult. Understatement.
Todger has no empathy, no perspective, no compassion, no intelligence .... as expected.... but he also has no humour ( or humor, not funny in US or UK), no recollection, no clue. How can he hold so many grudges when he can't remember anything? How can he expect people to believe his revisionist retelling of his history? How can anyone read their sugar coated Hallmark pile of moldy almond toast without gagging. Anyone else sick of roast chicken?
Maybe H eats over the kitchen sink so that he can vomit directly into the drain ( just like mommy allegedly did). His prose makes me nauseous.
As I began reading Spare, I was shocked with H's negativity. He is so paranoid. About security, about mommy, about loss. Holding grudges about imagined slights while showing no consideration to those slighted in his BB ook. No sign of the carefree wild child, jokester, pp prince about town portrayed in the tabloids. Todger is lower than low, but not " the people's prince".
The substance abuse. He is still using. Clearly. Reminds me of drunken former neighbors who covered themselves with cologne and popped breath mints assuming that " no one would know" they had been drinking. I wasn't fooled. No one who watched H sniffing and waving his overgrown pinky nail on tv was fooled either. What a royal embarrassment. What a wasted life.
Spare taught me a new cuss word, Todger. The Artless Todger .... Someone needs to write a children's book or direct a porn video with that title....
I am impressed that the " men in grey" ( or is it gray) were able to craft a likeable public persona from the terrible tantrum prone toddler. Amazing. They are much more talented than the PR his wife hired. The royal PR teams know Mr. & Mrs. Todger's tawdry secrets. A phrase comes to mind ..a battle of wits with an unarmed man... Should the family release the hounds, Todger's fur will fly faster than his hair gathers in the drain.
Spare and subsequent interviews caused me to respect King Charles more. He tried to be a good parent. He tried to be the parent he wished he had as a child. He is an imperfect person who did his best in a difficult situation. The king must be suffering. Watching someone you care for ( or has once cared for) kill themselves is torture. Guilt, anger, recollections, regrets, fear, hope...all at once in an overwhelming feeling festival. I am clearly projecting my experience on the King while imagining we are both empathetic sensitive souls. I could be wrong.
The entire situation is sad.
I'm struggling to write one of those letters destined for my waste bin to sort out how I cope with my nearest blood relative ( a cousin, formerly loved and trusted) who still believes a 60yr-old spiteful rumour from my mother's sisters, about me and my parents. It was a terrible shock to see she still sees me in that light but I've got her tagged as another narcissist. I've just sent a note to my counsellor in hope of bringing out next Zoom forward.
Your assessment of Todger is spot on and I agree completely about the King.
I think that you are right about KCIII being an empathetic and sensitive soul. Imagine being a monarch and being completely unable to stop a beloved child from self-destructing while simultaneously trying to destroy the King, the Queen, and his brother and sister-in-law.
Attempting to read Spare was not a good experience for me.
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No. I found myself setting it aside a lot.
Spare and subsequent interviews caused me to respect King Charles more.
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Absolutely!
Much to my shock and surprise, there are currently only 17 hold requests on our 9 copies of Hawwy's Whinefesto. I had expected it to be far, far more. I would have thought it'd be 50-60+ at least. Now would be a good time for me to get in line, since the wait would only be about a month. As we approach the Coronation, interest might grow. I don't know how Tom Bower's book did for us (still haven't finished my personal copy yet . . life happened) but I think Tina Brown's Palace Papers is popular; I saw a returned copy waiting to be checked in yesterday.
I walked by an empty save one copy Target display a couple weekends ago when I took a road trip with my family to a larger city, and I expect SPARE is doing brisk business in some metro markets but my library is the only system in our county and we are considered midsize. 9 copies is about double the order we make for other bestsellers, but that waitlist isn't long at all. I'd say any novel by Colleen Hoover is easily as popular as SPARE in my little patch of the heartland. I was the only person at my workplace that I know of who watched either of Diana's boys get married. I really wish I could do an Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind cleanup of my memories of the Circus Freakshow wedding of the 5s. It's official: people who may have once been excited for Hawwy and his 'love story' are thoroughly sick to the teeth of this privileged, overbred tw*t and his con artist wife. People could hardly be less interested any more. Can we hope this means that they will Go Away anytime soon?
I think they have successfully immolated themselves. Or I may just have successfully isolated myself from the wall-to-wall coverage of the toxic tw*ts. Certainly after the Coronation, we will have a better grasp of just how 'out' the California outliers are. I don't expect to see them in London.
And, I agree about the taxman lurking and ready to go through it all. I have friends who are still working previous years because they are looking for this or that. 5 and * have a complicated life with lots of paperwork details. Who is in charge of tracking all will have their work cut out for them.
One thing that I don't think I mentioned: when he was talking about money, the cost for the security and then they could calculate how much house to buy - that's not good long term thinking. There is always stuff that comes up, the property taxes, the cost of heating, water, the cars, diapers, food, koi guys won't be cheap and the pool/garden people. If you are already stretched to buy the house, then when, not if, something happens unexpected, that can be a problem. House poor.
My great aunt said that it was better buy a cheap (or cheapest) house in the best neighborhood than to own the most expensive on in an iffy or even just an ok average neighborhood. Better benefits to the first one at lower costs than the neighbors while the other houses will drag you down to the latter neighborhood.
Opus, I suspect that the not wearing a seat belt was her little bit of rebellion. I believe it was a requirement way back then when she was in the UK so it was more about following the rules there but anywhere else, I can choose not to.
https://tinyurl.com/2p874jtp
Has he mentioned budgeting in the past? I'm not sure that he ever had to pay anything in the past except maybe his bar tab and his drug dealer.
I’m amazed how * so easily endnared him into her web of deceit.
Re: the observation “What they really wanted for a wedding was barefoot, Botswana but this wedding was what they had to do for others”
Meghan would have married Sparry in a gas station toilet that hadn’t been cleaned for a year. She just wanted to get the wedding completed to move her plan to further embed herself in his life and tie him to her with a baby asap. I’m still of the opinion there’s a high probability a surrogate was hired to produce Archieficial.
P 390 is where he talks about how his father cuts him off, how he didn't have experience with money really and that he got a little prickily about how people were all over him about this but that he hadn't wanted that dependency relationship over money from his father (more or less).
We don't know how his father distributed money to his kids or how he expected them to allot it or how much of a blank check they were given. We don't know if he was paid in the army for his work (I suspect so) and then how much possible less he was getting from the Bank of Dad at that time.
But a lot of families don't talk about money, how to budget, plan and how to handle it all to the kids (and sadly it can be because the adults haven't figured it out for themselves yet). The family may not think of using the allowance as a teaching moment about money to start kids out. I know my parents never did. Or about how much you can or cannot spend at the grocery store that week. Money just comes out of an ATM and you just can keep going back for more or just put it on a credit card.
No one in my family taught us how to handle money. I watched my mother with her envelopes for all the expenses, and the cash that went into each, and the trading when one envelope didn't have enough. I do the same except for sub-accounts at the bank instead of envelopes. My siblings never paid attention, so subsequently, they all are having a difficult time with money.
True. I would speculate that the ability to handle money/credit may be a function of the prefontal cortex. To disinterested outside observers such as ourselves, Harry's prefrontal cortex would appear to be...faulty. He doesn't seem to be able to link actions with consequences, engage in productive long-term planning, exhibits poor impulse control, seems to have trouble concentrating (leaving the military because he couldn't pass the tests, poor results in school) and has poor emotional control.
Diana had many of the same issues. She had problems with schoolwork. She had poor impulse control (she pushed her stepmother down the stairs when she, Diana, was 28). She had poor emotional control.
May he Rest in Peace.
.......
The new Queen was in Kenya - this is a touching account:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jan/08/queen-elizabeth-treetops-kenya
Apparently, when she saw the royal limos lined up on the tarmac as they landed, she reportedly said,
`Oh, God, they've sent the hearses...'
...........
I'd read, well before she died, that Diana wore a seatbelt in the UK only because she had to and certainly wouldn't when abroad. The 40th anniversary of the legislation coming into effect was last week but careful motorists had been using them since the mid 1960s.
I really appreciated you reading Spare and giving a blow-by-blow of it, as delicately as you could. You did a nice job of softening the whinging, the lamentations, the complaints and the meaness that spewed forth from the most unpopular prince. There were times I could not even stomach reading your even-handed recounting of his trash talk against the royals and seemingly everything else he carped about; this wasn't helped by the obviously sickeningly sweet sh%t * contributed to the tawdry tales. It was just too too much for me to bear at times, despite how wonderfully you summarized it for us.
But you splendingly got theough it and allowed me to also. Thanks a million!!
From FOX News
February 3, 2023
By Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa | Fox News
Headline: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry at risk of having royal titles challenged by Parliament leader, expert claims
Lawmaker Bob Seely said he would try to introduce a bill in Parliament to strip the couple of their royal titles
Subhead:
Lawmaker Bob Seely said he would try to introduce a bill in Parliament to strip the couple of their royal titles
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are at risk of having their royal titles challenged if one lawmaker has his way.
Following the couple’s release of their six-part Netflix documentary in December, Bob Seely, a Conservative Member of the U.K. Parliament, announced he would try to introduce a bill to strip the couple of their royal titles, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Seely said Harry, in particular, was attacking important British institutions "as well as trashing his family and monetizing his misery for public consumption."
Jonathan Sacerdoti, a British broadcaster and royal commentator, told Fox News Digital the 56-year-old is adamant about moving forward with his plans.
"Seely plans to introduce a private member's bill that would allow a vote to amend the 1917 Titles Deprivation Act, which was used to strip the German royal family of their U.K. titles during the First World War," said Sacerdoti. "That level of treachery was seen as cause to remove royal titles back then, so it’s striking that a serving MP now feels so strongly about the actions of Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, that he wants to use the same law to strip them of their titles."
Sacerdoti said Seely told him the bill needs to be drafted and should be expected sometime in mid-February. If it is ready within the next couple of weeks, Sacerdoti said there is then a process for the bill to be heard in Parliament.
Parliament’s experts have been looking at some old laws. One, The Titles Deprivation Act 1917, stripped German royals of their UK titles during WWI. A change of wording would update the law, allowing Parliament to remove Harry’s titles.
"Bob Seely originally started to consider this action after the Netflix series was released," said Sacerdoti. "But he and I spoke just after the publication of [Harry’s memoir] ‘Spare,’ and I think that it didn’t help matters at all."
"The book was seen by many as betraying the royal family and the monarchy and also has been quite widely mocked in some respects," he shared. "This just isn’t how royalty usually behaves. The allegations against the royal family in the book are more detailed and more numerous than ever before, which has decreased Prince Harry’s favorability polling and caused many people to question why he should still use his title."
In early 2020, the couple announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said were unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. Since then, the couple has aired their grievances against the British monarchy.
A Tweet from MP Seely:
Bob Seely MP
“Harry Windsor should voluntarily relinquish his titles. If he doesn’t, Parliament should act to remove them.
If Harry Windsor doesn’t like the monarchy, don’t be part of it, but don’t use your titles AND trash the institution.”
A second Tweet from MP Seely:
Bob Seely MP
“Parliament’s experts have been looking at some old laws. One, The Titles Deprivation Act 1917, stripped German royals of their UK titles during WWI. A change of wording would update the law, allowing Parliament to remove Harry’s titles.”
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-prince-harry-risk-having-royal-titles-challenged-parliament-leader
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-64472865?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
King Charles is hosting a “warm bank” at Highgrove House. He has opened the Orchard Tearooms every Tuesday, providing free food and hot drinks to visitors affected by the heating crisis. I don’t think he is able to visit in person but wouldn’t that give guests a thrill…he could really grind Twit’s gears if he turned Hawwy’s old bedroom into a refuge for needy persons to stay in.
Seems Charles is quite serious about making Royal properties more accessible to the public.
'I kept our secret for 21 years... why couldn't Harry warn me he was about to tell the world?': Sasha Walpole says she almost fell off her sofa when her teenage romp with the prince became headline news - after finding out via a friend on WhatsApp
Prince Harry did not do Sasha Walpole the courtesy of telling her he was revealing their long-ago sexual liaison in his memoir Spare, she reveals today. The 40-year-old married mother-of-two was watching television when she found out via a WhatsApp message from a friend. She was so startled she almost fell off her sofa.
She feared there were enough clues in the book for people to identify her as the woman who'd taken Harry's virginity – and that she would soon be 'outed' around the world.
'I kept this a secret for 21 years. I did it because Harry was a friend, regardless of whether he's a Prince or not. I didn't invite any of this attention, but I know the hunt would have kept going until people found me. I don't understand why he went into such detail. He could have said he lost his virginity and left it at that. But he described how it happened – in a field behind a pub.
'That's fine if you're not the other person involved. But if you're me, then you suddenly feel as if your world is getting a little bit smaller.'
She felt that the Prince, who has made his right to privacy a crusade in his new, post-Royal life in Montecito, California, with wife Meghan, had intruded on hers.
His revelation of their teenage sex came after he accepted a reported £17 million advance for his book from publisher Penguin Random House. Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK since records began in 1998, and sold 3.2 million copies worldwide in the first week of publication. It is expected to become one of the bestselling memoirs of all time.
She says: 'It is his story, and he's entitled to write what he wants. He didn't name me but people who were there that night, or simply part of that social circle, would be able to work out it was me.
'Possibly, Harry could have thought about that before publishing. He could have found me if he had tried.'
Harry has been dedicated to maintaining his privacy and that of Meghan and their children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, since marriage and Megxit. But even before then, in an interview he gave to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show in 2016 about the Invictus Games, he stated that 'everyone has a right to privacy,' and that the interest in his life verged on the 'unnecessary'.
Sasha is too loyal to be angry, or to accuse him of hypocrisy, but she is filled with disbelief that her ordinary domestic life has been upended for the sake of four lines in his memoir.
'Being exposed in a book is surreal. I'm here in my home in Wiltshire with my husband Ian and my kids and – 21 years later – this.'
She was also justifiably scared of the real-life consequences.
'Panic cut in. I live in a quiet area and it got to the stage when a strange car drove by I'd think, 'Is this it?' I worried that I'd wake up one morning and find a barrage of cameras outside my house.'
As social media messages flooded in from friends who'd either guessed or who already knew, Sasha felt she had to act.
Like the Prince 5,000 miles away on the West Coast of America, she has small children to protect. And, having had a taste of media attention once before when she was pictured with Harry at a polo match in 2001, she knew how intrusive it could be.
'I wanted to take control of the situation before it took control of me, which is why I am revealing that, yes, I am the woman who took Harry's virginity.
'I would never have spoken out if Harry hadn't. I'm not that sort of person. If I was going to talk about it, I could have done so a long time ago. He has brought it to my door by writing about it.'
In Spare, Harry, a self-declared feminist, recalls his sexual encounter with Sasha in unchivalrous terms. He says: 'Inglorious episode, with an older woman. She liked horses, quite a lot, and treated me not unlike a young stallion.
'Quick ride, after which she'd smacked my rump and sent me off to graze.
'Among the many things about it that were wrong: It happened in a grassy field behind a busy pub.'
However, the global guessing game over the name of Harry's mystery lover meant Sasha has had to share details of her teenage sex life with her father Tony, 71. 'Dad wouldn't have cared if I had slept with a prince or a frog as long as I was safe and happy,' she says, 'but as a father, he didn't really want to know.
It was this Jilly Cooper-style description of alfresco sex and the tantalising reference to an older woman that ignited global speculation about the identity of his first lover.
Actress and model Liz Hurley denied it was her, as did the chief executive of Cotswold Airport Suzannah Harvey, 44, a former model. So too did interior designer Catherine Ommanney, 51, who had a fling with Harry when he was 21.
There were also rumours about polo coach and vet Emma Tomlinson, 48, whose family were neighbours and close friends of King Charles at his Highgrove estate.
Fortunately Sasha didn't mind the 'horsey' metaphor, choosing to believe Harry intended it to be light-hearted. What puzzled her was being categorised as an older woman.
'Maybe he did think I was older. When you're 16 and somebody is 19, you probably are seen that way. Or perhaps he was trying to throw people off the scent.'
She was a little older – 18 about to turn 19 the next day – with Harry then 16, soon to be 17 on the night of their tryst, July 21, 2001.
She told her mother Lyn, now 65, and her big sister Jodie Mayhead, 42, an accountant, that she'd had sex with Harry at the time. Ian, 44, also knew she had slept with the Royal since she had confided in him when their relationship became serious.
'It's not the kind of thing you want to talk about, even when you are as close as we are. Fortunately he took it as well as my husband, who is very laid back about it.'
When Sasha was first alerted to the revelations in Harry's book, she was relaxing at home watching fantasy series Willow on Disney+.
It was 9.55pm on Thursday, January 5 – the day the book accidentally went on sale in Spain, five days before its intended publication date. The salacious anecdote about him losing his virginity had immediately grabbed the headlines.
A friend sent Sasha a screenshot of a newspaper story from an Instagram site referring to the 'older woman' and the 'young stallion'. She replied with one word: 'F***.'
More messages pinged in. Her old friend Bryony, who'd been with her on the night in question and given Harry's bodyguard a lift when he was searching for the missing Prince, sent a text teasing her about the older woman reference – a series of grey-haired old- lady emojis.
Sasha replied: 'It's in his book apparently…..' and pointed out 'wrong pub!' as online speculation grew that the encounter had taken place at the Rattlebone Inn in Sherston, instead of The Vine Tree in Norton, both Wiltshire villages.
As the story grew on January 6, she continued to receive messages, some from people with whom she was no longer in touch.
Sister Jodie was also being contacted about Spare, as were their parents.
Jodie said: 'Sasha and Harry were all just in one massive social circle so it wasn't rocket science to work it out that they'd had sex that night. Even though they thought they had been discreet, they hadn't.'
Sasha was so alarmed that she approached a solicitor for legal advice.
'At first I thought I could hide and that it would blow over. But as the names of different women, some of whom I know, became public I realised that to make the speculation stop, I needed to tell the truth.
'At least now I can tell my story, in my words, with the correct context and detail, and without panicking. I can stop looking over my shoulder.'
She doesn't even have a copy of Spare herself, she admits, adding: 'I don't know how I feel about buying it. If I got one it would be for the 'nosy' factor to see what was actually maybe going on in his head at the time. That would be really intriguing.'
Jodie concludes: 'Sasha is the most genuine, kindest, loyal person you'll ever meet. Hand on heart. I know she would have carried this secret with her if it hadn't come out in Harry's book.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11713825/Sasha-Walpole-says-fell-sofa-teenage-romp-prince-headline-news.html?ito=windows-widget-push-notification&ci=554145
In other news, it's been revealed on another site that Tyler Perry, best friend of Clown Prince and Psycho Wife, has some extremely disturbing pervasions. So, if wondering why TP befriended them, there's a creepy reason to the whole thing.
Their friends? Ellen, who got canned for her nastiness, and TP, revealed to be some kind of gross, really gross, sexual pervert. The Todgers may be doing "favors" for TP that no one could imagine. Ewwww!
All roads lead to Soho House. Ever since Madam’s connection with Soho House came to light, I have believed that the ‘hook’ she used to snag H, with the help of cohorts like MA was providing him with sexual perversions of his choice, or obtaining for him the ones she couldn’t provide herself (boys). Yes, I believe Todger is bisexual at minimum. H was also supplied with top gear to keep him complaisant… Not that he needed encouragement mind you… I think H enthusiastically participated in all manner of kinky and potentially illegal activities with these people. However, he was too stupid to realize until too late that he was being set up. He thought that his status as Royal Prince protected him and that these people were his friends.
Surprise, Haz!!!
He didn’t want news of his filthy depravities (supplemented with video, texts, emails, photos, etc) making its way back to his grandparents due to the scandal and potential loss of privileges and honors. He and Uncle Andy have been mucking around in the same cesspool. I think Andrew knew very well what sort of trollop his nephew was involved with even if he didn’t ‘know’ her, if you get me. Even 10 years ago * was too long in the tooth for A. Like knows like and Andrew certainly recognized Harry’s wife for what she is. So—H was vulnerable to blackmail and that’s what we saw in the skybox at Invictus—-You WILL put a ring on this or we spill ALL. We’ll send all the best material to the Duke of Edinburgh and he can tell your Gran how busy you’ve been being naughty.
I think that’s how it went down. Did we ever see a groom look sicker and more terrified than H on his wedding day? He could not have been less thrilled watching his doom approach on the arm of his father than if there had been an actual gun to his head. But in the interim, due to his extremely susceptible mental condition, * has managed to convince him that all of this was engineered by his own design. H has always wanted to run away from his birthright of Royal responsibility and live in Disneyland— He’s the biggest case of Peter Pan syndrome I’ve ever seen. But I don’t think trashing his entire family, demeaning the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and tossing Catherine under the bus… And insulting the entire United Kingdom in the process was part of his original desire. That’s thanks to his wife. Oh, he believes it now too—but he is a dolt. She had to ensure that if he ever leaves her, he could never return to the bosom of his family and be useful to them. He’s a Lost Boy forever now. Wish the both of them would get Lost in Space.
Oh myyyyy. I don't know anything about Tyler Perry and now I don't want to...Ha Ha!
I imagine * from her SoHo days she has "been around the block" as we said in the day.
I'm starting to think that I've read a sheltered life. Thankfully.
Your commentary makes complete sense.
Is one or both of them doing "favors" for TP?
The skybox moment I’m thinking of were those pictures we saw from after the event in the stands you mention. H is in a tiny enclosure with Megdusa, Markus Anderson and Doria—even at a distance, H seems like a hostage in a roomful of his captors. The scene has all the coziness of Patty Hearst hangin’ with the Simbianese Liberation Army. Bringing Ma along to this sandbagging was to add additional screws if the ploy was claiming that H had to make an honest woman out of * after knocking her up.
Say it with me now….Bwahahahaha! Honesty and * have never been acquainted.
The reaction of PM Trudeau and H upon seeing * and MA walk in to the room is verrrrry interesting indeed. How fortunate a photographer just happened to capture their faces at that precise moment. That event was 3 weeks after the Vanity Fair cover story had appeared, but H would officially appear with her as his GF the next day. Wonder who that photog was working for. That shot, that screams ‘Ambush!’ and the subsequent ones in the skybox that can only be described as looking like a press ganging hardly support the official Love Story of the Century narrative. If H had actually invited her and Markus, he sure didn’t look happy to see them. PM Trudeau’s face is equally interesting—what dirt do * and her special friend MA have on *him*? Those Soho House nights must have been bacchanalia of epic proportions, is all I can think. The sordidness of this bunch is off the charts. Justin wasn’t any happier to be surprised by his mate’s girlfriend than his mate was.
It’s my understanding that Tyler Perry has never actually met the Harkles. He lives in Atlanta and must only use that Hollywood house when he’s there for business. He retains staff in LA and had to get involved when his houseguests allegedly abused his employees. Scuttlebutt has * shoving an elderly housekeeper who could not swim into the pool. I understand that TP was loaning his house out to the VIP refugees from Canada at the behest of his Godmother Oprah. Since TP owes his career to the Godmother of All Media, he’s basically her b****h for life. His unsavory proclivities if they exist play into it I’m sure, but Big O would be the one to know about those. At the time she was grooming the odious pair for the promised sit down, so she called in a favor from her protege. I don’t think Tyler can ever say no to the Godmother—or there will be dire consequences.
“Dire Consequences” could be the title of the sequel to SPARE.
Blast from the past time….What a difference 5 years makes. This is vomit-inducing stuff here. Reading 400+ pages of Harry’s bilge will be impossible if I cant get through this without wanting to hurl.
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/09/meghan-markle-cover-story
I will grudgingly admit that when * first burst onto the scene, she occasionally took some good pictures. None of these were in the VF piece. Either she turned up to the VF shoot high AF, or this is just how terrible she is at being photogenic whilst trying to be a haute couture “supermodel”. The fact that someone so awkward and looks in manner became a moderately successful actress is amazing and itself. Of course we can only conjecture how many figurative casting couch encounters had to take place in order for her to rocket to partial inobscurity as the 6th billed supporting character on a mediocre basic cable drama.
The only reaction I have to her smug and glassy eyed confrontational mug on the VF cover is as succinct as it is uncharitable: Woof.
Not nice, but it’s a terrible picture. She looks like an unhinged harpy, and this was her world debut! Considering that they might shoot 100+ images for a single cover…this was the best of the lot? Or—was she such a witch on set that the photographer intentionally picked a bad one to troll her? Any photo of * is an exercise of staring into the abyss and having the abyss stare back at one.
As for hapless, his body language when she entered the stands with Markus definitely showed discomfort. But, she was escorted by security, so the hapless one would have arranged that so he knew she was going to make an appearance. What surprises me is that she sat so far from him. Why? It would not have been breaking protocol for her to sit with him or close to him. Everyone knew they were an item. At Ascot, Peter Phillips rode in a carriage with his girlfriend, who was, and perhaps is, technically still married. Later,she took over the skybox with her mother and Markus, excluding any dignitaries supporting the games from using that box, and appeared with him on the last day, holding hands and wearing ripped jeans and a shirt half hanging out. She managed to make the IG all about her.
Considering the above, it does seem feasible that he was ambushed in some way at the IG.
What does he say about it in his memoirs? I think she approved/wrote/dictated the parts of the book that include her and his memory is untrustworthy, but I would still be interested in what he had to say. If he omits or glosses over that part of the story, that makes me more suspicious.
One would have assumed that after the Inskip wedding Todge would know better than to be coerced into her company again but I suspect that the dirt Soho House has on Todge has no statute of limitations. 5’s drug use and cavalier treatment of girlfriends and sex workers would not have been news to his family. So whatever coerced H down the aisle and becoming a Stockholm Syndrome victim has got to be really bad. Potentially the hook was baited with another Virginia Guiffre situation—H plied with willing partners either male or female then told that they were underage and he’d be outed as a kiddie r*pist. Maybe just gay exploits on film were enough to keep him in line. Commonplace enough but Hero Harry wouldn’t want to be made the first officially queer Royal.
My mind goes in darker directions—like the accidental or perhaps not death by misadventure of one of H’s bed partners during a sex game. He likes it rough and based on all their little word games from the Urban Dictionary, they are well versed in BDSM culture. If some harm of a permanent nature came to a playmate…maybe even an underage one…that would be a huge blackmail chip/coverup:
Who knows what MI5 and MI6 have had to whitewash with these two?
* is a user of all and everything and everyone.
* was a transatlantic booty call that got out of hand. All of H’s previous girlfriends went away when he was tired of them or were hired by the hour. * was a different story. All indications were that he broke up with her about six months after their dalliance began…at Skippy’s wedding they were estranged, very obviously so. Yet six months later—boom, they’re getting married. I do believe extreme pressure was brought to bear to make that happen. If so, the marriage is fraudulent and the Archbishop performed a false ceremony. Question is, what did Welby or the RF know going in? It’s not just a personal failure for H but an institutional failure of epic proportions if the sham marriage was allowed to proceed with full knowledge that it was through blackmail. It’s doing to be a blot on the history of a family that had finally begun to heal from Diana. It’s a tragedy we are watching here, yet another for the House of Windsor.