British Royal Family Gossip: Part 24

Here is the previous thread Part 23

Please stop talking so much about Meagan in these threads, she's so tedious. I want to talk about The Queen, Philip, Diana, Fergie and the old guard, not some flighty girl from The US.

My sweet prince. I would ride you like it was the Ascot Gold Cup.

and now for something completely different

Prince Charles had a birthday last week and serendipitously ran across this in a seldom used desk drawer of hers. She would have clipped it from the Raleigh News and Observer when she was 23 and newly married.

R5 That is my sweet prince Andrew's birth announcement. What a wonderful find.

That got garbled. I meant to say:

Prince Charles had a birthday last week and I serendipitously ran across this in a seldom used desk drawer of my late mother-in-law. She would have clipped it from the Raleigh News and Observer when she was 23 and newly married.

R6, you’re right. I hadn’t thought to verify the birth day. It is Prince Andrew. She would have been 36 and the mother of two boys, the youngest would have been eight years old.

Ok, thanks for the correction. Charles is a Scorpio (like me), so that had me puzzled.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Prince Dreamboat and I share birthday.

A cautionary tale of courting the press.

I just finished watching this, no one comes off well, Diana included.

[quote]Please stop talking so much about Meagan in these threads, she's so tedious. I want to talk about The Queen, Philip, Diana, Fergie and the old guard, not some flighty girl from The US.

Well, who died and made you Meghan Markle?

MM appears to be overdressed in the white outfit yet again. Does the woman not feel embarassment? I was once overdressed, never again. I always like to know what to wear before I go to anything.

I think the BRF, specifically the Queen and Charles, need to talk to Kate and William about not traveling together as a family on flights. God forbid something happens, and we're faced with the prospect of Queen Meghan and the Dim One as king. Didn't the Cambridges travel together on commercial flight to their skiing vacation last week?

R469 from Part 23 - To answer your question, I believe both Harry and William are legally prevented from touching the principle of their trusts. So whilst on paper Harry may be worth millions, in practical terms he only has the revenue from the trust as real income. That's why Charles gives each son's household a supplemental "stipend" to fill out their ability to support their royal lifestyles.

R-10 - It's not possible - Anna Paternak, if I remember, was the woman who tried to write a novel based on Diana's and James Hewitt's love affair - if she told me it was raining out, I wouldn't dress accordingly until I'd opened the front door and checked for myself.

Wallis was every bit the cold-hearted schemer she was portrayed as.

Can you imagine Meghan Markle as Queen Consort? It would kill the monarchy.

Why the rehashing of the trust fund argument from several threads ago? How tedious

The full text of Diana's will is publicly available.

[quote] hold the same UPON TRUST for such of them my children PRINCE WILLIAM and PRINCE HENRY as are living three months after my death attain the age of twenty five years

Harry and William are both older than 25 so they have access to all the money from their money. There are no other restrictions on it.

It's impossible to say how much money Harry has that is independent of his father. It would depend on how the investments have been handled since his mother's death and what he has done since he came into his full inheritance 9+ years ago.

^^^should read "access to all the money from their mother"

Lordy a sweet prince 🤴 troll.

Does this troll not know that Andrew is a perv?

R19, Unfortunately, I have seen things posted on these threads that seem to be immune to facts. And I'm not saying this in an argumentative way, since I'm really not one of those DLers who always has to be right. I don't mind being corrected by people who are better informed than me. Anyway, I've read that Doria was in jail at some point, that Meghan had an earlier marriage that was annulled, things like that. Jail and annulment both are legal proceedings, and there are public records. No one has ever produced a public record of either of those. I, myself, have an arrest record (said with embarrassment) which is public.

Indulging in speculation about the psychological state or motivation of people is just that: speculation. This is a gossip site, so that doesn't bother me. And discussing fashion choices is just a matter of taste. It's really not a big deal to say whether or not you like a dress. But trading in non-existent facts just becomes confusing, since there are definitely people who can't tell the difference. And, unfortunately, sometimes an untrue 'fact' gets repeated so many times that it becomes part of the canon.

R21., Tony is not a troll. He's a long-time DL member.

I remember the picture of Diana in the swimsuit perched on the very end of the diving board on the yacht. I didn't know 100% how PR work, but I knew that one was for the benefit of the photogs in the area. She was very consciously giving them footage. She should never ever have accepted Fayad's invitation. If she didn't know where to go, surely she could have rung somebody up (albeit she ghosted a lot of friends). She should never have declined her RPOS after the divorce She should have had RPOs, gone somewhere sunny and private, and guilted Charles into paying for the boys if that bothered her. I remember how William and Kate delayed their honeymoon because they wanted to go to the Seychelles and where the villa/accomodations they wanted to book was already reserved. In any event, a yacht vacation under the blazing sun was not in Diana's best interest - she'd already ruined her peaches and cream complexion. She was not longer even tanning properly - just turning red and blotchy in the sun. Mohammed Al Fayed had huge resentments towards the U.K. establishment. Diana as his guest (and his son's supposed gf) was a massive get. She should have steered clear.

That said, I've spent time googling "Would they have lived today (or in the US)" for everyone from Lincoln to Diana and the answer is always no. Diana had a ruptured aorta. It took her awhile to bleed out internally. She could only have (possibly) survived had she been wearing a seatbelt.

R19 you are misreading the will. They have full access to the income from the beneficiary trust, but not the trust money itself. The Residual trust is a different matter - IMO it sets out that this shall provide a resource for their charitable endeavors but is unclear about what they can do with the principal. The principal was 100K and a whole bunch of Diana'ss effects (clothes, etc.)

The Discretionary Fund A Discretionary Fund was established for the benefit of Prince William, Prince Harry, their respective future descendants and spouses, and charities as selected by the co-trustees.

The Discretionary Fund received the following assets of the estate: intellectual property rights, all wearing apparel, £100,000, and accumulated income earned by the fund's assets. The Discretionary Fund is to be held for a "Perpetuity Period" which will last until 21 years after the death of the last surviving descendant of his late Majesty King George VI who was living on the date of Princess Diana's death.

King George VI was the father of Queen Elizabeth II, grandfather of Prince Charles, great-grandfather of Prince William and Prince Harry, and the subject of the 2010 movie, The King's Speech.

The income earned by the fund is to be distributed among the fund's beneficiaries during the Perpetuity Period as the trustees see fit. Anything left in the fund when it expires will go to the then living descendants of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Rachel Weisz is wearing Meghan’s dress at Oscars.

R24 -Exactly - R19's interpretation of "all" is understandable, but a good many trusts are set up like this precisely to avoid reckless erosion of the principle by unwise inheritors. Once you eat into the principle, it never gets replaces, and the income from it also goes down. My assumption is that each son will receive a similar trust from their father, who is much richer than Diana was (he is reputedly worth $400 million personally, i.e., apart from his annual revenues from the Duchy of Cornwall), although a good deal of that is in landholdings and other assets in a portfolio that is not that easilly liquidated. William, of course, will inherit the Duchy of Cornwall, and Charles move up to the Duchy of Lancaster, whereas Harry and Meghan will stay as they are. So I'm sure Charles will make Harry a bit richer than he is now, but through a similarly structured trust.

R26 - Slightly OT, but it is maddening that a woman as attractive as Rachel Weisz dresses so bizarrely.

Knowing what we know now, particularly her leaning on William, Diana would have been a tough mother in law. I wonder if William would just now be marrying, something a bit arranged as a good pairing and less a real relationship. If his mother had remained so enmeshed in his life, I see it very hard for him to date.

And wears such an awful makeup, R28.

I agree r29 ( also agree re Rachel W). Diana would be threatened by anyone displacing her in her sons ' devotions. Still, it would be interesting to watch the maneuvering between her and MM.

R29, I feel that way, too. She loved her boys, but I think she was emotionally manipulative with them. I've been willing to shrug off her affairs, but the way she dragged her kids into her drama was wrong. Will seems to have come out okay, but very reserved and untrusting. Harry just seems a mess, which (to me) is sad.

I have not misunderstood the original will. R24 is referring to a change to the will that gives the princes access to their funds at age 30 rather than at age 25 as their mother intended. Correction noted.

[quote] The balance of Princess Diana's estate referred to as the "residuary estate," was left in equal shares to Prince William and Prince Harry. The shares were to be held in trust until each prince reached the age of 30. Each prince was given access to all of the income from his trust when he turned 25, as well as the power to change the final disposition of his trust if anything should remain at the time of his death.

[quote] Both Prince William and Prince Harry have reached the age of 30. Prince William turned 30 on June 21, 2012, and Prince Harry turned 30 on September 15, 2014. They each inherited their share of the residuary estate outright and free of further trust. It's estimated that at the time of each prince's 30th birthday, their shares of the residuary estate were worth £10 million each or about $16 million U.S. dollars.

The will at R19 is clear. The information about the changes is based on media reports. Take that for what it's worth.

Regardless of which source you use, the story that Will and Harry don't have access to their inheritance is not supported by the available evidence. Leaving one's principal untouched and using only interest earned is good practice but there is no evidence that Will and Harry are prohibited from doing whatever they wish with their inheritance.

If Diana were still alive, would Charles have been able to marry Camilla?

I have often wondered, R34. I don't think so. It just... would feel so complicated.

Ok R2, I’m game to talk older guard. One thing I’ve always been curious about, and I’m certainly not alone, is that remark that Diana made to photographers on one of those yacht trips with Dodi. Didn’t she say something like, “Wait til you see what I do next!” I’m not particularly on board with a pregnancy conspiracy, but what do we suppose she meant by that?

Another source for the silly will and its codicil. It's a blog post from royalist Marlene Eilers Koenig.

Koenig has the 1993 will, the 1996 codicil and a link to a 1998 story in the Independent. Nobody outside Tumblr and the DL has this story about an ongoing main trust beyond age 30.

May that dead storyline now rest in peace.

Well, well, well, Serena was a presenter at the Oscars tonight. Those of you who thought that the Morocco trip was hastily arranged to prevent Meghan from being at the Oscars may have been right.

When Kate was pregnant with George, I remember there was some parliament thing or something to make sure the child would be the heir regardless of sex.

If the whole “has to be a male” thing was still in effect, hw did that all work when Elizabeth’s father took the throne from his brother? He only had daughters (E & Margaret). Did the powers start pressuring him & the Queen Mum to try for another kid or were they off the hook because they were older?

Was there controversy in Elizabeth taking the throne? Did they want to go find the next male somewhere in the line?

I didn't like Sleepless in Seattle or You've Got Mail. Just trying to do a paint by numbers rom com. All the money spent on stars (Ryan, Hanks) didn't disguise how calculated and controlled they were. Also thought Ryan and Hanks had very little chemistry. Each of them has a lot more edge than either movie pretends.

There was no controversy since her father did not have male heirs. If they had a son after Margaret, then the son would become king. Male primogeniture rule is what was done with in anticipation of George’s birth.

R39 I don’t think there was any concern at all about a female monarch.

What changed with George’s birth is that if he’d been a she, she’d have been Queen. So if Charlotte were the eldest, we’d have a future Queen Charlotte.

Prior to that, even if she’d been the eldest & George the next, he’d have been King because he’s male.

Clunky sentences...I’m tired. Hooe you know what I mean.

Charlotte is closer to the throne than Louis. Very different from HM’s own children where Charles, Andrew and Edward are all closer than Anne.

[quote] Did the powers start pressuring him & the Queen Mum to try for another kid or were they off the hook because they were older?

Yes, it was suggested that he and his wife could try for another child to get a boy.

But her father knew Elizabeth's qualities and said "No" because he knew that she could do the job.

R36 In that documentary posted up thread made mention of that, followed by her posing on a jet ski with Harry. Who knows what she actually meant by it, but it was ominous to say the least.

MeAgain must be bitter as hell, R38. New heights of acting out to come?

Serena must have mentioned her upcoming Oscar presenter appearance at the baby shower. Meghan probably would have jumped to be Serena's plus one, feeling vindicated when the photographers ran past the celebs to take her picture.

Did Meghan do the horrible bronzer and tanner during her Suits/Tig days?

Wondering if it’s something she likes and doesn’t realize looks bad OR if she started it more recently — like maybe her PR did some surveying and found many of her fans are most impressed by her biracial heritage and recommended she play it up.... look darker like Kim Kardashian has been doing recently to try to work her brand a certain way.

Before Harry she was as white as she could be . Now she has to play up her African-American heritage . Why you think Doria was at the Wedding .

MM's perma-grin makes her look very simian, imo.

Exactly right, r50.

"Wait til you see what I do next!”

Yes, I watched that video posted upthread as well. Riding a jet ski seems pretty tame. From all the artic les I've read, Diana was very out of sorts that summer. The boys spent the majority of it in England without her. The doctor had rejected her. The public was tiring of her drama. The Dodi romance ignited a firestorm of controversy that was bound to piss off the BRF. My guess is that she planned to announce that she and Dodi were engaged. Or maybe even no announcement, just flaunting the ring he bought which could pass for an engagement ring. She had no intention of marrying him, it's just something she and the Dodi's father cooked up to create controversy and Dodi went along with it. A fake engagement was just another ruse to keep the spotlight on her and get back at the BRF.

I thought Dodi the cocaine cowboy was to make the heart surgeon Hasnat Khan jealous. In the very few interviews he has given, Khan comes across as a decent, dignified man. Diana would probably still be alive if Khan had not ended their r'ship. He felt he could not cope with the media attention and also his family was opposed to Diana.

The rumors of pregnancy were laid to rest once and for all when the forensic scientist debunked it. She was very definitely NOT pregnant. Even her best friend Rosa Monckton said she was on her period while with Dodi.

Meghan Antoinette about to fuck it up for the RF.

The Morroco trio was planned before the bridal shower. However I can see Serena mentioning to Meghan about the Oscars and voila! The trip.

Eventually she will go. But will there be a frenzy when and she will pop in, when she attends?

Will Harry get the Duke of York title when Andrew pops his clogs?

Mostly agree with the conclusions of this article - "After nearly 18 months living in Kensington Palace and being ensconced in the bosom of royal life, the former Suits star clearly has failed to grasp the fundamental need to behave with tact and to be as humble as possible when out in public.

There have been multiple reports that Prince William voiced his reservations about Meghan’s suitability to join the royal family. These last few days of her crassly flitting about New York are starting to make it look like he might have been right.

You can’t join an ancient institution and get access to a tiara vault AND still gad about the place like the A-lister you clearly have hungered to be for so, so long."

I knew this union was a mistake. Not so much because Meghan’s is not Harry’s equal, but Meghan really had no idea what it means to be in the RF. If you really think about what it means and what it requires, I think a lot of people wouldn’t want the job. Meghan is a starlet who had a fairytale idea of what being a member of the RF meant. I seriously, think she thought it was going to be glamorous and it seems like it’s the opposite of glamour.

Excellent article @ R59. As it so unequivocally states: SHE DOES NOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ROYAL.

I think Harry picked Meghan to marry because no one else was dumb enough to marry into the RF.

She's turning into Rachael Ray.

Pleats! And did Dim wash his jacket in hot water?

Pointing, cupping, and presenting dual almiqui nose

Harry looks terrible: pale, balding, ski-jump nose, rumpled suit. Next time just leave him home and let him do blow all damn day.

Wow that’s some harsh blush on Meghan Antoinette r67

OMG there’s shit on Sparkle’s fingers at r67

She's put her fake tan on and not check for patches where it is on unevenly.

I said right at the beginning that Markle simply wasn’t suitable to join the BRF. Of course I was called a jealouz, razist, haterz who wanted the anorexic, sniffy ginger all for my little self.

In fact...being an American, bi-racial former actress is all good. The divorced bit doesn’t matter either.

It’s the plainly obvious fact that no matter how much it’s explained to her she will never, ever, ever understand that it’s NOT ALL ABOUT HER. Never.

The press and her moronic fangirls might all have been swooning at her baking banana bread, feeding street children with leftover cakes & confidently making speeches all about herself - but they missed what all of this actually signified......that no matter where they were or what they were doing, Markle wanted the attention on her more than on anything else.

She is out there representing the institution of the monarchy - being there is in itself enough to have a spotlight shone on other people and their endeavours. Everything else she did is unnecessary & flagrant showboating.

She isn’t going to change and she isn’t going to learn from her mistakes and settle down. She’d have to acknowledge that she’s made mistakes in the first place to be able to do that and she won’t.

I’ve never liked her but I have to say she’s turned out to be much, much worse than I ever imagined.

[quote] OMG there’s shit on Sparkle’s fingers at [R67]

[quote] She's put her fake tan on and not check for patches where it is on unevenly.

It's obviously the henna tattoo from day 2 of the trip. In addition to tin-hatters, is the thread now attracting posters who lack a sense of object permanence?

There are those who think she still has time to "turn the boat around". Well, guess what - it ain't gonna happen because:

She doesn't know she's the problem.

And even if she DID know she STILL wouldn't fucking care.

Goofus tries to cram a whole pastry into her mouth, on camera.

Gallant takes a few small bites to be polite.

R74 what is the BRF going to do about Meghan Antoinette?

What is this shit show costing the British tax payers?

The bald spot is no longer creeping; it's sprinting.

Do you think Harry truly loves Meghan? Why do they make it a point to always hold hands?

Its not about the long haule with her . I suspect an early divorce . Otherwise he would have told her to cool it . There is no better way to make you straight again than this Wedding . I still think its deliberate all this media circus with her . It was never a marriage out of love with her and Harry .its one of convienance for these two . She can be Duchess and have A list status now and he can do whatever he wants secretly .

The cardinal dress (cardinal was the color and it looked like she was smuggling a cardinal inside it) and this black pleated dress - correct me if I'm wrong but do I detect actual maternity wear?? Is this fucking clueless bitch FINALLY wearing maternity clothes? Saints preserve us. Fetch me smelling salts!

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

I hope they bow for the king of Morocco ! She thinks everyone is beneath her .

R79 You hit the nail on the head...”Why do they always make a point of holding hands”. Exactly. It’s not organic or natural...it’s determined & deliberate.

Presumably they (she) thinks it looks good in photographs.

When Markle put her hand on Kate’s back at Christmas it was to signify...”See? We’re close and affectionate” but no one bought it.

The holding hands = “See. He loves me just so, so much”. Why does she feel the need to prove that if it’s already true?

I don’t think he loves her or her him. He thought the marriage would be a good idea...she gets fame, he gets the spotlight taken off him so he can pursue a private life.

Either that or they’re just a shallow, immature pair who enjoy having Twitter cretins pass out in joy over everything they do. Which is more probable.

r81 That dress looks suspiciously like a long skirt being worn as a strapless dress. With a blazer throw over it. It looks a lot like that witch outfit she wore to the University thingie. It's one thing to spend a lot of money on clothing but to spend it on clothing that all looks pretty much the same is freaking bizarre.

I wonder how she even floated the hand-holding requirement. "Haz, you need to hold my hand on this fucking tour. No, I mean really HOLD IT. ALL THE TIME. Assholes think we're in love."

OMFG, R85, are you kidding me? You think it's actually a skirt, and she's wearing it as a dress? FUUUUUUCK - I think you're right!!!!

OMG, OMG, OMG. This is priceless!

Remember that song in Evita...”Rainbow High”?

It’s all about Eva demanding Dior outfits etc....”I’m their saviour/That’s what they call me/So Christian Dior me/From my head to my toes/I need to be dazzling/I want to be rainbow high/They need their escape/And so do I”

I reckon that’s how she’s spun this crap to Dimbo....”Our fans need to see me looking amazing and so in love. It takes them out of their miserable, humdrum lives...that’s why they love me. Can’t let them down”.

She is so far up her own arse, this is the sort of shite she’d come out with.

[quote]Will Harry get the Duke of York title when Andrew pops his clogs?

I doubt it. York is traditionally reserved (or has been recently) for the second son of the sovereign, which Harry is, but give Andrew another twenty years, minimum, and Harry will have been established as Sussex for that long. Plus by that point William could be king so then the point is moot and if not William will be so close to the throne they'll hold it for Louis.

She's utterly repulsive. And, now, so is he.

Yep, it's true, R90. Whatever lingering sentiment and compassion I felt for him has completely dissipated. They're both disgusting.

How do Brits feel about Meghan Antoinette?

It suddenly struck me that this suddenly hastily arranged trip to Morocco this weekend wasn't to keep Meghan from turning up at the Oscars, but to ensure that the Oscars deflected some coverage from the trip. There was no particular event or historical anniversary being celebrated in Morocco - it came out of nowhere and the visits were inane and minor except for the reception, and gave Meghan a chance to shoot her mouth off about feminism as she paraded around in clothes bought by her rich father in law, on the arm of the husband who is the only reason anyone politetly listens to her hypocritical bullshit.

So she delivered a speech again? After the divorce, she will pimp herself out as a motivational speaker (like Beatrice and Fergie do). She'll brag about how she's spoken with several world leaders and speechified before many governments throughout the world.

R89 is correct - it is Prince Louis who is in line for Duke of York after Andy is raptured. However, those ducal titles are usually not conferred until they marry. Andrew was made Duke of York on the day of his marriage to Fergie; Prince Albert was made Duke of York upon his marriage to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon; William was made Duke of Cambridge on the day of his marriage to Kate; and Harry was made Duke of Sussex upon his marriage to Meghan.

If Andrew dies, the title will lie vacant until the day Prince Louis marries. The assumption is that when Charles becomes King, William and Kate become Prince and Princess of Wales and George is in line for the Cambridge title if he marries whilst Charles is on the throne. However, if William is king when George marries, George will likely already be Prince of Wales, and the Cambridge title will go vacant till the next generation.

It's like she's preparing her curriculum vitae as she slithers amongst her victims. Amassing goodwill and experience while dispensing humor and charm. Does not do well in safe, open-air markets. Must have a minimum of one million per day to spend on butt ugly fucking clothes.

She really is going down as one of the biggest gold diggers in history. What a bitch. And not in a good way.

Any woman who married a Windsor man without having a backup plan is a damn fool.

The Duchess of Dynamism's backup plan is her mother. And Carole succeeded where Mrs Bennet failed: her daughters married very very well. The Middletons have also featured their nests with earnings from their royal connections. All wise moves IMO. One can't depend on the Windsors for protection so one must procure armour of one's own. And armour costs dear.

Meghan has no Carole Middleton. Jessica Mulroney, Markus Anderson and her gaggle of friends can barely walk and chew gum, never mind go up against house Mountbatten-Windsor. If Meghan has even 1 working pair of synapses she would keep updating her CV and her contacts list in the event a misstep or palace intrigue puts her on the outs.

Royalists have long said Charles' best move on taking the throne would be to cut the number of working royals. William will certainly have to do it. With or without Meghan Harry must devise a long term plan for his life. He would do well to polish up his CV as well.

Marriages to some of the women from the House of Windsor seem pretty uncertain too. Anne and Margaret had multiple marriages.

Margaret was married once.

Anne was married twice.

Elizabeth Taylor they're not.

Margaret was married once but had enough affairs for her own five a side football team.

How did Mrs Bennet fail? Her two eldest married millionaires. The youngest married a dickhead but he was still an army officer, so not that bad optically.

I cannot see how the Middleton’s have “cashed in” either. I’ve always seen that as a very unfair accusation. That party business thing existed long, long before Prince William joined the family and had already made them rich. Sure, it probably did better after they got famous but that’s hardly their fault. It’s not like they filled the website up with pics of the royals or anything. Were they supposed to shut it down?

James’s marshmallow business (or attempt at one) was on off-shoot of their existing business & he doesn’t seemed to have made any real attempt to capitalise or become a media personality.

Pippa, of course, is another matter with her hilariously bad book and endless pap strolls. Not to mention marrying the ugliest man in London for his millions.

But Ma, Pa & Bro haven’t put a foot wrong that I can see.

Oh dear she seems to have upset at least on journalist "MEGHAN Markle married Prince Harry solely to “enhance her celebrity”, according to Sky News presenter Adam Boulton."

Goodness me! He’s right, of course. And I think he’s the first mainstream journo who’s come out to say that.

Oh, boy...

Meghan may be afraid of horses. She's VERY tentative.

Meeting a vendor in a craft market. Why does Harry think everything is a joke?

Photos of the blossoming magnolia trees in the garden of Clarence House.

The Prince of Wales is visiting his principality.

Princess Eugenie visited Imperial College.

Harry and Meghan received matching aprons from this chef.

Anyone else think Yuge might look just a wee bit .....?? ;)

Hello mag says 1 BN pounds baby bonanza? WTF? 1 billion? Typo?

She looks like she's going to the mall not representing the Queen.

Mr. Touchy Feely is going after his wife's pony tail now.

Meghan's letter to Chef Mohar.

This outfit summary omits the SKIRT worn as a DRESS. How embarrassing.

This black pleated skirt reminds me of the wedding outfit she wore when she showed her bra strap.

R113 I dislike Meghan immensely but let's not pretend that Kate or other royals don't ever dress that way.And they wear tight clothes too.Everyone does.But yes nobody flaunts or touches their pregnant belly like she does.I just hope the divorce is soon.

I like her earrings.

She's worn the pleated black SKIRT before. She wears it as a DRESS.

Her face is fuller from her pregnancy.

The Dim Duke looks puzzled. Meghan looks highly amused.

Meghan has worn the white blazer before. She watched Harry play polo when they were dating.

They toned it down a bit but the excessive public displays of affection are back again.

The casual Queen hanging out a window (probably at Balmoral).

The earrings look truly fab. She should go for more looks like this, I hesitate to say the word “exotic” because somehow it’s probably not OK anymore, but let’s just say creative artful designs as opposed to traditional jewels.

The Royal Family like their kilts when they're in Scotland.

That skirt used as a dress is heinous. I'm sorry, it's simply heinous.

A lady curtseying to the Queen on a trip to Australia in 1954. Love the fashions.

At Sandringham in the 1960's.

A rare sighting - The Queen in trousers.

Blowin' in the wind.

R103 R104 - Of course he's right and personally I'm stunned that someone has finally come out and stated the obvious. Obvious, of course, to everyone but the fraus on Celebitchy. They're busy talking about evidence of her "star power" on this forgettable little trip, which despite her alleged star power, was seriously downgraded when the star power at the Oscars began yesterday.

I would strongly suspect that Amal and Jessice and Meghan all understand this ballgame very well, and understand each other, and why they married whom they married - and love was well down on the list. This is a group of women who each have something in common: personal advancement on the global stage through their husbands and then, through each other.

The difference is, Mr Clooney doesn't care because he will always be a bigger star than his wife, and he married for, well, reasons, too; Mr Mulroney is gay and Jessica M. gave him a family and cover.

But it's more than possible that Harry really thought this woman thought he was the cat's pajamas, rather than a means to an end. In which case, he's probably an object of pity to the other two husbands, who understood the ballgame as well as their wives did. Clooney is under no misapprehension how useful he and Amal are to each other (he gets out of suspicious bachelorhood at the 11th hour, she get to be very rich and very famous); ditto Mr Mulroney.

Harry looks more and more pathetic as time goes on.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

^ Royally in love!

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

They're right this is a very, very odd tour. I'm wondering if the tumblr tinhatters are right and this is to keep her away from the oscars. "More crucially, in the weeks before the lead-up to Brexit, when Britain is desperate to shore up alliances and trading partners, why would the government “request” their two most valuable players visit a poor nation in North Africa that sends only 3.2 per cent of its exports to Britain?" Because they're not as valuable to the government as the Press likes to think. These two are unprofessional on their tours and do not do UKplc any favours imo.

from the story about the reporter melting down and calling grifter: It’s the way that those friends of hers from a previous life live their life, and if she wants to keep up those friendships I think it’s perfectly reasonable that she be allowed to do so.

I'd be curious to know who from that baby shower was an actual friend prior to her abseil? Anal Clooney? Gayle King? Come on.

She looks just awful in her face on the trip in Morocco . Its a close-up and you can see now that she is not beautiful . She has make-up on her face and she still looks ugly .

That’s not really the point, R139. OK...her millionaire mates want to spend massive amounts of money on her and she wants to let them. Fine.

But to alert the press and make sure there are photographers there?? That’s utterly obscene.

It is absolutely not “reasonable” that she continue flaunting wealth in this way as a senior member of the RF. Not “reasonable” at all.

R140 I’ve never thought she was beautiful. Photogenic, yes....but not beautiful. Her face is an odd shape and her teeth are fake.

No, R141, that was my point, but I appreciate you telling us how to think and what to think about.

Sorry, R143. Misunderstood you but didn’t intend to sound as snappy as I did. Apologies.

I hate what Meghan’s behavior is doing to the image of the BRF, but I do think she is a beauty. However hard I might try to talk myself out of it.

She's getting the "pregnant mask" look going, a hyperpigmentation layer or melasma cast on her complexion. To the uninitiated it looks like a layer of sun damage on the skin. On some women it will dissipate after delivery. For most though it only fades slightly and requires fractional laser treatment to remove completely. That may be why she is going heavy on the tanner and bronzer to diminish its appearance.

Two comments about the pictures from the Morocco trip...

1. Her bump is smaller.

2. There are way too many pictures of Sparkle and Harry gazing at each other. Frequently the pictures also show Sparkle and Dim ignoring the people who they are there to see while looking at each other. Picture after picture after picture.

Badly done.

Like always with Meghan it looks nice from afar but not close . The woman has heavy make-up on and she still looks like a nightmare .

I don’t understand her clothes on the Morocco trip.

What’s with all the jeans, casual jackets, and cotton tops?

Can’t she at least be talked into business casual? Why is she trying to look like a pregnant 14-year-old mall girl?

r138 I think this tour was touted as strategic because of a potential role Morocco might play in any post-Brexit issues over Gibralter? Please don't ask me the exact specifics of this. Supposedly this is also why Felipe and Letizia made such a big trip to Portugal last week - both sides (UK and Spain) are keen to shore up their alliances and support in the region in case of any upcoming renewed tensions.

R129 - And doing it correctly, right foot behind the left, bend at the knee, hands at sides, back not hunched, head slightly dipped forward.

I was skeptical about the black dress being a skirt at first, but now I agree. It’s noticeably shorter in the front, because of the belly.

Maternity clothing takes the belly into account, and adds extra fabric so the hem is even all around.

But the waistband must be very stretchy. Cheap clothing often has elastic waistbands.

R140 - She was never "beautiful". She's reasonably attractive and looks like 10,000 other girls in L.A., and that is after having her nose narrowed and lifted, her teeth veneered, and her straightened within an inch of its life. She has a problem figure, with chicken legs and no waist, and she's at least 3"-4" shorter than she advertised on her CV. You put her in the right clothes with her hair decently done and her sartorial excesses restrained, and appropriate makeup, and she looks pretty.

Beautiful is a word I apply to women like Julie Christie and Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor.

Not Meghan Markle.

There’s a lot of pink in the baby shower video.

And what’s the deal with the video being released? Wouldn’t that be confidential? There must have been some contract, and wouldn’t that be a request? Strict confidentiality? Or perhaps the goods and services were provided gratis in exchange for promotional consideration? Ahem.

R153, I think she’s pretty if you don’t look too closely. She’s done the most with what she has. Her figure is atrocious and she needs real professional help to find a wardrobe that can flatter it.

She’s pretty. Not beautiful.

I think photos taken at a distance, especially in the evening, make her make-up look worse than it might actually be. The light really catches the highlighter which makes the blush appear darker. In some photos taken during the day, the make-up doesn't look as extreme. Having said that it doesn't photograph well, one has to wonder why she doesn't notice that and adjust it.

Oh Megsy. What were you thinking? This dress is just horrid.

Wait is that a skirt worn as a dress?

Meeting with the King and Crown Prince of Morocco.

I think that dress would look really nice if it didn't have that print pattern over it.

R158 - The black pleated outfit is suppose to be the one in the photo below but I have yet to see Meghan with any straps showing. Until I see evidence otherwise, I think it's a skirt worn as a dress.

Update: I can see a tiny strap showing in one of these photos so maybe it is a dress.

Who’s looking at the dress in r157? What about Harry’s odd crotch thing happening?

R163 - Harry is just all WRINKLED.

The close up video of her trying to hold his hand is awkward to watch. She's wrapping her fingers around his hand, which just hangs there like he's dead. No receptive squeeze, no reaction from him....ouch.

"Hmmmm, I hear the King is single and has already had heart surgery. If I play my cards right..."

Meeting the Crown Prince.

The dress is by Carolina Herrera.

R168’s photo proves that she DOES know how to have a dress customized. It’s the same pattern and general idea, but it’s different. Even the fabric looks like a different weight.

Thanks for that, r168. It made me LOL.

So how much do we reckon this weekend’s outfits have set Charles back?

I love the blue dress! Very fetching color and pattern.

The dress is too long, the pattern is too loud and it's as big as a tent. She's had it "customized" so why is she still a mess?

So wait, where did that "dessert buffet" (as if those skinny bitches ate) video come from? A guest? A hotel employee?

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

The blue dress is a very pretty color on her.

The style, as usual, is a total disaster. I don’t see how the style could be any worse.

She clearly learned nothing from her last table cloth dress debacle.

She had changes made to the blue dress. Not all of them were improvements.

1) She added a ruffle to the sleeves

2) It looks like the original had one fuller panel at the bottom. There are 2 fuller bottom panels on Sparkle's dress..

3) Sparkle's is way, way too long. All the better to cling to you, my dear.

Matching blue outfits? I'm having flashbacks.

I don’t want to see any more skinny jeans crawling up crotches at Royal functions!

This goes for both the fatass preggo and Kate.

MEghan makes sure to push herself front and center [italic]before[/italic] Harry to introduce herself to the King of Morocco. Dumbass is complicit because it's suits his dull mind to let her do the thinking for both of them.

What a great idea to wear a big pattern when you're big as a house.

There's nothing she won't stoop to to be noticed.

Her smile is as fake as her nose.

Everything she wears, always looks like it would be uncomfortable, because no matter how "custom" the garment she has on is, the item always looks ill fitting. Even this blue number she has on. Look how much it rides up when she is sitting.

Meeting the King. The Blinking Duchess is back! Is she talking to herself again?

I honestly think she looks crap in 90% of what she wears.

I think she has an image of herself in her mind...tall, willowy, elegant....and dresses accordingly. She’s actually short and dumpy with unpleasantly skinny legs - all of which can be disguised with the right stylist, like she had on Suits.

This latest tablecloth looks gross. She reminds me of a 70s diva - all she needs in a turban and more bling.

She isn't holding her clutch at R157. It's resting in the space between their crossed forearms and interlocked fingers.

At one time I was a bit enthralled with the BRF; and, yes, I was caught up in the fairy tale nonsense when Charles proposed to Diana. Been following the Windsors in the periphery since. But honestly, either it's a generational thing or I'm one of the few who is looking around me wondering, am I the only one who sees the Sussex showboating as vacuous hypocrisy and a drain on public good? The two of them are superficial creatures who serve no value other than tabloid. It's the first time I am of the mind, maybe monarchy is past its sell-by-date and perhaps now is the time to begin momentum toward republic

...toward republicanism.

You’re definitely not the only one R186

If Mega is going to refuse to follow protocol and stagger around in trashy jeans, why do we even have royalty?

OK I hate conspiracy theories but is there any chance she's trying to provoke them into giving her the boot? The wardrobe spending seems utterly reckless.

R190 - It wouldn't seem quite as reckless if only it weren't Herrera, Dior, Givenchy, Lauren, etc., most of the time.

R190 - Interesting way to put it - a complementary theory to the one also pushed, that she knows she isn't in it beyond five years and she's laying the foundation for a life based on her real identity: A-List celebrity.

Of course, your theory would be more convenient for her: she could blame the press and racist Britain and the racist BRF for the marriage's failure if she waits for them to give her the push, rather than the more common . . .

"We grew apart under the stresses and strains of royal life."

Translation - Harry's hand got tired of being part of Meghan's hand - the two hands parted, and then it was all over.

What is with all the hand and arm grabbing?

I realize we covered this during the October tour. But surely they got a pep talk after that? Yet they continue to do it.

Often during introductions, Megs looks like she’s making a conscious effort not to grab onto Harry. Sometimes her hand even reaches toward his arm, and she brings it back down to her side. WHILE HE IS TRYING TO GREET / SHAKE HANDS WITH OTHER PEOPLE!

This strikes me as very abnormal behavior in an adult. It’s very childish.

She seems to have no notion that other people would find this weird and invasive.

An example: I recently went to my uncle’s funeral. My early 20s cousin was there with her bf. At one point, he reached up to kind of pat her on the back reassuringly. Nothing sexual about it.

Well, my parents absolutely freaked out about this (after the fact) going on and on to me about how inappropriate it was. True, they are uptight WASPS, but so are the RF.

Can’t imagine what my parents would think of Mega practically riding Harry’s dick at all these official functions.

I just checked Celebitchy to see if the fraus as usual were in complete denial over some of Meghan's clothing choices, and nearly fell out of my chair at this opening to the article by Kairser:

"While the British royal family would never admit it, they do pay attention to what big events are happening around the world and they usually try to avoid doing direct competition for attention. I’m not saying the royals completely shut down for every awards show, but usually they try not to be on a royal tour in the middle of a big event happening somewhere else. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are doing things differently, it seems. They chose to make this three day trip to Morocco on Oscar weekend. Perhaps they didn’t care about the Oscars, or maybe they were attempting some “counterprogramming” on an international scale. In any case, I don’t completely hate it."

This massive piece of PR bullshit is staggering even in Kaiser, and went completely unchallenged by the Meghan stans btl.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not "choose" anything - HMG and the Government of Morocco set the dates, and the sixth in line and his annoying piece of trash wife had absolutely NO choice in the matter.

They go where they're sent, when they're sent.

That even Kaiser could put that in print with a straight face tells you how pathological Meghan's "defenders" have become.

No one in his right mind could possibly suppose that the Sussexes put this trip together and picked the dates. Which basically tells us how far into Outer Space Kaiser has gotten.

R193 - the Meghan "defenders" are prime examples of the phrase "ignorance breeds contempt".

R190 - Check out New Idea's current cover story:

"Queen calls divorce summit as Meghan escapes the palace by Milly Haddrick25 FEB 2019

'Under pressure and with just weeks to go until giving birth, the Duchess of Sussex has fled to New York amid speculation that she could permanently quit the UK.

Although the official reason for her trip was celebratory, a palace insider tells New Idea that privately, Meghan is in turmoil and has gathered her close friends for practical support and advice.

“It’s no secret she’s been desperately unhappy and struggling to cope amid her worsening family crisis,” explains the insider. “Meghan’s girls’ trip and baby shower was all a very clever disguise.”

A group of Meghan’s 15 closest confidantes, including her best friend Jessica Mulroney, attended the lavish Manhattan baby shower, which saw guests arrive bearing gifts for the heavily pregnant royal. In the lead-up to the event, numerous deliveries were made to The Mark hotel, including flowers to decorate the suite and presents, including a Babyletto cot, adding to speculation that Harry’s worst fear may be realised and Meghan could be planning on setting up home in New York permanently.

Although the official reason for her trip was celebratory, a palace insider tells New Idea that privately, Meghan is in turmoil and has gathered her close friends for practical support and advice.

“It’s no secret she’s been desperately unhappy and struggling to cope amid her worsening family crisis,” explains the insider. “Meghan’s girls’ trip and baby shower was all a very clever disguise.”

A group of Meghan’s 15 closest confidantes, including her best friend Jessica Mulroney, attended the lavish Manhattan baby shower, which saw guests arrive bearing gifts for the heavily pregnant royal. In the lead-up to the event, numerous deliveries were made to The Mark hotel, including flowers to decorate the suite and presents, including a Babyletto cot, adding to speculation that Harry’s worst fear may be realised and Meghan could be planning on setting up home in New York permanently.

According to the source, Jessica spoke to two top divorce lawyers to help advise the duchess.

Explains the insider: "Both Raoul Felder and Jill Stanley have met with Meghan to discuss the options and to talk her through the various pros and cons of pulling out of the royal family, as well as the logistics of divorcing Harry and custody complications too.”

While they have suggested she should “hang on” as long as she’s able, the lawyers also advised that Meghan should make all the necessary preparations so that she’s ready to leave if the time comes.

Meanwhile back in the UK, the Queen requested a meeting with Harry and Meghan before their Moroccan trip to sort out the mess. Meghan was seen leaving for London directly after her baby shower.

While the monarch is sympathetic to the difficulties faced by the new royal, she’s also determined the royal family won’t face another messy, drawn-out royal divorce.'"

Well, yes, it's New Idea. Too bad it's mostly bullshit . . .

190 - Demmitall, sorry about the repeat middle paragraph, it was a messy cut and paste . . .

R195

[quote]Sometimes her hand even reaches toward his arm, and she brings it back down to her side. WHILE HE IS TRYING TO GREET / SHAKE HANDS WITH OTHER PEOPLE!

My theory is her confidence melts when she's in public. She's actress/grifter/faker enough to carry on like she's cool but the incessant grabbing is the turmoil and insecurity churning inside her when she's forced out of her bubble. At home she wears the pants, calls the shots, is the boss lady. But she knows she's more ambition than talent and when she's forced out of her control fantasy, the adrenalin pumps.

Further conspiracy: apparently since Dim wouldn't have a prenup, she's spending like crazy for the day her lawyer's have to demonstrate the style to which she became accustomed during Harry's mesalliance.

In this video here of her greeting the King before Harry, you can hear something which sounds like someone from the press core muttering "She's repugnant". If we take the video at face value that is. I had turn my volume right up to hear it. It's around the 15 second mark. I'm going to look for the original source.

R199 That press member TOTALLY calls Meghan “repugnant” - that’s hilarious!

I can hear repugnant... can't tell if it's preceded by she's or he's.

r198 I would think that Harry's lawyer would point to the fact that the bulk of the clothing was paid for either by the British Government - i.e. for official visits or the charity concerned for charity visits. Her clothing costs were effectively uniform expenses which were not paid for by her husband. As she's getting divorced she no longer has a job as BRF Duchess, so therefore she no longer needs clothing at that level.

I don't think she's insecure in public, her walking ahead of him like she's the star confirms it to me. I think the hand holding and clawing and pawing is part of her "brand" and she's staying on brand.

R198 - " . . . apparently since Dim wouldn't have a prenup, she's spending like crazy for the day her lawyer's have to demonstrate the style to which she became accustomed during Harry's mesalliance."

Depends on how long or short the marriage has been at the time of divorce, and, even more to the point, either way, Harry is poor compared to his father. He doesn't have a huge portfolio he can liquidate the way Charles did 25 years ago, and she'll end up much more like Fergie than Diana. So if she's spending like mad against a divorce, it's more likely so that she can keep what she's bought.

And whilst there may not be a financial prenup, there's most certainly a custodial one vis-a-vis the child(ren). Legally, the child(ren) belong to the BRF not Meghan Markle. She'll probably have to stay in the UK until they come of age or make some special arrangement by permission of HM for joint custody split between the UK and America.

R210 - "I can hear repugnant... can't tell if it's preceded by she's or he's." I can't imagine it would refer to hapless Harry, Meghan is far more likely to be the target.

The question is, has HM or anyone else in the BRF heard the video?

I note that with the baby due in, what, 7 weeks or so, there is still no mention of an HRH from the Queen - this announcement for the Cambridges came much earlier in Kate's first pregnancy. I would imagine that if there is the slightest whiff of truth about the unhappiness of the family with Meghan, and their doubt about the longevity of the marriage, the Queen wouldn't be eager to bestow an HRH. I also note that while Kate was given the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara to wear on State occasions quite soon after her marriage, Meghan hasn't been seen in one since her wedding - nor, in fact, has she been seen at any State occasions.

These might or might not be clues as to where this ship is headed - it will be interesting to see which way the wind is blowing in a couple of years.

Will the palace be more careful of sending the Sussexes out to public engagements with large crowds? They were booed at the Royal Albert Hall when they entered for the Cirque du Soleil, a first for Harry. This was before her latest series of missteps -- the banana affirmations, even more expensive designer clothes, the PR heavy NY gift grab,, etc. If a member of the press can't restrain himself in a professional capacity, I suspect the anonymity of crowds will give rise to more choruses of boos. It would be appalling for the RF, but I suspect the Sussexes may use it to fuel an "us against the world" mentality and might solidify the relationship for a while longer

I like to have fun viciously gossiping about social climbers, but to call someone "repugnant" like that - assuming he meant Meghan or Harry? - is just wrong. What were they doing in that situation that could remotely be called repugnant? Press can be such scum.

The "She's repugnant" (which I plainly heard) I am guessing was directed at her being a head of Harry when meeting the "king" of Morocco.

R207 - I wouldn't argue with your point about the press. As to what were they doing - who knows; it may be that up close to them people can see and sense things that we can't from photos, videos, and distance.

I like the conspiracy theories but I think it may be more simple.....she just doesn’t give a fuck.

I know we shouldn’t diagnose psychiatric disorders online, but I honestlly think she has NPD.

It’s the lack of self-awareness that nails it for me. Remember that awful “How to be both” article that she wrote? It was so absurdly boastful that it was almost a parody...not to mention it was full of bullshit. Who writes about themselves like that? Even the vainest people at least try to sound humble & modest...she didn’t.

“Why am I so wonderful? Mommy says I was born that way”. I mean.....wtf?

In cases of actual, pathological NPD, the person will not accept that they could ever be wrong - so gentle criticism or advice is met with anger & disdain.

Someone must have told her that the hand-holding & excessively expensive clothing doesn’t look good...but she knows better because she is the great Meghan Markle.

She’s an arrogant, arrogant piece of shit & I can’t wait till she’s gone.

I was thinking I might buy a book on how to cope with a narcissitic mother and send it to KP as a gift for the baby.

Charlotte should be made Duchess of York, as now she is a potential heir to the throne and second after George. I know, females can't inherit duchies but the old order has changes so why not another big change for Charlotte.

R210 - "In cases of actual, pathological NPD, the person will not accept that they could ever be wrong - so gentle criticism or advice is met with anger & disdain."

And that's exactly what happened with Harry's mother. Diana was absolutely certain that her "instincts" were more reliable than other people's knowledge and experience. That she went ahead with the Morton book after more than ten years in the family tells you how beyond reach she was of counsel.

It's straight out of Freud.

They'd have to wrangle the title from Sarah, Duchess of York first, R212.

Diana told her side in the book and the interview before the family had time to enact a gag order. I wonder if she got money for those resources...or if she was more concerned with getting out her side of the story.

R53 actually the Diana ghosted the doctor. A few years ago Hasnat Kahn spoke to the press a few times. He was always circumspect, but he disliked the movie made about himself and Diana (starring Naomi Watts). He would never speculate about what would have happened if she'd lived except to say he felt they'd always be friends. The most revealing interview he gave was to confirm that he and Diana were in a romantic relationship with a normal sex life, and he describes her as a very good mother and also as dedicated to her charity work. He was practically living at Kensington Palace at one point. Right before the Dodi Fayed summer, he could not reach her, and it turned out she'd changed all of her numbers and he could no longer contact her. And that's how their romance ended. He said he knew what was happening because she'd done it before - he'd seen it before (with others) previously. He didn't speculate about why she made herself unavailable to him or if he did it was respectful and very unilluminating. He was aware of the Dodi thing, obviously, because it was in the media.

That was the first time I'd read his side of things and that she'd ghosted him (as she'd done to Fergie also). Both seem to feel that down the line the friendships would have been repaired.

Then, in a documentary about Diana (Netflix) it was suggested that at the age the boys were they were becoming incredibly appreciative of what their father could offer - basically acres and acres and miles and miles of private land, protected from the media. And I guess Charles was a less exhausting personality than Diana, which was also kind of refreshing to them. This made Diana insecure because she couldn't offer the same thing. I think William indicated he cut his last conversation with his mother short, because he was hanging out with his cousins, and of course had no idea it was the last conversation.

Makes one wonder if they were distancing themselves from her a small amount. I think at one school event William banned both parents and asked Tiggy Legge Bourke instead.

What r72 said with one exception: The DoS continues to causes some suspense in me (although it's hanging by a spider's thread) about whether she can turn it around.

By R72's theory, she couldn't want to.

The DoS clearly has no interest whatsoever in turning it around. If she wanted to, she could and the entire year would soon be behind everybody. But she has never even tried the royal thing except when the queen is present and even then there's a begrudging aspect such as her going hatless the day she had the outing with HM, and her OTT pantomime of a conversation and laughter that was not taking place.

In Morocco, shown a luxury shoe manufactured by a brand that employed local women, HR the Duchess of Sussex said it had a "kickass heel." Look it up, it happened.

Does anyone know of a documentary that is critical of Diana? I've seen the Netflix one but I'm wondering if any of you know of other ones that don't propagate the Sainthood angle?

Another one who agrees with R186. The flaunting of the wealth and privilege is universally unacceptable, and that's what will end up taking her down.

Thanks r216. I'd not heard of that interview with him. (Although I did see the Naomi Watts movie on the airplane which is the best place to watch movies like that.)

Wow. I had no idea she ghosted Hasnat; I always just thought he broke her heart because he couldn't and wouldn't fit into her world (and his parents didn't approve). And I thought Dodo was just a way for her to nurse a sad heart and make Haz (!) jealous. Khan always seemed like a truly decent guy. No wonder Diana wanted him.

Right, R216, I remember now that she ghosted him. But he also said that he couldn't see how it would work out. He was dedicated to his career as a heart surgeon. There must have been a row before she did it.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

^^I hit "post" too soon and missed the best part...

[quote]Before marrying Harry, Meghan, who amassed a £3.8 million fortune as an actress in Suits, paid for clothes herself and received 'gifts' from brands who wanted her to wear their items.

[quote]Now that she's a duchess, like all British royals, she is prevented by royal protocol from accepting 'freebies'.

[quote]Luckily, since entering into The Firm, she doesn't have to worry about how she pays for her extensive wardrobe money as her husband is worth an estimated £30 million.

The Duchess of Dooky's black pleated skirt dress cost $424 from ShopBop. That's a lot for something that quite literally looks like a pulled up skirt.

A little levity.

Right -I found a documentary that at least doesn't go for the Saint Diana line, for those who are interested

Sorry - posted part 2 first - here is part 1:

£90k for that ugly dress? Was it encrusted with diamonds?

Well, I'm only an hour in on the Part 1 of the video but so far, all the people who knew Diana as a ch ild like her governess and one of her boarding school teachers, say that she was a lovely, cheerful, outgoing kid, not terribly smart (failed *all* her O levels!) but popular and pleasant. Prince Charles ' friends are the ones who labelled her NPD or whatever. At 20 years old, she was sitting around the dinner table at Balmoral with his friends who were all 20 years older. At Kensington P, she ate alone because he was busy working. He just wanted to continue his pre-marriage life, do whatever he pleased or work as much as necessary, without considering her. P lus he was jealous of her popularity and made passive aggressive comments about it. Even the queen is a bitch about her. A cold, cold family. Yes, they should never have married, she was much too young and naive and that's what drove her crazy.

The BRF gaslighted Diana.

I.m not surprised R233 . They always paint her as this ghastly woman but its always his defenders who say stuff like that . I know nobody is a saint but you would think she was the devil . Nobody says stuff like that about Charles . He was jealous off her popularity . And maybe because he treated her like shit she became a troubled woman . And the stuff Charles did nobody talks about that . But hey he is the future king . I think he saw Camilla back right after their marriage .

The NIGHT OF THE DEATH, featuring Mohammed al Fayed

110,000 quid on a three-day jaunt to a minor Middle East country. That should go down well with the soon to be made redundant auto workers in Swindon.

She really doesn't give a fuck, does she?

I think Diana ghosted Hasnat when she realised that his family would never accept her, and that while Hasnat may have loved her she was sensing that, inevitably, this was never going to turn into the little fantasy life she had imagined with him. She may also have realised belatedly that she was more interested in remaining a British princess than fading into a dutiful Muslim wife with a husand who had his own life and career as a distinguished doctor. She thought the two of them would turn into a Power Humanitarian Couple - but I don't think that that's what Khan wanted and eventually she knew that the choices before her where he was concerned weren't what she wanted. She wanted to have her cake and eat it, too: the distinguished doctor and the global profile. His family didn't like her, they were very old-fashioned, and they knew perfectly well that the two were having sex outside marriage, that she had two children with another man who would always take precedence, and that she would never be the deferential wife they envisioned for their son. She altogether cut no ice with his family, despite turning on her not inconsiderale charm.

Diana always operated on a fantasy level, then when the fantasy turned out to be just that, she got angry and struck out and blamed other people, and when she could blame other people, she could feel justified in treating them badly.

Meghan Markle operates in exactly the same way. That's how she dealt with her father, she's already separated Harry from his brother and his brother's family blaming them heartily for not liking her, she blames the Queen for not letting her have a tiara with emeralds, the Yorks for being furious at her maternity coat stunt at Yuge's wedding, and the British press for being racist and therefore the source of all her PR problems.

It's never her fault. One can only imagine poor Harry's life behind closed doors with a wife who is never at fault.

Meghan Markle is guttersnipe Hollywood scum. Princess Diana was, technically, more blood royal than the Queen herself.

[quote] a minor Middle East country

Morocco is in North Africa.

R238 - She isn't even Hollywood, really. That one decent acting job she ever had was a second-rate cable show out of Canada - she spent all that time in Toronto, not Hollywood. Hollywood, the real Hollywood, was what she aspired to but never arrived in. Hollywood would have eaten her alive. The little Canadian pond gave her her shot at being a slightly bigger fish.

R239 - I stand corrected. That said, Egypt and Algeria are also in northern Africa, countries with more Middle Eastern than African identity and culture. Nevertheless, technically, you are right and I was wrong.

If these clothing reports are accurate at some point it gets to the Queen... a courtier decides it is out of control and damaging... and surely the Queen hits the roof?

It seems that Beatrice has a bit of thirst for celebrity culture, herself. Wasn’t she implicated in the introduction of Meghan and Harry at SoHo house? Early on, the tabloids made it seem that Meghan and Bea were good pals.

Am I totally off base here? Does anyone else remember that?

HAH!!

R238 - Without getting too snooty about it, I agree. Neither Meghan nor Kate can replicate Diana's innate aristocratic aura, although Kate does a better job of imitating it - in part because she cleverly doesn't try too hard, and in part because she IS English. The thing is, I believe the British actually prefer their royals "royal" as long as they don't show off about. In that respect, Diana was simply perfect for the role - just not for her husband.

European royalty is continually trying to straddle a schizophrenic identity between democratic and royal. It doesn't always work, particularly in Britain. Mary of Denmark has done an even better job than Kate at assuming the cloak of royalty. From Bondi Beach to Amalienborg Palace successfully navigated. For all the criticism of her clothing expenses, Mary remains popular with the Danes. She doesn't evidence Letizia of Spain's cold enjoyment of her status, either.

What happened, speaking of Letizia and Mary, to our "Other European Royals" threads?

R242 - The Queen doesn't ever "hit the ceiling". She becomes "concerned". I'm guessing she's past doing anything about anything except in very quiet ways. She'll probably do no more than convey her concerns to Charles, who I suspect knows at this point that he can't talk to his son any longer about his wife, who has made it clear she doesn't give a fuck what HM, Charles, William, or the British taxpayer think. Meghan's maternity leave (if she can stand being out of the limelight for three months) will probably give them some relief, and after that, all they can do is try to limit her scope and wait for Harry to become so miserable he begs for help, or for Meghan to become tired of it all and leave.

I don't envision that happening for at least five years.

How did they manage to scale it down to only 27?

Thanks for the parse, R246. In future, if I ever observer, the Queen must be pulling her hair out, I didn't mean it and you can devote your careful proof reading and fact checking to other posts. TIA!

The shit ain't gonna take five years to hit the fan.

R243 Tbink it was supposed to be Eugenie who introduced them followed by lots of double dates with her and Jack. Load of shite. Why would Yuge be friends with an old skank like Markle?

I also don’t think it’ll be as long as 5 years. Divorce rumours/trouble in paradise stuff by this time next year, I reckon.

Karlie Kloss travels in the same circles as Bea and Meghan's friend Serena Williams, so it's possible that something transpired.

Life's one big joke for Dim.

Upcoming royal family event.

The look on his face. This is what he thinks of the press.

For a man who “hates the press” marrying a cunt who absolutely lives for it probably wasn’t the smartest move.

He looks so sloppy R252. I appreciate the younger royals are getting more informal on domestic engagements but oversea you think they'd make at least a business casual effort.

Kate, Patron of Nursing Now, releases a message on its one year anniversary.

For royal family newbies, here is a chart of the main House of Windsor members.

Curtsey protocol.

Here we go again - Harry is only worth $30 million on paper. He doesn't have $30 million to spend, he only has the income from the trust to spend. Without his father's supplement each year and allowances from the Sovereign Grant, he'd be earning after taxes what a reasonably successful solicitor or Harley Street specialist earns. And Meghan Markle didn't amass $5 million working as a secondary character on a Canadian cable show. That is bullshit. She isn't paying for her own clothes - she's getting a clothing allowance for official trips from the Sovereign Grant, plus money from Charles, plus whatever she can get her hands on for free.

R250, you’re right. Here’s the story I remember.

Sorry, I get the York girls mixed up. My old brain does the same thing with the Olsen twins.

Meghan really fucked over Eugenie with that maternity coat stunt.

R249 - Having lost tenners on BREXIT, the 2017 GE in which our dear PM lost her majority, and the 2016 American 2016 election, I'm reluctant to say, "No fucking way and I'll back that with my hard-earned cash . . . " but just the same . . . yes, I'd put cash on it, it will last at least five years. She needs to get two kids out of this or her settlement will be less, she needs to have her royal status established, and she needs UK citizenship (that alone will take another two years). Anything less than five years and Harry and the BRF will look like fools, and they're in bad enough PR shape already from bellend Harry's stupidity.

It has to look like the couple gave it a good try, or else he and the BRF look like a bunch of cretins who got taken for a ride by a common grifter - even if it's the truth, they have to let it last long enough to retrieve some dignity.

Five years, minimum.

R248 - Really, it goes to why things turn out the way they do in the BRF. It's not disrespectful parse: it's part of the family psyche.

If only she WOULD hit the roof, things might actually be prevented that turn out so damaging later on. She's an emotional coward, always has been. She has a horror of confrontation that she carefully phrases as "not wanting to interfere". To that extent, she IS responsible for the damage done.

That was why I made the "parse" - not to be disrespectful or reproving to you.

R246

Looking forward to the upcoming investiture party. I enjoy when all the cast members assemble, so we can viciously compare and contrast.

I remember back in the day, when reports were just starting to surface that Charles and Diana had a tumultuous marriage, a friend commented, "You know, separately they're great, but together - oof." I thought then and still think that was the wisest possible assessment of their situation.

The Queen is just too old now. I imagine in her 50s and 60s she would have been somewhat more formidable, and outspoken about the spending at least.

244 I always love the cute pursing of the lips in that picture, that takes practice.

^ R244

I can't see how it can last 5 years, as it is just getting worse by the day. Following a £500k 5 day jaunt to NY, MM appears in a so-called £90k frock.

The Naomi Watts Diana movie was pretty stupid. She was all wrong, of course. Too short for one thing. But it was better than the Nicole Kidman Grace Kelly movie. I cringe when averagely-pretty actresses attempt to play truly stunning women. Same with Michelle Williams/Marilyn Monroe.

Why aren't Andrew and Edward on the investiture party list?

So strange she calls herself a feminist and wants to walk ahead of him and then holds onto his hand and arm with both her hands like she will fall over if she is not grabbing on to him.

For MM to succeed, she would need to model herself on Sophie Wessex. A few nice new frocks a year, living in a grand house of which only a few rooms are used due to heating costs, a full schedule of mundane visits, and absolutely no controversial opinions expressed.

R238 Diana wasn’t “more royal”, technically or otherwise, than any member of the BRF. Her family were sheep traders in the 1600s, they’re new to the aristocracy game relatively speaking. People keep perpetuating this myth that the Spencer family are older or more royal or whatever but the fact is they are just another landowning family, been there longer than some but considerably less so than the BRF. They are directly descended from royal houses going back over a thousand years.

R245 - here is the European Royals Discussion thread link.

R271 - My guess is that Edward, Sophie, Louise and James, Andrew and the Yorkies are probably invited but no one cared to mention them. They're not popular or in the news too much.

"Neither Meghan nor Kate can replicate Diana's innate aristocratic aura, although Kate does a better job of imitating it - in part because she cleverly doesn't try too hard, and in part because she IS English."

True, though Kate has a very good quality of sensible niceness, sort of like the Queen Mum without the bitchy streak. I find her to be quite beautiful, but in an approachable way. Kate will endure, and be a much-loved Queen.

I don’t think HM can be that useless at confrontation if she summoned Harry & warned him about Meghan’s attitude.

R262 You make really good points and I would imagine the BRF are probably hoping for at least 5 years for exactly the reasons you give.

Except, I don’t think Meghan has two fucks to give if Harry looks like a cretin. It won’t occur to her that she might..plus she has one very valuable tool that they don’t...she can talk to the press. OK, she’s probably signed an NDA but she has plenty of chatterbox friends, as we know, & I bet Morton or Kay are wetting their knickers over the thought of “Meghan...Her True Story”.

I think she’ll bail well before 5 years plus I am not sure she’ll risk another child at her age. Nothing to do with health and everything to do with a sagging snatch and stretch marks. How will she snare that billionaire she’s probably daydreaming of? (Yes, I think she’s that shallow).

One gets a stealth Mean Girls vibe about Meghan that one definitely does not get from Kate. Stealth meaning she'll be fake kind or nice to your face or when she thinks associating with you is good for her image, but then she secretly thinks you're beneath her or you're better than her so therefore needs to be brought down.

Will the York girls attend the UK baby shower(if there's one)?What about Zara and Sophie?

R273 - Problem is, she didn't marry Harry to be Sophie Wessex, she married Harry to be Diana or, at a minimum, like Kate: high up on the food chain with the attendant status and economic bennies. Both were fantasies on her part, but she hasn't accepted that yet so she's still carrying herself as if she were. But Kate's status even if at the moment pegging level re titles, is higher up the food chain and will get higher as time goes on; Meghan's will stay the same but her importance diminish.

R278 - The BRF will have a dilemma before them - look at it this way: the UK taxpayer just shelled out 3 million quid to renovate her cottage at Windsor. If she bails before a decent time has elapsed, does it look worse or better to said taxpayers? Will said taxpayers feel their money has been yet again thrown away on a couple of parasites who didn't even spend two years married in the place? Or will said taxpayers say, Good riddance to bad rubbish, as the family assures the nation that Harry and his children will continue to call Frogmore Cottage their home (poor little things, now from a broken home just like Harry was, etc., etc., ad nauseam)?

It's this kind of nightmarish calculations the family and Harry will have to consider in the event it becomes plain he made a mistake. It's bad enough that he looks like a fool, but he looks like a fool whilst he and she took all that taxpayer money.

It's a PR quagmire and my guess is that they'll do what they always do: let it go on as long as possible and then wring their hands and say how desperately sorry they are that, as in so many other families, another marriage didn't work out.

It will burnish Kate's and William's Happy Families image beyond golden, and that will add more emotional misery to the younger brother failing again where his brother succeeded.

What a fecking mess - the family would probably rather see Harry miserably tied to that cunt for the rest of his life and just hope that William and Kate take up the slack on the other side.

I for one hope the UK baby shower isn.t done . The New York fiasco was all we needed .

The DM cites a Vanity Fair (again) article saying that the Queen is very impressed by Meghan's energy, and may even write her a thank you note.

Wanna bet that caped dun color Dior gown MEghan wore was what she intended for the Oscars? I heard estimates it was upwards of 90,000 pounds! (Was that bolt of cloth encrusted with diamonds?) No way she got that thing just for some reception at an ambassador's house. Since they cut her off at the knees from the Academy Awards (and the A-list parties like Beyonce's--attended by Serena BTW), she was going to wear that thing no matter how OTT. Over dressed yet again while all the other ladies were in cocktail attire.

Again, the smile does NOT reach the eyes.

R259 who is princess Alexandra? How does she fit in to the royal family?

R286 - The Queen's cousin who still does the occasional public function.

Kent cousins are Alexandra with her brother Edward, Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent.

The Gloucester cousins are Richard, the Duke and and his wife the Duchess of Gloucester.

The Queen has other cousins from Princess Mary's line but they don't do royal events.

The next outfit in Meghan's bag of tricks.

The Queen in all her finery.

R283 - Right, because the Queen and her closest aides leak shit to Vanity Fair. VF, by the way, was an early champion of Meghan's, and since they know the Queen wouldn't deign to deny such a ridiculously personal bit of misinformation, they're safe printing it - anymore than Justin Welby was likely to deny that, as stated by Meghan's "friends" in the PEOPLE Magazine article, that he and the DoS had gotten "close".

R281 Yep. Agree again. But what do they do if Meghan says...”Fuck the lot of you, I’m off”? Because I suspect she’ll be the one to go as she’ll consider that they need her more than she needs them.

But you’re right...they’ll do everything they can to get her stay, but I don’t think she’ll care.

How do you think they’ll spin if she does go?

R287 thanks

This is the first official portrait taken of the Queen - 20 days after her father's death.

I’m pretty sure HM writes some sort of thank you letter to everyone who comes home from a trip representing her. Be quite rude if she didn’t. So I truly doubt she’s agog with joy over Markle and her £90k dress.

Vanity Fair's credibility has been shiite these last few years. Isn't it basically People with longer articles and higher advert costs?

R291 - Oh, "At this time of difficulty, please afford this family the privacy and space you would like for your own family . . ."

They really don't need her more than she needs them, that will be a passing phase. If they got past Diana's exit from the family, they'll certainly get past Meghan's. They'll go through another bad patch of PR or if she stays she'll turn into Pss. Michael of Kent.

R283 - Kaiser and VF have taken to printing outright lies in order to make Meghan look good. Kaiser stated in a column on the Morocco that Harry and Meghan "chose" the dates during which to go to Morocco for this visit, when in fact, they had no choice at all, they never do. The two governments set the dates and that's true for everyone from Charles on down. But at this point, they're willing to print any lie to counteract Meghan's increasingly bad optics.

Personal note my arse.

I would bet anything the BRF both individually dislike MM and collectively want her gone ASAP. If they wanted her to stay, she'd have been given something more appealing than Frog Hollow and the back row at Remembrance Day.

R294 - Actually, she doesn't. That was one of Diana's beefs, the family didn't go around thanking her for a job well done.

R294 “After all I’ve done for this fucking family!” (Actual quote from a squidgeygate tape)

👆🏼Meant for R298 sorry

R280 That’s a good question, and an interesting dilemma for the royal family ladies. Are we sure she’s having a London shower?

Another day, another investiture for The Queen.

Fair enough, R294.

I do remember reading somewhere that an official tour doesn’t end until they’ve met HM and debriefed her. Think the press said this around the time Harry went straight to Toronto for a sex session after lying to the papers about his travel plans. That’s why reporters found it odd.

Anyone know?

The Queen expects her family to do their duty without hearts and flowers every time they give a little back for what she knows bloody well are immense privileges. And whether she does or doesn't, unless her Private Secretary is actually a VF mole, which I seriously doubt, no one would know either way.

The VF story is bullshit reporting without an iota of factual evidence behind it. Isn't their royal reporter Katie Nicholls? Believe us: no one close to the Queen, let alone her PS, would give Nicholls' the time of day, let alone tell her that the Queen just adores MeAgain and her energy and is going to write MeAgain a personal note thanking her for her dedication.

And it was the government that put in the request, not the Queen. Meghan and Harry had no choice in the matter. It makes it look like Meghan was doing the BRF a favour instead of earning what is clearly her astronomical pay in designer clothing.

They just know they're safe reporting it because there's only so many bullets the BRF is willing to spend refuting each and every bullshit story written about them.

Re the “Harry Is gay” rumors: do we suppose that’s why he chose Markle, who looks like a boy?

I’ve never really understood how he went from buxom blondes to Markle.

R305 - I've never thought Harry gay; I suspect he may at one time have been the kind of bloke who'd try anything once for a lark, but I seriously doubt he's gay or even bi. I think he loved Chelsy deeply but wasn't ready, and Cressida wasn't voluptuous, she was slim delicate and willowy. Maybe he stuck with the blondes for awhile but underneath it all always wanted something else.

But I still think it was emotional - Meghan's too much like his mother for it to be coincidental. If she'd been blonde and blue-eyed, he'd still have gone for her because of that. Maybe not being blonde and blue-eyes made it more possible for him to be in denial about how much like Diana she was.

Just speculation . . .

I think it was a combination of “Does things Cress/Chels wouldn’t do in bed” & “Can cope with the press” tbh.

I thought from the beginning Harry had married his mother but without any of her redeeming qualities. She is a mix of Diana and Fergie at their worst. The £100k dress is obscene. No other word for it, obscene. The average UK salary is around £27k, so it would take the average Brit more than 3 years just to earn that amount of money before tax. Obscene.

I know someone upthread mentioned 5 years. I don't think the Royals will be around in five years if this carries on. We Brits do generally like our Royals to be Royal. She aint Royal. She's vulgar and moneygrubbing. And she is rubbing our faces in it. This outfit is going to be paid for from general taxation because it was an official visit. Either she and Dimwit are retired from Royal duties in the next two years because she clearly doesn't give an F or the royals will be gone in 5.

There was some interview of Harry at school when he was like 16/17. One of the posters on his wall was Halle Berry. He's definitely not blondes-only.

[quote] “Does things Cress/Chels wouldn’t do in bed”

Nothing about Meghan looks particularly sexually adventurous. Of the 3, Chelsy is the most publicly free-spirited and the one I can imagine as willing to try something at least once. Meghan may have grown up near poverty, but she has worked hard to be "mid-market aspirational." I doubt she's frigid, but I wouldn't peg her as necessarily friskier than Chelsy or Cressida.

Don't underestimate the Queen; she is watching closely. Muffet's PR wishes for 5 more years using and abusing the taxpayers, but it's going to go to easter 2021 max, and no more kids.

HazBean bought a Malibu compound?

Well if nored news=breaker Heat Magazine says so R312

If she was making money yachting I am quite sure she was sexually adventurous which is probably aided by her flexibility from practicing yoga.

R310 Not sure I agree with you entirely.

I think Chesly is more naturally sexual, for sure...but Markle seems like the type to put on an act to please a man. She did everything she could to make Rachel Zane a sex godess....and remember the burger grilling? I think she’s very invested in being “sexy”.

So I do think she’d have pulled out all the stops for Harry. Probably stopped bothering now she’s hooked him. Ha!

I have always thought she probably lives by the old maxim...”A chef in the kitchen, a princess in the living room, a whore in the bedroom”. And dimwit fell for it. She probably can’t boil an egg. Her banana bread looked like something a cow shat out.

A beautiful home on the beach in LA with 3 guest houses? What the hell? Sounds to me like England will be a 2nd home. Question is, will Harry go with her?

Aaagh...goddess.

It was Lord Snowdon who took the well-known photos of Princess Anne in Life or whatever magazine it was. Although I think he was separated or divorced from Margaret at that point, the BRF still used him for this sort of job. He made everybody look luminous, with gorgeous skin, and knew what angles to avoid.

It seems to me that Meghan has no real interest in preserving the BRF. Why shouldn't she blow the whole institution to hell?

Here’s how the inevitable split should go down to minimize stress for all parties:

1. Meghan buys house in LA 2. Spends as much time as possible there with baby “visiting grandma.” 3. After about a year of this, Meghan gets an acting offer too good to turn down 4. Invoke Pricess Grace and how much she missed Hollywood after leaving; thank goodness Meghan doesn’t need to make that choice, etc; Queen supports Meghan in her desire to be working mom. 5. Meghan in LA, Harry’s “job” in London; they “drift apart” amicably but still great friends and the most amicable of Co-parents. 6. The end.

1. Meghan buys house in LA

2. Spends as much time as possible there with baby “visiting grandma.”

3. After about a year of this, Meghan gets an acting offer too good to turn down

4. Invoke Pricess Grace and how much she missed Hollywood after leaving; thank goodness Meghan doesn’t need to make that choice, etc; Queen supports Meghan in her desire to be working mom.

5. Meghan in LA, Harry’s “job” in London; they “drift apart” amicably but still great friends and the most amicable of Co-parents.

6. The end.

More and more, I'm thinking Dim is the one intent on blowing the whole institution to hell. His blushing bride is along for the ride as long as he keeps her in bronzer and endless photo ops.

R312, that’s interesting, if true.

I wonder what the tax consequences are. And does it become community property, will Harry have a claim if they divorce? And why wouldn’t she try to own it quietly under some sort of shell corporation or LLC?

Chelsy didn't look like the shy type sexually to moi - admitting up front here that I'm no sexual expert in women.

But whoever said the body's most powerful erogenous zone is between the eyebrows and the hairline had a point. It's how Harry sees her and what bells she rings that matter, so I'm in agreement with others that it is her similarity to Diana in personality that is the draw, not whatever tricks she learned in bed.

Meghan is sexually accomplished, I'm sure, given that she probably fucked more men than Miss Mazeppa as she clawed her way up, even as far as she got, but that ain't all there is to it.

R319 - Because her children stand to gain from the institution surviving?

R322, that is exactly what is going on, I am sure. He is terrifically jealous of William and how William pulled everything together - great wife, great family (and previously, great girlfriend which is why Harry badmouthed Kate as a "limpet"). I think Vanity Fair, for one, has been in Harry's pocket a long time, and the father/son competing narratives we've read about over the years actually exist between Harry and William, with Harry providing blinds that ding his brother. (Such as, this, in Vanity Fair. "Everyone thinks Harry was the wild one but they were BOTH wild.") I think Harry is a little spoiled bitch who loves every bit of this and wants to blow up the BRF. He does not want to be middle-aged and financially dependent on his brother, and his attempts to marry women whose families had their own means (Chelsey, Cressida) - failed. I think he's long overrated his own charm and charisma.

For our Tasteful Friends' sake I would love for it to be true because there's an absolutely hideous McFrench McCountry monstrosity close to Zuma Beach which fits the bill and has been on the market for quite some time, though I'm not aware of its current status.

Unfortunately for us, even the most dubious report would have mentioned that it has a fake lake, vineyard, and polo field. Damn it.

Her outfits from the Morocco trip. I don't think they're worth what she paid for them.

Some of the award recepients of the investiture today. I'd much rather be given an award by the Queen than Charles or William.

Meanwhile, Prince Andrew, patron of TeenTech, gave out some awards too. Buckingham Palace was a busy place today.

Engagement for William next week.

I’m tempted to agree the cream colored gown was intended as an Oscar dress.

But, it is caftan style. Would she have chosen caftan style for the Oscars?

I get the feeling she would have found some way to let her belly and ass hang out at the Oscars.

Jesus Christ, why would they let Andrew anywhere near teenagers?

Caftan style yes; but more importantly, caped. Caped is all the rage currently. Saw it repeatedly this year on the red carpet. But Queen Maxima's at the state banquet last October was magnificent. The best incarnation I've seen by far.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

When did Harry call Kate a limpet? I thought they were very close and he wouldn't hear a word against her.

I was wondering about the limpet comment also, hope someone can elaborate.

She paid nothing for them. The labels slapped some ridiculous pretend price on them hoping her followers would do likewise.

The limpet comment first showed up in some Vanity Fair article and I can't recall if the focus was Harry/Chelsey or William/Kate. Harry was peevish about Kate and tried to hype Chelsey as more independent, etc. A limpet is a "a marine mollusk with a shallow conical shell and a broad muscular foot, found clinging tightly to rocks." which plays into those who called Pippa and Kate the Wisteria sisters, clinging and climbing. Supposedly Harry's "friends" called Kate that, but considering a number of them had less than flattering things to say about Harry in the article (not for attribution of course) I think it was Harry himself.

R336 pretty sure Harry was loyal enough to Kate after he busted up with Chelsey but as ever with him he's competitive and probably wanted his own girlfriend to get more kudos, not for her sake, but for his.

Also the "Won't hear a word against her." probably came from the same PR push that has him just loving babies, kids, dogs, grandmas and vets.

All the labels on twitter have posted all the details of what she's wearing, which is how merching works. Can't be done without permission.

Markle must simply be put on leave of absence from her duties, and Harry must be demoted to his few pet projects. They are a distraction and embarrassment to the Present and Future Queens of England.

When you think about it, it was really Diana who laid the groundwork for Meghan. Not just that her death left Harry bereft and needy, but that she established the modern idea of the royal as global superstar fashion plate. I know Margaret was that to some extent, but nothing like Diana, who was intoxicating to watch at the time, but in retrospect did damage. Anyhow, for girls of Meghan's generation, Diana with all the fabulous clothes and drama is THE princess template.

R342, I wholeheartedly agree.

R340 What can’t be done without permission? Labels posting pics of Markle in their clothes? They don’t need permission for that.

Not saying she’s not merching, but that’s not proof.

Bean better get her ducks in order and hightail it out of there before Princess Charlotte has any say so in money matters or anything else.

Charlotte = Harry = Andrew.

The spare may be entertaining but, they don't get a say in how the money is spent.

R340 - The DM posts details of everything she and Kate wear and the prices all the time.

I imagine Princess Charlotte will have both her father and her brother's ear and can make life miserable for Bean by proxy. "Pssst George, you know she made mummy cry, I was there, remember I told you back when we lived at KP and you went by the name Archie."

R319, that does not seem to be the case.

For the poster who said Meg would want to preserve the RF for benefit of her child:

Dysfunctional parents often root against their own children and / or don’t want their children to “out-do” them.

I hope Meg doesn’t go down that road, but she seems pretty cray...

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R350 - You may be right - but right now Meghan's "brand" is "royal" and that includes having royal children. I'm sure no matter what she says that she'll be furious if the bebe doesn't get an HRH from HM, but of course she won't show it. But let's say the Queen does relent and make the Sussex kids HRHs - what's the point of a kid with an HRH if the institution that gave it him/her is blown up?

I agree MM appears to have massive psychological issues, but in the strange ways of the Universe, up to now these have served her well. It would be interesting if, in the end, she bit off the very hand that fed her.

I agree with R348.

Kids remember people who make their mother cry.

If that story is true, Charlotte will not forget.

Imagine you are a bi-racial kid being raised by a couple of weirdos in 1980s, hyper materialistic Los Angeles.

I wonder how many times some snotty rich kid made Meghan feel less than?

In her mind, she’s now surrounded by snotty rich kids who constantly point out her mistakes and inferior rank.

Much as in her childhood, she has little or no support system.

Last week’s baby shower display might have been a take that!” to those who look down on her.

Only Meghan doesn’t realize the crass displays only make her look even more clueless and trashy.

R348, oh that's interesting to think about, that the Cambridge children will likely be in their 20s when William is King. Innnnterestin'

^ and of course, Cousin Sussex. I'll be an old coot by then, but hopefully still around to enjoy the new generation of this soap opera.

George=Duke of Windsor. Charlotte=Elizabeth

“I couldn't help smiling when I read that the £7,000 earrings worn by the Duchess of Sussex in Morocco (right) were from the 'Snowflake' range at Birks. The perfect accessory for every virtue-signalling Royal-about-town, then”

Sarah Vine, Daily Mail. Miaow.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R221 I don't think the Netflix documentary propogates a sainthood storyline. I don't think the documentaries have been as scathing as some of the written pieces which contain some unsparing quotes from Charles partisans, but they're not painting her as a saint. It is recognized she played the media.

I'm old enough to remember that there was a cautionary tone about her romance with Dodi. She'd crossed a line herself into kind of trashy tabloid territory, and there was some question about how she'd exit out of there. It was such bad judgment to hook up with a star fucking lose like Dodi Fayed anyway, not to mentioned he was completely a pawn of his father's. Just having the Princess of Wales, at that time of year, behaving like a U.K. Stephanie of Monaco was bad news. I thought she would have ended up tarnishing her image very badly and losing the supposed high road.

R357, could happen. They are both so so young, but I'm forecasting George wants to be king less than William wants to be king. William accepts it but would probably have been delighted to be the spare, working as an ambulance pilot, albeit he wouldn't be in Amner Hall. But if he'd been the same relatively well-behaved prince he is now, Granny or Pop may have set him and Kate up in something similar to Angsley, only closer to London. I doubt very much they'd like to be anywhere near KP if not for their so-called destiny. They'd be very happy in the country.

Anyway, can see George saying, "No thanks." and Charlotte not seeing what the agony is about and setting to work as Queen.

God, the beauty of Grace and Liz in their 1950s prime. Hard to choose between them, like choosing between the most delicious chocolate and vanilla desserts.

👆🏼Shit, wrong thread. (Which way to “Suddenly Last Summer”?)

My brother and I have a similar dynamic to Wills and Haz. Relied on each other to get through a rough childhood, now in the same puofession. I’ve succeeded in a larger pond, but he’s got better quality of life (nice house, lower profile In a small town. )

If I were Harry or my brother, I would consider myself “winning” the sibling race. But they both seem to have the worst stank ass attitude!

It annoys me because I’ve done nothing but support and help my byother and considered him my best friend most of my life. But not any more. Maybe Wills feels similarly.

A few comments on a Mirror article pricing Bean the Beloved's maternity wardrobe at £500,000...

[quote]Her majesty must step in and stop this obscene amount of money being spent and quickly before it gets totally out of hand?

[quote]But darlings I'm a Hollywood star I NEED bling and finery and Harry's inheritance covers it and when it's gone guess what........

[quote]All the outfits topped off with the smug "I'm spending your money and married Harry" face.

[quote]This is truly sickening anyone who can blatantly flaunt themselves wearing so much wealth should be ashamed....especially when so many through no fault of their own are poverty stricken. When young children are shown with life threatening constitutions that are denied treatment because of the cost....People like her make me sick.

It would be better all round if MM just came out and said "Relax - I am an advertising billboard. The clothes didn't cost you taxpayers a thing."

Than she wouldn’t get the money from the governement and pocket it R366 ! That’s what this is all about . She recieves clothing money for her public engagements and tours and get her clothes for free . The higher the price tag the better. There is a swindle going on for a whole year now

I wonder, R367. I seriously doubt Charles would ever pay £90k for one frock to wear to a minor north African country.

She’s a big ol’ Monet.

Are heads going to explode when they call this baby Diana? You know it’s coming.

I still can’t get over her “selling sexy.” Or at least selling hooker sexy.

She’s not old, but she does need to start doing “Renee Russo sexy. “ Elegant, intelligent.

But she seems to shuttle back and forth from 13-year-old boy at the mall and slutty looks.

It’s a mystery.

On whatever she and her gf Jessica can lay their hands on will be worn . Ugly illfitting hookerstyle clothes it doesn’t.t matter as long their pricey .

Sorry must say as long as it looks pricey R 371

And poorly fitted.

So now her maternity leave starts?

I don't think she will be capable of a maternity leave, R373. She'd die without the constant press exposure.

A guy I worked with got an award, maybe MBE or OBE, I can’t remember. He went to Buckingham Palace along with his wife and daughter. It was HM giving out the awards that day, he said she was TINY. Really small, dinky little hands and the most gorgeous skin. Twinkly eyes, just like a favorite grandma. Afterwards they went to a little greasy spoon cafe before catching the train, him still in his top hat and fancy suit, and Sir Terence Conran (founder of Habitat) was sitting in the corner. Conran caught his eye and gave a little smile and nod, like “I know where you’ve been”.

Not exactly ground breaking gossip but a nice little anecdote for his kids I guess.

(That’s really cool!) ^^^

I dislike Megs with a passion BUT according to DL,skirt above the knee/sleeveless top/tight pants/high heels= hooker style.

90% of the women in the Christian world(including the royals) are hookers.

Love that kind of anekdotes 😊

No a slit up to your waist is slutty and a see trough dress that’s slutty as on her tour in Australia . She thinks she is on a red carpet and she is still an actress . she is a royal .

Photos of Kate and Will arriving in Northern Ireland today for a two-day visit.

R375 - That's a great story, thanks! The Queen's skin is what everyone notices who sees her up close. What they lack in noses and chins and ears the Windsors make up in skin.

Flowers for the Duchess of Cambridge.

R377 I don’t think those things are hooker style, but they are not even remotely suitable for anyone representing the monarchy.

The Cambridges spent some time playing soccer (aka football) with children.

R383 - Well put.

Meanwhile, Kate looks adorable and cheery in red today, with her signature black tights and sly black boots. The shorter swingy hair is a vast improvement over her old sausage curls.

After the Queen's lunch for the Prince of Wales on Monday, Will and Kate are travelling to Blackpool.

Harry will be in Birmingham next week.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

He thinks he's one of the lads in the pub.

R389 - Yes, I saw that and was taken aback - as humour, it was coarse and inappropriate - but I wonder if I heard a tinge of hostile sarcasm, as well.

Harry does not look ecstatically happy, he really doesn't.

In other royal observations: Whilst Kate's outfit in Belfast today is cheeky, her black tights are wrinkled. Dear, dear - not good, Kate.

I wish neither Meghan nor Kate would fiddle with their hair. I wish one or both would adopt a nice neat Natalie Wood mid-60s shorter 'do and be done with it.

"You're pregnant? Is it mine?" What an idiot. Meg thought it was a real knee slapper though!

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

I pretty sure Kate wasn't wearing tights under the CH red coat, it's her jeans, if you look at the pictures of her playing football, you can see what she's done...quite clever, really.

The coat and boots are nice. I'm torn about the idea of the jeans with the coat. On the one hand it give a quick change if she's only taking off the coat, but clearly she changed her top so she could as easily have changed from tights into jeans. That's a quibble. I prefer to see Kate in more contemporary looks. This fits the bill for me. A win.

Where's the DL "Merch" Troll? The one who keeps blasting MM for merching and not wearing British designers? Here's Kate Middleton wearing Carolina Herrera just like MM did in Morocco...

I think Kate specifically wore the Herrera today because it provides such a contrast to the Herrera tent monstrosity that MM wore in Morocco. As well, it is a recycled outfit, so bonus points for thriftiness.

What's your point r397? Are you accusing Kate of "merching" a years-old outfit or are you criticizing her for not wearing a British brand (which she does quite frequently)?

R393 - I'll bet she didn't think it was a knee-slapper when they were alone; the slapping was probably across his gingey face.

R398 Why critize MM for not always wearing British (or Comonwealth) designers and not critize Kate for doing the same thing?

MM deserves criticism for continuing to wear clingy clothes that show time and time again that she is wearing a Moonbump. The Dior kaftn is yet another example. Scroll down to to the second photo image. Look at the far right photo of the 3-shot split-screen. You can see the extreme drop off of the bump that looks like a lumpy shelf. No natural pregnant belly does this in real life. The fake belly button and the shelf drop off matches the Moonbump's 7-8 month silicon version (see the photo in the post following this one).

R397 - Kate almost always wears British fashion, and non-British fashion only occasionally - that's the difference; the other difference is that this recycled.

Moonbump Fake 7-8 month pregnancy, silicon version

Harry's balding head doesn't look as bad when his hair is trimmed shorter like he's wearing it now.

More MM hate. How tiresome.

R400 Kate very often wears British designers...MM hardly ever does. That’s the point. No one is suggesting either should wear British exclusively.

If Markle was wearing a Moonbump, her bump would be a uniformly smooth shape. It never is. Babies move around in there, especially in the third trimester. That’s what’s causing the odd bump shape.

Sorry, but the pillow adherents are either mentally unwell like Skippy or too stupid for words.

R400 You can see that the Moonbump is sloping down at an angle camera-left to right in the 3-shot split-screen. This is one of the reasons that MM tries to hold it in place by constantly crading the Moonbump. The worst mishap was when it slipped down by her knees as she was exiting the building while wearing the purple and red outfit in Birkenhead (see photo #2). The fake belly button is by her crotch.

During MM's visit to the Mayhew Animal Home, her folding fake bump was only visible in the video taken that was shot from a different angle. It wasn't visible in the still photo that was first published. (See 2:39 when MM kneels to pet the guy's dark pitbull and her Moonbump folds. She was most likely wearing the foam version but hasrecently switched to the silicone version of the Moonbump).

Why do people need fake bumps?It sounds insane.Is this a trend in LA?I can't comprehend it.

R405 23 previous threads contest your claim that "no one says Meghan should wear Bristish designers exclusively."

I think it’s when a surrogate is used r409, the mom to be wants people to think she carried the child. In this case I don’t believe Markle is using a surrogate but I wouldn’t be surprised if she was wearing moon bumps to look more pregnant than she was, possibly as a result of the very negative backlash after Eug’s wedding stunt.

^^^ typo: British.

Moonbumps are full of bumps and ridges. In MM's case, the strap-on or body suit fake bumps became dislodged when she moved around and squatted.

No real pregnant stomach takes the shapes that MM's bump has taken, especially a shelf-like drop off.

It's the deniers who are delusional. The world can see the evidence of a phony pregnancy when it is captured in numerous photos and videos. I suppose you think Beyonce's pregnancies were real and that she didn't use a surrogate.

What a load of tripe. She’s pregnant. You lot really do embarrass yourselves. Dunning-Kruger in action.

R412 - Jesus, take something and lie down. We've been through this. She's only 37. There's no reason she shouldn't be pregnant herself - lots of women at 37 get pregnant the usual way - and surrogacy is about as dangerous a fraud as these two morons could knowingly perpetrate on the BRF, and it would never be kept secret. Beyonce isn't a member of the British Royal Family using UK taxpayer money to renovate her homes and pay for her clothes. The Sussexes are.

They're pregnant. Pregnancy bumps aren't monolithic. Photographs are misleading.

Go back to Tumblr and Skippy and jeanne whoever she is and where from.

I can't stand Meghan Markle, but I guarantee you she IS pregnant and it IS Harry's so get over it.

She is obviously not pregnant. Are you a frau or a gay man? Either way it’s hilaruous you think she is actually pregnant. R413

Hilarious even.

Her face and ass say she’s pregnant.

She could also be padding.

Some women never really get the cute bump when pregnant. They gain all over and just look bloated. I can see Meg padding if this is her tendency. It’s all about looking cute, right?

Re wearing British labels, if there is any trip in which it would be a good idea to wear any label other than a British one, this is it. This is not the trip in which she or any other Royal should be glorifying British brands.

I can see why an entertainer would do the secret surrogate thing...it takes forever to get your body back in shape after a baby. They usually have to go back to work soon after so it makes sense to do that. But it’s still shady. I don’t think that MM is faking her pregnancy. If she is, then so did Kate.

If you see it from this point of vue and that is that Harry is gay and wants a child with a male lover so they can give their sperm and do IVF with the surrogate . This marriage with MM is so odd from the beginning I i know it sounds crazy but it would be an answer to so much questions . You don’t think its odd the way she behaves . That is not a marriage for love but for convienance . He can’t come out as gay can’t he ? And she has to play the pregnant wife of course .

They both act odd because she is a narcissist and he is a moron.

R421 - Nailed it.

I think MM wears a prosthetic because she probably carries small. Her belly gets her press, so she makes it a point of emphasis. She definitely was wearing one on the OZ tour (probably in order to maximize her pregnancy announcement). Now she has to keep the charade going. What's weird is, no one - even her fans - seems to care about the impending baby. There's almost no discussion. At this point in Kate's pregnancy no one cared too much about her bump and the discussion centered on the due date and speculation on the baby (granted, her kids are higher in the line of succession). The whole thing is so odd.

For fuck’s sake...Google images of odd shaped baby bumps and you’ll see what happens when a baby moves in there.

A factory produced fake bump would stay the same shape....and I am pretty sure they can’t just “slip down”.

R423 Yes...I think early on there was some enhancement. She wanted...as you say...to maximise the announcement and have something to cradle.

FFS, she’s pregnant. Her face has become far rounder. She’s pregnant. Annoying, smug and self-centered, but pregnant.

Which is so weird, r424. All the yoga obsessive I know pride themselves on not even looking pregnant. Apparently strong abs keep you from “popping” with the big bump.

Or is Sparkles yoga devotion also bullshit? I could see her doing some light, basic yoga, but really being more into the outfits and yoga posing for photos.

Just watched that "Is it mine?" clip. What a goof Harry is. Yech. Looks so pleased with his little joke afterwards.

Can you imagine Will saying such a thing to Kate?

Kate's red coat today has big ol' buttons where her nips would be. Tee hee!

I never noticed before but William is left handed - seen by the photos of his signing the tile from the NI visit.

Oof. "You're pregnant?" could be a funny observation on the press her pregnancy has received. "Is it mine" is just low. I think she is a grifting psycho and can't wait for her to be gone. But he seems like he is make a jab at her in public. That's just peevish and he looks like a spoiled brat. At a formal function, no less.

Yes, Harry sees quite stupid.

He's probably worried that Daniel Martin is the father.

Who wouldn't be?

Harry used to always make annoying jokes about William when they attended events together. For example, at one event where Harry spoke, he made a bald joke about William, who was in the audience. According to the reporter, William just shook his head. It's going to get old really fast for Meghan, too.

Meanwhile, Kate and William are attending an evening reception, Kate in a sparkly Missoni tea length gown (£1590) in pale aqua that looks fabulous on her, with neutral high suede pumps (and hose, thank you very much).

She looks so much happier and confident these days.

R433 - Harry has a mental age of about 14; his brother grew up, Harry didn't.

Kate on walkabout.

Kate in her evening gown.

Actually it's a short dress. I like it.

Dress is lovely, I love the aqua color. As always, all I wish for is five more pounds. Just five.

The happy couple.

I'm still on #TeamAnne for best wedding dress. I love the Elizabethan sleeves and high neck.

Those pearls must have been quite heavy on Princess Michael of Kent's chest.

Princess Michael has some lovely jewels.

Princess Marina of Kent was quite stylish in her day.

Move over, Wallis. Marina is in town.

Anne of the Big Hair.

How "big" can she go?

[quote]Some women never really get the cute bump when pregnant. They gain all over and just look bloated. I can see Meg padding if this is her tendency. It’s all about looking cute, right?

Some women do get the cute baby bump, but they're usually tall and thin. My office had an admin who most of us (women included) didn't notice was pregnant until she was around seven months. The bump was like a little beach ball half protruding. She was over 6 ft. tall, slender, and athletic. She was Mormon so she always dressed modestly, always a loose-fitting top.

Looking cute is part of it (most women try to look their best; it's part of being female), but I think Meghan's fancies herself a modern pregnancy archetype to be admired and emulated (NPD symptoms anyone?). How can she become a symbol of fertility and expectant motherhood without a conspicuous bump she can stroke and caress to demonstrate her superiority at loving her fetus? As many have mentioned, she has the short, squat body type and torso that doesn't carry a pregnancy well, so she's been accentuating -- in a totally conspicuous and inconsistent manner. Real pregnancy bumps can look all sorts all sorts of weird when the fetus is moving and kicking, but one thing they really don't do is shrink quite noticeably from day to day. And the belly button doesn't go back and forth from innie to outie, right?

Why don't you mean-ass bitches just call this thread what it is: The Duchess Meghan Trash-Her Thread

I’m so glad to be here reading the Duchess Meghan Trash-Her Thread.

R441 - I agree with you. Anne's wedding gown was unique, magical, and yet well within traditional style. The medieval trumpet sleeves were inspired, and the simplicity of the pin-tucking kept the whole from being overdone - and the sleeves didn't overpower the rest. Pity the Emanuels didn't take the lesson from Maureen Baker's work - instead, they inflicted huge sleeves, bows, ruffles, sequins, pearls, and lace wherever they could.

I, too, love Anne's wedding gown. But my all-time favorite royal bride is Princess Caroline of Monaco at her first wedding. Her dress is simple and sweet, and to me she looks like an absolute angel.

R449 seems to have been led astray by a Google alert and not quite comprehend where she has landed. I hope she reads the Chirs Burrous threads with all the details about PnP and the ins and outs of fisting

I don't know if it was his mother's death or general dumbassedness, but Harry seems to have stopped cold in his maturation process at around age 15. It could also be those weird Windsor genes, as by all accounts the Duke of Windsor was also a perpetual adolescent, both mentally and emotionally.

Which means Meghan really is Wallis Simpson reborn. One would feel sorry for her, if it weren't clear that unlike Wallis, as soon as Meghan's stunted princeling is no longer an asset, she'll ditch him and latch onto the nearest billionaire.

Does anyone know if the women in the BRF are permitted to buy clothes, shoes, and jewelry at wholesale prices. Are they permitted to buy at cost?

Lovely Missoni dress on Kate. I think silver heels would have worked better. than the blush suede I also think she needs a complete overhaul as to her makeup - get rid of the heavy brows and eyeliner, ditch the nude lipstick and muddy bronzer. I would favour a pink, berry or cool red lip and a pink blush. This would soften her look up a lot. She is clearly doing her own makeup, and it is working against her.

R449 , we are a group of well educated intellectuals who are protecting the integrity of the monarchy by monitoring this crisis situation.

Diana’s wedding gown looks like an over-the-top confection in retrospect, but it did memorably capture that era, the start of the exuberant 80s. And she was tall enough to pull it off.

R456 Both Kate and Meghan could use a makeover. I seem to remember that Kate softened her look a bit after the birth of Louis, but she has amped it up again.

I agree R456. I want more daring in Catherine's shoe game (enough with the suede pumps, safe though they are), and her makeup would indeed favor an updated softer tweak.

R456, I would also love to see Kate in lighter make-up.

I say this as an admirer of hers: she has proven herself to be a responsible and discreet woman, with good taste and instincts. (And, lest anyone come in with the usual accusations of "You hated Kate before Meghan appeared on the scene!", I did not. Even in her youth, Kate struck me as well-bred and sincerely devoted to her family and William. For what it's worth, I was even inclined to like Meghan at first, before she showed her true colors in her pre-engagement magazine interview and televised engagement interview.)

Although Kate has made some major improvements in her make-up technique over the years, such as lightening her use of lower-lid liner (this happened in 2017, when she was pregnant with Louis), she does still have a somewhat heavy hand. I wonder whether it's a sort of security blanket for her, a way for a naturally shy and gentle woman to "hide" herself a bit.

R458 "And she was tall enough to pull it off." There, I have to disagree. The Emanuels managed to drown a 5'10"+ 20 year old, she was simply swallowed in it. They said that they made a design more with the scale of St. Paul's in mind than the scale of the bride. From the back, those mutton sleeves, the meringue skirt, together with Diana's lack of a waist, turned a slender girl into a giant square. Her best qualities were her height, her legs, her huge blue eyes, and her skin and colouring, and all of these were lost in the froth. In this case, the dress wore the bride, rather than the other way round. The Emanuels blew the fashion opportunity of the decade in schoolgirl romanticism. It looked like my niece designed it at age 8.

R455 - According to protocol, the senior royals in the BRF are constrained from using their position to gain advantage in jewels and clothing (and other goods). The working assumption is, given how privileged they already are, accepting discounts and freebies makes the BRF look greedy and over-privileged, instead of merely privileged.

There aren't any laws on the books about this, of course, it's one of those things, like reserving the wearing of black for mourning, that is supposed to be understood as making sense.

Obviously, the Duchess of Sussex doesn't give a fuck about protocol and wears black all the time because she wants to (despite the fact that it's hardly her best colour, it makes her look sallow), and couldn't possibly afford all the luxury clothing she's been wearing on either her husband's income or the "clothing allowance" the Sovereign Grant gives royals for "official duties". The "supplemental" income her father-in-law provides (which I would guess to be about 100,000 quid) is supposed to pay for clothes and household needs NOT associated with "official duties". Charles pays for most of Kate's clothes in this way.

So, reluctantly, I have to assume that Meghan is doing whatever the fuck she wants, and accepting models, freebies, discounts, etc. And if that's the case, she's also essentially called the BRF's bluff and proved to the world that they are empty suits who huff and puff but really can't force her to do anything except set off on the occasionally hastily arranged tour.

She's a bad look all around for them. And quite surprisingly to some of us, they're just taking it up the arse from her.

But she makes them all look better.

I'm sure that was not by design but she is so blind to how she comes across that I think it generates positive feelings for those who aren't constantly searching for the camera.

R418 you know that they’re in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom yes?

I have to agree, R463.

I really wasn’t buying the whole “merching” thing because it really does cross every line the BRF have & I didn’t see how she’d get away with it.

But this latest £90k dress? No way would Charles pay for that. No way would Harry pay for that. And while I suppose it’s just about possible she’s using her own money, I don’t think she actually has that much, if any.

So yes...she’s either getting massive discounts or freebies.

But the press WILL find out and they WILL make a big thing out of it. They already get antsy about the family hiring Audi cars.p & asking whether there’s any discount.

Markle is a fucking moron if that’s what she’s doing.

Is it wrong that I wish Kate would tone down her smile just a notch? It looks maniacal sometimes.

Take a look at this pic and imagine her with a pink rather than brown palette. It's as if she's doing the makeup for someone with completely different colouring.

R450 - We don't need prefects or hall monitors here. We aren't obliged to "like" anyone. If Meghan decides to appear in a 90,000 quid dress on a minor three-day trip to Morocco with her sixth in line husband whilst 7 months pregnant, I suggest you turn your gaze on the source of the dislike, rather than assuming there is no reason for it.

R466 - The press probably do already know and will do no more than hint at it. They have their own lines and they aren't going to burn any bridges with the BRF unless and until an opportunity comes along in which they know they can't lose. If she's merching and accepting freebies and huge discounts, believe me, the tabs already know it. If they aren't publishing it, they have a reason, and it's not likely that reason is going to shift direction any time. It probably involves solid proof. And even then, believe it or not, they might just see it as a bridge too far.

*any time SOON

R470

I agree, R467, I like her but she smiles way too much and too hard.

I'm of the "wait a year postpartum before the gloves begin to come off" mind. Getting pregnant so fast, although secures her position early, simultaneously cuts into the honeymoon first year where people are willing to give benefit that she is building her wardrobe, learning the ropes, slowly acclimating... pregnancy excitement is the further goodwill buffer. Once Sussex bairn is walking is when the Firm may begin placing brakes on MEgantoinette--or not. HM is in her nineties and doesn't need to deal with MEga's shit and Charles, well, he's a bit of a pussy so I don't expect much from him. It's the grey men who may be the variable in the equation.

R452 - for what it's worth, in later interviews, her husband, Philippe Junot, said he was terribly disappointed in the dress, despite Caroline looking lovely. He thought it boring and far too milk-maid, and that Bohan at Dior could have done much better.

I wasn't that enamoured of it, and frankly, I had the same criticism of Pss. Madeleine of Sweden's dress, which I thought far too milk-maidy and lacked elegance. I think hers was by Valentino.

R473 - You may be right. I'd also guess that they aren't publishing because it would endanger their sources and they want to keep them.

R452, it is a little milk-maidy, but I guess I kind of like that. Sometimes I'm just fond of things that are demure and unsophisticated, maybe because there's so little of that left in today's world.

Yes, I am aware r465. I am aware it has been over two decades since the Troubles. But with the impending border issue due to Brexit, now is not the time to wear anything that could be considered nationalistic. Kate if doing a good job in her choice of wearing non-British (and non-Irish) labels. My comment was directed at the idiot who earlier was dis-favorably comparing Kate's lack of Biritish brands for this particular trip to Meghan's penchant for almost never wearing British brands.

I just watched a video on Instagram of Kate pouring a beer in Belfast. She looks rather sexy, in a kind of disco way.

I think the UK press are building a narrative around Imelda, they're also gathering evidence to show public interest just in case someone tries to take them to court to get an injuction to block publication. I think they have a lot of dirt on her, they were collecting it before the Harry statement.

Here’s sexy Kate pulling a pint. Goood hair night.

There was an odd little remark in a DM article the other day (the one about the £110k weekend wardrobe) tnat said something like...”Meghan used to get clothes for free, but now she’s not allowed to”. Seemed a bit irrelevant to menso may have been snark.

R481 - That's interesting. Wonder why it slid by without comment. I don't mean comment here (although, that's curious, too) in the wider press.

To me, the biggest sign that ME is merching her ugly ass off is her dearth of British labels. Those British design houses know how things are done (they've been doing it long before two-faced game changer showed up on the scene and will do so long after she is a low rent footnote), and frankly she is not important enough for them to be willing to bend the rules. What little British she has worn she acquired legitimately, with the exception maybe of Victoria Beckham.

R477 - I agree, that occurred to me, that given the sensitivities re national identity in Belfast and NI, a non-Irish AND non-British label was for once a wise choice.

Through the Good Friday Agreement, residents of NI can choose either British or Irish citizenship, or both. So in this one area, wearing None of the Above was a smart move on Kate's part.

R472 - I don't think Kate is faking it. I think she's thrilled to be done with the childbearing and the years of establishing the family nest, she can sense that the next steps up aren't far away, and she's actually enjoying the work more. And I also think she knows that Meghan Markle, far from blowing her out of the water, has cloaked her in a The Right Kind of Duchess aura. I think she's having a good time and looking forward to the Sussexes moving out of London, and to becoming Princess of Wales in a few years and moving on with royal life.

R483 That is so, so true. Maybe she doesn’t wear British because she can’t get them for free.

R454 - I don't see any billionaire worthy of the name latching onto the ex-wife of the sixth in line, in her forties, and with two kids in tow. No matter what Meghan tells herself in the mirror every morning and over brekkers as she scans the papers for photographs and stories about herself, she isn't the widowed Jacqueline Kennedy or the gorgeous ex HRH Princess of Wales (who was younger than Meghan is now when she got divorced).

Maybe Amal can fix her up with a junior grade millionaire.

R487, she might be able to find a Russian one. She’s not getting a Branson or Murdoch, but there might be some Eastern European or Canadian mega-millionaires.

It's Radar, so it should be taking with a grain of salt. However, I wouldn't be surprised if one of those tacky grifters (ahem, "friends") sold her out.

*taken, not taking

Has anyone posted this change.org petition before now? Calling on the UK parliament to stop funding the Harkles? I don't think I've seen one of these for the BRF before. More than 500 people have signed it as well. However if folks really want to get the UK Parliament's attention they need to create a petition on the UK parliament website. At 10k signatures the government has to respond. At a 100k there will be a debate. If such a petition got into the DM I could see it hitting 100k without breaking a sweat.

R246, as someone who does yoga/ pilates, I get the vibe that Meghan "does" yoga only because of the implications that come along with it e.g. flexible and sexy poses. In fact she's one of those who photographs themselves in provocative poses that has nothing to do with real yoga, but pseudo-yoga poses that get them noticed on social media as "sexy".

Want to see a celebrity (a real, accomplished one) who does serious yoga and posts about it on her instagram, posts that are not in any way sexualized? Check out legendary figure skater Michelle Kwan's instagram posts, furthest thing from Meghan's desperate to be sexy yoga posts.

So, per the article at R489, are there plans to paint the outside of Frogmore Cottage?

Historical building, right?

Restrictions on changes? Right?

Approval needed? Right?

I think my main problem with Meghan Markle is really just that she is so deeply, deeply entitled. She doesn’t seem to appreciate the fact that she lucked out and scored Harry (when, really, this marriage should never have been allowed in the first place) and capitalized on timing and circumstances to push this through. I think she’s really good at enchanting people and spinning a narrative that benefits her, and damned if it didn’t work on Harry just like it’s worked on everyone else in her life.

I think we can all agree by now that she didn’t marry Harry to serve the greater good of Britain; she pushed for this because it furthered her agenda and stuck with her “brand.” Brand being: “oh so happily blessed by beauty (my sprinkling of freckles!), kindness, and intelligence.” I honestly don’t know what her end game is, and I’m PRAYING it’s only to get rich from all of this and attempt to stay a celeb...

There is a part of me that wonders if maybe she will stay with Harry as, really, she can’t get much better of a station in life than this, but another part of me knows that isn’t how she thinks. I’m scared she’s going to run for office someday.

R492, I agree. How would she even have time, anymore? It’s just a bunch of virtue- and brand-signaling. She’s full of shit.

I think Harry is still in love/ lust with Meghan, but is pissed off that she got pregnant so quickly, cutting short their time together as a couple without all the distractions of planning for family. He seems like the sort that would feel discombobulated in that way, on top of the fact that he went from bachelor to married then fatherhood in such a short time. It takes a patient, emotionally balanced and mature man to handle such a big change, and from all indications Harry is an entitled, shallow man-child. He'll probably be competing with the baby for Meghan's attention.

Meghan will probably want to pop out another one before she hits 40. Being pregnant past age 35 really ages a woman's body, this is a physiological fact. Being pregnant past 40 is even more taxing and aging, I'm sure this is on Meghan's mind, she wants at least 2 kids to compete with the Cambridges 3 (maybe more not sure if Kate is done). Meghan will do everything to get back into shape quickly just to show that she could, then quickly get pregnant again. This way it also shields her from other members of the RF speaking up against her as you're not supposed to be mean to pregnant women even if they're awful human beings.

R463, what do mean "force her " to do things. She is a person not chattel; therefore, allowed to make choices about her own life. She is not "royal" she married a Prince and apparently will live her life as she chooses. Good for her.

Spinning a narrative like a dangling tendril, The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand. The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds. The darkness drops again; but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Meghan Markle is a delicious villain. As much as I can’t stand her, and am very glad I don’t have to deal with her, I find her fascinating. What huge balls she has!

Why in the fuck would Meghan marry anyone for the greater good of anything? She married for personal benefit that same as most people except those forced into marriages.

Well, in marrying a royal one would hope people realize that they’ll have to serve as a public figure in order to further the greater good of Britain. Meghan clearly never had this intention.

Kate made a rare misstep. The Missoni was way too formal since William and others were wearing jacket but no tie. She looked lovely but it was too much for the occasion.

R489 Oh, with more than a grain of salt - a bucket, more like, given this level of careful accuracy:

"But they will soon be swapping their two-bedroom cottage for a 10-bedroom mansion IN WINDSOR CASTLE." (emphasis mine).

Windsor Castle is about a half-mile from Frogmore Cottage.

R500 - Some people marrying for personal benefit realise that if you want the most bennies and the bennies to last a long time, you have to keep up your end of the bargain.

Meghan can't even be bothered to refrain from wearing black.

[quote] I don't see any billionaire worthy of the name latching onto the ex-wife of the sixth in line, in her forties, and with two kids in tow.

I mentioned Wissam Al Mana on a previous threads, but got no comment. He's the former Mr. Janet Jackson whose zillionaire family owns all sorts of businesses, including a few luxury goods and design houses and not a bad looking guy. She married him at 45 and overweight, yet the two managed to produce a kid. He may be gay and needed an heir or maybe he liked the idea of a pop star trophy wife. Muslim men in the middle east are known for their fecundity, so he may be looking. She'd kind of be perfect for him -- a huge step up from a pop star -- and aren't Gulf State Arabs kind of enthralled with the RF or royalty in general? He's UK-educated and has homes in London, so he's kind of perfect for her.

R497 - Good grief, how stupid can you get. The whole institution of royalty rests on a foundation of service, not self-indulgence.

Did you ever hear of Marie-Antoinette? No? Thought not.

When you get curtsies and bows and taxpayers renovating your house, you ARE NOT free to live your life on your own terms. You owe something back.

How is this concept so difficult for people who think that since Meghan married a prince, for which marriage, by the way, she needed the Queen's permission, instead of demonstrating that she understands the terms under which she was let in, she is now free to tell the institution that gave her the global fame she craved, to go fuck itself?

That's how lots of European royal families disappeared.

R505 - I applaud your choice.

The mistake was in taking her at her word that she was ready to hit the ground running. She should have been given a 2 year period of training. I have advised the Queen to insist upon a lengthy parental leave, and a severely restricted set of responsibilities and contacts.

R507 - If we had betting agencies in the U.S. like there are in the UK, I'd be trotting to the nearest one with at least $20 in hand. It's my understanding that one can basically create any scenario within the realm of possibility to bet on. (e.g. Jose Mourinho will strike an opposing player or coach before the season is over; Jose's next club will be the L.A. Galaxy). Not sure how odds are decided...

R492, just looking at that picture is making my legs ache

R477 You're insane.

Pregnancy is not the only reason a woman's face, ass and thighs become bigger. Gaining weight by consuming more calories does it as well. MM is faking it. She's using a surrogate. Kate probably used one for her last 2 pregnancies. Pippa is rumored to have used one too.

FUCKING FRAUS FUCK OFF AND TAKE THIS SHIT TO PINTEREST.

JFC YOU ARE OBSESSED WITH THIS BITCH

Oh, piss off, R513. How deranged do you have to be to click on a clearly named thread and have a tantrum on it because you don’t like what people are saying?

No one gives a shit about you. Bore off.

YOU FUCK OFF R514. You fucking frau cunts with your stupid obsessions do not belong here.

R598 - And would you be willing to share what HM replied?

Not our fault you can’t find anyone to fuck you, is it? Sad twat.

You really believe that, R512? You're a fool or a freak.

R512 - Oh ffs. Will you Tumblr morons please go away? Yes, the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital was also participating in Kate's surrogacy fraud.

Let me get this straight, R512- Markle is using a surrogate to avoid the physical toll of pregnancy, while gaining weight to cover up the surrogacy?

And people say that you conspiracy theorists are fucking stupid!

The problem is that the fraus pollute the thread with humorless, sour, repetitive crap. They suck the fun out of a thread that should be campy and bitchy.

OMFG fake pregnancies! Secret babies! FUCK! Stop infesting this board you boring common cunts!

People come up with surrogacy rumours about pretty much every pregnant celebrity nowadays.

What r462, r487 and r506 said.

Unless one is enjoying a bad German folk tale, there is never an"era" or "time" for a milk maid, butter churner frock made of crumpled Kleenex. Diana's wedding gown was one of the biggest fashion mistakes of the 20th century.

As for the DoS snagging a billionaire post-divorce, as another poster pointed out, she's pushing forty and there are no indications she has Lauren Sanchez game. The chances of that are diminishing by the day and that vulgar baby shower did her no favors. There is a growing backlash to ubiquitous social media presence. Already, the ultimate status symbol is have very limited or no social media presence.

And finally, word-for-word with r506. Although the wedding cameras missed it (and there is one poster here that believes that was deliberate) there is one gesture the DoS made at her wedding that one can argue exceeded in meaning even the the marriage vows she made to PH: she bowed to QE II.

That physical gesture to is not supposed to mean, "Thanks for welcoming me and allowing this marriage, Ma'am. Now I'll just go about MY way with your grandson." Instead it means I take your grandson Prince Harry and the duties and protocols that come with it. The trade-off is the DoS steps into position, privilege, and measured celebrity that shouldn't lend itself to a vulgar baby shower spectacle attend by celebrity A-List Show Folk Parvenu Trash.

The DoS is misplaying her cards and shirking her duties. I'll see if she can turn it around but this Soap Opera is quickly losing a crucial plot point -a compelling DoS.

I don't have a problem believing she's pregnant. I'm a gay man, so I know very little about pregnancy. It's very strange that her 'bump' seems to change size, and shift position, from one day to the next. So I tend to believe she's pregnant, but also padding a bit at certain times. I don't think that's really that bizarre. She's interested in appearances. As for believing Kate fakes her pregnancies, I think that's absurd. There is a history of the BRF wanting proof of their heirs (although their history proves otherwise, or maybe makes a case for it).

[quote]I'm a gay man, so I know very little about pregnancy.

No but I imagine you've been constipated before and that's close enough to let you weigh in. no bloat in that, either. Respect.

Huh? I made an honest comment. I've seen many photos. Her baby bump keeps changing sizes. I think that's weird. I didn't imply imply that she was doing something awful, just trying to make her appearances fit what she thinks the expectations are for her that day. Lots of women get pregnant, and deal with all the changes. I work with plenty of them. I'm nice to the women with whom I work with. I mentioned that I was a gay guy, because a woman has every right to correct me.

^didn't mean to type 'imply' twice.

R474, Thanks, Della. You have a great perspective, and I appreciate you participating in these threads. Despite the assumptions that seen to be made, I didn't go into this story hating this woman. I wanted the best for her, for her to succeed, I would have loved if an American she became an appreciated Royal Duchess,. I've been embarrassed by her behavior. Any queen on DL knows better.

r529. Smooches, doll.

Diana would have loved Kate. Hear me out. :) Not just Kate herself, but the Kate package.

Kate is not competitive, so Diana wouldn't have had anything to fight. Kate would have let her win every potential battle. Kate is close to her own mom and would have had no problem with Diana's closeness to and influence with William (if influence remained - it seems as if William was pulling away somewhat at the time Diana died).

The Middletons. Diana was not welcome at Althorp. She WOULD have been welcome at Bucklebury (or however it's spelled) - the Middleton's home. Carole and she were close enough in age - built in friend there, who is not insecure, has emotional intelligence, and would have let Diana be Diana. Diana expressed affection for Sarah Chatto (Margaret's daughter) who is a notoriously kind person with no agenda. I think if Diana does not perceive a threat, she's fine, and the Middletons would have let her be the star or do whatever she wanted. Bonus - would you like to join the family party at Mustique? Five or so years on from 1998, the Middletons would have been a godsend for Diana, as they were and are for William.

Markle, OTOH, Diana would have seen coming miles away. Markle is an amateur compared to Diana, and would have been a stain on the road before she even got to date Harry.

^And by "Mustique" I do not mean Princess Margaret's getaway, but some other tropical resort top spot beginning with "M".

Diana was not welcome at Althorp? Did not know this especially surprised given how her brother ranted at the funeral.

R531 That’s one of the most interesting, original and I think astute comments I’ve read on here.

[quote]I've been embarrassed by her behavior. Any queen on DL knows better.

Meh - I think you're being very generous on that one.

Janet Jackson is a bigger star and name than Meghan Markle will ever be. Certainly now. Get a roaming reporter and buttonhole people on the street. "Heard of Janet Jackson?" then - "Heard of Meghan Markle?" Guess who wins.

Agree with R531. The other thing is, Kate Middleton seems to be a pretty solid person. Her mother may (or may not) have been ambitious for her daughters but I also think she raised decent people. Meghan Markle seems to be a predictable product of that kind of upbringing. Child of divorce, surrounded by the fakery of L.A., family instability.

R533, nope, she was not. Her biographers and other reports said that while her settlement was generous and being in KP was a lifetime grant, she didn't have the funds to purchase a country getaway, which one wants when one is in some sort of (literal) Aunt hill in the center of London. Her brother let her know Althorp wasn't an option as her presence was too disruptive.

As for the Earl's ranting at the funeral, I give you his - 5? marriages and the fact that he shares Diana's gene pool and also her growing up (both of them most impacted by their mom's departure), and obviously has her flair for histrionics once in the spotlight. Recall he was not present when Charles and Diana's two sisters flew to Paris to recover the body (I read her mom was livid and could never forgive PC, but not a peep from the Earl). The opportunity to grandstand at the funeral was likely irresistible, even if the results were incoherent (Their "blood" family? The Windsors are also their blood family).

I agree R499, Megan is a fabulous addition to the soap opera cast. As Dominick Dunne once said, “I like climbers. They interest me.”

Earl Spencer has been quite the cad. Remember years ago he broke up some South African lady’s marriage? And then he wooed a nice American girl and dumped her.

[quote]Recall he was not present when Charles and Diana's two sisters flew to Paris to recover the body (I read her mom was livid and could never forgive PC, but not a peep from the Earl).

In fairness, he was living in South Africa and the family and the Prince (on behalf of her sons) flew to Paris to bring her body home the next day. It's a twelve hour flight. I also think he's a bloated jerk so not defending him but it's not a fair criticism he wasn't present. It wasn't practical to wait.

Oh dear Kate's evening dress looks like she's in fancy dress. In honour of her internal disco diva and in memory of Diana's twirl across the floor with Travolta, I think this is the appropriate soundtrack to accompany Kate's Missoni dress.

R505, that’s a very good call. He’s handsome, too, which I’m sure Meghan requires.

How did we miss this DLrs? Bean has to be merching. How the hell did People get this information, with this freaking level of detail? $150 leather totes, Jo Malone custom candles, $80 body butter cream and Rodin products.

wtf is Tatcha Deep Rice powder and wtf is it used for anyway? at $80 a pop.

Pleats are all over the runway, very au courant. Thank god Kate has the good sense to wear something lovely versus some naf hiked-up skirt look. Even RD comments were approving And yes, very much agree she gave off a sly sexy barmaid vibe when she pulled a pint.

R544, it’s a powder exfoliant with an extremely high pH, meaning it disrupts the stratum corneum and, whoops, there goes your lipid barrier.

If you’ve ever gotten oven cleaner or liquid dishwasher detergent on your hands that slimy feeling is what makes the mug-cradlers go, “OMGGGG, my skin is sooooo soft and smooth! It feels like GLASS!”

If one is intent on having a layer of face eaten away, scrubbing with baking soda will do the same thing for about $78 less.

Watch the Cambridges pull a pint.

Although the Middletons would have welcomed Diana as William's mother, I think they would have found her demanding and exhausting and breathed a sigh of relief when she got into her car and drove off. They would have hated her likely endless rants against the BRF. Coming from a council house background, Carol would have been irritated by Diana's victim persona. Of course, being English, they would have concealed all this.

I seriously doubt MM would ever want to be a Muslim wife, even a billionaire's. I think her end game is a rich Hollywood producer husband, who will make her part of a power couple. I bet she'd love to produce or direct films herself.

Kate gave good head on that pint. Mayhaps how she landed her prince...

Shame there isn’t video of Di’s dance with Travokta- or is there? The still photo of that dance is hilarious in that the people in the background are not even looking at them.

I’d also like to see video of Di’s “Uptown Girl” stage performance, the one that embarrassed Charles so.

The only dancing clip you see is the one where she and Charles are awkwardly whirling around and around the floor.

What a ham she was....no wonder Harry chose who he chose.

Lol!

Another one bites the dust...

The friendship between Priyanka Chopra and Meghan Markle has hit a rough patch, an insider says.

The two actresses were pals, and Priyanka was a guest at Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in May.

But the Duchess of Sussex declined to attend Priyanka’s wedding to Nick Jonas in December.

“Priyanka was crushed,” said one source.

That’s why, my sources say, the Bollywood star, known to Americans as the star of ABC’s “Quantico,” declined to attend Markle’s baby shower last week at the Mark Hotel. Serena Williams and Amal Clooney co-hosted the shower, with attendees such as Gayle King.

“Their friendship is over unless Meghan apologizes,” said one source. “Priyanka is a huge international star with a tremendous social media following. She is probably more famous worldwide than Meghan is. She feels Meghan didn’t respect her, and didn’t respect their friendship.”

Oh no!

In what world is Pryanka Chopra a worldstar ? Because she is married to Nick Jonas ? How little it takes nowadays to become a worldstar . LOL

As much as I hate to admit it, Markle is now better known worldwide than Chopra. I have never seen one thing with Chopra in it and I didn’t know who she was until DL enlightened me.

The world is bigger than the UK/US/English language culture.

Priyanka/ PC/ Piggy Chops was a beauty queen and a movie star in India long before she joined Quanitico. She was rumoured to be the mistress of Shahrukh Khan. Bollywood is the world's largest film industry and SRK is it's biggest star. Bollywood movies are popular in most of the world (South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean). Even if it were only popular in India, that's 1 billion people. Priyanka has also made a name for herself in the US with her TV career. So she's famous in the US as well as the rest of the world. Priyanka is richer than Meghan, been a leading lady, and has been on more runways and magazine covers than Meghan for the last 20 years. Meghan may be well known in the UK and have some name recognition in the US now, but globally I'd say PC is a much bigger star.

r558 Maybe Pryanka has worked out that Meghan has now become the ultimate toxic brand and this is her way of getting the hell out of dodge while getting some publicity.

I'd take the whole PC is angry with the DoS story with a grain of salt. PC seems to be a climber who wouldn't easily walk away from a link to the BRF, however tangential.

Meghan's star is rising and PC's star is fading if she can't find another good TV role. If PC is wise, she'd stay within the inner circle if she can.

Meghan isn't a toxic brand. Most of the things DLers complain about with Meghan aren't problems for a celebrity (or most of the people on the planet)

I can't see that Meghan's star is rising, I'm sorry. I think the general public have turned against brand Sussex after her ugly displays of wealth and privilege , and the protocol breaks. Obviously around the wedding period the star was well and truly rising, but now? Hmmm.

R560 Meghan’s star is not “rising”. Do you realise how detested she actually is in the UK?

The world is bigger than the DM and the UK.

Meghan is more famous internationally today than she was 2 years ago. The world will hear about the birth of the Sussex baby in a few months. Relative to Priyanka's current celebrity position and to Meghan's previous position, the DoS's star is still rising IMO. That's what I mean.

Soho farmhouse and countryside chic

Yeah...except it really isn’t just about the DM or it’s readers. Even commenters on the broadsheets say much the same thing.

I agree that she’s more famous than Pryanka. But to say her “star is rising” heavily implies growing popularity & that is not the case.

It may well not be all about the UK, but where the BRF are concerned, we’re all that matters since a) she’s representing us and b) we’re funding her.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R560, what exactly do Brits want to happen? For Harry to dump her and be single again? Or for them to leave the RF?

Markle is hugely well known now because of who she married but being well known is not the same as popular. Charles Manson was well known.

Kate's choices today are a miss for me. The coat has the right shape and colour but the cape doesn't work with the way she's been styled. Kate's style is too straight laced for such a coat. Maxima or Letizia would wear it better because their styling has been more flexible than hers. Even different shoes might have made a difference.

I made fun of the disco diva dress (for the shimmer, not the pleats) but at least it was the right shape for Kate's body. Today's dress is an excellent shade of blue for her, but the business shift works against her shape. It highlights her relatively broad shoulders and narrow hips. A little flare would have helped.

She's a natural in sporty casual so the archery section looks good to me.

Is Natasha Archer still off on mat leave? (The Cambridges may need to invest to in a nanny for the Archer-Jackson clan so Natasha can get back to work)

R533 - Earl Spencer's rant at Diana's funera was partly raging guilt: he'd refused Diana's request to spend the summer at Althorp in a cottage or house on the estate that year, because he didn't want media intrusion around his family. Tina Brown's discussion in her bio of Diana was very interesting - how strangely limited were the options of the divorced and now former rather than future Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in finding places to go and stay. So her brother refused her request, and Diana fell back on other options - like Paris and Dodi Fayed. For all his rhetorical anger, Earl Spencer didn't do much at all to stay close to his nephews.

Diana found out, as Meghan Markle may one day if she didn't look at Diana's trajectory without rose-coloured specs, that once you are no longer the beautiful new ingenue, and you're cut off from the source of your initiall fame and glory, people can be strangely unreceptive to the idea of coping with all your idiosyncrasies and demands.

Those who forget the lessons of history, etc., etc.

Earl Spencer is an inflated hypocritical shite. That eulogy was his moment in the sun and half of it was lies on his part.

*didn't look at Diana's trajectory WITH rose-coloured spec . . .

R570

R567 - I can't speak for all Brits (and anyway, I'm a hybrid), but I'd like to see both of them booted out. They're way too expensive for where they stand in the succession and taking up way too much space and air, and both of trhem (to me) exude only a grudging loyalty to the institution that gave both of them they're status.

The Duchess, at a minimum, belongs in L.A., not in Frogmore Cottage at Windsor. Harry is an immature spoilt bellend whose choice of a wife was meant to stick it to his family. I don't see why I or my relatives should spend a farthing on his luxurious 10-bedroom home. Nothing either of them does as "official work" justifies it. The two could take off into the sunset in L.A. tomorrow and no British head would lie uneasy on its pillow.

*damn this auto-correct - "THEIR" status.

R569 - While this is hardly the most inspiring of Kate's look, the colour is lovely and it is in line with what is, increasingly clearly, her emerging Future Princess of Wales Demure Feminine and Pretty But Unremarkable look. She is sensibly carving out an identifiable persona this way, unlike Meghan, who veers wildly from one look to another and whose only identifiable persona is Very Expensive.

The odd thing is, Kate's coat looks oddly familiar but not from her wardrobe. It has a sweetly costume-ish look but I can't quite pin it down.

R557 - The same could be said of Meghan Markle. I and most of my circle had no idea who she was or had ever watched Suits, until the news she was dating Harry came out. I had a vague familiarity with Chopra's name, but not Markle's. I tried watching an episode of Suits and found it unwatchable and boring except for the stunning lack of talent Markle exhibited. She reminded me, in that respect, of Andie MacDowell who isn't strictly speaking an actress at all. But MacDowell had a sort of sweet dumb charm that Meghan Markle utterly lacked.

It's a strange Universe.

"It has a sweetly costume-ish look but I can't quite pin it down." - Mary Poppins?

I don't mind it, for the reasons others have articulated. I do wish she'd give her hair a bit of a trim though, it's so long. She probably secretly loves lording her luscious locks over her sister-in-law.

The coat Kate wore is a very nice colour but indeed a bit nanny esque or like Mary Poppin,

R575 - Poppins, could be . . . if so, it IS inspired in its unconscious message to the Great Unwashed!

Kate has trimmed the hair, the ingenue sausage curls are gone, and not a moment too soon, they were seriously twee, but it probably needs a monthly trim at least. And, yes, I would absolutely put money on her secret catty ennjoyment of flaunting her thick gorgeous hair over Meghan's struggles to disguise through hair weaves and brutal straightening her natural African-curled hair, which is also likely very breakable. Meghan's hair always looks like a tortured prisoner screaming to get out - someone should rescue it by urging her to go natural. I think she's wearing it very tightly pulled back and oiled for the most part these days because the chemicals needed to straighten it may be wise to avoid during pregnancy. You can also see lots of gray coming through in closeups of the pulled back hair.

I sense that Meghan "saves" her hair for special occasions. She'll wear it pulled back to give it a "rest," so that she can wear it loose and styled for certain events.

Eugenie and Jack's wedding outfits on display.

Meghan always seems to choose that severe pulled back look when she is with Harry, but on her own, whether it be an engagement or parrrtaying in NY, she's all about the weave.

Charles and Andrew on a rare joint public function. The nerd on the left is Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates.

Yesterday, sporty Kate played soccer, tried her hand at archery, canoed and pitched tents with children. She's got lots of energy.

The style isn't my favorite but I do like the color on Kate.

Good analysis, r570.

The Kate coat reminds me of Florence Nightingale.

Priyanka should be happy that grandstanding twat didn’t attend her wedding. Markle would have pulled some stunt to ensure she got more attention than the bride and groom.

I so loved Eugenies Wedding dress . She looked radiant and beautiful . It had a mediëval feel . Gorgeous is what i want to say .

Just watched a video of the king and queen of Jordan visiting her Majesty and princess Anne. It’s odd to see Anne curtsying to royalty that outranks her, but she just does it with no problem, like who cares, it’s just what you do. She would have made an interesting queen, I wish it were her instead of Charles up next.

Meghan didn't pay anything for the clothes, and of course they're not worth that. The prices are PR from the label.

Harry is in his own way as bad as Meghan. Didn't Steve Wynn comp his entire Vegas debacle? That's also against the rules, as it's not just gifts the BRF isn't supposed to accept, but services.

I’m confused. Is “merching” when you get the clothes for free in return for wearing them? Or are you actually paid to wear them on top of that. And if it’s the former, I presume Royals are not supposed to do that?

Kate is again overdressed with the blue coat, spike, and sapphire earrings. She needs her stylist back.

Andrew Morton and Samantha, two great tastes that taste great together:

[quote]FRIDAY 1ST MARCH AT 9PM ON CHANNEL 5

[quote]Documentary exploring the story of Meghan Markle's family, revealing why her mother Doria was the only relative present at her wedding to Prince Harry, with her father Thomas unusually absent. The programme features contributions by half-sister Samantha and unofficial royal biographer Andrew Morton, and examines the stories of her nephew and half-brother's brushes with the law. Despite numerous pleas for a reconciliation from her father Meghan has not relented, though did communicate in a heart-felt letter recently leaked to the press.

Merching can be either paid to wear it or just free clothes in return for the name check and PR. What she gets looks like the latter since most of it comes through Mulroney. Obviously she also has an agreement with Clarie Wright Keller of Givenchy. I would guess that's also quid pro quo and not paying Meghan.

When they send a stylist and make-up person across with the clothing items, then I suspect they have paid her and want to be sure to get bang for buck.

The thing is, I believe all the royals cheat the rules. Certainly Harry. We already know Harry was comped for his Las Vegas debauchery, and I doubt he got a drinks and accomodations invoice the times he partied at Soho house and certainly not when he goes on his frequent disappearing acts to wherever in Botswana. He also blatantly merched the London gym he pretends to go to - papped coming and going, and then immediately the exclusive status and hefty monthly fee was distributed, along with other helpful detail. And Prince Edward seems to think he is much higher up than he is with the number of times he uses helicopters and private aircraft. That said, they also do the royal thing appropriately. They know how to be on task and behave during engagements, so the side line perks remain at least someone discreet. Meghan abandons all pretense, doesn't care if her clothes match the occasion (and especially her shoes) and just merches her ass off. She's unabashed. She treats her engagements like the red carpet. Some of the media have said they love that she stops and poses for the cameras after she arrives. Well fuck YES, she is getting the shots of the clothes - that's her REAL job.

Merching is the main way that social influencers e.g. media whores earn their living. Companies hone in on "celebrities" with large number of followers, offer them deals that basically pay them to advertise products on their posts like they're doing PSA to benefit their followers. It has the added component of allowing the celeb posting this shit to wear or own the products. It's very deceptive yet out in the open, but people are dumb enough to think these celebs give any fucks about followers. It's all about money.

Has anyone seen this video? Sorry if it has been posted here before, but I came across this on yt in my recommended videos list.

Eugenie's was my favourite royal wedding dress by miles. Ironic, given that she and Beatrice have such a reputation for fashion missteps!

Interesting post, R531. I had always assumed Diana would find Kate dull and envy her popularity, but you make a good case.

Kate's coat, today, was straight out of Madam e Maxime's Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.

I see Kate admired a baby in Ireland, and said it made her feel "broody" (another bovine term along with "bump" and "heavily pregnant," if you ask moi), which of course made headlines. Hmm, for her to say that is rather a Meghan move.

Is there a part 25 up

Part 25.