Is Prince Harry preparing royal protocol for an engagement announcement?

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I’m already super-happy whenever there’s any news about Cressida Bonas. I’m still trying to suss out her personality. Is she a quiet, Waity-type? Is she a boho-chic aristocrat who wears scrunchies ironically? Is she a cool girl and an easy beauty that we will all fall in love with when she marries Prince Harry? So many questions. Anyway, following last week’s story about Cressida and Harry basically moving in together (or at the very least, Cressida has part of a closet at Kensington Palace), there are some new stories making the rounds about how Harry has already proposed? Sort of?

Prince Harry has reportedly commenced “royal marriage protocols”. The 29-year-old British royal is in a relationship with dancer Cressida Bonas. And according to reports, he may have already proposed to the aristocratic socialite.

“But first he needs to go through certain royal protocols, such as asking his grandmother’s permission,” an insider explained of the marital approval procedure.

“Palace sources say there’s not been a formal request made to her majesty yet, but the fact we’re hearing about it means it’s likely he’s already popped the question and they’re waiting until all the boxes are ticked before formally announcing it.”

Apparently the entire royal family fully supports a union between Prince Harry and Cressida. Even matriarch Queen Elizabeth II is said to be rooting for a wedding to take place.

“It’s no secret the queen would dearly love to see her roguish grandson settle down, and she thinks Cressy is his ideal match,” the source detailed. “She likes that [Cressy] comes from a good family, plus she has a twinkle in her eye that reminds [the queen] of her sister, the late Princess Margaret.”

Harry’s brother Prince William welcomed son George with his wife Catherine Middleton seven months ago.

It’s claimed becoming an uncle has opened his eyes to the kind of future he could potentially share with Cressida.

“Seeing how happy his brother is now and how amazing his nephew is, Harry wants all that for himself,” the insider said.

[From People South Africa]

Ah, yes. Harry would be the one to marry a girl who reminded the Queen of Princess Margaret. I’m not sure that’s a swinging endorsement of Cressida, by the way. While the Queen was fond of her sister, not many people were fond of Margaret. She was actually something of a nightmare, from what I’ve read. Now, that being said, there is a protocol to royal engagements, and yes, Harry would have to tell the Queen and his father before announcing an engagement. I’m not sure how Charles feels about Cressida (the tabloids try to make it sound like he’s not a fan, but Charles did date Cressida’s mother at one point), but I know the Queen favors longer relationships. Cressida and Harry haven’t been together for even two years. Will the Queen think an engagement is coming too soon?

Meanwhile, Prince Harry is going to be representing the Queen in London at the Westminster “national service of thanksgiving” for Nelson Mandela. That will be held next week, on Monday. We’re going to be ass-deep in Oscar coverage, so we’ll probably cover the photos later on the week. I doubt Cressida will be there. Too bad.

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Photos courtesy of WENN, Pacific Coast News.

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183 Responses to “Is Prince Harry preparing royal protocol for an engagement announcement?”

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  1. thinkaboutit says:

    She seems so frail and dresses so terribly. Those are my only impressions of her.

  2. Sophie says:

    woah woah woah, Charles dated Cressida’s mother??

    British aristocracy is so weird

    • Alina says:

      Charles dated a lot of aristo-society women (even Dianas older sister).
      He also dated the mother of Chris O`Neil (the husband of Princess Madeleine of Sweden). They all date in their tiny posh circles…it´s kind of meh

    • Narak says:

      Camilla’s mother was a mistress to a king and her aunt, Violet Keppel was briefly mistress to king Henry as well as being madly in love with Vita Sackville-West.

      • LadySlippers says:

        Not Camilla’s mother. Her great-grandmother was Alice Keppel and she was mistress to Edward VII.

        King Henry? There hasn’t been one of those since the Tudors…

    • Decloo says:

      I think Cressy’s mother tended to get around, if you know what I mean.

  3. Neffie says:

    Yeah we don’t know her personality but she reminds me of a younger Princess Di,she seems fragile and would be like a deer caught in head lights when the press really start going in.

  4. Allie says:

    I don’t like her, but its hard to put my finger on why. I miss Chelsy.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      I don’t dislike her, exactly, but I haven’t been able to muster up much enthusiasm for this marriage, either. I think he’s madly in love with her, but for some reason, I think she likes him a lot and sees this as a good gig. I think he really wants to get married, but she’s not the right one. I base this on a gut feeling, nothing more, admittedly.

      • TG says:

        I am with @Goodnamesalltaken and @Allie- I feel the same way. I don’t have any real reason for not liking her she just doesn’t seem right for Harry. She has zero presence. Plus her team put out press that she is the one who isn’t sure as if it is Harry pressuring her. As if. I want him to be with a very strong independent minded woman. Also one that actually works whether that be charity or some real job.

      • blue marie says:

        I agree with the first part, but I haven’t really seen them together so I dunno how they are with each other. She’s cute, but it seems a bit fast.

      • Rockymtnprincess says:

        Scrunchies and tiaras don’t go well together.

      • mayamae says:

        I’m not sure why I don’t like her, but I always find it irritating when someone this plain is named a raving beauty. She’s pleasant enough to look at and there’s nothing wrong with that. She always seems to be laughing hilariously at something with her shoulders all hunched over. I would never have guessed she’s a dancer by her posture. Is she tall? I’m 5’9″, and it can be very tempting to shrink yourself down a little to seem shorter.

    • FLORC says:

      Allie
      If you miss Chelsey that’s probably why you don’t like her.
      Chelsey is a glorified memory at this point. We liked her because she was never going to fit well with Harry.

      • bluhare says:

        Agree, except I don’t think it was Harry she wasn’t going to fit well with . . . suspect it was the stultifying institution.

        It’s interesting that none of the non-royal brides (with the exception of Sophie and she had issues at first) fared that well.

      • FLORC says:

        Bluhare
        I think she knew in time Harry would have to take on more duties and he would be very much a part of the stifling institution she ran from.
        When they dated they were young and wealthy. The world is perfect and responsibilities aren’t breathing down your neck as heavily.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Sorry FLORC
        Sorry but not quite it. Sounds romantic but the truth is Harry was wild about Chels but not wild enough to stop partying it up every time she went home. At one point she and her girlfriends went out clubbing to celebrate the fact that she had told Harry it was over because he didn’t make her a priority. Her friends bought her drinks and tried to cheer her up. Harry was angry and embarassed because without warning she changed her relationship status to single on facebook. I loved Chels!

    • Zadie says:

      I don’t like her because of her background. I wanted a working class princess with an university degree and a proper job. Call me shallow, but there it is.

  5. mayamae says:

    Is being rich all that’s required to be a “good family”? I’ve never heard anything but bad about her family – not that she’s responsible for her parents’ behavior.

    • Mich says:

      Old + titled = good family. Skeletons in the closet need not be considered.

    • Tapioca says:

      You have to be rich for a number of generations.

      She’s just so “blah” – I kinda wish he’d gone for either someone who’d truly achieved in life (on her own two feet) or one of Leo’s VS cast-offs. The Kate-Mrs. Harry fashion-off would have been spectacular…

      • TG says:

        Yes we need Harry to marry someone who is on top of their fashion to shake Kate out of her boringness and this absurd thing of repeating dresses as if we are supposed to believe she is being cost conscious. Would love to see The Duchess step it up. The cat claws coming out would be awesome. But I fear it would just turn into a thin-off. Their idea of the best dressed would be who can out thin the other.

      • FLORC says:

        How she dresses now is not a good indicator of how she’ll dress once married in. IMO anyways.
        I think she’ll take to it a bit better and Harry seems more caring than William. He will make sure she’s not left on her own to sink or swim.

        I do think Kate’s frame will be engagement size again and we’ll get a lot of images of her sneering in Cressidas direction.

      • CynicalCeleste says:

        I kind of love cressy’s goofy style and hope she can at least retain it as things progress, though i agree, it would be amazing if she were to mature into really sophisticated, off-the-wall couture. alas, once a princess of the UK she’ll likely end up in tasteful coat dresses, black tights and boring pumps.

  6. MrsBPitt says:

    Does it seem like Harry does many more public duties, than William and Kate? Not that I’m complaining, I would much rather see Harry, but I thought he was “the spare”! I hope the palace isn’t pressuring Harry to marry to curb his wild ways, that is just a recipe for disaster!

    • Nikkie says:

      Yes Harry does more public appearances than lazy Wills and Waity. I like that about him. Yes he is a party boy but when it comes to doing his duties, he is always present and with a happy face. I think the Queen noticed too so she seems to be sending him out as her replacement when it should be Wills.

      P.S. I like Cressida Bonas. I think she will be more involved just like Harry.

  7. henrietta says:

    She looks like a young Camilla Parker Bowles in the bottom pic

    • Dame Snarkweek says:

      Jesus.

      • Mel says:

        Camilla was renowned as super-sexy when she was younger – and a looker, too.
        I don’t see Cressida as sexy at all, so… she should be so lucky.
        But I understand the OP wasn’t talking about sexiness, only looks.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        That is some serious shade.

      • Suze says:

        Camilla was one of the “sexy Shands” when she was young. She was hardly considered ugly.

    • Flower says:

      Looks have very little to do with sex appeal. I’m sure every one of us knows very ordinary looking women who attract men like flies, no discernible difference from any other average women, not better educated, not smarter, not classier,more beautiful,more articulate or more glamorous than the woman standing next to her but for some reason men find them irresistible. Camilla was one of those women.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Good point. I have only seen pictures of her, and have always found her homely, even when she was young. But I do know what you mean about sex appeal being a quality that has very little to do with looks.

    • Ladies of Lavender says:

      @Henrietta I did have the same thought re: Camilla.

  8. Esmom says:

    I don’t know, based on what I’ve seen of her personal style, I don’t think she wears those scrunchies ironically.

    And Henrietta, now that you mention the resemblance to Camilla, I can’t unsee it. It seems likely there’s some shared DNA.

    • Nerd Alert says:

      Are we calling giant fake flower clips scrunchies now, or does she just have a full-on accessory problem? Girl looks like she bought all the Penny Blossoms.

      • Esmom says:

        No she has been spotted wearing actual scrunchies. Never a good look in any circumstance. Those flowers are pretty cheesy too.

      • Nerd Alert says:

        Thanks! I was genuinely curious–I haven’t been following her. Sounds like girlfriend has a full-on accessory problem!

    • frisbeejada says:

      shared DNA – the British aristocracy are so interbred it’s a miracle they don’t all pop out cross eyed, six fingered and playing a banjo…

  9. LadySlippers says:

    Personally I call BS on the story for lots of reasons.

  10. BendyWindy says:

    I’m not feeling her. I do wonder if the press will turn on her a la The Duchess of Pork.

    • LadySlippers says:

      Probably about 1-2 years. It depends on whether or not she really ‘works’ the press and the public to get some good will banked before the press turns. Plus, she can’t hand the press nuggets to tear her down either.

      • FLORC says:

        Do you think an earlier attack will be launched via Middleton press friends? I’m wondering if as early as 6 months in we’ll start getting the Cressida vs Kate stories.

      • LadySlippers says:

        @Florc: I don’t know. I don’t think so though. I could be wrong but I don’t think so. I have never gotten the same negative vibe from them that others get so I don’t know.

        **ETA**
        I think the press will create and fuel the ‘dueling women’ stories. *eye roll* Even if they are good friends we’ll hear how they hate one another.

      • FLORC says:

        I hope no one is shocked when theose stories start trickling in.

      • Suze says:

        Yes it will be dueling duchesses.

        The blonde versus the brunette.

        The middle class gel (sorta) versus the “aristocrat” (sorta)

        Fun loving versus duty bound.

        Oh, the list writes itself.

      • herladyship says:

        I, for one, cannot wait to hear about the dueling duchesses.. Kate twirls her hair while Cressy charms the crowds..

  11. nicole says:

    She looks like a young Sophie, Countess of Wessex. As much as I miss Chelsy, I like was Cressy brings to the table. I want to see her give up the maxi dresses for formal occasions. Please let there be an engagement soon! This winter has been brutally cold and I’m running out of entertainment.

    • Zadie says:

      What does she bring to the table?

      • TG says:

        Nothing and Cressy is not aging well. She looks like she will have a hag face in no time. Also do the Aristo’s dress majorly bad on purpose? Is it because they have centuries of power and belonging bred into their bones that they don’t have to be fashion conscious since they already belong? Or do they dress in an ironic fashion on purpose? Because Cressy’s clothes look like they came from Wal-Mart from the 80’s.

  12. m says:

    I know someone who served with Harry in Afghanistan and I know for a fact that he was single during his time there so he Cressida have barely been together a year.
    Their whole relationship honestly just seems off. They are rarely seen together and then they are, they are never alone without a couple friends. Frankly, she seems more like an in-between girlfriend or a friend with benefits rather than a serious girlfriend.

    • LadySlippers says:

      I can see her being serious with Harry. We might not see or hear a lot about them if Harry is shielding her. But that’s part of the reason I call BS on the story, not much has leaked out in terms of real info and this just doesn’t sound right. IF he is shielding her and their relationship — why would something this big make it out into public domain when not much else has?

    • FLORC says:

      m
      They’ve known eachother for some time. Cressida is in well with Eugenie and Beatrice.
      And Harry can keep a secret. If he didn’t want anyone to know then they wouldn’t know. It seems because they’ve een under the radar many people believe they just haven’t been a couple. Secrets can be kept if no one alerts the paps.

      • LAK says:

        I think M is saying that they weren’t a couple before Afghanistan whilst many people seem to think that they were.

        Richard Branson also said they weren’t a couple during the Vegas shenanigans, but again people don’t believe that.

        I don’t think M is disputing whether Cressida knew Harry at all in general terms, only the start of any romantic relationship, the reality of which is still up in the air.

      • FLORC says:

        Hmm.. Thanks LAK
        I didn’t get that impression in reading M’s post, but i’ve misunderstood before. Sure I will again.

        And no disputing they were off for Vegas.
        I just remember before Vegas Harry said if it didn’t work out with Cressida he’d give up dating women. This was much to the delight of Michael on D-listed wishing a quick end to Cressida. And this was much before anyone really had Cressida on their radar.

  13. bettyrose says:

    Ruuuun Cressy!!

    • linnja says:

      Yes she’s to Young to fragile and to cute. The press will make a number on her, not good. ´She seems to be a free spirit and she honestly reminds me of Diana.

      • bettyrose says:

        Plus…sounds like her mother and sister both turned down offers from the Windsor men, which is not a good sign.

      • LadySlippers says:

        @bettyrose: Charles had A LOT of flings. A LOT a lot so I wouldn’t take that as anything more than what a fling implies.

    • bettyrose says:

      @ladyslippers…still not a good sigm though. 😉

      • bluhare says:

        You know, bettyrose, as I think about it it might not be so bad. At least Cressida can’t say she didn’t know anything going in if her mother knew Charles and Isabella William.

        Assuming she’s going in, that is.

  14. Neffie says:

    I thought Harry would ‘rebel’ and marry a sista. Now wouldn’t it be something if a ‘high ranking’ royal member married another race.

    • BendyWindy says:

      I don’t see that happening in my lifetime. If anything I think maybe someone of mixed heritage, probably white and Asian like Alexa Chung.

    • MonicaQ says:

      I would’ve grabbed the biggest tub of Popcorn and the loudest folding chair, slammed the latter down, start munching on the former and bellow “DIS GON BE GUD” like a ninny. It’d never never happen but damnit I like to dream.

    • Dame Snarkweek says:

      It could be the silver bullet to finally overtake those damn Windsor genes. Imagine a tawny, hazel-eyed little biracial princess with a halo of cappuccino colored curls. That would be awesome, right. Not going tohappen, though. Could we at least have a love child?

      • LadySlippers says:

        Dame, I’m thinking nothin’ can cover them damn ugly Windsor genes. Nothin’!

        😉

      • mayamae says:

        I thought Harry had escaped, but it’s as if his eyes are growing closer together and he somehow looks like Charles. William was gorgeous for a while, and then the same thing. It’s strange.

      • LAK says:

        Those Windsor genes are hardcore. Require nuclear grade outside genes to overcome them.

        On the subject of mixed race, we may already have had a ‘mixed’ race Queen. Look up portraits of Queen Charlotte, wife of George III.

        I’m sure those with more precise knowledge of her background will add information as to whether or not she was truly mixed race, but her portraits show someone who may have been.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        “Require nuclear grade outside genes to overcome them.”

        LMAO!

    • vangroovey says:

      Ha! MET TOO! Or, at least I hoped he would marry “not a wasp”.

    • bluhare says:

      Viscount Weymouth caught a lot of flak for marrying a (gorgeous!) black woman not too long ago, and he isn’t even Marquess yet.

    • SonjaMarmeladova says:

      Princess Angela of Liechtenstein is black, isn’t she?

    • TG says:

      I always wonders but adoption? Are royals allowed to adopt? If so can the adopt a baby of another race? Can the heir to the throne adopt?

      • LAK says:

        i’m not aware that there is a specific law that bans them from adoption though i’m sure that there are royal rules that might prevent it. I am not aware that it’s been tested before, so who knows?

        However, the one very clear rule about inheritance and succession means that the adopted child will not be in the line of succession and any inheritance is a private provision by the adoptive parents from their private funds.

      • Flower says:

        No laws or rules about adoption for the royals. However an adopted child could not inherit the throne or a title, they must be ‘born of the body’. Titles would slip sideways to brothers or nephews if there were no other children. I do wonder how that particular paragraph of the title laws would be interpreted if a surrogate child was born to a royal couple, after all the flesh and blood (DNA) would be from the royal parents who used a third party incubator.

      • LAK says:

        Flower: I don’t think the law has caught up with modern times.

        Personally, that’s why I took issue with the revised inheritance law (which isn’t law yet). There are so many areas that need updating, but we’re simply ignored and now we are stuck in stale mate.

        For now, since the ‘of body’ part of the law hasn’t been touched, a surrogate remains out of the question even if DNA belongs to royal couple.

        Don’t forget that ‘of body’ works in tandem with ‘in legal marriage’. A surrogate automatically cancels out the second part and thus the baby, though 100% royal DNA, is illegitimate which automatically disinherits it.

      • LadySlippers says:

        Note: Adopted children DO get courtesy titles of the adopted parents. No idea if that extends to make a prince or a princess as most adopted children come from the aristos.

        Jamie Lee Curtis is married to Baron Haden-Guest — so she’s Lady Haden-Guest! 🙂
        Here’s an explanation of their children’s titles on his page.
        It sounds as if the Letters Patent that created the title allowed for adopted children to inherit — they could. But most aren’t written up that way.

        From Wiki:

        ‘Guest married actress Jamie Lee Curtis in 1984 at the home of their mutual friend Rob Reiner. They have two adopted children: Anne (born 1986) and Thomas (born 1996). Because Guest’s children are adopted, they cannot inherit the family barony under the terms of the letters patent that created it, though a 2004 Royal Warrant addressing the style of a peer’s adopted children states that they can use courtesy titles. The current heir presumptive to the barony is Guest’s younger brother, the actor The Hon. Nicholas Haden-Guest’

    • karmasabiatch! says:

      That will *never* happen. EVAH.

  15. aquarius64 says:

    Shouldn’t Harry lock down the queen’s permission before proposing? The queen may not like this girl or her family.

    • LadySlippers says:

      Technically, Harry is over 25 so he can bypass the Sovereign’s permission and get parliamentary approval. And the permission is now really a formality anyway, it’s not like way back when and the Soveriegn would say no.

      But a beef of mine with this article (it’s from People South Africa) is that all this would happen and we, the general public, would know nothing for weeks. This type of info is kept very hush hush.

      I look at the source — we’ve had fantastic Royal news that broke (and was true) in Australia but cannot recall a scoop this big from either People (in any country) and/ or a news source from South Africa. So I conclude that this must have been a very slow news day.

    • FLORC says:

      If this story is to be believed then Harry is already doing quite well. At least the Queen has been notified and not informed minutes bfore the world is told.

  16. P.J. says:

    I kind of really like this match-for dating. Cressy seems sweet, fun, lighthearted and loves to love life much like our beloved Prince H 😊 And even though her family is known to be the very much the ‘anti’ artistocratic aristocrats (Trustfarians so to speak), at the end of the day she IS a blue blood and is already very much up on all the ways of schmoozing, etiquette and fancy pants protocols- girlfriend knows how to straighten up and fly right when necessary. Again, she share’s this trait with Harry. The fact that word on the street is that Kate-a nuveau riche ‘commoner’ Lol-thinks Cressida is beneath her and Cressy allegedly majorly ruffles her feathers is just a hilarious added bonus; the stories in the press would be INCREDIBLE 😄 (I’ve always been under the impression that the Duchess of Cambridge that’s presented publically is a very carefully put together and fragile Royal lab creation-from her diction, false accent to her uncomfortable looking mannerisms- that has the potential to shatter at any moment given the right stressor.)

    All that said, I do worry that what Harry really wants a sweet, fun but moldable women to settle down and raise a family with and may not have found that here. Meaning, I think he likely wants a lady to hold down the fort during a marriage while to a degree, he gets to continue being the “party prince.” Cressy and Harry are reportedly completely one in the same which is while they work so well-for now. Though she may have already given up her dance career for him I don’t see her being willing to play the part of silent obedient wife in a marriage. At all. In essence, I think our boy probably wants to date a Cressy but marry a “Kate”. Unfortunately he probably just expects the “fun” “wild” girl the he’s so crazy about now to morph into June Cleaver as soon as the ring goes on. (See also: Katy Perry & Russel Brand) Big mistake if this is the case…

    • Joy says:

      Amen on the fake accent. I’ve said it before but listen to her accent and then her sister’s. HUGE difference.

  17. ro says:

    All I have to say is “run Cresside, run!!!!” Like Kate, she has the connections to have her pick of rich aritocrats and be able to live comfortably without the scrutiny of royal life. Albeit Harry is a better catch (looks, personality) than William, but seriously, who wants to deal with all the bs that goes along with it.

  18. Dame Snarkweek says:

    They will marry in a flurry of goodwill, being touted as the modern, casual, light-hearted alternative to dull, sluggish WillKat. Evrything Cressy says and does every second of every day will be splashed across the media as fresh and young and she will be christened as the *real* Diana successor. Of course Kate will be painted as the stiff, artificial mannequin in contrast who is consumed with jealousy and feels shunned/threatened. Fast forward and the babies start arriving for both princesses. Cressy will be hailed as a perfect, natural mother with a laid back approach to parenting. It will be awhile longer before people notice the weight loss and puffy eyes or figure out that Harry is neck deep in engagements that often take him to Africa (and perhaps Las Vegas).
    They may find their footing but I do not get warm fuzzies when I look at this couple. The poor lamb probably thinks she will be an equal partner.

    • Ms. Turtle says:

      Your comment, whilst I suspect is for fun & snark, rings truest. Whomever he chooses, the poor girl will automatically be at odds with Kate in the press. We haven’t come that far, folks.

    • Sharon Lea says:

      Yes, Dame Snarkweek, you have hit the nail on the head! The tabloid press will paint whoever Harry marries as opposite everything Kate, whether true or not.

      Like others, I’m not sure Harry will marry this girl. I feel there is another relationship, the next one, he will marry.

    • Dame Snarkweek says:

      Madame Turtle
      Fun. Snark. The truth.
      Sad but very, very likely. But between Kate and Cressy I think Cressy would start nipping gin before 5 o’clock before Kate in order to cope.
      Okay, this last part was snark.

      • Cazzee says:

        Supposedly the late, great Queen Mother used to go through a fifth of hard liquor a day while maintaining a grueling schedule of events. As long as Cressie keeps showing up where she’s expected and seems sober enough, nobody in that family in that family is going to say anything! 🙂

      • Suze says:

        Dear god, let’s hope so. Flasks sewn into the wedding gown! Drinkies hidden in the window ledges of Buck House. Bottles of gin hidden in the crooks of trees during the local hunt.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Grey goose in Evian bottles! But yes, the QM had a morning toddy, exactly two glasses of pink champagne at lunch, highballs at 5 and a bottle and a half of her favorite claret with dinner. One of her equirys wasnt a big drinker and worried if he could keep up. I am a lightweight also. All I can say is that there would be a lot of booze in the palace houseplants when no one was looking.

      • Suze says:

        @Dame Snarkweek

        I got drunk reading that.

        I, too, am not a drinker. I could not hang with the royals.

  19. Dani says:

    She has the worst fashion sense. I don’t think she’ll be able to handle the press, honestly.

    • Enid says:

      Honestly, I think that she will be able to handle the press and likely manipulate them in her favor. One thing people forget is a degree in Dance or Theatre often includes things like Public Relations.

      I don’t think she is nearly as fragile as everyone thinks she is. She auditioned and was accepted to a prestigious dance school. That takes some fairly thick skin to get through those processes.

      • LadySlippers says:

        People really forget this about her.

      • Liberty says:

        Okay, a friend in London who has a bit of an insider track tells me Cressida is considered sweet, friendly and down-to-earth, someone who is very positive and enjoys life, yet has focus re her work and a serious side, “knows who she is and what she believes” — i.e., will go along if she decides she is willing, but will draw the line at being railroaded. Hmm. Time will tell.

      • Suze says:

        The woman is an actress. She performed her college production of Othello at the Edinburgh Festival – playing Desdemona, no less.

        http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/who-prince-harrys-new-girlfriend-1721525

        She auditioned and got in to a difficult graduate program. I think her skin is probably much thicker than folks realize.

        On the negative side, there’s that mother of hers and her pesky dissolute family. So who knows what lurks in Watercress’ heart of hearts? Crazy dissolution? A world of steel? A purely fly by night socialite without a brain in her head and no will to work?

        Until she does something noteworthy as a royal she’s just blonde duchess to moi.

  20. RedWeatherTiger says:

    I would love to see just a few pictures of them together. Mayeb I could feel her more if I could actually imagine it. As it is, I can’t. She is always pictured coming or going from weddings in bad outfits…at least Kate got to escort Wills to various functions when they were dating. Of course, she had almost a decade to get in there, but still. We got used to seeing Kate by his side. Cress just seems like anyone they could have plucked from the field of blue-bloods-who-attend-society-weddings.

    • LadySlippers says:

      Actually, true and not true. Kate and William came and left separately for formal events (at weddings for example) even though people knew they were dating. When Kate and William did arrive at a wedding together it sparked rumours of an engagement which was true. They went to casual things together and that’s what I’m guessing you are thinking of.

      • RedWeatherTiger says:

        Yes, not necessarily weddings. We saw pics of Kate at his graduation from somewhere or another (was it their St. Andrews graduation? I think not…maybe a military appointment or some such?). They vacationed together. We saw them being a couple long before they got engaged.

  21. pleaseicu says:

    What’s the difference between Cressida and Kate, outside of Cressida’s aristo ties and being younger than Kate? She’s been waiting less time than Kate? Kate never pursued a dream or career, William and the title appeared to be her dream, but this young woman appears to have abandoned her dreams of a dance career to wait for Harry. She also has turned a blind eye to his wandering eye. Does she do charity work or have causes she’s passionate about? Does she have other interests that occupy her time, outside of her new “job” with the flexible Harry-friendly schedule?

    I’m serious. I’m genuinely curious how Cressida is so different since the tone in the press narrative about her is that she’s such an upgrade for the royal family from the likes of Chelsy and even Kate. But from the outside and what, admittedly little, I’ve read so far there appears to be very little difference between the Kate/Cressida.

    • Bridget says:

      Easy. Cressida’s family has always had awesome PR controlling their narrative. Trashy family is now ”bohemian”. Actress sister is now ”one that got away” from William despite never dating him. Cressida is a serious dancer and not interested in the spotlight and hesitant about her relationship with Harry, despite giving up dance to wait for him while constantly dribbling info.

      • Jegede says:

        @Bridget – You’ve got it point blank.

        Just don’t forget that ALL stories pointing out anything shady or hungry about the Bonas Clan are, to have been sourced from those “ghastly arriveste Middletons”, and not people with their own eyes and ears.

      • pleaseicu says:

        Her family has their own PR too? Interesting. So she is playing the Kate/Middleton game. She/her family’s just better at it thanks to a better PR team controlling her narrative in the press. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

      • LadySlippers says:

        I don’t think the extended Bonas clan has PR people but it wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t have friends in the media and elsewhere. Just like I don’t think the Middleton’s have PR people — they have friends that help out when needed but no one on payroll (I’m sure PP has media/PR people but I meant the family not the business).

      • pleaseicu says:

        Ah, okay. Friends in the right places and whatnot? Willing to act as an anonymous “source”? That type of thing? Thanks for the info LadySlippers.

      • LadySlippers says:

        @pleaseicu: Exactly! Friends in the right places help out a great many people connected to the BRF — no firms hired or anything that formal. (One exception is when Charles hired a PR form to rehabilitate his image post divorce)

        🙂

      • Bridget says:

        Let me clarify. I don’t think they’ve actually gone out and hired a PR person. But they’ve clearly gotten good advice for years, whether from friends in PR or other friends in the media. There is most definitely a skilled hand at work.

      • LadySlippers says:

        Most aristo families have long established networks in place so I don’t doubt they have friends in ‘high places’.

        But I guarantee that we’ll start seeing the bloom fall off the rose in a few years time. Even the mighty, mighty Spencer’s were not immune to the nasty British press. People forget that the British press is an equal opportunity employer — she’ll get thrown under the bus soon enough.

    • LadySlippers says:

      Actually, in the beginning the British press is usually quite nice to any person dating a Royal. Kate’s press initially, was also very positive and upbeat until ‘The Big Break-up’ in 2007. The press and public had started to sour as early as 2006 but really got nasty in 2007. So just wait — Cressida and her family are in in the honeymoon phase now — it never lasts long. That is something you can bank on.

  22. Other Renee says:

    Do you really see this seemingly immature girl as a royal wife and mother anytime soon?? Especially the mother part… Just not feeling it. I get the feeling that her reluctance is part of Harry’s attraction to her. Men like the chase. Harry’s used to women throwing themselves at him. Of course he wants the one who didn’t.

    • FLORC says:

      Seemlingly immature? You really have to let the tabloids think for you to believe that.

      Truth is with this we know nothing and assume everything. Most of these stories are not to be believed.
      Thinking outside the box I think they’re solid. They’re just not leaking as much info as we had with Kate so we start to doubt a real relationship if it’s not in our faces with details.

      • Bridget says:

        I don’t know how solid I would characterize any relationship with prince Harry, just considering how much he travels and how much he parties. I think Cressida’s status as his bona fide is solid, though. She’s playing it better than Kate ever did, but this girl wants the ring.

      • LadySlippers says:

        @Bridget: He doesn’t party as much as the press reports. The partying is glorified or flat out created because he’s ‘The Party Prince’ but it’s a story that’s created to sell papers.

      • Bridget says:

        It isn’t necessarily that he’s out at clubs every night, but h’s not exactly staying at home watching Netflix on the couch for the last year or two. He’s always been a work hard, play hard kind of guy.

      • LadySlippers says:

        Plenty of people work & play hard that are also fantastic family men.

      • Bridget says:

        Apparently the Powers That Be really like Harry and Cressie together, because my comments are being deleted. My initial point was actually replying to someone’s commwnt that Harry and Cressida are ”solid”, which has either been edited, deleted, or I replied to the wrong thing.

      • FLORC says:

        Bridget
        Harry will always have his faults exploited. That he still looks quite good speaks to how well he does act. The press really have to work hard to make him look worse than William.
        Meanwhile William, who needs to look great, is always caught partying or trying to avoid his family and duties. If borthers acted the same and roles were reversed Harry would be a saint and William would look absolutely terrible.

        Images are sold to us and the papers are not to be so easily believed.

      • bluhare says:

        I think I agree, FLORC. The dearth of press reports points to her favor I think. She’s not photographed often at all, considering the profile of her boyfriend.

      • LadySlippers says:

        @Brigdet: Several of my posts today have disappeared as well. So it’s not just you.

        As for Harry & Cressida being ‘solid’ I don’t know one way or another as there isn’t much *good* info out there. Dating, yes. Getting hitched soon? No clue.

      • Bridget says:

        Cressida is playing it well, but lets get real: we’re getting info. There’s no radio silence with this relationship, so much as sparingly given details. We know their Valentine’s plans, we get occasional updates about the status of their relationship… The only reason why we assume that Cressida is ‘above’ playing the press game is because of her upper class background. Rather, they’re just really good at it.

        And personally, I don’t think Harry as Party Prince is merely a press creation… The Wales boys have always run in a hard-partying crowd.

      • LadySlippers says:

        @Bridget: I don’t disagree that the boys don’t party — they do. But when Harry was *three* he got slapped with the label ‘playboy prince’ even though in the same article his teachers described him as shy. And how is any toddler/pre-schooler a playboy? He was three not thirty! So the press really plays on that aspect of Harry and have for ages. And most people forget that.

        As for Cressida and Harry. I think a lot of these ‘sources’ are bogus. Did Cressie’s brother talk to the press? Yes. Have other ‘insiders’ on both sides talked? Probably. But Cressie has been friends with the York princesses for some time now and knows how the game is played. I don’t think a lot of what we ‘know’ right now is very credible. (A few weeks ago Charles was putting a kibosh on the relationship and today he loves the relationship — and I thought both were fiction).

        Also important to note, the press has a tendency to create stories (this one for example) or recycle old quotes but it’s done in such a way that appears new. If you boiled down what we really know — it isn’t that much.

        ETA: If you go back to the beginning of William & Kate’s relationship you’ll see we only knew tidbits too. Which is why I don’t think this is much different than any other modern Royal relationship. Sophie & Edward were similar as well.

      • FLORC says:

        Bridget
        If you break it down to simple numbers of events/duties to number of parties/drinking nights out/vacations, etc…
        I bet Harry has far more dutie/working numbers to his party, vacation numbers.
        No doubt he vacations and parties, but I think he has a better understanding on that having a time and a place than his brother.
        To me as it is Harry seems to have a sense of duty and acks more like an heir While William is the complete opposite.
        LS
        I remember reading those reports (years later since Harry is older than I).

    • TG says:

      I don’t even believe there is reluctance on her part. I think that is part if her long game, or in her case, short game to becoming a Princess.

  23. SoCal says:

    HRH Cressida, Duchess of Sussex…has a nice ring to it lol

    • LadySlippers says:

      Actually, it would just be HRH the Duchess of Sussex (or whatever). You only place the name in front of a title (like you did) if there’s another woman with the same title and its to avoid confusion. So it’s only used for a divorcée or a widow (widows can also incorporate the word ‘dowager’ to indicate her status as a widow).

      People really started thinking this was normal for everyone after Diana adopted her new title post divorce.

      Divorced examples:
      *Diana, Princess of Wales
      *Sarah, Duchess of York
      *Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

      Widowed examples:
      *Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (Marina was a Greek Princess by birth so she can use her title in front of her name)
      *Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire (however she primarily uses the title The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire)

    • bluhare says:

      Too bad Wessex is taken . . . I can see Cressida a la Rapunzel with Harry riding up on a white charger.

      • LAK says:

        LOL!!

        On a serious note, I prefer Suffolk or Clarence. Harry ‘the party prince’ and Sussex would be too easy to rib and pun, we’d never hear the end of it.

      • LadySlippers says:

        Oh LAK, this is something you and I very much agree on. Tumblr has had a field day with any and all Sussex variations. Some are quite funny too! Lol

    • SoCal says:

      Thanks for the lesson LadySlippers lol. I only put Cressida, Duchess of Sussex because I always see Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex as it is on Wikipedia. I agree Sussex would be a never-ending joke on Harry because of the last three letters lol.

      So even though this is not accurate, I’m just having fun, I like this title better:

      HRH Cressida, Duchess of Clarence

      • bluhare says:

        I do too, SoCal. And the heck with accuracy! This is a gossip site, not history dot com.

      • LadySlippers says:

        You are very welcome. I totally understand that people now think Sophie, Countess of Wessex etc. is correct because that’s what we see.

        As for Sussex, Clarence, or Suffolk… I like Suffolk better than Sussex or even Clarence. Although to be perfectly honest I *really* would love to see a nod to Ireland, Wales, or Scotland in Harry’s ducal title (basically we have enough English titles already). And I know it’s a total pipe dream on my part but I’m gonna continue to dream! Lol But a lot of people think Sussex is a done deal (Cambridge was guessed for William way back in 2007).

        I try to educate when I can because a ton of people lurk on these sites and have an interest but don’t know a lot about Royals or the British Royal Family. And information can be empowering — especially with ‘goofy’ stuff like titles. (Not goofy but very confusing) Plus a gossip site can, and often is, a spring board for someone to get into a topic like the BRF.

  24. HoustonGrl says:

    Comes from a good family?! Why, because they are filthy rich? From what I heard, her mother has been married several times, had children with many men (not that there’s anything wrong with that), and posed naked in a magazine. Plus didn’t one of her step-dads die of a drug overdose? I’m sorry, but squeaky clean they are not.

    • bluhare says:

      The difference between Us and Them, HoustonGrl. We’d be trashy sluts, and they’re carefree and bohemian.

    • Suze says:

      I don’t think they are particularly rich anymore, but they are very good at marrying their daughters off to wealthy men.

      (Her ex-stepfather did commit suicide recently, but he was reportedly very ill. It was a sad situation.)

  25. Minxx says:

    Young, pretty, artistocratic, rich… and no fashion sense whatsoever. I don’t recall seeing her in a single decent outfit. I think that whole engagement story is totally made up. She’s way too young and they barely know each other, this is not happening. I’d LOVE for Harry to fall for a really fantastic girl with character and personality but I’m sure he’ll marry some bland, beautiful “leggy” aristo blonde.

  26. Ladies of Lavender says:

    Plain as a pike star Bonas? Not going to get engaged to Prince Harry. This is PR stuff.

  27. Other Renee says:

    Harry’s just a few months removed from Las Vegasgate. Not seeing marriage and babies anytime soon for the party Prince.

  28. Her Indoors says:

    Dear Brenda,

    I wouldn’t be too sure about favouring Cressy due to twinkliness of eyes.
    Remember the last one you thought was a “breath of fresh air?” Look how well that turned out, toe sucking et al.
    Can’t you just marry Red off to a relative? There must be some minor royal who will be happy to pose on his arm in return for squids and dresses (and ignore him shagging the house maids).
    Love to Phil and the kids,
    Your unwilling subject

    • FLORC says:

      Hmm… I haven’t seen a decent looking house maid in some time.

    • MinnFinn says:

      There must be a Knatchbull that Phil could fix up with Harry. Didn’t Phil point Charles to Knatchbull relative Amanda and then William to Alexandra?

    • Suze says:

      Considering the circles they run in, she probably is a relative.

      • FLORC says:

        How far removed is acceptable to marry for royals? Since it seems all too easily you could be dating your cousin. 3rd, 4th?

      • vangroovey says:

        The queen and her husband are second cousins, I believe.

      • LAK says:

        Vangroovey is right. so Alexandra Knatchbull isn’t off limits nor any Kent/Gloucester grandkids. Actually, if Harry doesn’t pick from that pool, George could very well do so.

        Maybe Dame Snarkweek will have her mixed race Queen if PGtips marries Senna Lewis, grand daughter of DoG.

  29. Maggie says:

    Is there an actual relationship or is this a made-up story by the press?

    • bluhare says:

      I think they’re in a relationship. They’ve been photographed together, and she’s not denying it which you’d think she would if they really weren’t seeing each other.

      • FLORC says:

        The press has been following this for far too long for it to be all fake. They chase their tails, but eventually they give up unless there is truth to it.

      • Victoria says:

        Why is Prince Andrew on a coffee date with Clooney’s ex gf *cough whore* now that’s juicy. And why is Fergie so skinny, she’s not promoting weight watchers… there’s some juicy gossip soon methinks!

  30. vangroovey says:

    I think they will eventually get married. My gut says they’re engaged already. I know that sounds crazy, but there is just something about how she is being handled in the press that makes me think this is a done deal. Almost like they are weening her in to media life.
    I don’t have an opinion of her either way, really. I don’t get a “smart” vibe; but I don’t get that from Harry either. And hey, not everyone is an intellectual. I’m not. But they strike me as particularly dumb for some reason. Also, and this is terrible and shallow — I know, I know — but I don’t find her attractive. There is one picture of her floating around on the Internets, where she is looking over her shoulder and has paint on her face, where she looks exquisite — but otherwise? Not so much. And I know that she is a natural blond, but for some reason her eyebrows always look dark to me….it’s weird. It’s distracting though.

  31. IB says:

    I just can’t get past her name…Cressida…Cressy. That’d be a dealbreaker right there if I were the Queen.

    And I always snigger when she is described as a dancer or that that is her job. Yeah right. As much a job as whatever Kate did “working” for her family.

  32. Victoria says:

    I love Harry but his hair looks like ginger astro turf there. hehe

    Cressy – I love how she placed that flower clip haphazardly and the scrunchies. She has such easy going hair-dos. Not try hard at all. Natural beauty.

  33. Bernardo says:

    Cressida is kind of a weird name. Too bad it’s not Christina, like the Queen Christina of Sweden. That would be perfect. A royal name fit for a true royal.