As we discussed yesterday, Meghan Markle was invited to the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, the annual royal tradition in which the Queen’s extended family gets to enjoy some time together in a more low-key way before the more rigid schedule of Christmas at Sandringham. I’ve been surprised by how quickly Meghan was accepted into the royal fold. Many royal experts claim that Meghan has been accepted so quickly because the Queen is so very fond of Harry, and so it follows that she’s very fond of Meghan. I disagree – I mean, I think the Queen adores Harry. But what we’re seeing with the royal reaction to Meghan is very, very different than anything else we’ve seen before. Even Diana wasn’t assimilated into the royal family with such speed and ease. Kate sure wasn’t. I don’t think Sophie (the Countess of Wessex) was either, although Sophie and the Queen are very close now, years later. So what is this really about? Ingrid Seward thinks she has an idea!
With Meghan Markle set to take part in the Christmas festivities at Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham home on December 25, insiders detect a softening of the monarch and the royal ways. At 91, the Queen has mellowed and is more realistic about the modern world, insiders and veteran royal watchers tell PEOPLE in this week’s issue. Which is why Meghan will break protocol to join her fiancé Prince Harry at the church service with the rest of the royal family on Christmas morning.
“It’s her age,” says Ingrid Seward, author of My Husband & I, a new biography of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. “She is easier-going. It’s refreshing that [the royal family] is prepared to bend a bit.”
And a friend of the family adds, “They are much more enlightened now.”
Back when Kate Middleton was engaged to Prince William in 2010, she did not join him for Christmas at Sandringham.
“Ms. Markle,” as the palace calls her, and Harry will stay at Anmer Hall, the 10-bedroom country home of William and Kate and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. After church, she will head to the “big house” (as it’s known in royal circles) for lunch with the Queen and the rest of the family.
I don’t think this is it either – the Queen is feeling her age more than ever, I have no doubt, and the Queen has fewer f–ks to give about protocols and such. But she’s still the friggin’ Queen and she still has rules. Meghan’s royal assimilation is being fast-tracked at every level. It’s almost like… the Windsors truly feel like she’s a breath of fresh air, and they’re all really eager to get her locked in. “ONE OF US,” they chanted at Buckingham Palace. “YOU WILL BECOME ONE OF US.”
The Daily Mail’s coverage of Meg’s first pre-Christmas lunch had the same vibe – sources say that the Windsors were super-eager to meet Meg and that many of them were “queuing up to meet the prince’s glamorous bride-to-be for the first time.” A source said:
“Everyone wanted to meet Meghan and welcome her to the family and she didn’t disappoint. She was obviously a bit nervous at first but she soon relaxed with Prince Harry’s help as he introduced her to everyone and then she really enjoyed it. Harry was clearly very happy and very proud of her and everyone thought she was delightful. It was your typical Christmas lunch in spite of who was there – turkey, crackers…the lot. ’
If they have turkey at the pre-Christmas lunch, what do they eat on Christmas day? Ham? Lamb? A good roast? TELL ME. As for Meghan enjoying herself… I think that’s one of the biggest differences. Meghan is actually excited to marry Harry and start her royal life. She doesn’t need years of princess lessons or a PR campaign to dampen expectations. There will be no whining from Meghan about “duty” – she’s going to enjoy being royal. She’ll enjoy doing the work. She thinks all of this is fun. I hope those Windsor vampires don’t suck all of the joy out of her.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I’m sure I’m wrong, but I thought it had more to do with Meghan’s biological clock. I also think they’re bending over backwards to be accommodating, because of the rumored racism of some of the members. The only thing I like about this marriage is the fact that Meghan is biracial.
That’s been my thought all along too. Leopards don’t change their spots.
+10000
Sophie was the same age as MM when she married Edward.
That’s a good sign considering they’re the only ones still married to their original spouse.
I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A YEAR. Meghan is 36 years old, and when she said “We’re not in any rush to have children” I thought the hell you’re not! Time to get to work, lady!
Harry always struck me as someone not wanting only two children like the others.
Question for those in the know – Has anyone in the BRF ever used in vitro? Not saying Meghan and Harry will need that option, but just wondering.
Sophie and Edward did ART, and I’m pretty sure it was IVF. She had an ectopic pregnancy before Louise and then the rumor I think was that James was a happy surprise.
Sophie openly talked about using IVF if they needed to, quoted in newspapers at events talking about it. Louise is thought to be the result of that, although stories were put out at the time that James was a happy surprise when Sophie was 42.
According to blind gossips, Harry stepped up and it was Meghan or he’s going to abdicate, leave the family. Sounds realistic.
Even their official photos are different from the rest. They look like a Tiffany advertisement, in a good way.
Imo, he doesn’t care about the firm but he is using them for money and power. He is Diana’s kid.
Harry and abdicate don’t go together. At least for me. Abdicate from being Prince Henry? I don’t get it. I am not a native speaker of English but in my understanding just a monarch can abdicate, not someone down the line. No snark.
up until a few decades ago, if you belonged to the royal family you had to ask the monarch for permission to marry. Princess Margaret did have to ask and Queen Elizabeth denied her the right to marry Townsend (a divorced man) unless she gave up her title and line in succession. Which she didn’t want and so she married Lord Snowdon instead. Nowadays that law doesn’t exist anymore, so harry could have married her legally even without the queens permission, but it would still have been quite something to do it without her approval. And while you can’t abdicate as far as I know without being the monarch, giving up your title, your role and your place in line of succession definitely is a thing!
Harry has nothing to abdicate. By definition, to abdicate has to do with setting aside the throne. He’s not going to be king. He’s getting further and further down the line, in fact. The only way he could have anything to abdicate is if the Queen, Charles, William, George, Charlotte, and the new baby to come all died. So, no, abdication has zero to do with it.
It is still on blind gossip. I forgot what is it that he supposedly said, but sth like giving up his family or his titule.
The ‘royals’ are not all one thing. Harry’s not in the direct line, it’s not imperative that he reproduces. In the past, despite some missteps, the Windsors have managed to reinvent themselves to go with the times. HM and Prince Charles are actually pretty liberal. I think they are excited about the happiness of the couple, the fact that they are really good with the public and a great support for the monarchy, and to look more like multi-cultural Britain. Bless her heart, Kate’s a lump and not useful material except when it comes to reproducing. Charles has said he would like to be ‘defender of all faiths’ not just the CofE. Some of these people—most of the ones that count, are willing to move forward. I think they know perfectly well that they have to change to stay relevant in a changing Britain.
Re Princess Michael if Kent—-her husband doesn’t have his own title because no one (HM) wanted him to marry that woman and no one could stand that bitch ever.
Prince Michael of Kent doesn’t have an aristocratic title because he’s too low down to get one upon marriage. He wasn’t the eldest, that would be his brother the Duke of Kent. No matter which person he married, he was going to be Prince Michael of Kent and nothing higher.
I hope they decide to be child free… and ten adopt! That would be wonderful.
I think it’s part Meghan’s own intelligence and enthusiasm, part Harry’s determination to support her position and make sure she is completely happy and part realization that Harry is a strong asset and should not be marginalized in any way. It doesn’t hurt that granny is crazy about him as well.
Harry lost his Chelsea Davy because of the whole royal protocol thing. She decided that living a life of oppressive stuffiness wasn’t something she wanted. I think it took him a long time to really get over her. Perhaps the Queen recognized that and chose to make it easier for Meghan and Harry so that wouldn’t happen again.
Felicia
Harry lost Chelsy because he was too immature to commit to a serious relationship. Chelsy had no intentions of letting him make a fool of her while he had dalliances on the side. They did, however, love one another and remained friends over the years. She hated living in a fish bowl but she would have made it work had Harry been more stable. She was not intimidated or put off by the thought of royal duties, she was just too smart to sacrifice herself for it. Harry today is not the Harry of yesterday.
Maybe she could have made it work together with Harry. But her father’s reported ties with a certain infamous former high-rank politician in a country plagued by serious problems could not have been accepted by the Firm. Also, as a racial and language minority in said country. Also considering the misgivings of colonial past. Chelsy did not stand a chance of entering officially the BRF.
The Christmas invite is new but the rest isn’t so surprising. Sophie lived at Buckingham Palace for a couple of years, Kate went to the pre-Christmas lunch after her engagement, Camilla and Timothy Lawrence were behind the scenes in all sorts of undocumented/carefully orchestrated ways.
There aren’t so many senior royals that there can be that many engagement precedents to break, honestly.
I was going to say the same. This doesn’t seem so unusual.
…and the Christmas Day invite has more to do with the fact that she is not British and doesn’t have any close family living in Britain.
It didn’t seem to be breaking a lot of precedents to me either. He talked in the engagement interview about how he organized things so she could spend time with as many family members as possible while they were dating. Vast difference from William deliberately keeping KM away from his family (brother included) and vice versa for nearly a decade.
Or, just hear me out: They are all huge Suits fans and had already had a crash on her before Harry introduced her as his gf.
No? Then it’s me 🙁
Mike Tindal admitted to being a Suits fan when he was publicly angling for Meghan to get him a cameo.
The things I used to care about in my teens and twenties are different from the things I care about in my thirties. So yes, I can imagine having less fcuks to give. Almost anyone her age would be retired by now joining some worldwide cruise while playing bingo. So yeah. Anyway Charles marrying Camilla has pretty much relaxed the expectations. The royals’ public engagement and charity work are far more important than protocols. As a millennial, I couldn’t be bothered with royal protocols either. That’s the audience they are facing now.
It isn’t just Charles and Camilla. After not marrying Townsend, it isn’t like Margaret lived a quiet and circumspect life. Divorce, tropical paradise vacation home, and much younger boyfriend. Anne had a four-year affair with Tim before it going public, she divorced Mark Phillips, and married Tim. Prince Michael of Kent married a Catholic divorcee 4 decades ago. Andrew and Fergie, their marriage, quick divorce, and odd living arrangements for 3 decades.
The royal family has plenty of skeletons and those are just the ones we’ve seen publicly about their romantic lives. Harry marrying a divorcee isn’t shocking. He’s 33. Unless he was going to marry a much younger woman, odds were good he’d find someone his own age who had been married before.
Agreed Nota. As we know, the BRF family affairs aren’t exactly pristine even after letting in those who seemed ‘right, proper and traditional’ on paper.
I’m guessing age might have something to do with it, both for Lilibet and Philip. As in, “What if we don’t make it to the wedding? Let’s spend time with our grandson and his future wife while we can.” I’ve know a few families in this situation, where timelines were moved up so that frail/ill family members could be involved and present.
Looking at pictures of Philip from the other day, I’m leaning that way too. Harry wanted her to experience a full Windsor Castle Christmas while both his grandparents are still with us.
I don’t like the optics of the opinions about getting married as to TQ and PP aging. They take away from the romance and Harry and Meghan’s moment. Ditto Meghan’s age and alleged baby rush.
My heart has been skipping some beats any time I get a DF notification. Heightened perception maybe because of coverage of TG on the operation London bridge and all the discussions about their age.
I was thinking more along the lines of why she’s spending Christmas with them, not the timing of the engagement and wedding. Meaning their relationship timing is separate from her having a royal Christmas invite. The Christmas invite is related to HM and PP’s age and PP’s perceived health.
I was watching season 2 of The Crown last night and all of this makes me keep going back to it.
Did you see the engagement photos on People’s site? The candid is beautiful but the portrait…that dress! Omg that’s captured forever and ever and I’m not impressed with that dress. The skirt looks like either feathers or fake fur, the top is sheet with metallic leaf patterns…it’s…fugly and not appropriate for an engagement photo.
I think the skirt is covered in chiffon flowers, like the gown Princess Madeleine of Sweden wore last year to the Nobels.
of course she will enjoy being a royal! She is already used to being in the public eye and now she gets to do all the charity work she wants, plus hang out in palaces…and tiaras. I mean, I’m no monarchist but I’d be pretty stoked to hang out in the family’s jewelry collection and take a peek in their personal archives…also tiaras.
I think the marriage and the love is real, I also think there is a healthy dose of PR in the mix. For the monarchy which is one part tradition and one part business to remain relevant and profitable for Britain, but more so for the persons that benefit AKA the Royal family, the public must like having them around. There must be buy in and good will for the audience. Charles and Diana almost irreparably damaged the future of the monarchy. The Monarchy as a group are for the most part stodgy looking and acting even William and Kate and the kids. No amount of nice clothing can erase that. And most of them seem to have no Fs to give regarding public engagements etc.
Meghan and her introduction is a reset. Harry appears to be engaged in the need for a good public/corporate image and this is a good time to do so. I would imagine everyone got the talking points to be nice to Meghan. Can you imagine what would happen if the gossip got out that someone called her a social climber or the “n-word” Yes there have been commoners in the royal family before but a black girl? Lets not pretend everyone didn’t get schooled. And given how the royal media coverage wasn’t nice from the outset the message is being sent loud and clear to everyone – We are evolving…God knows its time. And clearly its working – we love Meghan and Harry.
I don’t think it was just Charles and Diana damaging the brand. It didn’t help that Margaret, Anne, and Andrew all divorced as well, and Fergie definitely brought a lot of humiliation to the brand. Andrew hangs with men who provide under-aged girls to his friends, Fergie attempted to sell a connection to Andrew, Margaret was a spoiled, lazy snob, and Anne can be quite unlikeable. And let’s not forget Philip.
@babykitten yes to what you said but Diana made most damage. Andrew Morton’s book and especially the Panorama interview where she suggested things about her husband’s morality and ability to be king. I’ve seen that interview and replayed that part and ohmygawd, her malice and eye games were so obvious. No wonder The Queen made the decision for their divorce. Don’t forget Diana’s liaisons with several seemingly unsuitable men before and after the divorce. The mother of the future king. I will say again, the mother of the future king. She chose to address her problems with clairvoyants and psychics who spilled the beans instead of mental health professional bound by ethics codes.
Blood royals are protected by all means. We can see that. They basically get away with everything and anything, no need to say names. The married-ins bear the weight and grunt and heavy criticism for all you want, whether deserved or not.
I don’t dislike Anne, she’s won medals for the UK and that’s more that any other BRF member has done since WWII except for TQ and her spouse in her shadow. Anne might be rude but I see rude people in all walks of life. At least she’s achieved something tangible and worthy of her country and does engagements. Fergie at least she’s raised two daughters whose only “sins” are going on holidays but what do we know about WK? Not anymore. And Harry’s spent the last year and a half romancing Meghan in Jamaica, Norway, Canada and Botswana that we know of. Former Airmiles Andy or whatever he was called is history in the making. At least until George is 21 from what I read out here. No more links to pedos or dictators, I hope.
Anne’s rumored “rags to riches” comment during the “for richer or poorer” part of W&K’s wedding is a hint that Anne may have issues with social climbers. The Middletons planned their entire lives like a military operation to get ahead, and Anne isn’t unaware of that. She’s also one of the main reasons the Order of Precedence is the way it is, because her nose was put out of joint by Diana’s and Fergie’s popularity LONG before Charles and Camilla married.
The BRF isn’t as backwards as some might think. See Gary Lewis, husband of Lady Davina (Windsor) Lewis. Also Princess Pushy welcomed her daughter’s Indian boyfriend Aatish Taseer and was publicly unhappy about their breakup.
Anne’s own children chose spouses far from aristocratic circles so I think she has zero f-ks about Harry marrying a divorced, biracial. American actress.
Anne’s children did not receive royal titles at birth and were free to choose their spouses as they pleased. Royal, aristo or not. It was easier for them to make choices. No HRH titles. Zara has done a lot for her country. Not many get medals. Mike has done pretty well too on his own right, effort, sweat, injuries and broken bones. They both had the Union Jack flown for them for their own merit and tens of thousands of hours of work. Real work. For the pride and joy of the UK people, at least for the English. And they are not even *royals*. Good on Anne, and congrats to this awesome couple.
They also live rent-free on Anne’s Gatcombe estate, with all estate security paid for by taxpayers. The upgrades on the main house were also paid by taxpayers at the time of Anne’s first wedding.
Peter and Zara will inherit property worth millions – and much of the modern value is because of taxpayer-funded improvements 40 years ago. They live rent-free at her St James Palace apartments when they are in London. They don’t have titles, but for years they and their families have quietly lived lives supported in part by taxpayer-funding via Anne.
I agree. No matter how old the Queen may be she still has rules and protocols. She may be a bit more relaxed, but royal protocol is royal protocol. I too believe the Queen wants fresh air breathed into the firm and thinks MM will aide in that respect. She a natural speaker, likes to give back and loves her fiancé. All winning marks.
I love that it’s called the Big House, how appropriate considering what that means in American lingo.
Canadian here, so just checking….the Big House…..prison? Is that what you mean?
And the main house on a plantation….
Yes to prison and yes to Main house on plantation. Rather symbolic that it’s refered to he big house with the prison name.
Honestly I believe it may have something to do with the impression she may have made on the Queen. I know that rules are in place for a reason, however, if she impressed the Queen enough and she believes that it will make the public opinion more favorable on the family then she may be willing to bend those rules. If Harry and Meghan can turn the public opinion around with their obvious love story it is something to build on. The world as a whole needs something good to hold on to and even protocol can be broken to give it to them right now.
Granted I may be reading way too much into it and she is just being spiteful and doing this to annoy Will and Catherine. Which is also a possibility.
The dogs like her, which may have scored a lot of points 🙂
HM isn’t unaware of all the talk about lazy young royals. She is said to read the newspapers every morning, so she cannot have missed the headlines. I think part of why she likes Sophie is because Sophie works and understands this is a PR/Marketing job at heart. If Meghan understands that and encourages more work out of Harry, why wouldn’t HM like that?
Who are these “sources”? The fail said in an article that Meghan was seen in deep conversation with PP. When they say “sources”, is it someone legit and instructed by the Firm, or someone’s imagination? Or someone from the numerous staff apparatus? Some folks may detect it from the wording. I call bullocks on that one from the fail. Like, pre-lunch is THE occasion to engage in deep conversation. Or a play on PP to show he likes her. All speculation.
Staff.
By that i mean the footmen and butlers serving at the party. Easily bribed.
Thanks, LAK. I kind of expected that. Salaries on the lower scale, bad attitude by some towards said staff. Noblesse oblige but only for certain people. That said, that particular piece of news was not damaging but I for one think it was exaggerated. Even if we don’t have the receipts it’s very possible that PP did talk to Meghan and the “deep discussion” was made up by the fail. An hour maximum two lunch, however Meghan is new to the family and she might have had a bit more time discussing with PP.
It’ll have more to do with how unimportant Harry is in the scheme of thinga. She’s not a future Queen.
Also, goose is for Xmas day.
YES. Everyone is so anxious to use anything about Megan to trample on Kate, but it’s comparing apples to oranges. OF COURSE the process is going to be a lot different for the future King’s wife, everything’s is a lot more relaxed when you’re not the sovereign. I’ve been watching The Crown — look at Elizabeth versus Margaret and their marriages!
The Crown is fiction.
All of it, nota? I mean, besides the obvious, names, dates, etc. Do they have any of the history right?
Harry is soon to be 6th in line but not unimportant overall.
In the next few years, the only working royals will be Charles, Camilla, W&K, H&M. All of the elders will retire (both Gloucesters, Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, P&P Michael of Kent). Andrew will be forced out and Harry will replace him in the trade ambassador role.
Edward and Sophie might be kept on as stringers for bread-and-butter, but the Private Secretary who publicly advocated for that was removed last spring. Anne will do whatever she wants no matter what Charles says.
W&K’s kids will not be working royals for another 30 years. Until then, all royal duties currently performed by 15 people will be performed by 6 people. Public attention will turn to the kids in 15 years, but the work load won’t. In the line of succession, Harry is a lot less important. When it comes to royal work? For the next three decades, he and his wife will be 33 percent of the Firm’s work force.
That’s too bad, considering how lazy Harry is. He is as bad as Wills and kate. Worse than Wills, actually. Basically, he is unemployed. I can’t imagine an American outsider firing him up to work more than he has.
Aren’t they taking another vacation right after the New Year?? They were in Africa for 3 weeks in the summer, no??
My prediction: Meghan has shown a great willingness to give up her life to be with harry and in this role. There is NO way she is going to motivate any of them – she will end up being a layabout just like they are.
JMHO.
Does he work enough? No, none of them do. Volunteering at MOD rehab is great but since no one reports on it, people think it isn’t happening. Sentebale, Invictus Games, and WWTW are thriving because of his hard work. Yes, he does work hard on those. With a life partner who wants to do charity work? I’m hoping these two with start putting up the kinds of effort they *should* be doing.
That’s what I thought about the menu. Traditional British Christmas = roast goose. They don’t do turkey like us Americans. Some do but the “proper” dish is goose.
I will say it’s a combo of she’s giving less of a f*** she’s probably more worried about her man. Harry finally found a woman who is willing to put up with the media which was a huge problem for his exes and he’s happy. He’s perhaps her favorite or more importantly Phil’s favorite grandchild. A new person to put some work on since the “Keen” clan can’t be bothered.
The Queen loves Harry. She’s met Meghan and obviously likes Meghan. And if the rumors are true that Eugenie & Jack were frequent double date partners for H&M, then she has probably shared her impression of Meghan with her cousins. Long story short, family supports family so they’ll welcome Meghan into the fold for Harry.
Is Beatrice still with that guy she dated for a decade? Is Eugenie getting close to marriage?
Dave dumped Beatrice. He is engaged to his pregnant girlfriend. Eugenie & Jack may or may not be engaged.
No, they broke up a while back and he’s now engaged to another girl.
Any chance Bea’s guy was using her for her status?
Oh wow, I looked it up because I hadn’t heard anything about Beatrice’s ex being engaged. Dave proposed six months after things ended with her! I know it was an amicable split, but that still has to hurt.
Baby kitten, from what I’ve read (and of course, It is just media reports), he used her for vacations and connections. While his family is well-to-do, and he worked for Branson (another connection through their friend Holly Branson) he could never afford yatch trips and the like. IMO he may’ve “loved” her, like a good friend, but would never commit to anything more. I think at the 10 year mark she gave him the ultimatum which is when he broke it off.
Eugenie and Jack might be holding off on an engagement announcement until the dust settles about her lease on Ivy Cottage. They need the fixes done, the complaints about who is paying for the changes to subside, then they’ll have that as their permanent London home for decades. I’m expecting Nott Cott to be leased to Beatrice for decades too, when H&M upgrade in a few years.
Andrew’s lease on Royal Lodge Windsor runs until 2078, and it legally transfers to his children. Once Charles forces Andrew out and he moves permanently to Switzerland (fingers crossed), B&E and their husbands/kids will share Royal Lodge for the rest of their lives as their country home.
That’s my fan fiction take anyway, which unfortunately cannot happen unless Charles changes the rules for Counsellors of State having to live in the UK. Andrew will be a Counsellor until PGTips is 21, unless a huge scandal forces him out and B&E both become Counsellors when Charles is king. Beatrice will be one regardless, as it is the first four adults in the line of succession. William, Harry, Andrew, Beatrice when Charles is king.
I’m on the Dave-the-User bandwagon. Still holding out for a dream royal gossip wedding of Beatrice and Albert von Thurn und Taxis (Fergie vs. Gloria TNT). Or Beatrice and the new Duke of Westminster. Either way she’d end up married to a cute billionaire.
@Imqrious, that’s awful, so she was used.
@notasugarhere, thanks for that treasure trove of info!
All those four adults will be Counsellors of State? Chuckles. What does that function entail? Can anyone do it? Former co-pilots, former interns at Sony with some interest in finance? Graduates in geography with some interest in agriculture and hunting? Chuckles chuckles. I get they’d do because of their place in the line of succession but are they qualified for it? Are any qualifications required anyway? Or is that function just ceremonial?
I think the fast track may be because Harry is farther down the line of acension to the thrown than William. Kate would deliver the heirs to the British thrown so a little more procedure was warranted. Or they just really like Megan or never liked Kate, Diana and Camila.
My hunch was always less to do with her age than Phillip’s. Last year they both had health scares, he’s retired, and he’s 96. When your grandparents are that age — even when they’re comparatively healthy — you’re always conscious that it might be your “last” holiday together.
I thought it was because the Queen and Prince Phillip are up there in age and you know… no time to waste.
I think it’s a combination of things. When you listen to Harry and Meghan’s engagement interview, it’s pretty clear she’s been introduced to members of that family over a period of time and not just once. I think they are genuinely happy for Harry and they like Meghan. She’s bright, intelligent and stunningly beautiful. She is a breath of fresh air and glamor, not unlike Harry’s late mother.
All of that is good for the Royal family and I think they’re embracing it and her! I loved the engagement photos released earlier and cannot wait for the wedding in May!
Maybe she’s a Suits fan?
I kid, I kid. I think it’s all of the above. Lilibet is getting up there (okay, she IS up there), Harry is one of her faves (and his physical resemblance to Philip is pretty strong in the engagement photos), Meghan is a little older (but not ancient, geez, the eggs still work), plus she’s coming to them already half-cooked. She has media training, knows how to keep her skirt down, and genuinely likes doing charitable work. Why wait if it seems to work?
“knows how to keep her skirt down” LOL
These Christmas get-togethers are such convenient occasions for Megs to meet all the family. And the bending of the usual ‘rules’ makes the Queen seem kinder and more welcoming.
Can you imagine the headlines had she NOT been invited ? “ Royal family celebrates the holidays on caviar and champagne while lonely Megs sups in solitude with a takeout pizza!” Now that just wouldn’t have looked too good for the firm.
Other Renee, I just know you’re joking. Meghan has a pretty good social network in London. I am sure they would have been more than thrilled to have her as guest but not necessarily their reasons. But could she have commanded NDAs and been able to do it incognito? No way. On the other hand, USA are pretty much wild west as per no IPSO rulings not being applied there.
I like to think that Meghan *is* loved by Harry and that his family is accepting her because she is worthy to be liked and accepted, not as a PR game.
Well, Harry and Meghan are practically married – just the formalities aren’t yet done. So she gets an invite. Or perhaps she is already more popular than Waity Katie who didn’t get any royal invites for Christmas/Easter/Thanksgiving when she was the royal girlfriend. Or did she?
I think the Queen realizes that she made some mistakes with Diana. She didn’t handle her death very well, until she was forced to. And let’s face it, with all those divorces and shenanigans in her own family, it would be very unwise for her to oppose this relationship. She wants for Harry to be happy, especially after the trauma of losing his mother at such a young age. And I think she genuinely likes Meghan. She sees how good she is for Harry.
Her hair is so shiny! Am v happy for them, she seems confident and relaxed in herself which always makes it easier to warm to a person. I can imagine her treating HM in a less stuffy way than previous Society Girls she may have been introduced to (like Kate- although it’s no criticism of her) and HM responding to that as she gets older.
I’m so on board with her enjoying all of this and considering it fun, that’s the right way to live – to do things that, while being useful, also feel fun. My definition of fun is what she had before but she does seem very enthusiastic now and it makes me happy for her
Kate not being there in 2010 was her own choice. It was supposedly her “last Christmas hurrah” with her own family. Until she continued having Christmas with them as usual after she was married anyway.
I’m a woman and although this doesn’t thrill me, I believe she’s on the fast track b/c she’s 36.
As an American, for the longest time I didn’t know what the big deal was about crackers at holiday dinners. I was thinking Saltine crackers, why is it a big deal that they be eaten? Are they covering them in peanut butter, jam, clotted cream, what??? It took a few years before I realized they were what we call poppers. 😀
Realistically, MM provides good PR for the Firm. The Doolittles need that punch in the arm. Hence the fast tracking.
I don’t think a divorced American actress is good PR for the firm. Why would any British people be thrilled about Harry marrying an American, first of all? And that $75,000 gown?? Oy!!
I think that Harry gave them all an ultimatum – accept her or you won’t see me much. I think that Beatrice and Eugenie would like her, but the older folks? No. I don’t think so.
But they love Harry and will do what he demands. All the things being said about Meghan, “breath of fresh air,” “will bring the RF into the 20th century,” were said about Fergie. And she wasn’t divorced and was British, and look how they all turned on her.
I don’t think they care that she is divorced, bi-racial and an actress. But I bet spending $75,000 for an engagement outfit would not go down well. Princess Anne who is known to recycle outfit from the sixties must be having heart palpitations.
Hahaha “knows how to keep her skirt down” @SlightlyAnonny.
You know Wallis Simpson would be pissed! A divorced American is going to get the HRH title. The world has changed and I think the palace is doing their best to recognize that. I cannot wait for the wedding!
…as for Kaiser’s musing about the menu, who knows? — but the way our family has done holiday menus for generations is:
Ham for Christmas
Roast beef for New Years Day (and for luck, must have black-eyed peas)
Lamb for Easter
Turkey for Thanksgiving
Is it racist to use the term “black-eyed peas” when referring to food?
No, that’s the name. ‘Black-eyed’ peas because of the black circle in the middle of the bean.
I hate them btw.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-eyed_pea
I don’t think so. Unless one thought that “blue cheese” is racist. Like, “blue blood”. Or “yellow cheese”. Don’t think so.
????
Just using the word ‘black’ somewhere in the name doesn’t make it racist.
This is gonna sound very, very, cynical but I’m wondering if the lightspeed welcoming of Meghan into the fold has anything to do with the royals not wanting their usual standoffishness to be construed as in any way racist, so they’re overcompensating. It kind of brings to mind the Dad in Get Out (“I would have voted for Barack Obama a third time if I could have!”). I saw the Lainey article about Princess Michael of Kent wearing a racist brooch to the Christmas lunch, which I think Lainey thought might be some kind of bitchy racist move on Princess Michael’s part, but I saw it more as, “I’m gonna wear this brooch so that Meghan knows I am EXTRA COOL with black people!”
It is not because of a more easy-going enlightened Queen / Royal Family.
But they are desperate. Because of Kate and Will. They hope that Markle will sparkle. They pray. They wish. They have vodoo ceremonies.
If desperation is you motivation and inspiration then things do usually not end well.
I was just looking at a poll of the popularity of the BRF. Kate was at like 75% approval rating. I know, I don’t get it but that is what it said.
Harry was popular. Meghan was around 50% maybe?
Kate seems to be very popular in her country.
What? The poll was made by …? Please insert the reference. I mean, there are polls and polls. It doesn’t depend only on the public or non-public institution include the media please, like who made it? Please add the sample and the method used. Based on what? Hemlines? PR skills? Beauty? Charity work? Number of tiaras worn? And the timing. That’s also important. Meghan is not yet a member of the BRF so considering all the above, I call it mental gymnastics. Like, someones try too hard. LOL.
Another one of those skewed YouGov polls, where Harry was at 77 percent approval iirc. The poll was from before the engagement announcement, when many people polled likely didn’t know H&M were dating. In other words, irrelevant.
Harry simply has second syndrome from his father and grandparents; they simply want him to be happy and not waste his life. If MM makes him happy and can help him grow into a better person (we all need to grow even a little bit as we age) then so be it.
Now none of this would be happening if he was in William’s position, period.
Andy suffered the second syndrome and look where he is now. Harry is much better than Andy if being the spare were a factor. William as second in line *that’s higher than the spare* has gotten away with everything. William has been “spared” from everything. Not here, but in the great scheme of #allthingsroyal
I just saw that the Queen and Phillip took the train from Kings Cross to Sandringham. Seriously? at 91 and 96, couldn’t someone drive them?
I do think Harry and Meghan and the Queen and Duke are mutually giving consideration to the grandparents’ age in some ways. Nothing is guaranteed in life, and they all know it. So for Harry to ensure there is time for Meghan and his grandparents to bond, it makes sense to encourage her inclusion in family events as much as possible. The couple seems to be moving ahead with confidence and they seem to have a great deal of support from the Queen and Prince Philip. It almost feels like the Queen is saying, I love this couple. Don’t mess with them.
“The Fast Track”? Really? Try forced down our throats.