This is Vanity Fair’s latest cover: a jazzed up photo from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s engagement-reveal walkabout. What’s interesting to me is that… so much has happened since that engagement reveal day last fall. We’ve seen so much of Meghan, and she’s stepped out with Harry so often in the past five months. It feels like they’re already married to some extent. Anyway, Vanity Fair’s latest issue is devoted to Meghan, Harry, their royal wedding and royalty in general. I haven’t gotten a chance to look through all of the articles, but you can see the cover package here at VF. Vanity Fair also published a nice exclusive from Katie Nicholl’s book about Meg and Harry’s courtship and how Harry seemed to know Meg was The One very quickly. Some highlights:
Whether there were concerns about Harry marrying a divorcee: Royal historian Hugo Vickers pointed out last year, times have changed. “On paper Meghan’s everything you don’t want her to be—an older woman, a divorcée—but actually her more positive qualities could suit her well for the role of a royal consort. She has a certain worldly experience and can stand very well on her own two feet. I think most people think she would make a very good partner for Prince Harry, and I am sure the Queen would give her permission for Harry to wed Meghan.” It was a sentiment many shared, and it proved true.
Asking for the Queen’s blessing. When Harry asked his grandmother for her blessing in the fall of 2017, she gave it without hesitation. I was told by one of the Queen’s closest aides shortly after the engagement announcement that the monarch was genuinely delighted that Harry had found someone who made him so happy. Despite rumors to the contrary, there was no issue over Meghan’s racial heritage or concerns that she was older or divorced. Exceptionally close to her grandson, the Queen trusts Harry. At points in his life, she has taken on a maternal role, particularly in those difficult months and years after Diana’s death.
The Queen & Meghan get along very well. The Queen has gone out of her way to include Meghan from the outset, from inviting the actress to Buckingham Palace for tea to welcoming her to the family’s Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, in Norfolk, a tradition previously only ever reserved for spouses. And behind the closed doors of Buckingham Palace, Meghan has gone down as a great success. “The Queen likes her, and she charmed the Duke of Edinburgh over Christmas. He was very impressed by her intellect and how well read she was,” says a family friend. Even the Queen’s corgis are fans. According to Harry, who joked he has spent his life being barked at, Her Majesty’s dogs took instantly to Meghan.
Meg is getting support from Poor Keen Jason: “Harry, meanwhile, has instructed aides to be helpful and inclusive. Even in the early days of their courtship Meghan had a direct line to Harry’s private secretary, Edward Lane Fox, and his communications secretary, Jason Knauf, who have been instrumental in helping her adjust.
It actually just occurred to me that Harry, William and Kate – and now Meghan – still share all the same staffers, especially communications staff, and that Meghan might be just the key they’ve needed to make some changes. As you know, I’ve felt for some time that Will and Kate should have a separate communications office from Harry. Now that Meghan is coming into the fold, I hope that process speeds up. I also think Meghan has a lot more experience with PR and communications, coming from Hollywood and the acting world. She’s seen the machinery up close, she’s done press as an actress and has a better understanding of the give-and-take of it. I suspect that she’ll be unimpressed with the way the KP communications office is run, basically, and she’ll want to make changes.
As for what Nicholl says about the Queen giving her blessing right away, with no qualms about Meghan’s backstory or divorce or anything… I can see that. I tend to think it’s less about Meghan and more about the Queen adoring Harry though.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid, cover courtesy of VF.
I mean, so they say.
Why would she care? Harry’s a lesser royal. I think the Queen would have objected to, say, Amber Rose, but they had to expect something like this from Harry. A party girl or actress or reality star, not an aristo girl.
This is a popular theme some places, but it isn’t like Harry is Peter, Zara, Beatrice, Eugenie, Louise, James. He and his spouse will be one third of the working royal family for the next 30 years. Lesser in that their line won’t inherit the throne, but certainly not lesser (in comparison to Anne, Andrew, Edward’s kids) when it comes to profile.
Potential King Henry is technically 3d In Line -Heir spare to King Charles!
Kids wont become Monarch in the 21st Century.
The HRH Henrys are fantastic regal reps to HM POW /GB/CW – BRF in duties – especially in most recent events/days.
Most important to HM POW BP is that HRH Princess Henry i/w WORKs- is a pro rep to HM GB/CW BRF.
Does anyone think the Queen would admit any qualms to anyone publicly? Or even to Harry? I am sure some of the racier work Meghan has done gave them all pause – it would give me pause and my son isn’t a Prince. But people will believe the Queen is thrilled because it fits with what they want to believe.
I think the Queen knew Harry, who has complained about being royal, might have walked if she fought him on this so she did what many mothers-in-law do – smile and make the best of it. And that was smart of her. It will work or it won’t but at least no one can blame her either way.
She made it clear through courtiers what she thought of Kate Middleton’s pre-engagement laziness, “What does she do all day?”. Carole quickly got KM the part-time coffee girl job at Jigsaw in response. It was also made known, through courtiers, when H+M’s relationship became public that HM and Charles think Harry’s happiness is paramount.
When they want it out, they get the news out their way.
😀 The Queen is the mother-in-law? Is she married to Prince Charles, to her own son? If you conspire you have to improve your stories.
What racy work has Meghan done? She has never been topless or had nudity in any of her roles.
“She made it clear through courtiers what she thought of Kate Middleton’s pre-engagement laziness, “What does she do all day?”.”
I wonder, did she ever ask that same question about her own sister, to name just one of the “royals”?
Ex-Mel: despite her reputation, Margaret worked. She found the work duller than dishwater, but she did it anyway. And when she could get away to holiday she did.
It was entirely different for Kate who did absolutely no work. None. Unfortunately for Kate, her utter lack of work was well documented.
Kate Middleton’s lazyness was so out in the open that nobody could ignore that and the Queen would have looked bad if she had never commented on that.
Well, good given that all but one of the Queen’s children have been divorced, and that her ’empire’ was built on the backs of black/brown people.
Although, I don’t believe the Queen or her family are particular enlightened. Just last week, her son was making racist shitty comments and her husband has gotten away with worse for decades. Please. At best this will be a case of treating her fairly because she is one of them – chosen by the favourite grandchild, apparently. While the rest of the divorced, ‘coloured’ and plebs continue to be othered/ignored. Ugh.
She praised Philip’s ‘unique sense of humour’ in her Christmas message. Ha ha so many hilarious jokes to be made at the expense of foreigners and brown people.
I don’t believe it for a second, she is all about tradition and protocol, the monarchy itself is an archaic and backwards institution. I believe she has a soft spot for Harry and cause Meghan is passing white and has the skills to do the job supercedes her blackness and divorce. Harry will never be King, so the spare doesn’t have to follow the rules as much. William wouldve never been able to do this. This is a smart move on Harrys part he has firmly secured his and future offsprings place within the family firm. Especially since Charles is all about streamling everything once he becomes King. Harry and Meghan will appeal to a more diverse group of people while Will and Kate the more traditional white folks.
But it’s totally okay because Phil is like, old or something. Mind you, he and MLK, Jr. were only 8 years apart.
Meghan’s appeal from the RF’s point of view is that she is a useful addition: her mixed-race background allows the RF to deny they had any racist tendencies. And more importantly: a lot of poc in the Commonwealth can now trick themselves into believing that they were accepted as equals because a mixed-race woman married into the RF.
From a pr point of view Meghan’s mixed-race background is a huge plus.
We are forgetting those were different times… P/Margaret was denied marriage to her love then, to name a few changes to the RF.
I can believe it. And at this stage of her life she has bigger fish to fry.
She has no right to interfere anymore. Her kids made some really questionable choices. It’s not that she adores Harry, guess she’s at that age where she sees mistakes she made. After all, Camilla is divorced and she and Charles brought so much awful things to that family. Her other son is also a disgrace. She should be lucky that Kate and now Meghan are part of that twisted family.
“Her other son”. Lol. Poor overlooked Prince Edward! Basement Prince. 😉
I think other son here refers to the Queen’s “favorite” Prince Andrew. He’s done really shady things, not really sure what but it just seems every time I hear about him he’s off acting like a creep somewhere.
She doesn’t interfere. She’s a known ostrich who only finally takes action once things are a PR crisis point.
Livvers—Basement Prince!😂😂
@Amelie I just thought it was funny phrasing, since Edward is so forgettable. I actually couldn’t even remember his name to post my comment, I had to google it.
You can all what you want about the basement prince but he married Sophie and that absolves him from all faults because she is amazing.
Basement Prince!!!!! Lol!!!
The Queen must accept Markle. What is she going to do? She can’t seriously prevent Harry from marrying her or from living with her. And she would look like a racist if she tried. She won’t do that.
At the same time it is Brexit time and Britain is desparately looking for allies. So the Queen and Prince Charles are trying to improve things in the Commonwealth in which a lot of people are poc. And being able to parade a mixed-race woman being married to one’s grandson ( / son) is useful. Especially as Charles is white and wants the non-hereditary position of head of the Commonwealth to become a hereditary position for the British Monarch. Apparently he thinks that a lot of poc from the Commonwealth will accept him and his whiteness much more easily now that he has a mixed-race daughter-in-law.
I think that’s right. 3 out of her four children are divorced and so was her sister. She is a grandmother and wants Harry to be happy.
I love that vanity fair photo of them. I think that light coat is my favorite that she’s worn. But my god, they look beautiful together. Of course it’s a posed photo – but they look so naturally happy in it.
My wedding photos are perfectly nice – but my husband and I both hate having our photo taken, and you can tell they’re a little awkward. I’m going to eventually get some photos done for an anniversary and just take a shot of whiskey or something before we start haha. At least I’d be a little less stiff looking.
I agree. This picture is beautiful : they look so happy.
Just have friends take more photos of you when you are out and having fun together in a more real atmosphere, and you will get a great shot. I hate all my posed pics from my wedding, too, but the photog took one the two of us walking down the aisle after the I do’s when we weren’t prepared or looking at the camera (I’m saying something so my mouth is definitely a little weird, but my husband is looking at me and smiling and looking cute, and we’re holding hands, and my dad is like fist pumping “all right”, his mom is daubing her eyes, and the flower girl (now a teen) is running to catch up) that I had framed. The wedding place (we got married in vegas) called me twice to make sure I picked the right one to blow up. I love love love this photo because it’s just natural, which is what you pointed out. I can’t pose naturally at all, I hate having my picture taken so I know what you mean!
Saw abridezilla article about a woman looking for a wedding photographer who will guarantee them a refund on their wedding pictures in the event they divorce and the pictures no longer have any value. She was honestly surprised at how difficult it was becoming to get one to agree.
Let’s be honest, it’s also because, unless Will’s family is taken out completely, Harry won’t be king. I’m assuming Will would not have been given the ok to marry someone like Meghan. Which would have been a shame because I really like her..but I don’t hate Kate like people on here do 🤷🏻♀️
All true… Harry’s in the sweet spot. They’ll never have to deal with the prospect of ‘Queen Meghan’ but exotic minor royals are chic.
True, but remember Andrew was in the same position when he married Fergie. That was (and still is) a hot mess. Unlike many on here, I like Kate and Pippa.
Fergie wasn’t considered a mess until much later. Andrew had to break up with an actress girlfriend who had appeared in a film with *mild nudity.
*back then it was dubbed soft porn, but compared to stuff you get these days, it’s really mild.
Fergie was welcomed, considered wholesome, and from the right background. The press promoted her as a fun, breath of fresh air.
After the press turned on her, the pendulum swang to such an extreme negative point, and maintained in that negative space that no one remembers that Fergie wasn’t initially considered a mess and was once loved. That hatred extends to her children.
For awhile she was considered the anti-Diana in a good way, especially after getting down to work after the Duchess Dolittle period. Simple, uncomplicated, along the lines of Sophie – the makings of a good royal worker.
Fergie could not make the changes she needed to swing that pendulum i.e play the media game. It didn’t help that Diana was on hand to undercut her and out her to the press for all her faults.
Yes i said it ST. Diana wasn’t very saintly just an expert at PR.
Formerly known as Amy: i quite agree. With friends like Diana, who needs enemies.
Yes her “friend” Diana went after her and any good press. There was a time, after Beatrice, when Fergie was slimmed down, working harder, dressing without all the bows, and getting the job done. Diana did more of her media games soon after, but Fergie sank her own boat with the financial adviser.
I really cannot see much different between Kate and Meghan, they are both non royals who have been upwardly mobile form ordinary backgrounds. Both women like most of us are distantly related to the royal family.
I don’t hate Kate – I just don’t get laziness like her and William’s. Also I do think she has a little bit of an exposing herself issue.
The laziness is exaggerated. Early last week the numbers were crunched and William was ahead of Camilla with engagements.
William constantly ducking royal duties, pretending to play helo co pilot, caught not working either job. Years of lies, excuses, and promises. 8 years of laziness post marriage and KM’s decade of not working before marriage is not “exaggerated”.
As for the exposures? Once is an accident. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern/choice. Dozens of exposures in 8 years.
” the laziness is exaggerated”
15hrs PER MONTH flight hours is the required minimum to maintain pilot licence in the RAF. Yet William, who wasn’t working royal duties because we were told had a busy RAF schedule nearly lost his licence for several consecutive years for lack of minimum flight hours each year.
Then there was the time he was dubbed Throne Idle because despite having a 20hr per week shift at EAAA, he wasn’t showing up. His excuse to them was that he was busy at royal duties wasn’t because that’s easily verifiable. The Palace defended him by saying the civil aviation required him to have lots of downtime between shifts (paraphrasing) which the CA publicly called out as a lie meaning that someone cough william cough had lied to both organisations to get out of working either job.
Which brought that infamous response that he was a SAHD because working parents are bad parents!!
@merritt quite the opposite the laziness is covered up.
I am fascinated by the backstory to WK. I’m not disagreeing, I’m just wondering LAK and nota -where do you get your info on their work hours?
Bumble: The palace announces their work hours and schedules. In William’s case, the Palace is at pains to reassure the public that his private work doesn’t take him from his royal duties so they give very precise details.
William’s poor work performance has been leaking out for more than a decade. Either by disgruntled work colleagues who are fed up with covering for him which entails more work for them at a cost to their own work / life balance or reprimand because William pulled rank, they were punished instead of him.
Or the media report on his performance when they find information to back up their claims. Often they give the receipts. Not just accusing him out of the blue. And usually if their investigations turn up something negative, they use a serious political journalist instead of the royal reporters who are really media palace publicists.
The Palace tends to confirm the story, but tries to spin it as a misunderstanding which is always transparently stupid because receipts are easily verified. The Palace / William strategy relies on the work institutions not pushing back or contradicting their claims publicly, but so far only the charities acquiesce to that pressure.
“someone like Meghan”?
Because marrying a lazy party girl who never worked an honest day in a decade is so fabulous?
They’ve announced William is Harry’s best man, which isn’t a surprise, but I was hoping they’d announce the entire wedding party at once. Guessing we’ll get Meghan’s maid of honor tomorrow, followed by the rest of the wedding party.
Bear in mind this is taken from Katie Nicholl’s book who has been ridiculed on here in the past for not knowing what she is talking about and not really having any inside scoops.
Who really knows what the Quen is thinking? I’d love to know on a variety of different subjects but I don’t think we will know much until after she passes and someone in her inner circle blabs.
You should read Margaret Rhodes book. Queen’s cousin. Any quotes Margaret shares about the Queen’s thoughts can be trusted to be true. She was the only one in the Queen’s circle who was allowed to speak candidly without repercussions or censure.
And share photos. The photos from that book were surprisingly intimate.
Haha right. When Katie Nicholls says nice things relating to H & M I suppose she is legit.
Nope. She’s still a hack.
With all the craziness going on this royal wedding is a blessing for those seeking an escape from the constantly churning hurricane force winds of the shitstorm suffocating us.
In my imagination only…
H: ..ah, Ma,am, Grams, I say, I want, I need, I must ask if —
The Q: Tut, tut my darling, no need to talk, we weren’t born yesterday’, eh, eh? Ha! Just be a good dear boy and tell me this: is she a slovenly red-haired toe sucker likely to sell my corsets for cash, or a raddled old drunk who fancies herself the concubine of one’s grandpop, or a teen romance novel reader, or a lazy little snip with a lust for dreadful wedge shoes and making odd faces in front of the paps?
H: uh…no, ma’am, not at all, she’s quite —-
The Q: then here’s the spare key to the ponies, my darling! Have a marvelous life! Grandpop is mad about her you know, we saw her on the Telly! Couldn’t be more pleased! Family tradition! Ha ha, did I ever tell you about We and Tom Jones? You have heard of Michael Caine, yes? Well… Uncle Andy!! Yes! Ha! You’ve such a comely blush, my boy, first rate! Ha, so was Michael! I do adore a nice larky acting sort, you will be quite happy! You remember that if anyone gives you two the piss! Off wth you now, go have some Champagne with that darling girl! Mwah! Ask her if she wants a corgi or a tiara. Ha, just pulling your leg, lad, off you go, so pleased for you! Tell Lady Sarah to get that Mrs M on the red phone for me, I want to hear her scream! Such fun!! You two come for tea anytime! You have made Us very happy!
Counting on my fingers to see which one was which, and I think I’ve got them all !
Lol, who is the teen romance reader???
NotSoSocialButterfly = Diana. Poor thing was devoted to Barbara Cartland romances and never got over it.
Wasn’t Barbara Cartland her step-grandmother?
Lady D: Yes. Mother of her step-mother Raine Spencer.
Raddled old drunk = dead.
@Liberty. LOL……
Love it.😍😍😍😂😂
But surely Cam is one of Jilly Cooper’s slovenly, but sexy with a dab of fracas and a horse whip in one hand, heroines!!!
LAK, I used to hope that, but I see her as a cross between Grace (Rivals) and an older edition of Beattie Johnson with some Monica stirred in. 😉
Lol. No.
I think she is just so pretty. I love her open, happy face. No wonder he fell in love with her.
Agree, and she has very kind eyes.
He fell in love with her several years after they narried. Liz was absolutely gaga over the handsome Phil but he saw her more as a cute little cousin crush. He wanted a naval life and dalliances but his grasping uncle Dickie was determined he would be prince consort. The king and queen were horrified and Liz literally threatened to elope. Phil was considered crass even in those days and he had to be goaded into staying home with his wife. They did develop a bond however and eventually love and friendship. So much for the fairy tale.
It’s still kind of a fairy tale for two people to find their way together. How often does that happen anymore?
Betsy
I’m of two minds on this. I don’t deny their enduring bond but perhaps that has more to do with him being allowed to live exactly as he pleases as long as he performs his royal duties. With palaces and staff and every luxury at your disposal how easy is it to grow old and congenial with your partner, no matter the issues? I credit Liz for her iron will cloaked in a docile wife’s form. She literally gave him no choice but to behave. This is why we don’t have a lot of stories about that attractive woman he used to drive carriages with only up until a few short years ago.
The current Countess Mountbatten, estranged wife of his cousin Norton Knatchbull?
I thought Knatchbull was a nickname before I googled it.
Thank you LAK for introducing me to this incredible name. Ultra posh British people name will never cease to amaze and entertain me.
Let’s be real Harry is sixth in line so there is no threat of him being king or his line being relevant to the monarchy. Why not let him marry the woman he loves in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter. Yeah it’s nice to talk about now but who cares 10 years from now.
There is no way in H-E-double hockey sticks William would’ve ever been allowed to marry a woman like Meghan.
But if Harry was second in line with Meghan by his side, what would be the problem???
@Petty Riperton – ITA. Harry was already fifth in line when he started dating Meghan. They would never have let William marry her. It all works out well for all parties this way.
“marry a woman like Meghan”. Tell us, what do you think is wrong with her?
There is no way William would ever have married a woman who took any effort to woo. Or a woman who wanted to work hard and challenge him to do better as well.
William always gets what he wants, so it follows he would have married anyone he wanted. Provided any other woman was willing to wait, put up with him, and be the last option standing.
Clearly there is nothing wrong with her. But, I’ll say as a black woman, that we shouldn’t pretend that everyone would have been excited for William to marry a black woman.
Nota, you mean a female doormat? With leech powers? You are dead right about William: everything is on his terms.
I agree that he did not seem able to put effort in to woo a woman, unlike Harry. William probably felt that the women should be the ones to do the running. If he had really put more effort in he would have got Isabella Anstrthruther Gough Calthrope, instead of Branson. William was probably really put out when she initially rejected him but he did not know how to play his cards.
I believe it. History has shown that having a virginal, white princess doesn’t mean all will be well. Marrying a more worldly person who won’t be gobsmacked by the constant invasion of privacy is a much better move. I loved Diana, and still carry a grudge against Charles and Camilla. But she was ill-suited to be thrown to the wolves the way she was. She deserved better. And Diana would have LOVED Meghan.
I’ll tell you what I can’t forgive Charles for, and that’s being dismissive about their wedding night because of Diana’s sexual naivete, if the two bios I read aren’t lying about what he said. Because Charles, you a-h**le, that’s why you married her, remember – her lack of a “past”, no scandal, fresh as the new rose – but you also wanted her to be a red hot mama her first time out?! Honestly, men make me really mad sometimes.
William’s arrogance doesn’t just come from the Spencer side.
Curious….biographer’s name?
Didn’t Diana mention the wedding night to Settelen? She called it “odd” didn’t she? I would guess Charles and Diana slept in separate bedrooms at Broadlands. And they were exhausted.
The list of rumored mistresses is quite long. The queen’s cousin among them. But a cute old couple smiling on walkabouts is better for the feels I guess.
are we talking about meghan or charles bashing again.
@LAK – it was that wasp-tongued bio by Tina Brown. But I think his lacklustre response to Diana was also mentioned by Sally Bedell-Smith, whose biography I found intelligent and sympathetic to Diana’s emotional stuff without being gooey about it.
Oh, and I hope Meghan didn’t read Brown’s book, because if she did, and didn’t run the other way, gurl’s got nerves if steel. Maybe Harry being sixth in line is the only thing that makes it possible.
Violet: Those are good authors. I didn’t think either author was catty. I think Tina admired Diana and wrote a book that sympathized with her plight whilst laying out the facts.
I think it was Lady Colin Campbell who was really b!tchy about Diana and blamed her entirely for Charles’s inability to perform so to speak. She was explicit about it too.
@LAK – I never read anything by Lady Colin Campbell, but I have seen her interviewed. I thought Tina Brown just skewered everyone connected with the royal family – the Queen, the Queen Mother, Diana to a degree, the whole system, the media, the aristocracy, just everything. But I did remember one other thing (I read these years ago, I must admit) Brown said about the monarchy, what she called its “muffled misogyny”. But absolutely no one comes out with their jugular intact in her book, I thought. I thought Bedell-Smith’s book had, for lack of a better word, a higher or softer tone. She didn’t seem to have an axe to grind. But omg listening to Brown talk about the horrors of Christmas at Sandringham and August at Balmoral with the family picnics, and the protocol and who sits down first and who gets served drinks first, and having to have 3-4 outfits a day at Balmoral because you need walking clothes, an outfit for tea, and a gown for dinner – it was also hilarious, I’ll admit, and as Brown said when describing it, No wonder Diana fled. But the thing is, Diana pretended she loved it all when she was “on trial” as the future fiancee. That’s what I hope isn’t happening with Meghan: being all dewey-eyed and positive about it, until she gets the ring on and only then realizing what she’s gotten herself into. And for sure, Diana was more familiar with the territory than Meghan is, no matter how much older and wiser Meghan is. Maybe with the Queen and Prince Philip and the old guard receding those customs will be softened or done away with and it will all get more bearable.
Violet: Funny you should think about Diana’s deception in relation to MM because i’ve been having a similar thought.
At the end of the day, we all do some pretending when we want something, but the royals are extra in their habits and most of it is dulker than dishwater. Fun to watch from the outside, boring to be on the inside.
Awfully nice of her.
I wonder if the Queen has a soft spot for Meghan because she has the same birthday as the Queen’s mother. It is an interesting coincidence.
Lovely VF issue – I’ll have to be sure to buy it.
I kept thinking Meghan looked like someone in this cover photo, but I couldn’t quite place it.
JOY BRYANT!
I. can certainly believe that Queen Elizabeth is delighted with Harry and Meghan’s upcoming nuptials. And why not? The Queen is now 92. She’s seen it all and done it all. She was a mechanic in WWII; she experienced first hand the fallout from the abdication of her Uncle David (Edward VIII) to be with Wallis Simpson, watched her father die young which resulted in her being crowned Queen at 25. She’s outlived and outlasted about 16 Prime Ministers; she’s seen hundreds of world leaders come and go; she’s watched global depressions, famines; three of her four kids have been divorced and the Royal Family itself has been battered by numerous scandals etc., etc.
Say what you want about the Monarchy (and I’m not a big fan) but QEII is a strong, pragmatic woman who has presided over the world stage for 60+ years. And along comes Meghan, a bi-racial American actress and divorcee who is extremely intelligent, attractive and a great match for her grandson Harry. And Meghan is an animal lover, to boot. What’s not to like and be happy about?
I saw Katie Nicholl’s stuff in VF and frankly, I wouldn’t believe anything anybody told me about what the Queen feels or thinks, as it’s highly unlikely one of her “closest aides” would say one word about what the Queen thought or felt, even to be passed on to what I understand is a respected writer like Vickers. I’m not even sure the Queen would tell any aide, no matter how close, what she felt. She isn’t exactly famous for letting her innermost feelings out.
We know what she did, which should speak for itself, clearly there were no obstructions placed in Harry’s and Meghan’s way, especially given how far down the line of succession he and their children are going to be.
But what the Queen actually feels is another matter, and one thing I’m willing to bet a month’s salary on: the only person who knows that is the Queen. Maybe she discussed it a bit with Charles and/or William given their positions, but I’d bet that’s as far as it went. I also doubt that “getting along well” means much, either. They aren’t intimate friends and the Queen got along well with both her past problematic daughters-in-law, too.
Blah. Same old pablum.
So, not buying anything in the VF stories. We can all see it’s going reasonably well.
The only person allowed to disclose the Queen’s thoughts is her cousin Margaret Rhodes. If Margaret said the Queen felt or said X about any subject, you can believe it.
She wrote a biography a few years ago, the final curtesy, which is full of information about the Queen, QM, George 6 and more.
She frequently gave interviews that you can find on youtube.
In the long run, Prince Harry and Meghan don’t matter. We almost never hear about Queen’s Elizabeth’s sister’s children – David and Sarah.
Will and Kate now have a trio of children, in 20-30 years time, the world will be more concerned with them and their marriages and children than any of the descendants of Harry and Meghan.
They won’t matter to the line of succession, but they’ll be key working royals for the next 30 years. Their kids will never be working royals, but I have no doubt the press will hound those private citizens for years. They’ll never leave them alone as they have (mostly) left Louise and James alone.
@Kaiser, I don’t think they need separate office staff. I think Charles needs to end this silliness and take control of all offices and PR, as he tried to do a few years ago. Centralized messaging, centralized scheduling. Time for some serious work benchmarks and work minimums to be installed. Starting with Poor Jason being thrown out on his ear.
I think the Queen is ultimately practical, ole Harry is a favorite with everybody especially the Queen and gets a pass other do not, and frankly whether it’s fake or not Meghan comes across as an adoring fiancee and makes them look good. I really hope its not an act as Harry has always been one of my favorites despite some of the really stupid things he’s done.
He’s almost the stereotypical bad boy with a heart of gold.
So…Phil is surprised by her intellect and that she’s so well-read, eh?
Either he thinks his grandson is too dumb to catch someone educated or we’re being treated to royally veiled racism — and/or the author’s latent racism — once again.
Congrats Harry on finding one of those surprisingly well-spoken Black people. : 0 HMMMF.
I doubt Phillip thinks of actresses as particularly cerebral, either. The racist aspect of that comment isn’t the only way to look at it.
FWITW, I think he’s comparing Meghan to all the other married-ins that he’s known. Diana, Fergie, Cpt Phillips, and Sophie (who has been known to crack open a book ) from his children’s generation and Kate, Mike, and Summer from the next. I imagine Meghan shines like a beacon of intellectual curiosity next to most of them.
@everyone who responded here – um, I was under the impression that Philip is pretty much impaired by dementia these days, so I’m surprised to hear that anything or anyone impressed him. They have kept him so carefully out of sight, that I’m wondering if this isn’t more deflective PR by the family, who don’t want to talk about his real status.
Good point. Has Philip never heard of Northwestern? While not one of the top
Ten Colleges in the US, it is a very competitive school with a great reputation. Dopes don’t go there. MM is smarter and more educated than any of the rest of them.
Racism. Again.
I agree. I hope to live long enough that people don’t act surprised when a minority succeeds at something. I’m 50. Maybe if I eat all my veggies and beat the crap genes in my DNA. It could happen. I remember my father (Phillip’s age) explaining to me when I was a teenager that homosexuals shouldn’t hold positions of responsibility because they were subject to blackmail and that that was the enlightened view of the world. My father was actually quite progressive for his time. He died less than ten years after that conversation and I know he’d be pleased at how much more accepting of people society has become. We still have a long way to go, though.
You need to google Jordon Peterson on racism. All people are racist to some extent. If they say they aren’t they are lying. Just because someone says something negative about a brown person doesn’t make it racist. It’s getting worse thanks to our politicians who preach diversity.
Claire, that Philip was surprised that a very well educated woman was “well read” when she is biracial, with his history of racist comments, I think I’m safe saying Philip’s “surprise” is racist.
LAK, I think you are giving Philip WAY too much of a break here. MM is well educated. Philip is worldly enough to know that. Why would he assume she isn’t well read?? Diana, Fergie, did they go to college? Kate is lazy. But his surprise that this woman who went to a great school is well read?? I see racism.
Veronica T: of course you do.
Let’s agree to disagree because i see a double entendre that based on family history.
Btw, going to a (great) university doesn’t automatically confirm intellect or an interest in books. Charles and Edward went to Cambridge. Kate went to St Andrews. Of the 3, only Charles is well read and shows intellectual curiosity. No one would accuse either Edward or Kate of being intellectual or being well read.
Actually, despite appearances and reputation, Philip is extremely well read. He has written or contributed to over 14books on a wide range of subjects from Carriage racing to wild life to the survival of the indigenous people of the Brazil rain forest.
Charles definitely got the reading bug from him, and we’ve been told that he is similarly delighted with MM. Rest of the family don’t care for books unless it’s a special interest eg HM and military history.
I get your point about damning MM with a double entendre, but there is also the family tradition of judging every new inlaw on whether they are well read or not. Diana, Fergie, Mark Philips and Kate were famously judged to be unread people who’d never opened a book, nevermind that Kate has a university degree.
Kate has made so many dumb comments about her supposed area of study (art history) that it makes you wonder if she learned anything at all at St Andrews except how to please William.
Who needs enemies in their life when they have a nightmarish family like this.
Meghan seems like a kind, lovely person, Harry and her look in love & happy together.
They will have a great wedding and an unique, interesting life.
I wish them all of the best.
If the Markle side of the family shows up in England for the wedding, they will make only fool of themselves.
The Middletons look like treasure next to this Trump voting white trash.
Ashby, I Beg your pardon?
I think he picked the perfect woman. She is a grown up, has worked hard and made her own way, is old enough to know what she wants and she thrives on the attention as all performers do so there’s no risk of her not being able to cope with the media pressure of being his wife. Plus their kids will be gorgeous.
+1000
Professional working for HM POW GB CW and awsome representing – especially in recent days/months!
I think that after the Diana fiasco, the “virgin aristocrat” isn’t such a winning recipe. Neither is being a commoner, race is just an additional step and besides… Meghan is mixed race and kinda light (looks like a latina/Mediterranean woman). Again, steps.
At last, a break for Poor Jason.
Not buying it.
Maybe I an uninformed, but I suspect that very few of the decisions made by “The Queen” are made by the woman, alone. Very few.