Duchess Meghan schedules an entire day of events with Queen Elizabeth II

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Well, well. It’s widely believed that Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan slipped away to an undisclosed location for their honeymoon, but they will be back very soon. As I’ve said before, I think they’ll be doing a few “mini-honeymoons” throughout the summer, in between working. Meghan and Harry are due back for Trooping the Colour on June 9th, Saturday, which will be our first look at Meghan-on-the-balcony. Which should be very good, hopefully. Then just days later, on June 14th (Thursday), Meghan will be doing three events… with the Queen!

The Duchess of Sussex will spend the day with the Queen next week, carrying out a day of engagements in Cheshire. New dates in the court circular reveal that the royals will officially open the Mersey Gateway Bridge before opening the Storyhouse Theatre. Meghan and the monarch will then attend a lunch at Chester Town Hall.

Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, are currently on their honeymoon, but the couple are expected to make their next official appearance on Saturday at Trooping the Colour. The newlyweds will join the rest of the royal family in celebrating the Queen’s birthday at Buckingham Palace. Kate, who is on maternity leave until the autumn, is also expected to make a rare appearance. The Duchess’ children Prince George and Princess Charlotte will join in the festivities, but it’s thought that William and Kate’s newborn son, Prince Louis, is still too young.

[From Hello]

Are you excited? I’m excited. The photos should be very interesting! It seems like Meg is going solo too, meaning they won’t have Harry as a buffer. It might be seen as… the Queen taking Meghan under her wing? Meghan already hired a former aide to the Queen as her new princess-lesson-teacher too. As some have pointed out, it seems like Meghan knows what she doesn’t know – she’s actively seeking out advice from knowledgeable people and trying to absorb it all, like a sponge.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are married in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle

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115 Responses to “Duchess Meghan schedules an entire day of events with Queen Elizabeth II”

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  1. ChiChi says:

    I hope they don’t do the series of honeymoons thing.

    • whatever says:

      Yeah, I don’t see why they can’t do one 2-week honeymoon somewhere nice and quiet and be done with it. Everyone else manages that. It’s bad optics if they start doing mini-honeymoons in various foreign countries.

      • Tonya says:

        their baby will be very very very cute lol

      • MousyB says:

        I disagree – if they are working in between engagements and having a bunch of mini trips that looks better in my eyes. But alas, they can never win lol

      • Lizabeth says:

        I think multiple mini-honeymoons will cause bad PR if each private trip is publicly called a “honeymoon.” While “regular” people could split up their honeymoon most don’t. So multiple honeymoons will look over-the-top after a wedding some called over-the-top. But the BRF disappears alot in the summer (& often for days at a time throughout the yr) so I think it will be fine if H&M vacation between appearances. (As long as KP doesn’t get it’s collective trousers in a twist and become openly defensive of their “right” to go on honeymoon #2, #3, #4 & so on.) Just do it!

    • ChiChi says:

      @Mousyb, they can never win? I didn’t realize being a member of the BRF was a tournament they needed to win. Mind you, I’d feel the same way if William and Kate wanted an extended honeymoon/holiday.

      My point is, it’s terrible optics if you can’t get your honeymoon done in one sitting, like everyone else. Their life is already a honeymoon. They’re going to be traveling a lot already, with Invicitus and the commonwealth nonsense (I’m a member of the commonwealth and I hate that Britain won’t let us forget we were colonized)

      No one needs an extended honeymoon, not when there are austerity cuts in your country.

      • Lorelei says:

        @ChiChi – I’m just a regular person (on the poorer side of middle class to be honest) and I split my honeymoon in 3 different trips in the summer I got married. Who says you ‘have’ to do it in one sitting and why??

  2. Lela says:

    I sense a honeymoon baby has already crept in! I may think that the royal family are a bunch of scrounging leeches but a Meg + Harry baby would be exciting!

  3. minx says:

    It will be great to see her.
    TQ looks fab.

  4. teehee says:

    Im excited :))

  5. Lady D says:

    I wonder if TQ did the same for Kate? Most likely, yes?

    • Lainey says:

      She joined her and Philip on one or two but not till a year or so after the wedding.

    • whatever says:

      She has done engagements with just the Queen in the past. She also did one with Camilla and the Queen together.

      • Cee says:

        Yes, wasn’t it at Fortnum&Mason? They smelled… tea.

      • Melania says:

        @Lady D Yes, in 2012 a year after her wedding with William

      • whatever says:

        Yes, the Kate/Camilia and TQ one was at Fortnum & Mason.

        Kate and TQ did at least two separate engagements together on the Dimond Jubilee Tour and there could possibly be more joint engagements before or after 2012 …I can’t remember.

      • Masamf says:

        It is being reported that Kate first solo engagement appearance with TQ was after 1 year. If you know otherwise then the rest of them reports are inaccurate but that’s what’s being reported. I don’t think this should be turned into some competition. 7 years ago HM waz 85 yrs and Kate was doing the easing into the role thing. Today HM is 92 and maybe Meghan isn’t doing the easing in role thing, maybe she doesn’t need it, shrugs.

      • notasugarhere says:

        “Can you test the smell by smelling it?”

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      Yep she did, can’t remember the exact number but she did a few with TQ and Phil. I know one was Leicester as part of TQ’s diamond jubilee year.

    • Ib says:

      Kate’s first solo event with the queen was July 2011, after her April 30th wedding
      “In July 2011, Duchess Kate enjoyed a private viewing of her wedding dress exhibition at Buckingham Palace with The Queen”
      Then on March 2, 2012 she had an event with the queen and Camilla at fortnum and mason, and on March 8, 2012 she and the queen had a day of events together in Leicester for the queens jubilee. So March 8, 2012 first PUBLIC solo event with the queen: her first solo event with queen 2 months after her wedding was a private engagement at BP with pictures/video released

      • Jan90067(aka imqrious2) says:

        Wasn’t that the event where the Queen was not pleased at the presentation, said something that it looked ghostly?

      • LAK says:

        That video view of Kate’s wedding dress didn’t count as an official engagement in the CC. It was an appearance, but it was so brief and the Queen was grumpy as hell in it and is heard saying quite clearly at the beginning that she didn’t agree to it.

      • notasugarhere says:

        “Horrible” was the word iirc

    • Veronica T says:

      I remember Kate doing events with the Queen too. The headline makes it look like MM set this up! Not likely!

    • angelina says:

      Yes she did. Kate first solo event was having dinner with then POTUS Obama and FLOTUS Michelle with William and her 1st outing with the Queen was putting her dress up in display at BP.
      Meghan is just doing a ribbon cutting event in a small town. Not the same thing or big deal.

      • LAK says:

        She didn’t have dinner with the Obamas. William and Kate did a 10min(or less) photo op with the Obamas and went their way. The Palace confirmed this at the time. That Photo op is the only time they spent with the Obamas on that visit.

        Kate’s solo event was in the winter when she stepped in for Charles who had to go to the funeral of the recently deceased ruler of Saudi Arabia.

        http://www.celebitchy.com/188569/duchess_kate_shows_some_skin_for_her_first_solo_royal_event_lovely_or_gauche/

      • lobbit says:

        The Obama dinner wasn’t a solo event – William was there lol.

        Meghan’s first public outing with the Queen is actually quite similar to when Kate joined QEII and Prince Philip on a trip to Leicester. And imo any outing with the Queen is a big deal but YMMV.

      • Olenna says:

        @Lak, the title of that link/article is cringe worthy and funny at the same time! 😉

      • Nic919 says:

        The photos in that article have a great shot of her extensions.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Argh, that tacky dress worthy of Stephanie of Monaco.

    • Milla says:

      Lizzy doesn’ t have much time, she is over 90. Kate was trained to work, that is work for them, on her own and Meghan has to learn quicker.

      Yes, Chuky will be the next king but he and his missus aren’t spring chicken either.

      Eventually, brf will depend on will and harry. And their wives.

  6. Lainey says:

    It’ll be great, can’t wait to see the two of them together. Also interesting that the queen is doing a series of public engagements- she tends to just do the one or stay in the palaces lately. And outside of London too.
    Not gonna lie laughed at the Kate doing a rare appearance part.

  7. Cee says:

    She did the same with Kate, I don’t remember if it was an entire day, but she spent at least one engagement with Kate, solo, after the wedding. This wasn’t the one about Faberge eggs, though.

    • homeslice says:

      There was a fashion event too. It was in the documentary about TQ’s 90th b-day. The one where Kate talks about her chutney lol.

      • Loris says:

        @LAK
        The Queen seems to have much more confidence in Meghan’s skills than she ever had in Kate. And this despite Kate’s 10-year engagement and training.

      • Cee says:

        Yes, @LAK, that’s the one I remembered! Was that their first engagement together? I remember people admonishing Kate for her short skirt and for not walking behind TQ LOL.

      • LAK says:

        Cee: Her skirt was short, but not chronically short. It only became a problem when she exited the car and sat down, it rod up which made it very crotch shot accessible. If you scroll down that article, there are some photos that demonstrate why it was a bad choice for what she needed to do.

        The Fortnum and Mason visit was the first joint engagement with the Queen.

        http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2108587/Kate-Middleton-Queen-Duchess-Cornwall-official-visit-Fortnum–Mason.html

        Btw, going by the Queen’s demeanor and words in that wedding dress video, it seems she was unhappy about it. Going by her words, it’s unclear whether she was objecting to the engagement or to being filmed for the news segment.

      • Mego says:

        Kate looks nice in these pictures. Terrible to take a picture of her bending over like that 😞

      • LAK says:

        Mego: That’s why people kept pointing out her short skirts because when she bent over, exited cars, her skirts rod up and the media never miss the opportunity to take salacious photos.

      • Lizabeth says:

        Since those pictures with the Queen were taken before someone thought to teach Kate how to exit a car gracefully and how to sit with what’s now termed the “duchess’s slant” her skirts did look too short. We have still continued to see “bending over” reveals though even during the past year. Sure, we can argue photographers shouldn’t take those kinds of pictures but I think we all know they will.

  8. Melania says:

    Queen Elizabeth is a secret Meghan stan LOL

    • Sid says:

      If Meghan follows Sophie’s example (post-PR firm exit), then this just might become the case.

      • homeslice says:

        Sophie is looking quite great lately. Just saw some pics from an event she did today. WIsh we would get more coverage of other royals here and even the Swedes. Princess Sophia looked gorg at a weekend wedding.

        JMO, it gets tiring just going over Kate and Meghan, Kate and Meghan….

      • Nic919 says:

        The Queen gets along with Sophie because Sophie does the work she is asked to do. If Meghan does the same there isn’t any reason that she won’t like her too. Plus she gave Guy the beagle a ride to Windsor. She’s all about dogs and horses and duty.

      • Olenna says:

        I agree, Nic919. Sophie is out there, representing the monarchy and doing it well. She also has a common interest with TQ in horses, which probably has given them more time to bond than just family engagements and visits.

      • Mynameispearl says:

        The queen is 92… her days are numbered, so to get in any queen-time Meghan has to make haste, unromantic fact but true. Its probably more about that than liking one Royal bride more than the other (I think they both seem like nice women btw).

      • Green Girl says:

        I just loved that Meghan’s dog hitched a ride with THE QUEEN (that’s how I say her title in my head 😉 ) to Windsor. No one asks her to do anything, so she had to have volunteered to have the dog ride with her. Like, I don’t believe for one minute that the BRF simply couldn’t find another car or something to transport Meghan’s dog. I have to say that I think QEII likes Meghan and is taking her under her wing.

        I think it’s a combination of a bunch of different things – no one is getting any younger, and if H&M want to have kids ASAP, then her maternity leave will cut into available time learning the ropes. It’s also probably one way for the BRF to sort of bond together. Some families paint houses, some play baseball, and some cut ribbons.

    • CooCooCatchoo says:

      Right?!?

  9. SolitaryAngel says:

    Good for her!
    I’m glad to see her “jumping right in”. I read all the Meghan/Harry posts but seldom comment–btw, all of your comments are so entertaining!–but I really love these two. I think Meghan is a very smart lady and she’s PR-savvy enough to know that one can learn as much from bad publicity (Kate) as well as from good.
    She clearly understands and takes seriously her duties to Harry and the RF. *clapping happily* Can’t wait for the baby!

    • magnoliarose says:

      Years in the entertainment industry has given Meghan some great training for her new life. She has weathered the cruelest critiques and understands the art of optics. The BRF seem to be all in so it could work to her advantage.

  10. Redgrl says:

    Serious question- I wonder how much prep goes into these meetings? I would think there should be notes to read about the area, history, the project, the dignitaries there, the facilities, the schedule, etc. Shouldn’t take more than a few hours prep per event to do it thoroughly but I’m still curious. I remember reading that Bill was bragging about not reading his prep notes which totally ticked me off – and when I saw this it got me thinking. It would be great if the public had access to those numbers (or do we?)

    • MeghanNotMarkle says:

      Billy did say that and he insulted more than one person by not doing his prep. Asking questions about one of his mother’s charities when the answer was obvious and was in his notes. That kind of thing. He and Kate both skip all work that doesn’t absolutely have to be done (and even then one or both will still skip out).

    • Beluga says:

      They have quite extensive prep notes, I think. William infuriated me when he bragged about not prepping. It was a charity that his mother was involved with, so it’s doubly insulting to the people hosting him. The research is all done for them, I assume, so doing the background reading is the bare minimum. Both he and Kate have also made it clear through other comments on engagements that they don’t have a clue about what the organisation they’re visiting does.

      Contrast that to the young people at Reprezent, who have gone on the record multiple times saying how touched they were at how Harry and Meghan had clearly read up on their radio station and outreach work beforehand and already knew a great deal about them. That makes a really good impression on people, they feel valued and it’s really not that much effort to read the notes that a staffer’s prepared.

  11. Busyann says:

    I don’t see a baby happening until next year. I know Harry said he wanted babies soon, and Meghan seems on board with that too, but it really seems like they’re loading up on work until October. We’re not hearing much after their Invictus trip to Australia and New Zealand. My guess is baby after that trip.

    • MeghanNotMarkle says:

      I feel this, too. She’s in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation right now, but having a baby right off is bad optics. It’ll be spun as her not wanting to work so she’s taking the Kate Track and getting knocked up. Even though Meghan has shown that she is ready and willing to go out and do engagements – and appears to genuinely enjoy them. Baby can wait until Invictus and Meghan has sent the message that yes, she wants to work, but she also wants a family and will find a way to do both without disappearing for years on end.

    • magnoliarose says:

      I think Meghan will be pregnant and work like a champion through it. She gets that she has to be above and beyond. Harry understands the same but I think she is very PR savvy. I look forward to watching. It will take a year or so I think but I believe she will get it soon enough.

      • Green Girl says:

        I think so, too, and I agree with your points. Meghan is smart and savvy, and she knows what she needs to do. If she does get pregnant before year end (which I can totally see happening), then I think she will work at a strong rate as much as she can. Now, what a strong rate would mean is anyone’s guess, but I would be surprised if she did fewer than two events per week.

      • Masamf says:

        her working (or not) would depend on how well her body responds to the pregnancy. It she is well enough to work, she will, I’m sure. But if she is sick like a dog, then she won’t work, but then, that would be understandable. Just hoping that if she is too sick to work, she will be given the break that Kate gets given for her “HG”.

  12. Seraphina says:

    A person who knows what they don’t know and actively seeking out the knowdge is a wonderful thing. Kudos to MM. starting off on the right foot is always great.

    I think I see some Kate and kids photo ops coming soon. Kate being a great hands on mom at the park, something to that affect.

    • Busyann says:

      Nope, that’s too obvious. She’ll wait until the day after MM & HM’s day out to get papped with a snack lunch at the train station.

      • magnoliarose says:

        LOL. If that happens Busyann I will die from laughing. Just a simple Duchess with a cheese sandwich waiting to go somewhere. The name of the British market with the takeaway lunches escapes me. Waitrose. That is it. Maybe she will get something from them and pose. lol

    • Beluga says:

      We had one super-mum pap shoot at the Houghton Horse Trials last week with George and Charlotte.

  13. Alex says:

    She is going to hate her new royal life soon. No independence to be her anymore, kissing the queens ass, she will lose herself with all these fake royal life. It is exciting now, but it will get old soon.

    • Snap Happy says:

      And you know this how?

    • gm says:

      That is true of every job and most lives. Things begin with excitement and often become tedious with bosses, management, administration and so on. I’m guessing MM experienced this with Suits, and at her age expects the fireworks to calm down eventually. Also I get the vibe she is pretty common sense intelligent and understands life has trade offs. There are significant perks and quality of life that royal life offers.

      • lorio says:

        She isn’t going to like seeing Camilla and Kate get to do the cool stuff though. And how Kate will eventually become the next Princess of Wales and eventual Queen consort. Plus the Cambridge kids will steal the spotlight once William, Kate, Harry and Meghan are too old.

      • morrigan01 says:

        I’m amused at people who think Meghan will give any care about who becomes Queen after QEII. Meghan is American. I seriously doubt she gives two shits who becomes Queen later, as long as she can continue doing the charity work – specifically the women’s issues – she’s interested in.

        We’re talking about a woman who spoke at the UN, and wanted to become an Ambassador at the US State Department. She has an international world view. Her eyes are clearly more focused on bigger, world wide things for her later life, NOT Queen of England.

        The Cambridge kids won’t be doing anything for at least 20 years yet. That’s a long ass time. More than enough time for Meghan AND Harry to build up the bigger, world wide projects they likely want to do, when they won’t be needed to cut ribbons around the UK anymore.

      • Meggles says:

        It’s incredibly bizarre to imagine that in several decades a middle-aged woman will be jealous of her own nephews and niece. Presumably Meghan will have kids of her own by then, and will have established the kind of life she wants to lead as a duchess. Kate may well be in her sixties before she becomes queen.

      • Olenna says:

        Unfortunately, it’s not bizarre to some of the admittedly *middle-aged* women who can’t stand Meghan, an educated, attractive self-starter probably a decade or two younger than them. IMO, their compulsion to throw ill-informed, petty little shit-bombs at her wherever they can post them on the internet is bizarre. Some of these women even claim they’re feminists.

      • Masamf says:

        @Lorio, Meghan is not going to hate on Kate or Camilla for becoming queen, she fell in love with and married Harry not William or PoW. She knew from the get go that her would be husband (now husband) was once a spare and at the time she met and fell in love with him, he was already 5th in line and had no chance of ever ascending the throne. Harry stated way before he met and fell in love with Meghan that he did not envy his brother nor his nephew, he has never wanted to be king. So, with all that said, it seems both Harry and Meghan are on the same page when it comes to their position in the line of throne, none of them has any desire to rule the UK. It seems their interest are in their charity work and nothing else. So I very much doubt Meghan will be jealous of Kate, Meghan never signed up for Kate position and as evidenced for Meghan’s love for her husband, she is quite happy, content and satisfied with being Harry’s wife.

      • morrigan01 says:

        @Masamf thank you. Harry has said more than once he has no desire to be King, and has even said he’ll use his name and the position he has now to do some good in the world, until people find George more interesting than him.

        As you said, Meghan fell for Harry when he was already 5th in line, and him becoming King was already slim to none. If she wanted to be Queen, it would’ve made more sense for her to set her sights on William – 10 years ago. Instead, she was busy finishing college and going down to the US Embassy in Argentina and trying to work at the US State Department. She only turned back to acting when that fell though.

        Harry doesn’t care one jot about ever being King, and I don’t think it’s a stretch that Meghan probably cares even less about being Queen. They both likely just want to use the positions they have now to do some good in the world, as Harry has said before.

    • lorio says:

      This is the Queen showing Meghan the types of duties she will now do.
      She isn’t going to like seeing Camilla and Kate get to do the cool stuff though. And how Kate will eventually become the next Princess of Wales and eventual Queen consort. Plus the Cambridge kids will steal the spotlight once William, Kate, Harry and Meghan are too old.

      • morrigan01 says:

        LOL at she isn’t going to like Kate and Camilla doing cool stuff because they get to be Queen. This has become the new go-to argument of Kate fans, conveniently forgetting Meghan is American and probably couldn’t give a shit about ever becoming Queen.

        Meghan and Harry have way more of an international outlook on things. Their goals in life probably extend even more to international things to try and make peoples lives better all over (like Harry is already doing with the Invictus Games). When the Cambridge kids are old enough in 20 years, I’m sure Meghan and Harry will happily give the cutting ribbons and stuff around the UK to them, while Meghan and Harry work more on international projects and events with the likes of the Obamas (who are clearly close to Harry and only weren’t at the wedding because man-baby Trump would have thrown a temper tantrum) and people like that.

        So yeah, Kate will be Queen – Queen Consort more specifically. But I seriously doubt she’ll have anywhere near the same international cashe that Harry is already starting to build, and I’ll bet Meghan will be beginning to build soon as well, or maybe has already begun to (both Oprah and Amal Clooney being at the wedding gave me that vibe in that regard). They are two different women with two different outlooks on life and goals. Being Queen of England has never been one of Meghan’s, I’m willing to bet money it still isn’t now, and I don’t think I’m just guessing by saying that.

      • Guest says:

        Oooh boy, it sounds like this engagement has some on here feathers ruffled. Lol….”Meghan wont like seeing kate and camilla do better things” wth? Does someone on here know meghan?
        @lorio it’s ok. We all know kate will be queen consort one today. Big bag evil meghans not. Take a deep breath. Also harry is considered a senior royal so until about 2040 when George, and his siblings are older he and meghan will be doing things for the royal family. Let’s hope the cambridge kids have a better work ethic vs their parents. Charles and camilla arent popular, and will and kate are lazy.

      • Veronica T says:

        morrigan, the British people support Harry and Meghan. They may have an international outlook, but their job is to cut ribbons and open hospitals in England. Not Africa or other continents. If they want to do that, I think the taxpayers will balk eventually.
        Her job will be small stuff in England, like this. Didn’t she just say, or maybe Harry did, in the People article that she didn’t want to spend her life cutting ribbons and lunching?? Next thing you know, the Queen has Meghan of the High Horse cutting ribbons and lunching!!
        I think the Queen has a wicked sense of irony.

      • morrigan01 says:

        @Veronica, no, Meghan said she didn’t want to be a lady who lunches, but a woman who works. Which is something she said long before she met Harry. She’s never said she didn’t want to cut ribbons. (“Ladies Who Lunch”, btw, is a bitter little song about women who lead empty lives by Stephen Sondheim from his 1970 musical “Company”. Being a theater geek and major, Meghan probably knows the Sondheim catalogue backwards and forwards).

        It’s clear Meghan has the ability to do a little thing called Multitasking. And her job around the UK isn’t going to just be small stuff like cutting ribbons which she’s already proven by the pre-wedding engagements she and Harry have already done (which involved ZERO ribbon cutting). We already know about her private visits to the victims of that tower fire AND that the Queen is already going to send her and Harry on a tour of the Commonwealth. This engagement with the Queen is less about ribbon cutting and more about QEII showing everyone she has Meghan’s back and trusts her. Harry and Meghan’s job will never only be about cutting ribbons and opening hospitals, and the Queen is making that quite clear, and has been making that clear even before the wedding. IMO the Queen is going to be relying on Harry and Meghan to represent her overseas a LOT, especially around the Commonwealth, in the coming years, which jives and meshes completely with their international outlook.

      • Lizabeth says:

        That’s not exactly what Meghan said @Veronica T. She said she didn’t want to be “a lady who lunches.” She then went on to say she wanted
        to work, to make a difference in people’s lives.

        https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/ive-never-wanted-to-be-a-lady-who-lunches-i-wanted-to-be-a-woman-who-works-meghan-markle-opens-up-about-fame-35235215.html

        We all know that phrase about lunching describes upper-class shallow women who don’t work & have purely social expensive lunches with each other, not women who, in the course of their charity work, attend luncheons. So I’m not buying at all that the Queen intends any irony by the planned event with Meghan.

        The only ones I’ve read openly disparage ribbon-cuttings are Will and to a lesser extent Harry. I don’t know if Kate likes doing them but she has done a few as all the royals do.

        If Harry is going to be the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador he’s going to have to leave the UK on occasion. I’d also expect when in the UK for his presence to be felt outside “England.” I have read though that some in the UK have had their full of royals like Will and Harry disappearing to Africa to work on conservation of exotic animals. That’s hardly the same as being bound to England or even the UK all the time.

      • morrigan01 says:

        It seems like a lot of people don’t understand the phrase “Ladies Who Lunch.” Meghan, by her own admission is a theater geek, and it was one of her two majors at Northwestern. “Ladies Who Lunch” is a reference to the Stephen Sondheim musical “Company.” (Meghan played Red Riding Hood is a HS production of Sondheim’s Into The Woods BTW).

        The song “Ladies Who Lunch” comes towards the end of Act II of Company in which the character of Joanne sings about toasting all the upper middle class women out there who are leading empty lives involving mundane things like buying hats, reading “Life” magazine and, of course, meet up to “lunch.” Basically wasting their time, leading empty lives of quite desperation, keeping busy to try and forget how foolish they are as they wait for their inevitable deaths, having accomplished nothing.

        Here’s a clip of Broadway legend Patti LuPone singing the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvXEQ4lZt8k

        So yeah, THAT is what Meghan was referencing with her “Ladies Who Lunch” comment. Not that she objects to going to events to cut ribbons or having lunch with people when attending charity events. There is no irony here, just people who aren’t theater geeks who clearly didn’t/don’t get the reference.

    • Bea says:

      Some people can’t wait for Meghan to be miserable so you all can say, I told you so.

      Harry has spent the last six months introducing Meghan to the types of duties she will now have to do.

      The Cambridge kids have a lot of years between now and then. If the recent past is an indicator of things to come, the Cambridge kids will be out of sight for as long as Will and Kate want them hidden from the public.

      • magnoliarose says:

        @Bea
        The misery brigade have high hopes she will be punished for her ascent and hope she never overshadows Kate. They imagine the BRF to be some sort of real family that makes emotional decisions without ruthlessness.

      • morrigan01 says:

        I’ve been seeing the “Kate will be Queen” and the “Cambridge kids” arguments from this group, and I just laugh every time. The Cambridge kids aren’t going to be doing any royal work for at least 20 years, and Meghan’s worldview extends beyond being Queen of the UK – something I don’t think is a stretch to say she has NEVER cared about being in the first place. (And no, her wanting to be President of the US when she was younger is not the same thing. For one, being POTUS gives a person actual *real* political power. Queen Consort does not).

        Meghan and Kate are two totally different women with two totally different worldviews and outlooks on life , and goals they want to achieve. Meg ain’t trying to one-up Kate or follow Kate, or likely even cares that Kate will one day be Queen Consort. Not as long as she can continue to do the work she clearly WANTS to do.

      • Nic919 says:

        Someone needs to tell Anne that she has to stop working so much because she won’t be Queen consort like Kate and it will make her look bad. Really this is the dumbest argument. Everyone works more than Kate right now and none except for Camilla will ever be queen consort. Kate just is lazy and nothing will change. Meanwhile the Queen needs someone willing to step up and if that’s Meghan then so be it and future Queen consort be damned. It’s called the firm for a reason.

  14. angelina says:

    These are the types of events she will be doing from now on. Lunches at community centers, cutting ribbons, visiting local pubs and schools,etc.
    The Queen isn’t gonna give her the same duties that she, Camillia and Kate do. Like doing Royal tours, meeting world leaders and other Royals in different countries, hosting fancy dinner galas and parties at BP or KP,etc.
    But its nice of QE2 to help her out.

    • Loris says:

      We’ll see

      • lorio says:

        There is no ‘well see’. The Queen, Camilla and Kate are senior members of the family and already have done these events. Which makes sense they they will both end up as Queen consort one day as their husbands are future Kings. Meghan’s place is amongst Andrew, Anne and Edward and their spouses along with Harry.
        She isn’t as important as those 2 women. She never will be.

      • Lizabeth says:

        I agree, we’ll see. Edward and Sophie have done alot of work representing the monarchy overseas and Sophie’s never going to be Queen Consort either. Personally I doubt *all* Meghan’s royal work will be in the UK doing minor events. I do think minor events are important to the future of the monarchy though.

      • lobbit says:

        Yeah, Anne, Edward, and even Andrew travel a hell of a lot for the Queen. If Meghan and Harry are to follow their lead then they’ll be touring the world and attending state dinners before you know it.

      • Olenna says:

        I agree as well, Loris. Only time will tell. I do think Harry and Meghan’s workload will take into consideration their plans to start a family. As senior royals, however, they will be expected to pick up the slack for TQ and Prince Philip, and I think Meghan has already shown TQ and PC she has the self-confidence and intelligence to take on more independent, higher level engagements.

        @Lorio/Angelina, I think TQ’s age is a serious to factor to consider in how the workload will be divided and William’s children are too young to even consider their place in the working royals’ ranks at this time.

      • Lady D says:

        She will be important to Charles.

      • GM says:

        I interpret this comment thread more as what type of work will Meghan do, not about her rank in the hierarchy, which is something that is set. She will likely do tours abroad as the other children of the queen have done, not just Prince Charles and alos open hospitals and libraries. However , IMO what she does may be tempered by starting a family. For instance, have other royals worked less when their children are young?

      • magnoliarose says:

        If she brings positive press she will be at major events. They aren’t going sideline her for the sake of anyone else. They use Harry now to make Will and Kate look better. Once everything is Charles’ hands it will be interesting to see how he handles everything.

      • Nic919 says:

        Only Kate has had low engagements as compared to the other royal women. Even the year Sophie almost died giving birth to Louise she still managed to work more engagements than Kate ever has. Sure their numbers might be lower than their own from the year before, but again, it’s only Kate who has had to announce a “maternity leave”.

      • Lobbit says:

        Not that there’s anything wrong with taking maternity leave! When the time comes, I hope Meghan feels free to take as much time as she can.

    • Sage says:

      That’s what they all do, cut ribbons, open centres. And, she will accompany Harry on his royal tours unless he never does a royal tour again…

    • Natalie S. says:

      @Angelina. That sounds like wishful thinking. How about we wait and see? Nothing wrong with the things you mentioned but ultimately the BRF will do whatever will get them good press.

    • Royal Suitor says:

      What exactly do you think Prince Harry’s role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador and President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust will entail? Both of those gigs will require substantial travel throughout the Commonwealth for he and Meghan. Not to mention trips for the Invictus Games. I’m sure they’ll do their fair share of bread and butter local engagements to support their patronages as well, but if you think they won’t have a presence on the world stage you’re deluding yourself.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Well, they’re already traveling to The Netherlands and Australia related to Invictus, perhaps with a tour tacked on to the Australia trip. They’ll hopefully be taking over local duties from the elders (Kent, Gloucesters) plus taking on more of Andrew, Edward, and Sophie’s. As others have said, those folks do a lot of international travel for HM. These two will be on the world stage for at least 20-30 years. After that, they may be phased out gradually if W&K’s kids ever start working. Pretty good life if you ask me.

      Duke of Kent has just advertised for a new private secretary, so he’s apparently continuing to work until he drops.

    • Masamf says:

      Don’t you just love how people keep changing their tune to suit their narrative at a given time? I remember during the engagement how many Kate fans came on here and argued how Kate would never be Meghan’s matron of honor because “it would be such a down grade for a future queen to be a matron to someone with lower rank” blah blah blah. even when many of us pointed out that Kate would not be chosen because the women don’t know each other that well, Kate’s fans kept the foot on the “future queen” pedal. It was also stated by same fans of how William would never be Harry’s best man for the same “down grade” reasons etc etc. Lo and behold, Harry, 6th in line, asked his brother the future king to be his best man and his brother did not even hesitate to say yes. And it was stated that William was NOT just supporting Harry but that he was his bestman to return the favor of his brother being his best man in 2011. And then it was all crickets in the Kate can’t be matron of honor to lower rank Meghan” camp……just nothing. Then someone came up with the “Kate wouldn’t be matron because she just had a baby anyways” etc. No attempts to even considered the fact that Meghan might not really want Kate as her matron, no it was always Meghan desperate to have Kate but Kate future queen can’t be. Now that the wedding is come and gone with a future king being a best man, now its Meghan is jealous of Kate and the Cambs kids. SMH. And in 2017 soon after the engagement was announced, it was stated how the RF would never allow Meghan to outwork or outshine the future queen Kate. Some of us argued that if Meghan is willing to put in the hard work, she isn’t gonna be sidelined just so Kate, in all her magnificent laziness, look good; lets just wait and see what will happen. Now that Meghan is being shown the ropes by the head honcho herself, suddenly what Meghan is being trained to do is not that important, its no big deal Kate will have all the meaty jobs and Meghan will be left to suck on the left over bones and wallow in her jealousy of Kate!! Again SMH! I’m curious to read what will be written in a couple of years when all those claims get blown up!! HM does have a wicked sense of humor, see how she trolled all the rags that were carrying on about how she dislikes Meghan and that’s why she put her in a car that transported Wallis Simpson? TQ was like: suck my lemons y’all!!

  15. Becks1 says:

    Oooh I’m excited for that! I bet we will get lots of photos.

    Agree with others that I think it will be a good learning experience for Meghan and that I think it says a lot about how the Queen views her.

    • Olenna says:

      ITA. I’m on fashion watch and looking forward to seeing photos of the event.

  16. Zondie says:

    “Kate,………is also expected to make a rare appearance.”

    That’s the only kind of appearance she makes.

  17. PrincessK says:

    The Queen knows that she is 92 and so wants to quickly do things with Meghan. But I also think that this is a big PR opportunity for the Palace. Meghan is the shining star at the moment, and even thought Queen does get great publicity and front page news. Kate and Meghan get the front page more than the Queen, and the two of them doing an engagement together, without any other royals in attendance is going to be BIG news both sides of the Atlantic.

    The outfits of the two ladies will be very carefully chosen, just you wait and see. Interesting also that one of the Queen’s former secretarys is now working with H&M, a sign that this has been carefully choreographed between BP and KP.

    Also Meghan will have the Queen to herself and won’t have to share the stage with Camilla like Kate, although that Fortnum had the symbolism of the three ‘Queens’ together.

  18. aquarius64 says:

    I’m surprised that Meghan is getting to do engagements with the queen soon. Kate’s engagement with the queen was a year after her marriage? She’s a future queen so she should have been front loaded work much sooner.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Royals plan their own work schedule, as royals and courtiers have said for years. Katie Keen chose to be lazy, Meghan is choosing to work. Perhaps HM (or someone on her staff) recognized that a theatre-related event would be a good one to include MM. An invite would have been issued, and since Meghan wants to work, she accepted.

  19. Violet says:

    Here’s my guess on this: Meghan will need to demonstrate, especially to the most powerful person in the family, that she is up to the routine white glove stuff, which is, let’s face it, a legitimate part of the work of royals at this level, before she can go out on a limb with “activism”. So prepare yourselves, all, for a suitable dress and hateand hose. I think too much pressure has been put on Megan and the “hit the ground running” activism stuff. This not Camilla she’ll be sharing the platform with, but the Queen herself, and I’m sure Meghan will be appropriately respectful of that. First things first: show you know how to be the traditional Duchess consort, and fit in well with the traditional framework – then you can test the other waters. People really need to let up on the pressure on her to dress a certain way or not dress a certain way. She’s the one inside the circle: we could trust she knows what she’s about and when to do what.