I could tell by the flood of commenters all parroting the same talking point that the Daily Mail had decided to make “Meghan’s private plane” into a huge story. The Duchess of Sussex flew into New York and flew out of New York via private plane. She does not own a private plane, but she has access to friends’ private planes and has had access for years, even before she met Prince Harry. In this particular case, Amal Clooney was the one to provide flights to and from New York. And the Daily Mail is throwing a sh-t fit about it.
Meghan Markle was flown home from New York City in a $43million private jet laid on by George and Amal Clooney – and in an extraordinary baby shower gift the A-listers picked up the $125,000 bill, MailOnline can exclusively reveal. The Duchess of Sussex came back to Britain with Amal and her twins early this morning after the extravagant $500,000 trip to the Big Apple where she partied for five nights with her celebrity friends.
Meghan landed at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire after a $250,000 (£200,000) round trip to America following a lavish baby shower thrown by Serena Williams, Jessica Mulroney, and one of the royal’s sorority sisters from Northwestern University. MailOnline can reveal the $43million Gulfstream G450 private jet is owned by a US company with the same name as one registered to the same Los Angeles address as two of George Clooney’s film companies, and all three appear to have the same agent. But it is not clear if the Clooneys own the plane or just have use of it – and the actor’s spokesman is yet to respond.
I remember when they did this kind of thing to Michelle Obama, the obsessive detailing of how much she spent on shoes, purses, clothes, travel, hotels, what have you. There’s an undercurrent of “policing” the spending of black women in particular. It’s gross. As I keep saying, the tabloids would have climbed up Meghan’s ass about whatever she did – the fact that her friends paid for this five-day trip was a smart move, but of course the tabs still found a way to “punish” her.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on another ski holiday, and if it’s like all of their other holidays in the past, they also borrowed a friend’s private plane. That friend? Probably the Duke of Westminster. It’s weird that the tabloids are screaming and tearing out their hair about MEG RODE ON A PRIVATE PLANE while during the exact same newscycle, Will, Kate, the kids and their security all used someone’s private plane too. Soooo weird.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
Yeah, this whole narrative around the baby shower and how much it cost is really annoying me. Meghan has friends who have serious cash. They spent some of it on her.
Meghan using the Clooney’s private plane is absolutely NO DIFFERENT from Will and Kate using the Duke of Westminster’s private plane.
And from the way it’s written it doesn’t even sound like the private plane was just for her benefit. More like Amal was using it, and Meghan just hitched a ride because they were going to the same place.
I guess all those complaining would have preferred spending tax payer dollars on tickets for Meghan and her security team.
Honestly if I got super wealthy I’d be all about Netjets or Marquis Jets – basically you pay per flight and don’t own a plane.
@Becks/@AGirlAndHerDog I’m with you. It has been so upsetting to read all of the cruelty directed at Meghan this week. I don’t necessarily think EVERY criticism of MM is due to racism — I definitely think it’s possible to dislike her for other reasons — but I do think this particular one is for sure.
As Nic919 said yesterday, she is daring to be in a position that has traditionally only been occupied by white (and British) people, including all of the perks which come with that position, and many absolutely cannot stand it.
And a lot of the comments seem to be, “I don’t dislike Meghan, but…” which IMO reads as “I would be able to tolerate her better if she stayed in her lane.” Most people commenting (including me!) will never ride a private plane in their lives and are incensed that a biracial woman is. If this story was about Kate, the reactions would be veeeerrrry different. IMO.
After this week I really might need a break from this site. I come here for entertainment, from an escape from the horrors going on in the world, but the meanness that is constantly hurled at MM is so tiresome and sad to read. Especially since SO much of it is based on misinformation (e.g., she can’t accept baby gifts from her friends, which is blatantly untrue and was only made up three days ago when it was announced that her friends were giving her a shower 🙄).
I think you’re right and I also think it’s naive and too easy to say that peoples issue with Meghan is all racially motivated. I think that is some of it but I think it also also in part because she is American and because she is an actress too. I remember being in my teens and hearing about how Royalty looked down upon ‘celebrities’ and didn’t like to associate too closely with them. They considered themselves above that and I guess British people have also been conditioned to feel the same.
I have a stinking rich sibling and I have hitched rides on his plane a few times and it’s literally something I wished I hadn’t experienced. Its so much better than flying any kind of commercial, it makes flying commercial worse. You pull your car up to the plane, they load the luggage in for you (and take your car away to be washed and return to the tarmac when you come back) then after your board the pilot casually asks to see an ID from the person on the manifest. Oh yeah and incredible catering, great media, fashion and business magazines..
By contrast recently I was going through security at LAX and a TSA office wanded my crotch and then patted it down ..,just doing her job but Jesus Maria, it’s awful out there and I can’t begrudge anybody with the money trying to avoid it.
Double standards. Obama criticized Kimye for all the splashing of wealth. The royals get the same treatment.
It wasn’t a state visit. That’s all i have to say.
Amal Clooney thirsty ways are not helping, to be honest. Someone super serious like Angela Merkel could hitch a ride on Amal’s jet and we would side eye that as well.
But yeah, the breathless celebrity coverage disguised as censure is silly to read. She’s an actress with celebrity friends, that’s who she is. A private plane is not unusual for her crowd.
Didn’t Harry’s past girlfriends come from British upper class? Didn’t they have old family money and access to things like private planes? I’m thinking so, but since it’s white British “old” money that’s a completely different story, apparently.
But god forbid his biracial American bride, who had a seemingly well-paying JOB and money of her own (obviously not family money from the Markles, ha!) for many years before meeting him and friends in her professional sphere, take a damn private plane that was paid for by a friend.
This all hurts my head…and my heart.
I think the issue is her husband lectured people on climate change action (during Aussie tour). Private planes isn’t the most eco-friendly travel option.
William, father of 3, lectured people about overpopulation. He’s also lectured people about poaching in Africa whilst hunting birds in the UK that were bred to be shot (and not subsequently consumed). The royals are nothing if not hypocrites.
I don’t get it. Please enlighten me… I am Canadian so perhaps I don’t understand … But are you all REALLY defending an American woman who has spent millions of the british and commonwealth! tax payers money on her extravagant lifestyle in the face of brexit??? Are u so insular you don’t see beyond race? U are perpetuating a narrative of the gross white elitist people holding her down when she willingly joined them!!!
She culturally appropriated ffs.
But she didn’t use Taxpayers money for this. Also, why aren’t will and kate being dragged for the same thing, which they did this week, too?
Please the shower and visit did not cost half a million dollars. They are adding some estimated costs for the plane which I’m pretty sure is the Clooney’s so who knows what that really costs or if it was being used for a trip anyway as Amal comes back and forth a lot already. The costs for the rooms are rack room rate in NYC and who pays that? Probably not Serena. You know why rich people stay rich cause they get things cheaper than you think or given to them. This is gossip to make her seem like a crazy celebrity Kardashian like. It’s silly people get upset about this.
This reads like a parody. (a) it isn’t taxpayers’ money, except for security; (b) it isn’t millions of pounds; and (c) please, please explain how Meghan has culturally appropriated anything.
Dee-as a fellow Canadian there is not one fact in your response-be.quiet.
Just admit you’re a racist and be quiet. Stop hatewatching Meghan with your vile toxic energy and go away.
I’m Canadian as well, and I have no idea what you’re talking about, Dee. Your comments don’t make any sense.
Love that she was on a private plane! What do people want to see MM on Ryanair?
Since that’s what Will, Kate, and Harry do when they need good PR surrounding their use of private planes etc, probably? They all get dragged for expensive travel regardless of who pays. Will and Kate got in trouble for using the Duke of Westminster’s plane for free too. I have no idea what the logic is, but I’m not surprised she is getting shit for it. It’s like people getting upset that the Queen has a gold piano even though it’s actually owned by the state. Apparently it should go gather dust in a warehouse or something because reasons.
It’s a common topic. All the Royals get criticized for using private planes and helicopters to public or private events.
I think it was also the fact Harry pontificated about climate change during their Aussie tour.
The royals are often hypocritical, but are very rarely criticised to this degree.
Yesterday on The View a woman said she thought having a shower was tacky. She even went on to say that accepting all the gifts was wrong because god forbid what if something happened to the baby???!!!!!! How Ridiculous.
Does she think about this for every woman who has a baby shower or just the Duchess?
Look, it will take folks awhile to accept that a black woman is a Duchess!!!!!!
Best of luck Meghan.
RACISM COMES IN MANY INCARNATIONS. TRUST.
I get waiting until later in a pregnancy for a shower, like most people do because early on, pregnancy loss is so common. You can’t spend nine months worrying that by the end there won’t be a baby, that just makes a stressful time more stressful. I agree that race seems to play a part in this for a lot of people, I don’t get what else it could be
So true and with doctors putting restrictions on flying (especially long flights) it makes more sense they did this now.
It’s getting so blatantly nitpicky does really have to be racism: *That black commoner has things WE don’t even have, and that’s not RIGHT! She doesn’t know her PLACE.”
THIS! Plus the xenophobic driven Brexit debacle dangling over the head of „Great“ Britain, which creates a whole other level of anxiety and panic on a national level. Put these components together and mix in the crazy/lunatic/sociopathic other daughter….. Voilà….. It’s such a shame!
Plus she has Oprah, Serena and now Beyonce in her camp. That must really drive the racists bonkers.
YES. I think the magical black female power-triumvirate of Gail, Oprah, and Serena is what’s sending them over the line into ecstasies of hatred toward Meghan. And it’s not so much the material wealth as Meghan’s new role as duchess, her position as a member of the BRF, that she KNOWS THE QUEEN AS FAMILY NOW! I do really believe there are many self-loving white people who simply cannot BEAR to see the position Meghan has been elevated to and the growing influence she has. And let us not overlook the perks — expensive trips, private planes, designer fashions, beautiful lodgings, servants…those things-just rub it in all the more.
@ Bryn
Juxtaposing a black woman on the one hand, against all this wealth, influence and elegance, beside poor, money-hungry, gauche as f-ck relatives……
Some people are finding it a tough picture to digest.
It feels to me like Meghan has become a sort of Rorschach inkblot….if you pay attention to what people tell you they see, it can tell you a lot about who THEY are.
“It feels to me like Meghan has become a sort of Rorschach inkblot….if you pay attention to what people tell you they see, it can tell you a lot about who THEY are.”
Bella, that is a *very* insightful (and true!!) comment!!
Exactly. Perfectly stated.
Hear, hear! 👏🏻👏🏻
+1
Exactly. All these vague feelings about why it feels wrong that she’s doing this simply amount being racist and not wanting to admit it. Because I can guarantee that almost none of the same posters are complaining about the private jet the Cambridge’s used to go to the fancy Swiss ski resort, or when they went to Mustique over the summer, which can only be accessed by a private jet. And then there are all the other royals who use private jets.
I saw that The View moment and she’s ridiculous. I know damn well she doesn’t think that way when she sees other women do it. She has a problem seeing a lovely black/biracial woman living her full life. The bitterness speaks volumes.
I personally think showers are stupid, especially if you don’t need anything. Bridal and Baby showers are to prepare the bride or mom with gifts. Still, I don’t begrudge anyone else from having one. It’s not like it isn’t a thing a lot of people do. Seems like more in the US than Britain, but still Meghan is American. Why wouldn’t she want her traditions to be followed somewhat. I mean especially one this benign. I think there is some racism involved in this, but also some classism and some “low class” American crap too.
Agree with you Nev, & I think some people will never accept her.
People of color are not expected to lead lives of priviledge so we can expect cost breakdowns of everything Meg buys right down to how many sheets of toilet paper she uses.
This reminds me of all the concern-trolling over welfare recipients here in the States. People (incorrectly) assume most people on welfare are Black so there’s an obnoxious amount of concern trolling over what types of foods they should be allowed to purchase. How dare they get ice cream? Poor kids don’t get to have treats.
Exactly.
Exactly, Weaver. Precisely.
I don’t get the problem at all. They bitch if she spends money that comes from taxes or whatever, they bitch if she is gifted stuff by wealthy friends. She can literally not do the right thing in their eyes. Totally don’t understand why her friends throwing her a party is a problem, or using a friend’s private plane. I don’t think I have ever heard of a member of the BRF being spotted on a commercial plane, but I don’t know if that’s the case
@manda – they do fly commercial sometimes; I think notably last year Meghan and Harry were spotted on a commercial flight? And I think Harry used to fly commercial to see Meghan in Toronto. but there are rarely pictures leaked so its hard to say. I think after having kids Will and Kate tend to use private planes more. Or when they flew to Australia (I think) , they took up the entire first class suite.
I really think the issue is that there are photographs of Meghan getting on the private plane. People are deeming that “showy,” the royals are supposed to “be discreet” according to people here and on twitter. Even if everyone knows that Will and Kate took a private plane this week, we can just pretend they didn’t if there aren’t pics.
I imagine that’s how the thinking goes at any rate.
@ Becks,
I’m not even sure if the biggest thing is discretion……..I think its a question of what people view is natural for them to see. Eg……
White man with beautiful white wife and blond kids walk up the stairs of a private plane – Most natural thing in the world.
Black Shrew, with trailer park family attempting to climb the stairs of the same plane? God in heaven, what cursed sight is this???!!
@Bella – good point. Maybe what I should say is that people “pretend” its about discretion? That’s what most of the screeching on these posts and twitter has been about. “she needs to be more discreet!” but maybe that’s just a cover for what you are describing. The black woman needs to be more discreet. The white woman – not so much.
This is exactly it, and to pretend Meghan gets picked on (just) because of racism is missing the point. Will and Kate are better at avoiding being photographed or keeping the photos from the public, or even looking uncomfortable enough in pap photos. Meghan appears to be comfortable in the public eye (no wonder given her profession) and this is triggering feelings of indiscreetness and showing off.
There’s an interesting book called “Watching the English” by Kate Fox, an anthropologist who tries to explain the English mentality and behaviours. This is what she says about the importance of appearing modest:
“When I speak of ‘modesty rules’, I mean exactly that – not that the English are somehow naturally more modest and self-effacing than other nations, but that we have strict rules about the appearance of modesty. These include both ‘negative’ rules, such as prohibitions on boasting and any form of self-importance, and ‘positive’ rules, actively prescribing self-deprecation and self-mockery. The very abundance of these unwritten rules suggests that the English are not naturally or instinctively modest: the best that can be said is that we place a high value on modesty, that we aspire to modesty. The modesty that we actually display is generally false – or, to put it more charitably, ironic.”
To get good press, royals must not look like they’re showing off or even enjoying it. Yes everyone knows they live a life of luxury and unearned privilege, but as long as they’re appearing modest about it and keeping evidence from the public, then it doesn’t bother people much. That’s the kind of social contract they have with the nation.
@AnitaS that was interesting; thanks for posting it!
Even going by that logic, I fail to see how Meghan was in any way “indiscreet.” It’s not like she stopped outside the hotel and gave a press conference about her plans! It seems like there are a ton of photos, but really, she is only walking to her car in every one.
And she can’t help the fact that some random photographer followed her to the airport and took a grainy photo of her (from behind a fence FFS) walking up the stairs to her plane. If anything, people should be outraged that her security wasn’t more on top of this. That person could have been a sniper instead of a photographer; they *never* should have been allowed anywhere near the airport. When William and Kate visited NYC there were zero photos of them boarding the plane, so it is possible to keep paps away.
@Lorelei
Look if she really wanted to avoid being photographed at the NY hotel she could’ve done so, but she was OK with a bit of pap strolling. I personally have no problem with it, except that all these efforts to explain it otherwise grate on me. Especially when for any other celebrity or royalty for that matter doing the same we would call it as it is. A pap stroll. She had her reasons for doing so and it makes sense for all royals to have arrangements with the press and photographers. I just think the way she did it does not help with her image with the British public, and it’s not (only) because she’s mixed race. Claiming it is all down to race is too simplistic. She doesn’t have to care about her public image and yes she can live her life the way she wants, but if we’re discussing reasons why stories about her baby shower in NYC are ‘scandalous’, this is one of the most important.
When Kate got photographed partying and going to nightclubs in her 20s, she was sneered at by the tabloids, even though she was only doing what most other people in their 20s were doing as well. When she got photographed going out after she and William broke up, again the narrative was she was desperate to win him back. Kate made her image as bland as she could, avoided being photographed at any private events, and when she is she makes sure she looks as uncomfortable with pap photos as possible. That’s one of the big reasons they can get away with using private planes and expensive holidays without fuss, because nobody can see receipts. But if Kate got photographed walking out of a NYC hotel looking fabulous on a weekend with Amal Clooney, you bet there would be outrage as well. People who read tabloids care about these things, they see it as ‘showing off’ and ‘rubbing it in’. People who don’t read tabloids don’t care what Meghan or Kate are up to at all, privately or on the clock.
Good old misogyny is a huge part of it. Male royals are certainly shown a lot more leniency. When Harry’s photos from Vegas leaked a few years ago, he was Harry the lad. Neither Meghan or Kate would ever be treated so lightly for anything remotely close to what he was getting up to, on that trip or any of his other lads holidays that he’s lucky the public never heard the details of. But all I can see on blogs like these is playing into the misogyny and pitting two women against each other, women who live very similar lifestyles but handle PR in a different way.
She wasn’t photographed for the first part of her trip exactly because she was discreet. It was only when a waitress told page six she was in town that the paps went into high gear looking for her. At that point it was impossible to hide because they were specifically looking for her. This is victim blaming to suggest she was looking for this circus.
They do fly commercial at least sometimes, hence the criticism. Remember the helicopter stories about W&K? Same thing. I’d be mad if I was British.
But what exactly would you be mad about? British taxpayers aren’t footing the bill so what is there to gripe about?
@ Nilo
Wait a second….what helicopter stories? Will landed his helicopter within the grounds of the Middleton family estate – he got heavily criticized as he was on taxpayers time.
Meghan’s friends pay for her flights to/from her baby shower with *private funds* …..how are these even vaguely similar?
There was a story and pics of William flying coach with his PO a few years (?) back. I remember someone making a comment of an “OMG” nature (PW flies COMMERCIAL??? kind of thing). And there was one of W & H flying commercial, too.
Let’s face it, who WOULDN”T want to fly private if they had the option. Charles and Anne have bitched famously about the times they had to downgrade and fly “first class” lol. Oh… the travails of the rich and famous!
One of the great former posters on here, bluhare, uncovered info about W&K’s unlimited helicopter flights a couple years ago. The change came after William got in trouble for expensive helicopter flights for work or private trips that could have been driven in a short time.
Buried in a huge report about finances, it was revealed that all of W&K’s helicopter flights to and from any residence are now paid by taxpayers. Whether those flights are related to work or Kate wanting to fly over to her parents house it appears. That type of flight is only covered for HM, Philip, Charles, Camilla, and W&K. Now buried in amalgamated totals instead of broken down for analysis.
Thanks @ Becks1 and Nilo!! I genuinely have no idea, not really having followed this stuff until the last few years.
I don’t understand being mad about it. They ARE rich and privileged, that’s just a fact. It’s like people getting mad over the queen’s gold piano. Hello! She’s the Queen of England. It would be cool if she sold off her stuff and used it to build houses for homeless people, but that’s just not the way it is. So I don’t really understand the criticism for living a privileged life, or that there are pictures of it. I’m glad there are pictures of it, I want to see!
If I remember correctly, William and Harry flew commercial in the US a few years ago. They were in the US for a bachelor party. I don’t remember whose party, though.
That was the infamous party where Will got so drunk he broke a front tooth! lol. If you look at a pic of him now, smiling, you can see the replaced tooth 😊
“she partied for five days”?! they’re really reaching and trying to continue vilifying her. A 7 months pregnant woman traveling back home for a baby shower thrown by her closest friends is not PARTYING!.
I’m willing to bet she wasn’t “dad dancing” at all.
And I doubt she was partying in NYC. Probably some nice dinners our or ordered in the hotel room.
Seriously, she went out to lunch and did some shopping for baby clothes with Jessica over the weekend, and out to dinner with a couple of friends another night. I would hardly call that “partying!” FFS.
Yea, they made it seem like she was out being wild and partying til dawn. Mess.
Might as well include Charles, Harry, Andrew and the rest of the RF. Singling out the Cambridges, and let’s be honest, Kate, furthers harmful patriarchal divide and conquer tactics.
Men have figured out that if women are busy policing one another they not only get to sit back and benefit but those women are paying less attention to the real destruction of misogyny. Every but but Kate or but but Meghan story contributes to this.
Monicack … THIS!!!!!!! I absolutely love the following:
“Men have figured out that if women are busy policing one another they not only get to sit back and benefit but those women are paying less attention to the real destruction of misogyny. Every but but Kate or but but Meghan story contributes to this.”
And also …. people are not noticing the difference in the halves and the have-nots. The societal widening of that gap.
Very true!
I agree in general, but I think re: the private plane it is relevant to point to Will and Kate. Will is Harry’s brother, and they reportedly are on vacation this week, and typically for their vacations they use a private plane from a friend. Maybe they didn’t use a private plane, but they have before. What is the difference between that and what Meghan did?
I think we can also criticize all the royals spending, and I do wish that there were stories in general about that, but there wont be because it goes against the narrative that Meghan is the big lavish spender.
Becks1
Again, what is the difference between Megs using a private plane and her own husband or father-in-law using one? Before William dated/married Kate no one cared how he traveled. Why help the media single out the women?
There isn’t really a difference; the issue right NOW is that Meghan is being slammed for using a private plane during the same week that Will and Kate are (most likely) also using one. I haven’t seen anyone just saying “Kate should be criticized for this.” As this week they are traveling together, it makes sense to criticize them both.
@Becks a better example would be to see the response if Kate, not with William, but by herself — took a private plane to a gathering of her close girlfriends. But we will never see that happen because she only has a couple of friends and since Kate is so provincial, they all live nearby.
Even before Meghan entered the picture, I was surprised that Kate wasn’t better traveled. Yes, she was born abroad, but AFAIK it was when she was very young (too young to remember much, if anything) and she never returned. Aside from a semester in Florence, and her “gap summer” chasing William on a service trip, it seems like she never went anywhere except island and ski vacations with her family or William. I was shocked that she had never been to the US before the tour in 2011, and never to NYC until she went with William in 2014. She doesn’t seem like the type of person who is curious about and interested in learning about other cultures and seeing new places. She certainly had the resources to travel if she wanted to, but she didn’t.
Meghan, on the other hand, lived a very full and interesting life and has friends all over. Is she…not supposed to visit them because now, through no fault of her own, her security needs to be paid for? Come on.
ETA: Before everyone jumps on me, I know we’re not “supposed” to compare the two women. But it is nearly impossible not to sometimes, because they are literally the only two people in the world in this particular position, and the treatment they receive is so wildly different. Sometimes it is useful to remind people that Kate has done the *very same thing*, like worn an off-the-shoulder dress, or in this case, taken many trips via private plane, and is praised for being an elegant English Rose while Meghan gets trashed. So sometimes comparisons are inevitable when the reaction from people is so disproportionate. Again JMO.
She can do all she likes, I’m not a British taxpayer and don’t fund her or any or the family she married into, but to me it looks bad and overindulgent. What with Britain on the brink of Brexit, austerity, poverty, the environment, climate change and all…
Last time I checked, MM did not lead the UK into Brexit. If folks are squicked about austerity and a teetering economy, they should take it up with Nigel LaFarge and his crowd. This woman has friends with their own money who paid for an extravagant shower. Get you some new friends and keep it moving.
And yes, this is just like when Michelle Obama was endlessly criticized for wearing Lanvin sneakers and taking vacations (that she paid for). Black women can buy their own stuff. Get over it.
or wearing a sleeveless dress and exposing her arms (which Melania does all the time and never gets criticized for).
That’s what really bugs them though. That Meghan has money of her own and she has friends with money. A black woman with money and rich friends?? It makes their blood boil.
And, the friend who maybe has the most money out of that group* is black (Serena.) That probably just tips the scale for many.
*(I don’t know how much money Jessica Mulroney has, I’m sure its a lot but my understanding is that Serena makes serious money.)
Serena has her own money, but is also married to Alexis Ohanian of reddit and that guy is loaded. She is easily arguably the most wealthy of them.
Serena’s worth a lot more than her husband: $150 million to his $9 million.
FFS, i did not say that Serena was dependent on Alexis’ money. I said she is wealthy, and is also married to a wealthy guy. His net worth is not equal to money in the bank and if you know anything about him, you know he has tons of money in the bank as well. I don’t know what sort of lives ya’ll are living where 10 million in net worth alone is not loaded, but I’d like to live one too.
What does Meghan’s baby shower have to do with the Brexit? The reach is remarkable.
Meghan increases worldwide exposure, influence and interest. The brits need her more than ever. Her baby shower doubled the interest in the upcoming Royal visit to Morocco. Meghan is helping England expand the global influence they once had.
Please
Serena has earned tens of millions in just prize money. Her net worth is well over 150 million
Alexis is worth like 10 mil tops. Please cease and desist this notion that Alexis has contributed much to Serena’s life materially.
Now, that said, the fact that their wealth disparity was and is not an issue for him and given how supportive he is of her shows you why she married him.
Very true, the international media are probably gathered there already. It is going to be like a mini down under but l am still interested to know why they were chosen to go.
I think the Foreign Office asked, and the Moroccans wanted M&H.
Agreed. The UK is on the verge of economic suicide and the entire BRF are spending cash like it’s going out of style. It’s not racist to call Meghan out. She and the entire BRF are problematic. It’s disgusting to be flashing such opulence at such a precarious economic time.
But, no one is calling out the rest of the royal family.
@ Agree
Can you tell me a single thing she “flashed”? The party was held in a discrete hotel room and we saw nothing other than her guests come in and out of the hotel as well as some of the preparation (because the paps were stationed there forever).
What did she flash?
Agree….and how did the UK get on the verge of economic suicide? How did Meghan contribute to it personally? Careful, your racism and bitterness is showing.
It’s racist if you explicitly call DoS out and none of the other BRF, esp when her trip was privately funded. Brexit is not DoS’s responsibility nor did she cause it.
A couple of things first Britain voted for this mess they are in, just like we voted for ours. Plus this didn’t cost British people anything, and the figures are so inflated it’s not funny. Finally, why are they just going after her and not the others royals.
I am a British taxpayer and I am not concerned about the royals taking vacations that are paid for privately. All I want is for them to do some work when they are in the UK.
Nilo yet the future king and queen taking a week vacation, a family of 5. Imagine how much it cost to feed, house and secure them and their staff. Yet the UK is on the verge of poverty. Shouldn’t the future king and queen set an example?
They should, but they don’t and we’ve laughed and complained about it for years on this website. The whole family’s spending is out of control. I’m not sure where people are getting this idea that Will and Kate were never criticized for their spending on here. A simple look at the archives is proof enough.
A simple look at the current headlines show dozens of stories wildly speculating about the private-paid costs of Meghan’s baby shower trip. And very few headlines about W&K, their expensive foreign vacation, the cost of their accommodations and security, the use of a private plane, etc.
The story about James and his offensive company products has all but disappeared. Just like the convenient photo of W&K’s first kiss disappeared other headlines in the past about Uncle Gary.
@Nilo: okay.
So do you also think that William and Kate shouldn’t have gone on an extravagant ski vacation this week? Honestly asking.
I’m assuming that you’re REALLY upset about their trip, because it costs a lot more for a family of five to travel, not to mention that they didn’t have friends paying their expenses.
Looking forward to your response!
No response…..surprise, surprise.
So many are quiet on the Cambridge ski trip to the Alps this week. In fact if I cross reference with those who saying they deserved to go on this trip in the post about it a few days ago, we will see how they aren’t defending Meghan for her trip either. Funny that.
none of the brexit fallout is MM’s responsibility though.
It. Doesn’t. Matter. Part of being in the royal family is representing the country and being responsive to its sensibilities and problems, regardless of whether or not you caused them.
It. Does. Matter. She has been in the royal family for less than a year. If they’re going to attack anyone for using a friend’s private jet William and Kate should be at the top of the list. Quit with the double standards and vitriolic criticism already.
The Fail is trash and its about time it was shut down – if they are going to get their panties in a knot over private plane use by the Royals then they should also trash the Cambridges and Prince Andrew who are notorious for that.
It is the same as the analysis of Michelle Obama’s spending. That and the not so subtle ‘tacky’ being thrown at her. It’s pretty relentless and so deeply unpleasant, I wish the tabloids would leave her alone, but they won’t.
Haters gonna hate….
Of course its an issue when woc have the same privilege like white people let alone a royal. Look at obama and trump, obama was very very careful with what he did or said because he knew! Now the orange guy, i dont need to explain that a obama would be impeached 3 days after his first trumplike scandal.
Thats why jts important that people like beyonce support her. Its so sad to see what they are doing to a pregnant woman! Sometimes i thimk it was irresponsible of harry to bring her to this mess, maybe he should gave up his title and live a normal life with her. But then, they are making an impact and a difference i hope and shut down the racist for once and for all!
It doesn’t matter that she’s pregnant, they shouldn’t be doing this period.
Pregnant women are not delicate flowers to be handled with care, and non-pregnant women are not free game for racist and misogynistic comments.
ShazBot
There is a bit of a twist as to why she may be a “fragile pregnant women”. US research has shown currently, Black women have the same morbidity and mortality outcomes that they did during slavery. Income does not make a difference. Racism has had severe intergenerational effect in terms of the impact of stress and racism in medical treatment and even at the genetic level. Black women, poor, middle class and wealthy Black women die in childbirth and have higher complications, stillbirths, pre-term births and infant deaths. The trauma of anti-Black racism is real. Serena Williams and Beyonce are being publicly protective of Meghan Markle for a very real reason.
JaneDoe – I am aware of the statistics, and Serena Williams knows that better than anyone – even with access to medical care, which many black women in America don’t even have, they are not listened to or taken seriously.
BUT my point had nothing to do with maternal morbidity and mortality statistics, it was that the “I can’t believe they’re doing this to a pregnant woman” comments need to be replaced with “I can’t believe they’re doing this”, because if Meghan weren’t pregnant, it wouldn’t suddenly be okay for them to be constantly be making racist and misogynistic comments and being horrible in general about how Meghan lives her life. Pregnancy shouldn’t be a shield from bad behaviour, she’s not fair game come may.
Shazbot, you are right, its never ok and i didnt mean to say its ok when she is not pregnant. Its just especially awful when pregnant. All of this causes stress to the baby too. I mean her dad is attacking his daughter while she carries his grandchild.
The “policing of black women’s spending”. It’s exactly this. I remember when I went to New Orleans years ago for a friend’s wedding. And I rememver being stared at by the majority white tourists in various places. Because besides the employees at various restaurants and spots my mother and I were the only black people around. And we were STARED at. They stared at my designer bag, my shoes, my coat, my hair…they simply couldn’t believe that two black women could afford the same things they could. It was borderline hostile.
When I was a student at St Andrews, my parents and several elderly aunts came to visit me. I met them in London, and I took them all to Browns for afternoon tea. It was like a record scratch as all the other guests watched this group of black people come in. Fortunately for us, it was a lovely experience, and my 80 yr old anglophile aunt, who worked as a maid all her life, was charmed by the tuxedoed servers who fussed over her and floofed the pillows on her chair. Unfortunately, luxury shopping while black can be a frustrating experience. Sales clerks eyeball your credit card, look you up and down. I find that putting on a British accent helps–lots of Americans associate that accent with privilege. Still, it sucks to have to “perform” just to get proper service. Yes, black people are allowed to have nice things if we want them and can afford them. And if Serena Williams wants to spend her own money to throw Meghan a shower, whose business is it? Check your biases, folks!
This happens all the time. Oprah in Switzerland buying a handbag, anyone? It not only happens in luxe boutiques but even small, middle-of-the-road shops. I have a friend who is a POC. She was in her 30s at the time, shopping in a local gift store and she was followed by the store owner/manager! White people do not realize what happens on a day-to-day basis for men and women of color – I certainly didn’t.
I’m not necessarily the biggest fan of Meghan Markle’s – nor any of the BRF – but this whole thinly (or not so thinly) veiled racist criticism of MM makes my blood boil.
I have a similar funny story. I went on an all girls trip with my two daughters to Venice. We were the only blacks in the hotel and got all kinds of looks, especially at meal times. The funniest was a family of four with two young kids who spent the whole of their breakfast time with their heads swung round staring at us, the parents tried hard to get them to eat their cereal but each time their heads swung right back, almost 180 degrees to us. 😂
somebody should write a book about this subject. My friend is a hairstylist and the majority of her clients are successful business women. A black client owns a Bentley. You ought to see the stares when she gets out the car.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie did, it’s called “Americanah” – lots of great observations there.
Where’s LAK and Sixer? They seems have vast knowledge about BRF. I’m curious to know their thoughts on H&M.
I still think this whole baby shower show is not a strategic move if MM plan to stay in BRF for a long time. But maybe MM and Harry have different plan for their future and it doesn’t include BRF in it. I mean there’s no way MM would bow down to King William, no?
Like one poster said in yesterday thread, she look forward to see MM in US politics, I think I can imagine it.
They’ve been gone for ages
Gone where? and Why?
They left during a big influx of new pro-Kate posters on here.
*Tin-foil hat on*
Ok, I have a couple of conspiracy theories on this issue:
!) I think LAK is Melissa Toubati, Meghan Markle’s PA. (hear me out…) I distinctly remember her saying she wasn’t going to be able to post anything during the wedding in May as she was going to be in Cannes for a festival – That was the first clue.
2) I also remember her saying she was African with some sort of Arabian ancestral throwback which Ms. Toubati also seems to have has.
3) As time has passed from Meghan’s wedding, so has her posting. (*Adjusts tin foil hat*). It makes sense that as her disagreements with Meghan became more and more consequential, she posted less and less.
So yes. LAK = Melissa Toubati.
*Tin-foil hat off*
On a more serious note, I also remember Sixer saying she had had several bouts of a fairly serious illness…….(I think it might have been cancer or something as serious). So I think about her and the fact that she’s stopped posting and I hope it’s out of sheer boredom with some of the silly hens on this site (me included), rather than as a return to ill-health.
We miss you, Sixer! We miss you LAK!
I know LAK had said on a few occasions that she did work with the Prince’s Trust (either for the trust itself or her organization benefited from the Trust) and I wonder if she stopped her royal commentary on here because of that.
@Bella, I’m pretty sure LAK worked in the City (financial district).
@ Bella DuPont
Cackling at the tin foil hat comment.
They say the best conspiracy theory is one that is plausible but not possible. I love it!
I think about sixer often and wonder what happened.
LAK expressed here a few times that her family’s origins were in Kenya and East Africa. I believe she worked in public relations in the City, possibly for the Prince’s Trust -? but I don’t believe she ever confirmed this.
Can’t say for certain, but the disappearance from the site of regular posters such as LAK, Sixer and MagnoliaRose aren’t coincidence imo. They left for reasons, which perhaps they felt they couldn’t express here.
Adding in case my big post doesn’t show up again. Those posters were all on here years before Meghan and Harry met. Unlikely any of them then went on to be hired by Harry and Meghan.
Apologies, I obviously didn’t make it clear, my comment re LAK was supposed to be tongue in cheek. 😄
You know why?? Same reason why people freaked out about Michelle and the girls traveling but don’t care about Melania and the Trump kids traveling all over the world. They don’t even cover it.
Black people can’t have nice things according to a lot of people.
Piers Morgan called her Marie Antoinette yesterday 😂 I’m just enjoying how everything she’s doing gets under their skin. I’ve never seen so much nit picking in my life. Ever since that people article, Clooney and Beyoncé and other publications calling them out, the press have been looney. I hope she continues living her life and being happy because people will hate her no matter what she does. They’re so predictable at this point. Since the people article killed the Thomas Markle and Kate feud angle, now they want to basically use the gold digger, frivolous spender narrative , which again won’t work considering she had her own money before this marriage and her friends are also self made. Watch, when she has this baby, they’ll complain that she’s not working enough and is a hypocrite for being a stay at home mom instead of a working mom🤦♀️
Was Piers the one who had the article with the quote about how the Queen must be so upset by this, from where she is sitting in Windsor Castle? I saw that quote on twitter but didn’t see the source.
Yes, the queen, sitting in her castle, is so bothered by Meghan’s shower.
No that was Jan Moir. All of these morons know that the Queen would not care. The only people who believe that garbage they spew are racist , sexist bigots. Meghan has been criticized a little but it seems like they keep pushing up the cost because it’s not getting the outrage they want because I don’t think most brits actually care considering all of the royals have rich friends and flown on private jets. They think people are stupid and don’t know what google is.
They are using a line saying (paraphrased): “Our Tupperware Queen is sitting back in Windsor, IN FRONT OF HER *2 BAR ELECTRIC FIREPLACE*, horrified….” 😂😂😂😂.
I wonder, is she being horrified while she’s sitting in the drawing room with priceless paintings and the gold piano, wearing one of her Hermés scarfs, wearing a huge diamond brooch?
@Jan90067 shut UP!! Did someone seriously call her the “Tupperware Queen?!” Omfg I’m going to be laughing at that for so long. That’s just priceless (no pun intended).
Ah. Yes. The “Tupperware Queen” with the gold encrusted piano. She flies coach, doesn’t she?
Morgan and Moir are terrible hypocrites, trying to destroy Meghan while knowing that writing trash about her is making money for them because their success as writers is judged by the click bait they get and they will be rewarded accordingly by the Disgusting Mail .
Ok Jan that explains why I saw all those Tupperware gifs on my twitter timeline today. None of the BRF are frugal. NONE. I mean the Tupperware Queen wanted the government to get her another yacht FFS.
Lorilei, YES THEY DID! It was in the headline!! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-6731791/JAN-MOIR-Tupperware-Queen-make-Meghans-trip.html
In all fairness, there have been many articles over the years about TQ eating her breakfast cereal out of Tupperware in the morning, lol: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/10/06/royal-family-eating-habits_a_23234947/
But this was NOT the reason they referenced the tupperware in the first link. THAT was only to reference that TQ is SO frugal, and CARES about economy, and HERE IS THIS UPSTART who ONLY cares about blowing BIG bucks. Oh, brother!!😖
I hope they don’t present Baby Sussex to anyone other than family. Let the press, editors and ordinary people* (haters, racists, bigots) see the child when the christening photo with THE QUEEN is released.
I second that. I also hope that after Morocco Meghan will go into hibernation and maybe surface just once for Commonwealth Day.
Piers Morgan needs to go away completely. I don’t get what his deal is, why is so spitey and hateful. Every time he speaks it’s some ridiculous bitchy nonsense.
Piers is obsessed with Meghan. He can’t get over the fact that he thought he was going to be her bestie because he had a drink with her once.
He needs psychiatric help. He more than anybody has manipulated Meghan’s father. Piers has no morals whatsoever.
If the press is this hard on Meghan now, what will they be like once the baby is born? I shudder to think what the reaction will be when as a first time parent, Meghan makes a innocent mistake( all parents do). There will be screaming about her being unfit.
I would not blame Meghan and Harry if they wanted to leave England and raise their child in peace.
and if this happens, I hope the majority of the commonwealth decides to leave with them. Between the racist UK press and the Royals not opening up their mouth this looks bad. I personally wouldn’t want to deal with a family who won’t stick up for me. This can be shut down. The Queen defended Diana when she was pregnant against the press, why not Meghan?
And I’m sure commonwealth contries are seeing this terrible, racist coverage. I dont think the British press really understand that they’re playing with Fire here and they’re only making themselves look bad. If people from America, Germany, France, Australia and some British papers are writing articles and are vocal about the horrible coverage, then how can’t they see it.
Absolutely the whole world is watching and is appalled at was is going on relentlessly. William is the best person to put a stop to it because it’s going to rebound badly on him more than the Queen or Charles.
One thing the Queen could do to make people sit up is to announce that the baby will be HRH! 😄
Commonweath country here….Canada sees it. We see it, and are appalled (I hope we are). We are struggling with the elephant that’s no longer sleeping next to us though, so many are less concerned with the U>K> shenanigans and more concerned with how the United States is so determined to start a world war, so their National Rifle Association can continue to make big bucks over the deaths of us all.
On another note: George Clooney is white. Isn’t Amal a woman of colour? (Armenian, I believe?). Was there this much ugly viper-like poison when they married? Because George is Hollywood Royalty, and Amal a brilliant, internationally respected lawyer. So now Megan is from Hollywood, and Harry is an internationally known figure as a member of the British royal family. In my example, is it the gender switch that make them targets? And how did Meghan GET to the States in the first place? Wouldn’t it make sense that she flew with Amal both ways? And doesn’t that mean she was respectful of her carbon footprint? She could have taken a private jet ALL ON HER OWN, but chose to share with another family, going the same direction.
Actually, Amal is subject to a whole lot of whiteresentment and during their wedding whooooooboy!
Amal is Lebanese.
Amal got a lot of abuse, and the fake pregnancy jibes too.
I hate to even think this, but I suspect that the baby will be subjected to the same racism. The British tabloids will report on how he or she doesn’t seem to be as intelligent, or well-behaved, or attractive, or poised, as the other children in the royal family. I know that sounds disgusting, but mark my words, the racist will imply this (if not outright state it).
There was already a story calling the Sussex baby a rebel, and saying (I think) that the baby won’t get along with Harry because of her sign (yes, I predict the baby is a girl)…or something like that. So, yeah, it’s going to get uglier.
The same astrology types who say a Gemini and Taurus cannot last long term, Royalwatcher? They’d best go study up on Philip and the Queen. Or Gemini and Virgo not getting along, they can go look at CP Victoria of Sweden and her husband Daniel.
If the baby arrives late April or early May as speculated? They’d be a Taurus, known to get along famously with Virgos (Harry). But yes I agree, it is going to get uglier.
The abuse towards the unborn child has already started. Rude comments about hair texture and skin colour and the shape of the nose.
All this is pure racism.
BTW RRs are very,very pressed beccause at the end they lost their narrative about her after the support she received in all the world and the backlash towards UK tabloids
Basically. They’ve been made to look like fools many times over the last couple of weeks and they’re pissed especially regarding the people article. She ruined their narrative and she wasn’t supposed to do that. She was supposed to be a good little duchess and be quiet. They thought she was another Kate would eventually cave and give them what they want and it didn’t work. They found out the hard way that she doesn’t need those racist, sexist tabloids to get her truth out there.
I think it is a mix of -isms. I think class-ism is also a big part of it. Meghan is not from upper class England, she worked hard to earn her opportunities, maybe sometimes doing non-upper crusty things. She applies her work ethic to her new job and whoa, the Cambridges look lacking and they fight back. They have all the palace courtiers and mandarins, who depend on their benefactors and have to protect the system. If Harry had married a divorced white actress with the same work ethic and philanthropic desires, I feel like we would be dealing with the same insider vs outsider clash. It is so painful for me to watch, being the first poc at anything is impossibly hard. FFS why wouldn’t she need a baby shower in her home country – the knives are out in London.
Because when William and Kate borrow the Duke of Westminster’s private jet it’s “long-standing tradition” and thus ok. I shit you not, someone said that.
@Jan speaking of the Duke of Westminster’s private jet, you know what I found INCREDIBLY tacky? How quickly after his death William requested to use it. I don’t remember the exact details (maybe Nota will), but it was so, soon after he passed away and I remember being absolutely horrified by William’s insensitivity. If I can find a link I will post it.
They used it a few weeks before his death, end of July and beginning of August 2016. He passed August 6th. They may have used it again soon after but I’m not finding that quickly. William may have used it for the drunken dad dancing ski trip in March 2017.
And I wonder why the present Duke of Westminster was made godfather to Prince George…….😉
And Meghan is accused of using people…….
It seems like they implode whenever she travels. During the Oceania tour it was clear the panic had begun. It continued this week from NYC. Lord help us when the Sussexes hit Morocco. That will be a whole frenzy and new level of crazy.
Which is why I laugh at reporters and photographers threatening about not covering them. Who are they trying to fool?
She’d be called gauche if she flew coach on a United flight, too. Cannot. Win.
Short answer. Cos she’s half black. Done.
bingo
Exactly. The double standard is maddening and frightening.
Yup.
So many have said it better before. Black people are not allowed to live the same as whites, Michelle Obama, Beyonce…all criticized for spending their money how they want to. Now, we have Meghan feted like the duchess she is and folks are losing their minds. That’s why I say “keep on living your life, Meghan!”. Nothing will satisfy these haters so why acknowledge them and give them power over her happiness.
Harry charted a private plane to come back from his work visit on Valentine’s Day. W&k have a friends private plane to go on their ski trip. They all do it.
Yeah and the Royal Family didn’t even pay for it. Why all the pearl clutching over something the Clooney’s paid for? It’s beyond ridiculous.
Because Black people, and Black women in particular, aren’t supposed to have nice things. Every college and graduate degree, nice home, nice car, nice clothing, white partner, etc., came at the expense of some deserving white person. It’s why racists decry affirmative action, and project the “cunning, social climbing, calculating” image onto Meghan (some people who post on this very site go with that narrative). Black women are supposed to remain in the background struggling. It kills them that Prince Harry chose her and she’s flourishing in the role.
Exactly MariaS! To this day, I have colleagues who not-so-subtly take digs at the car that I drive, the nice area where I live, and the senior-level position that I hold. When I first joined my agency, a seasoned colleague inquired about my educational background. When I shared where I attended undergrad and graduate school, she replied, “Those are prestigious schools. Did you attend undergrad on a sports scholarship or was it affirmative action?” When I informed her that none of the aforementioned categories applied to me, she appeared skeptical. Since it was evident to me that she looked down her nose at those who benefited from affirmative action, I took a moment to remind her that the majority of the recipients are, in fact, white women and I also noted that those folks who benefit from the program actually meet the requirements for admission to those so-called, “prestigious” schools. It really has been disheartening watching the RR and their dog whistles as far as Meghan is concerned.
The headline “Straight Outta Compton” told me all that I needed to know as far as the RRs are concerned. Truth be told, Meghan’s mother lives in a nice section of Los Angeles (View Park/Windsor Hills) where affluent African-Americans (e.g., doctors, lawyers, professors, etc.) have lived for decades. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong about being from Compton, comparing those sections in Los Angeles County are akin to apples and oranges. The RR has this slant that anything associated with black folks is bad and took advantage of the readers who know nothing about Los Angeles. They just saw those black folks going about their lives in View Park/Windsor Hills and assumed that they were in the hood since so many of them lived in that area.
Preach, MariaS. This, a million times over.
Please do tell how often are membbers of the royal family seen in regular flughts? Now in particular these younger royals? By what some say the royals EVERY ONE OF THEM should dress in hand me downs, live in studios and use bikes only.
Maybe they are both hypocrites and wrong for flying on a private jet? Doesn’t absolve one for pointing out someone else is doing it too.
Lol. What exactly is “wrong” about flying on a friend’s private jet?
But then why didn’t we see countless articles about the entire Cambridge family (plus nannies, staff, and RPOs) going away on a ski vacation this very week? Shouldn’t there have been just as many articles – if not more since they are spending 5x as much on security alone – screaming about how horrible William and Kate are? How bad this looks? Where are all of those articles and concern trolling think pieces and RRs being outraged and article comments full of angry Brits concerned that the Cambridge family vacation looks terrible against the backdrop of Brexit? Where?
Meghan is at least going on a tour just a few days after she got back. What are the Cambridge’s going to do this weekend?
The Fail and their ilk are unstoppable. I see outlandish headlines on the covers of American tabloids and just roll my eyes. I’m just going to roll my eyes at UK tabloids too. The Fail is trash and deserves to be treated as such.
I don’t have much to add, because there have been so many smart comments already. Just something ‘slightly’ off-topic: My husband’s a former pilot (commercial then private) who now works in aviation tax law. There is no way a r/t trip flight from NYC to England cost 250k–more like maybe 50k. Also, because it is a company owned aircraft the flight costs come out of the company’s budget–not anyone’s pocket (while it is billed as a personal flight it is still not paid for directly by the Clooneys-nor anyone else). It may seem like an unimportant detail, but the article blatantly made up a detail–or flat-out lied–to make the whole “partying” trip even more exhorbitant. It’s a gross attempt to make Meghan seem even more spend happy & wasteful, and makes me wonder how much it’s done with other details–from clothing to accessories to staff to whatever.
The supposed price of this trip goes up with each new story that gets printed.
Maybe the press took the $50k price and applied it to everyone on the flight. So a flight with 4 people (Amal, twins, Meghan) x $50k each = $200k. Maybe they counted another $50k for the unborn baby Sussex to get to $250k. It seems like something the Fail would do. That way they could claim the price is “technically correct,” when they really know that their math is dubious on purpose and the real cost has been itentionally misreported, inflated, and obfuscated.
Spot on.
I think Clooney has his own plane. When his close friend Richard Kind’s father died, Clooney spent the day flying all over the US picking up various members of their squad so that they would all be sitting in the NJ synagogue when Richard arrived.
I don’t understand why TQ hasn’t put an end to all this hatred. Surely a chat with the owners and editor of The Mail would do the trick. I’d love to see a “We are not pleased.” statement be released.
Rich people spend money. That is what they do!!!! It’s their money,(Amal) so who cares?! I have flown private for effs sake because of wealthy extended family. It happens sometimes. I don’t recommend it because going back to a commercial flight in economy will be the pits. Ha! We could do this with any royal, any Uber wealthy person. Sure spending 250,000 dollars on a round trip sounds mental to normal people, that’s a nice house in my area of the Midwest, but it wasn’t my money. Why is everyone breaking down the exact dollar amount of everything of MM?? The Queen didn’t pay for this, the tax payers didn’t pay for this. Who cares?? Did they expect MM to fly economy coach next to the toilets, and not be harassed and photographed 1.356 million times?! Let’s talk about all the private vacations and private flights that Will and Kate have been given by friends over the years?!?! Where are those stories??
Here’s my unpopular opinion. I think Meghan Markle is definitely being treated unfairly because she is half black but instead of going easier on her I think we should treat all super wealthy people with the same level of scrutiny. They are destroying the planet (taking a private plane on an international flight is horrendously wasteful) and support policies that secure their position and increase wealth inequality. Let’s call them all out for their conspicuous consumption.
Greenleaf, surely you can see the problem with this approach?
I think people are catty and jealous—since Meghan was a virtual unknown, I think some women wish it were them instead. I have seen many “friends” get jealous if anything positive is happening in my life. Misery loves company. My advice to the haters out there: look within and you will be happier in certain aspects of your life once you are happier with the person staring at you in the mirror.
Are most people commenting on here working class – lower middle class? The comments are so odd at times. Talks of ripping out “expensive” kitchens, moving “expensive” tennis courts, having access to “luxury” private birthing wings, going on “luxury” vacations; an “obscene” amount of money spent on bespoke, couture, designer clothes and high jewellery; “wasting ridiculous amounts of money” on private jets/helicopters & celebrations/weddings and living in “mansions”. The last one is funny because the most popular royals don’t live in mansions – Amner Hall and Frogmore Cottage aren’t mansions. Lol. It’s as if all these things are made out to be so lavish when they aren’t – they are normal in our world – most people go about their lives quietly. Everything that I have mentioned and more is on par with a certain lifestyle. I expect a Royal Family to spend. I understand that it might get your back up when these things are mentioned because UK taxpayers are paying for them but then go and do something about it (Republic) instead of uselessly complaining/moaning on here. Because that is all I have read on these posts for a number of years. My favourite is when people commenting say that having nannies, personal trainers and staff means parents don’t look after their kids lmao. Since when? Having nannies and household help makes life so much easier. At the end of the day, children are still a handful. I don’t really know where I am going with this, haha, the comments leave me baffled at times, that’s all. I wasn’t born in Britain but I was raised there for part of my childhood so I enjoy the Royal family but don’t really take them seriously on the important issues! Sorry for my English.
Your English is just fine, Zayla.
Well, I am not middle class, but the idea that bespoke designer clothes, private jets/helicopters, moving tennis courts, etc are not “lavish” things is ridiculous. Come on now. If that’s your lifestyle, that’s fine, but don’t act like that’s normal.
That aside – the reason W&K’s spending is bothersome to many I think is because they have this whole image of being normal, they are just raising their kids, they’re flaunting tradition, they’re so hands on, etc. Kate is so thrifty because she has some Zara clothes and rewears outfits. But then there are these other details about their lives that sort of get swept aside because they don’t fit that narrative.
To be honest, I find it surprising the royal family does not have their own private jet. And sometimes I wish Will and Kate would just be more “yes, we’re rich and can afford this, so we are going to do it.” I think many people find it disingenuous – the inconsistency I noted above.
It strikes a nerve and is bothersome because, especially in the case of the younger royals, their wealth and lifestyle are unearned, and therefore considered undeserved. Some people posting here, by virtue of where they live, are required to give their own money to support the royals.
People are tired and frustrated from working so hard for what feels like little in return. Peace of mind is hard to come by these days. Sites like this can serve as an outlet for people’s frustration with their own challenging situations. Instead of “taking it out” on each other (i.e. the middle class lashing out at “undeserving” people on public assistance, criticizing neighbors, etc), we come to this site and “take it out” on the very archetype of unearned, undeserved wealth, power and privilege: the royal family. For me personally, it’s somewhat “therapeutic”; I release my feelings of frustration (instead of holding them in), then get on with my life. It works…it clears my thinking. Maybe it’s a weird and bizarre strategy, but it works for me.
On another note, I think Meghan’s great. Seeing her pictures makes me smile. I love seeing her personal drive, hard work, and education rewarded with a wonderful life for her. She deserves and has earned everything she has.
Your English is very good.
Many triggers here for the outrage:
Meghan is a woman of color who is not a fling or a side piece of a royal. She is the wife of a prince, a royal duchess, and soon to be a mother of a child of African American heritage who will be a legitimate successor to the throne. She has an all access pass to the platinum life…private jets, designer clothes , chefs, diplomatic status, … The Markles are People’s Exhibit A of white privilege not working out and it’s upsetting.
You summed up this ugly situation perfectly.
As a blue-eyed blonde, I am sensitive to and stay aware of racism and bigotry, but only to a point because I just don’t experience it firsthand. Watching all this horridness swirling around MM is giving me a heart-wrenching, stomach churning front row seat. And I don’t like it one bit.
I’m also a blue-eyed blonde with family members that are not white. I see first hand the racism they suffer just for existing. I may not experience it, but it angers and really hurts me to watch my young nieces and nephews trying to exist despite the constant barrage of ‘you are just not the same as us, so you don’t deserve what we have.’
As a WOC I can’t even imagine what it’s like not to deal with racism. The fact there are people on this earth who have NEVER experienced racism is so intriguing to me. Racism and sexism is virtually ALL I know.
I hear you, me. I know exactly what you’re saying. Give a day where I’m not experiencing some form of both.
I am a 59 year old white British woman and I think the vitriol that is being directed at MM is a bloody disgrace. The royals have always had use of friends’ villas; planes’ yachts etc. – don’t forget that Princess Margaret was gifted land on the island of Mustique. The stuff in the DM is aimed to deliberately get the unhinged foaming at the mouth about anything, plus the added advantage of having lots of ads in the many articles to hoover up a nice revenue stream. There were two very good articles in The Guardian recently by Catherine Bennett and Zoe Williams about how tormenting MM seems to have become a shameful national pastime. Chris Ship from ITV did a good article today about how the hysteria over the shower is unwarranted. I find all the “outraged” tacky, not MM.
+1 Mads.
Well said!
We have a Syrian refugee family who opened a business in my community and I went to the grand opening. I was appalled at the micraggressions I witnessed that day. Comments about the Syrian women’s head coverings looking hot and uncomfortable. One old white lady outraged that she was asked to put a hairnet while touring the factory. I was so discouraged by how insensitive people can be.
I think both things can be true. Royals, CEOs, and celebrities should all redistribute their wealth to a much greater extent than they do, through donation and taxation. The culture of conspicuously consuming luxury and privilege (which all the white royals participated in via their position, like diamond tiaras or multiple estates etc) is just going to contribute to inequality and grievance politics.
At the same time, this is the culture we live in right now. It’s not about to change anytime soon. In that case, the difference in the coverage of Meghan than the white royals needs to be called out for what it is – racist. If she takes a friend’s private plane and so does William and Kate then they should be treated no differently in the press. People seem upset she is living the privilege they associate with whites because of internal racist bias. I think they are even more upset that she is re-taking her own narrative back with the help of other successful women of color.
I’m not going to suddenly start saying that living out privilege and conspicuous consumption is a good thing, but I completely agree the critique of elites needs to check it’s own privilege. Everyone who is up in arms about the baby shower needs to ask themselves why is *this* story the one that animates them? They’ll probably find some internal bias if they answer honestly!
Same kind of thing as politicians using private jets of their donors aka friends. Must be accounted for and politicians usually have to pay for these flights / the seats. Nevertheless although they “pay” for it … there is still the issue that these flight are often at the politician’s disposal so he can do more events before an election than his competitors. Time-wise very convenient. As a consequence politicians make sure they are on good terms with people who own private planes.
Did Meghan pay for her seat on that plane? Or did “a friend” give her the gift of a “free flight”?
Well, that kind of thing has to be accounted for because at least in the U.S. there are detailed election and campaign finance laws in place that require accounting of that, with the goal to preserve the integrity of the political process. Meghan isn’t exactly in the same boat.
This is a problem because as much as the royal family does not generally use it they do have political power. I don’t think that Amal is offering this because they are friends she wants certain connections and is using Meghan to get them. The royal family are like politicians and don’t accept gifts as it would look like they are being “bought” to promote certain things.
They can and do accept gifts from friends just like any one else can. Amal is a friend of Meghan’s.
Stop lying. The royal family have been receiving and accepting gifts from rich benefactors for centuries, including today.
Although the Royal family are officially not politicians nor do they officially wield any political powers … they have the status of politicians or diplomats and that is essentially the work they do. They do visit foreign countries on behalf of Britain, for example.
Will and Kate did use a private flight once and that was scrutinized as well. So it isn’t unusual that there are inquiries.
For example:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3481918/Wills-Kate-borrowed-billionaire-godfather-s-private-jet-fly-five-star-Courchevel-secret-ski-break-worked-20-hours-week-attended-three-royal-engagements-year.html
William and Kate borrowed Duke of Westminster’s private jet to fly to secret ski break at five-star Courchevel resort (well, Wills has worked 20 hours a week and done three royal engagements this year!)
W&K use that private jet frequently, Herta, not just once. They’ve been caught using it many times, for summer vacations in France, skiing vacations, etc.
Let me start off by saying that I do think that there is a double standard where MM is concerned and that she’s experiencing a much higher degree of scrutiny than the other royals. Will and Kate have also have the “Look at their $10,000 a night hotel!” and “Using the heli again for a short distance/your friend’s private jet, I see!” type articles written about them (and the York girls with their endless, “Look at them on this billionaire’s mega yacht!” headlines), but it’s usually a one and done type of thing, rather than article after article about it like we’re seeing with the baby shower.
So I do think it’s partly just racism, but I also think there’s a perception that Meghan and her friends were “flaunting” their wealth in a more public way because it’s combining with their suspicion that Meghan fully intended for there to be a very public/photo element to all of this, as well as their read that she’s enjoying the attention. Compared to, say, the Cambridges going on vacation in Mustique where we only get long-lens pap shots. (The family photo shoot from the Alps is the obvious outlier there.)
There’s a part of me that’s wondering if the Fail is also trying to hint–or bait someone into admitting via defending Meghan–that there’s some merching and/or discounting going on, which they then can then use to attack her further.
I get what you are saying, the whole pap watch in Manhattan for days, crowds behind barricades, snaps of comings and goings from the hotel, snaps of flowers and gifts going into the hotel, all had a certain effect. If the shower had been held, say, at a secluded private estate somewhere where it was more difficult to photograph the goings on, the press wouldn’t have so much to talk about.
Not that I think there was anything wrong with having the party in Manhattan, but I can see the optics that lead to the flaunting label.
Exactly this. It was on a Beyonce level.
It really annoys people when you’re living your best life while black.
Sophie, Edward, and their two kids just took a private jet to St Moritz for a skiing vacation. Again, where’s the outrage and all the front-page stories?
There must be a Motel 6 for them to stay at.
ALL member of the Royal Family should be careful with how they spend money (theirs or their friends’) as the United Kingdom is set to face tough economic times and people will get tired of the 10K outfits when they’re struggling to feed their kids. People love Queen Elizabeth but Charles and the Fab Four won’t get away with anything.
The royals like to say that they bring tons of money to the UK through the tourism industry but people would still flock to the castles with or without them. Have you ever heard of Versailles or les Chateaux de la Loire?
Look… You guys. You need to think about what the monarchy is about. It´s about mystique – nothing about this shower was mysterious and intimate. The press was basically invited, and the red carpet was rolled out. That makes it an easy target for criticism.
The monarchy is not a celebrity club – it´s a country´s official representation. They use the public´s money, and if that money is not spent wisely, there will be stories.
Firstly, I don´t think this exact discussion about Meghan´s spending is about race. I agree that many of the first stories published about her were, but not everything is. You compare her to Beyonce and Michelle Obama because they were badly treated, but where I live the two of them are the most admired women in the moment. Michelles show was sold out in minutes. Not a mention about their skin tone but only about their courage and talent.
I live in a monarchy in Scandinavia, and these kinds of ´look how much they spend´ are in the media all the time. And our royals are white. In the 90´s one of the princes was married to an Asian woman. There wasn´t the slightest hint of racism and she was very much beloved and still is. But also she – as all the others – got the ´look how much they spend´ treatment. This discussion happens because they are funded by the public. And if a royal does not spend state money wisely, they will be told by the public and by the media.
In the 90´s , there were similar stories about Diana and Fergie. Prince Andrew has had his share, and Kate got scrutinized in her first years because she also spent a lot of money on clothes and because she came from new money and was middle class. But she got wiser, and now she rewears a lot of her clothes and does not spend near as much on clothes as Meghan. Trust me, Meghan will also lower her spending with time.
But I agree – the media shouldn´t pick on Meghan only, as all of them have ridicolous spending habits. But the difference between her and the others is discretion. Nothing about this shower was discrete, so it´s easy to criticize. She invited Gayle King for gods sake (and I love Oprah and Gayle). She sat on GMA the very next morning and told all about this ´intimate´ shower. This just screeeams celeb gathering and not royalty. And no, Meghan cannot choose when to be and not to be royal. She is always royal and representing the UK.
Kate and Will go under the radar and prefer privacy, because they once were the place that Meghan is. They have been criticized for being spenders and lazy.
And Meghan has not at all gotten the worst treatment in history. Diana was hounded and also treated badly in the press. This does not jusitfy anything, but I´m just saying. I see this as a matter of royal codex and not race, as all of the royals have had their share of criticism in this department.
You know, I tend to agree with you (Scandinavia too) but I think we forget the history of racism in the US. Plus, right now after my opinion racism absolutely exists in Scandinavia. Just look at the stories about people from the Middle East. It’s terrible.
I agree!
I agree. At the end of the day it didn’t matter who was doing the spending. It was about the optics – and the optics were horrible. Meghan is a very smart, shrewd woman, so I just don’t get it. Had she wanted the shower to be private and discreet, it would have been.
Yea, like the avoacado toast “discussion” where they literally blamed Duchess Meghan for human rights abuses, drought and murder, this has absolutely nothing to do with the rampant undercurrent of racism that has been unleashed in the vitriolic press that has set about villanizing & demonizing every single last thing about her in the last few MONTHS. Why should anybody try to painstakingly give the same racist trash press who called Meghan and her mother “Straight Out of Compton”, the benefit of the doubt? Why would this particular story be different? It’s just another layer of icing a rotten cake. I don’t know what has to be said for people to stop equivocating and just call this vitriolic criticism and hatewatching of Meghan what it is: motivated by racism.
Thank you, Emme..
The ongoing media frenzy and general public obsession (on here and elsewhere) over this woman and her every move is ridiculous. She’s just a D-list actress who struck gold. (Lucky her!)
Her shit stinks like the rest of us tho. And there’s really nothing extraordinary about this person. (Except her social climbing skills). This obsession has gotten so out of hand, I really don’t know what is says about our society. Can’t be anything good. Then again, with Trump as the president of the ‘free world’, I guess the world clearly jumped shark a long time ago. Good luck everyone.
Do you guys remember the saying there is no such thing as bad publicity. The bullying is expected not just because she is half black, it’s her time, she is the latest craze and the media can make money off her, good or bad. Look back @ Kate’s media press a few years ago, charles and camilla , Diana , princess Anne, the press are not here to be nice, they make money on stories, as long as people are reading and clicking anything goes.
As a long time royal watcher? Nothing those people experienced has been anywhere near what Meghan has faced, from Day One.
A very true fact.
I am also a long time royal watcher, I don´t find this coverage more mean than the other´s. Kate was bullied for her ´middle class (let´s face it, she was not middle class. Her parents are millionaires. She came from new money, was a commoner and people hated it). Now, there´s a new girl in town, and she gets the treatment. It´s horrible, but it´s certainly not new or spectacular.
I have watched many documentaries and studied royal families around the globe, and bad press is something that has followed many members of the royal family if they distance themselves too much from the public. Wallis also got bad press from day one, because she was divorced, american and had the king wrapped around her little finger (I know it´s several decades ago). That was the narrative, but in real life, their relationship also made it clear (and Charles´marriage later) that royals cannot be pushed into marriages with partners they don´t love.
Meghan will hopefully push for a more tolerant and diverse society.
Kate certainly also got bad press from day one, as she was the first commoner to marry a future king for centuries (I believe). She ofc wasn´t bullied for her skin color, but she was bullied for her parents non-aristocratic background.
Meghan´s taste for extravagance is something that was meant to piss commoners off, especially republicans. Over-spending has furied republicans since the 18th century. This is not new stuff, and it surprises me that Meghan either hasn´t been informed better about public opinion, or she does not care. Let´s be honest, she really hasn´t listened to public opinion – 500.000 pounds spent on clothes in a year (!!!), a baby shower for the same amount..
The Monarchy is status preserving. They are willing to go a long way in order to keep the public´s support – also the make it seem that they are almost like us and take care of our hard work money.
so it’s just Meghan’s turn to be bullied?
Is it OK the they have to face abuse like this? Social media was not so “in” years ago, this vitriol is crazy, the double standard is blatant.
you say:
“Meghan´s taste for extravagance is something that was meant to piss commoners off, especially republicans. Over-spending has furied republicans since the 18th century. This is not new stuff, and it surprises me that Meghan either hasn´t been informed better about public opinion, or she does not care. Let´s be honest, she really hasn´t listened to public opinion – 500.000 pounds spent on clothes in a year (!!!), a baby shower for the same amount.”
–
you talk as if its Meghan’s responsibility, she barely has been a member of the RF for less than a year.
Tell me how is this on Meghan? Why is Meghan signed out so much and there are not as many reports of where and how all the royals travel for leisure?
Why can’t she be the receiver of the presents her friends want to give her, hey, they are not presenting her with crowns and huge jewelry. They are doing something common for them, they are very rich. Why are Meghan’s friends and their expenses being reported so much and not of those other royals on holiday?
This is the first royal bride married in to this high-profile family in the full glare of social media. That alone has multiplied all of it a million fold, and no, it is nothing like what Kate faced.
Kate was not bullied for being middle class. She was praised for it. Kate was left alone for years because of the media code. It wasn’t until several years after they graduated that grumbling started. All she was seen to do was vacation, shop, vacation, shop. But it was only a handful of articles about her, not constant day-to-day, dozen articles a day attacking her every move.
Then her family’s social climbing behavior showed itself. Stories came out about Carole only wanting aristocrat friends for her daughters. The Wisteria Sisters comment was seen after being buried for years. The Middletons moving in to Anmer, lording it over staff, and the staff quit after 5 months on the job. Stories of Uncle Gary and James started coming out.
And in the face of all of it? Kate was the laziest married-in royal in years but was still praised by most outlets. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that the press started focusing on how little William and Kate did. Then along came Harry and his new girlfriend and suddenly the press forgot all about William and Kate’s laziness.
@notasugarhere Kate used to be literally harassed by photographers outside her own home,so not some club’s front door,when she was still a private citizen and when she wasn’t asking for it. So,please,let’s not rewrite history with your “she was left alone” argument.
Piers Morgan is fascinating. His hatred and jealousy show that he will stop at nothing, even the most ridiculous slurs and stories. I want to know what he hopes to achieve. Riots as bad as The Gordon Riots which have never been forgotten? What makes a person so full of spite and bile tick?
Piers Morgan is despicable and the Disgusting Mail should be ashamed. He has used both DM and his breakfast show to try and destroy Meghan. Both organisations are culpable.
The support for the Duchess of Sussex is growing by the day. More and more are going on Twitter. One comment that made me smile was when someone said that she felt like “going to Piers Morgan’s house and dragging him out by his b***s”.
While at first glance it seems funny to some, it isn’t. I dislike him too, but it isn’t funny to post messages about wanting to do him physical harm.
Every single time a Meghan supporter writes something like that, they feed the tabloid trolls and RRs with excuses to belittle Meghan and anyone who thinks she is being mistreated. It lowers the level of the argument and gives them fuel to dismiss their own negative treatment of Meghan.
@nota….it may lower the tone but if the onslaught of relentless bullying and abuse against the Duchess of Sussex continues to grow, your senses will be offended by much more than that. Meghan supporters are getting very angry, what she is facing is unprecedented and Piers Morgan and his cohorts are brainwashing people into hating Meghan. I liken his role to that of another rabble rouser Nigel Farage, these people are dangerous.
Nobody and I mean nobody will tell rich folks what to do with their own money. The tabloids won’t ever be able to tell the rich how to spend their money. Getting mad about Meghan’s friends spending their own money on her baby shower, shows they need to stop drinking their own pee. As long as the royal family brings In the tourist dollars, they can just shit themselves into stupidity. The British tabs look very whiny, mentally ill, and just plain silly. They don’t think before they speak. The Brits or their government are trying to connect dots with countries for business purposes. Some of these countries have people that look like Meghan. Biting off the hand that feeds you. If they think for one second other countries are not looking at what they are writing about Meghan, they are stuck on stupid. People see why Britian looks and acts like it is in the dark ages. They drinking their own piss.
I don’t get this criticism at all. I just assumed she’d flown on a private plane, either of a friend or chartered or something. It’s not like she’s gonna fly commercial, at least I wouldn’t think so. She’s probably got tons of security.
If she had flown commercial, her trip would’ve been exposed even earlier and she’d be accused of purposefully trying to grab attention.
I’ve been seeing it announced all evening on UK Channel 5
Coming up next Friday
“Meghan and the Markles: A Family at War”
“Featuring an exclusive interview with Samantha Markle”
Then they showed a clip of Samantha ‘The Mouth’ Markle yammering….
I’m beyond furious. Despite that woman’s history of lying, slander, and overall BS, the fifth-placed network in the country in audience share gave her a position where she is treated as if she is a credible source.
I thought Fox News was bad but the UK media is absolute trash. Fox News is the perfect picture of journalistic integrity in comparison.
You are right. It’s disgusting.
Worse still, the punters still choose to believe the lies they print.
How do these ladies spend all day in those heels? Doesn’t it hurt? Also, I thought you were supposed to wear low or flat shoes when you’re pregnant…doesn’t that rule apply anymore?
I really don’t think that it is all day. Anyway, I’ve known women who could live in heels, some of them were very short and heels were like a part of them.
Cmon, there is no way Amal Clooney was giving her a lift in a private plane before Harry happened. What nonsense.
That said, I think the use of private, extravagant travel, especially paid for by friends, is problematic. Yes I know they all do it. But nothing comes for free, and how are these kind favours reciprocated? What’s the difference between Meghan accepting a lift on Amal’s jet, or Kate and Will flying on the Duke of Westminster plane, and Prince Andrew accepting shady money to buy his country place for a couple of million pounds over the asking price? I don’t know the answer, but I think like politicians, it begins with full transparency and declaring of all gifts. And we know the royals would HATE that!
The queen got dragged for doing her Christmas message in front of a gold piano during a period of financial insecurity in the UK, so why should Meghan get a free pass when she is living a life of such conspicuous consumption? Yeah the trip was covered by other but the optics of accepting significant financial ‘gifts’ from private citizens opens her up to criticism and questions whether there is a quid pro quo arrangement in place. I mean, they got a property on the Soho house development after being papped there then z friend just happens to put their products on social media with a tie in, her discounted Givenchy heavy wardrobe then the designer just happens to win a British fashion award that Meghan presents, etc.
Then coupled with her love of expensive clothing and the perception of acquiring a lifestyle that the ‘hard working ordinary British’ folks can’t access, the optics aren’t good. We are told she is working so hard – two engagements in a day – but then nothing for almost a fortnight and when it is work it’s fluff (another play or award show) – but she can find the time to fly to NY for 5 days (whilst in her third trimester) and live the very high life instead of working engagements.
For those struggling to cover the cost of heating their homes this winter, crappy NHS services and not being sure after 29th March whether they will have secure employment, it is poorly thought out. As yes, Brexit and it’s impacts are not the royal’s jobs to manage but they are essentially ambassador’s for the UK and when so many are struggling and facing and uncertain future, seeing the newest duchess living the life of the 1% may just be seen as galling and excessive. And it is not wrong to flag that and as a public figure who made the trip very public, it is open to public commentary. We can’t claim this is her private life and that she should be left alone as that is not what being in the royal family means. If it was the case, no-one would have ever talked about Charles cheating, Andrew being friends with the creep, Beatrice getting involved with a sketchy guy, Harry dressed as a nazi, William and Jenna, Phillip’s affairs, etc. Or are we now demanding that Meghan get special treatment? Now if people are doing it due to racism, yeah they suck and should be called out. But Meghan can’t be excluded by public commentary when she is a public figure for the UK.
The problem is that you can’t deny that the Meghan dragging is ridiculous and has been for months, it is not stopping. I only saw comments about how fabulous the piano was.
In fairness I saw a lot of heat about the piano – and still do from time to time.
Meow..kitty has claws…that arsewipe Paul “the Rock” Burrell has crawled out from under his stone to slag Meghan off Big time about her trip…claiming that William will be furious and that kate will be the perfect queen…. that Meghan isn’t royal enough and that William and Kate’s choice to go on a skiing holiday is wonderful because theyr not being papped!! And that Harry is petulant and William is not…the jealousy is oozing from every word. This Pratt shoudve crawled away under his “Rock” when th queen bailed him out by suddenly remembering he was “looking after ” Diana’s things…this is the guy who’s been selling Diana out and making a living for himself off her name for 20 years. The only reason the queen did it was to save th royal laundry being aired in court not from any loyalty to this pond dweller. Now he’s trying to cash in again by getting involved in this current War of Th waleses – he is scum.
I cannot stand that guy. He would say or do anything to be ‘in’ with the royal. He turned up to H+M wedding in full wedding gear and got turned away. Urgh, him and Piers have a special place in hell.
He even scorned her decision to donate her flowers – “who wants second hand flowers?” And even suggested that she should have donated th baby shower costs to Grenfell!! I dont remember William or kate donating anything to Grenfell or any other worthy cause for that matter…it’s insufferable – the guy is a complete arsehole!
Racism. Jealousy. Bitterness. Ingnorance. Delusion. To name a few reasons. Racism because they have no frame of reference for a movie star, Black princess with friends with money and cannot stand that she is as popular and appealing as Kate or Diana. For a lot of white people that just pisses them off. Black people cannot have their dignity. If they are rich they must be athletes, movie star or some other but a princess in a family revered by society across history. No. They can’t handle it.
There are also the history dunces and their misperception… who think that BRF protocol, use of funds, media relations, discretion is something above reproach. That’s just younger people who people, the main. They need to read about the BRF.
Bitterness from the RRs and the Piers Morgan set. Plus from the ordinary British citizen struggling and in fair of the shit storm they voted for called BREXIT.
Jealousy from the BRF family members who are happy to have the media report negatively about the Duchess of Sussex. Also from the looney father and sister.
Delusion from random Internet women who never had a chance at Harry or any man outside their mother’s basement.
Dem’s the reason. Racism tops the list. Same way they behaved with the Obama. It burns them to see a polite, articulate, composed, elegant, intelligent, compassionate, well-dressed blackwoman, wealthy.. No negative Black stereotypes can be attributed so let us knock her down with faux concern. Shame her for vulgar display if wealth, climate change, yadda, yadaa.
Hey remember a few weeks ago when Philip smashed up his car and caused an accident injuring someone else and didn’t have any charges against him? But yeah Meghan having her friends fly her to NYC for a baby shower is just awful. 😐
Oh and Jimmy Middleton owns a company that prints Nazi marshmallows on demand. But yeah Meghan is the worst.
Agree, and these people whining about how she’s flaunting her friends’ extravagance in their faces should be pissed at their own damn selves for clicking on all those manipulative, hypocritical and disingenuous Fail articles and RR tweets about her. All that sh*t does is feed their prejudices (note that’s plural) and animosity to point it just makes them look hateful and ignorant every time they criticize her. I was so glad to see at least one RR got her due; the Beehive tore Katie Hind (MoS) a new rear end for putting the shower costs on Twitter blast and failing to criticize the Cams’ ski trip and use of private air transportation.
And, speaking of protocol, even the British Marines are shading the protocol police for their ridiculous critiques of Meghan.
https://twitter.com/42_commando/status/1098915579107463168
“Racism because they have no frame of reference for a movie star, Black princess with friends with money and cannot stand that she is as popular and appealing as Kate or Diana. For a lot of white people that just pisses them off. Black people cannot have their dignity. If they are rich they must be athletes, movie star or some other but a princess in a family revered by society across history. No. They can’t handle it.”
Thank you. This. Alll this. If you’re black female and rich you must be a disgusting caricature like Cardi B. God forbid you’re put in an almost universally respected and revered social position in a respected and revered societal institution that has been revered across history. Like Michelle Obama. Or Meghan Markle. Tired of these people.
Honestly guys if anyone else did this we’d angry. Heck, even if Kate did it! (yeah, she had a party but we do nothing about it!).
She behaved like a celebrity. Good there is Marocco trip coming but hell, she didn’t make too much effort to see and papped at patronages (even if they last 2 hours) yet she was so active in NY. I’m sorry but for her is like her Oscar moment.
At least let’s not pretend we would be furious if Kate did such a show off!
It’s a common thing for all of them to use private jets while speechifying about climate change.. It’s nothing new. Just last week,Harry used a £25,000 jet to fly back to London after a 3-hour “engagement” in Norway that looked pointless to begin with. I think people should be more outraged for things like that,or some of Charles’ very expensive travel arrangements that in no way can be considered “privately funded”.
IMO it’s absolutely wrong to use taxpayer-funded security for their private trips,whether it’s Meghan,Harry,William,Kate or anyone else. But they all go on their vacations and mini-vacations with their RPOs and they are all able to travel in general without letting anyone know.
Like the Cambridges, Meghan and Harry have surely done it plenty of times and nobody knows anything about the costs and who paid for what.
And when there are leaks,like some of the recent Cambridges’ ski trips, that “little” has been scrutinized for them too,including the fact that they were using friends’ homes.
So,I don’t know why people are surprised to see the daily mail analyzing everything when they literally invite the press that can photograph even the brands of the gifts because they are in full display,and scrutinize every single royal officer,pointing out that taxpayers are paying for them and their accomodations,which is one of those things that not even their PR people can spin. That is the difference. The result is that even if KP says that “the trip is privately funded”,even if her camp is busy letting anyone know that Amal,Jessica Mulroney is paying for this and that flight,people will believe what they want to believe because they have been offered the opportunity to do so.
Same with the Cambridges. We just know they are on vacation,but I literally see some of the M&H hardcore supporters tweeting that “taxpayers are paying for it”. No matter if in this case too it’s reportedly “privately funded”,some people will believe what they want regardless.
Who are the “RR’s”? I’ve noticed this referenced in several comments….
Royal Reporters
Royal Reporters (Omid Scobie (one of the good ones), Victoria Arbiter, Richard Palmer (etc).
To say this was about a plane ride is missing the forest for the trees. This is about the unfortunate choice of choosing to feed the event to the media rather than ensuring everything was kept discreet. This is where the difference lies between being Royal and being a celebrity.
When you have married into the Royal family, you OWE your loyalty to them, particularly LOYALTY to the QUEEN and everything she stands for. The Queen, is celebrated for her humility and frugality. QEII has never denied she was born into a life of privilege, however, she doesn’t go around rubbing it in people’s faces, particularly in the face of her nation’s current suffering. This vulgar display of celebrity, completely against the principles that The Queen lives and abides by is the MOST UNPATRIOTIC thing one can do. THAT is what this is all about.
Really? Living in a huge palace, having her own personal royal train, and having massive amounts of expensive jewels isn’t “rubbing everyone’s face in it”? What an ABSURD comment.
That palace, the Royal train and expensive jewels are OWNED by the British people. It is part of our CULTURAL heritage that the Sovereign is entitled to use. Your remark clearly demonstrates a lack of familiarity/knowlege with British culture and history.
Thank you. Thank you for pointing out that this vitriol is motivated by racist misogyny. I WISH Kensington Palace would do something about the Daily Fail and all the other racist trash tabloids owned by Rupert Murdoch. They literally sound like they’re trying to have someone physically attack and her child, like they want a racist lynch mob to come after her to put her “in her place.” The first time the British tabloids did this to Meghan, Harry put out a statement telling they press to stop engaging in racism, sexism, and violent stalking against Meghan and her mother to sell papers. It only took a few months after the wedding for these evil racist U.K. tabloids to try to punish her for existing again. Kensington Palace has to realize that Meghan and any children that she has will need extra measures taken for their basic safety because with the nasty, evil, racist press incting the public that is all too ready to let their racism out, someone might really try to harm her.
This is racist as it gets and all those pretending not to see it are racist too.
The news keeps ranting about how Meghan paraded herself and her friends and her wealth in New York!! They say the Cambridges, esp. Kate, are more discreet. First, this was a private trip and she doesn’t owe the British taxpayers any thought whatsoever! Second, the Cambridges have had plenty of parties and showers and expensive gifts; BUT, they have two enormous residences behind high walls where they can hide all that! Their guests arrvie in a helicopter + nobody even knows it! Third, Kate was criticized up, down and sideways for the first few years after her marriage: her hair flipping, her dresses flying up, her grinning all the time, her terrible speaking voice, her sunning herself naked on a balcony in France, her terrible uncle, her social-climbing parents and headline grabbing sister, her lame, feckless brother…plenty! Now, she’s suddenly a saint. Puhleese!