As we discussed yesterday, there’s a suspicious rumor going around the British tabloids that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend Christmas in LA with Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mom. I was doubtful of the story, and I even had a conspiracy theory about what was really happening (the Cambridges deflecting, basically). But I forgot that ‘tis the season to spend endless hours writing about and talking about royal Christmas plans. I’m getting flashbacks from last year, when at this time in 2018, the smear campaign against Meghan had taken hold and then Meghan and Harry were expected to turn up at Sandringham so that William and Kate could play the heroic diplomats. Well, Vanity Fair says that Meghan and Harry have not finalized their Christmas plans and it’s possible they could spend more time in America this holiday season:
While Buckingham Palace will not comment on the family’s private plans, sources close to Harry and Meghan, who are taking a six week break from royal duties later this month, have told VF.com that “there is a possibility” the couple may stay in the US for the entire holiday season.
“The plans have not been finalized,” a source told Vanity Fair. “They will be in America for Thanksgiving later this month and there’s a chance they might choose to stay out there a while longer which might mean missing Christmas.”
Several sources said that they may want to stay longer in the United States because they are still searching for a potential second home in Los Angeles. The Sussexes are due spend Thanksgiving with Meghan’s mother Doria at her home in LA. It will be baby Archie’s first trip to the States and the couple are said to be looking forward to their first Thanksgiving as a family. “It has always been important to Meghan that Archie grows up aware of his American heritage and they plan to spend more time in the States as he grows up,” confirmed a friend of the Duchess. “They’ve not had much time off and this feels like the right moment to take a proper break.”
“The Queen won’t want it to fuel any more rift rumors,” says Sally Bedell Smith, the Queen’s biographer. “Given that Harry and Meghan didn’t go to Balmoral over the summer, it could be seen as another piece of evidence that they are going their own way if they don’t show up for Christmas The Queen is pretty tolerant and she may not begrudge them missing Christmas given Meghan’s mother is in the States. It will be a useful time for the couple to re-stock re assess and decide how they want to move forwards. Christmas at Sandringham is a deeply embedded tradition in the royal family however and it’s expected that everyone will be there, but the Queen does sometimes make allowances.”
I really feel like the Queen is realizing that Harry and Meghan have figured out that they’re being shoved under the bus to embiggen Prince Andrew and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Harry seems especially distrustful of his family these days. That being said, every minute we spend fussing over this is a minute we’re not focused on the fact that William and Kate are probably going to Bucklebury this Christmas and they won’t be criticized for it at all if the Sussexes’s Christmas plans are getting all the attention. Also: The Sun says that the Sussexes haven’t figured out what they’ll do either, but they’ve already told the Queen they’re not coming to Sandringham.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not join the Queen for Christmas. They have chosen to spend baby Archie’s first festive season away from Sandringham. The Sussexes could stay at home in Windsor or travel abroad to be with Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland. A source said that the couple — parents to six-month-old Archie — “needed to recharge their batteries”.
A royal source said: “They need some time away to recharge and decide their plans for next year.” Harry has always spent Christmas at the Queen’s Norfolk home, except for 2012 when he was in Afghanistan — and for the past two years he has been joined by Meghan, 38.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward said: “Christmas at Sandringham can be quite stressful so perhaps they don’t want to go with Archie at such a young age. Having said that, Sandringham has played host to many many children through the ages and is well set up for them. I think it’s sad they don’t want to be part of the family gathering, particularly now the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are in their dotage. The Queen might be a little hurt but she’s far too gracious to ever let it show or be known.”
Meghan and Harry also skipped the royals’ annual holiday in Balmoral this year. Ms Seward added: “It does seem to be nothing to do with Archie and to do with their own personal feelings.”
I mean… if the eventual endgame is “Harry and Meghan leave the royal family and set up a home abroad,” then these are the first steps. If their intention is to stay and fight for their rightful place at the table and refuse to be chased off by bitchy media people, palace bullies and Work-Shy Will, then they’re doing it wrong. If you’re asking me what my prediction is… it’s that they spend Christmas in Windsor, possibly with Doria visiting, and then maybe they drive to Sandringham on Christmas morning to go to church with the Queen. That would be an easy solution to all of this.
Photos courtesy of WENN and Avalon Red.
A place at the table between the racist and the rapist?
I’d go to mom’s house too.
LOL
Well, that’s succinct.
Love it.
lol. Exactly! I cannot imagine how hard this has been and continues to be. If I were her, I probably wouldn’t want to be in a room full of people who were deliberately making me and my baby the target of virulent racists to cover their own bs. Hard to pass the mashed potatoes under those circumstances.
I was just thinking yesterday that as hard as it’s been on Meghan, it’s probably been even worse for Doria, being so far away while all this was going on. And knowing her daughter didn’t deserve any of it and was receiving no protection from her new “family.” She probably felt so helpless, watching it all play out and having to stay silent.
How tempting it would be to “accidentally” drop that gravy boat on someone’s lap though 🙂
Escondista… exactly!
I did literally do that to Prince Andrew once when I was a student and I was doing waitressing. I’ve felt guilty about it for years but now I just wish it had been scalding hot.
Very big LOL
All this is speculation. Remember, when the RR said Doria had been invited for Christmas? by The Queen? W&K have in the past skipped Christmas in Sandringham, with not a squeak from the media, and yet, they want to spin it negatively for H&M. Meghan is Doria’s only child, and Archie only Grandchild, she can’t be invited to spend Christmas with The Queen. 2years in a row, she has spent Christmas on her own, so I would be glad if they spent Xmas with Doria in LA or wherever.
It is no longer speculation.Confirmed via a statement from Buckingham Palace.
The more time passes the more I’m just i pressed with Cressida and Chelsy for saying no to this whole mess. I can’t believe I feel sorry for someone who married into royalty but lawd the British royals seem like awful people. I wouldn’t want to spend a single minute with them.
Cressida and Chelsey never said no to marrying Harry, he never proposed to any of them.
I did not mean no to the proposal. I mean no to the whole lifestyle. At the times Harry dated them it was widely reported they weren’t interested in the scrutiny of joining the royal family, and boy were they right.
Harry never proposed to either of them, so they weren’t given the choice of whether or not they wanted in. They already live the posh aristo lifestyle. If Harry had proposed to either of them, they likely would have accepted.
Cressida broke up with Harry because she didn’t like the spotlight and the hounding. Harry would have proposed to Chelsy if his family wasn’t so against it/her.
I never understood that narrative the press spun about them not wanting to marry him because of the insane limelight surrounding harry. Chelsy was with him for 7 years and they tore her apart in the media and yet she stayed for that long. They broke up way before the wedding but she made sure to get an invite because that is the circle of people she wants to be around. If she didn’t like the spotlight she wouldn’t have shown up
to Will and Kate’s wedding fueling speculation that they were an item again.
All of this is speculation and none of us really know but people are commenting whatever fits their narrative as usual. There is a big difference between the flack that you might get as a royal girlfriend and that which they know they would receive as a royal wife. We have no idea whether Harry proposed to them and we certainly don’t know that they definitely would have said yes. They already had money and they were already aristocracy. All the perks with none of the pressure.
The royals were not opposed to Chelsy, Charles was affectionate with her in public while Harry and Chelsy were dating. We know Charles liked Cressida’s family, because he wanted Isabella for William. You’re right Maria, if Chelsy didn’t welcome the attention, she wouldn’t keep showing up when invited to televised royal weddings.
I think there is a difference between showing up to Royal events as a friend than being engaged or married into the Royals. Chesley always made it clear that she loved Harry but she didnt want the scrutiny of marrying into the family. Chesley grew up around the royals and fully knew what that lifestyle entailed. One of the reasons I feel bad for Meghan is bc I dont think she knew what she was up against and bc of the short engagement never had the opportunity to ease into the Royal life and media scrutiny. She fell in love with a man and married him and now has to deal with the BS of the British media. Anyone who marries into the Royal family gets trashed by the media, Kate and Camilla were also trashed but obviously not to the same extent that Meghan has been
From what I’ve heard about Cressida she wanted the gig desperately. He auntie or godmother edited tatler when they broke up and wrote a desperate open letter basically begging him not to dump her, Saying he needs a good woman by his side. I think she always wanted to be famous hence trying to make it as an actress and turning up to any red carpet. I think harry felt for Cressida the same way that William does for Kate, she was there, eager to please and if he didn’t find anyone else he liked better, she might have got the ring. I think he really did love Chelsy but I don’t think she would ever have loved being restricted to life in the RF. she seems like she likes having too much fun.
Harry may not have proposed but he probably discussed marriage with Chelsy and Cressida at some point in their relationships. Why stay in a long on/off again in there was no intention on marriage.
Chelsy and Cressida dodged a grenade. I believe Meghan knew what she was getting into, but didn’t think it would be this malicious.
Thank you Babs……if asked Cressida would definitely have said yes, with Chelsy there were far more complications, one being her father’s close ties to Robert Mugabe.
That was my understanding too: they saw the circus and went away for their own well being.
They were right.
Harry might be a wonderful person, but sorry he is not worth.
@Dani. I believe Cressida stayed, then left after the Las Vegas debacle.
None of them were ready to settle down, not Harry nor Chelsey nor Cressida. The women repeatedly took him back during their multiple breakups and make ups so that tells you something. But like Nota said upthread, they both were never given a chance to accept or decline. Had Harry proposed to any of them then we’d have a discussion but claiming now that they never wanted his life, deliberately ignoring the fact that he never proposed to any one of the multiple women he dated is misleading. I believe Harry was not ready to settle down with anyone and I’m sure the feeling was mutual.
That said I’m sure Harry, just like Meg, is looking forward to getting away from it all and go have some quiet and enjoy his little family. They all have been put through the ringer, Harry, Meghan and Doria and I’m sure just the thought of Christmas in LA is very intriguing. Harry has stated before how fond he is of Doria so I think he’s as excited as his wife.
And Vonnie must be LOL, remember Harry’s comments that Meghan just got the family she never had? Harry must be so disappointed in his family.
“remember Harry’s comments that Meghan just got the family she never had? Harry must be so disappointed in his family.”
Most definitely! Harry thought that his status in the royal family was as solid as gold and that the royal family and courtiers would never use him and his wife as free game for the bully UK tabloids to protect the heirs and Andrew. But their silence and lack of support for H&M during the three year smear campaign is telling. They treat H&M as outcasts like Diana. Luckily H&M are a fantastic team who support eachother and can use their voice and global popularity to expand their Sussex platform.
Yes, 2 cents….l remember Harry saying that. Meghan’s huge popularity which overshadows all other members of the royal family is the main issue.
Of course no one knows what’s going on with the Sussex christmas planning (besides the Sussex). They got away from the leaking Cambridge PR and the RR, and now everyone is playing guessing games!!
I particularly enjoyed Emily Andrews’ article that was just a list of guesses for things they might do.
That was funny. It was just like, “if not sandringham, here are other things they could do!” like, duh? They can do lots of things lol.
“Journalism” at its finest.
TRUTHSF Agreed. Everyone is just being nosy and guessing. What I got was “their normal KP sources have no clue” so they have to collectively make something up.
Absolutely. It’s just all fan fiction on the media’s part cause no one knows what the Sussexes plans are as no one has any reliable “Royal sources” in their inner circle. It’s just stuff to sell papers and get clicks. It’s interesting though, how H&M keep them guessing.
I don’t think it’s a guessing game: either someone from inside the household told the press what they were thinking about or BP/KP is doing the best to make them leave.
Exactly. They’re throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. It’s amazing what a difference leaving KP has made for the Sussexes.
I started wondering if Harry pulled one of William’s old stunts of feeding information to a “friend” to see if it made it into the press. Maybe Harry told William what they were considering (whether real or false) and the info has now made it into the press…thereby outing the Cambridges/KP, once again, as the leakers.
I agree with Kaiser that this is all just cover for the Cambridges who will be with the Midds this year. So, once again, the Sussexes are taking it on the chin for something a) they haven’t even done yet and may not do and b) something the other royals are also doing. A double standard yet again…quelle surprise!
My prediction is that the Sussexes will be at Sandringham this year but Doria will be with them either at Frogmore or at whatever “cottage” on the Sandringham estate they’ll be assigned for Christmas.
Well… Now that you were incredibly off?
Please don’t take offense- it’s just kind of funny reading (not just you, of course) the speculation(s). 🙂
This article isn’t from a British tabloid it’s from Vanity Fair, and it says there is a possibility they might not be going back to Britain after Thanksgiving and just staying in LA through Xmas. It also says they are looking for a second house in LA and Meghan wants to make sure Archie knows his US heritage too. I actually think the story might be a PR floater from team Sussex to see how it plays with the media. If so, don’t think their team should do this cause you could put the most benign thing out about them and get back crap so not sure this is helpful.
Also, if true so what? I mean even the Vanity Fair article isn’t mean to them. I think most logical people realize her mother hasn’t seen a lot of Archie and Meghan hasn’t been to the US much for a long time. She was born and lived here most her life. Britain’s nice, but it’s different and I know I would miss home. As far as having a second home in the US. Our two other US princesses or queen’s had houses here. Prince Albert was the one who sold Grace Kelly’s house in Philly not long ago, and Queen Noor of Jordan still had her house in Northern Va. and then moved back to a condo in the District after her husband died. If you read the piece above it seems positive, plus it’s their life and they can do what they like.
If they released their plans for Christmas,’ royal reporters’ would immediately put stalking plans into operation.
I’d be asking if Andy was going to be there.
Actually scratch that, I AM asking if Andy is going to be there. Is the Queen going to host her rapist son for Christmas and who else in the family is going to support that?
Obviously he is going to be there. He was at all the Remembrance events- and no one questioned it. They all knew for years and the Queen is fine with cleaning up her childrens and grandchildrens messes as long as they play by BPs rules.
Sincere question: How should TQ treat Andrew? He is her son, she is his mother no matter what he is suspected of doing. Imagine such a situation in your own family – how would your mother treat your brother if he were suspected of criminal behavior?
Honestly, she had no problem shunning the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, because he married her and subsequently abdictate the throne. She exiled them. Sure, he was “only” her uncle but, her son raped a teenage girl. And who knows what else was going on in Jeffrey Epsteins homes.
She also had no problem shuninng Di and Fergie.
If this was my brother, I would never talk to him again. End of story. Some things are not forgivable.
If the suspected criminal behavior involved a sex offense, esp rape of a minor trafficked girl, my family certainly wouldn’t allow my brother around children until it was sorted out. If my parents insisted on having him at the dinner table, my parents would understand if other family members, myself included, went to a Chinese restaurant instead.
@mint I wouldn’t have a problem either shunning an uncle, brother or daughter-in-law. But the maternal bond is unlike any other. And no doubt this child is reassuring mummy that these are hateful lies.
If she wants to still have a relationship with her son, thats obvious her private choice and something she has to decide.
But from a work perspective: I honestly do not understand how he is still allowed to carry out engagements, be a patron of charities and be at offical royal functions. He is a liabilty to the firm and at the end of the day its also the Queens job to secure the monarchy. They always make it clear how the Queen is about Monarchy/ duty first, family second. But thats obvious not the case for rape Andrew
@ Mini the Queen was a child when Edward abdicated, so she hardly at a say in the matter, she certainly wasn’t the one who got them exiled. And I think she and her mother were very angry about the adverse effect it had on the health of George VI, suddenly being thrown into the role of King which he was never prepared for.
“Until it was sorted out” what does that mean? Convicted? Tried? Admitted it? Prison? What if none of that ever happens? Is he shunned for life? I don’t have a problem on here with people yelling about Andrew and saying he should be tried and he’s a rapist, but I think you are being a bit disingenuous about it if the situation hit your family. Plus with the added bonus of what if you live in a world where at least half the stories printed and said about you are lies? You might believe the Uncle, Brother, or Son who you know. I mean it is 100% plausible Harry, who everyone on here loves, believes his Uncle had nothing to do with this, not to mention the Queen his mother. Harry has said numerous times lies are printed about him. It’s logical he would think lies are printed about everyone else too. They haven’t come out and supported him verbally at least. Contrary to what everyone thinks that’s not really what they do, but they have been sitting right behind him at events. Standing beside him during the remembrance ceremony. I mean if anyone is likely to give him the benefit of the doubt it would be his media maligned family. Doesn’t mean it’s right. It just means it’s understandable.
My mother (sadly), would behave *EXACTLY* as the queen is behaving, even if she caught her precious son in the act. In fact, if she witnessed it, she would convince herself that the 15 year old in question is actually 25, she was coming on to him, and that the whole thing was just a big, nasty conspiracy to smear her beloved, innocent son who can do no wrong, no matter the circumstance.
So the Queens behaviour is not that shocking or strange to me. I see it every day.
@spookie: she didnt exile him in the first place but she kept exiling him during her reign. In the Kenneth Rose diaries its revealed that courtiers suggested to QEII she should make amends with him but it was always a firm no from her. In regards to Rusteds question of how the Queen should behave I was just trying to make the point that shunning people is not a foreign concept to the Queen.
If I was Meghan and Harry I wouldn’t go to Sandingham. Will and Kate haven’t gone every year, so I hope M&H&A can spend it away somewhere with Doria and friends.
Agree. Meghan has gone to Sandringham for Christmas the past 2 years. No problem with spending this one somewhere else, namely, her home country.
Especially for Archie’s first Christmas. Christmas at Sandringham is super formal. And when that RR said that Sandringham was set up for hosting children, she’s probably alluding to a totally separate nursery wing where the babies and kids eat all their meals with their nannies while their parents dress up in formal wear and eat with the queen. And who knows what they do for Christmas morning. They probably all have to get up and get dressed formally (no running to the Christmas tree in your pajamas), have some kind of formal breakfast and very orderly gift exchanges where they each give each other one gift, with kids maybe invited for the gifts but not the meal. And then their church walk, again without their kids.
If I were Harry and Meghan celebrating my baby’s first Christmas, I wouldn’t want it to be like that, either. I’d want to have my baby in the highchair at the table for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day breakfast and dinner. I’d want my baby crawling around under the Christmas tree tearing into his gifts, and putting his stocking on his head, and throwing around the wrapping paper. In adorable little feety pajamas and a baby Santa hat.
@amy too when you describe it like that, it really puts it in perspective — sounds like the worst way to spend your first Christmas as a parent, honestly. I would be miserable if I were them and would absolutely prefer the most relaxed holiday for my family. I hope they don’t go to Sandringham!
I believe they exchange present on Christmas Eve
Mike Tindall, Zara’s husband was on that crazy British sports show with the guys who have the plaid blazers and shorts on a lot. He described what Christmas was like with the Queen and it actually sounded fun. He apparently got in trouble for his little gossiping and told not to do that again. I think they drink during the show. Also, apparently Zara gives gifts to her whole family cousins and all. I want her as my cousin and it must be nice to be that wealthy.
Diana an aristocrat herself complained that at Sandringham sometimes you had to change clothes five times in a day. Breakfast. Church. Lunch. Shooting. Dinner.
Now I don’t think they have to go either, but I wouldn’t be surprised since the Queen is 93 and Prince Phillip is 96 they might go as I think William and Kate may go too, at least for the church walk or some part of it. I know people on here don’t really like the Queen, but they are his grandparents, and he may be upset with them but I’m guessing he still loves them. Also, I don’t think they are giving up on the monarchy yet. Generally, because of line of succession Harry has been near or beside Andrew almost at all events, and if I had even a thought of leaving the royal family I wouldn’t stand beside him for everything. So I think they are sticking with it. Honestly, I think they are a bit upset with their family, but more upset with the tabloid media, and it is where they are concentrating their efforts now. Finally, from a practical purpose unless they plan to stay in the US from Thanksgiving to December it’s a bit much to take a baby two times in 4 weeks to L.A. from London. I don’t think I’d want to do that, private jet first class or anything just too much. I think Kaiser came up with the most practical plan, and I’m betting on that.
For some of these comments, you’d think that no one has ever dealt with the extremely common situation of a couple with two families who split holidays and do not do the same thing every year. If Harry is not with his grandparents on December 25 that does not mean that he doesn’t “still love them”! The stuff about the Queen and Phillip being so super-elderly that everyone must gather at their feet every holiday is so weird to me. It’s not like Christmas at Sandringham is the only chance to spend time with them or the only event to see them at. The Sussexes were just at Remembrance events with the Queen. I’m sure if she wanted to say hi to them she could have.
Honestly once this Queen’s reign is over some of this worshipful stuff of her can come to an end, and there will be a reckoning with a monarch who has not been revered their whole life and who has not been on the money for the past 60 plus years. It will be interesting.
It’s not that they are so elderly you have to stay, it’s just they are in their 90’s and it’s logical to think you might not have many Christmases left with your grandparents, and you might want to celebrate the holiday with them even if it’s just a little bit. Now I know everyone on here hates them, but I haven’t seen any signs from Harry or Meghan that they do. My theory if they didn’t care for them they wouldn’t do any of this royal crap at all. They are both financially well off they don’t need to. Plus, plenty of people in the monarchy get away with not doing a lot, pretty sure Harry could too. I’m guessing his grandparents, her mother, his family, Archie and just logistics are all considerations for them like every normal person. My guess which is all we all know is a bit of all of it like Kaiser said, but they will be in the UK for Christmas and probably stay in the US longer on Thanksgiving. It would be nice if Doria comes to the UK for Christmas too.
Do you remember when Harry said the Royals “were the family she never had”? What a messy nightmare it has been since then. Skipping Christmas at Sandringham would only rile up the “haters” even more. It would be a major mistake, IMO.
I wouldn’t want to hang around Andrew but it would be in Meghan’s interest to do the Christmas morning walk with Kate. It would at least reconfirm that the rift is between the brothers and not their wives.
There’s no way Kate and William will go to Bucklebury if the Sussexes are no-shows. Standing right next to the Queen on Christmas morning would be the easiest PR points ever.
Why would it be in Meghan’s interest to stand next to kate Xmas day?
What more can the BM say about Meghan.
You only have one life, and as Meghan said, you want to thrive just not live.
That was an interesting statement, right? Thoreau’s “most men live lives of quiet desperation” is very true though, IMHO. And women too, of course. Take a look around, how many are thriving? I find life to be very difficult and harsh, and I’m well off. I often wonder how others do it. I don’t think many can relate to that statement, rather, they would snort, roll their eyes, and move on to the next problem on their long list of daily problems to struggle with.
Well, showing up in a cheap repeat coat from a British designer right next to Kate is the best thing she can do right now. Any other action on Christmas Day would be attacked.
Mind you, she’ll be criticized regardless but it would at least minimize it. People say she spends too much and is too American. Wearing a repeat coat during a royal tradition would protect her from that. The tabloids would double down on her case if they stay in LA during the holidays.
Meghan is American. People need to stop throwing around that being American is an insult. She should do whatever she wants in Christmas and if that means spending it with her mother who she can rarely see now, then so be it. Her life shouldn’t revolve around trying to minimize attacks by the British press (like her wanting to spend time with her family), that’s ridiculous. She’s Doria’s only child, Meghan should be allowed to spend Christmas with people that actually love and care about her.
She will still be attacked even if she goes they always find something to be mad at about. The goal post keeps moving.
I like Meghan a lot, but the thrive comment really did get under my skin. Cause it just seems way too privileged and naive. If I didn’t know better I’d say she was a skinny sipping starbuck’s entitled white girl. It’s Walden in the woods, and just not practical to most people. Don’t go after me with this, but just think about the comment. That being said her deeds are so much better than her words, and that is what’s important so I let it go, but when someone brings it up I just think about it.
@noway
I don’t get it, what’s wrong with saying that life is not just about surviving but thriving? That is a very basic statement that is pretty firmly rooted in not only most life philosophies, but also in mental health research. Anybody who is merely surviving is not going to be well emotionally or psychologically. Or am I missing something subtle here?
@Blue36 – I wholeheartedly agree! This whole situation with Meghan has demonstrated not only peoples racist tendencies but also peoples xenophobic nature, even right here on this website and for some reason it’s treated as though it’s perfectly fine. I’ve read articles on here which have been distinctly anti-British. Being American, British or any other nationality for that matter is not something to feel ashamed of. We need to stop with these backwards stereotypes and insults.
@ADS. I agree with you. I don’t get what the problem is with stating that one should seek to thrive not just survive. That to me is fundamental to living, not just existing. I thought her comment was on point.
@DaisySharp: I agree. I first saw the video where Meghan made the thrive comment on an Insta post and my first thought was: oooof, this sounds out of touch – at least in my reality / among my family & friends.
@ADS, I don’t think it’s subtle, and not sure what mental health expert you are referring to which tells you should always thrive. It is part of the dimestore Dr. Phil philosophy though, but it’s not realistic. I do think it is part of American culture which is always be your best, achieve, thrive and you will be happy, which probably contributes to our stress and suicide rate. Reality is it’s not possible to thrive all the time or be happy all the time. Life has it’s ups and downs and sometimes you notice when you are in an up phase, the challenging down phase you enjoyed more. Just the way it works. Funny, Meghan was talking about British and their stiff upper lip, but Americans have this idea that everything is about making us happy and both are a bit off. Sorry my soapbox, but that is just one reason that comment bothers me.
The other is my guess is you’ve never had to just survive which unfortunately is a way of life for a large portion of the world. If you did you would realize the comment coming from a Duchess in Britain is tone deaf. Cause if you are in the midst of just surviving you don’t think about thriving you think about just doing one thing which gets you one more step toward something else. Which is pretty much what every mental health person tells you to do. One step to putting you in a different direction, don’t think about the big picture cause you will just drown in it and get stuck. She’s speaking in hyperbole I realize, but when you are a public figure it just seems too much. I don’t like when Oprah does it either, and I know she’s had a tough life. It’s like they don’t realize how blessed they are compared to others and it hits me the wrong way. But like I said deeds are more important than words and Meghan’s deeds out weigh this. It’s just when people bring it up I got soapboxy on it.
Meghan likely referencing a Maya Angelou quote is out of touch? FFS
‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style.’ – Maya Angelou
It always confuses me when I read about Meghan being criticized for wearing designer clothes. It’s as though the rest of the Royal women shop at Walmart or it’s British counterpart, which I seriously doubt.
@: noway: “It’s like they don’t realize how blessed they are compared to others and it hits me the wrong way.” THIS.
The British media are angry that the Christmas Day pics will not be as interesting, but even with their absence Harry and Meghan will still be headline news.
It would be in Meghan’s best interest to do whatever she (and Harry) wants because the media will attack her regardless. All of this talk in the comments about what Meghan should do to appease the tabloids is ridiculous.
AMEN.
I totally agree! It is just fuel to the fire.
THIS! 100% She is getting bashed no matter what she does, so she and Harry should do what they want and what works best for their family.
@Norway, you are not making any sense,. Heard the phrase; ‘Money cannot buy you happiness’ Why do we live? We are all in pursuit of happiness, who in this world strives to be unhappy. If you are just existing and not thriving, then there is a problem. Don’t you know you, there are some less well off or poor people who are happy and thriving. It is so condescending, to dictate how Meghan or Harry should feel because they are privileged, that crap about stiff upper lip, has brought nothing but fake behaviours , suicides and depression. I am so glad they did it on a global stage for all to see, afterall they are being bullied globally. So many Africans applauded them for speaking out, because it’s the African way, rich or poor, they recognise that, human sadness is not just the monopoly of the poor, infact, it stops you from envying the rich, and no, I am not American, but British born in East London, living in South London, thriving is not just an American thing. Meghan understands the ups and downs of life, she is not stupid.
I think if they did the pap walk, they would both be pulled up on the most ridiculous things – if Meghan isn’t smiling enough, there’s tension! Or if Kate smiles too much, there’s also tension and she’s trying to hold them all together! God forbid they do anything except come out holding each other’s arm and gazing at each other.
Oh that would be so funny let Kate and Meghan come out holding each other’s hand like their 6. I mean I do think they all should do something so ridiculous so we all could laugh about it. The overanalyzing of their body language does make me laugh. My experience with body language experts are the only people who are good at reading it are people who generally know you. My sister and husband are great at reading mine, even though I don’t do the stereotypical things people do.
I really doubt they will skip Christmas at Sandringham. It would confirm that there is a deep divide there, give easy PR points to the cambridges, and given the Queen and PP’s advanced ages, I just don’t think Harry would skip – unless, again, the divide/rift is significant as we suspect.
I would not be surprised to learn that Doria comes to Windsor for the holidays though.
But in the end – we will find out on Christmas day, this is a lot of speculation and no one seems to have any idea.
I’m giving no credence to these articles because I’m remembering all the home birth and floating floor speculation that never came to pass. It will be interesting to see what they do. If they don’t show up at Sandringham it certainly will paint a picture of a rift with The RF.
I also suspect that Doria has a life in L.A. And will not be spending Christmas in England. Remember all the speculation that she would move to England? Has she ever spent Christmas there that we know of?
Difference is now she has a grandson. She might want to spend his first Christmas with him, wherever he is.
@mego – I could see Doria spending Christmas in the UK since Archie is here now. And we don’t know for sure that she hasn’t been there in past years. But yeah, I could def see her coming to London for the holidays.
But at this point – its amusing how much speculation there is considering no one knows anything lol..
Much ado about nothing, remember the Cambridges do this – they rotate Christmas’s between the RF and the Middletons. I don’t recall them being dragged by the media over ‘snubbing’ the RF to spend Christmas at Middleton Manor.
This. Just the race-bating media looking for another stick to beat Meghan with.
Thank you. The Cambridges have been doing this for years and I don’t see it being a big deal. However, what would life be without a little racist media eh?
I’m kind of 80% sure there was at least one article the first time that happened, there were all sorts of accusations that the Middletons were holding a copycat court in contempt of the queen.
However the majority of this probably came from Fail comments.
To be fair, they WERE dragged for “holding a competing court” with their “pap walk” to church with the Mids. And I do remember the screaming saying how could they do this, why not just go to the Mids before or after. I also remember the screaming when the Mids stayed at Anmer, and did the church walk WITH the royals and joined them for Boxing Day. Nothing like M&H are getting, to be sure. But ANYTHING outside the box of “tradition and protocol” has detractors. And yet… life went on. But bottom line: TQ is the head of this Firm. And if SHE wanted this shmear stopped, it would be, at the VERY least, curtailed to a GREAT degree. The fact that she (and Charles) say nothing… well… it speaks volumes.
H&M need to do what is good for them.
spot on
I mean, I wouldn’t show up if I were them. It always sounds like a damn military event and it’s not like they need to worry about losing the family’s support.
I wouldn’t go to anything. Go be in California with some of the few people who haven’t sold them out for a few bucks and thrown them under the bus for press protection. The Cambridges are gonna slide under the press radar either way.
I have to agree if their intentions are not to break away from the family, the Sussexes are going about this the wrong way. However, it’s too early too know what their holiday plans are because they rarely let the tabloids know.
@Purplehazeforever, I 100% agree with you. If the Sussexes are not going to come forward and tell the public what is really going on within the BRF then they need to be at Sandringham for the Christmas holiday. If they are not there it will look to me as if they were “pushed-out” and “not invited”. IMHO, this whole mess is nothing but bad optics for all concerned.
FYI: Read on Tatler this morning that Price will have a capsule collection on Net-a-Porter for charity. The capsule collection is a joint effort with the training programs on the Dumfries House Estate, Scottish wool suppliers and Net-a-Porter Group. I wonder wear Charles got this idea for charity. LOL!
They are all using Meghan’s ideas and are pissed that she claims ownership, they thought the biracial woman was going to lay down and let others take credit for her work, that’s why KP leaked all those stories.
I wonder if Charles will be accused of “merching”. *eye-roll*
@ Peg. I notice many comments about how Meghan “always references her accomplishments and would never let others take credit for her work” as if that’s such a bad thing or Meghan is a raging narcissist. Why not let others know what you’ve done? Women are often supposed to just do the work but not take credit while men are allowed to toot their own horn and talk about all the great stuff they’ve done.
@Guest2.0, I’ve read those same comments about her taking credit like it’s a character flaw. Nine times out of 10, it’s the usual suspect(s), the ones who couch their criticism (and obscure their envy) in back-handed compliments or like to repeat/reinforce a negative talking point. The comments are best ignored. IMO, there is nothing wrong with the DoS speaking about and for her plans or initiatives. Like you said, men do it all the time. On another note, I don’t believe the DDoS need to tell the public sh*t about their personal plans or the condition of their relationship with the extended BRF. It makes me think entitlement or obsession is involved when people believe celebrities or royals owe them information and explanations about their personal lives. I really don’t need to know more about any of them than what is released through the news media or SM.
Why do the Sussexes need to come forward and say anything?They already said enough with the documentary and that they were taking time for themselves. What more do we need to know? Why is this such a national crises? Harry is not the heir to the throne m it head of state. They don’t need to discuss their Xmas plans with us. This is tabloids wanting a fight after the Remembrance weekend because this is what they do every time Meghan gets positive press or a lot of press attention from mainstream or international media.
@baytampabay Did Meghan invent capsule collections for charity LOL Like no one else in history has ever had this novel idea? Please, she doesn’t own the idea and if someone else does it it’s not because Meghan paved the way. Ridiculous!
“I don’t believe the DDoS need to tell the public sh*t about their personal plans or the condition of their relationship with the extended BRF.”
@Glenna, My purpose in “asking” for the “truth” is that tabloid speculation and tabloid smearing will not end until the “truth” comes out. I apologize for not being clearer in my original post.
@Amy, I guess I was not clear in my original comment post. When Meghan’s capsule collection for SmartWorks came out, she received all kinds of flak, to put it mildly, from the tabloid commentariat in reference to “merching” and promoting a charity scheme that would majorly benefit the retailers involved and only minimally benefit SmartWorks.
My point is that Charles is doing the same type of charity scheme for The Prince’s Foundation-The Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust and not receiving in any flak from the tabloid commentariat. I think this type of scheme is a really good idea. I apologize for not being clearer in my original post.
@BayTampaBay, I apologize if I misinterpreted your comments, but please see @Cant’be’s comment below (#51). This is a perfect example of why it is futile for the DDoS to explain or divulge things about their personal lives. BP confirmed they will be spending the holidays with Ms. Doria. Already, this clear, succinct official communication about a family wanting to spend time together has been twisted into something rotten and humiliating–that TQ has exiled them and their son.
Do you lot even see Meghan as a human being? Why must she always be the sacrificial lamb. William and Kate were rotating xmas with the Middletons and he is the future king and the media did not kick up a storm, why do commenters help the british media with their propaganda?
Celebitchers kicked up a storm though, I remember the comments on the lines of how can they go to the Middletons when the Queen is so old!
@Spookie actually the comments were about the fact that Kate & Wills were lazy and already did the bare minimum of what was required of them so the least they could do was show up to Sandringham and put on a smile and a wave on the walk to Church.
@ VV which comments were daft imo. If they were taking turns with each family I applaud them. I always thought it was very selfish of QEII to expect everybody in the family to go to her every Christmas, when the other halves had families too. Lets face it, she never had to do the shopping and cooking! 😆
And didn’t they put on a smile and wave on the way to Church with the Middletons?
@spookie, I disagree. I’d say the comments were 50/50 with tons of people expressing support for the Cambs and alternating years with the BRF and the Midds.
@chunkyl uhh YUP. I remember those threads and while a few made it about QE and Phillip being old the MAJORITY of people saw it as yet another instance of E&K shirking their responsibilities in favor of Will getting to do “normal” cosplay with the Middletons
If I recall it wasn’t that they spent the Christmas with the Middletons it’s that they did the pap walk as well, when the Middletons are not church goers. The kids were also brought out when they wouldn’t have been seen at the church walk with the Queen. So it had way more to do with not having a private Christmas with her side of the family, but instead William being the top royal when he wouldn’t have been doing that with the Queen, Phillip and Charles present.
They didn’t do a pap walk in 2012 before the kids were born.
They are not breaking away from the family, they are just going to spend Christmas with Doria, Meghan is her only child, and Archie, only grandchild. The Queen has given them her blessings, let the press publish what they want. H&M are not going to live their lives according to what pleases the media or good optics. H&M live on the same Estate as The Queen in Windsor, where she spends all her Weekends, do we even know how many times they see the Queen? So many assumptions. W&K alternate Xmases all the time, and not a peep.
I HIGHLY doubt Harry would abdicate from the BRF and leave his cushy life (albeit in a gilded cage). Not only has he not worked a “real” job his whole life/he would need even more security and protection if he left the BRF. I think they will come back into the family fold soon enough.
I thought the Army was a real job, but I guess they just play dress up.
The army is a real job. A job he quit because he didn’t want the desk job they gave him. He could have stuck it out until he was reassigned like all the others in his position, but he wanted special treatment.
Please, if wanting special treatment is wanting to be in the field with your troop, guess 95% of the Army want special treatment.
@Peg +1
@Peg – Right?! It’s nuts how many people intentionally overlook Harry’s 10 year military career, including two tours of duty.
@Ainsley – plenty of soldiers leave the military when their commitment/contract is up. That’s not “special treatment.”
Another brand new royal watcher, eh? You cannot abdicate a throne unless you are on it. You can remove yourself and your children from the line of succession, but only with approval of the government.
The Army was a real job for Harry. After 10 years and two war zone deployments, as Peg writes he wanted to remain active military in the field. That wasn’t on the table.
I think they should got to Sandringham with Doria and Archie. Archie’s great grandparents aren’t going to be around much longer.
Um, the Queen’s behavour in all of this has been pretty awful, Harry’s probably not feeling too great about that. Also Philip is a known to be openly racist so it probably not super fun for Meghan to be around him. *Shrug*. I think people are way too quick to dismiss the truly awful behaviour of some elderly people.
Please God, no do not wish those horrible haters on Doria.
To that last bit – good, tbf.
If his great grandparents were actually worth a hill of beans. Sure. But the queen and phillip are not.
I used to think that way sigh. I have no use for the lot of them anymore. I got over Diana eventually but they at best offered no counter to the ongoing abuse of Meghan or at worse were complicit in it. It is completely unacceptable. I wish Harry and Meghan the best as they figure all of this out and hope they stay together.
Oh my god they’re not leaving the royal family. But they are justifiably ANGRY and TIRED. Will and Kate have slipped before as well.
I agree Hannah and would like to add that imho, Harry is also really seeing how toxic and self-centered members of his family really are. I can only imagine how disappointed he is and hurt by the actions of his brother and the general lack of support from his father and grandmother. I really think that Harry is the one distancing himself from his family in order to protect his wife and son and that it’s not Meghan instigating these plans.
I agree.
I agree with you both, Hannah and Harla!! Good points.
Did people do all of this handwringing when Charlotte’s first Christmas was spent with the Middleton’s?
Side note: Christmas in LA is a delightful song. Hipstery, yet a little bit of funk.
No, it was lauded as “how normal” and family oriented the Cambridges are.
I’ll say though I think the fact that the Cambridges did their own church pap walk – which I thought was kind of weird but whatever – did silence whatever criticism there might have been. The press wants the pictures, and they were able to get them of the Cambridges, complete with the Middleton family .
They kind of did? There were a number of column inches spent speculating on Will and Charles feuding and the Cambridges trying to set up a rival court or something, both here and elsewhere.
Right, for heavens sakes! I really love when the old “Queen and Phillip are so old, how dare you not spend every holiday with them” line comes out. Hope the Sussexes do what is right for them and enjoy the holidays!
Hey nice twisting what people were complaining about. It had everything to do with the pap walk with the Middletons that they had never done before and dragged out the kids for and not with skipping Sandringham which they had done in 2012 and no one cared. If William wanted a private Christmas with the Middletons he could have done it without the pap walk.
I bet that the Cambridge’s will take their kids to Church to make the photo opportunity more interesting in the absence of the Sussexes.
I think they are going to buy a Christmas tree and put a lot of lights and ornaments on it. I think they are going to take a lot of pictures with Archie by the tree. Some will feature Meghan holding him and some will feature Harry holding him. I think they will send the photos privately to their friends. That’s what I think they will do for Christmas among other things.
Yesterday william included Harry and Meghan in his speech, it must have pained him to do so.
Everyone at “SHOUT” knew H&M put in the ground work so it would have been embarrassing for william not to mention them in his speech.
The daughter of the director that the film the PSA with Kate, posted video of Harry and Meghan yesterday at a ‘SHOUT” event last year.
Sounds like Shout is making sure W&K cannot claim credit for Harry and Meghan’s work.
The press are just trying to spin their 6 week break story into a new angle. Remember they all talked about balmoral& the Queen hosting a birthday treat for Meghan& telling her off then when there were no pics of them at Balmoral it became they weren’t invited or they snubbed the Queen and she doesn’t want them mentioned in her presence. Therefore for these experts to say the Queen would be hurt if they missed Christmas is interesting as thought they were claiming the senior royals have distanced themselves from Harry and Meghan?
The press don’t know their plans but my guess is thanksgiving with Doria being the bigger US holiday, Christmas at Sandringham. Then when they ARE pictured at Sandringham which was probably their plan all along, the body language experts can go nuts& the press can claim the Queen laid down the law& insisted the naughty Sussexes spend Christmas there.
When the Cambridges were with the Middletons last in 2016 was it reported in the press as a snub? Zara& Mike were in Oz in 2017& doubt that met much contention despite elderly grandparents but you know- the press is fair.
This will be their first Christmas with their son so it’s a magical moment for them. I understand if they don’t want to be with those snakes.
I think that the Royal Family and royal reporters are in panic mode now, they’re realizing that the RF need Harry and Meghan more than Harry and Meghan need the RF.
Yes! I fully agree and it could be that the Sussexes have new big plans, which do not include the RF or England. 😀 I know nothing for sure, it’s just a feeling. I bet the Sussexes have many offers and would be welcomed with open arms. Staying in the US however would be problematic with a most likely oncoming civil war.
The RF does not need Harry and Meghan. They existed before Meghan joined the family and will exist if they leave.
It is the media that need Harry and Meghan because they see the potential for drama.
This is exactly right.
They can do whatever they want.
I am fine if they choose to spend it in LA visiting friends and family. They don’t get away stateside for vacations too often and I am sure there are friends and god children she hasn’t seen since her wedding.
I am also fine if they choose to go to Sandringham and spend time in Windsor with Doria. I would go to the Christmas Day brunch and start building allies within the family. I am thinking Zara and eugenie also Meghan should spend time chatting up the outsiders like Mike, Jack and Sophie.
Not a good idea with Zara, who told someone at the Blenheim Palace Horse Trials 2019, that no one in the Royal Family likes Meghan.
What on earth! Did not know that at all.
@Peg, where did you hear that? I’ve not seen any discussion of Zara’s statement anywhere. Where did you see this? Tumblr? IG? Where? Post a link. Thanks!
My guess is tumblr or IG, on one of the many Meghan hate sites. Mike has stood up for Harry and Meghan several times in public. Harry is very close with Mike and Zara, he introduced them.
Ladies that was my though too. I know Harry is The Godfather for little Lena so I am sticking with he is still close to his cousins. I think he filmed his Ed Sheehan video at Eugenie’s place. To me all indicators are pointing to the division is with Sussex vs KP and CH with BP turning a blind eye to this.
The horse world is a small community from all Countries, most of them know one another from childhood.
She went on to say that Harry loves Meghan and only listens to her.
Part of what pisses off the Royal Family is that Meghan wants credit for her work and is not willing to let others take credit for it.
The person asked her if she was still close to Harry and she said yes.
Looking back at the wedding, when people thought Zara was uncomfortable due to her pregnancy.
k
Seems like all the rich English people do is gossip
I cannot believe that Zara would be so indiscreet to be honest.
@spookie, yeah, Zara’s cool. I don’t think she’d be someone to dislike an “outsider,” nor would she have anything to gain from saying anything at all. She’s the one who got the tongue piercing and mucks about getting selfies with people! I like her and Mike, they’re solid people.
“Part of what pisses off the Royal Family is that Meghan wants credit for her work and is not willing to let others take credit for it.”
@Peg, Not quite sure I understand the above comment. Who wants to take credit for Meghan and Harry’s work? Who does Meghan want credit from, The BRF, the courtiers, the RRRs or the public?
Zara stands out to me as the RF member who was the most indiscreet at H&M wedding with the eye rolling and making faces during the sermon so I don’t know how solid she is.
Well l don’t like Zara.
She is very desperate to be seen at royal events in order to boost the endorsements which she needs, and always acts outlandishly to ensure she gets her face in the newspaper stories. I saw her eye rolls at the wedding. She will not be a friend to Meghan. She will suck up to the Cambridge’s to ensure that she still gets favours when William is on the throne.
She knows which side her bread is buttered.
@Princess K and Polly – oh no. I didn’t watch the wedding, it’s really sad that she behaved like that. Shame, she’s one of the ones I actually like in the BRF but now I guess it’s just Mike and Sarah Chatto on my list.
Delete comment.
No sane person would blame then if they didn’t spend Christmas with the toxics. I wouldn’t.
Secret wish: Meg and Harry show up for Christmas at Sandringham in matching sweaters with that picture of Virginia Giuffre and Andrew, and the caption “you know what you did” on the front and another of Andrew and Epstein on the back. With buttons on their collars that read, “Rose Who?”
I love you Rapunzel!
I used to think of Vanity Fair as one of the better, more credible publications and even have a subscription. The fact that they are publishing drivel from Katie Nicholls turns me right off. I thought she also had a gig at one of the tabloids (the Sun, maybe?). Regardless, I lump her in with the rest of those “royal reporters” we hear so much about on this site and anything she writes is unsubstantiated trash.
Sometimes i want to feel sorry for Katie Nichol, she would be better off writing fiction books, oh! she did that already.
The British Media is on a rinse and repeat cycle, nothing to write about from KP, boring don’t sell, the pipeline to Frogmore Cottage is closed. The Courtiers get news after events happens, so no payday for RR for them, no wonder they’re pissed.
Vanity Fair as a whole tanked in quality once Graydon Carter left. It wasn’t perfect, but it was much better than the mess it is now.
Straight down hill is where Vanity Fair is going.
The magazine is nothing like it was in the days of Tina Brown (a Brit by the way) and Graydon Carter.
I this crap started when Si Newhouse died and the family controlling Condé Nast started cutting budgets to increase profits for increased dividends to the family.
Vanity Fair used to be a magazine full of great writing and reporting. I’ve been forced to realize that’s not the way it is anymore and I’ve stopped reading. I personally can’t stand Katie Nicholls, and have no interest in reading anything she puts out. I miss Graydon Carter’s editorial style.
I miss Tina Brown and Dominick Dunne investigation and writing style.
Katie Nicholls is the one that brought us “Meghan’s gender fluid baby.” I stopped reading her after that click bait.
I doubt they’ll spend Thanksgiving at Doria’s house. Everyone will show up expecting to get a photo out of them. If they do spend Thanksgiving in the US, it will be at another location.
I, too, believe they will spend Christmas in Windsor, possibly with Doria, followed by the Church (pap) Walk the next day, just as William and Kate have done numerous times when it’s the Middleton’s turn (something I’ve always though of as right for them to do)
Chances are slim that they will be staying a Doria’s house, too close to the road, can’t slip in or out, now that it is out there that they’re to LA for Thanksgiving look for them to change their plans.
The only thing they have said is they are going to LA for Thanksgiving which is just a US holiday so makes sense. All the other stuff they haven’t announced. As for where their Thanksgiving festivities will be who knows? Maybe they will borrow the Clooney’s house or stay there. Who knows. That is just pure gossip as they seem to be friends.
None of these RR have a damn clue about what the Sussexes are doing. They’ll find out when the rest of us do aka when it’s avtually happening
Right now, they’re just throwing anything and everything to the wall in case one of them turns out true so that they can say “See I was right!”
Yup! Especially EA’s absurd article listing every possible option (LA! Sandringham! Frogmore!) just so she can say she was first to report…
So stupid. They know nothing, especially now that the Sussexes have left the KP vipers nest.
Why would Doria want to be in the cold surrounded by people who mistreated her daughter? No they should take Archie to spend the holidays with his grandmother.
Windsor and Sandringham are quite far from each other, so I doubt they’d want to just “drive up” for the pap church walk.
I feel for Meghan. They’re clearly all terrible to her, and it must be hell to spend any time at any event where multiple royals are. Harry probably is going through the crashing realization that his family is actually quite awful when you don’t toe the line and play your part.
I just can’t figure out the strategy on the part of the RF – Harry and Meghan leaving would ultimately be BAD for them. But I guess all their entrenched, colonialistic, imperialistic outlooks can’t see that?
“Harry probably is going through the crashing realization that his family is actually quite awful when you don’t toe the line and play your part. ”
I think it’s more that the family is awful and terrible to Meghan even when she HAS toed the line and played her part!! She hasn’t done ANYthing out of line or anything different than any other royal…and they still treated her like $hit. I think that is what has been most disturbing for him. He clearly was not expecting this (based on his ‘my family is the family she never had’ comments).
I agree that I don’t understand how the courtiers or QEII or Charles can’t see how terrible it would look if they allow her to be bullied out of the family. You’d think they’d be playing the long game and see what a benefit the Sussexes are to the family, not only in optics, but also because she came to WERK!
Meghan can’t spend too long outside of the UK. She’s trying to obtain citizenship. I do believe she will be spending the holidays with her mother. Where is another issue. One of the holidays will be spent in LA. Probably Thanksgiving. Meghan and Harry don’t owe the Queen their presence at Sandringham for Christmas. It will be Archie’s first one. So, they’ll probably stay home at Frogmore with Doria.
Now KP Instagram is posting black and white pictures, I kid you not.
BM had a melt down when Meghan and Harry posted b&w pictures, what will they say about the Cambridges posting b&w pictures? nothing.
Nope, nothing. Just like every other double standard. One rule for the Sussexes and one rule for the other royals.
Remember what Harry said about his family. This is the family Meghan never had. Things have certainly changed.
Ha. Turns out they’re just more of the same.
LMAO. Harry is so….naive.
Nobody knows what they are going to do and that is a good thing.
Many couples rotate holidays with both sides of the family and it is not a big deal.
I looked at Fail article when Kate&William were with the Middletons in 2012. Was seen as normal, nice thing to do and Wills was lauded for being inclusive of her family. Which I think is right especially after how Diana complained of feeling isolated.
As I said above I think Sandringham is the plan. But if Meghan did want to spend more time in the States or just with Doria I wouldn’t blame her. She might not have spent much extended time with her close family& friends who live abroad since getting pregnant.
But also why should Meghan and Harry be expected to do the heavy lifting on the rift rumours? We know the family are capable of showing visible support& can’t see that they have. I hope they do what feels right to them- whatever they do will be criticised anyway.
Seems like a bad idea since they skipped Balmoral. Better to just dip on one not both.
You don’t know that they skipped Balmoral. None of us do. For all we know, they might have escorted the queen there in the first place. They might also have shown up for a few days, or maybe they avoided the place like the plague. Liz knows the truth whether she wants to admit it or not. She’ll say what suits her agenda.
The press are setting her up to fail. If she ever skips Christmas with the Queen she will be ripped apart. If she never visits her Mom on Christmas she will ripped apart. It’s so disgusting.
+1 Marie
I don’t think future Queen consort Camilla was at Sandringham last year. Wonder if she was spending time with her children& grandchildren? No handwringing or snubbed Queen articles.
So since 2016 Kate& William, Camilla, Zara& Mike have skipped Sandringham. So Meghan& Harry are perfectly entitled to do the same without this faux outrage- although I think they will be there.
Ah, but the Sussexes doing exactly what all the other royals have done won’t stop the faux outrage. I think they will be there as well, FWIW. I think the will they/won’t they articles are an effort to provide cover (once again) for the Cambridges.
Well said Rogue.
The wonderful thing about M&H is that they will ultimately do what’s best for them…and as Meghan said…life is about “thriving” not just “living”…and now that she’s been able to SEE…how utterly AWFUL the Royal Family is…I’m SURE part of thriving is NOT being around that BS on special holidays….BUMP THAT NOISE! You only have one life…spend it…as much as possible…with people you love…who love you back…and ACTIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY SHOW IT!
And I STAND by my theory…that it’s not ONLY the British Press that’s pushed Meghan and Harry to this stance that we’re seeing…IT’S THAT FAMILY!
I think this is totally it, because it is not just the British tabloid media, it is coming from within the family. Harry’s relatives and their employees (courtiers) are not just failing to stand up against the press in many cases they are the ones giving the stories to the press!
I really don’t understand why the press is fussing about. The comments on DE and DM are vicious. It’s like nobody dared to see the family again once married in the RF…. Kate alternates the holidays with her family too, it was all over the news when she married. Why all that with MM? The difference between Kate and her is Kate’s family live in the same country.
Solid bet Christmas will be without the Markles for their rotten behaviour and Meghan’s lawsuit. Bad Dad could be called as a witness especially if MoS tries to claim Meghan is contacting him to talk to him about the letter.
Victoria Murphy is now reporting they are definitely skipping Sandringham and will spend Christmas with Doria (it doesn’t specify whether in the UK or US.) It also includes a line about how this is what other royals have done (ahem Cambridges) and that the queen is fine with it.
I suspect they will be in the US but not necessarily at Doria’s place, for security reasons.
Omid confirmed it. The statement from BP also confirms Queen’s approval as well as the precedent set by others.
Good. Hopefully this will put a damper on Phil Dampier and a stopper on Ingrid Seward who I’m sure were both looking forward to spending the next six weeks commentating on the Queen’s hurt feelings.
It still won’t stop them, lol. Also won’t stop them from crowing about broken protocol, even though other royals have also skipped before.
Oh, I am sure you are right about that. I just read something Mr Dampier said about how Meghan is estranged from everyone in her family but one, so she doesn’t have any excuse not to spend Christmas in Sandringham. I am starting to think he is the worst of the worst.
It’s sad that they had to mention the precedent set by William and Kate. Harry really doesn’t like them
Why is it sad?
The statement never specifically mentions William and Kate because Zara and Mike skipped a year too. He mentioned the precedent because the tabloid media will try to pretend they are breaking protocol since they still do that all the time. Saying Harry doesn’t like William and Kate based off that statement is inventing something that isn’t there.
So it’s confirmed by BP- the Sussexes won’t be at Sandringham& will spend it with Doria. statement says it’s in line with other family precedent& it’s with the Queen’s blessing.
They’ll be with Meghan’s mom this Xmas. There is nothing abnormal about that and they said they were taking a break. They are in U.K. all the time and that family doesn’t support them and only uses them for photo ops and denigrates them to make the others look better. I think they just don’t want to play those games right now and really want some personal time. The US is a big country and California is a big state. I doubt they’ll spend their whole holiday stuck in LA traffic avoiding TMZ. Wouldn’t be surprised if they end up in Tahoe, Jackson Hole or even Hawaii. Not our business and hope they enjoy it.
Christmas in Hawaii is amazing.
Oprah has a place in Hawaii. They should go there.
I thought of Hawaii also, won’t be surprise if they visit Florida and Canada.
Meghan and Harry most likely want Archie’s first Xmas to be with loving people not in a den of Vipers.
Wonder if toxic tom is going to pop out of his cave?
I would not be surprised if they celebrate it in the UK, I imagine Windsor is just gorgeous around the holidays, and they could still have a nice quiet Christmas at home with Doria and without the pressure and stress of the Sandringham rituals.
My other thought is Toronto; Meghan obviously has good friends who still live there (most visible being the Mulroneys) and I could see them being able to hide out there relatively well.
I would be surprised if they go to LA for it, IF we are assuming they are going to LA for thanksgiving (which could obviously be incorrect), unless Meghan stays for December, which I don’t think is likely. Obviously they could go back and forth from London to LA and back and then do it again, but I just don’t think that’s likely.
Who knows though, as I said before I’m always wrong with this kind of stuff lol.
The Windsor Castle Christmas decorations are always worth seeing. They should go up in the next week or two. There’s a special Victoria and Albert display this time, celebrating the 200th anniversary of their birth year.
This is true. California IS a big state, and if they spend Thanksgiving/Christmas with Oprah in Santa Barbara they WILL be relatively left alone. Oprah is someone who rarely ever gets papped, and I bet her house is quite guarded so paps couldn’t get anywhere close.
And hell, the US itself is pretty big. They don’t even have to spend the whole time in California if they don’t want, and could disappear easily from any paps looking for them.
No offense to Oprah but don’t think the holidays with her would be exactly relaxing. All her new agey platitudes and good things and self healing is too much, IMO. Maybe they’ll pop in for a working visit relating to the project they’re working on, but hopefully they just see old friends, Doria, extended family etc,. I hope the press doesn’t try to spin this into a big Hollywood strut with prominent acquaintances, instead of just having a bit of calm and respite with her mom. Everything is overly scrutinized and given ulterior motives.
For whatever reason, my first thought is that Oprah invited the Sussexes and Doria for Christmas. She has the estate in Santa Barbara, with, I’m positive great security. I can see Oprah being invested in the Sussexes story and if they are going to be in the US, wanting to make sure they have a good Christmas. Of course this is just me speculating.
Oprah have a spread in Hawaii also.
I can see others who would offer then a place with privacy if they don’t rent a place in LA.
According to the Daily Fail commentariat, Oprah is hosting a Christmas day dinner with the Sussexes and every other Sunshine Sachs client invited. LOL! LOL! JUST KIDDING!
I thought of it too 😀
They really should go to Oprah’s place. I am sure it would be a great place to spend time in peace.
Confirmed and I hope they have a great time.
It is her baby’s first Christmas and I expect she will want to be around the people who will support her the most. I don’t think this is hard to figure out.
Their rightful place? Where exactly is that? Are you aware Harry is 6th in line to the throne? And eventually will be way down.
I don’t think it matters whether or not anyone agrees with the idea that one should thrive and not just survive. The fact is the BRF doesn’t agree. They (however disgraceful their actions and history) have always insisted on the stiff upper lip. This is a big fight to pick, and I’m not sure either H or M is truly willing to give up their lives as royals. And while there has obviously been a very unfair smear campaign launched against H&M, I also think Meghan wanted to marry into royalty badly. She has been very genuine with her work, but the whole “who me?” routine when she and Harry got engaged was not very genuine. They just didn’t expect it to turn out like this. It isn’t fair or just at all, but it is not surprising.
Calling it now -This will be George’s first time doing the Christmas walk to church. And approved candids of the kids at Sandringham will be published in the papers.
I agree with you. I would not be shocked.
I was gonna say….
Plus, Will and Kate announced “slew” of engagements this week for the month of November into December I believe? Plus there’s the annual diplomatic reception, I believe? . All this to say – the Sussex’s will be quiet and having their downtime. Will and Kate are going to capitalize. Plus, they need to up their end of year numbers.
For sure. I bet they will push for the money shot 2019 of the queen, Charles, bill and George in one frame.
Of course if Harry & Meghan choose to distance themselves from the Royal Family, are they allowed to do that? It will be seen as Meghan’s fault. For some reason since they started dating, the media decided to paint Harry as this weakling who is being taken advantage of and led by the nose by Meghan. I think they are a lovely couple and I sincerely hope that they can find space to call their own and be happy.
Edited: because Omid confirmed they ARE coming to LA. Well, I still kinda expect them to fly out the last week of November for Thanksgiving on top of spending Christmas here too.
It’s confirmed by BP. They won’t be there. Everyone blasting Vanity Fair for the article they were right. Wishy washy but right. This article was nice unlike some of the British media. One article said H&M exiled to US for Xmas. Please exile me to Hawaii for Xmas tough job but someone has to do it.
Sorry Brits our weather is better more diverse. I live in the mid-Atlantic states and sometimes we get all kinds of weather in the same week fun!!! This isn’t really a big deal for H&M but with all the press on their family feud it does add fuel to it though. I think 2020 should be even more interesting for Royal gossip.
@ Can’tbe -Sorry but which bit of your weather is better – the sort that causes droughts and wildfires in California, crippling blizzards across swathes of the country, hurricanes in the SE states or 40 degree heat in Texas? We’ll stick to our own weather thanks – it gives us something to moan about. 😆
Good news. Maybe we’ll all get to say hello
PS- Oprah ‘s school of girls from South Africa will be visiting her during the Thanksgiving Holiday. I believe they visit just about every year since she has been involved in this charity. I hope Meghan and Harry get a chance to see them and participate in the festivities.
This is a major mistake on the Sussexs part. MAJOR MISTAKE. Yes the Cambridges have spent Christmas with Kate’s family, but never when there were rumors of a family rift. All this does is confirm the rumors and it makes the Sussexs look like cowards, as though they are afraid to face the family.
This was a bad decision
I’d be “afraid” too, if I knew my in-laws were very probably setting the media on me and not bothering to step in and stop it when I’d come out and said, hey, this is hurtful.
I just read that Prince Harry was named the sexiest dad of 2019 in People magazine. I certainly agree with their choice this year. Congrats Duke of Sussex!