Whenever we’re talking about the revisionist history – from the British press – around the Sussexit, I always think about how Prince Harry and Meghan originally asked to be half-in and half-out. Their original plan was to get some distance from the toxicity specifically IN the UK, to move abroad for a time and simply visit the UK every few months to knock out some events and charity work. This was a no-go with the Queen. The Queen and the courtiers set about punishing Harry and Meghan for simply wanting to remove themselves from the damaging, toxic palace intrigue – Harry’s military titles were removed, H&M can no longer “use” their HRH status, they couldn’t use their “Sussex Royal” branding or social media, and on and on. Harry and Meghan had to give all of that sh-t up just so they could be free.
And after all that, the British media – and perhaps many in the palace – believe that Harry will “come back” when the one-year review is over next March. LOL. Good luck with that. They’re tying everything to this idea that the one-year review is going to change sh-t. It’s not. Robert Lacey says that the one-year review is the make-or-break date for whether Harry and William can finally reconcile. Again, good luck with that.
Prince Harry and Prince William have until March to heal their wounds or their damaged relationship may never recover, royal biographer Robert Lacey tells Newsweek. Now he argues Meghan Markle’s experience at the hands of palace aides remains an obstacle to the royals putting past feuds behind them. And the author believes the situation must be resolved by the end of a 12-month review of Harry and Meghan’s new working relationship, due in March.
He told Newsweek: “Meghan’s style, the way she swept into the palace, the way she brought her own American advisers with her, rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way. So there was that personal animus in those negotiations and I fear there remains to this day an obstacle to reconciliation. The palace establishment, the courtier establishment, remains reluctant to adapt or bend in any way to accommodate what Harry and Meghan stand for or want to pursue. I no longer rate highly the chances of reconciliation. I think whatever gets decided in March has pretty well got to be for the foreseeable future.”
Meghan did not “sweep into the palace” with her own advisors. She didn’t have a built-in royal court. What she did have was Hollywood connections, and a team of professionals who understood the international media and how things should be organized. I think again of how lazy the Cambridges are and how that laziness actually suits the courtiers’ short-term, shortsighted purposes. The courtiers were not prepared for a woman with professional connections and a professional pre-royal life, a woman who could see how so many of those ancient old f–ks were misogynist trash. Also: Us Weekly had some quotes from Lacey about the Sussexit negotiations too.
This too shall pass! Prince Charles and Prince William didn’t think Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s plan to step back from their royal duties would come to fruition, author Robert Lacey exclusively tells Us Weekly. When Harry, 36, and his wife, Meghan, 39, announced their step down as senior royals in January, the former military pilot’s family was surprised — despite having fair warning.
“Harry had been talking to his father and brother,” Lacey says. “Saying, ‘Look, we’ve come to the conclusion we quite like Canada. We’d like being on the side of the Atlantic. We think we want to stay here for a bit, but we think we can still say Royal.’”
Lacey claims Harry’s idea of creating the Sussex Royal brand as a “sort of compromise, a new form of … expatriate monarchy” was brushed off. The prince’s suggestion that he and the former Suits actress “could still represent the crown in Canada, [and] all these things,” was pushed aside, according to Lacey, who adds that “Charles and William [have] never denied [the talks with Harry].”
“It was sort of offhand,” the author says of the initial conversation between the men of the family. “They didn’t quite believe they were serious. It’s [like], ‘Put it down on writing paper or chap, you know, sends us an email and we’ll think about it.’ And we know this cause Harry himself and the other palaces have agreed that, like, this must have happened.”
Yeah, I mean, we knew that the Queen, Charles and even William were not actually surprised by the Sussexit announcement. One of their communications offices actually leaked the Sussexit story just hours before Harry and Meghan announced it, so of course they ALL knew about it. Even though the talking point was that “the Queen was SHOCKED,” that petty B knew all about it. They just didn’t think Harry and Meghan would actually go through with it.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
No one:
Place courtiers:
“Those ghastly yanks. So vulgar, with no breeding or understanding of our way of life….how awful”.
Meghan:
Bitches I’m outta here….
Palace courtiers:
Quick! Hire her old staff!
And copy everything she does and wears!
I don’t understand how one day with the british media it’s “Meghan is a Z List nobody actress” and the next it’s “Meghan has a lot of Hollywood connections”.
She did have connections, and not just in Hollywood.
The UK press chose to downplay that in order to paint her as a nobody who “stole their Prince”.
The first advisor they used had worked for the Queen prior. She opted to stay on longer after her time with the Sussexes should have run its course. The next advisor was American (worked for Clinton and Obama), and when the Sussexes stepped down, she was recruited by Buckingham Palace. How does that jive with this claim that these “American advisors” rubbed people the wrong way at the palace when both KP and Buckingham Palace are hiring these people to work FOR them??? For most of their time in the family, their staff was comprised of shared KP staff or people who migrated from KP to Sussexes’ household once the split occurred.
It begs to question who these “American advisors” are because none of that coincides with reality.
She kept her lawyers, PR firm and manager. So the Firm was accustomed to Kate, coming in with nothing , to be moulded and using the palace’s lawyers etc. vs this grown successful woman with her full team.
Sarah Latham was a dual citizen with the UK and had worked for many UK clients when she was hired. But yes now that she works for the palace she’s suddenly not American.
I had forgotten she kept her lawyers etc. But this still reads like she swept in with an entire court, like someone said below, when the reality is she was just very smart about her entrance into the Firm.
@ Sofia, have you guys also noticed that Lacey lost his balls somewhere? When the first round of discussions came out, it was the lack of The Firm and raging with anger PWT that were the source of the breaking the brotherly relationship and TW and the sorts of attacking Meghan and Harry standing firm with his wife, BUT now, he is laying blame on Meghan? When did Lacey decide to play into the hand is PWT and the RR just to play nice so he can stay in good standing?
This is all utter B.S. to play into BM and him changing the narrative isn’t changing the facts that Meghan was pushed out and never taken in by the The Firm and PWT and Keen were furious that the Fab Four turned into this incredible dynamic of H&M that ran circles around them!
Now they are stuck with Dull & Boring to raise the monarchy and it’s their own fault. More over, it’s NOT Harry’s responsibility to mend his relationship with PWT, as he was the instigator and was the architect behind the Meghan attacks and pushing out to Africa.
I think British media told him to play up the anti Meghan stuff. That island has some serious xenophobia to deal with along with the racism and sexism
I’m not surprised really. I’ve said it as soon as the extracts from the book started trickling in is that it’s not totally anti Windsor book that people hope it is. Sure William and Harry are both portrayed as angry but only William’s anger is “justified”. Harry’s is not. Harry is said to be more childish about it.
From those who read the book, it seems that my above comment is basically what the book is about. I didn’t have much hopes in the book – especially as the author in the past as blame Meghan for Sussexit and he’s, despite what some posters will say, an establishment historian who needs to curry favour with the royalists due to them being his target audience.
I personally feel like Harry and Meghan went in with a Plan A and a Plan B. Plan A was a compromise to try and make it work. Plan B was to go it on their own.
Like you said, Meghan had Hollywood connections. But Harry did too! It was Harry who was tight with Oprah and the Obamas and had tons of celebrity friends. I have ZERO doubt Harry and Meghan had ENDLESS offers on the table that they couldn’t take up because The Firm would cock block them.
Dude, the SECOND they bounced they probably told everyone they were open for business and began seriously fielding offers. The only real challenge they had was settling down into a new home and sorting out their new security arrangement. Canada was part of Plan A and California was part of Plan B.
Now that they have a home base and are settled in, the sky is the limit!
Harry has a lot of political and Hollywood connections, respect, zeal for work, knowledge AND the goodwill of non racist people. Ditto Meghan who also has commercial nous (created and branded a 3 million follower blog, and a fashion collection from scratch) a finger on the pulse, and an instinct for survival. So obviously they did some scenario planning with different possible outcomes. Men in grey and the RF where so cocksure of their bargaining position, they did not see any other alternative than H and M kowtowing to them. Would have loved to be a fly in the room.
It always amazes me how people try to reason out and find explanations for the blind hatred of courtiers, RR’s, members of the BRF, aristos and all the other cast of actors who made it their own personal starring role to make sure Meg understood she was not welcome.
There is no explanation.
SussexSquad have provided endless receipts on twitter of the double dealings and hypocrisy of all of the above. But the simple fact is all that is pointless bc essentially all these actors did not want Meghan around bc she refused to play their version of ball on their crusty Island and kiss the necessary rings.
Kissing of the rings in those circles would have meant denying and setting alight the very fabric of whom she is. That is the price of a Royal Bride but in this instance we’re talking about a bi-racial american, divorcee Royal Bride. And that is where the real battleground lay. The BRF is not a meritocracy. It’s very foundations are built upon the spoils of male primogeniture, which in turn were built upon the spoils of empire and slavery.
There was never going to be a price upon which Meg and Harry could agree on, hence why ‘they were not willing to play that game’. The rot starts from the very top i.e. Govt/ The Queen down to the very c*nts who should have been wiping Megs arse in the Royal Household.
They hated the black Princess. End of.
We need to stop trying to rationalize the racism, evil and stupidity these idiots heaped on Meghan and by association Archie and Harry. These people were akin to terrorists in how they treated her. I think Meg realizes this and this is why she now says what she wants.
Yeah, I believe they had a Plan A and B. I think what they really wanted to do was Plan B but as you said they put out Plan A as a compromise. I think Harry was willing to serve as he had promised his grandmother but he knew his offer would be rejected out of spite and maliciousness and so they were prepared whatever the outcome. Thankfully, the palace was too stupid and petty to see having them half in and out would have given some control over Harry and Meghan. Now they have absolutely no say on what Harry and Meghan do.
The courtiers keep changing the story and think everyone is dumb enough to fall for it. I hope Harry & Meghan never go back.
All these excuses to avoid saying they didn’t like her cause she was a half black American actress who ran circles around them all and looked fantastic while doing it.
First: Sara Latham, Meghan’s American advisor, was hired by the Queen. Everyone in the BRF has had American employees.
It’s because Meghan wasn’t white or British so the Palace expected her to grovel until they approved of her. They think they’re better than her and newsflash for all their stans, they’re not. Meghan runs circles around all of them and their snobbery, racism and fragile egotism couldn’t handle it. So they drove her away and then copied her.
And they are still copying her while weeping and wailing.
^^^THIS !!!
Let the Church say amen.
Preach the word!
Yeah when I read this I scratched my head and thought, what American advisors? Latham came to mind but that was it. I googled it and they hired Heather Wong as a senior staff person, who worked in the Obama administration, but all these people were already associated with UK firms. It wasn’t like Meghan swept in with a court a la Catherine of Aragon. I guess the only other thing he could be alluding to is Sunshine Sachs?
Heather Wong was there before Meghan came on the scene. She was Harry’s Assistant Private Secretary and Jason Knauff is American also. He’s was KP Communication Secretary and now is CEO of the Royal Foundation and Advisor to the Cambridges. So they had no problem working with Americans in the past, the problem was the black American.
Wong’s hiring had nothing to do with Meghan. She was hired in September 2016. Meghan and Harry had only been dating for about 2 months at the point – I doubt she was influencing palace hiring choices at that point, no?
Edit: Edward Lane Fox was hired in 2013 I believe – way before Meghan.
she kept her lawyers, manager and PR firm.
Sunshine Sachs was hired to promote Travalyst so probably that was a decision of the group involved in Travalyst and not just Harry and Meghan. The firm has tried to correct the impression that they were working on personal PR for H&M repeatedly.
The leak actually happened 10 days prior to the Sun splashing it all over their front page in January.
Dan Wootton bragged about how he contacted H&M’s office and gave them a 10 day ultimatum to “sort this out”.
I don’t believe Wooton’s story. I think he concocted that story when it was reported that Harry’s plan was leaked to the press and blame was being placed on KP. I think Wooton made up that story to protect KP.
I think that it can still be true. He was told by KP and he contacted the Sussex office with a deadline of 10 days or else.
Christian Jones would have told Wootton about it with permission from William. That plan would only have been sent to a few people and we know Jones still has his job despite that major leak.
I love the way they are doing the most to ‘explain’ their side of the story. The men in grey are terrible at reading the room. H and M are not coming back. They have left and are thriving and they haven’t even got started yet. Lies, lies and more lies that contradicts all the courtier leaks to the press. So which is it? They wanted HER out and could not believe that Harry left with her. You do not mess with a soldier and a strategist. What they did not bargain for was the terrible blow back that makes those courtiers and their masters look awful.
I think this started with the cookbook. I recall reading that she got a lot of support for it from friends in the publishing world as opposed to the palace. I think they opposed the project and refused to support it and when she got it done anyway they got mad. That set the tone for everything else.
The fact that nothing about the cookbook was leaked, including all of Meghan’s private visits with the Hubb Community Kitchen ladies, is proof enough that she kept knowledge of that project in a small circle. That doesn’t mean she didn’t work within the guidelines though.
She more than likely did work within the palace framework, and the select group of people she worked with didn’t sell the story to the tabloids. That tabloids want to paint her as a rebel who “bucked the system” and “didn’t follow the rules”, and not as someone who was surrounded by discrete and LOYAL courtiers who only worked FOR them. I’m thinking of Any Pickerell and Heather Wong specifically, as well as Edward Lane Fox. Samantha Cohen didn’t come on as an advisor until after the marriage (yet that cookbook was already in the works).
Trust and believe, those tabloids were throwing big bucks around to get any info/dirt in Meghan AND whatever she was up to, yet they were ALL shocked they didn’t know ANYTHING about the project before the announcement. If she was as horrid as she’s been painted by UK tabloids, would she have inspired that level of professionalism, loyalty, and discretion from their staff? I seriously doubt it.
I think KP got wind of it when they arranged the announcement which explains the Becky English story in the Friday before suddenly revealing that Kate was going to fix a broken Britain, with plans and content to be revealed eventually in the future.
Harry never wanted the 1 year review. It was Charles and the Queen who insisted because they firmly believed Harry and Meghan couldn’t make it on their own and would come crawling back after failing. They thought once they failed, Harry and Meghan would finally come back and play ball. (or preferably just Harry)
But the whole buying a whole estate in California and the mega bucks Netflix deal pretty much killed that.
Now the Sussex’s are in the power position and are calling all the shots. IF they do decide the royal family in any way in the future, it will be on THEIR terms. But, if I were them, I’d let them twist in the wind for a few years.
The one year review honestly sounds ridiculous. It’s just a way to prolong this neverending drama. It’s unnecessary. They cut an exit deal in January and that should be final. Everyone should move on from this sordid mess. Harry doesn’t need to reconcile with William either. If he can see Thomas for what he is, I hope he can also see William for what he truly is.
I just don’t get it. If I hated someone and wanted them gone, I wouldn’t devote as much time and energy talking about them as the British media and the ‘grey men’ seem to do. When someone I dislike is gone; they’re GONE.
The BRF are bothered bc this is a repeat of Diana.
The very real fear is that there are now two wings of the BRF drawing attention from the press. It’s a press wet dream bc now they get to create endless drama and play both ‘houses’ against each other in some Game of Thrones style ratings and clicks war.
Love your reference. Looks like the BRF didn’t think H&M knew how to play the “game of thrones”. I’m guessing they have a “Tyrion” advising them. And possibly “Varys'” “little birds” bringing intel. If so, House Stark (H&M) will end up on the Iron Throne.
I hope all goes well for H&M. As long as they keep the rest of the BRF at arm’s length, they’ll be ok.
The press’s best hope is drama–but they can’t really get drama if the Sussexes don’t provide it. The Sussexes have completely blocked the British Media. No merching off the Sussexes, lost advertising dollars. They will get scraps from the US media, but will have no scoops. They are permanently sidelined–the only side they have is the side of the RF and their reactions to whatever the Sussexes do, which will make them all appear petulant and whiny. After all, the projects and the publicity that are garnered by the Sussexes COULD have benefited the RF, had they been smart. But soon, people will be asking, “why aren’t these 2 doing work on behalf of the RF? Why have they been pushed out?” Embarrassing times ahead for the RF
Did she bring any advisors or assistants etc with her? I didn’t get that impression.
Didn’t her and Harry share the KP staff? Hence when they split, they would be allowed to have their own office under the BP umbrella and therefore now hire their own staff? And Sara Latham (the only American, but also has dual citizenship, on their team if IIRC now works for BP). Their social media guy David works for KP now and Amy Pickereli (sp?) is now director of William’s Earthshot so clearly the palace liked their staff enough.
In a nutshell palace couriers look down on all women, even the queen. They run circles around the queen and she lets them because it is easier and she can get on with her horses and dogs. They were offended when Meghan didn’t take their advice and she probably didn’t turn her finances over to them. They couldn’t have Diana or Meghan defying them. Waity goes along, that is her life motto.
They’re so dumb it actually pains me. Her connections should’ve been more of a reason to work with her first of all. Second of all, their charity work should’ve been a clue that they’re planners and successful ones at that. Third, not expecting them to actually bounce is more about Harry than about Meghan I think. They wanted Meghan to leave by the end I think. Harry’s been talking about leaving before he even met Meghan and never actually went through with it so I can see why they thought he was bluffing. I just think they underestimated his willingness to protect his family. Meghan recently mentioned something about not tolerating certain things since having Archie that she would’ve before and I think that was the case for Harry. When Harry was getting the less than savory headline and being portrayed as dumb and aimless, I don’t think he cared. Once Meghan came on the scene it was no longer tolerated especially since she was taking all the hits.
I think the BRF was so hellbent on punishing them that they were thinking shortsightedly……again. The only thing I see happening in March is them trying to negotiate a half in and out deal. I expect M&H to reject it.
“expatriate monarchy”
no.
“Put it down in writing, chap.” Harry trusted his family, and they passed his written proposal on to Dan Wootton, who then contacted the Sussexes in Canada for comment and forced their hand. Wootton has already acknowledged his own role in how this situation played out, so why is Lacey ignoring the media and pushing all the blame back on Meghan? He seems to have spent way too much time listening to courtiers complain about her, without thinking too hard about what was really motivating their hostility (racism racism racism).
According Tom Bradby, Harry didn’t trust his family and didn’t want to put his plan in writing because he believed it was going to be leaked to the press. But the palace insisted that he do so and sure enough it was leaked to press. I think when Harry agreed to put his plan in writing, he had already decided that if it got leaked to the press, he would release their statement that they were leaving.
Leaving out the role of the press and the way the palaces leaked private info to said press is such a bad decision on Lacey’s part. It means that he’s only telling half the story.
Arthistorian this. If the book does not deal with the press, the smear campaign and how the tabloids got their information then Lacy is ignoring a major major part of this story.
That’s why I cant understand all the people who want to rush to buy this. It can’t be anything definitive if it leaves out a big chunk of the role of the Royal Rota in all this. My guess is that Lacey figured he needed the Rota to help push his book sales so why bite the hand that feeds you. But according to you guys on here the Rota has already stopped mentioning the book so, oh well. Maybe that’s why he’s been ramping up on Meghan to get the Rota back on board.
Lol. “…whatever gets decided in March has pretty well got to be for the foreseeable future.”
Well, it has already been decided by the people who are actually living the lives in question. They choose not to return to the sadistic viper pit that passes for family. Get over it.
The one year review, which Harry didn’t want, was put in place so that the palace could give the impression that they still had control on Harry and Meghan and to give the press leeway to report on them as if they were still working royals. Charles, William and the press were arrogant in believing that Harry and Meghan would fail outside of royal life. What’s most amazing to me, is that the press and the palace still believe that Harry and Meghan, but specifically Harry, are going to come back after the one year review. Everything they’ve done and said since leaving says that they won’t be coming back. But I can’t wait for the outrage from the press and palace when the one year review is up and they don’t come back. It’s going to be glorious.
Isn’t Jason Knauf American? And think Heather Wong was and she was a KP hire. Sara Latham is too so they aren’t that opposed to Americans. Ps how come US TV never seems to pick up on all these digs at Americans? In some interviews royal reporters have literally said Meghan wasn’t looked down on for being mixed race it’s cos she’s American.
Sounds like Meghan kept some US advisors who would have helped with her tax& SAG stuff the courtiers would likely have no clue about. Think she started getting advice from her US PR on her projects when it became clear the courtiers were leaking to the press so couldn’t be trusted. Think I read they helped with Vogue or Travalyst launch
I agree that the cookbook rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. The fact she did lots of private visits to charities & the Hubb ladies (Ingrid Seward said she had upset courtiers with these charity visits & it wasn’t the done thing) because courtiers likely wanted to set her schedule and her causes. That she used social media& her friends like Serena to promote it on their pages rather then rely on the press upset the royal rota (and part of why they went all in for the takedown post Oceana tour). And think it upset those in the fab 4 who hadn’t had a successful solo project or event at that stage.
Ingrid Seward said they all thought Meghan would go back to US but never thought Harry would go with her. Then there are those quotes about Meghan being a degree wife. Think some reluctantly allowed the marriage as thought she would just be a starter wife for Harry. per the Times article the Africa suggestion was part of getting Meghan far away from William but I wonder if it was also like a hint- we don’t want you around AT ALL.
My guess was the smears were designed to get her to leave with her baby. They just never thought Harry would leave with her & that’s why some in the Firm are angry. Because of the unintended consequence of HARRY going.
I agree with you. It makes sense for her to keep her lawyer and accountant etc. because she still had business in the US connected to Suits. I think this may have angered the courtiers but it just shows that they had no understanding of how the life an actress really is. Another thing, I think her experience with the cookbook made her realise that she couldn’t depend on the palace to help her do her work and so she continued to use her US PR for her projects. I could imagine it was very difficult to work with the KP staff because they didn’t want her to outshine William and Kate.
I’m sure the courtiers wanted Meghan to hand over ALL control of every aspect of her life to them. No self-respecting, independent woman would do that.
I remember growing up, my Mom and her friends would tell me, ALWAYS have your own money! Be ready and able to take care of yourself if necessary, even if you get married. My Mom does to this day. She has her own bank account and her own investments. So does my Dad. But they also have joint accounts. They clearly worked out a system that works for them.
I’m sure Harry encouraged Meghan to keep her team and her own millions separate from The Firm. He probably insisted on it after seeing what happened to Diana in the divorce. She was never able to completely cut the Royal strings and it hampered her.
Oh yeah, the goal was absolutely to get Meghan to go pre wedding. They couldn’t be seen denying their engagement. Then Archie was conceived. Then, they wanted Meghan AND Archie gone, by any means necessary. The abuse increasing during her pregnancy was not a coincidence. They definitely didn’t plan for Harry leaving with them. One of the RRs, Penny I think, even said no one thought Harry would go too.
It was Ingrid Seward who said she didn’t think Harry would leave. The plan was to do everything in their power to make Meghan leave, they didn’t count on Harry leaving with her.
Why would anyone think that Harry would ever abandon his baby? The guy talked about wanting to be a dad for years before he got married. No way he would agree to live in another country or continent than his kids.
That wonderful picture of Harry holding Archie by the water in Canada came out in late December 2019, before any of their discussions about changing their role became public. Anyone with a lick of emotional common sense who saw it would know Harry would never voluntarily leave that child.
I have a sneaky suspicion that at the so called review they (BRF) are going to reintroduce the half in, half out model and asked H/M to consider doing it in an effort to regain control over them. They will likely offer to return the honorary military honors and even the HRH titles. I hope H/M reject that completely and let them know they prefer to remain out. I just hope this is not the case because you know if this is offered and rejected it will be the new stick by which H/M are beaten in the BM.
I’m telling you, they will be meeting H&M at the airport, contract and pens in hand. They are going to be begging them to sign/return, because they can’t threaten them anymore. The only stick they have left for beating them with is his royal title which he will tell them to ahem, place elsewhere.
Those are my thoughts and I truly hope I’m wrong because when H/M refuse to accept, it’s going to be like that “Megxit” crap all over again.
I think they’re going to ask them to come back or voluntarily relinquish their titles. Or just ask them to relinquish their titles with no offer to come back. They want something from the Sussexes. But of course Andrew will also come up so who knows.
Most people call them Prince Harry and Meghan or Harry and Meghan so who needs Sussex anyway? But I think the royal family needs Harry and Meghan not the other way around so any “deal” should not include the Rota. If doing official events for the family means public funding meaning the Rota tags along? Then H&M should say thanks but no thanks to that.
They may ask them to relinquish their titles but will not ask them to return. At least not Meghan to return. I think they will give Harry the option of working part time for military engagements only. With their home and netflix deal secured, Meghan and Harry will not be living in the UK full-time .
I think the firm thought they were calling H and M’s bluff….. except they weren’t bluffing haha so the firm just totally misplayed their hand.
The courtiers believed Meghan to be a gold-digger who was desperate for the titles, jewels and money till she and Harry decided none of it was worth it. When all Meghan accepted was a blender after her divorce the courtiers should have realized she is not a high maintenance woman. Also, it was Harry that played the courtiers.