Prince William & Kate hosted the ‘private’ reception for the fakakta Diana statue

The Cambridges attend the Earthshot Prize Awards

Two weekends ago, the British papers tried to push a story about how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would make a “surprise” trip to the UK, just so that they could attend a Kensington Palace reception designed to thank everyone involved in the fakakta statue of Diana, which was placed in the Sunken Garden on the grounds of Kensington Palace. The idea behind the “surprise visit” story was that of course Harry would want to be there because it involved his mother, and because the royal rota continues to push the idea that it’s up to Harry and Meghan to reach out and make amends with the family. In any case, the Sussexes’ rep shut down the story. Last night at KP, the reception took place with William and Kate acting as hosts:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have held a reception at Kensington Palace to mark the unveiling of the Diana Princess of Wales statue. William and Kate gathered in the sunken garden of their London home, where the bronze tribute to the late princess is located.

But the Duke of Sussex, who lives in California after quitting as a senior working royal, did not fly back to attend Tuesday’s event. He is understood to have been in touch privately with donors who supported the statue.

The private event on Tuesday afternoon was a chance for the Cambridges to thank those who backed the project and to gather in memory of the princess. The guest list is thought to have included Diana’s close friends, former staff and relatives.

[From The Evening Standard]

So Kate was finally included in something involving the fakakta statue. She threw a huge tantrum about the unveiling back in June, when William told her that she could not come. I swear, there was desperation-sweat pouring off the Middletons for about three solid weeks. I bet Kate is mad that Tuesday night’s event was “private” and she couldn’t pose exactly like the Diana statue with her three children. Cosplay Kate strikes again!

As for Harry’s absence… he told y’all that he wasn’t going. But please allow Duncan Larcombe to say many words about Harry’s absence and how it will further deepen the brothers’ rift:

“I think it’s very sad that Harry didn’t go and I think he [would have been] sorely missed,” royal expert Duncan Larcombe, author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story told OK! “Obviously he lives a long way away now and we’ve still got travel restrictions but it’s entirely possible for him to fly back to the UK, as he showed in July for the unveiling of the statue. Both of Diana’s sons should be there. Unfortunately, it’s just further confirmation – not that another is needed – that things are not great between the brothers. If their mother’s legacy can’t bring them together then you do wonder what on earth can.”

Duncan believes William will ‘do the decent thing’ and refer to Harry when he thanks donors at the party.

“It’ll be interesting to see if William makes any reference to Harry and I would expect he will [have done],” he continues. “He [will have] thanked people for being there on behalf of him and his brother. We’ll have to wait until we know what William [has said] before we can draw conclusions about whether the rift has deepened.”

“William can’t just hop on a plane to see Harry easily, although of course he could, but they live thousands of miles apart and you do wonder when they will find common ground in the future. I’m told that at the moment there’s a ‘wait and see what’s in Harry’s book’ attitude among the royal family. But the reality is that Diana’s memorial party is another opportunity missed for the two brothers to get together.”

[From The Daily Mirror]

I know the Sussex Squaders don’t like to hear this, but I personally believe that Harry has made overtures about coming back for a visit. I think he’s been taking everyone’s temperature and trying to work out a way to spend a week in the UK, and maybe at one point he was thinking about coming to this reception. But I think William is shutting it down, with Charles’ implicit agreement. I think William is manipulating the situation – in his Baldemort way – to deny Harry’s requests to visit, then blaming Harry for not making an effort to visit. It’s the Keen Method.

Diana's 60th birthday

Diana's 60th birthday

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
[galley]

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115 Responses to “Prince William & Kate hosted the ‘private’ reception for the fakakta Diana statue”

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  1. rawiya says:

    Are we sure this happened, because TOB was also with the Queen, Charles, and some other royals at an Investment gathering at Windsor (?).

    So either this Diana reception didn’t happen or it did and it was 5 minutes, because it’s a long drive from KP to the Queen’s place. Unless he took a helicopter. *cough*

    • Amy Bee says:

      @Rawiya: It’s in the court circular. It did happen, the press just wasn’t there.

      • Snuffles says:

        I thought the whole point of this one was to invite press and give them pictures. Maybe the press dipped because there was no Harry.

      • Sunshine says:

        Amy Bee court circular can be manipulated. Photos, or it didn’t happen.

      • Amy Bee says:

        @Sunshine: What would be the reason for lying about this event? It’s clear that when the press found out Harry wasn’t going to be there they decided not to go. I believe the only reason this reception was happening was to get Harry and Meghan to the UK. Now there’s talk about the Queen having a public memorial for Philip.

    • Pao says:

      That is what i want to know. Did this reception even really happened? Wasn’t the rota originally invited? Didn’t both keens have engagements yesterday? What exactly is going on here?

      • My Two Cents says:

        It just goes to show Harry’s power, he doesn’t go and then the press are suddenly not interested to show up. Otherwise we would’ve seen photos.

    • Becks1 says:

      This reception was on Tuesday afternoon, and the reception at Windsor was in the evening, so its entirely possible he attended both and just took the helicopter between the two events, as he loves to do.

      • rawiya says:

        But, what about the ~~~environment~~~?????

      • Becks1 says:

        @rawiya lol, well if I’m going to borrow the Cambridge stans defenses on twitter:

        “its for work! its TOTALLY DIFFERENT!”
        and of course, can never forget –

        “he’s the FUTURE KING!!!!”

      • Merricat says:

        Becks, that’s so weird to me. As the FUTURE KING, he should lead by example. There is really nothing kingly about expecting your “subjects” to go without while you loll about in obscene luxury.

    • Jaded says:

      @Sunshine – it was a ‘private’ reception for Diana’s family, close friends and work colleagues ONLY which means no press. And no, the court circular wasn’t manipulated. Simple as that.

  2. CherHorowitz says:

    Agree about the refusing to let him visit but then leaking stories about how cruel it is for Harry not to visit. It must be exhausting for Harry and Meghan to know this is constantly playing out whatever they do!

    It is depressing how successful and powerful the british media’s perspective has been. Even friends of mine who i thought were likeminded looked horrified when i said i didnt like william and kate and had some very familiar sounding soundbites about h and m.

    • North of Boston says:

      I’m sure the Sussexes as used to this by now. It’s like Tom doing stupid interviews … Meghan won’t talk to him because he keeps ranting about her in public, so he rants about her in public and says it’s her fault because she won’t speak to him.

      That doesn’t mean it’s not painful, it’s just that they likely don’t expect anything else.

      As I say about a couple of really awful destructive relatives who have never failed to do exactly what they’ve always done:

      Always disappointing. Never surprising.

    • Islandgirl says:

      @Cherhorowitz..It is surprising…
      Tom Bradby said that if the world found out what really happened the BRF would lose respect around the world and would barely hold unto their respect in Britain.
      He has been proven to be so wrong. The BRF’s decision whether voluntary or not to strengthen their relationship with the tabloids has resulted in the total, in my opinion, loss of support for Harry and Meghan in the UK.
      In the long term I expect the BRF to regret their decisions but they seem to be paying off right now.
      The story seems to be quite different in the USA and I hope that it remains this way.

      • GuestWho says:

        I agree that it is frustrating that the tabloids in the UK have had such a negative effect on M&H’s reputations. But I’m not sure Tom B was wrong – I don’t think we know what really happened. I think M&H just gave us the tip of the iceberg in the OW interview.

        Murdoch is making some strong plays to spread the negative view on the Sussexes in the US, but I think there are so many more options for news, a general lack of reverence for the RF, and a more nuanced understanding of what racism is (not that we don’t have massive problems with racists, but mainstream media here is not terrified or as reluctant to call it what it is) that, hopefully, the focus will remain on their work and not their wretched families.

      • Becks1 says:

        I agree with GuestWho in that I don’t think we know what really happened. I think we know the tip of the iceberg, and its why the royals are so panicked over Harry’s memoir.

      • Snuffles says:

        I don’t think Tom Brady has been proven wrong. Not all has been revealed. Harry and Meghan are still holding back and only revealed a tiny fraction of what they went through. They are still treating the family with kit gloves.

  3. Snuffles says:

    Sorry Kaiser. I just don’t think he’s that pressed about visiting right now. I also don’t think it’s Harry making overtures. It’s the Windsors trying to get him to come back for anything. We all agree that the Windsors are stuck in an invisible contract with the British media and must provide them with content. And what those RRs are baying for with every fiber of their being is a reunion and access to the Sussex’s so they can get pictures of them all together. Especially the Sussex children.

    • JT says:

      I don’t think Harry was coming back either. The first unveiling was probably going to be his only trip to the UK this year, as Well Child was also bumped up so he could be there. The reception was simply payment for the press, therefore making the event completely unnecessary for Harry to attend. If Harry wanted to go back he would, especially if he’s traveling solo, but what would be his purpose right now? Who would he want to see desperately enough to get on a plane for 8 hours? Charles, William, the queen? I’m sure he has plans to go back at some point but I don’t think he’s pressed about not going now.

      • Ginger says:

        Snuffles and JT, I agree. I remember reading that Harry has already personally called all of the donors and thanked them, so there is no need to go to this reception. I really don’t see him going back to the UK unless he has to.

      • Merricat says:

        ITA

    • Amy Bee says:

      @Snuffles: I’m with you on this. The most obvious clue that Harry had no intention of go back to the UK this year was that the Wellchild Awards were pushed up to June when he was in the UK.

    • Alexandria says:

      Harry is fearless. If he wants to be in the UK, he will be there. William can throw a tantrum all he wants. What’s the difference when he has been doing that since he was child lol.

      • BothSidesNow says:

        Spot on @ Alexandria!! Harry will come and go as he pleases!!! He doesn’t need anyone’s approval or permission!! Baldimort and his lone fakakta tooth can suck it!!

        I will not be able to eat for hours after seeing that…..tooth. Please, make it go away!!!

    • Jasper says:

      Agreed. He did the major events already so there’s no need for him to return this year outside of an emergency (a.k.a. death in the family).

    • 809Matriarch says:

      Also as mentioned above, Harry is not the only one who has options to travel. He has been back to the UK a couple of times now. William & Charles have the option to travel and mend fences. Why is it always Harry who has to offer an olive branch. I am so sick of that family.

    • Mel says:

      I don’t think he’s making overtures or trying to visit either. He knows his family, that’s why he is where he is. I believe he’s happy, unbothered and not thinking about them. They just use him or stories because they really don’t have a lot to say or give on their own.

    • RoyalBlue says:

      I don’t think Harry was going to visit just yet, and I don’t understand even if he wanted to, how Baldilocks and chuck can block him from visiting his native land. I don’t get that part at all. He and Meghan can visit all they want, they can have their child baptized in any Anglican church in England if they want and they can go back to Frogmore if they want.

      The reason they are not doing any of this is because they don’t want to right now. The reasons could be many; Meghan is still on Maternity leave, they are working on projects, they are tired of the vanity projects of the British royalty, they don’t want to be manipulated and used by the rota. The Sussexes have found their freedom.

      • JT says:

        I think the opposite is happening. Harry don’t give a f*ck about flying over there, and the family is upset that he’s not begging. He has a production company to run, the Spotify deal, Invictus, Travlyst, Betterup, and Archewell business to attend to, he doesn’t really have the time hop on a plane to the UK all willy nilly. I think that’s why the story mentioned William having a “packed” schedule that can’t be cleared.

      • RoyalBlue says:

        I agree with you JT

      • aftershocks says:

        @RoyalBlue said::
        “He and Meghan can visit all they want, they can have their child baptized in any Anglican church in England if they want…”

        Sure, but if Harry and Meghan desire a christening to take place in England, I would think Harry would want it to have some traditional significance. Otherwise, why bother making the trip all the way there just for Lili to be baptized in any Anglican Church that doesn’t have any royal ties or Spencer/ Windsor ties? If that’s the scenario, they may as well have Lili baptized in California, and make it a special occasion, as the start of a new Sussex family tradition. 💖

        None of us know where the Sussexes are in their thinking, and we won’t know until it happens, or ii is publicly announced that a christening will take place in a selected venue, or that it has already taken place. I’m interested to see where the Yorks will have their August and Sienna babies christened.

      • aftershocks says:

        Also @RoyalBlue, in regard to the possibility of M&H having Lili christened in England, I would think the only considerations would be having her baptized at the private chapel in Windsor Castle, where I believe Archie was baptized. Or, in honor of Lili’s namesakes, having her baptized at St. Mary Magdalene Church (Diana’s christening took place there, as did Charlotte’s, as did Eugenie’s); another traditional option is the chapel at Buckingham Palace, where QE-II was christened in 1926.

        All other options in England would likely relate to Spencer family places of worship. Diana was christened at St. Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham due to her father’s close working connection with the royal family. Plus, the Spencers have a notable aristocratic heritage, with strong royal ties.

    • BothSidesNow says:

      @ Snuffles, well in relation to them wanting pictures and access to the Sussex family, they can take a bow, along with the Lamebridges, for driving the Sussex family out of Britain!! They are all to blame for their own set of circumstances, so they can STFU and sit down.

      JT, Baldimorts schedule is as busy as mine, nothing but a dentist appointment for the next TEN days!!! He has nothing, same with his stick figure wife.

  4. Emily says:

    Honestly if Harry wants to visit the UK he should just do it. What’s baldy going to do, arrest him at the border?

    Although I’m definitely one of those people who want the Sussexes to leave Salty Island behind forever.

    • Pao says:

      Exactly if harry wanted lili diana to be christened in the UK it would happen. There’s nothing william can do about it.

    • North of Boston says:

      He could.

      But depending on what he’s visiting for and his agenda, PW, PC or courtiers could block him from access. Remember before the move, he had plans to visit his grandmother and someone canceled it, and basically told Harry he couldn’t come to Windsor or wherever she was and he wouldn’t be seeing her? It’s hard to get through the castle gates if the FK and FFK don’t want you there.

      • BABSORIG says:

        @Notth of Boston, if Harry wants to be in UK, if he wants his daughter to be christened in the Windsor castle church, it will happen whether William or Charles like it or not. They can’t throw Harry is jail, c’mon people this is 2021, not the 1800s. The BRF is very, very careful to not act racist towards Harry is any obvious way, they can’t take any gambles, they’re walking on thin ice at this point; like literally..

      • Jaded says:

        I think Harry’s biggest worry would be William leaking to the rota and the visit would turn into a crowd of baying rats stalking him wherever he went, especially if it involved Meghan and the kids coming as well. He’s ultra-protective of them and wouldn’t dream of putting them through that kind of situation. Like both Harry and Tom Bradby alluded to, if we knew what they know it would create a disaster for the BRF.

  5. Becks1 says:

    Honestly, I think for this, if Harry was dying to be there, he would be there, and William could not really have said “no.” For other things, maybe William is pulling strings behind the scene to keep Harry out of the UK, but I think for this, Harry would be there if he really wanted to be. I think in his mind, he probably made the choice that being there in July for the unveiling was more important than this, so he picked that over this. It does make me wonder if the Sussexes are planning on going back to the UK sooner rather than later and Harry didn’t want to make two trips close together?

    I do think its weird that KATE attended this one, when she presumably didn’t have anything to do with the donors etc – it says to me that there was an agreement reached, and she was told she could not attend the public event but would be allowed to attend the private event, with no pictures.

    Finally – I’m laughing at how it’s HARRY’S job to go back to the UK to “mend the rift,” but for William, “William can’t just hop on a plane to see Harry easily, although of course he could, but they live thousands of miles apart and you do wonder when they will find common ground in the future.” So WHICH IS IT DUNCAN??? Is it super easy to fly back and forth between London and Montecito, or is it thousands of miles and they can’t just “hop on a plane easily”???

    It’s just always funny to me when a RR gives away the plot like that, so to speak. The issue isn’t just the brothers seeing each other. The issue is the brothers seeing each other on William’s terms.

    • Pao says:

      I just commented the same thing about lacrombe’s comments. Did he forget that harry actually has to work for a living now? If william is desperate to see his brother he could always clear his schedule for a week, hop on a private jet and visit him. If harry could go to the UK in a public plane back in late june, then william could have visited him aswel that summer holiday.

      • Becks1 says:

        Let’s be honest, William doesn’t even need to “clear his schedule” since he does so little anyway.

        And imagine how much the press would love being able to run a bunch of stories about “William being the bigger person” and “visiting his little brother” and that’s why he can’t work for 2 months.

    • SarahCS says:

      Yes! What exactly is stopping William hopping on a plane? He has access to private jets and plenty of time at his disposal. So what’s the blocker? Oh, he’s a petty minded racist who hates that his brother is a better man and married an amazing woman. Got it.

      • JT says:

        Unlike Harry, William has absolutely no purpose to be in America right now. If Harry goes to the UK he could visit family, some patronages, and maybe meet with friends. What the hell would Will do over here? He isn’t known to have any friends here, he certainly has no business interests right now, and his relationship with the only American connection is “space.” If William comes here it would have to be an invitation from Harry, which isn’t happening at this point.

      • Lemons says:

        @JT, I guess this is why he’s inviting himself with Earthshot 😂 Poor thing. His team won’t even be able to handle organizing an international event outside of the UK.

      • JT says:

        @Lemons Lol. Earthshot is his only excuse to come at this point. But those plans are preliminary at best; he doesn’t even have city picked yet. In contrast, Harry’s Invictus will be in the Netherlands next year, then Germany, and then New Zealand plus a few others are bidding on the following years. I wouldn’t be surprised if Earthshot doesn’t happen in America, or anywhere else to be honest, going by it’s lackluster debut this year.

    • Emma says:

      “He can’t … but of course he could” — really this is embarrassing lol

      They can’t even keep their stories straight from one clause to the next.

  6. Pao says:

    So harry should come over for a visit but baldy can’t go to cali?

  7. Ella says:

    Wait, Kate threw a fit? Did I miss something?

    • Talia says:

      Kate didn’t go to the statue unveiling, apparently because William did not want her there and the flurry of press about her around that time was…odd to say the least. It looked like the Middletons were in a panic for some reason. Divorce rumours ramped up, although they appear to have died down a little recently.

      • molly says:

        Then there was the awkward Soccer Game Consolation Prize that she attended with George and William that week. I thought it was very strange that she wasn’t at the statue event, but like Talia said, chatter seems to have died down.

      • Tessa says:

        I don’t think the family was pleased with Kate’s “fashion poses” at Philip’s funeral. Maybe she was told not to go to the unveiling lest she distract from it with her “fashions.” I’m surprised she was allowed to wear that flashy gold gown and I am wondering if William and Charles were bothered by the constant showing of her in that gown on social media.

    • BothSidesNow says:

      No worries @ Ella, KKWeen is always throwing a fit🤣

  8. Genevieve says:

    Wait, they had “donors” paying for this? For why? Do they not have the cash in the family? Rich people are just ridiculous.

    • harla says:

      As I recall that was the big question when the plans for this statue were first announced several years ago. I imagine though that certain people were thrilled to donate in order to say that they did and of course have a chance to meet and greet with the princes and are probably disappointed that it was Kate instead of Harry.

    • JerseyCow says:

      @Genevieve Right? But that’s how rich people operate (and stay rich) — why use your own money when you can use other people’s 🤷🏼‍♀️

  9. The Hench says:

    Wait, are we suggesting that famous eco-warrior William wanted his brother to fly all the way over on a plane for a few drinks? 🙄.

    And what on earth is this journalist smoking? In one sentence he says, of Harry, “obviously he lives a long way away now and we still got travel restrictions but it’s entirely possible for him to fly back to the UK as he showed in July”. Then he writes a paragraph later of William
    “William can’t just hop on a plane to see Harry easily, although of course he could, but they live thousands of miles apart”

    WTF??

    • Becks1 says:

      Yup, and that way the press could talk for weeks about how william is the “true” eco-warrior and Harry just likes to lecture people.

    • Alexandria says:

      They’re all smoking.

    • Ginger says:

      This is why you can’t take these idiotic royal reporters seriously. They have no clue what they are saying. They contradict everything they say.

      • The Hench says:

        Once upon a time, when I worked in an office, I used to have to write meeting notes for clients. I knew that, despite the fact this took hours, nobody on the client side would bother to read them so I used to write nonsense in the middle of the report just to amuse myself. I’m beginning to wonder if royal journalists are doing the same thing…

    • HeatherC says:

      It’s like he forgot that William lives the same distance away from Harry that Harry lives away from William. The logic just does not compute, like usual with these royal “reporters.”

  10. Cate says:

    That pathetic look she’s giving at him in that Earthshot picture. Like a spaniel waiting for a treat omg

    What a pair of stunted human beings

    • Pao says:

      I saw a few clips of that earthshot gala and every time i see these 2 i’m struck at how he can’t even look at her. He’s always looking at someone else or past her or even at the camera’s while she is desperately trying to catch his gaze. Any body language expert that want to tell me what that means?

      • Couch potato says:

        Depends on what body language experts you’re asking.
        A normal person: he clearly can’t stand his wife. There’s clear signs of them not interacting with each other on a daily basis.

        The Fail’s expert: they are clearly close partners and are soo in love. Willnot is in fact sooo fascinated and proud of his wife. He desire her sooo much, he can’t look at her in public. If he does, he risk loosing his cool, and bend he over for a quick doggy in front of the RR.

      • Becks1 says:

        LOL KP released a few more “behind the scenes” shots from Earthshot and there is one where William has his arm placed around Kate’s waist (but just placed there, not an embrace to keep her close) and one where William IS looking at her.

        I’m sure they know their fan base will go crazy over it, but it also tells me they saw some of the comments about how the two aren’t looking at each other and aren’t standing close to each other and put out some pics to get around that story.

      • Pao says:

        @becks1: was the palace this desperate when cheating rumours started to surround charles & Diana?

      • Jais says:

        Becks1- I saw those pics and totally agree that they were in response to all the comments about how they barely look at each other. They were also from Chris Getty. But if you look, I think it’s Kate who has her arm around William, placed at his back, very similar to how Meghan often has her hand placed on Harry’s back. Essentially, the move that many label as her controlling him. Interesting that Kate is copying that move but will likely be praised and not labeled a controlling b-. But there are definitely 2 pics where he is looking at her and smiling, which is 2 more than we usually get.

      • Lorelei says:

        @Pao I think we’ll just never know how different it would have been if the internet hadn’t been invented.

        I guess American royal watchers bought issues of People magazine if members of the BRF were featured, and maybe some diehards had subscriptions to Majesty magazine or whatever? We never would have been able to see what the Fail was pushing on a daily basis back then. It’s just two completely different worlds (although the BRF operates as if we’re still in the old one). Imo.

        Maybe some UK Celebitches will remember what the press was like at the time, and what it took for them to FINALLY start telling the truth about Charles and Diana.

      • BothSidesNow says:

        @ Couch potato, oh my fakakkta!! There goes the coffee out of the mouth and nose!!! That’s f#cking hilarious!!!!!!!!

  11. Sofia says:

    I think Harry may make a trip back but I don’t think it would be for this (or something like this). He already went to the statue unveiling (which was the “main” event if we’re being honest). And he had no plans to come to this one. Because like @Becks1 says above, if he really wanted to be there, he would be there.

    And when he comes over again, it’ll be for work purposes (or at least, he’ll fit in patronage visits and the like around whatever he’s there for) or funerals.

    • Pao says:

      I think the next time harry will be in the UK will most likely be for the queen jubilee. That being said, their spokesperson did say that plans for Lilibet’s christening are still being finalized. It could fully be that they are planning to go back for Christmas and christen her in the uk around that time. To kill 2 birds with one stone so to say.

      • Amy Bee says:

        @Pao: They’re not going to spend their first Christmas as a foursome in the UK. I doubt they’re ever going to spend Christmas in the UK again. And attending the Jubilee would require them to be public display for the British press and I don’t think they want to play that game. I think the christening is going to take place in California.

      • Nyro says:

        I’m still hoping for breaking news of a home purchase in Telluride and for them to spend every Christmas there.

      • Becks1 says:

        IF they spend Christmas in the UK (and I think that’s a really big IF for several reasons, including Archie and Lili’s ages), I feel its unlikely they’ll spend it at Sandringham and they definitely will not do the church walk. It’s possible we won’t even know they’re there.

        LOL j/k if they’re in the UK at christmas the Keens will make sure we know they’re there and “not allowed” on the church walk or whatever.

        I really really doubt it like I said – but more just making the point that if and when H&M go to the UK in the future, it obviously won’t be as working royals so there won’t be the same press access and there won’t be the same “requirements.”

      • Jan90067 says:

        I don’t think they’d be in England for Christmas. IMO, they’ll have their own Christmas with Doria and some friends. It’d be adorable if there was a pic of the kids at the tree, like Meg’s friend took of Archie, crawling toward Meg’s friend who snapped the pic 😊

        What’d give *me* an evil grin is if it’s a pic of the kids FROM THE BACK, so you can’t see faces. That’d make the BM NUTS!

      • Lorelei says:

        @Becks I would bet my firstborn that they never spend Christmas in the UK ever again (and rightfully so!).

        At least I hope they don’t…that family doesn’t deserve their presence.

  12. The Duchess says:

    I doubt the reception even happened. Yes it’s included in CC, but we all know how the Keens love to manipulate that circular to make it seem like they’re busy (👀). Harry & Meghan dipped, so the event was ruled irrelevant.

    I bet Keen is pissed she didn’t get to roll out her Diana cosplay for the press to eat up. Another snub Baldy has thrown her way recently…

    • Lorelei says:

      IDK, do we think they could get away with totally lying about an event that didn’t exist? I don’t think so…my guess is that there *was* a reception for the donors, but it was very short and extremely lame, because the only reason it existed in the first place was they thought it would bait Harry back to England.

      After it became clear that this little stunt didn’t work and Harry would not be there, they probably wanted to cancel it altogether, but couldn’t, they were stuck now — they can’t risk alienating their major donors, and there was no way Bill could get away with skipping it— but I doubt W&K stayed very long (after 25 minutes, “We must get back to the children!”) or knew any of the guests’ names or anything. IMO

      • JT says:

        @Lorelei This is exactly what I think happened. Even the press stopped caring about this event when they knew Harry or Meg wasn’t going to be there. What would be the point anyway? The Keens are around all the time and it’s not like they could even generate enough press around their attendance, Earthshot was a busy from where I’m sitting, so the rota just moved on to the next thing that Harry might come to.

      • Jan90067 says:

        From what I remember, in the original scheduling, there was always *going to be* a reception after the unveiling. All the donors were supposed to *be at* the unveiling. But then Covid struck and it was scaled way back to just the min. (I think it was about 20 or 30 incl. press – a vid/paper reporter who’d do pool work). The reception was pushed back to Sept. thinking things might ease up Covid-wise, and then pushed again until now.

      • Jaded says:

        Yup. A few Spencers, a few of Diana’s close friends and work colleagues, the donors and artist, William and Kate. Nothing here to see….YAWN.

      • February-Pisces says:

        I can see that happening. The press probably put pressure on Willie to put it on just to entice harry back to the uk. Harry didn’t take the bait, so Willie and keen had to go ahead anyway. Well atleast keen finally got to do something that involved the statue.

  13. TheOriginalMia says:

    All that double speak. I doubt Harry thought about coming. He has two young kids and a life of his own. He paid homage to his mom already. As for the donors, I’ve no doubt he reached out privately to them to thank them. He definitely didn’t wait for William to include him at this reception.

    William had all summer to fly to California if he wanted to. He doesn’t care about Harry. He most certainly won’t be the one apologizing for anything that has gone down. Harry know this and for his mental health keeps space between them.

  14. Amy Bee says:

    Look, I know the idea that William is behind the scenes making all the Palace decisions regarding Harry seems like a more juicy story but I don’t think it’s true and it takes away some of Harry’s agency in this. I don’t believe that Harry is so eager to see his family after all he and Meghan have been through. Let’s not forget that after the Oprah interview the family didn’t apologize, basically called Harry and Meghan liars and they also said that they were going to investigate Meghan for bullying. The only reason the family has stopped briefing against Harry and Meghan is because they’re afraid of what going to end up in the book. Furthermore even when Harry visited he never stuck around to see the family. For Harry to want to visit there has to be some recognition from the family that they were wrong as he told Gayle talking to them has been unproductive.

    As for the reception, I’m surprised that the press wasn’t there because when it was first announced it was being reported as a press event set up for being banned from the unveiling. I think when Harry said he wasn’t going to be there, the press decided not to go.

    • Pao says:

      They haven’t stopped briefing against them.

      • Amy Bee says:

        @Pao: What has the Palace said about Meghan and Harry since Lili was born? All these reports about them in press since the announcement of the book have been generated by the press with no input from the Palace. The only people talking right now are the Royal commentators.

    • Polo says:

      Yup I agree with this. People don’t realize how much the press generates some of the stories because they like drama. Ever since the book annoucement we haven’t had stories directly quoting palace aides and royal courtiers. It’s always palace insiders or royal insiders and that usually means other royal reporters. It’s always a tell in their articles.
      The palace is not trying to rock the boat before Harry’s book.

  15. Eurydice says:

    “…Diana’s memorial party is another opportunity missed for the two brothers to get together.” They don’t need a special event or a trip across the pond – every day is an opportunity for them to get together, if they want to.

  16. ModeratelyWealthy says:

    William´s keen efforts not bringing in any audience; KKKate revealed to be not as popular as one would expect without bad Megahn around; Charles as despised as always; the Queen, old and unable to booze to her heart´s desire; Andrew, the pervert, and Edward, the forgotten…

    No wonder the RR uses each and every opportunity they have to bring up Diana and Harry, because oh boy, they need to make rent!

    RF is a mess!

    • Eurydice says:

      Lol, I know – how many Diana events can they milk out of one statue? Although, I suppose it’s time to dig up Philip’s bones and put them on display for a while.

  17. ABritGuest says:

    If Harry wanted to visit the U.K. who would stop him? What’s clear from the ‘Harry snubbed Britain’ christening story, the ‘Queen might do a memorial for Philip that might see Harry & Meghan return to Britain’ story, the line of questioning to Thomas Markle yesterday which randomly brought up the Diana statue donor party & how meghan made Harry snub it- is that the British press want Harry & his family back on U.K. soil for new content. They don’t like no leaks from Montecito, there’s no pictures of Lili yet & the rota are probably anxious that US press don’t get any pics of her first. Clearly if any family have seen her they haven’t given details about her to the press.

    Notice how the press went from polls over how unpopular they are & how relieved the royal family are that they are gone to wondering when they might return to Britain & fix the rift with the royal family & when the queen may meet Lili. I’m pretty sure the firm are under pressure by the press to get them back to the U.K.

    Its been announced that the queen had to cancel a trip to Northern Ireland to rest. You can bet that the press are going to be putting out stories about need for the Sussexes to return to see Lilibet snr

    • Lorelei says:

      @ABritGuest, yes, they said the Queen had been told by her doctors to cancel the trip for “medical reasons,” so I’m sure the RRs are hard at work coming up with stories about how callous it would be of Harry to not rush back to the UK immediately to visit his sick granny.

      Meanwhile, there won’t be a peep about whether or not William, Zara, Peter, Beatrice or Eugenie dropped everything to be by their grandmother’s side 🙄

    • Lady D says:

      If, (big if) we get a picture of the children, it will probably be from a charity they support or want to bring awareness to. I could be way off base here, it just seems something they would do.

  18. MellyMel says:

    If Harry wanted to come back, he would. He has no real reason to and I don’t think he’ll be back anytime soon, unless there is a death in the family.

  19. Jay says:

    If I were TOB, I’d be incandescent with rage that all anyone can talk about after MY special event is how much they wish my brother were there. It really speaks to a lack of charisma, doesn’t it? Will this be his life now, after every ribbon cutting or awkward meeting, knowing that his Harry is living his best life, outshining him from an ocean away?

    • harla says:

      Yes, yes this will be Wills life going forward although he doesn’t do ribbon cutting (but he should) he will forever be faced with the fact that his younger brother is enjoying his life on his terms and without the rota. It’s so nice to see people get the life that they deserve!

      • ArtHistorian says:

        He’ll live the rest of his life in the shadow of his younger brother – which is ironic, considering that Harry was brought up to not only live in William’s shadow but also be his public scapegoat, giving up his own ambitious and desires to prop up his older brother.

      • Merricat says:

        @ArtHistorian–I love it when we get to see karma unfold in a public way!

      • Lorelei says:

        @ArtHistorian, it’s so rare that we see people face consequences for their poor behavior this quickly (or at all, really), so it’s incredibly gratifying to know that for the rest of his life, William will be known and referred to as “The Other Brother,” and he deserves it because of how much pleasure he took for the first 35 years of his life making sure Harry always knew he was “only” “the spare.” 🥰

    • BothSidesNow says:

      @ Jay, yes, it would be wonderful to see and we see it play out everyday. Hopfully, TOB can finally see he has nothing to offer anyone, as he only has FFK. It’s glorious to see TOB writhing in anger and utter displeasure that Harry is living his life freely. Yet, TOB fails to recognize that Harry has been building his own success all the while still being firmly planted under him.
      This is glorious to watch as TOB squirms as it plays out in real time! How wonderful for karma to arrive so quickly!!

  20. Charm says:

    No sane or decent person believes that H is “making overtures” to return to the UK for a “family visit.”

    There’s a reason tht all his visits so far hv been strictly for business/duty including Phillip’s funeral.

    The simple fact is: until the DEFAMATION OF MEGHAN’S NAME which was committed by elements in the Firm in collusion with the britshitpress is addressed to the satisfaction of H&M on the advice of their lawyers, there will be NO fraternizing with the BRF.

  21. Merricat says:

    The rota should just face the fact that Harry is done with them. I seriously doubt Harry and/or Meghan will agree to be involved in anything that includes the rota. They, unlike the remaining royals, don’t have participate, and they won’t. Lol.

  22. Marivic says:

    @ ARTHISTORIAN . You’re right. The future, future King “will live the rest of his life in the shadow of his younger brother.” This is William’s karma for his sin of pride and envy. Karma is really a bitch.

  23. Rapunzel says:

    Is it possible that Will and Kate were listed as “hosts” but didn’t show? Maybe they were meant to, but didn’t?

    The People article on Earthshot (in another post) said the Earthshot event was only an hour? Using that as a metric, this reception was probably 20 minutes, max.

  24. Nicki says:

    That statue is creepy. The proportions are off and instead of looking tall and lithe as she was in real life, the artist gave her the torso of a football player. Not a fan.

  25. Athena says:

    Harry himself said he is triggered every time he lands in London, so I don’t see him wanting to go back. Harry and Meghan are busy, there’s meaning to their day, no time to be wondering what’s going on in the RF.

    We all remember how William ignored Meghan during the second Christmas church outing. She was pregnant and suicidal and still trying to be nice and he ignored her. Why on earth does the press think she would want to spend another Christmas with those people.

    • BothSidesNow says:

      Oh, @ Athena, I missed that bit of mental infliction. How awful for Harry to be subjected to even going there then. Though, I understand why Meghan would never want to step foot on the Salty Island of Petty and Racist.

    • L4frimaire says:

      This point of this reception seemed so weird. Harry already attended the unveiling so why would he fly over there to look at it again when he cabin get on zoom to thank the donors and send them a nice fruit basket. Also, don’t they want him to reduce his carbon footprint? They seemed really obsessed with Harry and jets over there, especially private ones. If or when the Sussexes as a family go to the UK , it won’t be for some random reception but something more well planned and they certainly won’t involve the Royal Rota.

  26. Athena says:

    Also, Mike T made it clear the family would love to beat Harry up , so my guess Mike is coming to that conclusion based on conversations he’s privy to. So why would Harry want to fly 7+ hours and bring his family around people who refuses to acknowledge that they hurt them, continue to hurt them, and would love a chance to humiliate them.

  27. Sarah says:

    Folks are really reacting to the opinion of a “royal commentator”?

    The first half of the blurb was from the palace, we had a reception for the donors, Harry couldn’t make it (which would make sense because he is going to stay home and enjoy and cuddle those children and his wife). It also makes sense why Kate was there, if you need to schmooze you’re not doing it alone, you’ll bring your wife along to Thank folks for their generosity.

    The second half is a nonsense opinion from a so called expert.

  28. Tessa says:

    I don’t think there was a reception. Kate would have been pictured in a Diana like Outfit. grinning away.

  29. Bibi says:

    I think you forget that Harry is a CEO/Chief Impact Officer/Impact Partner/Executive Producer/Father to 2 young kids/Husband and generally a really busy guy. Why would he need permission to travel to the UK when he’s already been twice this year and presumably can travel there anytime he wants? It doesn’t make any sense.
    My theory is that Will Di Amin is the one putting out both sides of the story that HE made up just to appease the tabloids cos he needs them leashed; otherwise, they may turn on him. Think about it. Baldimort needed Harry at this reception mainly as a sacrificial offering to the Rota so how could he, in turn, deny Harry permission? Do you see the conflict?

  30. Robin Samuels says:

    Harry and Meghan are working; they don’t have time for the UK media games. They told her to leave, she did. Now every other article is speculation as to when she will return. What crack are they smoking? The NYC trip was not just about photoshoots; there are commitments and follow-ups. Harry will attend the awards ceremony on the Intrepid in NYC in 2 weeks as a presenter. He doesn’t have to waste money sending a wreath to the UK for Remembrance Day this year. I think they’re working on a podcast for the holiday special. Why aren’t people curious about when the christening for the children of Zara, Eugenie, or Beatrice will occur? The Queen did not attend Archie or Louis’ christening. I’m confident she met Lili via Zoom. I don’t think the Queen is well. Everyone in her immediate circle is gone. Using a cane was probably a difficult decision for her. If she doesn’t attend the summit in Germany, then I’m convinced she’s not well. No one has mentioned Prince Andrew, the allegations surrounding Charles’ right-hand man, or the final days for Jason Knauf? Whenever the subject becomes Harry and Meghan, it’s usually to cover up.

  31. Jules says:

    I keep getting this unsettling feeling whenever I read about William and Harry. Remember when Harry mentioned that their relationship is “space”. What if Harry is keeping Meghan and the kids away from William because of things he said or worse things he did? I mean it’s not much of a stretch. He is known to be verbally abusive what if he is also physically abusive?