Meghan Markle was not seen around the Invictus Games on Tuesday, possibly because people were still recovering from her appearance with Prince Harry on Monday. It was HUGE news and it totally changed the gossip around them. Most of us are now convinced that the engagement will be announced sooner rather than later and that we’ll be getting a royal wedding at some point in the first half of 2018. We also knew before the Invictus Games that Harry would not be staying at Meghan’s place in Toronto – there are security concerns, plus I think he just needs to be more centrally located for official business. So he’s staying in a hotel suite. And according to the Daily Mail, Meghan has basically moved in.
On their first official appearance together she wore a ‘husband’ shirt. Now Meghan Markle has moved into Prince Harry’s Toronto hotel suite while he is in the city for his Invictus Games. The couple are staying in one of the best rooms at the Fairmont Royal York, one of Canada’s leading hotels. It is not known which suite they are occupying but the Royal Suite – which would certainly be appropriate – has a bar, fireplace and 16-seater dining room. It costs 2,318 Canadian dollars a night including taxes, or almost £1,400. One of the smaller suites would be 1,854 Canadian dollars (£1,160).
Although she was born in the US, Miss Markle has lived in Toronto, where she films the legal drama Suits, for five years. When he visits his girlfriend in the city, Harry, 33, normally stays at her rented house in a quiet, upmarket suburb. Cars being used by his security detail were spotted at the low-key residence when he arrived in Canada last week, several days before the start of the Invictus Games, the sporting competition Harry created for injured servicemen.
Since then, the couple have moved to downtown Toronto, where they have been discreetly living together at the Fairmont. The hotel, which opened in 1929, recently completed a five-year multi-million-pound refurbishment. A source said Harry needs to be in the city centre for engagements and meetings and was also concerned about the presence of photographers outside Miss Markle’s house. They added: ‘Why wouldn’t he want her to stay with him? They live apart so much as it is.’
Yeah, that sounds totally reasonable. It’s actually reminded me of a nagging concern I have about these two: their entire relationship has been long-distance, and if and when Meghan moves in with Harry in London, they’re both going to face a strange adjustment period where it goes from “every single moment with my beloved is precious because we live in different cities” to “oh, you again, this space is sort of confining.”
What else? During his royal event yesterday, Prince William stopped by William Cowley Parchment Makers. The general manager of the company told William: “If Prince Harry marries Meghan then his certificate will be in our vellum.” William apparently “responded with a diplomatic laugh.” Huh.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
They should take all these ‘liberties’ before they become part of the BRF. As much as he does not seem to care about convention, I assume that once they represent, they will have to adhere to the stricter regulations of the monarchy.
Eh he is now so far down the line of succession that he can probably get away with (at least privately) ignoring some of the more formal strictures…I mean, look at Andrew…
Granted, given Will and Kate’s uselessness he will probably have a more prominent role in Charles’ court than strictly necessary, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they give him some flexibility and ‘freedom, in exchange.
Once the Queen dies Harry and his wife (whoever that may be) will actually play a prominent role until George is an adult (out of college at least). Harry and his wife have a lot of time in the spotlight.
+1000
Jessica.
FTR – British media – by historical cirrectness – rightly refers to Prince Harry as potential King Henry… see our dedicated QEll father. Government GB CW could make changes from a Cambridge heir.
About royal rules being broken by Prince Harry Meg Sparkle display of love – – Take a look at Qn Mathlide and King Philippe showing just that touchy display. Seems an approval to potential King Henry’s relationship if ever there is one from a EU Royal House.
“Government GB CW could make changes from a Cambridge heir.”
Who would want to waste the time doing so, though? There are so many other problems to deal with, I don’t see British government ever wasting their time on this. If you’re (not you personally, but I’m referring to a general “you”) someone who hates the royals, you’re going to hate all of them like that Labour MP in Kensington, who clearly isn’t sparing anyone in her mocking.
Plus, everyone loves a cute kid as much as a cute ginger Prince. As long as George doesn’t grow up to be a total brat or turns out heinous-looking, his popularity as an adult is likely to eclipse his popularity as a baby that made the world ask Australians “What’s a bilby?” The general public and government won’t want to remove him succession. William could do it, but I don’t see him wanting to lose his privileges no matter how reluctant he might appear on the surface.
And if you count down the line far enough you’ll find I’m potential Queen bluhare as well.
Yay, all hail Queen Bluhare!
Really-this is a big deal?? He obviously can’t stay with her at her house, they’re in a serious relationship, so she’s staying with him at his hotel.
I love them together. It’s sweetness and royal watching bonanza for me. LOL I love it. More Harry, Meghan stories please.
I can’t believe people are clutching their pearls over two 30-somethings in a relationship staying at each other’s places…
Liberties likes staying at the Royal suite of the Royal York? Because that’s where the royal family has been staying since the 20s.
You do know William and Kate lived together for seven years. You do know that, right?
They dated for a decade. They didn’t officially live together until it was said she was going to live with him in Anglesey which happened a few months before the engagement announcement. How much time she ever really spent there, as she was always getting papped in London, is a question.
She did have taxpayer-paid security years before their engagement was announced.
@notsugar: didn’t they live together at St. Andrews though? I know they had other housemates, but for all intents and purposes . . .
According to stuff I’ve read, CynicalAnn, they did.
They lived together, just the two of them, in a house. For seven years.
The parchment thing made me laugh. Poor Wills.
+1
All that potential King Henry has display has been approved sanctioned by POW/BP. He is too much his father son in protecting / dedicated to HM DOE the monarchy, to cause harm. At least HM POW are imvolved early and given permission of his love.
By reports, the opposite seem beleivable of willnot and the middletons decade hide and hunt.
I have no idea what you just wrote.
I “think” she is saying that all of Harry’s potential as future king has been approved by Charles and the Queen, (so its not a coincidence that now Harry is really coming out as this charismatic and charming figure). He is too much his father’s son in terms of protecting her majesty and the duke of Edinburgh to cause any harm (by stealing Will’s spotlight etc.) t least Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales are involved early with his relationship with MM and have given their permission (so the relationship is fully sanction? IDK.)
But it seems that given the Middletons decade of hunting William, the opposite was true (that there was no early approval.)
That’s my translation. I don’t know if I agree with it lol. It took a few reads. LOL.
When George turns 18 and he becomes handsome (and chances are good that he will be since he looks more Spencer/Middleton), everyone will be clamouring for him to become King.
I don’t get the whole King Henry thing. By that point, George will be the cute one in the family (just as William was when he was 15-25 or whatever) and everyone will be like “What happened to Harry’s hair? Why did he turn into William and Charles? The Windsor has taken over — I guess he really is Charles’s son.” Yes, I think society is truly that shallow in today’s media age.
@Becks I think you’re right! Nicely done…
Thank you, Becks.
perplexed, George could end up looking like Uncle Gary or James Middleton. Thoses Goldmsith, Middleton genes are strong too in him but also so are those Windsor genes and they can appear and go sour at some point, poor William, although somewhat attractive, he is going into Windsor look mode now.
There will be no King Harry. Not happening unless some unthinkable tragedy happens.
But he is still the line of succession, so yes, theoretically possible, once you get past Absolutely Sure King Charles, positive to happen King William, certain in the far future King George, the spare Queen Charlotte, and the second spare King or Queen Baby in Womb.
And in 18 years Harry and his wife will be on the fringes of royal coverage while the press avidly follows George and Charlotte.
Thank you @Becks….😃
Of course she is staying there. That makes total sense.
I also definitely think there will be an adjustment period when they get married, especially if the wedding is in early 2018. There are adjustment periods to all marriages and when you go from long distance to living together as a married couple that’s a big one for anyone. And factor in that she would be moving to a different country, and marrying into the royal family – I’m sure there will be some issues. But, they will be private issues.
I’ve been wondering if, when the Games is finished. Meghan will move to England to stay with Harry in his suite at the palace, in order to end the long distance and separations and get to know each other better before an engagement announcement is made. It would be much better/easier for everyone, should they find they’re not compatible, to break up quietly and discreetly, rather than call off a formal engagement. Of course, I hope they stay together; am just wondering how relaxed BP protocol is in 2017. 💍 Also, she’s not holding her phone!
What is all this ”getting to know better” stuff, anybody who has been married knows it takes a bl88dy lifetime to fully understand your partner, a few more weeks or months here or there will make no difference. They are clearly in love and marriage is for better or for worse, and she is 36 so they need to just get married and get on with it.
@PrincessK
Agree with you.
During a marriage, you grow and change so there is always getting to know something new about them. The most important thing is to keep communicating honestly, so you don’t misread and twist or assume anything, and if there is deep love, it can work out.
PrincessK, I agree. Plus people change, have layers and depth, are affected by life experiences, etc. sometimes it is simply time to take the step and plunge in. They are not children. They’ve been around relationships long enough to know the signs, the feel of what can work. After that, it’s work and life and luck and the deeper heart.
Thank you Becks!
Adjustment period?! First of all they should have a proper relationship (living together) before they even think about engagements. What they have now is just an infatuation. Marriage is a big deal and in no way this is how it’s done if you’re responsible…
I LOVE that hotel (although I have not stayed in the Royal Suite!). I always assumed she was staying with him at his hotel so. . . . I bet they are enjoying the big tub and nice linens. Somehow I don’t picture Harry having nice soft towels at KP. (Meghan probably can help up his game in that area.)
Fairmont Hotels are nice. I have stayed in the one in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Whistler but that one only once and it is comfortable and quiet. I don’t like them in America much though. Shangri-La and Adelaide are also nice.
The traffic in Toronto is insane so I can see why they stayed there.
They actually stopped traffic and pedestrians yesterday for his motorcade. Right at the start of rush hour.
Because it was stupid hot and I had to wait in the beating sun and hope I didn’t miss my train, I started wondering why Canada wasn’t a Republic.
You have my deepest sympathies. I don’t know how you all take that traffic and if this was added to it, I don’t even want to imagine it.
Love the Fairmont!
I love Fairmont properties, but once I learned the chain’s owner was a big-bucks fundraiser for Trump I stopped staying at their hotels last year. I think he may have sold his ownership stake not too long ago though so they might be back on my preferred list.
Whenever I’m near the Royal York (Fairmont) Toronto, I like to walk up, past the main lobby area and view the signatures of HM and Prince Philip in guest book. They’re protected under glass with their photos above. It’s a nice display.
I was just in the UK and the papers have not been overly kind to her generally speaking. We will see what happens.
what papers are you talking about? Sun and Daily Fail? Well, colour me surprised…
Which papers? I haven’t actually seen much coverage in the actual newspapers (not including the sun, fail etc as ‘newspapers’).
The Tatler set don’t like her much, either.
@GiBee, can you give some details as to why Tatler don’t like her much? I thought it was a “posh” magazine loving all things royal. Thanks!!
Where did you hear that?
Hmmm, the thing about Tatler is it’s hard to describe if you haven’t read it. It’s much more tongue-in-cheek, and often sarcastic, than it is often given credit for. So it’s a quote/unquote “posh” magazine for “posh” people, but of course it isn’t really – why would “posh” people need a magazine about being posh? That’s so very un-posh! Younger Sloanes might pick it up to see whether they or any of their friends have shown up in the section that’s pretty much “photos of people at parties/lauches/on the town” perhaps but…
Think of magazines that are about really expensive houses and decorating them, or magazines for men about “how to dress like a gentleman”, or etc. They’re very often ASPIRATIONAL – one is meant to buy them to daydream about choosing out the features for your indoor/outdoor 20m swimming pool and hedge maze garden when you win the lottery one day, but then be taken in by the adverts for reasonably priced furniture. A young man reads the article about which £2000 winter coat is best, but there it is, an advert for a shop which sells £50 coats, perhaps he’ll go there.
Long story short – Tatler is sort of for people who want to think about being posh, or wish they were posh, or desperately want to be posh, and only occasionally read by the posh set. I know people who do/have worked there, and they’re not shy about orders from above to be nice about Meghan, just like they were never allowed to take the mickey out of Kate very much.
But both are viewed very similarly, to say the least.
Giles Coren wrote a delightful article (behind the Times paywall, sadly) about his year working at Tatler. The girls who work there are posh, the readership isn’t necessarily (although I find it very handy as a person who doesn’t get out much but still wants to know what is going on).
Tina – very much so, the girls who work there are usually young Sloanes doing short stints.
I’ll definitely admit to it often being an airport guilty pleasure buy – that I hide in my Economist or what have you, like a kid with a comic book inside a textbook. I mean, how ELSE shall I learn about England’s most eligible single marquesses?!
Giles Coren I can’t abide, even though I worship his sister completely.
Please provide proof that the Tatler doesn’t like her. She will be on one of their covers sooner or later.
GiBee, I totally hear what you’re saying. Giles Coren is somewhat reprehensible (if I can say that without being accused of bullying) but he’s such a good writer when he’s on that I just can’t quit him. Love Victoria Coren Mitchell too.
I understand what you mean GiBee.
It is Britain’s Town and Country. The magazine shows posh things and places giving the illusion it is insider information about affluence, but it is really for people who don’t already know those things.
The same reason people say they are going to Palm Beach but neglect to put the West in front of it or Gardens after it to sound like they are wealthy. It only takes one or two questions to expose the fact that the person doesn’t live on the island. They took Town and Country to heart instead of just being themselves and mistaking wealthy means snobbery.
It just isn’t tongue in cheek.
Kinda OT, but I’m not British and don’t really follow royal gossip so… who (or what?) is Sloane?
The Tatler is an interestingly witty piece of media for sure. You do have to read a lot of it to understand that it’s mostly just the aristo set sitting around figuring out ways to poke fun at each other. I think that they all want to get on its pages, but don’t read it (or don’t admit to reading it). It’s the whole “posh/old money” sort of existence, where they try to downplay all the markers of privilege and say it doesn’t matter when secretly it really does matter.
@Sylvia: there is a definition on Wikipedia for “Sloane Ranger”. It’s a pretty long article. Lady Diana is given as example among others (late teens before marriage). Someone young, fashionable and upper-class. I don’t know how accurate that article is, but it could give you an idea. It was a fun read.
I read the Times, Guardian and Telegraph every day and subscribe to Tatler, and I haven’t read anything negative about her.
+1000
Same here.
So do I. I was speaking of the tabloid newspapers. There is no reason for all the Meghan fan club members to come after me now. The double standard regarding Meghan being untouchable and Kate being a lazy, conservatively dressed moron are over the top on this page. I simply made a comment that the British newspapers were really hard on her. Calm down.
You said “the papers…generally speaking.” That’s not the same thing as the tabloids. And, as far as I’m aware, the Mirror and the Express haven’t been hard on her at all. The Daily Mail and the Sun do not constitute the entirety of “the British newspapers”. I don’t comment on Kate’s clothes, but I do comment on overstatement. I am, as always, perfectly calm.
Tina, you are welcome to leave me alone now. I know it is difficult to not bully people while behind a keyboard but do try. I sincerely apologize for not listing in alphabetical order which newspapers had negative articles relating to Meghan Markle. Maybe I should throw myself off a cliff now. How shameful. For God’s sakes.
Cat, it is not bullying to comment, politely, when online comments are incorrect.
Edited.
The press was generally positive about Kate in the early years as well. It is simply that six years post marriage she has proven to be unmotivated in doing any significant charity work or royal appearances, yet feels entitled to spend over 200k every year on new clothing for the few things she does attend. She remains very bad at speaking in public and doesn’t seem motivated to improve.
Part of this may be William’s fault, but she never actually worked before she got married and was never seriously involved in charity work either. The doubts that existed pre marriage simply came to fruition. And her fashion choices are also pretty dowdy and OCD, with multiple copies of outfits in similar styles and colours.
As a lawyer myself, I just provided you with evidence as to why people are critical of Kate.
Meghan is not the second coming and she may prove to be just as bad as Kate in terms of not doing any real charity and royal work and she may end up spending tons of money on ugly clothes too, but her pre marriage life has certainly shown much more ambition and drive than Kate ever did.
@ NIC
You are 100% correct about Kate. Yet, I still feel like we are really rather harsh about her on this site…..not pointing my fingers at anyone or anything but it would be great if we eased up on her just a teeny weeny bit.
As far as I’m concerned, I don’t really think the monarchy plays a hugely important role anymore other than adding some cultural depth to society and frankly as a source of entertainment. As a result, Im just not as riled up about Kate’s laziness as I would be if my GP or accountant was slacking off.
Furthermore, I haven’t really heard any credible stories of her being pompous or arrogant or anything like that, so I just don’t feel motivated to take her on (so to speak). It would be amazing if we could cut her some slack. Just a little bit✌️✌️✌️✌️
@Bellagio DuPont:
As far as I’m concerned, I don’t really think the monarchy plays a hugely important role anymore other than adding some cultural depth to society and frankly as a source of entertainment. As a result, Im just not as riled up about Kate’s laziness as I would be if my GP or accountant was slacking off.
Amazing – that’s pretty much spot on what I’ve felt and you word it fantastically well. You’d think she had done truly atrocious things based on what you read here.
Thanks Gibee 😘😘😘
I think this site has so many really smart and really motivated women (wasn’t it ranked #4 smartest website/commenters online or something similar recently?) that the inertia of the Cambridges just doesn’t sit well. My only point is, who cares? She’s really not that important in the scheme of things.
Question for you though Gibee…….you still haven’t elaborated on your Tatler comment re Meghan…..what exactly do they think of her?
@Nic919 “but her pre marriage life has certainly shown much more ambition and drive than Kate ever did.”
Ah, but you are mistaken: Kate’s ambition was to climb to the top of the UK social and economic pyramid, absorbed from her ferociously socially ambitious mother, and by golly, Kate stuck to it and went after it . . . and got it.
Kate had drive, all right: just not toward a goal any of us would view as a “professional” one, or on behalf of adult development. She remains curiously undeveloped as a person, to me, for that very reason. Carole, I think, is accountable for holding a reasonably intelligent, well-educated, probably perfectly capable young woman back developmentally in order to fulfill her own shallow ambitions.
Credit where due, as they say 🙂
Bellagio DuPont – couple of reasons.
1 – they have been told that anything resembling criticism will be viewed as “racist”. People who don’t think they are racist generally don’t like being called racist, or being told that any single remark viewed as not fawning pretty much means you hate a certain race
2- Harry spent a lot of the last 10+ years, uh, “wielding his scepter” fairly indiscriminately. And apparently pretty much everyone there has a sister/cousin/relative who he didn’t treat especially well. Plus the school cheating thing seems to bother people inordinately.
3 – Meghan, at events/members clubs, has done something that people don’t like that I don’t blame her for at all – and that is act American, in a very specific way. Often Americans feel that is rude/unfriendly not to CONSTANTLY speak, ask questions of people, tell anecdotes; the British are much more reserved and view this as attention grabbing. I don’t blame her for this at all, she may need more Princess Training to avoid offending people this way.
Not surprising. Her place in Toronto is not secure and I doubt she is staying there much if at all anymore since people have been publishing her address.
I feel bad for Will and the parchment thing. There was nothing he could do but laugh. If Meghan and Harry are either engaged or headed that way, Will knows it is not for him to confirm or deny that.
Will may know it’s not for him to confirm or deny, but he also knew Diana’s engagement ring was for Harry, not him. If he needs to he will use this info to distract from himself at Harry’s expense.
He asked Harry for the ring and Harry agreed to give it to him. The brothers seem to have a good relationship with each other, so why are people determined to create drama where none seems to exist?
@ Lady D:
Of the entire BRF, William is the only member I have feelings approaching dislike for. He just seems deeply entitled and constantly grumpy.
Why was the ring supposed to go to Harry? I didn’t know that. I wouldn’t want it an engagement ring anyway, bad karma.
As the staff story goes, William chose first and picked his mother’s watch that he used to learn to tell time when he was little. Harry chose the engagement ring.
Love these two. Look at them, they look like a modern couple and look great together. I hope we get an engagement announcement soon!
All that the middleton mafia PR machine tried crying of willnot relationship – midern like tbe rest – prifesdional working cladsy Prince Henry Sparkle Couple is living – please dont change.
Another King Felip Qn Leticia – Maxima -Rania CP Mary in the making. Please dont change -GB CW deserves more.
omg @royalsparkle. I’m not sure I’m up for another translation.
I am enjoying this descent into the rabbit hole of another Markle thread.
I just can’t.
Lol what?!
Oh come on @Becks…😀😀. We need you…
You did it upthread so well…
Eh, the “readjustment” from the excitement phase, which is particularly enhanced with a public couple like this, is always a shock after the wedding, even for us ordinary folk. There is actually something called “post-wedding depression” among women, many of whom have planned every detail from the time they’re 13. Then the day comes and goes and . . . the drudgery of RL and real relationship sets in and “he’s always THERE”, as one friend of mine ruefully put it. Of course, for people like this, it’s much easier to keep a bit of distance and the excitement of the public eye stays. The danger in that is falling in love with the public when the hubby turns out to be less than the Knight in Shining Armor . . .
But that phase is a way’s off for this couple. Announcements, photocalls, selection of dress designer, public engagements cautiously calibrated to introduce the new girl to the job, the wedding . . . I think they’re in for another 18 months of the excitement phase. And let’s not forget that as she’ll be pushing 37 next summer, an early in the marriage pregnancy is probably in the cards, too.
They are almost with each other every other week – never mind tbe distance, and in much smaller spaces.
If we go through any sort of ‘depression’ after marriage – we maybe shouLdn’t have been there…
That isn’t strictly true. It is an adjustment but a happy one because you are finally starting a life together. It depends on the couple and if they are deeply in love or if it became all about the wedding and the couple didn’t know each other and ignored the doubts. Reportedly they have been together more than we are aware but you are right about adjusting it just doesn’t have to be negative.
Yes, I liken it more to the way everyone feels the day after Christmas. It’s natural, I think.
A girlfriend of mine got married in 2006 and actually said to me the day after her wedding, “I feel so empty now.” I know weddings can consume, but something about her comment never sat well with me. To describe herself as empty didn’t sound promising. And it wasn’t. She cheated on him only 2 years later and they got divorced.
Since Meghan has been married before, I guess she’ll have an idea about these things, and what to expect.
My husband and I did long distance Dublin/Toronto for 1.5 years. We’ve lived together for 6 years now, and never seem to be in each other’s way. The first year, when most couples apparently get fed up with sharing space, we were just so excited, like “Oh my god you’re finally here and we can do all this stuff together”.
Totally different!
And considering the short marriage.
There is PR article of potential kig Henry breaking rules by showing some closeness….that whiny bill waity middleton couldnt because they are next in ‘line’ …. ” so now that waity is trying so hard at some meet greet (when she turn up) – cautiously touchy to willnot (lets hope he gave up the his Line); whiny even look stiff fake with his younger kids.
I’m with you. We dated for 3 years-1 1/2 were long distance. We were so excited to be together, in our own place. I never remotely had a “depression.”
My husband and I were long distance for about 2 years. Now, it’s a joy to be around each other most days.
My husband and I both traveled so much that it was like long distance and hard but when we married we decided we wanted to start our married life in a house we both chose so that when we each traveled we still were connected. I renovated our house, so I think having that distraction made the adjustment less jarring.
But we did stop communicating and separated; I hope that doesn’t happen to them. We were actually happier now together than before, but it doesn’t always work that way.
I don’t think it is correct that long distance relationships, as a rule, are impossible I believe the couple was most likely incompatible, to begin with.
Eh, I’ll bet they will be fine. They seem to be very in tune with one another, head over heels in love, and very close. Also, this isn’t her first marriage, and she is at least in her mid thirties, right? It’s not as though she is a starry- eyed 21 year old girl.
I never went through any depression after my wedding at age 34 nearly seven years ago, but maybe it’s because I had not spent my life planning for a wedding. I also had a very short engagement of three months, so the wedding planning was pretty chill and a team effort between my husband and me. I’ve heard people say they had a rocky period after tying the knot, but I cannot relate at all. I did experience infertility and that still causes depression for me.
My bf and I have been staying together in a too big hotel suite since Irma. I wore a ‘husband ‘ shirt on Friday when we went to dinner. Hopefully, these are signs that things are going good with him and I too
+100!!
Did you wear ripped jeans too? Because if you did, you’re on your way!
Todays our 1 year anniversary! If I wear ripped jeans and another ‘husband ‘ shirt when he returns to our big suite after work, maybe he’ll pop the question
@Beth…looool!! 😂
Please tell me what exactly are the attributes of a ‘husband’ shirt??. Meghan is not even Mrs Wales yet and she is already injecting stimulating fashion talk. Can I just take one of my husbands white shirts?
Nothing special, just a basic white oxford shirt. I’ve bought mine in the womens section, so I don’t call it a ‘husband ‘ shirt. My boyfriend says he loves my pretty blue eyes because his favorite color is blue. I’m thinking I should be romantic, and wear a blue one, not plain white, with my ripped jeans to make him positive he wants to put an engagement ring in my baked potato at dinner tonight. lol
@PrincessK, the specific shirt Meghan wore that day is called “The Husband Shirt” by the designer. Whether that was an intentional move on her part…who knows.
ETA I think someone posted a link to her shirt in the post about their appearance the other day.
I just love them together so much and the stories and photos of them are so refreshing considering the real news is all basically horrific and terrifying right now.
We call it The Royal York in Toronto (yeah, Fairmont bought it, but I don’t have to call it that). And it’s got pretty insane history.
I have a horrible feeling he’s just going to end up spending a few years with her and then leave her for a younger posh Brit to have lots of babies with,
Toffs tend to stick to their own.
He appears really into her. Engaged in 6 months, married 5 months later, baby a year after that.
Blind Gossip has a item today saying that Prince Charles, William, The Queen and Prince Phillip are ALL against this. They feel Harry is moving WAY too fast. The knives are out for Meghan. Strike One: American, Strike Two: Divorced, Strike Three, Actress, Strike Four: Has done Nude Scenes. They just feel this is not a road the BRF wants to go down …
@marjiscott Oh yes, because the BRF trying to find a non-American, non-divorced, non-actress who HASN’T done nude scenes has gone so very swimmingly for them in the past, right? The BRF has tried this before where they’ve gone out of their way to do every thing right and wound up with a PR disaster on their hands. I don’t think they care anymore.
@marjscott-no, I don’t believe that for a minute. I think if he’s happy, they’re happy. It behooves the BRF to have happily married princes. Also-she hasn’t done “nude scenes.” She’s in a tv show where they’ve shot some racy scenes but she’s not naked.
Honestly, the “divorce” thing is such a non-issue. Charles will ACTUALLY be king and his wife was divorced. Harry’s a historic footnote.
Prince Edward, Peter Philips, Zara Philips, Lord Freddie Windsor, Princess Anne. All “toffs” and none of them married another “toff” (I don’t consider Tim Laurence a toff).
Exactly; I’m expecting him to marry someone in her late 20’s.
Jessica, do you comment on DM under a different name by any chance?
@Maum, I really hope he doesn’t pull a dick move like that. I’d like to believe he’s a better guy than that. Time will tell.
I hope so, too, Lorelai. He’s played around, been around, looked around… I hope his experiences in life have helped him see what’s real, what’s fake, understand what he wants and taught him to be a man of substance and integrity.
Omg, can you imagine if he did that? We would all be throwing eggs at him. I would like to believe he is not that kind of a person, but you never know.
@Annakist I tend to agree with you. This relationship just feels different than his others, and their ages absolutely play a factor. Wasn’t he like 19 when he and Chelsy dated? Completely different than the relationship he is in now.
I personally believe/hope that they’re already engaged and an announcement will come soon 🙏🏻
@Really?: CB would melt down if he ever pulled something like that!
Well, that would be an enormous let down! For Meghan, too, I suppose. :p
Once he commits I think he has to stay committed by virtue of his position. Whether he stays faithful is a different story (the pressures of royal positions makes all of them behave strangely — I get why the Queen needs to drink), but I don’t think royals are advised to lead women on to think they’ll marry them (well, not once they hit their 30s anyway).
I think he may marry her because this roll-out is all over newspapers. It would be too mean to publicly lead her on when she’s in her late 30s and ready to have children (possibly?).
He’s not committed yet though.
He’s had long-term relationships before- you could equally argue he’s led Cressida and Chelsy on. He was photographed all loved up for years and looked all ‘committed’ and then nothing happened.
I just feel he’s going round the world doing fun projects that he clearly enjoys- I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not interested in marriage at all right now.
That’s why I mentioned the age. And I also didn’t say he has committed — but that once he does commit, he’ll have to stick it out (at least before any kind of earth-shaking scandal happens anyway).
I think you’re allowed as royals to have relationships in your twenties that don’t lead to marriage. But once they royals hit their 30s, I suspect they may be advised not to lead a 30 something year old on. Heck, Charles was advised not to lead Diana on, and she was 19 (Philip was afraid that the public nature of their courtship could ruin her future prospects if Charles didn’t make a decision. And I think Charles may have told William the same about Kate when she was in her late 20s — or, so, I think that’s what I learned from the lame Lifetime movie about those two).
I actually think he may have wanted to marry either Cressida or Chelsy…but neither wanted to be imprisoned by his position. I think they may have made the decision for him. I didn’t think he led them on — I think his position spooked them and they ran. And neither of those two had the kind of roll-out Markle has had. Yeah, they were affectionate at events like young people are, but Harry’s and Meghan’s relationship does seem to be publicized in a different way at the Invictus Games. The public aspect has a different feel to it (in the sense that Harry seems to be as much as into the PR angle of this relationship as she is. Either that, or he wants more press for the Invictus Games and a relationship helps people to figure out why he’s in Toronto.) If this doesn’t end in marriage, she’ll probably be forever defined by her non-marriage to him, which would be a bit weird in her case since she has other things in her life to actually define her in a positive way.
And age matters because he has seemed ready, even before Meghan was in the picture, to settle down and get married.
She is 36 and he wants kids so he will marry her soon.
@perplexed ….Harry’s relationships with Chelsey and Cressida were quite different. If Harry had REALLY wanted to marry either of them he would have but ultimately they were both unsuitable for him and royal life. Of course both girls will say royal life was not for them but there is much more to their stories than just that. It will take too long here to detail it all here but you can rest assured that once the engagement is announced these two poor girls will be under the spotlight yet again and exactly why they did not make it up the aisle with Harry will be forensically examined.
Fair enough, maybe they weren’t suitable. I think their youth made it possible for him to carry out those relationships differently.
But I think MM’s age and her career as an actress would impact the way he’d put her in the spotlight If he isn’t going to marry her, it doesn’t make sense to me to have this kind of roll-out where she could be defined by her link to him if he winds up thinking he doesn’t really want her as a wife. I know she’s a grown woman and has her own agency, but it would still seem a bit unchivalrous from his end to thrust her out there for all of the world to pay rapt attention to her and then be all “Well, actually, nope, you’re not going to be in my life permanently.” Actors do this all the time, but as a royal I would think he’s expected to comport himself differently (of course, most of these highly famed marriages fall apart anyway with someone doing something stupid, so I suppose worrying about Harry handles his pre-marital life probably is contradictory).
I have a strong sense that Meghan is one of those type of girls who knows how to “GET” the guy. Harry ain’t going nowhere. Not for many, many years yet.
@Princess K
“It will take too long here to detail it all here…”
Come on Princess, you can’t just tease us and leave us hanging….. dish the goss!
😛😛😛
@Bellagio…..OK this is a teaser…and its just for you…😄
Chelsey Davey: Rich, trust fund type of a girl a bit spoilt and very unlikely to want to dedicate her life to charity work, made some rather loose comments, within her circle, about Harry and members of the RF. Temperamental character, drinks and smokes a lot, RF may have had concerns about Mr Davey.
Cressida Bonas: Not mature enough by any means to give Harry the support he needs. Harry must have realised this early on and the unnecessary argument over flight tickets really showed that Harry was never going the extra mile for her. She was probably planted by the York sisters to make Kate feel uncomfortable for a number of reasons. (Kate must have sighed with relief when it ended, little did she know Sparkle Markle was coming round the corner.)
@Princess:
You’re a doll! Lovely delicious goss, I promise never, ever to tell anyone! 😀 😀
Question 1: Re Chelsy…..do you know the RF members she was bad mouthing and what did she say about them?
Question 2: Re Cressida…..was this the argument where she was supposed to attend some function as his plus one and thought he should pay for the tickets and she thought he should pay, etc…?
Question 3: Also, I heard that Cressida’s family (especially her Mum) was rather keen for her to pin Harry down……is this true in your estimation?
Question 4: Whats up with Chelsy, why hasn’t she settled down yet? (I secretly think she would take Harry back if that option were on the table)
PS: I just never saw harry and Cressida going the distance, she seems a little beige considering the fire-starter that Harry is.
@Bella Dupont
Question 1: Allegedly about the current heir to the throne, and ‘private’ stuff about her and Harry.
Question 2: Yes
Question 3: I can’t really remember that but the main thing I remember about Cressida’s aristocratic ‘racy’ mother is that she posed nude on motorbike with her body smeared in bike grease. But of course since Cressida is a white blue eyed English rose, little details like this do not matter. Can you imagine if there were pics of Meghan’s mother out there in such a pose. There would be uproar and more hue and cry about Meghan’s unsuitable family.
Question 4: I definitely feel that Chelsy has never completely got over Harry, maybe once he gets married she will finally move on with her own life, they had a long turbulent relationship full of fiery youthful passion.
P.S Now remember, this is all between you and me, OK?
@PrincessK: Hold up. You’re telling us that Cressida’s mother posed nude and covered with grease on a motorbike, but MEGHAN’S Mom was the one who got dragged in the headlines and called “ghetto” because she took a bus to work and brought her clothes to a laundromat?!!
Unreal. (Also, sadly, unsurprising.)
@Bellagio Du Pont, I haven’t read all the comments in the thread yet, but rumour abt Cressida was also that she wasn’t very keen on Harry since he was very VERY clingy. She was younger by several years, and she’d wanted a career of some sort (doing whatever it is she does, bless her), and I think she was on board for a spot of fun with Harry but he was a lot more committed than she was.
A general rule with aristos is that they all will marry each other, or they’ll marry into wealth. But they’ll always think twice abt marrying into the BRF. Lady Amanda Knatchbull had the best quote on that that I can’t find rn.
@Lorelai….I forgot to add that Lady Mary-Gaye, mother of Cressida, is four times married and four times divorced, providing Cressida with a very wide and wonderful array of well connected half and step siblings. But DM and its followers still feel that beautiful Cressida is far more suitable than Meghan and her apparently ‘awful’ family of ‘hillbillies’ and ‘gangstas’, …’eyes roll’.
Also has anyone asked how Chelsy Davy’s father has remained one of the richest white landowners under the Mugabe regime? But no, people just continue to pull apart Meghan’s quite ordinary little family, and lament about these gals from much more suitable families that got away.
I don’t think he has much choice – I think there’s a reason he’s been sniffing around actresses for awhile.
If you were a titled girl, a posh girl, and had all the choice in the world for men, why choose the one who comes with so much baggage? So much attention and scrutiny and not much else? There are a lot of well-connected, wealthy-ish men who could be seen as much better matches.
Recall the whole fairy tale spun by the BRF PR team about Prince William marrying a commoner, as if he was rebelling against the crown and truly following his heart to marry a normal girl, JUST LIKE YOU. When in all honesty, there just weren’t any aristo girls that wanted him!
I think Harry has been sniffing around actors and models because a) he can, and b) because models and actors tend to be very attractive, and like a lot of men, he likes to be around very attractive people.
And I think that the whole “wills couldn’t find an aristo girl willing to marry him” is at bit reductionist. None of QEII’s kids (except Charles) or grandkids have married within the nobility – in fact very few members of royal Euro houses have – and I think that’s largely because in the modern age, they’re not required to marry within their ranks anymore. Yes, posh, titled girls have choices as far as marriage partners are concerned – but modern royals do as well.
It is not unique to the BRF. Other royals families have been marrying in the same fashion too. Very few royals marry people from aristocratic families these days . King Philippe is one of the few modern royals I can think of who did marry an aristocrat since Queen Mathilde’s father was a Count.
He tried to, they don’t want or need him. Enter middle class girls, win, win situation.
@Maum – my rule of thumb is never to trust the public face of any relationship, let alone a very public relationship, so anything’s possible. We really don’t know who he is, and he’s dated lots of women for long periods of time. That said, on a practical level, there is so much PR baggage around this one now that he’s kind of between a rock and a hard place, even if he did want more time. And he wants kids and she’s 36. I’m not doing the OMG she’s over 35 she can’t get pregnant! fertility number, because women do, all the time, but if it’s a first pregnancy, waiting too long past 35 just isn’t optimizing your chances. By the time they get married next year, she’ll be pushing 37, so my guess is, she’ll be starting that baby two minutes after the wedding. Mostly for this reason, I really doubt MM would put up with going on with this for more than a year or so without a commitment from him re the future. Kate had the time: MM doesn’t.
Seesittellsit says, “By the time they get married next year, she’ll be pushing 37, so my guess is, she’ll be starting that baby two minutes after the wedding.”………😆 😆 😆
Maybe neither of them want kids. The Cambridges will have 3 which is more than enough to secure the succession.
I agree that you can’t trust the public face of any relationship but it never stops CBers from telling you exactly what is happening with the Cambridges or what Harry and Markle are thinking and doing.
I would say it’s all fun, smart gossip but some of the William and Kate stuff is so nasty it makes my eyes water.
I think both couples are attractive and both seem affectionate and well suited. We’ll see what the work ethic of the second couple is as time goes by.
There seems to be a lot of pressure on them maybe because of her age. I feel sorry for them, in a now-or-never situation. I don’t know why she doesn’t just move in with him, take some acting jobs in London, have a kid if they want and then get married if they still feel enamoured with each other. Prince Louis of Luxemburg did it. This is the 21st century, the BRF needs to move with the times.
Another princess in Denmark did that too. What the heck!
I suspect MM has more self-worth and doesn’t hunger for the title like Kate Middleton; she won’t wait for 10 years. KM waited for 10 years because it took William a decade to stop dumping her, chasing other women, and finally marry her.
What princess in Denmark? Joachim married Alex, they had two kids, got divorced. Then Joachim married Marie, they have two kids.
Mette-Marit had a young son with an ex-boyfriend when she married the heir to the Norwegian throne, Haakon. It wasn’t like she and Haakon moved in together, had a child, then got married later.
Louis of Luxembourg and his ex-wife Tessy got pregnant accidentally as teens, causing a big scandal in Lux. Their first son was born and about a year later they married and had a second son. Louis removed himself and their second son from the succession (the first was already as born out of wedlock). They moved as a family to London so Louis and Tessy could pursue their college educations. It wasn’t like it was a conscious choice to move in together in another country and gee, have a kid and get married whenever.
Nota,
I forget her name but she is one of Princess Benedicte’s daughters. The queen’s sister.
Not everyone is like Waity. Some people just plain don’t want to get married. They believe in fidelity and commitment, but the wedding thing doesn’t turn them on.
So if Meghan, who strikes me as a free spirit, wants to keep her US citizenship, wants to live with Harry for a while and have a child. Why wouldn’t that be ok? Maybe her children wouldn’t be the property of the Royal family, I don’t know. She could live in KP with him. Sophie was slowed to live in BP for 5 years before they got married.
“Why wouldn’t that be ok?”
Because the British royal family is notoriously rigid (why else would Charles have been expected to marry a 19 year old virgin in 1980? If they had let go of the whole virgin thing, maybe Charles’s marital life might not have been a disaster). It’s simply the way they are and (expected to be?) Why? I don’t know. But it is what it is. Maybe times have changed and maybe the Queen doesn’t care anymore after all that happened with Charles and Diana and Andrew and Fergie, but I think the expectations for them have always been different (not sure how much of this has to do with tradition or the Queen Mum’s influence).
If Harry were part of the Monaco royal family, they could have all the children they want out of wedlock. (Although it does seem like the illegitimate kids in that family aren’t entitled to the same kinds of inheritance privileges as the legitimate kids either).
For the purposes of inheritance, I’d probably want to lock down the marriage thing to Harry. If you’re going to live in a gilded cage for the rest of your life by being associated with a prince, you might as well get all the privileges that come with it. No point making all those sacrifices if you’re not going to get something for your time….I’m a pragmatist.
Well, I was just floating the idea around. But if that’s not going to be an option, then let’s have announcement, like soonish!
Can someone clarify what a toff is?
Posh, upperclass brit.
It used to mean a well-off person, an upper-class person… now that the UK has rich people with all sorts of different backgrounds, it tends to refer to a certain type of white person, whose family has/used to have money and who attended expensive school, etc.
Like a wasp.
LOL
If he wanted to marry a young British toff he’d be dating young Brit toffs right now. Why would he hold off, if that’s something he had any desire for? No shade to Meghan at all but it’s not like he’s being pressured to marry a thirtysomething divorced American actress, the way Charles was pressured to marry a virginal teenage aristocrat.
I know popular opinion is that few women would be willing to marry into the RF, but I don’t believe that. One side of my grandparents was aristocratic; I’ve spent enough time amongst the toff crowd to get a decent opinion of them. There are a million young posh women who’d knock their grandmother out of the way to marry into royalty. Besides Harry is hot and rich, and low enough down the line of succession that being his wife wouldn’t bring quite the craziness that comes with being future queen.
Meghan may not be the future Queen but she will attract enormous attention for the rest of her life as Harry’s partner because she has the wow factor without even trying. So she will not be let off the hook because her husband is far down the succession line.
Agree. My father’s side is aristocratic and my observations are the same. In fact, I wasn’t raised to think much differently meaning that marrying into royalty was high on everyone’s list in our house. I don’t buy any of the “modern aristocratic girls who have so many better options”. They are hungry. Neither the options are so many nor the girls so desired.
It’s the Royal York: who wouldn’t stay there if they got the chance!?! That’s actually less than I would have anticipated for a suite like that in that hotel. It’s amazing.
I know that QEII always stays there when she’s in Ontario, and other members of the BRF, in the Royal Suite. Would loooove to see that!
The beds are so good they actually sell them, they get so many calls from people who’ve stayed there wondering where they can get one. And the service is mind-blowing.
I am dying for them to get married. RIGHT NOW. she is gorgeous and they make a beautiful couple.
++100
@ BD up thread on I am a Prince Willnot -middleton hen party decoy once if the BRF.
As to Meg Spark/potential Princess Henry – anorher EU Royal House seem to have given a nod – Qn Leticia is out in beltless pant and white delicate blouse.
Memo to DM: The Annex (where Meghan lives) is not an “upmarket suburb” of Toronto. It’s well within the city limits (just north of the downtown core), and due to its proximity to the University of Toronto, houses tons of students as well as professionals.
(I know, I know, it’s the DM. It just bugs me more than it should!)
ok it’s not a suburb, but i beg to differ re: “upmarket”. have you checked the house prices lately? hint- margaret atwood lives in the area.
The Annex stretches from the edge of Yorkville all the way to Bathurst.. Within these boundaries there are expensive houses ( there are no non expensive houses in most of Toronto except from the most problematiic neighbourhoods) , many many shared accommodations mostly rented byy students, apartments rentals many of which are much cheaper than in my area in the west, and not a small number of really shabby dwellings. The neighborhood is extremely diverse in all senses.
Yeah, the British papers have been calling her area a “suburb” since the start. No idea why. It’s a residential part of downtown, not a suburb.
Because the word “suburb” has slightly different meanings throughout the English-speaking world.
My husband and I were long distance (other sides of the country long distance) for 8 years before we lived together and got married. It’s now been 17 years total and I still do not at all feel like, “oh, you again, this space is sort of confining.” For some people it just works out. Maybe they’ll just love living together and being together however it is configured. You never know. 🙂
My husband and I were long distance, too (as in, opposite side of the ocean long distance lol), and we had zero problems when we finally moved in together. Never an issue with confining spaces.
Like you said, for some people it works out!
I CANNOT WAIT for the day when we all wake up and the pictures from their first official photocall as an engaged couple are all over the place. I wonder what Meghan will wear.
We need this! It’s so close…
I’m dying to see her ring. I can’t guess if she’s likely to choose diamond or some kind of edgy setting with a colored gem.
Count me in. I am so looking forward to those pics and their first interview together.
He has been seen kissing, hugging and hand holding his other girlfriends. What’s the big deal with this one? He’s only 32. I dont think either one should cave in unless it’s what they want. I really dislike the media manipulation. Too much control and ppl are so gullible.
Prepare yourself, Joannie. It’s on.
Ah, the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for some people when this wedding day comes….melt down will be epic! The big deal is, he’s only 32? that’s the age his dad married an he’s now 33, far from being a boy who’s not ready. Yes he kissed, hugged and held hands with Chelsea (not much PDA with Cressie) but he did not live with them, travel to the other side of the world to be with them, heck he didn’t even want to pay for a plane ticket for Cressie to go to a US wedding…..he’s into Meg like no other gf so brace yourself girl.
Still not sure why people want this to happen. You couldn’t pay me to be associated with this family. Good luck Meghan!