When then-Kate Middleton finally became engaged to Prince William in 2010, it was often said that Kate was receiving “princess lessons.” I remember those stories vividly, especially as many of them seem so dumb to me now, nearly eight years later. Kate was never mentored by the Countess of Wessex or the Duchess of Cornwall. She never went to Princess Academy. She talked to some of the senior royal women, of course, and she got some advice from William’s team and various people from Clarence House and Buckingham Palace. But there were no “princess lessons,” really. Maybe there should have been. Maybe Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace want to ensure that they give Meghan Markle a better, more comprehensive start than Kate got.
As she begins life as the new Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle will have a highly-regarded new aide at her side. Samantha Cohen, 49, is set to become Prince Harry’s private secretary when the current head of the couple’s household leaves this summer. But Cohen, who until April was Queen Elizabeth‘s assistant private secretary, has already been advising Meghan, 36, behind the scenes. Cohen has been helping the new duchess with protocol and navigating how to address people and manage her new position in the royal world, an insider tells PEOPLE.
Cohen is believed to have tendered her resignation as assistant private secretary to the Queen, 92, after the monarch’s top staffer, Lord Geidt, left late last year. But she was persuaded to stay on and see through the organization of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting of April. Soon after, it emerged that Ed Lane Fox was leaving Harry’s household after about five years – and Cohen was chosen as his successor as an “interim” private secretary.
While Meghan also has new palace aide Amy Pickerill helping run her office and her official duties, Cohen has been a strategic and wise voice in the background. “She is a brilliant choice and has been helping Meghan adjust to the new surroundings,” says an insider. Some believe that she might stay longer than the “interim,” as outlined by Kensington Palace when they made the announcement of Lane Fox’s departure on April 27. She will be in place by the time the couple heads to Australia, and likely some surrounding countries in the region like New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, around the time of the Invictus Games in Sydney in October.
A palace source also told the Times that Cohen’s instruction of Meghan will be “six months of listening.” Meghan is “seeking out advice on a range of people. She is going to proceed with humility. It is not going to be quiet, though. It’s going to be a very busy office.” It sounds less like Meghan is undergoing princess training and more like she wants someone steeped in protocol to help her navigate the arcane bullsh-t until it becomes second nature to her. It also sounds like Meghan has already been a sponge for this kind of thing – she knows what she doesn’t know, meaning she’s following Harry’s lead and being helped along for now, but everyone can see that she’s really trying and making an effort and that she will “master” it someday soon. That was clear during the engagement too – she was and is eager to figure all of this out. She’s preparing for this like it will be the greatest role of her life. Which it is.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Pacific Coast News.
The work ethic-I hope it’s straight up Sophie styles with her own flair for a bit of drama. It would be great to see her as a fun, hard-working adored royal.
Want to add it would also be great to see another influential woman on the world stage if she works hard alongside Harry. The bonus is that she’s a WOC.
And they’re not trying to hide her feminism!!!! That was the part that just gave me the happiest moment!
So well put. M will use this as a stage to amplify her desire to help women and children. I am so excited about what both of them accomplish together.
Totaly agree, Liz. I would love to see that.
I’m reading the Morton book about Meghan right now (I know, I know! lol), and it seems this drive has always been a part of her personality. She has always been an overachiever, according to teachers and those who do, and even those that didn’t, like her.
I think she really does have the desire to affect change. And I really do think she will make a difference. While she can’t be *overly* outspoken, I do think she has a little more latitude than WK. It is heartening to see that they haven’t sanitized her on the Royal website!
The last thing the royals want is drama. I read an article by Diana’s old secretary. It was pretty depressing if you are Meghan. He said she will be seen, not heard unless they approve of it, and if she thinks that she can do and say what she wants, she will learn how wrong she is very quickly.
I think Meghan needs more training, as she knew nothing about this country and BS aristocratic life with arcane, absurd rules for her entire life. Kate is at least British and went to school with these people, so knew more about the life.
It is all silly, really. Such entitlement with such fake rules.
@Trixie, I think the Diana and Charles days can not be accurately applied to today’s British monarchy. Diana married in the BRF more than 35 years ago, she divorced Charles 22 years ago and IMO, the RF has evolved lots in that time. Example: in Diana days, it was unheard of for a royal fiancee to attend Christmas with all the RF. FF 30+ years later, Meghan was with the RF at Christmas. Back in the day, it was unheard of for the heir to the throne to marry a non virgin, FF 30 years later, William married Kate. So its inaccurate to suggest that Meghan and Kate will live lives exactly identical to those of Diana and Sarah. What I believe is that the BRF have learnt from their mistakes, thus the efforts to move with the times. A lot of things that were taboo back then are acceptable now. I think many will be surprised at how much Harry and Meghan will be allowed to do in comparison to lady Diana. I think Harry /Meghan and William/Kate are going to be the faces of the BRF from here forward. And any of those who will be wiling to put in the hard work will be given room to work , will be encouraged to pursue their goals as long as those goals elevate the BRF and whomever is willing to put in the hard work will be allowed to shine. I believe from now forward,, emphasis will be placed on one’s merit as opposed to their status in the line to the throne.
Not surprising. As a mixed-race woman, Meghan knows she has to work hard because she can’t coast along on white mediocrity. She know she has to work 10 times harder than Kate to get half the credit.
For POC…this is standard protocol…to overachieve…and be hyper-sensitive…ALWAYS about their surroundings in their actions within them…plus being an actress…she well acclimated to absorbing lots of details in a short period of time…so it’s a win/win all the way around
Yes!
What you’ve failed to share is the dark side of that. The dark side is that she will be both envied and hated for that. Followed by marginalization and a bit of undercutting. She will walk a fine line between trying to appease and totally saying ‘F’ it.
Honey
What you’re saying was forever the fate of the spare’s wife. She will be cut down and criticized for her entire life now. To already be acclimated to that life is a strength. What some viewed as a weakness is her strength.
Theres no loss here that wouldn’t have existed with a white bride.
This. No slacking off or half-assing her way through events. Meghan will have to be damn near perfect to get any recognition of her work.
yes agreed – it sucks but is so true. any little mistake is magnified 100 times and you have to be a damn near superwoman to be regarded on the same level.
@Rapunzel Exactly. Never mind that she probably knows how any little mistake she might make will be picked apart and criticized in the press, on top of everything else. She’ll have to be damn near flawless all the time, just because of who she is.
This!
I think Kate and William’s laziness is as much heir mediocrity as it is white mediocrity. That doesn’t mean Meghan won’t work harder because she’s biracial, but Kate and William were slackers because no one can really make them work harder.
(Until Meghan’s successes light a fire under their competitive little behinds as Alexandria and Digital Unicorn say below)
She is also an outsider, and will be forever to much of the royal family and Britain. People don’t like outsiders marrying their favorite princes. This is why the ratings for the wedding were down a lot from Will’s wedding, but pretty high in America. Americans, for some reason, are thrilled that this independent woman is giving up so much of her life to marry into a family that has everything they have based on entitlement, not merit. And that people keep saying she is a feminist?? How does that work considering the family she is marrying into?
Ratings are not because of public love.
This was low key and far less hyped. FAR LESS.
William and Kate’s wedding was constantly spoken of for PR. You’re told to care for months and months. Pap strolls. Plus… William is 2 steps away from the throne.
Also, there was so much drama with kate. It was like a season finale of a long running show.
I was traveling internationally when w&k gof married. Every airport on every TV was playing that wedding. Was anyone watching? A few out of hundreds and hundreds. But it was on so it counts towards ratings. And I’m certain that was not the only airport doing that.
Heir vs spare. Drama vs. Low key. Publicity vs privacy. You get it.
So in your book Maxima, Letizia, Mathilde, etc. none of them can be considered independent or feminist because they gave up their current jobs to get married and take on a royal job? Jobs in which they are able to have serious impact? Or only Meghan?
Oh they are gonna get rid off any humanity and personality.
Exactly LOL. Call me cynical but wasn’t it advertised that ELF was going to be leaving and Samantha is just a stop gap. Seriously i feel like this and the dog story are PR to show that the queen supports MM to counter this meme circulating about the Diana car accident.
I looked for it and it’s disappeared
I mean this in the nicest way possible….I think she cares a lot more about protocols and such than Kate does. MM wants to be the best. She’s going to take it seriously. I mean I would to because the world is literally watching your every move.
I agree, and I know I would do the same thing in her shoes. She wants to be taken seriously on the world stage with her causes, and she knows that all of the fussy royal protocol stuff that goes with it is an important part of the larger picture. Wouldn’t we all?
Meghan’s princess lessons are a great way to signal to her new in-laws and the world that she is committed. This isn’t just an opportunity to look pretty and sometimes wear a tiara, you know?
Ditto. I think Meghan married Harry out of love and now that she is a duchess, she’s going to take it seriously and put in the work. I think that’s partly because she knows the press will eat her alive if she puts a foot wrong even once, and partly because that’s just how she is. She’s a worker who took her charity and philanthropy work seriously before marrying into the family. She’s going to take the whole package seriously now.
I think Harry is totally besotted with Meghan. Meghan?? With how actressy she is, and how cool she is, I get the feeling that she is role-playing. I think she likes what Harry has to offer her, worldwide fame. She has always strived for fame. But I don’t get the feeling one bit that she loves him as he loves her.
I also don’t think she will ever walk away from all the fame and riches.
Oh @Trixie, now that’s a first!!! Last time you said you was giving them a coulpa yrs tops before Meghan files for divorce, now you don’t think she’ll ever walk away from it all? Hhmm, very interesting!
@Masamf,
Agree, very interesting. But, I could be wrong. Maybe it was Veronica T or Sarah who referred to Meghan as a runner.
Or it could be they’re all the same person posting under different names.
She has already shown how much thought she’s putting into all of this – the Commonwealth flowers on her wedding veil? I thought that was spectacular.
Kate did that, too. I think that kind of symbolism is almost standard.
The Commonwealth flowers are in a nod to her and Harry’s new “job” as Commonwealth Ambassadors for HM. Kate’s veil had flowers from Britain, Ireland and Scotland, as befitting a (future) QC of those countries.
I’m sorry about but the Commonwealth flowers mean nothing to me as person who originally from a different CW country and now living in a different CW one.
I hate being reminded of the part the BRF’s ancestors played in exploiting and colonizing my country of origin. I don’t see why we have to be constantly told about that history, it was a sad time for millions of people, one which we are still dealing with to this day.
I wish they had not included that $hitty “tribute” in the veil at all especially given that the entire thing was billed as a “private” wedding.
Tearose11: All this talk of the commonwealth makes me salty. It’s the only fly in the ointment for me. It’s beyond patronising and ruins my enjoyment of the couple.
For those not from Commonwealth countries, you can’t imagine how patronising the flower gambit was. You might be interested in this:
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/05/22/613351939/not-everybody-was-a-fan-of-meghan-markles-wedding-veil
Proud Ugandan here, and even though I hate what the colonizers did to my motherland, I appreciate the fact that there are other people that appreciated Meghan’s gesture and the nod she made to those that appreciated it, and so for that reason, I’ll say very little and quietly see myself out.
The CW thing was an insensitive, ignorant and patronizing move, a reminder of the British Empire’s colonial past. The CW is trying to be given a new life by the UK because of Brexit but CW is a toothless organization that a lot of former colonies have no love for. Shows how clueless she and the whole royals are.
Totally agree. I think he is head over heels in love with her, I think she loves the idea of him. I don’t think she’s a bad person, I think she just grabs the opportunities. This was too good of an opportunity to pass up, even if she wasn’t really in love with Harry. I also think it was to quick – yes many people get married quickly and it can work out, but with such a high stakes wedding they should have been engaged for longer than six months.
@Addie thank you very much for posting the link to that article. I hadn’t seen it. As an American I don’t understand nearly as much about the historical aspects at play here and thought her veil was lovely, but now I can see why it was problematic (aesthetically lovely, but politically problematic!).
I also mean this in the nicest way possible . . . Meghan is used to working. She’s had jobs. She has needed to do well in order to keep her job and spillover herself as an independent woman. Kate hasn’t had to work to support herself and the jobs she that she has had really amount to lightweight internships. There is a big difference there.
Kate’s lazy and has only applied herself to holding on to William and staying thin. She doesn’t care about doing the royal part of the job that she campaigned for. All the excuses in the world are provided to her to try to explain why she is lazier than Sophie, Diana, Anne, Duchess of zkent, etc. Etc. Meghan won’t have that luxury.
Trouble may come if Meghan’s work ethic makes Kate look bad or if Harry & Meghan, together, prove to be more popular than Will & Kate.
Here’s an observation. On the evening (US time) of the wedding, the official youtube page of the royal family had the full video of the ceremony up. It had 26 million views.
The full video of Will & Kate’s (from April 2011) wedding, at that time, had 6.5 million views.
I was taken aback by that difference. I checked the next morning to see the updated view count. The video had been taken down.
There is considerable international interest in Meghan & Harry.
@whispersjane
26M? Oh, snap.
“Princess lessons” – barf. I swear, monarchy stimulates the worst in humans.
But agreed with the post above: she’ll have to work ten times harder as a mixed race woman to get a glimpse of recognition. But she seems to be a nice human being, humanitarian and feminist so it seems it will come naturally for her.
Don’t loose your sparkle Meghan! Hang in there!
Looking back at kate’s first year after marrying William is eye opening.
Kate really should have received extensive guidance and training.
Meghan will be fine. Not the perfect Duchess but no one is.
As a future queen Kate should have had extensive royal training from the git go.
I suspect training would have been available to Kate, had she WANTED it.
Meghan wants it & I suspect she is taking it upon herself to seek it out.
Advice and support from Senior Royal’s was offered to Katie Keen but she turned it down, repeatedly. It was said that William was behind this as he wanted to ‘show her the ropes’, others said she wasn’t interested as she was happy to follow Williams lead. The Countess of Wessex offered to help her but the offer was turned down.
Kate has all the help and support she needs at her finger tips – you can take a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
Hopefully that will all change with Meghan around.
Kate and William may finally wise up and get Kate some training.
She’s done half her job with birthing the heirs now she really should start her Queen concort training.
Digital Unicorn- I I heard the same stories about Kate turning down advice. This is what I meant in my earlier post about coasting on white mediocrity. She’s gotten away with half assing things for a long time. She should’ve been pulled in and forced to undergo some serious etiquette lessons the minute she flashed her underwear in Canada on their very first stop on their very first tour.
Underwear? I didn’t see any underwear at all!
@CharlieCanada
http://www.lolwot.com/20-times-we-saw-a-little-too-much-of-kate-middleton/
Rapunzel -you have captured it perfectly by saying Kate is white mediocrity. I recall how the media tried to make Kate seem impressive even though at 29 she had done sweet eff all with her life of privilege. Even saying she was a commoner was a stretch. She spent the first year pretending to be at Anglesey with William but really hanging out at Buckleberry or shopping in London. She should have been doing engagements at that point. But she is lazy and she is not going to pivot at 36. It’s like expecting the orange one to pivot. It’s not happening.
I agree, KeWest. I know Kate was younger when she married William, but she was 29. That’s more than old enough to have some self-awareness and to acknowledge your weak spots. Someone should have really pushed her to meet with Sophie and senior royal staff members for some kind of princess course on a consistent basis. It is actually quite shocking that she has been a member of the Firm for so long and is still fairly unpolished.
I don’t blame it all on Kate because I believe she has to follow William’s lead. Who knows after this wedding and pushing out three heirs and growing older, William may mature more. Kate may still surprise us then.
Honestly…I don’t hate Kate, but she’s never had a real job. Her job has been “will’s GF and future wife” since they met when they were essentially babies (weren’t they like 19 when they met?) I feel like that has really influenced her approach to all this. Meghan, while moving in kind of a rarefied world, has been independent.
Agree on your points too Audfhauio. She is William’s supporting act. At least in royal duty terms, she has produced enough heirs. Would be interesting how she and William would be like in the next stage.
I’m with Alexandra, Kate does what William wants, not the Queen, not Charles. He is her husband and she follows his lead. If he wanted her out there hustling, she would be. It’s not like she’s going to go rogue, lol.
duplicate post
I remember reading an article during one of Kate’s first official engagements when she was still engaged to William. She only did three official events I think before the wedding. The article I was reading I remember pointed out during the walk about when Kate was greeting people, she kept looking over at William to reassure herself she was doing okay–trying not to spend too much time with each person, saying hi to enough people etc. I’m sure it must have been overwhelming to her that that was her new normal–constantly greeting strangers. In the 10 years she and William dated, I doubt he gave her a rundown “So this is how you do a royal walk about…”
I remember thinking at the time, “Wouldn’t they have done a practice run or told her what to expect?” She did not get extensive briefing on royal protocol before they got engaged. I sympathized with how much scrutiny she was getting. Seven years later she’s gotten better at it but I wouldn’t say I’m terribly impressed with her social skills. She always looks like she’s performing, to some people being social is natural and to Kate it’s clearly not. (This doesn’t excuse her lack of working with William, just something I noticed).
Kate was billed as the most prepared bride in royal history when she got married. She had 10 years to learn and understand what was expected was trumpeted throughout the land. The fact she did none of it is on her, not any lack.of guidance
This!
Adults are to be accountable for their own actions.
Yes, flat out lied in the engagement interview about hitting the ground running.
How many days was it after the wedding we were told she wasn’t going to work, but was going to be a full-time housewife in Wales? Complete with four staff including cook and housekeeper…
@Bluhare, exactly. It’s the constant lies. They started during the engagement interview and we’ve been treated to a new round of “keen to work” statements every year since.
I don’t even dislike Kate, and I think she suffers from some serious anxiety about her role and all of the scrutiny that comes with it – I sympathize with that. But it is the constant LIES for all of these years that are so insulting.
It’s always been the lies. At least Meghan seems to be showing more than having her press office tell.
I’m glad Meghan is willing to learn what she needs to know in protocol and to get to work. She and Harry may have to meet foreign royals and heads of state and it’s best she works with an old hand.
She will be an amazing Duchess just like it was for Grace Kelly. I have so much hope in Meghan
Grace Kelly was deeply unhappy in the role she took on.
Amen. I think Grace Kelly hated her role and seriously regreted everything she gave up.
She was also married to a serial philanderer who forbade her to be involved in anything to do with acting, theatre groups, etc. She was constrained to doing boring charity teas, etc., and became horribly depressed and pretty much drowned her sorrows.
No to the Grace Kelly comparisons. I did find it interesting that they spent the New Year in Monaco when the weather is crap out there.
Yes, Grace Kelly was unhappy and probably regretted her choice, but no one can deny she was a perfect princess. I have the same feeling about Meghan. That’s all
@Suki ITA. I absolutely adore Meghan and I’ve enjoyed Suits from the beginning, but there is just no comparison to Grace Kelly and the career she gave up.
I will never knock Meghan’s success as an actress because only a tiny, tiny percentage of SAG members are able to make their living by acting and don’t require side jobs to be able to support themselves (something like 3% or 5% if I remember correctly). So the fact that Meghan had a steady role on a popular show for so many years is huge and absolutely considered a success story in Hollywood.
However…Grace Kelly was not only A-list but the top of the A-list of film actresses. I feel like a more accurate comparison today would be to Julia Roberts or Angelina Jolie.
Very good choice for the Sussex’s – this shows that they are ‘keen’ to create a team of experienced and mature personnel to work with them. It will be interesting to see if they create their own press team as after all Ms Cohen is TQ’s former press secretary. I think that they will eventually have their own household that sits under Chuck’s and separate from the DoLittles.
I agree with this. I think if Meghan hits the ground running too hard that the Doolittles will look bad and start to throw her under the bus. Charles sees the positives that Meghan brings to the BRF and he would protect her more. Meghan also seems to get along with Charles and she can probably read his ego. Besides Charles is the one who will be able to set up Harry properly for the King William era, just as the Queen is doing a lot for Andrew. Get all the perks before the older brother takes the throne.
She’ll be great.
Im going to be a Meghan apologist too…just because I really like her. I doubt I’ll have to much though because she is going to be amazing at this!!! I’m just excited for her future.
As she should because the media isn’t going to let her slide with little mistakes. She have to work twice as hard and be twice as better she can’t lean on white mediocrity to get passes.
Sadly, I don’t think Kate’s work ethics will change. She is who she is. I have lowered my expectations of her considerably.
I suspect that when Meghan starts getting noticed for how many engagements she does each year and starts racking up honours/titles/medals/patronages Kate will “find” her work ethic. I bet that if Harry and Meghan take over the trust started by Prince Charles they will be rewarded when he becomes King.
It is going to sting when Meghan has more bling than the future Queen at public royal functions.
Just like Kate follows William’s lead, Meghan will follow Harry’s. Harry retired from the army a few years ago and thus far has not felt compelled to be one of the hard working royals and I see no reason for that to change, other than the uptick that is being driven by Prince Philip’s retirement and the Queen scaling back.
If Harry takes over the Prince’s Trust, that will be a good thing, but my bet is that Charles is going to be generous to Harry and his family even if Harry does not take over the Prince’s Trust.
Neither Meghan nor Kate seem to be into big bling. Kate has been gifted some substantial pieces, and since I suspect that Charles was the giver, Meghan will also get a few nice pieces. Kate has also been lent bling by the Queen, Meghan will also get QEII lent bling, but the Queen seems to have made statements with the bling that she has lent Kate, like letting Kate wear her engagement bracelet. I don’t think that the bling that the Queen will lend Meghan will be as symbolic or noteworthy.
When Charles is King, he is going to set his own rules, but I suspect that his priority is going to be to showcase Camilla.
@aaa, I look at both Harry and William and I think: if they passed today, what legacies if any, would they leave? I think Harry would leave behind a strong legacy. William? I’m not so sure. I strongly believe that there has to have been some reconsideration and reevaluation of priorities on the PTB’s parts. I believe the days where protecting Wills and Kate and future monarch and consort at Harry’s expense are past. I believe now its more about protecting the future of the monarchy and ensuring its future survival than anything else. I believe that gone are the days when Harry was willingly and readily thrown under the bus just to protect Will’s reputation. I believe TPTB made a decision to work with what they have in their hand. Thats why I believe TPTB are bending over backwards to change rules for Meghan and Harry. Someone said in one interview ” in days past, people were wondering what the RF were going to do about Harry, now we are wondering what they will do with Harry”. I believe the decision has been made to capitalize on Harry’s skills and capabilities, his charisma and how he generally relates with the public. I believe from here forward, Harry and Meghan will be given all the support they need to support the survival of the monarchy. From now on, we’ll see less and less of Harry and Meghan being thrown under the bus for Wills and Kate but more of “each person has to work hard to earn our trust and investment in them”. If Wills and Kate are willing to make changes and improve their numbers, that’s well and good, but there’ll be no stifling of people that are willing to put in the hard work just so the lazy ones can look good.
@aaa, exactly!! Harry is lazy. He is given all the credit for Invictus, but it sure looks like he flies in and gets all the accolades. And Meghan is going to do and say exactly what she is told to do, including walk behind her husband for the rest of her life. Anyone who thinks she will break out and speak out doesn’t know the royals and their history and anyone who thinks she will be allowed to outshine and outwork Kate is being naive, in my view.
Meghan will be lazy, just like the other three. I would be my mortgage payment on that.
If Harry and Meghan really rack up the appearances etc (they could still disappoint even though I like them) and Meghan is bestowed a royal order, I think Kate will get one too. The BRF are not going to make William and Kate look worse in comparison (explicitly).
@Masamf,
You are making assumptions that I do not subscribe to.
I don’t subscribe to there being a pattern and strategy of Harry being thrown under the bus to make William look good.
What rules have been changed for Harry and Meghan? I think you or someone else mentioned Meghan being at Sandringham for Christmas. There is no indication that an exception was made for Meghan, rather that Meghan and Harry were an engaged couple during the Christmas holidays and Meghan spent Christmas with Harry’s family because she had no family in the UK.
Harry is a popular royal and the Firm will capitalize on that. Harry plays his part in enhancing the monarchy but the monarchy’s survival is tied to Elizabeth, Charles, William and George. It goes both ways, if Harry alone, or along with Meghan, turn out to be trainwrecks, that will not destroy the monarchy, just like the scandals and antics of Margaret and Andrew did not destroy the monarchy. Now if William and Kate’s marriage dissolves and they go at each other like Charles and Diana did, that will impact the monarchy.
The Prince’s Trust is not Harry’s job, it is William’s. It is The Prince of (Wales) Trust, complete with Prince of Wales feathers as the logo. If any royal is going to take it over, and it looks like none are, it should be William.
Does Harry need to work more? Yes, and now that he’s done courting and has married a hard working woman, I hope he will. But let’s not slag him for not taking over duties like The Duchy and the Prince’s Trust which are the responsibility of the heir William.
@MASAMF: I LOVE that little thought exercise about legacy!!
I think that if tragedy struck today, Harry would absolutely have a stronger, more lasting legacy than William would. William of course has his children, but I’m talking about work & duty.
Invictus alone is an enormous legacy to leave behind, and Harry also has Sentebale under his belt. Meanwhile with William….nothing in particular comes to mind.
I don’t think Harry is perfect by any means and I do think he needs to work a lot more than he does, but I think he comes out the clear winner in your question about legacy.
I’d be interested in other commenter’s thoughts on this.
THIS is what I hoped Kate would do.
I have no great calling or career – yet. I don’t envy the being a princess, I envy that it’s a grand role that they have a lot of room to play with, that it can shine quite a bit of light in places. And Kate just dropped the ball. It’s going to be fun to watch Meghan pick it up and run.
Yes and its also going to be interesting to see how the Cambridges react to this – they are both competitive people and William doesn’t like to be overshadowed.
Yes Digital Unicorn, both Kate and Will seem to thrive on competition (her against other girls and both of them being sporty). So let’s watch.
It’s already started with William. It’s been announced that he will be traveling to Israel soon. It only mentioned him, not Kate.
Marjiscott, that tour was announced months ago. It’s not new. Just re-confirmed now.
Regardless, anything that gets them moving and taking up the slack is good! I think it’s definitely time TQ gets to enjoy more of the time she has left with Phillip. I don’t think he looked that strong/great at the wedding… very fragile.
The Israel tour was announced months ago. And Kate has never been described as competitive except in sports. In school she was considered easy to get on with, underwhelming but pleasant and unassuming.
And in getting William, EA. No end of stories about her attitude and treatment of any woman who got within 10 feet of William. All that effort to “win” something (or someone who ultimately had to be dragged to the altar) means it can always be lost.
MM will be interesting to watch.
Like paint drying.
Well, she got you to pay attention.
Because her comment is ridiculous. Does anyone really think an unknown actress from the US is going to change the monarchy? It’s a PR campaign all the way. Its not rocket science! The RF is a business and that family is run by a bunch of bureaucrats.
Did anyone think a 20 year old aristocrat would change the monarchy? Christmas 2010, the articles were about it being the last one Kate would spend with her parents. Did anyone think Harry would be marry an older, biracial, divorced, actress?
Of course Meghan is going to leave her mark on the monarchy. She’s not going to be Queen Consort but anyone who is an active part of that family, is supported, and can get headlines will introduce change.
She’ll be interesting because she’s a beautiful, bi-racial American who married into the BRF. But I don’t think she’s going to do anything different from the rest of them.
It also has to do with the men they’re both with. William has his father’s ego don’t outshine me stay in your place. Harry doesn’t mind Meghan being out there as a matter of fact I think he welcomes the attention not being mainly on him all the time.
If anything, I think Harry probably wants Meghan to outshine him. He knows she’s a sublime woman who is, if we’re all honest, a bit out of his league. She’s smart and a hard worker with a good heart. Harry knows it and he’s happy to have her, as his partner, in all of this. He also acknowledges what she gave up for him and this. Honestly, I’m pleasantly surprised that Harry is turning out to be a better partner in all of this than both William and Charles. He’s really matured himself.
I think so, too! I think he’s immensely proud of her, and what she’s accomplished in her life so far. It wouldn’t surprise me if he pushes her to the front to shine 😊 (I just *so* love the two of them together!).
I see a far more mature Harry in the last year or so. And yes, he definitely married up 😊
Out of his league! Harry agrees with you. He said that after their first date that he had to step up his game. Imagine meeting a prince known all over the world and after one conversation with you says that he needs to do better! That’s what I am talking about.
@Leyton. Agreed. I think Harry is very dashing, rich and sexy (that walk from the car to the chapel? Grr) but if that was what Meghan was angling for, she could have found it without the added attention of being royal. He married up.
Did you see the tweets from the Chicago Tribune the day of the wedding?
“A big congratulations to Prince Harry for punching way above his weight class”
I’m sorry, Meghan is lovely but I’m sure here on celebitchy we can find many smart interesting women. Meghan was a C-lister and now she’s world famous. As for Harry’s world. Do we really believe what they say? Harry can’t go on to say “yeah, women threw themselves at me and I know I could get any”. Sorry but in this PR world I’m jaded.
So let’s say you’re right. What is William going to do if Harry and especially Meghan outshine him and his wife??
Would love to hear predictions!
Samantha Cohen’s a great choice. Good to see that Meghan’s being treated like the grown up, engaged professional she is. I think she’ll be dynamite once she gets underway because she really appears to want this life and to make the most of what it offers her in terms of doing good and useful work.
I agree. I do hope that they’ll get her to disengage somewhat from thirsty Jessica Mulroney and her equally thirsty husband Ben. That entire family is full of social climbers and users. Meghan needs them like a hole in the head.
But Jessica is her best friend. She chose to hang with the Mulroney’s…. I don’t see her cutting off that friendship. Harry really likes them as well. If we’re being honest, Meghan’s friendship with Jess is/was strategic. She’s a “social climber” too – can’t deny that.
Meghan was the nobody when the friendship with the Mulroneys began. Meghan may have landed a big fish but the characteristics that you are ascribing to the Mulroney’s have been ascribed to Meghan.
Jessica and Meghan are friends, her friendship with Jessica says a lot about her. Also her friendship with UK reality stars.
Jessica Mulroney is still a nobody. She is Ben Mulroney’s wife and now Meghan’s friend. She never had a job and married the son of a Prime minister. Perhaps the elite social circles knew her, but no one beyond that. It’s why she remains so thirsty.
Meh….Jessica is far more blatant than Meghan. Meghan has worked hard to get where she is whereas Jessica married up and has never had a real job or career to my knowledge. “Stylist”, “wedding expert”……seriously? I suspect any company she has ever had of her own has never made any $$, a vanity “career”. And Ben is a lightweight host of a Canadian entertainment show…..possibly a big deal in Toronto but that’s about it. The “elite” social circles of Toronto are not same as social circles that the Royals belong to. As a Canadian I just shook my head in wonder when I saw the photos of Jessica doing her “Pippa” turn. The Mulroney twins haircuts alone are cringe worthy.
The “elite” social circles of Toronto are not same as social circles that the Royals belong to.
And yet somehow a former briefcase girl on Deal or No Deal and actress on a cable television show that films in Toronto met a British prince and they ended up getting married.
I’m still loving how chic her side part looks. Just beautiful.
Ummm…she went to Northwestern. Girl is smart. Of course she’s going to do her homework and do the job well.
I was going to comment upthread that Kate also attended a great university, St. Andrews. The difference is that Meghan and Kate had different ambitions.
My sister is a Northwestern grad, you’re right.
Similar to Letizia when she first came on. Stories of her going everywhere with her journalist notebooks, taking pages and pages of notes about protocol, names, how the business of royalty is run, etc.
Arcane is right. The public should grow up & stop worshipping these grifters.
Right? I mean is she going to shake more hands? lol. I have nothing against any of them, and I love me me some good BRF, but my god, I’m not dumb. These royals do next to nothing for the life they are given in exchange. H & M are not going to be any different.
I’m American so I feel as if I can watch the BRF vicariously for all the rituals, fashion, etc. I would not like to be a British citizen watching the upkeep of these pampered poodles.
Non UK person here and agree with Minx.
@Minx, same.
I compare it to having neighbors who have a big, beautiful swimming pool. We can borrow & enjoy it whenever we like, but are not responsible for any of the physical or financial upkeep! 🙂
Bless this post!
It’s easy to go and support charities when someone else is footing the bill, you have millions of pounds in the bank, and never have worry about paying mortgage or saving for retirement.
@Minx – a very pertinent point. It’s so much easier to treat them as good gossipy entertainment from a distance.
I’m in London and if the entire entitled and ridiculously indulged brf was turfed out tomorrow (with a one small suitcase restriction) and told to fend for themselves, I’d be doing a jig.
Subjectively, I do really like Meghan and am 100% on her side and wish her well but objectively, she’s now part of that ridiculously indulged family, so it’s always a carefully measured exercise finding a reasonable balance (I never want to be begrudger or troll-friendly) when commenting on these M&H threads.
Skylark, exactly. I loathe Trump but at least I know he’ll eventually lose an election, drop dead, get arrested, resign or reach the end of his term. There’s an end to it. The BRF’s extravagance goes on and on.
Hopefully get arrested and we get to see him in handcuffs and without the hairspray that keeps that bizarre orange nest in place. I want to see that quiff drooping over his ear and exposing his bald head. Dropping dead would be very unsatisfactory. 😉
And the same for the brf. Not handcuffs or prison necessarily (unless it’s Andrew!) but I would equally enjoy a sharp dose of reality for those younger members that think they have some god-given right to their lazy, entitled, indulged lives.
Meghan is not a woman who is used to just laying around- she’s always kept busy with work and side ventures. It is smart of them to utilize that enthusiasm and pair her with someone who will guide her well. Meghan is a smart cookie.
It does say a lot that the Queen doesn’t trust Kensington Palace to guide Meghan. Her making sure one of her people is in there tells me she sees Meghan’s potential and wants to make sure it is groomed properly. They don’t want another Kate on their hands. It would be hard to change old habits if they leave her to Kensington’s way.
I agree, Leyton, brilliant move by the queen.
Agree. She sees something and wants to help it bloom. Add that to her adoration of Harry and…..maybe they have found the one way on earth to get W+K to get serious about the role, or….
Perhaps HM wants to keep her status as Best Dog Sitter Ever?
@nota,
LOL! I am still in awe of Guy the Beagle riding backseat shotgun with TQ.
I’ve been watching this and taking it all in. And I still think – Meghan – you in danger girl.
In particular I think there will be issues with Kate. She cannot outshine Kate and I think Harry and Meghan are “keen” to follow in the footsteps of Diana. It will be hard to step back and make sure Kate remains the star. I also think H and M are closer to Prince Charles and this will be tricky once the Queen passes.
Add into the mix Kate’s family… oy.
I grew up watching how the media chewed up and spit out Diana and Fergie. Why would it be any different for Kate and Meghan?
And regarding Kate’s lack of events – I wonder if the palace wants it that way. Diana received a lot of attention and perhaps they want Kate to lay low for the first several years of marriage.
I think Megan has a savi-ness with media and personal promotion that the other three don’t have. Megan needed to manage an image for employment, the boys have tried to actively distance the media from their lives. Megan has also needed to know how to read a room and adjust to perceptions so she could remain employed. I don’t think she will get caught in too many of Kate’s games if there are any. If anything, I could see Kate trying to ride the goodwill coattails Megan creates – let Megan do the work, then have Kate show up for some of the glory.
@Oh_Dear so true! Meghan hasn’t reached this far in life by being a lazy one. She’s always gotten to know people (I remember the guys behind Coveteur arranged for their people to build and maintain her website). Meghan seems interesting and interested. I think she’ll be fine. She’s a canny one.
Did you see the tabloids the weeks before the wedding?? Daddy, daddy, daddy; ex-boyfriends; old pictures. The evidence that Meghan has any idea how to handle the British tabloids was put to rest the past few weeks. They can chew her up and spit her out, and no one can do a thing about it.
Meghan had a horrible first part of the week with her crazy dad and half siblings… and then Prince Charles steps in and it all fades away. I don’t think Meghan was unaware as to how to counter her crazy white family and she definitely had a part on changing the narrative.
Royals set their own work schedules, both the royals and courtiers have said so for years. Kate chooses to be lazy.
Kate is a child-woman who had no other desire than to be William’s wife. Her lack of work ethic and drive, her college girl persona, her lack of a real education, is the antithesis of what Megan is and will be as she takes on her new role. She is smart, driven, compassionate and a quick learner. I foresee great things coming from both her and Harry.
St Andrews and Malborough are what you would call a lack of a real education? OhKay then…. They both did well at school/university. The difference is, Kate didn’t show an interest in much after graduating – except for sports, she does excel in her sporting activities.
Maybe the healthy competition will be good for Kate.
Sorry, I wasn’t clear – Kate studied at a great school but there’s a world of difference between art history and international relations, and she showed no interest in pursuing any kind of career other than chasing William. I hope the competition will spur her on to taking on the duties she has shied away from to date.
OMG to a lot of comments . Yes MM married her Prince … and that would not change something in the BRF. She won’t be in the future no major player… and Will & Kate won’t change for her because she is technically a lesser rank.
Nothing will change …mainly because the BRF are essentially decorative .
This is just a love marriage, MM didn’t achieve a thing … and won’t because this is not hard work, this is accepting to be a symbolic decorative person… while being paid by British tax payers…
At the end the firm got everyone , if Sophie ( a highly educated diplomat with plenty of impressive achievements on the international relationships scene) had to cave in everyone will do!
This is just a new duchess royal ( as backward as the title itself sound …)
Agreed. Meghan is not single handedly going to change the arcane protocol of the BRF. She will get a bit more leeway in certain things, bc she is not married to anyone close in the order of succession, but that’s about it.
Sophie was never a diplomat…
My bad: she created and run her own International PR agency… that’s the definition of accomplished.
In comparison MM is lovely but her main achievement was a role in suits
To put in perspective how far you have to go with your own beliefs and achievement …
In someone like Sophie had to … imagine what someone like MM would have to put up with
That was my point
Sophie has done just fine. Two healthy kids, huge house, works twice as much as Kate but still doesn’t work anywhere near 40 hours a week. Why are we to think this would be a bad life?
Protocol is protocol. It isn’t difficult to learn and in this family, it is mostly about keeping the peace. Charles created The Prince’s Trust; he isn’t going to stop his new daughter-in-law from doing what she wants in this role. Especially if 1) she is smart enough to go to Charles for advice and 2) she and her mum embrace Charles and Camilla in the lives of any future grandkids.
This is a lot of fanfiction and irrational dreams…. Charles has already top consultants working for him. I doubt he needs a former suitcase girl of a TV show…
The thing that is apparently misunderstood on this website is the BRF ” accepted” MM IN SPITE of her flaws ( trash family, no prestigious achievement at 36, divorced, actress… and not a top one c list is being generous , friends with real Tv shows actors, etc etc)
No the other Way around( they were not waiting for her)
If anyindication , the way the Queen looked at her at the wedding is a good indication of her future… this girl is in big trouble
And an other thing : as cute as harry & Meghan are they are minor members of the RF: no crucial or important role will be given to them
There is just ONE expectation hanging over Meghan: Make no waves and blend in
Another thing: she is not so popular in Britain so that again is a good indication of her future role
Those threads are starting to become incredibly ridiculous
The BRF has no moral ground to stand on. Denigrate her career as much as you want, but she worked an honest career and she worked hard. They accepted workshy, lazy party girl Kate Middleton; a woman like Meghan who earned her own way in this world (like Sophie) is a welcome and refreshing change. They’re lucky she agreed to marry Harry frankly.
I’m not under the impression she’s supposed to change the royal family. I do hope she’s going to work a lot harder than we’ve seen from some royals in her age group.
You’re misreading. I didn’t say Charles would go to her for advice; I wrote that if she’s smart, she’ll go to Charles for advice. Get him On Side and all. If she has a desire to start a charity, like Sentebale, she’ll do so with Charles helping her.
Minor in regards to line of succession, but not in prominence in the family. They will be 1/3 of the working royal family for the next 30 years. Tabloid interest in them will drop off in 10-15 years, but they’re still going to be 1/3 of the Firm until W&K’s kids are mid-30s. Pretty cushy life, with a side opportunity of doing some good while living a one percenters lifestyle.
As much as it upsets some from the Commonwealth, it looks like they’ve been assigned Commonwealth as their workload. That means W&K in Europe, H+M in Commonwealth. For decades. And that is not an insignificant role.
You do understand that tumblr and the DM are not indicative of popularity in the UK, don’t you? While fewer people in the UK watched this wedding than W&K, it was still something like 18 million in the UK. So there are 18 million in the UK who disagree about your opinion on the popularity of Harry and Meghan.
Truthful, 1000 thumbs up to you.
Some should read the book “Lets get this class War Started” by Chris Hedges. MM fits right in.
So there will be tours of commonwealth countries? But what about the mundane side, cutting ribbons at manufacturing plants in different parts of England or senior homes? It won’t be all Invictus and overseas tours.
Princess lessons and feminism in a Givenchy dress
styled by the BRF
clothes paid for by Charles (most likely)
his name, his country, his religion, his family, his house, his rules
soon kids, look good, wear nice clothes.
😉
And the only reason you even has this stage is cause you married a famous man. Not due to your own accomplishments.
Yes. Feminist. /absurd
I don’t think you understand that feminism is not judging women for the choices they make. I see nothing wrong with her new life if it’s what she wants and isn’t naive about it.
Do you seriously not see the irony in praising her for being a feminist when looking at her recent choices? A quick reminder: this post is about Princess Lessons! 😉
For me feminism is about economic, social and political equality. Who do you think is calling the shots in their marriage regarding all this?
IMO she is a smart, accomplished, beautiful woman, but she is not a feminist icon, considering her recent choices.
@elisa
Again feminism is about respecting other women’s choices. Meghan seems happy with her new life. Her getting married to a Prince doesn’t make her any less of a feminist. Feminism is fluid and doesn’t have one definition.
Also Princess lessons is probably more like royal pr tips. I see nothing wrong with it.
@ Jessica : I think you should look into feminism definition. It is more about championing equality in every aspect socially, economically and politically than no judging other woman.
Judging a woman who pretend being a feminist icon all while waving in pantyhose and taking princess lessons… isn’t anti feminist… it’s just being critical.
Her choice isn’t the one a feminist would have made, while I respect every choices I am very critical toward such a hypocritical stand.
Again: look up to feminism definition
@Jessica: good for her if she is happy marrying into the BRF. But: her choice also makes her part of the one of the most elitist, unequal, unnecessary institutions in Western society.
For me feminism is about equality. If she focusses on feminism in her agenda in the future, she will speak from quite an unequal position. IMO a major dilemma to make her message believable. Poor Jason. 😛
“If she focuses on feminism in her agenda in the future, she will speak from quite an unequal position.” This is the way of the world, a hard truth. Those who have more also have more influence in righting social wrongs and lending financial support to movements and charities that seek to right those wrongs. You can deny her the label “feminist” but doing so does not negate her new standing in the upper echelons of philanthropists and social justice champions like, yeah I’m gonna say it, George Clooney, bartender extraordinaire. So, people can continue to hate the player, but it is a waste of time and energy to hate the game. And, believe me, after watching her last Saturday, I can tell you right now, she doesn’t give damn what you call her. Carry on, Meghan.
Very well written Olenna.
@truthful
I don’t know who you think you are but I really dont care. You don’t get to decide who is and isn’t a feminist.
If Meghan is a self-identifying feminist that wants to champion women’s rights then it makes no sense to argue against it. She isn’t Melania Trump.
So obvious that no one has a word to say about all the other people who married in to royal families, changed religions, changed countries, even changed languages, and are feminists…
Maxima, Mary, Rania don’t go around calling themselves feminists. Meghan does, while making choices that make her an 18th century wife who, if she divorces, doesn’t even get to keep her own kids. That is the very clear difference.
Yes, they do, in both words and deeds, but you just keep pretending they don’t. While also choosing to change countries, languages, often religions, and marrying into families where the royal spouse has more rights to the kids than they do.
@ Trixie: Ditto
Plus one another Major point: these ladiesare Queens and rulers…
@Jessica:
I think I am just a person using the vocabulary according to its actual definition, as delimited by its proper dictionary sense.., not the one I am making up on the side. This is who I think I am
Truthful you’ve just outed yourself as knowing next to nothing about how royalty works. A Queen Consort is not “Queen” nor is she ever going to rule or reign anything in her own right. The way you’re writing, we should be even more appalled by women who choose to marry heirs to the throne.
We have multiple women (plus Daniel) who married in to different royal families, whether they become future Queen Consorts or whether they marry further down the line (Alexandra, Marie, Meghan, Mabel). People with professions and work ethics who left behind careers (sometimes language, religion, country) to marry the person they love. In doing so, they embraced the platform that gives them to try to do some good in this world. Go see Princess Mabel and GirlsNotBrides as an example.
You see, it just doesn’t work. As often as you try to set her apart as wrong and evil, Meghan isn’t. She is like the others who have married in, made this choice, and hopefully do something useful while they’re there. The odd man out here is Kate Middleton, with her complete lack of life, CV, or work ethic. It isn’t that Meghan is so different from the others; it is that her joining the BRF has shown just how badly Kate Middleton and her lack of achievements really stands out in the field of recent married-ins to royal families.
It seems the queen wants to avoid the same mistakes they made with Kate. Meghan, at least, had a work ethic before joining the royal family. If she makes a positive impact then it will be interesting to see if Kate’s keenness takes off too.
I expect some maternity leave pap strolls with Kate and the kids over the next few months if Meghan generates a lot of interest when she starts her royal duties.
It isn’t the Queen or Charles who made mistakes with W&K. W&K are two lazy adults who choose to do whatever they want. In William’s case he actively goes against advice because he is wrongly convinced he knows better.
If Harry and Meghan are choosing to take all they advice they can get from the people in charge? Good.
Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. So she calls herself a feminist and a humanitarian and identifies as by racial. I’m not seeing it. She’s done very little if anything to convince me.
How come this is so important to you. You are neither from the US nor from the UK. Why do you bother? What should Meghan have done in the 5 Days since joining the BRF?
And even if she walks the talk, that will not make any difference to you, now will it?
Comments/opinions from the US are irrelevant to the monarchy. The UK and the Commonwealth are their bases.
That does not answer my questions. But I strongly believe that any comment or opinion expressed on the internet is irrelevant to the BRF.