Back in February, the Duchess of Sussex flew to New York for about five days. Most of the trip was just an excuse to hang out with her friends, enjoy some NYC hotspots, and have a somewhat low-key baby shower. Her friends picked up the tab, with Amal Clooney sharing a private jet to and from New York and Serena Williams paying for the luxury hotel suite. I thought at the time – and I still think now – that the trip was mostly about Meghan needing a break from the stuffy a–holes in London. She was being nitpicked to death over everything and she just needed a break. Plus, the trip emphasized that she’s not going to endlessly stay in the UK and just be abused – she was flaunting her global power and the interest she gets around the world. And yes, it was a “celebrity” move. She wasn’t hiding for several days, so she looked like a glamorous movie star, going in and out of hotels and restaurants and such.
Of course the reaction to all of that was swift, racist and stupid. People were so salty about “the expense” of the trip (her friends paid for most of it) and how she looked like a “celebrity” (duh, she is a celebrity), and how British women would never (Kate had a baby shower). But here’s something I guess I never considered – maybe Meghan didn’t even know there would be any controversy? Maybe she was told after the fact?
Do as the Brits do! Duchess Meghan’s opulent February baby shower in New York City was met with varied reviews by the British media — and mixed feelings by the royal family.
“Meghan is still struggling with the press in London. She was made aware that Kensington Palace and the royal family, that’s not the way they do it with a big, flashy baby shower like the one she had in NYC,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly, noting that the Duchess of Sussex, 37, didn’t receive “a scolding” for her soiree in the states, but was informed that it strays from the norm.
Yeah… I think she knew what she was doing. It was part of her larger plan, especially since it came on the heels of the now-infamous People Magazine cover story where her friends spoke on the record. And I pity the stuffy courtier who was sent to tell Meghan that “we don’t do things like that” after her trip. It gives me pleasure to imagine her withering look. Those courtiers are really doing the most to assure the public that they’ll “put Meghan in her place.” And she continues to make them look like incompetent, petty a–holes.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Despite her deserving to share that time with friends the optics were never going to be good on this. Meghan has to learn which battles are winnable. She’s got a long hard road ahead.
As long as Meghan is a WOC the optics will never be good to certain people for anything she does. Goalposts will constantly be moved to keep approval just out of reach.
I hope Meghan continues to live her best life unbothered.
OMG this is sooo true. I hope she decides not to stay in the ever constricting box they’re building for her.
I agree. Nothing Meghan does will be good enough for some people. She’s a biracial, divorced, American actress who married one of the world’s most beloved bachelors. The hate will always be strong because some people believe that someone like Meghan should not be royalty, even though the BRF has been corrupt and shady for centuries. Everything she does will be criticized unfairly while other members of the family get away with worse behavior.
Private event paid for with private dollars. The courtiers can stuff it.
@Weaver
So true and I love how elegantly and succinctly you phrased that. When you’re a WOC, you have to really set your own standard otherwise you will drive yourself crazy.
Not only a woman of color but an American and from Hollywood. It’s the trifecta from those royals worst nightmares.
Exactly. This bicoastal woman is allowed to travel for a baby shower for her first child and visit with friends. What a bunch of haters!
This narrative again after the successful Global Baby shower story.
Yawn.
I stopped buying US weekly when I read that one of Trumps friends was in on the purchase of it ,after or around the election.
I agree but Meghan can’t completely ignore the optics because at the end of the day the people of the UK are funding her lifestyle. The racist media, online trolls and backstabbing courtiers will never be appeased and the Sussexes owe them nothing. However, the taxpayers matter. Her charities matter. Her children’s futures matter. The royals can’t “live their best lives” as if they existed as private citizens.
I think anyone who wants the best for Meghan can see there is middle ground.
Meghan must fine the middle ground. She is a smart girl so I am sure she will figure all this out. Monicack, you are so correct. The Taxpayer, Mr. John Q. Public, is who really matters.
Sure the taxpayers matter. The royal family is in a strange spot being almost public servants; but very very wealthy ones. I think what a lot of commenters are correctly pointing out is it’s not clear that the average taxpayer was that upset or paid that much attention. The reporters and media stirred it up. And as long as they control the narrative the goal posts will always be moved on Meghan. This is 100% in line with what most WOC face just on a bigger/more fame scale. So if I were here I’d say f it and not play to the media’s narrative. She’ll never win.
But isn’t the whole Royal Family bad optics? There were poor people in England way before Meghan, and gold pianos and castles and crazy wealth concentrated among one family. The only problem with Meghan is she might bring attention to how rigged the system is for the wealthy and the RF doesn’t want people to be reminded of that.
Yami
Great points. I just want Meghan to thrive and balance the luxury and privilege with her role as a public servant.
The UK taxpayer does not ‘fund her lifestyle’. The taxpayer pays for security around the Royals, in the same way as is done for any heads of state. Frogmore is owned by the Crown and so at a stretch one could argue it is akin to public property. But the phrase ‘funding her lifestyle’ is just plain wrong. She is a millionaire in her own right as is Harry (most of his wealth actually came from his mothers estate – so again hard to argue that the taxpayer has dibs) and they pay for their holidays and luxuries out of their own pockets.
Like a lot of us to a greater or lesser degree, the expenses in respect of their work are paid for. I don’t know about you but I do not pay for my office building, my desk, the security staff or the cleaners at my place of work. But in exchange for those perks I work hard. And of all the criticisms that have been lobbed at Meghan, being a slacker has never been one of them.
The English monarchy has existed since 1603. And taxpayers have been funding it pretty much from the start. Meghan joined the family in 2018. I say if English taxpayers take issue with how the BRF spends money then do something about it. But to center the convo around Meghan and “optics” is unfair.
Meghan earned a good salary on Suits but certainly not enough to pay for the lifestyle that she lives, including the clothing that she wears, now. Harry inherited around £10m from Diana – a good amount, but certainly nowhere near enough to keep them both in the lifestyle they live now. Their expenses have been paid by the Duchy of Cornwall, which is a quasi-public body from which Charles has used the income to pay for his and his family’s private and public expenses.
Going forward, some of their expenses will be met by the Sovereign Grant, which is a percentage of the income from the Crown Estates. Every penny of Crown Estate income that is not paid to the royals goes to the Treasury and is spent on the British public.
I agree that it is unfair to focus the conversation around Meghan, but there is a link between the money that is spent on the royals and the British people.
By the way, I do agree that there is middle ground. I do not mean to sound like I think what you are saying is unreasonable – I don’t. I just don’t think the whole taxpayer argument actually holds water. The Royals bring more money to the British economy than they take away. The monarchy is a huge tourist draw. If it were not, make no mistake, it would be long gone.
Katherine
Again, good points. But it’s just like the excessive spending on clothing. Meghan can find some middle ground between the optics and living her best duchess-y life. She’s smart, beautiful and compassionate. I have no doubt she’ll hit on the right personal and professional strategy before long.
@Ads, the royals do not bring in more money in tourist income than they cost us. Tourists don’t come to the UK because we have royals living here (other than the small bump we get for things like royal weddings, but that’s not enough to justify £200m+ every year), they come to see the buildings. The Tower of London is by far the most visited “royal” tourist attraction, and there haven’t been royals living there for centuries.
Sorry, but I call BS on this argument. If you say that she should be mindful of the optics and sensitive to the taxpayers, then getting other people to pay for the majority of the costs is being sensitive to the taxpayers. Unless the optics is, “You can’t have rich friends” and “How dare your rich friends are nice to you!”. Which again is BS. because if your friends are Serena Williams and Amal Clooney, then you have rich friends and they can afford to treat you nice! Not to mention her friend Nisha is engaged to a billionaire. Again this is so tiresome that this non-story is being pushed by the press.
The royal family finances are basically an elaborate shell game designed to stay one step ahead of a mobilization of republicans and anti-monarchists making a concerted push to abolish the monarchy. Yes, they have money and yes, they spend money but they try to do so behind an imaginary curtain so no one sees or connects the dots and in that sense they are all about optics vs reality. The queen takes the train to Sandringham (she’s frugal!) vs look, the queen owns a gold piano (whoops!). Meghan didn’t invent these games but she does have to play them, same as the rest of them do. It seems to me that the two people whose opinion matters in this instance would be the queen and prince Charles, as they are the ones currently holding the purse strings (no, Meghan and Harry are not living off of her Suits residuals-ha!). If they have a problem with the optics of the shower, and told her so, then she has to listen, simple as that. If not, then 🤷🏻♀️
Ads
Thank you for laying out your points so well and so respectfully. #teamduchess 😊
Valiantly
I don’t think I’m being unfair by wanting to discuss the intersection between public perception and autonomy when it comes to the royals. Meghan’s current predicament is an excellent case study because not only does it touch on the glaring hypocrisy of monarchy but it involves racism, classism and misogyny as well. The duchess is working under constraints that would have stifled a less courageous and vibrant woman. But it’s ridiculous to think there’s no room in the discussion for considering ways in which she could better protect herself going forward.
MsTam
Lol at you calling bs on a personal opinion from a Meghan supporter.
@Tina, please do your research before calling bs. Try checking out: https://brandfinance.com/images/upload/bf_monarchy_report_2017.pdf or some other reliable source. The benefit to the UK economy is estimated by some to be up to £1.8 billion. I cannot find a single source that suggests that the Monarchy costs the UK money. The discussion tends to be around how much it contributes not whether it contributes at all.
Gut instinct is never a reliable basis for drawing conclusions. There is real information out there if you care to look.
Baytampa I agree, finding middle ground is crucial. Not caring about PR is not good at all
@Ads, Brand Finance has estimated the “Charlotte effect” to the UK children’s clothing market to be £1 billion. Anyone who has any knowledge of retail will know how utterly improbable this number is. This is a very silly number from a very silly source. And if you’re looking for realistic figures about the UK monarchy, I suggest you try republic.org.uk.
👍, 100%.
@Tina, I note you do not debate the point about the issue being how much revenue the BRF drives in the UK economy rather than whether they contribute at all.
As to your dismissal of brandfinance, they are cited by fullfact.org – an independent and unbiased fact checking charity. Unlike republic.org.uk which is open about its desire to see an end to the Monarchy (a desire which I share ironically enough!).
@Ads, my issue with brand finance and all of these figures is that they do not take into account what people would have done anyway. People will have bought clothing for their children anyway, they just might choose a different brand. That £550m from tourism wouldn’t have just gone away without the royals. Only for a very small percentage of royal nuts would they not have come to the UK without the presence of a royal family. It’s in brand finance’s interest to pretend that all of this would just go away without the royals, but that simply isn’t the case.
@Tina Your example of the most popular tourist attraction, most likely owes some of it’s popularity to the monarchy, and the fact they are still here. The Tower of London, if you haven’t been there in a while the longest line is for the Royal Jewels. If you get rid of the monarchy how popular would it be in the future? Who knows? To quantify how much the monarchy brings to the UK is quite difficult. However, all the crazy royal touristy stuff which is sold also makes some money or no one would make it to sell. Personally, I will say I enjoyed visiting the royal attractions in London, and yes it was a draw for my trip. My guess is I’m not alone. The real key is if the size and cost of the royal family is worth it, and I’d think that is something Brits could decide.
I agree. Not everything is about her being a WO-M-C. ( I added the “mixed” here. In my part of the world, being part black does not make you a non white, but a mixed race. The wOC term always seems very racist to me)
The firm has a way of doing and appear. They’ve been doing it for years, for generations. One can’t seriously hope to not to have to adapt one’s ways and change everything overnight.
And sorry, while it was good for gossip and entertainment, well it was very American star, not English royal.
She’s a black woman and a WOC. WOMC sounds foolish and your reasoning sounds racist.
WOC isn’t a racist term so I have no idea why you have that idea.
I call b.s, on the story and the supposed spending story.
I still don’t buy the alleged amount on spending story or the alleged worry about a baby shower.
Just more diversion by the press back to Meghan.
Did anyone see the number days worked story in Hello! I won’t say who worked the least since the beginning of the year, but it certainly was not pregnant Meghan.
@90sgirl ITA. US lost all credibility (and most of its sources) when it was bought by Trump-supporting AMI which also owns the National Enquirer. US should be taken as seriously as the Daily Fail.
And yes that Hello story/graphic was great and I encourage everyone to go watch it. Not surprising at ALL who has the lowest work numbers so far this year.
@Valiantly Varnished I am British. I was born in London. I’m no scholar but I’m pretty sure the English Monarchy has been extant since at least the 10th century. Land tax came into being in the late 17th century and Income taxation as we understand it today was not introduced until the late 18th century. The origins of the wealth of the RF are not necessarily based in meritocracy but it is certainly not derived from the taxpayer. You are just plain wrong on that.
Again though, I take the point about optics. But let’s not get it twisted; a lot of people are screaming about the taxpayer now simply because they take umbrage at Meghan being an official member of the BRF.
Thank you! This isn’t just about optics and taxpayers. It’s about certain people having issues with Meghan enjoying privileges they don’t think she deserves.
I think Meghan’s great, and always have, but I do take issue with people pretending that the royals take no money from the public purse just because they want to defend Meghan at all costs.
I call b.s. on all that whole story.
But that blue maternity coat in the top pic is gorgeous.
I hope we never see a ‘lesser’ Megs. I want her to do her 150% and ignore the pearl clutchers lol.
I’m sorry but that baby shower gave me life. The breathless media reporting and paparazzi frenzy was like a big middle finger to those royal courtiers. It was so exciting at the time. I hope she does another surprise American appearance.
I loved every minute of it too. I’m glad she got the chance to unload about 800 recently acquired pounds of hatred. She must have felt great after that weekend.
I honestly don’t get what the big deal is. It was paid for almost exclusively by her friends. So what if she wanted a fancy schmancy party for her first baby. More power to her, I say. She clearly needed the time away/huddle up with her friends.
She was happy. That’s their problem. The trolls want her curled up in the fetal position crying ang regretting the day she ever met Harry.
ITA, Kumquat! RRs and people who hate Meghan were so happy thinking they had really put her in her place. And they were SO upset that not only was she not off hiding in a a corner crying, but she was completely unbothered and out having a great time with her friends in celebration of her baby. They’ll never forgive for not letting them bring her down. lol!
Me too! I had so much fun looking at all of the photos.
Does someone have the link to these photos?? I missed out on them!:/
Same. As an American, this is what I want from my royalty. I like the pomp and stuffiness but I love extravagance and excitement.
It’s not like other royals don’t pal around with celebrities, just nobody really cares about them so they don’t get media attention. As others have commented, William and Kate have benefitted from connections to take expensive vacations, not to mention the Yorks. But when the biracial interloper does it it’s pearl clutching vulgarity. The hypocrisy is very real here.
I was overjoyed that her friends gave her some much needed love.
I’m officially tired of this narrative. Her friends threw her a baby shower in her home country at their expense. I don’t care how many baby showers she had-it didn’t cost anyone anything and isn’t that what people are up in arms over?? How much she supposedly spends?? All this does is make the courtiers look incredibly bad, which is a perception that’s going to stick.
Seriously…. what was “the cost” to Brits? Her security guards? They’d be on task no matter WHEREVER she goes, WHENEVER she goes ANYWHERE. I would bet anything the cost of their rooms/meals/etc were picked up by her friend(s) as well (as in blocking out a floor of rooms for Meghan, her staff, and all her friends that attended so no one else had access to that floor for security reasons). So what “cost” are they moaning about?
It all comes down to ONE thing: and we ALL know what that is.
“Optics”??? Why don’t we talk about TQ in front of that gold piano a bit more? Or the cost of a couple of Charles’ custom made suits, shirts, and shoes? Or his taking private planes (and HIS carbon footprint) Or Camilla’s (and all of HER bespoke clothes)? What about the cost of securing Camilla’s private residence, separate from Charles’? Or Sophie’s clothes?
Hmmm…. I wonder…. ppffbbtt! I’m stumped. Can someone help me out? :/sarcasm
Agree with all that you say except the bit on the gold piano.
QEII did not go out and buy herself a gold piano. The gold piano has probably been in Buck House for over 200+ years. The museum quality contents of Buck House are not owned by the sovereign wearing the crown but by the CROWN! It cost the same amount of money to tune and maintain said gold piano no matter who is playing it; Theresa May, Rees-Mogg Person, Chucky or QEII, take you pick. If I were QEII I would roll that gold piano out in front Buck House, douse it with gasoline and throw a match with the song Disco Inferno from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack blaring in the background, “BURN BABY BURN”. I am sure this action would make many in the UK very happy; destroying a museum quality antique piano. As a matter of fact, I think there would be a sh-t load of people willing to pay good money for a ticket for a front row seat to see such an event spectacle.
jan90067, I mean none of this to you personally, I just do not understand the hate involved in the piano story
IMHO, Turnip Toffgate is the weirdest British Family Royal story in years but Gold Pianogate is the stupidest British Family Royal story of all time.
Where is this energy for what all the other royals spend? Why just Meghan? This is where the hypocrisy lies.
I feel like the media and royal correspondents are more obsessed with Meghan than the general public. Outside of social media and tabloids, not many people cared about this baby shower. There are real tragedies going on in the world, and I wish that people would stop hyping this event up as something horrible. This 24/7 Meghan coverage is just making her more famous and interesting to a lot of people who never cared about the Royal Family.
Also, I thought the shower was awesome. I hope Meghan doesn’t allow any of this negativity to steal her joy.
Exactly.
I reaaalllyy love the all black (or maybe partially navy) look. I never buy black boots or black purses. But I’m digging those.
Was it opulent? Maybe a bit. Was it over the top? Compared to ‘normal’ people, sure. But at the end of the day – it’s not really her fault. Had she said “hey, keep it lowkey and nothing too fancy” does anyone REALLY think her friends would have listened? Because I know I told mine to just do a simple hangout for my bachelorette a couple years back (they know I’m not a club goer) and they planned a huge game night following a day traveling from winery to winery on a “wine bus”. For us fresh out of college that was a HUGE deal. So no, I don’t think there was much Meghan could have done to have prevented them from lavishing her with gifts/activities. And if they have the money and access to do that – that’s great. Nobody went outside of their means to do it.
“And if they have the money and access to do that – that’s great.”
But you see Erinn that is precisely what is eating so many of these people up inside. They can’t stand that Meghan refuses to know her place. And her and her friends go around flaunting themselves around New York like rich American show offs. Plus the fact that she and so many of her friends are women of colour??? Ohmigod I mean that is by definition déclassé dontcha know!
“Refuses to know her place”?!?!?! What is her place? Dressing in clothes from Target? Not making friends with anyone who might be a billionaire? She has found her place and has done it very successfully. This shower was a private event but because she has some good friends who are celebrities and sports stars of COURSE the press would be all over them. Thank comment reeks of racism.
“And [her] SHE and all her friends go around flaunting themselves around NY like rich American showoffs…”. Since when is having the paps follow and photograph you like a pack of hounds wherever you go “flaunting yourself”? She is a celebrity and has handled herself with class and dignity and it’s HER business who she socializes with on a private basis. My guess is she has any number of “normal” friends too, i.e. non-famous and middle-class.
Yeah, honestly. There’s clearly not much more to it than that. They might also have issue with her being American, divorced, whatever. But I can’t see the majority of the hate about this being anything more than racist at this point.
@Jaded – I took those points as Ads being tongue-in-cheek. I think shes’ saying that is what the CRITICS of this are thinking/saying.
ADS was mocking people who think and say those things, Jaded.
For me the only problem is she’s not a celebrity like Beyonce but a royal and what feels great for Bey isn’t great for Meghan. If she did it privately – another story but it’s so easy to hide in New York and she gave a middle finger.
The shower wasn’t publicized. Her friends took her on a trip, and she looked glam doing it. God. Can you imagine being super busy while pregnant, being criticized for everything you do, and your friends an ocean away want to sweep you away for a few days, and even getting shit for THAT? Ugh.
Listen, I’m 100% Team Meghan, but that shower was a glossy, completely PR’d affair. I work in media and when I saw that there were coordinated “arrivals” complete with limos, stanchions and a red carpet at the hotel (Arrivals = PR-speak for photogs and reporters usually reserved for movie openings and special events) I knew instantly that her American friends had intentionally alerted the media. That was no accident or coincidence. They were told where and when it was going down. She could have gone through the back door, etc., (New York is no stranger to those who want to go way down low), but they wanted to be seen.
And that’s not a bad thing. She’s been completely trampled by the British media and thrown under the bus by her jealous, hypocritical in-laws (I’m looking at you, Bill), so they wanted a show of force.
So good luck to the naive courtiers who “made her aware” of her faux pas. Sorry fellas, but this is the way it’s gonna be for the rest of her life. Get used to it.
We. Are. Not. Sending. The. Black. Duchess. Through. The. Back. Door. Get. It?
Precisely. Tell that to the courtiers.
I disagree with you on this @anon. If the press had been “tipped off” by her PR like you claim, then why didn’t they know what day the shower would be held? There was all kinds of speculation as to whether the shower would be Tuesday or Wednesday so the press staked out the hotel both days. They didn’t know when it was going down or if it had already occurred. Also, if it was staged, the why no interview, why no pictures, why no photos from inside other than on people’s IG? Why no step and repeat for the celebrities, such as they were, to pose in front of? As far as the stanchions, etc. NYC police put those there because the hotel said the press was blocking the entrance. Other people were staying there besides Meghan. My personal thought is someone at the hotel tipped off the press. Or it could have been someone associated with the other guests who tipped off the press but I doubt it because I’m sure she told them to keep it low key.
@anon lololol I’m a TV journalist. Of course she used it to her advantage, but do I think they organized the whole thing FOR the press coverage? No. I don’t think celebrating with girlfriends and using it as a PR opportunity have to be mutually exclusive. These are ALL media-savvy women who know what they’re doing, and are used to their life being center stage. They can want to do something together for genuine reasons and use it as an opportunity to make a point.
I keep hearing that Meghan is black. She’s not, sorry but she’s mixed with very light skin, that most of the population in Europe would say she’s white, she looks like Pippa.
We don’t have the one drop rule history here, which is very racist. She doesn’t look like Obama or Beyoncé, no one would know her mother was black if the media didn’t mention it.
I’m sure she did not experience the dark skin black experience while growing up.
The UK is the country in Europe where you have the most mixed couples/kids.
The UK is a very class society (I’m French, it is very different here as we no longer have a royal family) so the fact that she doesn’t come from old wealth, she’s american, a divorcee, and an actress is enough to get a lot of backlash. Her being mixed is irrelevant
What really shocks me as a black French woman is that she married Harry, famous for his racist slurs & nazi costumes
How did YOU determine that and decide on your very own that Meghan isn’t black? She is biracial, and one half of that is black and the other white. You can’t take away her ‘blackness’ no matter how much you want to.
So what if she doesn’t look like obama? You think ALL biracial people look the same? How ignorant and dumb. Go take a course in genetics and also, in history.
SMDH.
To be fair a lot of the Meghan fans are Americans who are used to the one drop rule . Unheard of in Europe or Brazil for that matter. I remember when Zara entered clubs she entered in the back to avoid press. Beatrice entered in the front and was called a tacky press hungry b$#^ . I don’t see how this is different
Intheknow
Ignorant and dumb? That’s not nice.
The op didn’t decide Meghan isn’t black. Meghan has publicly stated she doesn’t consider herself black. She says she is a biracial woman who is proud of both sides of her racial makeup. I think she has every right to identify as such, as it’s a personal choice. Meghan obviously embraces and is embraced by poc and as a woc that brings joy to my heart. But don’t attack the op for her views. Better to engage in more meaningful dialogue about race, identity, colorism and privilege.
to intheknow
You sound very upset
Meghan doesn’t associate with black, she says she’s mixed/biracial
Exactly what I said
to Stephanie Hawkins
British don’t want the royal family act like celebrities. They want them to be descrete. They should represent the British people & the queen and not seek for personal PR
Oh for goodness sake! Meghan herself said that she was bi racial African-American. You and I are not equipped to tell any person of colour how they identify themselves. Do you actually think that all black people look the same in America? Do you think all Africans are dark skinned? Really? I think you need to rethink your statement. You didn’t mean to be prejudiced but that doesn’t excuse your biased antiquated beliefs.
Amandine
Your statement is untrue and negative. Meghan associates with people of different races/ethnicities. Tell Serena Williams she isn’t black. Meghan doesn’t have to choose her friendships based on public opinion.
LOOOOL at Europeans explaining how they are not racist. We see how ya’ll act about your own immigration issues. Not to mentioned colonizing the entire damn planet. But sure, it’s all about class.
Meghan is black. She says she’s black. We’re not erasing that part of her.
To HilaryRose
This sounds like a very touchy subject in the US.
Sorry if I didn’t make myself clear enough, but I really said that she was mixed and not black so I don’t understand why you are reacting this way. Colorism is real, everywhere. Plus Meghan tried really hard to erase some of her more “black” features: hair & nose
With people like HilaryRose & intheknow (who actually doesn’t know anything outside of the US or town) they will keep supporting Hollywood to cast people like Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone… The same, she said she was mixed and not black.
Why are people in the US being so sensitive about that?
Being mixed/biracial is not negative, but please stop saying the UK is racist because she’s black. She’s not black and coming from an american person this is silly, the UK is a lot less racist than the US, they don’t have the KKK and the police doesn’t kill black people with full impunity.
You both speak english but you have very different cultures & the same can be said about your perception of the royal family. They are no celebrities. With a referendum similar to Brexit, they could be out, with over spending like the royal family in Russia did, they could be out, after the death of the Queen, they could be out. They can’t afford to rub the british taxpayers off, they hold the power not Meghan, Harry, William, Charles or the American fans
The bi-racial/black conversation is in ongoing dialogue in the black community. There are bi-racial people who identify just as black and there are bi-racial people who identify as bi-racial and then there are people who or more fluid depending on other variables.
That being said, Meghan has openly, repeatedly stated that she is bi-racial. For many of us in the black/bi-racial/afro-Latino community, that speaks miles to how she interprets her experience as a woman of color.
I see posters in this thread hollering that she’s black but she herself has said that she is bi-racial, and we should be respectful of her identity, the way she choose to identify, and the privilege that she has to be able to identify in 1) a way that feels comfortable to her and 2) aligns with how she sees herself vs how the overall public sees her.
There are many prominent public figures that don’t “look bi-racial” (language which is problematic) but “more black” (Obama, Jordan Peele) and are therefore treated as such. Then you have other figures (Meghan Markle, Troian Bellisario) who are bi-racial and extremely white-passing and are therefore treated as such with immense privilege.
It’s a really tricky subject so how people self identify (barring Rachel Dolezal) should really be respected.
And Amandine, I really resent this presumption that England is immune from the problem of racism that exists in the United States. Do you speak to black Britons? Have you asked them to recount their experiences to you? I can tell you from firsthand experience living in the UK in my early 20s/dating a white British man that racism is alive and well in the UK, it’s just more easily disguised as classism. I highly recommend that you watch this clip featuring Emma Watson and Renni Eddo-Lodge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JklR7jZT-zU
Hotsauce
*standing ovation*
she’s not black, she’s bland
This seems to me to be very similar to the debate that happened when France won the World Cup last year. Americans were shocked that the French players wanted to call themselves purely French, no matter their background, and the French players hated that Americans wanted to call them Algerian-French, etc.
@Hotsauce
I am about Meghan’s complexion, and I assure you that I was not treated with “extreme privilege” growing up in an all-white space. Nor am I now. So, be careful how you generalize, too.
@tina uh I don’t remember Americans giving a crap about the World Cup because we generally don’t care about soccer. Much less how teams in a sport we’re not into racially and culturally identify themselves. But that being said I wouldn’t point to France as some sort of model here.
And I have to say I keep being surprised by the notion that keeps coming up here that Europeans aren’t racist or are more into class or nationality than race. (And it’s not like classism or nationalism are great looks tbh) Yes I’m American. But I’ve travelled through Europe extensively including living in England and France for 6 month assignments. Y’all racist. Call it whatever you want but you don’t have some other card you can play here. You just seem fixated on making it more polite or something. It’s really mystifying to me. Point to any of the rhetoric around Brexit, or the migrant crisis, or Marine Le Pen. Or I don’t know, Europe’s thousand year history of colonialism?
@Katherine, did I say that one way was better than the other? I was just pointing out differences in the way that the two countries talk about race. Just google “World Cup french players identity,” you’ll see articles from the Atlantic, Washington Post etc. Sure, Europe is racist. So is the US. The racism manifests itself in different ways in each place. In the US, young black men get shot by the police. In Eastern Europe, they make monkey noises at black football players.
And I guess you missed it when there was an exchange between Daily Show host Trevor Noah and the French Ambassador to the US. Trevor Noah said that the World Cup victory for France was an African victory, and (unusually) the French ambassador to the US said. “Unlike the United States of America, France does not refer to its citizens based on their race, religion, or origin.” I didn’t say either approach was better or that there was no racism in Europe, you made that up all on your own.
IMO, Meghan wants acceptance as a human being. She knows her mother is black and her father is white which has given her an insight into both worlds. Ultimately she’s decided to choose being Meghan ( don’t put a labe! on me). This is why I like Meghan. She bucks traditional labels all the time and her entire life. So to all the haters, throw your best labels at her……IMO, it drives her to prove you wrong!
People still talking g about this baby shower. It’s been 2 months lmao. Impact.
They are shook! :-O
Not people, just some of the press, who need a pivot back to Meghan bashing, it’s their favorite sport.
As someone who is sort of anti-shower in general, I don’t understand the controversy on this. Are people pissed that she flew home? That’s probably going to happen fairly often. Do the other royals not spend ridonkulous amounts of money on stupid sh-t? They live in f-ing palaces for chrissakes. Give me a break.
This is the part that both enrages me and cracks me up. the people who live in palaces, literally drape themselves in diamonds for official functions, celebrate their birthdays over the course of months, etc – for those people, this shower was “too much”? LMAO.
Good point. How about the optics of crowns, thrones and having people bow and curtsy to you? But a party in the Mark hotel is what goes beyond the pale.
She was photographed looking happy and glamorous, that’s why people are mad. All the work they’ve been putting in trashing her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and whatever crazy message boards they visit, and it wasn’t even getting her down. Very upsetting to see, I’m sure.
I always hope –knowing better, of course–that when she is “made aware” (passive voice so that we cannot know who is doing the scolding or shaming), Meghan turns, smiles, and says “Thank you so much for sharing your feelings about this. I will take it under advisement. Now, fuck off!” And she gives a little wave of the hand.
How is the baby shower her fault? I can see speaking to her about the clothes budget, but not the shower.
Her baby shower and looks were so iconic and amazing I literally bought those Le Spec sunnies she’s wearing in the photos.
I came to the comments because I wanted an id on those sunnies! So thank you 🙂
Hmm, pity we don’t hear about the ‘scoldings’ another Ducal could get when they abuse a helicopter (paid for by the UK taxpayer) for jaunts between London and Norfolk for shopping trips etc.. Or their several luxury vacations a year, dumping the tax payer with a £1mill bill for renovations to the Middleton family home in the name of ‘security’, giving the Middleton’s free range to raid the Royal Collection’s antique furniture storage so they could furnish their manor with, or how about Royal Security being used to work security for Pippa’s book launch, I could go on.
Exactly. The Middletons are completely flummoxed that they’re not the center of attention anymore. We could also talk about Party Pieces and they enormous boost in business they’ve gotten for being Royal Adjacent. But I suppose we don’t talk about the merchant class, do we?
Plus 1 million!
Wait wait wait…..hold the GD phone. The Middleton’s get to use royal furniture for their home?? Que the eff????
Indeed, IIRC the article framed it in a way that was designed to show how welcoming the RF were to the Mids. It didn’t say how much they got/took, just that the royal storages were opened to them. Its worth noting that most if not all furniture in the various palace’s are actually owned by the Royal Collection not the royal family themselves.
@Kumquat, I am with you on this one. The Middleton’s getting one stick of furniture from the Royal collection would really get my goat as a Tax payer. I am an American and do not view the BRF as the people of the UK do but, “loaning” any furniture in the Royal Collection to a non-Royal Household is really crossing the line of good judgement IMHO.
Oh please – there was no ‘scolding’. That’s just made-up drivel to sell papers.
When people on Twitter complained about them using KP Royal Twitter site to announce Pippas wedding details,many of the Royal journos claimed its perfectly fine.
Anything for those Cambridge’s and Middletons.
After people kept asking why they announced something on KP Twitter, one reporter said it was probably a gift for Pippa.
Still seems odd.
When people on Twitter complained about them using KP Royal Twitter site to announce Pippas wedding details,many of the Royal journos claimed its perfectly fine.
Anything for those Cambridge’s and Middletons.
After people kept asking why they announced something on KP Twitter, one reporter said it was probably a gift for Pippa.
Still seems odd.
The also used the KP press team for Pippas wedding. I was shocked that never recieved the criticism that it should have. Can you imagine if any other royal in laws used the palace press to coordinate their wedding complete with press releases on the bridal attire?
Ah yes I remember that – they did it on the context of announcing George and Char’s involvement in the wedding party but it was really just to boost the lack of interest from the public and media in the wedding which was primarily paid for on the back to deals i.e. you give me freebies I will promote your brand. Story was that Pippa was desperate to get a Hello deal and was turned down, even after that weird press release by the KP team.
@Digital Unicorn, who do you think was the progenitor of Pippa’s wedding; Pippa or Carole? Why did Pippa think (or Carole think) Hello! would be interested in her wedding?
@Bay – I think it was both, Pippa ended up copying Kate with elements of her wedding, Pippa had a flypast of vintage WW2 spitfires. Pippa hustled hard for partners for her wedding but struggled as there was just no interest – she and Carole overestimated the public interest in her and the Middleton family.
The only way Hello would have stumped up for the wedding was if they were guaranteed exclusive photo’s of the Cambridges and/or Meghan – no way Pippa/Carole was going to allow that to happen. Pippa wanted the same big, celebrity type wedding her sister had and on the day had to make do with the Fail being the only outlet that gave her the coverage she desired. Other news sites covered it but as a small footnote.
Why would Pippa want a flypast (fireworks maybe at an evening reception) at her wedding?
Billy & Cathy’s wedding I can understand a flypast as he is in direct line to the throne but Pippa? I guess I do not understand weddings in the UK?
Hopefully my new friends of the celebitchy commentariat are willing to help educate me. New Friends, I thank you in advance for all your help.
Ha ha! I remember the People magazine cover after the wedding which featured a large picture of Kate in that hideous MacQueen bespoke dress, and not Pippa. Poor Pippa 😅.
I doubt it. Also, from the response I saw, the most offensive thing was that British people don’t –do– baby showers, and didn’t want their new duchess being all American.
What a dumb story and what a dumb family. I wish so badly that Harry would say, “Peace out.” IMAGINE HOW MUCH MORE THEY COULD D!
kate had a baby shower. bs
I’m so over this. It was nearly 2 months ago and Polo Baby will be here sooner than we think.
Move on already.
Her friends paid for it. What Serena and Amal choose to do with their money is on them. I don’t care to monitor their pockets.
They want to throw a billion dollar birthday party for a mouse? have fun.
But see this story will be filed away and pulled out time and time again for the British press to maintain a narrative, they want.
It doesn’t matter to them that her friends paid for it to them.
Also, I will say in general one of the aspects of the shower I enjoyed so much was seeing her off duty – seeing a more chic but casual look, seeing where she went to eat , etc. Maybe the actual shower was bad optics (I think it was “bad” optics only because the press made it so), but I think in general seeing royals off duty in such a way once in a while can be beneficial to their image. It was fun to see what she would wear to dinner with her friends.
I enjoyed seeing her off duty too, where she went etc. I loved stories like that around Diana, where she went to lunch with her girlfriends, knowing she liked to do things like we do!
In these stories they ALL look like petty a**holes to me.
And I agree with Lainey, I think the source of all this gossip and animosity is Charles. Playing off two women and trying to side them against each other is so old-fashioned and petty to me, and Charles fits the description.
I don’t think the source is Charles but I also don’t think he is doing nearly enough to put a stop to it. This is soo out of control – he needs to step in, the Cambridges have made it clear they are not going to defend their new SIL esp as the press are painting them in a positive light.
I genuinely can’t believe it’s Charles. What benefit would he have? Considering he seems warmer to Harry and Meg than the Cambridge’s, I don’t buy him doing all this to them.
More like shady/jealous/stuffy courtiers.
Yeah, I don’t think Charles is behind any of this. He certainly isn’t above throwing other family members, including his own kids, under the bus, but I think he’s not specifically behind the issues with Meghan.
It seems like Charles genuinely likes Meghan and appreciates that she promotes his relationship with Harry. But I think more to the point, he and the Queen both get that Meghan’s presence in the family will have a big impact on the monarchy going forward. Not only because she is a woman of color, but also because she’s very obviously a worker bee who will be out shaking hands and opening schools for decades to come.
When TQ did the train trip and joint appearance with Meghan right after the wedding, that was a very clear statement about where she stands.
Nah, Charles finally repaired his relationship with Harry and has nothing to gain by it. The only people who keep getting praised in these smeared articles are the Cambridges. People just don’t want to admit it.
I’ll admit it with you. I agree. I think William is a jealous, uptight and arrogant pos who probably had an affair, is upset at the love he witnessed between Harry and Megs and is jealous of the popularity they have. Can you imagine his face when the Sussex instagram page grew to over 2.5 million. LOL. Oh to be a fly on the wall.
To Willy, Keener when Leaner and the british press, you can’t touch her. So F off.
I’ve had a hard time accepting that the Cambridges are behind this. I have always genuinely liked Wills and Kate. And it seems like borderline psychopathic behaviour to do such a thing to your own brother with whom you share a tragic history centred around precisely the type of harassment Meghan is being subjected to. I mean that is some disturbing shit.
And I can’t lie I am still holding out hope that people are wrong on this one and that the Cambridges are not involved.
Agree.
Yes, I also firmly believe that Charles plays a major role in this and the smear campaign originates in his biography.
KP/the Cambridges are constantly blamed for not doing anything about the media campaign against Meghan (true) but neither Charles nor the Queen – who are both more powerful – did anything about it.
IMO it’s very convenient for Charles that both women get dragged constantly by the media, Harry looks like a weak puppet under Meghan’s thumb, and Wills like a cheater. It makes Charles look like he farts roses. 😉
I don’t think it’s Charles, the ones where Charles is involved are obvious because they paint him as the mediator, and those stories aren’t bad usually…but there is one prince who needs these Meghan stories to deflect from his own story…camp Cambridge is my guess. Otherwise why rehash this story..?
Yeah, I don’t think any of these people are as slick as they think they are, lol. I think its usually pretty obvious to tell from which “camp” certain stories originated. The story over the winter about the brothers having a falling out, and Charles stepping in to save the day? Definitely Charles. the stories about how Meghan is such a gauche American duchess (and the implication is always “compared to Kate”) – I figure those are usually from W&K
There might be more than one purpose (e.g., deflection) but it’s not a coincidence – Meghan is getting hammered again about a baby shower that’s already two months ago – just after the very positive publicity about #GlobalSussesBabyShower.
Someone is incredibly petty, and I don’t believe it’s Charles.
It’s great she has such good friends who are helping her celebrate the joy of becoming a mother for the first time. Good for her and for them! It looked like a blast and these naysayers in the Palace can just stuff it.
Was the entire York family NOT just flown out to and put up in a luxurious hotel in Bahrain by their wealthy friends?! Or is that okay because it was one royal family to another?
Just because they are boring and don’t have a million cameras following them around, doesn’t mean they aren’t all living an ostentatious life. Maybe the Queen never took extravagant private holidays, but the rest of her family sure does.
+1. The Yorks got zero black lash
What about the Cambridges repeated use of the private jet of the late Duke of Westminster (one of William’s god fathers) free of charge, staying in private villa’s on Mustique for free via ‘friends’. Never heard that they got scolded for that.
Exactly, and the DM had loads of comments around how Fergie and Andrew should remarry, are best friends, such a close knit family blah, blah, blah.
Thank you. I was going to say the same thing. Andrew can visit oil barons who are looking for him to influence the UK govt so they give him all expense paid trips but somehow Meghan having her friends throw her a shower in NYC, is bad optics.
The taxpayers should be caring far more about Andrew and his sketchy dealings than what Meghan does with her friends.
Thank you! I was just coming here to say something about Prince Andrew and crew!!!!
Yeah maybe someone ‘at the palace’ needs to MAKE HIM AWARE that avoiding pedos, criminal oligarchs, and other shady and sinister entities might be prudent.
At least Meghan’s friends Serena and Amal, if they were indeed the ones paying for the baby shower party, are not ghouls funding human rights abuses and angling for influence over the UK govt via Meghan. Sweet lord!
Andrew gets away with everything because he is the queen’s favorite and she will make every excuse for him and has done so forever. If you are looking for someone to call out Andrew during the queen’s lifetime I would strongly suggest you not hold your breath. However Charles HATES Andrew and is very much keeping track of his profligate spending. He just has to wait until he’s king to walk Andrew to the edge of a cliff and pitch him over the side (metaphorically, probably). But, still, don’t think any comparison to Andrew is anyone’s strongest argument.
Andrew was doing a number of events that are listed on the court circular. Fergie whose old boyfriend from years ago is a F1 driver has been going to this event for years. Beatrice and Andrew have been to this event a number of years ago. Semi regular attendance for those guys
For heaven’s sake the British will scrutinize everything! She’s an American girl with an American heritage, let the poor girl have a shower with her celebrity friends.
The British media will scrutinise everything. Not the British people.
It feels like groundhogs day. How many times are they going to beat this story?
This story will be beat continuously until Megs gets pregnant with her second child and has a second baby shower. Megs should have the second baby shower at Dumfries House in Scotland and send the bill to Chucky!
I don’t know.
With the mess going on with the Brexit, I think these things are out of touch.
Agree, but not just because of Brexit.
We’re in 2019 and the UK still has a royal family funded by the taxpayers.
More and more people are fed up, they want a republic
You know what? Maybe its time to stop complaining and establish a Republic! I have heard these complaints all my life regarding the optics of the Royal family. If the people have had enough of it, abolish it. I am sure the royal family will still be famous and rich. But it will say a lot about society if the tipping point towards republication revolves around a biracial royal, wealthy in her own right, married to the son of the future king of England! You wish to talk about optic? Class and race is the cancer of not only American society it seems!
First, there is no race, we are all from the same race (i.e.) human beings
In France, we killed our royals in 1789 so yeah it is about time that everyone gets rid of this unjust medieval system.
We all know that they are rich (on the back of the taxpayers & colonies for hundred years, so no merit, they stole their wealth, anyway this is another topic), but could they stop taking taxpayers money for their security, help, refurbishments, weddings, clothing etc and getting these roles representing the British people not because they are smart or good but just because they were born into this family.
Why should anyone bow to anyone? this is ridiculous
When you have an election one never knows what one will end up with. The USA is proof of that. I would take QEII and her family over BloJo and The Orange Person any day of the week.
Not seeing race enables white supremacy. I suggest you use Google to educate yourself on these matters because it is not POC’s job to do so.
I love Meghan but her spending is the only thing I don’t like, and isn’t good for her image. The baby shower is along the lines of when $75,000 was spent on one dress for her engagement picture. I don’t know about you guys, but that would be a third of my mortgage or worth two of my cars. For one dress. The optics don’t look good to a country in which this lifestyle is not affordable to 99 percent of them. That thrown in with the royal family is old money, and they don’t make all their expenses obvious as do Americans or the so-called new money. Overall though, it puts off common people like me who can see that you could do so much for society as a whole with that kind of wasted money. Both her parents have gone bankrupt at some point, so it appears her family structure didn’t provide good guidelines on spending. I hope she can see the optics on this because I want her to succeed on all fronts.
99% of this shower was not paid for by her. She was provided transportation, she stayed with friends before going to a hotel, also paid for by her friends. She (England) paid for her security room and board. After the media beating and bullying by her own paternal family, I hope she had a great relaxing time with friends who haven’t sold her out.
When did Doria go bankrupt? first time I’ve heard of her going bankrupt?
What a judgey comment! She didn’t pay for most of the shower. It probably came out cheaper than the Cambridge family of 5 doing an overnight trip somewhere in England.
Also you know nothing of her mother’s side financial and spending habits and what was taught to Meghan. This is a really bizarre take tbh. There’s no record of her mother ever going bankrupt. As far as I can tell she’s worked steadily, owns a home, and lives independently. About normal for financial health I would think.
While I dislike the original comment for the same reason you did, Ms. Ragland did file for bankruptcy in 2002 (? – I didn’t pull it up on PACER). This is a public record. Clearly, she’s not filed again and is doing well from all appearances. Her father’s BR was far more recent, having filed in 2016.
If you don’t like the spending she does then you should have no issue with the shower because it did not cost her anything.
Because someone’s parents declared bankruptcy they are doomed to a life of profligacy? Please have several seats. All the seats, really.
I thought she owned the engagement dress long before the engagement. If so, people in Hollywood rarely pay full price. Most of the gowns on the red carpets are loaners in exchange for a mention when being interviewed.
I understood she didn’t pay for the baby shower expenses but it doesn’t look good to have all that money spent on it.
I hope she doesn’t have the spending troubles her parents did. Many people follow their parents’ paths of financial health but many also do the opposite of what their parents did because they saw it wasn’t beneficial.
The British have a different philosophy than Americans, although we like to think we are so similiar because we speak the same language. While Americans look at the rich, they often think that they can do the same. British people do not like the arrogance (as they see it). They like to “take the piss” out of someone if that person has advanced themselves, so to speak.
Again, a huge fan of Meghan’s. But, I work in PR, and her baby shower was a PR event. That is how they treated it. It takes away the power of “I am helping the world” image she has and the real substance of it when one baby shower in effect cost $500,000.
I
@Sterkviking, I have noticed that the British love to build people up just to turn around and knock them down for the “Hell of It”.
Way-off-topic: Being in British PR, do you like the Agatha Rasin TV show? I love it!
So dumb! She’s pregnant and is from the US. What do they expect, everyone to fly AGAIN to her when she’s willing to come to NYC??!! Everyone takes a babymoon these days, she did it her way!
LEAVE MEGHAN ALONE (in Chris Crockers voice)
A low key shower is your work friends getting a cake, one huge card, a collection for a present and a half a dozen others and then go back to work after an hour or so. Megan had a shower for the one percent of the one percent.
Lol, right? Even celebitchy contradicts it, first calls the shower low-key and then says “I think she knew what she was doing. It was part of her larger plan”. So which is it.
I don’t think this was a smart move at all, she fell right into the Marie Antoinette narrative that media is trying to create.
I don’t think it’s fair that she is the only Royal being scrutinized, by the way.
Co-sign this @catwomen! The PR placement and management of it was so irksome -a private shower with her friends and the details just reported on in writing would have been just fine. I don’t care about this on the level that I pay for it -I do as a taxpayer here and there’s nothing I can do about it until we get rid of the entire monarchy system, I am just so over the ostentation and flaunting of celebrity capital as this country is breaking apart.
Britain is struggling due to Brexit….the thing you all voted for. It is self induced. I agree there should be no monarchy. Therefore no opportunity to whine about the expense even though it brings in tourism dollars.
The royals cost us a lot more than they bring in tourism money. People would still go see Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle without royals living in them (Versailles hasn’t had royals in it for centuries), and we could open them up year-round.
Exactly! I would hardly call this a “low key” shower, lol.
It was extravagant and really over the top!
Meghan needs to live her best life and let these people remain salty. They will find a problem with her breathing.
I agree, Lisa! +1
YES. The hypocrisy blows my mind. She works and raises awareness for some great causes…Kate and William just add more unnecessary progeny to the world while pontificating to Africans about having too many children. The Grenfell cookbook was a smashing success and done almost entirely behind the scenes. I hope she refuses to change because it does me a world of good as a WOC to see her do her.
Meghan did not “have to be told” this just like Kate never “had to be told” not working looks lazy etc. Meghan is an educated, grown, and not young, woman who has been around the block and hyper aware of the public in her profession for a long time. And I absolutely hate racism and unfair criticism being thrown at her, but I don’t think this one was racist – I mean, if Serena or Bey does it everyone cheers because they Are Celebrities – it was about her position now. I don’t think it should matter if she wants to do a big celebrity do though, she’s not some boring, quiet English rose from the upper set. Harry married an American actress who hadn’t been able to break into the A/B list crowd and really be a celebrity before meeting him. And lets not for a second forget that she worked and networked her butt off for years and years to achieve that, and some (most) just never crack it big in “hollywood”. Now she’s got it through her marriage, and A listers like George and Amal and freaking Oprah are bending over backwards to be her bud, damn straight she’s eating it up and we all probably would be too.
I’m so tired of people saying the members of the BRF aren’t celebrities. They absolutely are. That isn’t ALL they are — they are public servants, as well — but they are celebrities and it’s so ridiculous when people get bent out of shape about things like this.
The other royals spend just as much money, if not more, but no one cares about them so it’s not scrutinized like this. I’m sorry but that’s just the way it is — the Yorks, Anne, Edward’s family- they fly under the radar because there isn’t the same amount of public interest that there is in William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan. No one wants to see any of them on the cover of People magazine. So they get away with their lavish lifestyles in peace.
Even Charles and Camilla are boring AF. Do we EVER hear questions about what designer Camilla is wearing or how much it cost? No one cares. And one day it will be George, Charlotte, and Baby Sussex that the interest is focused on.
Amal gets shaded for buying her way into royal circles, but Meghan is living her best life when she accepts free rides from the very same social climber, who didn’t even know her before she got engaged to Harry. Would comments here be so supportive to Kate if she rode Victoria Beckham’s private jet for a party in NYC? Would they ever. I don’t understand the adulation Meghan gets, she’s no better or worse than Kate or any other royal when it comes to exploiting the system of inherent inequality to enable their lifestyles of undeserved status and luxury.
@Anitas you don’t get it do you? If Kate flew to New York on Victoria Beckham ‘s private plane, the press would either say isn’t this great or more likely not mention it. It is the press that has created this controversy. Otherwise, how would all of these cost figures, which I see now are up to $500k with absolutely NO basis in fact, be thrown about if not for the constant hammering of the press? There is no way that Kate would be facing this scrutiny unless the press are out to get her like they are Meghan.
William and Kate have absolutely presided upon their friends and their generosity to take ridiculous vacations of their own though. See also, all of their frequent trips to Mustique and Verbier, which don’t get anywhere near the press attention that this one trip to NYC got, because William would absolutely blow his lid about “privacy.” Somehow that standard never gets applied to Meghan. Wonder why.
“…a big, flashy baby shower” where b!tch?!
I saw no one swimming in champagne filled pools or lasers at the entrance. The circus -if any- was media made. Megs just had a rendez vous with her friends in NY. The jet and the suite is just as the taxi and b&b I would get for my bff if she came to town ( I’d give her more, but not on this salary xD)
Some of the Real Housewife baby showers are what I consider extravagant.
We keep forgetting she was there for 3 days and NO ONE KNEW…..it was only when she was ‘outed’ by a waitress that it became public. Then she moved to the hotel and the shower was moved to the hotel…..for crowd control! If the waitress had never outed her, the chances are we might never even have known she was in the states at all…….
Well, in that case the BRF and the KP should also be aware that it is not done, that a pregnant woman, even in very early stage, goes on a lengthy trip to Australia and further. But they did not mind taking that. Or even Morocco in the last trimester. Somebody on here wrote the other day, that Kate is smarter than Meghan and she is. She would never work and sort of pay back what she gets out of her position. Kate married William and got the children. That is enough as far as she is concerned and Meghan should do the same. Meghan does not get any reward for all her efforts and the risk she takes.
So what you’re saying is that you’d like Meghan to be bland, boring, and mute like Kate? Sorry, but Meghan is so much more interesting because we actually have an idea of what her personality is like. Kate is a blank slate. I realize that’s by design, but it’s backfiring on her because there’s no “there there” with Kate.
Meghan is just out there living and enjoying her life— she’s not looking for a “reward” by spending a few days in NYC with her friends.
Did the Queen call her into the royal presence and threaten her with a weekend in the Tower? If not, who the hell cares? Who are the people who told her ‘we don’t do things like that?’ The same people who hang out with pedophiles? Or the ones who wear racist jewelry? Or the ones who live much higher on the hog but cloak it with a few pieces of ‘low end’ clothing to please the punters? It wasn’t their money so it’s not their business. Let these fools try and tell Serena Williams or Amal Clooney how to spend THEIR OWN MONEY and see how far they get.
There is a very rabid and vocal mob of people who won’t be happy until Harry tosses Megan and her child into the street. And with all the talk of the British taxpayer, most of the true Megan haters are AMERICAN, who haven’t got an inch of skin in this game. Because no matter what happens between Harry and Megan, he’s never going to choose one of them.
Megan, have your baby and take some time to nest with your husband. And when you come back on the scene, wear your best outfit AND a tiara. Let these fools choke on their own hate.
Yessss.
Exactly Topsy! I used to have font fights with Meghan’s detractors until it dawned on me that it was their hatred which compelled them to say the most outlandish things about her. It really is exceedingly difficult to reason with folks when hatred is festering in their core. I can only hope that Meghan continues to enjoy these last few days/weeks of her pregnancy, love on her sweet husband and pay her haters in dust!
I find this ridiculous. So going on annual vacays to private Caribbean islands (Mustique with the Middletons)isn’t “too much” but a baby shower paid for by friends is?
They need that vacation because of alll that work they do. (sarcasm)
What is crazy funny is that I really like Meghan and think she is wonderful, but reading this site has almost had me turn a little bit in the other way. The over the top fawning and excuses for everything she does like she walks on water just rubs me wrong. She is a person just like us, and sometimes she gets things wrong. But if that’s ever pointed out, the commentator is immediately heckled as a racist troll. I think I’m just going to stop reading stories covering Meghan for a little bit.
Honestly, I can see this. Most of the commenters here ARE very pro-Meghan. But I’ll say for myself, I started out being sort of lukewarm on her (didn’t dislike her, didn’t like her) but seeing her attacked constantly for the dumbest things (wearing dark nail polish, etc) and seeing how she has conducted herself in the face of almost constant criticism from the british press has made me like her more. And I think that’s where a lot of us come from; its not that I think she’s perfect, its that I cannot believe we are still talking about her baby shower two months later. I think she has made some missteps and there are some easy areas for her to improve (spending less on clothes, etc) but I think the criticism she gets in the press is way out of proportion to those missteps.
That said, I actually found this site because I was feeling the same way about Kate, lol. I started out as a big fan of hers but then couldn’t handle the over the top adulation of every little thing she did, on sites like WKW. So I do get how the over the top praise can turn someone off.
I like Meghan a lot, but sometimes I worry about fans as much as haters. Stans or stalkers can be just as scary. Many times haters are cowards or keyboard warriors.
I think that makes sense. And I think honestly, you’ve been pretty great about things – if you disagree with someone you tend to explain why, and do so in a kind way. I know we haven’t always agreed on things – but I’ve never felt you were rude or anything. I personally quite like Meghan, and I like Kate too. I don’t really care about either of them enough to hate them or be head over heels for them. I think they’re just two women coping with a really high stress/attention role. They’re not meant to be perfect, and I think even some of the negative things about them make sense when you look at what they’re dealing with as a whole.
But I do get what Ashley is saying. I think most people are pretty great … but at times when someone has a differing opinion – they can get kind of run over for voicing it. Anyone who doesn’t agree is automatically labeled a hater. I know that I say nice things about Meghan probably 3/4 of the time, if not more. But I know I’ve also been called out for things I’ve thought were pretty innocuous – and not just in a differing of opinions kind of way. It can get tiring. It’s like… at times there’s no tradeoff. You can criticize Kate – even in an unfair, hand wringing way – but you can’t bring up something that doesn’t sound like 100% support for Meghan. And I’ve been around this site for… man. Probably 9 or 10 years… and I don’t recall ever feeling like walking on eggshells as much as now. MAYBE for the Aniston/Jolie timeline, but I really didn’t follow it at all.
@Erinn – thanks! I feel the same about you. and there’s a reason I rarely comment on any Jolie stories, hahahahaha.
and I should clarify. WE will still be talking about the baby shower etc in a few years lol (same way we still talk about Kate’s pink coat at the 9-11 memorial…) but if the press hasn’t moved on by then, then yikes.
ITA with all of this! I also found this site because places like WKW wouldn’t allow anything but gushing praise in its comments.
The only thing I disagree on is that I think Kaiser is fair when it comes to Meghan; she’s flat-out said she thinks some of the spending is too much, or admitted when something was clearly a pap stroll, etc. She isn’t all 100% praise all the time with regard to Meghan.
@Ashley Exactly!A few weeks ago I have tried to explain that i watch her and i see no substance at all.Her actions seem superficial and perfunctory.I get the impression that she is acting,that this is the role of her life.It’s just an impression and i refuse to be attacked and be labelled as a racist for saying so!I’m an open minded person.I’m ready to be proven wrong by MM.I will keep reading news about her.Probably in an another site.
I think there’s a real cultural difference here that some of you (fair enough if you’re not British) aren’t picking up on. Our royalty are supposed to still be representative of our people and act in our interest – we want to see them as grounded and sensible when it comes to the money they spend (given it’s out of our pockets). Why do you think the queen gets the train every Christmas? Whomever paid of it, the experience she had is out of the reach of most people and shows an extravagant celebrity lifestyle. A commenter earlier mentioned the old vs new money difference in attitude and how lives are lived and Megan is showing herself very much in a new money light which can be seen as gaudy in the class system she’s part of. It’s another example of her just not quite adjusting to what is expected of a royal/not leaving her old life behind. Celebrate your American tradition with your friends, sure, but something quiet and understated and ideally hardly reported on at all would be better.
I have read comments mainly from the trolls that since they pay Duchess Meghan, they own her and can do with her what they want. It is not just the BRF who lives of the taxpayer, also the Government lives of the taxpayer money but I never hear any complains about them wasting money. They spent millions on Brexit and did not get anywhere.
You can as British taxpayer complain about the work the Royals do, but this baby shower is none of your business. That was private and paid for by others. It is none of your business in which hospital she chooses to have the baby or how she touches her bump. And so on and so forth.
I’m sorry, what? People complain about how politicians live their lives and spend here CONSTANTLTY
Say it louder for the people in the back.
When you look at all the money the UK politicians are wasting on BREXIT (among other things) the BRF starts looking like a bang-for-the-buck.
She was celebrating her American tradition with her American friends IN America. And there weren’t any fireworks or marching bands. It became a big deal because the press and the mob made/make it a big deal. I don’t think any of the women who attended the baby shower are still thinking about it. It’s only the people who can’t stand the idea that this NEGRESS dares to live up to the standards that the rest of the royal family does.
The Queen doesn’t take the train because it’s cheaper. It costs a fortune to run that thing. She does it because it harks back to the good old days, that the pro-Brexit crowd are so desperate to bring back. I love the Queen and will mourn her when she’s gone. But one of the reasons that I think the Queen likes Megan so much is because Megan is the FUTURE. Bi-racial, progressive, maybe a bit gaudy but certainly not stuffy and stuck in her ways. Her Majesty is interested in The Firm sticking around as long as possible and she KNOWS that Megan (and her baby) are one of the ways to make sure that happens.
And, just for the record, I’m British born and have lots of family back in the old country. They all LOVE Megan.
I am British born myself and my relatives wish that that the “spare was the heir” lol. Harry and Meghan represents the future of the UK– multi cultural and multi racial. What we see here is the breaking down of stuffy old patriarchal crap of white men in control of women, and people of colour and the old guard is not going down without a fight!
In the “good old days” people lived more frugally. The royals do many things like that to stay relevant. Megan is so down to earth, engaging and lovely when she talks, I think some of the “celebrity” behaviour takes away from it sadly. I don’t dislike Megan I just don’t think she helps herself and would have benefited from spending a little more time understanding the culture here around British royalty, she could drive a more positive agenda and better talking points if she’d ruffled less feathers and didn’t sledgehammer her way in. We’re talking about joining an antiquated royal family here – not smashing a new job.
“She does it because it harks back to the good old days, that the pro-Brexit crowd are so desperate to bring back.”
@topsy, The good old days that never were. We have this same crowd type in the USA too.
@Laura, fair enough. But, in the interest of the “British taxpayer” I’d like to see you holler about every bespoke/couture dress the other Royals wear, every vacation to private islands, etc. Otherwise your argument holds no water and is just petty, targeted b.s. against Meghan. This whole controversy would have been a non-issue but for the racist press, especially the Daily Mail. In America, Trump lived in a penthouse with gold-plated fixtures which is hardly the norm. Same with his “Winter White House” in Florida. But he paid for it, so while people may think it is gauche, no one is railing against it because hey it’s his money. The American people do have to pay for the security and transportation which is ridiculous but that goes with the job.
Yeah totally fair – I feel the same way about the Gucci Kate seems to be wearing lately, she used to wear high end high street and this behaviour just grates. I mean I am pretty left wing and not super “for” the royals I think they’re a ridiculous expense and serve little purpose other than tourism now, others will and do feel differently. Megan is definitely the more liked one over here by the way.
@Laura “Sledgehammer her way in?” Could you explain what you mean by that?
Not adjust her approach to the established protocol and way of doing things.
Tell it to Charles with his £500,000 birthday party paid for by a billionaire buddy.
Also really vulgar. I haven’t said the royals always act how people want them to. Calm down I’m not anti Megan nor am I singling her out I’m just trying to explain some of the negative response to her doing this sort of thing (the baby shower).
And yet you didn’t use any of that in your examples. As Becks1 writes, why only the criticism for Meghan. Don’t remember seeing you on here complaining about all of the William and Kate luxury holidays using the Duke’s private plane.
God, because it’s an article about her! I’m not on here much I haven’t commented on much of anything before.
So let me get this straight… It’s not acceptable for independently wealthy women who earned their money the old fashioned way in the private sector to spend it on a lavish shower for their friend??? But it’s totally fine for royals weaseling off of the public to spend egregious amounts of cash on pomp and circumstance nonsense crap all day every day? Screw them.
Amen @Originaltessa.
What exactly is the difference between Meghan’s friends (I’m looking at you, Amal Clooney) spending $500K on a party, gifts, etc. and Meghan herself spending the money? Either way, she’s allowing herself to indulge in excess. She shouldn’t have allowed this much to be spent on a baby shower, period. She doesn’t seem to understand/want to understand, that simply by virtue of marrying into a ‘royal’ family, people will dislike her. While she can’t please everyone all the time, she should understand that she can’t expect people struggling with getting access to health care, paying bills, etc., not to be upset with this lavish expenditure. This money could have made a real and meaningful change in the lives of others. Instead, it was used by people who believed that ‘because they can, they should’. Worse still, people like the Clooneys will continue in their beliefs that things like this are ‘balanced out’ by the other ‘good’ they do.
The difference is one is privately earned money (Amal and George, Serena) and money that can be traced back to public taxpayers (most expenditures from royal family not covered by private wealth like Harry’s inheritance from Diana and the Duchy of Cornwall which I understand to be like a landlord).
If I had enough money to live as my dreams tell me I should (lol) I’d donate time and money to charity, invest and not allow anyone to make me feel bad because I have money that they don’t. It wasn’t public money, it was private money. Since the money did not come from the state, why should Serena feel bad about spending her earned money on what and who she wants?
People who are able to make the big time money through talent, hard work and a lot of luck should not feel obligated to spend it any which way. Why aren’t you calling on the royals to sell their jewels to fund the NHS?
Heather, there are many posters of the Daily Fail commentariat calling for the Royal Jewels, contents of Buck House and contents of Windsor Castle to be sold at auction to fully fund the NHS and Social Care.
Good, those people are at least not hypocritical, just vicious lol. The OP wasn’t making that point, she was making the point that because Serena and Amal spent money on Meghan, Meghan should feel ashamed and wear ashes and sack cloth until those two privately wealthy people made enough charitable contributions to please chitowngal.
Heather, I guess I was I was not clear enough. Please accept my humble apology. I was not criticizing what you said. I only wanted to make the point that there is a group of people in the UK who support the idea of selling Crown chattels and Crown Estate property and investing the money in public works.
I didn’t mean to criticize, Bay! That’s what I get for trying to read articles and reply on the sly during the most boring meeting I’ve been in for quite some time. But hey all this manufactured drama is keeping me awake. American or British, snoring is frowned upon during meetings! 🙂
Heather, I am a newbie here and it will take me a couple of weeks to get acclimated to the writing styles of the regular posters and respected heavyweights.
So what it’s money that someone else earned? The point is that spending $500K on a baby shower is excessive by pretty much any standard.
First of all, that 500k seems to be the British media’s favorite amount when it comes to Meghan…that’s how much her shower supposedly cost, how much her maternity clothes supposedly cost…they make up costs to make her look bad. There was an article that Meghan spent 7x more than Kate in maternity wear but they always seem to forget she worked 20x more than Kate did. Also, the Queen sitting in front of a gold piano is subtle? Crowns and diamonds are subtle? Just stop
I don’t believe any of the supposed cost stories.
I think a lot of the stories are made up numbers and the press waiting for people to jump on it.
Who are we to dictate to Serena and Amal or any of Meghan’s friends how to spend their money? It’s none of anyone’s business. As mentioned above, they earned it and can spend it however they want and on whomever they want. They chose to lavish Meghan with a shower we can only dream of. Good for Meghan that she has friends of means who want to do that for her! No one can tell them to donate the money to charity in lieu of a shower, and how do we know that they don’t do that already on a regular basis? When taxpayers start funding their lifestyles, then we can have a say in their expenditures. Until then, they can lavish their money on grandiose lifestyles and occasions and no one should have one single thing to say about it. Screw anyone who tells me how to spend my hard-earned money, even though it’s not in the stratosphere like Serena or Amal.
Really, you quote the number like you have a file folder of the receipts. No one knows the amount and to front like you do is a lie. This is private money in another country and is none of anyone’s business. She has wealthy friends who support her through her life events like everyone else. Deal with it.
Did you complain about Charles and his £500,000 birthday party a few years ago, paid for by a friend? Of course not. The event held at Buckingham Palace, so plenty of taxpayer funds went to pay for all the staff and security who had to work the event like it was a State Dinner.
Also, all the pay-for-play parties at Dumfries House in Scotland.
Why can’t they leave her alone. Do they want another divorced prince?
Apparently tabloids want another Diana. They get pleasure from believing they are causing distress to someone who obviously is not even exposed to their rags. The tales about Will and Kate being against Meghan are really disturbing.
Unfortunately, yes.
One question. Why is a monarchy even needed?
It isn’t. So why hasn’t it been dissolved?
It couldn’t bring in that much money for tourism. I wouldn’t waste time on it. So much more to see.
It was dissolved. In 1649. We had a civil war about it. Then we brought it back, in 1660. *shrugs.*
“Why is the monarchy even needed” The Crown is a legal entity in Britain and in lots of different places in the Commonwealth.
If the British wanted to get rid of the monarchy, that’s fine, but then provisions would absolutely have to be made regarding their own constitution and legal system, as well as those of all the Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is head of state.
The negotiations and wrangling for that could take years, if not up to a full decade. Given how the Brexit negotiations have gone, I don’t trust the British parliament to do this type of thing properly.
Meghan pities the fool.
Her friends planned and carried out the baby shower. She was the guest.
Megan should Flex her celebrity status to make end runs around racist courtiers and Royal reporters. I definitely don’t think she should sit down and shut up like they want her too. But I also think she should be strategic about how and when she does that going forward, focusing mostly on her work or counterbalancing ridiculous media narratives, rather than personal events (like if for some reason the New York baby shower became a template for every birthday party, anniversary, etc. – I don’t think there’s any reason to think it would be a regular type of event, but just as a hypothetical).
I feel like the unspoken modern social contract in Britain between the Royals and their subjects is that the monarchy will stay fabulously rich as long as they keep the spotlight on the soft politics of their work like State dinners or Royal trips, ritual events like going to Sandringham at Christmas, and supporting Civil Society initiatives like volunteerism. The British public of course want their Royal Family to look good doing it too. But otherwise they are meant to be discreet about their lavish lifestyle, because that might expose the hypocrisy of the whole system- the super-rich talking about empowering the poor.
I guess it’s also supposed to make them seem more distinguished or moral then regular celebrities too- showing discretion and “good taste.” In addition to regular old racism, I think the courtiers see themselves as guardians of maintaining this social contract and the publicity around Meghan as a threat because it might expose the fact that the Royals are not that different from regular celebrities, spend just as much if not more, enjoy their lavish lifestyles, and are more invested in maintaining their privilege then whatever ideals about environmentalism, volunteerism or empowerment they espouse.
So I think a good PR strategy for Meghan is to balance exerting her celebrity status and connection to American media, like the People magazine article or when when she appeared at the British fashion Awards, to counterbalance negative attacks and put out her own voice. But also to keep the spotlight via her appearances primarily on her work, which is by far her best strategy, both for her philanthropic goals and as a PR strategy. Appearances for personal events in highly public situations that draw attention to wealth and privilege will cause friction, which really doesn’t serve her interests, not least because she needs to maintain good working relationships with the Queen, Charles, etc.
@Zazu this is one of the best comments I’ve ever read on the subject!
THIS. WELL PUT!
I love this comment. I do think that Meghan tries to keep things focused on her work and it’s the media that is latching onto anything they can to destroy her.
Your comment is on point. I wish I could upvote it.
Meghan must have known the mixed feelings of the Royal family as her protection team has to know such things in advance and everything has to be planned and such.
Meghan flew to NY for ONE baby shower and maybe 1 or 2 holidays. That is controversial to waste so much money and kerosine for one trip merely so that she could attend a little celebration. If she had coupled that visit with some proper holidays in NY or visited relatives or with some kind of engagement … visited a children’s hospital or whatever it would have looked a lot better. But flying over the atlantic and back just for one baby shower party? It looks like “let them eat cake”.
OK, but flying to Mustique, which the Cambridges have done multiple times to vacation, also involves the dreaded flight over the Atlantic – and back again! Nobody says they need to chuck in some Caribbean state visits while they’re in the vicinity to justify the trip. What’s the diff with Meghan, who has lived in U.S. or Canada her whole life, taking a few days trip to NY to mark a major life event with her friends?
Too much logic, Tourmaline.
@Anitas you don’t get it do you? If Kate flew to New York on Victoria Beckham ‘s private plane, the press would either say isn’t this great or more likely not mention it. It is the press that has created this controversy. Otherwise, how would all of these cost figures, which I see now are up to $500k with absolutely NO basis in fact, be thrown about if not for the constant hammering of the press? There is no way that Kate would be facing this scrutiny unless the press are out to get her like they are Meghan.
God bless Meghan and Harry and Baby Sussex! There is no way I could live this life. I don’t care how much jewelry, clothes, new houses, travel, etc. I remember hearing Diana and Fergie talk about how difficult the courtiers made their lives but I always thought how hard could it be, you get to wear fabulous jewelry, travel, etc? But now, after seeing what’s happened to Meghan? She gets props from me for being woman enough to take this on. Props to Harry for standing there with her.
*Deleted*
Omg who the hell is still crying over this baby shower?????? Who???
So it’s ok for the British tax payers to foot the Royals bills but it’s not ok for Meghan’s friends to pay for a glamorous baby shower?
It’s only okay for the British tax payers to foot SOME of the royal bills is the feeling I’m getting.
Or it’s ok, for the taxpayers to fit the bills for SOME of the Royals, lol! Especially ones not named Meghan.
The British people should be ashamed of the attacks on Meghan. First was she started work at 5 am (I think the entire world side eyed them on that one), next it was her pregnancy is fake, than something about candles in an old church, she’s not an English Rose etc……and now she spent to much of her friends money….. How much more can they hate Meghan for nothing. They should be happy that she’s bringing positive attention to their country otherwise, because of Brexit, they would be a forgotten country!
According to the Daily Fail there is a group of people trying to blame the failure of BREXSHIT negotiations on Meghan. I am NOT making this up.
Well she also caused world wide famine and drought by eating an avocado so tanking Brexit negotiations is something she can do before she finishes yoga!
/sarcasm
If I closed half an eye, this comment could have been written by DJT himself.
I have pros and cons about how the shower was done.
The expense and location are not issues. Everything was paid for by her friends.
For me, the silliness is in the companies connected to the shower. An instagram of sweaters that said Baby, Baby, Baby -I think moves like that and the suitcases and things and maybe even Meghan’s hat referencing her friend’s tv show commercialized the occasion. That is where I wish discretion had been exercised.
I love Meghan, I just wish if she’s spending so much money on clothes, that they actually fit and suit her. I know changing shape etc, but is it too much to hope these bespoke outfits are properly tailored for her. And there were some really bad fits pre pregnancy such as the Roland Mouret in Ireland.
If she is going to court bad press by wearing high end designers I wish these designers would do right by her
I love Meghan, I just wish if she’s spending so much money on clothes, that they actually fit and suit her. I know changing shape etc, but is it too much to hope these bespoke outfits are properly tailored for her. And there were some really bad fits pre pregnancy such as the Roland Mouret in Ireland.
If she is going to court bad press by wearing high end designers I wish these designers would do right by her
The whole renewed uproar around Meghan’s baby shower from mid-February reminds me of the unofficial Dump guidebook on how to divert attention from more far-reaching political matters (cough… Brexit) by going after something that will get tongues wagging.
At age 10, I sat a foot away from the t.v. console in 1981 watching Dianna’s wedding to Charles. It was Cinderella live. I hold the same, dreamy adoration for Meghan.
She and Harry represent a fresh version from the old, staid, and elitist. Maybe that’s what’s getting the goat of the UK gossip rags? I wish Meghan and Harry all the best as they welcome a new child.
Same about the being 10 years old and watching Charles and Diana marry on TV, Katie. I remember my aunt waking me up at some ungodly hour and she was so excited. We watched the whole thing live. I remember thinking that Diana was very pretty, and looked very nervous to me. I was quite disappointed that Charles was the prince because that’s not what the princes in fairytales looked like! Lol
Sorry, but her friends alerted the media, showed a huge and pricy baby shower and she’s spending a lot on clothes. Everything adds up. Honestly I’m just waiting for her to spend quality time with her baby and then show her work ethic.
I’m sorry, what does the ending of your post mean? Are you really questioning Meghan’s work ethic? I find that laughable from someone who supports Kate.
Kate’s on Maternity Leave with Meghan
You have no proof of anything you just said. You have no idea how much anything cost, either for clothes or the shower. Shame on you, especially for that nasty comment at the end.
“She was made aware that the baby shower was too much.” Mmmm, of course she was. But I also think this was a total non-issue. Of course people might have raised their objections in the palace, but realistically, what are the suits going to do about it? Make her go back in time and not go?
I also find the general condescension about how “British people don’t do baby showers” so funny. For starters, that’s likely not true. Second of all, Americans don’t serve years-old frozen wedding cake at the christening of their children either. The whole thing where people like to portray Americans as wayward and over the top, while the British are (supposedly) staid and proper and disdainful of lurid displays of wealth is fcking funny. The Queen drives to the opening of the parliament in a gold stage coach, dressed in (stolen) diamonds and jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, to lecture about austerity and how everyone has to tighten their belts. Compared to that, the optics of a baby shower are much more pleasant and relatable.
Love this,,,
Good LORD! The tabs are STILL writing about a baby shower!!!!!
” Kate’s on Maternity Leave with Meghan”
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Nah, that’s how Brits are – they ALWAYS have to put you in “your place”’ the place THEY think is for you, thats why its super hard for the bright individuals there, they go live in the USA.
You mean like Stephen Hawking, who couldn’t have possibly survived under that terrible socialist health care system in the UK and had to live in the USA, as famously celebrated by the Republicans.
@Tina, Hawking was an exception, and by and large not the rule. If you’ve read any of his biographies or his writings, you’d know that he was a staunch critic of the British establishment. America has its problems, but that doesn’t mean Britain is excluded from criticism of its own issues, of which snobbery and classicism are just a few.
I would never deny that the UK has its problems. But it rather sticks in my craw to be criticised by Americans for them. The USA has greater social inequality than the UK, to take but one example.