I generally hate to write these kinds of “well actually, here’s the history” stories because they’re just recaps of stuff people already know. But that’s just the thing – people are acting like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Frogmore Cottage renovation was the first time anyone ever used the Sovereign Grant to renovate a publicly owned property for royal use. The British press is going haywire about the fact that Meghan and Harry’s family home cost more than $3 million in renovations, and I truly don’t remember the press acting this way about all of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s many renovations. So let’s recap some of those, just for context.
In 2013, the Queen tried to lure Prince William away from his normal-bloke cosplay. William and Kate were living in a rental “cottage” in Wales while he worked in the RAF. Kate was pregnant with Prince George, and so the Queen gave them Apartment 1 at Kensington Palace, which is a mansion within a palace. When all was said and done, the renovations on KP Apt. 1 lasted about a year, made worse by the fact that they had to change the decorations because Kate painted everything purple while pregnant. All told, the 2013 renovation cost more than £4 million, and it included “adding a second kitchen” and totally redoing much of the exterior and interior. When all of the numbers came out about the renovation in 2014, it was also a big scandal because the Queen had also leased a new £8 million helicopter for the Cambridges, for their own exclusive use, and at the time, William and Kate worked the least of all the “full time royals” (yet they were getting so many perks).
Then in 2017, the Cambridges needed even more KP renovations because, as it turns out, after that lavish renovation to Kensington Palace Apt. 1, they barely spent any time there. Between 2013 and 2017, they lived at Anmer Hall in Norfolk full-time. So when they moved “full time” to KP in 2017, they did more renovations because they didn’t like their staff operating in any of the palace office space. So they dug out space underneath the grounds of Kensington Palace to make more room for their staff. ALL of this was “public money.” They’ve spent almost twice as much (if not more) than the Sussexes. But sure, Meghan and Harry are the first, right?
And I didn’t even get to the Anmer Hall renovation, which was all financed privately by Prince Charles and the Queen, because Anmer sits on the Sandringham Estate, which is “privately owned” by the Queen. William and Kate ripped out a perfectly beautiful kitchen, reconfigured the floor plan of a graded/listed home and spent more than $2 million on all of the interior and exterior stuff to the actual structure of the home. And on top of that, the Cambridges ripped out the existing tennis court and had it moved at the cost of £60,000.
If you’re a taxpaying British citizen and you think the Sussexes’ Frogmore Cottage renovation was outrageous, well, that’s your right. But did you feel the same way about the Cambridges’ renovations and spending? Or did you only get you only care when it was about Meghan and Harry?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Considering the first comment on the previous post was “As a UK taxpayer, Viva la Revolution!” and I remember being disguised at their spending, I honestly don’t think this is a Harry/ Meghan issue, but a royals costing millions extra in Austerity issue. Yes yes comes from grant, but Buck and many public palaces are in dire need of updates and “private”-crown estate homes are being fixed up for millionaires from tax payer funds. Tax payers don’t get to vote where the money is going.
This. Hated it then, hate it now.
I was really struck by the details in Michelle Obama’s memoir around how careful they were around the money spent while they were in the White House – likely more careful than any first family before them and most certainly because they were likely to receive more criticism spending for because they are (as Shonda says) FOD – first, only, different. Meghan is a FOD. I do not think she should have to police herself – who she associates with, how she throws a baby shower, what she wears – because of her association with this lot. Sadly, we live in a very messed up world, and that’s not how things work. But this… This is different.
Never ever EVER will a royal renovation pass by without me wanting to vomit. 28% of people are living in poverty in this country. 38% of children live in poverty. We voted our economy into the bin and a straw-haired clown it about to take the reigns on this sinking ship. Outlook is… not great. These independently-wealthy humans who have never worked 37.5hr week in their life need to start paying their own way – especially if they want a new sink in the 17th bathroom, to match the one in the 23rd bathroom. If my tax payer £ are going into Frogmore, into Amner, into KP apartments, you better open those places up for tours from Tuesday to Sundays to 9:00am to 4:00pm, closed on Monday and bank holidays. I’ll give tours. Actually, maybe Bill and Cathy can give tours, might up their work hours for the year.
I truly, truly believe there are people out there who are genuinely upset about this because it’s the Sussexes and they will spew their vitriol at anything they (read: MEGHAN) do. But, like a Trump supporter, a tiger can’t change their racist nazi stripes.
What a thoughtful, thought-provoking post. Your honesty is refreshing.
YES! People were mad about the spending of William & Kate and people are even more mad about Harry & Meghan because things have become even worse in that time. They are hypocrites who have their own personal fortunes and still have insane amounts of tax payers money at their disposal. British people are quite rightly seething about the Royals spending. I know that people will hate me for using Meghan as an example here but she gets so much praise on this site for her work with Grenfell victims, many of whom are still homeless. She put that book together which has raised something like £500,000 for the community kitchen. That’s lovely… but £2.4 million of tax payers money was put towards her house before those very same people even have a roof over their heads, when Meghan & Harry have enough wealth between them to fund their own housing.
Meanwhile today I was on my way to work when I was stopped by 3 police outriders for the Countess of Wessex. I like the countess of Wessex very much but does she really require however many RPO and 3 outriders in rural Norfolk? I swear they just don’t care.
I need folks to keep the same energy for the almost $2,000,000 spent by the Cambridges in the last year to re-pave their driveway as well as the almost almost $900,000 spent on central heating renovations at the private apartments at Windsor.
Otherwise the problem is going to look like the real issue is a dislike at a biracial woman who folks think is living above her station.
I think we know the answer to that.
yes, this is a big part of it for me too. People can be mad over the Sussexes renovation – how much it cost, how it was paid for, whatever. But all the ranting I’m seeing here, twitter and in headlines is about Frogmore. I want to hear more about this damn driveway.
I don’t think you can even go there with that argument. People are angry about all of it. The drive to some extent I believe it a shared stretch of road at KP (but I might be wrong), making it slightly more understandable but still extravagant to spend £1 million on a small section of road. The Royal train is crazy too but the Sussex’s renovations, when compared to other houses in the UK, even of comparable size, just seems frivolous.
bonochick We all know what the difference is. I’ll say it differently. If Kate was not white then there would have been same amount of outrage. Plain and simple.
Seriously, can you imagine if Harry and Meghan were acting like William and Kate during the “workshy” years? William did something like sub-100 events in 2016 during that drama, we’re are the future king who was a GROWN A– MAN. I truly agree that Meghan and Harry are catching waaay more flack and the reason is obvious BUT I do not like those on Twitter defend defending against the criticism as flat out “racism”. The two things can exist at the same time – the heightened noise CAN be racist and the renovation CAN be extravagant and unnecessary.
Thinking back, yes. Especially the tennis court and some sort of hedge planting situation.
Yes to this. Moving the bloody tennis court!!
I said this below, but omg I didn’t realize that was actually a thing. I thought it was something that just got brought up as almost a joke, an exaggeration of how Kate and Will spend. Apparently I was wrong lol!
And don’t forget the redone roof! People were screaming about the color (which was really the same tile, just not “weathered” like the old ones) but screamed nonetheless that the Cams (“nouveau” Kate, esp.) were “desecrating a listed property”.
Then there was the scream hear ‘round the world when security upgrades were made to the Mids place, when George and Kate moved in for 6 mos. or so after George’s birth.
Yes…just go back on this site and there were all sorts of complaint stories and don’t think many of the stories or comments were defending the Cambridge reno work nearly as much as the Sussex work.
I wonder how much defending there would be had it NOT been for W&K and their renovations. Like, if Will and Kate had moved into KP and just painted everything white and called it a day in terms of renovations, I know I personally would be hardpressed to then defend Harry and Meghan here. But we know that’s not what happened, so in light of past renovation spending, H&M’s seems to be about right.
Yes we were all disgusted IIRC about their extravagant spending the re-renovation of an already nice kitchen and especially the tennis court being moved because of the cost and because it took away some land??I think from a surrounding farm.
I don’t think this is about Harry and Meghan as much as it is about the ridiculous spending by the already super wealthy when tax money funds a huge part of what is being spent.
The Glouchesters are moving out of Apt 1 in the near future. I assume that will become Harry and Meghan’s London pad since they are both senior royals and in need of a London residence,
@Becks1, I think you’re right. Will & Kate set the standards but the issue is wider than that. Nobody complains too much about the upkeep of Buckingham Palace, for example because generally people believe the Queen should live in a palace and the palace is a very significant, historic building, which is in the public interest to maintain.
Will & Kate’s apartment 1A was slightly more problematic in that it’s still a very important building and as the future King & Queen consort, you kind of expect there to be a certain standard but even then it seemed extravagant and people were quite rightly angry. Especially since they also had Anmer Hall.
Then we end up moving onto projects like Harry & Meghan’s and things take a ridiculous turn. Frogmore cottage might be a listed building but so are thousands of other buildings in the UK. It doesn’t hold the same historical value as Buckingham Palace or Kensington Palace and even if we one day get rid of the Royals, Frogmore will probably have no real significance, while BP & KP will continue to draw in tourists. We can safely say that the tax money spent on Frogmore really does only benefit the Sussex’s.
Even if these historic buildings need maintaining, I still don’t think that we should be paying for this right now when the NHS is in crisis, schools are in a dire state and families are going hungry. Terrible priorities from a country that looks after it’s rich before it’s poor.
@blue orange -I get what you are saying (and I don’t mean this condescendingly lol, but I appreciate your tone, because I know this can become a heated conversation.)
I guess I’m just not sure what the answer is. Restructure how the royals are funded? Stricter scrutiny of how the sovereign grant is used?
@Becks1 I’m not even going to pretend that I know what the answer is but I do think it’s clear that we in the UK need to get our priorities in order. I wish that it could be as simple as stricter scrutiny over the spending over the sovereign grant or reduction of that grant but the politicians are that can make this happen are busy claiming their own ridiculous expenses left and right.
Yes, people were mad. It wasn’t cool for the Cambridges and I’m not on board with the Sussexes spending millions either. People are hungry, they’ve had their benefits cut. I’ve seen stories of nurses—nurses!—who should be fine financially having to rely on food banks or starve. And here we have the working royals—all of them—getting renovations on other people’s money. They are already extremely well compensated—bespoke clothing, the best in food and healthcare, luxury vacations when they want them, and a “job” that doesn’t actually require much in the way of work. It sticks in my craw.
It is a double-edged sword if you think about it. The materials for the renovations came from a company that had employees, the work had to get done by labors who were paid so in some ways it did go back to the ‘taxpayers’.
The costs mentioned were for basics like plumbing, flooring, heating, etc. that were going to be done regardless of if Harry and Meghan moved it. The home is owned by the Crown Estate, which is why it was paid by those funds. Harry and Meghan don’t own the home and can’t sell it if they decide to move one day. However, they did pay for all the extras such as fixtures, furnishings.
Almost none of those dollars/pounds filter down to the actual people doing the work. Contractors bid at the lowest price to often nickel-and-dime up after the fact and typically pay low wages so they can pocket as much as possible. Trickle-down is a lie.
KP also needed a lot of structural work, along with asbestos abatement, which adds significantly to the costs.
Asbestos removal is a VERY expensive cost, and it takes time. Beyond that, they needed to update the plumbing and wiring to code. Those kinds of renovations aren’t about someone being fussy – those are a matter of safety. I am not going to crap on them for that because that is just common sense shit. And the same goes for M&H – anything to do with structural soundness, plumbing, wiring, asbestos and security are things that shouldn’t even be an issue whatsoever.
Bailey, then give the work to the same people but the services to those in need! I have a friend who is British but lives in the USA. Her parents still live in Britain (retired white collar workers) and their home is horrendous. They cannot afford the most basic of repairs let alone the taxes. This is a tiny home with a garden the size of a storage tote, and a kitchen the size of my walk in closet! Create British jobs by renovating THEIR homes, and those like them…People who have worked their entire lives, paying taxes to support the royals, and now can’t even afford to fix a poorly flushing toilet.
How is giving UK government grants to restore privately owned historical homes, like the one given to the Rees-Mogg ancestral estate (£7.6m), any different than restoring Frogmore Cottage? I just don’t understand the outrage over the Sussex expenditures.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-46137015
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/24/inside-wentworth-woodhouse-a-key-piece-of-northern-heritage
Coming from a kingdom myself, I have come to believe that any spending like this is met with some grumbles. Granted…I have no idea what the press said about the cambridges at the time, because royals usually don’t interest me unless they ruled a hundred years or more ago. But in general it is annoying to see the money you pay in taxes go to entertain a bunch of aristocrats.
Yes, they were. I even remember several posts on this very website about it
Well, Kaiser linked all those posts lol. (I have now fallen down the rabbit hole of reading those old posts.)
But, I am not sure if this site is a good barometer of what people are upset about, since its always taken a more critical view of Will and Kate.
I mean, around here they were.
I feel like all of it (renovations, weddings including Eugenie’s, elaborate wardrobes) is particularly tone deaf with Britain on a precipice due to Brexit and the austerity measures. We have our own version of it on our side of the pond with babies in cages and people dying because they can’t afford to go to the doctor while Trump bilks the government for every cent he can.
Everything is on fire right now and “normal” people are exhausted and anxious. Make them all live in a council estate for a year since they want to be “normal.”
This exactly.
YES.
If people (not just here, but in general) are complaining about financially supporting the royals, including the 3 million for Frogmore, I can understand that. If people complained about Will and Kate and then are now complaining about Frogmore, I can understand that. If people don’t want a monarchy and this is a reason why, okay. That’s understandable.
But if you have some excuses for why W&K were okay and within their rights etc and Harry and Meghan need to consider “optics” – that I don’t understand. At all.
I do think part of the problem is that there are some newer royal followers who don’t realize how much Will and Kate spent renovating KP, and so Harry and Meghan’s spending seems excessive. Or they just have convenient excuses for why Harry and Meghan are so out of line.
Wasn’t a lot of money also spent on Kate’s parents’ home? Bucklebury? I have a vague memory of additions and changes made there because Will and Kare stayed there so much.
Yeah but William is the heir and Kate the future queen consort,so they should be spending like frivolous spoiled brats,I mean it’s Will’s birth right don’t you know (SARCASM)🙄
In answer to your question: yes, definitely!
I recall people including me were angry about the Cambridges’ renovations too. Such a waste since they barely go to KP. And do they really NEED all of it? It’s fine if they pay themselves but it’s a waste of public money if it’s William or Harry. They are rich – let them use their own money.
My head is spinning when reading the list of monies cited on this post the royal family is spending to keep up with their lavish lifestyle. Us mere mortals can only dream of having such bottomless budgets for “cottage” and palaces renovations. I can only wonder how the English feel about such conspicuous spending, are we living in a second Gilded Age?
If the British people have an issue with it and can juggle Brexit and abolishing the Monarchy, more power to them. But remember these payment terms to cover renovations, upkeep and maintenance were negotiated with HM The Queen before Harry even met Meghan. They don’t change just because Harry married Meghan. This is UK tabloids using the same playbook they always do when the BRF release their annual reports. Focus on the spend and not the return on investment on having the Monarchy market the UK to the world.
The answer would be…well, we were upset, but we’re much more vocal now because of Brexit and austerity. The fact that the Cambridges spent more money (public & private funds) will escape scrutiny for reasons, but let’s lambast Harry & Meghan for actually spending far less on their only home. Not their country home which they were run out of because security breaches, but the only home they actually “own”.
Why would anyone think the financial agreements made between BRF and Parliament change simply because Harry married Meghan?
Exactly. Neither Meghan nor Harry made the arrangements. If there is a problem take it up with Parliament.
Except they don’t own it. It’s a listed home. And the renovations were scheduled to take place regardless of if they were living there. Not to mention the fact that while $3mil came from the Sovereign Grant that is for updating royal properties, that was only for STRUCTURAL issues. Everything else they paid for out of pocket. Which means they poured tons of money in a house they DON’T own. People need to calm down and get a but of perspective on this I think. Less than 5 pence per taxpayer goes to the Sovereign Grant.
I did read that the money had already been granted to update Frogmore. In addition, I read that H&M personally paid for the kitchen and the fixtures, so they did personally pay for some of the expenses. They also installed a floating floor in the kitchen to preserve the original flooring. In regards to W&K, I think that they have made all of their renovations at the cost of the tax payers, which W had plenty of money that he could have contributed. I also thought it was ridiculous to have the tax payers pay for upgrades to her parents home. They are wealthy enough that they could have paid for it. I think that W&K see themselves as the future royals and have a “right” to these outlandish upgrades.
The 2017 story was always spun as extremely anti-Cambridge even though the historical palaces staff were the folks being moved, and further reporting revealed that it wasn’t because of Kate & William’s staff displacing then. People tried to imply that the Cambridges were responsible for this new expenditure even though the Historical Royal Palaces operation (which also oversees the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, and a couple of other public venues) doesn’t have anything to do with the Royal Family or the Sovereign Grant.
So, if you’re asking, do people who dislike specific members of the Royal family spin the facts to make them sound worse than they are (see also: Beatrice of York), then my answer would be a resounding yes.
@JOSIE
“So, if you’re asking, do people who dislike specific members of the Royal family spin the facts to make them sound worse than they are (see also: Beatrice of York), then my answer would be a resounding yes”.
THIS!!! X1000000000
Yes. At least around here and comments regarding the reno are regularly peppered throughout any article about Kate.
Now having said that, I don’t recall an avalanche of media beyond the initial reporting and I think a lot of the later additions were quietly covered so it does seem like this particular horse is getting an extra beating.
Brexit also wasn’t a thing at the time.
The faux outrage is ridiculous.
Faux outrage lol
The Sussexes are 7th in line and shouldn’t be spending so much money moreover i thought people said they were trying to distance themselves from the Buckingham Palace and all yet they are comfortable living a lavish lifestyle. They sure deserve to be called out
6th and 7th in line
Who said they were trying to distance themselves from BP?? They’re trying to distance themselves from KP and William and Kate. (supposedly.)
And as has been said repeatedly, yes Harry is 6th in line but for the next 20-30 years, he and Meghan are going to be major players in the royal family.
It is faux outrage if all the outrage is only directed towards the interracial couple. They all spend big money on renovations. Edward and Sophie and Andrew are ranked lower than Harry and Meghan and their homes cost several million more to renovate, yet people are behaving as if those events never happened. That financial report showed lots of obscene charges, but the media is only talking about the the Sussexes. It seems like the real problem is that certain people don’t like seeing the biracial Duchess enjoying the same privileges as other members of the family.
@Melissa – yes! the Sussex renovation was not the only money spent last year by the royals.
That’s property that was going to be renovated anyway as it was in complete disrepair. It wasn’t set for renovation simply because H&M were moving in. The costs were to make it safe to live in as well as follow building code for a listed property. £3m is consistent with the type and age of building that needed that level of repair. The “fun” stuff – fixtures, furniture, decor, etc – was paid for privately. They don’t own it. They won’t live there forever, therefore they don’t get to use the SG for personal shit in the house.
Yeah let’s call them out for doing the necessary renovations on a property that was slated to be renovated anyway with money set aside for that very purpose. Ket us not even mention that it cost much less than the renovations done by other royals or the lies told like a yoga studio etc being built when none of it was true but all monies spent was to update and keep the building structurally sound. The money was in keeping with upgrading a historic property and anything outside of that came from their own pocket. All I saw was this being used to further abuse both Harry and Meghan. Enough is enough.
This is where the “biracial” thing falls apart. This is in part about austerity, but it is also about anti-BLACKNESS. It’s the Black part that is despised–and perhaps the very act of choosing blackness like Harry & TM.
‘Faux’ outrage? They’re spending OUR money. There’s nothing faux about it – it IS an outrage! Nothing personal to the Sussexes – ALL of them.
Then the outrage should be about all of them but it is not. It is fixated on the Sussexes.
I read on twitter that the Cambridges also spent almost $2,000,000 repaving their driveway in the last year and that tidbit is in the report too but the UK media isn’t talking about it.
Yes they are! Of course they are! The outrage is directed at all of them! Look – most of the royal news on this site comes from the Daily Mail, a paper for racists and bigots that is deliberately divisive. It lives to stir it up and I agree that much of THEIR ire is directed at MM. The problem is people eat it up! People click in order to be outraged! [You want the truth about how the majority of Brits feels about the Royal Family day-to-day? We don’t care! There is very little about them in the ‘real’ news outside of the tabloids. You guys care much more than us. The first time I heard about ‘trooping the guards’ or whatever the hell it is was on this site!] But of COURSE we’re outraged when the royal release their spending figures and we see how much we’ve contributed to their lives of luxury. We have every right to complain! About ALL of them!
That money was set aside for renovations BEFORE Harry and Meghan were even set to live there. That money is for maintaining the building code, structure, and SAFETY of the property. Your pence would have gone to that REGARDLESS of whether or not H&M were living there because that is what the Sovereign Grant is for. Everything else – paint, carpet, fixtures, etc came out of THEIR PERSONAL FUNDS. Meaning, they dumped a lot of their OWN money into a house they will never own. But sure. Complain about something that was not their decision nor under their control.
To a certain degree it is fake outrage. There are parties which want a republic. Vote for them.
Same as Brexit. People VOTED Brexit.
PS: I know this sounds like I do not like GB. This is far from the truth! I have been there a couple of times and enjoyed it immensely. But vote, people vote! Same goes for Trump…
The headline in the Daily Mail yesterday was that Meghan forced taxpayers to give her 2.4m pounds for the renos. There were no headlines like this about Kate, much less the Cambridges as a whole. The dog whistling is loud and clear for those who aren’t wilfully blind.
Harry and William (and their households) are paid for by Charles from Duchy funds. That amount is currently £5.1 million pounds this past year. The Duchy of Cornwall is NOT private property. It belongs to the people. Charles has access to its profits – currently £22 Million pound this past year – to run his Prince of Wales activities. If the monarchy was abolished, all that money would go to the Treasury and back to the people. There is no way in hell Harry or William are dipping into whatever private money they have to pay for anything. They never have. They always find a way to bill the taxpayer eg going to a private wedding or a holiday in Africa and they have an official meeting mean the taxpayer pick up the whole tab for the trips. The BRF has several income streams. People think it’s only the Sovereign Grant but no, there are more. They are funded entirely by the public. Trouble is, they are so entitled and don’t give a flying fig about spending taxpayers’ money. They. Do. Not. Care. About. The. People. They are simply props to make them look relevant so they can keep their status and privilege.
That’s quite a lot of yelling for claiming to not care, Lady Baden-Baden.
“Yes they are! Of course they are! The outrage is directed at all of them!”
This simply not accurate. The coverage in the Daily Mail, the BBC, ITV – hell even the Guardian – was all centred on the Sussexes. I literally did not read a single article that in any way detailed the Cambridges spending or contextualised the Sussex spending (i.e. highlighting that it was less than the average spent on other properties inhabited by royals).
Also, the Daily Mail is one of the most widely read newspaper in the UK. The way it covers any story is very significant.
I am going to add though, that I distinctly remember comments on here a month or so ago, defending Kate’s Anmer Hall renovations because the old kitchen in it “looked like it was from Home Depot.” And that was more than one person.
So, maybe people were mad at the time, but I guess the anger has faded.
Also, I didn’t realize Kate actually did move the tennis court at Anmer. I always thought that was just hyperbole lol.
I was one of those people (it was a nice kitchen, just not my style. And def. not Home Depot). I think we understood WHY she would want to renovate it…but that is different than saying she SHOULD renovate at the taxpayers’ expense. Or at least, that is my personal thought.
I’d be so annoyed if i had to pay for this lot.
People were angry then and they are angry now. Prob angrier bec the economy is worse.
I also was thinking about this today and wonder if some of it is because of the big production that Harry and Meghan were going to be “different”. She was going to modernise the RF and do things her way. I think it was always BS/wishful thinking but when this happens, plus the ring remodeling (even tho I don’t think it’s a big deal) I wonder how much of the anger is disappointment she isn’t actually different from any other royal afterall?
I also was thinking about this today and wonder if some of it is because of the big production that Harry and Meghan were going to be “different”.
I totally agree with this line. They are not different and it is high time people stopped placing them on a pedestal
Harry and Meghan never said they were going to be anything. I think people are confusing comments on social media and tabloid reports with what Harry and Meghan actually said. A lot of people projected their hopes and expectations onto the Sussexes. It reminds me a lot of how people overreacted when Obama was elected. He’s not a savior and neither are Harry and Meghan.
I don’t understand the argument that H&M were supposed to be “different” and they’re not because of this renovation.
I don’t remember when Harry and Meghan stated they wanted be different or that she would modernize the royal family. The only ones that keep driving that narrative is the hateful British press and people that take offense to Meghan’s existence in the BRF.
They never said it which is my point. This site has been full of comments for a long time about their marriage being a breath of fresh air and how she would modernise so many aspects of the BRF. All wishful thinking and BS. They do a few things a little differently that’s it. It’s all projecting.
People’s willingness to reinvent history is amazing. Before they got married it was a regular theme.
@Brunswickstoval, by different do you mean they were not supposed to have a home to live in? They are part of the royal family, why would they not have a home similar to the others? Where are they supposed to live, on a boat? In a tent? And quite frankly, any attempt by them to do something “different”, whatever that may mean, has been met by shrieks of “protocol and tradition”!
What is that supposed to mean though? Even if they were going to be different, they were still going to live in a royal property. They were never going to be Vanlifers or anything.
How is Meghan going to ‘modernize’ a British tradition that has been going on for many centuries? This is all stupid hyperbole stirred up by the gutter press because they consider her a parvenu, she’s American, and half-black to boot. She and Harry can’t just buy any old house and do it up themselves because the crazies would be all over them – they need a ton of security wherever they go. Furthermore, they paid for the interior design stuff themselves, and they don’t even own Frogmore Cottage as it’s crown property. Yes they do live well but it’s not like they’re demanding everything, it comes with the territory and so far they’ve shown that they’re willing and happy to work for it, unlike the Cambridges who have spent far more and done far less to deserve their lavish lifestyle.
Daily Fail Basic Comments:
But Kate will be QWEENN!
*sad white tears*
I do not mind renovation, Frogmore was a long time needed one and I do believe that it will not be the Sussex House for more than 3/4 years. They will either quit the Royal Circus for the enduring abuse or move back to London cause Charles will give them more patronage. The problem, as Uk taxpayer, it’s to pay constant renovation for houses and places who do no need to be renovated at that scale. We are talking about the tennis court being move to one side to another and Waity that after painting the house in one colour, in less than a year later had to change again because she didn’t like. Since these are historical houses, listed home with strict rule, I would prefer more attention to the historical features than having three ktichen and an open space or whatever. But councils will not talk sh*t about this to the Royals, they will target the normal bloke.
After Charles brief reign, I hope people will realise that we do not need William and whatever as PR power, they are not, they act and pretend to be not held to a higher standard and be treated as higly celebrity.
Hear hear @RubyfromIt.
People have been mumbling from the time Queen Elizabeth wanted to claim poverty allowance (for her castle) and the government had to tell her no circa 2010. The drawback with Markle marrying into the Royal famiy is having a lot of Americans scolding us about feeling annoyed about the monarchy’s spendthrift ways (and she’s bought into it with her clothing expenditure).
But people all around the country – left, right, centre – have been complaining for decades about the Royal Family’s spending. It obviously hasn’t helped us.
They did about Charles and Diana, about Fergie, about William and Kate, about Meghan and Harry.
I mean, I suppose it would be the narrative of this site that that was all pre-emptive racism for the day Meghan showed up but it seems unlikely.
I think everything is amplified with Harry and Meghan because the US media is obsessed with stories about the couple. I see more stories about the Royal Family now than I have in several years. If Harry was married to a white British woman, we would barely hear anything about what they do. Meghan being a biracial American is just too much for the tabloids to resist. Her race and nationality is just more ammunition for the haters. Royal spending has been out of control for decades. Either get upset at them all or leave them alone. Directing all the vitriol towards Harry and Meghan (mostly Meghan) is disgusting.
This almost 100%. Yes the press is more out for Meghan and Harry, because of the US media and her being a bi-racial American. It sells more as you have a bigger market. The only qualm I have with your comment is I think this story is mostly being reported well. $3 million is too much money, and the tax payers also complained vehemently about the Cambridges $5 Million too. My only thinking is the at least the Sussexes spent less money, but still. Honestly, if I’m the Sussexes these stories seem more normal royal fair, and I’d kind of be happy with it. It’s certainly better than the racist crap they normally get.
False. It’s all full of crap. Didn’t the daily fail say she put in a yoga studio when that did NOT happen??
I recall some outrage over the tennis court and I believe the kitchen. I’m not a Brit so I don’t know the finer points here, but I understand these buildings need up keep and they are part of the English monarchy so yes, some spending is warranted. It’s when it’s BS spending for the sake of spending that causes problems.
I remember being disgusted by the kitchen reno, because there were pictures of the old kitchen, which already looked pretty good to my ‘galley kitchen’ eyes. I remember thinking moving the tennis courts for a better view was pretty petty. If I had my own private tennis courts outside my home, I’d be pretty pleased with the view already!! So to me, those expenditures were over-the-top. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE NOTED: the taxpayer ONLY paid for structural upgrades, already needed and budgeted for. They paid for their furnishings, curtains, etc themselves. So, to me, the DoS is getting unacceptable crap for nothing, whilst the DoC should have received more crap for their “luxury” upgrades.
Yes, people were definitely angry. Also, why bring up the privately funded renovations to Anmer Hall? Private funds wouldn’t bother me, but public funds would…if I were actually an English taxpayer. Also, I’m dying to see the inside of Frogmore Cottage, even though that’s unlikely. I’m wondering if it’s less formal than other royal abodes, maybe with some California touches? I’m picturing a Nancy Meyers interior, but that’s just pure speculation.
@gem – I think it goes to Will and Kate’s overall spending. There were millions spent between their two homes, and especially at the time, they were barely working. William has since increased his workload but its been a slow gain. So many Meghan critics rant about what a diva she is and how she loves to spend Charles’ money, but Will and Kate did/do the same thing.
By mad if you mean the UK tabloids, yes and for the UK people yes they were pissed but this about the Sussex’s has been particularly nasty as certain tabloids have been specifically targeting Meghan (we know who they are). There was outrage when TQ got the budget for the 10 year renovations on BP, as well as outrage when Big Willy wanted to plant a massive hedge at KP (as it was classed as security we the taxpayer got stiffed for it). For the record I am a UK tax paying citizen and yes it pisses me off that the entire family are throwing my cash around.
I would add that the disaster that is Brexit is fuelling the outrage given that people/businesses are feeling the bite of the car crash our gov is making of it. Plus the optics of doing all the work now to replace plumbing etc.. when royals want to live in it and not when it was being lived in by Household staff.
Also Kaiser the KP 1A renovations lasted 2 years because of all the additional work that was done – no room was left untouched. They replaced the roof and had to remove asbestos from the walls.
Some claim the British were equally outraged over the Sussex renos. I don’t believe isseit but, whatever. What pisses me off is that MEGHAN is the one who catching all the hell oiver this. It’s Harry’s family. They’re the ones who let the house fall to pieces. If anybody should be blamed it should be Harry and the Queen. And anyone who knows anything about renovations would know that 3 million for a house that big and that important isn’t really a lot of money. And since the house technically belongs to the British people, it’s not like they’re handing Meghan a big sack of cash.
As for the argument that the response is EXTRA because of Brexit, perhaps the British people should have considered consequences before casting their votes (or not bothering to vote at all).
I don’t believe for a second that there would be this kind of hysteria if Meghan were White.
It seems the Cambridges also spent almost $2 million on a driveway
https://twitter.com/Paris_London190/status/1143854968815980545?s=19
How da fuq do you spend almost 2 mill on a driveway? Is the frickin thing 28 miles long? Did they add deployable spike belts every 50 feet? Gold-plated gate posts? Is the cement 60% marble? Did they hire the best to paint the Royal Seal down the length of it? How oh how do you spend $1.8 paving a driveway? Seriously, I need to know.
+1 for your comment Lady D! The imagines of spike belts, marble in the cement and gold plated posts gave me a giggle! Because, really how is a DRIVEWAY worth 2 MILLION??? A driveway. SMH!
Honestly, I remember Kate and William constantly getting attacked by the media for everything, spending money, being lazy, etc. . Now they are going after the Harry and Meghan with the same attacks.
They can have all their money and fame, I can’t even imagine living under that constant microscope. Having my children grow up in that family.
And Kate is the duchess who never puts a foot wrong.
I think that’s what gets me. Its not that W&K were not criticized for these things at the time, its that the RRs and such are conveniently forgetting that in their overall coverage of those two couples. If they were JUST criticizing Meghan, that’d be one thing. But there is always this underlying comparison to Kate where Kate comes out on top, and Meghan is made to look like the extravagant diva (i.e. the jewelry post from the other day.)
I am not going into the forensic detail of cost and comparison between the two Duchesses here. However what I did want to say – as a practicing Architect in the UK – is that renovation costs can be complex – i.e is this cost with consultants fees or simply the construction cost etc. Also, Grade 1 and Grade 2 listed properties, which are basically special preservation status properties with historic value, are an absolute pain to deal with. You must liaise with many governmental bodies, specialist consultants, the Estate e.g Crown, Grosvenor etc. and this is extremely costly – and often necessary to preserve what was built 300 years ago. Not to mention it is a criminal offence to alter such buildings without permission. So what I am saying is, regardless of which Duchess this talk relates to, refurbishing historic properties is expensive, it is a pain, and the figures are not surprising when average (emphasis on average) properties in London are being refurbished for £600,000 at least.
Thank you for being the voice of reason around here. It is obvious that most people have no idea what it costs to upkeep an old building. My parents bought a 3 bedroom home that was built in the 1950s and you would be surprised how much the roof, plumbing and electrical wiring needed to be redone, far less a building built in the 1800s.
If you want to have mansions and palaces they need to be upkept on a regular maintenance schedule.
The other thing people are not getting is that this maintenance does not include their furniture or curtains etc. they bought their own posh furniture.
What is the complaint exactly. That they don’t want to live in a building with squeaky wooden floors? That they should be happy to keep calling the plumber every week because the sinks keep clogging up and toilets won’t flush properly? That they are getting a fridge with ice maker instead of making do with using ice trays?
It’s a paradox to me that a kingdom that strongly desires to keep this elitist system decries the same elites for not being like regular folk.
Everyone should read this comment twice. So many people here commenting on how they can get things done on the cheap ignoring how rules in the UK are much stricter for buildings in general much less historical ones would affect the cost of all the renovations. They are not going to pay cash under the table to workers on building linked to the royal family and government because the spending gets scrutinized at all levels.
I have no problem with the cost of restoring history. I have a real problem with a $2 million price tag for paving Normal Bill’s driveway.
^ Yes but context is everything. The cost of labour, the cost of materials, the extent the drive, the necessity of a new drive as the other one is unsafe or detrimental or impacting the building. So many things to consider – plus I think you’re referring to Australian dollars although I’m not sure about the exchange rate. Sorry for being nerdy but this is my line of work and every day attitudes of “this is a ludicrous cost” can be detrimental to people being paid a decent wage – when everyone thinks its cheaper than it is.
“So many people here commenting on how they can get things done on the cheap ignoring how rules in the UK are much stricter for buildings in general”
And not only that – building codes in at least a good portion of the states are lax af compared to Canada, and I’d imagine the UK. I wasn’t fully aware of just how scary lenient it was until my husband went into plumbing. It’s absolutely frightening. And I bet you CAN hire some rando off the street and get it done. But that’s not the case in MANY places.
^@Harrierjet: I’m also curious to know if any of the historic buildings referenced in these articles suffer from previous renovations/repairs/upgrades that were considered acceptable decades ago, but now have the extra burden/expense of being *undone* before proper work can begin.
@Toifilles, it is very likely – none of this work would up to current regulations such as wiring and fire protection. Sometimes work from the early 00’s needs to be upgraded. The 70’s was 40 years ago – and I haven’t met a person in Britain with something nice to say about things built in the 70s!
When I heard that the renovations cost 3 mil, I thought it was a good deal. Too many people are watching the Property Brothers and thinking that renovations are cheap. Anyone who has ever endured a renovation will tell you differently. Add the fact that it’s a house of historical importance and I think the British taxpayer got off lightly.
There was the typical dust up when royals spend money but there wasn’t the huge outcry. I think the cost of the Cambridges’ renovation was discussed here more than anywhere else really. Maybe it’s because I’m aware of the undertones of the “outrage” regarding Meg & Harry for the most part. But as I said yesterday, 3 million to restore a historic house that has not been kept up is about right. I also think that after this they’ll be looking at general costs for the upkeep of the property rather than having these large expenses.
I’d also like to bring up the point that another poster aptly said they were going to restore this home no matter what and that money was never going to be re-allocated somewhere else. I think people are upset about many things, and they transfer that emotion to situations like these, forgetting how these budgets actually work, and what things in this situation actually cost.
Outside of gossip sites and a few tabloids it wasn’t discussed and there certainly weren’t headlines saying that Kate forced the taxpayers to pay millions. Or a petition for an inquiry on the spending on renovating Frogmore Cottage.
Even now there was over a million spent on redoing a driveway at KP, but no one is talking about storming the castle there.
I know. The Cambridges’ spent 1 million on a driveway, and Harry & Meg spent 3 million on their whole house. I don’t think H & M are the one’s wasting money here.
@Nic919. Seriously? There’s a petition for an inquiry on the spending on renovating Frogmore Cottage? But none of the other expenses listed? Wow….
Sky News reported on the petition.
I distinctly remember being blown away by the kitchen. I LOVED the kitchen before they annihilated it. Idiots.
I think everyone in this extended family is ridiculously spoiled. And yes, I remember a lot of outrage.
I remember when Bill and Kathy started their never ending renos – people were super pissed here! especially with the un-necessary ones like the kitchen, tennis courts,etc etc.
The story was never the first round of renovations at the KP but the fact that things were being redesigned and redone within months. And that they were then supposed to be full time but then never actually ended up doing that (and still haven’t).
The Amner renos just added to the perception that they were being flaky with the complete change of a new kitchen and then moving a tennis court a few feet, which required taking over more land that wasn’t part of the original property.
People really need to see through the “outrage” especially in the media. The royals spend money for renovations and this has been a fact for decades. The problem with this outrage is that it’s revenge and desperation rolled into one. These journalists and reporters want access and are basically using republican sentiments and anti monarchists to turn the public against the sussexes in an attempt to diminish their popularity, which in turn would force them to go to the press to reverse it. I saw the article from Arthur Edwards and the clips of Jobson, Morgan and Larcombe on YouTube. Funny how the people that have been wanting access and conversations are all jumping on this. It’s all an act. They are crying out to get noticed by the Sussexes, LOL. Piers thought he had another Diana situation with Meghan and the others are mad because Harry isn’t playing the media game but the morons are blaming Meghan because he’s reacting to the constant gaslighting and abuse.
All of this.
I feel like when these stories come out about the ridiculous spending of the royals people are upset. YES people were this mad when W&K renovated, YES I’m outraged that this family of spoiled people get taxpayer money.
Yes Outrage over Kate’s two kitchens. The difference is Meghan has been attacked for just breathing that it seems like an additional attack on her. She can’t get a break with these people even while pregnant. I’m happy she’s on Maternity leave so she can weather this storm without given them something else to attack her own. Let them praise the work shy Kate for just showing up and dressed like she’s from another century. Meanwhile Meghan and Archie are living their best life in their beautiful newly renovated 3 million pound home eating avocado toast (Archie enjoying via breast milk)!
I’m not entirely sure you appreciate just how creepy this comment is.
The renovations at Frogmore House were due to be carried out regardless of whether Harry and Meghan moved there as the monarch apparently has a duty of care to maintain all of her royal residences and Frogmore was apparently becoming dilapidated.
The outrage IMO is just the latest bit in the British media’s smear campaign against The Sussexes especially Meghan. My belief in this has been enhanced by the fact that this latest report on royal spending included the fact that William and Kate spent £1.8 million on their driveway at Kensington Palace, and yet not a peep from the British media about this.
It’s coordinated and desperation at its finest. They’re trying to bully the Sussexes into opening access to them. They’ve used everything against this couple from past relationships, Family members, her race and now they’re using the one thing that will get people fired up, which is finances. They’re trying to Marie Antoinette Meghan and Harry and it’s pathetic. I think this is a another story in the making because I’m sure the Christening is coming up and the press won’t have access to that either. The birth and the control surrounding that scared the press. But the morons only ensured that it’ll be harder to get access. Morons, all of them.
I had nearly forgotten about that kitchen. I remember people being pretty pissed when they saw the “before” photo of that and there was some damage control about how Prince Charles would help foot the bill or something. Unlike Kate, Meghan came into the marriage with some (of course not a fraction of the same amount as the royals) money of her own and I think she’s used to paying to make things the way she wants them. I do think the anger seems a lot stronger with H&M but that could also be because of everything with Brexit, the economy is not the same there as it was several years ago.
I’m going to say something controversial here. I’m pretty sure Kate had more money than Meghan coming into the marriage. Purely from Kate’s family. Kate’s family has money. The party business is a big business and they are a large UK business. Meghan was on a cable tv show. Sure she had some money, but I’m guessing her net worth was 1-1.5 million. Kate’s was probably higher. You might not like how she got it, but my guess it was more.
Meghan was worth $5million. I believe the Middleton wealth is greatly exaggerated. Paper goods for parties do not cost very much to begin with so how much markup could there be? They had some other resources-uncle, inheritance, etc.
Their party business is supposedly in trouble.
Party Pieces never made enough for the Middletons to have the wealth they claimed. It was only moderately successful even at its height and now is barely functioning. It was the millions Uncle Gary Goldsmith made from selling his IT business and drug dealing that financed some of Kate’s relationship with William – Party Pieces made some money by selling data, to help with this.
Kate’s family were not super rich. I mean Pippa had a scholarship to go Marlborough and free trips, plenty of free clothes and can’t forget the Audi she got on discount during the waiting years. Also during the waiting years the Middleton’s had to keep up with the appearance of pretending to be rich and discreet till Kate got big blue.Now every other month their is a Middleton giving an interview this month it’s james. I think Meghan had way more than Kate.
Are Kate’s parents dead? No? So it’s not her money.
Second, unless you have seen the Middleton’s list of assets and liabilities, you have no idea how much money they have.
Stop trolling.
It was never Kate’s money and neither was it her family’s – her waity years was funded by her Uncle WHO is the wealthy one. He sold his IT recruitment business for £750mill years ago and he has always been open about how he financially helped Carole and the Middletons.
Party Pieces finances have always been shady AF, here an interesting article explaining how they made their moderate wealth. They basically committed legal money laundering/tax evasion by moving money around shell companies and selling their customer lists. The products are vastly overpriced tat that can be picked up in supermarkets and high street pound shops on top of the exuberant shipping costs.
Their business model was hit with the introduction of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) an EU wide digital data privacy protection law that strictly controls what business can do with its customers information. The biggest change was that to sell on customer data you MUST get the customers EXPLICIT permission to do so. PP lost their biggest revenue generator when that came into force 2 years ago.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8147929/Royal-Wedding-Middletons-money-how-was-it-made.html
EU GDPR: https://eugdpr.org/
@Skiff: Meghan’s assets are worth approx. $10 million and she’s worked successfully for years, not just on “some cable TV show”. The Middleton business is not doing very well and would probably have gone bankrupt if not for good old Uncle Gary who sold his IT business for close to a billion and has been shoring up Party Pieces ever since. Reportedly he paid for the Mid’s kids’ educations and the business has recently axed a number of positions trying to get back in the black. Kate never had her own money apart from a few part-time jobs, what she has had is funding from her uncle and Prince Charles.
but even if it was uncle Gary then still it makes Kate have greater resources than Meghan. shady af.
Honestly, Skiff, you have failed to make a point, any point in fact regarding Meghan v. KM. And, no; Uncle G’s wealth and resources are not KM’s. They are his biological daughter’s. He helped out but I don’t think he fully supported the Midds, financially. Whether you’re talking about Ma and Pa Midds, Uncle G, or KM, they’re all independent, emancipated adults. So, no, Katie (an adult) had no notable wealth or hard assets coming into the marriage to PW. That’s why PW had to back a mortgage for the Midds’ pretentious “estate” that they purchased after the wedding. And, don’t forget, what little is left of Party Pieces will get split 3 ways b/w the Midd siblings if the parents are deceased.
I think this post is a good reminder that renovations like this are not new, Meghan and Harry are not the only Royals to ever renovate their home.
Here on this site I think we know all of this. But the media outlets reporting and the commenters either have forgotten or use it to paint H&M in a further worse light.
Yes, there was outrage when the Cambridges did their many renovations. There was also outrage back when Prince Philip did renovations to Clarence House. I believe there was quite a HUGE outcry when Prince Albert & Queen Victoria built Buckingham Palace.
I remember lots of outrage about the kitchen and tennis courts, but I also feel like there may be more general outrage because of Brexit. People are scared. There is a financial crisis looming, so rich people spending public money is not going to sit well and people are going to be more vocal/aware of it than they were 5 years ago. If Will and Kate suddenly decided to do more Reno’s, I am sure they would get outrage too.
Seriously? William and Kate’s spending has been a hot topic for years. From Kate’s clothing to William’s helicopter jaunts to the rental they barely used to the infamous tennis court. This site must have written dozens of articles about all that.
Meghan absolutely gets undeserved criticism, but that doesn’t mean every criticism is unwarranted. She married into a family that sponges of the taxpayers while giving us very little value in return, and we have been getting increasingly sick of it for decades now. She’s going to be under the same microscope all of them are when it comes to finances, as she should be. If that’s a problem for the Sussexes there’s a very easy solution; they can use their own money. If they don’t want to do that, well then the people get to feel however they like about their use of taxpayers money.
I’m sorry but that won’t stop the criticisms against Meghan at all. Especially not with a press that is firmly against her. That woman can buy all her clothes, run her own social media and pay for her own finances and people will still attack her. They’ll say that’s shes too independent, controlling, too American. That’s never going to happen. Tormenting and harassing that woman is a past time there.
Um @Julie, I seem to remember a baby shower earlier this year which was paid for with private funds. There wasn’t much outrage about that at all was there? /s
Kaiser: I follow you on twitter and remember reading someone telling you that Meghan would be a guest editor of Vogue. In those first tweets it was said that she was going to do a photoshoot and show Frogmore and her family. This news came a week after you wrote an article about them making more renovations to the cottage.
I wonder if all this outrage has anything to do with that: Meghan suppossedly giving Vogue the pictures all media outlets want to get.
So is the media not going to talk about the fact that the Cambridges also spent $1.8m to resurface their DRIVEWAY last year. The media pretty much buried this information and instead is focusing on the 2.4m to renovate an ENTIRE house that was going to be renovated anyway.
How can a DRIVEWAY cost 1.8 million???
Where is the outrage for this???
Criticizing royal spending is one thing. But. This wave of stories, is different.
The wave of stories castigating the Sussexes in the DM has left me with a feeling of doom and gloom. I usually read here to find out the latest the DM is saying but just glancing at their site the other day they had the Rebecca English hit piece, horrible Richard Kay, horrible Piers Morgan, and horrible Sarah Vine (she is the woman who was photographed accompanying Rose Hanbury into the Trump banquet.)
The Vine column for example, refers to Will and Kate as “consummate corporate royals” (???? but apparently Vine thinks this a good thing) and trashes Meghan for “snubbing” Trump. Basically says the Queen and other royals are “frugal” but somehow Meghan alone is a profligate spender and the Sussexes are not “good value for the money” like the Cambridges. (haha). The Kay article–demonizes Meghan for not giving enough childbirth details, how dare she, if she is going to renovate her royal house she better give details on dilation, effacement, episiotomy, etc etc and present herself for Richard Kay’s gaze immediately after birth, preferably in high heels and with blown out hair. SO. GROSS.
It is like a targeted coordinated attack and it is so much more than about spending on Frogmore. I really have a sick feeling about it TBH.
I wouldn’t worry about them. These people are pissed that Meghan and Harry aren’t playing games with them. They’re not going to come out say that the Cambridge’s don’t sell their papers and they need the Sussexes star power. Piers and Richard and the rest of those hyenas want access to Meghan. She’s a superstar, they all know that and that superstar isn’t giving them what they want like Kate did. All I see is desperation and panic in those headlines and columns. They’re used to getting what they want. They’re trying to openly blackmail this couple. Why do you think they were using Thomas Markle so much? It wasn’t because they cared about a father daughter relationship, it was because the man could be a leaker of personal information.
@Tourmaline, I agree completely, the targeted articles this week have left me feeling really anxious as they have become extremely nasty in their vitriol…. and there are so many of them at the same time! I really really want Charles or TQ to come out with a statement and put all the lies around renovation of Frogmore to bed once and for all, call out those RRs for their obvious racism and lies. The RRs behaviour will not force M&H to come around to dealing with them like they want them to, it will just force them to move permanently away from UK to LA or Africa maybe, then RRs will have even less access than they do now. And I wouldn’t blame them if they did move, how on earth can they keep sane with this level of hatred from RRs? I worry about their well-being and sanity.
Well said @Tourmaline and @Britt. This is all frustration and spite.
They thought they could use Meghan’s father to harass and humiliate her into playing their game. But Meghan’s an intelligent, woman who has had to make her own way, unlike the other Duchess who’s only real achievement in life is landing the sad sack she’s married to. Meghan played her father like a master and know he and his toxic have been shut down. The media has no way to REALLY get at Meghan.
In addition, she and Harry and picking and choosing the way they relay information. I can imagine the fury in the press rooms in Great Britain because they STILL haven’t seen how dark Master Archie is.
The Sussex family will ride out this storm just as they’ve ridden out the others. It will probably bring them closer. It makes me sad and angry.to see someone treated so shabbily because she’s biracial. Sad for her and angry at all the lowlifes who’s racism literally drives them crazy. But I know her mother has taught that our people have been through worse. I have a feeling that Meghan knows how many people are in her corner. Her mother, her husband and her baby love her. Who gives a fuck about Piers Morgan, Ingrid Seward and the rest of them.
Agreed. These people are desperate and everyone is noticing the pile on. The press are a bigger version of Thomas Markle. Bullying, insults and harassment didn’t work during that mess, what makes them think that will change Harry and Meghan’s mind about access? I’ve never seen public desperation, frustration and panic so much in my life.
I remember lots of angry comments but not on the level of Meghan and Harry!
Do peoples remember that Brit journalists used to spat on Diana to get a reaction from her?This time they are spitting on Meghan throughly their articles to get a reaction from Meghan or Harry and to help their far right agenda.
Didn’t the uk lost £600 million in one week?
Harry and Meghan used to pay their own rent until the untalented bias bigot Emuly Andrews from the sun and another paparazzi agency leaked their location.Pitcures of their house including pictures of their bedroom.The british press should take several seats.This is all their fault.
Btw Frogmore was supposed to be renovated Harry and Meghan or not.
And this year will and Kate will spend £1 million more for Their palace’s ride way.
The Brits hate Meghan since a biracial woman wasn’t supposed to be hardworking and more successful than the future queen they used to call.Lazy duchess.
Meghan wasn’t supposed to used her life experience and what she learnt at northwestern university to succeed into her royal duty.d.Harry wasn’t the one supposed to have the wife with the popularity of a queen.
Kate and William spent 3 times what frogmore costed.
« But kate and will will be king and queen »
Aren’t Andrew and Edward 8th And 11th in line ?
Where was the outrage when prince Andrew spent 7 million on his castle renovation?
Where was the outrage when the wessex spent more than Harry and Meghan for their castle?
Frogmore’s foundations,the roof’s renovations costed more than £1 million were about to fall.
They had to install security systems since the far right suppremacist love to send death threats to Meghan.They only got themselves to blame.
Was meghan supposed to live in such a dangerous house?
The British press still mad that harry And Meghan escaped Kensington palace and in the same time William Kate and their courtiers.
The press is also mad because Meghan and Harry refused to show them Archie.Until today they keep complaining about it.They publicly promised to make her life a living hell.So here we are.Youcan’t see That anywhere else in Europe.
It will be harder to smear her without contacts close to her like they used to have in Kensington palace.
I wish she never married into this family because dealing with all this hate is a price too expensive.
And for peoples who kee complaining about Harry and Archie being 6th and 7th in line.Remember that one day they will be 4th and 5th in line.
Harry works harder,bring more cash and attention into this family than some peoples closer to the throne.
Their place in the line of succession is entirely irrelevant.
As multiple people have pointed out, Prince Andrew and Edward received accommodation that cost much more to renovate and upkeep, and yet people don’t yell about that. Andrew recently sold his Sunninghill estate to a corrupt Kazakh millionaire for more than the asking price. Crickets all around. There have been royals living in “grace and favour” Kensington Palace apartments for decades by now. For their position and relative visibility, H&M have been keeping costs down in terms of housing, compared to some of their family members.
All I’m going to say is that there is a clear bias that goes on when reporting about members of this family. Whether it’s the daily mail who are anti Sussex or this site which seems to be anti Cambridge. So I take everything I read and that is projected onto me with a grain of salt.
Very interesting article done by Jezebel on the exact details behind what generates money for the Crown. Worth a read:
https://jezebel.com/who-pays-for-the-royal-familys-glamour-1835839226
First comment, but I’m a religious reader…11:00 p.m. Beijing time and I’m good to go. Thank you everyone for great comments and thanks to Kaiser. I’m just wondering…where actually is this 3 million going? Are local contactors benefitting…as in craftsmen…as in the trickle-down theory at work?
These jackals can’t get access to the Sussexes so they trubto blackmail in the media. The Markles are useless now because Bad Dad was busted with Meghan’s letter and he has FIVE adult grandchildren, two he never met. That and estrangements btw the three and other family members have discredited them. All parties want access to the christening and they are basically trying to crash.
@ Vi so are you saying they would have torn it down then? Because based on the renovations to plumbing and electrical the place would have been uninhabitable without a lot of work done. Who would have lived there? It would have been a vacant eyesore.
Sorry, this comment is in the wrong place!
‘Still didn’t answer my question. Why weren’t these repairs so important when others were living and working there.’
Because they do the renovations piece meal as they get to them.
And when they originally decided 3 years ago that it was Frogmore Cottage’s turn they applied for planning permission from the council and the tenants were moved to other houses on the estate .
Buckingham Palace is a freezing cold fire trap but HMQ has managed to struggle on for years living and working their before they all decided it was time to fix the 50 year old wiring and put central heating in
I recall reading that Frogmore cottage used to be 5 apartments and palace staff lived there.
It was .
It started off as one 10 bedroom house then was split up into flats about 40 years ago and they had now decided to turn it back into one 5 bedroom house with office space in either wing .All this was public knowledge 3 years ago when the Estate submitted the planning application to Windsor Council .
When it was announced that Harry and Meghan were moving in they then submitted another application for the security elements and some additional stuff .But the main application went in 2 years before Harry and Meghan were even married .
Yes they were. Bit this is Celebitchy
Yes-I remember the vitriol spewed against the Cambridges at the time – much of it justified, just like now.
I remember there being a stir in the media regarding W&K’s renovation expenses which I thought were overboard at the time. Maybe because I like H&M I’m more sensitive of the criticism of them BUT I will reiterate my sentiments from another thread on this matter.
Frogmore Cottage was left to go in such disrepair nothing but a very expensive reno was going to make it habitable. There has been no mention of tennis courts, swimming pools or anything lavish being added to the property. The reported yoga studio with a, gasp, FLOATING FLOOR!, didn’t happen either.
Frogmore is an important historical home and isn’t it so much better to see it being fixed up and lived in by a young family then left to be the dilapidated eyesore that it was? I realize people are going through hard times in Britain but I still don’t see the restoration of Frogmore Cottage to be in anyway bad or unreasonable public expense.
I have actually just replied to someone else about this. Previous reports said Frogmore cottage used to be 5 apartments that palace staff lived in. So I would imagine some of the costs were due to the conversion from flats to a house.
I’m still upset about all the money they splashed out on the trump visit.
I’m still upset over the expenditure on the Kings of Spain and Netherlands the other day. Oh and the security costs came out of taxes but not one peep from even Rebecca English.
I do remember the hate both here and on dailymail. Everyone. As someone put it – there are homeless so a good pr move would do something for them as well or I don’t know but it’s terrible. Cambridges were crucified and for a good reason. Sussexes as well.
But in my home country Kate got the bad press that she “renovated” Diana’s jewellery..
There was quite a lot of outrage over the previous expenditures, add the fact that an awful lot of people are worried about Brexit and how it will affect their personal finances, and you’ve got a lot of people not amused about paying for vegan paint.
And how do you know they used vegan paint? Did they tell you that?
It’s been reported everywhere from House Beautiful to Cosmo. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not, but the report is everywhere and, in the absence of contrary information, people are basing opinions on it. H&M get to decide whether to be open about details like this or keep information to themselves, and both have consequences. None of it changes the fact that a lot of British people are concerned for their own finances and Royal expenditures don’t sit that well with them.
And this is where the smear campaign of the past 8 months comes full circle. The tabloids have spent the better part of a year spinning these tales about Meghan, so now there are comments about vegan paint and “Meghan and harry said they would be different but they’re not!!!” and the big part of the story is that there’s no yoga studio.
I mean…..
Vegan paint? Just like the non existing yoga studio? people with an agenda believe anything ridiculous about H&M..smh
They only used it in the nursery. Lots of people use it for nurseries as babies are very sensitive to ordinary chemical paint. Stop making a mountain out of a molehill.
As I keep saying on these threads, this is NOT THE TIME to be seen as profligate on any level in the UK. People are angry, exhausted, poor & many are also homeless and hungry.
We have had enough of this bloody family.
Yep, lots of people was rage-y about the Cambridge’s renovations too.
Since we don’t know the true circumstances behind any of it the Cambridge’s or the Sussex’s, neither matter to me.
I will say that Frogmore sounds like it it was dilapidated mess, and if it wasn’t historical and royal would probably have just be torn down. I’m surprised they didn’t spend more to rehab it.
This is the price of having a monarchy. In countries like France, the former royal residences are open to tourists, so their needed renovations and upkeep is paid for that way. The Brits just have to decide — if they want to keep their monarchy, this is the price to be paid. Sometimes I feel outraged on their behalf, but then I realize it’s their choice, and they should just suck it up.
The French government actually does cover a lot of the costs and expenses of taking care of historical buildings though. Yes, some of the costs are covered by opening these spaces up for tourism, but that doesn’t cover everything. Tourism like any other industry is prone to fluctuations, and when tourism is down, revenue goes down as well.
There was talk about the Cambridges” renovation expenses sans the implicit nod to them as undeserving. Even the written/verbal harasser titled Morgan indicated that they can overspend because they are the future king.
The outrage is because they do not think the Sussexes are royal.
Prince Harry was royal until May 2018. He did not allow his family to become a commodity and lines in a column for Jobson Shipp Steward and actively ignores the Daily Fail.
Remember he sued the Times not the Fail and got an apology and undisclosed amount for compromising his family’s safety by publishing photos of their country rental although the Fail also published those pictures.
The royal reporters do not have access to the most popular royal in the world and cannot sell stories about them . They can only do external reporting and usually distorts the price for several articles of clothing, shoes and jewelry.
Can one imagine what they will do for 2 million eyeballs and 40 thousand comments for one of their stories like the Sussexes Instagram account. The advert revenue will be enormous.
So Kay Vine and the earlier mentioned journalist are angry that they have been cancelled by a large part of the consumer pool.
The RRs may be rage-y because of a story out that Harry and Meghan have NDA for their staff, even applicants. They can’t get anyone to snitch on House Sussex. The clauses in those may be so tight it may not be worth the chump change Morgah will dole out.
Here’s the thing–what is the guarantee that the money saved by abolishing the royalty or not renovating these buildings would actually go towards essential services for the people? Sure, it could potentially be used for that end, yes. But there are plenty of governments and countries around the world that don’t subsidize a monarchy, and every single one of them have a gamut of excuses as to why they can’t spare any money for improving public services such as basic health care and what not. The USA is the biggest example of this.
The monarchy should be abolished because it fundamentally sets up inequality in society. That’s it. You cannot have an equal society when you have a group of people who, through accident of birth alone, are able to access so much privilege. But it just strikes me as a pretty big fallacy to assume that abolishing the monarchy will automatically divert the funds to places that need it more. It will likely go to the government, and the government will decide how to spend it, and do people sincerely have faith that the people representing them in parliament will allocate the money with their constituents’ best interests at heart? Really?
I love Harry and Meghan but I do see issues with a few things
I think we need to be fair here late did Reno and was DRAGGED! the British press Hated Princess and di and fergie it’s was until the end of her life they loved her
The narrative that it’s megan that does wrong they did this shit to late as well . We see it more and Care more because (well in my case ) she is a woc
I think magazines are just thirsty. POC matters but basically they love HOW MUCH ROYALS SPEND headline about every single one. As for popularity, the least popular is Charles, let’s admit it, he’s dull and there was even the talk of skipping him and giving the throne to William. But Charles’ll be king and Camilla Queens consort (if she accepts) and the latter.. oh duh.