I used to really enjoy Tom Sykes’ royal coverage at the Daily Beast, and I would cite his articles often. Just a few months ago, he was breaking news on the Prince William-Rose Hanbury story by translating the “Fleet Street” coded language and discussing how William’s lawyers were arguing that it’s William’s human right to have an affair and cover it up (or something). But Sykes hasn’t been on Team Sussex for months now, and the British Vogue September issue seems to have set him off. He did a recent story about whether Buckingham Palace – meaning, the Queen’s courtiers/PR people – knew about Meghan’s guest-editing gig, and whether Meghan informed them ahead of time or even sought permission. Some highlights:
The timing is bad for the palace: In mid July, after Wimbledon, the Queen and the royal family at large shut up shop for a long, two-month summer holiday. The Queen disappears off to Scotland and other royals, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince William, and Prince Harry, pare back their work commitments and cut staff in their offices to skeleton levels… So one can imagine the sinking feeling that Meghan Markle’s decision, apparently taken without consulting Buckingham Palace, to guest-edit a controversial issue of the British style bible Vogue this summer must have engendered.
The secrecy around the issue: As anyone who has worked at a glossy magazine will know, when a high profile, top-secret cover star is secured, operations are carefully managed. A small and tight circle of individuals are involved, with the rest of the staff often being given pages of future issues to keep them quiet. This seems to have been the case at Vogue. Meghan was not seen once at Vogue House in the nine months since she and Enninful first met, over what she called “a cup of steaming mint tea.” Meetings were held at Kensington Palace, and after Meghan and Harry moved to Windsor, communication took place via Skype, rather than at the London offices of the magazine.
Did Meghan consult with anyone? Intriguingly, it does appear that Enninful’s first goal was to get Meghan to simply appear on the cover. However she refused this and instead proposed—by text, while she was sitting at home on her sofa with her dogs—the guest editorship. Her own editor’s letter, and Enninful’s interviews, make clear that this was entirely her own idea, that she did not seek approval from anybody else in the palace and did not feel the need to.
Conde Nast blacklisted the Daily Beast over this: The Daily Beast, for example, has been blacklisted by the Condé Nast press office for our coverage of the negative reactions Meghan’s guest editorship has engendered, and having the temerity to express the opinion that Meghan might have made a mistake in doing this.
Whether the palace knew about it: The palace declined to comment on whether or not Her Majesty’s senior team—to whom Meghan and Harry’s PR supremo, Sara Latham, who has not exactly covered herself in glory since taking on the role, is supposed to report—had been appraised of the project at all. It certainly seems deeply unlikely that HM’s press secretary, the careful and cautious Donal McCabe, would have gleefully signed off on an interview in which Harry reminded us all not to be racist.
I doubt Meghan “asked for permission” from the Queen’s people, but I bet she did inform them of her choice to guest-edit the magazine after the fact, plus the guest-editor gig was widely reported for months anyway. My guess is that now that the Sussexes’ office falls under the purview of the Buckingham Palace communications operations, the Queen and her men will basically take a “hands off” approach until sh-t gets completely terrible (we’re already there!). Basically, people inside both BP and Kensington Palace are curious about what Meghan and Harry are doing and how it will play out, but they’re out there on their own.
I also feel like Sykes is all too happy to just spread the narrative that Meghan’s British Vogue issue has been poorly received by EVERYONE, or everyone who counts, meaning the Camilla Tomineys of the world, those who weep white women tears because Meghan didn’t include as many white women in the issue as they would have liked. What is actually happening is that the nastiness towards Meghan was so intense, there was a backlash to the backlash and people are lining up to buy multiple copies of this issue. You know what the next criticism is going to be then: “Meghan’s too popular, she needs to stop overshadowing the QUEEN and the FUTURE QUEEN.”
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, British Vogue.
Sorry but these royal reporters must make peace with their brain as we say here in Italy. First they say that the Sussex’s offices are under BP so that the Queen controls them and that everything must be approved by her staff but then as soon as Harry and Meghan do something there is immediately the article with the Palace that knew nothing about it. In short, either the Sussex are controlled or they aren’t and if they aren’t it means that the Queen is OK with this.
These RRs are more and more a joke
It’s not possible to control someone who makes decisions unilaterally. I believe the RRs are saying the Sussexes fall under BP, but are not complying. Like an employee disregarding the employee organization chart.
I honestly believe they’re “ask forgiveness, not permission” with their projects and their royal secretary has no choice but to follow suit.
Harry is used to the firm covering for him. Meghan is used to hustling for a piece of the pie in Hollywood/ Lifestyle Branding. Between the two you get innovative ideas from one (MM), and entitlement from the other who is used to a team cleaning up any messes (sorry, but Harry). They’re not looking to represent the Queen, they want the title but a different job description, so why would they follow protocol as if they were a traditional royal?
@Eliza – apart from not announcing godparents for Archie what have they done that is not in line with royal protocol/tradition/or representing the Queen?
@ Rogue
Honestly, some people seem to be living in an alternate universe when it comes to observing, assessing this couple. It’s unnerving.
Nothing, Rogue. Harry and Meghan are doing the jobs they’re supposed to be doing, which has certain people up in arms.
@Eliza ——- whatever you have written is BS. If another Duchess had done even 50% of What Meghan has been able to do, you will be dancing through the roofs. Instead let’s dampen Meghan’s work and talk about traditional Royals. What Meghan has been able to do since joining that family is more than Kate and PW have ever done their entire life……
This is silly. Of course they knew unless they are totally stupid. We all knew, and Harry definitely follows the royal line of behaviour. Sure he might step out a bit, but not too far. Good for them.
Now I do find one comment on here funny. The Sussexes are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Really what are non ruling royals really supposed to do? Just asking? Cause from my colonial point of view, I’d say none of them do very much. The Sussexes do seem to be into charity ventures like his mother did so good for them, and I hope it all helps a lot of people.
Of course it was signed off by Buck Palace that she would guest edit Vogue, but I don;t suppose they bothered TQ with every little detail (as I’m sure other royal guest editors before didn’t either). However I’m sure her Majesty is pleased with the content and how it highlights women and smaller charities. And Meghan did not do all the work at KP, she went to Vogue offices regularly and there are photos of her working there with EE. I haven’t brought Vogue in my life but I made sure I got a copy of Sept 19 issue first thing Friday morning to ensure it becomes the best selling Vogue issue ever! This man just appears to me to be yet another rabid royal reporter who hates on Meghan because they can’t second guess what she is doing and get caught short every time; their lies are just exposed every time…
I really like Tom Sykes coverage. He’s a neutral critic and lambastes William and Kate equally. He definitely calls out the British press for how absolutely vile and racist they are regarding Meghan but he (like myself) was bemused at Meghan’s Vogue writing and how cloying and flowery it was.
I think the Vogue issue is fine and I hope it is a success. One of my friends in the UK said she got the last one at her local stand so hopefully that is the way it is actually perceived across the country.
I don’t know why anyone would expect hard-hitting journalism from a fashion magazine. This isn’t the New York Times or the Economist.
I also hope her magazine issue does well and that people stop taking everything so seriously and personally when it comes to Meghan.
I don’t know why anyone would be bemused by Meghan’s writing style – I think her blog and Insta was all written in the same flowery style of your typical high school AP English student.
I suppose the only thing that leaves me slightly bewildered is that no one else looked it over to gently remove the mommy-blog-esque phrasing in some parts.
I really feel for her on that. It may have worked on a little-read lifestyle blog, but surely someone could have stepped in and crossed out some of it?
It really had the feel of the text you have to skip over on a recipe blog to get the recipe.
This. Like were they afraid? Or maybe she’s so confident she wouldn’t done this any other way.
Lol. Tom Sykes hasn’t been a “neutral” critic in quite a long time. Pretty much everything he posts is a Meghan bash piece with its own very obvious dog-whistles.
The comment about “Harry reminding us not to be racist” certainly wasn’t neutral. Nor should it be.
He’s been wildly anti Will and Kate and pro Meghan and Harry. Now it seems he’s wildly anti-everyone.
Hopefully it means he loses all his gigs. Even more that most “royal reporters” he not only made stuff up but lied and exaggerated his connections. He’s thick as mince.
The “Anti-everything-ethnic” schtick is selling like hotcakes in certain sections of America right now, so it’s an utterly irresistible market for the Royal reporting world. Looks like Tom Sykes has been lured in as well.
Apparently Sykes is in great need of being reminded not to be racist.
Tom Skyes never liked Harry. He tried to give Meghan a chance but he seems annoyed by her too.
Precisely. Sykes used to regularly call Harry an alcoholic druggie (word for word) and even admitted to disliking him and was very far up William’s ass. He seemed to like Meghan, or at least take a more amused approached to her, but he took his swipes too as well.
It seems he has decided to just lean into the anti-Meghan lane.
Its fascinating to me that this Vogue cover has unleashed the full insanity of the RRs and haters. Something in the water this summer? Racists seem utterly unable to control themselves or even temper their racism in the normal dog whistles.
Seems unlikely she would be able to keep BP in the dark tbh. There were rumors for months, and surely the staff would have asked Meghan about it. That’s standard good practice. The only thing that sticks is that their spokesperson won’t comment, which usually points to the least flattering explanation.
Vogue is all sold out near me, which I don’t think I’ve seen for a while!
And to bang a familiar drum, the press are ridiculous. Camilla Long (what is it about the Camilla’s?) wrote a whole article about how Harry and Meghan are terrible and attention seeking because… wait for it… so many articles are written about them. No hint of irony.
They’re doing too much, apparently. Working too hard and that’s bad because… It just is ok? She actually said we barely hear from W&K and that that’s a good thing. The insanity is unbelievable.
Lol, the audacity of this couple who wants to work and actually helps these charities with meaningful projects.
Meghan and Harry just need to keep rising above it, because a greater global audience is recognizing this nonsense now and a lot of these RRs are now getting a taste of their own medicine
Emily Andrews legit threatened a Twitter poster with liable this weekend… Like girl, if you lie, you are a liar
Oh No, that was me she tried to imply she would sue me for liable. I said not to lower ourselves to her level and that she was sour because of being caught of lying and being a hypocrite. I spoke no lies.
Bitch please, she literally made up what happened in the baby shower and it’s all over the internet…sue me, please. It would be thrown out within minutes by just a simple google.
@Rae Love that it was a fellow Celebitch taking a RR to task. TEAM RAE!
Rae, you’re the new Shero in Celebitchy! Good for you for standing your ground, and not letting that witch get away with her lies!!
Bravo, Rae. That nerve you struck is probably still stinging… She really had the nerve to get upset
It was hysterical 😂😂😂
Y’all mean “libel”, presumably?
Lol @ MEMPLACE. Yes, I did.
@Rae — Damn, girl — you are the ish! Standing up to that nasty piece of work and standing firm! *applause*
She wasn’t actually criticizing the “work” (whatever work we’re talking about),she was criticizing their crazy news cycle,which was also noticed here. And basically her whole article is about the “preachy” editor’s letter that *was* cringey. I’m not talking about
Long,but I’ve read some critical opinions that make some valid points,not only about her writing style.
A person who is in an extremely privileged (and taxpayer-funded) position announcing that she’s joining the director of an elitist fashion magazine to “shine a light in our world filled with seemingly daily darkness”,and to show us,peasants,that we shouldn’t “fear the depths but a shallow living”.. *is* pretentious and cringey.
Even if she declined the cover, the whole issue is about her (and Harry)crafting their own “brand”. And that’s the problem IMO,because it makes it easy to call out the moral hypocrisy above all on issues like eco- sustainability,ethical fashion.. even if the intentions are all very good.
Why people should listen to Harry preaching about protecting “our world” when a few days layer after releasing the cover he jets off to Italy for Google Camp. Why people should listen to Meghan lecturing about shallow living when in the same issue she’s wearing high-end designers even during one of her “secret and quiet” visits at a charity like Smart Works.
The point is that reasonable opinions get often lost when in the end the impression is just that of a nasty pile-on.
@VV Camilla is contributing to the cycle she’s bemoaning. she’s done an article weekly about the couple for the last month or so.
And yes it’s a shame that there’s not really much middle ground in reporting of Meghan and valid criticism can be seen as an attack. The current hysteria is not sustainable though so I’m sure honest feedback will be taken as that.
The BRF itself is a brand and they started doing charity work as part of a re-brand. The very premise of their charity work can feel hypocritical as whilst other Brits have to deal with austerity& working Brits are turning to foodbanks, the Queen gets increase to her budget. They ALL” shine a light” on causes whilst in expensive clothes, jewellery or arriving in nice cars. Didn’t the Queen Mum say you had to turn up in your best or it would insult those she was visiting in the East End after WW2 bombings? I agree can be insensitive turning up to see struggling people in expensive clothes but turning up in the Gap doesn’t take away from fact they will leave engagement and return to luxury. This family is extremely wealthy so there is probably more that the Queen and her family should fund directly given her wealth instead of billing the public.
Philip’s support on environmental issues is immense and surely helped shape Charles, William and Harry but him and the Queen weren’t shy using Concorde back in the day. They’ve been at this for a while. To avoid charges of hypocrisy when it comes to doing speeches/Q+A at things like Davos or Google camps William and Harry should avoid jetting in and should do video links.
Whatever people feel about Meghan editor letter, there was no way it could go in print before being okay- ed by the powers that be. So if Vogue was happy with the product and confident about printing, then it was okay with them, the rest is just noise. Vogue had a good reason why they never approached any celebitchers or Lainey Lui or any RR or anyone else for that matter, to go edit Meghan’s writing, they wanted no one else’s input but Meghan’s, it’s that simple. People need to quit flogging that Meghan’s writing was so sugary blah blah blah dead horse,…..move on please.
Was there ever confirmation that Harry actually attended the google camp? Or are we just repeating unsubstantiated rumours from the other day?
If there are receipts, I would love to see them. Otherwise it’s no more true than any of the other nonsense people make up about them.
Camilla went on Australian television and complained that there weren’t enough white people on the cover and then repeated that nonsense in her article. Racist comments like this should be denounced and anything else this woman says should be disregarded because she has no compunction playing to the racist base in the UK.
@Rogue I agree with you on every point,and yes,there’re idiosyncrasies that are inherent to the family they’re part of,and obviously they can’t be blamed only on Meghan and Harry, or William and Kate since both couples are more overexposed than other members.
It’d be great if Harry and William who are so vocal about conservation and environmental issues spoke publicly about making a real effort to talk the talk and walk the walk.
Their words would start to have finally some weight.
“You know what the next criticism is going to be then: “Meghan’s too popular, she needs to stop overshadowing the QUEEN and the FUTURE QUEEN.”
She’s already more popular than the future queen (and William). The Meghan’s birthday post has more than a million likes and it’s a huge thing.
Are they actually complaining now because Meghan’s doing too much work, working too hard for charitable causes? Honestly, it’s just so ridiculous.
The same things were said 20-40 years ago about Chucky Wales. The only difference is that Meghan will never sit on the throne in her own right. I believe that Charles and Meghan are close and he respects her because Meghan pushes in the same way that Charles has always pushed.
I have always wondered what the “true” relationship is between Charles and his sons. I am sure they are two very different relationships. Does anyone have any tea to spill?
This feels like Diana all over again, except that the prince isn’t jealous of his princess’’ success and he’s not cheating on her openly. But the BP hasn’t changed at all. They treat her like they did Diana when she started to express herself and fight back.
One minute the queen staff babysits them narrative next it’s they’re going rogue narrative. Which one is it?
The palace knew they might not have known all the little details but they knew Meghan has been involved with Vogue.
The narrative was, the sussex’s moved to be BP so the queen can keep a close eye on them. So, why are they now writing that the queen and her court had no idea about the vogue project?
Lowrider…when you’re spinning narratives and making stuff up, it’s hard to get those ends to match. And when you forget which end you told last week, confusion creeps in. That’s what we are witnessing.
I wouldn’t have told these people my business either, seeing as they are always leaking ish to the press.
There’s way too much fuss over a magazine.
Exactly, it’s just a fashion magazine; here today, replaced next month. These idiot royal reporters are acting as if Meghan put nude serial killers on the cover. Quite frankly, their desperation is showing.
I’m off to Barnes and Noble today.
Way too much fuss and hysteria. It’s just a fashion magazine. Some people are behaving as if Meghan is trying to write policy for Brexit. She pretty much continued her style of writing and topics from the Tig.
When you think about all the tragedies that have occurred over the past week, anger over British Vogue looks utterly ridiculous, petty, and insignificant.
What’s funny is the more these people who dislike Meghan devote all this time to bashing her in TV appearances and countless articles , the more her name is being mentioned and her profile is raised. You can’t complain about her overshadowing the rest of the family if you are the ones giving her all this attention….for a fashion magazine project.
They’re not even subtle so now people don’t even like the royals are defending her
“There’s way too much fuss over a magazine.”
There is way too much fuss about the sussex’s.
And yet, here we all are, talking about them again! Can’t turn away.
I got banned from posting on Dailyfail.
That’s it. That is the post.
That’s brilliant and I’m adding you to the list of people I want to be when I grow up.
You are my hero.
Between you and Rae up above – heroes right here on CB!!!
@Kittycat, Wear it as a badge of honor. The only thing more difficult to achieve than getting banned from The Daily Fail is getting banned from the Datalounge.
Nice!! It IS a badge of honor! Well done!
Major pat on the back to you!
So Meghan is working too much? And at the wrong time?
It’s gross that the majority of Brits work through the summer to make ends meet but NOOOOO royals have to stop working in August and relax and Meghan is the devil for daring to do more in the summer than her lazy in laws. What an attitude to have…..
I do not see Cammie Cornwall and Chucky Wales as being lazy. At their ages and with all they do throughout the year, if Charles and Camilla want to take a month (even six weeks off) I would be the last person to say anything derogatory.
If we look at the BRF as a business (The Firm), then it makes sense that Meghan would need to run this by TQ first. A C-suite level exec isn’t going to do a large public project without the CEO signing off, right? I feel like you go through channels for things like this and it would be a matter of Meg’s office communicating with TQ’s that “hey, DoS has an amazing opportunity with a publication and wants to make sure it’s okay” and maybe setting up tea between the two before it’s official.
The “no comment” thing is giving me pause, because I don’t know if BP just considers this beneath remark or what. Usually a non-denial is a tell with them.
@Enn when BP does comment to deny a piece, the press just runs with their own narrative anyway eg. Last week and the rules for the neighbours that had nothing to do with the Sussexes but was still labelled “Meg commandments” in the Sun. it’s kind of a no win situation
The Sun hates all Royals. Hating Royals is the Murdoch editorial policy at The Dim.
@Bay – it most certainly does not. The Sun is just as sycophantic towards the Queen as the Telegraph, or Country Life.
Those racist RR are upset, because Vogue is selling like hot cakes. They were hoping that it would not sell. The joke is on them. Meghan is continuing to shine bright like a diamond.
This! LOL at Camilla Tominey that said that the Vogue project backfired but at the end it was her racist article that backfired. Karma is real.
“It certainly seems deeply unlikely that HM’s press secretary, the careful and cautious Donal McCabe, would have gleefully signed off on an interview in which Harry reminded us all not to be racist”
This isn’t a surprise, the first racists are in the Palace staff IMO
You could just have stopped at “the first racists are in the Palace…” – between Philip, Liz, Charles, and Har, we’ve got books worth of racists quotes.
Liz is a racists???
You will not find any quotes from the Queen on pretty much anything, let alone those that are racist.
These journalists are being so openly biased which is kind of a shame as would love neutral view of all this. Harry didn’t call out royal reporters in Vogue so interesting they’ve been so triggered by his discussion about unconscious bias and have then gone on to show that bias in the reporting of the Vogue issue (royals don’t edit, she’s vulgar, idiotic, only 2 white women etc).
In terms of permission @Loretta has it spot on. They reported the Sussexes being under BP was the Queen etc having final say in their work and communications. But suddenly Meghan can go rogue on a big project like Vogue with BP being none the wiser? Which is it?
I saw tweet about that Camilla Long article- discussed the Sussexes wanting attention … by giving them attention and writing about them. Even though the press line is also how they want too much privacy and aren’t giving press access! Makes sense! I guess next line is going to be again how they must stop overshadowing others. Boring.
And another dig at Sara Latham from another journo. No coincidence at all.
IMHO, there is collusion by the British Tabloid press to use Meghan Markle for every bit of $$$$ they can wring out of her by running made-up stories, misleading stories and negative editorial slant.
The tabloids should really buy Meghan a house in Mystique as a special gift for all the money she has generated for them and then they could run a TRUE family-feud type story when Meghan & Harry refuse to lend it to Bill & Cathy Normal for their monthly holiday.
Sara Latham is doing an amazing job for H&M, there are no leaks from BP regarding H&M activities so she has that office well under control, that’s what the RRs can’t stand, no leaks so they have to make everything up and lie and they are now being exposed to the world… Rock on H&M, carry on doing what you are doing and you will prevail.
PS: have sent in my complaint to IPSO this evening regarding the rancid reporting on everything H&M do citing examples of lies and biased reporting.
Keep up the good work, Moose. Hate I’m not physically in the UK to add my voice.
Well, William didn’t ask permission for the Queen to marry Kate till two hours before their scheduled press conference, and that’s dealing with the law of succession, so I guess not running it by the boss isn’t exactly unknown in the family.
Wait, really? I didn’t know that!
Yep. I believe they even mentioned that in Vanity Fair.
That’s why it took The Queen SO MUCH TIME to write her formal consent. She did that on purpose.
You wait 2 hers before? That’s rich.
I can’t believe that to be true. In a 10 year courtship how can an engagement be a surprise?
and William had to have QEII’s formal consent per The Royal Marriage Act. Does not sound correct. There must be more to this story. Thanks, Maria.
I read that particular tidbit in The Telegraph among other sources so I assume it’s true,
The actual statement in the Telegraph was “The couple only informed the Queen and the Prince of Wales of their engagement two hours before it was made public.”
@Maria, if the Telegraph is correct then I assume Bill spoke with QEII about marrying Cathy and QEII said no problem. Then, at a later date, Bill informed QEII and Chuck that he & Cathy were officially engaged two hours before the public announcement.
I have always believed this story about William`s proposal til Kate, that is until I learnt how the RRs operate. They lie, make up stories , twist quotes until the meaning is lost…….. So no, I no longer believe William asked for permission from TQ 2 hours before the press conference.
Some of their stories do not even make sense…… like Meghan not telling the palace about the baby shower. How then did she end up with royal protection officers in New York ?
Most of us read rumours of her guest editing Vogue ages ago. What has happened is that the press has created fake outrage about the whole issue and they are trying to get people to believe that that is the reality. If anything people who have never bought Vogue are now buying it, some multiple copies to read and to give to friends.
For those who believe the press I will ask …. What is outrageous about a Royal doing what other Royals have done before but instead of choosing to be on the cover, chooses other women ?
The palace doesn’t deal with the protection officers schedule that is left to The Metropolitan Police Protection Command who assigns the officers for the personal protection of members of individual members of British royal family they liaise with the individual PA’s of the royal involved not the palace unless it involves group protection at special events like the Trooping of the Colour.
I do however think the palace did know about Meghan flying to NY for a get together with her friends before the baby was born, they just didn’t realise how the press would blow it up into a huge scandal.
Yes, arranged the press conference before informing the Queen. Important people who should have been available for comment (Charles, Harry) were also publicly surprised by the news. He stole the friend’s engagement story, they waited weeks to announce, then Kate’s grandfather passed away so they waited a bit longer. The Middletons knew, the royals were not informed.
Eh. His nose was put out of joint. The issue is a success and his lies that it is a disaster proves he’s not an unbiased journalist. Guest editing, promoting women who are impactful and not appearing on the cover is problematic? Pour Quoi? Because she anticipated all their complaints? Had she done a photo shoot and the cover they would have ripped her to shreds. Now they don’t have that opportunity and are crying white tears. Get over it, beaches!
The tabloids and their writers are crying tears all the way to the bank. Ever negative-slant story written on Megan generates thousands and thousand more revenue-$$$$-clicks than a positive story written on Kate and/or her children.
As long as the press do not get the access they want, Meghan’s projects will be ripped to shreds by the UK media. Simple as that. This is not about her substance (or their perceived lack of) as a person this is simply a battle of the wills. Notice the references to how ‘difficult’ and ‘uppity’ she is. That is UK media speak for not allowing the press the access they crave.
The press want a return to the time when the Markle’s and KP were continually selling her out. Now those wells have run dry, they are scrambling and writing hit pieces a plenty. It’s as simple as that.
No place else to put this:
Viscountessing while Black:
Hate the Daily Fail but this an interesting article on the only other bi-racial aristocrat in the UK.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7321853/Strictly-Come-Dancing-line-Emma-Weymouth-she.html
I choose not to read anything that Tom Sykes of the Daily Beasts writes (not even your excerpt). Enough is enough.
His latest hit piece on the September issue, looks like it was written by a toddler throwing a tantrum, no wonder Conde Nast put the kibosh on the DB.
Was not Tom Sykes the one who started the “Rose Who?” reporting in the USA?
Duplicate
The whole premise that Meghan did this during the summer when no one was around to “give permission or oversee” or whatever is false. If this project started 7 months ago, I’m sure BP and anyone else necessary was apprised well in advance. I’m sure they saw mock-ups of the cover and got drafts of what Meghan wrote. This is just part of the “refusing to obey protocol” narrative that certain parts of the media want to push.
My eyes done rolleth back in my head. Meghan isn’t doing anything outrageous or controversial. Highlighting issues that are current and important, highlighting women of color, highlighting women period…all so controversial. FOH! Meghan is duchessing while black and is succeeding in spite of the racism and xenophobia. She and Harry are doing what they said they’d do and the British media is pressed because they aren’t bending to their demands. Guess what? It’s never going to happen. I’m sure the Queen is fine with what Sara Latham and the Sussexes are doing. She sees them being productive.
They’re starting to attack Sara Latham, calling her a PR disaster, because she sent the birth announcement 8 hours late.
They even have a new PR guy picked out for them, can’t get anything from Sara that is not posted on the Sussexes instagram first, so they’re pissed.
Honestly it has been fun watching the RR tying themselves in knots trying to cover up their lies.
Of course she sent out the announcement late that Meghan was going into labor. The paps had staked out all the routes from Frogmore to several high end hospitals, and they were going to intercept the car with Meghan in it on the way to wherever, just to get their pics. Imagine those vile men, blocking a woman in labor and in pain from accessing her doctors!
Sorry, but pacifist me would like to see all those men shot who came up with that brilliant plan.
And all self-styled RRs should be made redundant, Tominey, Andrews, Wootton etc. etc. That includes Tom Sykes.
Omid Scobie can stay.
The Queen had to be informed of the situation before the press. No one was going to wake the Queen in the middle of the night to tell her a baby was on the way. Once she was awake, she was informed, and then the release was allowed to happened. Things ending up overlapping were a result of that and a quick delivery. The RRs are making up reasons to be upset.
Nanea, that’s not even possible. Please stop the conspiracy theories.
I’m going to start campaigning for Camilla. Cambridge stans keep forgetting the next Future QC is Camilla, not Kate. Camilla has been around for longer. Kate won’t be QC for decades and two things need to happen first 1) she needs to be married to William (and who knows what will happen to ANY marriage, let alone a royal marriage), and 2) the monarchy needs to still exist in order for HER HUSBAND to have any right to any throne. I’m gonna start calling Kate the Future Future Queen Consort, If A Monarchy Still Exists.
I don’t think anyone forgets about Camilla. The line has been that she won’t be Queen Consort, and even though I think few believe that at this point, most are pretending Charles is going to stick with that plan.
Camilla will be Queen Consort, no ifs, no ands or buts.
What’s wrong with Harry reminding people not to be racist? Seems a lot of people need that reminder.
Not that Harry even said that (again discussion was on unconscious bias and how it can result in someone being offensive without meaning to be&recognising why) but it’s very telling that Tom Sykes seems to think it’s a bad thing to people to be reminded not to be racist. Isn’t it equivalent of saying respect all people and don’t discriminate? Is that such a bad thing to say.
Palmer said the other day Harry and Meghan aren’t listening to advice so not running Vogue by the boss plays into this narrative. I can definitely see Meghan not sharing every detail of the issue’s content to avoid leaks but find it hard to believe her guest editing wasn’t signed off. I would be curious when Kate did Huffington Post, Charles did Country Life or Harry did bbc radio- would BP have overseen those or would it have been the individual palace (KP or Clarence House)? Eg Harry asked Obama about boxers or briefs and Obama shut that question down so wonder if he would have had to run questions by anybody- I’m guessing not if that slipped through. Just wondering if this is another example of holding Meghan to a higher standard than other royals.
I also am curious why this Vogue is controversial. I’ve read it and really can’t see what content stands out against a typical magazine aimed primarily at women in 2019…
She did not put the Queen on it.
They’re only five white woman on it.
She did not include men how can you be a feminist and not include men on a women’s magazine.
They claimed it is Political, you’re women, know your place.
RR were caught flat footed again, had no idea what would be in the magazine.
@Rogue That bit about Harry talking about unconscious bias is referred to the fact that every PR person can predict the press running wild recalling his own past actions (it’s what has happened).
Sykes explained it in the article. And it’s also what happened with Harry attending Google Camp.
Honestly, that’s the “problem”IMO.
I would have gone in another direction with the choice of some testimonials,but the idea of highlighting some women on the cover is very good in my opinion. Some causes linked to them can be considered slightly political, but it’s all covered so superficially that the hysteria because of “the political choices” looks quite dumb.
But some critical opinions are valid,IMO.
Even if she declined the cover, the whole issue is about her and Harry crafting their own profile. And it just makes it easy to call them out on some issues,like when Harry lectures about protecting “our world” but a few days layer after releasing the cover he jets off to Italy for Google Camp. And why people should listen to Meghan lecturing about shallow living and ethical fashion (from her very privileged pisition) when in the same issue she’s wearing high-end designers,even during one of her very “secret and quiet” visits at a charity like Smart Works.
As I said above, the point is that some reasonable opinions get lost in the when the impression is just that of a nasty pile-on.
“Honestly, that’s the “problem”IMO.”
they are hypocrites, but so are the other royals who live the opposite of what they preach. so again, harry and meghan are not doing anything new that the other royals have done.
all those billionaires, celebs and royals don’t practice what they preach.
@Peg: Men do not need to be everywhere! They do not need to be in women’s spaces. The entire world is men’s space. Men are welcome to read Vogue but it is not *for* them.
The Queen needs no PR.
White women, similarly, are doing just fine – particularly compared to WoC. Racist much? “Only 5 white women” really?!
@VV I’m excited to see the receipts of Harry at camp google! That’s quite a story – if true.
No one is required to listen to Meghan or read Vogue. The Daily Fail is full of colorful pictures and stories.
Racists don’t like to be reminded of their racism. How rude of Harry!
@VV thanks for your response. On the unconscious bias thing knowing his past if he was going to mention it at all would have been better he had owned his own issues too so from a PR view, would have been better to edit that out. I do like fact that there has been discussion on unconscious bias on national TV shows though.
Harry is a great example of how your background can cause racist attitudes. He is a extremely privileged person who has grown up in elitist institutions like the BRF, Eton, Sandhurst and the BA which are likely hotbeds of discriminatory attitudes. Amongst other racist things, he once said to a black British comedian who has an upper class accent that he didnt “sound black” which is prime example of unconscious bias- assuming a black person will be lower class and sound ghetto I guess. Now he’s seeing on personal level how racism impacts.
Unfortunately racism is hard for people to address at any time, let alone by someone in the BRF. Ironically some WOC journalists in the UK said it was a shame that they’ve tried to have this conversation about unconscious bias but nobody paid attention until a powerful white man spoke about it.
Bucks Palace had the magazine on their website, so how could they not know about it, don’t blame Meghan if she did not give them the full details, as they can’t be trusted.
Wonder if the British Media is going to talk about the lines outside a bookstore in Central London? They’re people buying BV for the first time, wonder why, could it be that people are seeing through the hateful media pushing their racist agenda.
The BM is trying to say that Meghan attached to BV issue is a failure, Conde Nast is loving the sales.
They’re controlled by the queen! They’re out of control! They aren’t doing enough! They’re doing too much!
Oy. It makes me dizzy. Pick a narrative and run with it. Preferably one that’s the truth, like they’re doing great things for their charities.
I agree completely…
While considering where to vacation this year, I hesitated over going to the UK because I want my vacation to be a break from the constant daily onslaught of hate we’re living with. We decided to go to Costa Rica. I;m sure CR has its problems and is not a perfect paradise, but I am also sure I’ll make it a few days without seeing a headline or catching a news blip that makes me want to punch myself in the face.
I wonder if any other tourists have been put off by the UK press.
@Algernon
I visit the UK every year for vacation and I won’t be put of from visiting because some members of the UK press are salty over Meghan. They do not speak for everyone who lives in the UK. If there’s any country I have been boycotting is the US after Trump called my country a shithole and made getting a US visa extremely difficult by cancelling the Dropbox system.
I agree with boycotting the US, too.
So do I. It’s dangerous here! You could get shot!
I wouldn’t recommend it. And if I lived elsewhere it would be well down on my list of places to visit, at least right now.
So, yes, do boycott the US. We deserve it!
I have two very good friends that live in England and according to them 95% of the people in the UK do not care one way or the other about Meghan and Harry. According to my friends the 5% of people in the UK who do give a fat rat’s clacker about any of this are more concerned with Meghan being a US American and if she will be able to shed the Yank and become British.
I absolutely believe most Brits don’t care about the royals. I just need a break from everything, and with their Brexit situation and Boris Johnson and everything being way too similar to many of the issues constantly in US news, the UK didn’t strike me as a relaxing place to visit right now. The constant harping on Meghan is just part and parcel of how everything sucks right now.
I am sure that the powers that be at Buckingham Palace were notified of this in advance. Considering that other royals have guest-edited magazines, and have appeared on the cover of Vogue, Meghan may not have gotten approval before asking to guest-edit this issue, because it might not have occurred to her that it would be a problem, but I am sure that at somewhere along the line the Queen et al were informed and approved this.
I just don’t think Meghan is this renegade royal doing whatever the hell she wants and damn the consequences. She’s smart. She understands there is a chain of command.
The article has only been received negatively by the media and they’ve been getting their butts handed to them for their not so thinly veiled racism. They called Meghan “Uppity” and openly complained that there wasn’t enough white women and men? REALLY?
I saw a comment on twitter and this person was right:
“The media’s entire goal here has been to sensationalize everything Meghan and Harry , frame it as public backlash, and then use it to say “Hey look, you guys need us to help fix your public image”. It’s a classic manipulation move.”
They’ll try to convince Meghan that this was received terribly and she should either never do it again or keep them in the loop about it. The UK media has a annoying habit of thinking they’re the gate keeps of public perceptions regarding the Royals. That they can make or break a Royal simply because they want too.
Diana and now Meghan should have taught them that the public will turn on the MEDIA far quicker than they would a Royal who gets backlash for simply existing.
ANd just to add: the magazine is selling out a lot of places. It’s nearly impossible to get it online unless you buy it for a ridiculous price on Ebay and a few shops sold out as well.
Exactly. It’s a bullying tactic & it’s all about control.
They try to turn public opinion against her by manipulating facts, fabricating stories & generally playing into stereotypes like “attention hungry actress” & “brash American.”
But Meghan herself is lovely & her work is considered & impactful. It doesn’t stick at all.
So it’s bad form for Meghan to work while the rest of the royals aren’t?
Oh
I suspect they think it’s very American of her.
I don’t think that’s exactly the case. The Queen, Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward, Sophie and the Duke of Gloucester outwork all four of the younger ones, and Camilla was only one engagement behind William in 2018.
@Tina — There is work and there is impact…….I will dare you to give me 10 of the Queen’s patronages without using Google; I am willing to bet you can’t
1) There are those who can appear and cut ribbons, that’s fine. I actually think Kate should do more of those; she is not cut for the big projects
2) There are those who can do the projects with impact– that’ll be more Meghan type
Strangely enough, the same think can be said about PW and PH. PW has not be able to have a project even close to the IG or Sentebale and he was born in that family.
PW just like his wife, should do more of the traditional appearances.
middlesex county cricket club
royal shakespeare company
university of oxford
university of cambridge
royal opera house
NSPCC
RSPCA
british red cross
king’s college london
university college london
save the children
bernardo’s
holocaust day memorial trust
And I promise you, I didn’t google them, and likely some of them are wrong.
I could not possibly disagree with you more about impact. Camilla and Sophie appearing at village fetes have done more to promote the royal family than anything Kate has done this year and, I would argue, everything Meghan has done besides the cookbook. I don’t criticise her Vogue work; it’s great. Kate’s work is fine. But that tour that Meghan and Harry did across the country, in NI and Wales and Scotland; that’s what the royals have to do to survive. More of that please.
And I honestly don’t care what kind of appearances William does, as long as he does more of them. His laziness is apparent from space at this point.
post pending, y’all
If Meghan pulled this off without informing a single soul at Buckingham Palace (outside of her own team) then honestly, they need to employ her as a spy. Everyone from Sara to Harry and Archie should be top agent.
It looks like only the media didn’t know the extent of the project and whatever sources they had in BP didn’t give them the details so they assume they didn’t know either.
It was probably on a “need know” basis. Those that needed to know did and those that didn’t…didn’t.
Love it!!! the woman is a genius if she was able to do this all without the Queen and her useless (apparently) employees knowing
I don’t get what the big deal is and the faux outcry is from royal reporters who should frankly get their heads from their asses. I’ve just bought my copy of British Vogue’s September issue and I haven’t bought a magazine in years possibly decades. Go Meghan.
The “temerity of the Daily Mail”?! I’ll never stop laughing at that one!
Did Eugenie run it past Buck House when she announced a podcast about human trafficking while her father is ducking subpoenas from Epstein’s victims? Because that’s the real faux pas of the summer. I wonder who placed this story out there for Tom Sykes to gobble down without chewing like a duck?
Yes good thought. Also did Andrew run it by Buck House when he met on the streets of New York City in full view of photogs with his dear friend Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein was a convicted criminal? Or while we are at it years before when he was snapped smiling his idiotic grin with trafficked teen Virginia Roberts while madam/procurer/trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell smirked in the background.
Those were faux pas ultras–did Her Maj’s oh so “careful and cautious” advisers approve those activities?
Buckingham Palace confirmed the project
https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/GMA/Culture/meghan-duchess-sussex-edit-september-issue-british-vogue/story%3fid=64620576
These journalism school rejects that is the British media show everyday they shouldn’t be faculty advisors for a high school newspaper. They are mad because the Sussexes keep it close to the vest; they lost money by recruiting the Markles by paid interviews and all expenses trips to have a family reunion (read spy on the Sussexes and report back to them) and they are getting dragged on all forms of media regarding the smear campaign. If the issue is flying off the racks and downloaded like crazy it means the public doesn’t buy their crap. All these idiots have done is sabotage their arguments with no facts and wreck their credibility.
Of course they knew! I read about the guest editing quite awhile ago on CDAN. So US gossip blogs were in the know and BP wasn’t?
lol…sounds like it.
UK poster here. RF not top of our thinking list…press definitely over eggs it. Much respect for Queen, others to a varying amount.
Main focus/concern is Brexit. I’m a Remainer living in a Remain area so lots of unhappiness. Most people I know very embarrassed that Boris Johnson is now our PM. Our very own Trump!!
@Sophie I’m from the UK too and I agree Brexit is main concern for most people. Since Diana passed, nobody I know really follows their daily coverage and will only check in on weddings or to see pics of new babies. If anything all this Royal drama is press manufactured distraction/alternative to focusing on how messy Brexit is and how little progress has been made considering the vote was 3 years ago and we are due to leave at end of October
Sophie, you are 100% correct. Much Remainer love to you. The Lib Dems seem to be our only hope.
I think if the Queen had a problem with Meghan, she would let it be known privately. I hope Meghan doesn’t read this tripe written about her.
The queen needs to abdicate or get her house in order. The rot starts at the top and her and kp’s courts are a mess.
She is a poor leader.
That is top quality trolling, I have to give it to you.