Here are photos from last night’s Festival of Remembrance Service at Royal Albert Hall. This is the event before “Remembrance Sunday” every year, where all the royal family members gather to look somber and listen to a concert. I think it’s one of those mandatory events for every major royal person. Which means that the seating arrangements are always… tricky. And don’t royalsplain how ACTUALLY the proximity to the Queen is determined by some kind of oblique hierarchy which doesn’t really follow the line of succession. All I know is that for two years in a row, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been pushed to the very back of the Royal Box. The Queen keeps making the biracial duchess sit in the back of the bus, for real.
As for fashion… both duchesses wore black, to varying degrees of success. The Duchess of Cambridge went with a super-plain dress which… was appropriate for the occasion. She tried to add some pizzazz with a sparkly Zara headband and it did not work. The headband looks very cheap and Kate looks like a schoolteacher who smuggled booze into her thermos. It’s notable, I suppose, that Kate got to borrow her earrings from the Queen. Meanwhile, the Queen rarely lends Meghan anything. The embiggening, you know. As for Meghan… I mean, I’m not 100% mad that she was sitting in the back of the box because lordy, this Erdem dress is some fuggery. An Oklahoma prom in 1983 called and wanted its poofy polyester dress back. Is she really pregnant again? Because she’s dressing like it.
And yeah, the seating arrangement sucked. Harry and Meghan were pushed behind the Duke of York and BoJo. So trashy.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Kate is certainly looking … surprised. Also, wasn’t her dress navy blue?
Meghan is glowing. 😍 She looks gorgeous. Harry looks nice too.
Some say navy, some say off-black. It photographed weird so I can’t really tell.
It doesn’t photograph well, for sure.
While Kate’s dress was blandly ok, I found myself thinking her hosiery choice was very poor.
Kate’s dress looks midnight blue to me (when I turn up the brightness on my screen). She looks fine, but would look a hundred percent better w/out the sparkly headband. While I know bands are a “thing” this fashion season (I love using a band to push the hair out of my face, but mine is thin(er) and flat), sparkly is best left to someone well under 20 lol
Not a fan of Kate’s “Krown”.
Surprised of what? Kate’s dress looks nice and appropriate. Not sure about the headband and why she’s wearing it.
I don’t like Meghan’s dress. I never like Erdem’s anyway and I don’t understand why high profile women keep wearing his. I prefer what Meghan wore last year.
My theory of the headbands *adjust tinfoil tiara* is that for Kate they mimic a crown. Whenever I’ve seen her wear them I get this odd feeling that Kate is trying to assert her position as The Future Queen by wearing this tiara/crown type structure.
Surprised as in she possibly got some Botox or something (at least I’m assuming that’s what bonobochick meant, as I thought the same. Her left eyebrow is really arched)
Agree with Kaiser’s hilarious description of Meghan’s dress. It also makes her look dumpy, and she’s not.
She does look like maybe she got her Botox touched up, compared to photos from the other day. But it could also be that she got a good night’s sleep or two.
I really don’t like the headbands she wears either. And the black pantyhose…just no.
Kaiser you’re killing me today! “Royalsplain” is perfect and I laughed out loud at “schoolteacher who smuggled booze in” 😂
when you’re that womanly and beautiful, it’s easy to look lovely. and here she looks so silly. that means the dress is awful.
@Minx, I agree. These belted outfits make her look wide and dumpy. And while she doesn’t have her pre-baby body back (and no reason why she should!), she needs to learn to dress to flatter her current shape. If she would just (IMO ONLY of course) leave off the belts, esp. the wide ones, she would (again, MY opinion) look SO much better!
The belts emphasize how short-waisted she is, and as she is a bit thicker in the middle since having Archie, this just gives her a short, boxy midsection.
That said, I’ve always loved the 50s’ shirtwaist look! My mom had an actual Dior shirtwaist (in silver/champagne damask) from the 50s, and oh man, I wish I’d had the foresight to hang onto it!
Agree on the Erdem brand, @ira. The style choice is wrong, too; it does not flatter her figure.
I kind of like Kate’s dress and it looks very appropriate but I agree that the headband is bad. Meghan’s dress was terrible and her hair wasn’t great either tbh.
I thought the seating seemed super shady, although t was apparently the same as the previous year. Sitting behind Andrew and Andrew sitting next to Boris Johnson?! It says so much about the UK right now.
@Harla I agree, Kate’s headband to mimic the crown. I also think Meg looks stocky in some of the things she wears. I think she should enlist the help of a professional american wardrobe consultant, someone who works with politicians.
I’d be very surprised if Meghan isn’t pregnant. That glow! Her face! So so pretty.
I can’t figure out the seating arrangements. It can’t be by rank, or military service, bc both of those would bump Harry up. I said on Twitter that I don’t think Harry cares, but it still looks bad.
For the dresses – I actually liked Kate’s, but I hate that headband. Hate it. It ruins the whole look. Meghans was ok at first glance and then I saw all the buttons and such and am not a fan.
It kind of looks like Kate and Meghan switched dresses lol.
It does look bad. Really bad optic for the RF. Harry and Meghan have no business sitting so far from the queen.
The headband also emphasized the pulled face and updated Botox that she got since Thursday. It really didn’t add to the look. The dress was fine and it looked navy blue in the photos when she entered the building.
The pulled face next to Bill’s I-Don’t-want-to-be-here grimace screams couple who just had a fight to me.
@Becks totally agree. That headband looks so cheap and trashy. I know it’s trendy over there right now — I’ve seen photos of other “posh” women wearing them to weddings and such, but they’re just too big and awkward-looking IMO. The fact that this one was sparkly made it even worse. And @Nic919 yes, if she *just* had Botox within the last 48 hours, bad idea.
I think my daughter had this headband from Claire’s when she was eight.
Kate looked very low key. I think it was mentioned the headband was some cheap Zara thing, like £20? If you wear something like that, spend the money and wear a proper hair accessory. Dress looked basic.Her face looks asymmetrical. Meghan’s dress was very Mrs. Maisel. Liked the portrait neckline and vintage vibe, but a lot of fabric in the skirt. Would have loved to see pearls on her. Sometimes she looks thick and other times likes she’s slimming down, but she looked really good with all these Remembrance outfits.
I wish Meghan wore that multi-colored Tahitian pearl necklace she was given on her first overseas trip. It would have looked gorgeous with that neckline.
It goes by succession until William. Then it goes by order of precedence. The Queen’s kids and then the grand kids after them. Harry was never supposed to sit with the Cams at these events. They just did that because they were trying to sell the three of them as a group. That campaign is over. So, the Sussexes are sitting exactly where Harry should have been sitting the whole time.
Same position as last year. Not a scandal with hidden meaning 🙄
Exactly
The only issue with the seating is that Andrew is still in public. He’s a stain and when they pretend otherwise they all look bad.
I think they were in a no-win situation with Andrew. If he didn’t attend it would cause comment, and if they changed his seat it would also cause comment. Maybe he could have called in sick? But that would cause comment, too!
Yes, exactly. This is how it is supposed to be seating wise.
I will say that if anything bothers me, it is that Andrew is there at all.
The front row center near the Queen is seated by rank, as you notice she sits beside Charles on one side William on the other and their wives. Behind them center is her more “normal” children Anne and Edward. The weird placement is Andrew. If you go by rank I think Harry and Meghan should be where Andrew is beside Camilla & Charles and Boris Johnson and his girlfriend. Meghan and Harry aren’t really in the back there is another row behind them. The center of the box just looks weird cause the Queen is sitting. Now the nice person would say maybe there was just 3 seats and Andrew being alone and Boris Johnson bringing his girlfriend means Meghan and Harry move back a row. Or, the Queen wants her favorite son closer. Now not sure who Meghan and Harry are sitting beside but I don’t know if I’d like to be beside Boris Johnson anyway. Honestly, this was pretty close to rank with the exception of the Queen and her problem but obviously favorite child that I wouldn’t put much stock in this idea. There are other more legitimate avenues where the monarchy has been horrible to H&M to complain about than this. Now when Charles becomes King if Harry and Meghan end up behind his siblings I would say you are right then, but until then this seems close with the exception of Andrew.
If it’s according to rank, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex outrank all of the Queen’s kids except Charles.
PrincessK, why would the second-son grandson of the Queen outrank the second/third son/daughter of the Queen? The latter have a closer relationship to the monarch than a grandchild does. In fact, their superior rank is embodied in the Royal Family’s order of precedence.
I’m not well-versed at who should be seated where at these events, but I definitely think this placement is odd. Even if it’s completely by the book and would have happened regardless, shouldn’t someone have pointed out the optics? Like, yeah, you can follow the protocol set up years ago, but sometimes you have to make adjustments.
@greengirl – that’s kind of my issue with it. They sat there last year so maybe it is just where they sit according to whatever protocol someone uses.
But this year, with all the Andrew “stuff” and the constant rumors that Harry and Meghan are outcasts within the family – the optics are bad. They could have and should have made adjustments.
All the buttons? It has like 3 buttons. Cmon, now, she’s not Sgt Pepper…..
They’re in same row as the Royal Princess Anne – seems kind of a non-issue?
And the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Actually they’re in the same seats as they were last year.
I agree. They are being put on the same level as two of the queen’s children. They aren’t in the way back, with the queen’s cousins. The queen is flanked by her heir and his heir, and their wives. The only one that doesn’t sit well is the Duke of York, who shouldn’t be attending anything right now, but he’s the queen’s second eldest son, and if someone had to sit next to BoJo (who would get the front as PM) then at least it’s that POS.
Exactly. The only one who shouldn’t be there at all is front and center, to me THAT is the shame. Next to that buffoon Boris Johnson.
I love both Duchess’ dresses. Sophie as usual is drowning in a huge skirt, I wish she’d do better.
The Gloucester’s are closer to the queen than H&M.
It may be based on preference, but if the seating was based on rank Harry and Meghan should be much closer to the queen and should come before her children, with the exception of charles.
I don’t think Harry cares, but other people
Do and they are noticing.
I didn’t even realize Andrew was there until I saw this comment. I do not understand how he can show his face in public right now. But clearly, even after the news last week, they’re going to just continue with the “Everything’s fine, nothing to see here!” strategy when it comes to him. I hope it backfires spectacularly.
@Becks agree that Harry might not care but it does look terrible. For a family whose entire reason for existence is PR, they’re sure bad at it.
I agree. I don’t see any bias toward Harry or Meghan. As far as the clothes, they all look fine, I think Meghan’s dress could have been better, makes her look very short waisted.
@Becks1 I don’t think the Gloucesters are closer. They are two rows behind, and the Sussexes are catty corner. It’s really not that big of a difference.
The Sussexes have certainly been thrown under the bus, but I don’t think this is an example of that.
In fact, you could argue that Andrew’s being punished by having to sit beside Boris.
I saw some of the concert – was at a family event and it was on in the background. It went on for way too long and everyone looked bored out of their tree.
I think the correct placement would be Harry & Meghan should be where Andrew is next to Camilla then everything would be in rank. Now it looks like they could have added a seat on the front row to make that work, but then they are next to Boris Johnson and that does seem like a much bigger punishment to me. I think Andrew should be put in the back too if he comes at all. If the optics are bad it’s more on Andrew than anything with Harry and Meghan this time.
I absolutely loved Meghan’s entire look! I long to wear this kind of silhouette, but I have too much belly. I thought she looked fantastic!!
Elizabeth Holmes is going to be super pumped about Kate’s headband. In most pictures I saw, her dress looked midnight blue. Was it?
I had to do a deep dive for a shot of the Royal seating arrangement that showed the Sussex duo. I didn’t expect them in the Queen’s lap, but they were definitely hidden.
@TeamAwesome we seem to be in the minority but I thought Meghan looked gorgeous too. I love the neckline and the dress struck me as very Audrey Hepburn-esque.
Seating Harry and Meghan behind Andrew is an abomination. If Andrew must be there, he should be as far back and out of sight as possible. In the lobby, ideally. But here we are. This family is abhorrent.
I think from the waist up Meghan looked great. I didn’t love the full look of the dress though. But knowing it’s Erdem I am not surprised.
Megh looks fantastic in plunging V necks,so I like the top,just too much fabric from the waist down.
It struck me as 1950s glam too.
I liked the dress, but I do think it makes her look a bit short and boxy, plus I love Kaiser’s description of it too!!! Too funny.
Another thing with the placement, I don’t think the Sussexes are really hidden I think the angle of the photo makes them look further from the Queen than they are. They are second row one over. Plus the one who shouldn’t be there is tall too and not svelte (Andrew), so he blocks them. Who knows we don’t know the family dynamics maybe Harry is fine with his Uncle being there. We all think he’s a creep, but who knows maybe he wasn’t to Harry and he likes him. Who knows. You know Harry doesn’t like the tabloid media, maybe he doesn’t believe it totally cause that was his life experience. I wouldn’t blame him. I haven’t lived his life.
The queen’s children would rank above her grandchildren. Obviously Will and Kate need to be there but why are Harry and Meghan the only other grandchildren there?
Order of precedence places Harry ahead of Andrew and every other child of the Queen. The grandchildren of the male heir of the Queen take precedence over the rest. I don’t care about the seating but we are making up things to pretend that there was some kind of rank situation to justify placing Harry behind Andrew or anyone other than William and Charles.
@Bookworm @ nope, Harry outranks all the queens children except for Charles. (And then William obviously outranks Harry as well.)
Harry and William are the only grandchildren who are working royals, so my guess is that’s why they were the only ones there. We never see Zara and peter at these kinds of events and my guess is Beatrice and Eugenie might want to go but aren’t invited? IDK
if Andy sits anywhere, it should be in jail.
She looks adorable. Her face is perfection.
“if Andy sits anywhere, it should be in jail.”
BAZINGA!
I think she looks nice too. She simply has a boxy torso.
I thought Meghan looked beautiful. I love the neckline on that black brocade, 1950s dress. It looked like something the queen or her sister might have worn in the 50s. It’s just not a great silhouette for her body type. The queen’s or Margaret’s, come to think of it. Kate’s blue dress with black hose, on the other hand…bleh.
@Beanie, Agree. Was getting Princess Margaret vibes from Meghan’s look. Mainly didn’t like the thick belt. But she looked cute. Wanted a pearl necklace with that neckline.
I like the silhouette of the dress, just not all the buttons and the belt. But the neckline etc was a really nice look on her.
I like both Duchesses ‘ dresses. They are lovely women.
@Keeks 😂😂😂 Exactly!
The Sussexes were seated right behind Andrew, luckily there are hardly any pictures of them that have Andrew in the frame (only the full balcony shot)
The queen & the rest of the royal family is really showing their a** with their treatment of the Sussexes, especially compared to the treatment of Andrew who actually committed disgusting crimes. Meghans inclusion in the royal family actually might bring them down, if only because their choice of behaving like hateful and petty jerks makes them look awful to the rest of the world.
And they will deserve it.
I like Kate’s dress better than Meghan’s (I have never met an Erdem dress I liked), but the headband is not a good choice.
Not only were the Sussexes shoved to the back, KP’s twitter also posted a photo that had them cropped out.
THAT was so petty on KP’s part.
The Times put the Sussexes n its front page … then added sponsored links to smear campaign op eds.
I saw ppl calling KP out on that pettiness since the Sussexes included the Cambridges on their IG pics. Supposed the Royal Family twitter also cropped the Sussexes out.
All that pettiness only reminds me of the inflated egos and tantrums by the KP & RF social media folks feeling threatened by the Sussexes popularity instead of being professional and/or gracious.
I just checked and Kensington Royal’s Instagram page has included more pictures and videos of Harry and Meghan.
Besides close set eyes and rosacea, jealousy is another very strong Windsor trait.
@Linda, they still have the cropped photo of last nights event deleting the D&D of S but yeah they do have a photo of Meghan this morning on the balcony.
Clarence House also used the cropped one on Insta, so did @theroyalfamily (there Kate is also cropped out).
Sorry this is wrong—- the angle of the picture is what is showing them seemingly behind duke of York and Boris- the Sussexes is sitting 2nd row behind Charles and Camilla— other angles and pictures shows that…
The brocade, the pattern, skirt size, the buttons and the large belt is a no. The dress is fig but Meghan’s hair and make up are well done. Meghan’s make up application has become less heavy handed, I like it.
Kate’s simple dress is fine, but she missed by adding that ridiculous head band.
Meghan’s dress. I feel like she’s too “small” for this. The material looks heavy, too heavy for her frame, skirt is too full. It’s not meshing w the shoes.
Kate’s dress is bland but she looks fine. Her usual self.
If it was about rank they would be next to William and Kate. I guess the duke of York got there because no one else wants to be near the terrible PM.
They should have been place closer to prince C.
Same seating as last year.
They both looked fine but Kate’s headband was awful and ruined a perfectly good look. Headbands are a thing here in the UK that needs to just die already – some people get away with wearing them (and it depends on how its worn) but most people look like their 5 years old, Katie Keen included.
Plus Katie Keen’s ‘i’m interested in what you are saying’ face kills me every time. You can tell the effort thats going into paying attention.
I watched some of the performance last night and there was an aura of smugness from the Cambridges. And given today’s service at the Cenotaph its obvious that both couples are being kept apart. The drama is ongoing.
William is the heir to the heir…a future king with all that entitles him. He literally gets to inherit the kingdom and all the riches. So why the nastiness and pettiness toward his brother? Harry will have to carve out his own path and secure a future for himself and his family. I just can’t grasp why there’s so much drama and animosity when the brother who has everything acts like a jackass towards the brother with so much less.
I think it’s do with popularity. He probably wants to be “better” than Harry at everything.
And he hates the fact that his brother and sister-in-law gets more attention than him and Kate so that’s why he’s got so much dislike.
That’s my tinfoil tiara theory anyways
William and Kate were the ones who decided to not work much and keep a low key profile for eight years. Suddenly when Meghan shows up and gets media attention they are annoyed. Had they done the work from the outset then maybe this wouldn’t be such an issue. When it’s still a big deal for Kate to do a press interview eight years into the marriage, they’ve done something wrong. There were years to develop skills and personality in public but they rode the coattails of being the “young royals” and didn’t cultivate anything further with it. That’s on them. Rank doesn’t define popularity and you can’t force people to like you simply because of that. Goodwill is developed over time and with work, something they have both failed to do.
@Sofia and Nic919: co-signed.
I think that Meghan still would have outshone them a bit when she first appeared on the scene, but if Kate was 1% as interesting, there wouldn’t have been such a disparity.
Entitlement and jealousy. Imagine growing up with the narrative that you’re the special one, the most important one, and thus you deserve all of the accolades and attention. You deserve the protection and focus more than your spare brother. What we are seeing are the effects of a lifetime of this inculcated narrative.
There are clips from Will and Harry’s early childhood where the former would get fussy if the latter got extra attention or got something that he wanted. I think Diana even said she’d sometimes have to get William to behave and cooperate by saying things like “well fine, then Harry will do/have ___”.
I know how some go on and on about how dumb prince Harry is but IMVHO, prince Harry is 10x smarter that prince William and both brothers know it. William will not always be jealous of Harry’s smarts but he will also always be jelous of Harry’s accomplishments, personality, charisma, looks and popularity. That’s why regardless of how much William stands to inherit, he will always pale in comparison to Harry in the above mentioned. William can have all the money in the world but he will always be the Cain to Harry’s Abel and that kills him.
William made it through Uni but only barely, with a pile of tutors to get him through. Harry’s rumored dyslexia wasn’t diagnosed until he was 18, which meant he was considered dumb by teachers who didn’t know how to teach. Harry is definitely much higher on the EQ scale than William.
Harry and Meghan give the Cambridges something to be compared with and that makes them feel judged and threatened. So they undermine them when they can. And it’s why the Cambridge stans including usually nice sites like GFY will go in on Meghan.
William wasn’t raised to support his brother (instead he was raised to support his mother). Poor Harry on the other hand was raised to believe that being a good family member meant supporting the public image of his father and brother.
@nota Do you have a citation on that info about uni. I thought Wm got a 2:1 in geography. And would being dyslexic be a problem for a helicopter pilot?
@Silas I’m so glad you said that about GoFugYourself. I always wondered whether it was just me that picked up on the anti-Meghan vibes on that site. And then people would just fall back on “oh this is a nice website and we all know that everyone is lovely on here so you are talking nonsense.” I just felt so gas-lighted over there!
@DU, a five year old? ok, to me A five year old is giving people names,
The headband is a strange childish look, but Kate often dressed in a weird juvenile way.
@notasugarhere I feel the same! Headbands look very nice, but are too juvenile I wouldn’t wear them at 38, leave them for the young.
Oof. That headband looks juvenile and I usually like her with one. What’s happening? Megan’s dress is really not great but from the neck up, damn girl. That’s a great hair/makeup combo.
I think the seating is nothing new?
I agree from the neck up Meghan looks pretty the dress had potential if it was more tailored to suit her shape. As for Kate I like the headband and the hair. Her dress ages her especially the pantyhose were not necessary but overkill.
I like the headband too. Her hair is down but not in her face.
MM’s dress was unflattering, but damn, that woman GLOWS. She made a super-unflattering dress tolerable. But yeah, not a fashion win for her.
Meghan has such a beautiful face, stunning woman however that dress is horrid. Kate looks lovely and I actually like the headband.
I agree. Meghan’s dress is so unflattering and matronly. It reminds me of something Oprah would wear.
I would have cinched the waist in Meghan’s dress and lowered the belt position. I think it would have made the dress a lot better
As for Kate, it’s stereotypically Kate so nothing much to say I guess
No but really, is Megan pregnant again? Or is she just wearing things that make her look bigger than she actually is?
Why is Kate wearing 3 poppies?
@Carmen I think (not positive) that it has something to do with how many family members are veterans. Someone more knowledgeable can confirm if that’s accurate or not but I think I read that one year.
thank you!
That is it, but I noticed the queen only wearing the one that evening, but five the next day. Maybe Kate should have worn her three the next day instead?
I’ve read that the queen wears them for the different branches of the military? Not sure. I know there is a definite reason behind it though.
Actually, i just googled, and most of the responses are unclear (there were several news outlets discussing this.) Most answers are things like “it is thought the queen wears five because….” but apparently the palace has not confirmed the reason why. Its only been in recent years she started wearing five.
I actually like Kate’s look better than Meghan’s…which never happens, ever. But I never really care for Erdem. And I don’t dislike the headband..they’re back in style and I think it’s cute tbh.
Meghan can get away with a lot because her face is close to perfection!!! I detest Erdem, their 2010-2012 collections were fine but lately they have been terrible.
Meghan should thank her mom everyday; she is freaking 38 but look at her my goodness….she is older than W, K and H but she looks younger than all of them….I envy her good genes
I actually like Erdem’s collection but this dress is too full in the skirt, but I like the vintage look. Feel like Meghan is still thick in mid section and bust and would love to see her in sheaths or styles with a lower waist. A narrow belt would have worked as well. She looks a dress size off her pre baby weight but still very petite.
So true! Totally forget Megahan is older than them, because she does not look it at all.
Ok whoever styled Meghan on Suits needs to be hired to style her full time. She is small and not fat at all but yet she almost always has a bulky midriff except when she is styled like Rachel Zane.
Kate’s outfit is bland, but that’s fine for the occasion. Meghan looks lovely from the neck up, but her dress is again looking bulky and there is too much fabric. Maybe she really is pregnant.
Meghan is definitely dressing like she’s pregnant.
I don’t think the seating means anything.
Kate started wearing these ornate headbands after Meghan came on the scene – she really increased it, in fact. Especially when they will be at events with each other. Putting on my TomandLorenzo fashion analyst hat – it’s definitely her way of showing that she is the future queen.
I like the headband and now own several slightly padded headbands. I think they’re actually pretty flattering on most people, including Kate. I probably would have gone with a black velvet one and no hose with this look, though.
The optics are really bad. Clearly the seating order revolves around proximity to the queen, but her children were prioritized over the sucession line (with the exception of William). Harry is higher up than Andrew, Anne, and Edward. Considering everything that has been happening over the last few months/weeks, the Sussexes could have been seated more prominently, and it would have been correct according to protocol.
However, the queen is instead choosing to highlight and show support for her own kids. Mainly that’s Andrew (EW), but I wonder if she is also pushing them to prominence because she knows Charles will bring down the axe as soon as he is monarch.
Or it’s not the queen but rather her minions that come up with the seating order?
I know he’s very popular atm, but Harry’s role simply isn’t very important now that William has a bunch of children. Barring massive tragedy he’ll never get near the throne now, and seating arrangements and other placements will always reflect that to some extent. If you think he’s being pushed aside now, just wait til the Cambridge children are older.
There was a time when Andrew was more popular and admired than Charles, with just as big of a profile. Then William and Harry got older and 90% of the attention on Andrew was switched to them. That’s just how it goes. If people are expecting the Sussexes to remain as high profile as they are now long-term, they’re going to be in for a shock not too long from now.
Andrew never even had an ounce of the global popularity that Harry has now – especially in America. The media landscape is just different.
Charles also cemented Harry’s place when he slimmed the monarchy, making Harry more important than normal once the Queen kicks it. Charles envisions his family as the main attraction. In a different time, sure, he would be very irrelevant. Maybe the courtiers even regret that slimmed down suggestion now, but it’s too late.
@MeghanStan2 — strangely enough, the dim one married a woman with more brain than all young Royals combined….I guess William decided to offset his pretend smart by marrying Kate ….. LOL
vs: that worked out well (not)!
Sorry that’s not true. You must be young, but I hate to say this there was a time when Andrew was the hot popular prince, sexy even. He was like Clooney dating porn actresses and people thought that was cool. Yes it was bad, but not how the public at large thought then. How times have changed and thanks for it. His popularity was very high in Europe especially, but also in the US. People wanted to skip over Charles in order to go to him as Charles was a dud until he married Diana, and a dud again when he cheated on her and the crazy phone tapes. All the royals ebb and flow with popularity. Meghan as she has the American actress connection is really popular now especially in the US, but no where near the popularity of the other American who became a princess, Grace Kelly. It was just a different time without social media. Honestly, it was a little nicer then at least in a public forum, but worse in the background I’m sure. Some of it’s not even that long ago. Watch the Princess Diary 2, and see how popular William was. When the great Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway were looking for a prince for Anne everyone goes gaga over William as a possibility. That was 2004. I laugh when I see that now as people on here really don’t like him at all. It’s just the nature of the beast unfortunately.
I definitely agree.
That won’t be for years down the road Until george reaches working age they are going to have to use harry. Then they better hope george and the rest have a better work ethic. There has never been so much diversity shown now with the royals and its because of harry and Meghan.
I wouldnt be surprised as the years go by harry takes his family and leaves. A reporter from one of the morning shows even said the royal family needs him more vs he needing them.
Ah, the typical W&K stan trope. Harry and Meghan should just go away, they aren’t important, they don’t matter. LOL.
As W&K still refuse to work anywhere near what they should, and William is *only now starting* to look at Duchy work? Harry and Meghan are needed and will be needed for 20+ more years. If the kids take after their parents, none of W&K kids will consider royal duties until they are mid-thirties anyway.
Most of the royal elders will pass or retire in the next five years (Alexandra, Duke of Kent, Prince Michael). The Gloucesters have moved to a smaller place at KP, which signals a reduction of their workload to me. They’ve done their time, they should get to ease off. Charles cannot control Anne, but he’ll do his best to sideline Andrew and Edward/Sophie. That makes Harry and Meghan even more important for the next twenty years.
Now that’s assuming Charles lives to 90, but he may not. Yes his parents lived long, but not his grandfather. Charles is right also, the monarchy should be smaller they don’t need to do all these things. I think they should split up the money and some should go off and do their own thing or retire and the kids should plan on normal jobs. I think people often confuse what the monarchy has to do with philanthropy, and it’s not the same thing. It’s more protocol and hospitality related. I don’t want Harry and Meghan to go away, but I do think they would be better running a philanthropic organization with maybe a bit of a global political bent which they really can’t do as part of the monarchy. They could be like Bill and Melinda Gates, and I think they would do amazing things. I think they are stifled by this stupid institution of the monarchy. Meghan is definitely smart enough to do this, and they can use their popularity and clout for great deeds without the backlash. Let Kate and William do the ribbon cutting dumb things. Hopefully, when Charles gets in charge they can find a way to make something like this work. Seriously, I don’t know why everyone seems to be fighting for them to have a more prominent position in such a old world organization as the British monarchy.
Harry is not going to go away as much as some people wish it. He is going to be the second son of the monarch and the only sibling of the next monarch. Does anyone think Princess Margaret was a nobody? She was a player until the Queen’s kids became adults. And in that case there were four of them to take off the heat. Charles only had two kids and so Harry is a significant senior royal for several decades, especially as people like Anne, Edward and Sophie ultimately slow down.
I laugh when people insist Harry isn’t important. As you write, he’ll be the second son of a monarch and brother to a monarch. There will not be other working royals during most of Charles’s reign. We’re looking at 20 years minimum until the W&K kids start doing royal engagements. Harry and Meghan are already having significant impact with their projects, and Meghan’s only been on the job for less than two years.
Princess Anne will not be sidelined in the court of Charles III. If anything she may go up a bit in importance, she is close to her brother and he values her input and ethic. It remains to be seen what will be done with the Wessexes, but I doubt they’d be completely invisible once Charles is King. Sophie has done great service as a working royal and is barely in her 50s, she has prime working years ahead of her.
Andrew I can see booted almost immediately. Gonzo – I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s pushed out of his role as UK Counsellor of State by Charles, when that time arrives.
Charles wants a slimmed down monarchy (himself, Cam, W&K, H&M) but I wouldn’t bet that all the current senior royals simply disappear the minute he accedes. As he and Camilla get older/frailer themselves (not long away) there will be need for backup support beyond his sons & their wives.
I feel like Harry and Meghan are trying to build their foundation and do their initiatives to work independently of the Monarchy once the Queen and Charles pass, and William inherits. They need their own purpose, which is why they work the way they do and accomplish tangible results. They’ll always have the titles and will capitalize on it now to build for the future. I think Harry sees first hand what happens to 2nd sons when they have no defined purpose and are past their sell by date.
I like Meghan’s dress and Kate’s headband. So I must be really challenged when it comes to fashion sense. And who cares if she looks wide? She obviously doesn’t so neither should we.
Loved it too but I have a fond nostalgia for 80s prom dresses so I’m clearly part of the problem.
I was in college in the early 80s and no one would have worn that dress. It’s more of a throwback to a Dior-type cocktail dress of the 50s.
It looks like a Lady Sarah Chatto/Dior New Look to me too, Bookworm.
Kate’s dress is a deep mid nite blue. She is wearing black stockings, which look terrible. Her headband is really not appropriate for her age imo. The dress is fine. Megan’s makeup and hair look awesome, but that dress is ugo and makes her look dumpy and matronly. I also think the neckline is not appropriate for the occasion. Hervhosiery and shoes are fine. I think the sussexes seating arrangements are fine as well.
I don’t think Meghan likes jewellery. She has always been a minimalist and every now and again she would wear a statement earrings. That hasn’t changed Before or after wedding. I have also been thinking that a lot of the jewellery has been obtained from colonialist times. I, being from the commonwealth, am glad that she hasn’t yet ventured in wearing I’ll begotten jewels.
Meghan doesn’t like jewellery? Lol! I have seen her with rings on almost every finger, including since she became a Duchess…l think she loves jewellery.
I agree with you regarding Erdem. I don’t like their dresses either. Ever! On anyone. Very old fashioned.
Daniel Martin has done a fantastic job training Meghan with the makeup by occasion. Her skin is glowing and she doesn’t seem to need to much of it.
If I was meghan and harry I would want to sit in the back. Harry’s family is toxic beyond belief. 🤢 who wants to be by that?
Hate Kate’s stockings but she looks nice, appropriate. So does Meghan but the dress does her no favours.
I read on Twitter that Harry and Meghan were late to this event. Which would explain why Harry looks rushed in some pictures.
Do British people really call Boris Johnson “BoJo”?? If so, that is hilarious!!!
Honestly I noticed the seating arrangement or more that Harry and Meghan did not appear in the group pictures posted by Kensington palace, Clarence House or the royal family Instagram. That is iffy. They are off in a corner with the guy who hung out with sex traffickers. That is bad optics.
Disturbing to since Prince Pedophile in the front row.
Randy Andy should be stripped of his title, assets & allowance. I hope he can be fully prosecuted for his crimes against children. The queen has a terrible case of denial over this one. The guy is banned in 12 countries, and she doesn’t make the connection.
#TeamSussex
Oh, I think TQ makes the connection and doesn’t care. She loves her Andy and will defend him no matter what. It’s disgusting.
+1, that’s why she is not moving a finger in the smear again H&M because it’s a convenient distraction from Andrew/Epstein.
Wait, Andrew is banned in 12 countries? I didn’t know that! Off to Google.
The only issue I have is why did they place the Sussexes to sit so close to Andrew. They should have placed Andrew next to Anne or The Wessexes.
I am not a fan of Meghan’s dress but she still looked lovely. Nothing to say about the other lady whose Botox has raised her eyebrows almost to her hairline
I cannot get past Kate’s black pantyhose.
What’s wrong with black pantyhose? They are practical and classic for cold weather. I mean Audrey Hepburn was known for wearing them…
BoJo was in the box next to them. He has nothing to do with royal seating. He’s the Pm of course he was going to be in the front row in his box.
And wherr they sit has nothing to do with supposed feuds. And is one of the few occasions when royal protocal is actually in play. They sit their because of Harrys place in the line of succession. If hed married a white woman he’d still be sitting there. The only reason Andrew is front row is because since Philip retired Andrew accompanies the Queen (essentially her date to these things). If he still had a spouse he’d be sitting up back in between the Sussexes and the Wessexes. Theres plenty to criticise but this isnt one of them. Especially not an event like these, bickering about places at an event like this is just tacky. This event isnt about the royals.
Well stated.
Thank you!!
Andrew has no business accompanying the Queen anywhere given the weight of the allegations against him. He should be left at home and pensioned off somewhere in the country side until such time that he’s called for his deposition, state side. That is the just thing to do in this situation, but the Queen is in the business of protecting power, so of course she’ll bring him along everywhere. That’s exactly what things like precedence and hierarchies are all about. Protecting power. So thanks for proving the point even further about why all of this look so damn bad.
Honestly if I were Meghan and Harry, i will insist that I won’t sit in the same box with Andrew. I would rather sit on the other side.
I dislike Kate’s ensemble. And that headband is horrible. I don’t care for Megan’s dress at all, not surprised it’s Erdem. Ick!
I actually love this dress on Meghan! Very feminine, I think she wears it beautifully. I like everything about her look here. Hair back is lovely. She looks beautiful.
Kate’s dress I’m feeling less especially the black pantyhose. That said I cant hate on Kate’s fashion overall because honestly shes kind of cultivated a sexy/unique librarian fashion thing I think is kind of her own thing. I like it. But this particular dress is too boring. Face and hair are pretty though.
I like it too! I could see Princess Margaret wearing this in her younger days.
I think Meghan looked lovely and I adore the ruby earrings she wore. Hope to see it again.
I actually don’t mind Meghan’s dress, though I think an inch or two taken up would’ve helped balance the proportions a tad better. That’s a dress cut for a tall woman.
I don’t understand black hosiery in general except as a nude tone for very dark skinned women or with very specific looks:
Kate should not have worn that headband. I take it as being the equivalent of a hat and it is not etiquette to wear a hat after 6pm. That is why the Queen goes bareheaded to the Chelsea Flower which is early evening.
Do you remember that terrible hairnet with velvet bows HM wore to Chelsea in 2011 or 2012? I don’t know what Angela Kelly was thinking.
Can they please just go ahead and move stateside so we can embrace them with open arms.
LOL, no! Much as you and other W&K stans (or Meghan detractors) might wish it. Ain’t. Gonna. Happen. You can embrace them with open arms on the SussexRoyal insty.
Meghan looked absolutely stunning and sophisticated. Can’t stop looking at her glow and luminous makeup. Dress was fine and she totally rocked the retro look.
Kate’s overall style here is an F. Frumpy. So ordinary.
Meghan’s dress would be fine if it wasn’t patterned to look like textured shiny wallpaper. It’s a vintage cut which can be great in the right setting and the right fabric. This was neither. I love her to pieces, so her constant fashion misses are painful to witness. Bring back sleek modern minimalism that she did so well in the six months bookending her wedding!
Kate looks about twelve years old in that headband, like a goody two-shoes in ninth grade who shops exclusively at Ann Taylor with her mom and wears hose and pink cardigans and is president of the yearbook committee. Don’t ask me why I get that specific image, but I just do, with that headband.
Meghan looks fine. Frumpy, yes, but whatever. I’m suspending my criticism of her fit issues for the time being. Call me in 10 years if her stuff still isn’t tailored right. Most royal ladies figure it out, so will she, in time.
The optics of making the Sussexs sit behind f-cking ANDREW and BORIS JOHNSON of all people is appalling. The Queen is making her politics crystal clear these days, isn’t she? It doesn’t matter what the “””hierarchy””” says, it matters entirely what this looks like, and when you choose to prioritize your son who supports and pals around with pedophiles and a craven, venal, sycophantic, power hungry liar who started a vanity project during his questionable journalistic career all for the sake of being prime minister, and is now poised to plunge the country into disaster and destroy the “United” part of “United Kingdom” that says a GREAT deal. Good job Queenie. Good job.
Just a thought, but I noticed Kate reuses only clothese shes purchased within the last 4 years or so. I wonder if she avoids reusing anything before that cause she knows there will be past reference pictures and she hates herself before that and wants to kill the person she was.
WTH?
I think both women looked beautiful in their respective outfits. Not sure about the seating arrangements and the optics look bad and wonder if this was on purpose.
Anyone else notice William and Harry had the same tie on? Anyone know the significance of it?
It’s the tie of the Blues and Royals – the regiment they were both commissioned in. All the men wear their regimental ties at this event. Andrew and Tim Laurence are wearing the ties of the Royal Navy. Kent brothers in Scots Guards (Edward) and Royal Hussars (Michael) ties. Charles wore his Fleet Arm Air regimental tie. Earl of Wessex was probably in his Rifles tie but I didn’t see a clear shot of his.
.
I think we’re reading too much into it. The Queen is seated with her Heirs by her side, and their spouses. The only PROBLEM is Andrew. who has been chosen by TQ to replace the DoE at these events and she seems to insist on having him very close to her in some attempt at “protecting” him. This will eventually backfire.
Harry and Meghan are seated right behind them, next to Edward, Anne and their spouses. I do not seen an issue with this seating arrangement.
By the time Charles is King and Harry is not seated in the front row, since the next Heir will still be a child, THEN I would believe there’s something going on.