The truth is, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex easily outplay the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge all the time. For the most part, Harry and Meghan are doing it purposefully, with full knowledge of the comparative optics. But sometimes it just happens that, by sheer coincidence and good karma, the Sussexes just make organic decisions which end up making the Cambridges look awful. After a month which saw the Cambridges Covid Choo-Choo Tour (partially maskless), their awkward photo-op at Sandringham with the Queen (maskless) and their lockdown-breaking tour of Sandringham Luminate (maskless), the Cambridges also chose to trot out their kids for their Christmas card and that stupid Pantoland appearance. The PR was obvious: “We’re using our kids to distract from our f–kups!”
So it’s funny to me that Harry and Meghan chose to do a Christmas card which, yes, features their son Archie… but it’s not really a photo. It’s an illustration based off of a photo. Just a little screw-you to all of the people who were waiting to attack the Sussexes for “invading their own privacy.” And unlike the Keens, H&M really do want to protect Archie’s privacy for the time being, it seems.
The Sussexes’ Christmas card is based on a photo taken by Meghan’s mom Doria Ragland. 19-month old Archie can be seen with a full head of red hair (we knew he was a ginger!). The two dogs, Pula and Guy, are there as well. The Sussexes spokesperson said: “The original photo of the family was taken at their home earlier this month by The Duchess’s mother. The small Christmas tree, including the homemade ornaments and other decorations, were selected by Archie, and the tree will be replanted after the holidays.” The card was also released through one of Meghan’s patronages, Mayhew, the animal-rescue charity. Meghan also wrote to Mayhew:
“This year we, as a family, have made donations to several charities with you in mind. From a local California organisation that helps families transition out of homelessness, to two of our U.K. patronages: one that supports animal and community welfare, and the other, a memorial fund for a cherished friend that helps to educate children and fight poverty in Uganda, we have honoured their work on behalf of all of us.”
I mean… well played. Most of it wasn’t even a deliberate one-up for the stuffy Windsor clan. It was just Harry and Meghan trying to find the right balance for Christmas in a wretched year. And it’s perfect.
We’re thrilled to receive wonderful Christmas wishes from our Patron, The Duchess of Sussex, who also made a personal donation, helping dogs, cats and our community. 💜 From all of us at Mayhew, thank you and Merry Christmas. 🎄🐶🐱
Find out more! 👉 https://t.co/5o2RHLveRM pic.twitter.com/uBV19F6Odt— Mayhew 🐶🐱 (@themayhew) December 23, 2020
Photos courtesy of WENN, the Sussexes.
Perfect! Plus not to ignore the fact that Megan has been still actively supporting her charities regardless of where she resides. Love it and wishing them the best, always.
So much for her “abandoning” her charities… The Mayhew will get some much deserved publicity from this.
Kate is the only one who abandons her charities but the British media will never examine that.
I adore Meghan and am absolutely not one of those people who think she’s a scheming harpy who was out to bag a prince in order to raise her own profile and all of that nonsense…but if I was, I’d have to admit, she’s damn good at it! This is genius on many levels. 👏👏
@Nic919 I just saw your comment, and I wonder if that will gradually change now that H&M are gone. We’ve already seen the Fail go harder on the Cambridges by calling them out on the front page, and they’re *starving* for Royal content that people will actually care about.
It will be interesting to see if any reporter (I hesitate to call these people actual “journalists” as that’s an insult to journalists) starts looking into exactly what Kate did for her patronages, how much was raised was raised by her for each, what led to two of them having to shut down completely, etc.
Kate obviously already had a sorry track record, but they never really had anything similar to compare it with. Once you compare it to what Meghan did in just a year or so…well.
I agree. This was perfectly executed. What a genius move. Now the rags are desperately pricing up Archie’s play house that actually came with the house. So happy to see the power H and M wield from the other side of the world.
Oh, they are! I just went over to the Fail’s front page to look, and they’re CROWING about how it “”bespoke” and “is thought” to have set the Sussex’s back £7000″. And of course, they have to talk about Archie’s “shock” of red hair.
I do love though how they made mention of the Sussex’s donation to Mayhew and one to the memorial fund of their friend, Henry van Straubenzee. Funnily enough, we don’t hear a WORD from KP Kamp Keen about any kinds of donations they might’ve (read: DIDN’T) make.
Walmart & Kmart Cambridge cannot divulge personal donations because charities that did not receive anything would make a big stink and the Daily Mail would make a big stink if they did not approve of the Wilnot and Kannot Keen’s pattern of donations.
Yes, I love that one of their charities gets the exclusive and can directly benefit from that. I love that Meghan still supports her charities and is in regular contact with them. When Kate eventually gets the boot her patronage’s will never see her again, unless it’s Wimbledon.
I wonder if the Sussexes patronage will be stripped from them by the Queen during “March 2021 review. Time will tell. Lovely card. Lovely to remind people to personally assist others if they are able. All I can say is the Sussexes constantly prove by their ACTIONS that neither of them would show up at a food bank empty handed.
It just occured to me that the Sussex’s really are geniuses. By mentioning their charities like this, can you imagine how AWFUL Betty will look a few months from now if she yanks them away? I’m not sure if that was the intent behind it, but either way, it really might be a helpful stroke of luck to have that fresh in peoples’ minds that they still support these charities–and that the charities seem pretty darn happy about it!
The charities themselves should have some say-so in this. It would be funny if TQ tried to strip the patronages and the charities declined and said we will stick with Harry and Meghan.
@equality – That may very well happen with charities but I place my bet money on seeing it from the powers that be of The Commonwealth.
@Equality ITA. If push comes to shove, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if certain organizations decide to stick with Meghan and Harry, since they actually DO THINGS. It will be fun to watch it play out if Betty even tries it.
It’s perfect…not a clear view of Archie but I’ll take it and I’ll respect that. I also love that they will replant that tree. Years from now, if it grows well, they can look at it in fondness, very sweet.
I hope they’re reading this…Merry Christmas to Harry, Meghan, Archie and Doria! Keep up the good work and rise. Have a happy 2021 and beyond!
I would have loved to have seen a picture of Archie who is now a toddler but I understand that they wish to protect their son from all of the nasty trolls, I would also do the same.
Same!
Good for them for protecting their son.
It’s a Christmas card, not a National Portrait Gallery unveiling. I have a bunch stacked in my house right now. I think they just weren’t in the mood this year for having their cards photoshopped and everything they wore dissected and priced out. They also didn’t want the usual haters tearing into their child and screaming privacy. It very strange how these people who constantly criticize the Sussexes the most really wanted to see this card just so they can once again tell the Sussexes to go away. People put way too much weight and anticipation into this cards.
I love the card, too. Squint your eyes and it looks like a photo 😂! I’m happy for Meghan that she no longer is obliged to wear a silly hat for every occasion. And I said from the start that Meghan is a “doer”. I didn’t say anything about Kate then, but will now: Kate is not a doer. She’s the equivalent of a “gunna”.
This team, Team Sussex, is more polished when compared to FFK and FFQC.
If there were a competition among the royals, Team Sussex would win hands down. Of course, the royals are above competing amongst themselves. LOL
Well you can’t compete where you don’t compare. A royal insider said years ago that Meghan’s IQ is more than all of the RFs combined. With her smarts and Harry’s inside knowledge and can do attitude they will always knock it out of the park.
The Sussexes are always one step ahead. I keep remembering the palace insider who said that Meghan has a higher IQ than all the royals put together.
I don’t think it is an issue of intelligence. Harry and Meghan seem to genuinely care about things other than their image, clothing, and vacations.
I think it’s a combination of IQ and EQ, of which the royals have very little. They aren’t an intellectual bunch and are so used to being served they don’t understand how out of touch they are.
@Nic919, yes to everything and add they are also raised with the idea they are entitled and this makes them out of touch.
It’s hilarious that the papers were clearly waiting for a picture and they ended up getting this instead. Honestly, the BM and tabloids should know and accept that they will never be embraced by the Sussexes again and the Royal Family isn’t going to help them get them back. You all let your racism, arrogance, Piers Morgan, The Markles, social climbing greedy experts and commentators and jealous family members stop yall own bags. The best part is that they still keep going and digging a bigger grave. Sucks to lose money makers and the Royal family, dynamic members and scapegoats.
I was wondering if the press was really waiting for the picture from the Sussexes or more importantly news about the Brexit Deal but I saw a comment from a photo editor from the Telegraph that confirmed that the papers were waiting for the Sussexes’ photo. He didn’t seem happy with what was released which is good. No one told them to wait for the Sussexes’ photo, they’re supposed to be irrelevant anyway.
Haha! I would love a link to see this.
I saw that tweet too. Those right wing journos are just so shameless.
@Abby, here’s a link to the tweet from the pissed off photo editor. It was in response to another photo editor at the Telegraph posting the picture:
https://twitter.com/pixed/status/1341861703043207173
That was so salty!
I love it, harry and Meghan have out smarted them yet again. I love that you can see how much Archie has grown, without actually seeing him. Bloody genius.
What an unprofessional, embarrassing thing for that moron to say publicly on Twitter. Good grief, get a life!
I was team no cards this Christmas! Especially seeing how bad Meghan and Archie were attacked when she and Harry released their last year’s card. But this…this is far better than no cards. These 2 are geniuses for coming up with this!! Petty AF too!😌🤭😂😂
Did they honestly expect a full HD photo after the foolishness last year? The arrogance is astounding.
You know the BM is pissed cause there’ll be no photoshopping this year’s Christmas card😂😂😂
They really did. I don’t know how many ways Harry can say he is done. He has never liked the BM and doesn’t like or respect them. He is out and isn’t coming back.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. The BM have one play book when it comes to bashing people. The never expected to be outsmarted at every turn. They thought H and M will come back begging talk less of them cleaning up and thriving.
ARCHIE! PUPPIES! I love it. I love that after all the think-pieces last year over Archie (and the photoshopping) they decided that we could see him…without really seeing him. I think it’s brilliant and a nice compromise between petty (you can’t see him/us) and non-petty (here, look at him/us).
And it’s nice that Doria took the photos, just like it was nice that Meghan’s friend took it last year. I don’t think Doria has social media, so thankfully no one will spam her account with accusations that it’s not really Archie/she photoshopped Archie/and all that other nonsense that went on last year.
That’s adorable. I love how the dog is just laying there.
I noticed that too! It means Archie is always gentle enough with him to be that relaxed. : )
(As someone with both dogs and kids this is something I’ve always worried about!)
I love the card and they have every right to protect their son so SFTU RR’s.
Exactly. Archie isn’t for sale
So cheerful and colorful! Archie looks so big and cute! And Mayhew is an amazing charity. Love them for supporting it!!
I actually like it. Very nice!
I legit screamed. I was team let the trolls starve& don’t release anything but they did and it was great. The press& Sm trolls are so mad lol.
Great they donated and introduced Some to a charity helping homeless families in California. Class act
These two are the diamond standard. This is how you do it.
I see what you did there. I approve.
It is astounding. People who say the most vile things about them are furious because they can’t get a clear look at Archie’s face. Who do they think they are to make demands of the Sussexes?
The rota and Cambridge stan twitter comments are full of the ever-present accusations about Archie being a doll. Their followers are batshit.
Even if they didn’t release a card these sick people would still call Archie a doll and still
say vile things. They probably had their notifications on for all of their patronage’s so they could analyze it to death. They are pissed and I love it. Even though they claim to “hate” Meghan, they might be her biggest fan.
I don’t even understand how people can still try to make that ridiculous claim anyway. They released that video of Meghan reading a book to him! What did they think he was was then, a robot??
Yes, people have very warped minds and sad lives, they claim to hate the Sussexes but actually want more and more of them. Meghan and Harry are the most bankable couple in the world right now, and will remain so for years to come.
The people who made their lives miserable and forced them out, really want them back and can’t bear to admit it because of their racist inner souls. The RF also know that they have lost out big time by losing the Sussexes, the RF is now a boring institution and the only thing that gets clicks is if they wheel out the kiddies, and the PR people in the palace know that all they have is three small kids to save the monarchy.
They can’t even keep their conspiracies straight. He is either the result of a surrogate, a doll or a child actor.
I used to be a fan of a teen band back in the day. When the lead singer married his girlfriend the obsessive fans claimed she wasn’t real or she was an actress. Then she gave birth to a boy and the fans were saying the baby was a doll or an actor. This seems to be a common theme for people who don’t want to face reality. This thinking helps them get through the day.
Is this really a thing? People can’t be that mad! Archie went on that one oversees tour with them, went to events with them and met people from the host country. I still remember because the photos were quite funny, he looked like he was sizing up a plate of tempting cupcakes. I believe he met Desmond Tutu even.
Do their followers also consider they are calling the Queen and the rest of the royal family liars also because they would have to be complicit in this big conspiracy?
It’s called MAGA mentality. Whether it’s crazy conspiracy theories that Archie is a doll (eyes rolling) or Biden stole the election from Trump (eyes rolling again). They are all f’ing straight up crazy.
They’re livid. And all the Twitter feeds sharing the photo are being swarmed with countless crazed mugxits calling Archie a doll and all kinds if other conspiracy theories. The Royal fandom are really being exposed to the general public for the trash they are.
He’s a doll. He’s a borrowed child. He’s an actor child. He was taken from the surrogate for a few minutes. He was conceived with donor eggs and surrogate. That’s not Archie because he’s “too big” to be 18 months old. Obviously they’re hiding something, it’s because Archie is too old for Meghan to pretend that’s her child.
And that was all from a cursory glance. Disgusting and crazy. Their cheese has slid so far off their crackers the cheese is rotting in the sun in another city!
@Heather—yes! I’ve read all of those and more. Let’s not forget the lunatic who claimed she was going to go to NY when Meghan was there for the baby shower and STAB HER IN THE STOMACH to “prove” the pregnancy wasn’t real.
There are definitely just some garden-variety racist idiots on Twitter who make rude comments about the Sussexes (including Archie), but there are also a few who are genuinely UNHINGED and really need help. People whose entire accounts are dedicated to hating her and that’s all they post about all day every day —photoshopping stuff, making obscene memes, running websites entirely dedicated to trashing Meghan, etc. It’s scary, imo.
I don’t know where their family members and friends are because if that’s how I spent the majority of my time, someone would have intervened a long time ago!
There is no one to intervene. It is like the woman from Illinois who drove her teenager with a gun to a peaceful protest in Wisconsin. We all know how that ended up.
@Lorelei They have no one and that’s why they are like this.
I can’t wait for the day Harry and Meghan go after them. I see that day coming.
I was looking at Joe Biden’s twitter page. He posted a cute video of his dogs. There were a lot of positive comments but the more you scroll by you see the Trump supporters and hate comments and it’s sick. I hope Biden and the Sussex’s work together to end online hate.
@Ginger — not just Biden. If you read the comments under BO or MO tweets, disgusting; the good thing you have people pushing, lots of them
Naomi Osaka posted something recently which I can’t get out of my mind:
“I used to be really upset at hate comments, but I realized you must operate at a completely different mindset to come on the internet and be negative about someone you (probably) never met. I’m glad I can’t understand where you’re coming from. Face with medical mask Keep that all the way over there.”
She is 100% right…….those haters have something that’s wrong with them. No hater can truly be happy
I loved loved loved this card; I had a huge smile when I saw it; this is genius! I am looking forward to the Archwell Audio Christmas episode and my clevrblend lattes
Merry Christmas to you all!
@Equality idk if you’ll see this since it’s days later, but there haven’t been any new posts, so.
Anyway— that was one of the arguments I kept trying to make with the insane Mugxit people on Twitter about the “fake baby” narrative. I’d ask, “So you’re either saying the Queen is a complete idiot who has fallen for this farce, OR she’s knowingly going along with an enormous lie that will affect the family’s reputation forever?” And of course none of them ever responded because nothing about it makes the least bit of sense.
I’d also like to know what they thought the end game was for this elaborate plan…but my brain can’t even comprehend the craziness that these people are steeped in.
They can go on for pages and pages with “evidence” about how Meghan was never pregnant, including all sorts of photos from what they claim are incriminating angles or whatever, but ask one question requiring logic, and they’re all silent. Morons.
@Lorelei – “They can go on for pages and pages with “evidence” about how Meghan was never pregnant”. Yes! And if they’ve made chart then it must be true. So many times I’ve asked for proof that Meghan was a “yacht girl” or schemed her way into the Royal Family, etc, and the response is always “HERE’S A CHART, LOOK THE CHART! IT’S PROOF!”. Cracks me up every time.
One would hope Meghan’s graciousness and intelligence would rub off on these people since she’s living rent-free inside their heads.
The funny part is that if any duchess was the gold digger and dedicated her life to catching a prince along with working in a yacht it was the other one. But they always project this onto Meghan because they want to make her look like she was scheming. They need to take a closer look at what they are saying because it was their English rose who did the things they allege.
@Lorelei I don’t get the point of any of them. Since H&M aren’t concerned with Archie being in the line of succession or having a title, why would any hoax be necessary anyway? It’s not like they were required to have a child. Kate has pumped out plenty to ensure their line of succession so what would be the point of faking a child or not admitting if they had a surrogate or even adopted? You can’t argue with the crazy conspiracy-theorists on Twitter without them having to eventually resort to name-calling.
I like it! It looks like an illustration in an old-fashioned children’s book. Look at little Archie’s hair! [excited squeal!]
Kate has got her paints out and is desperately working on a New Year’s card, she’ll then pretend that the Cambridge ‘kiddos’ have done it.
LOL
😂 I can’t unsee this image of desperation!
Like Pam from The Office when she said CeCe had made all those cross-hatched drawings. And it will go over as well as that did too.
Yes! It’s like one of those ladybird ‘learning to read’ books. Harry probably grew up with them. They used real children as models for the drawings.
Reminds me of Janet and John Ladybird books of my youth.
I wonder if this is also a hint at: we are living the fairy tale – based on this illustration’s style.
Well the previous years’ Christmas cards were in black and white. This year’s is in glorious technicolour. Love the message in that.
The illustration style makes it even more Christmas-y. They are just so adorable.
Yes, you are quite right….It is quaint and old fashioned.
If the Cambridges had done something like that the idiots on DM would have said it was marvellous.
There are some great Apple photoshop apps that let you turn your photos into cartoon (i.e., children’s illustration) type photos. I use one all the time and the results are just like this card. Highly recommend checking them out. And they certainly don’t cost £7000 to make it happen. You select your photo and click. The apps run from free to a few dollars. Only the Daily Fail would think this cost £7000 to create and email! Those 🤡s….
PS…I just made a small donation in Meghan’s honor to Mayhew and the comments under the posted card on Mayhew’s site are really disgusting. Nothing Meghan will ever do will satisfy these morons. They are just tearing Archie and Meghan to shreds with their vileness. I’m so glad the Sussexes are out and living their best lives.
What a great idea! What is your favorite app for this?
I didn’t know about this either! Is it something that comes with your phone/iPad or a separate app you need to download? I would love to try that out.
No idea how the Fail came up with £7,000. My mom has had watercolors of both our house and my son done, and I don’t know exactly how much they cost but I’d be shocked if she paid more than, like, $150 USD. (My mom is very frugal 😂)
Even if the Sussexes hired some “renowned” artist, that’s still a very simple picture. The Fail is just so desperate at this this point.
@Lorelei – This cost £7000 cost refers to the cost supposedly paid by Meghan & Harry for Archie’s “play cottage” which was actually already on the Montecito property at time of purchase. DM commentariat also loudly complained that Archie had a £7000 play house when millions of UK citizens were homeless and rough sleeping.
Of course no comment was made about QEII’s four homes, Charles’ two homes…etc…etc…
@BTB The Queen also has a life-size playhouse at Windsor. How many people could live in it? I found playhouses on line varying from $1500 and up. The DM, of course, took the most expensive one they could find to cite the price.
@Bay you have got to be kidding me. They’re complaining about a tiny child’s playhouse in California but not mentioning all of the various palaces, castles, mansions, estates, etc. that the Queen and Charles control? Many of which sit empty the majority of the time? Shouldn’t they be donating some of *that* if these royalists are so concerned about homelessness?
And yes I ended up seeing that the playhouse was already there when they bought the house. But even if it hadn’t been, what an inane thing for them to write about. They complained when the Sussexes were taxpayer-funded. Now they’re earning their own money and they’re still bitching about how they choose to spend it?
It just shows that for all of the grandiose talk at the time, the “New Firm” is boringAF and writing about them alone is not going to bring in the clicks.
Just a note about children’s playhouses. There are incredibly high end playhouses. Easily 30k or more. The one the Garners have is probably the most expensive model of that particular type I’ve seen. (Sorry I’m being vague. I haven’t done media for playhouses in a year and a half so a lot of the names escape me) In the world of bespoke kids cottages this is ….. a Honda Civic. You don’t even want to know the excesses I’ve seen. But they do look awesome.
“Covid choo choo tour” will forever be one of my favorite “Kaiser-isms”!
The card is so cute, I’m glad to hear Meg is still supporting the Mayhew!
Haha, sorry Britain – no photos for you!
Exactly…! And no sport of checking out Archie which the racists have been trying to do since the day he was born…that was the reason for all the clamor for photos in the beginning…just to see how “black” he is.
There it is, in the proverbial nutshell. That’s all they’ve ever wanted when it comes to pictures of Archie – to know the color of his skin. That’s why they were in an uproar when he was born, and there were no pictures on the Lindo steps. They wanted to see his color. When Harry and Meghan met the press at Windsor, they very wisely swaddled him so they could only get a glimpse of his little face. These people will never learn. To use a favorite saying of my dear mom’s – the RRs are going to have to get up early and bring a lunch to get ahead of the Sussex family. They might as well stop trying – the Sussexes are out of their league.
I agree that that’s exactly why they were clamoring to see him as soon as he was born and it was blatant and disgusting. But we saw a ton of him on the tour, so these people were able to analyze his skin color and features to their hearts’ content. I personally think they’re annoyed that he’s not darker-skinned so they could find something vile to say about that, too.
Living in CA will probably give him a bit of a tan, but I really hope at some point they let it go. He’s an innocent child. Move on with the “New Firm” and the “Magnificent Seven” or whatever they’re calling it now.
I love the card. So artistic! Archie is adorable with his red hair and laugh. I’m just so happy they escaped and are loving & living their lives independently.
Merry Christmas, everyone! Happy Holidays!
Love, love it! Very strategically done. That hasn’t stopped the BM complaints though.
Nothing will stop their complaining so I’m beyond happy that Meghan and Harry continue to do what they want.
Love the card and that Doria took the original photo. Suck on that Thomas you dumbass.
Adorable. And doesn’t Harry just look over the moon about Archie? He’s just bursting with joy. Merry Christmas to them and all the Celebitchies!
He really does! It’s so sweet.
I love it. They were trying to achieve several things this year and they did it.
One of their charities got the drop again, they were able to show themselves and Archie while still protecting their son, the tabloids can’t photoshop this one and then comment on it…
All of those scathing articles the reporters were ready to write and the Sussexes have headed off everything so deftly!
I just love how the tabloids completed burned themselves. They were waiting to do some photoshopping and instead have an illustrated card that barely shows Meghan’s face, doesn’t really show Archie, but shows the two dogs and the family with Doria having taken the original photo.
They must be so mad.
Not taking up for anyone but there was nothing wrong with the Cambridge Christmas Card. The Cambridge card was the usual holiday syrupy serving to the public. IMPO, the Sussex card was not that much different.
My favorite Royal Christmas card from this year is Chuck & Cammie’s.
If you like the UK Magnolia Woodsy accent.. I guess
It was just a Christmas Card. These Royal cards are almost the exact same thing every year with the only difference being the clothes the Royals wear.
@ Bay – agreed.
Sometimes a card is just a card. I get a ton of the photo cards and I love them, especially from out of town friends, but I don’t pick them apart and hang them on my fridge in order of preference.
I remember reading that Harry and Meghan do not represent the queen in any way. The organization’s they are working are some of the ones they were assigned to when they were working for the Firm, but I understood the step back meant they were in No way representing the queen/crown. The work the Sussex continued with these particular charities is simply Harry and Meghan being who they truly are, supporting their passion of bringing awareness and good will to causes whether big or small.
@Bay: true. A card is just a card. But given how little we see of Archie, the demand was high for this Christmas card…the British tabloids really expected this child to be trotted out Cambridge style. And between the timing of the card post Cambridge choo choo train of doom, and the delivery where they both supported a patronage and had Archie’s face obscured through artistic renderings is hilariously brilliant. This card is a 10/10 in my books!!
My favorite of course: The Sussexes. Don’t like the C and C card (they did not help the Sussexes, just sat back) nor the Cambridges (though it’s not the children’s fault what their parents did). I think there will be a backlash when the Cambridge children get older and they will complain about ‘lack of privacy.’
The problem is everyone’s card is treated like just a card and celebrated when released. When the Sussexes release their card all kinds of shenanigans ensues, so they don’t get to just release a card and good. They have to find ways to give those who support them a treat while trying to head off all kinds of accusation from those who don’t like them. That’s the whole point of why this card is such a boss move because haters really have to stretchy themselves into prezel to criticize the card and the way it was released.
Very true. A hater on twitter said Harry and Meghan are not allowed to release Christmas cards because they don’t work for the Queen anymore lol.
@Bay I’m mortified to even be putting this much thought into this, lol, but imo what happened with the Cambridges’ card (at least this is true for me) is that seeing that first version that was pretty much all brown made me dislike it immediately.
Days later when we saw the original which was clearer and more colorful, I could tell I would have liked it better if that was the first one we’d seen, but the dreary brown version sort of stuck in my head and whenever the Cambridges’ card was mentioned, it was that gloomy brown one that my brain used as a comparison.
This is such a dumb thing to be thinking about a week later (obviously I’m super bored ATM) so I’ll be logging off now! 😂
I like it. I think it’s a nice twist to regular royal Christmas cards.
I am just in love with this card. It’s gorgeous, I love that it is a painting. I love that Archie is a ginger! I also love that they included the dogs.
It was sweet to tell some background on the photo. Doria took it and the little tree was picked out by Archie and the ornaments. And how the tree will be replanted after the holidays. Plus donating to 3 charities as well.
All of it was perfect.
Yup just just perfect. I love the dogs too…I wish they have one cat 😂, but it’s ok it’s not about me lol.
I love cats too. It seems the royals are not cat people. I have never heard of any royal cats.
I love that they donated money. They didn’t just raise awareness or shine light but they gave tangible results and still gave the charities the spotlight by allowing them to release a photo. Brilliant. The RF really though that taking away their instagram would ruin them, but they’ve maintained their popularity without it. lol. Anyone know if the royals are allowed to make personal donations? I only seem to recall H&M making any. This got me think about Kate’s charity closing and I always wondered why she didn’t just make her own donation.
You rarely hear of royals giving money directly from money they have raised themselves, with the exception of Prince Charles.
When the Cambridges went to the pantomime concert at the Palladium, it was announced that they handed out gifts to children, in many articles it was omitted that these gifts were from Hamleys the toy shop. The Fail reported it as though the Cambridges were being so kind.
The Sussexes are working to make money to give out money, which is the difference.
I’m sure that if the contribution comes up, Cambridge fans will claim that W&K donate TONS of money privately and just aren’t “crass” enough to announce it like this.
Personally I don’t think the Cambridges donate one thin dime of their own money to anything, except maybe the Van Strawberry (I’m sorry, I never remember how to spell that name!) memorial fund. And I wouldn’t be shocked if they used money from their foundation even for that.
The stans love to pretend that the Cambridges gave two million to something when it was money given to the foundation which they then redirected. William is known to be very cheap so it’s doubtful they make any personal donations.
I love that the tree will be planted when the holiday is over. Adds a level of conservation to it. I’ve always hated how wasteful and sad it is to be filling trees en masse for our holiday. The Sussexes are #goals.
This is so charming. Merry Christmas all!
👍🏾 Perfect and well played.
Merry Christmas to them and here’s hoping next year will be a much better year for them and the rest of us!
I love this card and I’m probably reading too much into but I love how we see them but we can’t really SEE them. I think that’s symbolic. And I really love that they screwed the press over once again. They probably held up the paper to get the photo in the front page only for it to an illustration they can’t pick apart and can’t make much money from. The way they manage to outmaneuver BM time and time again is just great.
Anyways, Archie’s such a big boy now and he seems to be a ginger just like his dad. They both seem so enamored with their boy, I’m really happy for them. I’m sure they look at him and know everything they’ve gone thru the past year was completely worth it.
I said the exact same thing down below. You can see them, but you can’t see them. Genius!
Talk about killing several birds with one stone. This Xmas card has ruffled so many feathers that Bling Gossip has put up a blind. There is nothing you can criticise about this card.
That post was nuts! I honestly don’t see anything wrong with NOT letting others outlets monetize your child’s image let alone your own. It’s their child and it doesn’t look like they need Archie’s participation to pay the bills.
OMG that was NASTY! Seems it isn’t ONLY the BM that is pissed off they can’t dump on the Sussexes.
I think Ma Middleton definitely colludes with these blind item sites. I remember after the commonwealth ceremony and when harry and Meghan had that amazing rain photo of them, there was a blind item the next day saying Meghan was so jealous of Kate’s beauty lol. Ha ha, I’m mean come on who would actually believe that. Now I know why they are called ‘blind items’. It’s a dead giveaway where they are coming from.
I just read that post and the comments. Frankly, I got nothin’, it was so awful. The Mayhew Twitter has devolved into a complete cesspool, too. You’d never know it was Christmas by some of the haters’ comments. The Sussexes are living rent-free in a lot of people’s heads. 🙄
I love this card. It’s beautiful. It allows the fans to see how Archie is growing (the red hair!) and it gets the haters all in a knot. Such pettiness and I am so here for it.😂
Also, has anyone else seen the new commercial for the Food Network’s Chopped Junior show? Apparently Meghan is going to be a judge on the show. I saw the commercial last night on TV.
Happy Holidays everyone! Stay safe and enjoy!
She was a judge on that show years ago, maybe it’s a rerun? though it would be fun to see her on it again
She was on as a guest judge in 2016 so I dare the royal followers to claim she got that because of being in the RF.
Anyone else think that Archie’s hair is not just red, it’s also kind of curly? Even this illustration implies it. And if it is, that’s…*chef’s kiss.*
I love Archie’s hair, and Harry’s. My son is a ginger with curly hair too, and he’s very self-conscious about it, so I make a point of talking about how handsome Prince Harry is and how many girls love him, lol. I hope Archie’s stays ginger because it’s absolutely adorable on him.
I have seen that commercial and I’m incredibly irritated by their erroneous claim that she’s “an ex-royal family member.” That will only happen if they divorce, which is highly unlikely. Also, Equality is correct, that episode is from 2016.
I saw the ad a few weeks ago advertising that Meghan is going to be a judge on a cooking show. When I saw it I figured the royals would crap their pants when they find out about it. It was such a huge deal when Meghan closed her car door I can’t help but wonder how they responded to the information of the cooking show. Meghan did a quick appearance on a talent show a few weeks ago and I noticed an article the other day mentioned Camilla made an appearance on a similar type show in the UK. The royals are loosing their crap trying to keep up. They can forget it, the majority of them are 70+ years old. The youngest of the group are lost and lazy and the middle age couple are being led by lost and lazy. They have a long way to go to modernize the monarchy and get /keep the attention of the millennials. I realize that Anne, Charles and Camilla stay busy, but they are going to slow down soon. I realize that Sophie does quite a bit, but it looks like the Cambridge’s are going to be expected to carry the majority of the weight over the next few years. I’m wondering if that is why Will supposedly gave a stern warning to the Queen and Charles that Andrew has to go now. He wants him out.
Love that it is the whole family, and Guy only has eyes for his mama!
This is such a beautiful card! Well done to Harry and Meghan!
God, they are so smart. This is so brilliant because it’s a photo, but it’s not a photo. You can see Archie, but you can’t see Archie. Maybe I’m reading into it the wrong way, but this is such a brilliantly subtle middle finger to the media and, frankly, everyone who was shitty about their card last year.
I love it! That card is shear pettiness and I am here for it.😂. Bravo, Meghan and Harry. Bravo.
This card was genius and im so happy it has the royal rota and royal fans upset. When i saw it i couldn’t stop laughing. The sussex’s are always a few steps ahead.
You are right it was a stroke of genius.
Also part of why the Cambridges were so afraid of the Sussexes and wanted them out of the way.
Harry, Meghan, and Archie are still trending anyway even though you can’t really see them. They’ve overshadowed the royals again without even having to show anything. This was such a clever move.
Love the photo, seriously impressed with the brains behind the idea. I was hoping for another picture of Archie and this is just perfect.
I’m not a fan of the card. It’s their decision if and when they show their child, but I would rather they omitted him than show him partially. It does seem like they are being petty towards the press and is that the vibe people want right now? It’s been a tough year. People send cards to share joy and to see those we haven’t be able to see in person. What about their supporters who would like to see Archie not for malicious purposes? I could understand if they never showed him, but they made a whole video of reading a book to him.
The Sussex’s don’t owe us anything, especially photos of their child. If this is the form they choose to release their Christmas card, so be it. It’s a beautiful card no matter who it’s of anyway. I personally am not so invested in laying my eyes on someone else’s child that I’m going to let it bother me when they don’t “deliver”. That’s the difference between me and a BM member or a Sussex hater–I don’t view Archie as public property. He’s a human being and his parents have every right to share as much or as little of him as they see fit.
I get the feeling that whatever they did, you would have criticised them. As you said, it’s their decision to make and thankfully they’re now free to do that.
@Snap Happy – It is the Sussexes Christmas Card and it is their choice. However, I do get where you are coming from and understand your POV though I do not agree. Me personally, I would not have “released” any card in a way that the BM could get their hands on it for publication.
As a supporter, I think you’d understand that no matter what, Archie’s image would be used for malicious purposes, so it’s understandable that they choose to share what they want.
I am so glad they made that choice of card.
Let’s unpack why you feel entitled to THEIR child and how he should be showed? He is THEIR child.
The last time I checked no one is obliged to send a card to please anyone. They are no longer being supported by the tax payers so they can do as they like. The video was for charity. The illustrated card again, also for charity. We their supporters SUPPORT and respect their choice. Don’t worry about us. We will survive not seeing Archie’s face for a while. We would rather not see him than watch the press and trolls tear him apart. He’s been a target since being in utero and we are VERY protective of him. Have a good Christmas.
I LOVE your protective instinct!
And what was the response to that “whole video” of Archie? If you want to get your nose out of joint at someone blame the trolls and haters like Emily Giffen. Those @ssholes are the reason we don’t see Archie and I don’t blame Meghan and Harry one bit. In fact, I felt that after that sh*t show we wouldn’t see Archie again until he graduated high school!
This is mugxit rhetoric. No actual Sussex supporter feels entitled to Archie photos. She also gave herself away because she clearly has a problem with consent, which is typical of them. “tHEy ALrEady shOWed A vIdeO of hIM so THey CAn’t tRy to hIDE hiM NoW!!”
Girl, bye.
Its their decision, they did not own anyone anymore as they did not live on charity by taking taxes from british.
They are protecting him from the trolls and nasty journalists who will pick and dissect him to pieces.
It HAS been a tough year and the press didn’t mind ripping Harry and Meghan for everything. If you want to criticize H&M for that you should also criticize the press for what THEY did as well. The press would have ripped a regular image apart even during the pandemic.
I am a supporter and love this image of Archie. He isn’t my child so I don’t expect to see him. And this picture brought a lot of people joy except the press and Meghan haters.
I agree with you all. We, the DDOS’ supporters love the card. The only ones complaining are the trolls and the racist rotten rodents, aka BM.
It’s been a tough year and their response was to donate to charity and share this beautiful, warm, happy card with everyone. I think that’s lovely.
Maybe get over yourself?
Face it, if the Cambridge’s did something this charming you would be over the moon. There is no way to honestly say this is not a charming Christmas card.
A lot of assumptions here that I am not a Meghan/Harry supporter which is just not true. I have commented for years in support of them. I think what the Cambridge’s did to the Sussexes is disgusting. I never cheer for them. I’m fine with never seeing a picture of Archie. My comment was more about them playing the press game, which they do. Anyone in the public eye plays the game.
“Playing the press game”. Damn right they are. They’re controlling their narrative and image…and they’re winning, which us why you’re upset.
@Snap: and I’m pretty sure they left the royal fold so that they wouldn’t have to play press games but maybe I just imagined that up
@snap you are definitely not a Sussex supporter and that’s ok. Jut own it with your whole chest. Harry said loud and clear that he will not play the games that led to his mother getting killed and we believe him. He also said he will not his family be commoditised. We support wholeheartedly his decision. Go tell your press friends we are HAPPY with the illustrated card thank you. Happy Christmas and good will to all men.
@Snap Happy – methinks you are a bit of a troll. It is the Sussex’s choice to reveal or not reveal. What they have done is send out warm greetings for the holiday season, tied in with supporting one of her favourite charities. Why do you insist on painting it in such a derogatory way? They were literally chased out of the BRF because of horrific, frightening racist attacks that Harry’s own grandmother, idiot brother and SIL sanctioned. Think about it….if you had a biracial child who was being tormented and threatened, if you had a biracial wife who was being ripped apart by the gutter press daily and nobody in your family stood up against it how would you feel? Certainly not willing to shill out your baby for the nutjobs to see. They are in control of their own public personas, not you.
Sussex squad don’t care about seeing Archie like that. I love that we couldn’t really see him. It’s haters who demand to take a look at Archie, not the squad. We stan the work and the power moves and the badassery. We don’t sit around waiting for birthday pics and first day of school pics like the fans of the welfare royals. So this idea that they’re “depriving their fans” is nonsense.
I stan Nyro!
@Nyro, 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💯
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 @Nyro
Snap!!!
I love what Sussex’s card represents. Two parents who are spending a lovely moment with their child. It’s so relatable. I love the fact that Meghan is sitting in the grass with jeans, surrounded by dogs and Harry helping his little one out of the playhouse. To top it off it’s illustrated. I also love the fact the card was sent directly to Mayhew and thereby sending a clear message to the BM. In other words, bitches, you are not about to profit off our child again. When we say we are done with you, we are done.
@WinterDay ITA, and I don’t know if this really makes sense, lol, but while the photo is obviously posed, it doesn’t look anywhere near as “posed” as the Cambridges’ photos always are. This at least gives the impression that it was a natural moment that just happened to be captured.
Obviously all of the Christmas decorations were arranged, but the actual people aren’t in such precise positions as they clearly are in Cambridge cards. It looks like we just saw a glimpse of the Sussexes living their lives.
Snap, I understand what you meant by your original comment. I don’t really agree with it, I happen to love what they did this Christmas and why, but I can tell it wasn’t an attempt to Sussex slam as others have accused you of doing.
Also, unless one of us has had a personal conversation about this card with Meghan or Harry, none of us knows their thinking on the card. The fact is they chose this card, in this format, and released it through Mayhew to bring attention and contributions to a charity Meghan is a patron of …..that’s all we know for sure.
All the comments about FU to the press, gaming ARCHIE’s image, payback for last year’s card manipulation, one upping the Cambridge’s, etc., etc., is all everyone else inserting their own emotions and opinions into the card’s release and presentation. Me, I’m going to enjoy the card and the support it brings to Mayhew’s mission. Not everything has to be twisted into a Machiavellian melodrama.
If you’re a supporter and want to see a private child, you need to reevaluate how you’re being supportive.
The best thing in the world for Archie is for no one in the public to precisely know what he looks like at the time, so he can try to lead a somewhat normal life with as much anonymity as possible. Especially now that he’s specifically residing in a single location.
However, they know there’s an interest in him so they very thoughtfully split the difference- they did not invade his privacy up close but still provided a glimpse that shows us he’s healthy, growing, got a red mop of hair. All the things you really want to see in a photo. I mean we can even make out he looks a tiny bit like Prince George, in profile IMO. That’s pretty clear.
This is a private child, we don’t need a driver’s license type headshots of him.
So perfect!!
I was team No card but this is just brilliant. Archie’s privacy is protected and the British press and the haters are upset.
Lovely card.
For some reason, I find this card, an illustration of a photo, to be extremely thoughtful and personal. Instead of giving a posed photo, they’re giving something akin to being home made. I LOVE IT!
Happy Christmas to everyone at Celebitchy who celebrates this holiday! Stay safe and eat delicious food. Hopefully by next year we will all be able to return to a “normal” Christmas.
Have a happy Christmas filled with every blessing Cee.
I tried using different filters on the photo. There are some where it can make it look more like a real photo. Archie is so cute.
There’s an iOS app that turns photos into “paintings” and it looks exactly like this style.
Yeah, this is an old Photoshop filter, lots of apps use it now.
I think this card is absolutely stunning. It’s original and somehow conveys an old-timey and contemporary feeling simultaneously. It kind of looks like something produced by a phone app that turns photos into illustrations. Whatever it is, it’s beautiful and creative. I love it.
My guess is it’s one or more filters, with a little adjustment/manipulation. Harry, in particular, looks very much like himself, like he would in a photo.
Such a beautiful and thoughtful card, I think it’s perfect! And by using the illustration format we don’t get those horrible “How much did it cost?” and “How dare she spend that much!” type articles. Happy holidays everyone!
It’s adorable but what’s on Harry’s forehead. And could they have painted Archie without patches of hair. Meg got her beautiful hair in place! Lol. I think it’s a cool plan. They don’t owe us anything. Merry Christmas to them and everyone here!
Is that illustrated, or is that a computer generated insult to illustration? I can’t find a credit for an artist. I respect the sentiment not to release a photograph, but gross on not having a human do it (if that is in fact the case).
It looks exactly like an iOS app I’ve used before that turns photos into “paintings”
Yep, that’s 100% what I think it is and it’s just so not what I would have expected from them. I totally get not wanting to release an picture-quality image, but I would just have guessed that Meghan would have an artist friend who she hired to create the image.
Why “gross”?
Because they’re so thoughtful about every other thing they do. We all have issues that get our hackles up – mine happens to be computer generated art where I think it would be more thoughtful to have hired a human artist who works in an art medium like watercolor, gouache, pastels, whatever. I think we have plenty of computer generated stuff in our lives.
I guess I agree that it would be nice if they hired someone to paint for them, but “gross” seems like an excessive reaction. Is it also “gross” that Meghan cooked their Christmas meal instead of having it delivered?
I’ve been accused of speaking hyperbolically before, so I can see your point there. “Moderately offensive to me as an artist.” There. That’s closer to a regular level reaction. It seems like the rare thing she’s missed.
Betsy had to use a magnifying glass to find something, anything, to complain about 🙄
Rose
We’re you there or just reaching to attack another commenter?
Betsy just made an observation and in true Christmas gossip spirit got ripped apart. I also wondered if it was hand painted or a program.
Gross comment TBH.
Not really. I shared my opinion in a way that doesn’t insult any other posters on this site; I get my own opinion and in my opinion, this was an odd misstep for them.
I think what Betsy is trying to say (Betsy, please feel free to jump om me if I get it wrong) that it would have been an added benefit if M&H had hired a local artist, financially struggling in a COVID-19 world, to paint a picture of the photograph with the photograph being released through the charity with a write-up about the artist and credit giving to the artist upon release of said photograph.
BayTampaBay
Sweet mercy your comment is perfect. Maybe less attacks on Betsy if people took a moment before attacking.
@Betsy idk if you’ll even see this but FWIW I understand what you were trying to say and don’t think you had any malicious intent at all. The reaction to your comment was OTT imo. May everyone chill out in 2021 ; )
LOL! Hey cookie, even a computer generated illustration had to be initially designed and programmed by a, wait for it . . . human.
Great. Still isn’t the same thing as art created by a human.
LMFAO OMFG do you realize how ridiculous you sound? Holy s**t honestly.
For thinking that actual human-created art has a place in our world? Merry Christmas to you, too.
Would it have been nice if it was hand-painted? Sure. But “gross” is a massive overreaction tbh
I’m everyone agreeing with my sentiment but obsessing over a word choice. Sheesh.
@Betsy: because it came off as harsh. That’s all. Gross says they did something wrong, disgusting or inappropriate. I wouldn’t call using a paint filter as wrong, disgusting or inappropriate but you may disagree.
That’s fair. Again I have been accused of speaking hyperbolically. It is an act that seems uncharacteristically less thoughtful than they usually are, less holistically planned.
@Betsy – See my comment above.
This is what’s so frustrating about this whole conversation. Thry really are measured against impossible standards and the comment is disingenuous. It’s not enough that the photo is bright and different from their usual b&w, but now they have to hire a specific artist to support the entire arts industry on top of the charities the card is highlighting. They’ve supported lots of small independent businesses and freelance photographers. Maybe they didn’t want anyone previewing the card, the same reason they had a friend take last years picture, instead of hiring anyone. They don’t have to do everything for everyone every time. It’s a cute, corny Christmas card.
You’re looking for something to be offended by and went out of your way to create a strawman. But to each his own, I guess.
I can’t imagine why you would think that, as I am 100% team Meghan and Harry (if you really want to spin your wheels today, go looking through past comments of mine about them). This is one of the things that universally bugs me – that we have taken much of the hand made out of our lives. I’m not a total Luddite – clearly I’m using a computer to engage with you here – but I think that we have stripped a lot of our made from scratch foods, handwritten holiday cards (and letters, but I am one of the few dinosaurs still sending those), actual tactile interaction with objects.
I can see how, in the context of people constantly and racistly attacking their decisions, but that’s not what I’m doing. I applaud them for protecting Archie’s privacy as much as is possible for such a public family. This isn’t a strawman, it’s something I feel deeply about. You disagree. You don’t need to attempt to insult me.
You labeled it as a “misstep” (putting a foot wrong) and as “gross.”
Seems like a reach to me.
This person is clearly trolling. The gall of thinking someone is obligated to do it their way is laughable. They (H/M) get to decide to utilize human or computer and if it offends whoever, tough. That says absolutely nothing about H/M and everything about the person objecting.
@CBers – Let’s all calm down. We all (especially me) type in haste. We all (especially me) say things that maybe should have been better thought out to get our true POV across.
Let’s be grateful that we have a safe haven to attack the Daily Gestapo, have a new POTUS & FLOTUS on the way, UK may have a BREXIT deal, Meghan & Harry are thriving and quit attacking each other.
There are many trolls that try to infiltrate this site and we nip the loser-haters in the bud. I do NOT believe that Betsy is a troll or a plant from The Daily Gestapo.
I’m with @Bay on this one. I’ve seen Betsy’s posts before and she doesn’t strike me as a troll. Maybe in the spirit of Christmas we can stop the pile ons which have seemed to have increased in the last few weeks. Everyone i believe is well intentioned, and i think we all need to take a breather, inhale some turkey and chill out on tryptophan.
I’m with the gang that says Betsy isn’t a troll and BayTampaBay did thoughtfully express what Betsy may have meant.
I will say shame on the commenters that jumped immediately to attack like there was chum in the water. During the holiday season no less.
And bravo to Betsy for responding multiple times to express themselves and not losing their composure.
I guess next people will be offended that it was an eCard instead of being delivered by a human through the Mail! It’s not like this is a family portrait that is to be hung in their home, it’s a Christmas card. Whatever, next!
@Betsy, if they’d hired an artist and paid a lot of money to have a bespoke painting made from a photo for their Christmas card they would have been raked over the coals for wasting money. I think how they rendered it is entirely appropriate and reveals a little of the family but not enough about Archie to appear like they’re fame-whoring him. They went through enough vile media intrusion and racist hatred to put them off of any kind of public presence for him, they’re just being protective parents. It’s a card, not a priceless work of art to hang over their fireplace, and the look and sentiment of it is simple, relaxed and quaint. I’m sure they’ve been buying artwork and furnishings from lots of local artisans to decorate their house. Let’s not die on hill over a card.
Exactly Jaded.
Exactly!
Slightly off topic, but how did a animal rescue get named The Mayhew? It sounds like a posh British hotel. Clever marketing actually.
Love this Christmas card. Such an obvious message to all the racists wanting a picture of Archie to tear apart. They got something they can’t use and can’t complain about without showing their true colors. Sadly, that won’t stop many.
Also, this background is very Californian for Christmas. Another message. ‘Look at the beautiful weather we are enjoying year round. Thanks again for the exile.’
It was named after its first superintendent, “Anne Mayhew.” It started as a cat rescue in the 19th century.
Harry, Meghan, Archie and Doria – wishing you all the very best. The card is wonderful…..it actually looks like an ” old fashioned Christmas card”.
After all you have been through you deserve the very very best!
Um, I want a picture of the kid, dammit! Kidding…this is adorable and it’s awesome they are protecting Archie’s privacy.
Wow! What a beautiful card! It’s composed so nicely with pops of Christmas red and that gorgeous blue chair and the paving stones pointing our focus from the beautiful scenery to the family. (That chair is gorgeous, lol it’s almost like a nod to this year’s battle of the garden benches!)
This card bridges the gap between the usual family photo card and a more traditional Hallmark artwork style. My dad would love this. Maybe next year I will do something like this.
And the little house provides the parents, child and animals a similar vignette to a Nativity scene. Like a nativity, it packs a lot of visual impact into a compact, ordered setting that’s beautifully tied together, almost like a visual hug. Doria did a fantastic job taking the photo. I wonder if she framed and composed it herself or if it was a collaborative effort.
This card sends so many messages: the Duke and Duchess haven’t abandoned nor forgotten their patronages; they are committed to sustainability and the environment; they’re thriving not just surviving in their new home. And finally, they will share their home and family with us, but on their terms and with boundaries. And that family includes Doria, ironically the only family member who has truly maintained “a dignified silence” so prized by the DM commentators.
I like your analysis! Colors, composition, scenery including subtle hints on the place it’s taken (Cali).
This card has Christmas vibe. What is the common ground for Christmas celebrations? Family, decorated tree, togetherness, joy…
Aww. What a great analysis. Thank you for pointing out the nativity scene parallels. That just makes it all the sweeter. I was loving how central the doggies were for a Mathew card. But you are so right about the composition.
The little playhouse looks like a proper little cottage and the whole scene could have been on the grounds of Frogmore, in a garden. It certainly doesn’t scream “California”.
What does California even look like? The cottage looks normal. There’s nothing British about it. Kids have playhouses.
Mandy- I have 2 cards on my fridge from CA friends and one pic was taken in the beach in Santa Barbara with their dogs running around, and the other family took their pic at their beach house too, but in front of their Spanish-style home. My friends from Jackson Hole took their pic at the summit. Maybe it is just my friends that do this. I guess I assumed that most people use pics that capture what “home” means to them and H&M’s card looks like it could be in the UK.
The Fail had reported at the time the house news came out that the cottage came with the house when the Sussexes purchased it.
And now DM is trying to valuate the playhouse and act like H&M bought it separately.
They do not call it The Daily Gestapo for nothing!
I think that intentionally or not, this card unites both places – UK and California. Like a small piece of Britain with California on the background.
What does look “ California “ even mean? It’s not all beaches and palm trees. We just had snow in the Sierras and early morning fog where I live. The illustration was from their property, which has an amazing garden. Looks festive and Christmas-y to me and that lush green foliage is very California weather.
I’m not from California, therefore I can’t define “typical” Californian landscape, not that it was my purpose. I tried to share my personal impression that the playhouse and ornaments on it and on the tree, and the bench were somehow “British” and the background – green grass, vivid greenery around, and a hint of mountains in the distance belong to “California” as I imagine it and as I know it at least from a lot of movies. I think it’s nice touch whether it was intentionally or not.
Don’t be overly aggressive, guys, save it for Twitter trolls.
Meghan and Harry live in a coastal town. Lots of lush green grass and etc. The play house came with the estate they purchased.
Eh. What does California scream to you? Beaches? Sand? Sun? To the Sussexes, California could mean a garden in the back with lots of room to run around.
You don’t have to like the card, but you don’t need to make judgements on how one couple’s taste isn’t “Californian” enough for you
“What does California scream to you? Beaches? Sand? Sun? ”
THAT’S FLORIDA!!! LOL!LOL!
@Bay so does California have no sun and beaches? Asking for a friend. There’s no need for your to mock me and be bitchy
@Sofia – I don’t think BTB is mocking you. The “Beaches? Sand? Sun? ” reminded me of some old Florida tourism commercials. I think they may have brought up the same memory for BTB.
I’ve read a lot of comments from BTB over the years, and none of them have been mean spirited.
@ElleE: If you’ve been to that part of California you’d know that it’s very lush and green, with lots of lovely gardens. It’s not all Beach Boys and surf boards.
@Jaded you guys are funny. I am typing this from Santa Barbara. 😉 I really like and admire Meghan Markle. That’s all I have to say ( well that, and the fact that I didn’t like the card that much🤣 it reminds me of the movie “Waking Life” which was a very unsettling film😐).
What says California: 1) it’s sunny & warm enough for the human beings not to be dressed in sweaters & layers; 2) the plants flanking the cottage–common name = ‘mother-in-law tongue’ (seems to me)–are definitely more Mediterranean/tropical than you’ll see in England.
Absolutely love this card, it is perfect. I don’t think they’re trying to shame the Cambridges or anything like that, they are just done with all that royalty crap, and this is a reflection of their new life. It’s simple, sweet and refreshingly original. I hope they’re finding happiness here, I really do.
It’s perfect. You wanted a card British media, to pull apart with criticism, well here, have fun with this one 🤣
I love this sooo much. The card is genius, sharing a pic of Archie yet not really. I love the old-school Christmasy feel of it. I love that Doris took the original pic. I love that they used this moment to highlight Mayhew and also publicly donate to other charities. I love that the British media gets nothing, lol. I love that the Cambridge look like desperate and amateurish.I love that the rota rats are broke, starving, and reeling over the fact that their cash cows are gone. I love that the derangers are completely losing it right now. I love it all!
It’s a really cute card. I like how bright and colorful it is, and how it looks like a book illustration. Can Archie have that much hair by now? I remember how the tabloids took their photo from last year and used a distorted, photoshopped version to accuse Meghan of something, so they have no right to say a damn thing about this little watercolor. Now they’re trying to price out the little play cottage and say the Sussexes splurged on that, even though a play cottage was in the real estate listing and came with the house. Sigh.. the bitter trolls stay trolling. Anyway, it’s a cute card and glad it supported one of their charities. Even the dogs look cute and it’s a nice change from the black and white. Brighter days ahead.
Beautiful card. These two really know how to show their work, with the charities and even the mention of re-planting the tree. I love the California vibe of it, with the mountains in the background. So colorful and cheerful, and Archie is adorable. Look at that red hair!!
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas everyone!
That card is perfect. I hope they have the original painting hanging in their house. It is a really cute moment to capture. Archie is going to be tall! And that red hair squeee.
Is Archie holding a cookie?? they look sooo cute!!
I love this so hard, I squealed when it was revealed. I literally squealed in delight. They are so smart to do it this way. Give a little but on their terms and completely preventing those who hate them from getting their pound of flesh to feast on, though I have no doubt they will come up with something .
Well done H/M, you are the bosses and I salute you both and thanks for sharing and I wish you both the best this season and the New Year.
I went to the Mayhew’s site but I’m not on twitter so didn’t see any of the reactions. The Mayhew had a lovely full page with the card and accolades for their patron etc. What I really like about this is that if the royal family try to take their patronages, as people suspect with the coming review, it will really be on them to TAKE them. the Sussexes are simply carrying on and doing the work and engaging their patronages as if they haven’t a care in the world. No hedging their bets, being careful and coy, they show they’re fully committed and plan to remain committed. It’s like a dare to the royal family to take these things away. Given how stupid they are they may very well remove those patronages but that will only reflect poorly on the royal family and demonstrate why the Sussexes left. We will see.
You’re smart to not be on Twitter. The comments on their page are God-awful. The haters don’t care that they’re wrecking a charity’s page, as long as they can get their knives into the Sussexes. It’s disgusting and sad, all at the same time. The Squaddies and others are valiantly defending them, but it’s a huge battle. All because an “irrelevant” family released a Christmas card in their own way, on their own terms. I’ve really never seen anything quite like it.
@LS, don’t play dumb. Everyone knows the types of comments the Sussexes get on Twitter (and every other social media outlet or comment section) plunge into racist and hateful conspiracy theory territory ( “Archie is a doll! He’s much older than 1.5 years! They’re hiding his face b/c something’s wrong with him!” are just a few that have been bandied about). Meanwhile, what’s the worst people have said about the Cambridges’ card? That it’s drab and dull for the season (which it kinda is, sorry not sorry)? Ooh, how awful indeed. You Cambridge fans LOVE to cast W&K as victims for no reason. If you don’t like the criticism they get here, there’s plenty of other sites for you to frequent.
@Babz ITA. @One of the Marys, you’re smart to stay away from Twitter altogether. I’m torn about it because there are some truly great people I’ve met on there, but the negative comments can be cruel to the point of stomach-turning. The replies about Archie’s appearance on last year’s card were so vile that I had to walk away from my phone, in disbelief that so many people would talk about a baby that way.
Twitter does have a lot of positive things about it, but if you’re on there primarily as a Royal-watcher, there are some nasty pieces of work in that “community.”
And Babz is right — the Sussex-haters don’t care if they trash the page of a CHARITY as long as they get their digs in. They don’t even have the common decency (lol) to keep that garbage away from the online presence of a charitable organization, which is just insane. If they think this makes *the Sussexes* look bad, they’re seriously mistaken, imo. To the general population/supporters of Mayhew, casual Twitter users who aren’t embroiled in the daily drama, the commenters are the ones who come off as petty and unhinged, and it probably only serves to make these people more supportive of the Sussexes.
I also agree with you that this will make it incredibly awkward for Betty to try and take their patronages away from them, because clearly the organizations themselves are quite (publicly) happy with Harry’s and Meghan’s support, and it would be clear that it was simply a vindictive move by the BRF — not meant to improve the support received by the patronages, but only to punish the Sussexes.
It would NOT go over well, imo.
This is the best. Glad the BM are salty as, they deserve nothing.
The image is delightful. And hand made ornaments that Archie chose just warms my heart ♥
Sorry I just wanna ask how it protects Archie’s privacy? I get that they’re not trotting him out for pap shots but he’s still on the card, I’d just like to understand what is meant by that sentence.
You get to see him but not really see him. Its kind of brilliant.
You would never be able to pick him out of a group of kids with that photo as reference. We only have a very vague idea of what he looks like from this. it’s brilliant
I love that Grandmother Doria got a shout out for taking the original photo. She captured the spirit of the family group. Very artistic and old fashioned, in a way. Maybe a metaphor about living a simpler, family oriented life.
Yes and I bet Meghan didn’t have to call ahead to make an appointment to see Doria 🙃
Oooooh, excellent burn on Petty Betty! 🔥
It’s protecting his privacy because we don’t actually know what he looks like. We get a soft focus watercolor where you only get an idea of what he looks like. Plus his image can’t be cropped and used all over the place like a traditional photo can
Was just getting ready to post same idea but you said it well.
He also won’t show up in the next edition of Kate’s Cuties, which is brilliant. I don’t understand why any media is allowed to do a free calendar of kids belonging to someone else. None of these kids are public figures and it’s just weird. Who would even want that?
@Nic oh god I forgot about that “Kate’s Cuties” thing — is that supposed to be annual, going forward? I realize that the Cambridges are stuck— they made their bed and now they have to lie in it — but to have to release all of those photos of their children to the disgusting Fail of all places every single year for a special insert is next-level trashy and mortifying, imo.
But this is all their own doing!
¯_(ツ)_/¯
I know this is petty, but it is extremely satisfying to see “Be careful what you wish for!” played out so swiftly in real time with the Cambridges 🥰
I love the look and vibe of this Christmas card but even more than that, I LOVE that it takes something away from the UK tabloids and haters, who were counting on grist for their mills.
I think even if the Queen takes away H&M’s patronages, they will keep donating to those organizations. They don’t need to have any kind of formal relationship with any org in order to support it. My guess is they will keep publicizing their donations and giving those orgs “scoops” (like letting them release photos and cards like this), even if they are not the official “patrons” of the orgs anymore.
I think you can be a patron of an organisation without being a member of the royal family… e.g. Julia Gillard, the former Australia PM, is the patron for CAMFED. She was at the women international day event with Meg a few years back. Julia is on the CAMFED website as their patron (and Harry isn’t? Maybe he just does work with them?)
The organisations just wont have “royal patrons” (but this might not even be true because they’re still part of the royal family but not the business? But maybe being royal patron is the business?)
The only thing they maybe stand to lost is their presidency & VP of CM Trust (if Betty wants to go full petty)
Honestly, I’m not entirely sure that organizationally it is even POSSIBLE for Queenie to oust the P and VP of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. Like, she could probably make a good go of trying it purely on social power, and as their Royal Patron, but she doesn’t seem to have much, if any, administrative power as she isn’t one of the listed Trustees/Directors.
@Love you’re right, the organizations definitely have non-Royal patrons as well because I clearly remember one of Kate’s patronages (I believe it was EACH?) having to ask another one of their patrons, Ed Sheeran, to step in when Kate backed out of an event at the last minute; some sort of gala, IIRC.
I’m American so someone British can obviously correct me, but I think it’s always just been considered more “prestigious” to have a Royal as a patron. That could really change, though, imo, because so many of the royals are in their 70’s or older, and even though Sophie does a lot of good work, she simply doesn’t get the same kind of press coverage that Kate and Meghan do.
Any organization that is lucky enough to have Harry or Meghan as a patron will get a lot more publicity/visibility than one that has, for example, Normal Bill as their high-profile patron. We saw the deafening silence as the Cambridges were seated at the BAFTAs, lol.
Time will tell!
It’s really beautiful , isn’t it. I am so happy that they are free.
Merry Christmas everyone!
You can donate internationally to Mayhew via PayPal on their website.
I don’t know, I’m not a fan- it seems too gimmicky. Would have preferred a photo of just the two of them or maybe them with Archie turned away from the camera. the umbrella shot from March would have been perfect, but obviously no new hits for Mayhew
It definitely has a retro, throw back look, but I think it actually suits the charity that released it. It’s bright, very traditional composition with the pets in the foreground. Looks like 50s book illustration. It would be funny if one year we get a Shutterfly or Minted style card with the little picture squares and little recap of their year on the back.
Can’t the Mayhew close comments on their Twitter account?
I looked at a few comments on twitter. Those people really are sick
The Obamas dropped their Christmas card this evening and it’s literally just their signatures. I hope that’s all Harry and Meghan give them next year LOL.
LOL. Archie’s reminds me of Harry from this picture. LOL.
IDK….from the side at first glance, Archie reminded me of a ginger George.
Lovely card, and wonderful to support the charity with it.
So I went over to the Mayhew’s Twitter page and fortunately, the comments I did see were mostly positive. I didn’t scroll too far but maybe they’re starting to delete the horrible posts. Or maybe the Sussex Squad is coming to the rescue in droves! Either way, I love this card and I love this little family. It’s an illustration yet you can see the love radiating from it as clearly as if it were a pic — M&H clearly are enamored with their little boy.
I love the card. I think she is very original- the royal family’s loss.
The BRF seems to hate original or free thinkers. Megan is best not being within their control.
Me too, I love it