We got a confirmation from People Magazine last month that despite all of the dramas, bullying and shady behavior, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged Christmas gifts with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Many people believed the gift exchange was probably more about the kids, and I agree, but I enjoyed the thought of Harry and Meghan gifting Will and Kate with a lifetime Netflix subscription, or perhaps a bag of Clevr Blends lattes. Anything to twist the knife in a fun, shady way. Well, Kate’s 39th birthday was last weekend, and she reportedly had a lowkey celebration at Anmer Hall, enjoying a little tea party with her kids. As it turns out, Meghan and Harry might have sent her some birthday gifts too?
The sweetest treat! Duchess Kate received a special surprise from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as she marked her 39th birthday on Saturday, January 9.
The Duchess of Cambridge had a “low-key” celebration with Prince William, Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 5, and Prince Louis, 2, a source exclusively reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. After speaking with her parents and Queen Elizabeth II, Kate was taken aback when she saw the thoughtful card and gifts she got from her brother-in-law, 36, and the Suits alum, 39. “It was a nice surprise,” the source says. “Kate wasn’t expecting anything from the couple.”
Later on, Kate was showered with presents from William, 39, including diamond and sapphire earrings, “which she loves.”
I wonder if Kate was surprised at the gifts because she and William likely didn’t send anything to Meghan for her birthday last year? I doubt they sent anything to Harry for his birthday last September either. It’s pretty typical of Meghan especially to still maintain generosity and grace towards people who have treated her poorly. That being said, I hope the gifts were shady. I hope Meghan picked out the weirdest ‘80s blouse with 100 buttons and shoulder pads and sent that along. And yes, I do think Meghan is probably sending Clevr Blends lattes to people now, and I would guess that Kate got a bag. LOL.
As for William getting Kate some expensive earrings… I doubt he paid for those. He probably went “shopping” in the Royal Collection, or he grabbed one of his mother’s old earring sets. Either that or Kate just picked out what she wanted and she charged it to Charles’ credit card. William has never seemed like the kind of man who showers his wife with jewelry or gifts.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
Hey, listen, I WISH my husband has a stash of jewelry to find gifts for me!!!! I would take them.
It’s the reason why you marry a Prince if you married into money right? I don’t think Kate married him for charisma or intellect or kindness.
Or hair!
The jewels – OMG the Royal Jewels. I would take them out and wear them around the house.
I remember Kate saying she picked out the tiny eternity band and said William “gave” it to her for George’s birth/push present. Same with some other earrings and rings she’s sported. And yes, I know some women prefer to get what they want “from” hubby. I just don’t think/get the feeling PwBIGT is the kind that gets his joy from seeing the recipient love the gift.
While we don’t know how they are in private, in public, and even the few candid shots we’ve seen, they just don’t look like there is ANY chemistry btwn the two.
And you’re right, PwBigT is NOT the type to “shower” ANYone with presents; he’s a rather tight-fisted PwBigT lol
I remember it as an approved article claiming William gave her that. Kate claimed nothing, but her staff or her did approve of that narrative until the store owner said the truth.
He probably doesnt care enough to find out what she likes. I bet he picks out gifts for his girlfriends
Ah, trophies from the pillage. Doesn’t she only receive “big” gifts after muck hits the fan?
😄🥰
She’s “surprised” because it would never occur to her to be gracious like that. Once again, the language used by the courtiers (or KP, or whoever leaked this) is a self own.
Also I think Meg and Harry’s gift had no shade. It was 100% sweet. I can’t see them being like that. If was to shade someone with a gift, which i wouldn’t, id just not send anything.
Muffintop, and Bibi, I agree…. but dammmmn, I hope Meghan sent Kate a basket of her Lattes, like Oprah’s LOL (because I AM petty like that 😄)
This is from US Weekly, it is more likely that it is pure fiction.
Art Historian, I agree, I don’t think Meghan’s camp would give anything to US Weekly and I’m not sure how this would benefit Kate’s camp, it makes Meghan look good, not Kate. And on another note, it’s Jan 15th and Kate has not worked one day yet.
The royal households generally leak to certain British news outlets. The only American outlet they probably leak to is People Magazine. They’re def not giving info to a publication such as US Weekly. This story is pure fiction.
I think it’s meant to make Kate look gracious and that she has no beef with the Sussexes. Like “see, it was a totally unexpected surprise and I (took the high road and) kindly received it. I have no ill feelings towards them, even though they have been mean to me all year.”
Agreed. This statement seems to come from KP yet it’s odd and not exactly flattering.
Exactly, MuffinTop. And spot on Kaiser! Your sentence above, “It’s pretty typical of Meghan especially to still maintain generosity and grace towards people who have treated her poorly” says it all when it comes to Meghan. If this is true — and a gift was sent — I would expect nothing less than something nice and thoughtful from 👑Meghan. She is class personified.
100% this. Surprised because they understand class, basic kindness, and decency. Simply reinforces the fact that W&K are petty, unintelligent arseholes.
Do we really need to believe everything from media such as US Weekly? They will continue to have silly stories because it sells.
Agree. Surprise only stems from the negative preconceptions you have about someone. Catherine’s surprise is evidence that her lopsided opinion of sweet Meghan had kept her from expecting anything genuine from her. Well, we’re not surprised that Meghan is capable of acting in a lady-like diplomatic gesture.
Megan seems so genuinely thoughtful.
William never spends his own funds unless it’s to buy his in-laws a new home. Which I suspect was a loan.
Remember those stories of Kate’s anniversary jewelry and “push” presents reportedly William got her only to have the stores say Kate bought those herself while alone. Yeah, William is elsewhere.
There was also a story where he regifted her a wedding favour, a bracelet. He has never bought her anything.
Or the live mic catching Kate asking William when he will ask his dad for money so they can vacation. William spends nothing of his own on her.
Wiglet…what is this?? I don’t remember anything about a hot mic catching this (or anything really). I couldn’t find anything. Do you have a link??
OG
My old YouTube link is dead, but it was covered here and other places. It was from the mid dating years.
That’s just Meghan demonstrating how much more class she has than the entire royal family.
Yeah, I don’t trust anything coming from US Weekly. If it’s true, it shows that Meghan is a bigger person than anyone else in the Royal Family. However, according to the Daily Mail she rebuffed approaches from Kate and Sophie after the documentary came out in October 2019. I didn’t believe the Christmas gifts story either. I don’t believe that Meghan is in contact with anybody in the Royal Family at this point.
Whether its true or not – I think its an interesting tidbit because it paints Meghan in a positive light, and as Us Weekly is an American publication – makes me think they are trying to stay on the Sussexes good side. (even though at this point I feel like it is just a pretty tabloid.)
More Like trying to “get” on their good side because US Weekly had no qualms about printing negative stories about Harry and Meghan when they were in the UK. Is US Weekly, printing positive stories about them now because they live in the US?
Yes, I absolutely think so (that they are printing positive stories because they now live in the US.) While feud stories and the like will always sell, I think someone has realized that – gasp – Meghan is actually well-liked here, and popular, and has powerful friends.
@Amy, I think we’re going to see a lot of switching up because it’s going to be another year of Covid shutdowns and the media are clearly not making money with the other royals. There is genuine interest and the Sussexes are where the money is. We already have reporters admitting to missing them, covering them and wanting access still. If anything, the Royal family will be under pressure to deliver results because they all backed the wrong horse. The media don’t want to admit they made a mistake and decided to back a boring, charismatic challenged couple because they need access to the Cambridge children. This all about control.
I agree, particularly in the British press. They are eager for Harry and Meghan to return to the UK and for them to open a social media account so they can get stories. I hope Harry and Meghan don’t do either.
I saw on Twitter that the DM made a calendar for all of the events H&M may attend. I couldn’t believe it. Well I could, but it was still so crazy to see after they’ve spent the past few years calling them irrelevant.
Britt, your entire comment just makes me smile. It is so satisfying, to see it all go so wrong for the British press, and “working” (zzzzzzzzzzzz) royals. Karma is really digging her teeth in.
I do recognize that makes me a petty a-hole, but I’m okay with that!
“According to the Dailyfail…?” okay then. Nuff said.
Anyhooooo…I can believe the Sussexes are maintaining contact with their relatives in the RF. Afterall, they explicitly said in their goodbye statement that they will raise their son with a knowledge of the tradition in which he was born but also raise him in the current century. (Or wrds to that effect. 🙂
@AmyBee-
Exactly. 👍👍
US Weekly has been slamming the Sussexes almost on the regular, so I dunno why anyone thinks Harry & Meghan are engaging them.
People – I can believe. The new US Weekly? – Nahh.
Anyway, aren’t they now owned by the same peeps who run the Enquirer?
US Weekly is now as bad as The Enquirer and InTouch, as in complete trash.
When I read that bit in the Daily Mail piece I was taken aback. Like yeah, of course she rebuffed you after you only reach out to her once you see her nearly having a breakdown on national tv. And the story was that Kate only really sent her flowers, which Meghan deemed too little too late.
I think Sophie and Kate have just become hardened over time and fully Windsorized, as Tina Brown calls it. They have learned to turn off the typical human responses as it’s not considered royal.
I think Kate’s always been bitchy though. Don’t forget the story that came out (and was verified) that when Meg was staying w/Harry in KP (i think this was about a month or two before the engagement) she was going out shopping on foot. Kate drove right by her and didn’t offer her a lift… they were going to the *same* store.
Kate was a bitch before she was official. She was driving off any woman who tried to talk to William in university and she and Pippa were bitches to the younger York sisters when the latter were still teens and they were in their 20s. Kate has never been nice or thoughtful. She’s been dedicated to getting William to propose and used anyone who was useful to her in that mission.
And yes the blind where she can’t be bothered to offer Meghan a ride to the store despite the fact Meghan was in a serious relationship with Harry also tells you the kind of person she is. The video of her bitchiness at the commonwealth service was simply video confirmation of who she has always been.
I don’t believe these stories. Firstly, it seems they came from Katie Nicholl (Cambridge camp). She spreads the lies constantly trying to make impression she knows something about Sussexes and simultaneously trying to please her true bosses. Secondly, it’s not really true that this story makes Meghan look like greater person.
The story casts doubts on the fact that Cambridges treated H&M badly, smeared them, betrayed them. Exactly like the story about brothers being in touch and Harry calling William. Obviously, no one apart from saints whose place is in Heaven would forgive all the backstabbing H&M endured during last few years. Therefore, if H&M turned to Cambridges on their own initiative then, maybe, there was no betrayal? That’s the logic in these articles about gifts and calls.
IMO, instead of make Sussexes look better it make them look weak, subdued to the superior Future Future Rulers…
Maybe I can’t explain this clear enough but IMO, Cambridges need H&M, not in England of course, but to shut the whispers that PWT and his wife contributed to smear and exile of Sussexes.
So, this is the purpose of such stories.
This is exactly what I think as well, Gina.
You explained it perfectly.
I agree it’s more gaslighting to make people forget how we all saw Kate act like a total bitch in public over a procession. You really need to dislike someone to be able to do that in public to a relative, so we can only imagine how bad they are behind closed doors.
This is also the couple that exposed their kids to covid along with their underpaid staff members so they could boost their own ego. They are assholes and there is nothing that has shown otherwise. It is always a degree of how much of that assholery is hidden to the public. And right now they can barely hide it.
LOL at William “showering” Kate with gifts. That has never been his MO. It will be interesting though to see if she shows up soon with new diamond and sapphire earrings, but my guess is that he either raided his mother’s jewelry or got a big discount on them from a jeweler.
My guess is the same as your Kaisers – that she was “surprised” at the gifts from Harry and Meghan because they did not send either one anything for their birthdays.
It is also dumb to remind the normals that while they are struggling to survive during a pandemic, this chick is being showered with jewels for doing not much of anything. It’s not even a milestone birthday.
That said no way Billy bought her anything. She even had to buy her own watch a while back and pretend it was a gift.
It’s possible Meghan sent flowers or something along those lines. She’s not the one who gave bitchface on video to be seen by the world so her conscience is clear.
I don’t even understand why everything *has to* be a gift from William. Why can’t she just buy herself jewelry? Why can’t she just admit that she bought herself something she wanted for her birthday or just because? She is an adult woman. Why does she have to insist that everything she has is from her husband? It seems like it’s a way for her to “prove” that he loves her because he buys her Things. And if she admits that she bought herself a watch or a ring then it would be like she was bragging about how she loves and respects herself? Must all of her self-respect and worth be given to her from other people? I feel like there’s some correlation between her claiming all her jewelry is gifted to her and the fact that all her clothes are also gifted to her/paid for by Charles. Like she must not be seen to be buying herself anything. It apparently makes her seem so much worthier and beloved and special if everyone else is buying things for her, because then it means someone else has decided she “deserves” them. It’s gross.
@amyToo – your last sentence is the reason, I think. There is an emphasis on what William “gives” her because someone (Kate, Carole, a courtier, whoever) has decided that buying your own jewelry is gauche and if your husband loves you, you dont need to buy your own jewelry because he will give you it for gifts. I think it plays into the princess fantasy where you marry the prince and he loves you so much he showers you with diamonds on a regular basis.
Maybe we are reading too much into it and its more like William says “go buy yourself something for your birthday” and she buys jewelry for herself but its portrayed as being from William?
Contrast all the above though with Meghan, when we have stories about Harry designing her engagement ring (I mean its a big diamond with two diamonds flanking it, lol, but still, at least its not from a doomed marriage), and then redesigning it when he bought her another ring around the time of Archie’s birth (I think it was supposedly for their anniversary, not a “push present”) that he also very picked out himself. Or contrast it with Meghan buying herself a Cartier watch, so now people cant determine if she’s wearing her OWN Cartier or Diana’s Cartier.
It’s quite the difference.
Kate never had a job so where does she get money to buy things like jewels? That would certainly remind everyone that she’s never been financially independent either relying on her parents of her husband. But really she plays to the patriarchy with this stuff because being taken care of and given gifts is the ultimate dream for some who don’t care to be independent and want people to serve them. It confirms in her mind that she has proven her femininity and as such deserves gifts. She is now a princess and should be rewarded for it. The reality is of course quite different since she’s treated poorly in public by her “prince” of a husband and has to tolerate his affairs in silence.
Wasn’t there a story that said the RF had a Zoom for Harry’s birthday and Will and Kate didn’t show up? IF this story is true it proves what assholes the Cambridge’s are.
I would bet my house that Will didn’t get Kate jewelry for her birthday.
I doubt this is true at all, lol. All I see is desperation from a family that is being pressured to seem like they have any semblance of connection and access to a couple that the Rota/media are obsessed with. I believe their is minimal to no communication. If Kate really got a gift or if the Cambridge’s had any communication, you can best believe it all would end up in the tabloids. Kate showed her true feelings regarding Meghan on Commonwealth day. The Question is, why all these sugary stories? Someone in those palaces are desperate to hang on to the Sussexes.
The Royal Family is desperate for Harry and Meghan to come to UK for Phillip and Queen’s Birthday (Trooping) so that they can feed information to the British press. I think they are under a lot of pressure to feed the beast.
Yep. The media and family have been cut off leak wise and aren’t in control. You can tell the media are about to lose it because they were clearly promised access and the more Harry and Meghan thrive and don’t respond to their shenanigans, the angrier they become. You can bet they’ll start turning on that family.
Why did the article say Harry and suits alum. Isn’t Meghan his wife.
I saw that a RR said that they were promised access to H&M. I got the feeling that the Rota feels slighted about it. Their hubris at the beginning of the year thinking that they didn’t need Harry and Meghan lasted about two seconds.
@JT: I don’t know if it was that they were promised access to Harry and Meghan or they thought they were going to get access to Harry and Meghan. Harry didn’t have much to do with them except when he was promoting the Invictus Games or made to talk the press when he was deployed to Afghanistan. I think they assumed that because Meghan was an actress that she would be courting the press and/or giving them access to all aspects of her life. They assumed that she would be seen out and about London and that she was an attention seeker who wanted the press to embiggen her. It didn’t happen that way and I think this is where the press’ initial anger/dislike of Meghan came from. But the press never gave Meghan the chance to introduce herself to the UK public or took the time to get to know her. They just trashed her from the start. Why the press thought that Meghan would be welcoming to them after what they wrote about her when they found out she was dating Harry is beyond me.
The British press would have hated Meghan even more had she swanned around London. They would have just been able to make more money on her that way. They hate her for being smart, for being talented, for being driven, for being compassionate, but all of those things are compounded by the fact that she isn’t white. They only thought she would welcome them because they thought she would be so “abjectly grateful” to be there that she would take any “punishment” they felt she deserved. At best, had she given them everything they wanted, they might have graced her with a “well, she’s a crass American actress from the wrong sort of family, but she’s sometimes only slightly embarassing instead of terrible”. And that “commendation” should have compelled her to invite them in for tea and to dandle Archie on their lap (of course, they would complain about his terrible behavior compared to the perfect Cambridge kids). It’s racism. Racism all the way down. A POC in the whitest of white aspirational spaces was just too much for any of them to take.
lanne: The press had their narrative for Meghan set and ready to go but Meghan never played the game nor did she play up to the stereotype they wanted to impose on her. So they went for the racist tropes instead. They thought that if they trashed her in the press she would come begging for positive press and would give them access. This worked with other married ins in the past including Kate and Camilla. What they didn’t realise was that Harry knows the game and know what happened to Diana when she tried to play the game. Plus Meghan only wanted her work to speak for her not her personal life
Exactly. They know Meghan is a star and was the closest thing to Diana they’ve seen in years. That’s why they were upset and that’s why Piers Morgan has been obsessive. He wanted to be the Richard Kay to Meghan’s Diana. They looked at her , made all these assumptions and got mad when she didn’t give them what they wanted. Her being American and an Actress meant she was obviously going to embrace them because American actresses are “fame hungry” from their point of view.
@Britt: That point about Piers Morgan is spot on. His anger towards Meghan stems from the fact that she did not invite him to the wedding, thus embarrassing him because he was telling everybody that they were friends and because she didn’t attempt to give him access like Diana with Richard Kay.
I think we all know who the real “actress” among the senior royals is. Unfortunately, she’s such a bad “actress” that her performance isn’t up for any awards in the foreseeable future
You are very right about Piers wanting to be Meghan’s Richard Kay. That’s why he used her dad the way he did. He thought it would upset her enough to contact him and give him access. It just kills Piers that they ignore him.
@ Amy, Also because he clearly wanted to use her for opportunities in America. That’s why they were upset about them moving to America because it meant those reporters were going to be made irrelevant. Katie Nicholl has been trying to hold on for dear life and you know others want to follow. Piers has been trying to get back in America for years and I think he saw Meghan as an way to get back because she’s a lot more connected than people realize and those media pundits know it.
Very true.
@amy I can’t remember which RR it was but he stated that they were promised access. I also think they wanted access to Meghan specifically. Although I do believe they expected to be given access like you said and considering how W&K roll. Calling her the new Diana wasn’t just for kicks, Meg literally brought so much new interest to the royals and royal watching in general. They were making so much money. Some of the advice that the RF gave H&M was to give the press exclusives to help with the negative stories, which the Sussexes disregarded (rightfully so). The BM thought the smearing would eventually get them to cave.
@JT: Exactly.
JT, who do you think promised them access? QE wouldn’t lower herself to talk to reporters, nor do I think it was Charles. It was probably William at his smug ‘I get what I want’ worst promising them access. Of course, it might also be the ratfink men in grey speaking for the family again. Andrew? Rumour has it the rapist hates Meghan, but I doubt he has the ability to promise access to either prince.
If was after a KP press briefing that it was revealed that Harry and Meghan were in Victoria so it’s KP telling tales. Whether or not William directly speaks to them, it’s the same thing. We also know he has spoken directly to reporters because one of them revealed that he was the one William has said that comment about putting his arm around Harry.
If Charles does speak to media he isn’t as sloppy about it.
Totally agree with you. I tried to offer my own explanation of these “got in touch”, “sent gifts” stories above.
Meghan sent Kate a heads-up on some of her outfits and zoom backgrounds for the next few months so Kate can get an early start on her copying.
Zing!
She’s surprised because a whole racist and sexist smearing campaign later H&M are still showing that they are better. I hope it was an adult sized face mask with instructions on how and when to wear it.
I’d be surprised if I received gifts from those I trashed, threw under the bus and froze out. I would personally be ashamed for my behaviour and humbled by my sister in law’s dignity and grace, her integrity and kindness. But I don’t think Kate is capable of that.
The Sussexes probably sent the gift to force Kate to write them a “Thank You” note. LOL!
Oh I can’t imagine Kate being ashamed or humbled by any gifts that come her way, I’m sure she expects them as her due for being the FFQ.
US Weekly and all these tabloids/gossip rags have no connection to the Sussexes and are simply writing fan fiction. They’re all desperate for any news crumbs about the Sussexes. In the absence of that, they all make stuff up.
👍👍👍👍
It’s US Weekly. It’s probably made up so that they could write about the royals in some way since everyone’s been pretty quiet for now.
But since I’m here, if the Sussexes even sent something resembling wishes then it was nice of them.
Who leaked the press Meghan gifted kate a birthday present? The Cambridges? Again, proving how treacherous they are. This is probably another lie, just like the 12 months extension the sussexes supposedly asked for. Creating a story around Meghan acknowledging kate’s birthday is the only publicity she’s gotten for her birthday. Further proving Kate is a non-issue without Meghan. The whole family is trying sponge of the Sussexes fame and accomplishments. This could only last for so long as most of the American press are on to their tactics
Maybe KP leaked it to make people think the Cambridges are actually in the country?
It’s so crazy that nobody even talked about her birthday. There were a few stories here and there, but other than that it came and went. Even Kate’s birthday last year was framed within Sussexit, which is why she got attention at all. If w&k thought that Harry and Meghan leaving would make them the stars of the RF and the global press than those two are dumber than I thought.
They’ll be a huge press thing about Kate turning 40 (next year) and 50, but she’ll still have no achievements minus the children. They’ll be more Kate is smiley, regal looking and is keen to work nonsense to go along with it.
Doubt the story, but it wouldn’t surprise me if H&M did send something to Kate. Just because they are better people than the Cambridges. And let’s be honest, the validity of this story is definitely suspect when it talks about William showering Kate with gifts. He’s not Charles who loves showering Camilla with jewels. That ain’t William and never will be.
If this is true, they sent her something because they’re classy, kind, and didn’t start this crap to begin with. Kate’s surprised because she doesn’t have an ounce of the grace Meghan has.
I have doubts about this gift story. Sounds fake. Something the Cambridge folk put out to make it seem like things are better than they are. Because as a black woman, I wouldn’t be kind or thoughtful to the white woman that used her white tears as a stick to beat me in the media. Who also used every known black woman stereotype to make herself the victim of the loud and aggressive black woman. Nope. This story is fake.
I agree, which is why the stories that Meghan didn’t want to see or hear from Kate and Sophie after the South African documentary and when Kate allegedly sent her flowers for her birthday are more believable.
@Maliksmama I hear you. But everyone is different. Look how well the Obama’s treated the Trumps when they officially took over the White House. The Obamas were treated like trash, but they rose above EVERYTHING. I wouldn’t put it past Megs to be able to do the same.
The Obamas were in a different situation, they had no choice but to show the Trumps grace because it was part of their job as President and First Lady. If it was a normal situation, they would not be rising above it.
To say they had no choice would mean that Donald and Melania have no choice because it’s part of their job. They had a choice and they took the high road.
@Amy The Trumps aren’t extending that grace to the Bidens so it must not actually be part of the job.
How about the crown season 1-4 and the American version of the Middleton life keeping up with the kardashians as a gift for Katie 😃or any show that she can see what a kept woman who refuses to work looks like
I think if Harry and Meghan did give her a gift , it once again shows how much class they have compared to willy and katie . I personally am definitely not the bigger person so therefore I don’t have it in me to forgive and forget what those two did to me and my family so easily. I would be taking this grudge with me to the grave . I would however give her an opinion piece about how her and her husband treatment towards me and my family have cause so much pain . Something to reflect on as she puts in her wiglet
Katie might need to hold on to those jewelry for a later date to sell for cash because I get the feeling her parents aren’t doing well financially. I feel that have been fronting for years . If they really had millions, then uncle Gary and pippa husband won’t need to bail James out of financial difficulties. Carole and mike Jenner would be able to afford that . Also rich people don’t need their son in law to help them buy houses .
Exactly. I have been thinking the same for a very long time. Online party supplies catering to a smallish island cannot be worth millions imo.
Exactly
A reporter once recorded Uncle Gary offering to get him drugs and prostitutes, his own access/supply. I believe that Party Pieces received regular money from Gary or even could have been used to launder his money.
There’s no way a company selling plastic party tat from China made more than £100-250,000 profit per year, especially after it became easily available in UK supermarkets/online.
I agree. I have seen better quality party supplies at the dollar store. It’s definitely a front for something else.
I completely believe this theory — that the Middletons’ company is primarily a money laundering operation and has been all along.
If this story is even remotely true, I hope Meghan sent a card written in her fancy calligraphy and made the note super saccharine (knowing Meghan and how fond she is of being expressive and sometimes overly sentimental in her writing, that’s not out of the realm of possibility). I doubt Kate knows how to feel ashamed but I like to think Meghan adheres to the “kill them with kindness” rule. Kind of like a “you won’t send me gifts for my birthday but I’ll send you some and you make you look bad because I am thoughtful and you’re not” lol. I enjoy that kind of pettiness.
I bet you the gift was very thoughtful and the card very sweet. Meghan plays the long game and is not petty. Plus, she is American, so this is standard “business development” practice 🙂 I send Xmas gift baskets to even the nastiest opposing counsel every year.
I would be inclined to send her a dead rat but I know Meghan is a better person than I and the gift was thoughtful and genuine. Part of me is inclined to think this is pure speculation because is doesn’t benefit Kate for people to know she was remembered by the Sussexes. OTOH if they hadn’t that would likely be leaked as a snub so they probably did.
Also I doubt Kate would touch those lattes or pretty much anything food related.
Maybe some clothes from her SmartWorks collection so she’ll finally have something appropriate for all of her top CEO meetings?
Lol!
@My3Cents you know, I chuckled at your comment re clothes from the Smart Collection and then I shook my head because it just reminded me how little anyone else in the family supported Meghan. It’s the little things like that that really let me know how deep the ill treatment went because none of the other royal women, not once, ever wore an item from the collection which would have showed support for the charitable purpose and for Meghan herself. Such an easy win. So if they couldn’t even do the actual least, how much more awful must it have been. Ah well, truth is, I could see this both ways no gifts due to no contact or thoughtful gifts because Meghan is kind.
Actually wouldn’t be surprised if a sent her a gift. Wonder what it would be, probably something local from the Santa Barbara area. I personally would want a case of Pinot Noir from the Santa Ynez valley. I noticed there was no press shout outs for the Sussexes wishing this royal or that birthday wishes lately. They no longer need to do that.
If she sent anything it was probably a beautiful flower arrangement and a card. End of. It’s a classy gesture without being obsequious or shady.
I will admit that I’m a Petty Betty and love killing people with kindness. I would do send gifts, and be very generous with said gifts, just because I know how much it will bother the receiver.
LOL. Me too.
It was a blue Dansk butter cookie tin full of random buttons.
They probably sent something bland enough that the Cambridges wouldn’t gain anything by leaking about it. Like basic flowers.
I’m not surprised at all H&M sent gifts. They both seem like people who would engage in gestures of simple kindness and acknowledgement even when things are difficult with family relations. Throughout all the turmoil. I think H&M have done their best to take the high road. The interesting thing is that KP leaked it. Since before Christmas, there has been a concerted attempt to make it seem like H&M are trying to make amends with the Cambridge’s/BRF with these leaks about Christmas gifts and zoom calls. I think it part of their larger ridiculous narrative that H&M may want to come back or want an extension. They (the Cambridge’s and the whole BRF) are trying to make themselves look like they are in the power position. Trying to make it seem like H&M are desperate to connect with them. Also, I think they have realized that the split is hurting their rep more than H&M’s. It is to their benefit to make it seem like relationships have been repaired and that it was initiated by H&M because then they can say see we couldn’t have treated them that badly if they are trying to reconnect with us. The BRF needs the American/Global audience and right now H&M are dominating that. I personally believe they are going to try to use H&M for good publicity. The problem is the more “palace sources” leak any info about H&M the more it proves how right H&M were to distrust them and the more questions it raises about why so much info gets leaked about them when other things (any opinions about Andrew, Williams Covid/affairs) stays secret. It demonstrates how messy and untrustworthy the BRF is when it comes to H&M
Agree! Exactly what I tried to say above, only my post is much less articulate. The only difference is that I don’t believe these stories. Or just don’t want to believe. These stories are not to H&M benefit, Sussexes are used by BR and BM again. I’d like to H&M to refute these rumors though I understand that it’ll look ridiculous. What can they can publish? Like: ” No, we haven’t sent gift to HRH Duchess of Cambridge”?
British Press and Royal Family know well how to manipulate public opinion both brusquely and in subtle way…