Paul Rudd is one of those ageless beauties in the same vein as Rob Lowe or Dolly Parton. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed; they age so flawlessly that they appear to be practically ageless. Le sigh. Rudd joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) back in 2015, playing Scott Lang aka Ant-Man. Even if you don’t know anything about the movies or the comics, you could probably deduct that they are (generally) about attractive, regular people going through something that turns them into hot, buff people with superpowers.

Throughout the years, there have been actors and actresses that have spoken out about the crazy training and diets they had to do in order to get and stay in shape for their action-hero roles. Hugh Jackman famously consumes 8,000 calories a day while working out nonstop in order to get into shape to play Wolverine. It never occurred to me that Rudd, the beautiful, beautiful man that he is, was also working really hard at getting buff in order to play Ant-Man. But, he was, and for him, it was not quite the rewarding experience he thought it would be. Before we go on, I want to give a gentle TW that Rudd discusses body image issues in the podcast interview that’s quoted.

During a recent appearance on the Off Menu podcast, Paul detailed what he had to go through diet-wise to portray Ant-Man in the MCU films — and, surprise surprise, it does not sound even remotely worth it.

“When I was having to train for the Ant-Man movie, and I was on a very restrictive diet, my reward was sparkling water,” he revealed. “That’s how horrible that diet was.”

“I was like, ‘Alright, I’m gonna have some sparkling water now, I’ve earned it.’ Yeah, it was great. It wasn’t flavored, I wasn’t gonna go crazy.”

Paul also explained that he adhered to the diet for all of his work in the MCU films, which comprised of eating “really boring food, every time, over and over again” — and that adhering to it was “actually not too hard” once he was in it. But Paul also said that, even though he engaged in workout regimens in a similar manner as his MCU costars, he could never quite achieve the same results as his colleagues.

“I worked out harder than anyone, I would eat better than everyone, and I looked worse than all of them,” he admitted. “I had to work out all the time, eat perfectly, just to look kind of bad. Not even like great.”

“I remember on Endgame, Chris Hemsworth would always have these Tupperware containers and he’s eating this gruel of just a mash of stuff,” he further recalled. “He’s working out, and then you stand next to a guy like that, and I just think, ‘Well, what’s the point of any of this?’”

“Why am I killing myself when that can exist, and then I look at myself and this exists. I can never achieve that…That was the good thing that it was Ant-Man, it isn’t Thor.”

“But I tried to work out, and it didn’t work.”

[From Buzzfeed]

I really feel for what Rudd went through, especially because he was comparing himself to colleagues much younger than he is (for example, there is a 13 year age gap between Rudd and Hemsworth). There’s also the fact that everyone’s body is different and what works for some does not work for all. Even if our bodies need the same types of healthy fuel, we’re still all built differently. I’ve also learned that the older I get, the more I need to make sure I eat enough because weight loss is no longer the catch-all “eat less, exercise more.” Sometimes, the more you exercise, the more your body needs you to eat for fuel or else it will go into starvation mode and stubbornly hold onto weight. But anyway, Paul Rudd seems to be an all-around genuinely decent person and I enjoy him as Ant-Man and, most recently, in Only Murders in the Building. FWIW, I recently rewatched Clueless and he truly looks just about the exact same as he does now, so he must be doing something right.

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Best Performance by an Actress in a Union-Supporting Role 2023 goes to Jessica Chastain. Throughout the SAG-AFTRA strike, Jessica was articulate on the issues at stake and why they were vital to working actors. She also had more opportunity to talk than her fellow thesps, as her latest film, Memory, received an interim agreement which allowed her to attend film festivals and give interviews. She dutifully explained how waivers worked and asked if independent studios could meet actors’ needs, then why couldn’t AMPTP? Now that the SAG-AFTRA strike is over, Jessica is touting all that’s good about the new contract. She’s currently serving as jury president at the Marrakech International Film Festival (where Memory is screening but not in competition) and talked to reporters about the film and the new deal:

Fair and just and historic: “I’m glad that our SAG leadership has gotten to a deal they think is fair and just and historic in its own right,” said Chastain on the red carpet… “We’re still waiting to find out what the voters are going to choose — if they’re going to ratify the contract. I’ve looked through it. I do think personally it’s a good deal, but of course, I only have one vote. It’s important to me what everyone else thinks as well. The beautiful thing about taking a vote is that everyone gets to have a say,” she told a reporter with Deadline.

Hollywood strike poster girl: Asked if she had planned to be the poster girl for Hollywood strikes, she said that she was put in that position by accident, and the move wasn’t orchestrated. “I became public by default … I didn’t choose to be so public about it. It just so happened because my film had an interim agreement, and because so many actors were nervous, I think, to speak out, I just ended up being one of the first, and I think when you end up being one of the first in that case, you really have a big spotlight on yourself,” she said.

An actor prepares: “I did my homework. I spoke to the leadership at SAG. I asked them, ‘How can I best support this acting community?’ because SAG is the most important community that I’ve ever been a part of. I would never want to do anything against them, and I only wanted to support them. It was kind of like I became public by default, but I was very happy to support in every way I could.”

Working with Memory director Michel Franco: “The way Michel works is transfixing. He shoots in a way where you feel as a voyeur rather than an audience falling into a scene … He doesn’t cut within a scene. Actors are given the freedom of doing whatever we feel like. While we stick to the script, everything is done in one take … It is like doing theatre where you get freedom, creativity, and inspiration,” said Chastain.

[From Gulf News]

I have to confess that my aunt can’t stand Jessica Chastain! I think it started when Jessica won the Critics Choice Award for Zero Dark Thirty in 2013 and quoted Bertolt Brecht. (Which was so silly to me, because if I were to hate Jessica Chastain it would be for her having natural red hair, my dream.) Jessica was exceedingly earnest back then, but remember, she was just breaking through after years and years of being broke on the sidelines. But all of that is why she was the perfect “poster girl” for the strike — she knows the cost of building a career from the ground up. She’s been there, having had no connections or family in the industry. And now that she’s comfortable, she loves nothing more than to advocate for her peers on the other side of that trajectory. Still earnest, but also just good, clean kindness. Backed by a killer wardrobe.

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Photos credit: Aurore Marechal/Abaca Press/INSTARimages, Getty

Eric McCormack’s wife Janet filed for divorce after 26 years of marriage. [Seriously OMG]
Beyonce wore Versace & blonde hair to the premiere of her Renaissance film. [RCFA]
Tiffany Haddish was arrested for a DUI. [The Root]
Review of Todd Haynes’ May-December. [LaineyGossip]
Do we love or hate Ridley Scott’s Napoleon? [Pajiba]
Timothee Chalamet is possibly being style-influenced by his girlfriend. [Go Fug Yourself]
Mark Harmon’s most famous character almost had a different name. [Just Jared]
There’s a new documentary called Venus Envy and it’s not about national treasure Venus Williams, but it does sound good! [OMG Blog]
A Bennifer sighting! [Hollywood Life]
A Sister Wife confesses her celeb crushes. [Starcasm]
Photos from the Soul Train Awards! [Buzzfeed]

In Endgame, Omid Scobie details how many times Prince Harry has simply tried to organize a sit-down with his father. Harry even tried to organize a post-Spare sitdown with Prince William too, but it went nowhere because William is obviously too incandescent. But the fact that Harry knows Charles is such a dogsh-t father and yet Harry still makes all of these efforts to at least try to get Charles to hear him… it’s sad. The whole thing reminds me of Harry’s Spare, where he was so achingly grateful for any acknowledgement from his father. According to Scobie, throughout 2022, several people within the family encouraged Charles to simply talk things out with Harry and even acknowledge Harry’s pain. After Harry called Charles around Christmas 2022 and their conversation was brief and icy, Princess Anne apparently gave her brother a different piece of advice: evict the Sussexes from Frogmore Cottage.

The Princess Royal persuaded the King to evict the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from Frogmore Cottage, according to a new book. Author Omid Scobie claims Princess Anne, 73, was the chief architect of the decision to evict Harry and Meghan from their Windsor home.

In the book, Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival, to be released next week, Princess Anne is described as being “at the forefront of the supporters of the firm approach” taken with the Sussexes.

She “is said to have persuaded Charles to withdraw the use of Frogmore Cottage” from the couple, Scobie claims.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward, 59, is described as the only member of the family who felt “uneasy” about his nephew and was concerned about his mental health.

The Sussexes’ team received a letter from Sir Michael John Stevens, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, who stated that because the Duke and Duchess were no longer working members of the Royal family and lived abroad, they should return the keys to Frogmore Cottage, the use of which was a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth II. Harry is said to have asked his father: “You don’t want to see your grandchildren any more?”

Meanwhile, Scobie describes the ultimately unsuccessful plan to offer the property to the scandal-hit Duke of York, “the true pariah of the clan,” as “incomprehensible”.

[From The Telegraph]

In Endgame, there are more details about the Frogmore eviction and just how bad it looked generally, beyond the rabid, right-wing media machine in the UK. It was not a carefully considered move by Charles – it was done out of spite, it was a king’s temper tantrum more than anything else. The Telegraph’s coverage of Princess Anne “persuading” Charles is interesting, but Scobie basically said that Anne wanted it to be a package deal, that Charles should evict Andrew and the Sussexes at the same time. But we know what happened there – Andrew is still in Royal Lodge, and we still don’t know who’s living in Frogmore now.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

While we know that the Princess of Wales is famously work-shy, it’s bonkers that Kensington Palace would telegraph that fact by allowing Kate to languish for more than a year without her own private secretary. Hannah Cockburn-Logie was Kate’s last private secretary, and Hannah quit that bitch in the fall of 2022, right around QEII’s passing. Kate then tried to hire Alison Corfield, only Corfield took one look at that wig-wearing palace gopher and said “nope” before she even started work. Now Kate has a big new keen plan to hire a veteran. He hasn’t said yes though, which makes this Telegraph article read like a pressure campaign.

The Princess of Wales is set to hire a war hero who served as Elizabeth II’s equerry as her new private secretary. The Princess, who has been without her own private secretary for more than a year, has invited Lt Col Tom White to join her at a public engagement to see what the job entails at close quarters.

The choice of the late Queen’s former equerry would be a radical departure from the previous person tipped to take the role, Alison Corfield, who was described as a “straight-talking” brand management expert who would “shake up” the palace. Lt Col White, in contrast, has already worked at the centre of the institution, at the late Queen’s side until her death in September last year. Before that, the Royal Marines officer served in Afghanistan in 2009 as a member of 42 Commando.

As a 22-year-old lieutenant serving as 7 Troop’s commander, he helped avert tragedy in Helmand after the Taliban placed a booby trap bomb in a school. However, wires under the school room door were spotted before detonation.

The rumoured choice of Lt Col White as the Princess’s private secretary would see something of a return to tradition for the household, reflecting the Royal family’s close ties to the military and a link with her late grandmother-in-law. It is understood that no appointment has yet been made but a source said that Lt Col White was “likely” to be offered the job.

The 36-year-old father would be the first man in the position, in a restructured Kensington Palace office overseen by a yet-to-be-appointed chief executive. A Kensington Palace spokesman said that they did not comment on staffing matters.

[From The Telegraph]

Kensington Palace is only eager to comment on staffing matters when it comes to how Meghan “bullied” staffers by existing. As for this guy… I will feel so sorry for Lt. Col. White if he does end up as Kate’s private secretary. Imagine trying to bring that military sense of preparedness, loyalty and duty to Kate’s jazz hands, budget wigs and busywork. It’s also funny to hear that after all of the “we’re going to hire a fancy new CEO” keenery, no one has actually been hired yet. I would imagine that most seasoned professionals want no part of the Kensington Clownshow.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

From CB: Cyber Monday is here, and there are so many things I’m interested in! I missed a few items I meant to buy Friday so I’m not going to make that mistake again. I need a nail dremel for my dog and this one by Bonve is on sale for around $15. People say it’s quiet, that their dog tolerates it and that it gets the job done. I also really want these ramekins. $12 for a set of six is such a great deal! Here are some sales and some more things Rosie and I are looking at on Amazon.

Fashion and accessories
Up to 40% off Coach Handbags and Shoes
Up to 41% off Dickies Men’s, Women’s, and Kids’ Apparel
Up to 49% off Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna Apparel and Footwear
Up to 62% off GAP Apparel for the Entire Family
Up to 32% off men’s wallets rings and backpacks from The Ridge
Up to 55% off watches from Anne Klein, Nine West, Invicta and more
Up to 53% off adidas Footwear, Apparel, and Accessories
Up to 35% off Timberland PRO Boots and Apparel
Up to 52% off BALEAF Fleece Lined Leggings, Sports Apparel
Up to 39% off Ekouaer Pajama Sets and Nightgowns

Beauty
Up to 40% off Premium Beauty from Bioderma, Olaplex, and more
Up to 50% off Oral Care from Crest and Oral-B
Up to 50% off Waterpik Oral Care
Up to 40% off Premium Beauty from Azzaro, Moroccanoil, and more
Up to 40% off Premium Beauty products from Revision, Billie Eilish, and more
Up to 35% off Panasonic Trimmers, Shavers, and Personal Care Products
Up to 34% off Wahl Trimmers, Shavers, and Personal Care
Up to 50% off COSRX Skincare
Up to 51% off skincare from Neutrogena, Aveeno, and more
Up to 42% off Maybelline Cosmetics

Home and Accessories
Up to 50% off Shark Vacuums, Air Purifiers and more
Up to 50% off Seasonal Home Decor: Christmas Trees, Ornaments, Garlands, Wreaths
Up to 30% off Nespresso Coffee and Espresso Machines
Up to 30% off KitchenAid Stand Mixers, Blenders, Toasters and more
Up to 30% off Household Essentials from Energizer, Glad, Cottonelle and more
Up to 42% off Bissell Little Greens, Hydrosteams, and Additional Floorcare
Up to 52% off Hoover and Dirt Devil Carpet Cleaners and Floorcare
Up to 47% off OXO Brew, Grinders and more
Up to 40% off Nuwave Air Fryer Ovens, Induction Cooktops, and more
Up to 49% off Lodge Enameled Dutch Ovens

Electronics
Up to 43% off Tablets from Samsung, Google, and more
Up to 40% off Gaming Laptops powered by NVIDIA GeForce
Up to 40% off Sony Headphones, Speakers and Home Theater
Up to 50% off Fire TV Streaming Devices and Alexa Voice Remote Pro
Up to 35% off Samsung The Frame TVs and Projectors
Up to 28% off Kindle E-readers
Up to 38% off PCs and Monitors from HP, Samsung, Acer, and more
Up to 28% off Samsung Galaxy Unlocked Phones
Up to 51% off Beats Headphones and Earbuds
Up to 50% off Ring Doorbells, Cameras and Bundles

The best reading glasses are $4 off

From CB: Once I bought Peepers glasses I don’t want to wear any of the cheaper reading glasses I have. They’re now on sale for $4 off and this is the model I have, The Showbiz. Other models Stardust, That’s a Wrap and Take a Bow are also on sale. They come in so many cute colors and I get compliments on mine often.

Apple AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds are on sale

From CB: Apple AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds would make great gifts this season and both are on sale. The 2nd Generation Apple Airpods are $49 off the list price and the noise canceling versions are $59 off. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 with HiFi Sound are $71 off and the Ambient Sound versions are $50 off. If you’d like a more affordable alternative, the Tozo Wireless earbuds are pretty good, I’ve bought them twice (they still worked, I just lost one) and they’re on sale for just $19! That’s 53% off the list price.

Up to 43% off a Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron skillet

From CB: If you’re like me and have been too chicken to try cooking on a cast iron skillet, now is the time to pick one up from trusted brand Lodge. Their cast iron skillets are on sale for up to 43% off, with their 9 inch skillet now priced at under $19. What a great gift this would make. These have over 107,000 ratings, 4.7 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. People say they cook food well once you get used to them and that the cleanup is a breeze. “No stick. No cleanup. Just a quick hot water rinse with a brush in case something got left on the pan.” ” I love cooking with cast iron and this pan appears strong, long-lasting, and very practical. As is typical of cast iron, it will be easy to cook on, serve, clean and store.”

25% off Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

From CB: Laneiege Lip Sleeping Mask is a fan favorite for good reason and you can get it now in the berry, gummy bear and mango versions for $6 off. This would make a great gift for just about anyone. I’ve had the berry version for a long time and I love how soft it makes my lips feel. This listing has over 3,600 ratings, 4.7 stars and a B on Fakespot. Reviewers say it’s the best lip mask and gloss and that it helps hydrate and repair chapped lips. “I love Laneige lip masks! They’re my all time favorite! Haven’t found one I like better yet. & I’m a lip mask junkie! I have tried them ALL!” “My lips have been so dry now that the heat is on at home. They’ve been peeling and splitting and it doesn’t help that I pick at them. I’ve tried so many lip balms that have helped so I was reluctant to try this but I bought vanilla because I was afraid the other flavors would be too sweet. I love this. My lips are better and softer even though I’ve only been using it for less than a week.”

$15 off Crest Whitening Strips

From Rosie: I’m a huge fan of the Crest Whitening Strips because I’ve seen really good results after using them. They’re so expensive, though, so I always try to pick them up when there’s a coupon or they’re on sale. They have a 4.6 star rating, almost 2,500 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. People who use them also love their results. “Out of all the whitening strips I’ve tried, these are hands down the best, nothing else comes close.” “These teeth whitening strips have been a game-changer for my teen. I highly recommend giving them a try if you’re looking to enhance your teeth’s appearance.” “I am one hundred percent satisfied with my purchase. Noticeable change in color from first use.”

40% off rechargeable walkie talkies for kids

From Rosie: My son was given this set as a birthday gift a few years ago and they get so much use, whether he’s using them with his brother, cousins, or neighborhood friends. They’re currently on sale for 40% off. There are eight different color options. They have a 4.5 star rating, more than 4,800 reviews and an A on Fakespot. Users have found they work great for all different types of activities. “We got these for camping and our other travels. When we split up we can still talk to each other without using up our phone batteries. These are great even when our phones are out of service!” “The best gift ever, our boys, ages 7 & 5, love them. It’s great that they are rechargeable & that they come with lanyards so you can carry them hands free.” “We took our grown kids on a cruise this March and these crazy things that we’re supposed to be a joke ended up being very very useful and our kids loved them!”

$6 off a multi-functional popcorn maker

From Rosie: Our family was given a popcorn maker earlier this year and we’ve really gotten into making popcorn with it. I even bought sampler packs of different flavor toppings so everyone can personalize their bowl. This particular one looks so cool! It makes a ton of popcorn, has a built-in butter melting tray and can be nested for easy storage. It comes in three different colors and two different sizes (only the smaller one is on sale). It has a 4.5 star rating, more than 3,000 reviews, and an A on Fakespot. People love how easy it is to use and make delicious popcorn. “Absolutely Fantastic. Great Value and easy to use for freshly made popcorn. Really brilliant and thoughtful design for popcorn lovers.” “This is great. I love popcorn and this is an awesome way to have movie theater popcorn at your home whenever you like! The best part is putting butter on the top to melt down into the popcorn while it pops. Once it’s finished, just flip it and you have your popcorn in a bowl ready to go!”

50% off a two-pack of micellar water for sensitive skin

From Rosie: CB and I have both recommended the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water before and I stand by my love of it. As luck would have it, a two-pack is currently on sale for 50% for Cyber Monday! It has almost 37,000 reviews and 4.5 stars on ReviewMeta. Users rave about how effective it is at removing their makeup while also leaving their skin feeling good. “I love how gentle and effective this micellar water is in removing makeup, dirt, and impurities from my skin. It effortlessly wipes away even the most stubborn waterproof makeup, leaving my skin feeling clean and refreshed without any residue. Unlike some other makeup removers, it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin or leave it feeling dry.” “It works great. Really gentle but takes off all my makeup in a few quick rubs.” “My daughter will only use this on her skin to remove makeup. It’s the only thing that doesn’t cause her to break out as she has sensitive skin.”

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Piers Morgan has been obsessed with the Duchess of Sussex for years. Morgan is a rancid bigot and a deranged stalker, and for years he used his platform as co-host of Good Morning Britain to smear and disrespect Meghan. Everything came to a head in March 2021, following the Sussexes’ Oprah interview. Piers lost his everloving mind on air, and when he was called out on air, Piers stormed off in a huffy tantrum. He lost his job at GMB, but for a while, he still had a Daily Mail column, one which he used to denigrate and attack Meghan. Piers also bragged (around the same time) about members of the royal family “thanking” him for what he said about Meghan. Now Omid Scobie has revealed the royal who thanked him.

Queen Camilla reached out to Piers Morgan to thank him for calling Meghan Markle a “Pinocchio Princess,” a royal expert has alleged. Author Omid Scobie claims in his new book, “Endgame,” that Camilla appreciated the former “Good Morning Britain” host questioning whether Markle, 42, really experienced suicidal thoughts before she and Prince Harry stepped down from the royal family in 2020.

Back in March 2021, Morgan, 58, tweeted that he “wouldn’t believe [Meghan] if she read me a weather report.”

Morgan left “GMB” that same month after viewers — including Markle herself — complained over the coverage.

Morgan then referred to Markle as “Princess Pinocchio” in a column for the Daily Mail.

According to Scobie, Camilla approved of Markle’s nickname and sent a message to Morgan to thank him for “defending the Firm.”

Scobie claims a royal palace aide then told him that Camilla would never publicly address the matter or “speak ill of others,” but said there was was “gratitude” that “somebody was standing up” to Markle’s claims.

[From The NY Post]

This is really disgusting. I remember this era of Piers’ rants and they were indefensible, just the most bigoted, nasty, misogynistic bloviating ever. He was so disgusting, his post-Oprah-interview comments received some of the highest number of complaints in ITV history. The fact that Camilla was like “no, he’s a bold truth-teller, not an unhinged bigot” speaks volumes about her character and world-view.

Also, as the Telegraph reported, Scobie also included details about how close-minded Camilla is about food. A former aide told Scobie: “Even gluten-free or dairy-free options on a restaurant menu irk her.” Like… does Camilla not realize that those are just options? She doesn’t have to eat gluten-free?

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Omid Scobie’s Endgame has extensive reporting on several incidents of Prince William directly or indirectly briefing against the Sussexes. It’s 2023 and we’re basically in Year Seven of this story, because the dividing line of when this all began was when Prince Harry met then-Meghan Markle in 2016. As soon as Harry scored such a beautiful, glamorous, accomplished woman, William’s brain broke and he’s been seething with rage and jealousy ever since. My point is that long-time Sussex watchers know that William has briefed against Harry and organized specific stunts to “one-up” the Sussexes, but Scobie’s got extensive receipts and even some new information about who organized what and when (and why). Well, the Kensington Palace Clownshow decided to organize a huffy piece in the Daily Mail about how they have NEVER briefed against Harry, thank you very much.

Friends of the Prince of Wales last night blasted ‘outrageous’ suggestions that he briefed against his own brother after the latest round of claims by the writer dubbed ‘Meghan’s mouthpiece’. Supporters leapt to the defence of the future king, expressing their anger and frustration that Omid Scobie was ‘peddling’ what they described as conspiracy theories ‘dressed up as fact’ ahead of the publication of his new book tomorrow.

In extracts from Endgame, his second book attacking the Royal Family – as well as interviews to publicise it – Scobie has suggested that William ‘prioritised his loyalty to the monarchy’ over his brother and actively leaked information about Harry and Meghan to undermine them. Kensington Palace has remained silent on the furore, but the frustration of those loyal to William was clear. One told the Mail that Scobie’s depiction of the heir to the throne was the ‘very opposite’ of William’s personal mantra.

‘He has always been very tight-lipped when it comes to his family and made clear to anyone within his orbit that he would not do ‘deals’ with the media,’ they said. ‘Like Harry, he is scarred by his childhood experiences, seeing his mother and father engaged in what was dubbed ‘the war of the Waleses’. He never wanted history to repeat itself. That was something that he and Harry were meant to be united on.’

Another added: ‘It’s one thing writing a critique of the Royal Family. That’s freedom of expression. But it’s another thing to peddle conspiracy theories dressed up as fact. The suggestion that [royal aides] were briefing negative stories [about Harry and Meghan] is totally fabricated. It just didn’t happen. The truth is that everyone was walking on eggshells practically from the engagement trying to keep them happy.’

In his latest interview, with The Sunday Times, Scobie breathlessly describes William as a hot-headed, power-hungry man who has become increasingly willing to allow the Palace to deploy dirty tricks. Aside from the prince occasionally being prone to the famous Windsor temper, those who know him well say it would be anathma to him.

The author also paints the Princess of Wales as an under-achiever, who is too scared of putting a foot wrong to stick her head above the parapet.

‘That will really wind William up,’ said another source. ‘He’s immensely proud of what his wife has achieved. The princess has been the driving force behind a great deal of their work, particularly when it comes to bettering mental health.’

[From The Daily Mail]

“The princess has been the driving force behind a great deal of their work, particularly when it comes to bettering mental health.” As we’ve noted here at this blog, Heads Together basically died the moment Harry moved away. William and Kate still do vague projects under the banner of “mental health,” but the cause is definitely MIA at the Kensington clownshow. As for William’s “friends” crying about how William would never, ever brief against Harry… as I said, Scobie provides several richly detailed stories about how that’s completely false. Having read an embargoed copy of Endgame, it’s fascinating that William is mostly concerned (at the moment) with this part of the book. There are much worse parts for Peg.

Photos courtesy of Instar, Backgrid, Avalon Red.

Omid Scobie’s Endgame will be released tomorrow, but some outlets have gotten their hands on sanctioned excerpts or given special advanced access. I was lucky enough to read a copy over the holiday weekend, but I can’t use it as a source yet, which is why I’m going with reporting from other outlets. My “no spoiler” adherence to the NDA means that I’m going to try to give some context for this stuff, like the whole “Meghan named two racist individuals” story and “Meghan wants no part of the soap opera” story. Here are the secondary-source stories:

Meghan’s letters to Charles: Journalist Omid Scobie writes in “Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival” that the Duchess of Sussex wrote private letters to King Charles III, in which she named the two people who took part in those “conversations,” per an advance copy obtained by Page Six.

Prince Harry knows he’s not getting an apology: Scobie quotes the Duke as saying: “I’m ready to forget. Get an apology or explanation? At this point, who cares, right?” But Scobie claims that conversely, the Duchess of Sussex had moved on and would not be extending such olive branches. Meghan, 42, “refuses ‘to dive back into the soap opera’,” he writes in extracts published in Paris Match magazine.

Prince William took down Prince Andrew: He says it was Prince William, 41, who orchestrated the downfall of his uncle, the Duke of York, at the height of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and who was able to convince his grandmother, Elizabeth II, of punishing her “favourite son”. Meanwhile, the King could not bring himself to hurt his brother. “[He] was in tears because he was afraid for Andrew’s mental health,” Scobie writes. “Charles leads with his head and his heart. William is colder. He wants the job done and he has no problem with casualties along the way.”

[From The Telegraph & Page Six]

What’s crazy about reading the “leaks” and excerpts, having read the book, is how much of this stuff was cherrypicked and left context-free because the British media is still so focused on all things Sussex. The story about Meghan and Charles writing letters to each other after the Oprah interview was a story revealed this year, just weeks before the coronation. What was fascinating is the context for Scobie’s big reveal that Meghan “named” two people – the context being, that Charles’s operation leaks like a sieve and some leaks are designed to punish Charles, not the Sussexes (or the Sussexes are merely collateral damage). But news at seven, Meghan knows exactly who said what and she had no qualms about naming the individuals privately.

As for the stuff about Harry understanding that he won’t get an apology versus Meghan not wanting to be drawn into the soap opera… those are two sides of the same coin. Harry is resigned to the fact that his father cannot and will not navigate tricky interpersonal relationships, and Meghan simply doesn’t want to engage with her in-laws’ nonsense anymore.

The William sections of the book are fascinating though. That’s all I’ll say for now!

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.

On Friday, the Princess of Wales stepped out in Barnet. She visited the baby bank called Sebby’s Corner. Sebby’s Corner provides diapers, baby essentials and birthday/Christmas gifts for children in need. Kate helped them set up their “Christmas grotto,” and her appearance there was also supposed to encourage people to donate funds, products or gently used items ahead of the holidays. Kate is also taking credit for creating Baby Bank Alliance, which seems to be a network for baby banks across the UK. Will and Kate love nothing more than bringing the gift of bureaucracy to smaller charities. You can see the Sebby’s Corner website here, it already seems well-run.

Shockingly, Kate did not show up empty-handed to the baby bank. That’s her thing, that’s her princess signature, showing up empty-handed to refugee centers, baby banks and food banks. This time, she brought fifty copies of her favorite children’s book, The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark. Which is nice, although I’m sure diapers, bottles and strollers probably would have been more welcome. Still, she didn’t come empty-handed so maybe this overgrown toddler is learning.

As for her outfit… the Meghan cosplay is off the charts, and what’s even worse is that Kate looks so much better when she does wear one of her “Meghan outfits.” Remember how the British press despised the fact that Meghan wore brown so often? Well, they’re full of praise for Kate’s “autumnal look.”

Meanwhile, Kate and William will be the royals in attendance at this year’s Royal Variety Show on November 30. They will be joined by Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, possibly because Swedish pop star Zara Larsson will perform at this year’s Royal Variety. The awkwardness will be off the charts, I have no doubt.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.