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Ron DeSantis made his candidacy for the Republican nomination official in late May, and so far the campaign has been going just as well as the announcement. Along with other GOP hopefuls trailing behind the twice-impeached four-time-indicted former president, Ron has been stomping around Iowa, endearing himself to their voters. But all that travel comes at a hefty price. Luckily for Ron, he’s not the one paying it! In between tanking his state’s economy and picking fights with Disney, every time he ventures out-of-state on the campaign the Florida taxpayers have the honor of footing the bill. #BeLikableRon2024 is in full swing. From the Miami Herald:

$13 million in 2 years: Florida taxpayers have spent more than $13 million on travel and protective security for Gov. Ron DeSantis in the two years he has prepared and run a campaign to become the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, according to state records released this week. While some of that money covers the governor’s routine security and travel for his state job, the totals for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 budget years are significantly higher than the state spent his first two years in office—and it is substantially more than what several other states report their sitting governors spent while running for president in previous election cycles.

Taxpayers are ‘allowed’ to cover his costs: Florida allows taxpayers to pick up all the costs for travel and security for its governors, even when they are engaged in political campaigning or personal travel. In just over four years in office, the total cost of travel and security detail for the governor and his family is more than $22 million. “Protective operations salaries are covered under the FDLE budget,” said Gretl Plessinger, spokesperson for the agency that handles the governor’s security and travel in an interview in June. “For us, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a campaign event or a vacation on the beach, for protective ops we cover him 24-7.”

He’s a high threat level: DeSantis has spent much of the last two years traveling the country promoting his political memoir and raising money for his campaigns. Some of the additional cost can be attributed to the need for additional FDLE agents on the governor’s security detail, said Alex Lanfranconi, the governor’s deputy press secretary. “His record as the most effective conservative governor in American history has also earned him an elevated threat profile, and FDLE has increased the number of protective agents to ensure the governor and his family remain safe,” Lanfranconi said.

Ron hasn’t paid any of it back (no sh*t): In his first two years on the job, the cost of DeSantis’ travel and security averaged about $3.75 million, but, since the end of the pandemic and start of the governor’s national political pursuits, those numbers have increased significantly. In the 2021-22 fiscal it was $4.76 million and in ‘22-23 is $8 million. Although DeSantis’ campaign and his political committee have raised record sums for a sitting governor—holding its latest fundraising telethon in Tampa on Wednesday—none of the more than $100 million raised has gone to reimbursing Florida taxpayers, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

[From Miami Herald]

“His record as the most effective conservative governor in American history has also earned him an elevated threat profile.” Whatever narcotic this press secretary is imbibing, I want in. Seriously. If that’s not drinking the Kool Aid, I don’t know what is. Most effective conservative governor in American history?! He’s not even the most effective conservative governor in Florida—present history.

I’ll leave it to Floridians to judge if $7 million a year (I rounded up to include the several hundred thousand extra for his wife and kids) is reasonable or not for keeping Ron out of the state for stretches. Should you decide it’s too much, I have the solution: borrow from the DeSantis playbook and simply suspend his funds. If he demands an explanation, all you have to say is “neglect of duty.” #BeLikableRon2024

photos are screenshots from YouTube and credit Getty

Two things can be true at the same time. One, Britney Spears has been traumatized and abused, and she’s deserving of our sympathy as she processes everything in real time, as she’s also going through significant mental health issues. Two, Britney doesn’t have any right to abuse, attack, strike or stab anyone because of her issues. Rumors have been percolating through the gossip channels for months that Britney and Asghari have had big fights, sometimes physical altercations. He’s even been photographed with bruises and maybe even bite marks on his arms and face. Now that Sam has filed for divorce from Britney, it’s all coming out.

Britney Spears got physical with Sam Asghari over the years, he’s told people, once giving him a black eye while he was sleeping … sources tell TMZ. Sources with direct knowledge tell us … Sam frequently complained about Britney getting physical with him during their 7 years together. We’re told there have been numerous fights where security has had to step in, but in one instance there was no security in sight.

Our sources say there was one occasion where Sam says he was sleeping in their bed when Britney flew off the handle and began punching him. We’re told Sam did not strike back, but was stunned as his wife pummeled him. We’re told that alleged incident went down early this year, right around the time Sam was photographed with a black eye and bite marks on his forearm.

Paparazzi noticed the bruising and tried to ask Sam about it, but he tried to play it off … asking photogs not to shoot him.

Our sources say Sam was particularly concerned because Britney had a fascination with knives. We’re told there were knives all over the house, including in their bedroom. Britney, as one source put it, “was paranoid someone was going to get her, and she needed the knives as protection.” The sources add Britney tended to “fly off the handle” at the smallest slight, and that terrified Sam.

As we first told you, Sam and Britney got into a huge argument a few weeks ago when he accused her of cheating, and that’s what triggered his divorce filing. But, we’re told that was simply the straw that broke the camel’s back.

[From TMZ]

It’s one thing to admire the craftsmanship of some beautiful weaponry, it’s quite another to have knives all over your home when you’re married to someone who flies off the handle and physically assaults you in your sleep. Dude filed for divorce so he wouldn’t get stabbed while taking a cat nap. I can understand that. Even if Britney deserves the benefit of the doubt, I kind of think Sam does too. I don’t know what happened and I’m not going to speculate about what sounds like a pretty awful domestic violence situation.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

Prince William is the king of laziness. William has been President of the Football Association for years, and he’s used that position to A) hang out with athletes, B) go to football games and count it as work and C) pretend to care about racism and mental health, but only in the narrow scope of football (and even then, not so much). William happens to be FA President during a period where everything has come together perfectly for England’s women’s national team, the Lionesses.

The Lionesses have been playing so well in recent years, winning the Women’s Euros last year and making it to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final this week. William was watching the semifinal from an undisclosed location in England, and he tweeted out his congratulations to the Lionesses on Wednesday. Immediately, there was speculation about whether he would fly last-minute to Sydney to watch the final. Kensington Palace aides sniffed to multiple outlets that of course he would NOT cut off his months-long vacation to do a few days of work. Don’t give me any bullsh-t about Earthshot – there are plenty of commercial flights to Australia and there’s literally nothing on his schedule. It’s HIS JOB to promote English football and the Lionesses are doing this amazing thing and their royal patron can’t be bothered to show up. Well, people are noticing Peg’s laziness yet again, especially because Spain’s Queen Letizia taking time out from her much busier schedule to fly down to support the Spanish team.

Prince William and Rishi Sunak’s decision not to travel to support England at the women’s World Cup final sparked anger today – as Spain’s Queen Letizia announced her attendance in Australia. Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, would not be making the trip Down Under, but instead will be roaring on the Lionesses from home. The Prince of Wales, a huge champion of the fight against climate change, is believed to be concerned by the impact of flying across the world for a very short period of time. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also not be in attendance for the weekend’s showpiece event in Sydney, Downing Street sources suggested.

However, their absence sparked fury from some commentators, who felt they should have committed to the visit.

Royal expert Phil Dampier tweeted: ‘If #PrinceWilliam as President of the FA isn’t going to the Women’s World Cup final we should be told why not. It’s a long way and Australia hasn’t had a visit by him or #TheKing since Charles came to the throne. That’s the problem. If the final was in Europe he’d be there!’

Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, added: ‘No chance that Prince William would be ‘missing in action’ if the England Men’s Football Team made it to the World Cup Final.’ Another football fan wrote: ‘FA president Prince William, who’s on his summer break, will not attend the women’s World Cup final. I would have thought it was the kind of thing FA presidents did.’

A fourth added: ‘It speaks volumes that the PM and royal family can’t be bothered to attend England Women’s World Cup final even in a Commonwealth country.’

However, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has confirmed that Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofia, will be jetting to Australia for the match. The pair will sit in the presidential box at the Accor Stadium, but won’t be joined by King Felipe, who is busy with other official duties.

[From The Daily Mail]

“The Prince of Wales, a huge champion of the fight against climate change, is believed to be concerned by the impact of flying across the world for a very short period of time.” He does not have similar qualms about using a private, dedicated helicopter everywhere instead of a car or train. He doesn’t have similar qualms about flying all the way to Boston – and forcing a dozen celebrities to do the same – while refusing to invite the actual Earthshot Prize winners. It seems William’s environmental qualms are pretty f–king selective. Queen Letizia is doing the right thing here, just as King Felipe did the right thing by going to Wimbledon for Carlos Alcaraz’s final last month. Also: you know it’s bad when the Mail is publishing tweets critical of William. Meanwhile, the Telegraph is taking William down a few pegs (ha).

Spain’s Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said the Queen would fly out to watch the match in the Accor Stadium “to show, once again, the royal household’s support for national football”. Their presence in the stands will only serve to highlight the lack of British royalty.

Gerry Sutcliffe, a former minister for sport, who championed the women’s game, said: “I think the Prince of Wales should be there.

“I know it’s a long way and I’m sure he has family commitments but this is a unique moment, it’s the World Cup final and he’s the president of the FA.” Mr Sutcliffe, a former Labour MP who served under Gordon Brown, said the final would be a moment that “brings the nation together”, adding that if there was a legitimate reason why the Prince could not go then the King should attend in his place. The Prince’s decision was based on the fact that it is an incredibly long flight for such a relatively short period of time, sources suggested.

Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the FA, said it was known the Prince would not be able to attend because of logistical constraints.

“We always knew that he couldn’t,” said Mr Bullingham. “He came to see the team and wished them well before they left. He sent various messages of support and he was really upfront that, even if we made the final, he unfortunately couldn’t make it. It just sadly wasn’t to be. I know he’s committed to the Lionesses, as he is to the England men as well. He came to see them before they flew and was explicit in the fact he couldn’t fly.”

However, Leah Williamson, England’s long-term captain, who has missed this tournament through injury, will attend the match. The Arsenal defender, who underwent knee surgery in April, also attended the Lionesses’ quarter-final victory over Colombia. Mr Bullingham also confirmed that James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, and Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, would both attend the final to represent the UK Government.

[From The Telegraph]

William clinging to the environmental impact of, you know, doing his job and showing up for the national team is a big choice. Perhaps that should have been his excuse this whole time – he couldn’t work or do events because of the environmental impact, you guys. This might even be the start of some larger criticism of William, especially if it turns out that he flew off to some far-flung vacation spot this summer. The Mail might even publish some stories about William’s daily helicopter rides.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Ah, The Supers. The original supermodels of the 1980s: Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista. Kate Moss was a teenager on the runway when her “look” changed all of this, this beauty ideal of tall “Amazon” beauties strutting down the runway with personality. The Supers cover the September issue of Vogue, and at first glance, I honestly didn’t recognize Cindy. Naomi has also had a lot of work done, and Linda… well, she’s been through the ringer with her CoolSculpting mess. You can read the full Vogue piece here. They’re promoting the AppleTV docu-series The Super Models, which comes out on September 20. Some highlights from this very glamorous and dishy piece:

Naomi on the sisterhood: “There was a sisterhood there, defined by caring and loyalty: When one is down you pick the other one up.” It was Christy who persuaded Cindy to walk twice for Marc Jacobs. Naomi got the nod for her first Michael Kors show after her friends persuaded him to let her fill in for a late cancellation. And their generosity has extended to include their larger fashion family. Naomi talked Marc into going to rehab after she had done so herself. (“I am very much a believer in recovery,” she says. “Recovery saved me.”)

They survived grunge: “We survived grunge!” says Linda, who quickly morphed into a broken androgyne for Sims. (Recalls Marc Jacobs, “Linda was one of the girls who had a glamorous era and then became kind of boyish in a men’s suit, carving initials on a bench.”) Cindy understood this new look as an inevitable swing of the fashion pendulum—“The hair couldn’t have gotten any higher, the shoulders any wider,” she says—but failed to find anything empowering in appearing in print like a walk-of-shame zombie.

Christy and Cindy don’t have Me Too stories. “It’s just luck and grace, honestly,” says Christy. “I felt like my career took off pretty quickly, so maybe there were more eyes on me and they couldn’t get away with stuff. But,” she adds, “I don’t even think it was that: Predatory people are predatory people.” Cindy has two theories why she was unscathed. The first is that she arrived in New York from Chicago at the relatively old age of 20—so she was already a successful veteran of sorts. The second is a counter example: that her own provincial insecurities worked to her advantage when she landed in Europe. “You’d get invited to a party on someone’s yacht and I’d think, What do you even wear on a yacht? What fork do you use? So I would just not go and, yes, I probably missed out on some fabulous opportunities but probably avoided some less than fabulous opportunities as well.”

Naomi & Alaia: Naomi lived in Paris from age 16 with Azzedine Alaïa, who was a father figure to her until he passed away in 2017. She says, “That man protected me from so much.” On the one occasion when someone crossed a line, Naomi came home, told Azzedine, he made a call, and it never happened again. She also always knew to tell: “I come from a strong line of Black women, Jamaican women. If something felt wrong, I told it. I spoke up.”

Linda’s first marriage: “My mother’s like, She’s getting a divorce,” Linda remembers. “And he said, ‘I never liked that son of a bitch.’ And he left. I heard the garage door slam.” Of the chapter with Marie she has only regret. “I thought: I’m Linda. I’m bringing in so much money. I think I am pretty. I can cook. And I am great with his child. And I am devoted to him. There’s no way he would cheat on me. I was a fool.”

[From Vogue]

What’s really nice about this piece – so nice I actually got a bit choked up – is how much they still love each other. They’re not in each other’s daily lives anymore, but there’s so much warmth and sisterhood there, and they fell into old patterns of banter and support. They’re all moms now as well and they all have completely different mom energies. Anyway, it’s a great piece and I will watch The Super Models.

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Cover & IG courtesy of Vogue.

Another point for Barbie! For those keeping score, Barbie has made more than $1 billion and counting at the worldwide box office, Greta Gerwig has become the highest grossing female director of all time, Margot Robbie is set to make $50 million on the backend, and it brought people back to the movies who hadn’t gone to a theater in years. Barbie has now become the highest domestic grossing Warner Bros film of all time, taking the crown from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Say it with me: She’s Barbie. He’s just Batman.

Sorry, Batman, Barbie is king.

Greta Gerwig’s smash-hit “Barbie” how now surpassed the domestic gross of Christopher Nolan’s 2008 film “The Dark Knight” to become the highest-grossing domestic release in Warner Bros. history with a whopping $537.5 million, besting the Batman sequel’s $536 million.

The Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-fronted film is also now within reach of the domestic gross of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($574 million) to become the highest-grossing release of 2023.

The film’s worldwide total sits at $1.2 billion and counting, surpassing the $1.1 billion of “Captain Marvel” to solidify “Barbie” as the highest-grossing film directed by a woman ever. Previously, the film had surpassed “Wonder Woman” to become the highest-grossing solo female directorial effort, but “Captain Marvel” saw Anna Boden co-directing with Ryan Fleck.

The massive $162 million opening weekend for “Barbie” marked a career-best for Gerwig, Robbie and Gosling, but thanks to strong reviews and word of mouth, the film’s box office legs have stretched far and wide, making it a true sensation.

The besting of “The Dark Knight” marks another twist in the Barbenheimer competition, as Gerwig and Nolan went head-to-head in July with “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” released on the same weekend, only to see both films come out a smashing success. Nolan’s three-hour, R-rated drama for Universal has grossed $266 million domestically and $650 million worldwide so far.

[From Yahoo]

I love that Barbie keeps setting all of these records, but I really freaking love how full-circle it is that it knocked a different Nolan film out of that spot. He was already salty about Barbie’s release date, so I am sure he is less than thrilled to have been dethroned by it. I’m also sure there were Warner Bros execs popping bubbles at the news too.

But, of course, the real winners in all of Barbie’s success are women and female filmmakers because in Hollywood, it’s all about that money, baby, and moviegoers are clearly making a statement. The more audiences show up for movies like Barbie, the greater the chance that studios will invest in more female filmmakers making more women-centric movies like it.

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If there’s one thing that’s going to get me canceled (besides being opposed to Crocs as a concept) it’s my opinion about otters. And it isn’t even an opinion, really, it’s just an acknowledgement of an uncomfortable truth. Yes, otters are very cute and they are important in ecosystems. But I also believe that sea otters and river otters alike are very mean, even nasty. And that’s fine! They owe us nothing! We have directly and indirectly messed up their habitats all over the world and if they choose to enact justice upon us, they kind of have the moral high ground. It really has been a Hot Revenge Summer for California otters. A female sea otter, Otter 841, has been terrorizing surfers in Santa Cruz, stealing their surfboards, evading capture, and becoming a folk hero in the process. River otters are also getting in on the action. Recently the actress Crystal Finn, who was on an episode of Succession, discovered this firsthand. She was swimming in a river in Plumas National Forest which is north of Lake Tahoe. Suddenly she felt something bite her and an entire group of river otters swarmed her in the water. They bit her all over. This is my worst nightmare.

Crystal Finn had an unfortunate encounter with otters.

The actress, who played Lauren Pawson in the Season 4 “America Decides” episode of Succession, was attacked by otters in Northern California, she told the San Francisco Chronicle.

She said she was swimming in the Feather River near Plumas National Forest in July. “I felt something on my back side and on my leg,” she explained.

“I started looking around and yelling out and [the otters] popped up right in front of me. Then they dove down and started going at me again.”

“I could see the bites on my legs and knew I had been bitten on my butt — that one was the worst, but I couldn’t see it. The bites really hurt,” she continued.

She thought that the attack might have been a mother protecting her children.

Crystal was treated for her injuries at Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, California, where she was told of other otter recent attacks in the area.

She added that she was glad she hadn’t brought her young daughter along for the swim.

“It would have been a lot worse,” she said.

The attack news comes as otters also attacked three women in southern Montana who were inner tubing down a tributary of the Missouri River in August, with one victim needing to be airlifted to a hospital.

[From Just Jared]

I rest my case, people! River otters are no joke. I camped north of where she was once, in Lassen National Park, and there were signs everywhere that said “do not swim or kayak, the river otter is at large.” I am more afraid of them than mountain lions. Mountain lions and bears are pretty elusive, even though they’re dangerous. But river otters just have this energy like they could come after you at any second, like a honey badger or a Real Housewife. Crystal is lucky that she’s okay. It sounds completely harrowing. To be fair, otter attacks are relatively rare, but they do happen and they can really cause some damage. Revenge, thy name is Otter.

photos credit: Klajdi Cena, Ellie Burgin and Tuesday Temptation on Pexels and Getty

Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston’s 2000 wedding reception featured a wall of caviar. Why are we just learning this now? [Socialite Life]
The video Jennifer Lopez posted for Ben Affleck’s birthday is so cute. [LaineyGossip]
I love all of these “liquid cats.” [OMG Blog]
Generation TikTok has reinvented cash & budgeting. [Pajiba]
Kim Kardashian has a new bikini photoshoot. [Egotastic]
What are your “holy grail jeans”? [Go Fug Yourself]
Kenneth Branagh didn’t tell his actors about the jump-scares during filming on A Haunting in Venice. I would have quit!! [Just Jared]
SCOTUS will hear a case about mifepristone (the main drug in abortion pills) in the middle of the 2024 election. [Jezebel]
Match Me Abroad Season 2 is coming. [Starcasm]
Halle Berry is an ageless 57. [Seriously OMG]
These everyday “unsolved mysteries” are so unsettling. [Buzzfeed]

When Britney Spears first started up with Sam Asghari, I kind of assumed he was a loser, just because…um that’s her type. I changed my mind about Sam when we learned just how much he tried to help her free herself of the conservatorship. Sam was with her, contacting lawyers and helping her work behind her father’s back. When the conservatorship finally ended, Britney was free to marry Sam and they set the date quickly. Their wedding was at Britney’s home in June of last year. People genuinely wished them well and hoped for the best. Then Britney began behaving “erratically” and there have been reports for months that Sam is getting the brunt of Britney’s meltdowns and he’s had enough. In May, he disputed those stories, stories claiming he already had one foot out the door. Now it turns out there was a lot of truth to those stories. Britney and Sam’s marriage is over.

Britney Spears and her husband, Sam Asghari have separated after a nuclear argument that involves allegations of cheating … TMZ has learned. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … about a week ago, Sam confronted Britney over rumors she stepped out on him. We do not know if the rumor has any basis in fact, but we’re told Sam believed it and the 2 had a huge fight.

Our sources say Sam has moved out of their house and is now living in a place of his own. As one source put it, “It’s only a matter of time before Sam files for divorce.”

TMZ broke the story, there’s been “deep trouble” with the couple’s union for months … Sam wasn’t sleeping at the house much, and we’re told Britney has gotten physical with him in blowout fights that include frequent screaming matches.

As we reported, Britney has a prenup which protects her assets, but one insider tells TMZ, the likely end to the marriage will be a check from Britney to Sam that will settle things, at least financially.

If you’ve been following Britney’s journey post-conservatorship, the writing’s been on the wall. At times, Britney’s behavior has been erratic, and we’re told Sam was over it. Sam has publicly defended Britney from critics, but privately we’re told he was frustrated … at wits’ end.

[From TMZ]

Yeah, I actually suspected that TMZ’s reporting has been much closer to the truth of Britney’s situation for months now, even though Sam usually denied it. In any case, People Magazine has backed up TMZ’s exclusive – their “multiple sources” say that Sam and Britney have separated after 14 months. People Mag also backs up the reporting that Britney’s inner circle had planned an intervention for her back in February but they canceled it.

I’ll say the same thing I’ve said in previous posts: I’m rooting for Britney and I hope she’s okay, I hope she’s figuring out a way to take care of herself and I hope she has good and loyal people around her. There were always going to be growing pains for her once she came out of the conservatorship, experiencing a new kind of responsibility and freedom which she didn’t have for 15 years. She doesn’t have people dictating her treatment or her medication or anything else anymore. It was always going to be one step forward, two steps back. Give her some space, that’s my take.

Edited to add… welp, that was fast. Sam has already filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and he’s asking for spousal support. Britney has already hired Laura Wasser as her divorce lawyer. We will have another story on all of the drama!

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Instagram.

Back in the day, in the pre-Sussex era, there were always some tea-spilling articles about Prince William and Kate every summer. This was back when Will and Kate were generally seen as a lazy, work-shy, dull and boring – they would both disappear for months at a time, and every summer, there were “taking stock of the disappointing Cambridges” articles and commentary pieces. That all changed in 2017 and the British media has apparently never looked back. They have their marching orders and, more importantly, Will and Kate play the game. Which is why we get sh-t like “Kate is the most perfect queen-in-waiting ever” and “Kate has literally never put a foot wrong, never made one single mistake in her life, she’s truly the most perfect person in the world.” I don’t doubt that’s the messaging from Team Buttons and Middleton HQ, but I also think the British media plays along with it because they have some idea about how Kate is basically stuck in her separation cottage and gritting it out just so she can be consort to a man who treats her like sh-t. Speaking of…

Princess Kate Middleton has been preparing for her future role as queen consort, and so far, she’s been successful. True Royalty TV co-founder Nick Bullen told Fox News Digital that the Princess of Wales has been described as the “power behind the throne” by those who work closely with her. The streaming platform has a new documentary, “Catherine: Our Queen in Waiting,” which explores how Prince William’s wife has charmed palace aides, the public and the press over the years.

“The interesting thing about Kate, the Princess of Wales, is her steeliness,” Bullen said. “She is a very strong character who has transitioned from being a young bride to being a key player within the royal family. … If you look at all the photographs now, she’s always front and center. She looked amazing at the coronation, she looked incredible at Ascot. She’s now every inch the princess. And I think at the coronation, everyone agreed that she looked very much the next queen.”

“This hasn’t happened by accident,” he said. “She is a clever, smart, determined woman. And I’m told by people who work at the various palaces that she is quite literally the power behind the throne.”

Bullen is an award-winning documentarian who has been producing programs about the British royal family for 20 years. He has also worked closely with the king for about a decade. Bullen said that many senior royals have taken inspiration from the glamorous mother of three, who has modeled herself after Queen Elizabeth II. Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died in September at age 96. And as future queen consort, the princess is said to be hands-on in making key choices about the family to protect and preserve their image. And William gives her free rein.

“I think a lot of the members of the family look to her, including William, obviously,” he said. “I believe she is involved in making quite a lot of the decisions on how things move forward and how the family is portrayed. … She just continues to get better and better.”

[From Fox News]

“She is a clever, smart, determined woman” – I mean, she’s not any of those things, but she has a lot of patience and zero self-respect. Luckily for Kate and her mother, they didn’t need a “clever” scheme for William – he got rooked by the dumbest, most obvious honey trap ever by a family of grifters who lied for years about their business. She’s not the power behind the throne either – the last time Charles had anything to do with her, he unleashed his palace dogs on her for stealing his thunder at the Chelsea Flower Show. William is also in the midst of a year-long “single father” PR campaign. All that being said, I agree that Kate has more power than she realizes, but I think she’s too lazy to do anything about it.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

The thing to remember about post-coronation royal life is that the Windsors don’t have anything “big” on the horizon. No big funerals, no big weddings, no statue-unveilings, no big memorials, no big events. While British taxpayers can breathe a sigh of relief that they don’t have to fund the Windsors’ latest circus, the Windsors and their media handlers are lowkey panicking. This is because they have nothing to hold over the heads of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They can’t demand that Harry and Meghan “show up” to the 130rd anniversary of The Grand Bumf–kery. They can’t demand that the Sussexes simply must attend the funeral of Lady Hootentooter, the king’s third cousin twice removed. Enter royal commentator Angela Levin – despite Levin’s history of delusional spite and plainly incorrect reporting, Levin is still Queen Camilla’s official biographer and de facto mouthpiece within the tabloid media. So Levin had quite the scoop on the next big thing for the royals, for which they’ll demand Prince Harry’s attendance: King Charles’s 75th birthday in November.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will want to attend King Charles’ upcoming birthday celebrations but there is a reason why he could tell them to “get lost,” an expert has said. Royal biographer Angela Levin believes the monarch will want the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to attend any festivities planned to mark Charles’ 75th birthday on November 14.

Relations between the Royal Family and Harry and Meghan have been tense following their explosive Oprah Winfrey interview, Harry’s memoir Spare and the Netflix docu-series which aired grievances within the families. Despite the tension, Angela said Charles will want his family around him – including the children Archie and Lilibet – meaning the Sussexes could be inclined to go.

She told The Sun Online: “Charles would want Harry and Meghan’s children there. If Harry and Meghan want to make an excuse, that’s their decision.”

However, she warned: “If Harry wants to go to get an apology, then he can get lost.”

It was revealed in June last year that Harry was said to be “furious” over his treatment during Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and wanted an apology from the Royals.

Angela said the ball was ultimately in Harry’s court over what to do, adding: “Harry will have to decide. The door is open.”

While it is likely that both Harry and Meghan will get an invite, along with their children, Angela speculated that what actually might happen was that Harry would go and possibly take Archie with him. She said: “He could go on his own and bring Archie with him. He’s a big boy now, five, and he could see his cousins.”

Her comments come after some plans on how Charles was going to celebrate the big day were revealed and its thought it will be a low-key affair. The monarch is said to have vetoed any major pubic celebration and wants any events to be “minimal” and “family orientated”.

[From The Sun]

So, again, this is coming from Camilla’s biographer. This is seemingly coming from official sources, that Charles wants/expects a visit from the Sussexes for his November birthday, but that Charles is not going to apologize. The vaunted royal invitation-threat – you should come to my event but also, go f–k yourself, I’ll never apologize for abusing you, please bring your children too. This is the psychotic way these people operate, so I believe this probably is the message the Sussexes have gotten from the palace. It also shows you that the British media is desperate to find some way to force the Sussexes to visit, and that they really, really want to see those children.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.