Yesterday, I gave the Prince and Princess of Wales the benefit of the doubt, honestly. William and Kate visited the Hayes Muslim Center yesterday and the goal of their visit was to highlight the amazing fundraising work the center has done to raise and direct much-needed money to Turkey and Syria’s earthquake relief. Now, William and Kate show up empty-handed to refugee centers and foodbanks all the time, but I thought… maybe with something like earthquake relief, they’ll actually make a donation through the Royal Foundation? But no – I cannot find one thing about the Waleses donating anything from their foundation or their personal funds or the Duchy of Cornwall or anything.
It’s even more notable because King Charles actually made a point of donating to earthquake relief and publicizing the donation too. The king donated back in February, within something like 48 hours following the earthquake. Charles and Camilla donated to the UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and they were publicly thanked for their “generous donation.” Now, William and Kate do a lot of work with and around DEC, and by that I mean, they show up to DEC “events” about once a year. It looks like Will and Kate were also highlighting DEC’s emergency relief fund during this visit, as nearly all of the coverage highlighted DEC’s work alongside the Hayes Muslim Center’s fundraising.
So long story short, while William and Kate’s visit *did* platform the efforts of the Muslim community in London to raise money for disaster relief, the royal couple also did not make an effort to do anything other than show up and make origami cranes. Next time, make and publicize a donation from the Royal Foundation. It’s that simple.
William and Kate folding cranes at Hayes Muslim Centre pic.twitter.com/CWSN9mVeuP
— Valentine Low (@valentinelow) March 9, 2023
If you have twenty minutes this weekend, you should absolutely read Hilary Rose’s piece in the Times of London: “Why the real King Charles is complicated — by royal insiders.” Subhead: “The coronation is less than two months away. But how is Charles going to shape up as monarch? Kind, dutiful and happily married (second time around)? Or irascible, insecure and easily frustrated by malfunctioning fountain pens?” It reads like a somewhat exhaustive history of King Charles’s failings and triumphs as well as his fundamentally dysfunctional nature. I’ve read a lot of royal books and I’ve never heard some of the details and stories in this piece. Some highlights:
Camilla manages Charles: Some of the King’s friends compare him to Eeyore, prone to melancholy and self-pity, not to mention the petulance briefly on display during the accession when a fountain pen didn’t work. Many agree that what the Queen, Camilla, excels at — as she did with the pen, stepping in with another — is managing him: cheering him up when he’s glum, indulging him when he needs it, geeing him up when he doesn’t and knowing how and when to persuade him of a particular course of action when his staff have tried and failed. “Leave it with me,” she says to courtiers, with one press secretary describing her as “the final court of appeal”.
Generational trauma: “If the Queen had taken half as much trouble about the rearing of her children as she did about the breeding of her horses,” a private secretary remarked drily to Robert Lacey, “the royal family wouldn’t be in such an emotional mess.”
A typical day for King Charles: He is up before 7am, to find the day’s papers laid out for him on a tray. He sips tea from a bone china cup. In the background, the radio is tuned to the Today programme. He may take the opportunity to do a headstand in his boxer shorts, for the benefit of his spine, or he may save that for later. He dresses in a bespoke suit from his Savile Row tailor, a bespoke shirt from his Jermyn Street shirtmaker and bespoke shoes from his cobbler. He douses himself in Eau Sauvage and breakfasts on seasonal fruit, seeds and yoghurt. At 8am he starts on his paperwork. The day has begun. Engagements run from 10am-5pm, when he stops for a sandwich and a piece of cake, having once proclaimed, somewhat histrionically, “I can’t function if I have lunch.” After tea he carries on working, breaks for dinner, served at 8.30pm sharp, then works again from 10pm until midnight.
How the king’s staff describe him: “He’s a demanding boss because he’s very demanding of himself,” one of his staff told Valentine Low. He could be at turns indecisive and stubborn, with an explosive temper, a man who would kick furniture in his rage. He had no interest in hearing criticism and no intention of acting on it. He yearned to be recognised for his efforts on everything from organic farming to climate change, and sought out people who agreed with him rather than challenged him. One dinner companion realised that he became actively annoyed if challenged. He cherished the role of convener, however, bringing people together to solve whichever passion on which the lighthouse beam was shining.
How Camilla worked Charles after she married Andrew Parker Bowles: Tina Brown argues that Camilla then “deftly” wove Charles into her life with her unfaithful husband as an insurance policy, making him godfather to their first child, keeping alive the sexual chemistry and vetting potential brides for their suitability and how much of a threat they posed to her. At one ball, when Charles was dating someone Camilla didn’t consider suitable, she is said to have snogged him passionately on the dancefloor. The unsuitable girlfriend duly departed in a huff, never to be seen again. “HRH is very fond of my wife,” drawled Andrew Parker Bowles, “and she appears to be very fond of him.”
Basher Wills: The result was that, behind closed doors, William and Harry were brought up in an unhappy home by warring parents who were prone to shouting, sullen silences, vicious arguments and tears. According to one infamous story, William was seven when he pushed tissues under the bathroom door to his weeping mother and told her, “I hate to see you sad.” At school, he took it out on others and was known as Basher Wills. A nanny described the atmosphere at home as at best difficult to deal with, at worst toxic. “I hate you, Papa, I hate you so much,” William once shouted. “Why do you make Mummy cry all the time?”
No one wanted Camilla: His mother thought he would either have to renounce Camilla or the throne, and his grandmother would have nothing whatsoever to do with her. For Charles, though, she was non-negotiable. Charles was obsessed with rehabilitating his public image and in winning public acceptance of Camilla, whom Tina Brown describes as “sexual and emotional comfort food” for the king. “Camilla stops the pompous thing with Charles,” a friend told Brown, adding that she put up with his endless whingeing about how underappreciated he was and his “self-pitying paranoia”.
Diana’s death: According to Robert Lacey, Charles’s immediate reaction was self-pity — “They’re all going to blame me” – then to fret down the phone to his private secretary that the fallout could destroy the monarchy. Nothing in his temperament or upbringing had prepared him for single parenthood, so he largely outsourced the job to others, immersing himself in his work and his mistress. Although today the monarchy is riding high on the glamorous new Prince and Princess of Wales and their three small children, at the turn of the century, Tina Brown argues, a “damp melancholy” and “deep dullness” had settled over it. The Queen had been crystal clear that the monarchy must never again be outshone by any one member and, once the dust had settled over Diana’s death, solid, dependable, middle-aged Camilla could at least tick that box.
A complicated king: On the one hand, the King has enough emotional intelligence to send handwritten letters to strangers who are bereaved or bereft. On the other, he seemingly couldn’t even bring himself to hug Harry the day his mother died. He is a kind man with a terrible temper, a visionary who sometimes cannot see beyond his own navel, and a man who delights in hunting and shooting but told his future daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, that he couldn’t bear to think of any animal suffering. He’s sufficiently engaged with the real world that he set up the Prince’s Trust, but so detached from reality that he thought Lucian Freud might be up for a painting swap: one of his for one of Charles’s watercolours. And he is so tone deaf to the feelings of friends that he turns up to dinner parties with his own martini and to house parties with his own furnishings.
Charles is not thrifty: While the Queen was famously thrifty, with one-bar electric fires and Tupperware containers, Charles models his domestic life more on that of his grandmother, who kept four homes permanently staffed, drank so much vintage pink champagne that she was Veuve Cliquot’s biggest private client, and summoned staff at mealtimes by ringing a Fabergé pearl bell. Like hers, Charles’s homes are cluttered, with one friend calling him an outright hoarder. Clarence House and Birkhall, both remodelled for Charles by Robert Kime after the Queen Mother’s death, are a riot of rugs, cushions, tassels, swags, pelmets, paintings, china, ornaments, books and serried ranks of silver-framed photos on cloth-covered tables.
See, there are actually some details in here which make me almost like Charles and remind me that this is the father-in-law who charmed then-Meghan Markle when they first met. He’s eccentric, weird, a man of passions, temperamental, and an interesting conversationalist. But on the other side, he’s fundamentally selfish, self-pitying, self-indulgent and a dogsh-t father who treated Diana and her sons poorly. He’s a weak man who is led around by the nose by Camilla, of all people. I don’t know… it feels like there will be more anti-monarchy protests in the months and years to come.
Hugh Grant has a long history of being a rude a–hole, and he also has a long history of being complete honest about his a–holery. [Pajiba]
Keanu Reeves. In the rain. [Go Fug Yourself]
Madonna justifies her love for a young boxer. [Dlisted]
Taika Waititi + Star Wars, what could go wrong? [LaineyGossip]
Ice Spice performs at Rolling Loud. [OMG Blog]
Kerry Washington looks ah-mazing in this Marc Bouwer. [RCFA]
Cate Blanchett & Angela Bassett did the thing (at the Time gala). [Just Jared]
Yes, I got an International Women’s Day email from nuts.com. [Jezebel]
Hailee Steinfeld is on vacation. [Egotastic]
I love some regional educational quirks. [Buzzfeed]
Emma Corrin & Diane Kruger looked terrible at the MiuMiu show. [Tom & Lorenzo]
Seeking Sister Wife’s Marcus Epps is seeking re-election. [Starcasm]
The Duchess of Sussex has finally been SEEN! Out in public! For the first time in nearly three months. Meghan was out in Los Angeles this week and Backgrid got very exclusive ($$$$) photos of her leaving a brunch with associates and friends. The brunch happened on Wednesday, International Women’s Day. Meghan wore nearly all-black and I’m obsessed with that fabulous sweater. Her slides are Valentino and her bag is Chanel. Please let this be a preview of Meghan and Harry attending the Oscars!!!
As for brunch, Meghan and her friends went to Gracias Madre on Melrose. It’s a vegan Mexican restaurant – let me look at the brunch menu… ooooh, I would get the Caesar salad, then the (potato bread) French toast then the Tres Leches Cake. Damn, this vegan menu looks GOOD. According Archewell, this brunch had a specific message:
Today, The Archewell Foundation celebrated International Women’s Day with a visit to Harvest Home. This valuable organization helps provide housing, mental well-being support, and classes to expectant mothers who have faced tremendous challenges including domestic violence, substance use and homelessness. Since being founded in 1985, Harvest Home has supported over 600 pregnant women and their children.
As an advocate for women’s rights and supporter of mothers and families in need, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and the Archewell team celebrated the women of Harvest Home by creating a pop up baby boutique, hosting lunch from a female owned restaurant, and making a donation to the organization.
Happy International Women’s day to all of you! Whether donating your time, funds, or helping a woman in your community, let’s all celebrate the women in our lives today and every day!
Ah, so Meghan and her Archewell team went to LA to highlight Harvest Home and taking the charity’s people out to brunch. AND donating. Good for them.
According to the Daily Mail, Meghan waved to photographers and said “have a good day, guys, thank you so much.” Something tells me we’re going to see the Princess of Wales in black trousers, a black sweater and light-colored slides (or maybe those f–king wedges) for one of her next events.
EXCLUSIVE: Meghan enjoys brunch with friends as it is confirmed Archie and Lilibet WILL become a prince and princess https://t.co/7K1Xe96GQD
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) March 9, 2023
Meghan Markle has been seen for the first time since it was confirmed her children will be known as prince and princess https://t.co/mbnc5h2So5
— Mirror Royal (@MirrorRoyal) March 9, 2023
For the better part of a decade, people have complained about Anna Wintour giving her stamp of approval to the Kardashian-Jenners and Kanye West. Last year, Wintour finally revoked her approval of Kanye, but the truth is, Wintour is still fine with the Kardashian-Jenners. Kendall Jenner is still an in-demand model. Kylie Jenner is a beauty mogul. Kim Kardashian has like five successful businesses and she’s a billionaire. Arguably, Khloe and Kourtney aren’t that important to Anna Wintour, but they were still invited to last year’s Met Gala. Well, according to Page Six, Wintour is cutting out all Kardashian-Jenners for this year’s gala. Eh.
Is the Met Gala in the Kards for reality TV’s first family? The Met Gala could be Kardashian-free this year after the whole family of reality stars attended en masse for the first time in 2022.
Sources tell Page Six that Vogue boss Anna Wintour is cracking down on the guest list at the annual fashion fete — and that no Kardashians will make the cut. Vogue wouldn’t comment on the event’s guest list when we reached out.
But a source familiar with the Kardashian-Jenner clan says it’s not true that the first family of reality TV isn’t invited to the big ball.
Either way, we hear that so far it’s unclear whether anyone from the family — including Kim Kardashian, will be in attendance.
As I said, people are always trying to convince Wintour to give up the K-Js but I doubt she’s had some sudden change of heart. It’s far more likely that only Kim and Kendall are invited, but if Kylie wants an invite, I’m sure she’ll manage to get one. It’s not like designers refuse to work with them – please, Kim has been getting paid to promote Dolce & Gabbana, Balmain and Balenciaga. Kylie gets custom pieces made from dozens of designers. Kendall can walk any runway she wants. The jig is up: the Kardashian-Jenners are widely accepted – and even well-liked – in the fashion industry.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar, Cover Images and Backgrid.
As we discussed yesterday, the Princess of Wales went to Salisbury on Wednesday, International Women’s Day, to “train” with the Irish Guards. She’s the new honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, having taken over from her husband. I don’t have much new information here, it’s just that we finally got more photos in late in the day and I wanted to post them.
We also have an ID on her outfit now – Kate wore G-Star Raw jeggings (£150) and her Berghaus boots (£175) paired with “a £149 turtleneck jumper with a cable knit detail and buttoned sleeves from Holland Cooper.” She also wore a camouflage jacket and I missed the fact that her jacket has customized with a little crown button and some extra pizzazz. The Irish Guards know how much Kate loves her buttons. I still have the same question though – if the purpose of this skit was “Colonel Camo Keen pretends to be a soldier,” then why not just wear one of the real uniforms? Why did Kate deck herself out in a £500 outfit, her sapphire ring and gloves she refused to wear?
And yes, this was a skit. This is what Kensington Palace does with Kate now, since she’s incompetent and lazy. They just organize these skits where she wanders around somewhere, jazz-hands for 30 minutes and wears a costume. Kate’s mask fell when she had to pretend to “learn” how to do first-aid in the field. She looks so unhappy!!
Meanwhile, the British papers are trying to make a big deal over the fact that the Sussexes invited the Windsors to Lilibet’s christening and the Windsors didn’t go. I suspect Harry merely invited them because he thought it was the right thing to do, not because he actually believed they would show up. Please… Kate would never recover if she had to travel to Montecito and see how happy the Sussexes are in California. She would be grim about it for YEARS.
The consistency with which King Charles and Queen Camilla have been protested in the past six months should not be underestimated. It started immediately following QEII’s passing – I still believe (and there’s evidence to suggest this too) that it began the day after QEII died, when Charles and Camilla returned to London and there was an “incident” involving Camilla and a protester. It got hushed up very quickly, to the point where videos were being edited and deleted. Then there are the blank-paper anti-monarchy protests, and the egg-tossing and the protests instigated by Republic and other anti-monarchy groups. My point is that this sh-t isn’t going to stop anytime soon. If anything, it’s getting worse. It’s getting so bad that even the Daily Mail is running interviews with the head of Republic.
An anti-monarchy campaign group responsible for organising a string of ‘Not My King’ demonstrations called criticising Charles ‘fair game’ and admitted that heckling the late Queen would have been unpopular with the public, MailOnline can exclusively reveal today.
Republic, who have ramped up protests against the King in the lead up to the Coronation in May, branded the monarch ‘just a bloke in a suit who’s spending lots of our money’. Its chief executive Graham Smith told MailOnline that Charles should be criticised like any other politician – but in an attempt to explain why the group was organising more protests against the King than his late mother, admitted: ‘The Queen enjoyed deference and it put people off criticising her directly. We were aware heckling her wouldn’t go down well’.
Mr Smith told MailOnline: ‘Charles is a very different person. He just inherited the throne and inheritance is an issue. We think now is the right moment for us to push our message. We did protest the Queen, such as at the 2012 Jubilee. Other people certainly had a greater level of respect for the Queen. The Queen enjoyed deference and it put people off criticising her directly. We were aware heckling her wouldn’t go down well. But everything has changed, it’s a very different monarchy. This has changed the nature of the campaign.’
The group believe hereditary public office goes against every democratic principle and ultimately want to abolish the monarchy. Instead, they want head of state that is chosen by the public and keeps politicians in check.
Mr Smith continued: ‘If you think politicians are fair game for heckling and protests, you should see Charles in the same way. The Queen felt like the real deal. Charles is just a bloke in a suit who’s spending lots of our money. He should be treated like a politician. Heads of state should be fair game for criticism.’
The group intends to protest in York next month when King Charles is set to visit, and claim they have 1,000 supporters signed up to protest along the procession route at his Coronation on May 6.
LOL, they have more anti-monarchy protesters signed up for the coronation than coronation bell-ringer volunteers. LMAO. As for what Graham Smith says… yeah. It’s different. QEII was never protested this way and if she had been, the backlash against Republic would have been swift. These days… there’s little to no backlash. People have already gotten used to the idea/fact that Charles is unpopular and that hereditary monarchies are outdated and racist. Fundamentally, as an American, it’s hard to reconcile the idea that any “head of state” would be institutionally above reproach as well. Charles should be treated like an elected official. QEII should have been as well. While “monarch” isn’t an elected position, it is a public role funded by taxpayers, and it IS fair game.
I really hope Prince Harry has a generous pay package with BetterUp, because he’s really given this company a huge shine for two years. He believes in the product – individual life coaching mixed with lite-therapeutic talk – and since joining the company as Chief Impact Officer, the company has vastly expanded operations and grown by leaps and bounds. BetterUp services Fortune 500 companies and they’re growing their business across Europe. These are photos from Harry’s appearance at BetterUp’s two-day Uplift Summit, where he chatted with CEO Alexi Robichaux and answered questions from the audience:
Prince Harry took the stage at BetterUp’s Uplift summit. The Duke of Sussex, 38, appeared with BetterUp CEO Alexi Robichaux live from San Francisco on Wednesday. Prince Harry has served as Chief Impact Officer for the coaching platform since March 2021, taking on the job after stepping back from his senior royal role and relocating to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, 41. The duo answered audience questions — although Harry quipped that some were “not appropriate.”
When asked about what drives his purpose, Prince Harry spoke about being part of a team with a shared mission, such as during his time in the military and with his Archewell Foundation that he founded with Meghan.
“For me, personally, I get so much out of helping other people. To be in the service of others is what drives me, what gets me out of bed every day. Then you have kids,” the father of Prince Archie Harrison and Princess Lilibet Diana said before turning the conversation to “new dad” Robichaux. Later in the event, Robichaux said he was learning about awe from his 9-month-old son.
“Kids ground you,” Harry added. Prince Harry also said that members of the Invictus Games community as well as his and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation team use BetterUp.
I mean, we’ll get to the point where Harry’s work with BetterUp will be normalized and people won’t freak out every time he promotes the company. Perhaps we’re already getting there – this Uplift appearance is the kind of thing which normally would have gotten dozens of British tabloid editorials about how Harry is “whinging” for his “paymasters.” This week, the British media is more focused on Harry’s children and their titles though.
From CB: I got the L’Oreal Brow Stylist angled eyebrow pencil we talked about last week and I really like it! It’s so easy to draw in my eyebrows and they look more natural than the gel I was previously using. I also got the lint dryer brush set. It got a lot of lint out from under my lint trap! Here are some more things Hecate and I are looking at on Amazon.
A dry sponge that removes product from your makeup brushes
From CB: I got a similar product for Christmas and I’m impressed with how well it works. This is a rough sponge you rub your makeup brushes on to quickly remove the powder to switch colors. It’s great to use in between washing your brushes. It’s just $7 and comes with four replacement sponges. This has over 1,100 ratings, 4.6 stars and a B on Fakespot. People say it gets the old color off quickly and easily. “This little can is perfect for cleaning your brushes between applying eyeshadow. It takes the extra powder off very well.” “These brush color swappers are an absolute life saver if you wish to use to same brush often and don’t feel like washing between uses!”
Vitamin E oil for softer, healthier skin
From CB: Vitamin E oil is excellent to treat dry skin and for healthier nails. You can get a full four ounces of organic Vitamin E from trusted brand Pura D’or for just $15. This has 8,500 ratings, 4.7 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. Reviewers say it reduces fine lines and leaves their skin much softer and more hydrated. “I live in Idaho and the bitter, cold winters wreak havoc on my skin. I had SEVERELY dry hands and forearms and using this oil for a few days, I saw noticeably healthier, moisturized skin. Using it a whole week, the rash/severe dry patches that were on my arms, are gone.” “This literally transformed my face. My skin is glowing and silky just after a few days. It has a light, beautiful scent that doesn’t linger after applying. A little drop goes a very long way.”
Cleaning paste that will make you want to clean all the things
From CB: My mom got this popular cleaner The Pink Stuff cleaner and has been raving about how great it is. This is said to be great for cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, stainless steel and more. This is the #1 bestseller on Amazon in all-purpose household cleaners. It has over 165,000 ratings and 4.3 stars on ReviewMeta. People say it cleans better than other household products without as much work. “The first thing I used it on was my flat top stove… all the cooked on messes came right up! It was much easier to use than the typical bottle of flat top stove cleaner. I then went to my stainless steel sink. I put some on a rag and buffed. I was immediately sold! The Pink Stuff buffed my sink to shiny perfection hard water stains and all!” “Pink stuff removed a lot of hard stains I couldn’t remove in the past, it’s a great product for the price! This product may be the best I’ve ever used. I cleaned bathroom faucets with my fingers and they look sparkling clean!!”
Soft reusable makeup remover pads that hold up after washing
From Hecate: Looking for some sustainable options, I saw these organic bamboo and cotton makeup pads from Greenzla. They are on sale for $10 for a 20 pack this week. They are sturdy enough to last years and designed to create zero waste. They work with every skin type so you don’t have to worry about irritation. And they come with a sustainable laundry sack to prolong their life. They received 4.6 stars from over 34,000 reviews and a B from Fakespot. Customers seem really happy with them, “These reusable makeup remover pads are super soft! I use them and facial oil to prewash my face. Then after washing, I use another for my witch hazel application.” People say if you follow the instructions to wash you have no problem, “I washed them exactly how instructed.. and they did not curl up, they are as soft as ever and look exactly how they looked when I received them. I do not have to use more product than before and the product transfers to my skin perfectly.”
An organic anti-aging night cream for smoother, softer skin
From Hecate: One of my bee-tending friends is coming in town this week so this one is dedicated to her. This BeeFriendly Anti-Aging Night Cream not only works wonders on your skin, it has the Climate Pledge Friendly seal. It uses beeswax and olive oil and works on all skin types to fight wrinkles and moisturize skin. Plus it’s made in the USA and USDA certified natural and organic. It’s $35 for 2 ounces, but it’s a solid night cream so you don’t need much, let a small amount work for you. Over 1,800 people gave it 4.3 stars that ReviewMeta confirmed. Customers said that it works without being heavy, “This product soaks right in your skin. It isn’t heavy. Just a wonderful moisturizing product for your face.” And again, you don’t need much, “I have been using this cream for several years for my normal/aging skin. Just a small dab used nightly after my shower blends wonderfully into my skin.”
A cute ombre tunic hoodie you can style multiple ways
From Hecate: This cute little tunic has several different design options, but I love the ombre options. And it’s light enough it can be layered with a jacket and turtleneck or t-shirt. They come in sizes small to 3XL with prices ranging $21-$30 depending on color and size. And it has a pocket in front, which always comes in handy. Over 20,000 people gave it 4.3 stars that ReviewMeta confirmed. Customers said you don’t have to worry about fading, “The color is beautiful and it is very comfortable. It washed well, no fading.” One person said it can be dressed up nicely, “I really like it for dressy casual work clothes. Pair with colored jeans and boots looks dressy.” Many customers reiterate: this is a lightweight shirt more than a sweatshirt, so plan on layers.
A microwaveable popcorn maker that really works
From Hecate: Kaiser put something about popcorn in the links this week and now I have popcorn on the brain. This reusable microwavable popcorn maker lets you pop all the popcorn you want and cuts down on the waste of single use bags. It comes in a 1.5 quart snack size for $13 or 3 quart family size for $20, each in six different color choices. And they have over 56,000 reviews with ReviewMeta giving them 4.4 stars. Customers love the handle, “I don’t know how popcorn is this easy but it just seems to work. I know there are some other microwavable poppers available but I think the handle really makes this one worth it.” They also like that you can dictate how much butter you use, “Makes healthy popcorn, because you can use the amount and type of butter that is best for you.” Don’t forget you can add a bunch of flavors too.
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Buckingham Palace went on a briefing spree on Wednesday when People Magazine broke the news about Princess Lilibet Diana’s Montecito christening. In the reporting and the statement from the Sussexes’ spokesperson, Lilibet and Archie’s princess and prince titles were used. Because they’ve been Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet this whole time, ever since QEII passed away. All of the breast-beating about “confusion over the titles” was manufactured solely by King Charles’s court. Charles’s people were openly briefing everyone that Lili and Archie’s titles were a bargaining chip and Charles was going to “decide” what would happen. Granted, Charles could choose to change the Letters Patent. But he hasn’t, so here we are. Over the past 24 hours, the British media has had to eat sh-t about their manufactured “confusion” over the titles. Which has led to some fascinatingly weird reporting. From the Telegraph:
Confusion!! The subject of Archie and Lilibet’s titles has caused much confusion since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September amid claims that the King was undecided about whether they should use them. The Royal family’s website, which lists them as sixth and seventh in the line of succession, still refers to them as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
Oh, the titles are connected to the Frogmore eviction?? The Sussexes made the decision to use the titles last year, it is understood. However, they were only informed that the Royal family’s website would be updated at the beginning of this month. They were told after it emerged they had been asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage, their Windsor home, and that the Duke of York had been offered the keys. It will be interpreted by many as an olive branch from the King to the couple who had not been told in advance that Prince Andrew had been asked to move in.
Why didn’t the palace change Archie & Lili’s titles on the website last September? Sources close to the Sussexes had suggested they were frustrated that Buckingham Palace had failed to immediately recognise Archie and Lilibet’s elevated status on its website, not least as the Prince and Princess of Wales’s titles, and those of their children, were swiftly changed. However, as children of His Majesty’s son, they automatically became Prince and Princess on his accession.
Again with the “in abeyance” stuff: In other circumstances, they would also have been entitled to be styled His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness but are prevented from doing so because their own father’s HRH title is in abeyance. The HRH titles of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were not affected when the Duke of York’s title was put into abeyance because they have had them since birth, palace sources said.
The Sussexes’ decision, y’all: The Sussexes have been in recent communication with Buckingham Palace on the issue and the Royal family’s website is expected to be updated accordingly in due course. The palace suggested that the delay was simply down to the fact that it had been waiting for the Sussexes to make a decision about the titles.
Please follow this: The Sussexes made the decision to allow their kids to use their titles last year, but then the Sussexes were only told that the palace would update the website earlier this month at the same time they were informed that they were evicted from Frogmore and that Prince Andrew was being offered their home, and this is King Charles’s benevolent olive branch??? None of this makes any sense, honestly.
My theory is that Harry wanted Lili to be christened in Windsor for a while and was trying to arrange it for much of the past year, only to be roadblocked by his violent psycho brother and his dogsh-t father. Royal peeps usually don’t wait until their child is close to two years old to hold the christening – there was a hold up somewhere, and these are my suspicions. So Harry and Meghan finally just made the arrangements in Montecito, did their due diligence and invited his dogsh-t family and then they had the no-drama christening of their dreams in complete privacy. As for the titles, I think Harry was waiting to see what his father would do or say and then Harry was like “f–k it, I dare you to strip my kids of their titles.”