It’s been less than 24 hours and I’m already exhausted by the British media’s insistence on turning King Charles’s cancer into a story about Prince William and Prince Harry. I have no idea what’s coming from Kensington Palace or what’s coming from royalists merely spinning their wheels and creating these bizarre narratives about who needs to forgive whom. As I’ve said a few times now, I absolutely get the sense that some of these royalist newspapers are basically giving a pep talk to William, they’re telling him what they need him to do now, which is show up for his father and reconcile with his brother. William hates being told what to do though. Whenever anyone tries to give him orders, it makes him dig in his heels and refuse to do anything. Well, Richard Kay at the Mail wrote an overwrought piece about William’s emotions right now, as William deals with an ill wife, a father with cancer and a brother who escaped the Windsors’ toxic prison. Some highlights:

William’s sacrifices: It is not hard to imagine the confusion of emotions that will be flooding through Prince William’s mind today: sadness and anxiety at his father’s illness but also bewilderment at the enormity of the challenge now facing him and the inevitable sacrifices he will be forced to make. The parallels with those that confronted his beloved grandmother more than 70 years ago are striking. The then Princess Elizabeth was 25 and a young mother when she so unexpectedly succeeded her father as monarch. She and Prince Philip had every reason to hope that they had a good ten years of family life ahead of them before the responsibility of the throne would intervene. William is 16 years older than his grandmother was at that pivotal moment and his children are older, but his sense of expectation for the future would have been no less. And while he is not about to be king, his life in every other way is going to change.

Harry is a distraction?? Quite how much of his father’s schedule will now pass to the Prince is not clear. But the news that he will step up comes with an added distraction — Prince Harry’s decision to hasten to his father’s side. While it was inconceivable that Harry would not want to fly to Britain once bulletins about Charles were issued, his presence will serve as a reminder of just how fractured the Royal Family has become since the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022. It will be the first time he has seen his father since the Coronation in May last year. To the relief of courtiers, the Duke of Sussex will apparently be making the journey without his wife Meghan.

William must emulate QEII: The brothers are not thought to have exchanged a word for many months, their relationship apparently shattered by Harry’s memoir, Spare. In the book, published a year ago, Harry accused William of physically attacking him, and Kate of being cold towards Meghan. As he grapples with his new responsibilities, William’s thoughts will almost certainly turn to how his grandmother would have dealt with such a princely incursion. He may also draw some strength from the dignity with which the late Queen confronted her destiny all those decades ago. She did so, of course, from a position of strength. Public affection for her father King George VI for the way he steered the nation through the Abdication upheaval and the dark days of World War II ran deep when she came to the throne in 1952. William comes to the fore with the monarchy in crisis.

William is not a lobbyist: ‘[William and Kate] have a very cosy life down there at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Great Park, but it does require a lot of moving parts to work well,’ says a friend. Their staff are still based in London and meetings often have to take place at Windsor Castle. The contrast between father and son as Princes of Wales could not be greater. While Charles — like William — is passionate about what he believes in, he was also by nature a lobbyist. William is not. He has his core interests — homelessness, mental health and conservation — but does not spread himself thinly as his father once did. William has no interests in the arts, for example. But, for now at least, William is going to have to cover a lot more ground than he usually prefers. He is almost certain to take on his father’s role in receiving arriving and departing foreign diplomats.

How will William cope?? So how will he cope? And, more importantly, what does this change to his status mean for his relationship with Harry? Certainly, say friends, William has the stuff to be dynamic, and some believe having to take up these additional responsibilities may be the making of him, raising both his profile and his visibility.

William doesn’t trust Harry: Where Harry is concerned, his view has diverged from the King’s. While Charles has been torn by the conflict between his sons and has longed for a rapprochement, William is convinced that trust, the basis of any relationship, has been utterly destroyed. Harry’s arrival will test William’s resolve. Will he agree to see him, and in time agree to a rapprochement as his father surely wishes? Or will the status quo remain? Charles’s illness and his recovery may determine that outcome.

[From The Daily Mail]

“To the relief of courtiers, the Duke of Sussex will apparently be making the journey without his wife Meghan.” We get it, even in a crisis, the Windsors cling to their racism like a security blanket and they want it known far and wide that they despise a Black woman who outshone all of them. As for the rest of it… even Kay couldn’t stick to the William/QEII comparison – QEII became the monarch when she was 25. William will turn 42 years old this year. It’s not the same thing at all and the comparison actually offends me. Anyway, all of this focus on will-he-or-won’t-he reconcile with Harry might end up blowing up in all of their faces if Harry only breezes in for a few days and only sees Charles.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

I’m watching the coverage from afar, safely in America, and I have to ask my British peeps something: is the news over there all about Prince Harry traveling to England? Because that’s how it looks from here. Every national newspaper is doing liveblogs and breaking-news coverage. Granted, the liveblogs have been active since Buckingham Palace announced King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, but every time I check for an update, it’s all about Harry. When will Harry arrive, will he meet with his brother, where will he stay, what does it all mean. Well, Prince Harry has arrived in the UK:

After an overnight flight from LAX – it seems Prince Harry has landed at Heathrow airport. And is now on his way to see his father, King Charles. pic.twitter.com/4lcJKUxivL

— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) February 6, 2024

He touched down a short time ago and his motorcade – involving at least two police vehicles – is making its way to London right now. Given the presence of the police vehicles, I feel even more comfortable in my assumption that Harry’s trip was coordinated with the palace and his father. This wasn’t Harry suddenly announcing yesterday that he would travel to the UK and surprise his dad. When Charles called Harry to tell him about the cancer, they discussed this. Charles either asked Harry to come or Harry volunteered and Charles agreed to it.

So, this is Harry’s first time in London since last September, when he made a brief stopover to attend the WellChild Awards and visit his grandmother’s tomb (in Windsor) on the first anniversary of QEII’s passing. Before that, Harry spent a couple of days in England for the coronation, where he was invited by his father but they didn’t speak much (or at all). Beyond all of the tabloid bullsh-t, I genuinely hope that Charles and Harry get some time together alone to just talk. I would assume that’s what Harry wants as well. Which probably means that the courtiers will do everything they can to thwart it. My stomach is in knots just thinking about all of the arcane and petty punishments they likely have in store for Harry.

Prince Harry’s convoy reportedly left the Windsor Suite this afternoon to pick him up from his flight.https://t.co/KoQStBxNHs pic.twitter.com/znm5AgHCtW

— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) February 6, 2024

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

Buckingham Palace hasn’t confirmed on or off the record when King Charles was actually diagnosed with cancer. It’s widely assumed that the diagnosis came around the same time as Charles was dealing with an enlarged prostate, for which he was in the hospital from January 26th through January 29th. Charles was discharged on the 29th, and Queen Camilla spent the rest of the week doing events across England. She was practically giddy, she had a Cheshire-cat grin and she was truly glowing with happiness. It would be cold as ice if Camilla was acting like that with the knowledge that Charles has cancer. It would also be cold as ice if she was purposefully spinning those stories about how she’s “practically ruling solo” and she’s “the last one standing.” Which is probably why it’s far more likely that the diagnosis came after Charles’s hospitalization, right? Maybe during the procedure, they found something and tests were run and maybe nothing was confirmed until late last week.

It would also make sense if everything really started happening in the past 72 hours, because right now it looks like the palace is kind of scrambling. Like, they’ve been caught flat-footed, understaffed and unprepared. The Times has a piece about how everything’s in flux or something.

Planned foreign state visits looked in doubt last night as a campaign began at the Palace to reassure the public in the face of the King’s cancer diagnosis. Previously scheduled trips to Australia and Canada may be pushed back and the King’s appearance at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa later this year is not guaranteed.

Yet plans are being made for public appearances from other senior members of the family. Hours before the news of the King’s condition was announced, it was preceded by a statement from Kensington Palace saying that the Prince of Wales would be returning to duties. Prince William was expected to remain off work while his wife continues her recovery from abdominal surgery, yet the surprise announcement in the morning revealed not one but two official engagements for William.

On Wednesday evening, William will travel to London to attend the annual fundraising gala for the London Air Ambulance.William, a former air ambulance pilot who served as a search and rescue helicopter pilot before moving to the East Anglian Air Ambulance service, became patron of the charity in 2020. He had previously supported the charity’s 30th anniversary in 2019, during which he flew with a crew and met staff and patients from the service at a number of fundraising events. The evening is likely to provide an opportunity for William to deliver a speech at a time when the royal family will be looking to him to lead the way.

The diary announcement is quite a change from his previous plan to remain by Kate’s side. His wife departed unseen from the London Clinic a week ago after spending nearly a fortnight recuperating from abdominal surgery.

With Kate absent from duties for many months, the Queen will step up with a Palace spokesman confirming: “Yes, Her Majesty will continue with a full programme of public duties.” Despite learning of her husband’s cancer diagnosis earlier that week, Camilla has indicated that she will carry on with public engagements.

Other senior members of the family will be drafted in to help. The Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are expected to be seen on duty.

[From The Times]

Is this just awkwardly worded or did they just say that Camilla has known since early last week? “Despite learning of her husband’s cancer diagnosis earlier that week”?? IDK. As for William’s events on Wednesday… so, I thought (and wrote) that William’s sudden schedule was all about Harry and Meghan’s plans to travel to Canada. While I’m sure that was a factor, William’s schedule change was definitely more about Charles. Also: while Charles has a lot of sh-t on his schedule which is “monarch only,” he also has regular old royal events which could be done by any member of the family. This continues to be strange to me, how Sophie, Camilla, Anne and Edward haven’t been sent out to cover for the Waleses and King Charles.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red,Cover Images.

Prince Harry is either en route to London as I write this or he’s just arrived. Harry caught a flight out of LAX yesterday and it’s believed that he flew overnight. It’s a hell of a journey, all to spend some time with the father he adores. When I read and covered Harry’s memoir, I was struck repeatedly by how much Harry loves his father and wants a real relationship with him. Since we learned that Harry flew out of LAX solo, the courtiers and British royalists have fallen all over themselves to claim that everyone in the UK is “relieved” that Meghan isn’t joining him. Which absolutely affects how Harry approaches the coming days. There’s something else too, and I knew it would come up, even if I hoped that the British media would take a f–king break for a minute: where will Harry stay while he’s in the UK? You know, because Harry was evicted from the home he paid for (given to him by QEII) and he was denied one night of lodging at Windsor Castle last year.

Prince Harry has taken off from LAX and is flying to London to be with King Charles after he was diagnosed with cancer – but Meghan, Archie and Lilibet are staying at home. Harry’s father called him person to tell him the devastating news and the Duke of Sussex has jumped on a plane so he could be in the UK later today.

It is not known if he will see his brother Prince William or the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from serious abdominal surgery. But experts have said they hope that Harry’s last-minute trip could bring Harry, Charles and William closer together.

It is unclear where the Duke will stay after he was told to vacate Frogmore Cottage, his former home, in January 2023, just days after his tell-all memoir Spare was published. Last time the Prince flew to the UK was in September, for the Well Child Awards, where he stayed in a hotel. It is understood the Duke asked if he could stay at Windsor Castle to allow him to visit his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s place of rest, but permission was denied.

Harry usually travels with his own private security team, after being stripped of his right to automatic police protection when he left the Royal family in 2020.

The King contacted both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales personally to tell them of his cancer diagnosis before it was announced by Buckingham Palace. A source close to Harry said that he had immediately decided to come to the UK as soon as possible to be by his father’s side. Experts have claimed that Harry’s dash to Britain ‘indicates the seriousness’ of the King’s condition. Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.’

[From The Daily Mail]

The Mirror also picked up on the “where will Harry stay” commentary, once again claiming that Frogmore Cottage is still off-limits because Charles already gave the keys to Prince Andrew, who then gave Frogmore to Princess Eugenie. Which… probably means that Harry could stay at Frogmore, because Eugenie will always look out for her cousin. Still, I hope Harry stays in an undisclosed location with his security. I also hope that the royals and royal media continue to make a big fuss about how they’re “punishing” Harry by refusing to let him have a room in one of their 100-bedroom castles or palaces. It will make it that much easier for Harry to dip in a day or two.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Just after King Charles was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and before he was treated at the London Clinic, Buckingham Palace’s busy bees made sure that everyone knew that Prince Harry and Prince Andrew had been “barred” from serving as counsellors of state during Charles and Kate’s dual hospitalizations. Previously, there had been some discussions about removing Andrew and Harry entirely (mostly just Harry) but Charles decided to extend the list of counsellors rather than remove Andrew and Harry. Now, weeks after the palace made the choice of fussing about how Harry had been newly “barred” from serving as a counsellor of state, King Charles has cancer and the royalists are suddenly very concerned about Harry being able to fulfill all of his constitutional duties. Camilla Tominey is one of those royalists – she shat out this piece in the Telegraph, soon after the palace’s announcement about the king’s cancer: “The King needs William – and now the Prince of Wales needs Harry.” Some highlights:

William must step up: The truth of the matter, however, is that while the Queen is doubtlessly preparing to play a supporting role, and will continue to carry out a full schedule of public duties, the pressure now lies on the Prince of Wales to step up. It could not have come at a more challenging time for Prince William as he finds himself – like many of his generation – sandwiched between looking after young children and caring for elderly parents. Yes, Camilla will continue to be the King’s right hand woman – but she is 76 years old. At 41, and seemingly in robust health, it will be down to the heir to the throne to bridge the gap as his father continues to undergo outpatient treatment.

William’s predicament: That would ordinarily be a straightforward request, but the Princess of Wales’s recent abdominal operation puts her husband in somewhat of a predicament. With the King’s blessing, he had made it clear that he would be focussing on immediate family, rather than wider family business, as Catherine, 42, recuperates from spending 13 days in the London Clinic after undergoing surgery for an unspecified condition. The Princess is not expected to return to official royal duties until after Easter at the earliest. But now it seems William will be required to return to public duties sooner than planned in support of the King. Although the sovereign’s immediate diary has been cleared, it is anticipated that the Prince will take on some of his father’s obligations on top of his own.

William might have to do the prime minister meetings: For now, the plan is for the King to continue to hold his weekly audiences with the Prime Minister. But if he does not feel up to it – it will be for William, as the King’s “liege man of life and limb”, to deputise, rather than his step-mother, the Queen. Similarly, the Prince of Wales will be the first port of call to act as stand-in at investitures, the accepting of credentials and other events which are of constitutional significance, although it is thought the King will continue to preside over Privy Council meetings.

Counsellors of state: The King’s siblings, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh, are also likely to play an enhanced role – although it is understood they will be operating in their usual capacity as “working” royals, rather than as “counsellors of state”. Counsellors of state are appointed by Letters Patents to act in His Majesty’s place should he be unable to undertake his official duties as Sovereign on a temporary basis due to illness or absence abroad. But that is not thought to be necessary at the present time. Instead, royal diaries will be adjusted and added to accordingly.

Harry’s role: And what of the Duke of Sussex, who along with the Duke of York, is no longer a “working” royal – but remains a “counsellor of state”? Having been informed of his father’s condition before it was made public, a source close to Prince Harry has confirmed that he will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days. Royal insiders will no doubt be hoping that news of their father’s cancer diagnosis acts as a catalyst to bring William and Harry back on speaking terms. They are not thought to have had much contact since the publication of Spare, Harry’s incendiary autobiography, last January, having barely exchanged words during the funeral of their grandmother, Elizabeth II in September 2022.

Broken beyond all repair: While several sources have suggested that their once close bond has been broken beyond all repair, the one thing they do still have in common is their shared love for their “darling Pa”, the only parent they have left. If ever William needed some brotherly love – it’s now. If this shock announcement brings about any kind of royal rapprochement, then it will certainly help the King on the road to recovery.

[From The Telegraph]

My take on this and all future stories with the same vibe is that they’re actually talking to William, not Harry. They’re giving William a pep talk: okay, buddy, we need you to really step up here, no more half-assing it, this sh-t is serious, and you absolutely need to put aside your grudge against your brother and genuinely be your father’s support. It’s also notable that nothing from Buckingham Palace or the royal court of Montecito has mentioned William whatsoever – Harry is coming to see his father, he’s not sticking around to be William’s go-to distraction. Something else I thought about as soon as I heard the news about Harry flying to the UK was this story from November of last year – sources close to William saying that William’s hatred for Harry is so strong, the next time the brothers speak, it will be at their father’s funeral.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

Travis Kelce sat down for his first pre-Super Bowl press conference on Monday, just hours after his girlfriend Taylor Swift took home a Grammy for Album of the Year for Midnights. Taylor used her 13th Grammy win, earlier in the night, to announce her brand-new album, The Tortured Poets Department. It comes out in April, and no, the title does not have an apostrophe. Does it need one? Should it be “Poets’ Department”? Discuss. Well, Travis was asked about Taylor and the new album:

Travis Kelce couldn’t be more proud of Taylor Swift! The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 34, was all smiles when talking about what is to come in his girlfriend’s career during a Super Bowl media event on Monday. While speaking with reporters at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas about the upcoming big game, Kelce also answered some questions about the pop star, 34.

When asked if he’s had the chance to listen to Swift’s upcoming 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, Kelce confessed that he sees it as a game changer.

“I have heard some of it, yes. And it is unbelievable,” Kelce told reporters. “I can’t wait for her to shake up the world when it finally drops.”

When pressed for more details about her project, Kelce motioned that they are under lock and key. “I can’t give you anything,” he said. “I’ll leave that up to her.”

Kelce told reporters Monday that he intends to work just as hard as Swift — with whom he went public in October 2023. “She’s unbelievable. She’s re-writing the history books herself,” the pro athlete said about her fourth album of the year win following Sunday’s Grammys. “I told her I’ll have to hold up my end of the bargain and come home with hardware, too.”

[From People]

It’s interesting that Taylor has played some of the new album for him – Taylor just dropped the tracklist and it absolutely looks like the bulk of the album is about Joe Alwyn and maybe Matt Healy too. “But Daddy I Love Him” is probably about Harry Styles too – Styles was definitely the one who got away, and Styles has been seen wearing a t-shirt with that exact phrase. Anyway, it’s cool that Travis is his girl’s biggest hype man. That’s the way it should be, but the bar is in hell so Trav gets credit. Oh, Travis also said that he probably listens to “Anti Hero” every day and that’s his current favorite Swift song. Hm.

Taylor Swift has just revealed the tracklist for her freshly-announced album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” out April 19:

Side A
Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)
The Tortured Poets Department
My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
Down Bad

Side B
So Long, London
But Daddy I Love… pic.twitter.com/YBpDpljQmr

— Variety (@Variety) February 6, 2024

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Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.

On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. The cancer was apparently discovered around the same time that Charles was being treated for an enlarged prostate, and Rebecca English at the Daily Mail claims that Charles and Camilla knew of the diagnosis “early last week.” Charles was discharged from the London Clinic on January 29th, after which Camilla stepped out for events every day. Her demeanor was giddy and positive, which is surprising in retrospect. But, Becky English also reports that Charles’s doctors found the cancer early. Which is good news.

The King was last night reported to be ‘hugely positive’ following shock news that he has cancer. Family and friends were said to be amazed by his determination to carry on with ‘business as usual’. It is understood his condition has been caught very early and the prognosis is good.

Buckingham Palace dramatically revealed that doctors had discovered an unspecified form of cancer during treatment for a benign prostate condition. Charles informed close family by phone, including estranged son Harry who will fly back from his home in California to see his father. It will be the first time the pair have spent any significant time together in more than 18 months. Royal watchers were asking whether it might herald a thaw in relations.

Charles arrived in London yesterday morning from his Sandringham estate with his wife Camilla to start out-patient treatment at an undisclosed hospital. She will be at her husband’s side throughout but has insisted on continuing with her public engagements. Other members of the Royal Family will be stepping up to stand in for the sovereign, including the Prince of Wales, who will return to duties tomorrow after his own wife’s medical issues.

While cancelling all his public engagements, Charles is insisting on carrying on with his ‘red boxes’ of paperwork and he may even conduct a small number of face-to-face private meetings.

The Mail has learnt that the King has known about his diagnosis since early last week, insisting on going to church in Norfolk on Sunday and waving warmly to well-wishers. Camilla also stoically insisted on opening a new Maggie’s cancer care unit in London on Wednesday in the knowledge that her husband was about to have treatment. She carefully told well-wishers at the Royal Free Hospital that he was ‘getting on, doing his best’. A source said: ‘Full credit to her. She has been marvellous.’

Royal aides said they were carefully balancing the King’s right to privacy at a difficult and sensitive time with his role as head of state. But he hopes that by sharing the news that it will enable accurate reporting of his condition and prevent speculation on an issue that affects so many other families. No further details of which cancer he has been diagnosed with are being shared, aside from emphasising it is not prostate cancer, which is the biggest cancer killer of men in the UK each year. It is being stressed it was found only when the king had treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

[From The Daily Mail]

I’m glad they caught it early and I’m glad Charles is approaching this with optimism and positivity. Regardless of the realities of all of this, optimism and faith will consistently help in any medical situation. Going back through recent history, I wonder if this is why Camilla stayed by Charles’s side during the three days he was in the hospital. I also wonder if her priority, going forward, will be to stay close to Charles rather than keep up the schedule she had last week, when she was doing events every day. As for how Charles’s schedule will look… everyone’s saying that he would never appoint a regent and I don’t think that’s in the cards in any way in the immediate future. I assume that the palace briefings about keeping up with behind-the-scenes work will continue, but yeah – it will probably be a while before he has a public schedule.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

Prince Harry will be back in the UK today, if he’s not already there by now. He flew out of LAX yesterday and took an overnight flight. Harry’s wife and children did not travel with him, which of course is being dissected and agonized over in the British media already. A reminder, for those who choose not to remember – King Charles made it perfectly clear that the Duchess of Sussex and her children are not welcome in the UK. He evicted them from their home, he banned Meghan from Balmoral and he told Harry to give four weeks’ notice when traveling to the UK. Spare me the “Meghan should have come too.” Meghan is protecting her peace and she truly doesn’t owe them anything. Well, the Daily Mail’s Maureen Callahan wrote an infuriating column as soon as the palace announced King Charles’s cancer diagnosis and we learned that Harry would travel to the UK. Some of the lowest of all lowlights:

There needs to be a royal reconciliation: If ever there was a chance for royal reconciliation, now is the time. For all of Prince Harry’s publicly expressed doubts that there is no need for him in the royal family, that he is but a ‘spare’ — the deeply concerning news about King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis proves nothing is further from the truth. Prince Harry is essential to his family, now as never before. King Charles has said that the door is always open to his youngest son. Now is the perfect time for him to take this opportunity.

The Sussexes’ absence: It’s a dark hour for the monarchy – and doubtless a darker one for Harry. How difficult it must have been for him to hear this sad news while so far away. How keenly his absence, and that of little Archie and Lilibet, must be felt back home. Charles has only met Lilibet once, during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations — the only time she met her namesake, too. ‘It was wonderful to have [the grandchildren] back in Britain’, a royal source said at the time, adding that Charles and Camilla ‘were absolutely thrilled to see them’.

They’re desperate for Meghan, Archie & Lilibet to come to the UK: The Palace has confirmed that Charles told each of his sons about his diagnosis personally. Harry announced that he is flying home to London immediately. Will his children soon join him, as the King and Queen would surely hope? One senses that even Meghan might be cautiously welcomed. Charles did, after all, walk her down the aisle.

A pep talk for William: William, as we know, is less forgiving than his father. But with Kate recuperating, with three small children who need his constant presence, with a sick father and the weight of the Crown suddenly heavier than ever, the absence of his only sibling must be freshly painful. Could this window, long shut to Harry, be slightly ajar? What an opportunity this might be. What a comforting presence Harry and his children could provide to the King as he undergoes treatment. What a gift he and William could give their ailing father if they could find their way to some rapprochement. Their relationship might never be the same again, of course, but that could be a good thing — or at least, a more honest one. A reconciliation doesn’t mean they have to go deep. If they can find a way to come back together, it would be greater than any title or castle or inheritance — especially for their children, who have no relationship as cousins. And specifically for Harry’s children, who have little relationship to their most incredible and historic lineage. A brotherly reconciliation would ensure the future of the monarchy itself.

[From The Daily Mail]

The disgust and revulsion I felt with “One senses that even Meghan might be cautiously welcomed.” Meghan has done absolutely nothing wrong to those people and their hatred for her is still, to this day, appalling and shocking. It’s also so grotesque that even as the monarchy suffers blow after blow, the royal establishment clings to so many of their most vile beliefs and talking points, like “of course the children would be welcomed, but leave your Black wife at home,” and “we only want Harry alone, but Meghan should be desperate to come back here!”

“A brotherly reconciliation would ensure the future of the monarchy itself.” Yeah, as I’ve said before, if Harry was so fundamental to the future of the monarchy, then he should have been treated that way this entire time. It must piss off William to no end that every “possible reconciliation” story is an admission that William is incapable of doing this by himself.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

I just learned, right now, that SZA is a Scorpio. As a Virgo, that totally adjusted my opinion of SZA. While I try to be cool with Scorpios, that’s because I’m afraid of them. One of the most malcontent signs, I swear to god! I’m only half-joking – I’ve had some Scorpio friends over the years, and I never really know where I stand with them. It actually makes perfect sense that SZA is a Scorpio, but what doesn’t make sense is that she apparently doesn’t f–k with Cancers. Out of all of the signs, you’re going to beef with THAT sign? Cancers are like Leos, only (somehow) more emotional. SZA gave a rundown of her songs and which songs go with which signs and she revealed that she doesn’t make music for Cancers.

SZA gave her honest take on which of her songs represent the twelve sign Zodiac. In a TikTok for Apple Music, the Top Dawg Entertainment artist spent two minutes pondering the Zodiac and its compatibility with her music.

“Hey, it’s SZA. Y’all know I be on my astrology things, so we’re gonna give you my songs but in astrology form,” she began. “I’ve seen some of you do this already on your own, so let’s see if I’m in alignment.”

A voiceover then reads off each sign, which SZA compares to the songs in her catalog. For Capricorn, the SOS artist thought of the “driest” song she’s made, which she said was “Nobody Gets Me.”

“Aquarius… That is like the most ‘alt’ song that I have,” she continued. “So that would be, like, “Ghost in the Machine.”

For Pisces, SZA chose “Special,” while “F2F” is saved for Aries. “You did it for the thrill,” she told the Aries community.

“Taurus is like grounded but turnt up,” SZA said, name-checking her Taurian friend, Kehlani. Strictly for the Bull sign, the artist called out SOS track “Gone Girl.”

Calling out Geminis for their “brilliance,” SZA mentioned “Blind,” but jokingly showed her distaste for Cancers immediately after. “Cancer…” she said before leaning back. “I don’t make Cancer music. Respectfully.” (But later, she cleared up the response on her Instagram Stories, showing love to her Cancerian mother.)

Calling “Conceited” the “Leo anthem,” she switched “Gone Girl” from Taurus to Virgos. “That wasn’t a Taurus song,” she clarified.

The singer-songwriter said Libras exude “huge “Love Galore” energy,” naming her 2017 Travis Scott-assisted single. When landing on her sign, Scorpio, SZA called the decision “tough.” “Most of the vengeful records, like, “[Smoking on My”] Ex Pack…” that’s a real Scorpio song.”

Shrieking when she she heard the word “Sagittarius,” SZA said she had to choose a song “that talks the most crazy.” “So, basically, “Supermodel” is pretty, just like, ‘Why did you just say that?”

[From Complex]

I understand the flip of “Gone Girl” from Taurus to Virgo – we’re two sides of the same stubborn coin and we often vibe on the same kinds of things. I also like the fact that she showed respect to her Virgo sisters – she might feel the same way Virgos feel about Scorpios – wary respect, “please don’t f–k with me.” That being said, “Kill Bill” (a song about a woman murdering her ex) could be a Virgo anthem. I’m still sort of bewildered by SZA beefing with Cancers though? When Jennifer Lopez beefed with Virgos, I understood that sh-t (she’s a Leo). But is there some huge Scorpio-Cancer divide?

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

My Girl and I had an unexpected trip to the vet this weekend. She’s ok! Turns out the snazzy new harness I bought her was irritating a skin tag on her elbow. She seemed unperturbed, it wasn’t until I saw she was licking blood away that I realized something was amiss. Needless to say the harness has been thrown out, the vet gave us a cleaning solution and special ointment to treat the area, and I’ve been apologizing profusely ever since. While we were sitting in the vet’s waiting area, an adorable French bulldog came in with her papas. She was a sweet thing, but my goodness did the sound of her breathing permeate the room. The poor baby! And I thought back to French bulldogs being named America’s new favorite breed, and all the comments about the health woes of brachycephalic breeds. Well, the results of a new study make it official, as they found that small, long-nosed dogs live longer:

By a nose: Once size, face shape and sex were taken into account researchers found that overall small, long-nosed female dogs tended to have the longest lifespans among pure breeds, notching up a median of 13.3 years. However, breeds with flat-faces — a trait that has become fashionable in recent years — had a median lifespan of 11.2 years, and a 40% increased risk of shorter lives than dogs with medium-length snouts, such as spaniels.

The interaction of the key features: “Whilst previous research had identified sex, face shape and body size as contributing factors in canine longevity, no one had investigated the interaction between the three or explored the potential link between evolutionary history and lifespan,” said Dr Kirsten McMillan, the first author of the research from the charity Dogs Trust. Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, McMillan and colleagues report how they analysed data from 584,734 pure and crossbred dogs — 284,734 of which had died — gathered from 18 organisations, including rehoming and welfare organisations, breed registries and pet insurance companies.

The results: Taking into account all breeds and crossbreeds, the team found the median canine lifespan was 12.5 years, with female dogs living slightly longer than males. To delve deeper, the team looked at dogs from 155 pure breeds, finding larger dogs tended to have shorter lives than smaller dogs, while the length of a breed’s nose also mattered. Indeed, while miniature dachshunds had a median lifespan of 14 years, the figure was 9.8 years for French bulldogs. Experts have long said that brachycephalic breeds are prone to a plethora of health problems, including breathing difficulties and skin problems.

This was surprising: The team also found the median lifespan for pure breeds was longer than for crossbreeds, at 12.7 years and 12 years respectively, a result that is at odds with the idea that crossbreeds might be healthier because they have greater genetic diversity. However, they were unable to consider different types of crossbreeds, meaning data for dogs of unknown parentage was combined with data from “designer” mixes such as the labradoodle that may have far more inbreeding, potentially muddying the waters.

More data to gather: While the team did not have data on how the dogs died, they hope the study will spur others to unpick the risk factors behind the variations in lifespan. McMillan noted the differences were probably down to a complex mix of biological factors, such as body shape and genetics, as well as environmental factors including diet, exercise and training.

How to use these results: “In general, these results help potential owners, breeders, policymakers, funding bodies, and welfare organisations make informed decisions to improve the welfare of companion dogs,” she said. “But more specifically, I think this provides an opportunity for us to improve the lives of our canine companions. We are identifying groups that desperately need attention, so we can zone in on these populations and work out what the problem is.”

[From The Guardian]

Obviously there are a lot of mitigating factors that play into a dog’s life and health. So while My Girl lucks out with the key factors this study points to (being a girl, small, and bearing the nose of a dachshund), her weight is over what it should be. To the point where if one more person stops to ask if she’s expecting I’m gonna snap, “We’re not pregnant, we’re FAT!!” The kid loves food. She treats our walks like scavenger hunts — a remnant, I think, from the first 1.5 years of her life when she had to fend for herself — and inhales her food bowl when I put it down. And her figure isn’t all bad! She’s very shapely, she’s even been called sexy by our neighbors! It’s just that she could do with a canine tummy tuck. But at this point, she’s about to turn 12. So when the vet tells me to cut back her food portions (which aren’t that large to begin with) my impulse is that I don’t want to make her deprived and miserable, all in the name of extending her life. Quality of life matters for our pups, too, a point I thought the researcher deftly made in her last quote. She didn’t outright say “we need to stop breeding flat-faced dogs,” but she hinted at it in palatable words.

Photos credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich, Damir Mijailovic, WKN, Dominika Roseclay, Zuriel Trej and Sarah Chai on Pexels