Many people weren’t paying attention when Prince William and Kate spent more than a year – spring 2021 through late summer 2022 – publicly appealing for Charles to give them a big royal property somewhere in Windsor or Berkshire. They hated living in London, and they were house-hunting for private properties in Berkshire, they were checking out all of the properties on the Royal Windsor estate. For a while, I really thought that they would end up in Fort Belvedere, which is part of the Royal Windsor estate. William and Kate probably thought they would end up there too, or at least they thought they would be given one of the larger properties.

By the very end of the summer of 2022, they finally moved into Adelaide Cottage, which is not one of the grander properties on the estate. It was definitely kind of an insult to W&K that they were given Adelaide, a four-bedroom without “servants’ quarters.” Even before QEII passed away, it was widely believed that Adelaide would be a temporary placement and that Will and Kate would be “getting” Windsor Castle soon enough. Then Charles became king and instead of allowing Will and Kate to move into Windsor Castle, he told them to just stay put in that cramped cottage. It’s hilarious. Now William is throwing weekly tantrums about how he desperately needs Royal Lodge, his uncle’s property. All of which brings me to this story – Will and Kate are “resigned” to living in the cramped Adelaide Cottage for the time being.

Prince William and Kate have resigned to living in “too small” Adelaide Cottage for the foreseeable future – despite reportedly eyeing up Andrew’s Royal Lodge. The couple have been living in the cottage on the Windsor Estate with children George, Charlotte and Louis since moving in less than a year ago from Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

But plans by King Charles to downsize the family’s property – and news Prince Andrew is being asked to leave his £30million mansion – has thrown things into question. While the Lodge was at one point reportedly earmarked for the young family of five, OK! reports they are now accepting that they’ll be staying at Adelaide despite it being too cramped for them.

A source has explained that despite the questions hovering around Royal Lodge and the costs needed to repair it, the Duke of York was provided for in Queen Elizabeth’s will and, as a result, has been able to come up with the money to make essential repairs.

“The Palace originally wanted Andrew out of Royal Lodge so that the property could be renovated and prepared for new lodgers,” the source said. “The Prince and Princess of Wales desperately want a larger property for their family in the Windsor area and discussions were originally focused on putting them in there. However, Andrew was having none of it and is adamant that he will see out the end of his lease at Royal Lodge.”

A Kensington Palace source added: “William and Kate love the cottage but it’s just too small for them. There are four bedrooms which just about fit them all in but there are other things that need to be considered. Staff and other elements need to be factored in. It is also meant to be a working residence and there isn’t room to facilitate an office or hold more than a few guests at a time. They were looking for a larger home but have now resigned themselves to the fact that they will be stuck in the cottage due to other properties not opening up for them.”

[From The Daily Mirror]

What’s genuinely bonkers is thinking about the extensive real estate holdings of the Duchy of Cornwall, and how William could simply move his family into any of the residential real estate holdings. Of course, I understand the idea that they want to be near the kids’ school, they want to be in the Windsor area and they want a certain level of security. But again, there are other homes within the Royal Windsor estate. It really feels like King Charles has just been refusing to allow W&K to move into any of the bigger, grander homes. Out of spite? Or something else? In any case, I love this – they thought they were so clever, they thought they would be moving into Windsor Castle within months of QEII’s passing. Not so much.

Note by CB: Get the top 8 stories about Will and Kate’s real estate drama when you sign up for our mailing list! I only send one email a day on weekdays.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a reported $20 million contract with Spotify. Other than the one-time-only Christmas/NYE special, the only podcast they produced was Meghan’s Archetypes pod last year, which was a huge success, hitting #1 on Spotify’s podcast charts and temporarily dethroning Spotify’s golden (anti-vaxx) goose Joe Rogan. Many of us have been hoping for the announcement of a second season of Archetypes, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer, because Spotify and the Sussexes are quitting each other. This was first reported in the Wall Street Journal, so here’s that reporting:

Meghan Markle’s “Archetypes” Spotify podcast won’t be renewed for a second season, according to people familiar with the matter, a casualty of the audio company’s overhaul of its approach to podcasting. Producers of the show, which explored labels that hold women back, have been told that a second season won’t move forward, the people said, following discussions months ago about the possibility of one.

Markle’s podcast is the only project she and her husband, Prince Harry, completed for Spotify Technology after signing a roughly $20 million overall deal with the company in late 2020. The couple hasn’t met the productivity benchmarks required to receive the full payout from the deal, people familiar with the matter said.

The cancellation is a sign of the continuing correction in the podcast market, a format popular among listeners, but one that has proved hard to make profitable for Spotify and many of its rivals.

“The team behind Archetypes remain proud of the podcast they created at Spotify. Meghan is continuing to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform,” a spokeswoman for the couple’s Archewell Productions media company said.

Markle recently signed with talent agency WME. Conversations are ongoing for other homes for Archewell content, a person familiar with those discussions said.

Spotify last week laid off 200 people, including many audio engineers. The company announced a revamped approach to podcasting that includes making shows available on platforms outside Spotify and a shift to focus on offering creator tools to podcasters rather than making original content.

[From WSJ]

Deadline reported the news as “The Sussexes have separated from Spotify,” and describes the “talks” between Archewell and Spotify for a second season of Archetypes. Deadline makes it sound like the Sussexes “are rethinking their deals to find better homes and partnerships for content. There’s also a chance that Archetypes could wind up elsewhere, we hear.” This rethink is because of Meghan signing with WME. In any case, hours after WSJ’s exclusive report, the Sussexes issued a statement with Spotify:

A joint statement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s production company Archewell Audio and Spotify said: “Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together.”

A representative from WME, the talent agency that the Duchess of Sussex signed with earlier this year, told the Wall Street Journal, “The team behind Archetypes remain proud of the podcast they created at Spotify. Meghan is continuing to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform.”

[From People]

My take on this whole thing is that Meghan and Harry did nothing wrong – they were victims of a podcasting downturn in general, and this is more about Spotify’s business model than whatever the Sussexes did or did not do. Now, I think it’s a stupid business decision from Spotify to not fight to keep them. While the Sussexes could have done more with Spotify, what Meghan did with Archetypes was great, and the second season would have been great too. Instead, Archetypes will probably move to Audible or Amazon or whatever. That’s my guess.

Photos courtesy of Instar, Archewell, Spotify.

Variety’s Actors on Actors series has been happening in recent weeks for Emmy season. It’s always a big thing about which actors get paired together for their on-camera conversation. Personally, I enjoyed the vibe between Claire Danes and Kieran Culkin a bit too much (he is so flirty in real life), but sometimes, the actors-pairing brings out the worst in each other. I’m not saying that’s what happened between Emily Blunt and Brian Cox, but I’m not sure they brought out the best in each other. I’ve come around to the idea that Brian Cox really is this grumpy old man who seems to be followed by a dark cloud wherever he goes. Meanwhile, I usually like Emily unless she’s talking about how much she dislikes being a naturalized American citizen and living in America. Some highlights from their Variety talk:

BRIAN COX: What’s so nice about English girls is they’re so direct, and they’re not full of nonsense. You’re just direct and straight to the humor. I love that about the English girls.

EMILY BLUNT: I miss that, living in America. I miss the directness and the irreverence and the attitude.

COX: They’re a bit Christian here. They do everything by the so-called Christian book, which I question. I think it’s a bit hypocritical, quite honestly.

BLUNT: I’ve found my little pocket of Brits in and around Brooklyn…. Do you love living in Brooklyn?

COX: Brooklyn is finally the place where I’ve felt at home. It’s taken me a long time to feel at home in this country. I used to live in Los Angeles, but as I say, I ran out of farmers markets. What am I going to do in Los Angeles? Everybody’s so miserable. They pretend they’re happy, but they’re deeply miserable.

*****

BLUNT: “The Devil Wears Prada”! It was just an extraordinary overnight shift in my life when that came out.

COX: I loved it. And to work with one of the greatest screen actresses of all time, I so envy you. One of my ambitions, before I snuff it, is to work with Meryl.

BLUNT: Oh, don’t say “snuff it”! You will. She’s amazing and was slightly terrifying on that film. She said it was one of the first times she’s tried Method acting. But it made her so miserable, playing Miranda.

COX: I met her once, and I said, “I never liked you.” And she went, “What?” I said, “I never liked you because I was jealous.” How can anybody be that good?

[From Variety]

Don’t you see, they both live in Brooklyn, which is the only place in America they’ve ever liked because they hate the puritanical, humorless, hypocritical, indirect Americans and their farmers markets? Don’t you just love it when two immigrants sit around, bitching about their adopted home? All of this time, I’ve never really understood why both of them feel the need to live in America if they’re going to look down the noses at everyone here. Succession is over – Cox can move back to Scotland. Blunt should insist that John Krasinski uproot himself and their kids to move to England. Enough already. Sidenote: I don’t find English people “direct” at all – they speak and write in these absurd riddles, talking around topics and using their little “codes.”

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Photos courtesy of Instar, Avalon Red, Instagram, Backgrid.

I still remember all of the pearl-clutching and otherizing about then-Meghan Markle’s feminism. This was back in 2017, during Meghan and Prince Harry’s courtship and eventual engagement. The British media screamed and cried about the fact that Meghan spoke about feminism and considered herself a feminist. They called her “too political” and worried that her “feminism” would not fit in well with the Windsors. Then, of course, they went on to claim that Queen Elizabeth was more of a feminist than Meghan. And of course Kate was a feminist too, just in a different, more acceptable way! Good times. Well, you know who else is a feminist? You guessed it, the same homewrecker who used to brief the British media about how her married lover’s wife was mentally unstable.

Discussing Queen Camilla’s Reading Room project, Jennie Bond told OK! that while this is one of her main areas of focus, Camilla is also deeply committed to women’s issues.

“The Queen is absolutely passionate about reading and saw huge success when she launched her Reading Room charity on Instagram,” Bond said. “She has read since she was young and loves nothing more than sitting quietly with King Charles and reading in separate corners of the same room. I think she has probably be surprised—and thrilled—by the success of this literary venture but she remains loyal to her other charities and causes, particularly domestic violence.

“The Queen is a fiercely modern feminist who has some radical and forward thinking ideas—Meghan was certainly not the first member of the family to claim this credential!”

[From Marie Claire]

I mean… we’re calling Camilla a bold feminist because she reads. Because she “has read since she was young.” Because she still loves to read. I enjoy reading as well, but given that I live in America, my literacy is not some bold feminist statement (as it would be in a country where girls’ education is in crisis). Besides all of that, Camilla’s life has not been spent in the pursuit of feminism or enhancing women’s lives. Camilla has always defined herself through men and Camilla is solely out for Camilla – she’s a throwback to another era, where a woman’s power was solely from her sexuality and from her connection to powerful men. She’s not a modern feminist in any way.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

Lady Gaga is getting dragged for her Nurtec ad. [Dlisted]
It feels like every single day, photo agencies have new photos of Olivia Wilde leaving the gym. Is she the only celebrity going to this one gym? It’s so weird. Anyway, she now has bangs, and that’s the headline. [JustJared]
Greta Gerwig came out for the Asteroid City premiere too. [LaineyGossip]
Emily Blunt’s Prada looks like something Princess Kate would wear. [Tom & Lorenzo]
Should TV shows do away with the “cliffhanger” model? [Pajiba]
Phoebe Waller Bridge wore McQueen to the Indiana Jones premiere. [RCFA]
The AP Stylebook doesn’t think we should use “TERF” anymore. [Jezebel]
Who won the Stanley Cup? [GFY]
Taylor Swift isn’t your friend. [Buzzfeed]
Storage Wars’ Jarrod Schulz is a domestic abuser. [Starcasm]
NY Attorney General: Target shouldn’t remove Pride items. [Towleroad]

pic.twitter.com/L61VyjkVbz

— v (@ViralMaterialz) June 13, 2023

Jennifer Aniston has not been in a serious relationship, to our knowledge, since Justin Theroux. Jennifer and Justin broke up – although they claimed they were “divorcing” – in February 2018. I actually believe that Jennifer has dated random guys in the past five years and we just never learned about it, mostly because she never made anything official or did a big boyfriend rollout. It seemed like Aniston’s need to always be publicly associated with a man died after her fake marriage to Theroux ended. Which is fine with me and fine with Aniston’s fans. I think her life sounds amazing – she’s rich, she lives in mansions, she renovates these exclusive properties to her ‘70s aesthetic, she has dogs and lots of friends and a private chef. That’s the dream. But because she’s Jennifer Aniston, people always focus on her romantic life, even if there’s nothing going on there. Thus, this Us Weekly story:

In her glory days. Jennifer Aniston is still open to finding The One — but is perfectly happy embracing life on her own.

“[Jennifer] in a great place. She’s happy, healthy and fulfilled by her career, family and friends,” an insider shares in the newest edition of Us Weekly. “[She’s] been through a lot, but she feels blessed to be thriving personally and professionally.”

Since her divorce from Justin Theroux, Aniston has been happy rolling solo — and isn’t worried about when the next chapter of her love life will begin. “In her gut, Jen believes she’ll eventually meet the right person,” a second source tells Us. “But she’s not going to beat herself up if it doesn’t happen.”

The Emmy winner recently made headlines for her decision to embrace the aging process by showing off her gray hair – and feels “empowered looking at beauty from the inside out,” the second source tells Us. “Sure, she’s had subtle help here and there and occasional touch-up, but nothing too intense or over the top. She’s way more interested in natural, organic beauty methods.”

Part of feeling good is focusing on her health. Aniston tries to work out about five times a week, according to the insider, who notes that the California native “also meditates and loves hikes with her dogs.”

That doesn’t mean the We’re the Millers star doesn’t embrace balance — and letting loose when the moment calls for it. “Jen’s meals are rich in protein with a healthy amount of carbs and he also indulges in treats and cheat days,” the insider explains. “If she wants to enjoy a dirty martini or tequila, she’ll splurge. It’s no big deal.”

For Aniston, it’s about “being as healthy and happy as she can be,” the first source says. That includes involving herself in professional opportunities that she feels passionate about. “[She] still has goals when it comes to her acting career,” the insider shares, noting that the Break-Up actress would “love to get her hands on an Oscar-worthy script” but has a “go-with-the-flow attitude” about what comes next.

[From Us Weekly]

This bugs me – I did a better job of making Aniston’s life sound amazing than her publicist did. Like, Aniston is at her best when she’s in her lane of comedic TV actress and all-around girl-next-door and “friend.” That’s her brand. She’s 54 years old – the jig is up, and Jennifer is living the exact life she wants for herself, so why do we have to insinuate that she’s still waiting for The One, waiting for the Oscar-bait script, waiting for the next big thing? I don’t know, this article irritated me. I have to say, I’m actually grateful that we haven’t been inundated with this kind of stuff over the past five years. Aniston’s CAA team stopped casting her as Ms. Lonelyhearts, but every now and then, they go back to that well.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

As Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp promoted The Idol, we often got the impression that they were promoting two different shows. Lily-Rose seems to believe that she’s promoting a show where her character is going through a brave feminist journey of escaping the clasp of a cult leader, sort of. Abel seems to believe that he’s playing a sexy, charming psycho who can get women to do whatever he wants. Anyway, I’m still not watching this crap, but a lot of you are, and I’ve seen some of the “commentary” and jokes about the cheesy grossness of The Idol. Now that two episodes are out and everyone keeps talking about how Abel is a terrible, charisma-free actor, it’s time for Abel to come out and say, hahaha, no, I’m in on the joke, you guys. My character is supposed to be a cheeseball! My character is supposed to be a charisma-vacuum loser! Some highlights from Abel’s GQ interview this week:

How he feels about the response to The Idol: “I’m loving it. It’s definitely shaken up the culture for sure [laughs]. We knew we were making something dark and controversial but true to what we want to say.

He’s fine with the conversation: “I just think discussion is healthy, no matter what. To me it’s like, I’m just happy that there’s conversation. That’s important for anything I do, especially this new medium that I’m in.

Peeling back the layers of Tedros: “When I’m trying to explain who he is, it’s tough without revealing too much, without peeling away too much of the layers. You try to be as mysterious as possible about who the character is so that you can take [the audience] on this journey. But piece by piece, week by week, we’ll reveal who he is. But he’s what you see on screen. He’s definitely a challenge. He’s despicable, a psychopath—why sugarcoat it? But he’s somehow useful to this girl, and it’s unfortunate and we hate to see it.

But Tedros isn’t actually a layered, mysterious guy: “Yeah, [the vampire imagery is] all intentional to heighten the camp of it all. But the reality is, there’s nothing really mysterious or hypnotizing about him. And we did that on purpose with his look, his outfits, his hair—the guy’s a douchebag. You can tell he cares so much about what he looks like, and he thinks he looks good. But then you see these weird moments of him alone—he rehearses, he’s calculated. And he needs to do that, or he has nothing, he’s pathetic. Which is true of a lot of people who are a fish out of water, put into these scenarios.

Tedros is just a con artist: “You look at him, and this is a score—Jocelyn might be the biggest score he’s ever had. It’s very obvious. He’s over-indulging, he walks into this house looking around like, Goddamn, am I way over my head? This can be the biggest job I’ve ever done. Whatever it is that he’s doing. Even the sex, it’s so gluttonous [laughs]. Especially in episode 2. ‘Gluttony’ is the only word I can think of [to describe it]. He can’t believe he’s there. He comes off like such a loser. Those moments are the humanity that you find in a psychopath, the chink in his armor.

Those exploitative sex scenes aren’t supposed to be sexy: “There’s nothing sexy about it. When we use Basic Instinct as a reference, we’re using Verhoeven. Verhoeven is the king of ‘90s satire thriller—yes, there’s moments of “sexy” in his films but there are other moments that are very cheesy and hilarious. How ever you’re feeling watching that scene, whether it’s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters. It’s all those emotions adding up to: This guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.

[From GQ]

It’s actually hilarious to me that he’s now trying to play off all of the criticism as “you guys, we meant to do that” and “of course it’s supposed to be gross and awkward and awful, we were trying to do that!” Here’s the thing: even if you could successfully argue that Abel’s character Tedros was supposed to be telegraphing his lack of charisma, his loser energy… then why didn’t they make it realistic when it came to how Lily-Rose’s character reacts to him? This is the problem. Anyway… yeah, it’s so funny to me. “I meant to do that, you just couldn’t tell because I’m such a terrible actor!”

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Sometimes, I’m actually left utterly aghast with the frenetic crackhead energy of some of the royal commentary in the UK. If you told me that Petronella Wyatt was in a near-constant state of coked-up, posh-accented, stream-of-consciousness delusion, I would believe you, because that’s exactly how she writes. Wyatt has a bug up her bum about Prince Harry and she’s hellbent on spreading her cracked-out lies and delusions far and wide. Wyatt was part of the scheme, last month, to convince everyone that Harry and Meghan were on the verge of divorce. This month, her cracked-out delusions are about how cruel it is for Harry to testify about how Chelsy Davy was stalked and harassed by the British media. That’s not all – Wyatt also wants to convince people that Harry and Boris Johnson are “more alike than you might think.” She’s written two columns in the broke-ass Telegraph about those subjects this week. Here’s part of her exclusive about Chelsy:

How does [Harry] square his gallant protection of one woman with his willingness to throw another to the wolves, and indeed to the tabloids? Pity Chelsy Davy, the Chandleresque blonde whose youthful dalliance with Harry is now known to people who weren’t even born when it happened. Was it right to drag her name into court?

Davy is married, and has a young child. Did it not occur to Harry, who feels every prick of life like a dagger, that revisiting the flora of their affair might distress this blameless person who, unlike Meghan, backed out of the strobe lights? Did he even bother to consult her before he sued?

According to a Davy family friend, he did not. Once again, his willingness to share details about personal relationships with women makes him less Lochinvar than louche. His constant cri de coeur is that no one comprehends how he feels. Well, Harry my boy, I do.

In the meantime, he is inflicting pain on his former girlfriend, something on which both he and his feminist wife would do well to ponder.

[From The Telegraph]

It occurs to me that Wyatt and the rest of them are actually mad that Chelsy Davy hasn’t come out and given them content. She hasn’t given any interviews in years, and she’s literally just raising her child and minding her business. Wyatt couldn’t even get anyone in Chelsy’s family to talk to her – she’s just going off a “Davy family friend,” which could be anyone, even someone at the Telegraph. Anyway, I would guess that Chelsy was much more upset about a tracker being placed on her car and airlines being paid off to reveal her travel info than she is about Harry’s testimony about those subjects.

As for the “Harry and BoJo are alike” piece, it’s possibly even more cracked out than the Chelsy Davy one. I think this part is the crux of Wyatt’s argument:

Born in the US, Johnson believes in the dreams of lucre. The love of money, natural in a prince, now runs in his veins like a bacterial sickness. He was always stingy. When I knew him, his idea of a treat was Pizza Express, which, admittedly, is more Andrew than Harry. Living off the largesse of others, a very Harry habit, it seems has recently enabled Boris to buy a £3 million house in Oxfordshire.

Then there is the lure of beauty. The meretricious charms of a fair one has caused both men travails. Carrie is, in many ways, an aspirant Meghan. She, too, persuaded her husband of the woke virtues: carbon net zero, animal rights, conservation, sustainable fashion. I hear she intends to launch her own lifestyle blog, modelled on Markle’s The Tig. “Carrie loves Meghan, and wants to be a global icon,” said a former Downing Street aide. “She wanted to be like the Princess of Wales, but that was taking it a bit too far.”

[From The Telegraph]

They’re mad that… Harry has money, success, a beautiful wife and liberal politics. And they’re trying to say that Carrie Johnson is trying to be the next Meghan. This bitch is giving me a headache, Jesus.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

I’m lowkey obsessed with Christine Baumgartner these days. Christine filed for divorce from Kevin Costner in early May, in what was apparently a total shock to him. It’s looking more and more like Christine only filed for divorce when she had all of her ducks in a row – this wasn’t done on a whim, this wasn’t half-assed. She has a divorce lawyer and she’s listening to everything the lawyer is saying, that’s what it sounds like. In the six weeks since she filed for divorce, Christine has not moved from the $145 million Carpinteria, California home she shared with Costner. While the home is in his name alone (he purchased it years before they married), that’s the home where Christine has been raising their three minor children. Costner has gone to court to evict Christine and force her to adhere to the terms of their 2004 prenup. Christine is saying nuh-uh, not so fast. The Daily Mail had even more about the situation, including a hilarious detail about Christine using one of Kevin’s credit cards to charge for a forensic accountant. ‘Atta girl!!!

Kevin Costner’s divorce from estranged wife Christine Baumgartner just got explosive, with claims that star is now ‘homeless’, she splurged $95k on his credit card and has a restraining order against him. In court papers seen by DailyMail.com the actor’s lawyers claim that they have made ‘multiple offers’ to get his wife to move out of the former marital home – but have failed to reach agreement with Christine, 49. a model turned handbag designer, leaving him effectively homeless.

Costner, 68, remarks: ‘this is surprising and disheartening to me.’ He adds: ‘I was married once before and, upon separation, found myself without home base and unable to live in my own home. I never wanted this to happen again. ‘

Costner is worth $250 million and under the terms of the prenup, signed in 2004, she was to leave his properties if they split and relocate, using a $1.2 million fund to find a new house. Costner alleges that she is in breach of that agreement – saying that he now wishes to move back into the huge house which they shared. She was spotted at the property yesterday.

The lawyers said: ‘ What is happening now is exactly what he and Christine contracted to avoid in the event their marriage failed. Christine has accepted the benefits of the PMA (pre marital agreement ) over the years, but now refuses to accept this one burden’.

Both sides seem to be preparing for a ‘War of the Roses’ style legal battle over their huge $145 million house in Carpinteria, California. It is owned solely by Costner and he bought it in 1988, long before their 2004 wedding. Costner, filming in Utah for the past few months, is complaining that he needs a home as he will be off location from early June. Extraordinarily, he says that he was made homeless during his last divorce. The house next door, also owned by him, is used he says as a place to edit films.

Costner alleges that following their separation she ‘charged $95,000’ to his credit card ‘without prior notice to me.’ That money was spent on lawyers and on a forensic accountant.

Meanwhile Costner claims she wants the world to see the financial details of the pre-nuptial agreement which they signed. He says that would put him under risk of ‘irreparable harm’ from fraudsters or burglars, and be likely to attract unwanted and embarrassing global media attention.

[From The Daily Mail]

Please, this is hysterical. Kevin Costner is an idiot. All he had to do was be the bigger man and treat his estranged wife – and mother of his three youngest children! – with respect, and none of this would be in the public sphere. Costner is the one running to court, crying about how he’ll be HOMELESS. Dude owns plenty of other properties, including the house adjacent to the family home Christine is apparently now squatting in. I have no idea if Christine’s endgame is to get that house in the divorce, but it’s asinine for Costner to demand that Christine move out immediately, before they’ve even BEGUN to negotiate the terms of their divorce. The thing about the forensic accountant is f–king gold too – what a self-own for Costner to admit that in court documents. “Your honor, she charged a forensic accountant’s services to my credit card when I was trying to financially screw her over and hide my assets!!”

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Tuesday evening, Prince William and the Duchess of Edinburgh stepped out for a screening of Rhino Man. I was shocked to see them paired up – while Sophie and Edward will often do events alongside William and Kate, this is the first time that William and Sophie have left their spouses at home and done an event just the two of them. It was also weird how both of them looked so relaxed – Sophie was practically glowing, and William didn’t have his little fists of rage balled up. He seemed happy to be hanging out with Sophie. I mentioned in my coverage, “I cannot WAIT for the dozens of stories about how William and Sophie are the new ‘power duo’ of the monarchy and how they should be paired up for glitzy events all the time.” Well, I was half right. The narrative isn’t “wow, Peg and Sophie are great together.” The narrative is “Sophie is amazing and she’s single-handedly carrying the monarchy.” From the Daily Mail’s latest, “The Royal Family’s new star! Duchess of Edinburgh is ‘indispensable’ to Kate and William thanks to her ‘natural warmth and low-key approach’ – and her outing with the Prince proved her new status, royal experts claim.” Oy vey.

The Duchess of Edinburgh enjoyed a rare joint engagement with the Prince of Wales – and royal experts have now said it’s a clear sign of just how important Sophie has become to The Royal Family. It’s a rare sight to see Prince Edward’s wife on an outing with only the heir to the British throne – but royal experts have said this is a clear indication of her new and improved status within The Firm.

Speaking to FEMAIL, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the pair’s engagement together was ‘unusual, but it highlighted Sophie’s role as one of the hardest working members of The Royal Family. William and Catherine have a unique profile as the world’s most glamorous royal couple with enormous soft power reach. Sophie has clearly established herself as their indispensable support.’

The royal expert continued: ‘There is periodic interest in what Sophie wears, but she and her husband Edward are not in the eye of the media storm. That is the way they prefer it. However they are pivotal to the monarchy’s charitable role, which is one of its main functions. Yesterday’s event put this firmly in the spotlight. Her style is similar to Princess Anne, as she prefers a low-key approach to her duties. They have included trips to areas of conflict such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone.’

Royal author Phil Dampier, meanwhile, explained: ‘Sophie is becoming a big star in The Royal Family and boy do they need her! With Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew off the scene the King has got a slimmed down monarchy, but maybe it’s slimmed down too much. He and the Queen, and Princess Anne are in their seventies and others like the Duke of Kent are approaching retirement. Sophie is a much bigger star than her husband Edward. She has a natural warmth and is good on walkabouts. She has been quietly getting on with the job, rather like Anne, and made several visits abroad. She has matured greatly and seeing her by William’s side is an indication of her new status,’ the author concluded.

[From The Daily Mail]

Gee, wouldn’t it have been amazing if the Windsors hadn’t mistreated and abused an actual glamorous actress who married into the family? Meghan could have sprinkled her glamour over the whole family and effectively modernized this whole boring, staid, intolerant, racist institution. Instead, y’all have to spend all of this effort and energy trying to make fetch happen. It’s been decades and no one’s buying whatever the “new star” (lol) Sophie is selling. Now, all that being said, the optics are still fascinating to me, especially given that Kate and Edward stayed away. Hm.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.