Isn’t it interesting how generally quiet the royal family has been over the past few weeks? There’s news about Prince Andrew, of course, but it really feels as if the royal reporters have all called in sick with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex away for their “six weeks off.” Even with Prince William going on tour in the Middle East and a few appearances by the Duchess of Cambridge, it’s been especially slow in the royal-gossip world. Almost as if Meghan and Harry have become the real stars of the royal family and when they’re away, no one gives a sh-t about the rest of them? So, the Daily Mail decided to make a special story for Meg and Harry, since no one knows where they are or what they’re doing. According to the DM, Meghan is sitting around her California lair, plotting some kind of charitable takeover. How monstrous!!
Meghan Markle is using her break from royal duties to work with a boss at her former Hollywood publicist on a strategy to raise ‘tens of millions of dollars’ for the foundation she and her husband are setting up, DailyMailTV can reveal. The Duchess of Sussex is said to be in ‘full work mode’ behind the scenes during her and Harry’s extended vacation. DailyMailTV has learned that The Duchess has been working with PR advisor, fellow American and close friend Keleigh Thomas Morgan on building a U.S. strategy for the charity venture, which has the full name Sussex Royal, The Foundation of the D&D of Sussex.
Sources in Los Angeles say that Thomas Morgan has been secretly assisting Meghan on the charity launch and fundraising drive and helping her plot a strategy for the next 18 months. Thomas Morgan is a partner and head of West Coast operations for PR giant Sunshine Sachs, where the Duchess was a client before her engagement to Prince Harry. Thomas Morgan is working privately, not through the firm. Prince Harry is understood to have handed his wife the reins and his full backing.
‘Meghan may officially be on her royal break, but don’t believe she is taking her foot off the gas,’ a source with knowledge of the project told DailyMailTV. ‘The break and Thanksgiving of course have been a time to balance the needs of her family, but you cannot underestimate what an incredible force Meghan is. Thomas Morgan has been a huge help in turning Meghan’s vision into reality. She is also acting as a great networker, helping build out relationships and business arrangements once Meghan has set up links to her other celebrity supporters and friends. What is most interesting is that Meghan feels that while the charity will be a worldwide venture, she sees Hollywood and American business circles as key to fundraising. Meghan feels that with the wealth in the U.S., focusing on fundraising stateside will bring in tens of millions of dollars quickly.’
‘While Harry and Meghan are technically on rest, she is not the type of woman who likes doing nothing; so this break actually could be seen by some as very fortuitous. This is a mission that Meghan has been on for a long time,’ the source said. ‘Even in her younger years in Hollywood, she wanted to work towards creating an international charity changing lives. Now that she has the platform and profile of being a British royal she can truly build this plan. She sees this foundation as one of the key factors in creating a legacy as a new royal and Harry is right behind her. She is plowing much of her time and energy into getting every aspect of the charity ready. Meghan is desperate to make it a success and is overseeing everything from basic letters for potential sponsors to being part of negotiations for the fundraisers and launch.
It all overkill for “Meghan is taking some meetings and planning out what the Sussexes’ charity will do over the next year.” I have no doubt that Meghan – like Harry’s mother, Princess Diana – now understands how useful it is to work with people outside of the palace. I have no doubt that Meghan has learned that the courtiers are absolute morons who gleefully throw her under the bus constantly AND give her bad advice. So yes, she’s probably working with American PR peeps and that’s for the best. But that’s not the point of this story. The point of this story is to paint Meghan as a pushy, ambitious American who dares to do things differently! HOW DARE SHE. Meanwhile… guess we’re not going to get that Early Years launch by the end of the year, huh?
Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid and Avalon Red.
I’m of two minds about how Diana would feel about Meghan. On one hand, I think she’d love her because Diana knew how awful the BRF can be and she too had to fight against all the restrictions and subterfuge. On the other hand, she groomed her boys to be proper royals but to also know the real world. I know she’d be heartbroken about William and Harry’s rift.
Pardon me, but what on earth does this mean?
“she groomed her boys to be proper royals but to also know the real world”
It means exactly what it says. They were raised to be royals and to be aware of their status but Diana also took them out to bad neighbourhoods and soup kitchens and homeless shelters to show them the other side of life, not just the privilege. “See? Not everyone likes us” she would say to them when they were jeered at and insulted. She wanted them to have some semblance of a normal childhood despite palace trappings. So not sure where the “what on earth” is coming from.
When did the jeering and insulting happen?
@kelleybelle – That statement by itself is clear. But somehow it is supposed to be related to how Diana would feel *about Meghan*
@GatorLover, I see. Personally I think Diana would’ve loved Meghan.
@Maria, when she took them through bad neighbourhoods and down and out areas of London, to show them that not everyone loved the monarchy. In the safety of a car of course. I read that in a credible article some years ago.
Out on a limb here but what is probably meant by that is that from a very insular and narrowly structured worldview Meghan doesn’t fit the traditional profile for marriage to a highly visible royal duke who has retained his status. First off, she’s not from their aristocratic circle, e.g., from Britain or even from an aristocratic family based in old world Europe. Secondly, she’s not British (Kate has the edge here). She’s not even Canadian but US American. She’s biracial. (Kate has the edge here again because she’s white without claim of being bi/tri/multiracial.) And it’s not some mysterious exotic mix but just black. (I’m black, so I’m not discounting that but acknowledging how some people think.) Meghan is a former actress, which in past and in some circles virtually meant a prostitute or sexually loose with her favors. At best, mistress material but not wife material. She’s divorced, which also means that she’s had sex before (we assume) and therefore not some discreet liaison that may or may not be true. (Kate met William in college, so she gets a pass here. People don’t or haven’t looked into her “virtue” pre- William.) Meghan is from a family that definitely has a working class background. Doesn’t matter how much her parents earned. What matters is that they had to work to get it. (Kate falls down here as well). They both fall down re: shady family members who don’t know how to be discreet.
I’m not saying that any of this is my worldview but probably what was meant by the statement a proper royal. 🤷🏽♀️
Chelle – I think you’re correct on the anti-American, and anti-Actress bias. Maybe we can blame all those hordes of Americans who descend upon Britain each summer to clog the streets and annoy the locals.
But I’ll take it a step further – they really don’t like her California-ness. The touchy-feely-talk-in-new-age-psychotherapy-terms makes them feel awkward. Ironic, because all of these behaviors and terminology are part of “White” California, not necessarily “Black” California.
And when Diana was in her 30’s, she was trying out all that “White” California New Age-y stuff, and openly mocked for it in the media (aroma therapy, psychics, tarot cards, yoga, life coaching, etc.)
For the traditionalists (and let’s face it, that’s who supports the monarchy), this is all anti-thetical to the concept of the BRF – which is supposed to support cultural Britain, not push cultural California. They are looking for Royals to make them feel good about being British: The music, folk dances, food dishes, classical arts, rituals, sports, etc. That is the traditional world view, but it’s not Meghan Markle’s.
She seems like a really nice, genuine person, full of entrepreneurial spirit and energy. But I think the BRF “job” is not what she is hoping it will be.
I think the Diana that married the Prince of Wales would be aghast at both of her son’s choices. She was an aristocrat through and through, from an old family. But, I think the Diana that lived through the heartache, the backstabbing, the isolation of royal life, would just want her sons to find happiness with someone who could support them in their respective roles.
I don’t understand this either. Are you saying the explanation is that Diana was a snob?
@I know – yeah, life and experiences have such a way of changing our perspectives especially if those experiences were emotionally jarring, isolating or challenging. I was just telling a friend that sometimes it’s good to be on the receiving end of something bad/unpleasant or foreign to your experience. It wakes you up, makes you see what you didn’t know, or how you were wrong/slack and can even create empathy for others in like situations.
Oops – sorry @Iknow. You were contrasting early Diana and late, so that makes sense. I just don’t get the original “two minds about Meghan” post.
What does this even mean? What about Meghan, who has worked since she was 13, would not remind Harry of the “real world”?
Ah yes, the real world. Like a Pizza Express in Woking?
^^ So true. lmao
Diana had a complicated relationship with women, according to almost every biographer whose written about her. I think Diana would be — first and foremost — jealous. Jealous of their press, their youth, their coming first in her sons’ lives, and their taking any of her spotlight from her. Diana was driven to always “be number one.”
Neither William or Harry would’ve married the women they are with if their mother was alive. So there is no point in guessing what she would’ve thought of Meghan because she wouldn’t have Meghan wouldn’t be around. Their mother’s death shaped them in a lot of ways especially who in they choose to marry.
I always though that JA.
Diana courted the media a lot more than people realised. She loved being the young pretty royal and would have hated getting old and becoming less relevant.
In my opinion she would have been a tricky mother-in-law to have. She was so attached to her boys and saw them as a source of support (in her own words William had to look after her when she and Charles separated- huge burden to place on a young boy who didn’t even live with her full time).
I would not have wanted her as a MIL as well. I think she would have been a snobbish kiss-the-ring passive aggressive type MIL.
I agree. I also think that despite her being very close to her boys emotionally when they were young, I think that would have changed as they got older. She had falling outs with pretty much everyone in her life at one point or another. I would imagine that she would have happened even with her sons.
Sadly I agree that she might have fallen out with one or both of her sons or daughters in law.
Diana grew an incredible amount in the nearly two decades she was in the public eye – emotionally and intellectually.
Imagine how much more she would have grown in the twenty years since.
I don’t disagree with this assessment – except that Diana would have grown in the years since. She was just 36 when she died in 1997. 22 years later, she would be 58 now, probably remarried (and maybe divorced a second time, who knows?) but definitely wiser and probably leading a lower-profile life.
Diana’s life clearly inspires both Harry and Meghan to “do good”. But I worry that their desire to create this Sussex Royal Foundation, and become international charity stars is going to backfire on them. After finishing her degree at Northwestern University, Meghan took the foreign service exam, and didn’t pass.
Diplomacy is a tricky job, and I don’t think Meghan’s bubbly personality was suited for it. Just look at the career professionals who testified at recent Judiciary Hearings in the US House of Representatives. They speak in careful, calm, bland tones. The goal is not to be the “big star” but to support the “big star” (the ambassador, the Secretary of State, and ultimately the President).
The BRF is a type of soft diplomacy. They are expected to speak in the same careful, calm, bland tones. The goal is not to be the “big star” but to support the “big star” (William – 2nd in line, Charles – 1st in line, and ultimately the Queen).
To stay in the BRF, Meghan and Harry need to model themselves after Edward and Sophie. Because that is their future; to attend “B” grade events that the higher-ups in the chain of command do not want to / have time to attend.
I suppose they could renounce the BRF and do their own “Charity World Stars” thing from the USA. The press would voraciously follow them (as the press followed the Duke and Duchess of Windsor back in the 1950s-1960s). I don’t think they can have their cake (privacy) and eat it too (public publicity, acclaim, corporate and celeb donations to the Sussex Royal Foundation).
They could go truly private and live in BFE Nowheresville, and volunteer privately. But I don’t think either one wants that.
It’s a personal pet peeve of mine when people speculate on what Diana would think. I can’t put my finger on it but it annoys the hell out of me. It’s like an imaginary post in the middle of a real post. Do you know what Napoleon was thinking too?
Yeah RoyalBlue. Same. It is impossible to know how any one would be because people change and circumstances change. If Malcolm X had died in his early 20s he would have died a pimp instead of a black separatist freedom fighter and later and global revolutionary thinker. All very different iterations of the same human being.
True.
But really-how is it ANY different that anything we discuss on this site? We don’t actually “know” any of these celebrities in real life. We are guessing, theorizing and assuming for everyone of them whether they’re alive or dead based on bits of interviews, pr spin and paparazzi photographs. It’s all an illusion and imaginary.
Good for Meghan and Harry. Of course the DM will try to frame it and Meghan in a negative light but I am excited to see what they will accomplish.
For once I don’t think the DM is framing them in a negative light and I think their article is fine. I think people are looking for the negative and twisting the story to suit that narrative.
In fact if anything, it’s putting all the credit on Meghan, which will only really backfired for her if she doesn’t deliver.
This sounds like white ppl who say a passive racist comments aren’t actually racist comments when they are. I read the entire article. And while I know biases from how they’ve spoke of both H and M before can color my POV, I have the objectivity required to read an article that is trying to play coy. They didn’t have anything they could misconstrue into an aggressively blatant negative attack against them with the news they’ve gotten, so instead they’ve presented it as the overzealous Hollywood Meghan taking over the Sussex Royal foundation (as if Harry has no say or is not also involved as an active party—emasculating their Prince w/sly dog whistling techniques) . That article did its best to frame M as a one woman show that has apparently taken over her Royal house (as if she were the birthed Princess, and not who married the Royal), a controlling and power-hungry/rouge who has lobotomized her husband). And whoever believes this was an article meant to paint them in a positive light as opposed to covertly bash H for not having more balls to put his wife in her place, and paint M as a self serving, domineering PR machine more concerned w/appearances (bringing in the most $$ as means to show-up the Cambridges on purpose as opposed to the charity benefits being #1 priority and being gracious about it) is a allowing themselves to be the fool the DM believes them to be. This is their strategic narrative of which their next round of fuckery in 2020 will be based on and it won’t be anything genuine. This is a story…a tactless soap opera in which we are headed into season 4 of The American Duchess is Destroying your Precious Lily White Monarchy. That was your HBO pre-season trailer teaser.
The only negative light I gleaned from this (to me, anyway – sometimes I can be obtuse) is the constant reference to Meghan working with *Americans* and going outside/behind the back of the royal family. So to an American like me, that is not a slight against Meghan. But I can see how the DM could be trying to make Meghan look bad in the eyes of British people, by constantly reminding them Meghan is taking Harry away from the Brits.
Samsara: but DM and Express are framing them for bad press. Not with new stories, of course, there’s none. But they will never stop. Every single day, M&H are on duty or on vacation, they are putting old stories, with new titles to fish for trolls to do bad comments on them. And once in a while comes out of the shadows some Markle: daddy, sister, uncle, cat, dog, parrot…. Whatever is available.
@chica, I am not that good at identifying dog whistles. Is there a link or articles that could help educate me on them?
I agree that the DM has been a huge issue with Meghan but I just don’t see it in this article. I see what everyone is saying about the emasculating Harry and painting Meghan as pushy but mostly (other than the American comment) I think this article was favourable and painting Meghan as strong and wilful. I think sometimes we get so used to looking for issues, we see them even when they’re not there. I’m saying that as a mixed race woman and I’m not defending her treatment.
Interestingly, I see some articles about Kate in DM that appear rather sarcastic, where the headlines over praise her, thereby inviting Meghan fans and anti royalists to click on the article. DM is just awful, and not really a friend to anyone. They are really damaging the Cambridges as well by exaggerating the rivalry .
@ Chica. You get it exactly.
+1
Meghan “dares to do things differently”. At least she is not a disgusting entitled boorish piggish grifting pedophile like the lovely charming Prince Andrew.
That really should be the response to every Meghan critique: Andrew fUjked enslaved teens.
Well, from what’s posted here, this a very highly complimentary story. I didn’t click on the link.
That’s what I thought! It sounds great, she sounds hard working, like she’s getting a lot done, and it sets up a contrast with the Cambridges and anyone else by saying that when Meghan is on break she’s still actually working really hard (which we already know based on the amount of work she did during her maternity leave). There’s no subtle shade about how this is totally different from what other royals do, or breaking protocol, or how the palace is worried. There’s not a lot of editorializing at all, in fact. It’s mostly facts as quoted by a source. It names who she’s working with and why and what they’re doing specifically. I actually thought it came from the Sussexes.
Yeah I DEFINITELY don’t get the “omigod they are portraying Meghan as a pushy monster!!!” read that the poster is conveying. Just like the People article a few weeks ago that said Kate had had years of training and Meghan was thrown in without that benefit – a neutral and likely complimentary piece with respect to Meghan – and the take here was “how DARE they shade our Meghan!” Daily Mail readers don’t look for subtext. The article makes Meghan look like a hard worker with longtime ambitions to create a charitable network. How that can be twisted as negative is just bizarre.
If people can’t hear the dog whistles in this DM article then I have nothing to say.
@ Babs YES! Right there with you. It’s truly fascinating bc I do believe the ppl commenting are just genuinely caught unaware that they’ve been bamboozled into thinking the DM wrote an objective, balanced piece with this article. And that is the inherent problem with the general public who consumes certain media: the tampering of their subconscious minds—So that when they encounter variances with the media they consume, they can’t spot the farce. They buy into the illusion. and YES, this works both ways (always presenting something as good and then drop in the occasional piece so that the masses who’ve drink your koolaid feel they/media are presenting objective info without a narrative voice meant to shape their POV. See Trump supporters).
They have consistently presented an aggressively negative campaign for so long (which drives the traffic between the sheep that hate M&H and those enraged and attempting to be a voice of reason and support of M—feeding the “chaos is a ladder” and therefore media $/hits) that with the lack of news they have an opportunity to fuel traffic by presenting a seemingly objective piece laced with a mile long trail of Dog whistles that is missed bc you’ve been so conditioned for them to be overtly drag M & H down with blatant sensationalize negativity and unfair and unjust tones, you accept anything resembling subpar objectivity.
This is a strategy to make them money. Read thru the comments (I didn’t have to, this is an intersection between economy/sociology/and psychology) . When you’re at risk for believing their hype, channel Katniss and Peta “is this real or unreal” and ask yourself “is this narrative making them more money or less?” A inherently racist, sexist , and xenophobic press denigrating their newest adult Royal member isn’t ever gonna change its stripes until it earns them more $$ to do so. With the Cambridge’s vs Sussex narrative being so profitable, don’t hold your breath. And more importantly, don’t be the fool they all take you for. It’s a con.
A communications major learns this by the end of their undergraduate program.
I heard the dogwhistles, Babs
I think the article is trying to be shady and trying to make her look self-serving. They said they were taking a break and have not communicated their plans, but now some “source” is saying otherwise? It’s basically saying that they are skipping Britain and royal duties to focus on their foundation and rake in American cash. The Fail hates Meghan and when they have nothing actually to write, they speculate, exaggerate and make things up. Even if she was meeting with her US team, it’s no one’s business. She still has to pay US taxes and still has financial interests and income over there. The press is starving when she’s not there to bash.
That actually read as a really positive story to me! Like “don’t complain about her vacation- she’s working through the whole thing to try to further her charitable endeavors. Meghan doesn’t laze about even when she’s off.”
Seriously this “early years” initiative is such a joke. I’m flabbergasted that the U.K. public seems to love Kate even though she’s clearly useless, even within her very narrow ability to be a positive force- royals can’t really do much, and the Cambridges are particularly lazy and unaccomplished.
The Cambridges really stick in my craw. Kate isn’t ambitious or a grand thinker; she could have been insanely popular if she’d just shown up and done the bread and butter opening tiny curtains, using enormous scissors and walking lines. But she didn’t do any of that for yeeeeeeeaaaarrrssss so she had to come up with some grand plan that’s she’s never going to do anything with, either. Just show up and work you two!
If I got a dollar every time the Cambridge stans reminded us of how dumb Harry is and how William is such smart person because he has a degree, I’d be a millionaire. Meanwhile, dumb Harry co-created Sentebale, Harry created the Endeavor Foundation, Harry created the Invictus Games, and he is only 35 years. And don’t forget Walking With The Wounded. Meanwhile his wife is credited for 2 major projects in just 2 years she’s been in the BRF. And now the both of them are working on creating the foundation that will give the RF a run for their money. If you asked me to choose, I’d take dumb Harry and his gorgeous wife any time. The Cambridges are as bland and dull as dish water, and add their laziness and unimaginative arses, no wonder even the RR are bored to death. Yeah without the Sussexes the BRF fades right into the background, they’re just that boring the whole lot of them.
Kate and William want the glory of a huge project but they don’t want to do the work to make it happen.
Very well said, Babs!
@babs yep, it really annoys me when people try to make out harry is stupid. William may have been slightly more ‘book smart’ at school but not by much. I know a lot of people who did well at school but didn’t have any success as adults and are stuck doing mediocre jobs, and lots of really successful people who weren’t great at school dropped out of education. Bill gates, Steve jobs and mark zuckerberge were all college dropouts. If the only success William has to brag about is his GCSEs when he’s pushing 40, then he’s a f*cking loser.
We like her because a) we don’t think too much about the royals b) shes been about for so long now and seems like a nice person c) we also like Meghan.
The British press doesn’t represent the people, and also we dont pay much attention to what the royals do, or dont do. If Kate never launched early years the majority of people wouldn’t know or care. If Meghan and Harry raise a billion pounds for charity the majority of people also wouldn’t know or care. That’s not to say it doesn’t matter, but its just how it is.
Andrew is universally disliked and always has been, also Fergie.
That’s the relationship the public have with the royals in a nutshell. If anything drastic happened maybe (maybe) people might consider trying to get rid of them, itd not be for a generation though as long as they keep their noses clean.
I think you’re probably describing a good percentage of the UK, but there’s a reason the press puts the royals on the covers of magazines and on the front pages of websites. People want to read about them, because they do care about them.
@Hoop — I half agree. I think there is interest in clothes, tiaras, tours, palace photos etc that make people want to read about them and produce clicks = revenue. I disagree that people actually care to any real extent. I also think Americans tend to be more intrigued and into the gossip of perceived machinations than The Brits.
I tend to think most people don’t expect the Royals to be much more than bejeweled show ponies.
It never ceases to amaze me how some people project their own opinions on others. How hard is it to just write that “I myself don’t care about the Royals”? If “the majority of Brits” don’t care about the Royals and it’s actually mostly Americans that care, why so much outcry in Britain about Andrew? Meanwhile, while everyone and their uncle was reacting to Andrew, while Andrew dominated the British news, he was just an afterthought elsewhere even in the US? The “Brits don’t care about the Royals” is just BS to suit a certain narrative. Brits do care and that’s why they continue to pay for their upkeep regardless of how wealthy the BRF is. The referendum to get rid of the monarchy failed miserably in Scotland just a few years ago, that’s not people that don’t care their royals. When Diana passed away the entire nation went into mourning to near shut down because of a woman that married in, that’s not a nation that don’t care about the royals. Just because one don’t care doesn’t make the entire nation share yr sentiment.
People in general only care about the royals when it comes to fluff or scandal. In other words they are reality TV stars. I have many friends in the UK and it frustrates me to no end that I can’t get even one of them to royal gossip with me. They just don’t care very much. They always tell me their grandparents do though.
@Babs – there’s never been a referendum in Scotland over whether or not to “get rid of the monarchy”. There was a referendum on the question of whether Scotland should become an independent nation, and the result was a vote to remain part of the UK, 55% to 45%. (65% of Scots also voted to remain in the EU, too.)
However, there’s significantly less interest in the monarchy here than in the rest of the UK. A YouGov poll published around the time of the Sussex wedding found 53% of Scots were in favour of the monarchy compared to 69% in the rest of the UK; a Delta poll published at the same time and reported in the Glasgow Herald found only 41% support in Scotland. There were only 2 street parties organised in the whole country for the wedding, apparently!
BABS: it never ceases to amaze me when people shut other people down when they clearly don’t know what they are talking about either. You say no one can talk on behalf of all brits and then do the same thing – insisting that we DO ALL CARE. I’d say the analysis is spot on. Basically they are cared about in the same way as any other public figure. People genuinely cared about Diana because it was an outright tragedy – she was doing great work, she died young and she left two young children behind. People care about Andrew because he has clearly been committing or abetting heinous crimes under the nose of the public and his behaviour is despicable. People mainly care about his interview so much because he made such an extraordinary a*se of himself, totally oblivious to doing it, and the sound bites are funny. We may hold them to higher account than other public figures, morally, but no one cares enough to compare number of days working or who had the best initiative. They are just there, they draw attention to causes, shake hands, and go home. That kind of attitude is pretty prevalent among British people – we do not care as much as the media makes out and, as public figures, the media is obviously going to keep writing articles about them.
@Suzie Webster: your comment is spot on.
Imagine being part of a family where you get 6 week vacations and are criticized for light working during them. I’m a nobody and if I get A few days off in a row you can bet your ass I’m still expected to “work” during them.
Thank you. I’m already being asked if I can work from home during Christmas break to help cover. Notice how once again, it is all Meghan , and they make it seem like it’s some sneaky takeover. She’s just operates solo, without the other half of the foundation, Harry, the blood royal. They really have nothing to say unless it has Sussex or Meghan in the article.
I feel you both. Articles which push the poor, hard-done-by and overworked Royals really annoy me. They don’t even get just 6 weeks off. They get way more than that and even when they’re working, it’s still only part time by anybody else standards. It’s good if they’re putting in some extra effort during their time off. So they should for the lifestyle they lead.
I actually think she’s right about the fundraising. Americans (I am one) are often more impressed by the glitz of the royals than the British. Combine that with the fact that it looks like a lot of the Sussexes’ work will be done outside the UK in LMICs, and I think she’ll raise a lot of money for great causes in very short order.
I don’t think it’s about glitz only. My experience living in UK vs. US is that the US non-profit/philanthropy sector is way more robust and professionalized in the US – look at all the private foundations created back with Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gates, etc. Also, Americans give more money (% of their incomes) than any other country. Heck, look at your mail box for all the fundraising requests this month. UK society just doesn’t have that. It’s more charity for the poor and then hands off to UK govt to fix their problems.
Meagan is probably meeting with the PR team to outline a Mission statement, 5-10 yr plan, fundraising goals, development objectives, communications strategy and roll out activities, etc.
Example (while I was living in UK): In UK a woman got ~12x radiation for her cancer (via pre- programmed laser machine). She had a woe is me story in the newspaper and that was about it. In the US that same woman would be pushing for policy change, joining with American Cancer Society, walking Capitol Hill, and starting a PR campaign to make sure patients advocate for themselves.
If you want to know why the US charity scene is so well funded by any other standards in the world, Watch Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Actepi on Why Billionairs Can’t Save us o Netflix. It’s a built in self serving tax evasion strategy that controls a lot of society and negatively affects the work of the truly charitable orgs existing to serve the community for no personal gain. You can read about it in scholarly books and such, but his presentation makes it all easy to understand. It’s also entertaining, even with the enlightenment about how America is a nation greedy for money and power and sells it to their ppl as the DNC and this DM article “fitness and Cover”.
I sound cynical af , but the info is also not untrue. It’s a corruption problem.
I agree with the recommendation, watch the patriot act episode about billionaires. It really opened my view on charitable foundations and how corrupt the whole system is.
An old royal reporter was asking one of the current ones why there hasn’t been recent episodes of his royal show as there should be lots to discuss. There’s Prince Andrew& Virginia’s recent interviews (and there are reports today Ghislaine is considering giving her own interview), Anne at the NATO meeting, Prince Charles/Camilla’s tours, Prince Charles stepping up, Prince William’s tour, Kate’s new patronage and her upcoming show with Mary Berry. But guessing we won’t see new episodes until the Sussexes are back& they discuss what they were up to do during their break…They are so transparent.
Love the Fail& how they drop in ‘secret’ with Meghan whereas with the others it’s ‘private’ or BTS. Always assigning shady behaviour& motivations to the foreign born royal
No. Way. Is Ghislaine dumb enough to do an interview with anyone except the federales.
She’s either in hiding or singing like a canary – to the guv. She has absolutely nothing to gain by doing anything else. Surely she knows that.
@Rogue…love your analysis, especially the way they ascribe ‘secret’ to anything Meghan and ‘private’ to the others. Yes, we need to scrutinise the language they use.
@Some chick….Ghislaine is doing this for cash, she must be broke with all the lawyers fees and other expenses, especially as the Epstein tap has been switched off. The RF must be very worried, especially as she says she is going to defend Andrew .
Excited to see what will come in the next year. I expect another completed project will be announced soon.
The royal news has been dull with the Sussexes on break. That story is all about the Fail still being sore that the wife of the sixth in line to the throne is dragging them to court while they have the future future queen in line. I can’t wait for the launch of Sussex Royal next year; and frankly the BRF needs the Sussexes more thanks to Andrew’s mess. 230 patronages are gone from Andy and the York princesses aren’t getting them. The Sussexes, Cambridges, Wessexes, Kents and Glouchesters will have to take extra work but I can’t see Kate really get into it. It’s crisis time in the BRF thanks to the blood prince not the biracial American duchess and everyone is going to be called upon to bolster the monarchy.
British media is so desperate for more Meghan stories. I guess the 2nd in line’s little tour wasn’t of much interest (except for the fact that he met with a prominent racist, but of course that’s being ignored).
Meghan should add these stories to her portion of the circular.
‘And on the 9th of December, another nonsense and/or backhanded story was written about the Duchess in the press. Although she does not agree or approve, she understands that people have to eat and it weighs on her charitable soul that scum like Emily Andrews may be unable to pay for this months terrible root touch up without such written slander.’
They hate her, but she puts food on their tables!!
Also, I appreciate the Andrew story confirming what all of us with common sense already knew… sexual predator < black woman for the RRs (not Omid)
…but it's not about race…/s
Its just more fuel for the lawsuit – every time they print a story about the Sussex’s am sure their lawyers are taking notes.
I can’t wait for it to hit the courts – the RR’s are going to be exposed as liars.
I agree with the other comments that this is not painting her in a negative light.
Things are in lockdown in the family to assess the fallout and plan a strategy since the disastrous interview. I notice Charles and Will have been awfully quiet since returning from their jaunts abroad. And Although she didn’t post much, Eugenie has definitely reduced her postings. They are on their own this Christmas as they don’t have the Sussexes to beat around like a piñata until they break.
If this is true, you know it is the DM, Harry is far from stupid, like some people want to claim. He knew what he wanted for his future and knew to reach out of his circle and he found a gold mine.
Meghan is smart as hell, with a great work ethic and actually has tangible results in the charity work she’s done so far. Harry has too.
Can’t wait for what they have planned in the new year.
Thank you! It irks the hell outta me when people paint him as this dimwitted victim.
He saw the lives his brother and father had…and he clearly did not want them.
Thing is, Harry DIDN’T “know” he had to reach out of his circle, until, like his brother found, “his circle” didn’t want any part of RF life. Let’s be real here.
Personally, I think Harry and Meg are a match made in heaven. I do believe they are both truly and deeply in love, and it shows to us all. While Harry has shown *great* initiative, carving out his path (Sentabal, Invictis, WW), I think she really is the one that brings out the very best in him, she has “grounded” him and has helped him grow in every way. I think Harry has given Meghan the freedom to unleash her passion for giving back in a way she didn’t have access to, and that, and her family, makes her happy.
And on a very personal note: I think that THESE things are eating William alive with jealousy. That he has not/can not accomplish what Harry has. While I have no doubt William loves Kate and his kids, he is not *passionately IN love* with her. And (*I* think) that kills him, not that he’d admit it even to himself. (Again, JMO).
That’s a very interesting take with some really good points. I think while things are turbulent for the Sussexes, hopefully they are trying to find a way to make royal life work and carve out a niche that respects the duties while giving them the room to be more ambitious. As for William, this guy will be king, so why is he becoming the Aaron Burr of the Royal heirs? There is nothing to stop him from doing whatever he wants apart from his own insecurities and lack of initiative. He really is an annoying persona.
IMO, it will probably end his marriage if he does fall passionately in love. He will think he’s entitled to it and will take it with no care or concern for Kate at all. He is William and what William wants… The question is, will he divorce or will he set the mistress up in a mansion of her own? His lifelong ability to be sly might just come in handy for him.
Megan wants to make a huge amount of money for charity and works hard towards that goal. And the problem here is……??????
Meghan feels this, Meghan feels that. She thinks this, she’s desperate for that. All conjured up and attributed to non existent sources. It’s more worrisome that seemingly sensible people will read this and believe any of it. If anyone actually thinks that Meghan or Harry will send a “source” to reveal any of their plans to a paper they have an active lawsuit against….then I have no words.
Right?! Like they’d potentially allow the DM to out them as leaking stories when they’re suing them. No way anyone connected to Meghan and Harry are talking to the DM.
to the extent this is true, I don’t think this is painting her in a negative light besides the emphasis on her American contacts etc. We all knew Meghan was going to keep working over this break. So, hearing that she is taking meetings and networking wherever she is, is not a surprise.
I do think there are some digs at how she is looking to America etc, but the DM cant help itself sometimes I guess.
Meghan is a worker bee, a hustler, and a networker. I say all of those things as compliments. And you cant just turn off those traits.
Also, as a random – thanks to the SR Instagram, I learned yesterday that Harry started the Endeavour Fund. I didn’t realize that. I knew he was involved with it, but didn’t realize he started it.
Because it’s from the DM I am wondering what the catch would here because this story seems positive toward Meghan. She’s working behind the scenes to get things done which we know she’s done from day one. Maybe only announcements of future keenness are acceptable?
This piece is painting Meghan as a domineering, pushy, greedy, controlling etc, all dog whistles on WOC. Notice the emphasis on “Hollywood, celebrity friends, American wealth and .Egham desperation to get her hands on those millions that shell get from those wealthy celebrity friends of hers”. And once again Harry is being portrayed as dumb who can’t do anything so he leaves all to controlling Meghan. Harry is a push over and domineering Meghan has pushed him out of the way and taken over the launching of “HER charity”. They completely ignore the fact Harry has single handedly created 3 successful organizations etc. This article is not positive at all.
SR reminding people of Harry starting Endeavour, because last time I checked it hadn’t been removed from the KP website.
The DM is trying to paint this as “look at this uppity woman” but it all reads positive to me. The Sussexes have the platform to do some real good and, more importantly (as we’ve seen from 9 years of the other two), the will and drive to make it happen. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Meghan and Harry were using their break as time to put more pieces in place for the launch of their Foundation to make it the biggest success they can. They know they’re getting no slack, but they’re willing to put the work in.
Hey, Kate is keen to kick off Early Years! She has been keen! She will be keen! She is the keeniest keen who ever keened! Maybe in the next decade, we’ll see some of her work on this initiative.
The narrative wouldn’t be so ludicrous if they didn’t keep moving the goalposts for her.
She is also the keenest future future Keen (typo and it stays) who has ever keened to live.
Kate is the future future Keen Queen! There, l fixed it for you, DU.😉
Literally everyone has taken their own 6 week break with the Sussexes and that’s so funny to me. There’s still enough topics to talk about (Pedo Andy, W’s tour no one seemed to care about, wtf is actually going on with the queen and prince Charles) but nothing. makes me wonder what would actually happen if H&M were to actually dim their light cause even with H&M out of sight W&K don’t seem to have taken center stage.
THEY CAN’T HELP THEMSELVES!
Even though the Sussex family is on vacation, the British media can’t stay away. They can make some half-hearted efforts to talk about the sex offender or big up Keen Katie, but Megan and Harry are all that matters.
The irony is that while the British media and the royal family have done their best to drive out Meghan and Harry, they would be NOTHING without them. I guarantee that the story on Christmas day won’t be the presence of the sex offender but the ABSENCE of the Sussexes.
“They can make some half-hearted efforts to talk about the sex offender or big up Keen Katie, but Megan and Harry are all that matters.”
Meghan and Harry “sell” newspapers. The other members of the BRF do not “sell” newspapers. Selling newspapers is really all that matter$.
I don’t think they’re trying to drive them out, at all. I think they’re trying to push the narrative that everyone else is better than Meghan (and, by extenstion, Harry).
The thing is, Meg and Harry have something that can’t be bought, demanded, or faked – and that is LOVE and PASSION.
William and Kate could work on their relationship – they have all the resources. They just have to put in the work. They could…
Kaiser, way to keep track of these ever-changing launch dates for The Early Years. I’m so tired of hearing about it but never seeing anything come to fruition.
I work in PR too (not celebrity stuff) and this is generally the time of year you work with clients on 2020 plans. Actually it’s a bit late for that. I have no doubt she’s taking meetings cause that’s what you do if you want to actually get something done? I wish my clients were as proactive as she sounds.
Alls I know is that H&M were able to get the HELL OUTTA DODGE…while the SS Royal gets dumped with the putrid stank of Andrew et al….
And THAT…in itself is BRILLIANT!
By GAWD…I’m loving the hand that H&M is playing!
It makes total sense for her to reach out to American contacts to fundraise rather than British ones. I’m not overly familiar with British fundraising but I did work for a fundraising nonprofit based in the US fundraising for a historic site in France. And let’s just say French peopl/Europeans don’t really understand how to fundraise. Sure there are wealthy people who donate money to causes everywhere but European institutions (unless it’s something huge like the Louvre for example) really don’t understand the concept of fundraising outreach as many cultural institutions receive government funding (which is usually limited). They’re always holding seminars so that European organizations can learn from the American fundraising model because we are VERY good at it and Americans are more generous with their money/it’s less taboo to talk about money. And also a lot of Americans, even middle class, give money to all sorts of charities. Everybody fundraises in the US: hospitals, museums, schools, universities, cultural organizations, politicians etc. We have people that understand strategy and how to use fundraising as a weapon. And Meghan quickly realized she probably wouldn’t be getting a lot of funds from British people. I learned a lot about it during my short stint and really made me appreciate how people in fundraising know how to hustle.
@amelie
People in france also pay nearly 50% of their income in tax.
This is the fundamental difference that perhaps your short stint didn’t allow you to grasp. The french don’t have a lack of understanding of fundraising, they expect their government to take care of it, not millionaires actively practicing tax evasion
Gowns, tiaras, and Nobel prizes in Norway and Sweden. Beloved Victoria in another fashion tragedy, Madeleine flawless in fuchsia.
@nota, I actually Googled and looked at the pictures. Agreed that Madeleine is flawless but I felt that Crown Princess Victoria looked better than she normally does.
I thought that Sofia, The Duchess of Värmland’s hair looked awful as usual. I cannot believe that this woman cannot afford a descent blowout and up-do.
The Queen looked pretty good IMPO .
All tiaras were the stars of the show!!
Victoria can look amazing, so when she shows up in a outfit like this it is doubly disappointing.
I thought she looked stunning in black and white. I did not like the turquoise tiara. Okay, I’m going to amend my statement. I just saw Victoria standing and I no longer like the dress. From the waist up she looks gorgeous.
When you compare it to her empire Elie Saab year, or the red strapless dress a few years ago? When she shows up in something crazy like that black-and-white number it is maddening.
Meghan is ambitious. And there’s nothing wrong about going hard for something you want.
I don’t think the 6 week vacation was as much about a vacation as a break from the glare of spotlights. She worked on her maternity leave, so I’m not surprised she’s working now.
So the undertone of this is “How dare she-SO pushy and American.” Meanwhile the DM also posts an article (completely snark-less) about the Duchess of Cambridge taking private tennis lessons and having a nice top spin, often with her kids in attendance. Ugh.
Man oh man. They criticize her for taking a six week break. Then they turn around and criticize her for working.
I hope Meghan is having a lovely time with her little family. Fuck the RR and tabloids.
I love how we are discussing this DESPITE knowing it’s a LIE!!! The daily fail knows NOTHING. They have no clue where they are or what they’re doing. It’s another attempt to flush out a response just like the story of her working with her old PR
Exactly. Do we honestly believe Meghan would jeopardize her lawsuit by having anyone close to her talk to the DF? And one thing we know for sure about Harry and Meghan (because they’re constantly telling us) is they’re a team. And if you start dissecting this story, it’s easy to tell how they came up with it: Meghan worked during her maternity leave (so now she’s working during her break again); stories already came out that she was using American firm to help with the launch of Travalyst (so she’s using her ex PR person again); she was branded difficult and demanding (she took full reign of this project), etc…I could go on and on. Literally anyone following Meghan and Harry closely and follow royal reporters and fans on twitter could have written this story.
Thank you, Miriam. I couldn’t even get through most of the comments knowing this Fail story is just the same ole malicious sh*t created to get clicks and rally the haters for another round Sussex bashing.
It’s the gig economy. Everyone’s got a side job, even a royal. Savvy planning on her part; hope she keeps all the contracts straight and keeps bringing Harry and Archie with her.
Several posters have stated how the media tries to portray Harry as some dumb smuck. In my opinion he is a lot more savvy that people give him credit for. Harry views the world as we are all in this together. He does his charity work to benefit others and actually roll up his sleeves to get things done. His African projects will definitely benefit from their fundraising ideas. Meghan and Harry look out to a world that is more modern and changing every minute. They are a working team to get things done. I have never really bought into the narrative that Harry is some dimwitted person. Keep on thinking this and he is going to show how savvy he really is.
The media always acted like Harry was dumb because he didn’t go to University when William did. They forget to mention that Will wanted to drop out after his first semester because it was hard and Charles had to pull some strings to get him to go back. Basically, Will was handed a degree. Harry did what he always wanted to do and that’s join the military. Going to University doesn’t make you a genius. Harry and Meghan are by far the smartest in that ridiculous family.
Charles also reminded William that it would be a press free-for-all if he dropped out. The ‘leave the boys alone’ media code only covered William and Harry if they went to Uni. That’s why the press started in full-bore on Harry at age 17/18, because he wasn’t protected by the code.