Are the Cambridges trying to have Harry & Meghan ‘exiled’ to another country?

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrives at the Easter Sunday church service at St.George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Sunday April 21, 2019

Well, well. Many members of the royal family came out for the Easter Sunday church service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. It was not just an Easter celebration, it was also Queen Elizabeth’s 93rd birthday. I don’t imagine attendance was mandatory, but there were certain expectations that people needed to show up. The Duchess of Sussex is quietly awaiting the birth of her first child – any day now, we can assume – so she was excused. Prince Harry turned up solo to represent the Sussexes. He walked into the church with his cousin Peter Phillips and Peter’s wife Autumn. Harry did not leave the chapel with the Cambridges either. Cough.

Yes, the Cambridges were there. It was Kate’s first public appearance since March 28 – she made it almost a whole month without working. She’s also expected to make an appearance for Anzac Day on Thursday. Kate repeated one of my favorites of her blue coat collection – we first saw this Alexander McQueen coat during the Cambridges’ tour of New Zealand and Australia. She paired the repeat McQueen with her wedding earrings and a diamond brooch. She looked good. But there was apparently little to no interaction between William, Kate and Harry. Which drives home the point I’ve been making for months: the issue is between Harry and William and that issue is not going away any time soon.

All of which brings me to this: the Sunday Times of London (not a tabloid) did a lengthy story this weekend about how the royal family is trying to figure out how to “contain” Meghan and Harry’s popularity, and how William especially is keen to drive them out of England altogether. Some highlights:

The scramble: With Meghan Markle due to give birth any day, a new report says the British royal family is scrambling to try to contain her popularity amid worries she could become “bigger than [Princess] Diana.”

The idea of sending the Sussexes away: “There have been various ideas floated for them to take on a job abroad, such as governor-general of Australia or Canada, wherever,” a palace source told The Sunday Times of London. But sending the couple to Canada was “mooted, then booted” given that Meghan spent seven years there and would be close to the US and tabloid coverage, according to the story. Shipping Harry to Australia was also nixed, it said. “The trouble is that you effectively set them up as king and queen of a whole separate country,” according to one source. “And 24-hour media means that Australia is not as far away as it used to be.”

Possibly sending the Sussexes to Africa: Also under consideration is Africa, where Harry set up a charity in 2006 in Botswana — where he and Meghan fell in love on a trip — and which he refers to as his “second home.” Either way, the palace braintrust prefers for the couple to move abroad. “In some ways it would suit William to get his brother out of the country for a few years and Meghan as far away as possible,” said one friend of the brothers.

The Sussexes feel exiled: The Sussexes feel their move from Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate is as much an exile as an escape, the paper reported. “Meghan and Harry feel they have been cut adrift,” one ally said. “They sent them down to Frogmore to try to keep them out of the limelight for a bit. This is doomed to fail. They are worried that Harry and Meghan are going to establish a totally separate enterprise that nobody can get under control. There are discussions in palace circles about how do we harness Harry and Meghan and this tremendous global attention they get. How do we draw them back, because laying down the law and ticking them off doesn’t work at all,” the ally said.

William is suddenly keen to be king: Meanwhile, William — who has warmed up to taking over as king — has been told by his private secretary, Simon Case, that a period of separation between the two brothers would help them to define themselves better and also improve relations between them, said the report. “It’s a bit sad really,” said someone who knows both princes. “The wives don’t get on. The brothers have fallen out.” Whatever public support there might be for Harry and Meghan, “People are telling William, ‘Don’t worry. Your influence will grow and Harry’s will fade,’ ” a source said. “This is peak Harry.”

[From The Times of London via Page Six]

Yep. I believe all of this. I believe the move to Frogmore feels like an exile for the Sussexes, which is why I questioned it last year, and why I still doubt that Harry and Meghan will stay there permanently, without a place in the center of London. I believe Frogmore was likely chosen for them or pushed on them as a way to banish them and “embiggen” Will and Kate. And of course Will and Kate are keen to exile Meghan and Harry to another country (the “send them to Africa” thing is particularly terrible/racist optics). The Cambridges have never done so many events as they have in the past year. The poor sausages are exhausted by trying to keep up with the Sussexes’ pace and popularity. Better to send them off! That’s what the media campaign has been about too: the British tabloids, working alongside the stuffy, racist palace courtiers and Camp Cambridge have all been waging a particularly nasty campaign against Meghan, trying to bully her out of the country. And yes, motherf–kers, WE SEE YOU. We see what you’re doing.

Also: the Palace isn’t denying it.

Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex arrives at the Easter Sunday church service at St.George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Sunday April 21, 2019

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrives at the Easter Sunday church service at St.George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Sunday April 21, 2019

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge curtsies before HRH Queen Elizabeth II at the Easter Sunday church service at St.George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Sunday April 21, 2019

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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401 Responses to “Are the Cambridges trying to have Harry & Meghan ‘exiled’ to another country?”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    Messy messy messy.

    That article makes William look so petty and insecure.

    I have other thoughts but need to wait for my coffee to kick in, lol. But petty, insecure and messy were the first three words that jumped into my head.

    • guest says:

      Or how about the 2nd article the one people had to pay for really laid bear how messy William is. It pretty much talked about how William is told Harry’s peaked and no matter William will be king. Then theres an interesting tidbit how he has talked to head up about the whole Tom markle thing in the press.

      Karma’s going to be a btch to him one day.

      • Becks1 says:

        I read quotes from it but not the whole thing. Yeesh. It really does make William look bad.

      • urnuts says:

        Found it! It doesn’t say William alerted them about thomas markle. Rather, it days that he has reached out to the media to develop a relationship with them like his grandmother and his father and that these outlets side with the palace on all matters. This makes harry upset because in siding with the palace they are going against him and Meghan.

        Like I said though, it does NOT say that William concocted some super plan to create the thomas markle situation.

      • Tina says:

        It says as follows: “This sense of embattlement has been entrenched by William’s decision to reach out to senior figures in the media as he prepares for kingship and by the apparent decision of those same newspapers to side with the palace over Meghan and Harry by peddling the most negative coverage of the duchess’s relationship with her father, Thomas Markle. “Harry sees that as part of the headwinds against him,” a friend said.” It doesn’t blame William for concocting the plan, but it does link William’s contact with the papers to the negative coverage.

      • Beli says:

        Yes the apparent need to reassure Bill that he’s much more important than his little brother is not a good look at all.

      • Megan says:

        Guess we know why Harry and Meghan were in such a hurry to separate their office from W+K. The idea of WIlliam handling the Markles is hilarious.

        I do wonder if William has been egged on by Charles. He is also a petty b*tch.

      • Mrs.Krabapple says:

        Maybe when Charles is ready to die or retire, there will be public pressure for the crown to skip William entirely and go to George. William would have to disclaim or abdicate or whatever it would take, but he hates working anyway. And I can see Charles secretly supporting the notion as payback for the times people thought the crown should skip Charles.

      • A says:

        If that quote is accurate, then that’s incredibly damning. I don’t think anyone assumes that William has been writing the stories himself, but I always figured that if William could shut down incriminating stories about himself, he has the capacity to do that with Meghan if necessary, and that the fact that he hasn’t is very telling. To know that the press believe that they’re siding with him on this issue is, well, not a good look for William, at ALL.

    • MissyS. says:

      Whoever thought it was a good idea to release this story made a huge mistake. It’s not going over well at all. The Royal Family is supposed to be an example of unity, now they look jealous and devious. The damage is done. One of the articles is pretty much exposing Prince William as the leader of the smear campaign against Harry and Meghan.

      • Lorelei says:

        I’ve been waiting for CB to cover this story!!

        I happened to be on Twitter when it was all breaking, and it was CRAZY. The first Africa story, the RR’s comments, then the Sunday Times article basically admitting it’s all about William’s ego, then BP’s non-denial, then more commentary from the RRs…it was pretty surreal to see, since this family usually keeps most of the drama covered up.

        It is absolutely clear that even if the attacks on Meghan weren’t directly ordered by William or his staff, William was “working with” the media and he was 100% in a position to stop it, but chose not to. So we suspected that for months and it was confirmed.

        The Africa thing…I don’t even know. It definitely sounds like they are being sent off to Africa to neutralize them, because William and Kate can’t handle being overshadowed by them and their popularity. It was right there in black and white. I don’t understand how *no one* involved realized how awful this would make the Palace look, and I wonder what the Queen thinks about all of this being aired so publicly. It does come across as them being banished (as did the Frogmore move), and I think it will be a rude awakening for William and Kate to learn that no matter where Harry and Meghan are, they are enormously popular right now and it’s going to stay that way. The media coverage will follow them wherever they go. And I hope they continue to do their own thing, since they’ve been wildly successful so far.

        Mostly it’s just so sad to see how badly the relationship between the brothers has deteriorated. I get William feeling some jealousy (who wouldn’t?) but to this extent?? What a petty man.

        Later spin that came out tried to make it sound like the move is all Harry’s idea, but whether or not that’s true, the damage is done. If Harry and Meghan go anywhere now or in the future, it is already tainted with the “banishment” narrative. It is a shame all around because William could have embraced Meghan and been glad that they were working so successfully on behalf of the family which William will one day head.

        One would think he would appreciate the fact that they work so hard, since he and his wife clearly do not and have no intention of doing so anytime soon. But NOPE. He had to be a petty little bitch. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

        Also, dropping this story right before their first baby is born is appalling. This is supposed to be a happy time. Poor Meghan.

      • PrincessK says:

        The fact that these ‘courtiers’ have been named gives the story a ring of truth. But how did The Sunday Times get the story? This is yet another hamfisted attempt to rein in Harry and Meghan and it does prove beyond any doubt that the Palace is worried that Harry and Meghan are totally outshining an eclipsing William and Kate. After this big leak it is very doubtful that they will be forced to go and live in ‘Africa’, unless the couple really want to. In any case where would they go to in Africa, it is actually quite insulting, other places were considered and rejected and so now its ‘Africa’.

        This like other attempts to marginalise them is going to backfire spectacularly. I also wonder why this story is being released just as Meghan is due to deliver at any time now. This story will have repercussions but not as many as the Rose story that the Palace has gone into overdrive to bury, who knows this story may have been leaked to cover Wandering Willy’s infidelities.

        William is really digging himself into a big hole. Journalists have to follow the editorial policy of their newspapers but they will be squirrelling away the true facts of this whole mess until the time comes when they can release the WHOLE truth. But trying to stifle the star power of Harry and Meghan will fail big time.

        Meanwhile the Daily Mail online refuses to accept my comments on this story.

    • starryfish29 says:

      The number one thing that makes this believable to me is how this wasn’t written by a RR, and all of the RRs have fallen in line and are spinning this as H&M wanting to jet off on the taxpayer’s dime. That’s the giveaway for me, a story that makes William sound like a real piece of work & immediately the RRs are all right there waiting to spin it to make him look better.

      • MA says:

        Tim Shipman is a respected political journalist

      • Lowrider says:

        Yep! The political writer is not in cahoots with the palace so he is free to write whatever and not have to worry about having his royal press credentials revoked. ALL of the RR’s are spinning his article to make Harry and Meghan look bad and minimize or erase William’s role in the mess.

      • MA says:

        @Lowrider – It’s really revealing, isn’t it? It just shows what a lot of us have long suspected: a number of the RRs are just mouthpieces for certain members of the BRF and don’t question or investigate what they’re being told. It’s in stark contrast to the work produced by the other reporters who have a broader body of work in more respected areas (current events, politics, foreign affairs) who choose to dabble in royal news from time to time. You know, actual journalism.

    • Lila says:

      What a bunch of assholes. Harry was so sure in that engagement interview that his family would be Meghan’s new family. He had no clue how this would turn out.

      • Mogul says:

        He overestimated them, they’re too racist for that. It’s the pregnancy that set them off, a royal relative with black ancestors. It became too much for them, no title for that child and they won’t stop until his parents separate.

      • Snap Happy says:

        Mogul – I agree. As soon as they annouced the pregnancy the bad coverage doubled.

      • MsIam says:

        @Mogu, @Snap I have always believed that the pregnancy is what upset the apple cart for these folks. It represents a permanent tie to the RF. I think they thought either Meghan wouldn’t get pregnant or at least not right away and that she and Harry would divorce quickly and that would be it. I also think that Meghan as a 37 yo grown woman who has supported herself in cut throat Hollywood for years was not some mealy mouthed girl they could bully. I’m sure she let quite a few people know what stop they could get off on!

      • bobslaw says:

        I always think of Michelle Obama’s words. “When they go low, we go high”. No one is perfect, but Harry and Meghan are word working, warm and seem content to ‘get along and go along’. No matter where they end up, I’m sure they’ll do good work for good causes.

        I do side eye the hell out of the “Let’s just send them to…Africa…because colonial reasons”, though.

      • PrincessK says:

        I don’t think that Meghan’s race is the main issue. The main issue is that the Sussexes are outshining the Cambridges and other members of the family big time. Everyone wants Harry and Meghan, foreign governments want them to visit, and I think the hook up with Oprah Winfrey really made the Palace spin. Harry and Meghan have the capability of being the most powerful couple in the world.

        The momentum is growing, and they have not even seriously started to raise money for causes.

      • Lana234 says:

        Agreed Lily this makes William and Kate look so fucking petty and childish. Williams doesn’t like Harry and Meghan make him and his wife look lazy and boring as fuck. I hope Harry has woken up to how trash his brother is behaving. What William doesn’t realize is this shit only makes ppl like Harry and Meghan even more.

    • Has it ocurred to anyone that we should maybe believe the press release from BP? Nothing has been decided. Perhaps these stories started with William, perhaps not, it is a long holiday weekend and journalists are known for putting 2+2 together and getting 6, if it sells papers. Meghan and Harry are popular now because its new, its romantic and there is a baby coming. Give it a year and the hype will have died down. I am certain Will and Kate know this. Just as I am certain that Will cannot insist on “banishing” his brother – the Queen is still the head of the family. There is no way Harry will give up his royal connections and move away from the UK to live with his wife and family – he might be happy to do so but he is shrewd enough to know that by becoming Harry Windsor, ordinary guy, he stands an excellent chance of also becoming Harry Windsor, divorced guy.

      • anon says:

        “but he is shrewd enough to know that by becoming Harry Windsor, ordinary guy, he stands an excellent chance of also becoming Harry Windsor, divorced guy”
        You couldn’t help yourself, could you? You had to go there, to the gold-digger subtle attack…

      • Christina says:

        Belgium Calling, what does Harry leaving the royal family have to do with he and Meghan divorcing? What do you mean? Do you mean that Meghan only married him for money and fame, because that is what it seems you are saying.

        Interesting that Will is suddenly interested in being King only after Harry taught him how to do it without trying to teach anybody, but Will only sees the power and not the lesson. William watched Harry become powerful simply by caring about people. And Kate was supposed to be like Diana, but Kate simply doesn’t have that kind of charisma. Meghan has that Diana type of charisma, again because she has genuine interests in things outside of herself. That concern and feeling are what made Diana a pariah in the royal family, and it was the quality that made her the People’s Princess beloved throughout the world.

        William, and Kate, would do better to actually build caring relationships with people, as Will has done through his championing of war veterans, and the way that Meghan has done through her charity work since before she met Harry. Petty BS wins the battle, and genuine concern wins the war.

        A female CEO, whose name sadly escapes me, once said that the most important quality of leadership is character: when people try to destroy you publicly, the character you’ve shown will compel people who know you to defend you, and any lack of character will have folks coming out of the woodwork against you.

      • MrsBump says:

        I don’t think Meghan is a gold digger and im sure she loves Harry but let’s be honest, the Prince package added a lot to his allure. Through Harry, Meghan gained the fame she had always wanted.
        For the same reasons, i don’t see her divorcing him. She won’t go back to acting and without the Duchess title, i’m no sure she’ll have the same clout in the celebrity charity circuit.
        In the same way, Kate and her mom wouldn’t have taken a second look at William if he hadn’t been who he is.
        It is naive to think that a 21st century woman marries into royalty for love alone.

      • Jaded says:

        Quit the Meghan-bashing OK?

      • Himmiefan says:

        You revealed your hand with the last sentence.

      • MA says:

        “Give it a year and the hype will have died down.”

        They used to say “Wait til the wedding is over, the hype will have died down.”

      • JByrdKU says:

        I believe the “prince” allure was present at the very beginning, but you don’t withstand this amount of shit unless you really love the person. She strikes me as a relatively classy individual. To withstand months upon months of slander (from actually family to total strangers), has to be difficult. Couple that with living in a new country, that will never be like the one you were raised in, and that has to add another layer of difficulty.

        I kind of think everyone should just leave them both alone.

      • Agapanthus says:

        I don’t think she is a gold digger or a fame whore but I do wonder what she sees in him sometimes! She is so much more intelligent, cultured, edcuated and articulate than him. I suspect it is their dysfunctional families and deep desire to do something worthwhile in life that bonds them at a deep level, and I do think they are genuinely in love.

    • Rena says:

      William the Little

    • CynicalCeleste says:

      Messy, agreed. But I don’t believe Frogmore was a banishment or putting H&M in exile. They chose it for their engagement photos and for their wedding, so it must be a place with meaning to them and where they wanted to establish a connection and roots. My guess is they chose Frogmore among a range of options they discussed with TQ or PC during their engagement. Much like choosing a tiara, lol. Didn’t they also rent a home in the cotswalds near SoHo house?

    • SKF says:

      I have some thoughts! Starting with this: What, the actual f-ck.

      I am Australian, and I have to tell you, a bunch of stuffy courtiers in the UK discussing “exiling” Harry as Governor General of Australia “or wherever” because he and his wife are too popular is some next level bullsh*t. Excuse me? Is this 1819? We do not get sent Governor Generals from the UK, especially not 34 year old British princes with zero qualifications for the job whatsoever. Our Prime Ministers set the Governor-Generals (technically the Queen appoints them; but the PM picks them) and they tend to be people with long distinguished careers, like head of the armed forces or senior general, or senior judges. Most have already served as the Governor of a State first.

      Our current Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, was Commander of peacekeeping forces in East Timor, Chief of the Army, Chief of the Defence Force, helped rebuild communities in QLD after Cyclone Larry and more.

      His predecessor, Dame Quentin Bryce was one of the first women to sit the QLD bar, was one of the first women on the National Women’s Advisory Council and later its Convener, the first Director of the Queensland Women’s Information Service, the Queensland Director of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, sitting on numerous committees and boards, and was the first woman appointed to the Queensland University Law Faculty where she lectured for many years. She has received numerous awards for her services and was the Governor General of QLD before Governor General of Australia.

      If the LNP win the next election, as widely predicted (we have 98.6% of Australian adults enrolled with 88.8% of young Australians enrolled in a nice jump likely a result of a desire for change) we will be getting another highly qualified woman as Governor General – they have already promised that.

      Are we supposed to scrap that plan and follow up these people with Prince Harry instead because Prince Willy’s fee fees are hurt? WTF???? WE ARE NOT A COLONY!

      This is beyond bad. I don’t think the optics of this story have been considered at all by the snobs who leaked it. Supposedly the Queen is alllllll about the Commonwealth; well let me tell you, we DO NOT like being considered as a “far across the world” option to stash unqualified royals to rule us as a little fiefdom. Consider this quote:

      “The trouble is that you effectively set them up as king and queen of a whole separate country.”

      What??? WHAT??? King and Queen of our countries? Are you kidding me?????????? I am a republican and let me tell you, I am not alone. This is beyond the pale. How dare they! I am sure Canadians and “Africans” (which ones??? It is a continent! How insulting and racist and belittling!) feel much the same. What a disgrace. We are not convenient boltholes for the “palace braintrust” to send Royals they don’t like so much at the moment. If they want to stay for a while and do some charitable works, fine. But appointing them in any official capacity in our governments is an outrageous overstep of a proposition.

      Besides all of that, treating their own family – who are doing a good job with positive results and include the first WOC in a senior role in that family – like this looks terrible, out of touch, lazy, silly, snobby, racist and ridiculous. Morons.

  2. Chef Grace says:

    You’re so petty, oh so petty…
    we see you wee Willy.

    • Oh No says:

      They’re playing two different games.

      If Will and Kate are playing Shoots and Ladders and Meg and Harry are playing Monopoly, even if they win their game it doesn’t mean they beat Meg and Harry at anything…

  3. Mimi says:

    Backstabbing his brother and sabotaging his sister-in-law is the most work William’s done in years. I wonder if there’s a way the Court Circular can capture that to boost his end of year numbers…

    • Tina says:

      LOL

    • My3cents says:

      So true, LOL.

    • Megan says:

      What the eff did Meghan ever do to him? He and Kate were hugely popular when they got married and they chose to squander that good will by shunning their royal duties. Now he is pissed at Harry for having the audacity to live his own life? Give me a break.

      • Snap Happy says:

        I was thinking about that too. There was huge interest in Kate when they got married.

      • Starkiller says:

        RE: “what did Meghan ever do to him”: she’s an American who dares to draw breath. If you’re American, your mere existence is enough for a Brit to loathe you.

      • Tina says:

        @Starkiller, come on. Most of us really like Americans. Don’t judge us by the toffs.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @Tina, The majority of Brits and Northern Irish, which I have had the pleasure to meet, REALLY like the majority of US Americans they have meet.

      • ME says:

        It’s less about what Megan has actually done but rather about their insecurities – both William and Katherine’s. William has always resented his brother’s relative freedom and popularity and Kate loved her position.

        In comes Megan, who is an incredibly hard worker, independent, secure and BOOM. Suddenly we start seeing more of Kate and William. You can tell they were desperate for popularity and power. They’re both incredibly petty and insecure and I doubt that what they’ve done can ever be forgiven.

      • PrincessK says:

        Well William and Kate are sunk now, this episode will NEVER be forgotten, no matter what happens.

  4. Sid says:

    You always hear that the Commonwealth is so important to the Queen and that it was so important to her that Charles be named head of the Commonwealth. So what does it say to the Commonwealth people, who are mostly in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, that the BRF has done nothing to combat the blatantly racist attacks on the only POC senior royal?

    • duchess of hazard says:

      @Sid, like monarchy, like government policy, I guess. For those of us who are non white British migrants, things are hostile right now.

      🙁

      • sid says:

        DOH, I am seriously shaking my head at all of it. I know hugs won’t help, but I’m sending you one anyway. What a mess.

    • MrsBump says:

      As a member of the CW, we’ve got more important things to worry about than the royals. Other than on this site, i have never had a conversation in real life about them.

    • duchess of hazard says:

      @Sid, cheers for the hugs and good vibes. They are warmly appreciated. The thing is, over here, when you listen to people talk about the Commonwealth, they mean New Zealand, Canada and Australia – the white C’wealth countries (hence the vague description of ‘Africa’).

      I’m disappointed, but not surprised.

    • SKF says:

      See my rage-stroke above! Listen, I am Australian, and the fact that they are talking about “exiling” Harry and Megs to one of our countries “wherever” and making him Governor General but then worrying that it will set them up as “King and Queen” is so insulting it is not even funny. EXCUSE ME???? What the actual F___. In Australia, our PM’s select the Governor Generals and they are people who are Australians with incredible life and work experience. Not young foreign princes with a little bit of army and charity experience and a foot-stompy older brother. Harry and Megs might be popular as people to look at and raise charity profiles but no, they will never be King and Queen of Australia. I highly doubt that we will have the Windsors as our (largely powerless) heads of state for much longer. I am sure that the other Commonwealth countries feel much the same. Compounded for many other reasons in Commonwealth countries made up of POC because of various other reasons. What a slap in the face! We are not convenient boltholes to send family members who annoy them. How dare they.

  5. Redburgandy says:

    William does not have the power to send Harry & Meghan overseas. Only the British foreign office and the monarch can do that. William does not fund the Sussexes office so he really does not have a say.

    As for Frogmore I think that was again Harry & Meghan’s decision because the planning permission for its renovation was filed months ago before they even got married.

    • Ainsley7 says:

      William really doesn’t have the power at all. It’s also been said that this was Geidt’s idea. So, it would be coming directly from the Queen as he is her man. Why would William suddenly want Harry thrown out anyway? He’s just as popular now as he was when he started the Invictus Games. So?

      The Frogmore renovations were originally to take it from 5 staff apartments to 3 upgraded ones. It might have been a trick, but it’s more likely true. I think the rumors that they chose it because Windsor is special to them and because the larger apartments in KP needed years of work are true. It would be strange for them to feel exiled. Andrew, Edward and Anne all got large country places and smaller apartments in the city. That’s what the Sussexes now have. They are probably still using Nott Cott as their London apartment when needed.

      • Lorelei says:

        @Ainsley did you actually read the articles? They emphasized how much of this fame about as William is “preparing for his kingship” (they ignored the existence of Charles completely).

        For all of the people saying William doesn’t have the power — clearly he does. He still needs the Queen to ultimately sign off, but apparently she did in this case. And Christopher Geidt was working on this, so there is no way the Queen didn’t give permission. He doesn’t even work for the Queen anymore since Charles had him ousted, but allegedly she’s still close to him. But it is clear that this was instigated by William.

      • Purplehazeforever says:

        @ Lorelei, Prince William doesn’t actually have the power himself to ship anyone overseas, but he might be able to influence his grandmother who is currently the monarch. Has everyone on this site forgotten who runs the monarchy at the moment: The Queen. Has everyone forgotten who is going to take the reign? Prince Charles. Those two are more powerful than Prince William. Their houses run the show, their Royal courtiers often leak stories despite the spin going on & Prince William has had hands full, in more ways than one, in recent days, to think about shipping anyone out of the country. He was trying to bury gossip.

      • Tina says:

        The Queen is 93 and has no interest in setting William against Harry or vice-versa. Charles comes off extremely badly in this article, ineffectual and irrelevant, so I doubt it’s him. If William did more actual work he wouldn’t have time for this kind of ridiculous plotting.

    • Jegede says:

      @Redburgandy

      Yeah.

      I wonder why the two individuals with actual, legitimate authority like HM and Prince Charles manage to fly under the radar with these decisions, while William wears it.

      • Lorelei says:

        @Jegede, I know, it’s very curious how both Charles and the Queen were totally missing from all of this. The Queen is definitely aware and signed off on it, but William must have been the one spearheading it and KP talking to the media.

        I wonder what Charles thinks of all this…

      • snowqueenM says:

        I find this story mystifying. The optics are terrible for everyone. I can’t think of a single person who looks good in this mess — the Queen, Charles, William, Kate… They all come off looking tone deaf and ineffectual, to different degrees. Who benefits from this?! Is Andrew making a sneak attack for the throne, lol??

      • Kebbie says:

        @Snow Harry and Meghan are the only ones who look good here.

    • Josie says:

      Yes, you really can’t blame this _directly_ on William. The senior advisors consulting on this report to the Queen and Charles, and they have their own motivations.

      The Firm is being incredibly savvy right now, throwing out a proposal that benefits Charles, contains the perceived threat from Meghan (I avidly followed Diana, and I will never ever underestimate the racism or misogyny of the Grey Men of the palaces), AND makes William look absolutely awful (granted, all they have to do is tell the truth for that to happen). It’s actually quite effective strategy, if your primary goal is to promote the succession and prepare the people for wise and stable Good King Charles.

      • Tina says:

        The article wasn’t complimentary at all to Charles, saying that he has no influence over either William or Harry, and dismissively calling him “the father” whilst saying “the mum” is dead. I strongly doubt it’s coming from Clarence House (BP is certainly possible).

      • Lorelei says:

        I agree with Tina. This doesn’t make Charles look good at all. It makes it seem as if he has no power and William is running the show.

    • Tina says:

      I am not a big fan of Richard Palmer’s, but this tweet of his made me laugh out loud: “I’m told palace officials haven’t even got as far as discussing it with Foreign Office officials in Britain, let alone governments in Africa.” BP employs a bunch of idiots.

      • Digital Unicorn says:

        The fact that BP haven’t denied the story says that there has been some internal top level discussions around the Sussex’s spending time abroad working for the Commonwealth. Whatever was discussed is not going to happen now. Someone sabotaged it, maybe they were jealous of the opportunity.

        The leak didn’t come from BP, it has William’s ham fisted PR genius all over it. I guess he is desperate to divert attention from something he does’t want the public to know about (TurnipGate or something new) AND to put the Sussex’s down by creating a negative story. It not only blew up in his face but it confirmed that he has been working with the press against the Sussex’s. THIS is why he and Harry have fallen out – Harry knows that his own brother is throwing his new family to the wolves because he’s a petty jealous baby. That kind of betrayal by a sibling that you were once very close to would be devastating, there is no going back from something like that. Whatever happens Harry’s relationship with his brother has been ruined and Big Willy has only himself to blame.

  6. guest says:

    Omg this whole thing is so racist. They could send or exile Meghan and harry to the moon and they would still garner more attention. Social media has changed the way people communicate they dont the RR. William is such an ahole and him and Kate are so lazy they will always be overshadowed. The article is so embarrassing for the British royal family.
    they way they act like Africa which isn’t even a country btw is a wasteland that people wont even think of harry and meghan. Ummm hello they do have wifi and smartphones. I see why now this story has changed three times in the 48 hrs. William is unprepared to be a leader and the way the article is written it’s like hes pretty much king. Yikes…not a good look to trash a complete continent filled with poc.

    • NewKay says:

      @guest i get what you are saying but Africa isn’t a country. It’s a continent, with many many diverse countries.

    • Bettyrose says:

      @Guest that really struck me too reading the article yesterday…Canada, Australia, Africa…uh Africa isn’t a country. The optics of shipping them off to Botswana are even worse by referring to Africa as you’ve said a non descript wasteland – not a continent of numerous distinct nations. That article was beyond awful, more so coming from a legit journalistic source and thus probably all true.

    • Emily says:

      Don’t they have half a decent PR person between any of them??? “Oh, this Meghan – the first POC in the modern royal family – sure is a problem! Let’s send her to Africa!” It is so dumb and so blatantly racist.

    • Himmiefan says:

      Yep, they act like Africa’s low-level enough for H&M. How insulting. My parents have been to a couple of countries in east Africa and loved it.

    • Thaisajs says:

      It’s sort of shocking how tone-deaf the courtiers are. Let’s send the first African-American member of the royal family “back” to Africa? How did that work for the US and Liberia? Ugh, this makes me feel so sorry for Meghan and Harry. They should be focusing on welcoming their new baby, not this racist BS.

      • bettyrose says:

        It’s so gross. I immediately sent the article to family in London and was like WTF?! I mean, there are valid reasons that Harry & Meghan would want to spend some time – as a family – in Botswana at some point, but the narrative here is that they’re being sent away along with a new born baby, with no pretense of “Harry and Meghan have meaningful projects in Botswana.” It’s not the responsibility of the paper to be like “Dude, RF, this is an awful story,” but how does the RF have no one to tell them that??

      • Jackson says:

        Regardless of the origins for any decision to send or not to send H&M to Africa, is it really a bad thing? Seriously, I’m asking why it would be a “negative” for two of the world’s most popular and influential people to setup camp in an African country to do work that could benefit millions of underprivileged people? IMO the potential for good far outweighs any palace intrigue aimed to “banish” or “silence” Harry & Meghan. Both Harry and Meghan have spoken of their love and commitment to the African people. I’m not so sure either of them would be opposed to using their enormous platform to shine a spotlight on the continent’s enormous issues and struggles. Perhaps the timing might be suspect and the current optics are bad, but the end result could be enormous and incredibly powerful. I’m seeing a lot of comments here stating that it’s racist to send the first biracial British RF duchess to Africa, but isn’t it a tad racist in and of itself for people to assume living and working in Africa is the worst punishment ever? I truly respect all opinions, but I’m having a hard time reconciling this contradiction.

      • bettyrose says:

        Jackson:

        It’s like saying you’re sending them to work in North America: Guadalajara, Denver, Montreal. it’s all the same. Wha? No. It’s not reverse racism to suggest referring to Africa as a singular destination is racist.

      • MsIam says:

        @Jackson it’s not the place that is objectionable to me, it’s the tone of the article, that Harry and Meghan need to be “sent away” . The idea behind this is some type of “punishment” which is no way to treat any adult. If the intentin was to present this as an opportunity or ” a good thing” wouldn’t the article state that Harry, Meghan, William , Charles and HM were working on a plan together? Not William and a bunch of courtiers were trying to decide what to do with Harry and Meghan. And why would William be involved if Harry and Meghan are now under BP? This is just like that stupid jewelry story about Meghan being “banned” from wearing certain pieces. William’s name was all up in that mess too. And to put this out now right at the time of the baby’s birth?

    • Mrs.Krabapple says:

      Even their “leave Meghan alone” message was racist! They insisted on shoving criticism of poor Kate’s lack of work ethic into the SAME message, as if criticism of Kate’s laziness is commensurate with Meghan’s racist attacks. It’s like the people who can’t let someone say “Black Lives Matter” without interrupting with “But White Lives Matter Too!” They can’t even see how racist it is to “dilute” the message of racist attacks on Meghan with non-related, non-racist stuff. They can’t even defend a back woman from racist attacks without ALSO making sure we focus on the *real* problem of a white woman being criticized for her laziness.

  7. Gobo says:

    Fucking hell, the colonialism of it all: “The trouble is that you effectively set them up as king and queen of a whole separate country,”. If I was an Australian I would find that a disgustingly presumptive thing to say.

    • Lolo says:

      I thought this too. Especially since Australia is the commonwealth country most often cited as the likeliest candidate to jump ship first as soon as the queen kicks it. I wonder how they feel now to know they were on the verge of getting a whole new (somewhat random) king and queen!

      • Tina says:

        It would have never have happened. What strikes me is how ignorant these courtiers are of modern diplomacy. None of Canada, Australia or NZ would tolerate a British GG.

      • Lorelei says:

        This ignorance of how literally *anything* works, diplomatically speaking, is another confirmation that this came from William. Charles knows better.

    • Abby says:

      yeah that really jumped out at me. yikes, not a good look.

    • Ainsley7 says:

      The Governor General is the Queen’s representative in Australia. Harry would be carrying out all the duties of the head of state which is why it would look like they were King and Queen of Australia. I’m not sure why it’s a presumptive to say that. All it’s saying is acting as the head of state will make it look like they are the actual head of state.

      • Nic919 says:

        That’s not how a GG works at all in Canada or Australia. The GG basically greets other foreign visitors and provides royal assent when required once a bill is passed in parliament. The spouse of the GG has no role at all and they aren’t in any way a king or queen of anything. The Prime Minister has the real power and tells the GGs what to do. The Queen may have more power in the UK, but she is a mere symbol in Canada and Australia. No PM of Canada or Australia consults with her as opposed to the weekly UK PM visits. And it would be political suicide for any PM to want to bring in a member of the UK royal family for GG, since they have been Canadians and Australians for decades.

      • Millie says:

        Nic919, I can’t speak to how things work in Australia but I understand why you would think that was about Canada. We like to think of the GG as just some ceremonial role. In reality, our head of state is the Queen of Canada (Queen Elizabeth is the Queen of the UK and all other countries in the Commonwealth) and the GG is her representative in Canada. The PM only recommends someone to be GG and the Queen is the one who has the power to appoint him or her. Also, the PM doesn’t have the power to tell the GG what to do. The PM advises the GG on what to do and the GG, in practice, follows that advice. There a few incidents where the GG’s decision power has been significant, most recently when Stephen Harper asked Michaëlle Jean to prorogue parliament so that he wouldn’t have to face a no confidence vote when the Liberals and NDP had the support to form a coallition government. I agree that the PM, as the head of government, has more power on matters directly impacting Canadians but that doesn’t mean that the GG has no power. The Queen’s ability to appoint a GG suggests that she is more than a mere symbol even though we do like to think of her that way.

        To hear that there might be conversations happening within the royal family to appoint a GG that is British and without input from the PM (which has happened before, see Duke of Devenshire) is disgusting to me. It shows us that they think nothing of exercising their powers for their own gain even if it’s not in the best interest of the country that is directly impacted. I would imagine that such a move would stoke the fires of republicanism here.

      • Nic919 says:

        The Queen doesn’t tell the GG what to do and Michaelle Jean sought legal advice as to whether or not she could hold up Harper’s request to prorogue the government and she was basically told technically yes but it’s never been done by convention. The Canadian GG has not interfered in the government and will not be doing so anytime soon. Emphasis is placed on the elected members of parliament which means the PM and the cabinet are in control. I would have enjoyed Harper being told where to go, but the reality is that the GG is expected to be a symbolic position and they will not be interfering.

        And the GG is appointed on recommendation of the PM, as was recently done with Julie Payette. The Queen has no decision making abilities here, and since 1935 no British monarch has been involved in deciding who gets to be GG. The statue of Westminster provided Canada and other former dominions, control over their legislative, judiciary and executive branches.

      • A says:

        @Millie, legally, yes, the GG is the Queen’s representative, but in reality, there’s been a lot of work that’s gone into making that position as apolitical as possible, in order to prevent them from interfering in government. Look up what happened with the King-Byng affair in 1923. The GG at the time refused a request from the PM to dissolve parliament and call a general election. That was a major crisis, and since then, the role of the GG fundamentally changed, such that they’re filling a legal position as a figurehead, with no influence in politics. It was a step that was taken specifically to assert Canada’s independence from Britain in the aftermath of WWI. There is no fcking way anyone would accept a member of the RF as a GG, in any capacity, even a ceremonial one, in this day and age.

    • Jaded says:

      As a Canadian, as much as I like Meghan and Harry I would be incensed if they sent them here so he could be GG and increase the amount of influence GB has over Canada as a member of the Commonwealth. But I honestly don’t think it would be something that interests either of them. However what this article has done is increase the amount of antipathy people have against Will and Kate. They are trying to pull off a Machiavellian-style ruse and it’s come back to bite them.

      • JennErinMS says:

        I completely agree with your assessment of the takeaway here, Jaded. I’ve never had a problem with Meghan and Harry or WIlliam and Kate and I guess who could say I found them interesting to an extent but that’s about it as I never cared much one way or another. My opinions have completely changed following this news though, my opinion of William and Kate has taken a nosedive and I’ve found that Meghan has much more strength and substance than I previously thought (to be fair I haven’t been paying much attention or I probably would have realized it sooner). To go back and read all the reports over the past months and see what has been said about her makes me wish she and Harry make a run for the hills, be their own global force for humanitarian issues and receive 20X the media attention than his petty, insecure brother, and experience their lives far away from the rest of the family that seems to have no problem throwing them to the wolves.

      • Godwina says:

        It made me ill on many levels, not least the idea of the Harry-Meghan circus being set up in my hometown. No thanks, fekk right off.

    • MA says:

      Not even surprised this type of attitude exists among the very white institution of the BRF and the mostly white courtiers. We should note though that the article doesn’t mention whether H&M feel this way–I’d be very surprised (and disappointed) if they did. I don’t see H&M even wanting that kind of role, if even possible, and I can’t see Meghan being that tone deaf

  8. ByTheSea says:

    Unrelated question, why do the women have to curtsy, but the men don’t? Or do the men do something else?

    • Toot says:

      They bow their head.

    • starryfish29 says:

      They bow their heads.

    • Lorelei says:

      @Bythesea, yesterday morning, as the Queen arrived at church, everyone curtsied or bowed their head EXCEPT William. Which means he’d already seen her that day, since they only have to do it the first time they’re greeting her.

      To be a fly on the wall during that conversation!!

    • Citresse says:

      Something I’ve noted about HM and Kate; HM never acknowledges Kate’s curtsy I mean HM always looks straight ahead, never at Kate. Same with photos here at Celebitchy.
      The body language between them has never been good IMO.

      • Lady D says:

        I watched a video of the Queen entering the church, with her family including Ann on the steps waiting. Each family member bowed or curtsied as she walked by, except William, and she didn’t look at a single one of them. Kate was just beaming away and all for nothing.

  9. Toot says:

    That article showed William to be a weak little man. Needing reassurance and evil.

    Will reached out to the heads of papers who then went full force with using Meghan’s father against her, as stated in the Times article. Yeah, completely see why Harry may have a problem with Will the weasel.

  10. aquarius64 says:

    The Palace may not be denying it but the royals knows it looks bad. Royal reporters and journalists have been deployed to “explain” it is tradition and there is no beef between the Sussexes and the Cambridges. US news was laying this at William’s doorstep. I bet this payback by the British press for William using his lawyers to shut down the cheating rumors. Bet you now he wishes they ran with Turnip Toff gate; Out of Africa gate makes him look a thousand times worse.

    • sunny says:

      I am howling, “Out of Africa gate”. That is hilarious. However, this situation is not. I mean the optics of this are absolutely horrible. William looks beyond petty. Also it will be hard for the Royals to use the Sussex popularity if the world views them as doing wrong by the couple.

      And the whole possible discussion of where to ship them off too is gross as hell and racist. Again, the optics of basically trying to cloister the royal family’s only POC member because she has star power and knows how to work????

      I wouldn’t believe this story had any truth to it but given the worst of the attacks started post wildly successful royal tour and the continued coldness between William and Harry? There is lots of smoke here.

      • Thaisajs says:

        All of this, Sunny. I agree with you 100 percent. This is grossly racist and whoever thought this plan up should be fired.

    • MA says:

      lmao. There are approximately 972 versions now of this story, none of them identical. The spin is something.

  11. LT says:

    I love Kate’s outfit – I’d buy that coat in a heartbeat.

    If I were Harry and Megan, an “exile” to any of the Commonwealth countries sounds like a dream and a lot more fun than dealing with the palace nonsense. And what a great adventure!

    • minx says:

      I love it too, the color, the cut, everything.

    • S says:

      +1000 agreed across the board – Kate’s outfit is perfection!

      And I see a lot of positives for Harry and Meghan with this POTENTIAL move (especially if temporary/only a few months a year) – it would really allow them to stake their own claim (and live by their humanitarian example) rather than constantly being compared to Kate and William regarding their similar work.

      It also would allow them some more quiet time outside the glaring eye of the media and public as newlyweds with a growing family (which the Queen/Phillip and Kate/Will had).

    • Esmerelda says:

      Yep, they should take the “exile” – keep the marriage, take the kid, and run, basically. Otherwise the pressure will be upped until she’s fed up enough to divorce him. It’s a very clear message – the establishment wants her out.

  12. Lisa says:

    That article really was not flattering to William at all.

  13. starryfish29 says:

    William is a giant lazy manbaby, he always has been. He married a woman who waited around for the ring knowing it and who continues to indulge his worst impulses. They deserve each other. The most telling part is saying the Sussexes “want to do rather than just be.”
    The only thing I disagree with is that Frogmore is banishment, it always read to me like Meghan & Harry wanting to distance themselves from the drama at KP. I feel like Harry knows who his brother is and is finally tired of putting up with it now that he’s got his own little family to fight for.

  14. itoqih says:

    I don’t normally comment on here but this article man. I’m actually speechless. If Kate never wanted to work she should have married a billionaire. Surely she would have known marrying royalty required working for the people? William and Kate are idiots. I’m not surprised when Harry and Megan married people on Facebook and Instagram was pushing for H&M to be King and Queen Consort. Way to errode good will ya dumbasses.

    • aquarius64 says:

      God help William if Samantha goes to the press and says William had his minions to blackmail them to do hit pieces on Meghan. The Markles are mad the royals ghosted them; now it’s payback.

    • jules says:

      I suspect Kate follows William’s lead. If he wanted to be more active, she would follow suit.

  15. MrsBanjo says:

    Just to let you know, Peter’s wife is Autumn, not Summer.

    The racist optics of this are so bad. “We’re going to send you away because I’m supposed to be more popular. You’re too big for Canada and Australia, so you’re going to Africa.”, which isn’t one single country. Like the racist signs in the 60s that said “go back to Africa.” It’s gross.

    • NewKay says:

      @mrsbanjo- those racist signs and their intent are still very much around.

      • MrsBanjo says:

        Oh I know. Those were the images that jumped out at me when I read the article. Nothing’s changed, and the racist colonial bullshit is as alive as ever, was my point.

  16. Erinn says:

    This whole articles seems so over the top. Were we not just saying for the last few months that Frogmore was a great move for them?

    • Enn says:

      Yes, they were establishing boundaries and getting away from KP and creating their own household, etc.

    • Rhys says:

      I know, right? Everyone here was breathless about Meghan’s wise choice of Frogmore as their first family home.

      • Becks1 says:

        Well, that’s not entirely accurate. Some people here were scratching their heads about the move. But, I think both things can be possible. I think someone can view the move to Frogmore as a positive, but the move also could have been a way to “exile” Meghan and Harry.

    • Himmiefan says:

      Yes, I think H&M chose to move to Frogmore. Their popularity has nothing to do with where they live in the London area.

    • MA says:

      I don’t know about the Frogmore bit, but Buckingham Palace didn’t deny it. They ONLY said that no decisions about H&M’s future have been finalized and it’s under discussion. They did NOT deny the side notes (meaty parts) like the feud, William’s role, etc.

  17. Peg says:

    Stop giving William more power than he has, people keep over looking Prince Charles.
    I don’t think they were any vacant apartments at KP, they was talk of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester??? Moving out, but that did not happened, so they had to move the staff from Frogmore Cottage and renovate.
    What did they expect when they sent Harry and Meghan on that Oceanic Tour?
    That they would be falling down stairs drunk, or they did not expect the brown people to come out and see them.
    The US is going to cover Meghan going on a walk, the Aussie press is all over them, right now no one else in the Royal family get World wide coverage this regular.

    • MA says:

      Why would it be Charles? His popularity only increases through association with the Sussexes.

  18. ojulia123 says:

    What a mistake. Meghan is a hard worker and a fighter and Harry clearly adores her. It doesn’t matter where they send her – she will make it her own and she will shine. This will only make the Cambridges look worse than they already do.

  19. Digital Unicorn says:

    I read this as 2 things; to get away from the nasty press and the toxic relationship with William. Am not sure either this or Frogmore is about exiling the Sussex’s, more like trying to protect them from a rabid press. I have failed to see anything that tells me TQ and Chuck are threatened by Meghan – the only people who are are the DoLittles both of whom as now super keen to be super keen.

    I think Harry wants to protect his wife and child and yes I can totally get behind William trying to get them shutdown or pushed off somewhere. He is his fathers son who does not like been upstaged. The ego’s in that family are really something.

    • Josie says:

      I also think that some people in the palaces may legitimately want to benefit as much as possible from Harry and Meghan’s popularity, and they know the first problem to solve is man-baby William. They’re floating this balloon to see if it works.

      William really doesn’t have the power to exile his brother. And as the article says, Harry and Meghan aren’t going to scale back just to soothe his ego, or because the palace tells them to. So what’s the best solution? They came up with this. (They should tell William to get off his lazy ass, but NO ONE seems to want to do that. Ugh.)

      • Digital Unicorn says:

        I like your point in your first para – solving the problems that are being created by the man baby William. I think BP is not denying this as a way to let William hang himself. William would never listen to them anyway so to me it reads that they are washing their hands of this story and the implications that William is behind it. Me thinks this is part of their plan to put the Cambridges in their ‘place’ as the heir’s heir. For too long W&K have been fannying around doing their own thing, its time to bring them under the BP fold. If they are not going willingly then they will let them hang themselves with their PR genius games.

        Granny and Dad have just chucked them under the bus with this story. It basically confirms that all the passive aggressive racist drama from the media is being fanned by the Cambridge who are threatened by her and Harry’s popularity.

      • Himmiefan says:

        Interesting theory. That makes sense.

      • MrsBump says:

        Thats an interesting if mind bending take to absolve charles and the queen of all responsibility.
        Meghan has had bad press for nearly a year now, neither Charles nor the queen have lifted a finger to help. No denials, no show of support, nothing really.
        Charles has been playing this game a lot longer than his sons and their wives, he got his little boost in popularity at the wedding by welcoming Meghan and he won’t sit back quietly at the thought of a Diana 2.0 situation. He’s lived through the first one and won’t let it happen again.

      • MA says:

        @MrsBump – This makes no sense and, while it could be true, so far there is no evidence of this. Charles has become more popular precisely because of the Sussexes. We never saw similar smear campaigns against Kate post-marriage, who was the star of the BRF and attracted the most attention until Meghan came along. Most of the Meghan bashing articles prop up the Cambridges and compare Kate favorably in comparison, not Camilla. Now how would it benefit Charles to have W&K’s popularity rise when there is already a public appetite to “skip” Charles for William?

      • MrsBump says:

        I think it’s to do with that very British notion of divide and rule.
        It’s telling that Charles has done nothing to help heal the rift between his sons. Any normal father would have stepped in to resolve this, even more so when the very purpose of the royal family is to show unity.
        While William is surely jealous of his brother’z newfound popularity, and if he is the mastermind behind all of this, then Charles is letting him do the dirty work on both their behalves.

      • Tina says:

        The article states (and I believe it because all other evidence supports it) that Charles has no influence over his sons. Charles was just getting more access to his existing grandchildren, which he has desperately wanted for ages. He wouldn’t have the capacity to mend a rift between his sons.

      • MA says:

        @MrsBump – Eh, still don’t buy it. Again, Harry isn’t Charles’ “competition”, if you will–William is. Harry will never become king and no one says they prefer King Harry over Charles. Yet the popular sentiment prefers King William. H&M’s popularity has rubbed off on the members of the BRF by association. Damaging their popularity doesn’t make Charles look better at all. Who will be there to make Charles look better if H&M are also sullied? Meanwhile, Charles has never undertaken a sustained negative smear campaign against William or Kate. The only criticism they ever got was in more recent years, and that was for not work–something very much their doing.

        And you’re assuming that nothing has been done on Charles’ part just because no results have been produced. Charles may very well have tried to resolve this but ultimately it’s up to his adult sons to make their own decisions.

      • Vi says:

        @digital unicorn This is a very creative take,to say the least! BP is not denying it because senior palace officials,including one of the Queen’s closests advisers and David Mannings are duscussing it.. and it’s literally written clearly in the article..
        It’s not about the “William’s mess” .. while granny and dad know nothing about it.
        And while the main story about these alleged plans are probably true,there’s no way his camp wanted it out in this way.

  20. guest says:

    This is great. they pretty much insulted a whole continent and come off as racist . some the Australia media are mad since they feel like they are being used for pr.

    Good job William. Guess daddy and grandma have to clean up the mess. Or better yet you can hope your niece or nephew, the one you want shipped off to Africa, can hurry up to take the attention off you.

  21. TheOriginalMia says:

    I believe William and the courtiers hatched this plan together, thinking erroneously that shipping Harry to Africa would lessen the Sussex’s star power. Out of sight, out of mind. Instead, it backfired as Big Willy’s PR plans do. Commenters were pissed. Not only was this insulting and racist, but to pull a stunt like this on the Queen’s birthday was ridiculous. And it was definitely William because his personal secretary is quoted in the piece. Logistically, though this is doomed to failure because: 1) Meghan can’t leave in the middle of her citizenship request. 2) Why Africa? It’s not deserts and men in loincloth. It’s many countries of modern technology and wealth.

    How freaking petty and insecure is William to exile his brother’s family because he and his wife have done nothing for nearly a decade and they are feeling overshadowed? Very! What the f&ck, William?!

  22. Becks1 says:

    Now I will add the reason this article partly rings true to me is bc it is consistent with what we have said here for months. The smear campaign against Meghan really kicked up after their South Pacific tour. Their popularity was hard to deny at that point in time. And that was when there started to be visible tension between Harry and William. So those two things that we “know” (the timing of the smear campaign, and the visible tension) fit with what this article is saying.

    I don’t think the Frogmore move is related bc as others have pointed out at various points the plans for that were put into place a year ago.

  23. Goofpuff says:

    The optics is awful and they are too blind by their white privileged backgrounds to even see it. This will be their downfall – the fact that the world is waking up to their BS and not here for it. The new world of global news cycle is something the RR and BRF have no idea how to use because they live in this bubble of people kissing their a$$.

    • The Hench says:

      Exactly, Goofpuff. I was talking to someone with a passing knowledge of the Royals and they said one of the biggest problems with many of them (and other celebs) is that they are surrounded by people who never say no, who never criticise, who never do anything other than tell them they are brilliant, whatever horsecr*p they are coming up with. When you combine that with Royal courtiers who are equally out of touch then you get this PR mess.

  24. guest says:

    I hope the commonwealth countries especially the ones with poc are taking notice of this. This is pretty much their future under good king will.

    • Lorelei says:

      Honestly I believe the rumors that many of the Commonwealth countries are only staying out of respect until the Queen passes, and then they’re out. Things are going to be in turmoil for a while when she passes away, and no one knows what it will look like when it all settles down. William is too dumb to realize any of this.

  25. Mads says:

    I’ve always been a monarchist and much prefer the idea of a non-political Head of State, I have concerns regarding Charles, however William is reprehensible. It now comes out that he was actively in contact with the media to deliberately smear his sister-in-law, with the collusion of most of the media. The article in the Times clearly shows how much like Charles he is when it comes to his insecurity if another member of the”firm” – including his own wife – garners positive press. Now, the same media are spinning the story about the relocation to Africa as being Harry’s idea and trying to forget that it was stated in the article that Simon Case, William’s adviser, was heavily involved in discussions even though Harry and Meghan now fall under Buckingham Palace. I knew the leaks were coming from KP and William was behind it, but to discover that he took the lead and made direct contact is sickening. I do not feel he is fit to be king.

    • Wowsers says:

      Huh? Where does the article say William was behind the smears?

      • Mads says:

        There were two articles in the Times and one of them states that William was behind the leaks by “reaching out to the media as he prepares for kingship and the decision of the same media to peddle the most negative coverage of the Duchess’s relationship with her father”

      • Lorelei says:

        @Wowsers I can’t post screenshots here but Mads is correct, it was right there in the article.

      • MA says:

        From @Tina above:

        “This sense of embattlement has been entrenched by William’s decision to reach out to senior figures in the media as he prepares for kingship and by the apparent decision of those same newspapers to side with the palace over Meghan and Harry by peddling the most negative coverage of the duchess’s relationship with her father, Thomas Markle. “Harry sees that as part of the headwinds against him,” a friend said.”

        “Siding with the palace” = peddling negative coverage of Meghan.

      • PrincessK says:

        Yes, “reaching out to the media as he prepares for kingship and the decision of the same media to peddle the most negative coverage of the Duchess’s relationship with her father”, and we know that William must have principally been reaching out to the Daily Mail with the support of the Middleton’s.

  26. guest says:

    Now it’s down to 6 months. This is a pr disaster. To use the commonwealth countries of Africa to just stick to the half black girl comes off as racist. I see the former brexit worker who works for will and Kate is quoted. No wonder the idiot thought it looked good.

    Africa is not a baron wasteland. Someone needs to tell William its composed of many countries that live in the 21st century.

    • Seraphina says:

      @Guest, THIS! Who ever thought of the idea I would love to find out because they are not only an idiot but a racist too. And who ever approved is a bigger idiot and racist since they signed off on it. And that leaves us with only a select few choice of individuals.

  27. Mia says:

    Willy thinks he will be King. Somebody needs to tell that a**, nothing in life is certain. Hopefully by the time it’s his turn, the British Royal Family is abolished. This makes the entire family look bad. Not one of them spoke out on the toxic coverage of a member of their family. I don’t see how Meghan can smile, curtsy to the Queen, Prince Charles etc. Know way in hell would I give up my citizenship.

    • Tina says:

      I doubt Meghan is going to give up her US citizenship. That’s another reason why this story is very unlikely to be true – she needs to live in the UK to get UK citizenship, which won’t be for another 4 years (she obtained her fiancée visa in April 2018).

  28. i says:

    This is such a bad look. We don’t want your Royals or your Royal drama here in Africa. We are not an exotic backdrop for westerners, especially spoiled and extravagant ones, to play out their pettiness and make photo shoots. You colonialists have taken enough. Stay in your leafy shires and work it out like grown ups.

    • Mogul says:

      Amen, once a colinizer always a colinizer. They should stay in their country, they have never respected or done right by any African country. So they should keep their racist buttons in England and forget about Africa. Africans suffer enough, so stop the exploitation.

      • Carolind says:

        Mogul , it would be as well to remember that the UK is England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland – at the moment anyway. To call the UK “England” is totally wrong. There are also lots of people in the UK who are NOT racist and who do think the British history is dreadful but it wasn’t us. It wasn’t our fault. In the same way, we don’t blame the “good” Americans for the terrible racism which has gone on in their country with non-white people being treated in the most terrible way.

  29. ex-Mel says:

    People keep throwing the word “upstaged” around, without really thinking what it means. How SPECIFICALLY are the Cambridges ever going to be “upstaged”? On gossip websites? Or are people not going to turn out at their events? Are they going to boo them, yelling “we prefer Harry and Meghan”? 🙂
    They are the ones in line for the throne. Their position is as secure as the future of the monarchy itself (that is, very relatively). Why would they even care about being “upstaged” (Again: where, how?)
    Also, it is ridiculous to ascribe William that much power. There is still a queen – and she still is the boss.
    If anything, this could be a pre-emptive move. It could be that some major “dirt” is about to come up.

    • Sunnee says:

      Considering the source and the lack of denial the story is true and shows that William is a petty little B.
      Ex-Mel- Of course they can be upstaged, it’s happening now, unless you choose to hide your head in the sand. The British monarchy has been highly successful because of its ability to adapt to changing times. The loss of absolute power which started centuries ago has translated into a role that IS largely about popularity, a celebrity-dom, of sorts. Their popularity is what keeps them where they are. Not only at home but also abroad. That’s why they do the commonwealth tours etc. The numbers of people that turned out for the Sussexes far exceeded the numbers for the Queen and even for the Cambridges even with little George in tow. Let’s be real, the H&M story is more romantic. The commonwealth has more POC than white so there’s built in appeal. Added to that is the fact that Harry and Meghan’s personalities are much less stiff that W&K. People like them more.
      No, they will never be King and Queen, I doubt if they would even want that; but that doesn’t seem to be enough comfort for Wills. Her Majesty and Charles are in the business of making sure the monarchy survives, so I think they too are trying to figure out how to “profit” from the Sussexes without undermining the next King. Personally, I think Will and Kate should just accept that they are the staid, stiff ones and let the Sussexes shine. The younger generation will soon take over in popularity as they become teens. Unfortunately they feel threatened and I think that’s mostly driven by ego.

      • jules says:

        “She’s [Meghan’s] in total charge; he does everything she wants.”

        Having read the article, this strikes me as the core of the issue. Meghan, in their opinion, is a headstrong woman with too much control who has her own ideas about direction & execution. Personally, I think her instincts for the role are wonderful & refreshingly modern, but I can understand how her approach (if it is as willful as described) could cause interpersonal tensions. . .

        She has certainly upset the apple cart, hasn’t she? The RF is used to obsequious deference. I’m sure they are quite perplexed by her.

    • Pineapple says:

      ex-Mel …. anytime you read about Royalty through out history the stories are full of jealousy. The Sun King, Louis the Fourteenth, had Courtiers clambering to be in the position of Royal Dresser. There were levels to this position though …. for instance, the Courtier who helped Louis with his underwear was more powerful than the Courtier who helped with his socks. Louis knew he had to keep the Courtiers focused on petty fighting amongst themselves. This allowed him to focus on decision making without interference.

      This is royal life. These people are humans after all. Does power matter to humans? Does money? This has been about Meghan all along people. Harry chose a wife too powerful, too worker bee, to charming. It is the Diana problem all over again.

      This is fascinating gossip.

      • Yami says:

        I love your comment because I love the context. Did you see the play King Charles III? I’m really hoping the author will write a sequel to include Meghan.

  30. guest says:

    The problem with William and Kate is they are lazy with no personality. Harry and meghan have personality and want to work. No matter where they go they will garner attention.

    • vava says:

      Agreed. William and Kate lack charisma. William can make speeches and all, but he doesn’t have the warmth and passion that Harry does. Kate is a nice looking mannequin for clothing, and that is just about it. Meghan has, and does, change the conversation away from clothing – she is articulate, kind, and very comfortable with public speaking. William and Kate will never attain the popularity the Sussexs currently have and it’s because they are closed-in and LAZY. They only care about themselves and their entitlements.

    • BabaBlacksheep3 says:

      You do realize that Will has more engagements and actually “work” done than Harry, right? You realize that has been true for at least the last couple years? I’ll neber understand why people here continue to talk up Harry’s “work ethic’” when it has been prove to be less than his brothers.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Invictus Games, Sentebale, Walking with the Wounded, new mental health documentary series in the works with Oprah, and more days worked this year than William.

      • vava says:

        BabaBlackSheep3….quality over quantity, I’d say.

      • jules says:

        Harry has chosen projects wisely. Because his emotional investment is apparent, we find his contribution meaningful & memorable.

        William doesn’t forge this same connection. Meghan does. Kate doesn’t.

        William’s numbers may be higher, but it feels as though Harry is more present & invested in his public life.

    • starryfish29 says:

      So many of W&K’s “problems” could be solved if they were just willing to work, instead, they are willing to do literally anything else including hairbrained nonsense like float this idea.

  31. Mia4s says:

    The dynamics of this all are only going to get more interesting. Let’s say for argument’s sake that Queen Elizabeth passes in the next three years (I believe she will reign longer (and hope she does, but let’s just say). Charles would take the throne at 73. Charles seems very fit and his parents are both very long lived, so I could easily see him reigning at least 15 years. That would mean Willam would become king in his early-mid 50s. But does he really have the spotlight then? I’m not so sure, because say hello to late teens/early 20s royal Charlotte and George!

    William needs to get over himself….and fast!

    • Beli says:

      Exactly! By the time William becomes king (If he ever does. I’m certain that after the Queen passes there will be a HUGE swell in republican feeling and there might not even be a monarchy by the time William gets there), he’ll be being upstaged by his own children. And how will his ego cope with that?

      • Himmiefan says:

        I totally agree. When the Queen passes, people will be more apt to say no to the monarchy since it was so attached to her. I will bet money that when Charles passes, so will the monarchy.

  32. Cerys says:

    William is more like his father than he probably wants to believe. His jealousy of Harry and Meghan is similar to Charles’ jealousy of Diana’s popularity. Maybe he should just send his brother away to be the Governor-General of the Bahamas?
    What do the Queen and Charles think about all this? They are the ones with the real power not Whiny Willie. Also, if H&M are exiled, that will leave the royals 2 down when it comes to official duties. Does William realise that he and his lazy wife will be expected to up their game to compensate or will they not be so keen any more? Watch this space …….

  33. Mego says:

    The racist optics of this article are beyond belief – congratulations writer at The Sun, you have sunk to new tabloid lows with this. Moving them to Africa will “contain” their popularity??!! WTF?

    I know the plans for Frogmore to be renovated began before Harry and Meghan married however I maintain their permanent move there was to escape the toxic environment of KP. There is no reason why Nott Cott couldn’t have been their London base but they wanted to make a complete break from William and Kate. I can’t imagine how betrayed Harry must feel knowing that his own brother and staff were working against him.

    The fact that Harry walked with Peter and Autumn and not the Cambridges is very telling that there is a rupture in their relationship. Harry knows what the Cambridges have done.

    Bottom line – The Cambridges are threatened by and jealous of Harry and Meghan’s popularity and fame. Kate never felt relieved about no longer being in the spotlight and all that nonsense that was being said when Meghan came on the scene. Kate is competitive and wants the attention. William is and always was jealous of Harry’s popularity. Being compared unfavourably to Harry and Meghan was what initiated the onslaught of negative press about Meghan.

    Finally, William is not and never has been keen to be King and no amount of spin that Jason Knauf leaks to reporters will convince me otherwise. He may have inherited his father’s petty streak but beyond that he doesn’t compare in any way to the Prince of Wales, a hard worker and visionary who is keen about his current and future role.

    • Ib says:

      Amen!
      (Although no way about Nott Cott as London base -maybe they still have and use it for lack of other London options for now. But it was 2br only. The RF just didn’t announce a London home Gift and expensive renovation at the same time as Frogmore because of optics around spending. They will have a plush London residence from the queen within 3yrs max.)

    • Pineapple says:

      Really well written Mego. XO I agree. I suspect Meghan and Harry wanted to live at Frogmore. A more country feel, an organic garden and space away from the lunatics. Hee

  34. Weaver says:

    Is anyone still on the fence about the Cambridges being the source of the Meghan smear campaign? I mean at this point it’s obvious and utterly pathetic.

    If you don’t want to be upstaged then UP YOUR GAME. Don’t smear someone else just do you don’t have to put in the work required of you.

    • ex-Mel says:

      How is it “obvious” that they have ANYTHING to do with it? And how exactly would they be “upstaged”? Where, how?

      • Lorelei says:

        @Ex-Mel did you READ the articles?? It is right there in black and white, clear as day that William is behind it.

      • Vi says:

        It’s not really what the article says.
        As another poster said above,that bit meant that William was advised to develop a good relationship with the media , unlike what he and his brother have done in the past,and when the same press that was being more benign with his brother started to cover her family drama, Harry didn’t feel like he was supported by “the palace”.
        Ithe doesn’t mean that he was telling media people to cover her family mess,or he was feeding stories that come evidently from other sources placed elsewhere (like the tiara gate,protocol stuff..)
        I doubt anyone at KP could care less about Thomas Markle,let alone William,but it’s quite interesting that they explicitly mention her father because it has been reported various time that M&H were offered help by more experienced aides at BP and CH to handle him but they decided to do everything on their own.

        Funnily enough,now that William seems to be back to their (his and Harry’s) old tactics (warning,limiting access),the press is probably starting to retaliate on him.
        Some people were asking why he didn’t protest for the pics of his children.
        I don’t think they asked for permission before publishing,but at the same time this was totally about William trying to balance things again and looking more pleasant with the press camp. They play a very tricky game with them.

      • Tina says:

        The link between William’s ties to the media and Thomas Markle is clearly the Daily Mail.

    • Beach Dreams says:

      Oh don’t worry. There will still be people who are adamant that W&K are innocent bystanders. They’re delusional and in denial at this point.

  35. anniefannie says:

    Given all Megan has had to endure with her hellish family, the fact that William felt the need to pile on to sideline them says alot more about his cruel, selfish, insecure nature than anything else. I can’t believe he employs a full time press office and this is the kind of PR he’s getting. My gut tells me this is probably only the tip of a very large iceberg.

  36. Cherie says:

    Clearly TQ and Charles are fully on board – unless we are operating under the assumption that Willy has independently gained enough power with the press, courtiers and RRs to not only instigate this plan but also bar TQ and Charlie from providing any support, statements or otherwise shut down the smears.

    If this is a giant conspiracy, it starts at the top.

    • Tina says:

      William absolutely has the capacity with the press and courtiers to instigate this plan. The fact that the article denigrates Charles as well (even William wouldn’t dare to touch HM) supports this. Whether HM or Charles is going to respond is up to them, but you’re right that William couldn’t bar them from doing so. They know that it would fan the flames if they did so, they are playing the long game.

      (And everyone seems to be acting as though the Queen is a hale and hearty woman in late middle age who’s following all of this avidly – she’s 93 and relinquishing duties to Charles left, right and centre. This is likely not the top of her priority list).

      • perplexed says:

        He can’t make Canada or Australia do anything though. They’re independent(-minded) countries.

      • Tina says:

        @perplexed, this is true. And Charles and the Queen know that. William doesn’t, necessarily. He’s the one who admits he doesn’t read his briefing papers.

      • Millie says:

        Perplexed, the Queen has every right to appoint who she wishes as her representative to a foreign country. I can’t speak for Australia but Canada has every right to abolish the monarchy in response.

      • perplexed says:

        “Perplexed, the Queen has every right to appoint who she wishes as her representative to a foreign country.”

        She may have the right but she’s not going to exercise it. She believes in duty (whatever that means in her context) and she’s not going to do anything that might potentially dismantle Canada’s relation with the Commonwealth. With Britain enduring the never-ending embarrassment of Brexit which could potentially lead to all of the UK splitting up, she’s not going to do something else that could dismantle what also. constitutes the Commonwealth.

      • Nic919 says:

        Canada just appointed Julie Payette as the new GG when David Johnston finished his second five year term. She was chosen based on Trudeau’s recommendation and as PM he has the right to decide this. Same with Harper deciding to appoint David Johnston. The Queen has absolutely no say in deciding the GG. The Statute of Westminster devolved all these powers to their respective countries starting in 1935. Although there was never a war of independence, Canada and Australia are independent nations where the Queen is merely a symbol as head of state. She has no power in either country. (Same with New Zealand and other countries where the Queen is noted as head of state). This is first year constitutional law, something that Charles would know

    • notasugarhere says:

      Charles and the Queen are moving Harry and Meghan to BP for their offices, which gets them out of the control of KP. The machinations in this article would be one way of petulant William acting out against that, with his own core of pro-William, anti-Harry and Meghan courtiers.

  37. Beli says:

    Does William realise how terrible this makes him look? I think the RRs do because they’re going all in on the spin. But it makes him look petty, insecure, racist and bigheaded. And to release this not only on Easter Sunday but also on the Queen’s birthday?? What a moron.

    Let’s not forget (as he seems to have) that there are years and years between William and the throne! It’s like he’s bought into the idea that the crown is going to skip Charles and come straight to him.

    And it basically confirms that William was a key part of the disgusting smear campaign against Meghan, which became clear the longer it went on, but I can’t imagine how Harry must be feeling to have his brother go after his wife like that.

    It’s sad because he and Kate could have built on the popularity that came from their wedding, but they chose the route of doing as little as they could get away with instead and now it’s biting them in the backside because Harry and Meghan are actually keen, rather than just making keen noises.

  38. Weaver says:

    I love how in the video footage Harry talked to everyone but Will. He leaned over to say something to Kate at one point with no word to Will. Harry also deftly maneuvered around Will to greet everyone.

    • Ceedee says:

      You love that two brothers, who by all accounts were very close, appear to be not on speaking terms?

      • Lorelei says:

        No, we love the fact that Harry finally accepted who his brother is and is in self-preservation mode. Which means stayingTF away from toxic William and his awful wife.

        I think most of us here would agree it’s a shame and very sad that their relationship has come to this (I certainly think it’s terrible), but William has shown who he is and Harry is acting accordingly.

      • MsIam says:

        But how close were they really? Maybe we just made assumptions based on a bunch of photo opps. I think Harry was not really into the whole “royal thing” and was content to let William take the lead. Now that he’s a “grown-up” with a family, he’s sees his whole life stretching out ahead of him. He’s not content to be a tag along and it’s upset some people.

      • Tanya says:

        Well, if the brothers were only close as long as the younger one didn’t threaten the older one’s ego, then yeah, I’m going to be happy that the younger one has wised up. William liked Harry the scamp who didn’t have to be taken seriously. Now that Harry is garnering respect, he’s turned on him. Sadly common.

    • one of the Marys says:

      I went to YouTube to have a look. It reminded me of Princess Diana and the Queen and manoeuvring the umbrella to avoid each other. Harry is really mad

  39. Enn says:

    At this point I wish Kate and Meghan would just join forces and let their husbands fight it out. Meg could be like “girl, get your ish together and do some real work we could run this, you don’t even need that bald ass.”

  40. Sam Louise says:

    I take exception to the obviously ignorant person who made the suggestion about sending Harry to Canada to be governor general. Ahem…we’re not a colony of Britain anymore!! Our governors general are Canadian citizens living in Canada.
    There…I feel better now. Happy Easter everyone! 🙂

  41. Nic919 says:

    The articles reeked of colonialism especially the parts where they write that they were thinking of making Harry GG of either Canada or Australia, ignoring how neither country has never had a non Canadian or Australian in decades and that it’s that country’s PM who actually decides the GG. And then deciding that it’s better if they go “somewhere in Africa” as if it’s not a large continent of several countries, many of whom have no link to the commonwealth. Way to destroy whatever relationship with the commonwealth the Queen is trying to preserve with this racist colonialist nonsense. It’s not like social media and wifi doesn’t exist in Africa. The media will follow Harry and Meghan if they are interested in them. They can’t be exiled in this day and age and William being behind this looks petulant and immature.

    As for Easter Sunday, it was pretty obvious Harry and William weren’t talking to each other much. Harry spoke to Kate, but even there he had Zara and Mike separating him. William’s ego need to be checked though. The palace non denial denial really places this mess on him and several people who aren’t linked to any side commented how dumb it was to have this article show up in Easter Sunday and the Queen’s birthday.

    • MrsBanjo says:

      That’s what stuck out at me about BP’s “denial.” It’s not just that they’re not really denying the discussions of a move for the Sussexes, but they’re also not really denying William’s petty jealous behaviour that lead all of this.

    • Vi says:

      Uhm? The palace denial non denial is telling that yes,palace officials,including one of the Queen’s closests advisers and David Mannings are duscussing it.. and it’s literally written clearly in the article..
      As I said above,it’s not about the “William’s mess” .. while granny and dad know nothing about it.
      And while the main story about these alleged plans are probably true,there’s no way his camp wanted it out in this way.

      • Nic919 says:

        The article points to William using his advisors or are we also ignoring the part literally saying Case is a part of this too. And Charles and the Queen aren’t so dumb as to not understand the history of GGs in Canada and Australia or putting a royal “somewhere in Africa”. The Scobie article pretty clearly sets out where this came from. And the Palace non denial denial was also explained to mean they may visit Africa but not to stay there for years or leave Britain. William and his genius PR backfired and outside of distracting from the Rose affair, he’s now created another story of tension with his brother.

  42. Josie says:

    Look, several things can be true at the same time:

    (1) Petty AF William can be threatened by his brother’s wife and their popularity as a couple, not to mention their refusal to agree with his stated “plan” to make the royal family more lazy (aka “take on fewer patronages”). Meghan doesn’t want to do as little as Kate, and the inevitable comparisons will hurt the Cambridges (as they should — Meghan is doing it right).

    (2) The Queen and her staff may legitimately be worried about how to create a vital role for the Sussexes. Neither Margaret nor Andrew can be considered successes. And it’s actually not in the institution’s best interest to let younger siblings outshine the heirs. The obvious solution would be to read William the riot act, but for whatever reason, NO ONE seems to want to do that. It’s infuriating.

    (3) Charles can be looking for a way to use Harry and Meghan’s obvious energy, intelligence, and drive to enhance the popularity of the monarchy overseas. It’s extremely likely that many of the Commonwealth countries will rethink their connections to the U.K. after the Queen dies. It’s almost a certainty that he won’t be the Head of State in Australia for very long (if at all) and there are others that will follow that example. Harry and Meghan _do_ genuinely seem to love spending time in Botswana; Sentebale is not a vanity project for Harry. They are already “youth ambassadors” to the Commonwealth. The whole proposal could be a well-intended (if tone-deaf) idea on the part of Clarence House.

    (4) The Diana comparison and the quotation about “telling them what to do doesn’t work” are extremely important, though. Plus, look at who is being NAMED as leading the project: senior advisors to the Queen and Charles. Whatever William’s petty-ass problems, this is 100% coming from the Firm (the courtiers) and it tells us that they are absolutely scared of Meghan’s popularity, and Harry’s new refusal to follow their advice. OF COURSE that reminds them of Diana and of course their racist, hide-bound selves are scared stiff.

    FWIW, Harry leaned over to talk to Kate outside the church. I think all his decisions yesterday were signaling his feelings, and that deliberate move tells us that he has no beef with her.

    • Tina says:

      This is a GREAT post. Very well put.

    • Enn says:

      This is a really well done breakdown. I think William is an ego monster, tbh, and I think Kate goes along to get along (I have friends and relatives in similar situations where they push down who they are to keep the peace, and one good friend who recently decided it wasn’t worth it so she’s ending the marriage).

      I don’t think HM is sitting back and watching this spiral, she just may be unsure of how to steer it. She saw how out of control the Charles and Diana situation got in terms of airing dirty laundry.

    • sunny says:

      Excellent points here! I wonder what strategy the Royals will run with because their response so far has been a mess

    • Olenna says:

      Agree; great post with all very reasonable points. I’m just struggling with the reason(s) why the Times thought the initial rumor exiling the DDoS or giving Harry a foreign appointment had enough validity to print it *at this time*. Unless Harry was given an ambassadorship, I don’t understand how TQ or PC could appoint or create a role similar to a governor general in another country (or continent, LOL!) or, in lieu of having authority to do so, influence the creation of one. I would think the Times editor/reporter would’ve laid out the process or possibilities more clearly (to include political ramifications) before publishing the rumors. That is, unless that newspaper has also fallen to the level of tabloid and RR “journalism” in the pursuit of profits gained from Sussex bashing.

    • Bluthfan says:

      I agree with all of it but #4. In the earliest articles, William’s top guy is the one being quoted for the story. This came from him. Now, Charles and the Queen may have given their blessing because William is a lazy, selfish baby that they can’t say no to. But, William is driving this ship.

    • A says:

      On what basis are you asserting that Charles will not be the head of state of Australia for very long after the Queen passes?

      I’m fully aware that the Queen (or the King, in this case) is a figurehead, but the Crown, as a legal entity is a reality. I can’t speak to how the Australian legal system works, but as far as Canada goes, there are negotiations and agreements that have been made, not with the Canadian government, but with the Crown. If the monarchy is to be removed or abolished, and the country is to become republican, there are actual legal implications to this that would complicate matters. There is a massive, complicated debate regarding this issue, because even legally speaking, the Crown has a number of different definitions depending on context. Sorting all that sh-t out is going to be a massive ordeal for everyone involved, and while I’m not dismissing the republican sentiment in Australia at all, I do think people need to be aware of the fact that it’s not going to be nearly as simple as just deciding to no longer have a monarch. And I’m pretty sure the Queen (and Charles) are fully aware of this as well.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        “Sorting all that sh-t out is going to be a massive ordeal for everyone involved”

        “I do think people need to be aware of the fact that it’s not going to be nearly as simple as just deciding to no longer have a monarch.”

        @A, Sorta like BREXSHIT? One cannot simply pack up one’s sh$t and get the f*^K out.

      • A says:

        @BayTampaBay, exactly like Brexit. And I left this unsaid in my original comment, but the fact is, given how the state of Brexit negotiations are at the moment, I do NOT trust the British government to go about fulfilling their responsibilities when it comes to any of the Commonwealth countries abolishing the monarchy. This is a deeply sensitive issue that’s going to require a reckoning with some really nasty parts of history, and I do not see either the British, or a country like Canada/Australia, doing that the justice it requires.

  43. Lucia says:

    I think Harry needs to take his chances and get off The List and out of the line of succession. I think if he and Meghan do it within the next 2 years, they can capitalize on it and make enough money for them to live off of wherever they please. The Royal Family doesn’t deserve them and it’s clear William is going to run the family into the ground.

    • Mogul says:

      If he really loves her he would leave his position on the list, or they will get a public divorce after their second child but stay together and live together

      • Lorelei says:

        A public divorce? What?

      • (THE OG)@Jan90067 says:

        Are you suggesting a Pedo/Fergie situation, where they’re “divorced”, but still live/parent together?? Yeah, don’t think THAT will happen. Fergie is a parasite who needed (and *still* needs to feed off the public purse (via Pedo and her daughters’ trusts). IF Meghan decides she’s had enough of this bullshit, you can bet she will NOT stick around, just “living” with Harry. She will be out there, still doing “her” thing. She has money on her own, unlike Fergie. She also is smart, unlike Fergie.

      • Lowrider says:

        A public divorce?!?! 😂

    • guest says:

      I agree. They have enough powerful connections to make their lives a success. Then we will see just how much the public supports the royal family. Harry is extremely popular to the public and it wouldnt look to good if he had to walk away because his family treated his wife like they do.

    • notasugarhere says:

      The press would make their lives hell and they’d have no security or palace protection. Chased on a global stage. It would also place Andrew in pole position as guardian to George if anything happened to William.

      • Lucia says:

        Not if they moved to America. There’s enough city ordinances in Los Angeles over the years that the paparazzi couldn’t touch them. But security would be an issue for the first little bit but I think only temporarily.

      • Lol says:

        At this point the royal family deserves William and if some every happened to him then they deserve Andrew. If I was harry I would say fck it and leave. A lot good the family is doing now. They let the press do whatever they want to his wife.

        The royal family is so dated they cant see past their own fishbowls and yes men.

      • A says:

        @Lucia, are you for fcking real right now? I’m sorry, I don’t want to be rude, but you have to be incredibly naive to think that they would court LESS attention from the press and public if Harry were to renounce his position within the royal family and move to America. Not only would they be absolutely hounded, they would lose the considerable protection that being a part of the RF affords them as of now. If you think the press is bad already, how bad do you think it would get if they were no longer under the auspices of the Queen?

  44. Beli says:

    (Duplicate comment)

  45. Eliza says:

    William can’t make the queen do anything. She gave them Frogmore. She or Charles would have to ask a million favors to get them a foreign post. If anything it shows the Queen, and Charles (who has increasing power) are afraid of their popularity. Williams thrown under the bus so Daddy doesn’t look bad.

    • Mego says:

      Oh please. Charles got a huge pr boost because of Meghan’s fondness for him and his chivalrous behaviour at the wedding. The Queen, at age 93, has no f**ks to give about Harry and Meghan’s popularity. She was not jealous of her sisters popularity decades ago either.

      William and Kate are the only people with anything to lose as a result of Harry and Meghan’s popularity. THE ONLY PEOPLE. That said I do find it hard to believe that William has enough power and influence to get Harry and Meghan moved so I agree with you there. This story and the spin about how it’s now Harry who wants to move is bizzare.

      • MrsBump says:

        I think Charles is a much smarter politician that you give him credit for.

        The only ones who have the authority to create a “governor general” role for harry is Charles or the Queen. Petulant William has nowhere near that power, he can’t even contain the Rose mess.

        While Charles certainly loves the boost in popularity the wedding gave him, he has more to lose than anyone else at a Diana 2.0 situation. He will be King soon and wants no one certainly not the daughter in law overshadowing him.

      • Eliza says:

        But the Queen gave the house. If she gave 0 f***s then why the banishment under a flight path? Why not more support against the media? Why not a million things? William can’t banish them, he doesn’t have the power or the connections to get the favors to do this. Do i think William hates the idea, no, he’s probably all for it. But it’s the Queen and Charles who have the means to do it. Not Willy.

      • Tina says:

        No one in the UK, either royals or in government, has the power to “give” Harry a GG job. The reason this is more likely to come from William’s camp is that he doesn’t know that, whereas the Queen and Charles do.

      • Mego says:

        Eliza – The Queen is notorious for burying her head in the sand and being tone deaf to pr optics. I suspect there is a lot of dependence on courtiers and staff to manage these things etc. But it’s no excuse and it’s very troubling. As another poster has stated the Queen got the Prince Andrew pedo scandal buried quickly so she has power and influence when she chooses to use it. It’s been a very disappointing and disillusioning year for me in regards to the RF. They went off my radar after Diana died and I was excited again when Meghan arrived on the scene. Her treatment has been awful and I don’t feel like anyone but Harry, Doria and her friends has her back.

      • MrsBump says:

        @tina
        The queen had the power to make Charles head of the CW and make Harry youth ambassador.
        Even if not Governor General, some sort of ceremonial role could be created if she wanted to.

      • Nic919 says:

        Charles tried to get a position as Australia’s GG in the 70s and that went over like a lead balloon. He directly knows that the BRF can’t just become GGs anywhere so that bit of nonsense comes from someone who knows absolutely nothing.

      • Tina says:

        @MrsBump, the Queen used all the soft power she had (and, more importantly, the British government used all the influence it had, which is a lot more) to get Charles elected as head of the Commonwealth. But he was elected, it didn’t come about by royal decree. The press in Canada, Australia or NZ would (rightly) cry bloody murder if some sort of make-work job was found for Harry in one of those countries. I do not have as much knowledge about the press in Botswana or South Africa, but I am sure their reaction would be similar.

      • A says:

        @MrsBump, being the head of the CW and its youth ambassadors is a billion miles away from being Governor General of a country or an actual diplomatic ambassador to that country. The latter swings way WAY too close to the sort of political issue that the RF is supposed to avoid. They are not equivalent, and while the GG is a ceremonial post in its current formation, the Queen trying to shoehorn her grandson into the role would make it completely political in a heartbeat and I can’t see her doing that type of thing.

    • notasugarhere says:

      The Commonwealth has always been the Queen’s fifth child. She’s given prime roles in its future to Harry and Meghan. Not to William and Kate.

    • windyriver says:

      @Mego, re: your second remark to Eliza – the RF made a big mistake from the beginning by not more publicly supporting Meghan, a new member of their family, and using every means at their disposal (including – gasp – possibly issuing statements) to counter the obvious maliciousness in the press that was already quite obvious pre-wedding. I’ve said before, the very first step should have been to clean up their own social media, and not give tacit approval by allowing despicable remarks to remain.

      Yes, Meghan and Harry were always going to be popular; they’re charismatic, they’re working, and Meghan attracts wider interest as a POC. But, by allowing the media to bash and trash her at will, they assured she (and/or Harry) would be in the press one way or another every.single.day. IMO that’s what’s created the perceived PR/popularity juggernaut that’s the apparent problem here.

      A smarter PR move would have been to focus on riding on the wave of the renewed interest you mention in the RF. It seemed like W&K were starting to benefit from this, once they started to actually put themselves out there doing engagements. Charles certainly realized his behavior at the wedding was a good look.

      Instead, here we are.

      Edited to add: this should have come out at the end of the thread just above nota.

  46. Scal says:

    Correct me if I’m wrong UK folks-but doesn’t she have to live in the country for 5 years for her citizenship status?

    This is all about Will being petulant and not wanting to change his behavior-he’s been lazy up til now and wants to keep it that way. If they’d been working hard since the beginning and pulling their weight this wouldn’t be a issue. Why is it a shocker that the people who work and get things done would be more popular? Better to banish them rather than be introspective and change my own behavior 🙄

    And the optics of ‘go back to africa’ is horrible.

    • Tina says:

      Yes, that’s right. As a spouse, you can get citizenship after 3 years of marriage, but you also have to have Indefinite Leave to Remain, and that takes 5 years to obtain.

  47. Cee says:

    This is so, so, so bad for everyone involved. I feel sorry for Canada, Australia and the whole African continent – they’ve been dragged and demeaned, all in the same sentence.

  48. Talie says:

    I don’t view Windsor as a banishment – I do think it’s probably preferable to the viper’s nest of Kensington Palace.

    The issue is that everything they do to try to separate Harry & Meghan on their own island thinking they are demoting them, isn’t working. They somehow think these two are like Andrew and Edward. Like I doubt any of these out of touch courtiers thought their Instagram account would blow up because they can’t wrap their heads around people caring about Harry when William is #1 to them. They’re in a bubble. This article was misguided though – it makes William and Kate look terrible.

    • perplexed says:

      If they lived in Kensington Palace, wouldn’t they have to deal with Princess Michael of Kent? She sounds way snootier than the rest of them combined.

      • Lanne says:

        Not really. The Kent’s have no power, and Ofmichael has to curtsy to Meghan anyway. Quite frankly, as a POC, I think it’s better to know if someone’s a racist outright instead of dealing with microagression that can be insidious

      • perplexed says:

        In the books I’ve read avoid the royals, Princess Michael of Kent sounds like a pill.

      • Some chick says:

        Princess Michael is the worst!

    • Beach Dreams says:

      I think that little section the article was deliberately misleading by whichever source said that. It makes no sense when you look at the fact that permission to renovate FC was requested before the wedding. Plans for residency in Windsor were underway for a long time. It’s just a convenient way for that source to add to the “Harry and Meghan need to be contained” narrative.

  49. Flying fish says:

    Very Edward & Wallis!!! I am waiting to see how this plays out.

    • Jaded says:

      Only Edward and Wallis were Nazi sympathizers – William actually reminds me of Edward in his laziness, arrogance and lack of focus. They were banished to the Bahamas for their continued contact with and support for Nazi Germany during WWII.

      • Flying Fish says:

        My sentiments exactly, Edward was lazy, self absorbed, arrogant and lacked focus. and William inherited those traits.
        The Nazi sympathizing was not what I was referring to. Thanks.

    • Mego says:

      Please don’t sink to the tabloid low of comparing Harry and Meghan to the Edward and Wallace. They were not good people.

      • Flying Fish says:

        I was comparing the seeming banishment of M&H not the alleged cause for the banishment.

  50. Lorelei says:

    (Sorry, for some reason this comment showed up in the wrong place; it is a response to Ex-Mel, above)

    @Ex-Mel, most people don’t care about the hierarchy. Harry and Meghan have been more popular for a while now. They get more media coverage, larger crowds, tons of adulation, etc. It doesn’t matter that “someday” William and Kate will be King and Queen Consort, no matter how much Kate fans like to yell that as if anyone cares one iota. That day is a long way away (if it happens at all), and right now W&K are clearly distressed by how completely overshadowed they are by Harry and Meghan’s popularity.

    • Mich says:

      It is also worth noting that William went on the record saying that since celebrities refused his overtures to partner on mental health issues, it meant the celebrities didn’t care about mental health issues. Then Oprah partnered with Harry on a mental health series. And a number of the world’s most famous came out to publicly support Meghan. William knows that if Meghan asked celebrities to partner (on pretty much anything) they would say “yes”. For an ego the size of his, that has to be especially galling.

    • ex-Mel says:

      Yes, I understand that people don’t care about hierarchy. What I am saying is, their “adulation” – and I am sure the Cambridges get their fair share of it (especially now, with children) – has no impact whatsoever on their social or economic position; and I sincerely doubt the adulation afforded to other members of the “royal” family means much to them *emotionally*. They have the love for, and from, their own family (and their own huge crowds of fans – not that it means much to them, probably).
      BTW, I am no “royal” fan (hence the quote marks), and I doubt the monarchy will survive long enough for William to become king; all I am saying is that his position is as secure as the future of the monarchy (not that secure at all – but certainly there’s no danger coming from the Sussexes).

    • BabaBlacksheep3 says:

      This is silly. The ONLY reason that we are even talking about these people is because they were born in to a certain family. They didn’t earn anything or work for anything. The reason we care about anything they do is because of monarchy. The traditions and the pomp. Hierarchy is literally the foundation of monarchy. To say people don’t care about it would be the same as saying they don’t care for the monarchy. If that’s the case, it’s time to abolish it and make these lazy people (I include Harry in this) get real jobs.

  51. lower case lila says:

    Wow watching the UK media trying to spin the Prince William’s racist Africa mess and make it somehow Harry and Meghan’s fault is just ridiculous. IMO ,this just shows that Will and Kate have been a part of the media bullying of Meghan. This weeks spin to save William’s image.

  52. Onlyashes85 says:

    So, can someone more knowledge about Royal Reporters and such please help an unsavvy American out – the writer of The Times article was Chris Ship?

    Is he a RR or is he a journalist? Can we get a sense of who he sat down with when the tea was spilled? It definitely doesn’t look great for House Cambridge. At all. So I’m wondering if a Kensington insider sat down with Ship at William’s behest – thinking this would actually go over well?

    Or, if this wasn’t planned, who else may have leaked this story? I’m trying to think if William REALLY leaked this angle thinking it was a good idea. Because wow if so. I didn’t know if this was Harry fighting back and really illuminating just what he and Meg have been dealing with – and who can blame him if he did. I just couldn’t imagine Harry meaning for this to come out on Easter Sunday which was also his Grandmothers birthday.

    Just wow. Poor Meghan. I’m glad Doria is in England now. I wish her so much peace as she prepares to deliver her baby.

    • Mego says:

      According to Wikipedia he is the Royal Editor. Sources are never named and vague language like palace insider or source is used. Given how badly this makes William look it’s hard to believe it came from him. As someone else surmised – possible media revenge for law suit threats around turnip toffgate.

      • Onlyashes says:

        Okay! I was just trying to grasp just who he was – was this a Richard Palmer type mouthpiece or was this a legit journalist reporting here, thus giving it more credence (in my mind) than just another tabloid report. I knew we don’t know who the specific source is. It’s jhst unfathomable to me that Williams team thought this was at all a good idea. That’s why I was curious if we think there’s a possibility someone else approaching Shipman with this information.

        What an absolute mess.

      • Bluthfan says:

        Nah, one of William’s people is on record talking about this. It came from him.

    • Amanda says:

      The writer is Tim Shipman, a political editor, not Chris Ship

  53. Sherry says:

    Maybe being out in the world appeals to Harry and Meghan too, being that they are philanthropists – I’m sure traditional royal life is stifling to them.

    • jules says:

      Lainey Gossip has an interesting take on this as well…

      • (THE OG)@Jan90067 says:

        I just read that article; you’re right, that IS an interesting take on this mess. Here’s the link: https://www.laineygossip.com/buckingham-palace-isnt-shutting-down-rumours-that-prince-harry-and-meghan-will-be-sent-to-africa/53489

        I just don’t buy into this *extreme* jealousy by W&K. It just doesn’t make sense to me. But then again, ALL of this crap of the last year don’t make sense, other than outright racism by the British Tabs.

      • That was interesting to read. Thanks for posting it, Jan. I hope she’s right, honestly.

      • MsIam says:

        I read LaineyGossip too. And her take makes sense until you see the video of Harry and William on Easter Sunday. I don’t think Harry is feeling any sense of “benevolent big brother” William at all. He’s upset with William about something.

      • guest says:

        I would say lainey is right, but then that 2nd article came out and it pretty much talks about William’s jealousy and talking to the higher ups on the press on keeping the Thomas markle articles going. If it wasn’t for that 2nd worst article then I could see laineys point.

      • Mego says:

        I think , sadly, Lainey underestimates the power of jealousy and perhaps too the influence of Carole Middleton. At the end of the day I would be glad if I was very wrong about this whole thing.

      • jules says:

        I dunno, now on instagram harry and meghan posted a lot of photos from Africa for earthday. maybe they want to go and people are overreacting and seeing drama because it’s what they want.

      • Digital Unicorn says:

        Lainey’s story just confirms the level of control and influence William had over Harry – control and influence he lost when Harry got married. Harry has his own family now and chose to become his own man by stepping out his brothers shadow to make his own path with his wife and life partner and soon to be born child. THIS is what has caused the issues with the brothers, William has not reacted well to losing his control over Harry. William is a control freak, everything has to be about him and for him.

        At some point William’s ‘looking out for Harry’ veered into controlling Harry for his own purposes – namely having a fall guy to take the crap for his (Williams) messes.

      • jules says:

        Cynical take:
        Lainey has professional/personal ties to Meghan, remember & her neutralizing take may be reflective of Meghan’s desire to smooth things over.

  54. Redgrl says:

    The notion of them being “considered” for Governor General of Canada is ludicrous. Canadians select our own GG and it is a Canadian of accomplishment, not parachuted in as a colonizing convenience. This was either poor PR or a glimpse of how patronizing certain Brits still are to Canada.

    • OriginalLala says:

      Exactly! We have had Canadian GGs since Vincent Massey in the 1950s, no way we are going back to having British GGs and certainly not a GG who is a royal. We should be moving away from the monarchy, not closer

  55. AJ says:

    This is all a mess. I had such high hopes for William but as time moves on he is becoming more and more like a petulant child. I had hoped that all the Royal Family drama would end once Prince Charles dies but it seems like this will go on for eternity.

  56. perplexed says:

    None of this sounds believable to me. Only the Queen has the power to do anything. WTF can William as 2nd in line to the throne do? If any of these stories are true, then what is the point of having the Queen as the Head of State? William can’t banish anyone.

    Canada and Australia are part of the Commonwealth, but I also can’t imagine either country even remotely considering Harry as their Governor-General. Aren’t the people who go up for those jobs actually educated and accomplished in some way and also hold the passport of the countries they are general-ing for? I’m trying to imagine Harry being allowed to prorogue Parliament, and the citizens of those countries suddenly hating Harry to the core. Harry would be hated if he ever became the Governor-General of either country, and I think he’d have to do a lot of reading for this work, which from an intellectual standpoint, I can’t imagine him wanting to do.

    • MA says:

      I don’t think Harry could be that either, but that wouldn’t stop the courtiers from discussing it. As we’ve seen, it was also dismissed.

      And Wiliam might not have power to do anything, but the article is about his wishes. Careful phrasing….it would suit him if they were banished.

  57. Kylie says:

    This story is not believable at all. Meghan is in the process of attaining British citizenship, she cannot just move to another country during that process. Also, wasn’t it the Times that reported the tiara story that made no sense?

    • MA says:

      A lot of the traditional newspapers have lost credibility a bit with regard to H&M. I approach it like I approach the NYT (which has tarnished its credibility quite a bit as well)–I look to the writer and their reputation. Most royal reporter tabloid writers on anything H&M related? Pass, they have been correct approximately 5% of the time and don’t have details on their honeymoon, dog, Oprah, Together cookbook, patronages, etc. And a lot of them are virtually mouthpieces for certain BRF members. Valentine Low — kinda shady lately for reasons I can expand on if you’d like. Telegraph–the same publication that had Tominey “Meghan’s Mosque” headlines but also the very good Hannah Furness. Tim Shipman–respected political journalist who’s unlikely to be a royal mouthpiece as he’s not even one of the usual reporters.

      • twoz says:

        @MA “Valentine Low — kinda shady lately for reasons I can expand on if you’d like.”
        Do tell.

  58. JRenee says:

    If this was published to deflect from the affair rumors, it does but not in a good way.
    Good grief she can’t even finish her pregnancy in peace.
    If I were Harry, I’d take my trust fund, my family and leave

    • Lanne says:

      He can’t just leave. He has an official position as counselor to the monarch. And now, then leaving would only read as them being kicked out, which I think would be disastrous for the Firm. back to Africa gate is boneheaded enough, and the idea of the Sussex’s leaving can only be read as racist

      • guest says:

        He can just leave. He can abdicate his line in succession and walk away. You are right though that would be disastrous. Harry is extremely popular and that would hurt the monarchy.

      • notasugarhere says:

        He does have a legal role, and cannot leave without Parliament approving it. They would be at the mercy of global press and attacks, without any security protections or help from Palace lawyers. And Andrew would become Regent for George if anything happened to William.

      • Lady D says:

        What happens if it comes down to a choice of protecting his child or George? I think Harry would walk. What do you think he would do, Nota?

  59. Jackie says:

    What a little snake Bill is. Pathetic.

  60. Andrea says:

    It is obvious now William and Harry have had a falling out over Meggsn AND Will’s philandering. This rift would break Diana’s heart. I predict divorce for William before he gets the throne too.

    • BayTampaBay says:

      William & Kate will never get divorced. Harry & Meghan will never get divorced.

      • Some chick says:

        Kate loves Mr Potato Head William. He could leave her, but I can’t see her signing any papers. Doesn’t mean he can’t dump her. She doesn’t have to go along with it if he decides to.

        Harry and Meghan truly love each other. There would never be a reason for them to divorce.

        The Mr could decide to dump me. I’m not signing anything, either. Doesn’t mean he couldn’t divorce me. I’m just not going along with it if he decides to.

  61. Maria says:

    Why this now? Just when she is about to give birth? They just moved. Let them enjoy peace and quiet for a year.

  62. Zazu says:

    As a Canadian I just want to clear this one fact up- the British royal family has absolutely no authority to appoint the governor-general of this country! Only our elected prime ministers have that ability. So Canadians pick their own Governor General, a fact which I’m sure the Queen and Prince Charles know! Probably some idiotic courtier floated this while he was talking to the reporter, trying to explain the general idea of getting Harry and Meghan out of the way.

    It’s so ridiculous, the Royals get so much coverage when they go on tour, just remember Harry and Meghan in Australia! Six months wouldn’t quiet down the coverage, instead I think it would be like a daily red carpet show with all the (American?) publications rapturously posting about what the the Sussexes were supporting and what they were wearing etc.. It would only highlight their passion for humanitarian and environmental causes as well as generate lots of photos of their adorable baby and Meghan’s wardrobe for the world to drool over. The only result of that which I can think of would be to dramatically increase their global popularity!

    At the end of the day, I think Harry has had his Royal Duty drilled so far into his head that there’s no way he would ever leave the Royal Family. Hopefully Meghan and Charles can broker some kind of truce between the brothers. Everyone needs to push back against any negative publicity. If the royal family just gives the Sussexes a little bit of leeway to define how they do their advocacy work, then I’m pretty sure Harry and Meghan would happily fall in line and support the Royal line of succession. They need to somehow publicly give William a sense of precedence to assuage his ego I guess. William needs to go on more diplomatic trips and state dinner type affairs while Harry and Meghan can stick to raising awareness for charities and philanthropy.That’s the way to distinguish their roles. But will William do the work?

    • Anon says:

      Here, here. Agreed, Zazu.

    • Mego says:

      You make cogent points about better defining their roles and that will take time. Yet I think this mess arose out of the fact that the Cambridge branding has been all about their perfect normal family life. How they don’t want to succumb to the pressures of royal work and provide as normal a family upbringing for their children as possible. This was sold to the public and nicely covered the truth which was neither William or Kate have any interest in being public servants. They weathered the “work-shy” “do-little” criticisms with the help of Jason Knauf leaking gaslighting stories about their keenness or obvious photo ops with their cute kids.

      Then Harry matured and brought together Sentebale and Invictus Games which proved very successful. He married Meghan, a passionate philanthropist and public servant , who is a comfortable public speaker and produced an excellent fund raising cookbook that helped a Community Kitchen. This was disastrous for the Cambridges and their normal family first brand was tarnished in the comparison.

    • claire says:

      Thank you!!!

  63. aquarius64 says:

    I think the Palace will have no choice but to chuck this plan. It’s a hot holy mess and it makes the BRF look bad. The Sussexes should find a way to leverage this in their favor.

  64. Anon says:

    Good morning posters and let me begin by saying that Colonialism is the the Word of the Day – but I’ll get to that in a second.

    If these stories are true, and it appears they have a significant amount of gravitas, let me just say that “banishing” the Sussexes to anywhere on Earth would be the biggest blunder by the BRF since the abdication and exile of Edward VIII.

    Further, it would only do the following: 1.) Create global sympathy for the Sussexes, who will (rightfully) be seen as being cast out by a weak, manipulative future monarch with a small “m” who took an active hand in “reaching out” to the same media that he despises to use for his own purposes 2.) Make them more popular and relatable to the entire world from now on, which means 3.) They will always Pull Focus no matter where they go/what they do and 4.) Show that the BRF just. can’t. get. their. colonial. shit. together.

    Colonialism. You know, in my culture, we always talk about “decolonizing” this thing or that thing, because, of course, so many countries around the world were subjugated, exploited and destroyed by the ancestors of the very same people sitting around Buckingham and Kensington Palace as we speak. The very same people.

    And yet, here we are. What – 525 years later? Still talking about these MoFu’s who are Still Doing The Same Shit They’ve Always Done. Meghan Markle has not destroyed the BRF. She merely exposed them for what we can plainly see in front of us: Racist colonizers who never got the GD memo that *publicly discussing* sending anyone to “Africa, Australia or wherever” is just insanely bad optics.

    So many presumptions. For starters, I just imagine that nobody in “Africa, Australia or wherever” was consulted first. These aren’t the colonies of 1812. These are independent, sovereign nations who are only members of the Commonwealth by agreement. What if they don’t want to deal with the petty family disputes of the British Royal Family? What if they don’t want the press, the security issues and the attention that would surely follow these two wherever they go?

    So, clearly, the brothers have fallen out. They may never recover, because running to the media to pile on your brother’s wife – the same media that chased your mother to her death – is more than tacky. It reveals a level of immaturity and amateurish, ham-handed pettiness that makes one wonder about Dull Bill’s ability to lead, whenever that may be.

    In the meantime, Harry and Meghan aren’t going anywhere. And if, by chance they do, William better prepare himself for a lifetime of being upstaged. He will get the exact opposite of what he clearly is conspiring to achieve.

    • The Hench says:

      Excellently put.

    • Liz version 700 says:

      Anon every word you stated above is precisely insightful and well stated. This makes Will look evil, Charles and the Queen look weak for allowing/passively encouraging this situation and Harry and Meghan look like rising superheroes. In reality they seem like a perfectly nice couple who are genuinely motivated to help others. But way to go William. You managed to elevate your Brother and his wife to “Diana” status minus the years of hard work she put in to get there; while simultaneously dredging up 500 years worth of colonialism anger (Africa and the other colonies didn’t like being invaded/ruled just in case you missed that class Wills) so great idea to bring that up in the middle of your new gig as Brexit ambassador. Dear Poor brilliant Jason if you were waiting for a sign as too whether it is time to leave. Run dude. You blew it and there is no fixing your boss.

    • Nic919 says:

      👏👏👏

  65. Anon says:

    Good morning posters and let me begin by saying that Colonialism is the the Word of the Day – but I’ll get to that in a second.

    If these stories are true, and it appears they have a significant amount of gravitas, let me just say that “banishing” the Sussexes to anywhere on Earth would be the biggest blunder by the BRF since the abdication and exile of Edward VIII.

    Further, it would only do the following: 1.) Create global sympathy for the Sussexes, who will (rightfully) be seen as being cast out by a weak, manipulative future monarch with a small “m” who took an active hand in “reaching out” to the same media that he despises to use for his own purposes 2.) Make them more popular and relatable to the entire world from now on, which means 3.) They will always Pull Focus no matter where they go/what they do and 4.) Show that the BRF just. can’t. get. their. colonial. shit. together.

    Colonialism. You know, in my culture, we always talk about “decolonizing” this thing or that thing, because, of course, so many countries around the world were subjugated, exploited and destroyed by the ancestors of the very same people sitting around Buckingham and Kensington Palace as we speak. The very same people.

    And yet, here we are. What – 525 years later? Still talking about these MoFu’s who are Still Doing The Same Isht They’ve Always Done. Meghan Markle has not destroyed the BRF. She merely exposed them for what we can plainly see in front of us: Racist colonizers who never got the GD memo that *publicly discussing* sending anyone to “Africa, Australia or wherever” is just insanely bad optics.

    So many presumptions. For starters, I just imagine that nobody in “Africa, Australia or wherever” was consulted first. These aren’t the colonies of 1812. These are independent, sovereign nations who are only members of the Commonwealth by agreement. What if they don’t want to deal with the petty family disputes of the British Royal Family? What if they don’t want the press, the security issues and the attention that would surely follow these two wherever they go?

    So, clearly, the brothers have fallen out. They may never recover, because running to the media to pile on your brother’s wife – the same media that chased your mother to her death – is more than tacky. It reveals a level of immaturity and amateurish, ham-handed pettiness that makes one wonder about Dull Bill’s ability to lead, whenever that may be.

    In the meantime, Harry and Meghan aren’t going anywhere. And if, by chance they do, William better prepare himself for a lifetime of being upstaged. He will get the exact opposite of what he clearly is conspiring to achieve.

    • MA says:

      To your first point, the full articles notes that too. They tried to banish H&M but it was a mistake, because it set them up as an independent enterprise. Now they have more sway and instead of trying to contain them, the courtiers are now trying to wield their immense global influence.

      • Anon says:

        Listen. When folks with enormous global influence like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Oprah, the Obamas, the Gates, et al, are on your group chat, Team Cambridge kind of has to play ball, which I’m sure they deeply resent. Nonetheless, it is what it is. I mean, they’ve been kind of plodding along at a snail’s pace as if it’s still 1995 for nearly 10 years.

        But this. This is just a case study in “What Not to Do: Public Relations 101.”

        William is positioning himself as more of an unsympathetic character than even his ol’ man. And that, my friend, is a low bar to set, all things considered.

      • MA says:

        @Anon – The smart thing to do would’ve been to stay silent and do some engagements. The Cambridges were getting praised to the heavens for MERELY EXISTING and not being Meghan. Non-royal watchers like him well enough even if he doesn’t have enthusiastic fans and the press have been propping up this “Future King” nonsense (forgetting about Charles). And W’s position is secure, so why should he care that H&M are more popular? He’s the one who’s going to get the title and all the money. But that’s the thing–he felt, like with most things in his life, that he DESERVED the adoration the way he deserved all the privileges by virtue of his birthright. Doesn’t work like that. Should’ve just sat down.

  66. Mrs. Peel says:

    William is a racist, petty, jealous bitch. Screw him.

  67. Lowrider says:

    You know William would rather send H and M to the Tower however one of his colony’s will do.. he’s so petty and ignorant.

  68. line says:

    I think the sad thing about this is that the Cambridge does not understand why the public is not interested in them. It’s not the fault of the Sussex but of themselves. they are lazy, the only things who interests them is it’s all the benefits of being royal.

    I think what irritates him the most William is that Harry chose a person who was capable to fulfill all the of all the obligations of the royal life . While William chose a person who was even more lazy and bored than him.To demolish them in the press will not change anything, it’s only going to strengthen them popularity more like Diana in 90’s.

    • MA says:

      There’s a quote from the article that said that the problem with the Sussexes, according to their detractors, is that they want to DO and not just BE. The horror. If only William would step it up and spend more time doing engagements or working on projects to earn people’s affection.

      • line says:

        This article have confirmed that Cambridges was like Javanka. They are petulant, spoiled, stupid, filled with racist prejudices and have no sense of reality and do very little work but they love get all the positive publicity from the work of others.

      • urnuts says:

        But will always has a higher engagement total than harry. This is what I dont understand. How can Harry be harder working if he has lower numbers?

        (Sentabale and invictus are included in his year end totals)

      • MA says:

        @Urnuts – Here’s the thing. Harry is not William’s competition or direct comparison, CHARLES is. Harry is below William, so why should William strive to be just a bit better than the sixth in line? Now Charles is still very unpopular but has grudgingly won the respect of people over the years for his environmental advocacy and no one could ever say anything about his work ethic.

        What does W have to recommend him? He’s still very popular as Diana’s son and people DO like him, but he’s clearly not winning him crowds of adoring fans or the respect of grown men like Harry has through his work with Invictus or Sentabale, 2 clear passion projects of his. People respect H for this and know that he’s not faking enthusiasm for these causes. What’s W’s focus? He seems aimless. He needs to pick a passion project and be dedicated to it–he needs to be more like Charles. If he had Charles’ work ethic, he’d be in the news much more often and be more relevant in people’s minds (relevant in terms of associating him with a cause). None of this disappearing and also expecting attention. And as the future PoW, he REALLY needs to step up. H’es not doing much more than the sixth in line.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Sentebale and Invictus have only just started being included in Harry’s total, and it still doesn’t include all the behind the scenes meetings or all events. If they had counted all his work with those two projects accurately, he’d have always had bigger engagement numbers than William.

        Harry has his big projects like Charles does, plus does other engagements. William? No passion project, although he tried to take credit for other organization’s environmental work by making an umbrella org.

  69. Casey02 says:

    Just WOW! What an insecure piece of shi* William is… that article was sickening. The cat is out of the bag and all of this is at the feet of William. Not only is he afraid of PH/Meghan overshadowing him and the English Rose, I’m sure he’s worried Baby Sussex will do the same to George! William just ended his reign over the Commonwealth. He will have the racist Brits but that’s all. The world will love Meghan and Harry no matter what this piece of shi* does…complete A-hole

  70. Liz version 700 says:

    I think if William continues to behave like this we can expect stories about skipping from Charles to George to start any minute. It will he sad to watch him beat up on his in kids, but given that he has. O problem going after his brother. …

  71. Emby says:

    Imma go out on a limb and say I think Harry leaked this, to show everyone exactly what they are dealing with behind the scenes and as a final warning shot as the baby comes that they will not be abused to make William feel better.

    The leak coming out on Easter and Granny’s birthday? That was for effect, I’d say.

    • MA says:

      Harry INTENTIONALLY put out racist headlines that the BRF wants to ship his biracial wife to Africa in the running up to the birth of his first child, with no regard to how this would hurt Meghan or Doria herself? Harry wanted those choice bits in the full article, that the courtiers all hate Meghan and say she’s a nightmare?
      Well, that’s a hot take if I ever did see one.

    • Casey20 says:

      Just a crazy racist Brit

    • Beach Dreams says:

      Not when a big source for this story is William’s own private secretary, Simon Case (who Tim Shipman would certainly be familiar with as a political reporter writing on Brexit).

    • Vi says:

      SimonCase is mentioned as the link to the government in these alleged discussions. There’s no way he or anyone in Will’s camp wanted the story out in this way.
      I think the sources for these talks are close to BF aides,with the writers doing the most with the rivalry and jealousy angle.
      But it would be much more believable if these leaks came from the Sussexes’ camp,in the way they were framed as the victims of a plan concocted by the courtiers and the bitter brother because they are too powerful for all of them to handle (!!),and not from William’s collaborators wanting him to be depicted as bitter and insecure

      • Nic919 says:

        Case worked with Shipman on the Brexit stories. It’s the connection and it’s not from the sussexes. They wrote their version through the Scobie article.

  72. Charfromdarock says:

    Well, that’s one way to distract from the Turnip Toffs or the gym time with the school mums.

  73. Jane Doe says:

    I believe H&M are both victims of narcissistic family dynamics. I notice how their incredible privilege has not protected them from having multiple family members – both the Markles and normal Bill – displays of narcissistic rage pull focus / overshadow their big life events ( wedding, pregnancy, impending delivery).

    • Call_me_al says:

      Agree. All these people (Thomas Markle, Prince William) have to do is let them have their time to shine. They would be picking up so much of the afterglow if they would just do that. Markle could be the proud but sickly father, and Bill could be the stately older bro.

  74. Maxie says:

    The problem is between the brothers. Kate was photographed laughing with Harry this weekend while William had a poker face.

    I don’t think Kate cares about whether Harry and Meghan live down the street or in Africa. She doesn’t care about anything but her own family. She’s certainly not plotting anything.

    • Casey02 says:

      LOL, Kate’s very competitive

      • MsIam says:

        So is Kate’s mother, lol!

      • perplexed says:

        She might be competitive (who at that level isn’t?), but as long as she’s married to William her position is secure. Unless she does something dumb like an interview like Diana did, she’s safe. As long as Diana had remained married to Charles she would have been safe too, regardless of what Camilla was doing in the background. But then she spilled all her secrets…..and got a divorce…..and, yeah, we all know what happened. Although in death, I suppose she’s more powerful than she was in life.

        (Also, I don’t care if Kate is competitive with the woman who might be having an alleged affair with her husband. Hell yeah, I would be too.)

      • Casey20 says:

        What are you commenting about?

      • perplexed says:

        I think you can figure that out on your own. I don’t feel like thinking for other people.

  75. hairpin says:

    I think it might be wonderful if H&M moved to a country in Africa for 2-3 years. The Economist and other publications have been running articles for years of a growing African economy. These stars could increase tourism and money through charity to many organizations around the continent. Additionally, placing their royal stamp of approval on the chosen country or certain chosen charities would undoubtedly benefit Africa – whether through conservation or increased access to education, etc. They could also be surrounded by RR that are more loyal and dedicated to them. It could change their narrative. I just wonder whether H&M will want to give birth to additional children outside of the UK. 2-3 years seems long, but a shorter secondment seems right.

    • MsIam says:

      If that is the case, then I am sure that H&M would have no problem announcing a move themselves. There would be no need for all of this second hand skullduggery. And why throw in the mention of Australia or Canada? No, this is an attempt to either minimize them or warn them…..

  76. perplexed says:

    I think these stories are more insulting to Canada, Australia and Africa (I know — it’s a continent, not a country) than it is to the royals.

    • claire says:

      How so?

      • perplexed says:

        Because Canada and Australia and the countries in Africa are all independent countries. They are part of the Commonwealth but they make their own decisions. They are not appendages to Britain — and with the mess of Brexit risking the break-up of the UK they’re not going to add fuel to the fire by ticking the rest of the Commonwealth off.

    • BayTampaBay says:

      Perplexed, I agree with you 100% but these stories are pretty insulting to the BRF too!

  77. Well-Wisher says:

    The discussion is centered on what is written in this article and who wrote/published it. Using context my interest lies in why and how it was written. One of the premises is a response to New York Times article. As a follow up in an effort not to appear to be bigoted. Meghan was target because ” Prince William reached out to a senior editor”. The reason being insecurity of the Sussexes popularity.
    Exile is answer to their unwillingness to concede to the powers. PW needs to control the Sussexes by destroying Meghan reputation via the press. Articles that constantly made insinuations about status and comparisons between the wives can allude to his envy.
    Prince Harry’s reaction was not welcomed and will cause the tabloids earnings to be lessened. Baby Sussex first photo OP meant big money.
    The idea that the Sussexes move to Australia and Canada in the capacity as GG is ludicrous because the Prime Minister of the day chooses the Queen’s representative and he/she serves at HRH wishes.
    Meghan will become a British citizen and will have to live in the UK for a number of years to be eligible.
    Lastly the initial plans for the repairs to Frogmore Cottage were filed in April 2018 ruling out the idea of exile from KP.
    The household split may have occurred to establish who is the present and future boss of the Sussexes. It is not PW. Also due to the successful Oceania trip. I suspect Tonga (balcony photo) was a trigger.
    I think PH is hurt. No doubt he loved his brother more than his brother loved him. The Cambridges are competitors.

    • India says:

      Yes, the Cambridges are competitors…….especially since Carole is driving the bus.

  78. Whatnow says:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwh-aWlnTV_/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1p8wg5vgznap2

    In this video they all appear to be very friendly and happily interacting

  79. blunt talker says:

    I think this a story to warn them to cut back on being so popular or we will banish you out of Britain. The way Charles does his own siblings where do you think William learned this behavior from. I am not surprised Willy treats his younger brother this way. It is his way of saying I will be your boss someday and you better get with the program. His evil tactics will come home to roost. Kensington Palace need to stay out of anything involving Harry and Meghan. Harry is no fool and knows how these palace games are played within palace walls. He probably did not think they would be used against him and his wife. This whole thing about sending them to Africa sounds sinister to me and a back handed slap at the Sussexes from the powers that be. All those commonwealth countries with people of color is seeing and reading this. The royal houses better get their act together and stat!

    • BayTampaBay says:

      There are just as many problems (involving jealousy) between Bill Cambridge and Charles as there is between Bill Cambridge and Harry.

  80. liriel says:

    I hate that Kate is dragged into this.
    Btw, has anyone noticed that press is attacking everyone now? It’s like war!
    I also believe we underestimate the thirst of Charles for power and acclaim. He was always in the shadow and Diana and William and Harry..

    • BayTampaBay says:

      I always felt that it was a matter of Cathy Cambridge and Megs Sussex not being friends because they have nothing in common rather than “the wives do not like each other”. Just because someone is not your friend does not mean you dislike the person. I think this Kate & Meghan feud was just a planted story to take the public’s attention away from Turnip Toffgate and the “Bill is cheating on Cathy” rumors.

      • liriel says:

        I agree but the story of the war between them was reporter earlier than Turnip Toffgate. Press just loves pitting women against each other.

  81. Ref7 says:

    “Harry’s family wants to exile him to Africa.” British press certainly seems to be a window into humanity’s more banal subconscious.

  82. Heather says:

    If there’s even some truth to Prince William being behind this, do you know who I feel the worst for? Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Because their father is teaching Prince George exactly how to deal with the spares if you feel slighted in the least. Very sad.

    • Guest says:

      Sadly George is probably going to be just like his dad. He’ll never get told no and then his sister and little brother will be thrown under the bus to protect him.

      • Beach Dreams says:

        Yes, just like William was coddled and indulged, it seems the same mistake might be made with his oldest child. Because in the end, it’s that excessive coddling that’s shaped the type of man William is today. HM and Charles would’ve done well to put their feet down while they could still influence him.

  83. Josie PussyKats says:

    There is no comparison! William and Kate-White bread. vs. Harry and Mehgan – Whole wheat-everything seeded!

    The public has spoken.

  84. Yami says:

    Wouldn’t it be so much simpler for the Cambridges to do some work and find some compelling interest that would make them seem useful, compassionate and in touch with the people? The bar is so low for them, people willingly subscribe to them so much ability without any proof. It would not be difficult for them to have done something these long past eight years. Really this whole mess is a study in lost opportunity. The days of Royals who rely on title on privilege and actually do nothing are gone, I think. The public tolerance for this is low and Meghan has shown there is another way, that’s why the powers that be hate her and the public doesn’t.

    • Guest says:

      They are almost both 40 and sorry William is so unattractive both inside and outside that most people dont pay attention to him
      They are never going to change.

  85. Citresse says:

    I think the decision for Sussexes to officially leave UK may happen and if so, it would occur long after the death of HM and that decision would be mutual. No hard feelings on either side.

  86. LRob says:

    I am usually not triggered by stories that describe a huge rift between the brothers or their wives. But the Sunday articles have raised so many alarms on that subject, my head is spinning. If the reports were intended to make Will look like the most immature, unprepared & jealous king-in-waiting, who thereby dishonors his mother’s memory, then they have succeeded. If it turns out this is in fact Charles setting his sons up to look bad, then shame on him. Karma will repay him for such defamation. God protect H&M &Baby Sussex from the negativity and grant them joy.

  87. Ain’tNoTelling says:

    Harry and Meghan need to move to the states.

    Let Meghan get her own talk show, and she can become the next Oprah.

    The palace officials have lost their minds, if they actually believe for one second that exiling these two will lessen their popularity.

    Go ahead, cut them off, and watch what happens… William & Kate who???

  88. Tonie says:

    The tell is in the first few lines “soho clubland” this came direct from Sara Latham, she’s American and thinks playing the race card will win them points in Britain, it won’t the country is 89% white. Meghan isn’t popular in Britain she is regularly booed when on official engagements. When you talk to people they either say they don’t care or that her spending is there biggest issue. America is the only country in the world that has this nonsense one drop rule. The only country thats opinion truly matters is Britain they pay for them, without Britain there is no royal family. Global appeal does not matter and if William really is behaving like a petulant idiot then he needs a kick up the ass and a reality check. He and Kate are still more popular in Britain the only country that matters in the long run. Whatever animosity lingers between the brothers must be resolved asap it isn’t a good look all this in fighting, we watch our politicians rip each other to shreds the difference is we get to elect them. If the royal family can’t get it together the whole lot must go.

    • Beach Dreams says:

      Your first few talking points are classic Tumblr/Twitter tinhat nonsense. Perhaps you’ll get some positive reception there.

    • Casey20 says:

      Why does the RF justify its existence based on tourism? No global appeal no tourism. Bottom line without the RF no one cares about the Brits. What do the Brit s contribute to the world???

      • Tina says:

        I really shouldn’t contribute to your continued attempts at trolling, but I will leave you with this extract from the otherwise diabolical Love Actually: “We may be a small country, but we’re a great one, too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham’s right foot. David Beckham’s left foot, come to that.”
        And, to add some women, PoC, and LGBT people to the typically Richard Curtis mix: Zadie Smith, JK Rowling, Agatha Christie, Alan Turing, Jane Austen, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Mary Seacole, Joan Armatrading, etc.

      • Casey20 says:

        Tina: Lets be clear, you’re the Troll. I don’t comment on your post, you comment on mine. By the way I was being facetious. Just disappointed in the overt Racism toward Meghan. You don’t have to defend everything……some of us are just letting off steam and frustration…….. but LOL on Beckham

      • Tina says:

        You asked what my country contributes to the world! Would you like for me to comment on your country? How unhappy and frustrated the rest of the (democratic) world is with the United States right now? You have a fascist in power. Not in a ceremonial post like the royals, but actually in power. He is destroying your democratic institutions.

        The world has always looked to your country for leadership, but it’s like you don’t even care, you don’t do anything, you don’t strike, you just comment on twitter. He’ll win again and you’ll just keep playing video games (and caging children). Don’t insult my country and its contributions to the world. You have no idea how little I think of yours at present.

      • A says:

        @Tina, so who’s allowed to think lowly of the UK? I’m an Indian who lives in Canada. I’m from two places that bear the brunt of British colonialism to this day, and we still suffer for it, regardless of what Britain would like to say on the subject. So how many JK Rowlings do you think it would take for that legacy of colonialism and racism to go away?

        As for your list–Zadie Smith has openly criticized the UK and discussed its legacy of racism and colonialism. Freddie Mercury was an Indian Parsi born in Zanzibar, who moved to the UK when he was 17, and never fully discussed his background in public because it’s very likely that the media at the time because it was much easier to pass as a British white man than anything else. JK Rowling has become a massive fcking disappointment over the last few years, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, look it up.

        Meanwhile, Britain voted to leave the EU specifically because the Leavers didn’t want any more immigrants to come to their shores. A right wing racist murdered a sitting MP, Jo Cox. None of this came from thin air. This is the natural result of a country that refuses to even entertain the possibility of what it’s done to people around the world, and what those actions continue to do to people around the world. So yeah, I’ll insult the UK, and all of David Beckham’s limbs, as much as I like, thank you very much. I’ve earned that right, I think.

      • Tina says:

        @A, you and anyone else are free to dislike the UK as much as you like, particularly since you have provided good reasons for doing so. Casey, however, extrapolates that the treatment of Meghan in much of the British press makes all British people racist, which I don’t think is the case. (And please remember that 48% of us are not xenophobes.)

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @Tina, I am a Yank and find your comment blaming the USA as a whole for Donald J. Chump not fair. The people that voted for Chump have the same mentality as the people who voted for BREXSHIT. Chump became POTUS due to the Electoral College System which protects small sates. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by IIRC 3 million+ votes. If Bernie Sanders had been the nominee, I do not believe Chump would have won the election. Many Yanks are as upset as you with Chump and all we can do is vote. Voting is the reason why the Democratic Party now controls the House of Representatives and Nancy Pelosi is the second most powerful government leader in the country. Please do not paint all Yanks with the Chump brush,

      • Tina says:

        @BTB, I’m sorry, I’m just frustrated that Casey keeps saying that all Brits are racist because of the British media. But it is very likely that Trump will win a second term, and people can do a lot more than voting to stop it. Give money, drive elderly Democrats to the polls, ask your Congressperson to vote for impeachment, abolish the electoral college, general strike, that kind of thing.

    • Guest says:

      Lol…sure Jan

      Can you post some receipts of Meghan being booed?

      • Mia says:

        exactly, maybe I need to clean my ears again because I’ve never heard boos. I’ve heard people yelling MEGHAN at the Cambridges walk abouts.

    • PrincessK says:

      @Tonie….you are either deluded or been totally manipulated. Meghan is extremely popular in the UK, that is why the Palace and William are panicking.

    • notasugarhere says:

      tumblr and the DM miss you. Meghan has never been booed, but that’s a clear tell that you’re from that particular tumblr crowd. Meghan is the 6th most popular royal and she hasn’t even been in the family for a year. Sara Latham had nothing to do with this piece. The author, not a regular RR, is stunned at how petulant and touchy William is. Stunned at what all has been covered up about him by the courtiers. What it ultimately shows is how much William is like the Duke of Windsor.

  89. PrincessK says:

    The incompetence of the Palace PR is really shattering. Even I could do a better job. The opportunity was missed when the idea of the Fabulous Four was launched. William and Kate should have been told to straighten their faces and not just accept the popularity of the Sussexes but use it for their own benefit since they are so lacking in the charisma and initiative departments.

    But no they allowed themselves to become consumed with jealousy and actively encouraged the tabloids to manipulate public opinion against what they perceived as their rivals for public affection. The Sunday Times article is very suspicious, while it confirms everything that we have been saying on Celebitchy for months and months, it does launch a thousand questions. First of all Tim Shipman is ex Daily Mail and Daily Express, which rings some alarms. The article is a compilation of things gathered over time and planned to be launched on Easter Sunday to create maximum embarrassment for William, especially since journalists have been threatened not to reveal the full Rose Hanbury story, so they are determined not to let him off scot free..

    The language used is quite awful words like a move from ’containment’ to ‘harnessing’, referring to the Sussexes, and the need to ‘reassure’ William that he will be King, and that his influence will grow and Harry’s will fade. The article is full of nasty nonsense opinions from unnamed sources about Meghan like that she allowed her friends to to to People mag because Meghan cares most about how she is seen in the US. Another quote, “Some members of the RF, no fans of Meghan, have speculated that she may one day run for President of the US herself”……

    No doubt about it there is mounting hysteria and fear in the Palace of Meghan and her intelligence and ever rising star power. The best quote was however , “ The Sussexes want to do, rather than to be,”. One thing is for sure if Harry and Meghan were going to spend some lengthy time in ‘Africa’ they certainly will not be now, as this latest leak has put paid to that.

    I really wonder what the next move will now be for the incompetent bunch of fools running the Palace PR machine, they all deserve to be sacked and the way William is going he needs to ask himself if he really wants to be the last British monarch.

    • Casey20 says:

      Very good post!!! Actions based on fear. I can imagine William paceing the floors scared of Meghan next move, LOL

    • Vi says:

      ” The best quote was however , “ The Sussexes want to do, rather than to be,”.

      That quote wasn’t about them. It was clearly referred to Harry and William who don’t want to do the more formal patronage routine.

      • Tina says:

        Nope. The exact quote was, “Insiders knew something was needed to keep the couple’s interest. “The problem with these two is that they want to do, rather than to be,” said a source relaying the views of palace officials.” It clearly refers to Harry and Meghan.

      • Vi says:

        @Tina The bit that follows clarifies that it’s about William and Harry.

      • Tina says:

        @VI, the next bit is a separate statement. No one would refer to William and Harry as “the couple.” The following paragraph refers to “the princes” as well, but it’s pretty clear that the initial “they” is Harry and Meghan.

    • BayTampaBay says:

      “to create maximum embarrassment for William, especially since journalists have been threatened not to reveal the full Rose Hanbury story, so they are determined not to let him off scot free.”

      @PrincessK, The quote above from your post really sums all this mess up as people really want the truth on the Bill Cambridge and the Rose Bush Turnip Toffgate story.

  90. aquarius64 says:

    I think the good thing coming out of this is the Markles have been neutralized. With Bill having a hand at Evil Papa Smurf stories, new ones from that bunch will be side eyed. People will wonder if Slick Willie is still giving orders to the press to interview them and demand to see the baby. The Markles embarrassed all of the BRF with Dad taking shots of the queen. I think Harry found out, got receipts, went to Charles and the queen, talked it over with Meghan and Doria and have that rotten Easter egg roll out hours before the queen’s birthday, when no one least expected it. I would love to see how Will and Kate handle their engagements this week with all this out.

  91. Jaded says:

    Well, well, well…just in time to do some Cambridge damage control with cute baby pics…

    https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/22/uk/uk-prince-louis-photos-first-birthday-scli-intl-gbr/index.html

  92. Maryrose says:

    CDAN is suggesting MM dropped the dime on Wills/Kate/Rose. I am assuming if this is true, MM has big brass ones and it’s payback for the attacks on her since New Zealand. BUT BUT BUT, it means WILLS attacked a woman IN HER LAST DAYS OF PREGNANCY by threatening to exile her. There are no words.

    • Guest says:

      Lol cdan.

      The Sunday times did enough of a job telling on William without the tin hats favorite stomping ground cdan trying to.blame Meghan for this.

    • Beach Dreams says:

      …I cannot believe people actually treat CDAN as a reliable source. It’s worse than BlindGossip for crying out loud.

    • MA says:

      This makes no sense at all. How would Meghan even know about it? She has no connections to their circle. Of course, everything is Meghan’s fault.

    • Nic919 says:

      the blog royal foibles has a very interesting view of the turnip toff issue.

  93. Bellburgmaggie says:

    Tone deaf and blind optics are an understatement. So the take… when a distant heir (#7) to the throne marries a biracial divorcee American and they have a CHILD – they are subject to exile to Africa. Sounds like a bit of a repeat of Wallace Simpson saga except that the royal family is bent on “shipping people of color” back to Africa. If this hadn’t been in the TIMES, I would have thought it a bad joke. And I think the reporting I read that Harry was furious with Will over Rose has more ring of truth than not. Kate having a ‘rural rival’ sounds a bit like the Windsors are bidding for a new Green Acres series in Arkansas.

  94. Betsy says:

    This has been the richest goldmine post/thread in a long time. I shifted all my internetting to the evening and so I miss “talking” with people during the day when most of the replies are made, but this one was amazing.

    Sometimes it feels good to just ease into one’s old prejudices and feelings and my feeling is that William is a bit thick and a very lot petty and arrogant. I believe he is absolutely behind this, I further agree with someone else’s take above (sorry, there are 342 posts so I don’t know who it was and I’m not scrolling!) that TQ and Chuck aren’t behind this, but are totally willing to let William hoist himself on his own petard with this obvious petty jealousy. I do feel bad for Harry and Meghan, but I would also guess that if Meghan hasn’t had the baby already that she is in that baby la la land where things sort of get shut out unless they’re baby related. I hope that’s how this is for her.

    And yeah, William and Kate squandered their popularity by NOT WORKING. They seemed to be keeping themselves rare and unattainable, but their job isn’t to be rare and unattainable, it’s to be seen working. Cutting ribbons, pull tiny curtains, shake hands, take bouquets, look attractive and smile. That’s your job. You didn’t do it – Harry and Meghan did.

  95. A says:

    I’m in stitches at the idea of sending Harry off to be governor general of Australia or Canada. What year are these people living in, 1920? It’s so obvious to me that for all of their education and posh background, these people have never cracked open a history textbook worth it’s salt, because if they had, they’d know of some things. Like the King-Byng affair. And what happened to Gough Whitlam.

    I honestly can’t see this working logistically. I just can’t. There is no way anyone would countenance the idea of a member of the royal family, a prominent, relatively important, well-known member, jetting off to Africa. Who’s going to pay for that? Is it going to be the British government? Is it going to be whatever country they get sent to? Are they going to rely on the largesse of some private enterprise or individual? How could this possibly work, and how on EARTH do they expect that people will simply “forget” about them, because they’re not in Britain anymore? I just want to yell, “That’s not how that works, that’s not how ANY of that works!!!!” because good LORD. What a fcking mess. What utter shambles.

  96. Anare says:

    Is it just me or does Kate have a smug look in many of the Easter photos? She looks smug and William looks pinched. The happy couple! What if Harry says oh no thanks I’d rather stay in England. Can they force him to go abroad? Wow. They must know how pathetic William and Kate look compared to Harry and Megan so they want to banish the Sussexes to the tower so to speak. Shitty. And very medieval.

  97. Ceedee says:

    ” x x x that TQ and Chuck aren’t behind this, but are totally willing to let William hoist himself on his own petard with this obvious petty jealousy” – why would they do that? That is so inconsistent with what has been consistently said here about throwing the spare under the bus to protect the heir.

    • Betsy says:

      And then one day Edward had to give up the throne and the spare became the heir. It happens when the heir is too much of a boob. I mean, not often, but it has happened.

  98. liriel says:

    I’m not sure I buy this. Maybe it was considered as one of 100000 options but that’s it. Journalists are thirsty, attacking everyone right now but (hopefully) beating the Diana, Camilla story is close to impossible so they’d have literally a petty sounding rivalry but that’s it.
    I’m not sure William is that bad. Not to mention Kate isn’t doing much to overshadow Meghan giving birth. If it’s her laziness it means she prefers not the spotlight but getting some sleep and family time. Like.. she didn’t use this time to shine, I’ll give her that. She really loves low-key.

  99. Margareth says:

    The Cambridges are the worts. William is so insicure and awful. Really an awful brother and man.