Since yesterday’s Meghan Markle post was so popular, here’s another one for you royalist blokes to enjoy, with some additional photos of Meghan with the Windsors on Christmas day. I saw a lot of comments about Meghan’s curtsy, probably her first “public curtsy” to the Queen. I’m assuming she received some curtsy lessons before she met the Queen, several months ago, but this public, church curtsy was and is being analyzed like it is the most notable thing ever. You British people know that Americans don’t give a crap, right? I’m glad Meg curtsied to the Queen because Meg will be British soon and part of this family, but all of the analysis of who taught what to whom and whether Kate had to give her lessons… it’s just over-the-top. Here’s video – it’s clear that Harry reminded Meghan of what was about to happen, and she looked nervous, but she handled it well. She seemed relieved when the Queen was driven off.
Meanwhile, there are lots of other Meg stories. For one, her dog Guy was injured before Christmas. Something happened – no one knows what – and Guy broke two legs. Guy Markle is currently being looked after by veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick, and Meg is apparently “distraught” and “very upset.” Also: Princess Michael of Kent offered a public apology about the “blackamoor” brooch she wore to the Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace – I updated last week’s post with her apology. And here’s another story: did Harry skip out on the Boxing Day hunt because Meghan is not keen on hunting?!?
Prince Harry is ducking out of the traditional royal Boxing Day shoot — in case he upsets animal-loving fiancee Meghan Markle. Keen gun Harry, 33, who first took part 21 years ago, surprised gamekeepers at Sandringham with his decision.
Dad Prince Charles and brother Prince William will take part in the annual ritual on the 20,000-acre estate. It marks a major departure for Harry, who earlier this month flew out to take part in a boar hunt in Germany while bride-to-be Meghan, 36, was away filming in Canada.
A royal insider said: “The Boxing Day shoot was always going to be a tricky issue. Meghan is a keen animal rights campaigner and doesn’t like hunting in any form. Harry loves it and has always been out there on Boxing Day. But if it means breaking with long-standing royal traditions to avoid upsetting her, so be it. It’s fair to say that there are some pretty stunned faces around here.”
A pal of Harry’s added: “If Meghan’s not comfortable with him doing the shoot, he wouldn’t want to upset her.”
Harry and Meghan are due to arrive in Norfolk today and will stay with William and Kate at Anmer Hall near to Sandringham. Meghan, who has two rescue dogs and likes to “eat vegan”, is the first unmarried partner to join the royals for the festive season. It is not known if she and Harry will stick around on Boxing Day when Prince Philip and the Queen will be among spectators of the shoot, which targets pheasants, partridges and the occasional duck.
Philip led the event until 2010 but in 2011 he had a stent inserted in an artery in his heart after falling ill at Sandringham and can no longer use a gun. Kensington Palace declined to comment yesterday.
I don’t see any stories about whether Harry actually DID skip the hunt yesterday, so I don’t know if he actually did. Meghan doesn’t seem to “eat vegan” as much as she eats healthy – I bet she only eats very lean meats, lots of salads and what have you. She’s an animal lover, for sure, but I don’t see her demanding that Harry avoid hunting altogether. I just think the British tabloids are looking to create little storms of controversy every day.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid and Pacific Coast News.
He was shooting 15 boars with his pals in germany two weeks ago so i don’t think meghan had anything to do with harry maybe skipping boxing day.
This Boxing day story ist bogus. Harry was hunting with his family and Meghan is ok with it.
He is a passionate hunter and made several hunting trips over the last year while dating Meghan. He spends most of his freetime and big money for his beloved hobby. If Meghan has a problem with all this it’s a little bit late now….
Total fan fiction. Hunting, shooting, fishing is part of the deal and Meghan knows it.
Yeah, this whole story is silly.
This killing animals for “sport” is ridiculous. IMO there is some mental illness element to it. I really cannot comprehend the appeal.
So much this. That he can kill boar for fun while trying to protect elephants from poaching is a level of cognitive dissonance I cannot comprehend.
I can’t fathom killing any creature for “sport”, but I do think hunting and using the animal for food is much more humane than keeping them in pens their entire lives before killing them. Many people in the Adirondacks hunt, and in that tough economy, deer meat sustains and feeds entire families over the winter months; hunting honestly makes the difference between eating well and hardship. I’ve heard that every animal killed by the royals is either eaten on the estate or donated for food, which is some comfort. Folks who live in the country have been raised to know where all their meat comes from; it’s not from cellophane wrappers, folks.. So unless you’re a complete vegetarian, I don’t understand the outrage. I find it weird, sad, and disrespectful that it’s organized like a big party, but they’ve been raised that way for many generations.
Killing for fun (or as they say “sport,” which what it is basically is repulses me. I’ve heard all the stories of hunting, it’s more painful for the animals to starve, etc. than to be shot and eaten. But, big game hunting to mount a head of an animal on your wall with the last seconds of fear in it’s eyes is beyond cruel and sadistic. Keenly aware the trump boys are all in. So killing to survive is fine, but for kicks it sucks. How about he doesn’t hunt and she gets rid of that God awful outfit she keeps getting photographed in. They need a new photo op stat.
I don’t know about mental illness being involved as much as tiny genitalia.
I hate hunting with a passion.
I know it is a tradition and the sport of kings and all that but for me, that is a deal breaker. One side of my family are hunters and fishermen, and they hunt boar. They have a pig roast a few times a year.
It is barbaric to kill a living thing for kicks and how we choose which animals are suitable to be executed is arbitrary. If someone started hunting Persian cats, I am sure there would be outrage.
Don’t get me started on fox hunting.
My superficial self just likes the fashion and galloping all over the countryside and hunting parties without hunting. Lol They have fox hunts with no fox, but then the issue is how the dogs end up unadoptable. The stories of cruelty are so disgusting that it just seems silly in 2017. There are responsible people I hear, but so far it only seems to be a country myth.
To me, that’s one of my (very few) deal-breakers. There is no way I am going to respect ANYONE who kills animals for “sport”.
@ Frida: it’s both. Tiny genitalia are known to induce mental illness in men. : )
But I certainly go for the former as an effective shot at hunters. Most men would rather be seen as mentally ill than tiny-genitaliaed.
I agree. I don’t disagree with hunting boar specifically depending on the circumstances, because wild pigs can devastate an ecosystem. But what I find abhorrent is that someone would ENJOY killing the animals. We kill animals all the time for what I consider legitimate reasons — population control, eradicating invasive species, because the animal is dying, and, yes, for food. But I would be shocked if, for example, my vet ENJOYED putting down elderly dogs with cancer, or the workers at the slaughterhouse got some type of thrill killing the steers.
Nikki,
Are you from the Adirondacks? That is where I live!!
And you are right. Many of my neighbors only eat meat they hunt, because they can’t afford to buy meat. But they use it – it isn’t for fun. And most are very respectful about the dead animals, and honor them for their sacrifice.
Yup. Killing anything for “fun” is the mark of a psychopath. See: Trump’s sons, gleefully taking pictures with the African megafauna and endangered species that they’ve slaughtered for shits and giggles.
I abhor hunting…but can we as women please stop immediately equating shitty behavior to the size of a man’s penis? Since when are we ok with shaming people for their bodies? I’m so over that crap. We need to do better.
That boar hunt is exactly why I don’t believe this tale about MM having influence over PH participating in what is considered a family tradition. We’ve all known since the beginning of this relationship that she is going to have to fit in or walk away. I’m here for the fashion and wedding excitement, not to suspend disbelief.
Feral hogs are destructive and dangerous. I have hunted them myself. They will kill your livestock, your dogs, and you if they can. All while destroying your property. Also they breed massively. So yes, I can see wanting to save elephants which are not abundant, and help control the nuisance of wild hogs. FYI boars are males. Sows are females.
Side-eyeing the story too. She may not like it, but I won’t believe it until it is confirmed.
@Joy, I am not criticizing PH, and I do understand the feral hog situation. But, they are allowed to breed on private estates (like the Duke of Westminster’s) for these “boar” hunting events, which are considered sport and not just culling.
Oh alright. I was worried for a bit. Harry just loves killing animals.
I read on another thread here, I think, that Meghan was angry about that. It happened while she was in the states.
She looked really nervous around his family on Christmas, and now he is practically calling her an orphan. Oh, boy!! That may not go over well.
How about convincing Harry to give back to service workers or the poor and needy? Wouldn’t THAT blow Wills and Kate’s chutney?? That would be keen! But I doubt they would be allowed to do so, it would make the Duke and Duchess look lazy and entitled and spoiled. God forbid.
huh…. what has a personal gift for christmas to do with giving back to the needy. Harry is also lazy, entitled and spoiled. I dare say more so then william and kate at the moment. All his private vacations in the last year alone (all his trips to meghan in toronto, 2 hunting trips with his pals out of the country, glamping in botswana, wedding in jamaica). And those are the ones we know about. He also did less engagements then william this year and william had a part time job until september.
Notok, according my friends who are Canadian and Scottish, I was informed Bixing Day is about giving to the less fortunate. I was stating that it would have been great to see Harry doing charity on Boxing day and not hunting with the aristocracy.
notok: He does seem like a party boy, although he is not a boy any longer…marrying a woman who can see 40 in the horizon. I just looked up his lost weekend in Vegas, partying it up in a not so royal manner (in his defense, it was 2012, so he can use the youth alibi). I think William has more of a servant’s heart, which he vividly recalled in a documentary I watched, as his mother did. He probably has more memories of her humanitarian work, being older than Harry. I keep saying I’m not into royal watching, but feel with MM on the scene, if I want to keep on the sites I frequent, I will be watching plenty.
@Nancy
It is fun to royal watch. It keeps me from watching the fools in DC.
I have several brothers, so I am not as surprised by Harry’s “wild” behavior as a bachelor.
Why do you say William has a service heart? He seems miserable most of the time. No snark just curious.
Ha! I have a twin sister, one older and one younger and three brothers. Know a thing or two about partying! I said “servant’s” heart. Idk if you watched the documentary on HBO with William. It seems as though he feels it’s his duty to carry on the work his mother did. He does a lot of charitable work and truly seems so sensitive to me. He gets a lot of shit, but I think he has a quiet nature, like his father and feels he needs to honor his mother. He didn’t finish…..he barely began a relationship with her and wants her to be proud. I’m babbling on, but he seems genuine in his desire to help those in need.
Nancy: William does charity? Where? He only shows up for the cameras and once proudly told a charity he gadn’t read the cliff notes about them which was very embarrassing considering the charity had strong links to his mother.
He can’t articulate what his father or mother do/ did when asked directly, but he gives good camera face and is good and repeating key words to appear knowledgeable.
Harry is better at articulating what they do and has even done more work in, conservation, which is supposed to be William’s special interest.
Harry is the one continuing Diana work with both landmines and HIV/AIDS. William’s conservation interest is related to Jecca and her family; if they were interested in a different issue, that would be William’s interest.
Harry is on track to have the same amount of engagements as William this year. Notok I know you do not like Harry, but keep facts in view. Harry and William both went full time this fall and have both been doing engagements several times a week since then.
And almost all of Harry’s trips have been on weekends, minus when he visited Meghan and for the wedding. I travel on the weekends a lot too. That is pretty normal.
Harry is extremely hands on with his charities, has founded some truly transformative projects and has done more to carry on his mother’s legacy than William. I think both brothers have a strong desire to give back, but Harry has proven that he has more initiative and creativity in finding ways to do that than William.
I personally LOVE to see William at Centrepoint. I think he is he most warm self when he is there and it is very obvious that he deeply cares about that organization.
I read here that Invictus, under Harry’s careless care, was a mess and Charles had to bail him out of it. And also that he was supposed to help an orphan in Sentable, but didn’t – some weird story. Also, he didn’t seem to do anything with Sentable since meeting Meghan.
And for a grown, healthy adult, with no children or responsibilities, to do 140 engagements, maybe 2 to 3 hours each, and a week’s charity work in a year is really lazy and odd. What does Harry do all day? I know he took TWO trips to Africa this summer, a trip to Jamaica in the spring, maybe? And is going on another vacation after the New Year.
Poor dear, he must be exhausted from all of his hard work. 🙂
IG has never been in dire straits. Ever. It is an extremely well ran foundation and program and Charles had nothing to do with it.
Sentebale, when Harry started it at 22 struggled for the first 1.5 years before Harry and Seesio worked together to hire new staff and right it. It has been expanding a great deal and is doing incredible work. Someone claimed on here that Charles bailed him out and was quickly corrected. Harry proved Charles numerous doubts wrong with Sentebale. Harry has also done several engagements in regards to it and visited since being with Meghan. Where do you get this idea he hasn’t???? It was reported that when he was in Botswana with Meghan this summer, they also spent a great deal of time in Lesotho for her to meet the folks at Sentebale and visited the Botswana arm of Lesotho.
Harry does an incredible amount of behind the scenes work weekly with his organizations. This has been proven with twitter postings and with interviews with those at his organizations and even from royal reporters who are not friendly toward Harry.
But none of the royals work 40 hour weeks and that includes the supposed work horses of the family like Charles or Anne. It is debatable if the Queen even did when she was a younger woman either.
Maybe it was Sentebale that Harry messed up on? I definitely read that he needed Charles’ help with one of them. And I saw nothing about he and Meghan visiting Sentebale this summer. I may have missed it, but didn’t hear or see anything about them visiting there. Would love to see it if you have links. Not snarking, just didn’t seen anything.
I side eye that. Such a sexist implication- a woman changes her man for the best. Not to mention outdated. Then, when he stops exercising or visiting church, again, it’ll be due to her influence. He probably hates getting up early and was looking for excuse to get out of this animal killing spree.
“Such a sexist implication- a woman changes her man for the best. ”
+1
LIFE can be, and often is, “sexist”.
Not that I believe that’s what happened here.
Mabye he’s doing it to spend more time with her, but I don’t think it’s a moral objection thing.
Also, is Meghan going to make purse carrying her thing? Because…NO. Leave it to Her Majesty. Carry clutches. It works better with the clothes and events they’re expected to attend.
I’m the total opposite – ban the clutches for daytime and keep the handbags! To me, clutches should be for an evening event or a formal event. I absolutely loved Meghan’s handbag from Christmas.
I don’t think any of them need a huge ‘market’ type bag for their engagements since they have no need to carry around a laptop or anything, but a nice handbag? Yep, I’m all for that!
I’m with you. I prefer seeing Meghan carting a bag with handles and not clutching a clutch in front of her crotch for dear life, the way Kate does.
I am handbag fanatic, so I am with you. Clutches are for evening, but handbags are more fun so it would be cool to see her taste in them.
I’m all about purses, shoes and boots. I totally didn’t like her purse. It looks like a canteen…….maybe she took a swig out of it…lol. I have to have long straps over the shoulder. If not on my arm, it’s in my lap when I’m out. Once at a hotel bar, after working late, had my purse on the bar in front of me. When checkout time came, my wallet was missing. Was not happy, thieves can be slick. But lesson learned. …..I realize these women have to have their delicate little bags…… be careful what you wish for. I’d rather have my handbag which I covet, than ten minutes with Harry!……
Letizia, Maxima, Mette-Marit all have larger bags to carry things like laptops, notes, etc. Very rarely do any of them use shoulder bags or small purses with a shoulder strap (Letizia sometimes, and Anne). CP Victoria used a purse with a cross-body strap, but that was while she was on crutches.
As with purses, there are a variety of clutches in the world, for both evening and daytime events. Kate makes clutches look weird because she’s always carrying an evening-suited clutch, no matter the day/event. So perhaps Meghan is looking weird because she’s choosing the wrong purses. But, I’d still like to see a switch to clutches.
Clutches are for evening and they look utterly ridiculous in the daytime. Kate always looks awkward with hers and winds up holding them for dear life across her front like a protective shield. A nice small daytime bag looks fine and classic.
“You British people know that Americans don’t give a crap, right?”
I don’t think the Daily Mail is representative of British people any more than Fox News is representative of American people (although I guess they’re both run by the same Murdoch dude?)
Translation: We Americans don’t give a crap about royal protocol except we all know we never are subservient to aristocrats. We look them in the eye and shake their hand.
We don’t care if a curtesy was properly executed. The whole thing is ridiculous.
And while I’m on my soapbox: had, Markle, could you lose the weird hats? And you’re Kate’s hair twin -think hard about that, girl.
Of course, if we’re looking to marry a royal, we do whatever the h-e-double toothpicks their sad customs require. But we do it only to seal the deal. We ain’t feeling it. It’s just hustle.
“We don’t care if a curtesy was properly executed”
I don’t think British people really care either. Well, maybe Ingrid Seward cares, but I really can’t picture this being discussed in a pub by the general public. Is a curtsey really that hard to execute? It’s not rocket science.
“We Americans don’t give a crap about royal protocol except we all know we never are subservient to aristocrats. We look them in the eye and shake their hand.
We don’t care if a curtesy was properly executed. The whole thing is ridiculous.We don’t care if a curtesy was properly executed. The whole thing is ridiculous.”
Its not like americans arent very much down with authority. The worship of celebs and personal cult around presidents for example is not any different.
Or you know getting butthurt over a piece of cloth (a flag) being burned or spat on.
THIS!!!! Americans do not believe in the concept of anyone being superior to us by birth. It’s why we fought to be free of Britain’s royals and WON. I would never bow or curtsy to another human being, “queen” or not. Hell no.
+1000
We do not bow down to anyone. I hate seeing Meghan do that.
(Don’t yell at me – this is just my American opinion. I understand that other cultures have other views of this.)
I think people from other cultures get why Americans don’t bow to others. It’s the inference that British people wouldn’t know this is what I find puzzling, not the question or concept of bowing itself. I don’t necessarily think British people as a whole would need that explained to them.
Perplexed, someone from a totally different culture discussed this the other day, and didn’t see why it was a problem for Americans. Not discussing the Brits, per se.
I was referring to the inference of “You British people know that Americans don’t give a crap, right?” in the post above.
I think British people understand it’s a custom Americans don’t care for. You never see American Presidents bowing to the Queen, and from what I’ve noticed British people don’t get up in arms about it. The only reason people might be discussing Markle is because she chose to actually marry into the family. If you choose to marry into that particular family, of course you’re going to have to do weird stuff. It’s a decisive choice using her own agency at 36 years old that she made.
Hey “you” Brits! Dailymail represents you according to some people
Thank you for your comment. The media maybe interested but a lot of British people are like myself and couldn’t give a flying fig about ‘bending the knee’ to an outdated institution.
As an American, I would curtsy to the Queen, because I have respect for her and her history. The rest of the lot, oh hell no…
As an American (citizen) you wouldn’t have to. Only the Queen’s subjects do, not foreigners.
Mel, no one (outside the family) is required to curtsy or bow to any one in this family, not even the Queen. It is up to the individual to decide. From the official website of the British Monarchy.
***
There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms.
For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.
On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is ‘Your Majesty’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am,’ pronounced with a short ‘a,’ as in ‘jam’.
For male members of the Royal Family the same rules apply, with the title used in the first instance being ‘Your Royal Highness’ and subsequently ‘Sir’.
For other female members of the Royal Family the first address is conventionally ‘Your Royal Highness’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am’.
You missed the point you are not actually curtsying to her as a person, it is the position the symbol of what she and the other royals represent. It is not subservience or subordination but respect and allegiance to the Crown.
@NOTA or @LAK – silly American question here. In the video of the “Fab 4” bowing/ curtsying to the Queen, it doesn’t look as though anyone else did. Anne, Eugenie (or Beatrice?), Andrew are standing right behind W&K and H&M, but they look as though they remain upright. Do they not also have to bow / curtsy?
Why is that even the point? It’s part of royal protocol and it’s irrelevant whether or not it matters to Americans.
Here comes when the media made her of an heroine and Harry had to do whatever she tells him to do, weeks ago he stop smoking because of her now this. What will be next?
Hunting and trying to save endangered animals in Africa? That family makes zero sense…
The pheasants {boats in Germany) and ducks are abundant, and they’re usually eaten, they can be hunted by people who also try to save endangered animals.
maybe germany was overrun by murderous boars and he helped out. Or he just loves killing animals for fun.
FTR: I can see the joke about germany being overrun.
Animals can be “imported” or “relocated” or “purchased” for these sickening events.
Anyone know if the birds get eaten? If they are eaten I have no problem with this tradition.
They aren’t killing animals to survive but for the love of killing. They call it sport.
I get it but don’t need to eat any meat survive. But I do. And god knows what kind of horrors the pig that gave my Christmas ham suffered. So I would feel hypocritical judging a hunter that eats the meat. My dad was a hunter and on our reservation there is no season. We can hunt all year for food. And many times we wouldn’t have eaten if he didn’t hunt. I’ve hunted and killed deer before. I find it distasteful but still eat the meat my father and brothers shoot. I think the hunted deer live and die much better than cows kept in pens and slaughtered by the 1000’s.
Aang I’m with you. My late Dad hunted, my bros in law hunt, my nephews too. It is part of the culture in Northwest Canada and also survival. If one guy bags a moose it is shared with family and friends. I don’t like the idea of eating meat but I was raised on moose stew and there is nothing like it. Usually nothing is wasted either.
AANG, if my history knowledge is correct, Way back when- a lot of the game that was caught was also sent to the less fortunate.
I read a long whole ago that Philip does like to eat what he hunts, but they also do give a share to the needy. I think it was from a retired chef or game person for Sandringham.
They may eat the birds, but that’s not WHY they kill them. It’s certainly not about survival, is it? They kill them out of sadistic, perverted pleasure.
Exactly. I cannot understand how is it acceptable to see hunting as a sport.
Story time: my relative was shot by accident during hunting. First thing i said was Karma! He is alive and I’m glad he survived cos he has kids. But he still goes hunting. For fun… It is some different kind of stupid…
It is sadistic satisfaction and it should be banned. Unless it’s about the survival, leave animals alone. We aren’t just killing them, but we’re playing with nature.
It is their holiday fun!! Yay!! Tomorrow, we shoot these beautiful animals out of the sky!! It is fun!!
(If they didn’t like killing and just enjoyed shooting, they would use those clay pigeons for shooting.)
Who needs lessons in curtsying? It’s pretty simple. Meghan did fine, IMO. If we’re going to critique, though, Kate looks like an Irish step dancer, about to hop around on one foot. Hell, I haven’t curtsied since my charm-school days (don’t ask) back in the 1860s, and I could’ve pulled off a more natural move than that.
Question: was it only the first row of royals that needed to bow/curtsy, not the whole group? If so, why?
ETA: Has any member of the BRF ever gone as bald as quickly as WIllnot?
First time that day the entire first row had a chance to curtsey to her that day.
They were staying at Anmer hall. None were seen at the earlier service. Probably arrived at group meeting point to walk to church without seeing HM who came by car.
Everyone else was at the big house AND attended the earlier service which means they all saw and curtsey-ed to her earlier in the day.
Boy, this is just the beginning for her. I feel so sad😯. They are going to pick her apart and over analyze this relationship to the max. Good luck girl!
I noticed on the video that Harry/Meghan, and then William/Kate approached and engaged with people in wheelchairs. William seemed warm and kept patting the one lady on the lap. I don’t know if it was fake, but it appeared genuine which is what counts. Meanwhile, everyone else, including the York sisters, swanned on by with a smile. I imagine they were grateful to be closer to the front again.
And why in the world, after sitting through a church service together, do people have to curtsy at HM as she left in her car.
As far as I can remember members of the BRF curtsy/bow the first time they meet each other on a given day, or at a given encounter. Afterward they don’t curtsy/bow. If I am right, the four (I need a nickname for both couples together!!) WK and Sparkles acknowledged TQ for the first time that day when she left the church.
That’s what I thought too…But then I don’t really get that because why wouldn’t they have curtsied inside the church when the queen came in (and everyone else was already there)? Especially because the church dude (would he be the vicar? Sorry, I am not familiar with CoE leaders) also bowed his head. But wouldn’t he have greeted the queen when she first entered the church and then given his bow then?
I am starting to think it was just for show…wanting to show the world that Meghan is abiding by the royal family “rules” and is happy to curtsy to QEII.
I guess you’re right @inthekitchen. Meghan plays the game and obeys by the rules as if an educated 36 old woman with lots of life and work experience would find it difficult. The easiest thing. A well executed curtsy. Shocking, isn’t it? Well, the bar is low anyway. And we were gratified with very few pics so we can only speculate on that. Another idea: maybe they also curtsy/bow when saying good bye but why the four in front and not the group behind them. I really need some curtsying etiquette lessons!
yeah this is what I was wondering too. They were with her at church! Wouldn’t you curtsy when you first saw each other?
I was so anxious for our girl Meghan during that video! How nervous to know a million million people are watching your every minute move in front of the last great monarch… your future grandmother in law. Sheesh. I would be freaking out. I think she did great.
Yes, she did great and I think she only looked nervous just before the curtsy. People claim she and Harry were at odds over something. I didn’t see that. What I saw was PW and PH, and maybe even Katie, coaching her and she could only pay attention to one or the other. PH had probably been prepping and reassuring her for days prior, but at this point she was trying not to feel overwhelmed. Her curtsy came off just fine.
I saw Harry being very protective of his nervous fiancee and his bro & SIL helping encourage/coach her through her first big family outing. She did fine on Monday and after a few more outings, she’ll look like she’s been doing it all her life. Meg seems ready-made for the job she’s chosen and a quick study.
I get the feeling Kate sort of likes having someone else around to take a little heat and to be the teacher.
I think she did well too. She was clearly trying her best and trying to be correct.
Yes I watched the video and Kate was great. Surprisingly she was probably the best of all of them. She was warm and engaged and stopped and spoke to quite a few people. People constantly criticise her for being awkward and not good at the public aspect but I know people who saw/met her on their trip in Australia and said she was lovely, warm and doing a great job. I wish I could style her and they should all work so much harder but I think she’s actually pretty good at the public greeting and engagement when she’s doing it.
@babykitten…they others swanned on because they know that the people were all there primarily to see Meghan and her in the FabFour. In fact I noticed that some of them wistfully looked back at Meghan and Harry greeting the crowds, realising that they have all been moved one step back in the affections of the public.
So Harry proposed to Meghan while they were making roast chicken together, but according to The Scrum she likes to eat vegan. Right. So the rest of the story must be true also too.
I don’t buy The Sun’s drivel BUT the whole roast chicken is kind of curious. Look at this fab blog #CB, tab royal engagement, page 22, the article published on May 5. Meghan is quoted in quoted interview talking about her roast chicken recipe. Read the comments for the same article. Comment 7 talking about the “engagement chicken”. And a few months later they talked about making or “trying” to make roast chicken during one of their cozy nights when Harry proposed. Curious AF. That was an article from May this year! #someone’sreadingafabblogCB. It’s too much to be just a coincidence #curiousAF
Idk, but when the Mr. and I would cook together in the early days, our cooking efforts were often interrupted, hence the “trying to roast a chicken.”
I totally get it.
wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
You’re joking, right? Most women of marriageable age has heard of the theory of “engagement chicken”. It was touted in the mainstream when the book “The Rules” broke. I am sure Meghan didn’t learn of it for the first through this blog. Jeez!
It was something about preferring to eat vegan meals during the week while filming, eating whatever she wanted on weekends when not working. Doesn’t mean she isn’t an omnivore.
The Lux heir couple also talked about making roast chicken dinners while courting. And Camilla’s son has talked about how that’s pretty much Camilla’s best dinner. Seems roast chicken is popular.
What was all the controversy, it looked like she bobbed up and down very obviously in the video.
I have to agree with the speculation yesterday that Harry and Meghan had some sort of tiff prior to this event. She obviously ignores him while fully engaged with WK, and when she does meet his eyes, she immediately looks away again. I don’t think it’s a sign of doom, but I assumed an actor could hide these things better. She’s only human.
Its also not like she is a one in a generation talent in acting.
whether or not Harry and Meghan had a tiff prior to the event is debatable, but she does look somewhat irritated at him. He keeps on whispering things to her and she is looking the other way.
I think it’s less likely they had a tiff than that the “direction” for the day was clearly for the four of them to be seen together for the first time, interacting happily. So Meghan, as an actress, was just trying to play her part and interact with W/K, while Harry wasn’t necessarily following along. I can imagine her thinking “that isn’t the point of this scene, Harry!”
I think he was probably annoying the heck out of her with a bunch of instructions. He was making her nervous. He was pointing and talking, it looked like William and Kate told her something, she was talking to them, Harry kept blabbing. For Pete’s sake, she probably wanted to scream. It’s a fricking curtsy!!! Which I will be bashed for by Americans!!
I bet he was getting on her last nerve. Ugh. Poor Meghan. I do not envy her future one bit.
@babykitten – In that video, I actually thought both W&K and Harry were being rude because Meghan seemed like she just wanted to stare straight ahead and pay attention to the queen (maybe focusing on exactly when she needed to curtsy?) but Will & Kate kept talking to her. Then Harry leans in and starts interrupting W&K – and you can see she’s trying to keep listening to W&K because they were talking to her first.
I think Meghan was just doing the best she could in a confusing/stressful situation, but Harry needs to chill a little bit. Although maybe Harry was also just nervous and stressed (on the stairs) that she would perform well for her first Christmas because when they do the walkabout, they both seem more relaxed.
About the acting thing – I think actors are often much more insecure or ill-performing when they are just being themselves. I am always amazed at how badly actors do when introducing segments at award shows – stumbling over words, sweating, looking really nervous, etc. I always think, why don’t they just treat those segments like an acting role and memorize what and how to say their bit?! So, maybe Meghan’s nervousness just shows she was being her authentic self…and who wouldn’t be a bit nervous in this situation?
Last night, my local TV station aired a Hallmark type Made-for-TV movie starring Meghan. It is from 2016. Looked like it was filmed in winter, and set in Denver, so roughly one year ago.
I understand she is in “Suits”, but only as one of many supporting characters in a large ensemble cast. I’ve never seen it, so cannot comment on her acting abilities.
However, here she was in the starring role. She got top billing as the lead, around whom the entire movie revolves.
My opinion is that she is a Journeyman actress at best.
She was never going to set the acting world on fire.
Right?? I mean they write she’s giving up her acting career?? lol. She’s 36, she was not the next JLaw waiting to happen. Welp, she’s going to be “famous” now, isn’t she?
She’s an average actress from my point of view but the fact that she stayed on Suits for seven seasons means she is good enough, possibly good to work with, complied with her contract and strove to improve herself. All those networks and film companies want to make money. That’s all. Money. It’s a business. Yes she was connected in the industry through her father and former husband. I am not talking about nepotism but it’s naive to think she’s done it all by herself. She could have networked well, gone to multiple auditions, while having very good agents. But still, those people must have helped her to some extent.
Yet being on the show for 7 seasons speaks good of her because she lasted that long. This movie industry is extremely competitive and hard to get one role alone. Nevermind tens. And not all actors are super talented or connected but there is place in the industry for actors with different talents or levels of accomplishment. Being famous is relative. Famous for what? For all I know she’s done her job well enough to last in Suits for that long, had other interests on the side with her blog and charity work, did not become famous by association with other people nor did she finance and starred in her own movies. So please give this girl a break. As if her career would have finished with Suits. Come on! We’ll never know. Or whether she would have taken a different path career-wise.
@Soulspa, I agree. We must not accidentally conflate talent with success in Hollywood. Plenty of superb actors never gain the success MM had, and plenty of much more successful actors are less talented than MM. Anyone remember Hayden Christensen in the Star Wars movies? 😬
Hayden Christensen is why I haven’t seen films 2 and 3 in the prequels. In the trailers, his “Obi – Wan’s – holding – me – back” was so bad I refused to see them. And I love the Star Wars franchise.
I didn’t see it as she was irritated at him, irritated wives or fiancés dont usually cling to their partners bicep. I thought (in the video) she just looked nervous and was trying to not screw up I’m front of the press/entire royal family.
Also why did K and M curtesy but it doesn’t look like Camilla, Anne et al did?
LAK explained that you only do it the first time you see her for the day and the others had seen her earlier.
She didn’t look irritated with him at all. She was trying to be attentive to what W & K were saying to her. She looked extremely nervous and clearly wants to do the “right” thing.
There was no tiff, she did not ignore Harry. The problem was that two people were trying to give her instructions at the same time, and it was most polite to listen to what Kate and William were saying to her first. Meghan was clearly nervous about her first public curtsy, and afterwards I noticed a little smile of relief on her face. I can imagine her mother Doria’s heart went out to her, watching her daughter on the TV, mine did. After the curtsy she tucked her arm back inside Harry’s, which is clearly her comfort zone.
Side note : Does anyone else think Meghan resembles the actress Lea Michelle from Glee? In some pics of Meghan, if is amazing how similar they look
Same nose job? Their profiles are similar, otherwise I don’t think so. I tried to link a pic of Lea’s profile after the nose job, and it was endlessly long. It’s easily googled.
Speaking of nasal profiles, has anyone noticed that Meghan’s and Harry’s nasal profiles are incredibly similar? Profiles, not frontal – same ski jump.
Looking at pictures of Meghan’s dad, she definitely inherited his nose shape
@NotSoSocial… Glad I’m not the only one seeing the similarity in their profiles.
I thought she looked SO MUCH like that British actress from “Love Actually”, Martine McCucheon *shrug*. Maybe it was the beret-type hat and the side swept hair 😊
I think Meghan looks a bit like a young Jane Seymour, the actress.
The Queen was carrying an handled purse, not a clutch.
Wow influencing him already, well done Meghan
I find the whole thing kind of odd/confusing. WK/HM went to the later church service, right? The queen went to the earlier one? so they went to the church, went inside, paraded out, and then curtseyed? or did the queen sit through two services? (I thought I had read that maybe?)
It seems obvious that they “met” the queen that day before the curtsey, but I guess the curtsey outside was just for respect/tradition.
anyway – I think Meghan looked really nervous but did fine. I imagine it wasn’t just the cameras and crowds that were making her nervous, but participating in such a traditional event. It’s not like it’s the most important thing in the world, but it is very much a royal tradition so I can see being part of that for the first time would make someone nervous.
There were three services over two days. Christmas Eve carol service which some family attended. Christmas casual service. Christmas formal service.
I just got a whole vibe from the Christmas day video that MM is very uncomfortable around this bunch and probably thinks it’s all ridiculous…which it is/they are.
To the lovely British people, I love your beautiful country and once you abolish the monarchy, trust me, hoards more of Americans will arrive in droves to tour the magnificent palaces and royal places that are now off limits! Tourism will be amazing!!
That is a rather Trumpian way of putting things.
Not at all. *puke* I just always hear the rationale of keeping the monarchy is tourism. From an American POV, tourism would be so much more interesting if the royal properties were public.
I doubt that.
10 “happiest” countries in the world according to World Happiness Report? 7 out of 10 are monarchies. At this point, I can see the potential in having a neutral referee (aka monarch) who tries to keep the politicians and their life-destroying games in check.
I agree.
But which “monarchy” countries are we including… because if Canada is in there then technically it’s a constitutional monarchy, but the BRF does very little in the country itself and outside of using the Queen as a symbol, she doesn’t affect the lives of Canadians on a daily basis at all. I would hazard that Australia and New Zealand are the same.
I think Brits should choose based on more than “americans arriving in droves”.
lol, of course! But my point still is that tourism would still exist and be quite popular even if the monarchy was disbanded.
This is the beginning of the end the Brit press about to eat her alive. Build her up now it’s time for the take down.
Rather short honeymoon period…lol.
I thought her curtsy was fine. She just looked a little reserved. But I thought reserve was expected in the end anyway? Brits seem to prefer unpretentiousness (I think? Maybe? I’m just guessing? Anyone can correct me if I’m wrong).
Regarding the video she was trying to pay attention to what Will and Kate was saying. She was probably irritated that Harry seem to be cutting them off while they were talking to her. Rather than her and Harry had got into argument.
She going to have to learn on the job.
Can people stop with this she suddenly turned Harry into a different man BS. No Harry isn’t going to be a work horse and No Harry isn’t giving up shooting animals. These royal guys don’t choose women who will challenge them to be better. They choose good looking women who can handle the job aka trophy wives.
I don’t feel that she was irritated – just stressed and focused.
Totally agree. The closer it got to curtsey time, the more nervous she looked. She appeared MUCH more relaxed when they walked over to the crowd.
Some royals have benefited from their choice of spouse, have made obvious self-improvement changes, and they and their country are better off. Why is that such a foreign idea?
Interesting recent quotes.
“Princess Anne told one onlooker (at church walkabout) she thought Meghan and Harry made ‘a lovely couple’.”
“I have. She’s incredibly likeable and warm. I’m sure she’s got her flaws, like all of us, but it’s difficult to see what they are. She’s got a feeling of zen around her, and if you look at Harry over the past year and a half, he’s really calmed down. The only thing he gets exercised about now is protecting her from the media.” – Tom Bradby on Harry and Meghan
IDK, Anne’s reply about Will/Kate when it was announced was IMO rude so I am surprised she said anything about Harry when asked.
Anne is a very rude woman. But I think all members of the RF have been warned not to say a word against Meghan.
Think people are projecting on to Meghan.The sun said she is an animal rights campaigner and a vegan..no ,no she really isnt.I would say Meghan is more of a dog lover than animal and she does eat meat.Now when Harry is seen hunting,Meghan would be blamed for it.I also really don’t see much difference in the way she was treated preengagement to now.
“Please Honey, don’t go out and shoot any helpless animals today”
She looked nervous throughout the walkabout but hey I would be too especially since I don’t even have experience in the public eye. It takes a while for anyone to warm up to your in laws right? I thought her curtsy was fine. I saw the video again and I just need to say her smile is gorgeous.
My concern is that now that she’s living in Harry’s Home turf and subject to all the criticism that’s about to come her way, Harry won’t be very sympathetic to her struggles. She’s already clutching him for dear life. I certainly hope he’s more sympathetic to her than Charles was to Diana.
I really enjoy Harry, but he seems immature and a bit clueless. I don’t view him as good husband material…but rather a great friend and favorite uncle kind of guy…
The whirlwind romance doesn’t help either…reality can be cruel. William is sour, but Kate really doesn’t seem like she requires him to be any other way…she has her children and mother to keep her company. I worry for MM…hope she has a support system. Reminds me a bit of Diana being thrown to the wolves with a hapless partner.
Huh? In their engagement interview he appears totally enamored of her and seems very protective when they’re out in public. I can’t imagine at all that he won’t be sympathetic. She’ll be fine.
Really? I don’t see that at all. She was dominant in the interview and she clings to him for dear life. He seems quite baffled IMO. Don’t get me wrong, I like Harry, he’s prob a good guy. But a great husband? Hmmm, I guess time will tell. As for MM, it has to be tremendously hard leaving everything behind…even Kate didn’t have to deal with that.
Kate did nothing for 10 years but wait for the phone to ring. No job or career to leave behind.
She was in university for part of that time.
@notasugarhere She didn’t wait for 10 years…. They were together for seven years when they got engaged not ten. In those seven years were 2 years of uni. Rest of those years (5 years) she worked parttime for jigshaw for about a year. Then she worked for her parents until her engagement. Yes she didn’t have a so called normal career but not everyone has that ambition. Also she probably knew if they got married that she had to give it up so why bother.
Gentleman offers his fiancee his arm and she’s “clutching him for dear life”?
Newly engaged couple walks around publicly hand-in-hand and that’s a bad thing?
I can see Harry, a very spoiled and self-centered man, being tolerant with her struggles at first, even siding with her and getting angry on her behalf. But as time goes on, if Meghan doesn’t find her footing and her independence, and makes demands on him that he doesn’t want to do (like NOT hunting in Germany for fun) I can see him becoming less and less sympathetic.
There is a reason Kate spends so much time with her family. Can anyone see either of these two spoiled men really have empathy for their wives if they are struggling.
No, harry will get annoyed, and go out hunting or partying with his aristo friends, and Meghan will have to figure it out on her own.
Insert massive side eye. All of the stories seeks to be about how Meghan is “changing” Harry. As if she is some crone making him change his evil partying ways. I think Meghan doesn’t agree with hunting. But considering that Harry was hunting two weeks ago, it doesn’t seem like she is forcing him to believe the same as her. More likely, he wanted out of the hunt in the first place and maybe used her dislike of hunting as the reason why.
Please pardon my ignorance. Who plants these PRish stories in the media about MM and Harry? First, he stopped smoking for her, now he’s stopped hunting for her. Is it KP, her publicist( yes, she has a publicist) or the media just making up stories? If it’s from KP or her people, they should thread with caution. They are over deifying and unconsciously putting her under pressure to meet up to the high expectations people have of her and I honestly fear that after getting married, she may not meet up to these very high expectations. She’s supposed to be a disruptor that would single handedly change the RF, but that won’t happen; even Diana didn’t change the RF. She’s supposed to be ‘low maintenance’, ‘outwork’ Kate and show her how to dress stylishly. We are yet to see that. She’s supposed to charm the hell out of Britain because she’s smart and does not need the training Kate was given before joining the BRF and that’s why she was fast tracked, etc, etc. Please take it easy. The hype is on overdrive. Her publicist and KP should allow her assimilate into the RF at her own pace.
Media making things up.
You are witnessing the OTT PR push every royal bride receives during the engagement period. The problems come after the wedding when the bride chooses to live upto the hype like Sofia of Sweden or refuses and dispoints everyone like Kate.
Meghan is a smart girl, she knows you wait until after the wedding to start changing the guy, not before. 😉
Good! Go, Meghan!
People keep talking about how Meghan looked terrified (she did. me included!) but watching this video again, HARRY looks so nervous! The nervous energy coming off the both of them is palpable. He knows that no matter what she does she will get analyzed and ripped to bits and pieces. He kept taking deep breaths, his eyes were darting around, and he was almost twitchy. Wow. That couldn’t have been easy for either of them. Good for them for getting through without any major gaffs. Still can’t unsee the poop emoji hat situation.
Forgot to say that I don’t believe Harry is missing the hunt. I highly doubt he would break with royal tradition. I think it’s meant to upset the traditional royalists that Meghan is “wrecking” things.
Agree that Meghan was nervous pre-curtsy, but I think Harry was contributing to it. That’s why she was annoyed. Between Harry and W&K, they’re having a normal convo and then shift to prepping her for protocol for the Queen’s departure. Meghan’s trying to engage with W&K and Harry keeps going on presumably about protocol. Finally Meghan tells Harry “Yes” as in yes I’ve got this, calm down. Think he was nervous for her. They both were much more relaxed when interacting with the public.
That is what I saw too. Too many people trying to help lol.
I’m sorry but Kate’s curtsey is comical. Meghan’s coat blocls us from seeing her curtsey properly but it looks more accurate. At least compared to other Royal women photographed/filmed curtseying.
There’s not much Kate does get right.
I had a very interesting conversation with a horseman recently. He told me that although nowadays almost all hunts are so-called Drag Hunts, ie the hounds follow a bag of aniseed that’s dragged over a set course the day before, on “special occasions” hunts still surreptitiously buy foxes, and chase them. I had no idea. I was even working for a stable that hunted, during years he told me that hunt bought foxes. And he said it’s widespread in the UK.
I am an animal-rights crusader, and I’ve worked for Greenpeace, but I have no issue with drag hunts. They can choose their routes so that you get magnificent views, go over beautiful jumps pre-installed and checked for safety, and have the maximum fun time while you’re out. But there’s no excuse on earth to have a live fox hunt anymore. And this is EXACTLY the kind of situation my friend said would involve a live fox.
“You British people know that Americans don’t give a crap, right?“
Just lol