It feels like we haven’t seen the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in months, but it’s only been a few weeks. We just got used to seeing them so often, which was a nice change of pace for the younger royals. But all of the Windsors tend to shut down for the month of August, and Harry was especially keen for Meghan to avoid overexposure. So they’ve been spending time in their country home (a rental), and doing some low-key traveling. I still don’t know if I believe that they were to Como, Italy. But I do believe that they spent a week in Scotland.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s summer of travel continues! The royal couple spent five days at Castle of Mey in Caithness, Scotland, with Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, multiple sources confirm to Us Weekly. According to one source, the August getaway marked the 33-year-old prince and Meghan’s first visit to the castle, a spot that Charles, 69, and Camilla, 71, both “love.”
“Charles and Camilla care deeply for Harry and Meghan, and with all that has been going on with Meghan’s family, they wanted to get them out of the city and to the coast of Scotland,” the source explains. Amid the ongoing drama, the source says that Harry and Meghan returned to London “feeling restored” after their Scotland trip.
“It’s beautiful at the castle, with amazing views of Orkney Islands,” the source adds. “It was five days of time outdoors, long walks, good food and quality family time.”
News of the Harry and Meghan’s family getaway comes the day after Us Weekly exclusively revealed that the twosome also vacationed at George and Amal Clooney’s house in Lake Como this month. A source told Us that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent three nights with the Oscar winner, 57, and the criminal defense lawyer, 40, after flying to Como, Italy on Thursday, August 16.
“The Clooneys had personally invited Meghan and Harry to their home at the beginning of the summer with an open invitation,” a source told Us on Monday, August 20. “George and Amal were so happy to host Meghan and Harry. Harry and George have a special bond and friendship.”
George and Harry have a special bond? The hell? It’s really driving me crazy that we don’t have a good explanation for the Clooney-Sussex friendship. I still believe that the association was and is tequila-based, and I still believe that Casamigos was some kind of low-key sponsor of the royal wedding and wedding after-party, and that’s tacky AF. As for the Sussexes spending time with Charles and Camilla – I believe that. I believe Meghan and Charles are probably very good friends by now and that Charles and Camilla genuinely want to help Meghan and bring her into the royal fold completely.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid and Avalon Red.
Not sure I believe anything regarding Meghan & Harry, they’ve been wrong so many times. She was in LA and Toronto, now she was in Scotland and Italy.
Three months into their marriage, and they already need to refresh and restore. Her dad is such a prick.
That’s what I was thinking as well! I hope they were able to set all of the drama aside for a little bit and just enjoy being newlyweds.
Royals vacation alot for people who don’t actually “work” very much.
Being on constant display and under relentless scrutiny and criticism would be exhausting I would think. I’d have a nervous breakdown after one week.
I agree. I’m very introverted so having to socialize with thousands of people and being judged by millions more sounds like a nightmare. The tiaras and pretty dresses are just not worth the harassment and ridicule.
I think having to be beautiful all the time and keep my weight under control since the pictures are dissected is what would tire me out. The preparation to get everything to look right visually would also be time-consuming in some respects even if I got to work with an advisor. When it comes to fashion, I’m not particularly organized so I could see that aspect stressing me out.
Maybe the job is easier if you were born naturally beautiful, but you can see that the majority of them went through make-overs with their appearance so the planning to get myself to look exactly would make me obsessive. My hair alone would need an army since it’s not a Pantene commercial.
Yeah but THAT is the job she signed up for. They love each other but it’s work not the work most do but all the same.
Yeah, she signed up for it. I just think there is one aspect of the job that could potentially be tiring. Whether it is for her, I’m not sure. But I have wondered if those hideouts in Highgrove are meant to recharge them. I actually wouldn’t mind shaking hands and talking to people (a lot of those people are being nice to them — it wouldn’t be terrible like working in customer service) — it’s just the looking immaculate part of the job and being torn apart by the media that I would find difficult. When they go to Highgrove, I guess I wouldn’t assume they were hiding from the public or even from work. I’d likely assume they were hiding from the media since distance makes the heart grown fonder. We get sick of them when we see too much of anybody.
You sign up to be a public servant with amazing benefits and minimal work. Speaking for those married in.
Yes theres ridiculed moments. Yes rules. Yes expectations to look perfect. And when you’re not hitting all of those… they print an unflattering pic. Then they move on.
And you can avoid seeing that. You can even avoid having them printed. So… the trade off is unbalanced. It’s easy. And you can slack, hide away, refuse to show up and still keep your job and benefits.
Of course, it’s not for everyone, but kate had a decade to settle in and Meghan has adjusted seamlessly.
Charles and Camilla have always seemed closer with Harry and Meghan is smart. She’s being offered advice and taking it. Theres a lot of potential there.
I hate it when people say “well she signed up for this job” as a way of justifying why they think she can’t be tired from it, or find it stressful, or dislike certain parts of the job, or need a break every now and then. Unless you’re a literal slave, all of us “signed up” for whatever work we do. Yet, nobody tells a teacher, or office worker, or lawyer, or janitor that they can’t be tired, or complain about work, or dislike certain aspects of their job, or need a break sometimes because “hey, you SIGNED UP for that job!”
I was just saying that I could see certain parts of this kind of role being a bit fatiguing (at least for me personally). I don’t necessarily think I’d dislike the diplomatic aspect — I’m just imagining I could potentially be made tired by certain aspects of the job that may not come naturally to me (i.e being naturally beautiful on a consistent basis every single day and organizing the presentation aspect of that).
The interesting part is I’ve never really heard the wives complain despite the fact we know they signed up for it. Whatever they’re feeling I have no idea. I think it’s impossible to like every aspect of what you do even if you completely love your job (and I could see myself liking certain aspects of what the royals do — i.e. charity work). Yet, like I said, I’ve not heard the royal wives complain so I don’t know why just the suggestion of wondering what they might not like about their jobs would get so easily dismissed. Even Diana and Fergie didn’t really complain about the job itself — they just complained about their husbands. I suppose Diana did complain later on about the media when she was withdrawing from public life and no longer a public servant, but since she was photographed as she lay dying and no one seemed concerned that she could actually be at death’s door, her complaint doesn’t seem all that terrible or completely invalid in hindsight.
I’m no Diana stan, but what she went through with the media was exponentially worse than what any of the rest of them have had to deal with.
Comment: mocks how much work royals do
Follow up comments: explain what about the job is so tiring
Comment: ThAt’s ThE jOb ShE cHoSe
NO SHIT. You’re missing the point. We all choose our jobs, that doesn’t mean they don’t wear us out. The point of the comments were to defend the first jerk who claimed they don’t work at all. Try to keep up. And check your bitterness.
And they’ve got their first post-holiday engagements booked in for next week. Hopefully an announcement of Meghan’s first patronages is on its way soon too!
According to a new ITV webiseries Royal Rota, KP has indicated that Meghan will announce her patronages towards the end of the year. I thought she might do it next month, but I guess it will come after their Oct/Nov. tour. And according to Scobie, she’s also been working on a small project. I wonder if that’s separate from her Patronages? Still, I’m looking forward to see what causes she will support.
Why is it so hard to believe he and George are good friends and/or that Amal and Meghan became friends because of their interest in humanitarian work (they share the same hairdresser and probably initially met that way)?? Not all celebs flaunt their friendships in public – it doesnt mean there is something sinister happening here – these seem like baseless conspiracy theories imo…
It’s just that Meghan seems genuine and likable and Amal seems fame hungry and try hard. The prancing entrance at the royal wedding sums her up for me.
+1
^^^^THIS! There is not enough water in the world to quench Amal’s thirst!
On another note, the Cams were photo’d last week at Amner. Wonder if they were up in Scotland at the same twim as H & M?
+2
Let’s add in details like harry and george played basketball… that alone… someone is writing fan fiction.
Exactly. Amal’s fame hungry manner makes me side eye Meghan’s friendship with her…
That friendship, if it really exist, should be kept at bay.
George acts like he’s best friends with everybody ….until weird stuff hits the fan. So in that sense I can see why people would be cynical.
Hah. True!
I’ve wondered if Harry isn’t looking out for his cousins and that could be basis of welcoming George into the fold.
George is a Hollywood actor twice Harry’s age. It is weird.
Also, i am not buying any of it. Meg was in Scotland, Los Angeles, Toronto, lake como, all in two weeks? It is simple, no one knows where they are.
Barack is ex-US president and almost twice Harry’s age but they are still very good friends. I see nothing nefarious in any or both these relationships. Harry is a great communicator and networker, if him and anyone share common humanitarian goals, they can easily be friends. I can name a number of older men that are very good friends with Harry and with whom he works with on may of his humanitarian projects.
Harry and Barack seem more like acquaintances. Lots confuse friends with acquaintances. To be friendly, social, and have another link or catalyst like work in humanitarianism or politics makes sense. Friends last. And there can be no bond and you still are friends.
@FLORC, and who’s to say that George and Harry don’t fall in the acquaintance or merely friendly category at this point? Still nothing negates the fact that they can still invite each other over at each other’s house for a few days or something for the purpose of humanitarian projects. And, maybe there were more guests than just the Sussexes (think Elton John Aug 2017 Google Camp), I think we don’t have enough information to deduce anything from these news. Having said all that, I personally don’t believe there is any “friendly” friendship between the Sussexes and Clooneys and I don’t believe a thing about anything about their trip to Lake Como.
Harry and his new Mrs., look happy. Good for them.
The news lately is really getting to me…the pregnant wife and baby girls murdered by the Dad is just sticking with me. The shear evil of it, I can’t shake it.
So, if Harry and Meg are having a week to sit around yakking it up with Chuck and Cam, go ahead. I hope all their staff snatch some of the baked goodies and Champers for themselves too.
Btw, Meg’s Dad and the 1/2 sister are really awful. Take the $$ you have already made from constantly bad mouthing them and shut the hell up. Ick!
Meg’s Mom, deserves a nice vacation for proving she’s got class! Go Mom!
Brother is back whining about why aren’t they “taken in” as the Middletons were, that they’re nowhere as “bad” as Uncle Gary. JC on a cracker!! Won’t they EVER shut the f^ck up!? It’s like a bad doubles tennis match: one lobs to the other, who lobs to the other, who lobs to the other… JUST GO AWAY!!!
The tabloids are the only reason the Markles stay in the news. Everyone else is sick of hearing about them. Also, the Middletons made money off of being associated with the Royal Family, but they had enough sense to shut their mouths and enjoy the perks. Silence is golden!
Getting to me too. The terror all 3 of them went through. There is no sufficient punishment, there just isn’t.
The triple murder is haunting me too. I had nightmares about it last night.
This hard mixture of celebrity and royalty is wrong. Royals are not celebrities and it annoys HM to no end.
A week, only a week, in Balmoral would be beautiful.
Prince Philip had plenty of celebrity friends as does Prince Charles.
Likely scenario is they are all four members of Soho House and met casually through Eugenie and Jack there. Another transactional relationship; the Clooneys get a little more “we’re serious” cred and Harry and Meghan get more rich acquaintances to nudge for fundraising.
Yes notasugarhere I’m old enough to remember Charles hanging out with Geldof. I understand the fundraising. But remember, celebrities can voice political opinions. Charles has overstepped on a few occasions.
Yes celebrities can, and if a friend of a royal voices a political opinion, the royal is not responsible for that opinion. Charles was also close friends with Joan Rivers of all people. For his 70th birthday this November, we’ll likely see Emma Thompson and her husband Greg Wise show up at the party. Thompson has expressed plenty of political opinions, doesn’t mean she and Charles are forbidden to be friends.
I always thought the Tequila sponsorship thing was business savvy…the cost to do ANYTHING these days are exorbitant…so having multiple income streams just makes sense to me…and the Clooney hook up makes sense even beyond the corporate branding…as both George/Amal have always been active from a humanitarian sense…and with Meghan going that route, full-time basically…it seems like fertile ground for a steady relationship to grow…
I tend to believe they were in Scotland, not that i am biased being Scottish, but Caithness is beautiful esp at this time of year and the Sussex’s do seem close with Chuck and Cams. I don’t buy the Clooney story as it reeked of PR desperation, esp the whole Meghan helped with the kids while Harry and George played sports – that is sooo out of Downtown Abbey episode.
I agree with this. Believe they were with C&C and Italy was PR nonsense. Love the relationship they have with them and hope it continues.
Love how every mag/paper reporting on their time in Como has the exclusive on the trip. Otherwise I hope they had a lovely time in Scotland.
Awww, I like this story! For some reason the thought of H&M being close to C&C just makes me smile. I’ve several documentaries about Charles and all that he’s accomplished as PoW, he’s worked so hard to help others and to try and make their lives a bit better. It seems to me that out of the two boys, Harry is most like Charles in that respect in fact I’ve often thought that Harry got the best parts of both of his parents.
Harry got the best from both.
He is the Arnold Schwarzenegger fro. The movie Twins
I love the idea of Meghan being close to Charles and Camilla. I wonder, since Meghan wasn’t brought up with such stiff protocol that maybe she is very affectionate towards both of them, and that perhaps they are charmed by it?? Also, I think it’s possible that Meghan treats and leans on Charles as her “father figure” so to speak, and he might relish that role a bit? I don’t know much about Charles other than just what is reported, but he really seems to like Meghan and understands what it is like to be “brutalized” by the press, have have to soldier on.
Harry was raised within the stiffness and is extremely affectionate.
Charles always wanted a daughter (in fact in Diana’s book, he voiced his disappointment to Diana when Harry was born). So maybe now, he has one. I don’t think Kate fits that bill. While she seems cordial with C & C, I don’t “feel” the warmth (and I could be *very* wrong on this); but I do feel that warmth with Meg and C & C (esp. Charles).
Agree @Jan. Also though, didn’t Diana kind of lead Charles to think she was carrying a girl even though she knew it was a boy?
Charles at the reception for Kate and William’s wedding spoke of how lucky he was to have such a lovely daughter as Kate. That was in the coverage, I remember. I don’t know why anyone would assume Kate doesn’t fit that bill. She’s low drama, looks like a wonderful mother, and I think assuming he’s indifferent to her is just bias.
@Violet…I don’t think Charles is “indifferent” to Kate. But I do think there has been some friction between Will and Charles and if so, that likely would affect Kate’s relationship with Charles. Also Kate is exceedingly close to her own family. That doesn’t mean she can’t be exceedingly close to her in-laws too but I just don’t see it. It also seems odd to me that until this summer we’d never seen a picture of Charles with George (except for formal posed pictures with the rest of the family) And we still haven’t seen a picture of Charles with Charlotte or Louis that’s not a formal posed shot with lots of other folks. We have seen photos of Charles with Camilla’s grandchildren though. And we’ve seen candid shots of Anne with her grandchildren. So I think there’s some “distance.”
The royals vacation a lot…yet their “work” is what many people do in their spare time (volunteering/charitable work). All of the wealth, privilege, and countless vacations for very little responsibility. I have much more respect for people with truly difficult jobs such as pediatric oncologists, nurses in the neo-natal ICU, those in the mining industry, teachers, labours who toil away in the hot sun all day, people working in sweatshops, farmers who ensure we all have food to eat, etc. THESE are the ones who deserve to be celebrated and rewarded for their work, not these over-indulged, pampered, lazy people who are somehow “better” and “more deserving” of a lavish lifestyle than others working in tough working conditions, putting in long hours, and sometimes earning barely enough to survive. Add on taking care of families and giving back to their communities, one can declate that the REAL “royals” are the hard-working men and women ❤
I looked up the Castle of Mey, which I had never heard of, and from what it said, it was purchased and restored by the late Queen Mother in 1952, and she regularly had visitors to the castle. Is it really credible that her grandson, Harry, born in 1984, never visited his grandmother, who died in 2002, in summers at her Castle – he was 18 when she died!?! This was his first visit?!
Am I missing something?! Or are these people just make this stuff up out of whole cloth to keep the H&M buzz going so they can get clicks and traffic?!
I don’t believe these people have “sources close to the couple” because no reliable source would talk to them and tell them what the couple are doing.
I just don’t believe these people any more.
I don’t believe most “sources” either @Violet. But the story says it was the first visit for Harry *AND* Meghan. Splitting hairs/parsing words, it doesn’t actually say *Harry* had never been there before. But when I looked up the history of the Castle of Mey, on the castle’s own website I found the Queen Mother typically visited for “3 weeks” in August and “10 days” in Oct. It doesn’t sound quite like the 3 month or so extended sojourn to Balmoral by the QEII so I can believe Harry might not have ever have visited his great grandmother there. In Oct he would have been in school and during those 3 weeks in August he easily could have been at other royal vacation spots.
The media just make stuff up, Meghan is in Canada, then she is in Italy who knows, they said Clooney danced with Kate and Meghan at the wedding reception, weeks later he denied the story.
He will milk this Lake Como visit, before admitting one way or another.
I’m surprised that people did not catch on, one reasons the media is pissed at M and Harry, they were stumped about the wedding dress, all were wrong about who was making the dress.
Then they went on a honeymoon, and the media did not when or where.