Thank you to all of the royalists who tweeted this story at me, but… I don’t believe it. According to the Evening Standard, the Duchess of Sussex met with Michelle Obama last night in London. Michelle is in London as part of her book tour – Becoming is one of the biggest publishing successes of the year – and Meghan was allegedly there for Michelle’s speech at the Royal Festival Hall. Then Michelle and Meghan met privately after Michelle’s speech, according to sources. And there are no photos of any of this?
The Duchess of Sussex held a “power meeting” with Michelle Obama in London last night to discuss their shared causes such as boosting girls’ education, the Evening Standard has learned. The conversation between two of the most high-profile women in the world followed the former US first lady’s “inspirational” sell-out speech at the Royal Festival Hall, which Meghan attended.
A friend who was also at the event said Meghan “had a long private audience with Michelle. They spoke at length about the importance of supporting and empowering women across all cultures and communities. They also talked about shared experiences of pregnancy and raising children, plus shared causes including girls’ education.”
The friend added that the duchess and Mrs Obama had formed a strong bond and were expected to stay in close contact. Prince Harry has met the Obamas on a number of occasions. In 2015 he visited America to promote the Invictus Games and last year Harry interviewed Barack Obama in his role as guest editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Michelle has already seemed open to meeting Meghan and advising her, as just this week, Michelle spoke about Meghan in her Good Housekeeping interview. I think it’s totally possible that Meghan and Michelle have met or will meet in the near future. I’m just not sure if I believe this story, where seemingly NO ONE ELSE saw them together or took photos of them or anything? Come on.
Update: According to a few royal reporters, the palace confirmed that Michelle and Meghan did meet. I still think it’s weird that there are zero photos.
Kensington Palace confirm that Duchess Meghan attended @MichelleObama’s #IamBecoming memoir discussion with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at @southbankcentre last night.
Meghan attended “privately” and, as @theroyaleditor first reported, met the former First Lady backstage afterwards.— Omid Scobie (@scobie) December 4, 2018
Photos courtesy of WENN and Avalon Red.
The British tabloids would have been all over it had they met. I agree.
They did meet.
Oh man what a great photo that would be.
I think the palace already confirmed it.
According to reporter Omid Scobie, the palace confirmed she was there.
It’s so weird that there are no photos.
It might have been a closed meeting. Sometimes, the photos don’t come out until much later when some people attending (be it the singer or musicians) post it on their Instagrams. It’s happened with Wills and Kate before, iirc.
Well, it makes sense, wasn’t Obama friend with Prince Harry? I so want to see a photo of those two together. That be the biggest bitch slap to the British press. Two strong women getting together and helping each other out. Love it. xx
Ha ha, because I loved it, and laughed, when I read Kaiser’s “royal bitch please,” I’ll say “royal bitch slap” to the tabloids. Glad they could get together.
very kool if so!!!!!
The palace confirmed it and honestly it makes sense. I feel like if any royal had gone to this event they probably would have met with Michelle Obama afterwards. The fact that Meghan went, and Harry and the Obamas are friends (or at least friendly) – it completely makes sense to me.
Right? If you were Meghan, and Michelle Obama came to London, wouldn’t you want to meet? And if you were Michelle, and you were going to be in London, wouldn’t you love to meet up with Meghan?
No photos is totally possible – security, private entrances/seating… it’s not impossible. Some things do happen without being photographed.
BTW, I just finished Becoming and it is a great read! I admire Michelle more than ever having read it. She’s amazing.
The palace confirmed they met and someone who was there said she saw Meghan at the event and her security was blocking her from getting pictures.
Security knows how to block their subject from pictures. Their job is literally to block them from harm so blocking a clear sight is 101.
Very cool meeting. I’d want to see Michelle too esp with private audience after!
Maybe they are not making the photos public as the palace has confirmed the meeting happened.
I would not blame after the hit jobs that have been coming Meghan’s way for the past month.
It was a private visit by Meghan and a private meeting. What a wonderful time for it to have happened. It also looks as though Meghan will be seen in public for the first time this evening.
This may sound kind of silly and she should be allowed to visit and befriend whom she likes, and I love them both, but imagine what would be said if she had gone to see Melania or Ivanka? The BRF generally steer clear of personal relationships with political figures for a reason, and I just see this as odd and a misstep for her. I’m starting to question her lately, and that sucks for me because I’ve been a fan and supporter all the way so far.
Mrs. Obama is no longer in politics. Prince Harry and Michelle did a public event together last October and no one saw it as a problem so I don’t see why Meghan having a private meeting should be an issue either.
And Michelle Obama has made it very clear, repeatedly, that she has no interest in going into politics herself in the future.
Michelle Obama is the wife of a former president; she is not herself a politician. She is a black woman touring to talk about her book, and the friend of Meghan’s husband. It’s not a misstep. The royals don’t have to strenuously avoid being in the same room with politicians or anyone remotely political; they do it all the time. They just have to avoid the appearance of influencing politics and policy, or being partial to any one party. This event was not that.
Melania is married to a current president. It’s likely Meghan could encounter her at some kind of state event, if Melania actually took part in more of those. Let’s say some kind of funeral that managed to draw folks from both sides. Ivanka is more problematic (!) because she holds a White House position of senior advisor. Not because she is daughter of the president. It’s highly unlikely Meghan or Harry would have any reason to encounter her.
Guessing they avoided photos because they didn’t want to take attention away from Michelle’s discussion and prompt all this stupid gossip. This wasn’t a British royal event.
What has the fact that she is black got to do with it?
@jiminy
Are…are you serious?
What? The BRF always meets with politians and theirs spouses. The Queen just met with that fool in the White House. Meeting with a politician doesn’t mke one political. And Lady O isn’t in politics, she’s in a book tour. What choices are you question? This makes no sense.
Why is it always misstep or breaking protocol when she does things that the other royals of that family have done already?
What? How is this a misstep? Michelle’s Facebook cover photo for her official page is a photo of her with Harry at an Obama Foundation event. It has been her cover photo for months. Harry also interviewed Barack when he curated BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Barack is a global statesman now, as many former presidents become when they leave electoral politics. Michelle has zero intention of entering politics. Royals are certainly allowed to associate with them. I suspect they would have been invited to the wedding if everyone didn’t have to worry about another public temper tantrum or volley of rude remarks from Trump. I think under any other presidency, Harry and Meghan would not have been dissauded from inviting them. Everyone is mindful of Trump’s erratic temperament, especially with Brexit going on and hopes of securing a bilateral trade agreement with the U.S.
Also, Prince Charles was known to enjoy a very warm and seemingly close friendship with Nancy Reagan that began either when she was First Lady of California or FLOTUS (can’t remember which), continued throughout Ronald Reagan’s time in office & lasted until her death. I read about it in Sally Bedell Smith’s bio of him (the book even quoted from their letters iirc).
Meeting with Ivanka and Melania would only be controversial due to the utterly vile character of Donald Trump. Meghan interviewed Ivanka for her website back in the day, before anyone knew what kind of awful things she’d be complicit in or the full extent of her disreputable character.
You do sound silly. I swear some of you think everything Meghan does is a misstep. It’s exhausting!
The Obamas met with Harry, William and Kate (and George) while Obama was still in office so I don’t know how Meghan meeting up with Michelle once her husband is out of office would matter at all.
Awesome!!! I bet Michelle was able to give her some great advice
Famous men in powerful positions meet each other socially all the time, and it isn’t questioned.
When is Meghan’s next Royal event? Just wondering seems like we have not seen her for awhile.
The Sussexes may attend the Van Straubenzee event tonight — but they may not have many more public events before Christmas. (The consensus seems to be that they won’t attend the Diplomatic Reception but I would love to see them there.) My bet is that Meghan is meeting quietly with her future patronages and other charities. She was at the Hubb for months without anyone knowing officially.
I was wondering the same thing. It seems weird that she hasn’t had a public event for some time
Hopefully we will see them this evening at the memorial charity event. Harry will attend a concert on Thursday, who knows if Meghan will surprise us and turn up there too.
And Chimamanda was there too?! Be still my beating heart. What a power trio
Can you imagine the conversation between that trio?
Yes!
My fan fic I wrote this morning on one of the other threads came true!? What?!
Nice!
I’m so happy for Meghan that it actually happened! #BlackGirlMagic
An entertainment reporter (don’t know his name) told Wendy Williams exclusively on inside scoop that his sources tell him that Meghan plans to fight back at the smear campaign and she also wants Harry to respond to the stories more aggressively by granting an interview in her defense. She feels she is not being protected and defended enough and wants Harry to come out and shut down the negative reports.
Between the Markles and the Royal family, which is better? I feel the Royal family is worse because with the Markles, you know who your enemies are and where they are coming from and what they will say, but with the Royal Family, you don’t know where your attacks are coming from.
There have been attacks from BP courtiers (tiara gate, air freshener gate, the queen asking why a divorce should wear white and cover a veil, etc). There have been leaks from Clarence House (William and Harry were fighting, Charles saved the day) and there have been even more leaks from KP.
Like Tom Sykes advised, Meghan should chose what she thinks would be beneficial in the long run for her; having issues with William and Kate who will likely be King and Queen in the next 15 to 20 years and in whose hands the future of herself and Harry depends or striving for popularity from those who are not in her shoes to know where they pinch.
Wendy Williams has some major issues with Meghan. Some of her previous statements on Meghan have been really ugly.
Natalie S, True, and Wendy Williams is not above being a petty ‘B’ as well.
Mell, I call shade on this reporter friend of Wendy Williams, mainly for the reason Natalie S lists below. How in the world would this source know what Meghan is thinking? And I don’t buy that Meghan has Harry so whipped he’d go all defensive in a game he’s been playing since he was a child. This is a woman who was in a career where rejection was more a norm than not. She knows how to dust those things off and not take them personally. Now we’re to believe that Meghan is so hurt over a bit of gossip that she’s demanding her man go all chest-thumping in her defense? Nope. I don’t buy it.
“And I don’t buy that Meghan has Harry so whipped he’d go all defensive in a game he’s been playing since he was a child.”
He already did back in 2016 when he released that statement condemning the press and public over their treatment of Meghan at that time, so it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for him to do that again.
I love this so much. These two together can accomplish great things if they so choose. They’re both wonderful solo but putting them together is a recipe for massive success. Please let them work on a project together. Pleeeeease.
So let me say first off that Meghan meeting Michelle is like fine and honestly I don’t have a problem with it. But…….. I feel uncomfortable with this whole royal/celebrity thing. I realize that in American Standard celebrity is kind of the top of the heap. However in England celebrity is not quite seen in a very different manner. Celebrity is seen as more like social climbers. People get more recognition when connected with royals. It doesn’t help the royal in these cases. In this case this is not Megan‘s fault she obviously wanted to keep this quiet and did not want it to get out. I am sure Michelle will not say anything about the visit. So that’s good. Michelle is now celebrity and her tour is great but this has nothing to do with royals or their work. If Michelle talks about meeting Meghan that is a problem
Michelle talked about The Queen why would it be a problem for her to talk about Meghan?
David and Victoria Beckham will be devastated to hear this. So will Brad and Angelina. But Jay Z and Beyonce seemed pretty blase about meeting the Cambridges so I don’t think they’ll care.
It’s not visiting the set of Star Wars or going to yet another film premiere. Meghan met with another woman who is involved with a cause Meghan also believes in. Are we reducing Michelle Obama to a celebrity?
Say what now? Duchess Cambridge was so eager to meet Angelina Jolie, she and the Duke hosted her for tea at their KP residence. She actively sought that get together. I remember a number of commenters on this site saying it was a downgrade for Angelina to have granted them a moment of her time. Did you have an issue with that? I would hardly classify Michelle Obama as a celebrity. She’s more substantive than that.
Meghan blurs the line between celebrity and royalty, though. That’s why her arrival is so disorienting for some people. The barrier is porous now.
(I’m not trying to shade Meghan here. I like her. Celebrity is seen in a negative light, though, & with her arrival, those separate worlds are colliding.)
Michelle Obama does not need royal connection to improve her status.
Anyone on a tour needs all the connections they can get – Even Michelle. I personally didn’t know she was on tour now I do and now do millions more who follow the royals but not the Obamas. The Obamas are great people but be honest this tour is about money and selling a book – all press helps.
Her book is already the best selling book of 2018 in the US. Michelle doesn’t need anyone else to sell her book. And I doubt there are even tickets left for her tour.
A book that would sell itself without any press tours. Trust me, this book would sell regardless. Almost everybody is interested in Michelle Obama’s perception of what the WH was under her, and is now. Even people who hate her, are going to be buying MO’s book in droves. Michelle does not need a newly-minted duchess for publicity, which makes me think they are friends.
If she was doing it for connections/press then why was the visit private? The talk was already sold out. All of her tour appearances have been sold out for ages. Come on. This is Michelle Obama.
Also, Oprah did an interview with Michelle Obama for the Dec issue of her magazine, and it’s her book club pick.
I’ll probably end up buying it, but figured I’d check and see if my library had a copy. I’m number 218 on the hold list.
So yeah I’d say Michelle Obama already has all the help she needs with her book.
She certainly does not, you are right there. Michelle Obama is the real deal: action, not just empty words.
I want a picture!
The fact that the palace confirmed they did meet and the press didn’t get one photo confirms for that the press knows NOTHING and they are full of it. They keep spouting these ridiculous stories out right and left as if they know every in and out, and yet, NOPE, they got nothing.
Ha ha @L84Tea. Yesterday, after reading recommendations here, I went and looked at many #mypalacesource tweets yesterday. There were so many hilarious ones, but to your point, if you tabloids making sh*t up don’t even know where their honeymoon was, or the name of their new dog, do they really know many truths?
Exactly!
I’m glad the meeting went down. Two African American women in positions they never dream of having meeting, Michelle given very sage advice. And Meghan shouldn’t hit back; it drags her into the mud. Having a powerful friend and ally will do her good.
Prince Harry and Michelle spoke at my old high school….Hyde Park Career Academy…in Chicago, earlier this year and that information didn’t get out until a COUPLE OF WEEKS after it happened…Michelle and Harry seem to ADORE each other…so I knew there was no way that Michelle would not meet Harry and Meghan on this tour if Michelle was in their country….
I can see Prince Harry insisting on Michelle as one of baby Sussex’s middle names, if it’s a girl, lol!
I am sooooo jelous!!! That must’ve been a great conference!
If I had the influence of Meghan, i would have gone to the tour as well. Michelle Obama is such an amazing woman!
Yes Meghan and Michelle met yesterday. One meghan fan tweeted she saw meghan there and will make a post about it. Its true!
So what is Michelle’s book about? And how exactly could her and Meghan “change the world”? Just wondering. What exactly can a past presidents wife and a recent addition to the royal family through marriage really do? They are only talked about because of who they married. I personally want advice from women who make it in their own. I don’t see either of these women advancing much. They are both very into food and that’s great they might change eating habits etc. But other than that I don’t feel either of them can change much not even perceptions. Just my 2 cents
It’s a memoir of her life. And she was incredibly successful (moreso than him) prior to her husband winning the Presidency. She gave up her career to support him while in office. And given that she now runs a global foundation with him, I’m pretty sure she’s in a good position to “change the world.”
Uh, Meghan did make it on her own. She was a working actress with endorsments and partnerships that were leading her towards transistioning into a lifestyle brand blogger. The Tig was a good blog that had the makings to be great. Michelle O was a successful lawyer and mother who managed to balance the demands of an unpaid job she didn’t ask for with her priorities of raising a family. She may not have made it “on her own” but she made it.
Would you prefer Sheryl Sandberg?
This is, hand to god, the most ignorant comment I’ve ever read on this site. CB has the 4th most educated commenters, I know now, for sure, who is not one of them.
Michelle went to Princeton and Harvard, was an accomplished lawyer, I’m not going to list everything for you because this comment is already too long. She has been VERY successful in her life outside of her husband.
I have a friend who used to do calls for President Obama’s ‘08 campaign. My friend said the biggest selling point for Barack was Michelle, they were told to always bring up Michelle, because they knew what an asset she was to her husband. Yes, before Obama was ever president, and was still a senator, they knew Michell’s worth.
Then she was our FLOTUS for eight years, we were so lucky to have them both. In short, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
This is how I felt second hand embarrassed for an Internet stranger today. LOL!
That’s nice. And thanks for the anecdotal tale there… but it doesn’t change the fact that they both still married well and that will be their biggest legacy and achievement, regardless of their past. Neither are selling books the same way based on going to Harvard or being an actress.
Megan was an actress in Suits. How many posts did she get on celebitchy before she starting dating Harry? One? Two? Probably none. No one could have really cared less about her. There are hundreds of TV actresses out there who are given about as much space as Meghan. Self made – no her father was involved in film. As for Michelle if every female who was a lawyer and attended Ivy League schools wrote books…… Do you honestly believe that if Michelle had not married Obama that she would be writing best selling books? Are they both good women – yes but put things in perspective their greatest accomplishment was catching the right man. To pretend otherwise doesn’t help young girls out there.
Way to denigrate all the hard work, sacrifice and *danger* Michelle Obama went through in her 8 years as FLOTUS. She did a wonderful job at something which is generally a thankless task. I can’t wait to read her book, she exudes intelligence, compassion and a strong work ethic. Compare her to the current First Lady (and it irks me to even use that expression in relation to Melania Dolittle)…there is no comparison.
Meghan shows the same mettle – she’s smart, works hard and wants to make a meaningful difference. Both these women “made it on their own”, they didn’t simply attach themselves to their husband’s coattails for a free ride like Trump’s lazy-a$$ wife.
Jan: I think you mean change America – and even then these two women can’t. Everyone thought that Meghan could change the monarchy. And look – she is being put in her place by the firm. India, Africa, South America, etc. These two women have little to no influence over the large systems that rule the money and class structure there. Are they good women. Sure but putting them up as saints who will change so much is like a fairy tale and doesn’t help anyone. Both these women are where they are because of the men they married. That depresses me more than anything. Meghan was rarely talked about before Harry and Michelle – no one would remotely care about her book if she had not been a presidents wife findbut can we not celebrate women who are self made do we always have to celebrate women who are where they are because of the men they married??
I said what I said.
Lol have you seen the meme of Nene Leaks saying those exact words.
What makes you think Barrack Obama didn’t need Michelle to get to where he is now?
Lololol: a lack of naiveté. I get that she was successful in her own right, moreso than him, but men have been making it for years without us. That “behind every strong man is an even stronger women” is a pacifier and nothing else meant to keep women at good enough instead of great.
Do the world a favor don’t ever procreate.
By nature of their positions, Michelle & Meghan both challenge & advance perception, which is fundamental to the underlying structure of things.
This is the very essence of (potential) change.