On Friday, several outlets published some exclusive ($$$) photos of the Duchess of Sussex looking “off duty” in London – you can see the photos here. She wasn’t really off-duty though – she was actually out and about in London because she was having lunch with a new employee. Meghan wore a pair of jeans, heels and a nice navy coat for the one-on-one lunch. Who was her lunch companion? A guy named Christian Jones, who is apparently the new Kensington Palace “deputy director of communications.” Huh.
Meghan Markle is showing off her signature style! Three days after the mother-to-be made her first official visit to her newly announced patronage, the animal charity Mayhew, Meghan stepped out for lunch in West London. On Friday, Meghan — who is due in late April — was seen dining with her and Prince Harry’s new deputy director of communications, Christian Jones.
A diner who was seated nearby reportedly said that Jones appeared to be taking notes during their meal.
Meghan, 37, went with a casual look for the afternoon outing, wearing jeans, a navy blue coat and a pair of nude Stuart Weitzman heels, which she paired with a Mulberry purse and gold aviator sunglasses. She also styled her hair in her go-to messy bun.
Jones was hired by Kensington Palace in December, and also manages communications for Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton. Jones will also support the royals’ charitable duties. He formerly worked for the British government for almost seven years, most recently serving as a speechwriter and press secretary for the Department of Exiting the European Union.
Yikes, he’s a Brexit guy? He must have wanted a change of scenery. Welcome to royal shenanigans, Christian. Poor Jason will give you the Just Say They’re Very Keen handbook. I know people want to talk about Meghan’s look (which was legit cute), but I find the staffing issue much more interesting. Last year, when it was revealed that the Sussexes were moving to Frogmore Cottage, many of us made the stretch that they were finally separating their “courts” and offices. Which has been needed for a long time. I wonder if Christian is someone new who will bridge the transition period and technically work for William, Kate, Meghan and Harry right now, and then in a few months, he’ll be dedicated to the Sussexes exclusively.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red & WENN.
Harry and Meghan should definitely separate from The Dolittles. Make sooner rather than later.
You realize that William actually worked more than Harry last year right? Perhaps the dolittle title should be extended to both couples
I agree Harry and Meghan need to get away from KP press office, maybe go under The Royal Family, Buckingham Palace office, they do a good job with Princess Anne and Sophie Countess ofWessex, and Pr. Edward.
Harry does work more than William, ITS just that a number of the visits or work Harry does gets kept off of the official count.
William should be working harder , he is the heir to the heir. Meanwhile, Sophie, Edward ,Anne, others run circles around Pr, William as far as work.
They have different responsibilities which is why they will separate but i don’t think that’s that easy. And numbers mean nothing their work lasts for 2 hours tops.
@Famika the excuses are so tiring, it’s the same excuse all the time. If you are going to call out William you have to call out Harry. All the royals need to work harder, both Harry and Will worked a total of 50 days which is pathetic.
She looks amazing, and really does have great street style.
Yes, Meghan has cornered the elegant casual chic look. I am so damn happy that she is still wearing ripped jeans, this signals that Meghan is going to be her own woman, no wonder the Palace insiders are raising their eyebrows over this new person.
Poor Jason does need help to expand his vocabulary. Wouldn’t be surprised if Christian is “learning the ropes” from PJ, and then will go with the Sussexes after the move (is there room on Frogmore grounds for an office for him? Or will he just base in KP? Ohhhhh the questions!). And damn, yes, he’s cute!
I’m tired of calling him Poor Jason. It’s his choice to be a yes-man. He’s a grown man, it’s not like he’s forced to do this job when he could make more elsewhere.
We need a new name. Keen Jason? Yes-dear Jason? His Royal Keeness?
I found it interesting that they had this meeting in a public location rather than say, at Kensington. What is the message they are trying to send? That the duchess is working perhaps. Why have we not seen Kate out with her advisors in this manner? Not sure what Meghan’s PR team are up to but optics are everything.
I am of the opinion that every day they are working but only some of the public engagements get reported and I am not sure why that is. I feel the unreported time is due to them learning and brushing up on foreign languages, meeting with their patronages, reviewing and discussing social and historical issues with their advisors, public speaking and diplomacy review, study of commonwealth countries and their history, culture economy etc. all guessing of course but it makes me consider the year end figures in a new light.
Oh yes, I wondered why too! Why have a “working lunch” with your new employee in such a public place knowing it will be photographed and that news stories will be written up about it?
I agree on the optics point. As to the rest…..dream on!
I remember with Meghan’s patronage of Smart Works, reporters & the CEO have confirmed that Meghan has visited the charity privately 5 times before. Same with the Mayhew. Meghan was also visiting the Hubb kitchen multiple times. Reporters have also said that Meghan has had nearly 100 (!!!) Private meetings with different organization while she was choosing her patronages. BUT none of these made it in the court circulars and therefore was not part of her yearly tally. I understand why the meetings have to be private because they don’t want any upcoming projects or patronages leaked but they should really add it on the court circular or publish it at the end of the year.
Mae I agree 100%. We know she’s not been sleeping in daily, eating scones, crumpets and having tea socials. It was obvious from the leak about her 5 am texts and being demanding that she is a workhorse and probably just as busy as Ann and the others if you were to consider her private schedule too.
This story takes the spotlight off of the racist who can’t drive, at least temporarily. That’s why.
Well of course they work everyday, do you think that they just turn up to engagements without preparation. Much of what they do has to be planned months in advance, I bet the US Autumn trip is in the planning stage. They have their charities to work on, administration of properties, legal stuff, budgeting, time tables to schedule, coordination with other sections of the palace, wardrobe matters etc etc . The idea that they lay around on silk cushions everyday doing nothing is ridiculous.
They also do a lot of their own shopping and cooking, at least the Cambridges and Sussexes do.
The Royals often eat out in public places, it just does not get in the news all of the time. After all it must be like a prison to have to do everything inside KP, but having bodyguards with you all the time is pretty awful too (that is why Philip at 97 is escaping from his minders now and again) I remember that Harry said before the engagement was official that himself and Meghan went all over the UK doing stuff out and about that people did not know of.
Any chance to be seen…
BTW, is she not cold, without any stockings/tights??? Yikes
..but i like here style!!!!!
I love her street style, so chic and cool.
Yes, love this outfit, wish I could dress like that.
My style is more Kate but I want to dress more Meghan. So effortlessly chic!
Ditto. Very chic.
You can guess what sleazy MAGA swamp Blind Gossip implied about this guy and MM—that a very pregnant Duchess has nothing better to do than lust after him.
I’ve stopped visiting that site completely due to the MAGA crap permeating that site.
I’m of the opinion that BG is a total joke. So, let me get this straight, people could submit their tips to a magazine like In Touch and get paid thousands of dollars, or they can just submit it to BG for the glory! Because…why? Libel? When you can practically write whatever tf you want about celebrities in the USA? Total load of crap.
That dude is nothing to lust after.
I’m fascinated by this pap walk (and yes, I think it was a pap walk—it just so happens to be the same photographer that’s snapped her around London, including the one post facial that clued everyone into the coming engagement). Was the whole point just to prove she has a good relationship with her staff?
This is reading tea leaves, but this “old Meg” outfit combined with her make up artist randomly being allowed to post that he was with her eating avocado toast “just like the old Tig days” made me wonder if she’s trying to put it out there that she’s still the same Meghan she was before or ??
Next we will see her in Whole foods, with the black Lab, buying baby food.
Personally I hate pap walks and attention seeking when off duty. That’s doesn’t just apply to Meghan, it’s people in the public eye generally. It just encourages the press to follow them more.
I’m all for this. It’s about time she fought back against the smear campaign by controlling her image again. And if its to highlight how much work she really does more power to her.
She looked cute! I was surprised to see her out. I wondered if it was a statement appearance. We’ve never seen her or Harry out socially with Poor Jason. I think he’ll be the head of their communications department once the split is complete.
If you can make Brexit sound good, you can do anything. Also I’m planning to copy this outfit.
I don’t think she needs this pics to highlight how hard she works. Royal reporters on the ground that covers her engagements have been very impressed by all the efforts she has put in with her patronages. If anyone is interested the new episode of OnHeir podcast has some great BTS about how Meghan works. Also the new Royal Rota with Chris Ship is interesting as well. Meghan just needs to keep doing what she’s doing and her work will speak for itself.
I think it’s more likely that this is the start of a roll out for the Sussexes own team. They of course already have their own secretaries but I think they will also get their own dedicated communications team. This is just a testing of the waters so to speak.
Chris Ship told a funny story last week about Harry in his walk about, he asked where the men are? and noticed Chris and turned around and walked away.🚶
@Peg…Sorry can you explain this, i don’t understand what you have written?
She looks great! Two things though: there have been no photos of Meghan nor Harry in their “downtime” since right after the wedding. So “pap” shots are not a common thing with the couple. I am sure the photogs HAVE plenty of photos of the two, but there has been an agreement of some sort not to use them. Also, when Meghan is greeting the public she always smiles and lets the photogs get good shots. This didn’t happen here – she is not looking at the camera at all. If I were cynical, I would wager these shots were allowed to be released as a way to divert from the little accident that happened on the same day. You see, these photos were released the day after they were obtained – not the same day. I would wager some people at BP thought they would use Meghan’s photos to divert attention from the auto accident since Meghan is a lightening rod for attention, if I were a cynic. One more thing, I counted at least 3 burly protective officers with her (I’m sure Harry saw to it they were ex military or more) so I yawn at all of the faux allegations of her wanting hanky panky with this new hire.
Interesting theory about these pics as diversion. If true quite pathetic imo.
Lighten up Meg’s dark glasses. Her eyes & smile are glued to the Pap’s cameras. It’s amazing what a little light on the subject can do.
Thanks! I lightened the glasses. I still do not see her usual brilliant smile. The eyes are debatable in the direction she is viewing – wish I had the video (used current version of Photoshop to lighten).
Furthermore, I don’t think Harry nor Meghan thought these photos would be released. Because of the LACK of any pap walks where they are not on charitable related outings (actual downtime) since May, 2018, I think she and Harry thought these photos wouldn’t be published either. I think a hasty decision from the handlers for Grandda Phil led to the surprise outing – a day later (if the photogs were free to publish all photos, they would have had them published asap). I bet Harry was hopping mad, even if it was to spare Grandda bad PR.
Thirsty.
Your comment sounds thirsty, like you’re begging for negative attention, so I’ll oblige. Meghan and Harry get plenty of attention whether they want it or not, especially from fixated people who claim they don’t like them but follow them religiously.
The past few months of the doolittle schenanigans really soured me on a lot of the royal stuff. I don’t know how Meghan and Harry have dealt with it. I suspect a lot of planning for their future roles has been happening and whatever happened with this meeting will eventually come out. I agree with Kaiser’s thinking, this new guy will eventually be dedicated to the Sussex’s.
Gah I wish we could see the top she was wearing! I’ve said this many times, but I dress like Meghan a lot for work and apparently off duty as well. This little glimpse into her off duty look is like me on a Saturday, when, I actually bother to get dressed to go out and do stuff.
In the pics I saw looks like she is wearing a large black polo neck sweater.
Glad to see they hired someone new. Frankly, Jason is biased and does a piss poor job on handling all of them. The fact that last week they literally waited over 5 hours to post the Sussex day trip said a lot. It got the attention of quiet a few people who wondered why KP didn’t bother to post any of the 4 engagements on time. Interesting enough, they posted a reminder of Kate’s engagement tomorrow