It definitely feels like the Duchess of Sussex’s closest friends have decided to all form a protective bubble around her and look out for her in the final months of her pregnancy. I don’t doubt that this is partially (or completely) a strategy coming from Meghan too – she’s seen how useless and untrustworthy the palace communications offices can be, with all of their keen-talk and shady hidden motives. So Meghan is showing them and all of us that she has plenty of other options to tell her story and create her own narratives.
These are photos of Meghan leaving her hotel yesterday after the baby shower. The “baby shower” celebrations were actually on Tuesday and Wednesday, and they involved some of Meghan’s closest friends, and people in her own “court,” if you will. Reportedly, the hostesses of Wednesday’s baby shower at The Mark were Serena Williams and Amal Clooney. Serena apparently paid for the hotel suite, and I would guess that Amal shelled out some money for all of this too. The other guests included Gayle King (!!), Jessica Mulroney, Abigail Spencer and makeup artist Daniel Martin. The Daily Mail is making a big deal about the cost (which, again, was reportedly picked up by Serena and Amal) and the fact that Doria Ragland wasn’t there. Reportedly, Doria will be going to England in March and will help host another baby shower there.
I really love Meghan’s traveling outfit, by the way. Comfortable leggings, a zip up jacket in black, and a beautiful camel coat. Her black overnight tote is everything too. I thought this was interesting from a “source” to Vanity Fair:
By having a shower at all, she is embracing an American tradition despite her new Anglophile life. Those close to Meghan point out that the baby shower is yet another way of her showing that she plans to do things her own way, royal or not. “As an American, she was very excited to have a baby shower thrown for her. I think she’d have felt she was missing out if she didn’t have one,” says a source. “It’s been such a fun time for her, she is with her oldest friends in the city she loves and really enjoying herself.”
I’m sure it was fun. Fun on so many levels – she got to spend time with her girlfriends, got to spend time out of the viper’s nest, got to spend time living the A-list celebrity life. The British media outlets initially predicted that this trip would be such a nothingburger because Meghan is so unimportant, right? She showed them again – she’s a star wherever she goes. The longer those fussy British reporters look down their noses at her, the more out of touch they look.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
More power to Meghan!
I’m thinking of another duchess who would never be able to be at the centre of such a lovely and well attended baby shower, because she dumped her friends a long time ago for her Prince!
Are you thinking of Kate? Because as it has been proven time and time again she has a group of close friends that have been there for ages. Most of them since her college years!
Meanwhile William and Kate are expensive ski holiday.
Meghans friends payed for her party, so what’s the complaints, I don’t get it.
and…As far as friends, Kate dumped almost all of her old friends except two, both who were connected to William before she even knew him.
I truly don’t believe Kate has a group of close girlfriends , I think she has one or two.
It’s been rumoured Kate didn’t want a lot of girlfriends hanging around with her because of Williams roving eye, during the dating years.
She has 3 or 4 close girlfriends she’s had since her college days. If you are really that curious, ask @nota. She will be able to tell you their names.
Oh for the love of God, please stop making this one vs. the other. Let’s celebrate Meg for herself, not as one half of a rivalry.
Thank you, Enn. Why must we buy into the narrative that one must be pitted against the other. I love my sisters-in-law. We get along. We don’t do everything together and they aren’t my closest friends. That’s kind of normal, right?
YEAH
Amen.
Thank you! Kate doesn’t have to be bad for Meghan to be good, or vice versa.
Thanks, Enn. Agreed.
Agree 100%
Enn and SaraLee–exactly right!
ENN +1
@ENN AMEN!!!
Where were Meghan’s friends at her wedding?
Spending 500K on a 5 day vanity trip, regardless of who paid for it, is terrible tone deaf and drags the royals into Kardashian land, rather than the generally discreet royal way of doing things. I can only imagine what Princess Ann says in private about Meghan.
And yes, my USA tax dollars paid for this Vanity Trip.
PS – who doesn’t have their mother at their baby shower?
I will give you that will and Kate are “generally discreet” but lets not act like they don’t drop serious cash on their vacations either. they don’t go to cheap destinations and they don’t stay at the Holiday Inn.
I know lots of people who don’t have their mothers at their baby showers, especially if they are having multiple. If Obie is right and there is a second shower soon in the UK, that Doria is hosting, then it makes sense that she didn’t go to this one.
@Becks1 – Will and Kate comp freebies from others for their luxury vacations. There are several stories of William asking to use villas in Mustique for free and then there is the usage of the late Duke of Westminsters’ private jet for free.
William is notorious tight fisted and expects other to pay for his way for him.
@digitalunicorn – good point, but I still think it goes to the overall extravagance of the royals. These people travel well.
How do your taxes pay for a privately funded trip? Genuinely asking.
Pushing that Kardashian angle.
You can read, so you knew who was at the wedding, or was that meant to be a rhetorical question?
It was not your money, big whoop.
Get real the Kardashian can’t compete with the British family, who are you trying to kid.
Prince Ann is in no place to talk about any one, receiving love letters from Tim Lawrence, while married, you can make use of google.
I’m just trying to keep all of this straight:
Kate was considered a good role model because at least she wasn’t a Kardashian.
Meghan lives the same privileged life as any member of the BRF and for that, she is called a Kardashian. (Even the Yorks aren’t called Kardashians)
Going to Mustique, the Swiss Alps, and the south of France is royal.
Going to NYC is being a Kardashian.
Okay.
YankeeFan – these friends mentioned in the article were at the wedding. Not sure what your question is?
Seriously, the “tax dollars” you paid for this trip is more like a minute fraction of a fraction of a penny. Because she’s technically a kind of visiting dignitary, the State Department coordinated some security resources along with Meghan’s own but it’s laughable to think it really cost you anything, especially considering the pork for our own officials that we already pay for.
The Cambridges spend a lot of money on vacations much of it on the UK taxpayer time (since they take mini-vacations in the middle of tours so they don’t have to pay themselves) so save me the outrage here. This trip was paid for by Meghan’s friends outside of some security from both UK and US.
Do you complain everytime a diplomatic spouse that requires government security goes to the USA to visit? You don’t even know, does Meghan needs to hide in a hut and wear a blanket over her or better, stay home forever and ever and dress in walmart clothes so everyone is happy? Do you really not think that most if the royals and high level politicians and their families ( everywhere, not just the brits come and go needing security), just stay home and not travel for work or pleasure? Meghan is not different. Hate double standards.
??? All these people were at Meghan’s wedding….
Just…..unhinged.
Ah yes, the discreet royal way of doing things. Well, Prince Charles is 70 now.
But I was a young adult in the 70’s and 80’s, and I remember the Queen’s children when they were closer to William and Harry’s ages now. As @Yoko indicated, Anne took up with her mother’s equerry (husband #2) while still married to husband #1. Andrew (Randy Andy), pre-Fergie, had an extended public relationship with a woman widely referred to as a porn star. And of course, Charles, marrying the approved virgin bride while retaining the mistress, and the multi-year s***storm that followed. And those are just the highlights.
So, I side-eye remarks about anyone not following “the generally discreet royal way of doing things.” Please. What Charles and Anne made of themselves is definitely worthy of respect. I also admire the work Camilla does. But they’re not worthy of any pedestal, royal or otherwise. (Andrew is worthy of jail time.)
Meghan has special diplomatic status when in the US, as a member of the British royal family. The state department has a special division that is set up specifically to protect foreign dignitaries when on US soil so Meghan was partially guarded by State department security and driven around in official state department cars. I think the NYPD was also involved with security as well so I assume that’s what was meant because tax dollars fund both of those agencies. It definitely wasn’t the whole trip, it was those specific things which anyone in her position would have gotten.
Yankeefan, she didn’t pay for it, and she didn’t advertise it. She’s a royal, and they party on travel on the English pound all the time, and she IS in a vipers best. Maybe the monarchy IS going to end, or maybe it is modernizing before your eyes. Will and Kate travel all the time. When Royals come to the U.S., they are also papped and sold out, just like they are in England. It is the nature of modern celebrity, and she is in a freakin’ fishbowl, swimming around with the rest of them.
Meghan’s a US taxpayer too and at her income level puts her at the highest taxed bracket.
“Vanity trip” sounds like a really unkind criticism for something as innocuous as a baby shower.
“My tax dollars” is a weird thing to say, considering this woman has likely paid more in US tax than many make in a year.
YankeeFan
What in the world are you talking about?
Serena, Amal, Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra attended her wedding.
GOOGLE it for goodness sake.
It’s NONE of your business how much money do Meghan’s friends spend on her – NONE.
It’s their money and not yours, so it’s their business not yours!
YankeeFan: Meghan has her own money, reportedly around $10 million, so security is the only thing that would have been picked up in NY, which happens with EVERY visiting dignitary. She also has a solid group of friends and a former life in the US and Canada that still continues. What a crabby and untrue accusation to make.
Married to a retired NYPD sergeant here. The security detail that is provided to diplomats comes from the regular budget. In other words, the diplomatic unit officers are getting paid regardless of whether they are protecting someone. “Your” tax dollars are going to the police force, not specific diplomats. Get over yourself.
YankeeFan asked ‘PS – who doesn’t have their mother at their baby shower?’
I didn’t.
My mother was invited, but she had no interest in travelling from Palm Beach to Long Island. My sister was also invited, but she had no interest in travelling from NYC to Long Island.
Neither my mother nor my sister are particularly nice people. However, my late mother was a wonderful grandmother to my son, just as my sister has been a loyal and attentive aunt. In the end that is all that really matters.
Baby showers are hen parties held by friends for the purpose of playing silly games and giving presents to the expectant mum. They are trivial fun parties, not celebrations to mark solemn life milestones, like christenings, naming ceremonies, or a bris.
I wouldn’t fly across the US to go to a wedding or baby shower. Not even for one of my kids, though I would send a present.
I didn’t have my mother at my baby shower because she lived out of town, same as Doris. It’s not a pre-requisite.
A few things the amount of money spent by US taxpayers on Meghan in the US is reimbursed back by Britain. It’s the way it works. Now British citizens get pissed. Pretty sure NYPD didn’t have anything to do with it either. They only work on closing roads & sidewalks with those kind of dignitaries, and it’s purpose is to protect and make it easier for NYC citizens, but they do it for Trump though. NYPD was complaining the feds don’t reimburse them enough too. So if you are NYC citizen have fun getting that money back. If you want to get angry at US taxpayer dollars being spent on this kind of thing go look at Trump Tower or maybe the tanks they bring in DC for marches to protect the Trump Hotel. Penny wise and pound foolish if you ask me. Also, Meghan isn’t a US taxpaying citizen anymore. She had to become a British citizen to become part of the royal family. I wish the figures which are probably inflated didn’t come out though, but she’s rich, Serena’s rich, the Clooneys are rich, so who cares. It’s their money. Optics may not look good, but still.
Noway — ” Also, Meghan isn’t a US taxpaying citizen anymore. She had to become a British citizen to become part of the royal family.”
Not true. Meghan will have to jump through the same hoops as everyone else before she reaches the point where she goes through the naturalisation ceremony.
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/when-can-meghan-markle-become-a-british-citizen-and-would-she-give-up-u-s-citizenship.html/
After she becomes a British citizen, she will then have dual US-UK citizenship. If she decides to renounce her American citizenship she will have to apply to the US government to renounce her American citizenship. It’s a lengthy, involved, extremely expensive procedure.
Meghan is still a US citizen. It was made very clear that she was applying for citizenship like everyone else. It will be years before she can claim UK citizenship.
YankeeFan, there is no sane excuse for the bitterness you’ve expressed here about someone you don’t even personally know.
While I fully support Meghan’s right to travel to see her friends and celebrate her coming baby, I do wonder where the Royal Family advisers are. At a time when there is already a slew of horrible things written about her, this trip really threw oil on troubled waters. Ok the rich are different, and if this had been any other celebrity people would have rolled their eyes at the extravagance and said “oh well, they are not like us”. Unfortunately being Royal seems to make Meghan fair game for everyone who is feeling cheesed off with life, hence the backlash. I lived through the Diana days, and 30 years later am still asking the same question – does no one advise the royals about how their actions look to the rest of us, or do the Royals consider themselves above all that, and ignore the advisers?
For the very first comment in a post celebrating a woman breaking free of harsh constraint to be SO NEGATIVE depresses me. Thanks NO THANKS Mirage.
I’m curious though. Did Kate or Zara get a baby shower or some sort of gathering with friends?
Meg if you’re reading this just continue living your fab life and continue to give back when you can.
According to several sources at the time, yes, Kate had a baby shower, thrown by Pippa.
Apparently Pippa had a baby shower for Kate.
I’m sure they did but, did they spend $500K in the baby shower? did they use diplomatic vehicles? did you see any photos of the event?.
We didn’t see photos of Meghan’s shower either. And its not Meghan’s fault that her friends have serious cash and want to spend it on her.
The Middletons have expensive parties too. They had a major blowout on Mustique for Carole’s birthday.
So, a MAJOR defense of Kate and William back in 2011 and 2012 used to be that Kate should be able to celebrate with her family -Mustique and ski trips, because the Middletons were privately wealthy. If it wasn’t tax payer money, it didn’t count.
Soooo, what’s the difference here? Security costs? Same for the Cambridges. Expense? Privately paid for, same as the Cambridges.
What’s up? Should Meghan jet off to Mustique or the Swiss Alps and have her baby shower there to keep it appropriately royal?
Why do people have a problem with Meghan enjoying a privileged life but give the Cambridges a pass? Why is it okay for them and not her? Even the Yorks get a pass so this is not about being an heir.
Fran, please read Natalie’s response; she says it all. Why can’t you be HAPPY for Meghan???? She’s expecting her first child, and her friends threw her a wonderful party!
Fran, it’s about supply and demand. We are seeing pictures of Meghan because the paps know that you and I are interested in seeing them.
Oh Fran, you have no clue, just like the rest of us how much money was spent on Kate’s shower.
Who paid for the security, how did they get to the event and how much was spent from taxes???
Meghan has wealthy friends, like Serena, Amal, Abigail Spencer, Jessica Mulroney and they wanted to treat her well for her first baby shower, big deal.
They are private citizens and they can spend all the money in the world they want on Meghan.
Diplomatic protection is given to spouses of diplomats, that’s how it is.
Deal with it!
You don’t know how much any of the Royals or their adjacent spent in private parties because the racist British media only attempts to calculate such things when it comes to Meghan, apparently. How much was the Yorks’ “royalty costume” party they released actual pictures of long ago?
And Kate has the luxury of having her base in England and frequently travels there, this is the same thing. Not Meghan’s fault that her loved ones are in America
Fran, please think before you type.
You have no idea and I have no idea who paid for what, none of us do.
Serena and Meghan are friends for a few years now, and I’m pretty sure Serena can afford a lot of things that most people can’t even dream about.
Serena also may get a generous discount, Amal could too and her other friends also, because they may have used these hotel rooms before and might after.
Security and the vehicles are provided to many diplomats and BRF members even on their vacation, not just when they are on an official visit.
Please come up with something more reasonable, your hate is showing way too much.
The reality is we don’t really know how much this cost either? Can we stop being like the British gossip press and making up figures we have no idea what is true. Supposedly the jets was Amal’s and her twins were on it too. If that’s the case Meghan may have just hitched a ride over. Who knows?
@Natalie S Carole Middleton is a private citizen and she doesn’t have to worry about optics because she doesn’t live off taxpayers. But,even taking that into account,they have the common sense to keep things relatively private.
They all go on vacation using taxpayer-funded security,which is absolutely wrong in my opinion,whether it’s Meghan or Kate visiting her family on her private time.
They all use private jets while speechifying about climate change.. Just last week,Harry used a £25,000 jet to fly back to London after a 3-hour “engagement” in Norway that looked pointless to begin with. They are all able to go on their vacations and mini-vacations without letting anyone know,including Meghan and Harry who have done it plenty of times and nobody knows anything about the costs and who paid for what. And when there are leaks,like some of the recent Cambridges’ ski trips,it’s still very little and that “little” is scrutinized for them too.
So,I don’t know why people are surprised to see the daily mail anlyzing everything when they literally invite the press that can photograph even the brands of the gifts bevause they are in full display and scrutinize every single royal officer, pointing out that taxpayers are paying for them. It’s one of those things that not even their PR people can spin.
That is the difference. The result is that even if KP says that “it’s privately funded”,even if her camp is busy letting anyone know that Amal,Jessica Mulroney is paying for this and that flight,people will believe what they want to believe because they have been offered the opportunity to do so.
And talking about the Cambridges,we just know they are on vacation,but I litteraly see some of her “fans” tweeting that “taxpayers are paying for it”.
No matter if in this case too it’s reportedly “privately funded”,some people will believe what they want regardless. And,again,nobody even knows details about the location.
I am still dying to know how the Clooneys and Meghan know each other. Also, Gayle King? I said on twitter that I thought maybe it was through Jessica Mulroney and GMA, but then someone corrected me and said that Gayle was on CBS, so that’s not it.
It seems like it was a relatively small affair though, overall (even if it was super fancy), so I feel like everyone invited must have some serious connection to Meghan.
Honestly the more I think about this whole thing the more I think its Meghan thumbing her nose at the royal reporters who hate her AND at the palace in a way. KP has done very little to protect her from these vipers and its likely that some in the royal family have actively contributed to her treatment. So I think she’s just over it, and feels like she played it their way for a year, she kept her mouth shut, she did her work, she kept her private life private – now she’s just going for it. Why not?
I heard Amal and Meghan met through Misha Nonoo over a year ago, but I could be wrong. I’m also pretty sure Serena is the one that hosted this event and Amal was a guest. Not that Amal wouldn’t throw her one but that Serena paid and put everything together.
None of us are sure of anything, except that the British taxpayers did not pay.
@yoyo
I actually do know. Amal was introduced to Meghan by Misha. And I also know Serena is the one who put this shower together and paid for it.
Harry knows George through charity work, and George has said that was how Meghan met Amal. It was also out this weekend that Serena was staying at The Mark, and she and Amal sprang for the penthouse of that hotel for the party, as well as hosting the party. I don’t think they’re worried about the cost.
Definitely thumbing nose at BRF who have done nothing to protect her. Considering they have been quick to publicly defend Kate over minor stories and have squashed terrible stories about Andrew, I can see why Meghan felt the need to go outside the BRF for reinforcements.
The only reason Meghan is internationally famous is because she married into the BRF. Yes, she had a measure of fame before the wedding but not at this level.
As for the BRF not protecting her, Charles stepped up to walk Meghan down the aisle when Thomas Markle bailed on the wedding and he made sure to escort Meghan’s mother so she wasn’t alone during the event. Meghan was invited to Christmas with the family before the wedding, something that was never done for Kate. Harry sent a letter to the press telling them to back off and stop the racist articles. The Queen made a joint appearance with Meghan very early on in her marriage to signal her approval. The BRF doesn’t control the press so there’s a limit to what they can do to stop the media attacks. But you can’t say the family hasn’t supported Meghan.
Carey is correct. They’ve stood up for Megan. The British press is used to Murdoch and his stolen phone drama, and that stuff isn’t available to sell stories anymore about celebrities, so working Megan over with her weird family is all they’ve got. It sells the rags.
Carey, I believe it was Charles’ biographer, the one who wrote the book for his 70th birthday milestone, was the one who “released excerpts” that didn’t make it into the book. I truly doubt he would’ve done that w/out getting permission from Charles. And this came *after* the success of H&M’s tour to Australia. While the BRF NEEDS this generation to be popular, I don’t think they counted on, or wanted it to be the success to what it was, as it could “outshine” the heir and the heir to the heir. They would not want them to be MORE popular for an extended time.
The BRF absolutely could do more to defend Meghan. All the stories printed about her over the past few months, and the only one that KP responded to is the one that involved Kate snapping at Meghan. When media outlets were discussing Kate’s hair extensions, an immediate denial was put out by KP. As others have said on here multiple times – much of Andrew’s shadiness gets downplayed by the press, and I’m sure that’s because the Royal Family asks for that.
It’s not that we think the royals don’t like Meghan, its just that they don’t seem to want to protect her from this media onslaught, and I can see that being tiresome for her.
@Becks1: Gayle King goes to the same church that Oprah and Doria have been attending for years.
Are they paying for the private jet too? I want those kind of friends in my life too, please!!
Honest question, no shade: was Meghan invited to Amal’s wedding? I know Meghan and Serena have been friends for years, but I can’t help but side eye the apparition of Amal as a close friend in Meghan’s life.
I think Amal has motives for everything so I definitely look at this connection sideways.
Since follow-the-$ nearly always works, it seems clear that the liquor co. connection actually makes sense as a way into royal circles, and the desired paps follow.
George moved an older woman out of the way as he and Amal were swanning to the Royal wedding because she was blocking the paps; Amal changed into the dress at the Met Ball when she was asked specifically not to. I do side eye most things George/Amal
I love Amal Clooney…. But I had to laugh at her strut on the day of the Royal wedding, she threw her peacock feathers open and was thirsty. LOL.
The Clooneys have been a tryhard “elite” showmance and social-climbing, name-dropping couple from Day One. These two are delusional about how the world works, even if it’s just to get more attention for the Clooney Foundation (as opposed to a political run). You do not try to create Versailles, turn yourself into an icon, and showcase your expensive lifestyle when trying for the cred and gravitas. Or at least George seems serious about his foundation but his wife is all about rubbing people’s face in “how far” she’s come from being just another pretty successful lawyer (among tens of thousands at that level around the world).
Amal is SO thirsty! Look at her bright red jumpsuit. She hates wearing a coat to take her attention away so she just cloaks it on until she can show off her outfit inside.
We’ve seen her in sleeveless in 30deg NYC freezing weather to prance and pose for the cameras. I bet she flung the jacket off immediately and did a Liza Minnelli Jazz hands “I’m here” peasants when she got inside
I cant figure out the Amal connection either, its kind of bizarrely fascinating to me. Meghan didn’t go to their wedding as best I can tell from google but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. They got married in 2014 and it is entirely possible Meghan and Amal met after that.
In 2014 Meghan couldn’t get arrested, tbf, and I say that with utmost affection. Amal wouldn’t have cared for pre-Harry Meghan, just as the wider non lawyerly world didn’t really care for Amal pre-Clooney. Meghan’s come up is real and I am living for it! She’s great and living her best life.
They met through their hairdresser I believe.
I don’t side eye it – they strike me as likely having a lot in common. Amal is another accomplished woman who people seem to love to hate.
It does seem like the same people love to hate them both. What’s that about?
People don’t go around hating on Sheryl Sandberg or other major female tech and biz leaders for the sake of it. I think Meghan gets awful bullying but Amal deserves the ridicule because she doesn’t even try to hide the smugness and superiority.
Sheryl Sandberg would be hated too if she was a mid level executive at Facebook who married George Clooney or Prince Harry. I mean I see a bit of commonality as both were in the middle in their careers then married really famous men. Neither Meghan nor Amal were top of their field at the time they got married, not at the bottom either though. Still Meghan had to give up her career, and it seems Amal’s got a bit of a boost.
Amal is amazing. I was a junior attorney on a multinational project, years ago, and her firm was representing one of the parties. I stuck my foot in my mouth, hugely and embarrassingly in the middle of a meeting. She bought me and my office lunch and was very sweet and encouraging about my big mouth.
She’s also a brilliant attorney. This ‘thirsty’ label people throw at her is gross. She likes fashion and has the money for it in her own right. She is mostly out of the limelight unless she’s doing her job or with her husband. But, I guess a woman can’t be brilliant, gorgeous, successful, and happy without unhinged harpies coming at her.
Ahoyoy, chill it, Tala! When working full time she’d have made around 100K – 150K pounds a year if that. She could never afford even 30% of the lifestyle she lives today on that salary – and nothing against her for enjoying; just don’t be trying to be morally authoritative figure (along with her hubby) whilst flaunting excess and vulgarity. She wore normal high street stuff before Clooney so she is not that wealthy in terms of trust fund or whatever. Also, she had a pap-walk addiction for like three years into her marriage, probably until George put a stop to it. If she had any common sense she’d refuse the designer freebies she most probably gets sent for free so there’d be no obligation to debut and parade said freebies but part of her fashion-gorging disorder IS PARADING FOR THE PAPS.
@Ahoyoy Oh, hi Baria!
Some of us lurkers knew Amal … pre-George. She thought VERY highly of herself. How else would have George been attracted to her? She believed ‘she’ was the catch, and George would be lucky to have her, which is awesome in its own right. But, it should be tempered with humility, which she has clearly shown she has none. Bobbing and prancerizing at Megan’s wedding.
Always wearing loud, tacky and gauche outfits to ensure that she gets the pap shot and stands out. This one can find a camera like a heat seeking missile!
Being around her and her ego was honestly … so exhausting. Everyone pandered to her and I just got so sick of it. She always asked how you’re doing so you could ask her how she’s doing, then she would humblebrag about how every guy wanted her and how it was all so ‘distressing’.
Thanks for the insider info, AmandaG! Pretty much thought she’d have been like that as her ego is gargantuan today. Poor George looks miserable all the time these days.
Meghan and Amal could have met through the UN. Amal works with them, and Meghan did.
Yes, her friends (I think I heard it was actually Amal) paid entirely for her private jet. Serena paid for her hotel stay.
My understanding is that the jet belongs to Clooney’s production company.
I’m glad she did this. She spent some time at home and with friends. Good for her (“tacky” comments be damned).
Exactly the woman is having some happiness with her friends. Enjoy yourself Meghan.
Same, and people calling what is a rite of passage for the vast majority of American pregnant women, famous or not, need to do some rethinking. Question why something as innocuous as this causes you so much rage.
It’s driving me nuts that the racist Daily Fail is framing the headline like Meg is spending all the money. Do English people not have baby showers and so they don’t realize it is put on by friends/family, or is that them purposefully being sexist, racist a-holes again?
yeah the fail is all over the expenses and the comments are calling her a kardashian. i don’t know why i’m following this royal gossip but i just love this woman atm and everything she does. they’re always gonna find something to pin on her so good for her for showing them the finger.
If she was really acting like a Kardashian, the baby shower would have been sponsored with “exclusive” pictures sold to various tabloids along with a camera crew to capture it all. It would have been announced far and wide with possibly Kenny G providing ambiance.
Most English people don’t have baby showers a very American thing. I don’t care how much her trip costs as long as my 42% taxes don’t fund it. I am American but no one I know here have had them.
Guess you don’t have any pregnant American friends.
I had two baby showers, one with friends, one with family. I’ve also been to at least a dozen. Unless you haven’t lived in America as an adult, I don’t know how you haven’t met anyone who’s had or been to them.
Meh. Caribbean and Asian descent British have baby showers. Baby showers are becoming a thing everywhere. British culture does not belong to the white royals or white British.
There’s a reason why no one wanted to marry the brothers. You get to be royal, but you have to be rich without rubbing it in. Austerity, Brexit – the country isn’t doing will and only scheduled pomp-and- circumstance is wanted. Its a terrible gilded cage.
I don’t think many would want that cage, I honestly thought she was too good for it before. And in hindsight I can’t believe how right that is.
DIV, you aren’t lying.
Also, they are saying 400k pounds (which is over .5 million in US dollars) but I’ve seen US media reports of 80k or 200k in USD. Which is obviously still a lot but they really are whipping people up. Remember when people were saying that Meghan spent 400k pounds on her wardrobe (when they counted her pre-engagement clothes, jewelry, and wedding dress?), and said other royals spent “only” 100k? For whatever reason, 100k sounds more palatable to people.
Are those sausage curls??? I kid I kid. You do you Meghan
Based on the size of the curls, I’d say they are potato curls.
Are baby showers not a thing in Britain? Or it is just because she’s in the RBF it’s considered too pedestrian?
Not really that much. Yet!
Baby showers are a thing in the UK. Maybe they are not as big here as in the US, but I’ve definitely been to loads. I didn’t have one myself, but amongst my friends I was in the minority. If you can access the John Lewis website from the US you can take a look at the available gift list options (John Lewis is the most popular gift list provider in the UK) and you will see that “baby shower” is one of the options. M&S, Selfridges and Harrods also offer baby shower gifts.
I always side-eye the kind of articles that get written about how such and such wardrobe piece sells out when one of the Duchesses wear it because I’m always like “Come onnnn. Do people actually study these women for their style?”
And then I caught myself googling camel jackets… and boots similar to the ones Kate favors… and the sunglasses Meghan wore yesterday…and I realized I’ve subconsciously started doing it as well. So I guess I get it.
I dress basically like this even if I’m just going to be stuck in a car for an extended time. I love activewear kinds of outfits, and I’m glad that more and more are being made to be comfortable AND look more like regular clothes. I find I always look weird with a ballcap on when my hair is down though – I almost always just buy one with the hole in the back and toss my ponytail through it. But she somehow makes it look chic.
I’m sorry but this is all just too tacky. Fine, have a baby shower with you friends but did she need to make the whole weekend a pap stroll? I’m pretty sure she could do a private weekend if she wanted without everyone in the world knowing.
Gee, the air up there must be so thin with you sitting on your high horse. If this tradition offends you, then don’t click on this story. She came to New York on FRIDAY and no one knew until MONDAY. It’s not a pap stroll it’s her leaving her hotel.
Did you call Kate tacky when she had a baby shower in 2013?
I said this in another post that I’m sure a lot of this was palace approved and there were agreements made with certain outlets so it would turn into chaos.
@YankeeFan
*Even* Lainey lolololol
Well, she knows everything, doesn’t she.
I read Lainey’s article and I agreed with her for once. It’s Meghan doing her thing her way rather than the approved Royal way. It’s a message, a move, a statement that she remains an individual outside of the RF. Let’s not pretend it was a tea and punch shower at an old Auntie’s house. There was some spectacle involved. That’s my 2 cents and as much as I’m invested.
Who cares what Lainey says?
She did have a private weekend! It was only after Page 6 got tipped off that it turned into this whole “thing.”
So the media tracks down Meghan and the hotel has to put up barriers.
Are you saying that its tacky the media created a frenzy over a baby shower?
Having a baby shower, hosted by Serena, at the Penthouse at the Mark is OBVIOUSLY going to get out. Which, if you want to view it as taking control of her narrative l, is fine.
For me, the whole thing seemed a little gauche with the Away suitcases for every guest and the pap shots of all her famous guests arriving with gifts.
There’s a little right on both sides. Personally, I wish it had been more discreet.
I think the suitcases and other big items should have gone in through a side entrance. That was an odd note for me. Everything else, like Meghan and her guests using the front entrance instead of sneaking in was fine. I don’t have a problem with that.
The DM reported huge amounts of pink roses being delivered to the hotel for the shower. It was for another guest’s shower. They also mentioned a world-class harpist was at the hotel for the shower. She just happened to be staying at the same hotel.
My point being, I don’t think it would have mattered what door was used, the papers are going to make up whatever story suits their narrative.
I agree with Maddie and Osgirl. You can easily find a great hotel with underground parking.
It was supposed to be private but Page Six leaked it – apparently a few reporters knew about it but kept quiet and were only going to report on it after the event until Page6 got involved and then it became a free for all.
Honestly, Meghan is going to live her life, the way she want, and if Jill Q Public don’t like it they can get stuff.
All the dailymail trolls saying she is a Kardashian, gauche, and all the other buzz words, can sit on it and spin.
Stop all this crap that the British Royal is the most discreet, holier than thou, pious family.
A few buzz words to throw around, nazism, adultery, pedophile.
Yes, Meghan managed to make a simple and sweet event very tacky. She lives for this pap stroll and it shows. I can see why the royals cringe and wouldn’t be surprised if it gets old pretty soon. Even Harry, as much as he is a wild boy, knows better then act like a Hollywood celebrity in his thirties.
Do you know her personally or are you projecting?
The Royals, if they are wise, recognize that they need to keep up with the times and that new young wives who are stylish, intelligent and media savvy help keep that glamour alive. Otherwise, they run the risk of people remembering that they are basically crusty old white people whose legacies are based on oppression and abuse across the globe, whose jewels and artifacts are stolen from other cultures and, if you think about it, they have really thin necks and, as history has shown, easily toppled positions.
@Rhys – agreed
Yes dear, you are sorry.
Haha! I love it!
It’s so beautiful that her friends gave her a beautiful baby shower. Very happy for Meghan.
Love it.
It wasn’t a “pap stroll” in the Hollywood sense. Even the most stodgy royal commentators (Palmer, Treble) said that this is a good move and this is how the BRF used to handle private events. The put up barriers for safety and to create a controlled environment to allow the press to take their photos as a compromise, so that you don’t have paparazzi doing crazy things to get their shot. There are literally pictures of Queen Elizabeth herself doing this, as well and charles and Diana. Though she’d been there since Friday, once Meghan was found out on Sunday they had to do something like this to make the situation safer for her, her friends, and other venue guests. Otherwise you’d just have a mob.
She got to NYC on Friday and it did t leak she was there until Tuesday am. That was from a hotel staff member otherwise no pictures from Saturday/Sunday/Monday. The only pictures are walking in and out-nothing from inside. She wasn’t getting photographed on multiple events throughout the entire trip.
I read that is the most expensive suite in NY I am pretty sure that a lot of things were comped or heavily discounted. Serena is rich ofcourse but would she really pay $75 000 for a suite?
i wouldn’t be surprised if they all got very special deals for this. including the flights and other expensses. it was such a good promotion for the hotel and private jets and so on. who knows.
I think she would if it guaranteed them privacy. The suite is where the shower was (not at a restaurant) so they got more privacy there than they would have at other places. One article said it had 5 bedrooms or something, so maybe Serena, Jessica and Meghan stayed? I also would not be surprised if it was discounted and that was why “Serena paid.” (I know Serena could afford it, but Serena can also accept the discounts and such that Meghan isn’t supposed to anymore.)
Serena makes close to 60 million a year and her hubby founded reddit. I think she can afford this.
Lol yup.
Seriously, this. When you have that much money you don’t even think twice about that price tag.
True!
Rich people normally don’t pay full price for anything. I don’t think Serena would blink at spending that money but I am sure she got a discount.
She probably got a deal
Apparently they barely paid for anything, as long as they promoted the location, etc, with pap appointments.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a tax break or if it was run through a corporation making it a business expense.
There will be write-offs. Serena was instagramming pics of herself in her sportswear line. BOOM! It now becomes a business expense.
Regardless, as she’s worth $150M, I don’t think a $75K suite will break her, discounts or not.
Half of those people mentioned are not her “close friends”. I think Meghan loves the limelight (something she didn’t have until she got married) and this is just an opportunity to get the British press to back off. And that’s okay.
Having all those people who she didn’t know before becoming a member of the royal family there in her party and even her wedding will always not be shady
Meghan has been thirsty for the limelight her entire life. The same people who used to mock Amal Clooney here for being thirsty AF pretend Meghan is some great feminist and Humanitarian. I’m sorry, humanitarians don’t fly private jet both ways across the Atlantic, animal lovers don’t wear calfskin boots and lambskin skirts. Every single thing about Meghan has been revealed to be phony. She always wanted fame and had to marry in to get it.
What should she do to make you happy? This hate for her cracks me up because she married into a family whose sole existence is to live off tax payers money.
I saw at least one reliable outlet refer to the boots as faux calf skin.
You should write a book on Humanitarian Protocol.
Wow. You’re bitter AF.
It’s possible to be both. She is passionate about human causes and she loves the limelight. I don’t think she is phony – how can one be phony and set up a pup stroll?
Oh hey Scam-mantha, I was wondering when you’d pop in.
Humanitarians don’t accept their rich friend’s offer to charter them a private jet in the interest of speed, comfort, and safety? Angelina Jolie, multiple famous people, the Obamas, the Royals, even the Pope does this
Stop projecting
How do you know these aren’t some of her close friends?
the timeline of their friendship. Simple like that. Are we supposed to believe that people who met a couple of years ago and have such erratic schedules can really be that close? I can remember any single person I invited to my wedding. It was 25 years ago, they had been there before for years and they are still part of my life.
Do you know if the friends who were at her first wedding are still in her life? Did she invite them to Windsor wedding?
Um, yes? Some people become close fast. And some of those people she HAS known for years – how long was she on Suits? 6 years? 8 years?
What is the ideal timeline for becoming close friends?
People love saying Meghan has no old friends, her shower was hosted by Serena and her Meghan’s sorority friend, Genevieve (not Amal). Her other friend, Lindsay Roth who is a friend of 20 years was also there. To name a couple. Her older friends aren’t famous, and wouldn’t be featured in articles regularly.
Honestly, Meghan is going to live her life, the way she want, and if Jill Q Public don’t like it they can get stuff.
All the dailymail trolls saying she is a Kardasian, gauche, and all the other buzz words, can sit on it and spin.
Stop all this crap that the British Royal is the most discreet, holier than thou, pious family.
A few buzz words to throw around, nazism, adultery, pedophile.
lol what? You are spreading misinformation. Most of hte people there have been friends with her for at least a decade, except for Serena who’s “only” been friends with her for about 7 years. And thos eare just the famous ones that were identified in the media. Who are you talking about here? Amal, Gayle King…who else?
They talked about the cost on our local news. That her security and vehicles were provided by the US State Department when she moved about the city. If that is true then that is wrong that the US taxpayer has to pay for her baby shower weekend,especially when she is not on official business.
She’s from the US she’s going to visit. Would you have her trapped in England for the rest of her life? Get over it.
Yes. People are so angry that she’s not hidden away from their sight.
I guess people would rather have their taxpayer money pay for a wall???
Please enough with the faux outrage and pearl clutching.
@blueSky: bingo. Thank you.
Oh and let’s see now… the taxpayer issue is made worse by the power grab faux “national emergency” that takes major resources away from ACTUAL victims.
SMDH.
The US State Dept picks up tabs for all sorts of foreign dignitaries on vacation here. They do it so there isn’t an international incident on US soil. Can you imagine if one of the racist loons attempted to kill Meghan while in NYC? It would have been a crisis. This is standard protocol.
I’d rather pay for the Duchesses security than for our “presidents” golf trips. She at least brings some joy to some people. He’s just ripping us off.
She’s a US taxpayer tho…
No; they didn’t pay for her baby shower. And Meghan is a US taxpayer so by your logic, she paid for her own shower.
I’m sure Meghan pays more taxes than you.
I had no idea Gayle King and Meghan were friends. But then again the public does not know(or need to know) who a public figure has in their social circle.
How did her and Amal become so tight?
They are both rich, famous and thirsty for fame, that’s how and they are both married to wealthy famous men.
Sad that you can’t join them.
I imagine they have shared interests: both intelligent, educated at elite universities, interest in the world around them/humanitarianism, experience being a high-profile minority in the UK public eye, and adding to that the additional vitriol they’ve both received when someone “unworthy” like them managed to snag 2 of the most eligible white male bachelors in the world.
MA, lol, Amal Clooney most likely chose international law / human rights law and to become a barrister for the press coverage it would eventually yield her (these areas of law are reported in the maintream like no other practice areas). She’d only be interested in couture and the high life these days, so the “shared interest” point is dubious. George Clooney was an elderly guy with gay rumours swirling around him when she “snagged” this “eligible white male bachelor.” Fatima Bhutto apparently was approached but quickly cleared up the gossip, asap, as she wasn’t interested in the fame.
@Yosemites I just offered up a few possibilities, I imagine they could bond over getting a lot of scrutiny as the plus ones of famous bachelors, but yours could be right too? Maybe they’re both into glam and fashion.
Thanks, MA. I didn’t mean to sound snarky at you but rather at Amal Clooney.
@Yosemites No worries, I understood what you meant.
As far as the expense goes ….. Harry and Will and all of the Royals spend an absolute fortune on vacations. Who skis in the Swiss Alps? Their clothes, their homes. The whole thing is more opulent and extravagant than any of us can imagine. I could probably renovate my entire home by hawking one candelabra the Royals own. Their spending is beyond our comprehension.
As for Meghan … I love her work ethic, her drive and passion. She is making the Royal Family look uninterested and resentful. She has lit a fire under Kate like no one else could!! It is jealousy, pure and simple. Same as it was with Diana. You don’t come into that spotlight, charming and talented and not take a terrible hit.
Yes the Yorks are infamous for luxury spending.q
So are the Cambridges.
I saw recently that the Yorks once had a party where they dressed like fairytale princesses, with the big dresses and everything, and I believe they had it at a castle. There are posed photographs publicly available. Don’t see those same people saying that and eugenie’s 3 day wedding celebration are tacky.
My god daughter is currently skiing in the Swiss Alps this week – it is half term break for schools. They go every February and they are not rich.
The Cambridges are on a sky trip right now! I mean, they must be thanking their stars that the
Duchess take some attention off their spending.
Or as someone else suggested, the leak of Meghan’s trip could have been a convenient leak. News of the luxury family ski trip plus James’s Nazi party supply peddling coming out? Quick, let someone know Meghan is in NYC.
I just saw this on Twitter, people are posting receipts. And their ski vacations last much longer, with multiple people (kid, staff, nannies), at very exclusive resorts.
Honestly, I’m just trying to figure out a hotel suite that costs more than my yearly household income. Two nights cost way more than my house. How lovely for them…
Serena worked hard for her money. I don’t begrudge her spending it on her friends/family.
I don’t either, at all. I just want to know how a hotel ends up on that price.
Why spend so much money? Because all of them are rich. Most of the people at this event, except Jessica Mulroney, came from middle class and made their own dough. Serena works really hard, more than most of us can imagine. Lady can spend her money on anything she
wants.
The most important item in this escapade is how heinous Amal’s jumpsuit was. It was snowing yesterday, for God’s sakes.
Some only have a problem when *certain types* of rich people decide to indulge themselves. Like Serena, the Obamas, etc. Hm, can’t qwhite put my finger on why…
“how heinous Amal’s jumpsuit was”
– It didn’t fit her right and she looked like she had a nappy/diaper on underneath. Worst dresser and constantly dresses to upstage others.
The Marie Antoinette act is not a good look when the UK is still in the grips of austerity and Brexit angst.
Maybe tell that to the future king when he gets back from his family’s ski vacation?
Zing! LOL
😂
Yes, the rest of the royals are renting out studios, dining on Mcdonald’s, wearing forever 21. Just be honest about why only one is Marie Antoinette and the dozen others are acceptable.
“The Marie Antoinette act is not a good look when the UK is still in the grips of austerity and Brexit angst.”
That’s the thing – a lot of these celebrities think recreating Versailles is going to turn them into icons, admired and aspiration-worthy. They are seriously out of touch with public sentiment. Just goes to show being moderately or fairly well educated doesn’t bestow you with cultural or social intelligence or perhaps just common sense.
If the UK is so broke, why is William and his family taking a vacation outside the country. That’s 5 mouths to feed, house with security. Not including the help. Wonder if any of the papers will have an itemized list of what was spent.
Glad she had a wonderful weekend and baby shower with her friends. Sometimes you just need your girls around you. If the British taxpayers didn’t pay for her weekend, and it’s been noted that Amal and Serena hosted, why is everyone so concerned about the costs? Serena just spent a ton of money on her child’s non-birthday party. Do you really think she’d be concerned with sharing expenses with another rich woman on a baby shower? Doubt it. These people really and truly like Meghan. Just like the Cambridges use their rich friends and in laws to vacation, so will Harry and Meghan.
It’s interesting how absent Harry has been from this whole “girls trip” narrative. Definitely seems Diana-esque in the way Meghan is striking out as her own entity, showing that she doesn’t have to be tied to Harry to generate headlines. Not suggesting there’s any marital rift, but girlfriend is definitely thinking long term strategies.
It’s also notable that Harry was working pretty consistently this week on some very worthy causes, and these got no press coverage (that I could see) compared to Meghan’s New York trip.
His work got covered extensively in the UK media.
Extensively? I would say that Meghan got extensive coverage of her trip, while Harry got a few articles here and there that didn’t get very much attention.
I don’t understand. Is her role to “generate headlines”? And no. This is not Diana-esque, at all. She doesn’t have Diana’s charisma, and she is not married to the heir or to the spare. In few years Charlotte will steal the spotlight to all the other Royals, Harry will be the new Andrew and MM will be sidelined.
Yes, it’s very clear Meghan is nowhere near as popular as Diana was. Give her another year:)
For the record, she is married to the spare.
Will you be happy then?
You hope that’s gonna happen. But she’s an outlier, a completely unknown entity to the BRF thus far. Do you think we’re going to forget the first American, biracial British duchess? Don’t hold your breath.
Harry and Meghan will be working royals for at least 30 years. Their profile will continue to rise as the elderly royals retire and Harry and Meghan take on more work and patronages.
If W&K’s kids are as lazy as their parents? We won’t see any of them doing royal work for at least 30 years.
I bet the majority of her biggest supporters would wish that would happen so H&M could enjoy their cushy lives in peace. But people like you can’t stop fixating on her for some reason. You’re helping drum up their popularity and coverage.
@Lady d
For the record Charles is the heir. William is currently second in line. George is 3rd in line. His siblings are 4th and 5th. Harry?
When I heard that she is in NY I thought, oh yeah, trip to Morocco, most probably have last dress fittings. And maybe adding a couple of days meeting friends and having a baby shower???
When friends pay for a private visit and all of the related expenses, it’s no one else’s business. If I were a US taxpayer I would have a problem with the US State Department providing security at taxpayers’ expense for a trip like this. Official visit or royal tour? Yes, the host country should fund – but if she needs extra security for a private trip it should be on her dime.
I’m a US taxpayer and I have NO problem with this. Our taxes are wasted on a lot of stuff, at least I know this was used as protection for a 7 month pregnant woman who by the way was harassed by some bitch who had her face covered. Also from what I read, there is no extra cost to protect her as it’s part of the officers daily job so…all this bitching, for nothing at all
Tax payer here. I have no problems with making sure she was safe while here.
Fun fact: She pays a helluva lot more in US taxes than I do.
Amen.
Are you saying that an American citizen shouldn’t receive the level of security necessary for her protection ? Meghan is not just a member of the RF. She is also an American citizen.
If we were completely honest and unbiased we’d tell that maybe while great, fun, deserved it was a bit too much, too OTT, full on extravaganza.
I love “screw them” attitude, I don’t like people in general but I don’t know if it’s the right move.
Clooneys are so thirsty! Always been. Beyonce was hilarious but it felt tacky and not royal, dignified enough for me. Beyonce is a great performer, wears whatever she wants, is a diva, makes a show but Meghan is now a royal so let’s not turn Meghan into some celebrity, pop culture phenomenon.
Btw, we don’t know the whole story but now I totally see why Chelsy (if he would propose of course) would be miserable if she married Harry. Press hated her and she wasn’t suitable. Meghan can take it and she’s on fire and even she is probably pissed that KP isn’t really great at PR.
William is a royal, yet he’s singing with John Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift ……tacky tacky tacky
Guys, celebrities are funny. They aren’t tight but have something in common- fame, money- which connects them. Look at all the people at the Aniston birthday party. I bet Amal and Meghan have barely hung out.
Celebrities just welcome you in if you’ve truly made it.
At this rate, if I write the next Harry Potter and I want notoriety, I can be at Como with George and Amal.
Exactly this! Which kind of makes you value your old friends more. (if you were not born rich and famous).
Spot on. So sad there are plenty of people blabbing about them being close friends.
You must have miss then vacationing together.
I know it probably pisses people off saying this, but price is relative to the person paying for it. 75,000 dollars to these millionaires (Serena might be close to a billionaire with the hubby’s income not sure) is not the same as 75,000 to us. It’s like saying to a friend who spent 500 dollars on a baby shower, “hey you know you could have donated 400 to charity and only spent a hundred.” I mean we could literally get on to everyone who spends money for a baby shower. I just think her friends are hosting it and she’s not paying her own money (or British taxpayers) for it so why is it such a big deal?
They know. For any other royal, this would not be a problem. There were a lot of comments on a story about Blue Ivy about donating money or better ways of spending money. The next day, there was a story on Victoria Beckham’s spending and *crickets* about donating or concern trolling about wasting money.
Excuses
Excuses
The Duchess had a great time meeting with her friends, while others are pulling out their few hairs, looking for ways to attack her, now it’s the State Department budget they’re worried about.
This weekend a faux Moroccan will on here complaining about the cost of Henna dye.
Living well is the best revenge.
+1 This
Wow, commenters here sure love to tell black women how to behave. Celebrity or black women who comment on this site.
not just black! I love Meghan but I see it’s tricky!
This!
YUP. Usually it’s pretty good and progressive around here but this trip triggered a lot of white tears.
The whining over the past few days has been quite amusing!
I was so looking forward to reading all the comments until I started reading all the comments! I thought the readers here were mostly supportive of Meghan, but now I see there are haters everywhere, criticizing her for the expense (when her friends paid for everything). the security (which she needs whenever she travels anywhere), or the supposed trashiness of her thirstiness (when she attended her own baby shower, which almost all American women do). The woman who’s expecting her first child, who has been working VERY hard for months while being criticized harshly for months,who has been sold out mercilessly by her own family, is TREATED BY HER FRIENDS (not the taxpayers) to a baby shower, NONE of whose pictures have been sold to tabloids, etc. Baby showers are an American tradition; I came from a dysfunctional family, so my CHURCH threw me a baby shower! So instead of trying to defend Meghan any more, I say: Have all the fun you can, Meg, and do it all your way. They’re going to hate you whatever you do, so focus on those who love you, and don’t read the trash.
This! +1000
+1. I think this site is usually supportive and progressive but this trip has provoked a lot of the tinhats to flock over here.
Maybe its “provoked” a lot of never-commenters to not be so afraid to say something. I know that’s the case with my comments yesterday, because it seemed I wouldn’t get yelled out as badly for simply having a different viewpoint.
Why would someone be afraid to comment on a public site? Being a troll never stop anyone before.
I’ve notice that they’ve left other sites after being ignored to ply their trade here.
Repeating by rote, Kardashian, Gauche, trashy, photo-op, not her friends, too expensive, and the list of their whines goes on.
@yolo–you do know you just answered your own question, right? Because not everyone IS a troll. Some people just look at it differently. I read this site all the time (and have for years), but probably only comment once every two months because it’s just not worth it. This site used to be fun, an actual discussion, and now its mainly people shouting.
@hashtagwhat -I’m not sure why you think you’re being yelled at? this is a public comment site, you’re just …reading comments disagreeing with yours. A lot of people who make comments like yours don’t like receiving pushback but unless people harass you or call you slurs, disagreement/criticism is fair game. Do you have a specific example of the type of different opinion you’d like to express? I’m interested in hearing it.
From what I’ve seen, a lot of the pushback that I’ve seen isn’t because people have a “different” viewpoint, but people spreading misinformation (like it cost 500k or Meghan has no friends), having double standards (acting like other members of royalty aren’t living extravagant lives), using common dog whistles as applied to women of color, especially black women (being called “inappropriate” or “tacky” for daring to spend money when other rich white women never get the same treatment). Basically, you can just summarize it as the treatment Republicans gave to the Obamas vs the Trumps. It’s the same tired routine all over again.
@MA–fair question! You’re absolutely right about how some people perceive pushback, but Im not talking about usual disagreement, as in “I disagree, and here’s why…” The overall tone has shifted. We used to have some really great royal commentators like LAK and Sixer who had so much insight on the BRF, but they don’t post anymore bc everything has gotten so personal.
That said, it IS personal when someone tries to play off shitty behavior (like the ones you named–misinformation, double standards, dog whistles, etc.) as just “disagreements” if you’re the person being discriminated against by those very statements. I get that, and I do not minimize it at all. That’s why it’s interesting that you bring up the Obamas, because I’m not sure you could find more love than nearly every commenter here has for Michelle. Like, probably unhealthy worship type love, at least I do anyway. So that’s why its frustrating with any Meghan topics because sometimes there are valid arguments that have nothing to do with the color of her skin and everything to do with having observed her actions for almost three years now.
@hashtagwhat When I talk about tinhats though, I mean the people who don’t really have anything to add to the convo by repeating the same tired Royal Disk/tumblr/ Daily Mail-ish type of comments that are often racist/sexist. I’m certainly not talking about anyone who might have any critical view of Meghan. I do think that it can get really personal here because she gets a lot of disproportionate hate, so people can get quickly defensive or sensitive. I myself choose not to criticize her on forums because there’s enough negativity against her out there and plenty of people who are willing to take up that mantle. However, I get very reactive when I see racist comments because i take that very personally. And sometimes there can be criticisms that are very commonly recognized as a dog whistle because we’ve seen it often repeated against women of color black women. Though of course I’m not sure what your exact criticisms are.
So even though I choose not to criticize her on forums, I do have certain issues with her as i understand that she’s not perfect.
I never had a perception of Meghan until recently so I can be objective. Let be clear, this baby shower basically had a red carpet. They didn’t just accommodate the press; they turned it (at least the arrival) into an event.
Meghan looks great and she has generous friends.
Roayl reporters (but also Cambridges fan on twitter) are pressed like a panini now. It’s so fun to read them LOL
Oh my goodness, the Cambridge fandom has been something else. For a group of people who love to loudly proclaim how irrelevant Meghan is (especially in relation to Future Queen Catherine), they sure do love to whine about her at every opportunity. It’s pathetic.
LOL they secretly love Meghan, they just don’t know it yet. I don’t understand how they know such much about her and are always the first ones to comment on any social media. It’s like their fave isn’t enough to occupy their interest. Why so mad??
It’s especially amusing because…they all revere the Queen and generally treat the other royals with a lot of respect and ignore their transgressions. Like Edward and Sophie are always praised but their house is freaking enormous, looks bigger than even what Will and Kate have. Eugenie had a 3 day wedding celebration, and she’s not even a working royal. How about all that horse riding, owning, maintenance by Princess Anne, Zara, all the royal kids? One trip on the royal train costs almost 100k US dollars. They are acting like Meghan having something this expensive is ABSOLUTELY UNEARD OF and THEY’VE NEVER, when the royals/their adjacents do stuff like this and this it’s all paid for or arguably subsidized by the UK taxpayer.
I mean, are they just revealing their prejudice or being intentionally obtuse? They certainly know that Royals are lavish during private AND public events, even the public events that seem like a joke to be labeled as such. And this is ALL PRIVATELY FUNDED. So they really have an issue about what private citizens, who actually earned their money, do with it?
Man, the way this woman sets off people in the most unhinged way for doing regular things is scary. There were multiple tingts saying she should be shot or beheaded after yesterday’s events and even more egging them on. It’s funny now how we all thought the UK media and haters would back off when she has the baby but then we forgot that (even partly) black aren’t seen as fully human. When the baby comes they’ll be even worse, and there’s nothing Meghan can do or say to appease them.
I get the feeling that the Meghan hater crowd is composed of TwiHards who finally had to move on to a new lunacy-filled fantasy obsession.
Gosh, Amal is thirsty. That outfit was meant to grab attention.
When does she NOT dress to upstage everyone else at events?
She is cracking me up with all of the belly holding. Before you start to go off, hear me out. We mamas-to-be are all proud of our bellies and the life we are carrying. Hold your belly all you want to. The only difference between you and her is that she gets her picture taken every two seconds and in every one I have seen of this trip she is holding her belly. Girl it ain’t gonna fall out yet! Other gossip sites have pictures of her and she is holding it. It’s almost like no one is going to post pictures of her NOT holding it.
My theory is that she’s popping outward so much that she holds it to feel comfortable, maybe relieve some weight/pressure from her bladder, or lower abs. I had to do that in my 9th month, but I’m long waisted and the baby had plenty of room to go up instead of out for the first 8 months.
Or they only publish the ones of her holding her belly because they know it causes clicks and comments.
Are you unaware that one of the tumblr extremists showed up outside the hotel, screamed at Meghan, recorded it, and posted it? Proud of herself for getting up close and personal. Another one was at an engagement few weeks ago. Trying to get close enough to Meghan to grab her stomach to “prove” it is a fake pregnancy.
I’d be holding my belly, protecting my child, every second too.
@notasugarhere I saw the photo of the one shouting at her. she seemed to have been following Meghan. BTW, enjoy your comments don’t stop
Harry and Meghan have the same profile. The nose and half smile are the same.
I love her coat. Very classic.
I just wish she’d button it.
If it is a coat she’s had for years, it wouldn’t button over her bump.
Out of sheer curiosity, why was Gayle King in attendance? Last year Gayle stayed that she did not know Meghan, this year she snagged an invite to her Baby Shower??? Was she a stand in for Oprah?
Gayle King was there. LOL. Did Oprah turn down the invite to the circus and sent her bestie Gayle instead. Meghan is so vain and vapid, money and fame.
Gawd, you are a bitter Betty. Jeez.
Agreed ~ I cannot seem to make the connection here.
The UK Ambassador to Morocco is getting excited for their visit. TSAReilly on twitter. #RoyalVisitMorocco
So much vitriol and projection.
She has wealthy friends, they spent THIER money and gave their friend a shower.
Some friends were close and some were just associates.
No one was forced to do this or attend.
Someone identified the Dutchess and sold the information, she is recognizable, especially now.
She shouldn’t have to sneak anywhere.
She’s living her life, get over it and Lainey sells gossip stop acting like she is some all knowing vessel for judgement. You referenced her because she confirmed what u wanted to here.
The hate is real.
First of all, is MM the most beautifully photogenic woman on the planet?!?! She is incapable of take a bad photograph!! LOL It’s unreal how beautiful she looks in the travel outfit!!!! Ahhh!!! I need that coat in my life! She deserves a shower.
I commented when the pictures first came out about Meghan’s New York trip that the PR move here was to give Meghan media cover from racist royal reporters through the friend solidarity of her famous BFFs. Good for her.
But I think the fact that anyone would throw or accept a party that costs in the hundreds of thousands is basically just celebrating the privilege of being part of the 1%. The conspicuous consumption of celebrities is so emblematic of the rising inequality in our society. A lot of other people will see it that way too- I don’t think the protective friend bubble should have been demonstrated by splashing out for the most expensive pad in New York! The image of conspicuous consumer probably isn’t good for any royal these days.
That being said, I believe that women like Meghan and Amal (Angelina Jolie, Bono, and so many other celebrities) do believe in social justice issues. But they are really champagne liberals, sort of like noblesse oblige (the rich have a charitable obligation to the poor). Like I can live this fabulously wealthy, elite life while also talking about empowering poor women without seeing any hypocrisy in it- they don’t acknowledge that they are part of a system that favors the wealthy and disadvantages the rest. They shouldn’t just donate more, but also actively talk about wealth redistribution to reduce inequality and live a lifestyle in keeping with that (basically, not doing things like paying for the most expensive penthouse suite in the city!)
So Meghan fell in love with someone who is the elitist’s elite and what was she supposed to do? In fact she is supposed to look good as a representative of Her Majesty! I get it – Royals and other celebrities have an image to maintain and money is going to get spent.
I think restraint should be the name of the game though. Meghan’s friends could have rallied around her very publicly in New York and yet thrown an elegant and chic but way less conspicuously expensive party. Otherwise it seems like a celebration of obscene inequality.
The entire BRF is a celebration of obscene inequality tho? England has monuments to inequality, their schools segregate students to maintain it, their class structure supports it, their tourism markets it. A baby shower however lux is hardly the linchpin of excess to my mind.
You really have no idea.
The U.S. Has Higher Income Inequality Than Britain. And Bangladesh. And Ethiopia
https://www.bloomberg.com/businessweek
The RF haved nothing to do with inequality.
So this is one of the few critiques so far on this post that’s thoughtful and doesn’t just resort to calling Meghan names or ignoring what other rich people/royals do. You make a really good point, can’t really argue much with the general point you’re making (except maybe that aside from the penthouse, which admittedly is a BIG aside), I don’t really see anything she did as super over the top, especially compared to the celebrity showers we’ve been privy to, but that’s a quibble.
I think that most people defending Meghan here probably would agree with your general point too. My only issue is when she’s singled out by others, and held to an unfair double standard. I’m uncomfortable that people seem to only be outraged when a POC is enjoying a privileged lifestyle, but not when rich white people do. It’s the same playbook as Obama vs Trump’s treatment.
@MA–really loving your comments and trying to actually hear critiques! I responded to your other comment upthread to try to explain mine like you asked….but it keeps deleting my comment.
K & M probably spend similar amount of money (on clothes/travel/entertainment etc..). Only difference is Kate is more discreet, so the people who dislike her cannot have more reasons to b*tch and complain. Whereas Meghan, especially with this baby shower was very visible, so it gives the haters more reasons to hate.
I do feel for MM. Married someone from a completely different background and left her country (home). No family, no friends where she’s at. Only her husband. It’s probably not easy. Then to have to endure all the public scrutiny and hatred. What should she do? Go into hiding and shut down? Tell her friends she can’t do this/can’t do that now due to royal protocals? Hard to say what is best in her position. I sense a little bit of defiance from her if you will, but I get it. The British press has been extremely unkind to her. Not so say she’s not enjoying the attention and limelight because clearly, you can see that she loves it. Everything comes at a price.
She has many friends in the UK, including the one who set her up with Harry. A few of them attended this baby shower.
@nota–you seem to have some inside info. We’ve been told Misha, Marcus, and Violet as having possibly set them up. Misha and Marcus were there, but they live in New York and Toronto, respectively I thought. Violet is in UK (or NYC maybe?) but I didn’t see her there.
The point is, it’s legitimate to ask, why didn’t her friends go to her for the shower? Usually, those that plan it are trying to accommodate the mother. If Doria wasn’t going to be present (and so you take that off the table as a possible reason–that it was easier as a halfway point between them), then why did NYC makes sense? If her friends were generous enough to pay for the whole party and the private flights, then surely they are generous enough to fly to London for a day or two to celebrate her.
And that’s why it’s hard not to ask, what else was this about? And the likely answer is Meghan wanted to advance a media narrative of some kind–AND THAT IS OKAY!!!! But let’s just call it that. This BS about “oh can’t a girl just have a shower thrown by her friends?” is disingenuous.
It appears she was flown privately both ways by Amal Clooney on a plane paid by Clooney. She stayed at a friend’s house. The party was paid for by her friends.
Photos taken showed she was at Nonoo’s house in NYC, then rushed out at night after her presence in the US was outed. Even Nonoo, who is British, is based in NYC. Many of her friends are based in the US. Why should they all have to fly to London for this? They have lives too. Maybe they could spare the flight time to NYC, but didn’t have 4-5 days to fly London and back for a party. Her friends are successful working women, several with companies of their own. This would have taken months in the planning to get a date all of them could attend. Why make them all haul a$$ across the ocean?
Page Six bought a story from a waitress, outing the fact that she was in the US. After that, security has to take over. Security accommodations have to be made to do things like keep the tumblr extremist from physically attacking her instead of just screaming at her. That involves security barricades and a plan, which would have happened if anyone with famous friends like that was having a party. Why should she and her friends have to cancel this party or move it elsewhere last minute to please you?
William and Kate took a dozen friends on honeymoon with them. Every year when they’ve gone to Mustique for 2-3 weeks, they have security take away all the cell phones from other guests. A few years ago, they closed down an entire resort for a freebie vacation for two in the Maldives where the government beats rape victims. They’re currently on a luxury skiing vacation in a foreign country with an army of nannies and security staff (likely at least 3 RPOs per person including 3 each for each of the kids).
But Meghan having a baby shower in her home country with closest friends, most of whom live in that home country, has everybody’s hair on fire?
I’ll chime in. Most of us are totally at our wit’s end financially here, and barely make ends meet. Reading about people just casually dropping these sums of money just to like have snacks, have special roses and presents, is just gauche and tacky. It doesn’t resonate. She’s a public figure, there is a certain degree of responsibility that comes in with being a titled nobility. The entire affair feels more and more cheap to me. I am an American living in England. I am not a huge fan of Kate at all, she’s dull as dishwater frankly (and sorry she has no friends cuz she doesn’t want any leaks and most people here stick to college friends anyway). But I am seeing Meg as increasingly vain. No one needs this type of a baby shower. No one needs private jets. No one needs this type of a hotel room.
I agree with everything you just said. There is a responsibility that comes with marrying into the BRF whether she likes it or not. I’ve held out a long time before making any comments, trying to see both sides of the coin. This was too “in your face” for the public.
As Yami alluded to above, tell it to the future king and his wife. Rumored to be on a luxury ski vacation with their kids outside the UK. They never ski in the UK, wouldn’t want to support the local ski industry. That would mean easily over a dozen RPOs with their expenses paid by taxpayers.
A previous time W&K snuck away like this, they flew private jet paid by a friend and stayed in a 40 million chalet. Comped to Carole for the week to avoid it looking like a gift to the royals. Released photos later to the public, because they took an official photographer with them on their private vacation specifically to have official photos taken.
Unlike the time they left their 8 month old son for 10 days to take over an entire resort in the Maldives for a two-person vacation. They didn’t want photos released then.
I hear you and can see where you’re coming from. I’m not a Kate stan nor Meghan stan. I’m sure there is excessive spending for both. And K and M should be held to the same standards. No one is innocent.
No one needs a brand new Range Rover after one crashes it. No one needs a bunch of expensive racehorses or diamond brooches or six royal residences or 150,000 works of art. Sounds like you have a legit case against having a royal family. I’m glad my taxes don’t support any of it, but that’s up to you.
The royal reporters need to just admit that Meghan is the best thing to happen to them since Diana. I mean what would they be talking about right now if Meghan weren’t around? Meghan has given their lives new meaning.
I have read the blog for years have only commented a hand full of times. I was watching CBS This Morning Show today.. ….Gail King who was a guest at Meghan’s baby shower.. Said that all the guest did a flower arrangement class. After wards all the arrangements where given to all the U.S. Charities that Meghan has sponsored in New York over the years.
That’s wonderful.
Daily Fail’s now reporting the private jet trip was provided by the Clooneys. If the Clooneys were serious about their humanitarian work / foundation they’d stay away from royalty and hanging out with very showy, privileged-by-birth-or-marriage people. They prefer to name-drop instead so you can only conclude they’re stupid and only care about social climbing and doing humanitarian work for the self-mythologising potential of it.
OMG for real? They can do as they want, many rich philantropers use their money well AND spend it as they see fit, too. They are in the same business and charities as Megan was. Not a big stretch there.
Ennie, yes, but most rich philanthropists don’t go around telling people to open their borders and take in more struggling refugees – which, I believe all countries should help out with but not with unlimited numbers – whilst holding court from their multiple $10 million houses. I believe all countries should welcome refugees as long as they have policies to protect infrastructure and social security for existing citizens as well, but they are not the people to be lecturing people, is my point.The Clooneys are stupid and that is why they’re known hypocrites with their crusading moral superiority. Also Mrs Klooney wears any kind of animal; she’s no compassionate humanitarian, sorry.
Also Clooney acts like donating some (probably a tiny percentage) of his $500 million fortune (a very modest sum compared to the billionaire philanthropists) is going to change the world; it’s not. He says absolutely nothing about income inequality / government policy as opposed to this noblesse oblige, which is token, nothing, a drop in the ocean. Yes, it’s good he donates at least something; now please keep quiet and stop lecturing people. He’s a fake liberal.
I want to know how she got to know all the people. An actress on a cable show like Suits doesn’t run in the same circles as Amal Clooney, Serena Williams and Gayle King. Forget the cookbook and give lessons on that, lol! Please!
I also wonder if Kate and Williams were happy to take a quick, undercover ski trip with the kids or if they think they missed an opportunity to really make her look bad. A malicious couple would’ve visited the sick kids and the elderly every single day in repeat outfits. A Duchess sleeping in the most expensive hotel room in America vs her “rival” Duchess that visit cancer stricken Patrick and Lily in her Zara outfits. That could have been terribly costly for Meghan.
Are you forgetting that she was involved with charities and UN activities? There are “lesser” actors and celebs actively working with UNCHR, for example. She has been to tennis games and Serena seems very friendly. It seems you are shading her.
She and Serena met at the super bow in 2010 and immediately hit it off. I’m not sure about Gayle and Amal, but I heard she met Amal through their work with the UN.
The Middletons have to focus on W&K being portrayed as the normal couple (with the luxury skiing vacation) in the face of James selling Nazi items through his company. Keep the story spinning about Meghan, nobody notices the James story is disappearing.
I personally thought Meghan would be a great addition to the BRF but she is clearly struggling with understanding the difference between being a royal and a celebrity. Lately this has turned into one tacky show.
Yeah your right she isnt a great addition to the royal family. That’s why she helped raise money through a cookbook for a group of people. Thats why clothes she wears have helped places employ people and help businesses. That’s why crowds from all ages including young adults come to see her. Not to mention all the minorities that come to see her 🤔
Yeah, those 130,000 copies of the book sold, 300 meals a week made, community kitchen saved. Gosh, Meghan really doesn’t understand how to use her position for good, does she? (sarcasm)
Rich people spending their money in tacky ways keeps people employed and small businesses in business. I’m all for their tackiness.
Wow that’s really pulling your forelock, thank god for the Kings and nobles. The wealthy haven’t generated their wealth by themselves. And they are not doing anyone a favor bg spending it, if they really wanted to help, they could donate the money. No one needs to spend this kind of money. It’s not good for the soul. There’s a limit beyond which wasting like rich kids of instagram is morally repugnant.
I had to google “pulling your forelock”, I’m not British, it’s not familiar to me, nor am I groveling, and I’m not sure how you get that from my comment. Spending money helps the economy, it’s as simple as that.
Yes, it would be nice if the wealthy donated their money, or paid their employees higher wages, but they’re not doing that. Instead they’re buying new yachts with huge tax breaks. Do I think they’re soulless idiots, of course I do, but I’m not going to dictate what they should do with their money just because I don’t have as much. That’s ridiculous.
What about Serena Williams, Amal Clooney (via her husband)? You don’t think they generated their wealthy by themselves? Are they allowed to spend their money? Can’t they do that AND help people? No one’s obligated to live an ascetic life once they make their millions. Also, who decides which income bracket gets to enjoy luxuries and frivolous things? What about people making $1million per year but who live in NYC and have 3 kids? What about someone making $500k? $100k? i know people who live very well in low cost of living states on a salary of $60k. Should no one buy a designer bag or a luxury car or nice vacation and instead give any and all excess money they generate to the poor? What about people making 30k and spending the equivalent amt that rich people do on things like a new pair of uggs or Disneyland tickets?
The point is, no one is obligated to give away all or even any of their money. Rich people can make an impact by donating even 1% of their wealth. I don’t think the charities they’re involved with mind them having lavish lifestyles when they choose to also help them out. Don’t understand this rule that once you strike it big, you can’t indulge yourself ever.
The difference between rich people who spend discreetly and might donate discreetly as well and these folks is these folks (the subjects of this particular CB article) flaunt their wealth and highlight it and broadcast it as a virtue in itself.
You have to admit there’s a broadcasting dimension, an image-enhancement dimension to how they’re doing it. In other words, the extravagance isn’t the quiet, private type of many wealthy people (please see Uneasy Street by Rachel Sherman for more information) but a very DELIBERATE public one.
We are, hence, most definitely free to pass judgment – this “red carpet,” showboating baby shower is inviting you to, for pete’s sake!!! Said this upthread but they seem to think recreating Versailles will make them aspiration-worthy for some bizarre, unknown reason.
Jessica just tweeted this.
@jessicamulroney
35m35 minutes ago
So is there anything I can write, do, say or post that won’t be taken out of context by the @MailOnline Just curious.
I don’t know about the Fail itself, but the commenters on their site sure have a hate-on for Jessica. I scanned them recently and was hard-pressed to find a single positive comment! What has she done to bring this on- I’m not talking critical comments, but downright vitriol.
Her IG account seems to be pure fandom though – a Fail article linked to it and her posts attract hundreds of comments – most fawning and overwhelmingly positive.
I only came here to say, I am GLAD that thirst chick Priyawnka Chopra wasn’t invited! The fail has a picture of her looking glum.
Why wasn’t Lainey invited to the Shower of stars? Meghan has known her longer than Gayle King.
But, why would they invite Lainey? It would be like inviting Perez Hilton if he were pro-Meghan. Lainey is just a friendly gossip outlet. Or she was. She must have reported something out of bounds because she is clearly no longer the favored gossip outlet judging by the salty post she put up about this event, a couple of days after news broke.
lol – Lainey works with Ben Mulroney on eTalk and I’m sure she knows a lot more than she is letting on officially – via her blog & her other show, the Social.
Her rich friends or associates can spend their own damn money on whatever or whoever they please. Since this event was paid mostly by her friends,there nothing to talk about . Nobody tells the Trumps, the Bezos, or Richard Branson how to spend money or who spend it on. Nutcases need to get a life and live it in a positive way. Tabloids and their nastiness keep people thinking they are treating Meg unfairly and singling her out from the entire royal family. Keep in mind other outlets just big as they are can write nastiness about the other royals that they the tabloids don’t cover. To keep berating Meg going on three years, makes everyone with any kind of sense take notice. The main question is why are they doing this? They come out and state honestly why they dislike her and write vicious stories/lies about her. Everyone don’t see the same things the same way but they can see bullying and degrading remarks for three years as something not right with the British press.
She’s fabulous, and I love how she’s trolling the press with the extra bump cradling. Hope she ramps it up even more before the baby arrives. Go Meghan!
We got you Meghan! Everyone deserves such friends. If i was this loaded, id spoil my friends silly too. Them and their kids. Cant wait for international playdates between Serenas Alexis, Meghans kid and Priyankas baby (she never wants to be left out haha surprised she wasnt here, do u guys think she might be mad at Meghan for not coming to her wedding???).
If I see Meghan cradling her belly in one more pic I am going to barf! We get it. She is pregnant. We can see her expanding tummy. Yeah you
Duchess of Sussex, it’s your body rub that belly 24/7 sis
A baby shower that was half a million pounds, and a 95K pound private jet ride back to the UK. If Kate did this, you all would be flipping out.