Update February 20th: We plan to come back with regular episodes on March 2nd and are sorry for the delay!
The Sussexes won’t be using their HRH titles: Minutes 0 to 5:45 (recorded Saturday)
This week we have a slightly different format due to the breaking news on Saturday that the Sussexes won’t be using their HRH titles and will reimburse the Sovereign Grant for the renovations to Frogmore Cottage. We recorded an update on Saturday and open with that news. Chandra thinks this news came out on Saturday because these details needed intense negotiation behind the scenes. She says that reimbursing the palace for the renovations was probably not the Sussexes’ idea, although it’s presented that way. You can listen below! We’re also on Youtube and all major platforms. (More links are below.)
Intro: Minutes 5:45 to 9:30 (rest of the podcast recorded Thursday)
Starting here, the rest of the podcast was recorded Thursday. We’ll be back the first week in February and the last week in February, but that’s tentative and will change if major news drops. Chandra anticipated that Harry and Meghan would lose their HRH titles, which sort-of happened as you know. I talk about the culture shock I had being married to a German guy and living in Germany, and how I can relate to Duchess Meghan. Meghan’s situation was so much worse due to the pressure from the royal family and the press.
The Sandringham summit: Minutes 9:30 to 13
Harry sat down with the Queen alone first and then met with Charles and William. Chandra thinks they must have spent a lot of time working on the first statement from the Queen, which was very personable and used Harry and Meghan’s first names and the wording “my family.” The Queen is typically tone deaf, as evidenced by her response to Diana’s death. At the end of her reign people are starting to realize this about her. The Andrew debacle damaged the monarchy and changed the way that people see her.
Meghan did two events in Vancouver: Minutes 13 to 14:30
When Harry was back in London, Meghan stayed in Vancouver and met with two different women’s organizations, Justice for Girls and the Downtown Eastside Women’s Center. She looked super cute in leggings and a cable knit sweater and was clearly enjoying her new casual role. Harry did his last event as a senior royal, he launched the 2021 Rugby League World Cup Mental Fitness Charter at Kensington Palace and he also announced the locale for the 2022 Invictus Games.
Chandra emailed with Buzzfeed reporter about the article comparing Meghan and Kate’s headlines: Minutes 14:30 to 20:30
Before we recorded, I asked Chandra if we could talk about the Buzzfeed article comparing the headlines between Meghan and Kate. Kate has been consistency praised for minor issues like eating avocados while Meghan was nitpicked and associated with the atrocities of the avocado supply chain. It turns out that Chandra is friendly with Buzzfeed author Ellie Hall on Twitter and that she emailed her with some ideas for that article! Ellie came up with this idea for the comparison headlines back in December. It’s baffling to me the things that people use to nitpick Meghan.
Oscar nominations: Minutes 20:30 to 30:45
Chandra is about halfway through Parasite, which I’ve seen too. We both love it, no spoilers! We don’t think Parasite will win best picture, but Bong Joon-ho might win best director. Chandra is worried that Joker will win best picture, but she’s ok with Joaquin Phoenix winning best actor. Quentin Tarantino might get best director because he has such a great body of work and has only won two screenplay Oscars. We both saw Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which is a very good movie with great performances. Chandra thinks Tarantino isn’t mad about Bong Joon-ho winning best director at the Critics Choice Awards despite Tarantino’s expression. Chandra mentions a podcast called The Rewatchables, in which Tarantino talked about how Dunkirk was Christopher Nolan’s best movie. Snubs included Awkwafina, Lupita, Taron Egerton and Jennifer Lopez while Scarlett Johansson got TWO nominations! Chandra is salty about Jennifer Lopez not getting her first Oscar nomination, which she totally deserved.
User feedback and questions: Minutes 30:45 to 34
Our user feedback is from Jacqueline, who said our Sussexit podcast last week was one of our best. Thank you Jackie! She also asked whether it was unique for Harry to date an independent woman like Meghan instead of an aristocrat like his previous girlfriends. Harry has a ton of money and it must have been eye-opening for him to date a woman making her way in the world. Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas both worked though. Cressida was a bohemian person trying to figure her life out. Chelsea got her law degree and then became a jewelry designer. Jackie’s point still stands that Meghan must have been a breath of fresh air to Harry.
Comments of the week: Minutes 34 to 38:30
My comment of the week is from Arpeggi on the post about Gwyneth Paltrow’s $75 “This Smells like my Vagina” votive candle. Chandra’s comment of the week is from Lara K on Diplo’s GQ profile. Like Chandra, Lara also wants to shamef-k Diplo.
Thanks for listening bitches! You can find us on YouTube, iHeartRadio, iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Google Play Music, Castbox and more. Call us at 434-218-3219 or leave a comment or question here or on social media.
Compare these 20 headline and see how differently royal reporters treated Kate Middleton and Meghan Marklehttps://t.co/EwwPd3waJe pic.twitter.com/WYP402SY2R
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) January 13, 2020
— GIVE TARON EGERTON AN OSCAR YOU COWARDS (@claresuxx) January 13, 2020
I listened to this yesterday when Kaiser announced that it came out early and it was such a fun episode. People better not be sleeping on this podcast. It’s awesome!
On another note, sometimes I skip articles on people I don’t care about. Camilla Cabello usually gets a skip, as do some of the lesser knowns, which is why I avoided the Diplo piece. I know his music, but not much else. Didn’t even know he had a gold tooth! Well, thanks to Kaiser, I went back and read the article about Diplo and wow the shame. I wasn’t expecting THAT. I spent an uncomfortable amount of time rewatching that GQ video. And THEN went to his instagram page. And THEN looked him up on Wikipedia. But you will never get me to admit that in person. Heck no!
I’m so glad to know that you talked about the BuzzFeed headlines! It was a great read and I’m eager to hear your take soon!
I love this podcast.
Yay for bonus podcast! I’m glad to get my royal fix. Hearing the commentary on the how tone deaf the queen is was cracking me up. I’m so amused by the poor person that spent HOURS crafting a statement by the queen trying to make her sound grandmotherly and warm toward Harry and Meghan, only for the queen to immediately undo that work by trotting Pedo back out for church. There’s no outrunning QEII’s bad instincts.
That buzz feed article was fantastic! Go Kaiser!!!
I cannot believe Taron Egerton did not get nominated, nor did Rocketman as best picture. When I saw that movie, I was taken back to my high school years–I felt as though I was watching Elton John all over again. I had goosebumps & was teary-eyed throughout. Eh, when has the Academy ever been based on merit?
Will you discuss the articles about grey and William burying the hatchet and mending their bond- but Harry still being angry at and estranged from Charles, on the podcast or a post? I’d love to see your take!
Kaiser is SO salty about Jennifer Lopez, it cracked me up. I’m one who didn’t think her performance was especially noteworthy, but I wouldn’t have been mad if she had gotten a nomination, people get nominated for worse performances. But I agree that its the overall pattern of the Oscars ignoring women and POC that is really obvious and problematic.