I’m sitting here, somewhat agape at how extensive the “tiara selection” story is in Finding Freedom. It’s clear that Team Sussex wants to really and truly set the record straight on everything having to do with Meghan’s tiara and how it was selected for her 2018 wedding. I’m going to summarize a great deal of the story because of just how much space it takes up in Finding Freedom, which again signals (to me) that Harry and Meghan were both very offended at the oft-repeated lies that Meghan “demanded” this or that, or that Meghan had a tantrum about tiaras or anything like that.
FF’s sources do say that originally, Meghan did think that a tiara with emeralds would have been great, but this was early in the wedding planning and dress planning. Meghan liked that rich shade of green, and she was already incorporating emerald green into some of her wedding styling. A source said: “At some point during early planning there could have been talk about the ideal tiara having emeralds in it.” But then the sources insist – and I believe them – that Meghan always knew that the wedding tiara selection would not be ultimately up to her. She knew that she would be given a few options and that she would select what she wanted from those options. Even Clare Waight Keller confirmed as much on the record, pointing out that for the tiara-selection in February 2018, she had already begun to design the dress but she and Meghan “weren’t sure of what the final options would be. It was a case of waiting to see what they were presented with,” tiara-wise.
The tiara-selection is a big deal, and the Queen and Angela Kelly pre-select a group of, like, three to five tiaras they want to show a royal bride. Then the Queen likes to be there for the bride’s selection process:
According to a high-ranking aide, “Her Majesty takes great joy in being able to offer a little something” for important events and enjoys being part of the process, which usually involves the sovereign picking out designs for special occasions like state dinners and other formal engagements. “She will often have something in mind,” the source said.
What was different with Meghan’s selection was that Harry tagged along. The couple, who had been engaged and living together in Kensington Palace for almost four months, arrived at the reception room in Buckingham Palace, where they were then escorted down a secure elevator, forty feet below the palace, to the large vault where five tiaras had been assembled for display ahead of the couple’s appointment in February 2018.
…While gloves were normally worn when handling tiaras, Angela Kelly —who was also responsible for the basic cleaning of the Queen’s jewelry before and after it was removed from the vault—chose to go without so she could have a better grip on the often-priceless pieces.
With the Queen and Prince Harry looking on, Angela presented five different tiaras for Meghan to consider. Although the Queen was a great conversationalist, as was Meghan, who became particularly talkative when she was nervous, everyone was quiet as they focused on the task at hand. Angela had presented various options to the Queen before the meeting. Her Majesty then offered her own thoughts until she and Angela had whittled down the choices to five. With Meghan seated in front of a full-length mirror, each tiara was carefully placed upon her head, until a decision was made.
[From Finding Freedom: Harry, Meghan, and the Making of a Modern Royal Family]
FF then goes on to say that Meghan, the Queen and Harry were all pretty much in agreement very quickly that Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau was the best option out of the five Meghan got to choose from. Meghan thought it “stood out” and “the Queen agreed with Meghan upon her choice of tiara for the wedding. Meghan tried on all five but knew right away which one she liked best.” A palace aide remarked that “it was a special moment for” both the Queen and Meghan. When there were reports that Meghan wanted a different tiara, she told a friend, “How sad, I love my tiara.”
After the tiara selection, the shenanigans with Angela Kelly began. The selection happened in February, and in March, Meghan’s hair stylist did fly in from New York and they “hoped to visit Buckingham Palace to meet Angela, who would have handled the tiara just as she had done when they picked it out with the Queen.” The problem? Kensington Palace aides had been calling Angela Kelly repeatedly to set up a date for the tiara-hair appointment, and Angela Kelly had completely and utterly blanked on all of the calls. Harry “was furious” and “he thought she was purposefully ignoring Meghan. What followed between the prince and Angela was a heated exchange that was far from the typical restraint expected.”
Even as the wedding date grew nearer, Angela Kelly refused to answer any and all calls from the Sussexes or their Kensington Palace aides. From FF:
People were frustrated—and confused. Why was it so hard to set up a time for Meghan to try the tiara with her hairdresser? In the end, Harry had to speak to his grandmother about the situation. And she got her trial.
A senior Buckingham Palace aide insisted that Harry was simply being “oversensitive” when he accused Angela of trying to make things difficult for his fiancée. But a source close to the prince said nothing could convince Harry that some of the old guard at the Palace simply didn’t like Meghan and would stop at nothing to make her life difficult.
[From Finding Freedom: Harry, Meghan, and the Making of a Modern Royal Family]
Yep. Pretty much. And I bet that’s why Angela Kelly merrily took part in the smear campaign against Meghan too – she was pissed off that Harry went over her head to the Queen to get Meghan her hair-trial with the tiara. And if THIS was the story the entire time, why all the bullsh-t about “diva Meghan demanding tiaras”?
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red, Backgrid.
Feels like we’re just beating a dead horse with a tiara at this point.
I can see why it galled the Sussexes so much. A tiara loan is a big deal in general, so to make Meghan look so demanding and ungrateful is major. I get why they’d want to clear it up.
Yeah, however, if I was calling and calling someone and they weren’t being basically polite enough to do their job – I would be irritated
If this then was turned around as a story against me I’d be furioso too
The story played into the racist tropes of the angry black woman and the demanding diva. The story had to be cleared up and given as much airing as the Queen’s and Angela Kelly’s side of the story.
Nevermind. I can just not read repetitive Royal posts.
Lol, between this and crying over pantyhose, life in the golden castle sounds so ridiculous.
So I guess Meghan expressed some interest in an emerald tiara at some point? It’s odd that the story was twisted in this particular way – if the real argument was around setting up a fitting, I wonder why they didn’t try to just spin that?
This whole thing is so, so, so silly. That is why I am so into it! I have been commenting like crazy today because, guess what? I have a lot of work to do, but I dont wanna! Today, I am like William- I am work-shy!
Lol! On the nose.
I feel this comment so very much.
Omg ahhahahaha
Hahaha. I have agreed with all your comments, especially dealing with the trolls in the other posts.
I have case notes and I just can’t bring myself to type them. I’m not even interested in reading my own handwriting today and my assistant is on a much needed vacation.
edited to add: These royals and royal adjacent are really horrid people
Thank you all! I am happy to see I am not the only one procrastinating! I feel guilty, but I really do not want to work today, If this is how Kate and Will feel the whole time- poor sausages! My heart goes to them!
F*cking awful, pardon my language. I’m glad the real story is in the book. Angela Kelly is a racist monster. UGh.
The Houses of Buckingham, Kensington and York all colluded on the tiara story. For machine gun Kelly, it will help her put the black upstart in her place. For KP, it will help get one over the American woman taking away their whipping boy/punch bag. To the Yorks, it will show M that she is not related by blood and not entitled to the same privileges as a blood royal. In the tiara story their destructive interests collided. The leaks to the press was intended to psychologically manipulate the masses, as they know that women of a certain ilk have princess fantasies and their ideal princess looks nothing like M. The RF is just sick!
Kate doesn’t have “royal blood,” either, and she wasn’t/isn’t treated this way in the BRF.
The difference is skin tone, and *everyone* knows it.
It is pretty shocking that she would be ignoring calls from KP staff and the Sussexes. She’s a staff member herself so it’s massively unprofessional to do this. They obviously were trying to set up something and not crash the tiara vault at BP so her behaviour is unacceptable. Of course Harry was mad because in any other context this is the type of employee behaviour that gets them fired.
Absolutely this.
This is why their such an outrage over this book because it puts everything on the table and strips the tabloids of stories and it gives Harry and Meghan their voices back. It will be a bestseller no matter what they do. All the lying, complaining, meanness is not getting the tabloids or RF what they want. I don’t get the thinking behind the actions of these two entities. Bashing gets old and Harry and Meghan clearly don’t care anymore. It’s useless. They’ve moved on and are clearly aren’t coming back.
This story makes much more sense than what they were peddling about emeralds and tantrums.
As far as I can tell, the story about “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets”, which may refer to Harry’s interaction with Kelly, came out in Jobson’s book about Charles.
But the specific tiara story came out around November 8 and 9, one week after Harry and Meghan came back from the Oceania tour. Because the story specifically involved an emerald tiara, and Eugenie had worn an emerald tiara for her wedding, I still think the Yorks were at least partly involved in floating that story to get back at Meghan for the pregnancy news coming out around Eugenie’s wedding.
True, the timing is interesting.
WOW this is so so so different from the stories in the press. Good god
I also loved Meghan’s tiara. But… Eugenie’s tiara is my favorite out of the recent group of royal weddings.
Same for me.
For historical significance, Queen Mary’s bandeau that Meghan wore beats the emerald tiara hands down, but the emerald tiara is very beautiful.
Yeah, I’ve never believed any story that had a black woman knowing how she’d be scrutinized, judged, and othered coming in and being a demanding heifer.
When we say twice as good, we also know we need to be twice as polite, twice as patient, twice as reserved to try to avoid being labeled as difficult, demanding, angry, or rude. It happens anyway but we know we have to try and we usually do, especially when the power is so imbalanced against our favor.
I didn’t believe it either for the reasons you stated.
It literally makes no sense that a womxn of colour would act entitled about a tiara after successfully navigating the racism of Hollywood (and the world at large). Especially when white people are the gatekeepers to said tiara. Black womxn’s expression of anger are always weaponised against them. Meghan being an entitled ‘diva’ made no sense as a narrative. It makes more sense that Harry expressed frustration about racist gatekeeping and then Meghan was blamed.
Anyhow she looked gorgeous on her wedding day and I ADORED her wedding dress.
(I say all this as a white womxn and want to acknowledge my privilege. If it smells like misogynoir, looks like misogynoir and acts like it than it is indeed misogynoir).
All of this! We have to do twice as much just to be on a level playing field and even then, it’s not enough.
Agree. Plus we know Megan is very smart and strategic. She would never approach the situation like that because she knows better.
She also has impeccable manners. As has been stated before in many stories – from legitimate sources – there has never been a story about her over the years where she has been anything but gracious, warm, down to earth, and respectful. The idea that she would suddenly change so completely Into a demanding, rude bridezilla, determined to get her own way, is ludicrous. I know those are the types of stories that the tabloids dine out on, but it is not at all in keeping with the majority of reports from years beforehand that have circulated about her.
Knowing that the tiaras are selected for her, it never made any sense that she would want one that Eugenie wore unless that tiara was out before her in which case both the Queen and AK47 would have been at fault for saying she could consider it.
Also no one could ever pinpoint exactly which emerald tiara was in offer then withdrawn.
This is what I’ve been saying. People can correct me if I’m wrong, but the fact is that there are so many pieces of jewelry and objets d’art in the Queen’s vaults that have simply never been revealed to the light of day. I’m sure she and Angela Kelly know the full inventory of contents that are in them, but the larger public does not.
We can make a reasoned assessment based off of previous tallies taken from when Queen Mary (the Queen’s grandmother) and the Queen Mother were reigning, but that’s just based on historical analysis. There is no way that Meghan could have known that an emerald tiara like the one Eugenie wore even existed, simply because that information is not out there. I remember watching Eugenie and Meghan’s wedding and everyone was incredibly excited to see the jewelry on display, because both of those tiaras were pieces with a great deal of history, and we’d never seen them before.
THANK YOU!
We black women KNOW we can’t lose our temper, throw our weight around or be rude in any way – in fact we have to err on the side of extreme politeness – even when we are right, even when we are in charge, even when we should have clout.
We have to be ten times as good and ten times as polite just to get by. It’s exhausting. No black or black biracial woman as savvy and self-aware as Meghan would walk into something like BRF and throw her weight around. No way.
Yes.
say it again so those in the back can hear!!!
this!
This actually makes a lot more sense and as Kaiser said, actually fits with what Waight Kellar said. So yeah, I’m going to believe this version of events as it’s probably the closest to what actually happened.
I think if she was presented with an emerald tiara, she would have chosen it but she looked gorgeous in her tiara anyways it doesn’t matter
No one from the palace or sources is denying this version or calling layers because its true. The only thing they have come up with in defence is that Harry was swearing at Angela Kelly, and I wouldnt blame him. The woman was clearly on a pwer trip. And she’s a damn dresser.
This also means that these assholes knew the truth but still went to the papers to smear Meghan as a diva demanding a tiara. She got abused and called all sorts. How evil can they be. I can see why Meghan was relieved at leaving. The RF are vipers from top to bottom.
One more of the numerous examples of those who should have been supporting and defending her, choosing to allow the abuse to go forward. From the family to the courtiers, there was never going to be an occasion where she would be given a fair chance. How these people can look themselves in the mirror is beyond me. I just hope I live long enough to see Karma sashaying up to the gates of the various palaces to pay a little call on the occupants.
Despicable, it wouldn’t taken 5 minutes for the palaces to shut down these rumors. Instead the media were free to torture her over it for years.
Yes, because when a designer or stylist is needed on behalf of a “Royal Wedding” of course their immediate response is to put off any appointments because they’re much too busy.
Who in the world believes that?
Ms Kelly & Co – classless, tacky, petty
This story really was so damaging to Meghan – it painted her as a spoiled diva who was all about the jewels and trappings That went along with being Harry’s wife. I can see why FF is trying to reset that narrative.
Also, this is a prime example of a time when the palace could have defended her. This was a concrete story that wasn’t true. BP or KP could have offered a simple “the duchess was thrilled with the selection of tiaras the Queen offered her and she was able to wear her first choice. She feels very lucky to have worn something belonging to Queen Mary.”
Full stop. I get the palace wasn’t going to defend every smear and every article. But they could have shot down a few of these stories in the beginning and I think the following months would have looked very different.
Yes. This. Exactly this. Had they made it clear from the outset that ridiculous stories would be discredited, I think it would have stopped a lot of the torrent that followed.
I also strongly believe The Firm NEVER thought Harry would leave, but I bet they thought they could make Meghan leave.
This also helped set up the “Meghan acts above her station” that the racists love to push, as if Meghan was going to demand tiaras from the Queen or something.
@becks – yes I agree – the BRF could have easily set the ground rules by responding quickly to this. Their silence spoke volumes and empowered rags like the Fail.
These are the stories KP initially said they couldn’t refute because they were “true”. What really stands out to me is how the courtiers have been talking so much over the last 3 years that they’ve finally come around to getting caught in their lies.
As time goes by and we are learning more about what actually
happened, I’m understanding their decision to leave the Royal
Family so much more! Probably the best thing they could do for
their own sake and happiness.
That little detail about Kelly going without gloves – that is so specific, I feel like it could only come from the Sussexes directly. I can’t tell if they are saying going without gloves is unprofessional? Or if its more like a warning – we have all the receipts, don’t mess with us?
There’s been a lot of talk recently about how the Queen liked Meghan, wanted to welcome her etc, but the attitude of the people who work closely with her (Angela Kelly and others) suggests otherwise.
No way would Kelly have put off or “put Meghan in her place” if she thought Meghan was fully under the Queen’s protection. That kind of attitude always starts from the top, in any organization.
Harry might have mentioned to friends and aides. He knows protocol. He might have told someone ” First, Angela comes to the meeting with us without gloves. She handles the jewels without gloves. I say nothing. Then, she does not pick her phone when we call her. I say nothing. We try again…and again…and in the end, I am pissed.”
In short, I think it just illustrates in Harry POV that Angela had not been doing her job well. Period.
I mean, I get maybe not everyone is into jewelry, particularly antique jewelry (this is coming off so snobby rn, lol), but I’ve seen some of the videos put out by places like Sotheby’s etc when they’re auctioning off tiaras, particularly antique ones with some history and stuff, and they always use gloves to show them on the videos, if they’re being handled.
The stuff in the Queen’s possession all has a great deal of history. Angela Kelly would know that. The tiara that Meghan wore was Queen Mary’s first, which makes it about a 100 years old, give or take a couple decades. These are old stones, old craftsmanship, etc, so of course you’d use gloves to handle those objects. I’m a pleb and even I’d know that, even if I didn’t watch videos on the subject, lmao. It’s not rocket science.
I immediately read that as a microaggression. There was a note that she went without gloves to make sure she had a better grip on the tiaras. Like what? Meghan was going to steal it?
So Angela Kelly literally ignored Meg and Harry’s calls. She wasn’t taking their calls and making excuses or rescheduling appointments. She just didn’t take their calls.
In other words, the woman literally didn’t do her job. She refused to work. She gets paid to do these duties and chose not to do them. How is this woman still employed after that?
This is horrendous. The Queen looks an absolute fool for not immediately firing her employee for refusing to do her job. And extra foolish for getting mad at Harry for telling off said employee for not doing what she’s paid to do.
In real life, Angela Kelly would have been fired for her insolent refusal to complete her important task. Apparently, Harry understood that but GanGan doesn’t. No wonder Harry felt hurt. No wonder he chose to leave. Imagine your grandmother choosing her employee that doesn’t do her job over you.
I agree she should be fired. It was beyond unprofessional to act this way to anyone, much less to a grandson of her employer who is setting up an internationally televised event that requires extensive planning and used to promote the royal family itself.
I don’t think the Queen said anything to Harry about what he said to Angela. I think Angela made that up to cover her own ass. This says Harry went to the Queen to complain and then we got this pile of steaming lies from Angela Kelly to try to cover it all up.
She’s toast once Prince Charles ascends. A whole lot of stanky staff at the palace are.
I don’t think H&M will ever go back to that institution but I do think PC will figure out a better way to semi-work with them so he can mend that fence but also scrape back some relevancy – the monarchy without H&M is lifeless and dull AND with this book, it’s clear the inmates are running the asylum and racism is the order of the day. That can’t stand.
Apparently, Angela Kelly physically assaulted another employee years ago – and she didn’t get fired for that, which is a far worse offence!
Now I’m dying to know which other four tiaras she had to choose from! I want to ignore everything else for a minute and imagine trying on tiaras in a secret vault with the QUEEN! Aaaaaah what a surreal experience that must have been for her!
Also, can H&M please stop pretending they weren’t sources for this book now? Who else would have known and told this side of the story? It’s okay, Sussexes. Speak the truth!
@10KTurtle: Their friends would know the intimate details which were spilled. Why tf does everybody keep trying to play GOTCHA with the authors and the Sussexes about this book? There have been THOUSANDS of biographies written about the Windsors this is the first time all kinds of manufactured controversy is drummed up about whether the subjects were personally involved.
Ummm, no, definitely not the first time and won’t be the last time.
Omid litterally described the premises of the palace where the tiaras are kept, the corridors and the vault, or whatever it’s called, he described in detail W&K’s kitchen. Is it really possible that their friends (so called sources) would accurately describe to Omid the rooms that they’ve never been to, that have never seen (and no way that the friends could have seen them)? That would have to mean that they were given a script to learn. I believe that the friends could repeat a story, a conversation, a thought or a feeling they are told about, but to repeat the accurate description of places and rooms that they didn’t see is highly unlikely.
There are pictures of W and K’s kitchen online so again not exclusive knowledge at all. And again the vault isn’t new information.
If you want to call Omid a liar fine but he has said he did not speak to them about this book. A lot of this stuff has been known by people paying attention for years. Very little is new.
There would be staff members present at the vault as well. This family always has staff nearby so there are a lot of eyes on events that are normally private. Footmen, secretaries, etc… the Queen is rarely completely alone.
That’s why I say “ known and told.” I can’t imagine too many different staffers are allowed in the vault. QEII & AK would know exactly who it was. I am all ears for an undiluted Sussex side of the story!
Do you think that staff member would talk about the rooms with Omid? Aren’t they the staff of toxic royals, that were mean to Megan? Those who were leaking negative stories about her? I don’t think so. The vault and the secret rooms with jewelry are probably highly confidential stuff.
Actually yes the staff would be sources for him because he has actually said so. Plus who has precise detail of every room except for people who have to work there every frickin day. The royal staff and courtiers don’t just talk to Dan Wootton.
And we already heard about the vault story when Kate was trying out tiaras and every single royal bride prior to that. Anyone following for a while knew the process was that the queen would show a selection of tiaras to the woman because she’s being doing the same thing for years. Stop trying so hard to say only Meghan and Harry can be the only ones for this information because there are commenters here (not trolls like you who show up once in a while) who have a memory of things that have happened over the years because the Queen has been a creature of habit for decades. That’s part of her problem in not adapting to change.
We also ignore Carolyn Durand was a part of this. We know the royal staff talk and they have talked to every single biographer for the last hundred years. Where the eff have you been?
I bet after Meghan mentioned emerald tiara, AK made sure there wasnt any offered to her.
good observation.
It’s pretty clear staff members were there. Staff members are always there.
My point is — if you see what Kate put up with, then the story in FF is so much plausible than tabloid stories.
(Of course, the Yorkies get whatever they wanted.) Eugenie’s tiara looks very nice on her – large tiara, with a huge emerald on a big faced girl with green eyes. Such a tiara would have overwhelmed Meghan’s delicate features.
You are right. The huge emerald tiara Eugene used it wasn’t Meghan style and would have overwhelmed Meghan’s delicate features. I found Meghan’s tiara more beautiful and suited better her dress and style. I love M looks that day, even if she loose to much weight and the dress didn’t fit perfectly, her dress was classy and beautiful.
Poor Harry. Look at him holding her hand at their wedding. I’m sure he thought he could protect her and their future family and this ridiculously petty tiara power struggle was only one of hundreds of tiny battles. What a toxic mess the BRF and its attendants are!
I only know of two emerald tiaras: 1) Eugenie’s which had never been seen before and I doubt Meghan even knew of it; 2) The over-embellished completely out-of-style Vladimir tiara;
Neither would have looked attractive on Meghan’s delicate features. The Vladimir would clash with Meghan’s minimalist aesthetic.
If an employee isn’t doing their job and you’ve tried to correct the problem, then you go over their head to their boss to rectify the situation. Harry had every right to speak to the queen about this. But like a disgruntled employee, AK exacted her revenge in the worst possible way and her employer the queen did nothing to stop it and put her in her place for her shenanigans if she wasn’t going to fire her.
This is a woman who fought another staff member in public over a married man so clearly AK 47 can get away with a lot. Harry probably knew this and went to the top. If we know about the parking lot storh you can bet Harry knows as well.
That’s really crazy. Unfortunately this demonstrates how the queen is loyal to the wrong people. If she defended her granddaughter-in-law as much as she does her toxic dresser, this would be a completely different outcome now. AK’s prior behavior alone is basis for termination from employment. I can only imagine the hold she has over the queen that she gets away with all this.
The fact that one employee can physically assault another employee with impunity really shows how toxic a work place BP must be.
And the fact she wasn’t fired shows she clearly has the Queen’s ear.
Or arrested for assault if AK was the instigator.
She should’ve been fired for ignoring calls from 2 different households wtf?! I hope Harry cussed her out and hurt that hag’s feelings.
The tiara Meghan picked was perfect for her. It was classic and understated, much like the jewelry she has in her personal collection. The main reason I never thought she chose the Vladimir tiara is because of the big jewel— it’s not her style. Other than her engagement ring and Diana’s Aquamarine ring, she’s never had jewelry with big, chunky stones.
I can picture AK putting ion the tiaras all day, and dancing like Robert de Niro in Stardust.Such an entitled woman.
Machine gun kelly and her co-conspirator the duke of CAINbridge clearly set Meghan up. What employee refused to answer the phone? The only way she thought she could get away with that behaviour is if she was told to do so by someone higher up. Meghan trying to sort the issue out after being messed around, is now seen as ‘demanding’. WTF is she suppose to do?
Also I really wish more men were like harry, I just love a man who will stick up and fight for his woman no matter what. Some men are scared to tell their own mothers to not be assholes to their GF/wives, whilst harry can literally run straight to the queen and tell her how it is.
The reason they branded her demanding is that she really WAS demanding something that she couldn’t get. A few years ago I saw one of the documentaries about W&K’s wedding (I don’t remember which one was it, maybe some of you guys have seen it too and you could tell). I remember K’s hair stylist told the story how they tried her hairstyle with plastic tiara because the real tiara was lent only for the ceremony. If they didn’ t give it to a wife of an heir prior to the wedding, they certainly wouldn’t give it to future wife of a spare. Instead of using harsch words with an employee, Harry could have just explained the rules better, and everything would be ok.
Stop the trolling. Asking to try the tiara for a hair trial is not demanding at all. And even if it wasn’t done, AK 47 was massively unprofessional in not saying it couldn’t be done. She just ignored them like an utter buffoon. She is the one who should be fired and trying to blame Meghan for a reasonable request is just more racist micro aggressions.
@Maca, they didn’t give it to the wife of the heir because the same politics that were at play with Meghan were also at work with Kate, minus the added dimension of racism. Kate, in contrast to Meghan, is a meek little Millie doormat who has always been under strict instructions from her mummy to keep her trap shut, swallow the painful humiliations from the palace staff, and never stick up for herself, because the only goal she cares about is being Queen some day. If she didn’t make a fuss, it’s because she’s cool with being treated like shit so long as her ultimate prize is still in sight. The fact that she didn’t have defenders, didn’t defend herself, and her husband wouldn’t even stick up for her, says nothing good about William, Kate, or anyone in the royal family.
@ A That what I was talking about- the same policy, the same rules. They shouldn’t have argued about the rules. It’s the same as we all would be argue about rules and regulations, trespassing through someone’s backyard, orno swimming sign, or no parking…
While its nice to have it confirmed, i didn’t really need it. It was always obvious that Meghan wasn’t demanding jewels from the queen, the evidence is Meghan’s own character.
I’d like to know the other 4 she was shown. Just curious.
Me too. Two of my guesses are the diamond lozenge tiara and the sapphire bandeau. Both were owned by Queen Mary and also worn by Princess Margaret when she was young.
I’d love to see the sapphire bandeau again – I’ve only seen it in a couple of grainy photos.
One more guess, the strathmore rose tiara the Queen Mother received as a wedding present.
Someone mentioned that the Strathmore was too delicate to be worn so it probably wasn’t offered. Especially not since machine gun Kelly seemed to be overly possessive of this entire process.
@Paisley25, the Strathmore is in bad shape, apparently, and needs a lot of repair before it can be worn out. I think that most likely, either Camilla or Kate will have the stones taken out and the tiara redesigned.
This is what I’ve been saying ever since the story first broke out. The biggest tell was the fact that the Emerald Kokoshnik was not a tiara that people even knew was in the Queen’s possession. No one could explain how Meghan would have got wind of it, to make such a demand to begin with. Then there’s the fact that none of the stories spelled out the tiara selection process with any credibility. No one could explain why they would have shown Meghan a tiara she couldn’t wear. None of the details made any lick of sense, and yet. And YET.
As a black woman in a high level position at a Fortune 500 company, this rings completely true for me. Even when the CEO and top executives genuinely believe in the value of diversity and want to create an inclusive environment, there are always some who actively work against it. In my experience often than not they also in a more junior role to me- so their bias is compounded by insecurity and envy. People can do really messed up things when that mix is spinning through their brains.
I also can attest that when I have been undermined by a white co-worker, the co-worker’s feelings and experience always matter more than mine. I am always expected to either “understand” or even outright apologize for something that wasn’t my fault.
If this type of thing has never happened to you it’s very hard to imagine how it could possibly be true because it seems so ridiculous, but black women are obliged to deal with this kind of ridiculousness on a regular basis. I would argue that women in general are too. When was the last time you heard someone chide a male over his lack of or inability to have kids? Or heard a guy explain that all his exes were “crazy” as a means of gaslighting?
I can also relate to Harry’s reaction and outrage, because I too have had white male partners witness the ugly reality of being a black woman for the first time- and I usually say “Babe, rage is a luxury. If I allowed myself to express that much anger at all the racial inequities that I experience each day, I would be exhausted. And I wouldn’t have the time or energy to be the awesome black woman that I know I am.” #reclaimingmytime
Dear Nic09, not every person that has a different opinion is a troll. I would really like to see a little bit of debate here, but that is impossible because all the comments that are different are either being deleted or attact (even they are not disrespectful nor hateful- and hey, the comment calling people names ARE published, but I guess you have to give vile names to RIGHT people). No wonder this site has such low reviews, and I will also surely rate it. I want to address all the points that you attacked me for:
1. I am not using the word ‘liar’ talking about Omid, but if he can tell in his interview that he is 33, and he is actually born in July 1981, why wouldn’t he change the truth about the sources?
2. I ACTUALLY LIKE THE COUPLE, AND I AM ON THEIR SIDE. Only I cannot believe that they always did everything right, and polite, and perfect and they are just like that, out of nowhere being attacked, all the time. It’s not just with the press or Royal family, but everyone. Megan is perfect, with perfect manners, the most intelligent, the most polite, the hard-working, humanitarian,and yet everyone is bullying her-her father, her siblings, her friends, royals, press, courtiers, staff, litterally everyone. This is the reason that we have so many haters, and the reason the book is not credible. Please, let them be humans, and humans make mistakes. Because it is more credible that she is a woman with good and bad characteristics, like we all are, and not a soap opera villain or an angel from the sky.
Maybe, just maybe she didn’t understand that it is not possible to try Tiara before wedding. You say The Queen is the person of habit, and as we see she didn’t borrow tiara to K prior to wedding, so she didn’t want to break her habit for Megan either. There is nothing rasistic or evil about it, and noone is a bad guy. And certainly there’s not anything bad about what M did.
3. I admit that I haven’t been following this topic for a long time, and probably don’t know as much as you do. The lockdown brought me a little bit more free time, and I started occasionally visiting the gossip sites. I have not read the descriptions of The Queen’s vault, corridors. If it was already written about it, could you suggest where I could read it? And if staff and courtiers talked to Omid, who is openly pro M from the start, then after all, they are not all against her?!
I hope that my comment will be published. Hope you have a good day
@ A That what I was talking about- the same policy, the same rules. They shouldn’t have argued about the rules. It’s the same as we all would be argue about rules and regulations, trespassing through someone’s backyard, orno swimming sign, or no parking…
We are tracking for a million Covid deaths soon and the UK tabloids are still talking about a stupid fucking Tiara?