People Magazine has some “exclusives” about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the current issue. The exclusives seem to be about the move to Montecito and whether this move was always in the cards, or whether they’re just making the best out of the situation they’ve found themselves in. There’s nothing super-new here, which makes me think that it really is some PR fluff authorized by Meghan and Harry. Some highlights:
The move to Montecito: A source tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue that the move marks a “pivotal moment” for Meghan, Prince Harry and their 1-year-old son, Archie. “This is their permanent home,” the insider says. “Ever since Archie arrived, everything has been so turbulent, and many things have been up in the air. It has not been easy, necessarily. For the first time in a long time, they have a clear focus.”
Why Santa Barbara: “They both love California, and Santa Barbara has a magic to it — the mountains, oceans, vineyards, flowers, gardens,” says a source close to the couple. “It’s so beautiful.”
Archie loves the space: “Archie is really happy, and he has some space to run free,” the source says. “The house came with a play structure that he’ll be climbing in no time. They’re excited to be there and to become part of the community. It’s a really happy time for them as a family.”
Was this their original plan though? The home they just purchased in Santa Barbara, California wasn’t part of their original plan. The couple had initially intended to “split their time in the Commonwealth” with a home in Canada, a source tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. However, “things got in the way that made that more difficult. This decision has not always been on the cards. If it had, they would not have gone through everything else they have gone through.”
While reading Finding Freedom, I came to the conclusion that Harry has likely driven the majority of these kinds of decisions. I’ve said this in other posts, but it really feels like Harry is trying to create a situation – first in Windsor, now in Montecito – where he has his little family away from everybody else, and he just has Meghan and Archie all to himself. That’s what HE wants. I think Meghan would have been fine making a home in London, or making a home in LA.
Also: there’s a really dumb story in the British tabloids – it originated in the Sun, but other outlets picked it up – claiming Harry and Meghan’s household staff in Montecito make fun of Meghan for using Britishisms or British phrasing. First of all, I’m not convinced they have staff. Yet. Second of all, Americans don’t really give a sh-t about that kind of thing like Brits. Yes, we thought Madonna sounded like an idiot when she adopted a British accent out of nowhere, but Meghan probably says stuff like “lift” or “boot” or “dahling” and it’s not a big deal.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Santa Barbara is heaven – I just know they are loving it and Archie will have a great childhood there. It’s a great choice – close enough to LA but still very much it’s own bubble.
I *do* think they have staff though. I could see an assistant and house manager at least. That house alone and the grounds it’s on are just too big to handle themselves, no shade just reality. Plus if they are ramping up projects, moving into a new place, raising a toddler…they have to have some help with all that.
I am sure they have staff, but they might not have any live-in staff. Or maybe, on a property that large, they use one of the other buildings for any staff that may need to be on property more? Like the nanny lives in the guesthouse or something?
I’m not sure like Kaiser said they’ve only been living there for six weeks and they obviously have to settle in and stuff before they start work, it’s not like they‘ve had anywhere permanent to be able to hire staff. Most PAs and stuff from LA prefer to stay in the LA because they have acting jobs etc so it’s unlikely they’d be able to transfer staff (if they did have them there) over.
And yeah I don’t think they have/will have live in staff after all they’ve been through with people stealing their stuff/breaking in, taking unortharised pictures leaking info the courtiers and the dodgy nanny I don’t think they want someone permanently invading their space.
If I had to guess, they definitely have a house manager who manages the staff that maintains the grounds, cleans the house and does the grocery shopping. I agree that they probably don’t have any live in staff and are 100% hands on with Archie with Doria coming to visit frequently to babysit.
I think it’s pretty impossible to live for 6 weeks in a million sq.ft “estate” with gardens and 59 bathrooms without *some* staff.
They’s need a full-time person just to clean all those bathrooms! /s
Am I the only one that gets the large number of bathrooms? Like, each bedroom has one, but I bet there’s one or two off the kitchen, one off the living room, one off the garage, a couple in areas just for the staff. It just makes sense in a house that big to have bathrooms all over, so you don’t have to run back to a bedroom or have guests roaming around looking for one.
I support the bathrooms! Wasn’t there a study done years ago about how the number of bathrooms in a house correlates with family happiness or something? Anyway, it’s been rough quarantining with 5 people in a two bathroom house, so I’m envious of all the en suites and powder rooms I’m imagining in their mansion. Especially since someone else will be cleaning them!
I totally get all of the bathrooms. The house is huge so you need some scattered around the first floor. I need a bathroom within a short run from where I spend most of my time so I can see why there’s so many bathrooms. No one tells you the side effects of having your gallbladder out.
They have 9-bedrooms, and a 2-bedroom guest house. My guess would be that there are probably 2 in the guest house, an on-suite bathroom in at least 7-bedrooms, 1 for the game room, 1 for the library, and 4 scattered throughout the main house (1 of them probably close to the swimming pool).
No Lauren, you’re not alone. Starting with 9 en-suites in the bedrooms, it’s easy to get to 16-18 in a large estate. Plus I totally approve.
When I think of staff I think a minimum of 10+ people. Because of covid and California mostly locked down, I doubt they have more than a couple of people “on staff”. Which is why the tabloid story about the staff laughing at Megan doesn’t ring true. I also disagree with Kaiser that Harry is making all of the decisions. Megan doesn’t strike me as a passive person. I feel like they do have a partnership. I can’t imagine that Megan really wanted to stay in London or LA and Harry ignoring her.
“he just has Meghan and Archie all to himself” — I listened to the podcast, and the same point was brought up! I know it comes from a good place, perhaps H is trying to heal his family from the nonsense that happened in the UK. I hope he does know he cannot possibly have M all to himself! LOL
That phrase stuck out to me too but I think it has a lot to do with the structure of a royal household, where there is always staff about, you feel like every little decision has to be vetted, etc. Now there is no one telling them how to live as a family. It’s probably weird – in a good way – after the drama of 2018/2019 – to be living together and being able to tune out so much of the noise .
Yes, Harry has never lived in a home without lots of staff about. This is all new to him – probably a long-term dream of his. Having an actual private space for just him and his family must be an incredibly exciting experience for him right now.
And I’m sure there are companies that handle this, who are known and trusted, and as someone mentioned above, who handle the management and hiring, at least vetting before anyone gets to H&M.
Can you blame him? He’s been through hell his most of his life. He deserves this. He deserves his lovely little family, he deserves the beautiful estate and he deserves this time to heal and build something himself from scratch. He’s clearly thriving right now!
I am not blaming him at all; I am just saying that what he is trying to achieve is not 100% possible
He proposed to a woman who wants to be involved, wants to be out there making changes and has always worked; he cannot possibly have her all to himself….he will have to learn to share her!
I started paying attention to the RF because of M. I couldn’t give a crap out of the RF, H included, so I may be biased
And that’s exactly what’s happening. When I say he wants them all to himself, I mean he does NOT want them under the thumb of The Firm and other members of the royal family. He wants his own family unit with a wife who is an equal partner. Harry isn’t holding Meghan back AT ALL. He’s always has and always will encourage her to pursue her projects and goals. And now she can without that toxic firm trying to control and limit her.
‘Can you blame him’ is just a turn of phrase I don’t think Snuffles was accusing you of anything! And yeah VS, same! Most of my love is for Meghan and little Archie!
I think this is what people are projecting onto him based on the decisions being taken. That’s likely not his actual thought process. There needs to be a distinction between what we think might be happening versus what is actually happening BTS. I doubt he is trying to keep Meghan to himself. It’s likely that they approach issues as a partnership, consider each other’s needs as individuals and then make decisions from there.
But Meghan IS getting involved in things. He isn’t holding her back at all. He grew up in a messed up family and he now has the family he has always wanted and will protect her and Archie at all costs. He has never held her back.
So let me get this straight, according to the tabloids’ own reporting over the years, she was too American for the Brits, and now she’s too British for the Americans… Jeezus, the woman cannot win.
I really hope H and M are enjoying this time as a family in their new home. It truly must have been a stressful few years…
The tabloids don’t control the narrative anymore and that’s why they’re upset and the Sun and all of them have tried out negative stories and act like they have sources and it’s obvious they don’t as they have been completely drowned out by the US media. You love to see it.
I’m with Kaiser. The person who thought up the “the staff are making fun of Meghan’s new Britishisms” was definitely a Brit.
Right Belli? Do they literally not know we dgaf about British accents and words? Not that we don’t have classism around certain accents or issues with appropriating AAVE, but _no one_ would notice that sh*t. Also I’m sure she uses hella Canadian words, no one is trying to sort through this lol.
When I had an English boyfriend and was spending a lot of time there I picked up Britishisms. You can’t live with someone of another culture without incorporating accents, words, phrases, etc. Why the British gutter press would spin “the staff are making fun of Meghan” into such a BFD is ridiculous.
American here. Personally, I love learning new words from the UK, Aus, etc. I had a Kiwi boss who always reminded us to change the loo rolls. In Aus, they call Speedos “budgie smugglers” and here in the US some say “banana hammock” for the same item. Not to forget internet slang too! Love it. Language is fun!
Their smear is weak. 0/10.
I will say, as an American who has lived abroad in multiple countries for more than 8 years, I get comments from Americans (living in the US) when I’m “back home” for using more neutral phrases (that I use when speaking to a group of multinational people so my language is most clear to the entire group). It’s not necessarily malicious, but I’ve noticed it, and it does create a sense that you don’t belong in the place that you grew up in. I wouldn’t be surprised if Meghan got some of this kind of feedback, although I would highly doubt it would come from staff.
@Belli, they probably think that Meghan is some kind of poser, using British terms to sound more British or whatever. When in reality, no one really gives a crap about these things in America. They don’t even have a working grasp of history, bc if they did, they’d know that this is why America kind of exists in the first place. To shed those ridiculous attitudes, lmao.
none of the uk tabloids has access to H&M. There is no way anyone will sell them info when there is TMZ right there who will be a buyer!
Exactly!! If anyone is getting the scoop it will be US outlets. This is their turf and there is no way in hell they are sharing it with the U.K. tabloids.
I think it depends on who pays the most.
@ Vs, agreed! We Yanks have seen the way they have treated our CA girl, and we don’t like it one bit! They won’t be able to pull that crap here, only across the pond.
And I would imagine that they do have some help. A house manager that manages the cleaning and the landscaping crews. But probably only one on site in the guest house for certain periods possibly.
Well, the Queen said all or nothing so she got nothing!
I really do think they are VERY happy right now. I just came from watching their Commonwealth meeting and they’re both GLOWING. Meghan is getting involved in the election and making great connections. Harry has his Netflix documentary coming out. Invictus and Travelyst are thriving. They’re shopping around TV pitches which means they could be establishing a production company like the Obamas.
Everything seems to be clicking! I am SO happy for them!!
Yes, Snuffles. Richly deserved. And their charities are thriving. Camfed has now surpassed 100,000 dollars and growing.
@ Snuffles, and TQ can thank her grandson as his hand prints are all over Harry and Meghans backs as he was hoping that he could exile them somewhere as partial royals to Australia or Africa. But Limp Wilrose didn’t think that Harry would reject those 2 offers and walk away with nothing leaving him and Her Laziness in the lurch. Joke is on Limp Wilrose, and he has no more roses in his garden too, or Her Laziness will unexpectedly become pregnant!
I actually think that they may visit the U.K. before the end of the year, although Covid may be the deciding factor.
Hmm I disagree, I think the wound is too fresh, I honestly don’t see them coming back for another 3 years, and having a new child that time will fly away!
I’m sure this was not their original plan – when they wanted to be half in/half out, they probably would have continued their focus on the commonwealth and I just think the whole set up would have worked better if they were in Canada half the time, the UK the other half.
I imagine once the family said “nope” to that idea, Harry was like, fine, I’m going to go live my best life in California, see ya!
That’s my feeling too. If the half-in/half-out deal had been approved? The Windsors would have pulled strings to let them live in Canada half the year. In the Vancouver area where they had easy access to flights to see Doria in LA, movers and shakers in Seattle or Silicon Valley. Meg Tilly (Agnes of God) was able to disappear and raise her kids in peace in the Gulf Islands, British Columbia.
To be honest half in half out would’ve only worked for another 3 to 4 years until Archie starts primary school (kindergarten) school at that point they’d need to choose where they’re going to stay unless they were to send him to boarding school – but not many people do that for young kids (and I seriously doubt they would, but we all know royals are partial to boarding school) and I’m quite sure the minimum age for boarding school is 8/10, but you get the gist
I disagree slightly with you becks, I think they would’ve still stayed in Canada had it not been for the whole faux taxpayer thing the tabloids stirred upDuring their early stays at Vancouver island. They knew where it was headed – (another smear campaign) – and decided to get out early and cut all ties, the same with Frogmore and staying part time in the U.K. I don’t think it had anything to do with the half in half out part time royal thing, I think they would’ve still done it anyway.
If they were half-in, half-out, the taxpayers would have paid the security as working royals. With lots of grumbling, but a deal would have been worked out with some govt (Canada or UK) paying the security costs. With them being in a nebulous state, it was a lot easier for tabloids to scream about security costs for ‘former working royals’.
If they were working royals, their security would still have been covered by the taxpayers – no one was screeching about their security in Canada until the announcement that they would no longer be working royals. Factor in immigration issues, and losing their roles as Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors, and there was not a lot of incentive to stay in a commonwealth country anymore.
If this is true I don’t really blame Harry for trying to essentially create a bubble. I don’t think they ever got that time to peacefully be a new family (hell, or newlyweds for that matter) and just BE. It’s also nice to have a place where it’s just them when the outside gets to be to much. I’m sure they have staff but not nearly as many as there were in the BRF.
This! H & M just need space to breathe after the last four years and I applaud them for deciding against Canada as their home base.
These tabloids have gone bonkers and have been completely shot down. The US know better than to fumble the bag the way the BM did because now you have people begging on television for them to return and being upset about the possibility of them never returning. That Montecito home got people bothered and the tabloids will continue to lose because that’s why their bitter. They literally depended on Harry/Meghan to keep them afloat and thriving as an industry and are bitter they didn’t play the game.
He’s been trying to keep away from it all since the house in the Cotswolds that they got chased out of. I really hope they can stay here long-term.
People got this info from their January statement and that pap lawsuit which said they originally were based in Canada. When p/t was rejected and they stepped down completely then need to be in CW territory went. Their statement about moving to new home had point about getting to know community etc & a place to raise Archie.
The fan fiction is strong with this one. Sun didn’t know they had moved for weeks but now suddenly knows people helping with the home. Sure. It’s funny to see these papers pretend to be in the know. They really fumbled their own bag with their OTT coverage
Oh, the tabs are completely making shit up at this point. They have NOTHING and it’s KILLING them!
Agree. This is some crazy fan fiction. It’s really pathetic the nonsense these tabloids come up with.
I agree the tabloids know nothing and are making this up to make her look bad, yet again. Even if they did have staff, there is no way that they would speak about them. They’d lose their jobs in a minute!
I really hope this is a permanent home for them. They’ve been through a looooot of major life changes in the 4 years they’ve been together. It probably helps that they seem to actually like each other and work well together professionally, in addition to being in love. Hopefully they prove those wishing for their demise wrong.
Agree, Taylor!
These past couple months and everyone being at home all of the time has really tested peoples’ relationships. Luckily M&H are very deeply in love and probably don’t mind the seclusion.
Meghan has been so passionate and vocal about issues like feminism, food insecurity and racism. I’m excited to see what happens now she’s out of that toxic institution.
Next up is a #WhenAllWomenVote event with USOwomen and Valerie Jarrett.
Americans don’t get Britishisms. My husband works with someone from the UK and when she uses phrases he doesn’t understand he just ignores them.
Why doesn’t he ask her what she means to make working together easier? I would want to know what she meant, but words intrigue me.
He doesn’t have a lot of contact with her. Only when they do quarter end I think. It’s usually thinks like how was your weekend or how are you doing and she responds with something off the wall. He’s usually too busy to get into asking what the hell she’s talking about.
I love colloquialisms and have always been curious about their meaning so I ask. When I had an English boyfriend I loved hearing them and we’d have a “right larf” about it, so naturally I started picking them up. Ignoring words and phrases you don’t understand is kind of insular and narrow-minded.
It’s mainly that he’s too busy to get into asking what she means. He’s a numbers guy so the story doesn’t matter. They’re usually in contact during quarter end which is 15 days of 16 hour days.
It might have been an offer or suggestion. H&M are savvy enough to know the BRF is incapable of change. Change for the BRF would require giving up the positions of entitled grifters.
“The couple had initially intended to “split their time in the Commonwealth” with a home in Canada, a source tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. However, “things got in the way that made that more difficult. “
Is that a reference to the security costs or what am I missing there?
I believe the issue was that, because the Queen said you are either in or you’re out, that living in Canada was no longer an option as their Visas would expire as they were no longer “working royals”. That’s why they had to escape to California before the borders closed. They could put down roots in the US because Meghan is still a US citizen and could sponsor Harry as her spouse.
As they were no longer representatives of the Queen or the UK, there was no reason for them to stay in Canada. They’re not Canadian citizens and it would have been easier for them to just go to the US since Meghan and Archie are citizens.
No I think it refers to the fact “half-in/half-out” was rejected by the BRF (William). They weren’t bound to live in the Commonwealth if Harry wasn’t going to be the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador anymore.
Ah that makes more sense, thanks! If the firm was concerned about H&M becoming stars in their own right and outshining other more senior members then I guess is makes sense that they would not want them setting up shop in another country and creating what essentially could be seen as a direct “competition.” I mean, a normal person would probably be like “the more positive works from this lazy family the better!” But the firm in its toxicity never would have thought about it that way.
HOw did William get to call the shots? That to me is rather odd.
I think this was clear from their original statement – they wanted to do part-time royal work but were told no way, no how so they decided to leave completely.
Yeah, but there were a lot of people on here who chose not to believe them and thought they were just being nice or something? The narrative here has always been that they wanted out fully and mainly blamed the family. However, the Sussexes have always said that it was mainly the media and they wanted to continue part time. I’ve always thought that we should believe the Sussexes. Especially given that all the false narratives being created for them was what they were most upset about. It just seems weird not to take their word for it. The Sussex Royal website was very detailed on what they wanted and why they wanted it. Apparently, no one actually read it.
Many posters on here were supportive of the half-in, half-out idea. It made sense. Harry and Meghan could 1) represent the Queen in the Commonwealth and UK 2) pursue larger charity projects without W&K stealing the credit and funding 3) be free to work earning personal money on the side.
If William hadn’t gone incandescent with rage over them being out of his control yet still working royals? The half-in, half-out deal would have moved forward.
They would have supported the Queen for the rest of her reign, supported Charles, but peaced out the second Charles passed. As long as they had been able to do the half-in, half-out for those two reigns, they’d be financially set to walk away from king Billy the Basher.
What? I think many of us here did actually read it. And many of us pointed out that there WAS a precedent for the half-in/half-out model (see the Kents.)
What I do remember (and I’m not going back to some of those 400 comment posts, lol) is that many of us felt that they were going to be half-in half-out and then peace out completely when William became king.
but if you read Finding Freedom (which I know is not the gospel, contrary to what someone said yesterday, lol, but it does have some insider info) – the problem was absolutely the family and how the family did not defend them from the media. Factor in the fact that they couldn’t get the funding they wanted for their projects because of the “hierarchy,” which is why they wanted a way to earn their own money, and it ended up being a perfect storm.
When their website went up everyone here was talking about it and about their offer to work part-time for the BRF, and as said above a lot of posters thought it made sense. A lot of posters were also saying that it could be a good model going forward for other non-heir children of the monarch/ future heir who would also have to eventually transition away from being full-time working royals , e.g. Charlotte and Louis.
I spent three months in England one year and I came back with an (involuntary) accent….it went away after a while
People mag didn’t need a source to write this. It’s basically information gleaned from their statements since they announced they were leaving the royal family, simple deduction and knowledge about Santa Barbara.
Can’t imagine the insecurity this couple may face, for their own comfort and safety. They probably have to vet their staff more thoroughly than the average wealthy person. The immense public interest in them is scary sometimes. I wouldn’t be able to do it. I’d be thinking am I being recorded? Would my staff run to TMZ or others? Makes sense why they did not opt for live-in staff, if true.
Beyoncé gets on just fine. They need loyal ppl to them. Pay them a little more than they’re worth and treat them kind and valued. They will go to bat for them.
the Sun article was so cringe, with the speech bubbles and the rhyming slang, it was so awful I had to laugh.
That article about Meghan adopting Britishisms was weird. I agree that I find the idea that they have staff is a little sketchy. In a pandemic? Maybe some folks to come in and help clean or do some maintenance or design for the new house. Second, is “darling” really a “Britishism”?
@Mumbles ‘Darling’ is very much a middle-upper middle-upper class thing, often as a substitute for ‘you’. Working class men use it sometimes as a put-down, sometimes as a come-on. Couples will use it affectionately. And it’s what I call my mother.
Oh God here they come with a fake ‘staff’ stories again! 🙄🙄
That whole staff thing is so obviously a lie, it’s almost laughable. This isn’t the palace where you’re assigned some staff who should be grateful. This sounds like trying to drag up that old TAtler Me-gain article. The people who probably work in those houses are probably used to dealing with all kinds of international millionaires and demanding Hollywood types. Their staff probably have a super tight NDA and know much better than to gossip. It’s really easy to fire people in the US. Also ,realistically, most of the household staff in those houses are probably immigrant labor so doubt they’re being the language police, and may not even deal directly with the Sussexes anyway. British tabloids, always salty.. those fools never learn.
What’s this ridiculous story about the staff? And funny how the Sun magically managed to get the staff to talk. How come they didn’t get said staff to speak 6 weeks ago when they first brought the house? How did they find said staff? This just reads like another BS article. The Sun have no scoops nor have they got any of the staff to talk.
As for the CW stuff, I always thought that the Sussexes would focus on the CW and the Cambridges would focus on the UK when they were still working royals. It seemed that the Sussexes still wanted to work with the CW but the BRF vetoed it so they said okay “let’s move to the CA where the BRF has no jurisdiction”
Meghan and Harry’s household staff (if they even have any yet) wouldn’t dare disrespect Meghan, she is their boss. It’s not like the staff at the palace, who seem to be able to do whatever they want because they think they’re above you. Meghan and harry would have hired their own staff, so if they want to make fun of their bosses and then leak it to the Scum then they won’t have a job for very long.
Again more BS most likely made up from KP to the Scum, but they seem to forget Meghan doesn’t need to be controlled by her own staff anymore. Plus I’m sure they have gone to extra effort to find the right employees who are loyal.
Rumours of what the fired-after-two-nights night nanny did to Archie (injured him, photos, videos) show a lot of disrespect.
I think the staff they had when they were still in the firm were most likely working against them. They would have been hired by the firm, so not exactly trust worthly. The staff they have now are on the other side of the planet away from that environment with no access to the firm. They now have complete control over who they let in their house.
I wonder if they caught her drinking/drunk on the job? Or she tried to sneak a guy in? Lots of “unprofessional” stuff to choose from.
My guess is she was trying to take his picture for one of the tabloids. Maybe Willie tasked her with the job just to keep wootton fed. I really hope she wasn’t planning on harming him.
Oh my god, there have been no rumors about that. Jesus, why are spreading lies?
@NVYwife – what do you mean? There have been lots of rumors about it.
I think she fell asleep while holding Archie and he fell out of her arms. His crying could have woke up Harry and Meghan. They didn’t seem to have a problem with a nanny during the day just at night.
Also, Dan has the exclusive on the night nurses so she also could have taken pictures and sold info to him.
@Becks source?
I’ve stopped reading the British tabloids as they all are cringeworthy. Plus, I feel they take a tiny truth and color it horribly. I just see excerpts on here. I think in this story, I still believe when Covid gets better, the Sussexes will spend significant time in the UK, as they stated when they left. I have a few reasons, one I think Harry, who is obviously very British will want to be there. The cultures are different, and he’ll want to show his son it and not just as a visitor. Obviously, unlike most people, they have the ability to do this. Not to mention I think both Harry and Meghan will want a closer relationship with at least some members of his family too. Second, and it’s a bit basic, my guess tax wise and wanting to have some financial privacy with the “royal” money, which Harry does have some, along with some visa issues may may affect their living arrangements too.
I just don’t see anything from Harry and Meghan’s perspective which has changed much from their original comments on leaving in January. Granted their last royal engagement was hard, but I think they expected that. If anything Covid has probably made them more likely to spend time in the UK to be closer to family while you can. I’m not sure why people feel they may have changed on this idea, other than they haven’t left yet and they bought a really nice home in CA. It’s not responsible to pick up and leave the US to go to the UK now though. They have the ability to live how they planned more than the average person and I hope they do. When Archie gets older and in school perhaps things will be different, but who knows he might go to Britain to boarding school too. American’s like to belittle this, but it’s not like our education system is stellar. Connecticut which has done a great job with COVID, several recent days they have had zero infections, the state is still having issues opening schools, especially 6-12 grade level. Why you may ask, as the governor put it the schools are too big in population and not enough physical room to space out and class sizes are too large. Most US schools are just too big for a great education. If I had a choice between the British or US education system, I’d choose the British too, even in the ultra private school market. In the upper level University system, I’d choose the US though. We’ve made a cottage industry on Universities.
I hate the term “social-climbing!”
What’s wrong with making new friends, particularly if your former friends become toxic?
Besides, when people move far away or have a relationship change like a divorce, it’s normal for friendships to fade. It’s life.
And the British thing of “knowing your place” shows how they abhor anyone working hard to improve their life.
Heaven forbid someone gets educated and makes more money than their parents—that’s considered “cunning” to the British apparently.
Because only money that is inherited is deemed acceptable.
Being focused, working hard, networking is looked down upon as “ambitious” and “self-serving.”
With how things stand now with COVID and other potential things ( 🤰), I seriously doubt they’ll come back to the UK this year. Fingers crossed next year COVID will be under control and they can travel.
If I had to guess, in the future their trips to UK will be limited to business trips, occasional family events, extended summer visits and the occasional Christmas (switching years between California and the UK).
I’m also willing to bet that Archie will NOT be attending school in the UK. Boarding school seems out of the question. It will probably be a very expensive local private school in Santa Barbara with Archie living at home.
Santa Barbara Area has lots of high quality private schools and Montecito’s k-6 school district is wonderful. Their kids will not be going to British boarding school.
The only person with visa issues would be Harry. Meghan and Archie are American citizens; they need no visa to stay in their home country. Harry is a rich white guy from a white country so he will have no visa problems either.
I doubt seriously the Sussex family will be going back to UK anytime soon for any significant period of time. They are done and any suggestion otherwise is fan fiction and wishful thinking.
@Alexandra—Just speculation, but I doubt the Sussexes will send their child to a private school in the racist and classist Aristo system they just fled. And just FYI, your description applies to public schools and not the best of public schools either. Private schools in the US are a whole other thing. Before high school, the student teacher ratio is 6 to 1; in high school the student teacher ratio is no more than 10 to 1. How children are taught is completely different from the drill and test regime in US public schools. Just do a Google search on top US boarding schools. They playing in a whole other league. One more than equal to the British “public“ school system.
There’s also a number of British American schools through out the country. Mainly for foreigners who have moved to the states due to work and want a system that reflects more of where they came from. My son did a trial day at our local one when we were looking for private schools. At the time they didn’t offer any grades past age 16 so we went with another school but they’ve since added an IB program. It would be more in line with the education Harry is familiar with. But Archie could also receive a wonderful private education.
Sorry dear, I hate to break it to you, but they’re not spending time in a four bedroom cramped rickety cottage when they’ve got a nine bed 16 bathroom estate and mansion looking over the mountains. And as said in Finding Freedom Harry finds being in Frogmore cottage very traumatic, empty and cold and I’m sure Meghan does too. There is nothing about British culture these last four years that I think Harry would want to stick onto and certainly nothing about his so-called ‘relatives’ (yes they are relatives, no longer ‘family’, Meghan and Archie are).
Archie going to boarding school in the UK with the caliber of schools we have in the US?
OK…..that kid is not leaving Harry’s sight
OMG, not “Britishisms or British phrasing”! The horror!!
My kids grew up on Peppa Pig, and we’ve all adopted some of the British phrasing from that show. Straight away, stabilizers, ready/steady/go, etc.
I highly doubt Meghan is Amanda Buffamonteezi from friends calling herself “a perfect arse”.
My twin nieces, who are 100% American, used to use words like “skipping rope” and would pronounce the word plant like PLAHNT when they were little, simply from watching shows like Peppa Pig and some other show (I’m blanking on the name). It happens.
You should hear my five year old talk about how a dessert has a “lovely bake” or “good flavor” thanks to the Great British Baking Show lol. (he also has declared Paul Hollywood his hero….)
Postman Pat? Shaun the Sheep?
TeleTubbies?
Amazing how kids pick up things. I taught a Asian little girl privately once, and because she spoke English with an American accent l asked if her previous tutor was American because English was not spoken at home. Her mother said no, she said her daughter had got an American accent through watching Cartoon Network! 😐
I don’t think this is that unusual. I was born southern, although I have spent the vast majority of my adult life in the northeast. Although I don’t sound like a New Yorker I do have certain words that let it be known where I live now. Also, if I go down south I role back into y’all and a slight southern accent. I wonder if being an actor and noticing things like accents it made her more likely to do this?
The Sun, is making crap up. Everyone adopts a phrase or two, if you lived in a particular place for a while. No staff, having been given a job in their new home is telling tales, it will be tracked, and the person would be sacked. The Sun wants to give us a false impression that, Monticieto is like KP and BP, such bare face lies! It must be exciying for Harry living a completely different life, his own bought property in a beautiful town, , beautiful weather, probably getting involved with decorating. How exciting! This house is such a trigger for the British Media.
It’s sooooo funny how triggered they are that a *blood prince*…bought a nice house? I’ve even seen people on here (possibly from tumblr, who knows) clutching pearls about the size of the house, the grounds, etc.
I thought about the alternative. Let’s say Harry & Meghan decided to buy a modestly-sized mid-century bungalow in an ungated L.A. neighborhood (which of course, they couldn’t because they wouldn’t be able to meet their security needs, but I digress). I guarantee the narrative would be about “Harry’s reduced circumstances after leaving the Firm” & how “Meg is forcing a Prince to cosplay middle class life” (cue accusations of hypocrisy about any criticism of William doing the same). Sample DM headline: “Raised in Palaces. Now Living in a Cramped Bungalow: How Harry’s Bid for “Freedom” Cost Him His Birthright.”
Ha ha Lizzie you should become a Daily Fail writer! 🤣🤣 uncanny!
@Tealie They should cut me a check lol.
You mean l can’t say “ Bob’s your uncle” without snarkily being accused of using Britishisms?🤭 l LOVE that term, don’t take it away from me!
No you can’t! [sarcasm]…nor can you say “argy-bargy” for an argument, “dodgy barnet” for a bad haircut or “ta luv”.
I’ve picked up so much British terminology just from Celebitchy alone. Language is so great!
I LOVE that one, along with “Happy as Larry!”
Better check to see if your staff is mocking you, LOL
British tabloids know nothing about the Sussex’s it’s clearly that the Sussex’s move to a new house has caught the tabloids by surprise even if the Sussex’s has staff . I highly doubt that they are speaking to the tabloids especially the sun this the sun just making things up to get the Meghan haters to click on their website for revenue. The royal reporters and tabloids are become desperately for any news about Meghan and Harry they even have a article about paint that’s how desperately they have become to make money off of them .
I’m so delighted for Meghan and Harry. They’ve found their lobster. They have their son, their own home in beautiful surroundings, their charity work and causes – after all that hell, they have a lovely life. It is just so profoundly wonderful. Isn’t it just brilliant?!
I’m also so delighted about the karma that is heading towards Penis With Teeth and Wiglet like a full-speed glacier. Mr and Mrs DullnBoring have to cope with the fact that no-one but Daily Heil bots find them interesting, that they personally drove out the best thing to happen to the Royal Family for years and *could have saved the monarchy*, and PWT’s affair rumours have been resuscitated. Couldn’t have happened to nicer people.
I don’t think Charles is going to humour PWT when Old Brenda steps off this mortal coil – does anyone else? Anyone have the feeling that PWT is going to land on his arse HARD when Charles IV ascends the throne?
I really, really hope so. I would LOVE to see William get put in his place. SO much of this mess could have been completely avoided if William had simply been…not such an ass.
I don’t think William will be invested with PoW as soon as he and Kate hope. I think that’ll be their punishment for all they did to Harry & Meghan. Denying them that title, especially Diana cosplaying Kate and Ma Midds, will hurt. They really have done nothing to earn it, and I hope Charles holds on to it until his dying days.
This is what I think. Charles is going to hold on to the PoW title (meaning he wont invest William as PoW) for a hot minute. I wouldn’t be surprised if he holds onto it until a significant milestone – William turning 50, George turning 18 (which happen around the same time, William turns 50 in 2032 and George turns 18 in 2031, so he could invest William around then).
I think that will be partly due to Charles punishing William, partly due to Charles trying to get William to step up more, and partly due to concerns about a Cambridge divorce. I think if there is any speculation at the palaces about a divorce, he’ll hold off on PoW.
I agree, Becks1. There is precedent for holding off on the Letters Patent for POW, and for the investiture. If he gets hints W&K are headed for divorce, he and William would agree to hold off on the titling until the divorce is final. That leaves Kate with the lesser title, and less title confusion if William remarries.
George V waited almost a full year after Victoria’s death before Edward VII made him Prince of Wales so it’s not unusual to wait. He was noted as Duke of Cornwall and York and he and his wife did a tour in 1901. There is a plaque in Toronto at U of T that commemorates their visit in 1901 as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. So there is precedent to delay the investiture. Plus is billy going to learn any welsh? Charles at least took that seriously.
William will be Prince of Wales the minute Charles becomes King.
No, PrincessK. William becomes Duke of Cornwall the moment the Queen passes. He is not Prince of Wales until there are Letters Patent published to that effect. The investiture comes later.
Charles was made POW through Letters Patent in 1958, six years after Princess Elizabeth became QEII. There wasn’t an investiture until 1969.
@Nota…what I mean is that William as the heir to the throne is automatically POW. I remember you saying that Prince Charles fancy investiture was largely for show. The ceremony may not happen immediately but William will be Prince of Wales after Charles is crowned King.
I don’t think he will give him the POW title for a very long time. He definitely won’t give it whilst he’s still married to Kate. Even if they divorce she will still call her princess of Wales, or Princess Kate and she will forever cosplay Diana, even after she’s turfed out of Kensington palace. In fact maybe that’s the thing she’s holding out for , if she’s knows she’s not gonna make it to ‘queen consort’ status.
Charles is just like his mother – cowardly. He will never confront William and insist he behaves like a decent human being to his brother and get to work already and earn that position he was just born into. Nah! Only the UK can rise up and make the necessary changes to this institution those within are simply happy to carry on as is.
I’m not sure…Charles is quite a pushover (well, not a pushover but William is quite a bully) I think PWT will be pushing his weight around for quite some time to come. But unlike now, it won’t fair him well. This has been his first two years of his ‘king training‘ as they say, with Charles and Betty giving him free rein to experience rule and see how he runs the house, and he’s almost destroyed the monarchy with his jealously and male pattern baldness 🤭🤭! I CAN’T WAIT for the next few years! He thinks this is the 1960s and he can run the monarchy like his grandmother did and automatically inherit the respect that allowed her to (much like Charles did with Diana) and it shows through his gross arrogance, but it won’t, and people will not like it. Disaster and destruction through his own designs will run a wreck through the Windsor household, and I won’t shed a tear!
In case anyone is interested I did tarot reading and asked what Willie and Kate’s intentions were with harry and Meghan. It was a very dark reading, firstly with the 7wands and 5wands, so they are very defensive and competitive with h+m. I saw a lot of back stabbing and betrayal from them especially towards harry. The 7 swords is a card of lying and cheating, and the 10 of swords is backstabbing. Also the 7 of cups which is the card of illusions and the page of swords is known for spreading gossip, so they will continue to spread even more lies about them. Their goal is for harry to leave Meghan and essentially be alone (8 cups/ 9pentacles). Also there was the tower card and the death card. Seriously it was a very disturbing reading, every single negative card that came out did. Also in the outcome position was the queen of pentacles (Kate’s card) clarified by the 6 of wands and the star. Kate’s intentions are to be victorious and to literally be the star of the family again, and the only way she sees that happening is if harry leaves Meghan. William and Kate are the dirtiest players and will go to any lengths to ruin harrys life, just for their own good publicity.
Interesting. Thank you for this.
Who is going to win the US presidential election?
I’ve not asked, I’m too scared, although I did do a trump reading a couple of months ago, and from what I can remember there was a bunch of negative cards.
Wow, that is a heavy reading. But the tower and death cards could relate to HM where their past world tumbled down and there had to be death to their old circumstances in order to have a new start. And I’ve learned that the seven of swords is also the card of betrayal and deception which we certainly know WK are capable of. Fascinating, please keep the readings coming and thank you.
I forgot to mention the queens of cups’ which has been showing up everyone of williams readings. I see her as a Pisces as she sometimes comes out with the moon. Someone mentioned to me that rose is a Pisces. Anyway the queen of cups is definitely the 5th player in this game and is integral to what is going on. Kate (queen of pentacles) sees her as even more of a threat than Meghan. In Kate’s readings she’s negative. But in williams she’s positive and he associates her with happiness.
Interesting. Any reading on Andrew?
I love when you share your readings! They are interesting.
Thanks. I haven’t read Andrew, yet. From the readings I have done here’s what I can remember.
-the queen has judged Kate and Meghan the same way (4cups) from afar to suss them out. So she will quietly observe them. The queen was impressed with meghans work ethic (page of Pentacles) and warmed to her after archie was born, but didn’t trust her in the beginning. The queen has felt betrayed by something kate has done (10 swords). She sees harry as the golden child (the sun) and again is impressed with his work ethic (this was done before he left). William is controlling (devil, emperor).
-when harry and Meghan left all the family were sad, even William was sad. The only one who wasn’t was kate who felt like this was a win for her (6 of wands).
-when asked how William feels about the negative press harry has gotten, he does feel sad and anxious about it. When I asked about williams relationship with dan wootton, having to leak info on harry was seen as a negative (knight of pentacles, Harry’s card, and page of pentacles). There is conflict there but in the outcome there was the 2 of cups, which shows they have a good working relationship.
William will eventually soften towards Meghan in the future (6 of swords), i even saw a 2 of cups in the outcome. So maybe he has some redeeming qualities, although I won’t hold my breath.
Kate has crushed on harry (strength) but I don’t think she acted on it.
That’s all I can remember off the top of my head.
Totally made up story. We have heard her speaking off the cuff and speaches and I didn’t detect a whole lot British phrases. I’m sure she picked a few up and no shade if she still uses them. I went to London a dozen years ago and still like to use ‘drips and drabs’ to describe a light rain.
It’s a natural and actually a survival skill to adapt to your environment. Also, some people have a better ear for languages and accents. I naturally try to adapt, but my husband could be a teacher of accents because wherever we go in two days his accent is already morphing.
AS an actress and a person who learns languages easily and onto, married /having worked with brits, Meghan naturally would have integrated some things into her speech.
If anything, instead of making fun of her, it would speak of her trying to fit in, like toning down her wardrobe, etc.
I don’t believe the sun. If they have staff, they wouldn’t make that distinction between Harry and Meghan speaking a certain way – Of all the things to make up. I wonder which Meghan hate site came up with that one.
they are desperate for just any crumb that they can twist
I always say meant instead of “supposed to” because it’s more efficient. i.e. We’re meant to have a meeting about it next week.
No one has ever called me out on that but I don’t have household staff.
That’s a subtle one, BettyRose, and I’ve also noticed that Brits say going to hospital rather than to the hospital.
I say I should do, I could do and I would do
My first husband is English
I picked up all kinds of things
lol the sun is so desperate to be taken as a credible source for Sussexs. Yesterday’s article about them claiming to have gotten a response from their team correcting their lie about harry shouting at queen (which they printed) was hilarious😂especially when every other tab was crediting telegraph as the paper that got a response. That filthy Murdoch paper is the last person who would have a source inside the sussexs especially as harry is suing them for phone hacking and maybe more
To Borrow Kate Nichols line about Kate being “too busy”. “they’re too busy to fly back there”.
They would have been very popular that is why they were not allowed to do it !
Non related but i have been seeing a strong PR campaign happening against MM and pro Kate in France in the last days. Really weird because i fell it was less biased before.
I heard something about this Free. Apparently there was some sort of royal documentary aired in France a couple days ago that was anti-Meghan, but then French twitter was angry about it and was blasting the documentary for attacking her?
Yes ! I did not see it (because champions League 😅), but people reacted on twitter. But most people just believe what they are shown. They dont have twitter. And news Channel and some TV movies were made about H&M and they were mainly very positive for the Sussex. But this one was mainly Samantha and Thomas Markle interviews … And now the Bad articles keep coming. Usually there is few Bad press about Meghan, people dont care much about Kate and William, but they love Harry. And I just read some kind of “Kate top ceo” article …
Meh, the part about the staff poking fun at her is made up. The DM quotes the supposed American source as saying, “They have a giggle.” Americans don’t say that. “They had a laugh – yes – giggle – heck no.” You can always tell when the DM is making that kind of stuff up bc they quote British words no American would use. They even did it to Thomas Markle one time and he said he would never say it that way lol. Got their stories mixed up that day I guess, ha. Anyhow it makes me laugh when they are so clearly bungling these supposed quotes.
I have to laugh at someone being teased for using Britishisms – I am a Canadian married to a Brit, living in Sweden. I say things like “lift”, “rubbish”, “faff”, “boot”, “bonnet”, “chuffed”, etc. No one has ever said a thing to me. Not saying it doesn’t happen, but if it did, what a superficial and stupid thing to focus on.
If it’s even true, I wondered if she called diapers nappies. Since Archie is their first baby, constantly talking about diapers would be new to the two of them and Megan could have picked nappies up pretty easily. I think it’s a funny word (like in a cute, sweet, brings a smile to my face) so if another. American heard her say it there may have been a laugh over it.
Again, iff there is even any truth to it at all!
Honestly, when I see royal’s houses I often cringe because the houses for aristos for me look like museum, so cold and really I prefer my small place over this in the middle of nowhere (non-brit perspective).
I disagree though that Harry had miserable life. Difficult with trauma yes but lots of happy moments too! Then he became floundering as he got older with no visible space for him but I’d say his life is pretty good.
I agree that Meghan would live in London, LA happily but moved because of Harry. I’m happy she’s taking care of him and knowing the real world she knows he has to be occupied, learn hobbies etc.
“I’m happy she’s taking care of him and knowing the real world she knows he has to be occupied, learn hobbies etc.”
M is not H’s mother; I might be misunderstanding what you are saying here. H is an adult who has been in the army