The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are apparently already in New York as I’m writing this. Omid Scobie posted an update on Harry and Meghan’s New York schedule, and it looks like they’re due to make an appearance at One World Trade Center, aka Freedom Tower, the building which replaced the World Trade Towers. They’ll make an appearance at 8 am with New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio and new NY state Governor Kathy Hochul. Wow!!
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan will begin their New York adventure tomorrow morning, September 23, when they join NYC Mayor @BilldeBlasio and @GovKathyHochul for an 8am visit to the @OneWorldNYC Observatory. pic.twitter.com/77HRowHabP
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) September 23, 2021
Obviously, the biggest question I have is… will Meghan wear hot pink to the site of the largest terrorist attack on American soil? I hope not. I do hope that we get some photos of Harry and Meghan at the 9/11 Memorial, especially the beautifully stark water feature. As for Harry and Meghan meeting the mayor and the governor… as many Sussex Squaders have already noted, it makes perfect sense for Harry and Meghan to basically act like this is a royal visit. It IS a royal visit. It IS a royal event. Of course one of their first stops will need to be “shaking hands with dignitaries.” A lot of keen people over on Salt Island are going to be so mad, my God.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
The Mayor’s and Governor’s offices post this info yesterday, for you guys thinking Omid Scobie had a scoop.
So the Sussexes are in NYC, they sure can multitask.
No one said Omid had a scoop. She said he posted an update, which he did. Many of us don’t follow the NYC mayor’s office for press releases lol.
@Jan: I was just going to say the same thing. When this news came out all the UK royal reporters were asleep. Omid just rewrote the Mayor’s office press release. It was the NY press that first tweeted about it last evening.
Right so its public record no need for a meltdown. Lol
Oh they’ll still melt down alright
Multi-tasking…sigh….it’s a skill I admire in others and long for in myself. I can barely get one thing at a time done, let alone multiples of anything.
That said, I am looking forward to their (likely) jam packed schedule (yet they will take time, I hope, for themselves and whomever they truly WANT to see)
I live in NYC and was just at the 9/11 museum on Saturday. It was truly the best museum I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to a lot!) and a powerful experience. I know they will treat it with the respect it deserves. It also took me 3.5 hours to get through the whole thing so definitely a longer experience.
I was only in second grade on 9/11 and living in Georgia. I was already home sick from school and my mother spent the whole day crying on the phone while watching the news. I always knew it was a very sad and consequential event, but I never grasped the full magnitude until I visited the memorial museum in 2016. I agree the museum is exceptionally well done. Having grown up down south during the Bush years, I expected much more uncomfortable jingoism but no. They really emphasized the unity and cooperation that followed in the immediate aftermath. It was a truly moving experience.
The meltdown from Salty Isle is going to be EPIC!!
So that’s why KP posted about the unannounced (there was absolute no mention of whether it yday, the day before or before that but they chose to release pictures of it yday) “Hold Still” reception. I was wondering what the Sussexes were doing and my God, I am so happy I can’t wait!!
It’s already starting. Folks are getting their knickers all in a twist and I am here for it!!
Love it. As I’ve been saying for the past few days – we are in the era of THRIVE now. RRs and royal commentators speculated on how american politicians were going to run far away from them and avoid them bc the relationship with the UK was too important. But its like there are adults in the room who realize that someone can have a good relationship with H&M and it is not going to bring diplomatic relations between the US and the UK to a grinding halt.
Boris Johnson at the White House, trying to get a trade deal not happening.
France have every right to be pissed at the UK, US and Australia about the nuclear Submarine deal. There goes controlling the immigrants at Calais.
France lost a business deal. They were trying to sell Australia diesel subs, which are LOUD. US and UK have nuclear subs, which are very, very quiet. Australia realizes it will be much harder to protect the waters around their country if everyone knows where their subs are. So they bought the better product. France is mad because they lost money but last time I checked, they don’t live next to China. They will like bullies if they go after Australia for this, so instead they are having a temper tantrum at the US.
@Willow – yes, and also there had been meetings between Macron and Morrison earlier in the summer about cost overruns and general dissatisfaction with the contract. This didn’t come out of the blue for France.
What does this have to do with anything? Plenty is coming out (thanks to receipts from the Australian PM) that France was well aware that the deal was falling apart. No one was blindsided and it’s important for the US and a critical national ally have the equipment they need to actually BE an ally when and if it comes to that.
Australia did renege on the submarine deal with France; which has been ongoing for a number of years now.
Our PM is a liar, and spins everything to make himself look good.
The situation with China is completely the fault of the federal government here; and could have been handled far better than it has been.
He is useless at absolutely everything and it surprises no one here that he stuffed up. You just have to look at the utter balls up he has made of getting vaccines into the country.
@Becks: Harry and Meghan were supposed to be shunned by people in the US because they insulted the Queen. It shows the naiviety and delusional of the Royal rota that they believed that.
The British keep making the same mistake when it comes to Americans. They think we revere the Crown like they do, the mysterious entity from which power descends from on high. Americans do not give two shits about the Crown. We care about specific people because we care about narratives. We loved Diana because she was a complicated human, she cared about others, and she took risks. More than anything, she stood up for herself. It’s not enough to just look like a fairy tale Princess, which is why no one loves Kate. Americans approve of Kate because she looks the part, but they don’t love her. We’re about individualism, and she is a nonentity. Meghan and Harry are a story that’s perfect for the USA. She’s American, they risked all to be together, they care about people. Harry has his mother’s charisma and caring, and he was willing to give up his privilege for love. (We love that shit!)
Note to any ratchets reading this: we have never, and will never care about your Crown. We make fun of it, and fought a revolution to leave it. Harry and Meghan are a love story for the ages, the the royal family are the villians in their story, just as they would have been the villians in Diana’s story had she lived. Meghan and Harry will increasingly be seen as fulfilling Diana’s dream for love and independence on her own terms. That’s powerful stuff.
@Lanne – well said!
They keep missing that the royals we love the most are the ones who went against the Crown, who said that royalty, money, privilege, luxury, prestige wasn’t enough, and they wanted something more from life – Diana and now Harry. If it was all about duty and service and nothing else, we would love Charles and Anne over here, but we don’t.
@Lanne – you are just so insightful. I always look forward to reading your comments with my morning coffee!
@Lanne I agree of most of what you say, except for the second line. Brits don’t revere the Crown. That’s just tabloid propaganda. Most Brits really don’t care about the Royals, unless it’s some big event, or to complain about how much they cost. I get that tabloids give the impression of a nation obsessed with their Royals, but on the ground, the reality is very different. In fact, I think if you were secretly a Royalist in the UK, it’s not something you’d want to share with your friends.
Sure there might be an older generation who still believe in them, and there are a few who argue that they bring in enough money through tourism to justify their existence, but most people pay little attention.
All of the hype is generated by tabloids to sell stories, and they know that unless it’s relating to tax money, the British public aren’t the ones the stories are really aimed at. I think the bigger issue with this, is that the Royals spend so much of their time doing events which relate to the UK. They’re supposed to be highlighting these charities and issues, but if the target audience for these issues aren’t interested in them, how are they really having any impact?
@Lanne – you nailed it. We love rebels with a cause. And an epic love story makes it even better. Sure Americans love a princess as much as anyone but that’s not what made Diana wildly popular here. Decades later we still love her for her spirit and her actions (eg hugging AIDS patients in the early days of the epidemic). And we root for her son Harry for similar reasons.
@Grace, I can’t say if the British people revere the Crown, but your system of government seems to be based on revering the Crown–I should have made that more clear. Your national anthem is a literal ode to the monarch. You sing for her to “stand her victorious, happy and glorious, contented over us.” That’s pretty unfathomable for an American. What sucks for you (from my point of view) is that the trappings of state revolve around this family of crappy people. Anyone who wants to be recognized by their government for merit has to have that recognition filtered through this family. So it means the Brits who want OBEs and CBEs and such probably can’t say much against the Windsors because that could affect their ability to gain those honors, and those honors can be really meaningful in terms of people’s careers (I would imagine). That’s one thing that keeps the Windsors in place, and keeps public criticism of them pretty minimal. I think they really believe that in time, Prince Andrew can be up there attending knighting ceremonies, and people who are knighted by William or Charles will have to grit their teeth and shake his hand. This is also why the British media is so keen to protect the reputation of William. He’s going to be the one you guys sing to. You’ll be singing God Save the King to a man you have on tape wishing he could be his mistress’s tampon. Happy and glorious indeed.
@lanne et al I love everything written here. Also want to say, as a lifetime lover of fairytale, psychotherapy, and literature, their story is almost the stuff of myth which I believe is why some of us connect so deeply with it. I think we’re going to see in popular movies and stories (our modern “folk” tales) tropes about the Prince leaving his throne for the heroine. It seems a natural progression in the collective.
@Lanne I agree with that completely and I think it only serves to highlight the fact that there is a huge divide between the elite and the rest of the population. As I was watching UNGA, I was thinking about how bizarre it is for the UK to have a (supposedly) non political head of state, who would never attend such an event.
The British media and the Royals don’t represent British people, but I do understand that as usual in the west, self interest comes first. Neither the press or the Royals are going to consider what might be the best interests of the country they supposedly serve.
@Becks my first reaction upon seeing them was pity because Bill DiBlasio sucks and none of us can stand him. I know it’s just one of those things they have to do — Kate spent a day with his wife when the Cambridges were in NYC — but he’s just such a tool.
I will never forget when he dropped a groundhog on Groundhog Day and it died. He also eats pizza with a knife and fork, which, whatever, it’s not as if it affects his duties but WHO DOES THAT?! He’s the worst.
Overall it’s great that the entire world will see that the Sussexes have not been shunned in America in any way. We love them more now, for the exact reasons @Lanne explained. I cannot for the life of me understand how they didn’t realize that after Diana. I would very much enjoy the whole fly-on-the-wall experience at KP right now.
And I’d read about the views from that observatory and they’re absolutely stunning.
I love them for withstanding hatred, racism, lies and more damn lies upon lies and I admire the grace and dignity they ultimately showed, especially during the Oprah interview. There’s so much more they could tell, especially Harry.
I love them because no matter how much shite was slung their way, they kept their heads down and accomplished much. I love how they set an example for us all. I love how her brain works with her description of privacy. I love how they stealth move and then present a fait accompli. I loved her 40×40 (and I will donate as much as I can whenever I can to their causes) and I love how FIERCELY the Sussex Squad calls out crap and keeps receipts. I love how they love each other, and I love how we love them. It’s all about the love, baby!!!
Why would American politicians “run away” from M & H? Did Meg flash anyone while on tour? The BM should sit down.
Only Queen Elizabeth is the Head of the State. You can argue the Prince of Walles also has a defined public role, but other than these two, all other members of the Royal family should be considered celebrities, because that is what they are in the public conscience.
Celebrities, from singers and actors, to billionaires and nobles, meet with politicians ALL THE TIME. All kind of celebrities attend social functions like charities balls or fundraisers…all kinds of celebrities tale the mantle of activist sometimes…all kinds of celebrities CAN BE HIRED for the day to cut ribbons, to hand out medals, to meet and greet with locals…
so yeah, the Royal Rota has lost the plot a long time ago…
Agreed. And this is not a royal visit. It’s a philanthropic visit and that’s reason enough to be meeting with political leaders. To me, Harry and Meghan are a new breed of professional philanthropists and I love ‘em for it, but they aren’t royalty while on American soil because we don’t have inherited titles here. Harry is an American now (even if the paperwork on that isn’t final) so he’s not a visiting foreign dignitary. He’s an American philanthropist.
@Moderately, you’re right, but if the ROTA is actually making a bigger deal of it than it is, let them! It will only make all of the people who detested Meghan even angrier than necessary, which I for one am fine with, lol.
Well it seems like parental leave is officially over. I am happy these 2 are finally being out and about but i do wonder what the point of the visit is. If it is to simply see the one world observatory i assume they would have done so on the down low. Instead they are meeting the governor + mayor and there will be a press team present. Is this for their work with vaccine equity? Or is this to support another cause and we simply didn’t hear about it?
DeBlasio has been getting some flak about the vaccine mandate in NYC and there’s been press that he’s been ignoring the Black communities in getting the people vaccinated. I don’t know if the criticism is true or not, but this visit could be good press for him and his administration. Hochul just replaced Cuomo as governor and will be announcing a plan to replace health care workers who won’t get the vaccine – so more press for her.
Not is not not true, some A A/ Caribbean Americans are refusing to take the vaccine, they’re even offering $100 to get people to take the vaccine, that is how desperate it is.
Thanks, Jan.
It could also have been done like this for safety reasons. Make it diplomatic so they could actually go. I don’t think they could have pulled it off without additional safety of govt officials. Not with only their security team.
The Sussexes status is a bit complex, probably lying somewhere between celebrity and global leaders. Wherever they go, this is likely how they would be treated and welcomed. If they are on an actual holiday, it’ll likely be more quiet. But if they go on a work visit somewhere, don’t be surprised if local leaders request an official meet and greet. The site could have been proposed by the Governor.
Someone on another post mentioned how married ins are expected to walk 2 steps behind the blood royal and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Meghan do that. They’re always hand in hand in pictures. Harry has been telling the whole world the whole time that Meghan is his equal.
What’s funny is that I think a lot of times she tries to (especially at a church ceremony or something where she knows lots of people are watching) and Harry usually grabs her hand and pulls her along with him, so she couldn’t walk behind him even if she wanted to, lol.
Kate does not always walk behind william but that’s okay for the royal fans, wonder why.
Despite what the press and royalists say Meghan did try to follow the rules but situation was made so toxic she wasn’t allowed to do that.
They wanted Meghan to walk 2 steps behind Harry with her eyes down because she was not “good enough” to be in such august company. Diana didn’t walk behind Charles–he resented the fact that people came out to see her and not him. Kate doesn’t walk behind William all the time. Camilla doesn’t walk behind Charles. Phillip walked behind Elizabeth because she’s the Queen, and I think the visual symbolism was necessary so that people understood that she outranked him. But if he were king, her walking behind him would be less necessary. (I’ve seen pictures of Leticia and Maxima walking side by side with their husbands). That walking behind was ratchet bullshit. They wanted Meghan to be “put in her place” if she was to be there at all.
I’m no expert but I think that might only be true for the Queen and probably even then only at certain events.
@FluffyBunny, I feel like even if I believed the whole “woman walks behind her royal man” nonsense, which I do not, I would probably just honestly forget about it a lot of the time! Especially Meghan. After 35 years of being a normal person, it wouldn’t be second nature to her (not that Harry ever expected it at all, just an example). Like when she shut the car door.
With things like that, you’re just on autopilot. I would shut the car door EVERY TIME and then get yelled at, but it’s not as if I’d be trying to be a rebel (remember in this fake scenario I believe in sticking 100% to all of their bs “protocols” lol), I really wouldn’t even realize I was doing it.
It would be so hard for Meghan to try to unlearn all of these basic things, including not walking next to your spouse (which is insane to begin with, but even worse because of the hatred and security issues she had. I would have wanted to hold my husband’s hand, too, if I was being treated the way she was in a foreign country.).
Luckily Harry has always made it clear that he considers her his equal, and rightfully so. She never would have even married someone who didn’t! So the only “punishment” if she dared to walk in front of Harry (🙄) would only be more bitching in the Fail, which they would be doing anyway; they would have found something else to be outraged about. Harry is so proud of her, he probably *encourages* her ahead of him!
And the “walking behind” is ridiculous in 2021 no matter who you are.
I so thought they’d zoom or go for the day, but here they are having a couple of days in NYC! Happy for them. Did not expect this. More ‘political’ bs for the RR to froth over. Also love how Omid says adventure rather than tour. Tour implies royal. But it feels tourish. Can’t wait for the crazy.
I think we can be 100000% sure Meg will dress appropriately. Unlike someone else.
Yeah it’s not a tour.
I know it’s not a tour but that’s been thrown around. But they are royal and visiting NYC. Call it what you will.
I won’t lie, I am so so excited to see what she’s wearing. I miss seeing chic Meghan-wear.
I can’t wait for H and M in NYC pics!
All black, she looks great.
She looks GORGEOUS!!
@Becks1 – of course, all black, she’s in NY. And she looks awesome. Chic and 100% appropriate.
Of course she looks sleek and 100% appropriately dressed for the occasion/venue. Wouldn’t expect anything less!
While it’s a very solemn location, she looks radiant.
@Fanciful, I just saw this in an article about it. Lmao
“Both were dressed in black ahead of their visit to the 9/11 memorial following their trip to the observation deck: Harry in a suit, Meghan in a black turtleneck, black coat, and black wide-legged trousers. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun.
Duchess Kate caused some consternation during her visit in 2014 to the memorial when she chose to wear a hot-pink coat during what should have been a somber occasion.“
Yes yes YES! I have missed seeing them out and about in real time. I know they’ve done Zooms and events where they released pics afterwards and there is a pandemic and a pregnancy but I can know all about those, respect and appreciate it and still miss seeing them in this format. Can’t wait!
I’ve seen at least one royalist angry about it. I guess the meltdown will be triggered when we actually see pictures.
Did you see the press update about the media? I think it said only invited media personnel are allowed which means no rat rota 😂😂😂. Perfection!
They had to apply for press passes yesterday and send in their COVID vaccine card.
I honestly hope none of them are there.
I haven’t been on Twitter yet but have no doubt that they are collectively losing their damn minds right now. Especially Elegant Bill.
The weather is not great, not sure if they can see Jersey from the observation deck.
de Blasio loves the camera, hopes Meghan spends time with his wife, very smart lady, their son will be there also.
It is also notable that this event is at 8 am. That’s very early for many of the others, especially W and K, who don’t seem to show their face until early afternoon most of the time.
I also think they will have something else, possibly UN related, later in the day.
@Nic919: something UN related happening is my suspicion as well.
That’s such a good point about an 8 am event!
8:00 am may have been the only time that DiBlasio had open at late notice (i.e. H&M’s trip to NYC was a last minute announcement). He’s probably a busy guy with a schedule planned months in advance.
@Sarah11: Trips like this are almost never “last minute”. It seems last minute to us because it was literally announced yesterday but I bet there’s been weeks of planning behind it before we were told.
@Sarah typically I’d agree with you, but Bill DiBlasio is a total moron. He’s been criticized for YEARS for taking a car 12 miles from Gracie Mansion back to his old neighborhood in Brooklyn — an entirely different borough— every single morning because he didn’t want to have to switch to a different gym 🙄. He’s got some time to spare.
Also, they are in West Coast time, so it feels even earlier to them!
Yup, yup, yup – this is “Hello America, here we are!”
love that they’re taking advantage of the NY trip and getting some events in. hopefully we continue to see them throughout the day!
Lol, the Sussexes live freely in the U.S. now, so why are their actions considered news to the rota? Not their beat anymore.
Really, it’s like they’re an ex-girlfriend or something. Someday Harry will shake off Meghan’s evil spell and realize he loved them all along.
Yeah. The rats shouldn’t even be covering H&M anymore, especially as they are just the so-called minor, irrelevant royals.
@Merricat seriously. They call themselves royal reporters and report so, so much more on the Sussexes than any actual royal (including the Queen!!) for god’s sake. How do they even justify this to themselves?
I can’t wait for the pics!
Oh wow I had totally forgotten about that hot pink coat- yikes
Cosmopolitan has picture of the visit!
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a37703649/prince-harry-meghan-markle-nyc-trip-pics/
And Meghan is appropriately not wearing hot pink…
@Izzy I already posted this but want as many people as possible to see it, lol. This is from an article about this morning:
“Both were dressed in black ahead of their visit to the 9/11 memorial following their trip to the observation deck: Harry in a suit, Meghan in a black turtleneck, black coat, and black wide-legged trousers. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun.
Duchess Kate caused some consternation during her visit in 2014 to the memorial when she chose to wear a hot-pink coat during what should have been a somber occasion.”
But remember, KATE is the “regal” duchess who never puts a foot wrong!
Lorelei: Noting that Meghan dresses appropriately needs to be pointed out as often as the British press point out the number of bathrooms they have. So, play on.
Lorelei I love that you found that excerpt because we have had people even on this site today try to defend Kate’s bs of wearing hot pink at a 9/11 memorial service.
Kate made an error. The end. And many still won’t acknowledge it.
Oh, they both look great. Meghan especially—NYC fabulous!
Your the best Edna, thanks for the link.
Zomg! Squee! It’s so nice to see them out together! God she has such great style and knack for wearing her clothes. HOW is she making turtlenecks (of all things!!) look so chic!
Also looks like he’s accepting the hair loss. Good for him, embrace ourselves, etc. But I’m secretly the terrible person who hoped some CA doctor helped him out with that… If nothing else to piss off TOB forevermore 😁
Thank you! They look so healthy and happy.
Thank you for this link! And look how Harry looks at Meghan! Happy sigh . . .
The RRs were caught napping again.
The Sun ☀️popped out for a few minutes.
They look so happy in the pics
I bet the queen was blindsided.
All I can think of is the Lamebridges must be foot-stomping mad right now. Normal Bill is probably punching walls and screaming at his terrified staff, and Keener Kate is busy buying navy blue coats and black turtlenecks.
DeBlasio is horrible. I feel like every day; I hear more horror stories from parents about how he’s handling school and pandemic policies. It just reminds me of how everyone has their marching orders, and no matter what the specific needs of the students are, they will keep on marching.
Oh man, the hot pink coat was in 2014?!?!!! Also, that means I’ve been reading CB for at least 6.5 years. Gosh, time flies.