One thing is for sure: Prince Harry has been waiting to write his memoir for decades. He’s kept a list of all of his grudges, no matter how minor or how major, and he has been waiting to settle all of his accounts. Even I am surprised and shocked by the level of detail in some of these Spare excerpts, and I covered a lot of this stuff as it was happening. Picture it: Toronto, September 2017. The third Invictus Games, being hosted in the city then-Meghan Markle has called home for years as she’s worked on Suits. Kensington Palace gives the okay – Invictus will be the first official public outing for Harry and Meghan. Doria Ragland even flies in to support Meghan and Harry at the games, and all of the photographers get the money shot at the wheelchair tennis match on Day 3 of the games. Harry and Meghan sitting together at the match, holding hands, talking to each other, laughing, being natural and loved-up. The next day, the British media complained about the fact that Meghan wore ripped jeans.
Prince Harry revealed in his memoir, Spare, that he feels his family should have done more to defend wife Meghan Markle against public backlash.
In the soon-to-be released book, Harry, 38, opened up about his and Meghan’s first official public outing — the 2017 Invictus Games — for which the California native, 41, donned a classic button-up shirt and ripped jeans. While onlookers were mesmerized by the chemistry between the couple at the event, the “British press” quickly criticized Meghan’s distressed denim, Harry recalled in his tell-all. Online trolls even slammed the casual getup as inappropriate.
Turns out, Meghan’s Mother jeans, Misha Noonoo blouse and Sarah Flint flats were all “pre-approved” by the palace, he alleges. However, “no one” from the royal family expressed support publicly or denied claims that the former Suits actress had broken protocol. “I mean not anyone at the palace,” Harry wrote. “One statement, that week, in defense of Meg … it might’ve made a world of difference.”
While I think ripped jeans would have been inappropriate or worth mentioning if this was some formal event, it was literally just… a sporting event, and Meghan was still Harry’s civilian/celebrity girlfriend. She wasn’t even a royal fiancee at that moment. Days beforehand, Meghan had attended the Opening Ceremony and she wore a completely appropriate ensemble – a burgundy dress and a leather jacket. Anyway, it’s interesting that Harry is giving KP credit for stage-managing the first official outing, even writing that KP approved of Meghan’s outfit ahead of time. Of course KP didn’t defend Meghan about the ripped jeans commentary – KP was probably behind the commentary in the first place.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, WENN.
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- 170501, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on day three of the Invictus Games in Toronto. Toronto, Canada – Monday September 25, 2017. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © Stephen Lock, i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Avalon): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE
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- Toronto, CANADA – Prince Harry holds girlfriend Meghan Markle’s hand as they leave the wheelchair tennis match at the Invictus Games 2017. The happy couple looked to be enjoying the games today with big smiles. Pictured: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry BACKGRID USA 25 SEPTEMBER 2017 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Toronto, CANADA – Prince Harry holds girlfriend Meghan Markle’s hand as they leave the wheelchair tennis match at the Invictus Games 2017. The happy couple looked to be enjoying the games today with big smiles. Pictured: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry BACKGRID USA 25 SEPTEMBER 2017 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Toronto, CANADA – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoy each others company at the Invictus Games. The duo cheer on Wheelchair Tennis as they sit on the sidelines. Pictured: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry BACKGRID USA 25 SEPTEMBER 2017 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- USA Rights Only – Toronto, Canada – 9/25/2017 – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the 2017 Invictus Games -PICTURED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle -PHOTO by: Danny Lawson/PA Images/INSTARimages.com Editorial Rights Managed Image – Please contact www.INSTARimages.com for licensing fee and rights: North America Inquiries: email sales@instarimages.com or call 212.414.0207 – UK Inquiries: email ben@instarimages.com or call + 7715 698 715 – Australia Inquiries: email sarah@instarimages.com.au Êor call +02 9660 0500 Ð for any other Country, please email sales@instarimages.com. ÊImage or video may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene / Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have – http://www.INSTARimages.com reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or video. If you are in violation of our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or video, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damage. Featuring: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada When: 25 Sep 2017 Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Images/INSTARimages.com **USA Rights Only**
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- , Toronto, – Prince Harry & girlfriend Meghan Markle attend the Wheelchair Tennis. 35 PICTURED: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle -PHOTO by: INSTARimages.com -Instar_Harry_Meghan_1 Editorial Rights Managed Image – Please contact www.INSTARimages.com for licensing fee and rights: North America Inquiries: email sales@instarimages.com or call 212.414.0207 – UK Inquiries: email ben@instarimages.com or call + 7715 698 715 – Australia Inquiries: email sarah@instarimages.com.au  or call +02 9660 0500 – for any other Country, please email sales@instarimages.com.  Image or video may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene / Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have – http://www.INSTARimages.com reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or video. If you are in violation of our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or video, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damage. Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Where: Toronto, Canada When: 25 Sep 2017 Credit: INSTARimages.com
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- Prince Harry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle watch a wheelchair tennis match as part of the Invictus Games in Toronto Featuring: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Where: Toronto, Canada When: 25 Sep 2017 Credit: Euan Cherry/WENN.com
I wonder if Harry is also a life long journaler like Meghan. Or maybe just kept a list of grievances or articles he wanted to set the record straight on or respond to in the future.
I recall seeing an interview clip a while back. I don’t remember exactly where it’s from but Harry was in his 20s at the time. I remember him saying that he kept notes on all of the tabloid reporters and everything they said about him. He was basically saying, I’m watching all of you and I won’t forget your bullshit. And it looks like he never did.
I’m guessing the journaling was a therapeutic activity that started very young. Doesn’t have dyslexia? I could see the palace forcing him to write and read to be “normal” and it completely backfired withjounaling.
Isnt it high time this unsubstantiated and obviously baseless rumor be put to rest?
Right @Kingston. Until Harry says it, I’m not believing it. That story gained traction via Jeremy Clarkson. Hmmmmmm. In the end, it doesn’t matter. Being dyslexic isn’t a barometer of intelligence. I’m more interested if it is something about Willard that’s been thrown onto Harry.
Bless his sweet virgo heart 💜
BVE, he got that big virgo energy
Yeah, a Virgo might not act on your betrayal immediately but we won’t forget and will strike when the time is right 🙂 As a Virgo, I love having such a strong, ethical and handsome representative!
Learning so much about Virgos! I’m an Aries so we BURN IT DOWN the second you upset us, haha.
I’m trying so hard to wait until I receive my book on Tuesday but I cannot resist reading all these articles. If any of these stories are true and not horribly translated, well knock me down with a feather. He has a 2 book deal, right? I thought this one would be the chill one “here is my life, my Invictus/Sentebale/conservation work and of course the love of my life and our children” and instead he has gone HARD. And this was written before QE2 passed away! Get it Harry! Get it all out!
Mr. Jaded is a Virgo (so was my dad and they are SO much alike). He’s thoughtful, analytical, and doesn’t lose his head over stuff. He’s patient, sees both sides of the story, and doesn’t rush to judgement. But as “Harla A Brazen Hussey” says, he doesn’t forget misdeeds against him and will make his displeasure known when the time is right.
Hehehe, I am a Leo, married to a Virgo. You can imagine! He’s the only one that can calm me down and rationalise. Because when someone upsets me, I want to wage a war. Typical Leo. lol
Yeah, I also get the feeling that Harry decided at a young age that he had a choice to play the game like his stepmother, try to fight it by participating like his mother, or carve out something different. By being the “spare,” he should have had the opportunity to do just that without any issues, but William is incapable of doing the job, so the palace machine is STRESSED.
If I were Meghan, I wouldn’t really expect anyone to defend me over ripped jeans. It could have been a lesson learned (but honestly, she looked great in them? Like the British press is weird.) But this added to everything else shows how backstabbing and/or BAD at their jobs they are.
Well I guess they haven’t seen Zara in her severely ripped Jean. I don’t know why she bothered to put them on.
I’m sure she expected KP to not feed the media a BS line about protocol. We all know the rota goes to the palaces for comment. At the moment some measly mouthed “royal reporter” asked about the protocols surrounding “ripped jeans”, that person should have said “there’s no protocol for private citizens”, and since Harry’s OTHER girlfriend were scene in similar attire previously, it’s making a mountain out of a molehill. But no, they intimated a protocol breach and their press lackeys ran with it.
It’s not that Meghan needed defending for wearing ripped jeans, it’s that it should never have been an issue to bash her over her head with. And it came from KP originally, palace sources and all. This is 100% petty, tearing down of Meghan by willileaks.
@Snuffles – spot on about the tabloid lists. Virgos, man, they LOVE lists. I would bet Harry has at least a couple of Arya Lists – one for the British Media, one for The Firm & its despicable courtiers.
And if anyone had a right to hold a grudge through the decades of this public and private abuse, by gods, it’s Harry.
Harry throwing KP in there was more than shade. He’s telling the world that KP, through William, deliberately set out to set up Meghan to fail, from the very first outing. She didn’t, and they’re still salty & seething about it.
I think that’s one of her most iconic looks, maybe top 5. So chic and yet looks completely effortless. It’s so basic – white shirt, jeans, flats – and yet I can tell you I never look like that in similar outfits lol. That’s style.
Anyway interesting point from Harry – if KP had defended Meghan then, just one statement about the palace approving of the outfit or “there was nothing wrong with her outfit” or SOMETHING, and it all may have played out differently. But like Kaiser said, KP was prob the one feeding the negative talking points to the press so how can they push back?
I can see the palace gleefully approving the outfit thinking it would make Meghan look unroyal and therefore inappropriate to be a future princess, but instead the public LOVED it and her outfit sold out instantly.
Another instance of the palace’s surreptitious back-stabbing stabbing them in the back!
The look is pure “Meghan”. Classic, modern, simple, and iconic all in one. Her hair, sunglasses, her shoes matching her bag, everything. She looked so modern and chic without trying to hard or over doing it. She looked perfect. I really think Kate was stunned that Meghan didn’t have to buy praise from Vogue and Harpers Baazar. In outfits Kate wouldn’t dream of wearing to an official outing with Willy during the waity years or ever. All of the women in the RF wish they were Meghan. That they had her incredible appeal.
Agree 💯. Everything about her look at IG is iconic. Her first appearance with Harry and she introduced her style to the world. It was epic.
Yes! I love this look so much I’ve thought about splurging on this top. I was talking about it with someone and they immediately remembered the look and they’re not as big of a MM fan as I am.
Agreed, and it really could have been as simple as supporting Meghan publicly, once, and the press would have backed off. Here we are. Harry has Meghan, and vice versa, England has zero Harry or Meghan. Enjoy your Wails.
I remember thinking that once they were married that the Palace would protect Meghan. That’s how fking naive I was. I truly believed that.
First, why does KP or any branch of the Firm get to “approve” what Meghan wears?! IF, there’s a dress protocol, one that dictates what’s appropriate for every type of appearance (grocery store runs=twins sets with pearls, wheelchair tennis=Tea length dress with court shoes, fascinator optional, etc.), put it fucking writing, give it to me, and I WILL DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR. Second, absolutely, KP used every single one of these opportunities to set Meghan up to fail, how very delicious!! Anyway, she was adorable in that outfit, which I’m sure sold out in MINUTES.
KP gets to approve what you wear because they are essentially your employer. Once you’re in the fold, they will want some level of control over how you, the person representing the BRF, are introduced to the world.
Anyone worth their money would have told her, opt for some regular jeans, nothing ripped…but of course, they are probably behind the talking points, building the case for why she DOESN’T fit into this family and image. Jokes on them because Meghan looked great and their Queen in Waiting can’t stop copying her best looks. After the Spare excerpts, I am CONVINCED Kate is SWF Meghan. Like stalker levels. She’s crazy.
Not for nuthin’, but they weren’t her employer then. Anyway, my question was highly rhetorical. Poor Meghan wanted to do what they requested and required from the outset, and they gave her MISdirection and no cover.
The also weren’t her employer because they didn’t pay her.
See also: the murky depths of the “sovereign grant”.
No one has to give a line item review, of all the money taxpayers give to the royals, and how they spend it.
KP wasn’t going to make a statement in approval of the outfit, because it was William through Knauf who called the tabloids and fed them the “against protocol” line. THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE CASTLE.
So because she told him to take his finger out her face he decides to use all his power, employees and bots to demonize her.
That is some epic level retribution for the crime of standing up against abuse.
I’m no fan of ripped jeans but I find it very strange that Meg’s apparel was pre-approved by some unnamed palace staffer. If the jeans were such an issue, maybe then staffer OK’d this knowing there’s be flak?
So why wasn’t Kate discouraged from wearing flimsy little bum-baring dresses and painted-on jeggings? The hypocrisy is ridiculous.
William and Kate were mad they never got permission to wear ripped jeans and cried about it to the press. Did they say Meghan disrespected the Queen with her outfit, or did they think that one up later?
Black nail polish and no stockings during summer time were also said to have been disrespectful to the Queen. These people…
It’s hilarious there’s even a discussion about ripped jeans when Kate and her jeggings wouldn’t be considered appropriate attire in any professional or semi professional context. But different rules for different skin tones I guess.
Word, Nic. Remember that time Kitty got an awful weave, and the British media was suddenly tripping all over themselves to talk about Cannot’s very traumatic head injury, that required surgery, that no one had ever mentioned until Kitty’s hair wasn’t brushed the right way?
Clearly the British media don’t.
I really admire she stuck it out because she loved him.
Having her clothes approved way back to the first public outing! I had no idea (naïve of me).
Does this mean they also approve of Kates wiglets? Yikes.
She absolutely must love him, because from day 1 they were doing the MOST to get her to run. And, let’s be honest, most woman would have.
Case in point
https://twitter.com/VanessaNguyen28/status/1611890674730782720?s=20&t=O0rcYS0Q0_y-CwYyQEsFZQ
Also, Harry must be putting it down REAL good.
“Also, Harry must be putting it down REAL good.”
Lol @Snuffles I think you are right.
@snuffles — LOL! I wholeheartedly agree. Lucky her…and him 😉😏
@Snuffles, YES! Leave it to a squaddie to state fact.
How are you able to post links in your post? When I do the post does not show up
Oh sh*t Snuffles, the pictures on that tweet! Sure looks like Meghan kept furniture from her Suits days and she had it at Frogmore Cottage, appearing at Lili’s 1st birthday. That outdoor chaise is too distinctive.
LMAO!! Thanks, Snuffles, I needed that laugh.
LOL @Snuffles. That took me back to when I was dating my husband and his Satan sister and some other members of his family thought I was after him for his money, fyi, they were not a wealthy family. Some of them believed, that because I was a single mother, that I was after him for his money? Which was completely comical because my debt/income ratio was less than his his. My income (when we were dating) was greater than his.
Him being able to ‘put things down real well’ wasn’t the caveat, didn’t hurt the situation.lol My spouse being a good person through and through sold me. It wasn’t about $. Watching the things with H&M over the last month, my husband has said this could almost be our story.
While I hvnt yet received my copy of Spare, let me state here and now that I 100% agree with H writing this memoir and support H&M 100% in everything they do.
Its so typical of monarchist/tory sycophants that they hvnt yet read the book but are writing tomes and commenting on tv about things supposedly in the book. But, like every other intelligent person who has seen the MO of the british monarchy/tory party/govt collaboration……how they coordinate their attacks on individuals and groups within british society in their tall-poppy-syndrome pathology, watching them do their collab out in the open like this has been so cringe. Its pathetic to watch these so-called grown-arse adults, in positions of leadership and responsibility in what is supposed to be one of the largest economies in the world, as they use their tired old M-O and think theyre succeeding in gaslighting the rest of the world.
I’m soooooooooo looking forward to all of H’s interviews this evening and tmrw!! Ive been hearing some of the weeping and wailing and screaming and throwing up going on in britain, both on SM and on some of their radio/tv shows from what has been revealed so far and its hilarious! And yet they hvnt read the book yet or heard what H will say in his interviews!
They all should just go ahead and gird their loins now and wait for the autoclaps.
@kingston; I also eagerly await my copy to arrive, but wouldn’t it be a hoot if all the advance excerpts were a decoy? As in give them a fake copy and let them run with it while waiting for the real deal to be released? I chuckle just thinking about the possibility.
I thought the same. That would be the best Punk’d style prank if they threw a fake book – in Spanish! – for the rats to translate & pick apart.
“Of course KP didn’t defend Meghan about the ripped jeans commentary – KP was probably behind the commentary in the first place.” Exactly right, Kaiser. I really hope that Harry makes that part clear in his book. That’s the key to this whole saga – that not only did the palace stay silent and sit back while Meghan was ripped to shreds by the tabloids, but that the palace were the ones actively sabotaging Meghan. That escalates the situation from idle incompetence to intentional betrayal, and I think it’s a really important distinction to make. I really hope he does.
KP probably approved the outfit with the hope that Meghan would be criticised by the press.
I am so glad the British rags are not able to critique my wardrobe choices. Ripped jeans would be tame by comparison!
Considering he was working WITH his brother and not FOR his brother, wouldn’t it be his dad’s office that would have to approve?!
Yeah I didn’t get that either – or even buckingham palace being involved in the rollout of a new official girlfriend. Maybe they were each involved behind the scenes.
The Queen was the one who had to approve the marriage – maybe that’s why BP was involved?
I know this is crude, and I’m sorry. But Harry must be GREAT in bed for a girlfriend to put up with all that nonsense so early in a relationship. I know they love each other madly, but just months in with a younger man who comes with THAT much stress and drama?? Her world must’ve been getting *rocked* in private.
HA! I just said the same thing above!! 😜
@snuffles — Oops! I didn’t see that until you replied. Glad to know I’m not alone in that base opinion…LOL! 🤣 😎
There are many other things that bind a couple. Yes, they must have amazing chemistry, but they must also have shared goals, trust, devoted partnership etc that kept them together.
@royalblue — obviously, but this was in the beginning of their relationship. All of that devotion comes with time. The early days aren’t rooted in that much, they’re for building those shared feelings and cementing relationships. Physical romance and chemistry plays a HUGE role for most couples in solidifying that bond early on.
Thanks @RoyalBlue.
@MangoAngelesque they had already formed a foundation and were vested in the relationship by the time the press weighed in. They had secret dates and spent time in Botswana and I am sure they discussed what their ever after would look like. They shared a love and passion for philanthropy. I can totally see how their love blossomed. And I am not denying the sex was amazing. But I think simply saying the sex must have been great is a not correct to say because that relationship would have been over if it was only that.
Pretending that making love isn’t massively important for most people is silly.
You are misinterpreting what I am saying.
um…she was dating a prince. most girls would put up with a lot more to date a prince. no BDE needed. what is more shocking is she put up with all the abuse and married him.
I don’t see this as a “petty grievance” I see this as him pin-pointing the exact time and place that the British media started their “othering” Meghan campaign.
What previous example are there in the British media calling out royals or royal adjacents for “breaking protocol”?
None! It is just her! This is a crime that the British media made up that only Meghan can commit!
That BP had approved the clothes speaks volumes.
Harry is right. If BP had stepped in at that moment and issued a statement about her clothing being perfectly appropriate and approved by the palace – ALL OF THIS OTHERING OF MEGAN COULD HAVE BEEN NIPPED IN THE BUD.
This was a time where 1 statement from the palace could have stopped the daily rolling press evisceration of Meghan that continues to this day.
Kate flashed the world something like 11 times before switching to sister-wife dresses, and while she got criticism for it (though honestly less than she deserved as she was obviously doing it on purpose), I can’t recall them ever saying anything about “protocol.”
You would think “put some panties on” would be protocol.
@Emily C. Excellent point!
@Snuffles 😂😂😂💀
I know I’ll get flak for this but i thought it was tacky (I hate ripped jeans). I wondered why anyone, knowing they would be photographed/splashed across tabloids globally while with her boyfriend who was an actual prince, couldn’t be bothered to wear regular jeans to an event created by said boyfriend. This wasn’t just any sporting event. Admittedly she looked great but i thought it was an unnecessary faux pas. And Meghan is usually great style wise! I mean I wouldn’t have worn ripped jeans to my first official outing with a boyfriend, even if it was with RayRay who worked at the movie theater… But that’s just me. Anyway, they looked really good together in those photos and their chemistry leaped off the pages.
Its pretty messed up that they set her up from the get go. Harry’s right. A simple statement could have made a world of difference. It was unfortunately a harbinger of things to come.
@Chantal — Ripped jeans are fashionable. I’ve always hated them too, even when I was a kid in the 80s when they were also fashionable, but I don’t like fashion so whatever. Meghan was entirely appropriate for the event and for a fashionable woman in the public eye.
@Emily, I believe her sister wife dresses are her lifetime penance for those earlier flashing outfits. She cannot be trusted in regular A line and flare dresses as she does not weigh them down. Meghan looks great in sheaths which won’t fly up in the breeze.
Meghan is effortless (meaning no matter what she wears she looks great. She wears the clothes and not the other way around) and that is something you either have or you don’t. You cannot fake it because it shows. Just like Queen Maxima looks great – she takes some fashion risks but she carries herself well and makes it look effortless. Same with QL of Spain. Effortless.
These random excerpts can seem petty if you look at each one individually, but as a whole they paint a picture of drip, drip, drip torture – like you can never relax because everyday there will be something new that you did “wrong,” even though you think or you’ve been told you’re doing right.
Very good point. Incredibly frustrating on a day to day basis.
Agreed. I said in an earlier post that take individually, the things harr ymentions may seem trivial, but it’s the series of micro aggressions that point to the deliberate smear and attempt to divide meghan and harry.
You’re absolutely right, all these “little things” add up and Meghan was probably very on edge from a very early point. Remember in the docuseries where she mentions getting lambasted by the palace for smiling at paparazzi. Now that is one instance where I see what KP was saying, but I also see her instinct – why not smile at these people? Why look miserable and unhappy? Why not smile and say “have a nice day”? That was the world she came from and she was never told to behave differently until it was a problem.
She was getting hit by the press over every little thing, she was apparently doing every little thing wrong when it came to Kate and William – death by a thousand paper cuts for sure.
Honestly at this point I can see why the Queen and Philip were appealing to her. I don’t think the Queen cared that much what Meghan wore and I don’t think Philip really cared about protocol as long as Meghan was respectful of the Queen and him (which I’m sure she was.) And while there was obviously actual “protocol” involved in dealing with the Queen, it seems like she helped Meghan figure that out AND after almost 70 years on the throne at that point in time, she probably didn’t care that much if Meghan “messed up” the way W&K did. So as counter intuitive as it sounds, I wonder if they were a bit of a safe space for her in the family.
Yes to all this Becks1. I think Meghan was probably very respectful of the Queen and earnest as well as eager to be of service. That probably resulted in the Queen liking her and compared to the rest of the family that would have seemed warm.
As to Philip, not to be crass here but Philip famously liked beautiful woman. Her beauty would have been no small selling point to Prince Philip.
I think they were for sure a safe space and a place of comfort for her. Absolutely wild to think.
The Daily Mail is posting 2-4 new excerpts from “Spare” every day.
Does everyone journal in BRF?
It seems Harry must have been journaling for years.
Meanwhile things are awfully quiet on the royal family front. Are they ALL laying low and still on vacation? Are they hiding? are they awaiting further instruction or are they just plain old lazy?
They’re instructing the tabloids in secret to go all in on the Sussexes any way they can.
For sure! But what about the dream team of Ann, Edward and Sophie? What on earth is Kate doing? We know she is not helping the kids with homework.
The palace needs to hire Kris Jenner. This memoir, Harry leaving- none of it would have happened on her watch!
Kris Jenner would have put this sh!t show on TV and made money from it. That’s her solution to everything apparently.
That’s what our boy Harry did ! He made 100M dollars out of what they did to him and Meghan. And as he should !
I’m surprised she didn’t run away. At her age, I don’t know many of us that would have accepted Harry’s employer approving what I could and could not wear. From the beginning, she was so eager to please and acquiesce. I truly hope she’s no longer a people pleaser and never accepts this kind of situation again. I also feel more and more that I wish Harry would have actually stood up to so many of these so-called protocol crap, and said it was unacceptable from the beginning. I get the feeling that Harry did not want her to run away and truly hid so much of what his life was really about. He seems Shell shocked a lot at the racism and bigotry that she had to experience.
I expect it’s a lot like what he said about Chelsy. He loved her free spirit and didn’t want her to have to change to fit in. Same for Meghan. He didn’t want everything he loved about her drilled out of her in the name of fitting in.
Maybe it’s that “boiling a frog” thing – where the water starts at room temperature, then goes up slowly, slowly and the frog has no idea when it’s cooked. So, you accept that there’s protocol – it’s the British Royal Family, after all – and you accept dealing with some hierarchy, and you accept the patronages, and, and, and…
This is what cults do.
Also, a lot of this stuff wasn’t an issue for Harry and he probably didn’t think about it that much. Like why would he know what was appropriate or not for a woman to wear to events? He wears a tux, a morning suit, a regular suit, a blazer and chinos (with or without a blue or brown sweater and matching suede shoes) or a polo shirt and jeans to basically every.single.event. Why would he really know if Meghan needed to wear a hat to X event or if her nail polish was okay or if her jeans were okay?
(thats obviously pretending that there was such protocol in place re: nail polish, when we all know there wasn’t.)
And then even when they had questions, like about her outfit for IG, KP approved it and STILL threw her to the wolves over it. She was set up to fail from the start.
KP approved the outfit and then Willy immediately rang his buddies to tell them what to say about it. They didn’t just leave Meghan to the wolves. They didn’t even push her out of the troika to feed the wolves who were chasing them. They slathered her in barbecue sauce and shoved her into a dragon’s den.
@Emily_C – this. It’s not speculation at this point, Harry has stated it, it’s truth. Anyone who still has questions about this isn’t paying attention.
Harry is laying it all out there for many reasons. Some of it is therapeutic because it is clear this book is part of his healing process. But also by putting all the stories about himself out there good and bad, he is removing any potential leverage or blackmail that the family or UK media could use against it.
Not all the stories are flattering, but they are now out there. It must be freeing for him to do this.
Meanwhile the rest of the family still live in fear, unsure of which of their secrets could come out. Even the telegraph states that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, basically admitting there are much worse stories about William and the family still untold.
I’d love a stand-alone thread where we speculate wildly on M & H’s overall long-term strategy and predict outcomes for media and monarchy.
I think Harry and Meghan’s goal is to get their story told from their point of view on the historical record. Correct falsehoods and misinformation. So, any attempts to re-write history would be nullified. We already see the British tabloids doing it in real time and continuing to do it to Diana decades after her death.
Now, if people don’t want to hear it or believe it, that’s on them. That says more about their ideals than it says anything about the Sussex’s. Judging from the reactions on Twitter, it’s heavily leaning towards “don’t want to hear it” because it’s making the royal family and by extension England look terrible. And they don’t want anyone ruining the fantasy or challenging the hierarchy. I said it before, it’s an existential crisis for many.
As for the media and the family. They won’t change their behavior, but it will be less impactful from now on.
Jesus christ.
Anyhooooo:…..
PS: I do believe some of the britshidtrags are hiring.
@Snuffles, your take is spot on.
The British monarchy was doomed to end before George could be crowned. Among other reasons: you can’t respect a man elevated to kingship when his parents published photos of mother’s day letters to dead “Granny Diana”.
Elizabeth became queen before 24/7 news and Charles lived much of his life before the Internet when nothing ever dies.
William has really suspect photos and behavior out there, it’s only by feeding the tabloids that we don’t see more.
But William won’t be able to feed Harry and his family any more, so he drags his own kids out…
It’s ending and treating Harry well, would have just prolonged the death
I think Harry has got what he wanted out of the book. His true story out there and the Royal Family to back off of him and Meghan. It doesn’t mean the press wont still try to destabilize their lives but the press’ main partner the Royal Family has been neutralized.
This is what I’m still wondering about. I think they’ve been incredibly strategic, and wonder if press can still profit off of them at all or not. Also wondering about whether this strategy impacts their brand and desire to shift focus to philanthropy.
I assume all the public speculation about their family’s safety was way off, given the revelations about his military service. They must have calculated honesty wouldn’t worsen their risk.
What a position to be in.
Charles doesn’t seem to realise he needs ceasefire on this front for at least the next six months for the sake of his reign.
And William continues to issue threats via briefings, when he should be searching ways to reestablish an what was already an quite poor reputation.
I think the only solution would be an abolished monarchy
I believe this as well. He really has unloaded anything they might try to weaponize against him and his family.
On the scale of distressed jeans, these are pretty tame. I remember shopping for my daughter when she was a teen and looking at some of the stuff they were trying to pass off as actual garments. It was basically shredded fabric that cost a fortune. I’m so glad Meghan and Harry are free from all the ridiculous rules. And shame on the right wing press, I’m really looking forward to their implosion.
She looked great and this would have been a few months after Pippa’s wedding when the Middletons were in defcon 5 because of Meg and, at the time, the BM was happy for Harry, seemingly and found Meg refreshing. This is the start of Tominey and Carole floating things out that were seemingly no big deal, this happens to everyone here, pieces about wearing (in style at the time) ripped jeans at a sporting event, but turned out to be just the beginning of hit pieces until poor Meg could do no right.
Thanks for the timeline. I forgot this was after Pippa’s wedding. It would be great to lay out the whole Sussex timeline, beginning to end, including when the nasty gossip came out, including which Rota member broke the news so we can see if it followed a major event and from what we know now, we can see if it was a Carole leak, Charles leak or a Bulliam leak.
I can see why Chelsea and Cressida ran for the hills from this family/institution. Jesus having these idiots “approve” an adult woman’s clothes is beyond stupid. The fact Meghan was in her mid thirties, had life experience and had done her work to have healthy boundaries and know who she was is the only way a healthy/sane person could marry into this family – and it still attempted to destroy her. No part of this family seems glamorous or fun, just sick and evil.
I think cressida and harry were not serious about each other i think cressida would have said yes if harry proposed. I think Kate would not have given her as much trouble since William had been interested in her half sister Isabelle. William may have discouraged Kate from being mean girl to cressida.
Even Chelsy would have said yes if Harry proposed and treated her the same way he treats Meghan now.
Ding Ding Ding. When it came to Meghan, Prince Harry was willing, and happy to fight the institution and his family. Prince Harry fought for himself but especially for Duchess Meghan.
gotta be kidding me. those two are the smartest girls for not marrying harry. love only goes so far, and Chelsy and Harry were in love but there was no way Chelsy would have taken the abuse Meghan takes now. no way. she’s way too independent and would have put herself first. she wants a career and a life on her terms. that was not something she was going to sacrifice. Cressida…wasn’t a serious thing. but she could even tell being with Harry would be a chore. and she’s beautiful and white and wealthy on her own, she doesn’t need Harry to have the life she wants.
I don’t know if this is the right place to say it but, what really (and I mean really) gets my goat is that they’re HER jeans paid for with HER OWN money. If palace was paying for them then maybe they’ve a right to say what she should wear but, we’ve since found out they paid for very little. So, all those itemised bills on her clothing which the Fail printed on a daily basis were incorrect. Especially when they were comparing Meghan’s spending to Kate.
Even if Meghan was spending more on clothes they weren’t costing us a single penny, it was the Stepford Barbie who was costing us a fortune, with her endless coat-dresses and buttons. It’s just another example of feeding Meghan to the wolves and it makes me furious. The royals knew Meghan wasn’t included in any of the royal clothing budgets and yet they let the press continue the lie.
I recall M saying (can’t rmbr which intvw) that once, during the girlfriend period and some time after the Toronto IG rollout, she was back in Toronto and was seen wearing her gold chain with the letter “H.” And someone from KP (jasonDaKnife, I believe) called her and told her she shouldn’t wear the chain anymore.
@Kingston – What I find strange is TQ and PP were still around and yet it’s William who was calling the shots. I think all these “new” protocols started on his watch. William was so say the champion of a modernised monarchy but, in truth he was ensuring that everything stayed the same. The measure of control he tried to exercise over H&M is truly horrific. It started with “jeans” and culminated with full blown assault on his brother. Yet, there are still people out there defending this thug and his “silent assassin”.
I remember that story about the initial necklace. And also that Kate eventually showed up wearing a gold chain with her children’s initials, so again, ridiculous treatment of Meghan only for Kate to SWF her later.
Kingston I remember that story too. Kensington was all up in their relationship trying to direct things from the start.
I don’t think William is/was trying to make things stay exactly the same in the RF I think he was trying get rid of Meghan by any means.
Remember when she got destroyed for that engagement dress?? Because it was seen as “too extravagant” or something. Not only was that always stupid, because look at Kate’s spending, but MEghan either borrowed it or paid for it on her own, so the british press should have been told to eff off.
So much of what is being revealed just breaks my heart for her. They treated her like total dirt from the start.
I think The Firm really misread how H&M could have been a separate team to continue the RF popularity.
Think of the charity work that could have truly benefitted from having W&K supporting the established charities, PLUS H&M working on their own list of charities.
All the people who could have truly been helped in life changing ways.
Just a terrible waste in so many ways.
As for the reconciliation idea?
No, I think it will not happen.
All this BS about clothing bugs me no end.
M was a self made millionaire when she met Harry, she can/did buy her own clothes.
The money spent on clothing and the constant focus on the fashion of the royal family women, is garbage used to distract from the fact that they senior members are among the wealthiest people. Never mind the clothes! Shame them into using their vast wealth to help people.
To this day the invented cost of that dress for the photo shoot gets added to any alleged clothing totals they ascribe to Meghan. It’s pretty obvious the dress was used for the photo shoot only. As what tends to happen at every magazine photo shoot.
But the tabloids were ready to do what they could to make Meghan look like she was spending taxpayer money.
Was it Chelsey Davies who said she would not live in the royal fishbowl? I think so.
I give her a lot of credit for that.
She was fairly young, trained as a lawyer I think, she comes from money in her family too.
Diana wanted out before the wedding, after she realized C&C were still carrying on, her own Father told her “It’s too late now, dear” something like that IIRC.
Chelsey vs. Meghan in being able to deal with BRF, M had built her own career herself, made her own money, was solid in her life, lived independently before she met Harry.
Btw, I think everyone in the BRF is hiding behind the old “Never complain, never explain” rule because they know if they say anything, they are pretty likely to mess it up like P Andrew did in his lousy interview. Shoot themselves in the foot, better to shut up, stay inside, lock the door.
She dated Harry for 7 years during the worst period of his life. If she didn’t want to marry him, she would have broken up with him quickly. It also appears to me from her behavior that she is jealous of Meghan.
Not necessarily. They were really young. I’ve dated guys for long stretches of time whom I had absolutely zero intention of marrying.
They actually broke up and got back together several times during the 7 years. And nothing about her behaviour says she’s jealous of Meghan. All honest accounts of her state that she’s a warm and sweet person — the tabs went in hard on her because she didn’t fit the Stepford Wife mold the BRF demands. She’s married, a mother, and has her own successful business doing what she loves without being squeezed into a life she would have hated.
Thank you @Jaded. I believe you defended Chelsy a few months ago too. Don’t remember if I replied at the time. There is nothing about Chelsy’s or Meghan’s behavior that would indicate any sort of jealousy. Looking at you Richard Eden with your stupid @ss articles. Chelsy & Harry were young love (been there, done that). H&M are different much like Chelsy is with her person now. Harry and Chelsy have their own lives now. It wouldn’t shock me to find out that they all talk to one another.
OMG ripped fashionable jeans! The horror of it all. Yep, Meghan was thrown under the bus from the beginning. Used and abused by the BRF/BM. Nasty motherf*ckers. Pretty sure there are pics of Harry, way before his meeting Meghan, wearing ripped jeans. But, Kate bearing her @ss. all good. A pioneer in baring ones @ss.
A lot of jeans come pre-ripped. Pre-faded, pre-distressed, etc. Very expensive, stylish, good quality jeans that are worn by older women as well as teens and 20-somethings. If it’s minimal and artfully done (which is was in this case IMO), there is nothing wrong with it at all. Certainly not at a sporting event.
This was just the first step in the protocol policing of Meghan that was invented only for her . Kensington Palace made up protocol gave their Marching orders to the Racist Royal Reporters and they all suddenly their were stories about ripped jeans being against protocol not classy at all . Meanwhile Kate is wearing jeans types leggings that are so ridiculously tight . The palace and the trolls invented protocols that never existed to othering Meghan all the time black nail polish off the shoulders dress hugging strangers holding hands with Harry . Closing her own car door was seen as the huge idea then all suddenly you see Kate and Sophie and Zara closing their own car doors and getting praise for it.
Seems to me Harry is addressing all the things the tabs made a big deal about and correcting the record. For example, Harry can’t disabuse us of the notion that William always put his arms around his brother if we don’t know what William was really like. So yes, Harry remembers everything, but this is more than settling “grudges.” How many warm and human moments did Harry have to recount after Diana died? I’m getting the impression that Harry has been thrown to the wolves from the day his mother died. I’m beginning to think of William and Harry as having no family life from the day Diana died. That’s why the Middletons were able to trap him. Clearly, with Meghan, Harry has set up his own family, and enjoying a family life that he longed for since his mother’s death. I’m imagining a life without warmth or affection until he met Meghan. In my mind Harry’s life has three stages so far: Life with Diana, life without Diana, and new life with Meghan and their children. I’m glad he picked up Doria- Meghan didn’t get anyone.
Her figure is cuter now after 3 pregnancies than it was then in 2017.
Meghan could never win with the British press – it was never about the ripped jeans. If she had worn a sundress, she would have been “flaunting”. A fancier dress? Too formal, too try-hard. Baggy clothing? Not formal enough, sloppy. A coat dress? Presumptuous.
There’s nothing Meghan could have worn, done, or said that would have made the press and the palace like her. She looked great in the jeans – comfortable, confident, and not needing to impress. She was also clearly someone who knew her own style and had contacts in the fashion world. I’ll bet KP were terrified.
Countdown to CopyKeen showing up somewhere in ripped jeans in 5…4…3..2…
These stories make the BRF look hideous.
She looked gorgeous. William clearly couldn’t stand it. Because the contrast with his dull, lackluster wife couldn’t have been clearer from the get-go.
William had to dim Meghan’s and Harry’s light to make his burn brighter. But it didn’t work so he grew angrier and angrier.
Even 5 years later, Meghan’s outfit still looks fashionable and classic. She has an effortless style about her. Beautiful and poised but still approachable.
Now that Prince Harry is coming out swinging, I think it wasn’t that the firm didn’t want Meghan to be part of the family. They didn’t want her influence or her support of Harry bc at that point he already knew he didn’t want to stick around. She really helped him fully pull himself away from that toxic family. She was his lifeline and I think they all knew it. Burn it all down, Haz!!
Wow I went back to the old comments /articles on here and some of the comments in general about then MM were a lot. Thirsty was common, sly was my fav 🙄. But most people assumed she’d be living a life of luxury even though back then we knew H didn’t really. Well, we know a lot more about their life now. And we know M didn’t marry for money, jewels and glamorous housing. She paid for her own distressed jeans so I don’t care. She was a girlfriend at a sporting event not a wife out with TQ
Back when Kate was wearing light dresses without weighted hems (and I believe weighted hems are considered dressing protocol) did the palace ever step up to defend her? I remember the press gleefully mocking her her for flashing her undies, but I don’t remember if the palace said anything. I’m pretty sure they did not. I don’t know how the royal rota reacted but the general press was certainly laughing.
It was one thing if it happened once, but after the second time they should have come down on her like a tonne of bricks, because it was literally as simple as using weights in the hem. If that had been Meghan she would have been smote with the fury of a thousand suns by the palace, the royal rota and the general press alike. There would be accusations of orchestrating the flash for attention all-round.
I think the palace was probably mad at Kate the first time and furious the second, but it’s just not the same as how Meghan would have been thrown to the wolves by the palace themselves if she’d made the same mistake even once.
Depending on whether or not the palace defended Kate, perhaps it’s fairly standard to not comment on clothing. The thing is, all Kate’s mistakes – showing her undies multiple times by refusing weighted hems, wearing outfits that are inappropriate to events like the 9/11 one – are far more egregious than wearing fashionably torn jeans to a casual sporting event. The response from royalists would suggest it was the other way around, though.
Gah- I STILL love this outfit… a collection of perfect basics.