It’s so funny to me that no one in the British media wants to talk about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s ability to attract major names wherever they go. During their first trip to New York in 2021, they did a photocall at the Freedom Tower with the governor of New York AND the then-sitting mayor of New York, Bill De Blasio. The time they went to the Salute to Freedom gala (because Harry was given an award), they met with current and retired high-ranking American military. At last year’s Invictus Games, Harry did a photocall with King Willem-Alexander. At this year’s games, he and Meghan did photocalls with NATO Joint Force Commander General Guglielmo Miglietta AND a NATO delegation of 1100 personnel, military family members and students. At this year’s games, they also did events with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, plus many high-ranking German officials.
And on and on – like, I have twenty more examples but I’ll spare you. Harry and Meghan are serious people doing serious work, they’re not looking for sad little UN-adjacent photo-ops with randos just to say that they “had meetings at the UN,” unlike some people. They’re not clout-chasing – they already have clout, and they spend time with other people who also have clout. Speaking of, I was already incredibly impressed that Vivek Murthy, the United States surgeon general, attended their Mental Health Festival last week and addressed the families alongside the Sussexes. But did you also know that Kamala Harris’s husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, was at the event on Tuesday?
Apparently, Second Gentleman Doug gave the opening remarks at the event. Which means the Sussexes/Archewell are in communication with the Vice President’s office and Doug’s office, which are probably combined. I didn’t even see the photos from the event, but yes, he was there and he spoke in front of the Project Healthy Minds logo. The photo in this post was taken by Emhoff’s communications director Liza Acevedo. So much for “no one even went to the Sussexes’ event!” So much for “the British government throws a tantrum about the Biden administration having anything to do with the Sussexes!” President Biden sent his surgeon general and the Second Gentleman to this event.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Liza Acevedo’s IG Story.
I would love to see a picture of Meghan and VP Harris. I might frame it.
Do you want William to have a stroke? 😡🤯
Going to lose karma points for my answer but “sure, why not” was my initial thought.
Don’t worry @Fran, we can go down together.
Will is going to have a public rage moment one day and if Meghan has a whole meeting with Kamala, Jill, or Joe, that may be the day.
LOLOLOL
How weird is it that I wasn’t even thinking about William when I made that comment? Like, it’s a total anachronism to imagine William existing in the same space as two dynamic unique glass-ceiling shattering women.
But if a head has to explode, that’s not my business.
This would be one for the books! Love them both.
I love this for the Sussexes. And it’s clear that they are so confident in themselves and the important work they’re doing that they don’t even need to shout about all of this from the rooftops! We didn’t even know the Second Gentleman was there until after the event!
The Sussexes just come out with completed projects and let their hard work speak for itself. And people – high ranking/celebs/military/government – want to be associated with Harry and Meghan and their projects because they’re real and substantive. This is what The Other Couple just can’t understand. It’s not about their titles or birth order, it’s about work that is improving the lives of others.
Exactly @SussexWatcher – the titles may open the door but, it’s what you do when you get in the room that counts. William, because he has been brought up to believe he’s a gift from God seems to believe he is enough to make things happen. His distorted upbringing has encouraged the belief that he is better than everyone and everyone must listen to him. This unrealistic assumption has meant he’s unable to understand why Harry’s projects receive global praise and recognition while he as a future king struggles to gain a fraction of the respect shown to his brother who is nothing but a “spare.”
Also, since Will doesn’t seem to understand the difference between the work that Harry does, and the “work” that he (Will) does, he probably truly believes the only reason Harry attracts attention is because of his title – and assumes that should work for him as well, because he’s so majestic yet of the people, dontcha know. The media also promotes this idea, that it’s all about H&M’s titles, and I’m sure so does the KP staff, to soothe Will’s ego.
Fantastic! Love our First Gentleman. I also get the vibe that he and his fabulous wife love each other very much
Second Gentleman.
Our first second gentleman.
You’re right! I’m distracted and in a hurry. One of my daughters is coming for a week. Cooking her favorite foods.
They seems to be becoming heavy hitters very quickly. These associations are nothing to scoff at. While I don’t think it’s what happening, I remember around the time H&M left where folks were nervous about a “rival court” being set up across the pond. Don’t think a rival court is happening but H&M has set themselves up very well, very quickly. They hit the ground running and we’re really starting to see the results of their work. It’s hard to ignore or deny their success.
Well yeah, I think to William it feels like a rival court even if it’s not one. He acts as if it’s one. Why else the need to take on America? Just waiting for him to come up with some reason he needs to visit Cali.
Oh yeah, I’m sure he and the press think they’re becoming a rival court. The press keeps trying to claim that these are “royal engagement” style events and not regular philanthropic events.
Oh yeah, the press loves the idea of rival courts and absolutely plays it up. They just wish the Sussexes were still in England. Oh well. Harry and Meghan are just doing their thing.
“The Sussexes spent time with Second Genleman Doug Emhoff in NYC”
You mean they met on the sidewalk for a photo and awkwardly parted ways after a handshake? No? OK
Absolutely correct that they are not clout chasers. Harry and Meg made connections with lost of very important higher ups before they were even married. Meg spoke at the UN and Harry made connections with his charities. Now that they are together they are a force to be reckoned with. Poor Peg did nothing for his 49 years on earth besides photo ops and taking credit for others work. Go Sussexes!!
Good lord my fingers are not working today. Lots of connections and his 40 years on earth.
41 years and 4 months to be more exact.😂
Gonna guess the BM will just act like this picture doesn’t exist, like these facts don’t exist. But hey William is a global statesman bc he allegedly ran in a park🙄
Yes but the second gentleman’s wife is black so it doesn’t count. This is of course what the racists will say.
And a woman. Much like his sports teams he probably only cares about the male ones.
I bet all of this is in Peggy’s “I am a Statesman too” look book. Love it for the Sussex’s I hope we can get legislation soon.
The Second Gentleman published the picture on his official Website.
They tried to say Harry was dumb, but he maybe smartest of lot, that man can network and don’t talk about his wife.
The BM left out the Sussexes’ mingling with high ranking government officials during their mental health events because The Other Couple failed to get the UK counterparts. This is embarrassing. The Waleses, future king and queen of the UK, at best, were interviewed about thier favorite emojis.
William allegedly ran in Central Park and nobody saw him, apparently that shows he’s a global statesman. The British press can be as deluded as they want but Harry and Meghan are ones who are on the global stage.
That cream, off-the-shoulder pantsuit is just gorgeous. I love Meghan so much!
One thing I like about this photo is how relaxed, chill, and slightly informal it is. It’s not some grand choreographed photo op in front of a perfect backdrop. It’s giving: we always chat like this, no big deal, we’re in the same circles. Understated power.
I can’t remember where I saw it, but there is a video of this conversation and at one point, Meghan and Doug are laughing and Meghan does her signature reach out to touch his arm. And I thought the exact same thing – look how comfortable and natural they all are.
I read on the Project Healthy Minds site that Emhoff would give a key speech at the gala. I don’t think the Sussexes attended- at least there are no pictures.
The Second Gentleman has a number of issues that he works on (and he’s teaching at George Washinton University now, too), and one of those is suicide prevention. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that he was there, but it was for me. I think there’s a LOT of work to be done around social media and its effect on kids–I hope he continues to be active in this space.
It must burn W&K so much that they’ll never get this level of attention on their own. They have attention because they’re representing a country and a monarchy. H&M get attention on their own merits and what they set in motion and achieve. Yes H&M have privileges, but so do W&K….
I really love this for them.