If there’s one thing the Buckingham Palace courtiers love to do, it’s mess with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s profiles on royal.uk, the official website of the British royal family. In previous years, BP webmasters have played stupid games with vanishing and reappearing royal titles and HRHs. Let’s not forget the seven-weeks-long delay in adding Princess Lilibet to the line of succession list online, nor the delay in adding Lili and Archie’s titles last year. All of the updates and games were always very stupid and petty, and a very obvious effort to “create a story” of the Windsors snubbing the Sussexes, especially their children.
So, I thought this latest story would be another dumbf–k “let’s focus on how Buckingham Palace is snubbing the Sussexes on royal.uk again” deflection from the Waleses’ sh-tshow. But no, it’s not like that at all? While royal.uk merged Harry and Meghan’s profiles into one page (they used to have individual pages), the palace webmaster added flattering photos of Harry & Meghan and added the palace’s statements about Harry and Meghan “stepping back” from being working royals. Even more fascinating is that royal.uk now links to sussex.com, with this statement: “Information about the current work of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can be found on their official website: sussex.com.”
Also notable: the palace webmaster isn’t playing fast and loose with their titles. The page notes, “The Duke and Duchess were given their titles by Queen Elizabeth II on the day of their marriage.” The palace clarifies that Harry is “The Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. He was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2015.” Meghan is “The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel.” While there should be HRHs attached, once again, Harry and Meghan have “voluntarily” decided not to use them.
Again, while all of this is being promoted in the British media as a snub, it doesn’t actually look that way to me? Harry and Meghan’s bios/pages were merged, as if the palace has made their peace with the fact that the Sussex marriage is fine and Meghan can’t be “removed.” They linked to sussex.com, almost like sussex.com has the king’s stamp of approval? It’s a hell of a thing. Super-curious.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 03: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952.,Image: 696611774, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dan Kitwood / Avalon
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- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive for a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Friday, June 3, 2022 on the second of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service.,Image: 696614407, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Matt Dunham / Avalon
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- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive for a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Friday, June 3, 2022 on the second of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service.,Image: 696621832, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Matt Dunham / Avalon
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- Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive for the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952.,Image: 696678032, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: ARTHUR EDWARDS / Avalon
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- Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive for the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952.,Image: 696678053, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: ARTHUR EDWARDS / Avalon
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- ** RIGHTS: ONLY UNITED STATES, CANADA ** Sydney, AUSTRALIA – The Duke of Sussex and Duchess of Sussex visit Bondi Beach in Sydney on Day Four of the Royal Tour. Meghan Markle looks glowing just days after announcing her pregnancy with Prince Harry. Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 18 OCTOBER 2018 BYLINE MUST READ: Backgrid AU / BACKGRID 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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- ** RIGHTS: ONLY UNITED STATES, BRAZIL, CANADA ** Windsor, UNITED KINGDOM – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their baby son, who was born on Monday morning, during a photocall in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. Pictured: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex BACKGRID USA 8 MAY 2019 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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- ** RIGHTS: WORLDWIDE EXCEPT IN NETHERLANDS ** Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA – Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex at the Justice Desk initiative in Nyanga township, Cape Town, South Africa, where they dance with locals. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Duchess of Sussex BACKGRID USA 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 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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- ** RIGHTS: WORLDWIDE EXCEPT IN NETHERLANDS ** Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen during a visit to a township to learn about Youth Employment Services (YES), which aims to tackle the critical issue of youth unemployment in South Africa by creating one million new work opportunities in the next three years. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 2 OCTOBER 2019 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*
I was surprised they linked to their website but it does seem like if they haven’t come to terms with them being gone, they’ve at least realized the petty games don’t bother the Sussexes. As for the BM snubs, isolation, and final straws are the only thing they have left. They never break news about them anymore and clearly don’t have any real insider sources. Nothing about Harry or Meghan’s actions would lead anyone to believe they want to be part of that madness again but hope springs eternal I suppose in the media that their scapegoats will return.
@Dee(2) … I don’t know. Personally, I think Harry and Charles have come to some kind of temporary agreement that Harry (and possibly Meghan?) will lend a hand in royal duties–perhaps overseas?–at least until Kate is back on her feet and willing to do public appearances again. In return, perhaps he’ll get the security arrangement he wants?
What I find interesting at the new combined Royal Bio site is how they’ve aggressively underscored Harry’s military service and his role as sole creator and organizer of the Invictus Games. Over the past two years the British media has tried to undermine Harry’s military service and they’ve also tried their best to give partial credit for Invictus Games creation to William and Kate.
I am equally captivated by them crediting Meghan’s professional endeavors prior to meeting Harry such as The Tig and her acting career, even name dropping “Suits” (someone must be a fan) and listing her charitable efforts while a working royal.
Okay, very confused. Daily Beast says this is a demotion. Their pictures are pushed further down the page etc. Sounds more likely .
Maybe and that’s a strong maybe that Harry could do something for the QCT but I can’t imagine Meghan doing anything. I mean they were willing for QEII because she treated them kindly and they realized she wasn’t in total control at the end. Charles has taken their home, played around with their kids’ titles, and apparently said something so nasty about Meghan when Harry was coming up to Balmoral he had to insist he apologize. I don’t think Meghan is doing anything for them.
That’s remarkably positive and civil!
It’s Mr Wet Wipes playing Lazy Prince Eggplant and his Lazy wife Princess Kkkhan’t.
Adding that the strategy will be for BO to be pro Sussex to get to Eggplant and Kkkhan’t to work. Ha! They’re so cruel 😂 that family is so shtty.
At least, they recognize the Sussexes as a unit.
It really is civil. What has changed? It’s curious that they are not being their usual nasty selves with this. Very curious.
I think it must have something to do with the UK’s Invictus bid. It does look a lot better, and it makes the point that Invictus is Harry’s creation.
These people (BP) can never do anything without a more nefarious motive or self-interest. It’s not like they suddenly felt an urgent need to clean up their act around the Sussexes. Considering everything going on with WanK, I think that BP wanted to yank W and K’s chain a bit, as in, “shape up.”
I don’t think Charles loves anyone so not for one second do I think he loves either of his children.
However, I do think Charles is taking a long hard look at William and Harry and he sees how awful William turned out and he sees Harry is thriving and creating a good life that includes real, effective service to others.
I think Charles is sending smol signals that William no longer has a hold over Charles. From the official royal escort of Harry a couple of months ago to this newly and accurately updated web info linking to HM’s new website…Charles is showing he is trying to be a little bit more balanced in how he treats his sons.
It’ sounds like the finally got an intern who knows what they are doing to make it look nice. God knows the regular idiots are not usually this civil., But seriously, it is so weird that all they can do in the middle of their PR hurricane is …update the bios?
Curiouser and curiouser. Interested to read all you more knowledgeable-about- the- royal’s take on this.
{Settles into comfy chair to await tea service.}
Maybe PH finally got through to them with a firm enough no about returning. I don’t believe he was asking them to return, KC asked him. He likely thought that taking away FC, security and military patronages would make PH come to submission and has just now given up on that. Otherwise, updates would have been made to the webpage long ago.
With how often they write about “olive branches” this actually felt like it might be one. I’m extremely cautious about it though, I have 🤞🏼 they remain professional and stop the petty, cruel and destructive games that they have been playing.
They always do that. First, they abuse them through BM, then they try to look civil. Remember, the funeral from hell? First, they were screaming to H&M through sources, Charles even asked Harry not to bring Meghan and talked sh*t about her. Then, they organized a family walk when international media started calling them out. I am gonna guess, this is the backsies for accusing Harry and Meghan of making Kate sick and causing her to get surgery. It is the classic abuser playbook.
Good news, but a bit creepy coming just after the post about Charles…
Finally, someone read the room and acted accordingly. The pettiness has not gone over well, and this is the first genuine olive branch I’ve seen from the palace. It’s going to look so much worse when Bashing Bill takes over and starts trying to mess with them, because we know that’s what will happen.
Interesting. First off I have reluctant but genuine respect for BP’s communications apparatus. They are absolutely doing a decent job.
Next, I am sure this is from BP. After Meghan did K a solid with rolling out her website? In any case, BP could be fairly certain that this change would be seen and reported on quickly. There’s this whole Frankenphoto mess happening and they make this change now? Hmmm.
I think they all know William is about to go under. He either beat up Kate. And that’s why she’s not being seen. Or he’s having a nervous breakdown. And BP knows it’s all about to come out into the open. I think William will be taken out of succession. And someone will be put in to look after George until he’s old enough. I think that’s what the trip from Harry was all about. He said no. But they have someone else now.
Perhaps they’re hoping that Meghan not having her own page will make it less noticeable when Kates page is removed because of the official separation.
That’s wordy. I hope you know what I mean.
Like they’re soft balling what it looks like for a Duchess (or princess) not to have a dedicated page. Like Kate might get a soft spot mention on Willy’s page once they separate & Kate’s page is removed.
Because they always use the Sussex to test the waters or deflect.
@KOKIRI, I was thinking the same thing. I actually like the combined page for H&M, however, I don’t think the palaces do anything without an ulterior motive. They are indeed slow walking the day Kate will not have a page at all. It looks like Camilla is going to out last two Princesses of Wales in her lifetime.
Oh my goodness YES. This is a very good point. Well spotted!
It sounds to me like they’re trying to take some credit for H&M’s good work. It’s like – “See? H&M are still part of the family. See how well we raised him? Check out all their good work – that came from our good example.”
That’s how it seemed to me, too. The linking of H&M’s sussex.com website directly from the royal website feels like the royal’s family’s try-hard way of telling everyone who visits their page that THEY had a direct hand in H&M’s independent work. Though one could argue that H&M’s outreach in their various causes have had more impact by virtue of their association with the monarchy, but it just seems like the royal family is taking every opportunity to ride on H&M’s coattails now that they’re seen as independently successful in their endeavors through their own hard work. But for me it just seems like the tables have oddly flipped, and now it’s the royal family who are H&M-adjacent, and not the other way around as before when the tabloid narrative was always that H&M were achieving their success BECAUSE they were royal-adjacent!
Love the idea of the flipped tables. It will become even more apparent as William approaches the throne.
Yep, I agree. They are piggybacking off the actual great work they have done/do by lining to their website. But I think the theory above about deleting Kate page is interesting as well.
I agree that they’re trying to link themselves to H&M’s success. Are they trying to move in on IG?
I just don’t buy that they’re suddenly nice and fair and appreciative.
It almost feels like they’re “giving” something to H&M so that they have something to “take away” from them later.
Or they are keeping their end of a bargain struck when Harry flew in for 24 hours? (just guessing here)
Agreed, and the only possible conclusion I can come up with is they cleaned it up as part of the U.K.’s Invictus 2027 bid. There is always an ulterior motive with these people. It’s definitely an olive branch, of sorts.
Of course, because at this point people are saying we miss them and also they are doing so vibrantly well. Can’t have that at the palace.
I think this is definitely about trying to associate Harry and Meghan with the royal family (I mean they’re still part of the family obviously) – they want people to go from the royal family’s website to Sussex.com and link the two in their mind,
that said, this wasn’t done without Charles’ approval so all the uproar over them using their title for their website etc was clearly not coming from BP. Gee, wonder who it was coming from….
Yes, exactly. This is Charles admitting that Harry and Meghan have been successful – they’ve made a pantload of money, they’re supporting multiple charities, Invictus, they’re giving out awards, receiving awards, they’re rubbing elbows with dignitaries and celebrities, they’re influencers. Basically, they’re everything the RF should be, only in California.
All of this, and if by some strange coincidence, more people sign up to the royal.com (or whatever it’s called) website, well then, I guess they’ll just have to live with it.
I made the comment some years back that despite Will being the heir and FK, Harry’s actually the one who’s followed in his father (and mother’s) footsteps. Despite his personal flaws – and they are many – Charles as POW was a hard worker with a lot of valuable initiatives to his credit, very notably in the areas of education and training (there’s many things besides the Prince’s Trust). Under other circumstances, we might know more about this. But Will and Kate, who are in reality the outliers among the RF in terms of their pitiful lack of work and accomplishments, have so dominated the media coverage, that the public (or at least us here at CB!) couldn’t help but view the rest of the family through that lens, equally lazy and useless, when in fact the other working family members pull their own weight (whether we think what they do is valuable is another question). Everyone’s been tainted by Will and Kate’s refusal over the years to do their jobs.
On the one hand, I think by highlighting the connection with what Harry (and Meghan) have done, Charles is trying to reclaim a bit of his own legacy, to show he’s given the world more than just the lazy, useless future king. Charles should be proud of Harry, who is who he is in part because of things he learned from both his parents.
On the other hand, still have to agree with those on here counseling us to beware! and reminding us these are people who always have an ulterior motive, and a frequently negative one at that…
I have a theory that brewing under all this Will and Kate drama is a brutal battle of the courtiers. Once Charles passes and Will ascends, technically Will can clean house (just like Charles did). I think the cooler heads at BP have taken this flailing Wails opportunity to make KP look like an absolute clown show (not very hard, honestly), which will only help consolidate power at BP and push out KP (especially if this clownery continues and BP has to fix it).
So here, BP is being mature and responsible, and in contrast we have KP flailing at a farm shop.
Well, now, look who’s been brought to heel!
The DM and others are trying to promote this story as a downgrade but I think the bigger story is the Royal Family linking to Harry and Meghan’s website. After all that crying and throwing up about the website by the press, the Royal Family seems not have a problem with it. In addition, the fact that Royal Family hasn’t removed them from the website shows that Harry and Meghan are not irrelevant and that the Royal Family are eager to maintain a link with them.
You see, I think The Duchess’ abbreviated bio is still shady. This is where I would have included her work with the UN and One Young World, her work in India and Rwanda, and her visits to soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Instead, they have reduced her to “a former actress and lifestyle blogger” to fit their running narrative that she was “nothing” before she met Harry. Insert a massive eyeroll from me.
The Royal Family website links to Harry and Meghan’s where you can find her entire bio there. This is a win for Harry and Meghan.
I see what you mean, Amy Bee, but I still think it’s shady. It’s not as though there were space limitations. The other thing is that while I think that it is good that they included excerpts from speeches which both have given, I also found it shady that right beside Meghan’s speech on mental health was a large photograph of the incandescent Huevo with “Shout”. There are photographs of Harry and Meghan at Shout events which they could have used – especially as they were the ones who had actually been working behind the scenes with Shout before William tried to take public credit for the whole thing. So those who said above that the royals are using Harry and Meghan draw attention to themselves are 100% correct. We are in the era of royal clout chasing. Still eyerolling.
If anything the Royal Family continuing to feature them on their website means that they are unwilling to relinquish their association with Harry and Meghan. So much for being irrelevant. If the Royal Family is still featuring them it confirms that they are not irrelevant and they want some of Harry and Meghan’s shine.
I’m right there with you, Amy Bee.
What can one say, @Magdelena: There just wasn’t enough money in the royal budget to include Meghan’s full bio with One Young World and the UN work and India, etc. You know how it is. (Besides, everything they do is about raising their own profiles, not others).
I agree, Debbie. Meghan has always been more than an accomplished actor. She’s a humanitarian with an impressive resume.
Perhaps because of his health, Charles has decided to make peace with the situation. Getting his affairs in order, as they say. In any case, this will no doubt trigger the incandescent one. Prepare for massive explosions from KP.
OMG, I just said that below, I hope he’s getting better.
I like the whole page better that way ❤ I just hope that Charles is getting better because it does seem like BP is trying to put things in place.
It’s also curious that the Instagram rhetoric about the Sussexes is not as reactive. It’s still there but what I am seeing is it is reduced. I commented on Meghan, Duchess of Sussex new Instagram work being discussed and before I would be jumped for writing something positive. Didn’t happen. If I challlenge someone for writing wrong and rude comments it goes unanswered, and actually will get positive likes.
Has the troll farm been reduced or told to stand down?
Another incentive for the palace to play nice, could this be the beginning of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 campaign?
I should have kept scrolling. I am thinking this is exactly it.
I think the picture they used make it look like Harry and Meghan have gone on permanent vacation. 🙂
Its from the Oceana tour which was very successful for the Sussexes. I’m surprised they used a picture from there because that tour is what really put the Cult members noses out of joint, according to Harry. He said everything changed and the knives really came out for Meghan after that. So curious they would use a picture from that tour as part of an “olive branch”.
Before we all rejoice that at last Harry and Megan are getting the recognition they deserve from that bloody lot, it’s Charlie who authorised this, BUT did he authorise the fact that, the hard working, honest couple and their beautiful children, now appear BELOW Andrew the perv, even though I Harry is above him in the line of succession!
Mary Pester, that’s what I noticed when I checked out their website. I wonder if the brf have any idea what damage they are doing to the institution that they put Randy Andy before the Sussexes? They truly have no idea how really bad this is globally. They are REALLY bad at image, huh?
The last time I checked the website, they had moved Andy below Harry and Meghan. Appears they’re putting the “working” members first followed by non-working.
I think Harry and Charles came to some sort of understanding or deal when Harry saw him post-diagnosis.
I wonder if the person who changed the page has been read the riot act.
I’ve looked at the website and the revamped Sussex section is an improvement on what was there before. The tabloids are gloating that the Sussex information has been reduced, but it hasn’t. There is a joint introductory section and then over 40 sections dealing with their work, their speeches and their charitable causes.
I do feel like this is a bit of Harry erasure though. His old profile had a lot more about his entire career’s work, including his work in mental health/Heads Together I believe, and now they’re erasing his entire part in it (presumably so they can claim Will and Kate came up with it, which we know isn’t true)
Have you heard of Head Together since Harry left? No? Me neither.
I never go to the royal website but I don’t think this is a bad thing, especially since they’re linking to Sussex.com.
True. And what’s especially good about this is that Harry and Meghan and their team have the freedom and the control to put anything on the Sussex.com site that they want. Anything. Absolutely anything.
Welp, now we know why they put together a new website with full bios, etc. they knew this was coming especially since they have deleted M’s entire bio and she put it almost word for word on the Sussex site.
They should be very pleased with this. Now they can disassociate themselves from the racists and do their own thing.
I think it’s the best their pettiness and vileness will allow. The link is a good thing whatever the motive. The Sussexes are always going to be next to Andrew because of the line of succession although Andrew should come after Harry and his family. By leaving, Meghan is spared from sitting next to Andrew at royal ceremonies.
I think this was done to deflect off of the PR hurricane that is Kensington Palace.