Royal style and gossip: new year, new thread

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread.

And let's stick to critiquing the outfits rather than the wearer!

I think she says a couple of words.

It's possible he just didn't notice. Still, he should have been alert and "on" at all times. This ain't his first rodeo. He knew that the story was "look, we all get along fine!"

He dropped the ball.

Mind you, Harry was none too cheery either.

The only two who really made an effort was K + M, who looked mighty mature.

I am always amazed at the younger women wearing such high heels for church, those church paths are usually pretty uneven, i would be too worried about falling over ! The Princess Royal has much more practical boots...

ElspethFlashman. I can see your point yes it could have been more polished a few staged moments between each of the Fab Four but I guess it depends how you look at. To polished and aware would actually make me more likely to believe there was an issue with careful pre planned staging to disprove. To me it looked like family a bit awkward at times not everyone is always sure where they are meant to be but normal. For me and I get everyone thinks differently the fact William wasn't 'on' and focused on making it look like he is ok with Meghan probably means it's because he doesn't have a problem with her and so he wasn't thinking but it's all interpretation isn't it at the end of the day.

Looking at the videos it looks to me that there is normal cordial family relations there - William fussing with his scarf because it wasn't on before he left church, briefly talking to others but then getting om with his job of greeting the wellwishers. The Fail is bloody awful at using the worst camera angles.

I loved Kate and Meghan's outfits, and disliked Beatrice's hat. Great to do something different, but the floppiness for church just seems daft.

Was Meghan saying something to William? I'm not convinced. All that faffing around with his scarf was excessive though.

William's scarf faffing looked like anxiety to me. It doesn't stay as he arranged it. It may have been a bit of a comfort thing for him. Harry just looks so pissed off all the time in public now. He really needs to make some effort . I thought Kate and Meghan looked genuinely at ease. Harry and William were looking into the crowd away from each other whilst their wives spoke to each other . It didn't look like the four of them were united to me. I suspect there are tensions. There are never any signs that William and Meghan have any rapport at all.

I’m on the fence.

I’d like to believe hope that William is a consummate professional & wouldn’t be discourteous in private or in public.

Believe hope

The thing is none of us know if they all get on or not, they could all be the best of chums for all we know or there could have been a major falling out, even if there had been a major falling out, they would have all put on their game faces for the walk to church, they would hardly be giving each other daggers for the world to see, so I don’t think anyone can draw any conclusions on the state of the Cambridge’s and the Sussex’s relationship, it probably just has its ups and downs like most families I suspect. I do wonder where these stories come from though, is it members of the royal household telling tales or do the press just literally make things up? I thought things had got a lot legally tighter on that front in recent years or am I mistaken?

Harry looks so pissed off all time. That's quite telling. I agree with pp that KM looks like she's trying hard but I don't feel the rest are, of you really look. (Fair enough I don't get on with either of my SILs!)

Just rewatched the video.
Meghan was in the process of talking to Harry even if she wasn’t looking at him and turned her head to look for Kate.
Poor William. The DM is desperate for a story. Poor bloke was cold. ( I suggest a hat).

Thank you @paradyning for link to last year’s gala and @Holger for the explanation.
Looking forward to the lovely frocks & Tiaras, just a shame they all have to wear the order of the elephant chain. They look like Lord Mayors chains of office. A sah with a little elephant; fine. But the whole caboodle!

Sorry, talking about the Danes 31 December gala. The thread has moved on a bit....!

Harry never had to worry about anyone but himself in the past. He has had his share of negative press in his youth and he learnt to deal with it his way.

Now though he has someone he loves most of us react differently when people we love are in the firing line. I wonder if his mood has less to do with internal family politics and more to do with the fact the press have a lot to say about the women he loves. Most of it negative either implied or straight nasty. Again it's all pure speculation though.

To me Harry seems more like William now still happy and 'normal' when interacting with the public 1:1 but with a persona/attitude when it comes to the press.

@CurlyWurlyTwirly yes the Danes 31st gala looks like a great chance to see some gowns and jewls starting with Mary the last 3 post on this Instagram have a retrospective of what was has been worn and as always Max doesn't disappoint.

New year gowns

Thanks for that link @itswinetime.
However I think Charlene’s gowns are actually the most beautiful. A bit less theatrical and more wearable.

Gosh the whole spectacle is just so awkward looking isn't it. Is William ill, the faffing with the scarf was extreme and more a sign of anxiety than anything else. It certainly wasn't cold that day. And William and Harry did avoid each other. Harry couldn't wait to veer off and away from the others. Meghan looks worried that she will do the wrong thing - be too confident and she will be told she is overshadowing Kate, hang back and allow Kate to take centre stage and she will be told that she looks insecure.

Kate, as always, keeps looking to William who invariably looks moody. Except now he looks middle aged and petulant instead of being the attractive moody teenager he used to be.

On the fashion note, I really like her head dress thing. It is very nice indeed.

@CurlyWurlyTwirly. They are beautiful but I guess I must be theatrical at heart if you have the gowns and the money why not!

@Bloominglovely I thought anxiety to. I think they are currently experiencing a level of interest they haven't experienced before. It's bound to make them all be on edge issues or no issues I think they are all showing it in different ways.

Kate is definitely the glue which holds the whole show together.
She smooths situations over for William. ( do you remember the whole topless photos debacle which blew up when they were in Malaysia? William was understandably furious and Kate kept him calm).
She is there to reassure Meghan, who is pregnant and under daily press attack.
It is sad to see the change in laughing, joking Harry. Perhaps once the baby is born he will feel able to relax.

It all just seems a storm in a teacup. There is no real evidence of anything good or bad and the DM desperately has to make a story out of SOMETHING to get their daily royal click bait.

I just cannot get remotely appalled or excited about any of it. I am just glad I don’t have to run the gauntlet of gawking strangers every time I go to church. It must feel very bizarre for them all and I’m sure it’s very hard to relax and act as you normally would in those circumstances, especially knowing every frown or awkward expression is going to be hyper examined by the interwebs. Good thing I’m in no danger of ever being royal 👑

(This maybe sound super cringy but I do think Meghan has a lovely smile!)

More speculation on my part I know but here is a photo of Meghan and Kate I don't think if there were real deep seated issues they could fake.

@IdaBWells I completely agree well said. I think I would look like a deer in headlights at all times of i were royal. And yes Meghan does have a lovely smile especially when she seems comfortable interacting with people.

I think it’s a thing when the press keep publishing negative articles that there is a major one they are holding back.

The press are vultures aren’t they. I wonder if they ever stop to wonder how a first time pregnant woman must feel reading all the shit they write about her when she is also trying to deal with her own family doing the same thing. They have already forgotten that they have Diana’s blood on their hands.

What is the supposed rift about?
That William doesn't like Meghan?
If it only was that then surely he wouldn't go to the extreme of blanking her and being awkward every time they are together and having a face on. It seems childish.

Loads of other people dislike family partners but suck it up and act pleasant around them and I'm sure if it was only down to him not liking her he would put a brave face on as he knows he would be filmed/photographed and criticised
If there is a rift it must be more serious than simply not liking her.