Royal style and gossip: new year, new thread

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread.

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

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.

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.

Sorry not sure why that posted 3 times!

I think it’s a colliding of several issues, then the press have made up shit to pile on top.
William expressed concern to Harry that he was marrying very quickly, after only 18 months of a long distance relationship. ( This bit I believe, it’s normal to express your concerns to a brother you care about. Most people would think the same’)
Harry got defensive ( this bit I can also understand, he is in love, he is trying to protect his wife, + and this bit I am extrapolating from various comments: he couldn’t protect his mother when he was young; he has been open about having therapy, so this too is plausible).
Then we have an assistant leaving. no one knows why. It just didn’t work out, who knows. Other assistants are leaving. But this was announced before her appointment, Samantha Cohen would stay on for 6 months to help Meghan, after leaving the Queen’s service after 17 years.
Then we have nonsense stormiest: tiaragate, scented candle gate.
Kate may well have cried at Charlotte’s dress fitting, they could have been happy tears. But once again was Meghan’s fault.
Not sure when the Frogmore move was announced, but M&H said at the time; they did not want to live in a goldfish bowl. ( and having visited KP myself and seen the location of the proposed apartment 1). It has a tiny garden, and 2 sides are open to public pathways. Completely see why they wanted to move.
Hopefully once the baby is born, there will be enough of a story and M&H are safely ensconced in Frogmore that they will be left alone.

Stormiest*
Nonsense stories

I think that's a good summary, Curly.
Harry married quickly, after a short long distance courtship, and to a woman who had never lived in the UK, and, as she said in the engagement interview, didn't know much about royalty. It was a risk. William is cautious, was concerned about the risk, which is understandable. However much Harry and Meghan love each other, it's a massive life change for her. Think how long Kate's apprenticeship was. Whirlwind it was not!

seen the video, he looks uncomfortable, he didnt meet her eye, perhaps his faffing around behind her caught her eye
god, who would be in their position, eagle eyed paps

One nice thing about the video was how Prince Edward came up to Harry and Meghan, smiling and making contact. That looked like an effort to be friendly!!

I noticed that about Edward Clionba

The way William was rearranging his scarf looked odd to me. Almost a nervous thing. He didn’t look relaxed until he started talking to the public.

The Queen looked fabulous.

Found from InStyle.
Just before Edward is seen talking to Meghan & Harry; William does make eye contact with Meghan.
I would say that William and Meghan are not close; he is the boss of his generation, head of his family, both Kate and Harry have always deferred to him.
Along comes Meghan, American, Feminist, all this unearned white male privelige is (understandably) alien and nonsense to her.
But she is learning, the tightrope of “ knowing her place” within the pecking order of the RF at official functions. And in her and Harry’s time apart from the main RF, they set their own agenda and follow their own principles.
I think there is also an element of healthy distancing from William’s “court” so that M&H can enjoy some autonomy. They are however right next door to HM so they will get guidance and will still behave in a Royal way.
Look at the difference in Meghan from the ripped jeans and baggy shirt at the Invictus games in Toronto, in a mere 15 months. Bless her, even the messy bun has been tamed.

Watching again I wonder if William has a sore throat or a cold. Just showed dh & he said to me that I fiddle with my scarf the same way when I’m unwell. I’ve never noticed I do that so it’s obviously something I do subconsciously.

I love Princess Anne’s outfit gorgeous colour. And her no nonsense boots.

Hey did Charles even bow his head? and where was Camilla?
William is the future king so he has a weight upon his shoulders, which George seems to have inherited

Interesting that they take their coats off in church. Ours is always so cold we have to wrap up.

I think he’s got a cold. He looks to be mouth breathing. I think Meghan says to him wrap your scarf around a bit more and he’s checking it’s looking ok, she says yes it’s fine.

Camilla is unwell. She’s had a cold for a while. Didn’t go to the Christmas lunch pre Norfolk.

Harry looks so uncomfortable doesn't he? to me he looks like he doesn't want to be here, and Meghan just looks nervous ,lots of pictures of Meghan and PW smiling and chatting before the wedding remember that time Megan was gazing at PW? , so i don't believe all the talk of a rift because of PW concerns for his brother.

The Cambridges are really looking more and more regal these days, and maybe for Harry this is something that just sank in ? he was always his brother equal but not anymore,and perhaps its bothering him now specially as they are expecting a child ,

I would say that the RF are outwardly not a warm and loving group of people...it’s very much duty first, so if you see any of them together they look quite cold with each other.
I think that’s why Diana caused such a stir because she couldn’t hold her feelings in, fergie too is very affectionate. The most successful royal brides, in recent years, Sophie and Kate very much tow the family line and know their place and it’s duty first.
I think Meghan is very different, I think she is trying so hard to be liked and thought of well and do a good job. I think she is incredibly self conscious and knows she is being forensically examined by the gutter press and she can’t relax and it shows.

I’m hoping once Meghan has her baby all the negative press will die down & the poor woman can start to relax.

She’s not had an easy time of it at all. Moved continents, married into the royal family with all the protocols to learn, has rubbish thrown at her by her own family who should by rights have her back, aided & abetted by the press.

As far as I’m concerned the woman has hardly put a foot wrong apart from the fashion show thing where I think she went a bit too far. But that’s my opinion & I’m not shooting her for that!

You can tell she’s so desperate to please.

Something has definitely changed compared to earlier days....PW is coming across as distant and obstinate and PH the same. PW was quite warm and friendly towards MM in the beginning...even if the supposed blanking of her attempts to talk was not what it seems, he and PH basically made no effort at all.

I get that that they don't want to be show ponies putting on a fake display so maybe there is a rift of some kind.

But KM is the real star, she is such a natural and so at ease. MM just looks uncertain and with a fixed smile.

Or is it more likely that they know their roles are going to change massively over the next few years? I think PW feels the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Harry knows he’s going to be the equivalent of Andrew.

What I see on the steps / outside is someone working out / remembering what to do :
Remove gloves
Shake hands with the vicar
Get in formation to curtesy

Etc etc

The Mail has a mist brilliantly batshit article about Kate's school years today.

I bet all the girls described are on a group What's App pissing themselves

Most

I sincerely doubt Pippa was ever known as Panface!

Megan is her own worst enemy most of the enmity is because she didn’t reach out to her father when he was ill, or even after. That would be fine if there was a history of estrangement but because of her professed love for him in her Tig blog the public are questioning her. Whether this is right or wrong people are sceptical of her.