american riviera orchard - what was that all about then?

[Tenmus]

It seems to have gone the same way as their Sussex Royal site. I don't know much about social media or PR, but this all seems pretty odd and ineffectual.

She missed out on a fantastic learning opportunity when she was part of the RF. Historic jewellery, art, fashion, textiles, you name it, all there, with all the experts you could want (and I include the late Queen and Prince Charles, as he was then) to tell you all about it.

As Jan Moir said (I do usually like her though not a fan of Sarah Vine) she has always liked to tell other women what to wear, what to eat, and more lately what to think. However, there is a more of a problem with the “thinking” directives, let’s say.

Her attractiveness, self belief and ambition has never been in doubt and she did pretty well with her blog back then. You don’t get to marry a prince by staying home watching Home and Away, and she was no doubt very energetic in her pursuit of the lifestyle she wanted.

She may revert probably to what she knows best, wearing expensive clothes eating at expensive restaurants. But it is also a little bit more awkward now. The flirty grins now have the unpleasant backdrop of the angry, sullen, vengeful figure on the sofa glaring back at Oprah for wider context. And she is older of course so the flirty aspect would be less workable.

However if the bitter grifter duke is about to inherit £40 million on his 40th I’m sure they’ll be ok for a while yet.

@Abouttimeforanamechange yes but I don’t think she was ever interested in style and history from a mental point of view. More about looking sexy or expensive. A consumerist outlook you might say.

I can imagine that when the RF met Meghan, alarms bells rang pretty quickly and suggestions that Harry 'take it slow' caused offence and made him do just the opposite. It must have been like watching a car crash as the wedding approached. And the red flags...oh dear...they must have blotted out the sun!

*The Markle family feuds and no relations present except for Doria, who I remember feeling sorry for all on her tod but whose demeanour (then and later) I thought strange. Did anyone else notice her extreme reserve towards Charles, even when he led her out of the Chapel? She didn't even crack a smile. It seemed cold on her part, but I wonder if she'd been told to keep her mouth shut by Meghan? Also - as an example of how things got twisted later - the RF wanted Doria to sit with RF members, not all on her own, but Meghan absolutely insisted she sat in glorious isolation. This was interpreted by some as the RF being mean to her, but may again have been a ploy to stop people talking to her and Doria letting out info M wanted suppressed.

*The pre-wedding rows over tiaras and bridesmaids' dresses, none of which show Meghan in a good light.

*The dissastisfaction when offered St George's Chapel - apparently Meghan asked for Westiminster Abbey and had to be told 'no'! Unbelievably rude and entitled.

*The rudeness to staff at the wedding rehearsal is well-documented.

I remember the Queen had a face like thunder at one point during the wedding (caught on video) and now I know why! I was really excited for H & M and the whole royal family at the time and thought it was a wonderful new chapter, but since more information has come out about the lead up to the wedding I can see that it must have been a tense and worrying occasion for nearly everyone.

Asked for Westminster Abbey 😂
Also, according to Harry, in Spare - St Paul's Cathedral!

Charles and Camilla invited Doria to Clarence House for tea. She declined. The late Queen invited her to Sandringham for Christmas. She declined.
At least they tried. Nothing else you can do.

Doria's demeanour I'd put down to sheer nerves. She's in the middle of the British establishment including the head of state and she's going to be watched by millions.

I would agree with that, it must have been daunting. Plus, she had no-one she knew. She did take Charles' hand, and stood with Camilla and him on the Galilee Steps, Camilla engaging in chat, but it must have been nerve wracking.
Meghan could have invited a friend for her if she didn't want any family?

Can you imagine? worrying about if she makes a faux pas or uses the wrong knife or says the wrong thing or doesn't curtsey? I'd have been reserved as well. In fact I'd have been paralysed with fear, however friendly the royals were.

The pre-wedding rows over tiaras and bridesmaids' dresses, none of which show Meghan in a good light.

The tiara row was a bad mistake on their part. They tried to bully Angela Kelly. Ms Kelly was not some minion a long way down the chain of command who might be afraid to speak out. She could, and probably did, go straight to the Queen.

😂

Kudos!

And her nickname wasn't AK47 for nothing. Kelly reported direct to HM.

I'm sure they would have put her at her ease. Afternoon tea doesn't require a plethora of cutlery, and there are always dogs around and Doria is a dog lover.

To be fair I think it would be nerve wracking for anyone put into that situation. Kate’s parents were put through the mill and that wedding was huge. Her father must have been shitting it giving her away. And you worry what to wear as mother of bride at the best of times, imagine being poor Carole.

And she didn't have the advantage the Middleton's had of years of preparation for being stuck in the limelight.

No, but you'd think Meghan and Harry would help her out, and the RF wouldn't have put any pressure on Doria.
Imagine if Meghan had got what she wanted with a wedding at St Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Abbey. That would have been very overwhelming..

To be fair though, how the hell co you prepare for that?

Very true, I can't imagine having to attend a royal event like that. I would instantly need the loo!

I almost never comment on "appearances" but had to pick up on this one because it's just so ruddy obvious

I think it was Jimmy Stewart who said (or was it said about him ...?) that the best acting is invisible, and with Meghan it's hard to see anything else, the two stock faces being "wide eyed ingenue" and "Oooo that's exciting!!" with calculating eyes swivelling to find the fascinating lens

There's no doubt that her modest success in Suits is something many actresses would kill for, but sincerity clearly isn't Meghan's strong suit, at least on camera

the two stock faces being "wide eyed ingenue" and "Oooo that's exciting!!"

Both of which she is really now too old for.

They're probably all slightly dehydrated and wearing enormous Tena (except Pippa, who probably had nothing whatsoever underneath)

I think the £40million was the amount to be shared out between all the QM’s great grandchildren . If I remember correctly, they received a sum of money at 25 and will receive the rest at age 40 .

Dear god @RandomQues that video is unwatchable! It's just cringe after cringe - the hair tossing, the posing, the hideous clothes, the utter self-importance. I suppose it was for her own blog, so she could assume that the people watching would be fans of hers, but the production is seriously low-grade and embarrassing. Well, if that's what she likes to do and that's the 'real Meghan' I can see why the RF had major reservations!

I wonder if Montecito Vanity Project American Riviera Orchard will sell word salad bowls?

Omg I mean seriously wtaf