The Beckhams at the State Dinner

[stripeyshutters]

Ouch that's got to touch a nerve for the Sussexes ! I did notice that VB was respectfully dressed as was only right for the occasion.

Well is this valentine low the half brother of Penelope lively the friend of queen camilla? If so then there is yet another lot of ‘cosying up’. Certainly a hint of scandal and corruption is not good.

Shouldn’t be madly difficult to find out if that is true. Is Wikipedia still on the go?

A yoga instructor would be impressed at this level of stretching.

That’s yes then.

There's absolutely no evidence that these two women are particular friends apart from they were both at a reception honouring authors along with dozens of other writers.

What a ridiculous reach.

But, however Valentine Low got his first hint that there was a story to be had concerning the bullying of Meghan and Harry's staff there's no doubt the accounts of the whistleblowers have some truth because we know Harry would have sued Valentine Low and the Times if not.

It reflects very badly on the palace that they did not deal with the issues at the time, and I suspect that the independent investigators did a wide survey of palace staff and more than just the Meghan issues came out. Which is one reason they have not released any details. Let's hope the promise to put preventative measures in place in response to the report has been done.

But it does reflect very badly on Meghan and especially Harry who had years of working with these people and should have known the difference between a culture clash and unacceptable treatment of staff.

I have no love for any of them as you've probably guessed. I imagine that it's not impossible that Megan is an entitled bully. Definitely not outside the bounds of possibility. Still nothing to do with the qatari reception.

@adriftinadenofvipers I apologise. I did not mean to be personally offensive to you.

Would The Times legal team allow publication of lies from Valentine Low via his half sister risking being sued?

How on earth would I know!! And anyway. Let’s go with Megan is a bitch - you’re probably right. But why has that got anything to do with the Qatari state dinner and the 3 million euros????? I have no idea.

Quite. Legal teams tend to make decisions based on the risk to the organisation, not the journalist’s extended family. And if the article had been lies, Meghan’s lawyers would definitely have been able to get it pulled. But they couldn’t.

It’s not very exciting but the main reason to stay close to Qatar is that they are a relatively neutral presence in the Middle East and it’s countries like this who will be the basis for a coalition for peace.

State visits are nothing to do with the Royals’ personal wishes- it’s a job.

I know.

Haven't RTFT (although amused to see there are still posters insisting Fred accepting multi millions in used bank notes = nothing to see) but O/T:

I have no idea why the odious, tax avoiding, manipulative Beckham is such a magnet to the royals but it's gratifying to see his name still isn't on 'The List'.

Maybe he could consider launching a new scent. 'Desperation' has a bit of a ring to it 😁

She didn't go because she is ill. If she refused to meet anyone whose views she disagreed with life would be very hard.

It's the oldest trick in the book to avoid an unwanted invitation - feigning illness.
So you could well he right @OptimisticMermaid.
But I will add, Camilla has been ill recently.

If Camilla was going to refuse anyone whose views she disagreed with, she would not be attending many state functions or visits. It would also be an incredibly entitled position to take. We do not get to avoid people at work simply because we do not agree with their views.

@CandyMaker
I and a small group of us at work got an invite to visit our President (at the time) in the Presidential residence.
Not UK obviously.
I didn’t go as I didn't agree with her publicly stated views against IVF.
It was my little protest.
I didn’t give any reason for not going. None was required.
It was an invitation not a summons.
She didn't know. Or probably care.
But that was fine.
I think she may have changed her views.

@deeahgwitch if nobody cared it did not matter. But Camilla's whole job is visiting and meeting people. The Royals can not decide they will only visit or meet people whose views they agree with.