Is there another couple like the Sussexes Part 2

[veraswaistcoat]

With this new authentic Insta post where Meghan positions herself as a go between in securing some signed merchandise I think there's still plenty to discuss.
This is a new image. No make up. Carefully edited insta. New lips. Is this influencer territory? Mention of " my husband and l " Echoes of the Queen ?

There have always been photos of royal children, going back to Victoria (plenty of the late Queen and Margaret when little) and before that official portraits of eg the sons of Charles I while they were still toddlers in bonnets and dresses (I'm not even going to attempt to post an image after the events of last night but I imagine we've all seen them) This is very much not a new thing.

However, the difference is they were generally closer in line to the throne, weren't being used in an attempt to flog jam (etc) and their parents hadn't previously made a song and dance about protecting their privacy at all costs.

It was said on here years ago that Archie and Lili would be monetised when the time was right and I'm sorry to see it happen.

They’ve got less and less to merch , that’s the problem. Harry could be the face of a hair transplant organisation. Meghan could be the face of a wig manufacturer ? Or she could run yoga retreats? Struggling to think of much else..

I'm not interested in Archie or Lili at all and that's because, as a member of the general public, I've not been "allowed" or encouraged to be by their parents, possibly due to their beef with the media. Meghan said something about not offering her child up on a platter or something? From Day One and the murky timeline around Archie's birth, they've adopted a "hands off; they're ours and they're private" approach.
Whilst this is entirely their right to do, they can't then expect me to now suddenly want to see teased glimpses of these kids from afar, especially when it's not borne from a genuine desire for me to join in their family life but as a vehicle for their own self-promotion.
With W&C's children (but also some other celebrities') I am a bit more interested because I feel as if I've been more involved with their journey and development as a family. I saw pictures of them as cute babies and therefore I'm (mildly) curious as to how they're turning out. It's not so much to do with their status as royals.

It’s now been confirmed by People magazine that “the ring was an anniversary gift from Prince Harry last year, crafted by a private jeweler”. It has their shared monogram - an H and M underneath a coronet. The same as appears on their doormat.

https://x.com/people/status/1890483185252708354?s=46&t=025WmnxiBeLnNYZ4dD_NCA

I keep saying it, poor Harry, he really is lost in the wilderness since his departure from the RF. More and more we see how much he misses the elitism of it, how much it meant to him and how he is desperately trying to cling on to the remaining vestiges of his past life with the Royal Family.

So weird. For people who have spent years complaining about the "toxic, racist institution, they sure seem to love royalty

They're just like their fans, hating the monarchy but creating AI generated images of the couple as King and Queen

Harry could be the face of a hair transplant organisation.

Don't think he'd be a very good advertisement!

Good points, @Nono22972 , however, I don't think they and their fans hate the monarchy, just that H&M didn't have a higher status than W&C.

I'm not interested in Archie or Lili at all and that's because, as a member of the general public, I've not been "allowed" or encouraged to be by their parents, possibly due to their beef with the media

I dunno, I am kind of curious to see how blue, blue Lilibeths eyes are, how long her hair really is, and why their son's eye colour is not as valuable to them as their daughters, if he will give us all a lesson on what he has learned about landmines and Princess Diana.

Just being sarcastic.

Well, they shared images of Archie in the bath, so... not that private.

There is a picture of the Duke of Windsor taken outside his country home, with the Duchess, playing with his pug dogs.

In full Garter robes, including IIRC knee breeches. It is not a sight that engenders admiration or anything other than vague pity, really. I'm not saying a signet ring/dorrmat is on the same scale of course, but unless done heavily ironically and with a sense of fun it does look like they're desperately signalling what they are/used to be, almost to remind themselves as much as anyone else (we all know)

I'm quite curious to know whether Lili has a full set of adult veneers, as appeared to be the case in the Gloria Steinam photo.

I think there's been a bit of a trend for signet rings amongst some A-listers (according to the Vogue article I cited above). But playful ones. Eg, Taylor Swift has one with her pets referenced on it.

indeed. He needs one so before and after photos would be a big seller!

I’m guessing Meghan gave Harry the doormat for their anniversary. Well played Meghan 😂

Article about H&M in the Mail today, behind the paywall so C&P, these seemed the most relevant bits IMO

'One veteran reporter who has covered the past three Games, observed that more events were closed to media this year than ever before, adding: 'There was a whole morning of 'closed' events in [the ski resort of] Whistler.'
Another added: 'I don't know why I've bothered to come all the way over here, I could have looked at her Instagram from home.' Previously, at least one pool reporter and photographer would be granted access to key moments, such as welcome receptions and meetings with dignitaries, ensuring wider coverage for the athletes and their families.
But many say this year's strategy has felt different.
Invictus Foundation staff, used to collaborating with the Sussexes' media team, also appeared to have found themselves sidelined.'

and

'In previous years Invictus staff have worked closely alongside their [the Sussexes] people but this year they've got a new team and they seem to be doing their own thing,' one insider said. 'They appear to be working off their own agenda and my impression is a few people here would have been left feeling uncomfortable.'
Another said: 'Previously, images would be put out all around by the official photographers – but these days things are more instant so we're seeing it on Meghan's Instagram first now.
'Pictures taken of the Sussexes need to be signed off by them before they can be released, so sometimes we see the pictures quite quickly, other times it can take up to a day.'

Apologies to those who've seen it or if it has been discussed and for length.

Totally agree.

If you want to 'invite' strangers into your family life, even if only in a very contrived and 'curated' way, that's OK I guess so long as the children aren't exploited. If you want to keep your children completely private, as many celebrities do, that's fine too. Archie and Lili are never going to be working royals and are not in the immediate line of succession, so there's no reason for the public to see them.

But these 'teasing' shots of assorted limbs and backs of heads is just pathetic, and I think people these days are wise to this sort of contrivance. The children are too old now for people to feel any sort of 'connection to them, and 'teaser' pics aren't going to change that.

Thing is, she has now well and truly crossed over into the influencer world. If she thought royal watchers were toxic, then she has no idea what’s about to hit her in the influencer sphere. It’s brutal.

10 years ago when she was last at it, is not the world we live in now.

And the more content she makes, the more there is to be to be torn apart. The more opportunity she has to be cancelled, go viral online for being out of touch etc

The fact she’s now using the kids is awful too. The kids will have no idea why mummy has the phone out all the time and makes them turn their heads. When they hit their early teens they will find out why, they will see all their memories of that day destroyed.

But these 'teasing' shots of assorted limbs and backs of heads is just pathetic, and I think people these days are wise to this sort of contrivance.

Either show pictures of the children, or don't. But this quasi style of shots of backs of the head and such like is just odd. You either are going to put out certain carefully considered photos of a limited nature that show the actual person or you are not.

But then I suppose it's all par for the course with this muddled pair of half in, half out, still be royal with royal titles but not part of the British royal family, only want positive press and hate all other press etc etc.

They don’t understand that their need to control, will result in the press backing off and not bothering to cover the games. If they’re not will to play ball, then the press ain’t going to give them headlines for the games.

I suspect it’s a method of punishing Harry’s family. You can’t see your grandchildren. Only the backs of their heads in instagram posts. Meghans father must find it really upsetting too. Or perhaps both are just ugly.

The thought occurs, maybe they don’t know they’re being photographed? In which case that makes it worse really.

Also, we've actually seen pictures and film of Archie and Lilibet. There was a 1st birthday picture of Lilibet released, plus images from her birthday party. We've also seen them on the Netflix "documentary". It's just being coy for no reason.

Why so black or white. Every parents gets to decide what images and videos of their children they will post on social media until the children can decide for themselves.

I agree. But then don't post any pictures. That's fine as well.