| The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, accompanied by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and The Earl and Countess of Wessex, attended the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day, which is celebrated on March 9. |
| This year, Commonwealth Day focuses on the theme 'Delivering a Common Future', highlighting how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve some of its biggest goals like protecting natural resources and boosting trade. |
Some great looks today. The Queen looks great, love that little pop of orange on her hat. Camilla looks beautiful today as well, flattering hat, good color coordination with the Queen. I like Kate's hat too (I'm on a hat kick today). The roses are a nice touch. But Sophie, WOW! She looks incredible! That simple silhouette is so becoming, and I love the creamy white with contrasting navy (I think it's navy). I'm torn on Meghan. I think the dress itself is lovely, just looks like it maybe pulls in a few places? Not a fan of her hat, don't like that big wad of netting. Glad to see her hair styled up.
ReplyDeleteChel
Meghan looked so elegant and beautiful, the shade of green suites her beautiful complexion and blended well with the colour of the others eyes.
DeleteExactly my thoughts and want to add that I hope for better times between the brothers. It´s too sad that Prince William isn´t welcoming his Prince Harry after four months. Actually Harry is by far better set up with his little family than in former times as the third wheel.
DeleteAgree!
DeleteThe Queen, Camilla, Catherine: appropriate, nice, all dressed in their own type of uniform.
ReplyDeleteMeghan: very nice dress, great colour but ill fitting around the bustline. Lovely handbag.
Sophie: just lovely! Classic yet modern, modest and daring at the same time. I would've chosen a different type of hat though.
My personal favorite - Countess of Wessex - classic, elegant lady.
ReplyDeleteHer Majesty - stylish as always, but I prefer her in vivid colors.
Kate - beautiful hair-updo and accessories.
Camilla - very elegant.
Meghan - very nice hat and shoes, but bad bra and for heaven's sake, what has it around her neck and left shoulder? It looks like a piece of fabric left after the dress is sewn. As the classic says: Less is sometimes more.
I miss princess Anne. Was she present?
Camilla looks fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteDokładnie!!
DeleteI do wish Megan would have her clothing properly tailored. The outfit is cute but, the ill fit just ruins the look.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone else looks great, especially Kate. The color and fit of her outfit is just perfect.
Agree with Anon8:30. In addition it looks as if the hemline has not been ironed, emergency job?
DeleteEveryone looked exquisite! And I am sooo happy we got to see these Kate's earrings that are part of set she first wore 2011.
ReplyDeleteThe ladies look beautiful.
ReplyDeleteUsually the Ladies wear colours of the Union Jack- White, Blue, Red
Meghan is wearing green but what does she care.
J.
Yes, nothing.
Delete@ J, not true, just an empty comment to demean the Duchess of Sussex.
DeleteHer Majesty:
2019-purple
2018- maroon/burgundy
2017- yellow.
So, there you have it.
Where did you get that colour thing. Last year e.g. the Queen wear a purple outfit.
DeleteIn a fashion wise, nothing special on anyone. Meghan, nice but not amazing, Kate as usual, bit boring, Camilla actually quite good, Sophie lovely hat and the dress ok, Queen as usual.
- Siri
And Kate has worn pink in 2015 and grey in 2016. Also no Union Jack colors!
DeleteI hate saying sorry, but honestly when I do I mean it.
DeleteJ
Sorry.
DeleteJ
Nice re-wear for Kate but with a new hat. I like her earrings. I would love to see Kate mix up her style a little more. The color of Meghan's kelly green dress is beautiful and looks great with her complexion but I don't like the dress itself. There are too many seams and I'm not sure what to make of the cape/shawl. I love her green handbag. I love Sophie's dress. Both Meghan's and Sophie's hats have slightly too much netting. I love the pops of orange in the Queen's hat.
ReplyDeleteE.B.B.
Everyone looked elegant. The Q 's blue coat is very lovely. Kate's red ensemble is a stunner and so the green outfit of Meghan's also love this green hat. Camilla's outfit is outstanding,it looks lovely on her.Sophie looks very nice too.
ReplyDeleteDM dress to tight,
ReplyDeleteCatherine a rapporté une jolie robe d’Irlande à Meghane.
ReplyDeleteHarry et William ont la fâcheuse habitude d'avoir très (trop )souvent la main sur le premier bouton de leur veste de costume ; on dirait qu'ils sont gênés avec leurs mains, qu'ils ne savent pas quoi en faire...
ReplyDeleteCatherine is her classic self, perfectly arranged. Repeated is always good when more than one of the royal ladies are present, and maybe she wanted to avoid comparisons, which seems to be easier with repeated clothing. Outstanding for me: Camilla, perfect fit, very becoming and dark blue is especially nice on her. I also like Sophie Wessex's ensemble, best of the hats present - after Camilla of course, because nobody wears a big hat like her. Meghan Markle: dress is ill fitting, too tight and her underwear is showing.
ReplyDelete(Ann.)
Catherine and Sophie look superb, so proud of them!
ReplyDeleteToute la famille royale réunie pour assister à ce service annuel ; toutes ces dames sont belles avec une préférence pour Meghan dans ce vert lumineux !
ReplyDeleteGanadora por goleada Megan, eso es estilazo, maravillosa. Ha dado una lección de gusto y modernidad. Kate va bien, pero viste como si tuviese 20 años más, el sombrero parece rescatado del baúl de la abuela.
ReplyDeleteGreat sartorial show today.
ReplyDeleteI love Kate's rewear. The hat makes the coat shine. The Queen looks lovely with the orange accents. I didn't like Meghan's cape-thing very much but it's not bad. I think the problem with her look this time (often, I think) is the undergarments. My mother was a seamstress and always said that she could work as hard as she could on a dress, but that it could always be ruined by the wrong bra. I think that is the case here. Sophie almost always supports her dresses with the right undergarments, as we can see here. It's almost like an internal armour in her case. But everyone together looks great. I have come to appreciate Sophie's penchant for geometric designs. Well done.
Lisa Maria Paris
You make a very good point about the undergarments! I have been focused on the tailoring but you are so correct. You’ve reminded me about my wedding gown (25 years ago!). The seamstress doing the alterations spoke a lot about the right undergarments and told me to wear underneath for the fitting appointments what I planned to wear on my wedding day.
DeleteGlo
Lovely display of outfits.
ReplyDeleteHer Majesty:no surprise here, she wears what she likes regardless of trends, and she always win.
Camilla: Generally not too keen on her fashion sense, but Oh my goodness! she looks superb, what a well tailored coat, the fabric is lustrous without being too shiny for a day event, looks like she combined blue & black, which I love, and the hat is just vavavaboom!
Sophie: My favorite, along with Meghan, beautiful white (see ladies it's OK to wear white in winter) the blue insert on the skirt helps to slim down the hips, and the fluidity is fantastic, love her hat as well, and yes the dress wrinkles a bit with movement, because is not a rigid coat.
Catherine: very much within her style, well tailored coat, I don't like the hat al all, too frilly for my taste.
Meghan: So chic, the dress is original, different and very flattering, I love the hat. Again it wrinkles a bit, but nothing too much to distract from the beautiful creation.
Sophie is wearing long sleeves, a longer skirt and pantyhose. Appropriate for the early Spring weather, regardless of the colour. Kerya
DeleteI agree, Cherry. All the ladies look lovely, but Camilla looks great! And the hat IS Vavavaboom for sure!!! Ann S
DeleteMeghan looks wonderful, green is great colour for her, and the dress is stylish and original with the fun and creative cape. I honestly can't quite understand the comments on "bad bra" or "too tight dress" etc. It'e an absolutely lovely dress, and when you move in your clothes, it creates folds in real life. They all look great, and I think everyone's bustline is absolutely fine. Including the men. :)
ReplyDeleteJennie
Sorry, but Meghan's bra is really badly fitting. Sympathy aside, it's a fact. Dress crouches at the top - not the first time. She just needs a professional tailor to adjust her dress directly to her body.
DeleteThe scarf (?) - leave it at home.
Well, I have to say this bra thing really is a mystery to me. Although I find it a bit odd to stare at other womens' breasts, I tried hard to look for those signs of badly fitting bra/undergarments some of you mentioned but couldn't find anything wrong. Perhaps it's because I'm not a bra user myself, never have been (shocking, I know) except for sports. It's a bit depressing to think that women are so keen to criticise other womens' use of bra and undergarments -- shouldn't we be more supportive towards each other?
DeleteI hope we get to see more of the Sussexes every now and then in the future, too. I wish them all the best.
Jennie
The problem with the bra, just to explain, is that it lacks support from strong, smooth straps that "dissolve" under the dress without leaving a mark. Perhaps she is wearing a strapless bra, which would be my guess. without such support, her bra cuts across the top half of her chest, creating a visible line on her dress. Without the lift the straps provide there is a broader expanse of upper chest that produces wrinkles. And the breasts tend to lean towards the sides, crunching the fabric near the underarms. Sophie's undergarments are always perfect, which is why so many of her clothes fit so well, even inexpensive clothes. Camilla, at the time of her engagement to Charles, had horrible undergarments. Just take a look at her engagement picture with the long red gown. Her breasts were practically in her underarms. These things matter. Otherwise the most beautiful dress can be spoiled and fit badly. I learned this from the woman who fits me for bras at her shop in NYC. I'm older and rounder than I should be and the right bra fit makes a profound difference to everything I wear.
DeleteLisaMariaParis
Meghan seems to favour a strapless bra which gives this outline in her clothes. When she and Harry visited Ireland it was the same with the grey dress she wore then too.
DeleteCorrect. This produces sausage breast, not a good look. And in the video we see the back of this dress also sits badly.
DeleteThank you, LisaMariaParis, for your friendly and throrough explanation. This clearly is partly a matter of taste and culture — and sartorial education. I have always thought that because women are of different sizes and ages, it’s ok to look different in this area too. However, life certainly is easiest for those with very lean, almost boyish bodies (breasts can be a nuisance, in my personal experience). I googled the engagement picture of C&C, and I have to admit that I never thought nothing wrong there either.
DeleteAll the best!
Jennie
C&C are ?
DeleteNice overall last group showing for the Commonwealth.
ReplyDeleteThe Queen wins top marks head to toe for me.
DoC- lovely colors, style, jewels, her usual style. The lace is a bit too much to me. Either tie it in at the top or scale it back at the bottom.
DoCam- lovely rewear. A great color and outfit. Love the surprise jewels, not crazy about the hat coloring with the three shades of red, pick a contrasting color for at least one or more.
DoS- lovely color green and dress (minus the undergarment/tailoring issues) loose the cape (looks like her dress is choking her) and the OTT extra hat netting and change the shoes to match netting/bag/dress.
CoW- love the dress (minus a few tight pulls), jewels, accessories except the hat. Not crazy about this shape in general but love that color.
Glo
What I don't understand is why Meghan all of a sudden for this trip looks so put together but she couldn't/chose not to dress this way before. It feels to me a bit like trying to "show" the rest of the Family what they will be missing out on. I watched Suits from the beginning and was a big Meghan fan - had a royal wedding watching party in real time. But I can't agree one iota with how Meghan and Harry have comported themselves. However, I have loved all of her outfits on this trip - the aquamarine, red and green dresses have been stunning (if a bit ill-tailored). I have several Victoria Beckham dresses that have the same material as the aquamarine dress that Meghan wore - it is very thick material and has to be fitted or it wouldn't look right (the consequence of which is that it clings to every curve). And I think her hair and makeup has been superb. DMP
ReplyDeleteA note about the Victoria Beckham dress--when watching the video of them walking from the car to the venue, both Harry and Meghan adjusted their clothes that had ridden up during the car ride. It is just after making a brief stop to greet a gentleman in a wheelchair. First Harry tugs at his trousers, then Meghan tugs a little at each side of her dress. The pictures of Meghan that were taken inside don't show the same creasing. I won't go so far as to say her dress was a tad tight, but it was not nearly as tight as some think it was.
Delete@Anon 11:00 PM ... Maybe is a conspiracy....I really wonder how do you arrive at such conjectures😂😂😂😂Now seriously, before you start on your soapbox , maybe watch her previous appearances, just as glamorous as this one.
DeleteMiss Marple
Sophie wins for me today. I love the color of Meghan's outfit but the fit is off. Kate - I am more and more of the opinion that she shines in more casual clothes. Of course what she is wearing is beautifully fitted and appropriate as always.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder how the ‘family dynamics were on the inside’... a bit tense I would imagine. Sorry to see that this young couple will walk away and leave all the work to the rest of the family. I think Harry is feeling a bit guilty by his looks. Anyway, wishing them all well.
ReplyDeleteI would hope the rest of the family feels guilty for not supporting Harry and his family more and turn a blind eye to their struggles.
DeleteBack to fashion. Everyone is very elegant. Camion wins the day for me. Sophie‘a dress is a little too unstructured and don’t particularly find it reflects the occasion. Catherine is better outfitted than I personally anticipated. This is a very good coat for her. I am very pleased she hasn’t shown off another new expensive one. The hat however the find too fussy with the three roses at the back. Without it would have been a perfect hat, the details from the front are exquisite. Megan was elegant and she made sure her last outfit in an HRH-capacity is memorable. It’s certainly not a great fit. It isn’t terrible, but I don’t think it would have been so hard to get a proper tailoring job. And whilst I think it’s indeed regal in design, I am not convinced it’s quite appropriate nor reflective of her usual style (more Queen Maxima than Caroline Basset-Kennedy). Visually very impactful, which is probably why she chose it. Overall her swan song was, sartorially speaking, well played. Likely to leave a strong impression on everyone.
Lily A
@ Lily A. not for me. But I wish them all the best and hope they will get what they want, whatever that is. They can come back in one year, if the business is not successful, so I hope very much, it will be a success for the Sussexes! Hela
DeleteLily A said: "...I would hope the rest of the family feels guilty for not supporting Harry and his family more and turn a blind eye to their struggles. "
Delete@Lily A: You have hit the nail on the head. I also firmly believe that this is the exact reason for H&M leaving the family. Nothing else. Harry is hurt by their passiveness and inaction. If this is what it takes to protect the people he loves (wife and son), then it is the right thing for the 6th in line to do. I wish them the very best. They are a lovely couple and will do some great work wherever they go.
- Anon 9:13
It seems uneasy to support Prince Harry and Meghan and easy to support Prince A. .
DeleteSomewhat to my surprise, Sophie is my favourite today.She looks ultra elegant and her coat is a perfect fit. Her Majesty is her usual smart, classy, appropriate self. The powder blue is very becoming on her,though she looks good in most colours. The Duchess of Cornwall looks good and has thankfully left the black boots at home today. I love Catherine's coat, shoes and earrings, less keen on the hat. I love the colour of Meghan's outfit but think the less than perfect fit detracts from it. I love her hat, though--one of the best she has worn, I would say,.
ReplyDeleteAgree her Majesty is herself.
DeleteAll the ladies are beautiful especially Meghan Markle. I love her dress, beautiful, elegant, nice color and original. I love her bag too.
ReplyDeleteThe Queen looks great!
Toutes ces femmes sont elegantes.
ReplyDeleteToutefois,Meghan est chic et élégante.
Le bibi associé à sa robe est d une modernité inouïe.
Queen Elizabeth looks lovely in this powder blue, nothing really new here, but her style works for her
ReplyDeleteCamilla looks quite elegant in the tapestry like fabric and her large hat is great!
Catherine was exquisite in this Christmas 2018 and good for her to wear it again, while adding a new chic hat!
Sophie's white dress with a dash of navy is fantastic, love how the hat coordinates and the fit is perfect.
Shelley
Auch meine Meinung !
DeleteJoann
ReplyDeleteFashion-wise, Sophie stole the show. She looked absolutely exquisite. Her look was trendy, yet appropriate for the occasion. Everyone else looks great. If I took the time, I could nit-pick a few things on everyone, but nothing important enough to mention. I'm in a hurry today.
All the ladies look great! Every one of them.
ReplyDeleteAs someone near the top mentioned, the Queen, Camilla and Kate are sparkling in their uniforms. And they are. Nice, but same old. However the best of the uniforms today is Camilla. Her Indigo outfit is stylish and smart. She simply looks fantastic, and no one can wear a big hat like she can.
Sophie is in a class of her own today. Top class. I really like her white dress with the black swirl, and she wears it very well. She looks so much like Diana in photo# 12, the one with just her and Edward.
I also like Meghan's dress. Like Sophie, she has no uniform and that sets both ladies apart from the rest. I like the green colour as well as the style with the one shoulder cape, and don't think there's anything wrong with the way it fits her. As with her recent outfits, she has shed almost all her pregnancy weight since before moving to Canada and is rediscovering her figure, curves and all. Nice to see her celebrating her body instead of hiding it under layers.
My only quibble, and it is a small one, is the netting on hers and Sophie's hats. I'd happily do away with it.
- Anon 9:13
Hiding her body?? Remember what she wore when pregnant?
DeleteNever did she hide anything!
Well put, Anon @ 12:26am. I agree with all your assessments, but I liked the netting. I think everyone looked superb.
DeleteI think the hats and hats were all amazing.
Meghan: Ihr Outfit erinnert mich ein bisschen an Robin Hood. Das Grün hätte ein wenig dezenter sein können. Das Kleid an sich ist ganz nett, würde aber schöner fallen, wenn es ein paar cm kürzer wäre. Auch ein gut sitzender BH ist hier das A und O.
ReplyDeleteQueen: Schönes Outfit, nur finde lässt sie die Farbe heute etwas fahl aussehen.
Sophie, Camilla und Catherine sind für mich die Modegewinner hier.
-Elisabeth-
Eine Augenweide und sehr elegamt die bezaubernde Catherine! !
ReplyDeleteWow, I think all of the ladies look wonderful in colours and styles that suit them very well - D. Catherine in a classic, tailored coat, C. Sophie in an interesting navy and white dress with perfect accessories, D. Meghan in a modern, draped cape dress, and the Queen in a beautiful blue ensemble. The winner for me is D. Camilla. What a glorious hat! (V.M)
ReplyDeleteSa Majesté, Camilla, Kate et Sophie très élégantes.
ReplyDeleteMeghan me fait penser Joan Collins.
Ein nicht gut sitzendes , enges Kleid plus Hollywood Getue !!
Delete@2:09. Before you use Joan Collins as some sort of put down for Meghan, do your research. Joan is no minimalist. She always sparkles with jewelry. Sequins, beads,prints, and beautiful clingy silhouettes. At 86 she is still fabulous. Meghan's style is totally different. A little fashion homework please. Ana
ReplyDeleteOh my what a visual feast! The Queen looks lovely as always but the 3 duchesses are all beautiful! My favorites: Camilla looks stunning in her dark navy lacy dress and hat. I also adore Kate’s hair. It’s so beautiful from all perspectives. And Meghan’s makeup is so soft and pretty, especially her eye makeup. My nitpicks: Kate’s posture (this has always bothered me) and visible bra lines on Meghan. Also, it looks like her cape is strangling her.
ReplyDeleteEveryone looks amazing! WOW!- Capt. Marvel
ReplyDeleteHarry et Meghan son magnifique....
ReplyDeleteI think that all ladies look absolutely smashing; each with their own style. I love both Catherine's and Meghan's hair, I like Catherine's hat a bit less (too many roses kill the roses). Meghan's make-up is also a winner, although I am not so fond of what looks to be fake eyelashes. Sophie is still the winner IMHO, less is always more to me.
ReplyDeletePart from this, whatever happens in the future, I hope that the brothers get to spend some quality time together at some point, to get close again.
Duchess of Sussex looked superb. Beautiful, luscious green emerald dress. The cape effect was stunning. The dress suited her perfectly. Combined with the hat it was a very elegant, classy and regal look. Love the nude shoes, but that bag is divine.
ReplyDeleteThe dress did not suited her. It is annoying to see the outlines of underwear and bra. Everyone with eyes can see it. I dislike the cape.
DeleteAgree with Anon 7:02 MM should take the same undergarment as SW.
DeleteOMG. So much dislikes. Some people are really transparent. Everyone with two eyes can see on the first photo of Meghan that the dress is not to tight. She have more then enough room in it. They all look great. ALL of them. Before We judge We need to take a hard look at ourselves in the mirror ;)
ReplyDeleteMy two eyes see a dress that is too tight and a silly side cape. Her dress is a big no for me. Sophie and Catherine are my favorite looks. Classic, chic, and appropriate. Camilla looks nice too.
DeleteNene
Je trouve que Meghan est très engoncée dans sa robe !!! Et Harry à l'air vraiment triste...
ReplyDeleteFashion wise everyone has their own opinion on the women, they all look pretty good although I feel Meghan dressed to get the spotlight. I agree Camilla looked really nice, to me she was the best. However I was more fixed on the brothers, neither one hid their feelings, Harry looked surly and William was right to ignore him, I think he understands how all this has affected their grandmother. I don't read the anonymous comments.
ReplyDelete@ Ninius, too bad you don't read the anonymous comments, but if you do by mistake:-) I think you should get a job that involves a crystal ball, since you absolutely know what was going thru William's mind, all those statements about the family dynamics... perhaps you have talked to him lately? Maybe you have been swapping messages, did he also mentioned how he felt when his mom died and his grandparents had to be pressured into to finally showing up to pay their respects? Did he also mentioned his feelings for Camilla and Charles after their behavior while he (Charles) was still married to his mum?
ReplyDeleteTruth be told, we know nothing about their feelings, and yet you write as if you are an authority on these matters. Maybe you should save all your wisdom for the people that have "asked" your opinion.
Cheers!!
Miss. Marple
LOL. :)
Delete@Ms. Marple, indeed, what do we know? The tabloids have convinced some people that this is a soap opera, and they have given roles to each protagonist. In my opinion people miss the fact that is never one thing that breaks the dam, I suspect that there is so much going on. I can only opine on what I see and hear, like fashion, demeanor in public and their public statements, other than that I much don't care about their privacy, and is not my business. There are too many nosy people, always believing what they read on dubious publications and then going on these forums to give their verdict..SMH
DeleteCB
The Queen is lovely and spritely as ever! Catherine is well dressed, loved the new accent of earrings and hat, Sophie is stylish and beautiful, Meghan a little over the top with a dress with an odd piece of fabric hanging, the hat a little too over the top and the 'trying too hard to smile', though it must have been difficult for both of them, they put themselves in the position, so be nice and deal with it. I applaude Wm and Catherine for trying to help the ones throwing a little fit over not being asked to walk in with the Queen. Again, they put them selves in the position. Wm and Catherine were gracious in removing themselves, to help calm ruffled feathers, so to speak. Sophie's hate was especially lovely. It is sad the brothers are in a rough patch, all families go through this, but I find Harry's angry face, not too likeable, even though Wm has been going out of his way to help him, Harry has put himself into a difficult position, his wife, or his family. One can only hope the brothers work out the issues, they will be brothers for the rest of their lives.... JT
ReplyDeleteThe decision to remove William and Kate from the procession is not made by William and Kate. It is made by the Courtiers and signed off by the Queen.
DeleteWilliam and Kate would not have removed themselves from the procession is the choice was theirs. No way, and that's probably why they were upset because they were also removed.
Where to start, where to stop? :-)
ReplyDeleteThe queen looks fabulous, as always :-) I like her outfit a lot.
Camilla looks fantastic, too.
Sophie - just wonderful! Outfit in perfection. Hat very nice, lovely.
Kate - I usually like her style and this is not a bad outfit, but I think, she has much better coats. I don't like coats with velvet parts, in my eyes, they look old fashioned. I like the flowers at the hat, but the hat itself is semi. Kates hairstyle is beautiful. But I think, she looks sad and tired at the photos. No idea, if she really is.
Meghan - I'm not a fan of her, but this outfit is really great and it's my favourite at this occasion. It's a perfect outfit, great colour, wonderful makeup, great hat (looks fresh, modern and totally appropriate), nice accessories.
I saw some pics that looked really sad for me :-(
One with the formerly 'fab four' and a almost similiar with the 4 and Camilla and Charles and on this pics, everybody looks sad, just Meghan looks kind of happy.
I don't know, if it is really like that, but the pics looks like :-(
JT, I believe they followed the usual protocol about the entrance and the order, but if they did something different this year, it seems rather odd that her Majesty would in any way do anything in public to offend hier grandson, even if she disagrees with his choices. So can you please enlight us as to what did she do to make Harry mad? Also can you advise as how do you know that he was upset? Also how do you know that William he has been going out of his way to help his brother? Did he tell you, or did you read it in the tabloids? Same tabloids that said that he had been a total beast towards Meghan, and has been offending her for a while? Or that he was having an affair recently with a close friend of the couple? Did you believe those rumors, or just the ones that prove your theory. William & Kate =good, Harry& Meghan=bad.
ReplyDeletePlease, stop reading people's thoughts and attributing actions that only exist in your head.
Miss Marple.
Adieu to the Sussexes, and what an exit?... amid vibrant colors and risky silhouettes. It was all over when the wind blew Harry's jacket open and the lining matched his wife's dress. Well played Sussexes!! Another standing 'O' for you. Harry looked a bit glum, but we hope he rebounds quickly and wish them the best of luck in the future.
ReplyDelete@Ninius and the others, a poor writer publishes the thoughts and feelings of other people that they have never met. Ana
Catherine's hairdo is beautiful but her outfit is so boring, always the same style. She does not have to look like an older woman. The color suits her, but for me it's too red. Meghan's dress is beautiful and the color is good but I do not care about that fabric around her neck. Perhaps a short cape woul'd be better. The others look the same as usual.
ReplyDeleteWOW the duchess of Camebridge, so elegant. Everything is right. Duchess Sussex, beautiful dress and colour too. In general she wears a lot of dresses and skirts in this length. With this length her very thin lower legs, appear even more thin. The dress would be really perfect in knee length.
ReplyDeleteI agree that all the ladies were beautifully dressed for this event; I particularly admire Catherine’s and Sophie’s outfits, but Camilla and Meghan looked elegant as well. I dislike the particular shade of green Meghan wore, but unlike many I think her dress was well-fitted. Its clingy fabric made it appear ill-fitting in some photos, while in others it looks smooth and sleek.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that opinion is starkly divided on whether Meghan Markle ever had the potential to be a helpful addition to the royal family. We knew very little about Meghan when she walked down the aisle on the arm of the future king of England, was seated next to Queen Elizabeth at an early event, and was given patronages seemingly tailored to her talents and interests. In retrospect, the disintegration of her relationship with the royal family appears to have been inevitable because — as her own words and actions quickly began to make clear — she wants her political biases (which we all have) to be known publicly, endorses “change” in an unfocused way, and finds life within royal tradition and protocol unbearably stifling. While initially there was sincere goodwill on all sides, it seems that she and her husband’s family were on a collision course from the get-go. The media, throughout, have been relentlessly about the business of stirring the pot, veering back and forth from approval to disapproval of both camps, to the detriment of all.
As for Prince Harry, I think he is mistaken in believing that he must reject his heritage in order to protect his family, but he has said that he feels there is no other way. I doubt that he will find lasting happiness as a re-invented person, but who knows?
Because this episode has been so painful to watch, I am grateful for the swiftness with which it has played itself out. May all concerned now enjoy some peace.
Beautifully summed up. I hope with a bit of time and distance it works out for everyone concerned.
DeleteWell said, Jane!
DeleteShelley
@Jane Chantal, although I agree with most of your opinion, once again I have to dissent on why you are attributing this distancing from Royal duties to Meghan's desires. When did she say in public anything about her own politics? There has never, ever been a statement coming from her mouth about any sentences on which she states that she wants to change anything within the monarchy. All her public speeches have been about empowering women, underprivileged people, etc.. You like many others form your own opinions without much factual accuracy. You could be right, but you could be so wrong, how to you know that Harry himself couldn't deal with being a senior Royal, he has always have patronages to his liking, unlike Willam who will be king one day, and on most public appearances he seemed the most uncomfortable, how do you know that he just couldn't deal with the lies, rumors, and insults to his wife an unborn child from the ugly press, and he felt that his family maybe didn't help much.Perhaps he decided that he just wanted a different life, other heirs far remove to the throne have done the same, the problem seems to me that the image of the fabulous 4 created by the unreliable media, and fueled by their consumers, was never a thing.
ReplyDeleteCB
Each lady has a positive. Color of dress for M. Rewear consciousness for K.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, it must be weird for H&M to show up after their post saying the Queen doesn't really own the word royal, lol.
CB, “perhaps” is certainly the operative word for much of what you say, and indeed most of the speculation, including mine, about “Megxit” necessarily consists of guesswork. The issue of “Vogue” magazine that Meghan guest-edited to much fanfare, however, left no need for guesswork as to where she stands politically. The same is true of her obvious snub of President and Mrs. Trump during their State visit to the U.K. (I admire the credulity of anyone who actually believed that she could not bear to tear herself away from baby Archie for an afternoon or an evening :-). There is more than one way to make a statement.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to actual speeches, Meghan is a talented public speaker but her rhetorical exercises seemed stuck on the theme of “women’s empowerment”, usually accompanied by a globalist slant. Like many others, I’d have liked to see her focus, now and then, on the work of people in Britain who quietly do enormous good without regard to “woke” political correctness. Heaven knows, there currently are many effective campaigners for women’s empowerment — but who shines a spotlight on myriad worthy, unglamorous causes that otherwise would be ignored? _The royal family, that’s who_. And as we all know, in the documentary television program about her and Harry’s successful African tour, Meghan told the world that the royal family was making it impossible for her to thrive.
Harry obviously is mystery to us all at this point. Perhaps”, again, being the operative word. We can each only speculate, and we speculate because we care.
P.S. CB, I completely agree with you about the “Fab Four” label the press gave to William, Catherine, Harry and Meghan. It definitely was not helpful.
ReplyDelete@Jane. Newcomers to the Firm are usually given charities to focus on. Either there is an effort to match them up with similar interests or an area of focus is created for them. Without any inside knowledge, everything seems arranged in detail for royal appearances. The person arrives, cuts ribbons, shakes hands, sits with a selected group and listens for a hour or so, performs some small specified task, and returns to opulence directly. Meghan besides these tasks, looked beyond the visit at the actual people and chose small projects that would have an effect, particularly in the lives of women. The Grenfell ladies for instance, still continue to run their soup kitchen. The ladies who learned to bake can still earn a living from their efforts.
ReplyDeleteThe Vogue editing article connected us with women who were certainly not on the radar of many of us. After a daily diet of 'influencers', in glossy magazines and social media, this is a reminder that there are real people out there who work to improve the world around them or have made achievements that can inspire others. These smaller projects were perhaps outside of the micro management of the Firm and probably did not sit well with the establishment. Focusing on larger projects that affect people in Britain would obviously have to be arranged at the top. Meghan cannot launch projects such as those on her own. Think of the logistics involved in the current 'Childhood in Britain' project. We do not know if Meghan tried, and was refused. As an American in Britain, two years is not enough time to absorb the cultural differences within to launch successful large scale projects. It has taken the other Duchess 8 years to come up with a national project...and only after Meghan has left. Lest we forget, two of that Duchess' charities have closed for lack of funds, and we did not see an energetic effort to save them on her part. The new slang of 'woke' is another attempt to demean. Issues that mean nothing to some can be the life blood of others.
This entire Mexit episode has indeed been very painful to watch. It seems that the family has left them out there to be mercilessly pummeled by the press for whatever reason without stepping in. Harry with the constant criticism of his wife has probably been made to feel that he made a terrible faux pas by choosing this woman. Unfortunately all of his other girlfriends were subjected to the same treatment, Ms. Bonas in particular. He does not belong to the public and should be allowed to do what makes him happy, not the public.
Family should never abandon each other to be derided in the public arena. Sooner or later their own ethics will be called into question. Making personal life choices is done everyday by other people without the attendant public flogging. They move far away from their roots and still manage to maintain a family connection. The same can be done here. We do not know the details.
Blaming Meghan is ridiculous. It is always easy to give men an out as if they are brainless beings. Harry had to be part of the decision making process. Calling H&M 'ungrateful' for leaving easy money for a life in the unknown may be incomprehensible to all of us, but it is what they want and they should be respected.
The 'fab four' grouping was never going to work because the difference between both couples was too stark (dynamic/bland). MB
MB I agree with your sentiments entirely with the exception of the idea that family should never abandon each other in the public arena. It's infuriating to watch Prince Andrew be constantly shielded and protected by the Queen. The disparity in his and H&M's treatment is disgusting. He has far more plenty and serious missteps.
DeleteI think that if Harry and Meghan had any sense of decorum they would have continued to negotiate with the Queen and Charles behind the scenes and not announced their exit as they did. They lost my respect when they did that. It was unprofessional, hurtful, and a selfish thing to do. We don't know about Harry's relationship with William or Charles. Can't comment on that. And no one else knows either. But the queen--oh dear. That was a fatal mistake that I really guess Harry and Meghan did not see. Did they honestly not know who they were dealing with? Did they really think they would get grandma? It really is quite simple. She is the Queen. The decisions that were made were hers and hers alone to make. She wears the pants in that family. She wanted Charles on board. But it was her way or the highway. I think people are forgetting that. You can't have your cake and eat it too. She has made tough decisions her whole life. And lived through her Uncle David. She remembers every bit of that. And then there was her sister and the man she wanted to marry. Don't forget the scandals and heartbreak surrounding her children's marriages falling apart. Everything. But I can tell you this. NOTHING will hurt the crown. Her mission. Her life's work. She pledged her service to her people. And nothing will come between that. It was Harry and Meghan or what she stood for. And the way they did it. Goodness. Yes, it was painful to her as a grandmother. Absolutely! But I really don't think the actual decision was really that hard for her. They backed her into a corner. You can not do that. End of story. They will continue to monitor the situation, of course. And the Queen was gracious in that she has left them plenty of options to come back. But it is what it is. Do not think for one minute that William or Catherine or anyone else had any say in that arrangement. Opinions maybe. Charles also. But we know who holds the cards here. Especially when it comes to her family. But more importantly, when it comes to the FIRM.
DeleteYawn a complete rehash of everything printed in the media including wielding the power of the queen from behind your keyboard. Ana
DeleteWell I am in America so I can't read much of what the media is saying. But it is so very true. Bottom line is this. Andrew is needed for the information he can give and just needs to talk to people and make it right by giving them some info. As much as he disgusts me also, he was not the one trafficking the girls. And that is who they are after. You really can't compare the two situations. Andrew vs. Harry and Meghan. But I can tell you this. Andrew is not going to bite the hand that feeds him. He had many patronages and worked for years doing his job. He never ruffled mama's feathers too much and certainly didn't back mama into a corner. He was just behaving like an idiot. And yes he embarrassed the whole family--but he never wanted to leave it on his terms. Harry and Meghan are very VOCAL about it. They pressured the Queen to make a move quickly hoping they would get what they wanted. She made a move all right, but not the one they wanted. I bet if she would have given them what they wanted, you wouldn't be hearing the complaints and seeing those surly faces because they didn't get to walk in with her. For those who make fun of or trivialize the power of the queen from behind their keyboards, it is telling me that you really do not understand exactly what her position is. And what is required of it. That institution was there long before the current queen. And of course before Harry and Meghan. It will stand for a long time after. I don't even live there and I understand that. Harry and Meghan were tagged to be working members of the family who would pull their weight and try to support the Queen and all that that entails. They decided they didn't really what to do that. That they couldn't. They decided that the press was too much. The attention was too much. I totally get it. I would hate to live that way. Then leave. But they wanted certain things. They wanted to hand pick what they wanted. You can't have both and capitalize on it. Sometimes it really is that simple. I wish them the best and hope they have a happy normal life. They are now free. Janie
Delete4:46 This is one of the worst posts I've ever read. The father of teenage girls does not question why teenage girls
Deletewere always at his friend's house without parents? Oh wait...They were probably being coached in calculus for their college exams. Besides his stint in the Falklands what other of this man can be highlighted? It takes courage to brave the unknown, and nothing to remain under your mother's skirts where the term "by the sweat of thy brow shall though eat bread " does not apply.
Negotiations had been in progress, but some details were released to the press as soon as
Harry returned (the timeline can be verified) The Sussexes tried to get their message out, and were left to be eviscerated by the media and 'royalists' who will defend their honor even when their behavior is immoral. -A-.
Apparently you can't read. I did not say he didn't know. I am saying he wasn't one of the people actually trafficking the girls. That is generally accepted. The actual people doing that is who the feds and other law enforcement agencies are after. And that is why they want to talk to Andrew. To find out who was where and who was involved. I didn't say he needed to be highlighted. I am saying he did a good job visiting his patronages and doing his engagements all while staying under the radar for many years. The fact that some of the press leaked the info about Harry and Meghan has not really ever been proved. That was one of the reasons they possibly went forward and divulged it. Everyone has a side with Harry and Meghan. I don't really care. I was a Diana fan and always loved William and Harry. I am just saying that negotiations should have stayed behind closed doors and they may perhaps have been happier with the outcome than they are today.
DeleteAnd also by the way I am totally not saying he shouldn't talk to whoever about this scandal. He should. I think. I am sure his legal team is advising him however. And we know Andrew talking to people does not always end well. As to Harry and Meghan, it is over. They are gone. It is what it is and they will still be working with their patronages. But I do firmly believe what I said in my other reply, that they probably would have been happier with arrangements had the story not broke they way it did. Even if there was a potential press leak, the family would have just ignored it and not commented like everything else.
DeleteHi, MB, and thanks for sharing your perspective. As I said, I think there was sincere goodwill on all sides at the beginning, and frankly I believe that if Meghan had entered the royal family with genuine respect for its traditions, a better understanding of British culture, a sincere willingness to learn and a willingness to accept that she would not always do things her way, things could have been very different. Most of us do not just marry an individual, we marry that individual and his or her history and relationship with those he or she loves. Do I think Meghan and a Harry ought to feel grateful for the way Meghan was welcomed by his family, which barely knew her? Yes, I do. And I think it is tragic that Harry has felt compelled to abandon his family and heritage in order (maybe) to have a future with a Meghan. In no way do I consider him blameless in this.
ReplyDeleteSorry this is naiv.
DeleteSarah P.
No need to be sorry, Sarah — your observation may be wrong, but it’s refreshingly brief 🙂
DeleteThat should have been “future with Meghan”, of course. At this point, all concerned deserve some space to digest the upheaval this has caused in their lives.
ReplyDeleteMuch of the response is based on conjecture. We only see what the family wants us to see. This to them is a business and image is everything. The public swallows it whole and repeats the mantra...duty. dedication service etc. All the while the cost of keeping them can fund schools and hospitals for whole communities of people and not just a few.
ReplyDeleteThe rush to judgment to blame Meghan for being disrespectful is not supported by hard evidence but somebody has to be blamed. She should have known where she was going they say. Seeing the family and living with them are not the same thing. Harry was not compelled to do anything. The queen herself said they had been in negotiations for months. The focus should be on what or who triggered the premature announcement and why the family did nothing to help. MB
Well, MB, you demonstrate quite a fondness for conjecture yourself :-) and your contempt for the royal family emerges rather strongly as well. At the end of the day, neither of us knows the backstory of “Megxit”, and our opinions are just that; opinions. Cheers!
ReplyDelete@Jane..Exactly..none of us know
Deletethe backstory so empathy alone should cause a thinking person to resist blaming others without evidence. Royal families are a part of history,but in this century they are expensive figureheads with limited powers. That is not contempt. Another thing that was pointed out is that as the heiress the queen lived away from the family in Malta as a newlywed. The family survived.
@Cherry. I did not follow Letizia before 2014. I am convinced that she has had to bury her real person and is using someone else's shell. MB
MB, I agree with you absolutely. I am not sure how well she was received by the family, there was an episode during their wedding that rang every alarm in my head. I was raised catholic so the first time I attended a service in an African American church, I was at first a little surprised of how emotional they are in their worshipping, at the end I was exhilarated, so when the minister chosen by Meghan was conducting the ceremony, there were a few shots of the family, that showed a hint of mockery and some disdain (particularly Zara) I was myself shocked at their reaction, these royals have been educated to meet with all kinds of religious leaders from a Tibetan monk, to a medicine man, and when they do, they are polite and seemingly delighted. At that time I thought that she was in for a bumpy ride, of course this is my perception. Somehow I though of Queen Letizia, and how (according to some books) her life was made miserable by the “family”, to the point of her getting sick and depressed, and almost abandoning her marriage, once again I don’t know the c
ReplyDeleteVeracity of these stories, but looking at the pictures at the time, she didn’t look to be in a good place.
Oh wow, Cherry Blossom. I did not watch the ceremony but that is disgraceful.
DeleteI've heard that Queen Letizia has had a hard time in Spain as well. It's interesting because most people here at newmyroyals don't believe her to be capable of stepping a foot wrong (myself included) but she has many similarities to the Duchess of Sussex (both were divorced, both worked in media, both came from middle class families) yet the DoS is completely derided. I wonder where the root of this contempt comes from...
Agree Chery Blossom. We watched the ceremony with some friends and noticed a atmosphere where you don´t be able to breath easily.
DeleteSarah P.
Bishop Michael Curry was invited by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby; they said so at a joint interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4GHFu23kUY
DeleteThe Freedom Church Choir was supposedly invited by Prince Charles.
@coco, the very first few words on the youtube interview that you just linked, states verbatim " in an unprecedented move Harry & Meghan have asked Bishop Curry to speak at their wedding" . Also stated on The Anglican Communion Office as welll. Because of this request The Archbishop of Canterbury extended the invite. I didn't say above that the bishop and Meghan were buddies, I just stated what the Anglican Church stated in the U.K., and what the Episcopalian church formally released in the US.
ReplyDeleteThere were some lovely outfits worn by the Royal ladies; however, I cannot get past the haughty, aloof attitude and look on Kate's face when she basically ignored Harry and Meghan to make an unbiased comment on her clothes. As has been said, "clothes do not make a man" or lady. Not very future-Queen like behavior from Kate. With all the attention and honors heaped on William and Kate, you'd think they could show a little grace to the "spare" and his wife. I am glad Harry no longer has to walk in the shadow of his rather arrogant brother ... this is my own opion but go back and look at the snooty look on William's face during Archie's christening photo! The signs have been there all along. Shame on William and Kate!
ReplyDeleteOne picture does not always tell a true story. Who knows. But during this whole situation it does seem that William and Kate have not put a foot wrong. I know they miss Harry. All those years with him and then nothing. I think the brothers just need to sit down and talk it all out. However, I don't think that will be happening with Harry so far away. Mae
Delete@janechantal , Oh my goodness!! I just happened to read your comments above about The Duchess of Suxess political biases, having political ideas that may differ from yours doesn't mean that hers are biased, just different. I see that you are terribly hurt about her not meeting Mr. Trump, well.... after what he has been saying about her and the nasty comments about Catherine, one can only imagine how shaking his hand must feel.
ReplyDeleteIf having criticized this man ( before she was part of the family) puts her on the "biased" category, she can follow the club of more than 60% of the US, and practically 3/4,of the world.
MM
@ March 16 @8:55. What comes through in this post is that Andrew did not know that the girls were being trafficked so he just needs to tell what he knows and everything should be alright; that he did his 'job' by visiting his patronages and staying behind mum's skirts by not ruffling any feathers and collecting his 'salary'.
ReplyDeleteConsider that patronages ask the public to donate to the cause, then the royals show up when everything is arranged to meet and give visibility so others will donate etc. etc. They themselves lose very little and the public pays them too.
In life, you are judged by the friends you keep. Visiting that character at a least 3 of his homes and seeing girls the age of your own kids did not send up a red flag, or at leas make him uncomfortable? At least one of them claims to have been closer to him than social distancing. Interviews go badly when you have to remember what was said in earlier interviews so as not to make a mistake. Try a little harder to defend the indefensible.
You yourself says visiting the patronages is a job. People are allowed to leave one job for another with is all that the Sussexes asked to do. Giving notice at your 'job' should never cause this amount of criticism. Other families on the continent have handled departures much better. There are no winners here.
In the long run, this still remains an internal family matter, and we may never know and perhaps should never speculate as to what was the catalyst that drove the couple to leave.
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