The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 8: April - August 2023

[soapstar]

The Telegraph article is all about how unfairly Meghan feels she has been treated (and is still being treated) by the BRF. Why would Charles leak a story that doesn’t paint him in a good light and dredges up old wounds two weeks before his coronation?

This definitely seems like it’s coming from the Sussex camp. Let’s not forget that this has happened before. Meghan had her friends leak to People Magazine about her feelings, and about a letter she sent her father. No one even knew Meghan had sent a letter until her anonymous friends leaked it. And of course the leaking of the letter prompted Thomas Markle to give it to The Daily Mail and kick off that whole lawsuit.

This Telegraph leak has that same feel to it.

 

[Heavs]

They are releasing this now because they want the drama. End of.

If they truly cared about the response to the letter (she probably did send one) and everything was a matter of principle then it would have been mentioned before now or Meghan would have refused to come to the Jubilee. Or announced her non attendance at the coronation at the start and not a release by BP at the last minute after weeks of will they/won't they. If person who made a comment that Harry heard and then relayed to Meghan (3rd hand as per the Oprah interview) actually exists then announce it. Don't moan about it 2.5 years later.

No they are never going to be equal to the Waleses but cry me a river because they are 5 and 6th most important royal adults in the UK on paper. They have never said that they support Princess Anne who was born 3rd in line but was bumped by her much younger brothers and their children. They have never said how unfair it is that Peter and Zara cannot claim their mother's "birthright" of royalty. They only seem to care about their status.

 

[Toledo]

I despise Meghan but i recognize something in her: damn, she's a clever girl.

She's calculating on the long run, and of course playing, ad nauseum, the racial card, with multiple contradictions but whatever, is all about her current/future role as a supposed egalitarian champion with global ambitions.

Attending a ceremony symbolizing, among other things, the imperialist legacy of a Nation would have somewhat tinted her activist "brand " she's patiently curating. Now she's giving us the perfect excuse, positioning herself, as always, as a victim of a tone-deaf institution.

I say bravo to this PR, if not original at least sufficient enough in some circles, masterpiece

You gave me Jurassic Park pouncing predatory vibes on that she's a clever girl

The year is still early and in the USA Father 's Day is celebrated in June. If the Sussex of Montecito want a positive PR opportunity, I would love to see Meghan, make peace with her father, accept his many apologies and let him see his grandkids before his health takes a toll to the worst. Just think, when their children are all grown and demanding answers on why their maternal grandfather, Thomas, was not allowed to see them they will be resentful their parents for using them in their petty family fights.

She offers, via her voice-over Harry, an Olive Branch that Charles has to climb on. Yet her own father lives closer and he gets nothing. At what point the self-grandiosity self-positivity advice they give others will be used by them to even make an attempt to mend family relations?

Start with Thomas first, because when he's gone all I'll see is the drama revisited for the interviews to make the Montecitos the outraged couple. Not a sense of forgiveness or empathy from either of them toward the father that cared for her, Thomas, or the father-in-law that escorted her to the altar.

 

[HRHHermione]

The Telegraph article is all about how unfairly Meghan feels she has been treated (and is still being treated) by the BRF. Why would Charles leak a story that doesn’t paint him in a good light and dredges up old wounds two weeks before his coronation?

This definitely seems like it’s coming from the Sussex camp. Let’s not forget that this has happened before. Meghan had her friends leak to People Magazine about her feelings, and about a letter she sent her father. No one even knew Meghan had sent a letter until her anonymous friends leaked it. And of course the leaking of the letter prompted Thomas Markle to give it to The Daily Mail and kick off that whole lawsuit.

This Telegraph leak has that same feel to it.

It’s also worth noting that most Royal Reporters have tweeted that this leak is from the Sussex camp. Valentine Low, Richard Palmer and Emily Andrews have all noted it and others may have that I haven’t seen.

 

[chen bao jun]

I haven't posted for a long time but have been lurking and reading. I'm from one of the (majority black)commonwealth countries. I grew up in US but am interested in the royal family because my mother is so interested (having been a British subject most of her life). It's interesting how people like her get no representation for their opinions in the media. She was excited when the Sussexes married but now can't stand them.
She is not in denial about there being some amount of racists in every country, among every kind of people and although she appreciated most
things about her upbringing does talk about racial disparities when she grew up (she says much less than in the US at that time). But she says MM is very uninformed about British culture and clearly did not care to learn and the Oprah interview just appalled her with its malicious misrepresentations and outright lies using race as a kind of stick to beat even innocent people with. The purpose did not seem to be to bring about improvements and the RF and the tabloids got conflated as if they are the same entity and the RF is responsible for tabloid snubs and slurs.
There was no discussion of what could be improved, with concrete suggestions that could be acted on,just a lot of artistic looking tears and nonsense like that Archie wasn't yet a prince and the stupid bridesmaid stuff.
She was also turned off by the timing, when Prince Phillip was so ill and then by the mistreatment of Her Late Majesty, as a monarch but even more as a grandmother and great grandmother.
Then Prince Harry did the Netflix documentary and that appalling autobiography, she's got even less sympathy for him now than she does for MM, who is not responsible for those savage personal attacks on everyone he ever knew in his former life. He said a lot of things that MM can have had no idea of. My mother stopped thinking this was anything to do with race at all; she says it's a personal vendetta for some reason (maybe about his mother's treatment in his eyes?) That we as the public should not have inflicted on us.
So people in the commonwealth or more specifically black British people, don't all just love H and M and buy into what they say. My mom is far from alone in her opinions, I hear them from other people from her country of all ages and see them on discussion sites on the internet.
It's distressing to see all this show up in newspapers just before the coronation. I don't think the RF gets any benefit from it showing up so I don't think they leaked, but MM didn't necessarily leak either. What she did was put incendiary material out there that will never go away and that can be used against the RF forever. And not naming a 'racist' or person with this so-called 'unconscious bias' means it sticks to every family member and no one can disassociate, ever. Very unfair.

 

[Erin9]

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 8: Apr. 2023 -

It’s also worth noting that most Royal Reporters have tweeted that this leak is from the Sussex camp. Valentine Low, Richard Palmer and Emily Andrews have all noted it and others may have that I haven’t seen.

Thanks. I think the Sussexes are behind this too. It’s typical of them. And why would Charles want to dredge this all up again before his coronation? He wouldn’t. It’s not a good look. And it’s about poor put upon Meghan and how badly she’s been treated, that they’re 2nd to the Wales, etc. It reads like the typical Sussex whine fest to me anyway.

Note to the Sussexes: they are not and never will be equal to the Wales. It is what it is. Move on.

 

[Sunnystar]

The year is still early and in the USA Father's Day is celebrated in July.

Minor quibble, but Father's Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in JUNE in the United States.

 

[HenRach Dominion]

I actually think this is a win-win for both TRH The Sussexes and the British Royal Family as a whole.

If TRH The Sussexes keep leaking information about the BRF, it will keep them in the public eye for their vocational and philanthropic works. Even if people start getting tired of them, rich liberals, the main audience they're attracting, will still interact with them because they're the ones most likely to criticize hierarchy while being attracted to the trappings of it.

On the other hand, people who may have been ambivalent or even critical of the BRF in general and HM The King in particular will develop a protectiveness over both because of TRH The Sussexes actions, bringing even more support to the institution.

So TRH The Sussexes get publicity and to rub elbows with the rich American elite, and the BRF get more love and support from their people than they would without TRH The Sussexes' actions. Everyone wins!

 

[Denville]

You really think that the BRF want to be abused and accused falsely of all kinds of nasty behaviour?

 

[Claire]

The use of the phrase "uncnscious bias" should make it very clear that this came from the Sussex camp. It really seems to be the push phrase of their new PR Get Meghan elected campaign. Also the note about both sides recognising that the comment was not meant maliciously - something that was conveniently forgotten in the Oprah interview. The reason for this - the Sussexs need to move back on the racism claim - but they cant retract it outright. This is PR from the Sussex no doubt.

There is a press blackout at the moment from BP - only news is the coronation. They allowed some stuff about Camilla but currently everything needs to be about the coronation - and that is understandable.

 

[Lori138]

Thank you soapstar for the link to the article. It makes all the comments on it much easier to understand!

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Thank you soapstar for the link to the article. It makes all the comments on it much easier to understand!

I heartily agree.

You really think that the BRF want to be abused and accused falsely of all kinds of nasty behaviour?

This was never said or implied in HenRach Dominion's post, which was discussing the potential consequences on public opinion.

 

[Ghost]

I actually think this is a win-win for both TRH The Sussexes and the British Royal Family as a whole.

If TRH The Sussexes keep leaking information about the BRF, it will keep them in the public eye for their vocational and philanthropic works. Even if people start getting tired of them, rich liberals, the main audience they're attracting, will still interact with them because they're the ones most likely to criticize hierarchy while being attracted to the trappings of it.

On the other hand, people who may have been ambivalent or even critical of the BRF in general and HM The King in particular will develop a protectiveness over both because of TRH The Sussexes actions, bringing even more support to the institution.

So TRH The Sussexes get publicity and to rub elbows with the rich American elite, and the BRF get more love and support from their people than they would without TRH The Sussexes' actions. Everyone wins!

I don’t know what kind of win is such a divisive approach. One of the monarchy’s roles is to bring unity in the society. Antagonizing is not exactly a win.

 

[Hallo girl]

I heartily agree.



This was never said or implied in HenRach Dominion's post, which was discussing the potential consequences on public opinion.

The British public are sick to the back teeth of the whinging. They wanted a new life well let them live it. They are the ones who are continually bringing up the past because they have nothing else.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

I mean honestly all it did was confirm what she said. People called her a liar and she could have easily revealed this letter back then. We got royal sources saying Charles "knows" who said it. I mean... anyways. Meghan is already massively disliked in the media. She doesn't need to help them be more hated. She hasn't said or done anything all year.

It does paint Charles is a very specific light though...

She lied about many things and used something very serious and sensitive to make a group of people look bad without mentioning the person. Now she and her husband are trying to backpedal from the racism claims by using “unconscious bias” doesn’t make her look better than Charles.

 

[Denville]

I heartily agree.



This was never said or implied in HenRach Dominion's post, which was discussing the potential consequences on public opinion.

and how will a couple uttering more nasty things and lies abuot the RF improve the RF's standing with the public?

 

[HenRach Dominion]

and how will a couple uttering more nasty things and lies abuot the RF improve the RF's standing with the public?

Because a good chunk of the British people either believe that TRH The Sussexes are lying, overexaggerating for the sake of their own publicity/pockets, or exhausting with their constant complaints even if those complaints are truthful. Rather than turning the British people against the monarchy, their actions have encouraged more protectiveness and support of it where there might have been apathy at best and critique at worst before.

Now, instead of the story being "How much is this coronation going to cost us?" or "Why are they shedding a lot of the coronation traditions?", it's "Oh poor HM The King, having to deal with his son's and daughter-in-law's drama two weeks before his big day."

 

[ACO]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1649867179448320000

Given that legal letters have been sent by the Sussexes' lawyers as well as the palace's since the story was published, it seems I was wrong in assuming that it came from the Sussex camp. Sorry to all about that. But even more intriguing!


Hmm. So Palace and Sussex lawyers came for the press. Intriguing indeed.

 

[soapstar]

It’s also worth noting that most Royal Reporters have tweeted that this leak is from the Sussex camp. Valentine Low, Richard Palmer and Emily Andrews have all noted it and others may have that I haven’t seen.

I saw that too. Although Low is now saying that BP and the Sussexes have sent out legal letters.

It will be interesting to know what the letters actually say. Are they disputing the article, or is this a warning not to publish the letters? I believe it’s probably the latter.

The Telegraph has not taken down the article, so it seems they are standing by their story. Although they have taken out one particular sentence: “However, it is understood that she does still consider the comment to be racist.” That sentence no longer appears in the article, so I wonder if this is what the Sussexes complained about.


The Sussexes spokesperson has released this statement:

“The Duchess of Sussex is going about her life in the present, not thinking about correspondence from two years ago related to conversations from four years ago.

Any suggestion otherwise is false and frankly ridiculous. We encourage tabloid media and various royal correspondents to stop the exhausting circus that they alone are creating.”

This is actually funny since it’s the Sussexes who have been creating the circus. I mean, just a few months ago Harry was on tv spilling family secrets.

 

[HighGoalHighDreams]

I got a good chuckle out of that statement. Calling herself The Duchess of Sussex is the epitome of living in the past and refusing to join the present. Yes, we know she is legally entitled to call herself this, but come on— for every intent and purpose, that is a job title referring to a position she held for a few months and has supposedly disavowed, and was never meant to be affiliated with or used to refer to a private mother or citizen living in the United States— she is very clearly not living in the present day. Swap this all out for “The Duke of Sussex” and I feel just the same way.

Also, no one is the queen (no pun intended) of bringing up years-old hurts in the name of “bravely setting the record straight” like Ms. Markle.

My feelings toward this duo are no secret, but I did think this story was more likely to come from BP. It is a way to say “the King did not make the infamous comment.”

 

[tommy100]

Again, they play with fire so often no wonder they get burnt. They clearly do leak to the press when it suits them so no one believes it when they say they haven't.

 

[Toledo]

Minor quibble, but Father's Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in JUNE in the United States.

Thank you! I just corrected the typo. As a side note, while correcting it I noticed in the view mode the word Father 's Day converts into a link by some third party advertiser running in the background. To prevent confusion, like if I placed that link myself, I separated the letter 's' from Father 's. I noticed forum thingy before that only shows in the lurking/view mode.

Re statement as the USA republic's very own Duchess of Sussex, she got what she wanted. A career not involving a group cast TV show no one watches, celebrity friends and millions and millions of dollars, plus a title, giving opinions from a platform in a 15-million-dollar mansion. I'm so not surprised now she refused to stay another year in the UK to complete her eligibility to become a citizen. Seems like that was never on the tarot cards.

 

[US Royal Watcher]

Because a good chunk of the British people either believe that TRH The Sussexes are lying, overexaggerating for the sake of their own publicity/pockets, or exhausting with their constant complaints even if those complaints are truthful. Rather than turning the British people against the monarchy, their actions have encouraged more protectiveness and support of it where there might have been apathy at best and critique at worst before.

Now, instead of the story being "How much is this coronation going to cost us?" or "Why are they shedding a lot of the coronation traditions?", it's "Oh poor HM The King, having to deal with his son's and daughter-in-law's drama two weeks before his big day."

I don't agree but even if this were true, there is more to consider than PR. This is a family that has been torn apart. The King loves is in his 70's and is estranged from his son and is not able to visit with his grandchildren. William and Harry's once close relationship has been shattered. In an earlier post, you called this a win-win, I don't see how it is.

 

[HenRach Dominion]

I don't agree but even if this were true, there is more to consider than PR. This is a family that has been torn apart. The King loves is in his 70's and is estranged from his son and is not able to visit with his grandchildren. William and Harry's once close relationship has been shattered. In an earlier post, you called this a win-win, I don't see how it is.

Well, if bringing the family back together was the most important thing for all parties involved, then they would stop leaking stories to the press about each other, come out with statements unequivocally supporting each other and condemning press harassment, make times to actually see each other, etc...

But, in my humble opinion, it's not. TRH The Sussexes goal is to bring attention to themselves and their vocational and philanthropic activities. The BRF's is to protect and maintain the dignity of the institution and the support of the British people. TRH The Sussexes claims against the BRF will galvanize their supporters in the U.S. and the BRF's supporters in the U.K, therefore from a public standpoint, it's a win-win.

So, yeah, there's a chance the HM The King will rarely see his younger son and youngest grandchildren, but he has his older son, older grandchildren, wife, and institution to ease that burden. So yeah, TRH Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex will be cut off from most of their father's side of the family, but I know well that many times, family is not who you're blood-related to. They'll be surrounded by love regardless.

 

[Dantheman]

I saw that too. Although Low is now saying that BP and the Sussexes have sent out legal letters.

It will be interesting to know what the letters actually say. Are they disputing the article, or is this a warning not to publish the letters? I believe it’s probably the latter.

The Telegraph has not taken down the article, so it seems they are standing by their story. Although they have taken out one particular sentence: “However, it is understood that she does still consider the comment to be racist.” That sentence no longer appears in the article, so I wonder if this is what the Sussexes complained about.


The Sussexes spokesperson has released this statement:



This is actually funny since it’s the Sussexes who have been creating the circus. I mean, just a few months ago Harry was on tv spilling family secrets.

I totally agree with this - if Meghan likes to live in the present then why go on Oprah and talk about a single conversation that had previously happened before Archie was even born?? Why couldn t she just be living in the present with Oprah and celebrate �� her second pregnancy rather than live in the past?? As we know it has been Harry recently bringing up past events for the sake of selling books

 

[MARG]

Right at this moment civility, albeit tentative, reigns between the UK and US royals so the "leaking" of this letter seems to benefit nobody. However, when you consider that other than the BRF versus the Sussexes there is nothing to print except the mechanics of the Coronation, hardly page turning information,

Hark, a leak! Hmm, I think this is an attempt to stir the pot and create an atmosphere of tension over the Coronation. Needless to say, there was little reaction from either parties and now, strangely, we have royal watcher in good standing questioning just where it came from and why. The answer could surprise or even shock us all.

 

[ACO]

Right at this moment civility, albeit tentative, reigns between the UK and US royals so the "leaking" of this letter seems to benefit nobody. However, when you consider that other than the BRF versus the Sussexes there is nothing to print except the mechanics of the Coronation, hardly page turning information,

Hark, a leak! Hmm, I think this is an attempt to stir the pot and create an atmosphere of tension over the Coronation. Needless to say, there was little reaction from either parties and now, strangely, we have royal watcher in good standing questioning just where it came from and why. The answer could surprise or even shock us all.

Honestly? You might be on to something. We have seen many of the UK media complaining that there has been a lack of excitement over this coronation. The speed in which Sussex and BP pushed back… maybe it really was neither of them and just the press being the press. It is already a no story. Normally that’s not the case.

 

[Lemon Lyman]

The sequence of events yesterday following the telegraph article is interesting. The palace sent lawyers letters to all parties including the Sussex’s. The Duchess then issued her statement and lawyers letters. Then the article was tweaked.

 

[ACO]

Where does it state the palace sent the Sussexes legal letters? All Low said was the received legal letters from the palace and the Sussexes and then backtracked his a statement. Maybe I missed it.

 

[HRHTalDuchess]

I wonder which of the palaces sent legal letters, BP or KP?