The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family 11: 7 May - 31 Dec 2025

[TLLK]

Um, that age gap is exactly my point. Meghan is three years older than her niece (Samantha’s oldest). She moved away and started her family when Meghan was a toddler.

I think Meghan would remember just fine if she had any kind of real relationship with Samantha in her childhood. Lord knows we have seen the three pictures she repeatedly shows because that’s how limited their interactions were.

Samantha’s fantasy is not a reality and even Jr who hates Meghan confirmed Samantha was never around.

Admittedly I hadn't perceived that message from your previous statements, however I'm glad that we agree upon this matter.

 

[Toledo]

In other news from 22 minutes ago:

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry unveil new project tied to her past

Excerpt:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are gearing up to work on a new documentary in which will showcase a sentimental part of Meghan's past, story of four girls scout.​

The documentary, titled Cookie Queens, chronicles “a coming-of-age story about the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season,” according to Deadline.​

Meghan and Harry's new project will be directed by Alysa Nahmias and will be premiere at Sundance in 2026."​

​

A coming to age story about cookies sold by girl scouts? I smell Oscar and Golden Globes nominations as the best documentary ever made by a British Republic of the USA royal. And I'm sure if there's a campaign to put Meghan's face on the 2026 cookie boxes they become collectors items.

My thoughts, and you know I can't keep them to myself or I'll explode, is why? Why girl scout cookies is such a story "about the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season" ?

Why not a documentary on a follow up when Meghan showed up at the Uvalde school to put flowers outside in front of reporters, after the massacre? She could have interviewed the parents on how their lives where affected and make it part of her family values brand package.

Why not a documentary on the trips she made to Nigeria and Colombia where lives where changed by her speeches? Because a documentary about the stress of cookie selling is more intense and dramatic.

BTW, for those outside the USA, girl scout cookies are delicious and the best one are the mint chocolate ones. And to be clear, parents are the ones that sell the cookies. In my office several of my co-workers used to go desk by desk and months in advance with the glossy cookie book to get the money in advance prior to place the orders. Then weeks went by, we forget and the co-worker moms would show up to deliver the boxes to us at our desks. We never saw a kid, not even outside, selling cookies.

That should be the better documentary for me: a story "about the parents' joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season"

 

[hereditarytitles]

This cookie story is new to me, sounds nice, and, like many other communication strategies common in the US, is a good idea.

But making such a big deal out of it seems a bit odd to me. Surely there are better and more important things from Meghan's youth that could be featured as a story.

I'm still a little puzzled about which audience she's trying to reach with her actions and productions. As a businesswoman, she should have a target audience, and with her experience in various fields, there are certainly more interesting topics. I also imagine the competition in this area is fierce.

However, it's difficult for me to judge from afar, but the US market and what interests people in this regard is certainly different from what we're used to. No one here would be interested if someone of aristocratic background talked about baking cookies in their younger days.

 

[Kristen]

BTW, for those outside the USA, girl scout cookies are delicious and the best one are the mint chocolate ones.

Blasphemy! Tagalongs are the best cookies! How can you beat peanut butter and chocolate?!

It does seem an odd thing to make a documentary of though. I'm kind of surprised it isn't about the dish soap commercial.

 

[sndral]

In other news from 22 minutes ago:

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry unveil new project tied to her past

…

BTW, for those outside the USA, girl scout cookies are delicious and the best one are the mint chocolate ones. And to be clear, parents are the ones that sell the cookies. In my office several of my co-workers used to go desk by desk and months in advance with the glossy cookie book to get the money in advance prior to place the orders. Then weeks went by, we forget and the co-worker moms would show up to deliver the boxes to us at our desks. We never saw a kid, not even outside, selling cookies.

That should be the better documentary for me: a story "about the parents' joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season"

It sounds like a lovely project & in no way diminishes the Sussexes work in other areas IMO.
Per the official Girl Scouts organization’s guidance cookie sales are supposed to be lead by the girls https://www.girlscouts.org/content/...ces/Cookie_PracticalTipsParentsCaregivers.pdf & that’s been my experience.
During Girl Scout cookie season I can’t visit a local grocery store w/out being approached by young girls trying to sell those boxes of cookies. I remember walking door to door in my neighborhood soliciting orders & then delivering them when I was a Girl Scout myself. My co-workers used to bring their kids to the office to solicit orders & then later to deliver the cookies folks had signed up for. For the record - I’m in California, maybe things are done differently in other places.

Blasphemy! Tagalongs are the best cookies! How can you beat peanut butter and chocolate?!

It does seem an odd thing to make a documentary of though. I'm kind of surprised it isn't about the dish soap commercial.

Given that the Girl Scouts are all about empowering young girls, it doesn’t seem odd to me - but I enjoyed my time w/ the scouts, it created in me a lifelong love of nature & being the wilderness, something my family was never particularly interested in .

 

[ACO]

This cookie story is new to me, sounds nice, and, like many other communication strategies common in the US, is a good idea.

But making such a big deal out of it seems a bit odd to me. Surely there are better and more important things from Meghan's youth that could be featured as a story.

I'm still a little puzzled about which audience she's trying to reach with her actions and productions. As a businesswoman, she should have a target audience, and with her experience in various fields, there are certainly more interesting topics. I also imagine the competition in this area is fierce.

However, it's difficult for me to judge from afar, but the US market and what interests people in this regard is certainly different from what we're used to. No one here would be interested if someone of aristocratic background talked about baking cookies in their younger days.

You realize this is not about her right? It’s about the scouts in general. And it’s a massive organization.

 

[Toledo]

Blasphemy! Tagalongs are the best cookies! How can you beat peanut butter and chocolate?!
It does seem an odd thing to make a documentary of though. I'm kind of surprised it isn't about the dish soap commercial.

I can't handle peanuts or peanut butter with chocolate. I don't get an allergic reaction to peanuts but the only thing I tolerate with peanuts is that old candy bar cookie called Butterfinger. And I believe coconut is a nut and I'm absolutely allergic to the taste and smell, so no coconut flavored cookies either if the girl scouts make them.

After I posted the info on the documentary I keep thinking on why, of all things, a girl scout cookie movie? Then it hit me bad like a tagalong (Tag Along) cookie in my mouth. The Sussex brand is all about creating a mythology or narrative that circles all around Meghan. It's never about the "...the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season" but it's all about creating an image where every single interview will focus on asking Meghan about her experience as a girl scout.

It all makes sense now, any project we see is on image building circling around the Meghan legend she is creating on each project. The common theme seems to me how does the world circles around Meghan. My only hope for a future project would be to include Harry's life and how he overcame his vices. There's a lot of material there to use more than yet another glorification of Meghan and her struggles selling boxes of cookies to win a girl scout medal.

It all makes sense after an hour plus from finding that article I posted up there.

 

[soapstar]

It does seem an odd thing to make a documentary of though. I'm kind of surprised it isn't about the dish soap commercial.

They didn’t make it (they weren’t involved in the filming or production). The Sussexes only recently joined the project as executive producers. In fact, there are about 16 other executive producers on the film. The documentary was completed months ago and is set to debut at Sundance.

This is similar to what they did with the documentary “Live to Lead” a few years ago. They came on board after the project was already finished.

 

[Somebody]

So, they just needed name recognition in the hopes that it will get lots of press attention for other reasons than the quality of the product itself?

 

[Leopoldine]

Maybe Meghan and her staff members felt that this sort of feature would appeal to a young demographic, specifically young girls who are interested in doing good.

I was a Girl Scout. It only lasted a year for me, but there was that overriding theme of service to the community. I quit because my mom wasn't volunteering to supervise or participate and the other mothers were a bit ... cold about that. She still had three babies at home.

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

In other news from 22 minutes ago:

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry unveil new project tied to her past

Excerpt:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are gearing up to work on a new documentary in which will showcase a sentimental part of Meghan's past, story of four girls scout.​

The documentary, titled Cookie Queens, chronicles “a coming-of-age story about the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season,” according to Deadline.​

Meghan and Harry's new project will be directed by Alysa Nahmias and will be premiere at Sundance in 2026."​

​

A coming to age story about cookies sold by girl scouts? I smell Oscar and Golden Globes nominations as the best documentary ever made by a British Republic of the USA royal. And I'm sure if there's a campaign to put Meghan's face on the 2026 cookie boxes they become collectors items.

My thoughts, and you know I can't keep them to myself or I'll explode, is why? Why girl scout cookies is such a story "about the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season" ?

Why not a documentary on a follow up when Meghan showed up at the Uvalde school to put flowers outside in front of reporters, after the massacre? She could have interviewed the parents on how their lives where affected and make it part of her family values brand package.

Why not a documentary on the trips she made to Nigeria and Colombia where lives where changed by her speeches? Because a documentary about the stress of cookie selling is more intense and dramatic.

BTW, for those outside the USA, girl scout cookies are delicious and the best one are the mint chocolate ones. And to be clear, parents are the ones that sell the cookies. In my office several of my co-workers used to go desk by desk and months in advance with the glossy cookie book to get the money in advance prior to place the orders. Then weeks went by, we forget and the co-worker moms would show up to deliver the boxes to us at our desks. We never saw a kid, not even outside, selling cookies.

That should be the better documentary for me: a story "about the parents' joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season"

I can remember as a child when it was safe to go door to door in my neighborhood where I knew everyone, and I also supervised my own daughters - now grown - in front of a grocery store selling cookies themselves. But for the past 10-20 years, for lots of reasons, it’s the adults selling them now. And I agree that Thin Mints are the BEST!

 

[hereditarytitles]

You realize this is not about her right? It’s about the scouts in general. And it’s a massive organization.

Please excuse my ignorance. I am sorry, I really had no idea about the importance of the Girls Scout cookie ritual and the entire organization behind it.

 

[An Ard Ri]

British TV Presenter Alison Hammond revealed that the Duchess of Sussex had tagged her in a message on Social Media.
The message was in relation to a sketch that the duke performed with Stephen Colbert on the Late Show where they lip synced a scene of Hammond speaking to a Northern Irish contestant on the Great British Bake Off.
Meghan Markle reaches out to Alison Hammond on Instagram with sweet message
Alison Hammond reacts after Prince Harry's unnerving viral impression of her

 

[Toledo]

They didn’t make it (they weren’t involved in the filming or production). The Sussexes only recently joined the project as executive producers. In fact, there are about 16 other executive producers on the film. The documentary was completed months ago and is set to debut at Sundance.

This is similar to what they did with the documentary “Live to Lead” a few years ago. They came on board after the project was already finished.

OMG that's even worst. Thanks for the search and discovery of a movie we had no clue existed and yet, lets us see how the fake news media (a.k.a. People magazine and news services alike) alters the narrative to be all about a last minute celebrity add-in.

Meghan's business patterns seems adding her name attached to an existing project done by other people. Then having her do interviews as if she was on the set and the brainstorm sessions from the start, pick up the prize and talk on every show about her experience producing this movie and that ideas were ran to her for decisions.

I assume when she goes around the talk show sets the production team involved will go by the group name "my staff" as she does in her recent product marketing interviews.

BTW here's the website for Meghan's film Cookie Queens

COOKIE QUEENS — AJNA FILMS

www.ajnafilms.com

And as of today I don't see her name:

Executive Producers: Regina K. Scully, Hallee Adelman, Ann Lewnes, Stephen G. Hall, Ruth Ann Harnisch, Geralyn Dreyfous, Tegan Acton, Emma Pompetti, James Costa, Trevor Burgess​

Co-Executive Producers: Sheri Sobrato, Jamie Wolf, Nathalie Seaver, Andrea van Beuren, Jennifer Pelling​

Nor Archwell nor Meg-Films-About-Me Productions, etc.:

Supported by: Sundance Institute Catalyst, Sundance Documentary Film Fund, Ford Foundation JustFilms, World of HA, The Harnisch Foundation, Good Gravy Films, Artemis Rising Foundation, The Lovell Foundation, Sustainable Films, Foothill Productions, Bird Street Productions, Resonance Philanthropies, The Derek Freese Film Fund, and The deNovo Initiative​

A Beautiful Stories & AJNA Films Production​

​

In Association with: Artemis Rising Foundation, Good Gravy Films​

​

Instagram Cookie Queens film​

 

[TLLK]

I can remember as a child when it was safe to go door to door in my neighborhood where I knew everyone, and I also supervised my own daughters - now grown - in front of a grocery store selling cookies themselves. But for the past 10-20 years, for lots of reasons, it’s the adults selling them now. And I agree that Thin Mints are the BEST!

I had a similar experience growing up. However when your father is the head of Human Resources, there won't be any orders taken at his place of employment. My husband's company discouraged the practice as well. So my daughter and her Troop sold in front of grocery stores too. By the time they were in high school, the troop had saved enough over the years to fly us all from Los Angeles to Seattle for a memorable 3 day weekend exploring the city!

 

[Maryrose]

Please excuse my ignorance. I am sorry, I really had no idea about the importance of the Girls Scout cookie ritual and the entire organization behind it.

I was the cookie mom for my daughter's troop. I had to drive to pick up all the boxes of cookies that her troop ordered (filled up my Subaru to the max) bring them home and sort out into piles each girl scout's order (took over my living room) and have each parent come to my home and get their daughter's order. It was a lot of fun and the girls were always so excited to raise money for the troop.

 

[TLLK]

I was the cookie mom for my daughter's troop. I had to drive to pick up all the boxes of cookies that her troop ordered (filled up my Subaru to the max) bring them home and sort out into piles each girl scout's order (took over my living room) and have each parent come to my home and get their daughter's order. It was a lot of fun and the girls were always so excited to raise money for the troop.

As a former cookie chair, I had exactly the same experience. Our Honda Pilot was filled to the brim with so many orders.
Canadian posters-Question: Is it true that Thin Mints are the only Girl Guide cookies sold in Canada?

 

[TLLK]

Netflix ratings in the UK for the WLM Holiday Special.

MSN

www.msn.com

Meghan Markle's festive episode of With Love, Meghan hit TV screens last week, but sadly, it has failed to make a big impact with its ratings. While the episode hit Netflix's top 10 series list on some days, it hasn't made the weekly list of top 10 series in the UK.

This means that ratings for other series currently available on Netflix were significantly better. This is likely to come as another blow for Meghan, especially since it has not yet been confirmed whether her series will return for a third season.


The Duchess has spent most of the year focused on this series, alongside her new As Ever brand, which also launched this year.

 

[Toledo]

I was the cookie mom for my daughter's troop. I had to drive to pick up all the boxes of cookies that her troop ordered (filled up my Subaru to the max) bring them home and sort out into piles each girl scout's order (took over my living room) and have each parent come to my home and get their daughter's order. It was a lot of fun and the girls were always so excited to raise money for the troop.

In the 3 + decades I was working in government offices the rules where very flexible as long as you didn't bring attention to have a bitter staffer raise hell and complain. Parents went desk by desk with that glossy cookie catalog and the notebook to mark who paid and who owes. Word would spread around the office, because everyone loves those cookies, and the parent would just leave the catalog by their desk and people would approach. No fuzz, no drama.

Now that Meghan has successfully help finance, write, direct and produce another film gemstone (yes, I'm being sarcastic) least she can do is use the damn Instagram account of hers and help the moms sell those orders. I won't be difficult since it looks from those perfect pictures she never steps out of the house without a film crew.

 

[GondorHasNoPants]

As a former cookie chair, I had exactly the same experience. Our Honda Pilot was filled to the brim with so many orders.
Canadian posters-Question: Is it true that Thin Mints are the only Girl Guide cookies sold in Canada?

I am in Canada, used to work in an office where people sold the cookies for their daughters, and I could either buy the thin mints, or a type made of dark chocolate biscuit with a white creme filling. The thin mints were definitely the best choice, and I rarely bought the other type.

 

[tihkon2]

I always thought that the entire estrangement was about money. TM Sr has said that Meghan gave him money when she became successful. (And perhaps to her stepsiblings, too?). At any rate, the family probably thought they had hit the jackpot when Meghan married a prince.

But Meghan had no money of her own once she stopped working. And perhaps Harry was unwilling or unable to bankroll his in-laws in the style to which they hoped to become accustomed. From what we’ve seen of the siblings, they don’t seem to be at all nice. Don’t know about Tom Sr, but he was a man of Hollywood, a pretty cutthroat town. The family falling out must have been brutal, and all three of them immediately started to (try to) make money off their connection.

Meghan was likely advised by some of the Firm’s grey men to distance herself from the situation- which she would have had every right to do. All JMHO

A difficult and hard way to start a new family…

Eh, I never heard any of that. They may have expected some money, but I don't think she ever gave any of them a dime. Mostly because I don't think she would even think to. Again, In my opinion, that whole family is the same from top to bottom and each is as toxic as the next. There's a reason Meghan had hardly any family FROM EITHER SIDE at her wedding, and her inviting a bunch of famous people she never met before, to her wedding instead, tells me all I need to know.

 

[Lori138]

As a former cookie chair, I had exactly the same experience. Our Honda Pilot was filled to the brim with so many orders.
Canadian posters-Question: Is it true that Thin Mints are the only Girl Guide cookies sold in Canada?

No, we also have the boxes of chocolate and vanilla as well. They come out at different times of the year, and yes in the last few years they have been sold in grocery store foyers or in displays inside as well, not door to door in at least the last 10 years or so.

 

[hereditarytitles]

Just out of curiosity: These Girl Scout cookies are so famous that they're even sold in Canada? And all the proceeds go directly to the Scout organizations? That's truly amazing.

 

[TLLK]

Just out of curiosity: These Girl Scout cookies are so famous that they're even sold in Canada? And all the proceeds go directly to the Scout organizations? That's truly amazing.

From what I recall, different regions of Girl Scout and Girl Guides have their own contracts with commercial bakeries. In California, that varies between counties too.
As for the funds that are raised, there's been some controversy over the years as to how much GSA takes after the bakers are paid and how much the Troops earn.

 

[Leopoldine]

I only knocked on the doors of neighbors we knew well. Thankfully, my grandfather pretty much bought his weight in the Trefoil cookies!

 

[Toledo]

I checked again on the official website to see if Meghan's name was added in after the article:
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry unveil new project tied to her past

It's now on People Magazine from a few hours ago

And: The official social media account for the film

Excerpt:

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are working on a new project as executive producer.*​

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are gearing up to work on a new documentary in which will showcase a sentimental part of Meghan's past, story of four girls scout.​

The documentary, titled Cookie Queens, chronicles “a coming-of-age story about the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season,” according to Deadline.​

* The line is in singular, as in Meghan is THE executive producer, but Harry's name was added in to remind us he is a 'prince' and this is royal adjacent. Why? the next line has Meg's royal title as "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are gearing up to work..." Marketing that title on every aspect of Meghan's life and Harry's name barely as an accessory, a human asterisk to remind us we are dealing with legitimate USA, I mean, UK Royals.

What is an executive producer?:
Executive producer - Wikipedia

In films, the executive producer generally contributes to the film's budget and their involvement depends on the project, with some simply securing funds and others being involved in the filmmaking process. Executive producers may finance the film, participate in the creative effort, and/or work on set. Their responsibilities vary from funding or attracting investors into the movie project to legal, scripting, marketing, advisory and supervising capacities.​

and from another source:

Executive Producer: Roles and Responsibilities Explained
Executive Producer: Roles and Responsibilities Explained
Roles:

• Project Selection: Executive producers choose which projects to work on. They read scripts, listen to pitches, and decide which ideas have the potential to be a hit. They're like gold miners, sifting through the dirt to find the nuggets of gold.
• Securing Financing: One of the biggest roles of an executive producer is to secure financing for the project. This can involve pitching the project to studios, finding sponsors, or attracting investors. It's all about convincing people that the project is worth their money.
• Hiring Talent: The executive producer is often involved in casting decisions and hiring key crew members. They ensure that the right people are in the right roles to bring the project to life.
• Managing the Budget: Once the money is secured, it's the executive producer's job to manage it. They need to make sure the project stays within budget, which often involves making tough decisions about what to cut and what to keep.
• Overseeing Production: During production, the executive producer is like a watchful guardian. They monitor progress, resolve issues, and make sure everyone is working towards the same vision.

The big mystery on this film is all these news happened after the account for the film quietly opened on Dec 4th 2026. No mention on Meghan no pics of her on the set or with her staff

The film seems was already financed and produced because when I do searches about timelines the year 2023 keeps appearing as a reference. A film doesn't get produced overnight when it depends on donors, when it applies for film grants and when it needs film professionals, that listed in their tags, to create a 90 minute or less documentary from hundreds, if not thousands of filming hours.

The year 2023 keeps appearing on my Search when I ask for filming schedule or dates, so that could be the search is tracking it to when the film was mentioned in progress somewhere online.

It's been 3 years and Meghan had never mentioned this executive production of hers until days ago. Ironically now is catching up and over the news about her family situation in Cebu Island.

The Instagram account for one producer added in a picture of Meg and Harry 24 hrs. ago and right now the press is catching up glorifying Meghan the girl scout cookie movie executive producer.


Well, if she brags we can brag too. The Royal Forums broke the the news in here first!

 

[tommy100]

Why the need to link it to her past - it is such a small link it feels so desperate to try and link it to Meghan's childhood IMO. Of course she might talk about how she also did the same when she was younger but putting it in all the press releases like its her life story seems really off to me.

I'd also say, if its taken this long to find a producer, there must be a reason for that.

 

[Toledo]

Why the need to link it to her past - it is such a small link it feels so desperate to try and link it to Meghan's childhood IMO. Of course she might talk about how she also did the same when she was younger but putting it in all the press releases like its her life story seems really off to me.

I'd also say, if its taken this long to find a producer, there must be a reason for that.

I think this was a done deal and if you see the first post I made there's a full list on all the people involved and/or the donors and corporate sponsors used to finance it. Unless you are doing a film with a cellphone or your own camera, on a major production using donor money you get the money first, then pay the staff that films and edits it.

We are in the USA ready for films to apply for Oscars, and I suspect Meghan's name was added it to give her the credit over the actual people that worked on the project and submit the documentary to the Academy "For Your Consideration" adding her name to get the attention over thousands of other documentaries applying for the five or so film award spot. It's all self serving and why the Oscars have lost credibility for years.

 

[Somebody]

Exactly, there clearly was no need for an additional executive producer but for a name that would help in marketing.

 

[Toledo]

Exactly, there clearly was no need for an additional executive producer but for a name that would help in marketing.

They didn’t make it (they weren’t involved in the filming or production). The Sussexes only recently joined the project as executive producers. In fact, there are about 16 other executive producers on the film. The documentary was completed months ago and is set to debut at Sundance.
This is similar to what they did with the documentary “Live to Lead” a few years ago. They came on board after the project was already finished.

I can only imagine the slap on the faces of the people involved with this project from the start, and those who joined later to help out with money and knowledge to make the film get going from start to finish. If they get a major nomination, all these people will either stay on their seats or stay behind Meghan as she delivers her thank you speech and refers to them as my staff as she did recently when interviewed about her business ventures.

That is if the people involved with the project get invited to any ceremony at all or even less, to share the table or adjacent seats with the duchess herself.