The British Royal Family - news, views, clothes & shoes! #4

[MsJosie]

I know tomatoes will be thrown and that is okay but it would be nice is with all the negative criticism from each post, a positive statement is also included in each post.

 

[Sherwood Park]

I know tomatoes will be thrown and that is okay but it would be nice is with all the negative criticism from each post, a positive statement is also included in each post.

No. Positive statements can be given by people who like an outfit. There are positive comments on this thread made by people who like what they see. It would be different if Meghan Markle or whoever was in person and had finally asked for advice, THEN it would be appropriate to add a bunch of positive comments.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

...Meghan’s dressed as if she is tired of all these fancy outings and can’t wait for her six month maternity leave. JMO.

<respectfully snipped>

Tired. Meghan looks tired in the above photos. Dark circles under her eyes, and her face looks puffy. I usually think that Meghan looks fresh and youthful, but she looks tired and worn. Perhaps the emotional stress is taking a toll

 

[Betty P]

<respectfully snipped>

Tired. Meghan looks tired in the above photos. Dark circles under her eyes, and her face looks puffy. I usually think that Meghan looks fresh and youthful, but she looks tired and worn. Perhaps the emotional stress is taking a toll

She probably needs to take a break. Step back for a little while, rest and prepare for the upcoming birth. Trying to battle the world in the tabloid press is a fruitless task. She seems to be on a PR path that isn't working for her and Harry and just pushing harder isn't going to improve the situation. She seems to have rejected good PR advice for bad and its really backfiring. Maybe it's time to start taking advice from the palace experts.

When you're in crisis mode, it's hard to give up control or take someone else's advice, but maybe she should give it a try.

 

[flute4peace]

<respectfully snipped>

Tired. Meghan looks tired in the above photos. Dark circles under her eyes, and her face looks puffy. I usually think that Meghan looks fresh and youthful, but she looks tired and worn. Perhaps the emotional stress is taking a toll

I was thinking the other day that she’s had a lot of outings lately. Definitely time for a break.

 

[Opie]

I know I'll be ducking tomatoes along with MsJosie, but I am kind of shocked at all the negative - and so few - positive comments about M. Markle. Can she not do anything right?

<modsnipped- please keep politics off the thread>

I always feel sorry for a person who has not committed some awful crime and is being torn apart in the media and that seems to apply in both cases here.
Just MOO.

 

[La Louve]

<respectfully snipped>

Tired. Meghan looks tired in the above photos. Dark circles under her eyes, and her face looks puffy. I usually think that Meghan looks fresh and youthful, but she looks tired and worn. Perhaps the emotional stress is taking a toll

Plus aren't they ramping up to move house very soon? Even if you have help that's still stressful.

 

[Sherwood Park]

I was thinking the other day that she’s had a lot of outings lately. Definitely time for a break.

She doesn't need a "break". Pregnant women work every day and don't get a "break", especially if they have other children. The majority of pregnant women also don't have staff to cook and clean up after them. The average mom has to put in hours a day for employment, look after their household, look after their other children and sometimes their elderly parents, they have to do the grocery shopping, chauffeur kids to preschool or elementary, socialize with friends, and also volunteer in the community.
No "breaks" for the middle class.

 

[Sherwood Park]

I know I'll be ducking tomatoes along with MsJosie, but I am kind of shocked at all the negative - and so few - positive comments about M. Markle. Can she not do anything right?

<modsnipped>
I always feel sorry for a person who has not committed some awful crime and is being torn apart in the media and that seems to apply in both cases here.
Just MOO.

She has done some things "right".

She married up, way up, a prince.

She has causes that are important to her and with time she will likely increase her charitable work and awareness of causes.

She has jumped into her role quickly despite all the pressure and the media
She has set healthy boundaries with her father and her sister. It can't be easy for her and it is sad to watch what they are doing to her, especially her father. When her baby(ies) are born, it will likely be heartbreaking for her not to be able to share that special moment with her father.

She moved to a new country and is experiencing a new culture without breaking down. Learning a new culture is not a fast process for anyone.

The problem with MM is her poor choices in clothing and her hair. I'm not kidding when I say she needs to hire a black hair stylist or a hairdresser that knows how to handle her type of hair. It truly looks terrible and in need of serious moisturizing.

 

[Laughing]

And, she is on display but not on "the red carpet."

Another outfit that represents "the firm" poorly. Took me a few pics to decide that the blouse is a surplice closure -- the placket we see is supposed to be off-center. The pencil skirt makes no sense.

Please skip comparing me to my sister-in-law. This dress is definitely more formal but suits the occasion and the pregnant wearer's body:

Please don't compare me to my MIL, either:

yes, one can be big-pregnant and dress appropriately.....

 

[SeekingJana]

And, she is on display but not on "the red carpet."

Another outfit that represents "the firm" poorly. Took me a few pics to decide that the blouse is a surplice closure -- the placket we see is supposed to be off-center. The pencil skirt makes no sense.

Please skip comparing me to my sister-in-law. This dress is definitely more formal but suits the occasion and the pregnant wearer's body:

View attachment 168148

Please don't compare me to my MIL, either:

yes, one can be big-pregnant and dress appropriately.....

I dressed like Diana and it was the standard for the times. No one wore tight binding clothing that exposed, well, lumps and bumps that show up in late pregnancy.

I read that the white blouse/shirt Meghan was wearing with the black Givenchy skirt is the same white blouse she wore to the Invictus games when she was dating Harry, the " Husband" blouse, it was called.
I can actually see that it's likely she could wear most of the shirt... not buttoned at the bottom of course.
However, I think both pieces are Givenchy. She goes for Givenchy, for sure.

 

[SeekingJana]

Plus aren't they ramping up to move house very soon? Even if you have help that's still stressful.

Whoa, that's a fast almost total rebuild. I wonder how many laborers were working at once, every day, maybe even around the clock ( j/k- sort of).

I remember when they found huge amounts of asbestos and lead paint in KP. A partial re-do, likely of Apt. 1-A, as it was after Wills married Kate, took almost a year. Maybe it's the care needed for KP due to its history? Or KP's ornate plaster and frescos, etc??

 

[SeekingJana]

I don’t think JM is jealous of MM she just has no taste and dresses the two of them terribly like Real Housewives of Wherever. MM needs a stylist who is not her friend and can give an honest opinion.

The Duchess needs to ditch the too tight clothing, the cheap fabrics and the dull boring beige etc colours. The outfits are not cheap in financial terms but they look it. I also think she should ditch the Givenchy and Victoria Beckham outfits I don’t think they do anything for her.

Someone who's her elder in the RF, maybe Princess Anne, might have a chatty tea with Meghan to describe how beautifully and elegantly Diana was dressed and arranged for every public moment in which she ever appeared , and how her clothing has graced museums and raised millions for charity when a few " not so famous" pieces have been auctioned. Also, many of the most special gowns have been bought in private sales. ( I believe her brother, Charles, Earl Spencer, sold some things he'd had on exhibit at Althorp to re-do the island on which she's reported buried).

I know it's said that Anne and Diana didn't get along, but I'm not sure that's canon, plus it isn't the point. The point is:
Either the Queen or a senior Royal, female needs to sit her down and say something like this:
Meghan, it's come to our attention that you admire Diana's style and her clothing and JEWELRY legacy. ( Emphasis on jewelry because those are the pieces Meghan has been given from Diana's estate and it's known that her own personal pieces which have been assigned a value are usually extremely pricey).
IF you want to be remembered as a GODDESS of style, IF you want to SET TRENDS which lovely ladies in Britain and the WORLD will emulate in the most sincere form of flattery, IF you want to be dressed and expertly photographed in a few of your very BEAUTIFUL and memorable evening gowns gracing the covers of the world's top magazines which reach millions of people, IF you'd like to donate significant sums to your charities,-gowns sold by you and because of the advice of your charity conscious child/ children when they are 7 years old or so like William and Harry thought up, IF you want your style to be showcased in the public areas of Buckingham Palace, then you need to retain the full time services of PRO STYLISTS such as Diana had at all times, even when she traveled abroad with Charles, and in ALL SCHEDULED PUBLIC EVENTS, as you are a representative of this monarchy, just as Diana was " the people's princess". Lastly, you need to CULTIVATE special relationships with BRITISH designers who can easily and cheerfully modify the fit or styling of pieces on the ADVICE OF YOUR STYLISTS, who commissioned many of the pieces.

From perfectly styled hair and makeup to shoes, Diana was styled, organized, polished, modest and glamorous in the style of her time. I've read that the date of wearings of her daywear and evening were were labeled on cards attached to the garments so there wouldn't be a dress or ensemble re-worn by mistake too soon or out of current style. Also, shoes were labeled for which gown or outfit they were chosen. The stories about Diana's clothing and her evolving style choices have always fascinated me.

 

[Alethea]

Delete, not worth it.

 

[Sherwood Park]

Delete, not worth it.

What's not worth it? You are free to stand up for MM. No tomatoes being thrown your way.

 

[SeekingJana]

I didn't know anything, really, about Kate and William before they were engaged. This article has an interesting comment by Kate showing her decorum and discretion even when she and William were split up for some time. I really respect Kate!

PLATELL'S PEOPLE: Oh Meghan, if only you had learnt from Kate | Daily Mail Online

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

What the Meghan Markle rumors say about Britain and the world

For weeks, the world has been regaled by whispers of a supposed cat fight between Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The details of this so-called feud were unceremoniously unveiled Tuesday in an hour-long, tell-all TLC documentary titled “Kate v. Meghan: Princesses at War?”

The entire program should be viewed with a pinch of salt. But that didn’t stop the airing of this royal “Celebrity Deathmatch” special, which was largely packaged as the English rose versus Windsor’s black sheep...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...n-world/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.05fde57a5937

 

[Betty P]

What the Meghan Markle rumors say about Britain and the world

For weeks, the world has been regaled by whispers of a supposed cat fight between Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The details of this so-called feud were unceremoniously unveiled Tuesday in an hour-long, tell-all TLC documentary titled “Kate v. Meghan: Princesses at War?”

The entire program should be viewed with a pinch of salt. But that didn’t stop the airing of this royal “Celebrity Deathmatch” special, which was largely packaged as the English rose versus Windsor’s black sheep...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...n-world/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.05fde57a5937

JMO, I don't think it's racism as much as it's a "culture clash", different values, different background, different ways of viewing one's public role and duty.

Hollywood /Celebrity vs BRF.
Hungry for publicity vs Managing one's public profile in a respectful way
Public service as a PR tool vs Public service as a long term tradition and responsibility
PR for raising one's profile for the sake of publicity & financial/ career gain vs PR for Managing a public profile according to long term tradition and service to the public

Reality tv, social media and other US media have created an unhealthy obsession with being a "celebrity" - famous just for being famous. Kardashians, Real Housewives, etc. Idolizing the idle rich, glorifying conspicuous consumption. A lot of the public doesn't like it, but tolerates it as long as they don't have to look at it or have it affect their lives. But some are growing concerned that celebrity "values" are creeping into government and other institutions where they have no place and can actually be detrimental to the public interest. So people are pushing back.

That said, when reading comments in social media, etc. some of the criticism appears obviously racist. Having that re-emerge in our society is very disturbing. It's worrisome. But to write it all off as racism is inaccurate and missing other big problems like growing emphasis on social and economic meritocracy and growing inequality.

I follow it because it's a sad reflection of our culture these days and yeah, minored in sociology in college. It's like watching a slow motion train wreck, though.

JMO

ETA: I also find disturbing the growing intrusion of public relations/ reputation management, etc. by public figures and institutions. Intentional or not, it tends to make some people focus too much on stuff that isn't important at the expense of real news or understanding real events and topics that are more relevant to daily life - science, government, economics, analytical discussion of relevant current events, medicine, social problems, even literature and the arts, etc.

 

[gregjrichards]

The Duke of Edinburgh has voluntarily given up his driving licence just weeks after he crashed his Land Rover which sent two women to hospital.

Buckingham Palace confirmed Prince Philip relinquished his licence on Saturday.

The 97-year-old apologised for his role in the accident after his vehicle hit another car before landing on its side.

Duke of Edinburgh has voluntarily surrendered his driving licence | Daily Mail Online

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

^ CNN featuring "breaking news" about Prince Philip relinquishing his driver's license on their crawl.