Royalty Thread #8.....A Pregnant Pause

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It is interesting how people see different things. To me, George is the spitting image of Michael Middleton, Charlotte is the Queen, and Louis looks a lot like Charlotte.
 
Japanfan said:
Does this joke have a punchline?
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The barman says to them, "You must be lost."

The Spencer says, "I beg your pardon?"

The Windsor says, "Why do you say that?"

And the Middleton says, "How could you possibly know?"

And the barman says, "This is the Red Lion, and you must be looking for the Duke of Cambridge."

:drumroll: :cymbals:
 
clairecloutier said:
Prince Louis is already turning 1. This tweet has a picture of him: https://twitter.com/SFGate/status/1120450975792279554
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That's such a cute pic of Prince Louis. Thanks for sharing. He has slightly dark blond hair, lighter than his sister's hair, but darker than Prince George's blond locks. Of course hair color and texture can always change over time. It's difficult to tell whether his eyes are gray or hazel. They don't look either blue or brown exactly. I actually expected that Louis might end up having a bit darker hair. Three photos were released, taken as usual, by Kate (the Duchess of Cambridge): https://www.msn.com/en-sg/money/news/new-photos-shared-of-prince-louis-as-he-turns-one/vi-BBWcBlL

I just saw the tweeted pic of Prince Louis in the blue outfit on a Brit news website I opened having been enticed by one of the endless stories about Meghan (the Duchess of Sussex) in the absence apparently of royal observers having anything else to write about. At least this story was an attempt to expose some of the bizarre anti-Meghan 'cultists' on the Internet who claim she's 'faking' her pregnancy! :drama:

The whole poorly leaked, half-assed stories in recent days claiming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are possibly moving to Africa after their baby's birth, have not been received well. The leaks were so ill-timed and questionably written about, making it seem as if somehow Prince William (the Duke of Cambridge) has a hand in wanting the Sussexes out of the limelight. :duh: None of it makes any sense, except for the fact there may well be a number of discussions taking place among the royals regarding future roles, duties, and ventures, particularly to aid in garnering goodwill abroad, with Britain facing the specter of Brexit. And also because the British royals are obviously going through a transitional phase of preparing for the inevitable passing of Her Majesty, QE-II.

But seriously, at this point, the Duchess of Sussex is days or perhaps even hours away from giving birth to her first child. Here's a cute, funny baby gif: https://twitter.com/KatherineEliza/status/1102369517420888064 :lol:

Frankly, the Sussexes have barely settled into their newly renovated digs at Windsor. I seriously doubt there are any immediate plans afoot for them to move out of England, even for a short period. The story has gone through so many changes and backtracking since it first appeared. Buckingham Palace commented on it generally, without denying or confirming anything.

At some point well into the future, perhaps within a couple of years, or maybe five years or so, after the Sussexes have a second child, they may consider spending some extended time in Africa, especially since Harry feels so much at home there. I doubt they will be moving there permanently, but they might spend a lot of time there at some point in the future. I wouldn't expect them to be planning to raise their children there, but who knows. It seems reasonable that they might also both spend extended vacation time in California at some point too. In the meantime, they will most likely be concentrating on their family life at Windsor, their current projects, future Commonwealth tours, and on supporting the Queen and Prince Charles. Would that the media and some royal reporters in particular would stop acting as if the Sussexes owe them anything! And the OTT fueling of rumors of royal family tensions is also lame.

The frenzied craziness about Meghan & Harry really needs to stop. So many people are interested in making money off M&H's current widespread notoriety/ popularity. It's definitely money at the heart of the royal reporters whining and complaining to news outlets, and threatening to 'mock' the Sussexes for not parading their newborn outside of a designated hospital. :rolleyes: BTW, a heads-up for those who think otherwise: the Sussexes have no need to seek attention, they crave privacy. It's unfortunately overwrought 'attention' that is seeking and hounding them.

Meanwhile, focusing on the positive:
https://twitter.com/duchessmegfan/status/1117076699311759360
 
mag said:
I will have to look for the article, but I did read that the palace has said that it will announce when Meghan goes into labour and when the baby is born. That is bit that I find bizarre and makes me think they don’t really want private, they want both private and public...
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There's lots of buzz, innuendo, and speculation, not to mention outright craziness, whining and bitching going on among royal reporters. Bottom line: Why would Meghan and Harry ever wish to parade their newborn in front of a crowd blocking streets and entryways into a public hospital? Especially amidst this frenzied atmosphere we have been seeing surrounding the Sussexes, not to mention the outright nasty slams, OTT critiques, unfounded claims and nonsense that's been written about Meghan? The fact that there have also been some positive stories and commentaries, is far outweighed by all the ridiculous nonsense. Some 'journalists' have even gone so far as to characterize the Sussexes' unborn child as 'a rebel.' :eek: :drama:

Actually, the whole crowd hanging outside the hospital scenario, in retrospect is a bit overdone. And it has nothing to do with any royal traditions whatsoever. It's just something that happened, initially after Princess Anne gave birth to her first child, Peter Phillips, in 1977. A crowd of photographers and onlookers had gathered outside the hospital on the day Anne was leaving with her baby cuddled in her arms. There are old photos available on the Internet that were snapped at the time. There was nothing official about the crowd having gathered. Anne was apparently the first British royal lady in modern times to give birth at a hospital. The Duchess of Gloucester by a few days, was the second:

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/22/article-2373635-008DCA2000000190-149_640x664.jpg

https://l7.alamy.com/zooms/6d1ac1c7...r-leaves-with-her-baby-the-duchess-e11tf9.jpg The Duchess of Gloucester outside St. Mary's Paddington (with a nurse) after the birth of her son and second child, Alexander Earl of Ulster

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/E11G7F/no...es-st-marys-with-her-baby-daughter-E11G7F.jpg The Duke & Duchess of Gloucester apparently heading home in a car after the birth of their first child, Lady Davina

Note that Peter Phillips (Anne's oldest child) and Lady Davina (the Gloucesters' oldest child) were born four days apart in November 1977. I am willing to bet that any onlookers who gathered outside the hospital in the late 1970s were nowhere near as large as the crowds which once again informally gathered when Diana PoW and Prince Charles left St. Mary's Lindo Wing after the birth of Prince William, in 1982. Diana was later reported to have said: “When I left the hospital, I could barely put one foot in front of the other. My stitches were killing me. It was such a strain to stand there and smile even just for a few minutes."
https://expressmirror.uk/princess-diana-spills-truth-behind-photo-op-after-prince-williams-birth/

Clearly, there is no tradition or protocol involved in any of this. It's just about situations that occurred once royal ladies began giving birth at hospitals rather than at the palaces. Add to that the enormous interest in Diana PoW giving birth to a new heir to the throne in the early 1980s. I have heard rumors that the Duchess of Cambridge had considered giving birth to Prince George at one of the palaces, however the consensus was for her to give birth at St. Mary's Lindo Wing, and she's done so for the birth of all three of her children.

Certainly, there has been enormous sentimentality surrounding the images of Diana leaving the Lindo Wing with William and later with Harry. So the images of Kate and William leaving the same hospital with their three children remind us of those earlier iconic pictures. That's another reason why it was anticipated Harry & Meghan would do the same. But times change, situations evolve, and different desires prevail. Plus, with the Sussexes being in the midst of planning a move to Windsor, that complicated everything. They had no way of knowing exactly when the baby would arrive, much less when they would be moving into Frogmore Cottage. So their specific plans were in flux for awhile. Once they were settled into their new home, that's when the announcement of their preferred plans was released.

I too have heard there's official indication that the Sussexes will provide a photo-call at Windsor Castle sometime after the birth of their newborn. Only one photographer, one news broadcast outlet and one print reporter will be allowed inside for the photo opportunity. Other photographers, broadcasters, and print reporters will be allowed to position themselves along the long walk to Windsor Castle. I think this is a much better and safer arrangement security-wise for everyone involved. One reporter, Roya Nikkah, of the Times, has claimed that sources tell her Meghan and Harry did not want to provide any photo opportunities for the media. They were simply going to eventually release an official photo to news outlets. But per Nikkah, the Susexxes were persuaded by a media liaison staffer to agree to the photo-call at Windsor Castle.

It's also been rumored, per Nikkah, that Meghan may wish to try giving birth at Frogmore Cottage, but back-up plans are also in place:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvBVFWpuHMw Nikkah seems a bit pissed off at the Sussexes' decision :drama:

More debates, reasonable and wildly unreasonable:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jougZHK8xcc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCM0L4kdCg
https://twitter.com/DeesaRoberts/status/1115579222532214785
 
centerstage01 said:
To me, George looks like a Spencer, Charlotte looks like a Windsor, and Louis looks like a Middleton.
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I think Prince George has the facial characteristics and thick hair of his Middleton Grandpa, with the dark brown eyes of his mother. Although George's fair skin and hair coloring are more Spencer, his knock-knees are all Windsor. :p
http://media.vanityfair.com/photos/...it/prince-george-charlotte-year-2016-ss13.png

The Cambridge lads can probably thank their Mom and their Middleton Grandpa that they are unlikely to lose their hair in their late 20s, early 30s. ;)

Here are recent photos of the Cambridges and Tindalls at a horse event:
https://www.newmyroyals.com/2019/04/the-cambridge-family-and-tindalls-got.html
http://dianalegacy.com/wp-content/u...rincess-Charlotte-Photo-C-GETTY-IMAGES-11.jpg
http://dianalegacy.com/wp-content/u...Princess-Charlotte-Photo-C-GETTY-IMAGES-6.jpg

Meanwhile an official state visit by Trumpster to the U.K. has been planned for early June. There will still be protests surrounding the planned visit:
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-trump-britain-idUKKCN1RZ14K
Early last year, in light of protests, a state visit by Trump was nixed in favor of a brief 'working visit' in July 2018. This time, it's more likely that with the Mueller Report having dropped, and no sign of a Trump impeachment taking place, the U.K. government is eager to push forward with maintaining normal, friendly relations with the U.S., especially with Brexit looming. Theresa May is said to be trying to broker a favorable trade deal with Trump: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-uk-state-visit-protests-maximum-disruption-1403419
 
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aftershocks said:
The rumors [of the Sussexes planning a move to Africa] are so ill-timed and questionably written about, making it seem as if somehow Prince William (the Duke of Cambridge) has a hand in wanting the Sussexes out of the limelight. :duh: None of it makes any sense, except for the fact there may well be a number of discussions taking place among the royals regarding future roles, duties, and ventures...
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Ah, thankfully, Omid Scobie, a reliable royal reporter who once interviewed Meghan before she'd ever met Prince Harry, has weighed in on the recent rampant rumors surrounding the Sussexes possibly planning a move to Africa (that I mentioned in an earlier post). I think Omid's account is a lot more convincing as it appears to come more directly from the Sussexes themselves:
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a27231716/meghan-markle-prince-harry-work-in-africa/

"... a source close to the Sussexes tells BAZAAR.com that while projects across several of the Commonwealth states—'will absolutely' play a large role in the couple’s work over the next few years, leaving the U.K. for more than a year is not the plan. 'These discussions, which the couple are driving, are very much embryonic,' says the source, who is familiar with a number of their future endeavors. 'Both the duke and duchess are keen to balance projects in Britain and overseas, particularly countries in Africa. There are many exciting possibilities … but moving away for years? That’s not an idea they are throwing around. We’re talking a few months away or a series of trips...'

In other words, there's really nothing extraordinarily new or even fully formed that has yet been decided. The article also addresses the ridiculous claims about Prince William wanting the Sussexes out of the way:

“'Not the case,' says a Kensington Palace source. 'Prince William has nothing to do with these plans. The Duke supports whatever the couple choose to do.' Adds the Sussex friend, 'Let’s be clear about one thing: Any decision the [Sussexes] make about their future will be made by themselves for themselves. Aside from the Queen and Prince Charles, they’re not looking to other family members ... for guidance. Harry and Meghan have always wanted to reach people on a global level and that is the only thing that’s motivating them.'

...'[The Sussexes] have just moved into a beautiful new home and are focused on family life,' says a close confidante of Meghan, who notes that the duchess's mother, Doria Ragland, has been a guest at Frogmore Cottage since Tuesday, April 16. 'They’re not thinking about anything else right now—especially what the press are saying.'"
 
Vagabond said:
Prince Harry v the Duchess of Cambridge: who is the better photographer?

The writer makes a compelling case.
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mag said:
Exactly my thoughts when I saw both sets of photos.
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Thanks for sharing. It's kind of interesting though that neither Kate nor Harry appear to be trying out for some kind of photography contest or award. ;) In any case, the Duchess of Cambridge is an excellent portrait photographer, and I suspect she took photography courses at college. I know she majored in art history at St. Andrews University and received a 2.1 (Upper Second Class) MA (Hons) in History of Art. Duchess Kate is also patron of England's National Portrait Gallery. So obviously, she has expertise and serious interest in portrait photography. She does an excellent job of documenting her children's milestones. ;) She loves being a mother too, so combining these passions help make her photos stand out. She knows what she's doing, and she surely enjoys and has fun with it too.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry did not go to regular college. He just scraped by graduating from Eton, because he admittedly never seriously applied himself there to his studies. Eventually, Harry undertook military training at Sandhurst Military Academy. Harry was well-suited to becoming a soldier. He was very much in his element as a youngster when he donned a military uniform and helmet, and happily climbed into an army tank:
https://s-i.huffpost.com/gen/951871/thumbs/o-PRINCE-HARRY-570.jpg?5
https://s-i.huffpost.com/gen/951870/thumbs/o-PRINCE-HARRY-NOW-AND-THEN-570.jpg?6

Being in the military was definitely Harry's calling. He gained discipline and maturity that would end up helping him figure out his life's purpose. Becoming a great photographer, I think it's safe to say, is not Harry's intention nor his life purpose. It appears to be more of a hobby and a practical pursuit, like that of most amateurs who pick up a camera, point and shoot, mostly for memorable keepsakes, and/or Instagram posts. :D

I doubt that Harry even knows who Sebastio Selgado is. But maybe he does know of Selgado since both Harry and William are interested in protecting endangered species. They both could have seen some of Selgado's wildlife photographs. Possibly with the rhino shot Harry may have been trying to experiment with some of Selgado's techniques, or maybe not. Like most amateur photographers, it seems to me that Harry is not seriously focused on technique, not in the dedicated way we have seen the Duchess of Cambridge approaching her craft. Although, it is entirely possible that Prince Harry has been inspired by Kate's love of photography. She may even have given him tips. We don't know anything about their relationship behind-the-scenes, but in public they've always seemed to enjoy an easy camaraderie.

The writer of the Guardian article, Jonathan Jones, writes about art for the publication, but I wonder if he's previously also written about the royals? In particular, I find Jones' ending paragraph rather presumptuous:
"Harry is play-acting at being a great photographer. The duchess takes family snapshots and shows they can be little works of art. You can buy travel, spectacle and beauty – or get them for free as a royal – but you can’t buy talent or love."

What makes Jones think that Harry is trying to 'buy' talent or love? :huh: His conclusion makes no sense in connection with Harry's seemingly practical hobby. Although, there was a recent article in The Telegraph claiming that photography has become 'a passion' of Harry's, we've never heard Harry speak of his photographs in such terms.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-f...s-photography-hobby-eight-instagram-pictures/
I don't really see the need for Jones' contrasting Harry's amateur photos with Kate's more skilled photographs of Prince Louis. The genres are different too. Jones would have been better off simply writing about Kate's work and contrasting the photographs of Prince Louis with Kate's past photographs of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

I'm actually a bit suspicious of Jones' intent due to the recent NYTimes article linked earlier by @clairecloutier, in which paps and royal reporters threatened the Sussexes to 'expect mockery.' :rolleyes: OTOH, Jones could just be randomly writing about this topic of royals and photography, possibly in reaction to the recent article in The Telegraph. Still once again, the problem is, Harry has never claimed to be passionate about photography, much less claimed that he's trying to surpass Selgado or become the next Lord Snowden! In fact, there's already a next Lord Snowden (David Armstrong-Jones, formerly known as Viscount Linley), except that David's specialty is skilled and exquisite furniture-making.

If Harry and Kate ever read or hear about Jones' article, I can imagine them looking at each other and having a good laugh, with Kate teasing, "You're a bad photographer Harry! Brush up on your technique. And stop trying to compete with me!" :rofl:
 
@aftershocks, why should the author not compare Kate and Harry’s photographs? I think it is an interesting way to look at them. For the record, I am fairly sure Kate did not take photography at university, but even if she did, that doesn’t diminish the quality of her photos. If Harry is going to publish his photographs for the world to see, he should expect people to look and voice their opinions.

I would suggest that you appear to me to be over zealous in your defense when anyone dares to suggest that either Harry or Meghan are anything less than perfect, but I won’t, because that sort of suggestion always seems to illicit a paragraph to two in response about how I have totally misunderstood you, are reading way too much into your post etc, etc.

What I will say is that if Harry enjoys taking photographs, he should continue to do so. Maybe he will take some of his new baby? Or if he prefers to stick to wildlife, that works too. I assume the point in posting the photos was to get people talking and thinking. He has done that so he has succeeded.
 
mag said:
I am fairly sure Kate did not take photography at university, but even if she did, that doesn’t diminish the quality of her photos.
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Really? Do you have copies of her transcripts?

Why are you even suggesting that taking courses in photography in college should somehow 'diminish' the quality of Kate's photographs? :duh: Where are you getting that idea from? To the contrary, if Kate took courses in photography and/or in the history of photography at St. Andrews, which IMO is a strong possibility, it's more likely that her understanding of the subject and her knowledge of photographic techniques would be enhanced, not diminished.

FYI, St. Andrews University has an extensive photography program, which includes the history of photography. And courses in photography are included under the university's History of Art curriculum. I would not say I'm 'fairly sure' what courses Kate did or did not take in college. But I suspect there's a strong possibility she took some courses in photography while attending St. Andrews.

mag said:
I would suggest that you appear to me to be over zealous in your defense when anyone dares to suggest that either Harry or Meghan are anything less than perfect,
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Harry & Meghan are far from 'perfect,' and I suspect they are both fully aware that they are human and imperfect. I would suggest that you appear to me to be over zealous too, in a different direction @mag. But yeah, the world is full of opposing views and limited perceptions. I always try to check my own perceptions, motivations and intentions, as well as to expand my understanding, and pursue a lot of background research and reading before forming my opinions. But alas, neither am I perfect. Are you?

mag said:
I assume the point in posting the photos was to get people talking and thinking.
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I try not to make assumptions. I'm taking Harry at his word. The Instagram post in which Harry's photos were shared expressly states: "Today is earthday - an opportunity to learn about, celebrate and continue to safeguard our planet, our home... The Duke of Sussex shares his environmental POV, including: Africa's Unicorn, the rhino. These magnificent animals have survived ice ages and ... have adapted to earth's changing climate continually for over 30 million years. Yet here we are in 2019 where their biggest threat is us..."

So, rather than 'getting people talking and thinking' about the quality or lack thereof of his photos, Harry is clearly interested in informing and advocating for people to not only talk and think, but to act on behalf of supporting the preservation of endangered species, and safeguarding our planet, especially regarding environmental concerns.

It's rather OTT all of the excessive nonsense being written about the Sussexes, including in some aspects the 'opinion piece' you linked earlier by the likely well-meaning professor of sociology, Kehinde Andrews. His historical points are apt, but using the Sussexes and the current British monarchy as punching bags to frame his argument is off-base on many levels. First off, Andrews needs to do his homework before running and gunning with the untrue rumor supposedly 'leaked' to royal reporters about H&M planning to move to Africa. That's been thoroughly debunked. But assuming and not actually researching and reading for comprehension and clarity is so rampant these days.

I am interested in checking out the professor's book cited in his bio, to learn more about who he is, where he's coming from, and what he's actually done in his life to correct the ills of history, aside from lecturing in classrooms and writing books and opinion pieces. If Andrews is interested in writing about British colonialism, he should look back at the reign of Queen Victoria, instead of rambling on inaccurately about the monarchy under QE-II and the activities her grandchildren are undertaking.

The current young royals, including the Sussexes, certainly enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. Yet, please note that the British royals are independently wealthy and could stand down tomorrow if the British people wish to do away with the institution of monarchy, which btw brings millions of dollars to the British economy annually. Meghan is independently wealthy and she's earned everything she's diligently worked so hard for in her life. As well, she learned how to give back to others from a young age via the example of her mother and her maternal grandmother, two strong African-American matriarchs.

I unabashedly admire Meghan and Harry for getting out there to lead by example, and for raising money to actually help those in need, and for promoting the efforts of people working in communities throughout Britain and the Commonwealth. By simply being themselves and falling in love, the Sussexes have triggered a lot of detractors and oddball haters, but I think those who bear them goodwill throughout the world far outweigh those engaging in incessant carping, whining, criticizing, envious ogling, and endless negativity.

The Sussexes' dedicated fans on Twitter who hail from countries around the world have donated thousands of dollars to a number of charities the Sussexes are involved with. To bring things into perspective, CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education) has noted that the donations they received as part of the #GlobalSussexBabyShower campaign will thus far enable their organization to send 100 young girls in African countries to school, which will make an important and lasting impact, not only for these young females, but also for their families and communities. And that's a status report by only one of the many charities that have been receiving steady donations, as part of the campaign started by Sussex fans to foster positive action instead of wallowing in negativity.
 
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After the pics of Kate and Harry at today's ANZAC service at Westminster Abbey, I'd say those two have absolutely no beef with each other at all. Which means Kate and Meghan are both getting along just fine as Harry wouldn't be as comfortable around Kate if she were being as horrible to Meghan as the press seems to think they are. So whatever's going on is between Harry and William. It wouldn't surprise me if the entire family locked them in a room together and threatened not to let them out until they'd either hashed out whatever issue is causing them to butt heads or they'd perished from lack of food and water.
 
centerstage01 said:
After the pics of Kate and Harry at today's ANZAC service at Westminster Abbey, I'd say those two have absolutely no beef with each other at all. Which means Kate and Meghan are both getting along just fine as Harry wouldn't be as comfortable around Kate if she were being as horrible to Meghan as the press seems to think they are. So whatever's going on is between Harry and William. It wouldn't surprise me if the entire family locked them in a room together and threatened not to let them out until they'd either hashed out whatever issue is causing them to butt heads or they'd perished from lack of food and water.
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Oh not a good conclusion. Kate is always a lady
And she and Harry have been good friends.
I don't think this thing with Meghan is going to end well
 
I think there are three things happening. One, people seemed to think that the four would be joined at the hip and best buddy buddies - like something out of a hallmark movie. Of course that is not how real life works. The two couples are at totally different stages of life and have completely different futures. How much do we hear about Prince Andrew these days? What about Princess Margaret’s children? Next to nothing yet both Andrew and Margaret were very news worthy when they were Harry’s age. It is completely natural that they will lead separate lives while still being family and supporting each other.

Second, again, like in the movies people seemed to assume Kate and Meghan would be besties. Like Diana and Sarah were for a short time. But see above. Kate and Meghan are different people with different lives, different upbringings, different futures, and have already established different friend groups. They are now family and will no doubt see each other especially when baby Sussex and Louis are old enough to play, but thinking that they are suddenly going to have a bunch in common is crazy IMHO.

Finally, the press is just looking for drama. That is not unique in any way to Kate and Meghan. It is the world we live in. The reality TV life, except for these four it is their real life and I imagine it gets tiresome.
 
MamaS said:
Perhaps Harry isn’t happy with the rumours that his brother has been cheating on Kate with Rose Hanbury.
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That's exactly what I've heard too. And I've also heard that the rumors of an affair are true. Hanbury and her husband are established members of the aristocracy and this kind of 'affair' thing is common among British royalty/ nobility, especially in ages gone by. One would think that William would not stray, but there's every indication that he's tended to take Kate for granted at times. As gossiped on celebitchy.com, the Hanbury affair began when Kate became pregnant with their third child and she was advised to take bed rest due to her well known sickness during the early stages of her pregnancies. At the same time, Prince Harry was famously courting Meghan Markle and their relationship was receiving a lot of attention, even though they were keeping it very private on purpose, while Meghan was fulfilling the final year of her Suits contract.

Robert Jobson reported in his recent biography of Prince Charles that, "William is a little grand... and he does not like to be overshadowed..." https://www.laineygossip.com/prince...-jobsons-biography-about-prince-charles/51188

Cheat Sheet weighed in with their takes on the Hanbury affair, reporting first that it was a false rumor, and then conceding that it was possibly true:
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertai...ffair-kate-middleton-best-friend-rumors.html/
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/prince-william-affair-timeline.html/

The reports of an affair are suspected to have been leaked by Hanbury or by one of her friends after she found out Kate had requested William to 'phase' herself and her husband out of the Cambridge's social circle, which is impossible to accomplish because of Hanbury's and her husband's historically established social standing as aristocrats. When the reports of a possible affair and the falling out between Kate and Hanbury were published, William made the mistake on the advice of his royal courtiers, of threatening legal action against certain publications, instead of making a simple denial and keeping his head down.

Since it was known in some media quarters that KP had been the source of the leaks to the media which fueled negative stories about Meghan and false stories of feuding between Meghan and Kate, the threatening of legal action by William was not received kindly. And that's said to be a reason why the confusing and unpleasant story appeared in The Times (a mainstream publication) regarding arrangements being discussed for the Sussexes to be banished to Africa due to William feeling overshadowed by their popularity. It is true that William felt overshadowed and he had consented to the damaging leaks intended to knock Meghan down, but it's not true that the Sussexes were ever planning to make a permanent move to the African continent.

In regard to Meghan and Kate having a falling out, reportedly they both experienced tensions in the lead-up to the royal wedding last May, but they later patched up their disagreement. Kate attributed her short temper to mild postpartum depression, and she reportedly apologized to Meghan, who was obviously dealing with pre-wedding jitters and the uncertainty surrounding her father's attendance at her wedding.

By last fall, Kate and Meghan were not at odds with each other, but the brothers were, and a big part of the reason is because Harry found out about William's affair with Hanbury, and he eventually realized that William was playing a role in the leaks to the media that had created the negative stories against Meghan. This is why Harry never spoke out against the stories; he felt stymied by the situation. Eventually, Meghan and Harry made the decision to expose the KP staffer who was doing the leaking, so that they could leverage a separation from the KP household. They already had plans underway to move to Windsor since before their wedding, but they were initially supposed to continue sharing KP communications staff with the Cambridges.

In today's social media age, a lot of these leaks and insider reports are being gossiped about on Twitter and other Internet celebrity sites. Therefore, it's not as easy for royal courtiers and reporters to get away with framing the narratives in a way that would allow them to maintain control. Quite often royal followers are able to wade through the morass, and put two-and-two together. In addition, it's not unusual for courtiers to pit different royals against each other, which adds to family friction, where before none may have existed. More significantly, plans are underway to transition the monarchy as everyone sadly but necessarily prepares for the eventual passing of Queen Elizabeth.

In the meantime, power struggles are breaking out among royal staff in the different palaces. The Queen's private secretary was already forced out by members of Charles' staff a couple of years ago. In the long run, however, the royal family will circle the wagons and much of this fractured mess will be swept under the rug, patched up and forgiven. They are a family after all. And the public will believe what they are told by the mainstream media. Many of the reporters work on behalf of certain royals and will put a positive or negative spin on stories, as directed. The problem is that working in concert with the media can backfire.

Prince William has actually been protected for years by certain reporters, as well as by courtiers and other staff who tend not to contradict him. Sadly, as a result, he has grown into a petulant, self-important person, which is something Diana had always wished to guard against. William's problems are not irredeemable, of course. It helps to remember that William lost his mother at age 14, and so her guiding hand wasn't there anymore during a crucial period of his development. As the heir to the throne, William only had people trying to protect and indulge him, while covering up his youthful mistakes and letting the younger Harry take the rap for both of their escapades.

Harry's personality and his struggles with grievous loss manifested differently, as we know. Harry acted out more, with his heart on his sleeve. Eventually, with William's encouragement, Harry sought counseling and redeemed himself. He also matured in the military, and he came into his own with the creation of Sentebale, and the Invictus Games. Finally, Harry had the good fortune to meet and marry the love of his life. It looks like William should have sought counseling too. Kate has always been there for William and they will surely make it through this family crisis. Even though they are smiling through it publicly, there's a lot going on behind-the-scenes.

News came down today that the Sussexes will be going on tour (not moving) in the fall to a number of countries in Africa, and they will be taking baby Sussex with them:
https://twitter.com/royanikkhah/status/1122278153228103687?s=21
 
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