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Out of order
John Bercow, the former Speaker of Britain’s House of Commons whose declarative flourishes from the speaker’s chair as the Brexit debate raged made him an internet meme, has attacked the racism that he believes Meghan Markle suffered.
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“I want to say that I believe unequivocally that Meghan has been the victim of explicit and obnoxious racism. I am crystal clear about that. She has been subjected to racism, sexism and misogyny. Harry and Meghan have a right to opt for change, accepting some of the consequences and costs. They are entitled to put their marriage and health first,” Bercow told The Sunday Times.
He said that he believes that the duchess has been attacked because she is a “feminist” and has criticized Trump, which the “bigot factions” in this country don’t like.
Charles accused of environmental hypocrisy after helicopter ride
One might have thought that after the terrible headlines Meghan and Harry’s private jet habit generated this year—when juxtaposed with their environmental pleas and appeals in the issue of Vogue she had guest-edited—the royals would be keenly attuned to the necessity of not appearing eco-hypocrites.
Not so, it would appear, to judge by a front page story in the Sunday Mirror, in which eco-groups slammed Charles after he flew 125 miles by helicopter to give a climate change-related speech around aircraft emissions.
Charles was picked up in the chopper up at Highgrove, Gloucestershire, and flown to Cambridge, according to the Sunday Mirror, where the King-in-waiting lectured scientists: “We have run out of time now to rescue this poor old planet from man-made emissions and all the complications we’re now facing, all the challenges we’re facing.”
A few moments later he was back in the air and being ferried 53 miles to Sandringham to see the Queen.
The helicopter journey caused carbon emissions of around 2.5 tons, used hundreds of gallons of aviation fuel and cost at least £12,000, according to experts. Graham Smith, CEO of anti-royal campaign group Republic, told the Mirror: “He wants to play the role, but not walk the walk. His view seems to be that it’s one rule for him and one rule for the rest of us. Driving or using the train would have been pretty easy.”
In September it was revealed that Harry and Meghan had used private jets for six out of ten flights since marrying Meghan while urging the public to watch their carbon footprint.
The Queen is known to joke that the chopper changed her life more than Anne Boleyn's.
Meghan will not appear in wedding reality show
Two bits of Meghan and Harry non-news; palace sources have told The Daily Beast that claims made by Page Six that Meghan would make an appearance in a Netflix show about weddings are “categorically untrue,” and the couple’s reps have also moved to deny hinted claims by influencer agency Sheeraz Inc that they will be signing up with the online agency. Regrouping with their kid in the isolated, rugged beauty of Vancouver Island appears to be their only priority right now.
However, even this is coming with some bad press; a story in The Sun on Sunday claims royal protection officers are feeling like “skivvies” (underpaid and under-appreciated servants), running errands for the couple.
Harry loses rhino picture press complaint case
When Prince Harry posted a series of photos of him interacting up close with a rhino, an elephant and a lion to celebrate Earth Day, he didn’t reveal that the animals had been sedated and the shots were edited so you couldn’t see, for example, a rope around the elephant’s leg.
The Daily Mail pounced on this fact and published an article which highlighted the truth behind the images in an article headlined: “Drugged and tethered… what Harry didn’t tell you about those awe-inspiring wildlife pictures.”
Harry complained to the press regulator and a decision was published this week: Harry lost. The Ipso ruling said it was not clear from the images the animals had been tranquilized and tethered, and the photograph of the elephant could have been edited differently. Nor did Harry’s Instagram post make it clear the images had been previously published, unedited, in 2016.
The Ipso committee did not consider that it was “significantly misleading” to report Harry’s post “did not quite tell the full story.” The Mail had included in its article a denial on behalf of the duke that the tether on the elephant had been deliberately edited out, it said.
It bodes ill for the big upcoming trial with the Mail on Sunday over alleged infringement of Meghan’s copyright, at which Meghan’s dad Thomas has vowed to give evidence against his daughter.
“Delighted” Beatrice accepts Queen’s wedding reception offer
The Queen has shown how impervious she is to the public outrage over her favorite child Prince Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, and his continued lack of co-operation with the American authorities (which he denies).
After inviting Andrew to be alongside her at church after Harry and Meghan’s departure, comes the news the Queen has offered Andrew’s daughter (and her granddaughter) Beatrice Buckingham Palace as a wedding reception venue. The Daily Mail reports that Beatrice accepted the invitation.
“Bea was delighted and very grateful to accept,” a friend told the Mail. It was a really special gesture as it will be the first wedding celebration at Buckingham Palace since William and Catherine’s in 2011.”
Prince Charles may not be keen on the idea that Beatrice and sister Eugenie take on more frontline royal roles since Harry and Meghan’s dramatic exit, but the Queen’s love for her grand-daughters remains solid.
Beatrice is set to marry property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in London later (venue tbc) this year.
Meghan and Harry worry that Doria could become Thomas Markle’s “pawn”
Sun Online reports that Meghan and Harry don’t want Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland, to become Thomas Markle’s “pawn,” as he continues to give interviews to the media about how wronged he feels.
Markle recently revealed he had written to Doria to ask if she could help reconnect him with Meghan. But it’s unlikely Meghan and Harry would be into that, as long as Thomas could possibly testify against his daughter in any upcoming court proceeding flowing from her legal case against the Mail on Sunday.
A source told The Sun Online: “Thomas’ attempt to bring Doria into the whole thing is a desperate move. She is a completely innocent party in the whole thing. If Meghan decides to speak to her dad again it will be her own decision. They don’t want Doria dragged into any of this and to become a pawn for Thomas to use. Doria doesn’t do conflict.”
This week in royal history
George VI, the last King of England and father of the present Queen, died on February 6, 1952, which led to her ascending to the British throne. George himself had become King in 1936, following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII, who gave up the crown to marry divorcée Wallis Simpson.
Royal fashion watch
With the rest of the family on Canadian islands (Harry and Meghan), or in crisis talks (the Queen and Charles over Andrew and the feds), it was left to Kate Middleton to be out and about in the world—and smiling the most at a pre-school visit in London, going very smart-casual in a teal coat. All eyes later today will be on Kate and William, all dressed up for the BAFTAs.
Unanswered questions
Will Prince William, as reported on Friday, skewer BAFTA for the lack of diversity among the acting nominees when he makes a speech at the “British Oscars” later today, as the organization’s president?
How long will Prince Andrew hold out? The Feds say they have been trying to contact him to talk about Jeffrey Epstein. He says they haven’t. Whatever, when will Andrew talk to the authorities about his pedophile friend; and about Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claimed she was sex trafficked by Epstein to Prince Andrew?
