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Meghan Won't Be Lunching With Trump
When President and Melania Trump get to Britain at the beginning of June for a three-day state visit, not everyone will be lining up on the red carpet to welcome them—and whichever of Trump’s offspring and their partners are in attendance too.
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As reported a couple of days ago, Meghan Markle will not be attending a private royal family lunch to be held in Trump‘s honor. Harry will go solo, alongside the Queen. Meghan has yet to resume her official duties after the birth of Archie Harrison, but her no-show is no surprise and makes sense, both personally and diplomatically.
One recent welcome face in Windsor, as revealed by the Mail on Sunday, was Meghan's friend Serena Williams, who—en route to the French Open—popped in to see the duchess and baby Archie, accompanied by her husband Alexis Ohanian and their daughter Olympia.
At the time of the 2016 presidential election, Meghan said: “I’m voting for Hillary Clinton, not because she is a woman, but because Trump has made it easy to see that you don't really want that kind of world that he's painting.”
At a state banquet, Prince William and Kate will join the Queen, Prince Philip, Charles and Camilla in welcoming President Trump and his wife Melania.
Trump and family will be visiting the U.K. from June 3 to 5. On their final day, the Trumps will join the Queen and Prince Charles at a 75th anniversary celebration of the D-Day landings at Southsea Common, Portsmouth.
Trump is as loathed in the U.K. by his opponents as he is in the U.S., so expect loud demonstrations too. And maybe the return of that giant floating Trump baby blimp wearing a diaper.
William: Men, ‘It's OK to Talk About Mental Health’
Prince William has said he hopes “a turning point” has been reached when it comes to men talking about their mental health.
In the BBC documentary, A Royal Team Talk: Tackling Mental Health, featuring William and a group of well-known soccer players (Gareth Southgate, Peter Crouch, Thierry Henry, Danny Rose and Jermaine Jenas), William said: “I think guys in general find it very difficult to open up, find it difficult to talk about their feelings. Guys see feelings as weaknesses sometimes.”
He said that suicide was one of the “highest killers” of men under 45, an “appalling” statistic which should be “a turning point in passing on the message that it's OK for men talk about mental health.”
William was speaking as he launched a new initiative called Heads Up, combining his charity Heads Together and the Football Association. The idea is, in the run-up to the 2020 British FA Cup, to encourage male and female fans to safeguard their mental health, which William said was as important their physical health.
William said, as well as footballers, that he would like to see more company chiefs talk about their mental health.
Meghan and Harry Plan Africa Trip
The Daily Mail reports that Harry and Meghan are planning a trip to Africa later this year.
“People have been informed that the Duke and Duchess will be coming,” a source told the paper. "Early preparations have begun.”
Africa was rumored to be one of the countries that the couple might settle in for a longer period of time when the rumors about their alleged feud with Kate and William were at their zenith.
Meghan Almost Dated British Talent Show Star
More anti-Meghan dish in the British press, alleging Meghan Markle was set on her British social ascent early, even if that ascent wasn’t royal in focus. According to the Daily Mail, Meghan flirted with X Factor contestant Matt Cardle, although in real life a date never happened.
She also allegedly told TV presenter Lizzie Cundy, a friend at the time, she wanted a boyfriend from hit reality TV show Made In Chelsea, which focuses on the relentless circus of sex, flirtation, and confrontation indulged in by a group of posh, rich young people in London.
The article paints Meghan as a ruthless social climber, who ‘ghosts’ those who are no longer of use to her.
If true, Meghan is not alone in such ‘ghosting.’ According to The Sun, Harry has reportedly ghosted his onetime close friend Natalie Pinkham who, friends of hers say, hasn't heard from him since he married Meghan.
However, Pinkham supports their relationship. A source told The Sun, “Natalie feels Meghan is the sensible soulmate who will tame Harry’s wild side.”
Royal fashion watch
Kate Middleton rocked a floral cotton-silk midi dress designed by Erdem at the Chelsea Flower Show this week; which, as fashion watchers pointed out, was the same frock that the Duchess of Kent wore at Harry and Meghan's wedding last year, and has also been worn by Princess Eugenie. (Also, those accusing Kate of improper protocol by kissing the queen were apparently wrong.)
This week in royal history
On May 28, 1972, the Duke of Windsor died aged 77 at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. He was better known as former king Edward VIII, whose affair with American socialite and divorcée Wallis Simpson led to his abdication in December 1936. The couple married in 1937. He is buried at Frogmore, Windsor—where Harry, Meghan, and young Archie Harrison live today.
Unanswered questions
Which Trump children will accompany the president and Melania to the U.K., and when he gets there which British royals will be happy to be photographed with him? How vigorous will the anti-Trump protests be? And will the baby Trump blimp fly again?
