Culture

Was This Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s First Public Argument?

IN A GLANCE

Just what was behind Harry and Meghan’s interaction on the balcony of Buckingham Palace? Plus, Rose Hanbury’s marriage, and it’s time to celebrate Prince William’s 37th birthday.

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Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty

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Read Their Lips

Footage shared on Twitter appears to show a moment of marital discord between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at last week’s Trooping of the Color. Prince Harry can be seen looking backward into a room, before speaking to someone off-camera.

Meghan then turns around and says something to Prince Harry, before he, a forest of jumping eyebrows and bristling beard, seems to clap back.

Lip readers employed by The Sun claim Harry says: “No he hasn’t. Oh fine. Turn around.”

Just at this point the National Anthem begins playing, indicating that perhaps he is telling his wife to stand to attention before the music begins.

Realizing, perhaps that the Buck House balcony is no place for a barney, the two recompose themselves and continue smiling. Ah, parenthood.

Rose and the Ring

Rose Hanbury, Prince William’s next-door neighbor in Norfolk with whom his lawyers denied he was having an affair, was not wearing her wedding ring when she attended the state banquet for President Trump earlier this month, a revelation leading to speculation that her marriage to David Rocksavage, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, is on the rocks.

The couple fled to Sri Lanka after American media, using First Amendment rights, began to report on the speculation of an affair that the British press were prevented from doing so by that country’s different libel laws. However their holiday was tragically interrupted by the terror bombings there (thankfully, none of the family were hurt).  

A source tells The Daily Beast that the rumors of an affair started after William was observed to be going on frequent walks from his home on the Sandringham estate, during which he would sometimes meet up with his neighbor, doing the same, as their lands adjoin.

The Sun reports Rose’s brother has told friends: “It seems Rose’s marriage has less romance these days. He’s much older than her and they have different interests.

“Rose is up there in Norfolk in a nice stately pile. She’s a pretty girl and David is often a long way away in Paris or London.”

Nanny NDA

A sign of the times: Archie Harrison’s new nanny, in addition to being required to master defensive driving and the art of getting a baby to sleep through the night, is also being asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, according to royal writer Katie Nicholl. The controversial legal agreements have been much in the news lately, as British businessmen have been accused of using them to cover up sexual misconduct.

Royal Fashion Watch

On Wednesday night, Kate Middleton gave a speech at the Action on Addiction gala dinner in London; she is a patron of the charity. In her speech, admirers said she was “channeling” the spirit of Princess Diana. She certainly brought the glamour, and was—for her—relatively daring in a white knit off-the-shoulder dress by Barbara Casasola, and silver glitter Jimmy Choo heels.

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The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of Action on Addiction, attended the first annual gala dinner in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week. Before the dinner, The Duchess of Cambridge met former Action on Addiction clients Jay Otty and Melanie Bennett, who worked to prepare food for the gala dinner. Jay is a key member of the ‘front of house’ staff at @Brink_Liverpool – Action on Addiction’s ‘dry bar’ in the city. He has worked in the hospitality industry for seven years, having now been clean and sober for nine years. Melanie says that Action on Addiction’s Self-Help Addiction Recovery Programme, which taught her coping mechanisms and new behaviours, and started the grieving process for her father which she had been blocking for ten years, helped saved her life. Speaking at the dinner, The Duchess said: "What’s remarkable about Action on Addiction is that it goes beyond helping those who are suffering on the courageous journey into recovery – it also lends direct support to the children and families affected by addiction – for as long as it takes." Action on Addiction is the only UK addictions charity that works across all the areas of research, treatment, family support and professional education. The aim of Addiction Awareness Week is to provide a platform for focused conversations about the many different facets of addiction, to enable a wide range of organisations to engage with people and families who may be affected by addiction, and to raise public awareness of the far-reaching and negative effects of addiction. The ultimate aim is that as honest but inspirational stories are shared, those affected by addiction will then feel more able to take the necessary steps to access help, hope and freedom from their addiction. @ActionOnAddiction #AddictionAwarenessWeek

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This Week in Royal History

Prepare for the 37th birthday of Prince William. The future king celebrates his birthday on June 21. The last year has seen the surfacing of dark rumors around his fidelity, and difficulties in his relationship with his brother. If recent weeks are anything to go by, expect a higher-profile and more vocal William and Kate to emerge in the coming year, most likely in response to the visibility and popularity of Harry and Meghan.

Unanswered Questions

Who is the new social media czar tasked with making the last big push to get Harry and Meghan’s Instagram follower count up higher than their royal rivals? Meghan and Harry have gained 8.5 million followers on Instagram since launching in April, but they still trail William and Kate, who joined in 2015, by 700,000.

A royal source told the Mail Online: “Meghan and Harry have appointed a new member of staff to work on their social media accounts, starting in time for Meghan’s return from maternity leave.”