Saturday 6 May 2017

Meghan Makes Her Polo Debut as She Cheers on Her Prince!

We have been eagerly awaiting Harry and Meghan's public debut in the UK, so as you can imagine it was delightful to see Meghan cheering on her prince at the polo this evening. Prince Harry travelled to Canada to spend Easter with his girlfriend, and now Meghan is in England making a very public show of support!


This will have been something which was carefully considered; polo appearances have been a staple when it comes to seeing royal couples together pre-engagement - photos of the Duchess of Cambridge at William's polo matches provided some of the best photos we saw before 2010. Prince Harry's first serious love, Chelsy Davy, was a regular on the polo scene during their relationship. Meghan looked proud as she clapped and cheered, and she chatted to other spectators.


The expression on Meghan's face in this photo perfectly sums up her excitement :)


The Telegraph reports:

'If ever proof was needed that Miss Markle is here to stay, then her decision to attend the polo, a sport so dear to the heart of Prince Harry, is it.
This was the first time that Prince Harry and Miss Markle have  been present at a public event together, the couple having previously been keen to avoid the cameras. Miss Markle’s appearance in the Royal box at Coworth Park, near Ascot in Berkshire, will inevitably spark further and excited speculation that the couple will one day wed - and possibly soon.'

Prince Harry participated in the Audi Polo Challenge at Coworth Polo Park in Ascot, Berkshire. 


Proceeds from the match go to two charities very close to his heart, Sentebale and WellChild. Of course, Harry's work with the latter organisation has garnered quite a few headlines this week. At the WellChild awards last October, Harry met a very special little boy, Ollie Carroll, who received the Inspirational Child Award. Harry was reunited with Ollie at Great Ormond Street Hospital where he spent an hour "making memories" with the terminally ill boy who suffers from Batten disease, which has led to him lose the ability to speak and walk. Ollie's mother Lucy described the private visit as"truly magical" and said a "bond was made". Polo matches William and Harry have participated in over the past decade have seen £10 million donated to organisations.


The couple are set to attend Pippa Middleton and James Matthew's wedding in Bucklebury on 20 May. It has been widely speculated Meghan will not be present at the ceremony - instead attending the reception. One royal watcher told the Telegraph: "This polo trip might just take a bit of the heat out of Meghan’s appearance at Pippa’s wedding."


A smiling Prince Harry poses for a photo with actor Matt Smith, who is becoming best known for playing Prince Philip in The Crown.


Write Royalty on Twitter made a very interesting observation on the man standing next to Meghan, who is actually Mark Dyer, long described as one of the most influential figures in Harry's life and often dubbed "a second father". Captain Dyer, a former Welsh Guards officer, worked as an equerry for Prince Charles in the '90s. He regularly drove to Eton to take William out for lunch and advised Harry about Sandhurst. Mark founded the management company MDM Bars and Pubs in 2009 and runs two public houses, the Sand’s End and the Brown Cow, in south-west London, both frequented by Prince Harry. When Mark married Amanda Kline, a Texan heiress, in 2010, Harry was an usher. Penny Juror once said Mark made such an impact because "he brought a touch of normality and simplicity". Harry and Mark remain incredibly close to this day and I think it very telling indeed Harry wanted Mark by Meghan's side today.


Meghan, who is on a break from filming Suits, looked effortlessly chic in a crisp white blazer and a navy midi dress.


The navy Antonio Berardi Double Breasted Sleeveless Dress (with thanks to the talented Laura). The $2965 dress features distinctive button detailing, high-low detail, a roundneck, faux flap pockets and back zip closure. It's available in limited sizing at Saks Fifth Avenue reduced to $1617.

Saks

Net-A-Porter stocks the dress in pink and describes it as "Antonio Berardi's Spring '17 collection is awash with saccharine shades. Tailored from fuchsia stretch-cady, this dress is peppered with masculine touches - the double-breasted front is a nod to classic suiting. It falls to an asymmetric hem that moves beautifully with each step".

Net-A-Porter

Meghan also wore the Aritzia Babaton Keith Jacket (another brilliant ID by Meghan's Mirror). It is described as "This take on the tailored blazer does away with a standard collar and plays with architectural tailoring. The Japanese basketweave fabric is textural and fluid, emphasizing the weighted drape." It retails for $195.

Aritzia
Meghan carried a polka dot clutch.


Hopefully this is the first of many polo appearances for Meghan :)

A special thank you to the wonderful James Whatling for his work today. This will potentially be a very memorable day in time to come. 

60 comments:

  1. Yes! I totally called this on the Duchess Kate blog, speculating that Meghan would make an appearance this season at polo. So excited, she looked great, and Harry must be happy to have her at his side. Wonder if she will be in London for 2 weeks or if she'll be making a trip back and forth. Very happy for both of them. Charlotte, it is a good thing you started this blog because it looks like she is here to stay (as if there weren't many signs of that already :) ).

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    1. Well done Nina! And I completely agree, I think she's here to stay.

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  2. I like this dress a lot, even more so in the pink. Reminds me of the sundresses Kate used to wear to watch William play.

    Agree Nina. This looks like another step toward seriousness. I read a comment somewhere today (I forget where) saying that today's appearance will make it feel better if MM does attend the wedding. I tend to think so as well.

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    1. Funny Erika, I love it in the pics, when I saw it closer I wasn't sure if it was too busy, too much detail. But - this is something I talk about a lot ;) - I think you have to have someone with the fashion confidence and "stature" to pull off these more dramatic/intricate pieces. And as Charlotte said she does it just effortlessly. She wears the dress, it doesn't wear her!

      And *loved* the blazer draped over the shoulders too, divine!

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    2. I love that dress. I normally do not like double breasted anything, but this is the exception that proves the rule. She looks great in it too. The whole look is good. I even like that polka dot clutch. I wish I could see the shoes. (I really like the shoes on the model, actually!) This is so good, it's making me wonder if she has a stylist!

      This may surprise anyone who reads my comments over at DKB, but I'm starting to feel this really strange feeling. The last time I remember feeling it was when William and Kate were engaged and got married . . . . . it's this googly OMG SHE'S GOING TO BE A PRINCESS!! . . thing. Gulp. Almost like a . . . fan!!!!

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    3. bluhare.There was an article. lol A lady named Mulroney (that's her last name) is her stylist and she is married to the son of a former prime minister of Canada. She is also the stylist for Trudeau's wife.
      She is an heiress from the Brown shoe Company.
      Not only is she her stylist, apparently she is also one of Meghan's best friends.
      You are so funny, bluhare fan of Meghan. :)

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    4. Ha surfer girl! I prefer tentative or future fan I think. Its just a little inkling right now.

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    5. Agree Claudia. I do think the busy-ness of the dress is more understated in the black but she styled it really well. I think the key to wearing it is to dress simply with clean lines and not clutter it up with bold acessories.

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    6. I must say though that that "tentative" is pretty bold-faced (literally). :)

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    7. Bluhare

      You are so sweet:))) and hope you are right!!

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    8. Erika you're exactly right. It's how the dress is styled (again, so important!) that makes it such a smash as well.

      My husband just yelled in, "What, are you writing a book?" :) I said, "Would you like to chat about Meghan Markle?" Response, "Who?"

      :)

      I'm so glad I found Charlotte's blogs, I'm starved for royal chat living with him!

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    9. Sounds like my house, Claudia ☺

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    10. Zora from Prague9 May 2017 at 20:47

      Claudia, :) !!! What an irresistible offer ("would you like to chat about Meghan Markle")! Your husband response is perfect, as well as the whole dialogue. I'm still laughing.

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  3. Zora from Prague6 May 2017 at 21:33

    What a surprise to find this new post, thank you, Charlotte! It really looks like things are getting pretty serious between Harry and Meghan. This is a big step forward. Both look so relaxed and Meghan is very elegant.

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  4. Wow! I was not expecting this Charlotte! I have to chuckle a bit at how excited I am to see her :) And doesn't she look chic, so much for all the snobs who said she wouldn't fit in at these upper crust exclusive clubs ;)

    I absolutely agree I think this was deliberately done to lessen the impact of an appearance at Pippa's wedding, but let's be serious, Prince Harry showing up with any serious girlfriend is going to steal the show! What little is left after George and Charlotte :)

    But Harry with a possible future bride is much more a current, fluid *news* story as well. Pippa Middleton is, well, just Pippa Middleton. Not saying that in any catty sense, not at all, but a member of the royal family is usually going to grab the spotlight at any event. Especially if that member may be on the verge of marriage, puts a little more meat on the bone! How many times have we seen a royal photographed at a wedding, yet very few could remember or name whose wedding it was :)

    Well I wondered aloud a few months back if she might be at the Party at the Palace, since it's a more informal event and seems like that event would fit her like a glove. I still like the idea but I know the royal correspondents have been told no official engagements until there's a ring. We shall see! Betting more than ever on a summer announcement... where's Paddy Power when I need them ;)

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    1. I hate to admit it, Claudia, but I got excited too. Perhaps I would not have given it much notice if I hadn't liked the dress so much though. She does look elegant here and fit right in at least visually anyway.

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    2. Good point Erika, that could be it :) She is a very elegant image standing there, and the glasses are also a perfect detail.

      Something tells me it will take a lot to rattle this woman though...

      And what a nice chance to chat this evening, thank you Charlotte!

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    3. Claudia, from what I've read so far about Meghan, she is already used to having friends in "high" places and has more than a few mutual friends from Harry's stratosphere already. And, she and Prime Minister Trudeau's wife have been friends for a while and she has been acquainted with Hillary Clinton since she was 11. She has spoken more than once at the United Nations (Hillary was there when she gave her videoed speech). But I know what you were saying, :). That won't stop some people at Polo games, etc. from perhaps being snobbish. But my guess is she'll win them over sooner than later, easily. She's made it in Hollywood, after all, lol. And has already won Harry's heart. English aristocracy? Piece of cake.

      I truly think there is a good possibility that Harry already has the okay to propose to Meghan when the time is right as someone has said here already. I don't think William would have commented on his comment on Harry's comment on Meghan if Harry wasn't contemplating marriage. :)

      Meghan looked like she was "over the moon happy" to be there. Harry probably felt the same.

      They said William was there watching the polo match. It would have been awesome if he had come over to watch it with Meghan. (Or maybe Harry preferred her undivided attention. :) )
      Wouldn't that have been awesome though? I think he should have at least stopped by with a quick "Hi" to give her that recognition.

      As it was, Captain Mark Dyer came up to talk to her. He's the guy who acted as a support to Harry after his mother passed away.

      Love the dress. Not always fond of a handkerchief hem, but so far she seems to do them the right way. Love the Ivy League look of her outfit. Perfect for polo. Hope she got it when it was on sale. :)

      I was so happy, giddy almost, to see that she was there today. Btw, who is the girl standing beside her? Does anyone know? And who is the man next to her wearing the scarf? I was kind of surprised there wasn't one of Harry's PPO's near her.

      What "Party at the Palace"?

      Thanks Charlotte for the quick update. :)

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    4. Oh I know that surfer girl, I was being a bit tongue in cheek. All the ridiculous suggestions (when she was first identified last year) that this girl who has held her own in so many circumstances, would somehow not fit in with Harry's set. Silliness. If anything she'll be bored by them I suspect!

      I saw Dyer too and wondered if maybe he's one of the people Harry chose to "mentor" her? And I have to say it makes me think the relationship is already more serious than has been announced? Wouldn't be that odd, the announcement will only increase the attention on her which will be impossible to manage till she has better (and closer) access to palace protection.

      Party at the Palace is the upcoming childrens party at BP, hosted by William, Kate and Harry. Now I must sign off for the night, but thanks for chatting! Lovely to dip in when everyone's "live" :)

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    5. She is friends with Brian Mulroney's son's wife, not Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.

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    6. Florida Moxie7 May 2017 at 03:45

      Still think nothing can be "announced" until she's finished filming Suits - otherwise her workplace/set will become a security and paparazzi nightmare.

      I agree with Claudia, she will not care about fitting in with the aristos - she's got an interesting social set already, and should they get married -- will most likely work on kids right away.

      Let me just end with, that is a FINE looking Ginger Man rocking that polo outfit.

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    7. And Charlotte doesn't even have the best picture. No wonder Meghan looks so happy!

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    8. I have to agree with you Moxie. (don't faint, :)
      Harry is very handsome and dashing playing polo.

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    9. Sara, I hear you. I did read though that Meghan and Sophie have become friends through their mutual friend Ms. Mulroney. Meghan has become friends with both Sophie and her husband while
      living in Toronto if the media is correct. :)

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    10. Moxie

      Pick a number that Ginger Man is very popular:)))

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    11. Oh Moxie that gave a good laugh here!

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    12. Also I just read in the Telegraph (yesterday's article actually that I just got to) that Dyer is married to an American. Is that right, I didn't know that. And she is the woman next to Meghan. So that must be quite an asset as well, someone who can walk her through it from an American's point of view.

      Lord Charlotte I'm getting nothing done right now! But I was busy with family and missed the Kate days so this takes me back to Lady Di spottings and Coleherne Court stake outs ;) It's quite fun really!

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    13. What an advantage to have another American around and about. Things just keep getting better and better for Meghan and Harry. yay. :)

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  5. Yes... Most definitely.. Thank You Charlotte... I truelly couldnt think of anyone better to keep us in the loop!

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  6. Wow, such smart picks by Meghan, the dress designer is London-based but with European heritage with parents from Sicily who settled here. Such s great dress, best take I've seen on hi-low skirt and the bodice details are genius - love the cut-out sleeve shapes.

    The blazer is to die for, such a good label from Toronto. I had a brown linen-look Miss Selfridge edge-to-edge like that years ago and kept on wearing it till it fell to bits. So versatile and comfortable. Thanks for a great post, delightef to see the new blog taking off so well so soon!

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  7. Can't get excited about a polo appearance. Remember Harry took Chelsea to his cousin's wedding where HM was present. We all saw where that relationship went. I hope these two are able to build a solid relationship without the outside wedding/engagement pressure.

    Not a fan of the dress or jackets draped over the shoulder like that.

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    1. Funny isn't it Court, these things seem much more significant to many of us this go around. I remember when her name was first revealed a lot of people got excited VERY quickly, and some royal watchers commented "Why is this such a big story?"

      I personally think it's because reading her bio made many people think - wow, she's perfect for Harry! Speaking of the wonderful James Whatling, I remember him tweeting at one point, "Can we just propose to her as a nation?" :)

      I don't want to start a comparison war in the comments, which I do find very unseemly, but I do think it's fair to say many people thought W&K would come out of the gate a bit faster than they did, and there's a bit of a hole in the BRF currently that many people think Harry and Meghan could fill perfectly.

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    2. What a cute comment by James Whatling. That must have made Meghan feel very special.

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  8. Just have to add that one paper is running a ridiculous side by side on the front page, Meghan at polo and the daft Charles III play with the Hewitt suggestion.

    My take on William and Harry has always been, William looks like his mother but acts like his father (his father's worst traits) and Harry looks like his father but acts like his mother (his mother's best traits).

    I never understood the Hewitt thing. Harry is the spit of Charles, plain as day. Look at Harry and Charles side by side if you doubt me ;) Cover both their foreheads and chins, the eyes, nose and mouth are positively identical.

    Just terrible that Harry was ever put in such an awful position.

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    1. I agree, Claudia. Especially as Harry ages, he looks more and more like his dad, and he isn't Hewitt.

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    2. bluhare I noticed a comment by Emily Andrews, Lord I should go check so I get it right, but she said basically that it's not just his looks, that in person she thinks it's uncanny how much he sounds and acts like his father too. Quite sweet :)

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    3. I agree. He has lots of Windsor genes.

      I wanted to add that I love the Harry photo. Very touching!

      And also I love Meghan's outfit, from head to toe, although I am not sure we know what kind of shoes she wore, yet:)

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  9. I was more excited than I thought I would be to see Meghan at a match! Things just feel serious with them. I don't know how to explain it (and, of course, I could be wrong), but they just seem to compliment each other very well. I have to admit, the photos I saw of them at the wedding where Harry looked completely disinterested put me off, but lately Meghan has really grown on me. Also, she looks absolutely and effortlessly chic here. And I'm not usually a fan of high-low dresses! This fits her impeccably and looks so smart. I'm excited to see what happens in the future.

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  10. Sarah from US7 May 2017 at 01:42

    There is always the possibility that they are already engaged (secretly). William proposed to Kate a month before it was announced. And while I know that part of the delay in that announcement was out of concern and respect following the death of her grandfather, I still don't believe that William and Kate would have made the announcement immediately anyway. I think they wanted some time to enjoy the knowledge of their engagement between themselves and with immediate family first. And Harry and Meghan would/will likely do the same - take some time before publicly announcing. There's nothing wrong with that. They need to take things at their own pace.

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  11. Hey Charlotte, are you going to have a subscribe button like you do on DKB? If I hadn't been on twitter I wouldn't have known you had a new post.

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    1. That is an excellent idea Bluhare, I will add it later this evening. I want to get quite a bit of 'blog housekeeping' done on the site over the next week such as subscribing, social media buttons and pages to categorise posts.

      Thank you all for your comments, it was great to see Meghan there :)

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    2. The 'Follow by Email' option is up on the very top of the sidebar. For anyone interested in subscribing, simply enter your email address, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your interest. Many thanks :)

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    3. Thank you! Will go subscribe right now.

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    4. Charlotte good time to get the housekeeping done I think ;)

      I was also going to ask bluhare what the subscribe option is, it's increasingly clear to me there's a lot I don't know about blogs! So what happens when I follow by email if anyone can fill me in please!

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    5. Hi Claudia, Charlotte has the subscription option at the top of the page now. If you plug in your email, and tell the registration thingy you aren't a robot, you'll get emailed whenever Charlotte puts a new post up.

      If you use a Google account, a "notify me" box pops up in the comment box. If you check that, comments appear in your email as well so you know when Charlotte updates the blog.

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    6. Thank you! I wondered why people would say they can follow in email...
      I'm on it!

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  12. hmm I love Meghan I hope will see her more polo sightings in the future thank you charlotte

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  13. There's been a few interesting articles this past week about the KP media strategy, stories that pertain to William and Harry.

    Today one from the very well sourced Roya Nikkah in the Sunday Times: Queen tells Princes to stop the soul baring - going on to say that though the Queen is proud of her grandsons' efforts she's eager for them to start adopting more traditional and official royal duties.

    This is really intriguing to me, and I'm afraid many people will feel it's a slight on them for the Heads Together interviews. The Queen could be a bit frustrated that all the "Diana troubles" are coming out again, but I think it's probably more nuanced than that.

    I think she probably feels they're operating in an extreme fashion and she doesn't care for that. I think she'd like to see a better balance in their schedule. I have thought that myself, their calendar has been packed with too much mental health and not enough variety, even the silly or frivolous stuff that's a good break in a royal calendar. Not to mention I don't think she cares for the "feast or famine" scheduling approach they take.

    Just taking a moment to say of course I know exactly what the Queen is thinking ;)

    But the fact that a high enough BP source is giving that info to the Times is quite astounding, and flies a bit in the face of the KP line (especially with William) that they always have the full support of the Queen. I think with Philip's decision she is giving one last set of orders, while she can.

    (The other article was Jane Martinson in The Guardian last week, interesting analysis on how KP shuns the traditional press, until they need them for something important)

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    1. I saw that this morning, too, Claudia and found it really interesting on a couple of fronts. First of all, that it was in The Times. The Times! Not exactly The Sun or The Daily Mail. And secondly that it followed up on an article about Christopher Geidt (which was in the Mail) on how the three offices need to unite (BP, CH and KP) and stick together to work as a team. I think something is up, and it's that Philip's retirement is causing HM to rally the troops and get them working together. And that the meeting was more about that than Philip's retirement.

      Very interesting stuff going on this week!

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    2. Isn't it bluhare? A strange mix of articles really, as if the different households are leaking their agendas and jockeying for position. You saw Tominey's piece I'm sure?

      I absolutely agree with you, there is something else afoot...

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    3. BP, CH and KP unified? That would be amazing.

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    4. It was interesting indeed, especially about the Queen not wanting them to bare their souls and focus more on royal work. I don't think she meant that literally, but more that they need to step up and do the bread and butter work as well as charitable initiatives. And it was interesting reading that Philip might be rolling his eyes as his mother had mental issues and was also deaf. She lived with them before she died. A chain smoking deaf nun who happened to be royal too. You can't make this stuff up!

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  14. I think Harry very much resembles Charles AND Meghan's former husband.

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  15. This my 6th attempt to post to this new blog. It's not easy on a phone at times. I just found the Meg blog early today and while making my attempts got caught up. This is great Charlotte...another winner. Thank you.

    Even though I have been reading alot on the new gal.in town I sure did miss a whole lot. And where have I been that I missed the red head Captain Mark Dyer in the boys life. Also found a very interesting article on Tiggy and him.

    This is such a good way to learn all things Meghan and so helpful to read all the very interesting comments.

    I have felt that Meghan would fit in quite easily due to her past experiences and now with further education on my part thanks to our new blog even more convinced. Timing is Everything.

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  16. I like Meghan's dress and jacket, she looks elegant. I hope Harry has found his soulmate.
    I love Queen Elizabeth, but I totally disagree with stop the soul searching. If the Monarchy is to endure in the 21st century, and beyond, they will have to be more accessible. The days of waving from afar are gone. That doesn't mean they have to sit down and chat about their inner thoughts on a daily basis, but they should appear to be more relatable.

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  17. Amen, Teri. They still have to maintain decorum. But the way they have done it back in the day needs some amount of loosening up. It is not the same world as when she became Queen in the 50's. It certainly won't become like a Kardashian reality show. William, Kate and Harry know better. But they have to become more open and relatable. They will do it with the proper finesse. Even our passionate ginger. :)

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  18. That dress is gorgeous!!! The perfect fit, crisp, clean lines, a modern hemline, she looks classy and pulled-together. The new Kate! (I'll bet Kate would have rocked that dress in the old days, before the 70's lace thing took over.) So happy for Harry, for Meghan, and for the country if they get engaged! Best wishes to these two hard-working, compassionate people!

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  19. Thank you for starting this blog about Meghan. I love your blog about HRH and I've been searching for a good blog about Meghan. It's great that I didn't have far to go! Thanks for all you do for us.

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  20. Since the palace (or someone) has released "that" statement, I wonder what Meghan's reaction or thoughts are about that. Granted she probably gets the connection of the government cutbacks in that area and the thrust of the initiative and the conflict there. But the wording, that seemingly callous wording. It had to have caught her attention. Hope she doesn't bolt.

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Welcome to Mad About Meghan! We do so look forward to reading your thoughts. Constructive, fair debate is always encouraged. Hateful, derogatory terms and insults are not welcome here. This space focuses on Harry and Meghan, not any other member of the Royal family. It's not the place to discuss politics either. Thank you for reading, we look forward to your comments :)