Described as a "backyard chat", Gloria turned to Meghan and said: "Meg, welcome home. I'm so glad you're home." The Duchess replied: "Me too - for so many reasons." The opening portion of the conversation struck me because in the UK we've been saturated with an endless deluge of coverage on the Sussexes for so long, it's sadly become the norm to click to a news website or open a Sunday paper and see acres of stories offering the most negative - and often ridiculous - spin, on every single move the couple make. I've often reflected on what others, particularly those in other parts of the world, thought about Prince Harry marrying the woman he loves in a fairy-tale Windsor wedding and suddenly becoming national punching bags. As a prominent leader who has spent her life fighting for women, Gloria Steinem's expression as she said "I'm so glad you're home" answered that question effectively with few words.
Meghan said: "People forget how hard women like you and so many others before you fought for us to just be where we are right now." To which Gloria responded: "If you don't vote, you don't exist. I mean, you know, it is the only place where we're all equal, the voting booth. You know, what worries me the most are young people who I understand are the least likely to vote. And I can understand the feeling that they don't think they have an impact. And yet, it's more important for them to vote than anyone else because they're going to be alive long after I am. And they're going to be suffering the consequences."
There was a surprise in store when Harry and Meghan's dogs, Guy and Pula, joined in. Pula is reportedly the name of their black labrador. According to Finding Freedom, the inspiration came from their time in Botswana where Pula is the official currency. Meghan turned to her pets and said: "Hi honey, come here." A laughing Gloria replied: "I think he wants to be on camera."
There was a surprise in store when Harry and Meghan's dogs, Guy and Pula, joined in. Pula is reportedly the name of their black labrador. According to Finding Freedom, the inspiration came from their time in Botswana where Pula is the official currency. Meghan turned to her pets and said: "Hi honey, come here." A laughing Gloria replied: "I think he wants to be on camera."
The video was filmed by well-known entertainment photographer Matt Sayles. His work focused on reflecting "a more inclusive image of beauty and highlighting stories from people and communities that are currently underrepresented". Whilst his studies took him to Stanford University where he obtained a BA in Political Science and UCLA where he graduated with an MBA, his lifelong passion since he first held a camera was photojournalism. He has more than succeeded in that regard and is now world-renowned for his ability to create moving images which tell a story. Below, a touching anniversary post the photographer shared on his Instagram page.
Meghan looked effortlessly stylish in a casual chic ensemble. The black and white striped trousers are by Anine Bing and are currently discounted to $124 at ShopBop. The lightweight pants feature a pinstripe pattern and a high waist. They are also in stock on Anine Bing's website and Net-A-Porter.
Meghan's sandals are Stella McCartney Rhea style. The shoes are made from non-leather materials as part of the designer's cruelty-free ethos. They are in stock in black and brown on McCartney's website (With many thanks to the Meghan's Mirror team who identified the trousers and shoes.)
Meghan's hat is the Janessa Leone Serena style (with thanks to Elizabeth from Meghan's Fashion). The wheat braid straw hat is described as: "Hand braided in thin strands and then sewn together to form a continuous piece of material that can be blocked into a hat. This straw is our highest rated ultraviolet protection."
The brand is making a contribution to the non partisan I Am A Voter until Sunday:
'In honor of this important conversation, we will be donating 10% of proceeds on all orders made online through Sunday (8/25) to I Am A Voter, a nonpartisan movement that aims to create a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement.'
I'll see you tomorrow when the full video is released!
I LOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE this! It's just so satisfying to see Meghan relaxed and happy like her old self again. I'm sure she is immensely relieved to be home. I look forward to the full video.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Charlotte.
R
I could not have said it better.
DeleteMy thoughts exactly!
Delete-op
Wooow this might be my new favorite casual Meghan look! So ridiculously stylish!
ReplyDeleteI will never understand how wholly and completely the narrative turned on the Sussexes, so much so that it’s become a norm for them to be made fun of and bullied in reports and comments. It’s actually been inspiring (no matter if you’ve agreed with their every move or not) to see how they have kept going and been taking next steps, even in the States. I love how visible Meghan has been recently and all for amazing causes. I will always feel bad for the way they’ve been treated. I do wish there was something to be done about it.
Becca I agree with your sentiment. It was a pivotal moment in history and the BRF missed an opportunity to defend this couple and of Meghan in particular. For all of their concern of improving mental health they needed look no further than their own family.
DeleteHaving said that, I believe if they had defended them, we would still be where we are today. It would have had it's limits, and likely would not have "been enough" for an emotional Harry and an ambitious Meghan.
I hope we are all alive by the time the RF starts living in the real world. Unfortunately, as much as Charles has been ahead of his time in many of his interests and mocked for it early on I do his age bracket will keep him stuck in what he knows. William's call to service as well coupled with his personality may seem a touch of reality but I think even should that happen in his time, a lot of tradition will still be exhibited.
DeleteThank you Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to listen this conversation between Meghan and Gloria! My heart is bursting with pride for Meghan...And Gloria.
Two truly inspirational Women. ❤❤
It's has been such a long time since we have seen Meghan with a relaxing smile and a feeling pacefulness.
ReplyDeleteMeghan has been stifled for 3 yrs. Now its her turn to speak freely. I can't imagine not being able to express yourself.
ReplyDeleteDuchess Meghan looks relaxed and in her best element. Brain, beauty and intelligence should be admired in every one and Meghan has got loads of them and she is also a humanitarian. Great conversation Meghan and dame Gloria
ReplyDeleteWhat a great choice. I am very looking forward to the video. Will Meghan organise more of them? Like a series alongside the election?
ReplyDeleteThis feels very Tig-ish! I love seeing Steinem, who is of course such an important figure throughout the years. And cute dogs!!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Allison in US. And like the rest of you, I'll be back tomorrow!
DeleteAbsolutely loving Meghan's new direction (which really is more a going back to her roots and pre-Harry activism), you could tell she felt restrained and restricted by the royal household. This is how we OG fans who knew nothing about royals before she became involved with them (and honestly given how that turned out would've gladly gone all our lives without knowing anything about them) came to know her and fell in love with her. Also I think most of us Americans are happy to have her back home: the UK's loss is our gain.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested in the woman movement that Meghan indirectly speaks to and the voice of Gloria Steinim do not miss the series Mrs. America. I believe on Hulu or Netflix.
ReplyDeleteIt is a real kick!!
Dear Charlotte - what a treat. So many engagements of the Sussexes lately. They are both in their elements now. I love the black and white filming and the dogs running through it.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine who works in a big media outlet always tells me how hard it is to have your own voice as a journalist within a very well known media outlet. You need to stick to the pattern that is laid out. There are to many journalists craving for a career and being safe within a big tv station or newspaper. They need to follow.....
What you are doing with this blog is impossible for most journalists in well known royal correspondence work places. This is really sad but when I talk to people about Harry and Meghan here in Germany there is a huge spectrum. I would say a lot of people are not that interested or informed. But a growing number feel very much inspired by them and their courage to even leave their life in Britain behind them and to build the life they feel is meaningful and fulfilling for them.
I agree that Meghan seems much happier and more relaxed now she is back in her home country and free to follow her natural inclination to speak out about her personal beliefs. She will be able to choose which projects to support and how to do so and that is great for her. However it will not be so easy for Harry to reject all his training in royal ways so that he can easily fit in. We can see inklings of this from the report that he won't be joining the American voting campaign Meghan is supporting - it would be really presumptuous for him to do that when he himself cannot vote in either country. It is also very sad that achieving a happy marriage with Meghan seems to necessitate him stepping back from his own birth family and its close attachments as well as his future role as a senior Royal supporting his father and his brother once his grandmother departs the scene. All the stories we are hearing in the news media and books about his feelings of resentment and wanting to be freed from Royal restraints don't seem to fit in with previous photographs and videos of him smiling and joking with his family and the public at Royal events. The many photographs of him with William show a genuine close affection between them. Perhaps William has been overprotective but that is understandable in the circumstances. From these pictures we can see that there was obviously a very close bond with his father, brother and grandparents which he must be missing. The longer Harry and Meghan are absent from the UK the more difficult it will be for them to easily fit in with his birth family whenever they return for a visit. I do hope that their strong marriage bond will more than make up for that but it will need big sacrifices on Harry's side. It remains to be seen if Harry can find a meaningful role in USA which can replace his previous one.
ReplyDeleteWell said and I very much agree with you.
DeleteHe can vote in the UK. The royal family just chooses not too. I dispel this myth every time I see it come up. Only the monarch is legally barred. Why would he weigh in on an American election as a Brit without voting rights here? I don’t think it has anything to do with him being a royal family member. It annoys me when British celebrities without US voting rights weigh in US elections. Or conversely US celebrities weigh in on Brexit etc...
DeleteAnd I would be very cautious about taking the public face of the monarchy as an accurate indication of what feelings may have been behind the scenes. Harry more than some other members had a lot of of PR charisma and could “perform” but he himself spoke of pain in being before the cameras and isolation in the role. He made these sentiments known long before Meghan. He may be missing them but plenty of families live internationally. In 2020 perhaps more than any year prior, family members can keep in touch. I do believe a difficult phase may have transpired between William
And Harry, but I also believe Harry has kept in contact with his father etc. he’s a fully formed adult who chose to follow a different path than the family business as it were. People do it all the time without this hand wringing that Harry seems to be the subject of over how he will fare or cope.
Let's remember that Harry and Meghan wanted to continue to work for the "firm" but also wanted to be more independent so that they would not have to depend on the Sovereign Grant and be subjected to the Royal Rota. They were told they were either in or out, so they decided to be out. However, they retained their patronages, and both have been working with them from the U.S. the whole of the pandemic so far. Also, I think it's really only the British media that keeps being vitriolic towards them. Other media just seem to report on them because they are so high profile. I understand that Meghan, an American citizen, would want to work on getting out the vote during this important election. And Harry, so far is speaking out on human rights issues and not at all involved in speaking about voting or politics for that matter since he is not a citizen. I'm sure Harry has the sense not to get involved in politics in a foreign country, when he has been raised to not get involved in politics in his own country. I think Omid Scobie tweeted about the Queen speaking out on the importance of voting in the past.
DeleteWhen one marries, one creates a new family, which is the priority over one's parental family. Love, trust and support from the parental family is how one relates to it.
DeleteYou are right. When Prince Philip got married, he left his country, his work for Queen Elisabeth.why prince Harry don't the same thing if he is happy.
DeleteI can't to blame him.
A Kiwi Fan, Harry has always bucked against royal protocol. Started Sentebale at 19, when the RF refused he teamed up with Prince Seiso. Spent 10 years in the army away from home and holidays always on missions overseas. Non working holidays in other countries. Stated like his mother before him that California was the best place to live. Was there with the army on training exercises. Meghan was not around then. He is a war vet with 2 tours in Afghanistan, has catapulted Invictus games into the stratosphere, worked on FitBit with the ministry of defense. Started Travelyst. Started CWQT handed it to the Queen. Now he has a new family and his baby is called a chimpanzee and he leaves yet it's because of Meghan. Harry introduced Meghan to CAMFED. Was a feminist way before her. Meghan is not the villain, protecting his family was the catalyst. We need to change the conversation around the way we speak about women because this has always been a dynamic man. Let's respect his ability to lead valiantly. The RF will be fine. They have Andrew to protect. Harry has a baby boy to protect. He's a man to admire.
DeleteA Kiwi Fan,
DeleteAs Anonymous@3:52 has pointed out, Harry is an intelligent adult with many accomplishments. He is capable of weighing the pros and cons to make decisions that he thinks are best for his young family. He is no dummy. Lets not forget also that Meghan is not "just an actress that wants attention" like the tabloids have and continue to portray. She is a university graduate that once worked for the UN. She is no dummy either. Just like any family that moves abroad H&M have made PERSONAL choices that they think are best-at this time-for Archie and themselves.
One should not rely on pictures of the past. I myself was raised in a dysfunctional family and you wouldn't know it by just looking at photos of my family portraits/outings. What does a person taking the picture always say? Smile! and everyone smiles.
If you look at Women’s Suffrage, the right to vote in general , it ranges from Sweden granting limited rights in 1862 to Kuwait granting women the right in 2000. It does matter that people vote where the have the right to do so. I have mixed feelings about Harry seeming to take sides in an American election. However , I have two dear friends who are UK citizens and when I asked them why they have an opinion on the US elections they said because everyone should consider themselves as a citizens of the World. I have also heard this from my friends who are citizens of other nations: Kuwait, Oman, India, Germany, Israel , Jordan , Singapore and Canada . Made me humble and grateful to be a US citizen.
ReplyDeleteSusan
DeleteWhen did Harry take sides regarding USA elections based on my knowledge he has never ever spoke on that or voting
What he spoke on is the BLM situation which is not political but humanitarian
Women Won the right to vote without restrictions in Wyoming in 1869, 50 years before the right to vote nationally was Won, not "granted." It is an inspiring story of dedication, commitment , and sacriface. Nobody granted them the right.
ReplyDeleteoh i love the duchess of sussex comfrontable one skin and she role model to people and she inspire them to be better in their selves
ReplyDelete