But this is why people are skeptical of his military record, no matter how many glowing “he was the best pilot and the best soldier and a true leader of men” testimonies the military puts out. No one who took the job seriously would have spoken the way he did.
Remember, a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) dir. Richard Marquand
I’m probably forgetting some. I’d say the stupidest (and most revealing, retrospect) was the one about hating the Apaches. They’d spent tons of money and pr on him and he destroyed it all in one second. They were honestly upset with him too, because the heli program was a concession to the fact that he insisted on going back to the front. It’s very telling, however, in restropect. I think he always felt that they were trying to make him into something he wasn’t.
Well, to be fair, no one thinks he’s very smart. I don’t think she has him under a spell or anything like that, but I do think she sold him a huge “we will change the world” pile of hooey.
I just don’t see how he didn’t get a wake up call when she started selling handbags right after the relationship was outed. Like, how thick is this kid?
How about this kid was dumb, lonely, and desperate to get married.
I think you are mostly right. I do, however, believe that she will show up at charity events, at least at the beginning. It’s part of her Diana persona.
I think she does too. Yes, like that anon noted, the behind-the-scenes people do a lot of work, but you only have to look at the contrast between Kate’s sport engagements and Meghan’s to see that the royal has a lot to do with the success of those events.
That intro to the exhibition was beautiful. The Huffington Post project was great. Her Nook Appeal has been highly successful. Heads Together is good. The fact that she takes her shoes off and runs and throws tennis balls is fantastic.
I just wish she did MORE of it, you know. Love Lola Heart just tweeted out how many times Kate worked for EACH and, I hate to say it, but it sounds a little bit skimpy. I think she still contributed mightily and made a big difference to their fundraising.
It’s not horrible. She repped EACH about once every six months, which is decent-ish, but, imo, they should be showing up at this patronages at least twice a year, writing letters/releasing videos/doing speeches at last twice a year, and doing at least one big fundraiser every two years.
I think she’d leave with a daughter, but I’m starting to wonder about that part. She doesn’t seem to be in any kind of hurry on that department.
But I still stand by my 2-year prediction, which is based on her career track record so far (as chronicled in her blogs). Meghan is really good at selling herself and “booking” a part (Stage 1). That was the “Everyone Loves Classy” pr drive. Once she gets it she always underperforms, focusing on fripperies instead of substance, creating drama, and sucking up enormous amounts of resources from the unlucky folks that hired her. That’s Stage 2, and it’s the stage we are in right now. Stage 3 is when the employer stops investing on her and she gets jealous and restive and starts looking for something else. I think we are now entering Stage 3 and it will extend into next year. Stage 4 is when she finds a new project and starts the “booking” cycle all over again.
I know a lot of people think her new project will be a man, but I doubt it. I think it will be a “breaking free” post-divorce Di storyline where she divorces Harry, writes a “Becoming Meghan” book, and goes back to Worldvision and the UN as an inspirational speaker. She’ll eventually enter into a fauxmance to keep the storyline going, but that will come later.
I know I get a lot of pushback on this because her situation seems so unstoppable right now–free house and clothes, security, helis, press. However, the press attention will eventually flag, leaving only the snarky UK tabs still interested in her. The family will get progressively more annoyed at all the drama, and Harry’s position will get weaker and weaker, resulting in less privileges.
Keep in mind that Soho House and the other sponsors will still provide free housing and clothing after a divorce. In addition, a kid would ensure several more years of free security. The only things she would be truly giving up are the helis and the palace staff (who she will probably come to detest by the time the end comes).
I agree with a lot of this, but I don’t think she’s going to have a “breaking free” post-divorce story.
I think the general public (as opposed to her rabid fans and equally rabid haters) had positive feelings toward Meghan because they felt that (i) Harry loved her, (ii) she had actually worked for a living, and (iii) people were genuinely excited to see a racial minority join the royal family. I think they were willing to overlook the social climbing and Diana worship rumors due to those two things.
So I think she really shot herself in the foot when she decided to start her royal career with a slew of events that highlighted her ambitious social climbing and Diana obsession (royal appearances and tours, couture fashion, family drama, and celebrity friends). It’s almost like she was going out of her way to prove the haters right.
Oh, this is a very good point. Tons of stuff happens behind the scenes.
But the royals do have an effect. For example, I bet the new charity restructuring Charles is doing will be a complete disaster with Michael Fawcett as its head and less donations and appearances by the Prince.
I did some research and Charles didn’t actually move to Clarence House until 2003. He moved after his grandmother- the Queen Mother- passed away and they finished refurbishments. Before that he lived at St James’s Palace. I can’t find a confirmation that he moved there after the divorce so if anyone knows, reply to this post!! I think his intention was always to move to Clarence House but I don’t know that for certain
Isn’t Clarence House traditionally used for the heir to the throne? Then-Princess Elizabeth lived there with Philip, Charles, and Anne, before she became Queen. The Queen Mum lived there after George VI passed away. Charles moved to St. James Palace when he and Diana separated and lived there until he moved into Clarence House.
80 facts about Queen Sonja and King Harald publised in a book Sonja & Harald. En kjærlighetshistorie, which was released on the occasion of Their Majesties’ 80th birthdays.
1. King Harald has stated that when he became King he was terrified.
2. When Harald was born, his father, King Olav, was present at the birth.
3. Both Stortinget and Hans Majestet Kongens Garde gave beer mugs in silver for his christening.
4. He loves to go fishing, and his interest for it came at an early age.
5. King Harald was only 3 years old when he learned how to swim.
6. At the age of 3 he tasted coffee for the first time, while he and his family fleed from Sweden via Finland to the US. He spit it out and said “and you guys like this stuff?”
7. As a kid Harald sowed some buttons on a piece of clothing, wrapped them up and gave them as a Christmas gift for president Roosevelt.
8. Crown Prince Harald represented Norway in the 1964, -68 and -72 Olympics.
9. He became the world champion in sailing with his men in 1987.
10. The King loves to watch TV, preferably Sports, but comidians are also one of his favourites.
11. He prefers traditional jazz, but loves all kinds of music.
12. The enviroment at Oxford, where he studied, was pretty radical.
13. He chose language over science when he was in the Army, which his father was not happy about.
14. While spending his Easter Breaks at Prinsehytta, the outhouse is the real deal.
15. Hot dogs will always be a favourite for the King.
16. Out of all the Norwegian cities, Bergen is the city the King and Queen have visited most times.
17. Sonja is 163 cm (5,4 feet) tall.
18. King Harald stopped smoking in 2003, which later stated was “disappointingly easy.”
19. The King doesn’t mind being in charge of the bbq.
20. According to Sonja, Harald is good with colours.
21. The Queen’s favourite flower is fresia, which was a part of her wedding bouqet.
22. She got her interest in art from her father and big brother.
23. As a child Sonja walked in the children’s parade and wondered how it looked like inside of the Palace.
24. At home, in her favourite chair, Queen Sonja has a pillow with the quote “it ain’t easy being a queen”.
25. Sonja has weekly walks on Bygdøy.
26. She’s the one behind the paintings at the roof on Kongsseteren.
27. Bygdøy kongsgård is the Queen’s favourite of all of their estates.
28. The Queen takes her camera with her everywhere.
29. Sonja graduated as a ski trainer, but failed the first time at plow turn, so she had to retake the exam.
30. Queen Sonja has 6 different bunads.
31. Sonja loves listening to music and her iPod is filled with folk music.
32. The Queen attended Rosenvilde in Bærum in 1962.
33. The King sends hundreds of Christmas cards a year, and writes them himself. [can I get one myself also please thank you]
34. Sonja was the first who had an iPod out of everyone at the Palace.
35. King Harald is always nervous before holding a speech.
36. Harald has stated that he easily gets touched.
37. King Harald makes sure to be updated on the people that he meets.
38. He thinks details are important, and always makes plans ahead of official engagements, such as which car he’s going to use, how long the breaks should be and who he should meet.
39. Harald prefers meeting general people while out at work.
40. King Harald’s rolemodel is his grandfather, King Haakon.
41. The Queen uses gloves with electricity to keep herself warm.
42. The King and Queen often take their grandkids to the theatre.
43. For dinner at the Palace, King Harald often serves his guests moose that he has hunted down himself.
44. Both Sonja and Harald were born on a Sunday.
45. The King and Queen has a graveyard for their dogs at Bygdøy kongsgård.
46. When they were on their honemoon, they used the names Tom and Eva Manstad.
47. Some years after she married Harald, Sonja cut her hair short for the first time, in London.
48. The Queen has always had a permanent seamstress, who makes both new outfits and remakes old outfits for her.
49. Before Christmas in 2016 Queen Sonja invited her grandkids for a workshop at the Palace.
50. King Harald has two dogs named Huldra and Gila.
51. Every year in November the King and Queen spend a week in London, where they buy Christmas gifts.
52. On Christmas Eve the Royal Family eats rice porridge with almond at noon, and for dinner they have lutefisk, cod, roasted pork and plum pudding.
53. The King would rather skip the lutefisk, while the Queen likes it if it’s not too fat and she can have aquavit on the side.
54. Queen Sonja packs dry clothes, a map, compass, seat pads camera and binoculars when she goes on hiking trips and in the mountains.
55. In 2005 Norsk Fjellfestival and Den Norske Turistforeningen ranked the Queen as “Årets fjellgeit.”
56. The Clothing section at Molstad in Oslo made most of Queen Sonja’s clothes in her first years as Norway’s Crown Princess.
57. Sonja has a red boxing bag, but she has never used it.
58. The Queen bought her first painting when she was 14.
59. When her grandchildren are visiting, Queen Sonja asks them to put away their phones.
60. In their apartment at the Palace the King and Queen have a toilet seat that is decorated by Queen Margrethe of Denmark.
61. The Queen made her debut as a painter at the age of 74.
62. One of Queen Sonja’s all time favourite designers is the late Erik Mortensen.
63. When they met Mette-Marit for the first time, they served pasta with tuna and olive.
64. Sonja loves Chanel purses.
65. Just like King Olav, Queen Sonja loves to vist Fortnum & Mason in London.
66. For many years now, the Queen has been a customer at Beth’s Beauty in Oslo.
67. The Queen has her own makeup room and hair saloon at the Palace.
68. One of the King’s and Queen’s favourite Norwegian artists is Wenche Myhre.
69. On her birthday, 4th of July, the Queen invites friends and family on a boat trip and smoakingparty to her cabin on Mågerø.
70. King Harald prefers to be the one who’s driving.
71. When it comes to cars, King Harald has a love for BMW’s 7-serie.
72. When the King is alone on official engagements, or with the Queen, they’re driving with the registration number A2. When the Queen is representing alone, the car has the registration number A7.
73. Marius calls King Harald and Queen Sonja beste-Harald and beste-Sonja.
74. The Queen is known for making small gestures when it comes to the choice of outfits, for example wearing gifts from the hosts.
75. King Harald’s New Years speeches are recorded beforehand. He held his first speech in December 1990, due to King Olav’s sickness.
76. Harald and Sonja have their private apartment on the third floor at the Palace, where they have an amazing view over Oslo.
77. Updated on fashion as she is, Queen Sonja is often seen in clothes from Holzweiler and Fleischer Couture, which ate both Norwegian brands.
78. The Queen has a huge jewellery box and she loves promoting modern, Norwegian jewellery art.
79. The King loves soccer, and his favourite team in English soccer is supposedly Tottenham Hotspur.
80. It still bothers the King that he and his team ended up on 10th place in the 1972 Olympics, where they supposedly were favourites.
“I feel like there’s a lot of Catherine Quinn’s influence in this” – How much exactly do think Quinn can do? She’s still an employee. All I see is Kate following the natural course and maturing in her role, finding her path. I agree they exaggerated on the compliments and totally believe royals are most build up images, but it seems you are always trying to give part of Kate’s credit to someone else, as this person was the mind behing her, and I don’t see you doing it with the others. William has been praised a lot lately and I don’t remember to see you including his staff on this. Not a long ago, you were still giving Harry the credit to have at least some genuine interest in his things, same with Diana, and now seems to have some hope of Meghan doing something right with RF help. You also easily say women like Chelsy and Jecca are good and very dignified based on their CVs. Sorry, but I have the impression you fall a bit on stereotypes and think Kate is not capable on her own bc she doesn’t fit the profile. Of course you don’t have to like her nor be impartial, as you state about Meghan, I just wanted to point something that is bothering me.
Thanks for sending this in! I didn’t realize people would interpret my post as a slight towards Kate. I don’t think mentioning Quinn takes away any of Kate’s glory. I think picking employees is a huge part of Kate’s job (and Will’s too) and I was generally disappointed in Rebecca Deacon and the rest of the KP Peyton Place gang. I feel they focused more on glamour and pr tricks than on substance and that did Kate a disservice. I feel picking Quinn was a great choice on Kate’s part and it signaled, as you said, that she’s maturing in her role.
I don’t give William’s team that much credit because he’s basically doing the same stuff he did before, just more of it and in better clothes. That doesn’t take a ton of team input, it just takes a stepping up of the work ethic and having more respect for the role. Personally, I do believe that Will’s change was mostly due to having a wake-up call during the Grenfell visit and suddenly realizing that what he does is actually important. I think his team is just doing what they always did, just more of it because he’s more motivated.
Kate is doing something different, bigger in scope, and more creative, and, I think, that does require a team. You can see the seeds of this project in the mental health issue she did for the Huffington Post. I think Kate looked at that and realized that she wanted to do something similar, but more focused on actual change and not just raising awareness (and also more focused on children). I think she also realized that she would need a more sophisticated team to carry this out. Then she did what any competent executive would do–go hire someone who could get the stuff done.
(I feel like I should mention Heads Together here because people probably think this solo project is more similar to HT than to the Huffington Post project. I think HT was a great project, but it’s an umbrella organization providing support to individual charities and that’s an easier proposition than the early childhood project, imo.)
Like I said, I don’t think crediting Quinn takes away any of Kate’s credit. I think Harry is probably the best example of how a team will do a great job BUT ONLY AS LONG AS THE PRINCIPAL KEEPS HIS EYE ON THE BALL. Harry basically had the same people during his “Hero Harry” and “Hollywood Harry” periods and look at the difference in his engagements, his press, and his interactions. He used to be the one who would get glowing charity coverage and now he’s getting Clooney vacation articles and “How Meghan Makes Him Feel Like A Man” headlines.
45 years ago today, on September 15, 1973 Carl XVI Gustaf became the King of Sweden.
In the Helsingborg Hospital, on September 15, 1973, at 20:35 the reigning monarch, Gustaf VI Adolf quietly passed away at the age of 90. His grandson, the 27 years old new King Carl XVI Gustaf went out that night to meet the press, his shoulder heavy with the sudden responsibility.
Also on that exact same day, Carl XVI Gustaf’s future son-in-law, Olof Daniel Westling was born. No one imagined that little boy would one day become the consort of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s heir, the future monarch of Sweden.
Earlier this year on April 26, 2018 Carl XVI Gustaf become the longest reigning monarch in Sweden’s history after surpassing King Magnus Eriksson’s record, who ruled as King of Sweden for 44 years and 222 days, between 1319 and 1364.
The galleries of finalists & winners from past years is also worth looking through. So many good ones in there, but this particularly caught my attention:
Nah I think it’s to stop the focus on everything else. The baby rumors are good for her. The bad thing are all of the tarot card readings, the story about her not knowing who to trust, the JM parenting, the who’s next in the markle effect curse. Those are not good. Again I’m confused about why only one pic was taken.
Yeah I’m thinking it’s from the vanity fair pheasant roll out from last year. If it’s from Alexi he did a lot of photoshop including making her look darker than she was at the time of the engagement pics were taken. You I had this weird thought that maybe JM and Rachel agreed to leak it to get the bad press that she was getting yesterday. It wouldn’t benefit jess but it would change the subject from a lot of questionable activities between Rachel and her subjects. Again. Why only one pic?
so lonely Meghan beat goes on. her fav mouth piece (well after Lainey) Tom Sykes tells us the details of her lonely life. I can’t decide if this is a sympathy ploy or a reason for the divorce prep story but her pr sure is pushing it. What do you think?
I’m not sure what the DoSex are doing. Frankly, this is what I was expecting Harry and Meghan to do this month–big charity launches that fit their individual interests, including a big solo project for Meghan. I’m very happy that Will and Kate are stepping up their mental health and children’s health work and creating these initiatives, but where are the Harkles?
House of Brat 