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Post by Admin on Mar 6, 2020 0:29:29 GMT
What royal drama? Meghan Markle was all smiles as she returned to London to join Prince Harry for the Endeavour Fund Awards on Thursday, marking her first official public appearance since the couple announced their plans to step back as senior members of the royal family. The duchess, who has been in North America in the weeks since the royal exit was announced, opted for a colorful look in contrast to the rainy weather. As Meghans Mirror notes, the former actress’s bright turquoise midi-length sheath dress — currently retailing for $1,285 — is also a nod to British fashion, having been designed by Victoria Beckham. Beckham attended Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding in 2018 alongside husband David. Wearing her hair in a sleek low ponytail with a center part, Meghan beamed as she entered with husband Harry, looking dapper in a navy suit and pale blue tie. The couple sought refuge under an umbrella — carried by Harry himself as Meghan grasped his arm — as they arrived to honor wounded and ill service members who have taken part in sport and adventure challenges.
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Post by Admin on Mar 7, 2020 22:27:33 GMT
Amid the news that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will no longer use their HRH titles, it's been revealed that Prince Charles will still support the couple financially. While the details of Prince Charles' support remain unknown, BAZAAR.com's Royal Editor At Large, Omid Scobie, reported on Twitter, "Prince Charles will still continue to offer private financial support" to Meghan, Harry, and Archie.
There are several ways that Charles may offer his financial support, particularly as Meghan and Harry will now meet the "running costs" of their U.K. residence Frogmore Cottage "privately," per Scobie.
Crucially, as they are stepping back from their roles as working royals, Meghan and Harry "will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties." As such, they will be making a move towards being financially independent, as previously announced.
Currently, the duke and duchess' income, related to their royal duties, has mostly been covered by Harry's dad, Charles, Prince of Wales. The majority of Prince Charles' income comes from the Duchy of Cornwall, and he uses the funds to support family members. It makes sense that he would continue to offer this support to his son's new family as they move forward in their new capacity.
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Post by Admin on Mar 8, 2020 18:09:52 GMT
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are getting in some quality time with Queen Elizabeth while they’re back in the U.K. this week.
The monarch, 93, invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join her for church service in Windsor on Sunday morning.
“It was a really sweet gesture that the Queen asked them to church,” a source tells PEOPLE. “It’s telling in the sense that these two are still her family. And as a family, they all love each other.”
Meghan wore a fascinator-style headpiece and striking emerald earrings, while Harry wore a suit and tie. The Queen arrived in a light blue ensemble with a matching hat.
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Post by Admin on Mar 10, 2020 18:17:25 GMT
Yesterday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry joined Prince William, Kate Middleton, the Queen, and other members of the royal family for their last appearance as working royals at the Commonwealth Day Service. And in case you didn't notice, they looked incredible. But apparently there was a little behind-the-scenes drama re: protocol surrounding how everyone arrived. This year, the Fab Four didn't walk in with the Queen as part of the official royal procession, and according to a Daily Mail source, Meghan and Harry were "quite sensitive and emotional about it." Understandable, considering the initial plan was apparently for Kate and William to walk with the Queen, Prince Charles, and Duchess Camilla—while Harry and Meghan were supposed to take their seats ahead of time. Erm, I mean, sounds kinda rude to Meghan and Harry considering they are a) still part of the royal family, and b) were still technically working royals during this engagement. According to The Daily Mail, William and Kate "stepped in to defuse the situation" and offered to join Harry and Meghan while they waited for the Queen, Charles and Camilla to arrive—which is why they were spotted sitting together early on.
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2020 4:49:31 GMT
“His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle,” the November 27, 2017, email read, followed by a note inviting royal correspondents to join the couple for a special photo call to mark the occasion. A few road rules may have been bent to make the 80-ish mile drive from Oxfordshire to Kensington Palace—in traffic—but it was worth it. Standing by the lily-covered Sunken Pond as Harry shared his joy at finally finding his teammate, it was the perfect start to a chapter that would finally bring the royal family into the 21st century. Over the months and years that followed, I closely shadowed the work of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, getting to know the couple better through their humanitarian endeavors, engagements, and overseas visits. Their high-energy work ethic and passion for social justice attracted a new, more diverse demographic of royal watcher to the scene. As a young(ish), biracial royal correspondent, the change was exciting. And as their popularity grew around the world, so did a new golden era for the House of Windsor. Never did I expect that less than two and half years later I would be standing in one of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace as the Duchess of Sussex emotionally bids much-loved aides farewell, with her flight “home” to Canada leaving in a matter of hours. But then, neither did the couple. After starting the year with a formal proposal to move into part-time working royal roles, and bring some much-needed privacy and safety to their family life, Harry and Meghan’s hopes were quickly dashed by an institution seemingly unable to accept change as a viable option (even though some royals across Europe—and even other members of the British royal family—have succeeded in balancing duties to the crown and individual careers). To say they were crushed is an understatement. It’s a decision that the couple still feel wasn’t necessary, but also wasn’t a surprise, given the lack of support they received as they were relentlessly attacked by sections of the British press with almost daily mistruths and hateful commentary. While recent tabloid coverage has made it seem like the Sussexes’ half-in-half-out bid was about wanting it all, the reality was a couple who were left with no other choice but to create their own change after being left to fend for themselves against impossible circumstances—even during her pregnancy. They knew something had to change, but they also didn’t want to stop supporting the queen. One can’t help but wonder if things might have been different if a family member or two had stood up for them during the darkest times. Despite the pain and difficulties behind the scenes, work has continued to be a priority for the duchess, who is excited to be carrying over her four royal patronages into the Sussexes’ new chapter. It’s also the reason why I was at Buckingham Palace's 1844 Room on Monday, having been invited alongside two other journalists to cover Meghan’s final engagement as a senior working royal: meeting 22 students who have received scholarships from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). As their royal patron—a role she took over from the queen in 2019—Meghan will continue to prioritize the organization even after officially stepping back on March 31, especially given her position as the vice president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and a former scholarship student herself. In fact, Meghan’s time at Illinois’s prestigious Northwestern University, where she majored in international relations and theater, is what drew her to the ACU in the first place. “The value and importance of higher education is why it should be accessible to everyone, no matter your background,” she says. For Commonwealth Day, March 9, the ACU brought together some of their brightest minds for a private meeting with the duchess, ahead of their attendance at Westminster Abbey’s Commonwealth Service, where some would bear the flags of their countries. The students are all studying masters or Ph.D.'s in the U.K. after receiving scholarships from the ACU’s three programs—Commonwealth Scholars, Chevening Scholars, and the ACU Blue Charter Fellow. “That’s what so powerful,” says Meghan, a long-time champion of the importance of universal access to higher education. “This incredible union and the ability to gain so much knowledge and to be able to take that back home.” Chatting with the scholars, the duchess is eager to hear more about how their studies will contribute to tackling the many challenges our world faces today. As she talks with the students, it becomes clear that she’s already done her research on why each guest was invited. It’s inspiring to seeing someone so prepared for these types of engagements, as opposed to just showing up for the photographs. But Meghan doesn’t know any other way of doing it. “I think it’s so important to actually engage with people,” she explains. “I care about these things!” The ACU has seen over 90,000 scholars come through their administered programs, and those invited to Monday’s meeting represent 11 Commonwealth countries in total. Halima Ali, a lawyer from Kenya who is currently studying for her masters in energy and natural resources law at London’s Queen Mary University, says Meghan’s role as patron is hugely important. “For Commonwealth and also African countries,” she says, “to see her, her interest, her participation, means a lot to us.”
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