It’ll be a non-royal Christmas for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are skipping the annual holiday festivities at Sandringham — including their public walk to church on Christmas morning — with Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking forward to extended family time towards the end of this month,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Wednesday. “Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, Their Royal Highnesses will spend the holiday this year, as a new family, with the Duchess’ mother Doria Ragland. This decision is in line with precedent set previously by other members of the Royal Family, and has the support of Her Majesty The Queen.”
The palace didn’t specify where they will be ringing in the holiday, but a source tells PEOPLE that they will not be spending it in Meghan’s hometown of Los Angeles, where Doria lives.
Meghan, 38, made her royal Christmas debut in 2017 shortly after she and Prince Harry, 35, announced their engagement. While pregnant with Archie, who the couple welcomed in May, they appeared alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton again last year.
Kate and William, both 37, previously spent Christmas away from Sandringham and the royal family’s annual celebrations. In 2016, they opted to spend the holiday with Kate’s family — and Prince George and Princess Charlotte were spotted attending a church service near Kate’s childhood home in Bucklebury.
Kate, William and their two children walked to St. Mark’s Church in Englefield with the Middleton family. Kate looked glamorous in a burgundy coat with matching fur trim while William kept it conservative in a suit and navy blue coat. Meanwhile, the children looked adorable in their Christmas church ensembles — George in a knee-length Pepa & Co. coat with coordinating knee socks and Charlotte in a dark coat with red tights and a matching bow. George also wore maroon shorts under his coats — matching dad’s tie.
Both of the children were spotted sucking on candy canes as they held their parents hands outside the church. At one point, Charlotte tried to use her tiny candy cane like a walking cane.
The royal children — and their little brother Prince Louis, 1 — have yet to make their royal Christmas debut.
Harry recently opened up about his relationship with his brother William in his emotionally wrenching ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey.
Speaking about the pressures of their jobs in the royal family, Harry said, “Inevitably stuff happens. But we’re brothers, we’ll always be brothers. We’re certainly on different paths at the moment. I’ll always be there for him and as I know, he’ll always be there for me. We don’t see each other as much as we used to because we’re so busy but I love him dearly.”
The father of one added, “The majority of stuff is created out of nothing. As brothers, we have good days and we have bad days.”
Back in April, an insider told PEOPLE that William and Harry “are at very different situations in their lives.”
According to the insider, the two were always destined for different paths. Harry, who leads with his instincts, sees his older brother as being hemmed in by protocol as the future monarch.
Their different approach to life was evident as Harry’s relationship with Meghan grew more serious. Multiple sources told PEOPLE that tensions between the brothers deepened back when Harry first told his family he wanted to marry Meghan after less than a year of dating.
The insider said William — who dated Kate, his college sweetheart, for about eight years before tying the knot — cautioned Harry that things were moving too quickly, leaving Harry angry and hurt.
It was previously revealed that Meghan and Harry will take about six weeks off towards the end of the year to spend some valuable “family time” together amid their concerns that the intense scrutiny they’ve faced has been tough on the couple.
“The duke and duchess have a full schedule of engagements and commitments until mid-November, after which they will be taking some much-needed family time,” a royal source confirmed to PEOPLE.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby — who conducted Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding last year — said the parents are “entitled” to some time off from royal duty.
“All members of the royal family are under a pressure that none of us outside it can possibly imagine,” Welby, 63, told the newspaper. “Every personal action is scrutinized. Every statement is over-interpreted, over-read.”
According to the Times, Welby has a “close personal relationship” with the couple.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are going to take a couple of months away from royal duties … If you look at it as a job, they didn’t take the full allowance of leave that you’re entitled to; every person is entitled to,” he said.
“I don’t know why it should be a point of criticism that they take leave to spend time with a new baby in the way that the law provides for every single employee in this country,” Welby shared.
“They’re not superhuman,” Welby added. “They’re a very remarkable group of people, all of them. But you can’t lay that kind of extra burden on people.”
Source: People.com
Duchess Meghan also opens up in the documentary about dealing with negative press during her pregnancy:pic.twitter.com/lVCSfw05SZ
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) October 18, 2019
The Duchess of Sussex has admitted it was a “struggle” becoming a new mother amid intense media scrutiny.
Meghan Markle married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in May 2018 and gave birth to their son Archie this year.
Speaking in an ITV documentary, the duchess referred to her life under the spotlight “on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed”.
She added: “Not many people have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were both interviewed by Tom Bradby during their tour of southern Africa in September.
Asked how she was coping, Meghan said: “Look, any woman – especially when they are pregnant – you’re really vulnerable and so that was made really challenging, and then when you have a new born – you know?
“And especially as a woman, it’s a lot…”
The duchess added: “And also, thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m OK…”
When asked if it would be fair to say it had “really been a struggle”, Meghan said: “Yes.”
The documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey airs on ITV on Sunday at 21:00 BST.
Prince Harry described the memories surrounding the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 as “a wound that festers”.
On the tour, the prince visited an anti-landmine project championed by his mother in Angola and told ITV it had been “emotional” to trace her footsteps.
“I think being part of this family, in this role, in this job, every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash, it takes me straight back, so in that respect it’s the worst reminder of her life, as opposed to the best.”
As the tour ended, the duke and duchess both brought legal actions against the press.
Meghan sued the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters.
Harry filed his own proceedings at the High Court against the owners of the Sun, the defunct News of the World, and the Daily Mirror, in relation to alleged phone-hacking.
Source: BBC
Meghan Markle’s case against the British tabloids just moved into a higher gear.
Legal documents filed at the High Court in London on Monday — and reported Friday by the U.K.’s Press Association — show that Meghan is suing the publisher of the Mail on Sunday for printing a “private and confidential” letter to her father, Thomas Markle, 75, at a “time of great personal anguish and distress.”
In court papers seen by the Press Association news agency, Meghan’s attorneys add that the letter detailed “her intimate thoughts and feelings about her father’s health and her relationship with him at that time.”
The royal mom’s legal case centers around a private letter she sent to her father in August 2018. Sections of this correspondence were later published by the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline in February 2019.
The duchess is seeking damages from the Mail on Sunday’s publisher, Associated Newspapers Ltd., for “alleged misuse of private information, copyright infringement, and breach of the Data Protection Act.”
Associated Newspapers denies Meghan’s claims and intends to fight the case in the High Court, London.
The Schillings law firm also claims that the Mail on Sunday deliberately chose to “omit or suppress” important sections of the correspondence in an effort to hide the true meaning of Meghan’s words, reports the Press Association.
It adds that the newspaper also didn’t warn Meghan that the letter was going to be published — something that’s standard within news publishing.
“The letter was obviously private correspondence written by the claimant to her father,” states the Schillings submission, according to the Press Association.
It adds that Meghan “intended the detailed contents of the letter to be private, and certainly did not expect them to be published to the world at large by a national newspaper, and without any warning.”
In a preview clip of the upcoming ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey —featuring behind-the-scenes glimpse of the royal couple’s recent tour of southern Africa — the duchess, 37, speaks openly about the pain of being a new mom in the public eye.
“Any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging,” she tells ITV news anchor Tom Bradby about the negative tabloid attention she received during her pregnancy and first months with son Archie, born May 6.
“Then when you have a newborn, you know. And especially as a woman, it’s a lot,” she adds. “So, you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed. It’s um . . . yeah. I guess, also thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m okay, but it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
Bradby asked if it “would be fair” to say that she’s “not really okay, as in it’s really been a struggle?” to which Meghan responds, “yes.”
The documentary will air in the U.S. on ABC Wednesday, Oct. 23. at 10 p.m. ET.
Shortly after the announcement that Meghan was taking legal action against Associated Newspapers, her husband Prince Harry also released an unprecedented statement.
“Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son,” Harry said, before adding that he and Meghan have “continued to put on a brave face – as so many of you can relate to – I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been.”
Harry is himself suing News UK (owner of The Sun newspaper) and MGN (former owner of The Mirror) over alleged illegal interception of voicemail messages.
Source: People.com
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are giving royal fans a behind-the-scenes look at their time in Africa.
In late September, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex kicked off their 10-day tour of Africa alongside their son, Archie Harrison. During the tour, the royal parents introduced baby Archie to Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe. While that sweet meeting was captured by cameras and broadcast around the world, we’re now getting to see more private moments with the family during their tour, thanks to a new documentary.
This Sunday, the UK’s ITV network is set to air Harry & Meghan: An African Journey. In the documentary, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex talk to journalist Tom Bradby about the causes close to their hearts, as well as life as modern royals. A just-released preview clip from the documentary shows viewers what they can expect from the documentary, including one adorable moment when Meghan kisses baby Archie’s head.
“It was a journey, but not always the one I was expecting,” Tom Bradby says in the sneak peek clip. “The story of their time in Africa was of passion for their work, private happiness, but also a world of pressure and pain behind the brave faces.”
It was during the couple’s tour of Africa that Harry released a powerful statement against the British tabloid press over their “ruthless” campaign against Meghan.
“Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son,” Harry’s statement read. “There is a human cost to this relentless propaganda, specifically when it is knowingly false and malicious, and though we have continued to put on a brave face – as so many of you can relate to – I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been.”
It was also confirmed that the royals are taking legal action against The Mail on Sunday over the publishing of a private letter written by Meghan. Days later, it was revealed that the Duke of Sussex is set to sue the owners of the Sun and the Daily Mirror over alleged phone hacking claims.
Harry & Meghan: An African Journey will air this Sunday, Oct. 20, at 9 p.m. on ITV.
Source: E!
Prince Harry is taking a powerful stance against the “ruthless” treatment he says wife Meghan Markle has received in the British tabloid press.
“Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son,” Harry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The prince went on to say that he and Meghan have “continued to put on a brave face – as so many of you can relate to – I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been.”
His statement comes as the couple launches legal action against the Mail on Sunday.
A legal spokesperson from Schillings, who is representing the Duchess of Sussex, said: “We have initiated legal proceedings against the Mail on Sunday, and its parent company Associated Newspapers, over the intrusive and unlawful publication of a private letter written by the Duchess of Sussex, which is part of a campaign by this media group to publish false and deliberately derogatory stories about her, as well as her husband. Given the refusal of Associated Newspapers to resolve this issue satisfactorily, we have issued proceedings to redress this breach of privacy, infringement of copyright and the aforementioned media agenda.”
Harry added that he has been “a silent witness to her private suffering for too long. To stand back and do nothing would be contrary to everything we believe in.”
“The positive coverage of the past week from these same publications exposes the double standards of this specific press pack that has vilified her almost daily for the past nine months; they have been able to create lie after lie at her expense simply because she has not been visible while on maternity leave. She is the same woman she was a year ago on our wedding day, just as she is the same woman you’ve seen on this Africa tour.”
Harry also evoked the memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, in his statement, saying: “Though this action may not be the safe one, it is the right one. Because my deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.
“We thank you, the public, for your continued support. It is hugely appreciated. Although it may not seem like it, we really need it.”
This is not the first time that Harry has come to Meghan’s defense. Soon after they went public with their relationship in 2016, the prince released a powerful statement, slamming what he called the racist and sexist abuse she had endured since her relationship with him was revealed.
And while this summer has brought much joy after the birth of their son, Archie, they’ve also been faced with difficulty. But when negative headlines pop up, Meghan and Harry pull even closer together.
“They definitely lean on each other during challenging times,” a source recently told PEOPLE.
Source: People Magazine
Meghan Markle is making her official return to royal duties after maternity leave!
The Duchess of Sussex will step out next Thursday, Sept. 12, to launch the capsule collection of women’s workwear she created with her designer friend Misha Nonoo.
The outing marks her first official work engagement since she and Prince Harry welcomed their first child, a son they named Archie Harrison, on May 6, making her return to royal duties just over four months after Archie’s birth.
The clothing line will benefit her patronage Smart Works, a charity that helps women find employment with coaching tips and professional attire for their job interviews. For every item bought during the sale of the collection, one will be donated to Smart Works.
“When you walk into a Smart Works space you’re met with racks of clothing and an array of bags and shoes,” Meghan wrote in the September issue of British Vogue, which she guest edited. “Sometimes, however, it can be a potpourri of mismatched sizes and colors, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.”
“To help with this, I asked Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and my friends, the designer Mischa Nonoo, if they were willing to design a capsule collection of more classic options for a workwear wardrobe,” she added. “Taking the idea further, many of the brands agreed to use the one-for-one model: for each item purchased by a customer, one is donated to the charity. Not only does this allow us to be part of each other’s story, it reminds us we are in it together.”
The royal mom shared the first glimpse of her project in a candid Instagram Story last month. In the video, which is set to the Bill Withers’ 1977 hit, “Lovely Day,” the Meghan surprises a group of women as they arrive to the collection’s photo shoot.
Meghan excitedly puts her hand to her face as the women come up the stairs to be greeted by the royal with a hug. She proceeds to help direct the shoot from the sidelines and even styles the women.
Dressed casually chic in skinny jeans, a blue-and-white striped collared shirt by sustainable British women’s shirt brand With Nothing Underneath and nude heels, Meghan is animated as she laughs and jokes around on set. At the end of the video, she excitedly claps in front of the camera.
Although Meghan has been mostly out of the spotlight since Archie’s arrival, she’s stayed very busy. In addition to her work as the guest editor of British Vogue and the capsule collection, Meghan made her first post-baby appearance at Trooping the Colour in June to celebrate Queen Elizabeth‘s birthday with the rest of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Meghan, 38, also made a surprise appearance alongside Harry when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox faced off for the first-ever regular season MLB game in London, where the new parents were presented with some baseball-themed gifts for Archie.
Meghan’s summer also included Archie’s christening, outings to Wimbledon (including watching the women’s final with sister-in-law Kate Middleton and Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton), a family outing to watch Prince William and Prince Harry play polo that marked Archie’s first public appearance and a “date night” with Harry to see The Lion King, where they met the film’s stars including Beyoncé.
Source: People
Meghan Markle is sharing a behind-the-scenes look of her “lovely day.”
After announcing last month that she is launching a capsule collection of women’s workwear to benefit her patronage Smart Works — a charity that helps women land jobs — the royal shared the first glimpse of her project in a candid Instagram Story on Wednesday.
In the video, which is set to the Bill Withers’ 1977 hit, “Lovely Day,” the Duchess of Sussex surprises a group of women as they arrive to the collection’s photo shoot.
Meghan excitedly puts her hand to her face as the women come up the stairs to be greeted by the royal with a hug. She proceeds to help direct the shoot from the sidelines and even styles the women.
Dressed casually chic in skinny jeans, a blue-and-white striped collared shirt by sustainable British women’s shirt brand With Nothing Underneath and nude heels, Meghan is animated as she laughs and jokes around on set. At the end of the video, she excitedly claps in front of the camera.
“Sneak peek at the new Smart Works charity capsule collection shoot, ahead of the autumn launch,” Meghan captioned the Instagram Story.
“An initiative supporting the Smart Works collective which will equip women entering the work force with the key work wear essentials they need…coming soon,” she added.
In the September issue of British Vogue, which she guest edited, Meghan revealed that she has partnered with her designer friend, Misha Nonoo, to create the capsule collection.
“When you walk into a Smart Works space you’re met with racks of clothing and an array of bags and shoes,” Meghan wrote. “Sometimes, however, it can be a potpourri of mismatched sizes and colors, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.”
“To help with this, I asked Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and my friends, the designer Mischa Nonoo, if they were willing to design a capsule collection of more classic options for a workwear wardrobe,” she added. “Taking the idea further, many of the brands agreed to use the one-for-one model: for each item purchased by a customer, one is donated to the charity. Not only does this allow us to be part of each other’s story, it reminds us we are in it together.”
Nonoo and Meghan have been friends for years, and often posted photos of each other on Instagram before the Duchess of Sussex deleted her personal account soon after her engagement to Prince Harry. The designer was a guest at Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding, as well as Meghan’s New York City baby shower earlier this year.
At Smart Works, clients receive one-on-one interview preparation and an outfit to help them secure employment, according to their website. Once the client lands a job, they receive five additional pieces of clothing to help see them through to their first paycheck.
“The reason why I was drawn to Smart Works is that it reframed the idea of charity as community…..it’s a network of women supporting and empowering other women in their professional pursuits,” wrote Meghan, 37.
Source: People
Ellen DeGeneres is coming to the defense of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The talk show host, 61, is the latest star to show her support for the royal couple, who have been under fire recently for their decision to use a private jet to get to their vacation destination.
After news of their getaway to Nice, France with their son Archie broke, headlines focused on their use of the private aircraft, as some claimed it seemed to contradict their stance on protecting the environment.
On Monday, however, DeGeneres weighed in on the issue and argued in a message on Twitter that Meghan, 38, and Harry, 34, were undeserving of the criticism.
The comedian also noted how after meeting the couple in England with her wife Portia de Rossi, she was impressed by how “down-to-earth and compassionate” they were.
“Portia and I met Prince Harry and Meghan in England to talk about their work on wildlife conservation,” DeGeneres tweeted. “They were the most down-to-earth, compassionate people.”
“Imagine being attacked for everything you do, when all you’re trying to do is make the world better,” she added, alongside a photo of the smiling couple.
Besides DeGeneres, Elton John also raised his voice in support for Meghan and Harry.
Earlier on Monday, the famed musician, who performed at Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding reception in May 2018, responded to the criticism on Twitter, revealing that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stayed at his home in Nice and that he provided the plane — which was made carbon neutral. (This typically involves calculating how much your flight generates in greenhouse gas emissions and financially contributing to a project that aims to reduce emissions by that same amount.)
“I am deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week,” he wrote. “Prince Harry’s Mother, Diana Princess Of Wales was one of my dearest friends. I feel a profound sense of obligation to protect Harry and his family from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Diana’s untimely death.”
John, 72, continued, “After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety and tranquility of our home. To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight.”
“To support Prince Harry’s commitment to the environment, we ensured their flight was carbon neutral, by making the appropriate contribution to Carbon Footprint™,” he said. “I highly respect and applaud both Harry and Meghan’s commitment to charity and I’m calling on the press to cease these relentless and untrue assassinations on their character that are spuriously crafted on an almost daily basis.”
The string of five tweets was signed, “Elton.”
Last month, Harry said that the couple would likely limit themselves to two children and shared in an Instagram post on June 30 that “every choice, every footprint, every action makes a difference.”
Their trip to the French Riviera came just two days after they arrived back from Ibiza, where they took a break around August 4, when Meghan celebrated her 38th birthday. The couple’s office declined to comment on either trip.
This isn’t the only travel on the Sussexes’ calendar. They are also expected to use part of their summer holiday to head to Balmoral Castle to spend time with Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family.
Next month, they will embark on a long-haul flight to Africa for Archie’s first official overseas visit.
Source: People
