The Sussexes and Family General chat

[TLLK]

Meghan Markle rocks 'I voted' sticker as she shares rare new picture | HELLO!

The Duchess of Sussex has called on her fellow Americans to get out and vote, sharing that she had also voted on Tuesday November 8.

"Today is Election Day in the US! Time to get out and vote. Text ARCHEWELL to 26797 to find your polling location and make sure you are ready to vote," Meghan wrote on the Archewell website, alongside a picture of herself in a cream jumper with an 'I voted' sticker placed on her chest, and blue rain jacket.

I would like to add that mail in ballots are also accepted as long as they're postmarked for Nov. 8, 2022. These ballots can also be dropped off at designated drop off locations too.  All Californians who are registered to vote, receive mail in ballots. We're experiencing the first real winter storm of the season, so this is an option if voters do not wish to wait in line.

[Curryong]

I?m glad that Meghan has urged her fellow Americans to get out and vote, perform their civic duty. I have a feeling that these mid terms are going to be desperately important, especially in defending women?s abortion rights and gay freedoms so dearly won. I just don?t want to see the country swing to the right in Trump triumphalism even before 2024.

As a citizen of a country where compulsory voting is required I?m facing another dilemma altogether. The Victorian State election is coming up in a couple of weeks. I?m a Labor supporter and have been all my life but I simply cannot vote for this incompetent and complacent Labor Govt headed by a Premier who is mired in corruption. No less than four different Inquiries into his methods are ongoing at the moment and I?m mystified as to why he?s personally so popular.

On the other hand the Liberal Opposition is blundering, inexperienced and weak. So I?m between a rock and a hard place here. I?m tempted to go to the booth and write a protest on my ballot paper, making it ineligible, difficult as I am very keen on exercising my democratic rights.

[Princess Cassandra]

I?m glad that Meghan has urged her fellow Americans to get out and vote, perform their civic duty. I have a feeling that these mid terms are going to be desperately important, especially in defending women?s abortion rights and gay freedoms so dearly won. I just don?t want to see the country swing to the right in Trump triumphalism even before 2024.

As a citizen of a country where compulsory voting is required I?m facing another dilemma altogether. The Victorian State election is coming up in a couple of weeks. I?m a Labor supporter and have been all my life but I simply cannot vote for this incompetent and complacent Labor Govt headed by a Premier who is mired in corruption. No less than four different Inquiries into his methods are ongoing at the moment and I?m mystified as to why he?s personally so popular.

On the other hand the Liberal Opposition is blundering, inexperienced and weak. So I?m between a rock and a hard place here. I?m tempted to go to the booth and write a protest on my ballot paper, making it ineligible, difficult as I am very keen on exercising my democratic rights.

I was sorry to read in your post how disillusioned you are, though I know that ALL governments, local up to national, have some measure of corruption. It all sounds so familiar to what we are experiencing here. It bothers me so much - especially the biased and unethical media. I wish you well and hope things will go better for you all in "Oz".

I do have to note that when I am heading to the polls, which I did just a few hours ago, I always feel better about things. No matter how bad things get I never get over the feeling of pride and sense that everything will be ok when I arrive at the polling place in my town. We are a diverse town and people of all ages, all dressed differently, and all looking different from each other, are walking into or leaving the building. They are all taking time out of their day to do their important civic duty and I am happy to be one of them. I hear your concerns for us in America, but I can assure you that American women, just as so many around the world, will not ever give up one iota of the progress they've made. I have two grown daughters and I see how free they are of that traditional old boy system, even though there is still a long way to go. And as for abortion, more than 76% of Americans believe in the right to choose. The truth is that Americans were lazy after Roe v. Wade triumphed...we had decades in which to generate an amendment to protect our right to choose and we failed. Roe v. Wade was not constitutional, and it was just a matter of time before it was overruled. I hope we will see some progress now instead of just hysteria and blaming it on everyone else.  Always interested in Australia - I admire it so much. In a free country sometimes the bad guys triumph, but if people can freely go to the polls and vote against the negative things that they see, the good will prevail.

[Curryong]

Thank you for your good wishes for us in Oz, Princess Cassandra. Our Premier Andrews leaves me cross and frustrated rather than sad really, especially as he remains popular though perhaps less so than earlier this year, so perhaps the corruption Inquiries have done something to dent the Teflon image. Corruption hasn?t been a big thing here in Oz a lot of the time, but I have decided to not vote for my local MP as he is as complacent as the rest. As, like you, I am usually very happy at living in a democratic society, voting this time will give me no pleasure. My husband and son are voting Liberal for the first time in their lives but I just can?t.

I have noted the more liberal opinions on gay rights and abortion among the ordinary population in the US, UK, Western Europe, Aus and NZ over the last twenty years or so and that gives me great hope for Millennials and Gen Z?s. It?s just that sometimes politicians don?t listen to their electorates. (BTW abortion rights and universal health care are not challenged here, thank Goodness.)

The repeal of Roe vs Wade was a great shock to me, watching from afar, as is the current make-up of the US Supreme Court, and the eagerness of certain States to follow the recent Supreme Court?s direction. I feel for those women who are now forced to travel to other States to access a Family Planning Clinic. It must be heartbreaking. And I agree, people in general are lazy about defending hard won rights. In our house in Oz we, and no doubt people all over the world we are following the US mid term election results with great interest.

[TLLK]

The Sussexes attended Sir Elton John's last concert in Los Angeles last night. They shared a short video.

https://twitter.com/hrrysgreysuit/status/1594596664538722304?s=61&t=ppQEmtUBPvW517vWSlH9ig

[TLLK]

Discussion of anything related to any of  the Sussexes' televised interviews should be continued in this thread linked below. Further off topic posts will be removed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex interviews, TV and other media events Part 3

[sara8150]

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 'paper-free' 'holiday season' card does NOT mention Christmas  | Daily Mail Online

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Share Holiday Card

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle release Christmas card hours after Netflix documentary | HELLO!

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry share 'joyful' Christmas card but no Archie or Lilibet | Royal | News | Express.co.uk

Harry and Meghan share 'joyful' Christmas card after stinging Netflix royal documentary - Mirror Online

Harry & Meghan release 'holiday season' card featuring pic of couple at awards bash - but it FAILS to mention Christmas | The Sun
No pictures of Archie and Lilibet due security reasons and protect but without permission from Harry and Meghan

[Curryong]

If there had been a family portrait with the two Sussex children released for Xmas the anti Sussex brigade would have been screaming ?They showed their kids on the Netflix documentary, now they?re on their Christmas Card. So they?re commercialising their family AGAIN.?

[wannable]

The joyful holiday digital card is free.

100 million USD requires a lot of giving. It is a hefty price to pay.

[TLLK]

I expect that the couple have two cards for the holidays. The Archewell one is for their business. They likely have a family one that is just for close friends and family.

[sara8150]

The joyful holiday digital card is free.

100 million USD requires a lot of giving. It is a hefty price to pay.

Yes

[sara8150]

I expect that the couple have two cards for the holidays. The Archewell one is for their business. They likely have a family one that is just for close friends and family.

Harry and Meghan didn?t mention about children

[Curryong]

In the Xmas greeting the Sussexes stated ?from our family to yours?. ?Family? includes one?s (minor) children.

[wannable]

The joyful holiday digital card is free.

100 million USD requires a lot of giving. It is a hefty price to pay.

BTW, Neil Sean (contributor to FOX and sister mainstream media by state in the USA) said last night that Netflix is sitting on a lot of unedited footage, they can easily and are thinking of making another 6 hour episodes to ''earn back'' the moneys they paid the Sussexes. It will all depend in how much money Netflix makes back to May 2023 (Coronation) with the first season/6 episodes, if Netflix doesn't earn back the moneys, they allegedly will go ahead to juice it for a second season, the Sussexes signed a contract, they wouldn't be able to stop Netflix IF they go ahead.

My above comment is an educated guess, I mean, for those who have worked as an employee ''one has to deliver to the company what one is paid'' if not, usually one is made redundant.  The Neil Sean comment, I just watched it today with morning coffee  :orchid:

[sara8150]

In the Xmas greeting the Sussexes stated ?from our family to yours?. ?Family? includes one?s (minor) children.

Harry and Meghan not mention about children in Christmas portraits due security reasons

[changemhysoul]

It's been a while but hello everyone!

For the most recent topic, it makes sense. If people watched the documentary, then they got plenty of seeing Archie and Lili. So for the Xmas card, just a simple photo and framing as it as more of an professional thing. Which also makes sense since now Archewell is going in-house.

Friends and family probs got a different Xmas card.

I don't think they're not mentioning the kids due to security reasons, they just chose not to this year.

[TLLK]

 Here's a rather odd comparison between Denmark's Crown Princess Mary and the UK's Duchess of Sussex.  :blink:

Royals: Meghan Markle could learn lessons from Princess Mary of Denmark | Daily Mail Online

Similarities: Both are slim, attractive, brunette, university  educated women  from English speaking nations who left behind their careers, families, friends and moved to a new adopted nation then married into their respective royal families.  :thumbsup:

BIG difference: Mary married the direct heir to the throne and is the future Queen Consort.  Meghan married the younger son and was expected to play a supporting role to the current and future monarch(s).

IMVHO the better comparison should have been between the Duchess of Sussex and Denmark's Princess Marie who is married to QMI's younger son, Prince Joachim. Marie like Meghan also is slim, attractive, brunette, university educated woman who left behind her career, family, friends and moved to a new adopted nation and married into the royal family. Unlike Meghan though, she did have to learn another language.


Now if they wanted to compare the Duchess of Sussex with other biracial women who married younger sons in European royal/princely families, there's also Denmark's Countess Alexandra fka Princess Alexandra who was previously married to Prince Joachim. There's also Lichtenstein's Princess Angela who is married to Prince Maximilian.

[TLLK]

Harry and Meghan didn?t mention about children

That's correct because the card from Archewell is likely for business associates and not family/friends.

[Curryong]

Meghan Markle was seen in new clothes worth ?79,000 in 2022 | Daily Mail Online

What does the cost of Meghan?s wardrobe have to do with Fail journalists, or indeed with anyone in the UK, as was pointed out in the comments? Neither she nor Harry take one penny from the taxpayers of Britain, nor are they working royals any more. So what possibly could be the motive of this rag for detailing all the items of clothing on her engagements? Wouldn?t be because they hopefully could then crow at all the extravagance, as compared to Kate, could it? Well sadly for them, no, because Kate?s wardrobe costs soared in 2022. To whip up some more hatred for her, because in spite of stepping away from Britain and royal duties (which they bang on about in every article to do with the Sussexes) she has the temerity to enjoy herself and wear some nice designer clothes at the same time? Almost certainly, because clickbait is what drives these tabloids.

And the gratuitous sneers accompanying the cost totals in the article are typical of this rag. How does she pay for these things, she must, hint hint, be taking freebies or doing deals with designers.

Again, what does it have to do with tabloid journalists or commentators or the British public how Meghan dresses herself or what this couple spend in their private lives. It?s their money, they don?t live in Britain, they are private citizens, so tabloids minding their own business might be a great idea in future. However, I?m not holding my breath!

[wannable]

A space filler, Harriet needed her salary

Anyway, 79K is nothing considering a full year 2022 mostly ensconsed at Montecito!

[wannable]

^ ETA, thinking about it a bit longer, Probably 5 years worth of commoner clothing.  I've really turned into a Marie Kondo giving away/blessings in return (comment I mentioned a few days ago). But understandably, MM has a life standard that she (and Harry) would like to keep. Once you live a certain lifestyle it is hard for the psych to lower that standard. 

I 'used' to dress very very power house (I'm giving away half of that too before moving, every 5 years approx), post pandemic, I started to dress more pant suits with low to mid ''rubber' heals/bike to the office, at least 2/5 days a weeks.  It was easy to mentally prepare for this, 2 years of track pants, almost commando with a dressy shirt for zooms calls and flip flop around the house, curfew dog walks of 20 min/1 km circumference around the house premises, if caught outside that 1KM, well the police ticket can be significant to hurt 'serious pocket money' which otherwise would be used for something fun, VIP recliner chair at movie theatre eating sushi type of expense.

[TLLK]

The Sussex family along with all of their Montecito neighbors have been issued an evacuation order by the County of Santa Barbara due to the incoming storm. The land is still unstable from the 2017 wildfires burning away much of the vegetation and that has not completely grown back. The Montecito Community had to be evacuated during the winter storm season six years ago. Good luck to all of the residents in SB Co. who are having to evacuate.

https://twitter.com/countyofsb/status/1612556977464393734?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

MMEDIATE EVACUATION ORDER issued to the ENTIRE MONTECITO COMMUNITY. Includes all 15 zones of the Montecito Community, all Toro Canyon & Padaro Lane residents in the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District & all residents of Sycamore Canyon in the City of SB and Montecito

[wannable]

I recall their house suffered a mudslide years ago, original American owner. A lot of money was reinvested to divert any future mudslides, original American owner in order to sell it to the Russian. The wife of the original owner couldn't live there any longer after the experience.

[changemhysoul]

I think the information goes here but Jeremy Clarkson partnership with Amazon has ended and he posted another non-apology on instagram.

Apparently, he did email Prince Harry to apologies on the 25th of December.

Which, is wrong on so many levels as it was Meghan who was attacked via his paper. The truly sad part was that in his instagram apology, he said he apologized to both people.

https://twitter.com/_PeterHunt/status/1615063072032362501

^ Response from their team.

[wannable]

He apologized and yet they didn't accept. It's a good warning. 

In other news, the 'fake' summit suggested by The Times has been confirmed to come from Montecito camp.  IOW, Roya Nikkhah still has a window of  'faith' in the couple.