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Meghan’s NYC dash
Meghan’s appearance at Flushing Meadows yesterday to support her friend Serena Williams certainly lit up the courts. The absolute delight Americans showed at having her in the crowd, and the generous welcome she was given must have been a tonic after the months of abuse she has received back in her adopted home of Blighty.
The feeling of positivity will only serve to intensify rumors that Meghan and Harry are seriously contemplating relocating to America.
One person, however, who was reportedly less than thrilled at the presence of Meghan in the bleachers was Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou who, Page Six reported, is “very superstitious,” and noted that, “Serena lost when Meghan came to watch her at Wimbledon.”
Mouratoglou denied the story, telling the Post that one person “more or less won’t change a thing.” At the time of writing, Meghan was still in NYC, with time for an early morning yoga class (as she did Saturday) or a quick show at New York Fashion Week—before heading back to Britain and its ferociously judgmental press.
Sweetness
He previously hailed her as the queen of avocado toast, sharing a photograph of a rather delicious looking specimen he was served at Kensington Palace on Instagram.
And on Saturday Meghan Markle’s favorite make-up artist, Daniel Martin received another culinary surprise from his royal friend; a plate of cupcakes to mark his birthday.
His post suggested Meghan had used her last minute trip to New York to pay him a personal visit on his birthday.
“I am so overwhelmed by all of your well wishes! My sincerest gratitude!! Thanks to everyone for reaching out to me today,” he wrote on Instagram next to a picture of the cake’s Meghan had given him, adding, “Meg, love you friend for surprising me on my special day.”
Martin, who made Meghan up for her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018 and attended her New York baby shower, is an important member of Meghan’s shadow press team.
He spoke out in a recent Gayle King documentary marking the birth of baby Archie, defending her by tearfully saying: “She’s still Meghan to me. I know her so well, and she doesn’t deserve all this negative press.”
Write on
A report in the Sun that Meghan Markle is in negotiations to write a children’s book fill the Royalist with foreboding.
The offices of literary agents all over London are littered with the broken careers of celebs of one form or other who have decided that nothing could be easier than penning a few jolly tales to appeal to young minds, but when it comes to Royals doing so, we urge Meghan to remember Budgie The Helicopter, Sarah Ferguson’s ill-fated foray into kid’s books.
The Sun’s report of Meghan’s literary ambitions also mentioned that she has maintained a close relationship with her Hollywood business team, keeping on her former agent Nick Collins, business manager Andrew Meyer and attorney Rick Genow. Collins works for her former talent agency, Gersh and the Sun claims that Collins “filters the deals and passes them on to Meghan.”
The palace sort-of-confirmed, in a typically roundabout way, that the story is true, telling the Sun: “Rick, Andrew and Nick have been legal, financial and business advisers to the Duchess for many years during her career in the US and remain friends.”
Royal fashion watch
A family group shot this week, as Prince William and Kate Middleton took their kids to what would be Princess Charlotte's first day at school at Thomas’ Battersea where her brother Prince George goes. The whole thing was well-choreographed cuteness, and everyone looked fabulous too (Kate was wearing a floral Michael Kors dress).
This week in royal history
Buckingham Palace was bombed several times in World War II. In the few days before September 13, 1940, the Palace was attacked twice, with the most damage to the North Wing of the Palace.
Then, on September 13, five further bombs fell, doing significant damage and killing one palace worker. Afterwards, Queen Elizabeth (later better known as the Queen Mother) famously said, “I am glad we have been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face.”
Unanswered questions
Just how toxic is an association with Prince Andrew these days? He is still technically due to attend a series of events in Northern Ireland next week, but is under pressure to withdraw, especially as one is an event for a golf club’s youth program where he might be pictured with teenage girls.
Andrew did, however, receive a warm welcome from a near-counterpart in Belgium on Friday. He was invited to Bruges by Prince Laurent, the younger brother of King Philippe of Belgium.
Laurent has been a consistent embarrassment to the Belgian royal family for many years; he was recently filmed checking his phone during the national anthem, and has appeared as a witness in a fraud case.
He arguably has even worst taste in friends than Andrew, having once befriended Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, the former Libyan dictator, according to The Sunday Times.
We checked with the palace when Andrew would next be appearing in public, but response came there none.
