Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex - Last Royal Waltz

Smiling in the Rain!

Once Royal and Puff Celebrities!  

Meghan has graced her presence in the United Kingdom this last week after the sudden departure in January 2020.  What a splash of fashion she has made across the globe.   Her attire, smile and presence has brightened everyone's spirits while we constantly read or hear about the vicious virus tainting our days.  Not to downplay the seriousness of the illness but it is refreshing to focus on joy for a moment.

The happiness between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex soon to be called Harry and Meghan is readily apparent in every photo. They have morphed into star powered celebrities right before our eyes.  Their glow was effervescent, and the loss of the House of Windsor has jolly well been replaced with good ole American celebrity fame.  The Firm for these two will be sorrowfully remembered as a fairy tale that went south.  Once promising with VIP's, celebrities in attendance at their wedding versus close friends had the symptoms of celebrity versus royal confusion from the onset.  The discrepancies were night and day which caused grief, angst, anger, bitterness and discontentment with personal staff, other staff, the Queen and the bemused public.   Now they are free to carry on as they wish.

Will they be happy long term?  As reported in my last post, Prince Harry - The New Harry, Princess Diana struggled mightily after changing her life from Prince Charles.  Starting over is never easy.  Meghan will breezily move on with speed and zest while Harry may become a bit lost without family connection, royal expectations, daily structures, traditions, military obligations and friendships. The proof will be in the pudding.  As for tabloid tales, why they will continue with rapid velocity detailing every movement. There will be no boundaries set by the Queen on what can and cannot be photographed.  It will be a feeding frenzy.  After all, you are both celebrities now.

Celebrities capitalizing on book deals, speaking opportunities, television interviews, starting a lucrative foundation and possible movie career for Meghan.  Let's hope they do not spend energy bloviating and trashing the royal family which would be pathetic and untoward.

Since Thursday Meghan has attended Endeavor Funds Awards, Private visit to the National Theater, Robert Clack School of Science, Royal Albert Hall, Mountbatten Festival, church with the Queen culminating with the Commonwealth Services at Westminster Abbey on Monday, March 9th. What will the engagements be in the United States?  Perhaps meeting with power-mongers such as producers, film makers, actors, singers, talk show divas and other artisans. All in the name of selling yourselves and your ideas for money making opportunities.  And, of course, several humanitarian issues will be swirled throughout the mix. 

The Quintessential Fashion Maker

"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick.  Fashion is instant language." Miuccia Prada

Markle's fashion has been impeccable and show stopping. The last few days were exceptional and radiated contentment.  I absolutely marveled at the ensembles and more importantly the smile, makeup and overall demeanor.  What a loss it will be for us to see Meghan in jeans or dressed as a celebrity.  She will be so normal, so average and so ordinary.  Rather like me or celebrities sporting jeans or work out gear or heaven forbid too much skin.  Of course, jeans can always be chic with the right attire.  Why on Saturday, I reported a beautiful outfit with Duchess Catherine that was perfection with an ice blue wool coat, blue top, jeans and black flats.

Dress for Success - Markle Style

Meghan has been center stage in the the fashion world for her classic and show stopping attire over the last three years.  Her expertly apparel choices plus lively presence and speaking skills were commanding.   Why is dressing for success at venues or occasions important? Because your attire shows respect for the event, respect to those around you and garners self-confidence.  Those in positions of power understand that dressing well is everything when in the public eye.  You will be memorable. Maybe Markle will be the one to revolutionize the elegance of dressing with style and grace with her rising celebrity status.  Angelina Jolie appears beautifully draped in public and perhaps she will too.  

Her first appearance in the United States is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala without Harry in May.  It seems strange to not appear with Harry and as for the fashion, well that is up in the air.  The theme is About Time: Fashion and Duration which is about re-imagining the fashion industry with a mix of elements of fashion over time.   This is what I deduced from the vague overview.  We shall wait and see.

Royal or Long Live Celebrity - Tension All Time High

Commonwealth Services at Westminster Abbey

What once was a warm friendship? What happened? 

Fear not, Harry and Meghan will always be welcomed back to the royal family. However, the appearance and photos at the Commonwealth Services at Westminster Abbey on March 9th confirmed the strain between the Sussex's and the Cambridge's.  The tension from their body language and how they greeted or didn't greet each other was on full display.  Notwithstanding there was behind-the-scenes tension over protocol before they were all seated.   The Sussex's were upset when they found out that they would not be allowed to join the Queen, the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the main VIP party.  There were told that they would make their way to the seats with the Earl and Countess of Wessex.  To diffuse the situation, the Cambridge's waited with them.

Frankly, when you give up royal status you are not part of the inner circle.  They have made their decision.  The Sussex's cannot be royals and celebrities at the same time.  This was made very clear by Queen Elizabeth II. Yet, the Sussex's on this day seemed a bit preoccupied with their previous royal status.   Alas they chosen their path - celebrity with all the wrappings.  Deal with it.

The current affair will be reviewed in twelve months. During this period, they will retain links to the "family of nations" because they keep their roles as president and vice-president of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust.  Meghan will also retain her patronage of the Association of Commonwealth Universities which she took on last year.   Life's journey is indeed a winding road of the unexpected and ultimately a wondrous adventure.  May we wish the best for Harry and Meghan as they fly away across the pond towards the land of money, opportunity, capitalism and fame.

All Hail the New Celebrities!

"To be or not be royal. That is the question - Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous celebrity fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of royal troubles, and, by assimilating and getting along, end them?" The idea of whether it is better to be royal or celebrity"   Ah, the conundrum of it all."

"Grace, Kindness and Respect" 

Cheers, 

Forever Chic Style - Kim