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I wasn't interested in this Harry and Meghan shit until yesterday because I saw it as nothing more than tabloid fodder for folk with no lives, but I drew the line once I saw the clip from that Oprah interview. Meghan pointing the finger at the Palace and accusing them of "conspiring" against her by spreading lies (i.e. the bullying allegations which have just surfaced). I first heard about these stories 3 years ago, and I was shocked at the time that they were being kept under wrap. From speaking to at least 4 individuals who worked at the Palace, they all told me the same thing – she was spoilt, impatient, rude, dismissive and used to treat them like shit. She would often shout at them and the staff turnover was significantly high during the period of the Sussexes living in the Palace. People left on their own accord, or were dismissed because of her doing – babysitters, security staff, butlers and maids etc. Meghan and Kate were also at loggerheads, causing a rift between the two brothers. The reason why the allegations are now surfacing is because former (and perhaps current) Palace staff have seen the clip and thought "hey, wait a fucking minute, that is not what happened and you're playing of the victim card is totally unfair", and they've gone to the Press to tell their version of events, and expose her true personality. Oprah, has been carefully selected by the couple to perform the interview as she's pals with them. Attended their wedding and has history with Markle, thus she isn't going to ask them any tough questions and is only interested in telling their truth, not the truth.. The couple claim that they're escaping the limelight, and yet they continue to pump out their own stories in order to be centre media attention. What they actually mean is they don't want negative media attention. Looking on Twitter there seems to be swathes of gullible people, particularly young people, who genuinely believe that the couple are being relentlessly harassed and that they wished to disappear, completely evade the media and live happily ever after in obscurity. Some folk will honestly believe anything. Rant over. Sorry.

At 118 years old, the world's oldest living person is preparing to carry the Olympic torch this May in Japan. Kane Tanaka, who has twice survived cancer, lived through two global pandemics and loves fizzy drinks, will take the flame as it passes through Shime, in her home prefecture of Fukuoka. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/04/sport/japan-supercentenarian-olympic-torchbearer-hnk-intl/index.html

Transferred back to King Edward’s.

The press are intent on vilifying Meghan because that’s what our vile press does. Harry and Meghan are intent on playing victims in some kind of publicity stealth boost. The Royals are intent on being as royally stiff as possible. All these feed off each other to create one over-publicised circle jerk that I and so many others couldn’t give a flying fuck about. I wish it’d all just

Not at all, I make that bang on the money. Speaking of money, that's also what they want, the income from being 'famous royal couple' minus that tedious responsibility part. Even more shockingly, both I and @Gooseberry Crumble liked your rant, which in a roundabout fashion means we agree about something, I think I need a sit down.

Americans likely watch things like The Princess Diaries thinking it’s a docu-drama inspired by our Royal Family. Being a Royal is not fun. It’s not all glitz and glamour and Hello magazine dress spreads for princesses. It’s really intense work set – made compulsory by the notion of “duty”, coupled with a hell of a lot of media scrutiny.

According to the latest clip, Oprah wanted to interview her in March 2018 before the wedding but Meghan wasn't allowed to - unlike now. So, she didn't understand what being a royal means. "So, as an adult who lived a really independent life to then go into this construct that is different than I think what people imagine it to be." Only to the American perception of being a Princess, dear. Us in the UK know exactly what it entails. It seems she is truly hell-bent on lifting up the curtain on what life in the Royal Family is really like. Or at least, what her view is. She's talking about being independent and being able to do what she wants - in that case, like @Toast said a little while ago, how on earth can they possibly retain their titles? If they want to be Hollywood celebrities, then off they go, without any royal ties whatsoever (you know, apart from all the familial ones that are going to be incredibly awkward over the next decade: Phil's death, Queen's death, Charles's coronation, William's investiture to name just a few). I suspect sooner or later it will all end in tears and she'll become another failed spouse marrying into the House of Windsor. The bullying reports resurfacing plays into her victimisation narrative, "they're out to get me", rather than Ulitzer's point that the reports were buried to help her and are now being brought out as signs of her true nature. It's an unholy mess, that's likely going to overshadow the Queen's final years and potentially the Royals for the foreseeable, as she becomes the daughter-in-law to the King, and then the sister-in-law to the King (should it last that long). Oh, and here's the BBC story that features the quote I mentioned above: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56293793

Maybe he wants to resign but doesn’t agree with Papal abdication...

No, he's still thinking with his dick.

German composer Helmut Winschermann dead at 100: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14243660

Robin Prytherch, renowned buzzard expert.

I so wish you get the opportunity to ask her that. Actually though .... you could write and ask her!

There's also the Union factor - the old Scottish Tory heartland went back to them as the Unionist vote. In Glasgow, on the other hand, a Unionist voter trying to keep out the SNP would vote for another party... But there are many facets to the vote. North Lanarkshire problematic for SNP as well as Labour as its an area very much run by political cliques and huffs. (They lost a seat in 2017 because the MP sided with the wrong person in an interparty argument and their campaign support was cut off!) Yes, I am aware someone from Glasgow looking down on that is a bit glasshouses/stones... (There is of course the other possibility that the Scottish electorate are now in fact actually addicted to exciting election night coverage after the last decade, and so all seat bets are off...)

Difficult to say how much of the electoral success of SLabour in 2017 was down to Corbyn or even SLabour's campaign planning. After all, the ScotTories won 13 seats, and I don't for one minute believe that it was down to May or any genius ScotTory campaign plan, because I don't believe there was one. You seen the North Lanarkshire by-election results today? Both Labour gains. Marginal shifts, but still a significant moment. Can't remember the last time SLabour pulled off a double by-election victory in Scotland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Kert Johannes Kert, Commander of the Estonian Defence forces from 1996 to 2000 and member of the Estonian parliament dead at 61

no

Oh good, mullets are back in.

Hmm, hard to gauge what he's thinking IMHO. Not that I give that much of a toss either way but... he clearly has major beef with the British press and hasn't forgiven them for the way they treated his mum and, in particular, for the circumstances of her life in the minutes before the accident. If one set of observers have their finger on this enigmatic pulse I'd say it's the super-minds behind the Daily Star

Walter Gretzky, father of Wayne, has died at 82. He suffered from Parkinson's.

If it stents then I'd say so far so good for Philip. My mum had to take a lot of care in the weeks after having stents inserted as the risk of heart attack remains high. Heart disease can be unpredictable, my grandmother died after her heart basically exploded aged 62, while my Grandfather survived two heart bypasses and numerous heart attacks before he died in his late 70's. While I hope Philip makes to 100, he's probably in the final furlong of life. This was in today's Popbitch mailout - FYI - Long time lurker.

DDT pick Karima Brown is dead https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2021-03-04-journalist-karima-brown-dies-after-being-hospitalised-for-covid-19/

Dick Sheppard (wiki) dead at 90. Stuntman in over 500(!) films including the James Bond series and The Italian Job (1969). Also held an incredible 18 Guinness World Records. Managed to get featured in their published editions every year from 1969 to 1996. The Sun obit. Mirror obit.

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I, for one, welcome our xenormorph overlords.

Thae article sez she fell on the set of Cheers years ago...I feel a claim coming on...She's not a Scouser is she ?....