Palace Intrigue: Harry, Meghan & the Crown. Royal Family News and Gossip.

It’s Meghan Markle versus Buckingham Palace in the Christmas advent calendar wars. The Royal Collection Trust is selling a chocolate calendar for twelve pounds, while Meghan’s sold-out As Ever calendar was priced at $148. Meghan’s version features her Montecito home, hand-painted gold details and specialty chocolates, while the Palace version offers twenty-four chocolates behind scenes of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Holyroodhouse.
A promotional photograph for Meghan’s calendar also sparked a bizarre online debate over whether she appeared to have six fingers. The explanation is considerably less exciting: HELLO! reports it was an optical illusion caused by overlapping fingers.

Meghan is already expanding the As Ever Christmas collection with a hostess basket, playing cards and new Ginger Lemon, Lavender Honey and Hibiscus Rose chocolate bars. Critics have compared the new products with the King’s Highgrove range, accusing Meghan of moving her California lifestyle brand into familiar royal territory.

Meanwhile, journalist Daisy McAndrew says a Cotswolds village WhatsApp group has been “alive and buzzing with complaints” involving Meghan, although she acknowledges that some of the stories are fourth- or fifth-hand. The complaints reportedly involve special treatment and security arrangements around Soho Farmhouse.

Plus, reports claim Amazon’s interest in sponsoring Invictus could potentially lead to other projects 
involving Prince Harry, while two British clergymen reportedly received abusive messages after criticizing the price of Meghan’s advent calendar.

Questions this episode answers: How much does Meghan Markle’s As Ever advent calendar cost? How much is Buckingham Palace’s advent calendar? What is inside Meghan’s Christmas calendar? Did Meghan appear to have six fingers in an As Ever photo? Is Meghan copying King Charles’s Highgrove products? What is in Meghan’s new Holiday Collection? Why are Cotswolds residents reportedly complaining about Meghan? Could Amazon work with Prince Harry beyond the Invictus Games? And why did two clergymen criticize Meghan’s advent calendar?

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Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s court battle over police searches is escalating, and King Charles reportedly wants no part in paying for it. The Telegraph reports that Charles has made clear that the private allowance he provides his brother must not be used to fund Andrew’s challenge to search warrants covering his Norfolk residence and former home at Royal Lodge. Legal experts suggest the case could cost hundreds of thousands. 

Thames Valley Police is asking the High Court to restrict access to some documents because of its continuing criminal investigation. Andrew is seeking to overturn the warrants and is challenging both their lawfulness and, according to the Telegraph, how officers executed them. Andrew has strenuously denied wrongdoing and remains under investigation.

The case creates yet another headache for King Charles and the Royal Family, with Telegraph columnist Hannah Furness describing the legal action as Andrew’s “last roll of the dice.”
Elsewhere, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, visited Eton, although she was there for an international string competition rather than to see her nephew Prince George. PETA is facing a Charity Commission review of a complaint involving its campaigning, including its criticism of William and Catherine after their dog Orla had puppies.

Plus, William and Catherine sent Dame Kelly Holmes a personal letter thanking her for speaking about mental health, and Prince William joined Ross Kemp for an emergency-preparedness exercise before attempting to squeeze some Celebrity Traitors spoilers out of him.

Questions this episode answers: Why is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor taking the police to court? What search warrants is Andrew challenging? Is King Charles paying Andrew’s legal bills? Could Andrew’s court case cost hundreds of thousands? What happens if Andrew successfully overturns the warrants? Why did Sophie visit Prince George’s school? Why is PETA facing a Charity Commission review? What did William and Kate write to Dame Kelly Holmes? And did Prince William get any Celebrity Traitors spoilers from Ross Kemp?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/palace-intrigue-harry-meghan-the-crown-royal-family-news-and-gossip--4522904/support.

Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Kylie Kelce has apologized to Catherine, Princess of Wales, after learning that calling her “Princess Kate” was not the correct form of address. Kylie had previously invited Catherine onto her Not Gonna Lie podcast to talk field hockey, children and family life. She now says she wants to address the Princess respectfully, although there is no indication Catherine herself complained or requested an apology.

Catherine has also revealed a few decidedly normal problems behind royal life: she regularly forgets her handbag, is apparently notorious for losing her phone and enjoys washing the dishes at home while Prince William dries.

William, meanwhile, generated some unexpectedly enthusiastic social-media commentary after photographs showed him climbing over a barbed-wire fence during a visit to Wales. One admirer congratulated whoever is responsible for his gym routine. William was actually there to discuss flooding and help a charity working to plant one million native trees across South Wales.
The Prince of Wales also encountered a man who remembered buying a CD from William at a childhood bric-a-brac sale and sent a moving video message honoring the late Dame Deborah James and her legacy of “rebellious hope.”

Plus, one tabloid claims Harry and Meghan were unhappy about William and Catherine appearing with Tom Cruise at the Digger premiere, while Piers Morgan says there is little chance of William and Harry working together anytime soon.

Questions this episode answers: Why did Kylie Kelce apologize to Kate Middleton? Is it correct to call Catherine “Princess Kate”? Did Kylie Kelce invite the Princess of Wales onto her podcast? Does Kate Middleton really lose her phone and handbag? What household chore does Catherine enjoy? Why did photographs of Prince William climbing a fence go viral? What did William say about Dame Deborah James? Are Harry and Meghan upset about William and Kate’s friendship with Tom Cruise? And will Prince William and Prince Harry reconcile?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/palace-intrigue-harry-meghan-the-crown-royal-family-news-and-gossip--4522904/support.

Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Meghan Markle is bringing Montecito to Christmas with a $148 As Ever advent calendar created with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés. The limited-edition calendar contains twenty-four chocolates inspired by the Sussex family’s California garden, while Meghan teased more holiday products with a new kitchen photograph featuring roughly $66,000 worth of jewelry. Naturally, social media found plenty to discuss, including whether the stove in the promotional photograph was actually turned on.

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan have been photographed holding hands on their way to a Cotswolds pub lunch, their first photographs out together since the family returned to Britain. The couple reportedly enjoyed fish and chips and pie at the Falkland Arms, although royal correspondent Tom Sykes questions whether the seemingly candid photographs were really accidental. The Sun says the photographer simply stumbled upon them.

There’s also a bizarre mystery involving a copy of Meghan’s children’s book The Bench offered on eBay for almost £20,000. The book contains an apparent personal inscription to Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, but neither the signature nor the claim that the copy belonged to Eugenie has been authenticated.

Prince Harry has also spoken candidly about losing part of his identity when he left the Army. But another Harry appearance is receiving less flattering attention, with royal biographer Robert Jobson calling his recent Birmingham school visit “a mess” and saying students appeared distinctly unimpressed.

Questions this episode answers: How much is Meghan Markle’s As Ever advent calendar? What is inside Meghan’s Christmas calendar? Why is Meghan’s new promotional photo being mocked? Were Harry and Meghan’s Cotswolds pub photos staged? What did Harry and Meghan eat at the Falkland Arms? Is Princess Eugenie’s copy of The Bench really being sold on eBay? What did Prince Harry say about leaving the Army? And why is Harry’s Birmingham school visit being criticized?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/palace-intrigue-harry-meghan-the-crown-royal-family-news-and-gossip--4522904/support.

Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking his fight over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to the High Court, asking judges to determine whether police had lawful warrants to search his homes. His lawyers have been given permission to challenge warrants covering his Sandringham residence and former home at Royal Lodge, with a private hearing expected to consider whether documents connected to the case should be released. Police say their investigation continues.
Meanwhile, one tabloid claims Andrew is privately enjoying the criticism King Charles is receiving following publication of Charles Spencer’s Princess Diana memoir. Another report alleges Queen Camilla has been spending time at Ray Mill House as Charles remains consumed by the controversy surrounding the book. Both stories rely on unnamed sources. 

Charles Spencer himself is escalating his criticism of the monarchy. Diana’s brother claims the Royal Family can “galvanize sections of the U.K. media to take vengeance” against people who challenge it, comparing the response to Swan Song: Diana, My Sister with the backlash he experienced after his famous speech at Diana’s funeral.

Plus, Nigel Farage jokes that Meghan Markle might be sent back to America if he became prime minister before offering a much harsher assessment of Harry and Meghan. And commentator Carole Malone speculates that Meghan is attempting to create a professional identity increasingly separate from Harry, although the couple were recently photographed holding hands during a Cotswolds pub outing. 

Questions this episode answers: Why is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor challenging police search warrants? What is the latest development in the investigation into Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein? Is Andrew enjoying King Charles’s problems? Are King Charles and Queen Camilla having marital problems? What has Charles Spencer accused the Royal Family of doing to its critics? What did Nigel Farage say about Meghan Markle? Is Meghan trying to establish a career separate from Prince Harry? And are Harry and Meghan having relationship problems?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/palace-intrigue-harry-meghan-the-crown-royal-family-news-and-gossip--4522904/support.

Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.