We talk about everything on this board, even celebrities. What we like, what we don’t, observations. Nobody is ripping her apart or getting vicious here. It’s like a bunch of friends sitting around gossiping over a glass of wine.
The royal family’s job is to promote a positive national image and be perceived as good stewards of their privilege, so it’s reasonable to expect them to show good taste in their celebrations. That said, receiving gifts from people who are genuinely their friends from way back can be consistent with that job.
I’m way more turned off by conspicuous consumption in America when people are throwing around inherited wealth or gains I consider ill-gotten or under-taxed. Serena Williams earned every nickel in her bank account with literal blood, sweat, and tears (while enduring a lot of racist and sexist BS), so I rather like seeing her enjoy her luxuries. I hope she takes a bath in champagne while she’s at it.
“Serena Williams earned every nickel in her bank account with literal blood, sweat, and tears (while enduring a lot of racist and sexist BS), so I rather like seeing her enjoy her luxuries. I hope she takes a bath in champagne while she’s at it.”
I wish I could like this 1000 times.
And if I recall correctly, there were negative comments in the press about Serena during her pregnancy.
Since I found pregnancy extremely challenging, I strongly support: “let me fat in peace”
Of course she’s hyper self-aware! Every paparrazo in the world is out to get her, and as noted above, she now represents the Royal Family! She’s supposed to follow all these absurd rules, and always be ready to be photographed looking perfect. I’d be hyper self-aware, too!
I agree with Hanna’s first sentence. The Royal Family must be careful about their public image if they want the monarchy to continue and if they want to maintain the respect of the British people. Lavish living, even at the expense of others, doesn’t enhance that image. Kate, Prince Williams’s wife, has never to my knowledge had such an over the top party. She naturally wears couture British designers that cost a bundle, but that is partly to promote British fashion. Other than that, she does not seem to be into ostentatious spending.
Ostentation is just bad form and vulgar. Modest living, no matter how much money one has is in better taste.
@jym626 Among other sources, The Telegraph estimated the cost to be about $430k The Guardian GBP300k++
Daily Mail $500k+ etc etc Therefore, I think a fair guesstimate would be somewhere between $200k and $500k HaHa! And if one of the celeb friends had hosted this five day lavish baby shower in one of their own homes, i.e. Amal in Lake Como, it would be different
Serena Williams, Meghan Sussex, Amal Clooney etc. can spend THEIR money (British taxpayers paid for UK security; not sure who paid for USA security) in any way they choose, however, when Kensington Palace posts something like this:
“73% of the poorest families cannot always afford to feed their children during the school holidays, a gap which is estimated to affect 3 million children and young people across the UK, and 700,000 in London.”
On the same day one of their own is lapping it up in NYC, I believe it is poor taste. And as for the ‘charitable’ distribution of flowers, well, I have no words…
@Hanna “Serena Williams earned every nickel in her bank account with literal blood, sweat, and tears (while enduring a lot of racist and sexist BS), so I rather like seeing her enjoy her luxuries. I hope she takes a bath in champagne while she’s at it.”
ABSOLUTELY, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT agree with this
Meghan is from the US and has every right to want to travel here. Other royals have as well. It’s a big “so what?” It gives me a big yawn.
And honestly for the umpteenth time, I don’t care what private citizens with means spend on a private event. It’s their money. Be happy for them. Maybe the Queen should sell a few of her tiaras to feed those hungry kids. Really, the focus on the cost is getting a bit old. No need to keep calling me out. Many posters here seem to have the same opinion.
@jym626 I am sorry you think I was calling you out - it is not my intention - I was responding to your query in post #71 Again, I apologize for that
And, for anybody who is reading this, and for the record, so that you all know - if I do @ nameyou , it is ALWAYS a response to something you’ve posted, not a ‘callout’
A response does not need the poster’s name in it. It’s simply a response to the discussion. When you put their name in it, frequently, depending on their settings, they get a message. And you are mentioning them specifically (as opposed to any other posters who may have said virtually the same thing). To me that is calling them out. You can mention a post number (though occasionally that can change) without calling out to the author of the post. This seems to be general forum demeanor here. Many of us have been here a long time, before using the @ sign before a poster’s name was even a thing.
Alright, thank you; and, I truly do apologise. My intent was not personal.
@jym26, I often use the @ symbol to respond to someone specifically. There is not an issue with that. I find that it helps, actually.
@MaineLonghorn that is exactly what I mean when I say calling them out. You are calling out to them in particular/specifically. It’s neither a good or bad thing- but it tends to continue to engage them in the conversation.
Let’s move on from the minutiae about the best practices of tagging; it has nothing to do with this thread. And I’m just saying that in general and purposely tagged nobody.
TBH, @skieurope, what else is there to say about this baby shower? It was pretty, it was expensive, it was paid for by friends of the mother to be, and it’s over. It’s your call, but maybe this thread should be as well…
To be fair, the thread was not started because of the shower news… why should it be closed?
IMO, nothing. However, the thread was created to discuss Meghan’s pregnancy. The shower is one event. I’ll be quite happy if the thread goes dormant until the birth, but I see no reason to close it until then (and probably not until after the christening).
Holding your pregnant belly from below reveals someone to be a narcissist??? WTH?
Maybe the poor girl is uncomfortable and this makes her feel better. Why does that translate to a character flaw? Good grief. I hope her love for Harry makes all this ridiculous criticism worth it.