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- Prince William, Kate Middleton prioritize 'duty' as Meghan Markle focuses on Hollywood image: expert
Prince William, Kate Middleton prioritize 'duty' as Meghan Markle focuses on Hollywood image: expert
Prince William and Kate Middleton are taking the high road as Meghan Markle continues to make headlines in ritzy Montecito.
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital that the Prince and Princess of Wales are putting duty first as the Duchess of Sussex gears up to launch her lifestyle series in March.
"Prince William and Catherine are known to be glad to retain a distance from Meghan Markle, thereby avoiding any potential entanglement in future controversies," Fordwich explained. "Stability and service are paramount to the couple as they anticipate their lives being dedicated to both. There isn’t anything furthering either of those values in Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s deal with Netflix."
Fordwich’s comments came shortly after palace insiders claimed to the U.K.’s Daily Mail that Meghan’s decision to postpone her series was "a final blow" to Queen Elizabeth II.
They claimed that the 43-year-old "didn’t think twice" about delaying the launch of "With Love, Meghan" due to the Los Angeles fires. Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex allowed their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey to air in 2021 as Prince Philip was ill. Harry’s grandfather died four weeks later.
While Fordwich called the Sussexes "a huge liability" for "what the monarchy stands for," other experts felt Meghan’s decision to delay her series was justifiable.
"What utter nonsense — and just one more indication of how the U.K. tabloid press grasps at straws to crucify Meghan and Harry," Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," told Fox News Digital about the Daily Mail's report.
"There may be plenty of things to criticize about the Sussexes, but this isn't one of them," he said. "Trying to compare the Oprah interview, the release of which the Sussexes had no control over, to their decision to postpone Meghan's lifestyle show because of the LA fires is drawing an egregiously false equivalence. Prince Philip had been frequently hospitalized over the final years of his life; at 99 years of age, going in and out of the hospital had become fairly routine."
"Giving lifestyle and cooking tips while thousands of their neighbors' homes were burning to the ground wouldn't have gone over well, to say the least," Andersen pointed out. "Postponing the roll-out of their new Netflix series was not only the right decision, but it was also the only decision Meghan could make."
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Still, Fordwich claimed that the Prince and Princess of Wales are choosing not to give Meghan’s latest project any oxygen. Instead, they’ll be focusing on raising their three young children and supporting King Charles III, who is still seeking treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
"For the royal family, this further reinforces Prince William’s instincts to retain the distance from the couple," Fordwich claimed.
It is believed that William’s relationship with his younger brother is nonexistent.
Kinsey Schofield, host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast, claimed to Fox News Digital that it was the streaming giant, not the duchess, who chose to hit the pause button on her series. "With Love, Meghan" was originally scheduled to premiere on Jan. 15.
"My sources tell me that it was Netflix that was eager to postpone Meghan's show to try to avoid harsh criticism," she claimed. "I would not be surprised if they used the entire month and a half… to make some much-needed edits to the final product."
WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE ‘MOVED ON’ FROM ROYAL FAMILY DRAMA, AUTHOR CLAIMS
"The royal family recognized that Meghan wasn't out for anyone but herself a long time ago," Schofield claimed. "They set boundaries to protect their emotional wellbeing well before Megxit. Meghan constantly prioritizes herself at their expense and the only solution is to keep her at a distance. It's not about being cruel, it's about recognizing that the relationship is toxic and one-sided."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. Since then, they’ve made headlines for airing their grievances.
After detailing their struggles with royal life to Winfrey, they unveiled their controversial Netflix docuseries, "Harry & Meghan," in late 2022. Then, in early 2023, Harry’s memoir, "Spare," was published.
Each launch highlighted new allegations about their time as royals.
"With Love, Meghan," promises to take a different approach. It will showcase the mother of two’s love for cooking and gardening alongside her celebrity pals. However, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams claimed to Fox News Digital that the royal family "has not forgotten" the couple’s past tell-alls.
"The decision to postpone was taken by Netflix," claimed Fitzwilliams. "To show it at this time… was simply impossible. She had no option other than to request that they postpone it. The online reaction to it has been so negative that there’s always the chance it might be postponed again… It is saccharine and contrived."
"… When it comes to timing, the royal family will not have forgotten the shameful fact that the interview on Oprah went ahead when Prince Philip was in the hospital," he claimed. "The couple didn’t know this when it was originally planned, but it went ahead nonetheless… This was an utterly ruthless and shameful episode. The royal family has not forgotten. The royal family obviously has other concerns [today]."
"Their despicable timing of the Oprah interview, which caused Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip untold anguish, was totally and utterly unforgivable," Fordwich claimed.
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Andersen previously told Fox News Digital that Kate and Meghan were "never close." Following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s exit, the Princess of Wales has kept her distance as she serves the crown.
"From the very beginning, Kate and Meghan were hardly what I would call a love match," Andersen explained. "Even before they had their famous, tearful row over the flower girls’ dresses at Harry and Meghan’s wedding, the relationship between the two princesses was frosty.
"After Megxit, Kate did what she could do to bring brothers Prince Harry and Prince William back together, but that proved impossible once the Sussexes let loose on the royal family during the Oprah interview and then in Harry’s blistering memoir ‘Spare.’
"Kate threw her hands up and essentially walked away, leaving it up to William and Harry to decide when — or even if — they will patch things up," Andersen continued. "All the while, Meghan has sailed above the fray, pursuing her projects in California and showing little interest in repairing relations with her royal in-laws."
Andersen also claimed that the Sussexes have "zero intention of apologizing for anything."
"Zero," he stressed. "They still firmly believe they are the wronged party in this royal saga. And while Kate might be capable of burying the hatchet and moving on, King Charles… and Prince William are not in a forgiving mood. Things have gone too far. The wounds are simply too deep."
Earlier this month, Kate announced she is in "remission" from cancer and is focused on her future.
"It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery," she wrote. "As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am, however, looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to."
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Latest Political News on Fox News
- Trump, Prince William sit down for meeting in Paris after Notre Dame ceremony
Trump, Prince William sit down for meeting in Paris after Notre Dame ceremony
President-elect Trump and Prince William shook hands at the re-opening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday, and afterward held a sit-down meeting at the British Embassy ahead of Trump's inauguration.
Trump and William also separately met with world leaders at Notre Dame, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
William was seen shaking hands and speaking with first lady Jill Biden, who represented the United States at the ceremony in place of President Biden.
Prince William was asked to represent Britain at the event and after the ceremony, he and Trump reconvened at the British Embassy in Paris to discuss the "special relationship" between the U.K. and the U.S.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Kensington Palace and the Trump transition team for comment.
The meeting was the pair’s first since Trump won the election. They last met during his first term in 2019 when Trump made a state visit to the U.K.
William also met with President Biden in 2022, while he was there for his Earthshot Prize.
Trump also met with then-Prince Charles in 2019 and Clarence House said at the time that the two have a "good working relationship."
TRUMP MEETS WITH MACRON, ZELENSKYY AHEAD OF THE NOTRE DAME REOPENING CEREMONY IN PARIS
Trump told ITV in 2019 that he was supposed to meet with Charles for 15 minutes during his state visit, but they ended up talking for over an hour about the environment.
"He is really into climate change, and I think that’s great. I mean, I want that. I like that," Trump told ITV in 2019. "What he really wants, and what he really feels warmly about, is the future. He wants to make sure future generations have climate that is good climate, as opposed to a disaster. And I agree."
King Charles also contacted Trump last summer via a letter after his assassination attempt.
The president-elect also met with the late Queen Elizabeth during the 2019 visit.
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Notre Dame has been under renovation since a devastating fire damaged the nearly 900-year-old cathedral, probably the most famous in Paris, in 2019.
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Latest Political News on Fox News
- Trump meets with Macron, Zelenskyy ahead of Notre Dame reopening ceremony in Paris
Trump meets with Macron, Zelenskyy ahead of Notre Dame reopening ceremony in Paris
President-elect Trump met with world leaders ahead of the reopening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral as he steps back onto the global stage following his election victory.
Trump traveled to France on Saturday to attend the reopening of Notre Dame, the famous cathedral that suffered serious damage during a fire five years ago. The trip marks Trump's first international trip since he was elected to a second, non-consecutive term in office.
Trump's diplomacy was on full display during the trip as he met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Presidential Palace in Paris. The pair was later joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"It's a great honor for French people to welcome you five years later," Macron said of Trump. "And you were, at that time, president for the first time. And I remember the solidarity and your immediate action. So, welcome back again. We are very happy to have you here."
Ahead of the meeting, Trump said the world leaders would be talking about how "the world is going a little crazy right now."
"We have a great relationship. As everyone knows, we accomplished a lot together," Trump said of Macron. "And the people of France are spectacular."
DAVID MARCUS: TRIUMPHANT TRUMP AT NOTRE DAME SIGNALS AMERICA AND THE WEST ARE BACK
Trump is expected to meet with Prince William, who is attending the event in place of his father, King Charles III, after the ceremony, according to Kensington Palace.
President Biden is not expected to attend the event, however, First Lady Jill Biden will be present.
William was scheduled to meet with the First Lady at the UK residence in Paris, but due to weather, the meeting was canceled, and the two will meet at the ceremony.