For what feels like the millionth time, let me just repeat this: the original story in the Sunday Times London newspaper was that palace courtiers were working with Prince William to arrange for the Sussexes to be exiled abroad. The sources claimed repeatedly that there are serious concerns about the popularity of the Sussexes and how Meghan and Harry are “overshadowing” William and Kate and senior royals. As punishment for being “too much like Diana,” there are serious discussions to figure out a country where the Sussexes could be exiled for a few years. Australia and Canada were under consideration, but nixxed because of the media presence. Currently, courtiers and Kensington Palace want to send the Sussexes to Botswana or South Africa for a time in 2020. Only hours after that Sunday Times report, the story has been twisted and flipped to “Prince Harry is the one who wants to leave England and William is merely supporting the decision.” Bullsh-t. Anyway, Page Six/The Sun had more details on the newly revamped storyline – some highlights:
The talk of a move to South Africa or Botswana: The recommendations have been made in a top-secret briefing document about how the couple will establish their future after the imminent birth of their first child. But sources close to the Duchess of Sussex last night rubbished speculation that Meghan wanted to move back to the US and one day become the American president, insisting she had no political ambitions.
The other royals “came on board”: We have learned senior members of the Royal Family, including the Queen and Prince Charles, have come on board with the African plan. But there are concerns within the royal household about the costs of the move. There would be a huge security bill for eight full-time police staff to relocate permanently with Meghan and Harry, who has visited South Africa on numerous occasions. Officials there and in Botswana have not yet been consulted because the discussions are at an early stage.
Harry & Meghan are involved with the plans? A royal source said: “Harry and Meghan are very much engaged in these plans, although the move isn’t planned until next year or 2021. The idea is they will spend between three and four months every year based in an African country, where they would work and then use it as a base for travel. South Africa and Botswana are two countries on the shortlist that are considered the most likely.” Sources close to Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, insisted the exact scope of the role they would play in Africa had not yet been determined.
The briefing paper: The insider explained: “A briefing paper has been prepared and shared with a very small circle. They’re starting to look at how the next couple of years of their lives are going to be spent and looking at some long-term strategic planning. It’s all a part of a process. They have a vision of being ambassadors for the UK, representatives of the Commonwealth and pursuing the works and good causes they want to focus on. They like the idea of being able to put roots down in a country, have a home base and really get involved and engaged in the community and country. Africa is an obvious starting point for Harry because of his affinity for the continent. But how it is all worked out from the official side is still to be developed because these are such early-stage conversations and we are not there yet.”
Again, the British tabloids are totally playing fast and loose with who came up with the scheme and why the briefing memo was written or why this whole scheme was even introduced. I think it’s possible that Harry said something to someone (his grandmother, perhaps) about wanting to do more Commonwealth work and wanting to carve out more of a commonwealth niche for himself and Meghan. And that interest got twisted by William, who jumped in and started telling people that it would be GREAT if Harry and Meghan moved away for a time and Will was like “let’s get this going, let’s start making plans.” All the while, Harry is more focused on the immediate concern of the birth of his first child. William’s fingerprints are still all over this, even if the tabloids have been directed to leave Will out of their narratives now.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
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