The Queen Mother was the primary customer of Gordon's, which likely caused the company's stock price to plummet after her passing.
While Catherine, the Princess of Wales, may have never met her great-granddaughter-in-law, she is undoubtedly her true successor.
Although we don't know if the princess enjoys morning drinks at 11:30 a.m. daily, she embodies a contemporary marshmallow.
To see proof of this, we need to look no further than Catherine's prominent role in delivering a significant blow to Harry. The incident took place in the sitting room of Kensington Palace in March 2021, shortly after Harry and Megan's explosive interview with Oprah. The world was still reeling from the aftermath of the interview, in which Megan insinuated that the royal family harbored deep-rooted racial issues. She suggested that decisions regarding titles and security may have been influenced by race, and that there were discussions about the skin color of their unborn child.
Among all the claims made by Megan and Harry during the two-hour interview, the racial aspect posed the greatest threat to the Palace. After all, the late Queen was the head of the Commonwealth, an organization representing a third of the world's population, most of whom are people of color. The narrative suggested that Britain prided itself on being a multicultural society, founded on the belief that everyone appreciates a good curry. Thus, the royal family couldn't simply ignore this particular claim, hoping it would fade away.
This brings us to the recently updated edition of "Courtiers," a book written by Valentine Low, a royal writer for The Times with 15 years of experience. The book delves into the inner workings of the monarchy's closest advisers. Over the weekend, The Times published an excerpt from "Courtiers," revealing what transpired in that Kensington Palace sitting room. According to Low, Catherine and Prince William sat together on a sofa, discussing with their officials how to address the explosive allegations made by the Sussexes.
Reportedly, they had drafted a statement in response to the Oprah interview, but an insider informed Low that a milder version was chosen instead. The debate revolved around whether to rise above the accusations and extend an olive branch to Harry and Megan as beloved family members, or to intervene and offer a counter-perspective. William and Catherine were reportedly in agreement on this matter, desiring a stronger response. The insider added that they wanted to make it clear that the institution did not accept many of the claims. Catherine was fully supportive of William's stance.
Essentially, this incident demonstrates William and Catherine's alignment on various matters, from their children's bedtime routines to addressing ground-shaking allegations of racism. Low revealed that it was the Princess of Wales who emphasized the need to address the Megan and Harry situation rather than ignoring it. It appears that Catherine played a pivotal role in this well-known incident.
The statement "Recollections may vary" caused some concerns among certain individuals within the palace, as they feared it might provoke Megan and Harry. However, another source, who spoke with Lo, revealed that it was Kate who clearly articulated the point that history would judge this statement. She emphasized that unless a phrase like this was included, everything they had said would be accepted as true.
Approximately 40 hours after Harry and Megan's Oprah interview aired in the United States, that renowned statement containing the "Recollections" line was released. Royal biographers around the globe immediately started new Word documents, preparing to write their upcoming books.
If Harry and Megan had assumed that their claims regarding race would go unchallenged by a nervous or taken-aback royal establishment, they were in for a surprise. That single sentence served as a response, refusing to let their interpretation of events go uncontested. It also accounted for the royal pushback against their narrative.
The consequence of that line was that it represented a clear challenge to Harry and Megan's version of events, ensuring they wouldn't have exclusive control over the narrative. According to a source who spoke with Low, Catherine's role in the statement exemplifies her often underestimated subtlety. She doesn't receive the credit she deserves because she operates so discreetly. She's playing the long game, always focused on her life, her historic path, and her future role as queen.
Now, let's take a moment to contemplate the significant reaction if Megan had ever used a phrase like "my historic path." The intriguing aspect in all of this is that Catherine, despite being widely seen as an elegant and beautiful figure, often adorned in floral outfits and engaging with babies in the home counties, possesses a more assertive and powerful persona than meets the eye. She constantly keeps her long-term goals and legacy in mind. Over the past 12 years since joining the royal family, Catherine has learned valuable lessons about being a royal, amassing authority and respect along the way. She has transformed from mere decorative royal adornment into a genuine and influential power player.
In essence, Beaton's marshmallow line can be condensed to a fundamental truth: appearances can be deceiving. Catherine may be renowned for her flawless appearance and bouncy blow-dry, but she is a woman prepared for any challenge. Underestimating her would be a grave mistake, and if you doubt it, just ask Harry.
