WHAT THEY SHOWED US
In November 2018, the British royal family unveiled the official photos taken on the occasion of Prince Charles’ 70th birthday. The two family photos bring together the Cambridges with their three children and the Sussexes around the future king of England and his companion Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The photo session took place a few days earlier in the gardens of Clarence House, the atmosphere seems relaxed, the smiles seem frank. For the first time since the marriage of Meghan and Harry, the Windsors offer the image of a united family. The Queen and Prince Philip are voluntarily absent to give their son the opportunity to shine and highlight the future of royalty. This beautiful succession represented by William, Kate, Harry and his wife…
WHAT THEY HIDDEN FROM US
“An absolute nightmare”
It has been several months since William and Harry hardly speak to each other. The eldest criticizes his brother for proposing to Meghan in haste without thinking about the consequences of this union on the family. Harry resents the way William greeted his wife. The war is cold between the two sons of Lady Di. So cold that when organizing the photo session, everyone puts a maximum of ill will into it. “It was an absolute nightmare. They made no effort to make themselves available,” says Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie. Information confirmed in the Daily Mail by a political adviser who attended the working meetings. “It’s simple, they did anti-game. It’s a miracle these pictures exist after everything I’ve seen. A version that slightly darkens the idyllic images isn’t it?
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The Garden Party Incident
Among the Windsors, a birthday with a round number is celebrated all year round. And in May, six months before November 14, Charles organizes a garden party to celebrate his 70th birthday with a hundred distinguished guests. But when the Sussexes arrive, the atmosphere becomes electric. Camilla barely greets them and, forty minutes after their arrival, the future King of England whispers a word in his son’s ear. “I can’t, there are cameras” he replies furiously. Barely time to say more, Meghan and her darling are kindly escorted to the exit by security. “Mrs Markle’s behavior a few hours before the garden party got everyone on edge. Something unacceptable happened, ”explains Lady Collin Campbell, a former friend of Lady Diana. Six months later, the humiliation suffered by the Sussexes is still not digested. Some will say that this moment was even the trigger for their desire to leave Great Britain.
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Money, money, money
What if it was all just a struggle for power and money? In his book, Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie delivers a very Game of Thrones version of the relationship between William and Harry. According to him, the origin of their conflict would have a link with their place in the siblings and the power that results from it. “Your birth position in the family determines your political standing, which is why Harry is always behind his brother, especially when it comes to securing funding. Sometimes he wants to launch bigger projects and get more involved, but he rarely gets the funds he needs. William always takes priority. They often fall out over budget issues. That’s the risk when you do business as a family,” recalls the writer. Anyway, this photo shoot will be the last official with Meghan and Harry. A few months later, the couple will choose to withdraw from the royal family to become financially independent.
Lea Hasvry