How Meghan Markle scored an 'own goal' during Australian visit - Inside the Palace

How Meghan Markle scored an 'own goal' during Australian visit

The Duchess of Sussex claimed this week she has been "bullied and attacked" every day for 10 years, and is the "most trolled person in the world".

Meghan was speaking to young people, supported by mental health organisation Batyr, at Melbourne's Swinburne University of Technology on Thursday.

Despite well-meaning intentions, her critics will say she has reinforced their view that she makes every situation about herself and frequently plays the victim.

The duchess actually intended to help young people become more resilient to uncontrollable social media hate.

Meghan went on to say: "I think so much of that is having to realise that you know that industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks – that’s not going to change.

"So you have to be stronger than that. And a friend of mine gave me a little a little bag that had a quote on it. And I look at it every single day. And I would share it with you because sometimes I can imagine, as you talk about depression or anxiety or a willingness or lack of appetite to even want to get out of bed or keep going.

"But this is the quote that it says...My wish for you is that you continue, continue to be who and how you are to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness and to allow humour to lighten the burden of your tender heart.

"And that's my wish for all of you as well. And you can do it. You can do it together. And I'm not going to say it's easy. It will personally tell you it is not easy, but you can do it. And my wish for all of you is to just continue."

Regarding her claim that she is "the most trolled person in the world", it is impossible to quantify this with any reliable evidence.

It is a fact that Meghan has received a barrage of online criticism, both as a working member of the Royal Family and outside it.

A 2021 report by Bot Sentinel found that just 83 Twitter accounts were responsible for approximately 70 per cent of the hate content about both Harry and Meghan.

The study suggested the accounts were "brazenly coordinating" to amplify negative content about the couple - especially Meghan.

On Thursday, Meghan spoke of a "billion-dollar industry...completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks."

Several reports suggest the coordinated trolling was part of a "lucrative hate-for-profit enterprise" that coordinated tweets across social media platforms, with video accounts generating significant advertising revenue.

Despite the criticism and the noise, huge supportive crowds turned out to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Australia, whose programme included a mixture of public philanthropic engagements and private commercial appearances.

Therein lies another problem; the late Queen banned the couple from being half-in, half-out royals during the infamous Sandringham summit of 2020.

Six years on from Megxit, the Duke and Duchess appear to be doing exactly that - but with one crucial difference.

They are not representing King Charles or the monarchy; they are private citizens.

The question is: will royal circles, or the general public, accept this new status quo, with a trip to the United Kingdom potentially planned for this summer?

What next for Sarah Ferguson as she's spotted staying in luxury ski chalet?

At last! After 213 days, Sarah Feguson has been pictured outside her hiding place as the scandal surrounding her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein shows no signs of going away.

The former duchess concealed her familiar bright red hair under a baseball cap, outside a reported £2,000 per night luxury ski chalet in the Austrian Alps.

The 66-year-old former wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of the Duchess of York title last year and has kept a low profile since she was kicked out of Royal Lodge in February.

There have been calls for her to speak to US authorities about exactly what she knew about her "supreme friend" - the late sex offender.

The association with Epstein has been the downfall of Ms Ferguson and her ex-husband, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor.

Ms Ferguson was last officially seen in public at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent in September last year, followed by an incognito appearance at the christening of her granddaughter Athena at St James's Palace in December.

Since then, there has been a torrent of rumours and speculation as to her whereabouts, ranging from staying with her sister in Australia to a luxury clinic in Switzerland.

It appears we now know the answer, at least for now. The chalet she is reportedly staying in does not come cheaply.

Six of her businesses are in the process of being liquidated, and the Epstein scandal has pretty much ended any commercial work she was engaged in.

It is unclear which income streams remain to Ms Ferguson, or where she plans to settle permanently.

King Charles is paying for his brother's bed and board, but His Majesty's generosity is unlikely to stretch to his former sister-in-law.

Her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are not thought to have visited their mother in Austria often, if at all.

Now that the Sun has exposed her whereabouts, although not naming the specific alpine village in question, I suspect it will not be long before Ms Ferguson seeks out a new, affordable hiding place.

Princess of Wales and Princess Anne team up for rare engagements

The Princess of Wales and Princess Anne are teaming up to commemorate the lives of Australians and New Zealanders who have lost their lives in combat.

Anzac Day, Saturday April 25, marks the anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli, where 44,000 Allied troops lost their lives during the campaign.

The Princess Royal is attending the Dawn Service at Wellington Arch in Central London, which will include readings, the Last Post, a two-minute silence, reveille and national anthems.

Wreaths will also be laid at the event, with the day commemorated as a public holiday in both New Zealand and Australia.

Later that day, the Princess of Wales will lay a wreath on behalf of the King at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, during a Wreath Laying and Parade Service.

It is thought to be the first time the future Queen has laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in person, and Her Royal Highness will later attend a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.

Last year, Catherine expressed a desire to return to Australia for a royal visit with Prince William and her children.

No immediate plans have been confirmed by Kensington Palace, but I would be surprised if the Prince and Princess do not visit before the end of the decade.

I would guess that a royal visit will coincide with Prince William's Earthshot Prize and will include a visit to New Zealand after King Charles was unable to visit the country on medical advice in October 2024.

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