Dec. 13, 2025

Andrew Returns for Baby Athena as Meghan Markle Gets More Side-Eye

Show Notes
Transcript

Prince Andrew makes a rare public appearance for granddaughter Athena’s christening at Saint James’s Palace, arriving discreetly and separately from Sarah Ferguson, with Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank and even James Blunt among the guests. Meanwhile, Archewell attaches itself to Cookie Queens, a Girl Scouts documentary heading to Sundance 2026, as Meghan’s former Girl Scout ties are highlighted in the announcement. The weekend’s Sussex chatter continues with fresh commentary on Meghan and Thomas Markle, plus a new style-world datapoint: British Vogue’s first “50 Best Dressed” list crowns Catherine as an “Eternal Influencer” while Meghan is left off entirely. Also: Prince William surprises the Welsh Guards at a Christmas gathering, and new details emerge about security upgrades and guest arrangements at Forest Lodge.

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Callaroga Shark media now, Hello and welcome to the palace.

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Intrig g. I am your host. Mark Francis Andrew mount Batton,

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Windsor made a rare appearance at a royal family event,

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attending the christening of his granddaughter Athena at Saint James

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Palace in London. The former Duke arrived alone in a

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range rover at a side entrance to the palace grounds

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shortly before eleven in the morning. His former wife Sarah

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arrived separately earlier in the day. Both were seen leaving

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the service around midday. The low key christening appeared to

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be limited to close friends and family, with no senior

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working royals in attendance. It marked Andrew's first appearance at

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a royal ceremony since the funeral of the Duchess of

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Kent at Westminster Cathedral in September. He was photographed riding

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privately in Windsor Great Park last month, but has otherwise

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remained largely out of public view. Among the guests were

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Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who drove into the

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palace together, as well as musician James Blunt. Archwell Productions

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has announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will

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serve as executive producers on Cookie Queen's, a new film

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set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in twenty

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twenty six. Directed by Elisa Namias, the documentary follows the

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Girl Scouts during the annual Cookie Season, examining what the

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filmmakers describe as the joys, pressures, and challenges faced by

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one of America's most recognizable youth organizations. The project has

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a personal connection for Megan, who was a Girl Scout herself,

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with her mother Doria serving as her troop leader. In

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a statement, the Duchess said, when we first viewed the

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early footage of this documentary, it was immediately something we

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wanted to be involved in. The creative point of view,

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the edgy yet humanizing tone and tenor of the directing,

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and the glimpse behind the scenes into such a nostalgia

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and also modern tradition of gold scale Cookie Season are

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absolutely irresistible. Cookie Queen's will screen in Sundance's Family Matinee section,

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which highlights independence films intended for audiences of all ages.

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A specific premier date has not yet been confirmed, and

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it has not known whether the Duke and Duchess plan

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to attend the Sundance Film Festival, runs from January twenty

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third through February second in Park City, Utah. Royal expert

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Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digital Meghan has frantically tried

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to build a wholesome, family oriented brand in twenty twenty five,

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it would be in her best interest to show her

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elderly father, who had just lost a limb, some compassion. Otherwise,

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every time we see Megan and Harry lovingly engage with

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wounded vets and Invictus, we will ask ourselves why they

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couldn't show Meghan's father the same compassion. Right now, she

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is simultaneously promoting a holiday special centered on family. At

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the very least, Thomas should be allowed to meet his grandchildren.

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Talk TVs, Mark Dolan commented on the relationship between Thomas

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and reported Caroline Graham. This is an eighty one year

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old man. He's lonely. He's in a foreign country, thousands

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of miles away. He's got his son's Thomas Michael Junior.

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But he's got major issues too. He's got health problems,

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he's broke, and he's not been able to be at

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the hospital. Twenty four to seven. So Caroline has filled

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the gap, and what is her reward a subtle attack

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from the ruthless Sussex public relations machine, throwing shade at

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the Mail on Sunday for running his story, and therefore

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that is by definition an attack on Caroline Graham, who

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is really a dear friend of Thomas Michael. This is

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a nightmare for Megan and it is a public relations

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disaster because she's trying to rehabilitate herself in the world

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of Hollywood. She's got her ailing business empire as ever,

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which is basically a bit of honey in a couple

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of flower sprinkles. It's turned into a bitter war of words,

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and all Thomas Michael gets from Meghan is one of

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her creepy calligraphy letter when you're dying and your last

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hope is to meet your daughter, and you get some correspondence.

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I think that's a little slap in the face, given

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that Meghan knew Thomas Mirkle was fighting for his life.

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If that's not a wake up call, then you can't

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jump on a plane or call him. Then nothing will change.

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Megan would have to have an entire personality transplant. She

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has to develop some empathy, of which she has shown

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precious little. British Vogue has released its first ever fifty

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Best Dressed list, positioning it as a defining snapshot of

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the figures who shaped an elevated British style over the

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past year. At the center of that conversation is Catherine,

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the Princess of Wales, who's carefully considered wardrobe and heritage

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led approach to fashion have secured her place as one

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of the most influential dresses in the country. Keith's inclusion

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is widely seen as inevitable. Her ability to balance contemporary

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trends with tradition has set a clear benchmark for royal style.

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In twenty twenty five, she appears among a select group

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described as eternal influences, alongside Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, Kate Moss,

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Naomi Campbell and Victoria Beckham, figures whose impact on British

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fashion has endured for decades. What has drawn equal attention, however,

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is a notable omission. Meghan Michael does not feature on

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the list, despite a year of highly curated public appearances

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and visible efforts to reassert her fashion credentials, including a

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widely publicized appearance at Paris Fashion Week, the Duchess of

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Sussex was overlooked in favor of figures such as Cynthia Arrivo,

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Kira Knightley and Mary Barry, a decision that has not

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gone unnoticed given the stature of the list within the

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British fashion industry. For Meghan, who has worked to rebuild

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her profile in the style world, missing out on one

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of British fashion's most significant new honors is a conspicuous absence.

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By contrast, the Princess of Wales's placement reinforces her position

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within an elite tier of cultural taste makers whose influence

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remains consistent and defining. Her inclusion alongside Victoria Beckham is

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seen as particularly apt given Catherine's frequent choice of the

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designer's tailored pieces and elegant dresses. Earlier this year, the

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Princess stepped out in a head to toe look from

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the Beckham label, a move widely interpreted as a subtle

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show of support during the launch of Beckham's Netflix series

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More palac In just a moment. Sir Roger Daughtry has

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been knighted by Prince William in recognition of his extraordinary

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contribution to music and charity. The Who frontman received the

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honor on Wednesday, marking a career that has spanned more

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than six decades, from the band's explosive early days with

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My Generation through to their recent Farewell tour. Alongside his

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musical legacy, the knighthood also acknowledges Daughtry's long standing commitment

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to charitable work, particularly his tireless support of Teenage Cancer

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Trust now eighty one. Daughtry was characteristically modest about the accolade,

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choosing to frame it as recognition for the cause he

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has championed for years, rather than a personal triumph. He said,

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for a kid like me achieving this, it's a dream,

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reflecting on a journey that began on the streets of

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post war London and led to global fame and induction

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into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With the honor,

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Sir Roger joins a selected group of knighted music icons,

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including Paul McCartney, Mick Jaggerin Elton, John William made a

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surprise appearance at a Christmas celebration in Windsor, joining the

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Welsh Guards at their barracks for a festive gathering as

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Colonel of the regiment. William was photographed laughing with officers,

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many of whom were wearing green and blue paper party hats.

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During the visit, William helped serve Christmas dinner, spend time

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with members of the First Battalion, and shared a few

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festive drinks. He also visited the Sergeant's mess, where he

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spoke with junior ranks and heard about their experiences since

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returning from a recent training exercise in Kenya. Forest Lodge's

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generous footprint, including a self contained flat within the property,

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has prompt speculation about how the additional space could be

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used by Kate and William. Rather than being reserved for

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long term family arrangements, it is thought the separate accommodation

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is intended primarily for visiting guests. Catherine's parents, Carol and

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Michael Middleton, live less than an hour away, but could

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occasionally choose to stay over at night. The same would

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apply to close friends traveling from London, who could make

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use of a quiet bolt hole in the countryside without

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disrupting family life in the main house. Such arrangements are

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far from unusual among royals and high profile figures. Harry

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and Meghan, for example, are believed to have a separate

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guesthouse at their Montecito home, which is said to be

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used by Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland when she visits from

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her home roughly two hours away. Privacy and security around

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Forest Lodge have also been significantly enhanced. A substantial wooden

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fence has been installed to close off surrounding woodland and

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green space, with additional trees planted to further shuel the

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grade to listed Georgian house from public view. CCTV cameras

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monitor the perimeter and the no fly zone above the

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property has been expanded to include not only helicopters and

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hot air balloons, but also drones which had previously been

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able to approach close enough to take photographs. Access within

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Windsor Great Park has also been altered when entrance route

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has been permanently closed for security reasons, a move that

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reportedly caused frustration among some local residents. According to the Sun,

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the closure came without prior notice, with an official order

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stating due to the pending designation of part of the

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Great Park as an exclusion area, access via Cranbourne Gate

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will permanently cease and there you have it. Fl like

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to email us addresses the Palace Intrigue at a gmail,

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a dot com. Please followus on Spotify, Apple at the

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applicant Choice and leaves a massive review from joining the

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Andrew Returns for Baby Athena as Meghan Markle Gets More Side-Eye

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