Can the Royal Family trick Donald Trump into doing what the UK wants?

0:03 Calorogu Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark Francis. In last week's Vanity Fair article, fashion commentator Tom Fitzgerald said Meghan is the type of woman who would check a menu out online before going to a restaurant to pick out what she was going to eat. So the idea that she didn't know she was supposed to Curtsey for the Queen, I just didn't find it particularly believable because, based on everything she ever told us about herself, I cannot imagine that she went into meeting the royal family completely cold, with no research whatsoever.

0:44 Fitzgerald highlights Meghan's repeated claims that she was compelled to wear neutral tones during her time at the Palace to avoid overshadowing or competing with Queen Elizabeth and other senior royals, pointing out Meghan's wardrobe today largely reflects that same palette. A PR expert believes Harry is best off staying out of the PR for Megan's cooking show. Edward Coreham James tells gb News Harry not being very involved in Meghan's show is for the best right now, their joint brand has taken a hit after hit in recent years. It's a solid chance for Megan to show that she can thrive on her own. His best move is to carve out more independence from Megan in both his public and professional life. Meghan knows her brand has taken some hits, so this is about softening her image and giving people a reason to like her again. Koran believes Megan will rely on her celebrity friends to push the show. Daniel Martin ties her to her royal wedding Abigail Spencer is a reminder of her Hollywood roots. Mindy Kayling, that's just a signal to her audience that she's aligned with strong, successful women in entertainment. In the Vanity Fair article, a local claims they've never heard anyone refer to Montecito as the American Riviera. It's such a kind of hucksterism. It's just finding every way she can too model something. I still think they're the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet.

2:05 They moved away from England to get away from the scrutiny of the press, and all they do is try and get in the press. In the United States, Meghan's engagement ring, a significant piece of jewelry designed with sentimental elements, continues to spark intrigue as fans speculate about further changes to its design. Originally gifted by Prince Harry in twenty seventeen, the ring features a diamond source from Botswana and two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana's collection, set on a yellow gold band, A favorite of Megan's. However, in twenty nineteen, Meghan debuted a redesigned version of the ring with a thinner micropave band. Around the same time, she also received a custom eternity band from Harry featuring birthstones representing their family of three peridot for Meghan, emeral for Archie, and sapphire for Harry. In twenty twenty three, Meghan was seen without her engagement ring on multiple occasions, reportedly due to maintenance for a loose stone. The ring's return has reignited discussion, with fans now speculating about a possible change to the central diamond's shape. In the trailer for her Netflix series With Love Meghan, the diamond appears to be square cut rather than the original round cut design, prompting social media users to wonder if the Ring has been updated again.

3:23 Actress Meg Bellamy, who portrayed a young Kate Middleton in the Crown's sixth season, has suggested that Meghan Markele should play herself if the series ever returns for another installment. We agree, according to Bellamy, only Meghan could do Meghan markel justice Meghan is a great actress. Bellamy also praised Kate Middleton, saying Kate is awesome palas indrigam a radeback. The return of Donald Trump to the White House presents a diplomatic conundrum for the UK, but British Prime Minister Keir Starmer may have a secret weapon the Royal family. With their unparalleled ability to deliver pomp, pageantry and a touch of grandeur. The Royals could serve as Starmer's ace in maintaining the special relationship amidst looming policy disagreements. Trump has shown a fondness for Britain's monarchy, repeatedly expressing the admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles the Third, calling the latter a really good person. His previous state visit to the UK in twenty nineteen was a spectacle of royal tradition complete with tea at Windsor Castle, a forty one gun salute and a glittering state banquet at Buckingham Palace. For Trump, who thrives on symbols of status and grandeur, these events are more than diplomatic formalities. They are affirmations of his standing on the global stage. According to biographer Robert Hartman, the Royal famili's enduring soft power gives Britain an edge in dealing with unpredictable US leaders.

4:46 Hardman chairs other countries are far more interested in the monarchy than they are in Downing Street. It has been suggested that King Charles and Prince William could visit the US in twenty twenty six to mark the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Times has reported that senior royals were being lined up for the task and that plans had been discussed at the highest levels of government. Also on the table, Soccer's World Cup in twenty twenty six, also held in America. Prince William's patron of Britain's Football Association. A source to All the Times, Donald Trump is a clear affinity for the royal family. He has had a great relationship. Late Queen recently met Prince William and a spoken highly of King Charles. A royal tour to the US would help reinforce the special relationship. Another source added, playing up to his pro monarchist tendencies is one of a number of important ways we can exert our soft power. You saw that during his first administration and can expect to see it again.

5:42 Declassified m I five files have revealed that Queen Elizabeth was kept in the dark for nearly a decade about Anthony Blunt, a member of her royal household, confessing to being a Soviet double agent. Blunt, a celebrated art historian and surveyor of the Queen's pictures, admitted to espionage in nineteen sixty four, but the Queen was only fully informed in nineteen seventy three, nine years later. The documents showed that the secrecy was titally maintained even within the palace. At the time of Blunt's confession. Only a handful of individuals, including MI five and certain government officials, were aware. The Queen's private secretary, Martin Charteris, eventually informed her at the behest of Prime Minister Edward Heath's government citing concerns that Blunt's failing health might lead to his secret being exposed posthumously. Remarkably, the Queen received the news calmly and without surprise, reportedly recalling suspicions about Blunt dating back to the nineteen fifties.

6:38 Despite this, Blunt continued to serve in his royal post and even received a knighthood after his confession, as authorities deemed it in the greater public interest to avoid drawing attention to his past. Blunt's confession was extracted during an MI five interview in nineteen sixty four after testimony from Michael Strait, an American Blunt had recruited during their time at Cambridge. Blunt was offered immunity in exchange for cooperation. His admissions painted a vivid picture of his role in the infamous Cambridge five spy ring, which included Kim Philbey, Guy Burgess, Donald McLean, and John Cairncross. The files detailed blunts account of covert operations, including a chaotic episode where Burgess, in a state of disarray, fled to warn McLean about imminent exposure. Blunt himself resisted pressure from his Soviet handlers to defect, recalling their poorly planned and chaotic instructions as absolutely insane. The secrecy surrounding Blunt's treachery only unraveled in nineteen seventy nine, when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher publicly named him as a Soviet spy. By then, the Queen had long known the truth, but the revelations still caused shock waves. Blunt, who died in nineteen eighty three, remains one of the most infamous figures in British intelligence history. The files are being released as part of an MI five exhibition at the National Archives, which will feature accounts of blunts can fashion and other Cold War espionage activities, and they have it to email us, who addresses the palasintrig at gmail dot com. Please follow us on Spotify, Apple, on the

8:09 Apple of your choice and write us a review and leave five stars. If you're enjoying the show, I'm Mark Francis My thanks to John McDermott's Palace Intrigue. Good Times,