May 21, 2026

What's going on with Harry & Meghan? New wedding snub details. Meghan Demands Spark Palace Fury Ahead of Possible UK Return

What's going on with Harry & Meghan? New wedding snub details. Meghan Demands Spark Palace Fury Ahead of Possible UK Return

Harry is reportedly making demands over Meghan’s treatment if she returns to Britain, irritating senior royals. Plus, Andrew’s security scare, debate over Meghan’s UK reception, a surprising defence from Nicky Haslam, Sarah Ferguson’s staff claims, and The Crown’s possible return.

Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening. Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.

A new season of King William is available now.

Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.

Royal Books:

Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom Bower

William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story

The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:11.759
Ah Calorougus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Pallace Intrigue.

2
00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:15.400
I am your host, Mark Francis. Two stories emerged this

3
00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:18.800
week that, taken together, offer a fairly complete picture of

4
00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:22.440
where Harry and Meghan currently stand, one from the outside

5
00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:26.359
looking in, and one from the inside looking surprisingly warm.

6
00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:30.719
We begin with the wedding Peter Phillips, Princess Anne's son,

7
00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:34.840
is marrying Harriet Spurling at All Saints Church in syrihn

8
00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:37.759
Kester on June sixth, and the guest list has become

9
00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:42.679
as interesting for its absences as its attendees. Andrew mount

10
00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:46.399
Batten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were already confirmed as not invited,

11
00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:49.560
with sources suggesting the couple felt their presence would cause

12
00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:53.600
a distraction. That was expected. What was not quite so

13
00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:57.439
expected was the confirmation that Harry and Meghan were not, even,

14
00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:00.320
in the words of one commentator, in the mix, for

15
00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:04.319
an invitation. Peter and Harry attended each other's weddings. They

16
00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:07.400
were once close. Now, a source told Hello Magazine, they

17
00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:10.519
haven't spoken for several years and have simply lost touch.

18
00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.319
Whether that drifting apart was organic or quietly encouraged by

19
00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:17.400
other parties is one of those questions the Royal Family

20
00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:21.719
answers only in the architecture of its guest lists. Commentator

21
00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:24.079
Mark Dolan put it plainly on a podcast this week,

22
00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:27.280
Poor old Harry wasn't even in the mix for an invite,

23
00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:30.200
so he's done. He added that an invitation could have

24
00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:33.159
marked the beginning of a thawing of relations, and that

25
00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:36.319
its absence leaves Harry with an uphill struggle getting back

26
00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:39.760
in that family. The York sisters Beatrice and Eugenie are

27
00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:43.040
both expected to attend the Whales, and the Edinburgh's may

28
00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:46.920
also be present. The circle, as ever, is becoming clearer

29
00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:50.680
by defining whose stands outside it on the other side

30
00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:54.719
of the ledger. The anniversary celebrations generated one unexpectedly positive

31
00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:58.680
news cycle. A body language expert reviewing the Instagram footage

32
00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:02.599
of Harry delivering cake in gray tracksuit bottoms and presenting

33
00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:06.760
Megan with a penguin statue, declaring the whole thing very genuine,

34
00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:10.319
noting that Harry smile, engaged his cheek, muscles, his eyes,

35
00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:12.639
and his entire face, and that there was nothing in

36
00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:15.120
the clip that suggests anything other than the fact that

37
00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:18.639
they genuinely do love each other very much. The kiss

38
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:23.000
over the cake was cited as particularly convincing. No visible tension,

39
00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.439
no staged awkwardness. So this is where things stand for

40
00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:28.840
Harry and Meghan in the late spring of twenty twenty six,

41
00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:33.680
deeply in love by all biometric indicators. Not invited to

42
00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.639
the wedding. Some don't believe Megan would return to the

43
00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:40.280
UK anyway. Royal commentator Charles Ray told the Son her

44
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:42.800
coming back here, can you imagine what it would be

45
00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:44.680
like for her again to be out on the street.

46
00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:47.280
So the job, whether it's a Royal job or a

47
00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:50.400
jam job or whatever, she'll get booed. I don't think

48
00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:52.560
she'll be able to cope with a lack of enthusiasm

49
00:02:52.599 --> 00:02:55.319
from the British public for her being here. They don't

50
00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:58.520
want to hear, nobody wants her hear. Royal expert Jack

51
00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:01.319
Royston disagreed, suggesting the desire to launch the as Ever

52
00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:04.439
brand in the UK could push the decision. When that

53
00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:07.240
moment comes, she has got to come here and launch it.

54
00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:12.039
You can't do those things half baked. Celebrated interior designer

55
00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:15.439
Nikki Haslam has oftened a surprisingly warm defense of Meghan Markle,

56
00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:18.400
admitting he has a sneaking love of fakes as he

57
00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:21.960
reflected on the Duchess and her public image. Speaking to

58
00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.919
Hello magazine, the designer, whose clients have included King Charles

59
00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:27.560
the Third and Mick Jagger, said there was something oddly

60
00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:30.240
touching about Megan, even while acknowledging that much of her

61
00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:36.000
public presentation feels carefully manufactured. Referring to Meghan's lifestyle content

62
00:03:36.039 --> 00:03:40.039
and Netflix series, Haslam said, there's something oddly touching about

63
00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:42.960
her these programs where she puts flowers on top of cakes.

64
00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:46.479
Christie also used to do that and nobody criticized her.

65
00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:49.719
I rather like the fact that it's all manufactured. I've

66
00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:52.680
got a sneaking love of fakes. They're amusing non fakes.

67
00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:57.159
Serious people are frightfully boring. Haslam did criticize the Duchess

68
00:03:57.159 --> 00:03:59.960
for battling the press, describing her as foolish and ward

69
00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:02.960
in that respect, but said he admired her guts and

70
00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.879
believed she makes Prince Harry happy. Wouldn't I rather be

71
00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:09.319
living in a lovely house in Montecito with film stars

72
00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:13.280
and going to premiers? I would? He added? Or palacy

73
00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:19.680
just a moment, Andrew and Sarah are hoping not to

74
00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:22.839
be forever pariah, is a source told heat Well. Both

75
00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:25.120
Andrew and Sarah are praying this won't be the status

76
00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:28.160
quo forever and that soon enough they'll stop being treated

77
00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.079
like total pariahs. But that will never happen without some

78
00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:34.079
type of forgiveness from the senior royals. So King Charles

79
00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:37.000
holds all the aces here. While the same source did

80
00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:40.319
admit it may sound delusional to most, they truly believe

81
00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:43.480
there's a path to redemption and that at some point

82
00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:45.800
the dust will blow over and enable them to be

83
00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:49.720
taken out of exile. Certainly, Sarah is banking on that.

84
00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:53.079
She's always been an internal optimist. I'll beeit a self

85
00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:55.600
serving one at that. This has also been called the

86
00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:58.600
real reason for their continued silence, despite looming rumors that

87
00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:01.399
a tell all has been conceded. In the eyes of

88
00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:03.680
the source, it's a big reason why Andrew is staying

89
00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:06.360
put in Sandringham, putting a pause on any plans to

90
00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:08.759
write a memoir or flee for a new life in

91
00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:14.439
the Middle East. Sarah Ferguson's former assistant allegedly compared working

92
00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:17.920
for the Duchess of York to working with fifty jealous lovers.

93
00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:21.639
According to Andrew Lowney's new book entitled One Long Time,

94
00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.639
staff has said some people only lasted half a day.

95
00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:27.920
The book also claimed staff were left embarrassed by what

96
00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:32.759
was described as freebee grabbing behavior, alleging Ferguson rarely paid

97
00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:36.439
for anything and often expected products and services at no cost.

98
00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:39.639
Other claims in the report alleged employees often had to

99
00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:42.319
buy things using their own credit cards while working for

100
00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:46.879
the Duchess. The Crown could soon return to television screens,

101
00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:49.800
with reports suggesting Netflix has approved a new series exploring

102
00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.959
the years between Queen Victoria's death in nineteen oh one

103
00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:56.600
and Princess Elizabeth's wedding in nineteen forty seven. The new

104
00:05:56.600 --> 00:06:00.519
project would reportedly examine major royal and historical events, including

105
00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:04.759
the two World Wars, the abdication crisis involving Edward the Eighth,

106
00:06:04.839 --> 00:06:08.600
and the accession of King George the six. Royal historian

107
00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:11.879
Hugo Vickers doesn't seem excited, telling the Express, it is

108
00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:14.720
depressing that the Crown may be returning to hornt Ow's screens.

109
00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:17.720
I doubt the royal family will be concerned. However, they

110
00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:19.959
are aware of what the Crown makers are likely to

111
00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:24.160
be up to. Vickers had previously said, I really hate

112
00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:26.439
the series. The problem is that they are real people,

113
00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:29.319
and the incidents either happened or nearly did, so the

114
00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:31.720
show is making things up and presenting it as fact.

115
00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:35.439
I completely understand that fiction can help you understand the truth,

116
00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:38.480
but it shouldn't pervert facts. One of the problems with

117
00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:41.160
The Crown is that it's beautifully acted and beautifully filmed.

118
00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.680
It all looks very convincing. I have no issue with

119
00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:47.680
the timeline, but I do take issue with the character presentation.

120
00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.639
Diana is assured they are obviously thinking of the American market.

121
00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:55.160
Prince Charles beforehand was an angry whimp, whereas in this

122
00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:58.600
series he is rather sympathetic. The Queen comes out of

123
00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:01.439
this very badly. They make us seen like a reactionary frump,

124
00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:05.279
and unfortunately, Prince Philip is portrayed curmudgeonly, which is the

125
00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.600
opposite of the real Prince Philip. Series creator Peter Morgan

126
00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:12.759
has previously defended his approach to historical storytelling. Morgan said,

127
00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:14.920
I sort of have in my head a twenty year

128
00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.360
rule that is enough time and enough distance to really

129
00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:20.879
understand something, to understand its role, to understand its position,

130
00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:24.879
to understand its relevance. Often things that appear absolutely wildly

131
00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:28.759
important today are instantly forgotten, and other things have a

132
00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:32.160
habit of sticking around, like to email us or addresses

133
00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:35.319
the Palace intric at gmail dot com. Please follow us

134
00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:37.959
on Apple or Spotify, and you can leave a comment

135
00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.920
on Spotify. If you're in the mood, I am Mark

136
00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:43.560
Francis my thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Entry

137
00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:44.920
and good damns