Zero Percent: Dead Dogs, Trump Jokes, and Email to Dying Father" The week in Royal news with Mark Francis

0:03 Calorogus, Shark Media ad Lo and welcome to Pallas Weekly. I am your host, Mark Francis. We'll go through the stories that appeared during the week on Palace Intrigue in a shorter form. If you'd like these full stories, please go back and listen to the full episodes of Palace Intrigue. Let's dive in. Prince Harry's latest late night cameo has prompted renewed criticism from viewers and public relations specialists, who argue the Duke's comedic instincts once again misfired. What began is a cheerful surprise appearance soon shifted toward awkwardness, raising fresh questions about the direction of his American reinvention. Royal Inside at Deep Crown tells Palace Intrigue the most telling moment wasn't anything Harry said. It was watching him say it.

0:51 There's a desperation now that wasn't there even a year ago. He's becoming a man arguing with an institution that simply moved on without him. Colbert loved soft balls, Harry swung dutifully, and the British public barely noticed. That's not Pallace strategy. That's irrelevance, catching up with someone who mistook departure for leverage. When Colbert disputed Harry's claims that Americans are obsessed with royalty, Harry delivered one of the knights most talked about lines, Really, I hear you elected a king? The joke prompted audible booze from the studio. Audience. Pr advisor Mark Borkowski told The Daily Mail the skit was yet another embarrassment, describing the Sussexes as increasingly adrift as they chase celebrity. He argued, Harry's Colbert skit isn't embarrassing because he's chasing you as celebrity.

1:38 It's embarrassing because he's doing it badly. Making fun of your own privilege only works when the audience believes you've transcended it. Harry hasn't The joke's land like a man reminding you of a punchline that expired three years ago. Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digital Harry's jab at President Trump on Colbert wasn't clever, it was reckless. Honestly, how does he think he can hold onto a royal title or take public swipes to the head of a foreign government. It's also a slap in the face. Buckingham palents put significant effort into a major state visit for President Trump to support diplomatic relations. Royal expert Hillary Fordage drew attention to the moment the audience turned on Harry. Harry did himself no favors and to hear that decidedly left leaning New York City audience boo him. He went from cheers and a standing ovation at first to that a few minutes summary if you ask me of his entire trajectory.

2:30 Veteran Royal correspondent Phil Dampier said the reaction inside palace circles will be severe. The King, Prince William and courtiers will be horrified. Most dangerous of all were his jokes about Trump. The Royals can't start meddling in US politics without dangers, and he should have steered clear of the subject. Royal commentator Tom Sykes said the Palace is left with limited options. The titles must be removed, not as punishment but for clarity. Removing them draws a clear blue line between Prince Harry the royal and Harry the private citizen. It protects the monarchy from his volatility. Megan Markel's Netflix holiday special is open to a rare zero percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The score is based on five published critics reviews, with assessments ranging from comparisons to Stepford Wives to suggestions the program felt a little bit sad. The Independent awarded it one star, calling it not fun, enjoyable or even aspirational. The telegraphs Anita Singh called it quite mad and a little bit sad, awarding one star out of five. The Daily Mail's Annabel Fenwick Elliott issued the bluntest verdict, zero stars out of five. Even audiences were similarly unimpressed, awarding the series just thirteen percent among more than one hundred posted ratings. Viewers dismissed the program as boring and very inauthentic. In The Times, Hillary Rose writes, it's unfathomable. Four pointless crafts, three random friends, two unseen kids, one English princes and the duchess in the pear tree, or at least making pair syrup. Some people arrived, perhaps off the street, for brunch, also dressed in red pajamas.

4:01 They eat pudding first with a knife and fork, then kish. Someone says that the greatest meals are those that leave your heart feeling full, and Meghan is visibly but prettily moved. The telegraph Sallison Pearson writes, what kind of woman thinks relatable is having friends over to craft various Christmas gifts and food stuffs, which apparently will lay down those nostalgic family memories. We were too busy working to pay the mortgage a dragging four days worth of festive food back from the supermarket. Viewers quickly concluded the special was not filmed this year. The clearest indication comes from a brief appearance by Megan's rescue beagle Guy, seen wandering through the Montecito property early in the program. Guy died in January twenty twenty five, as cameo confirms that filming occurred before his death. Tom Sykes writes in The Royalist, the message is we are done, and the medium is a passing shot of an elderly Beagle Guy padding mournfully through the frame like a ghost of contracts passed guy. You see diet last year. This means that this holiday special, which has been touted by Megan evidence of a strong and productive ongoing relationship with Netflix, was filmed at the same time as Series one, long before the couple were brutally released from their Megabucks contract. The timing of Meghan's holiday special release is in close proximity to the Princess of Wales Annual Together at Christmas Carol's Service, which drew more than sixteen hundred guests to Westminster Abbey for an evening built around themes of kindness, community and compassion. Catherine arrived ahead of her family, greeting performers and readers, including Kate Winslet, Joe Lockan, Chiwitel Edgy four. Inside the abbey, Prince William

5:34 delivered a Bible reading from the pulpit, while the program blended traditional Carol's poetry and musical performances. In a personal message to guests, Catherine highlighted the importance of checking in on loved ones at a time when life can sometimes feel fragmented or uncertain. She reflected that Christmas speaks of love taking form in the simplest, most human ways, including small acts of kindness that contribute to the beautiful tapestry of life to which we all belong. The service will be broadcast on ATV one on Christmas Eve. The contrast between the two events could not be Starker. Royal expert Helena Chad told Fox News Digital Meghan does not live a life of service. Her holiday show can't be compared to the British royal family's work. Princess Catherine's concert brings together sixteen hundred guests who have shown love and kindness within their communities. King Charles heartfelt Christmas broadcasts are messages of service and hope, very different from Meghan's holiday show.

6:32 More pounds in just a moment. The Thomas Michael's storyline continues to dominate headlines. After several days of attempting to make private contact, the Duchess of Sussex has succeeded in sending correspondence to her father, though the details remain murky. A spokesperson for Meghan said the Duchess had managed to get a letter to her father and accused The Daily Mail of breaching clear ethical boundaries. They said, given that the Daily Male reporter has remained at her father's bedside throughout broadcasting each interaction and breaching clear ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the Duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days. However, Thomas Michael told outlets he was confused by the initial claims he had been contacted, insisting he had received absolutely no messages. He stressed that he has kept the same phone number for years, precisely so that his daughter could contact him instantly if she ever chose to. It later emerged that the supposed contact referred to by the sussexteent was an email sent to an address Thomas has not accessed in the last five years. Those close to him say he never uses email at all. Samantha Michael claimed on social media Houston, there's been no contact time to stop the PRBs MEDUSA. In The Express, columnist Meeker Smiles writes, let's get a long story short. She didn't do what any normal person would do and give her dad a call. No, that would be two you easy, and means she'd actually have to speak to him. Her representatives say she contacted

8:04 him via wait for it, email. Anyone who has been on the planet for the last few years know that sending someone an email is about as effective as launching a carrier pigeon with a handwritten note. In The Standard, Melanie mcdonnad writes, the normal response of a child of any age when a parent is taken ill and may let's say it die, is to rush to the bedside, the matter where in the world that bedside may be. That's what normal people do. If Thomas Michael had been an abusive parent, Meghan's failure of duty might be comprehensible. But he wasn't. He looked after her. And if he is now frail and old and not looking as felt as she might like, it's all the more reason to rally round to what might be his deathbed. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digital Meghan has frantically tried to build a wholesome, family oriented brand in twenty twenty five, it would be in her best interest to show her elderly father, who had just lost a limb, some compassion. Otherwise, every time we see Megan and Harry lovingly engaged with wounded vets and victis, we will ask ourselves why they couldn't show Meghan's father the same compassion. Right now, she is simultaneously promoting a holiday special centered on family. At the very least, Thomas should be allowed to meet his grandchildren.

9:16 Andrew mount Batten Windsor made a rare appearance at a royal family event, attending the christening of his granddaughter Athena at Saint James Palace. The former Duke arrived alone and ranged rover at a side entrance to the palace grounds. His former wife Sarah arrived separately earlier in the day. The low key christening appeared to be limited to close family and friends, with no senior working royals in attendance. It marked Andrew's first appearance at a royal ceremony since the funeral of the Duchess of Kent in September. A source told The Daily Mail Beatrice has of course invited her father, that things are not worn between them. However, she's worried about him. He is going through a low ebb with his mental health and she recognizes that he dotes on his grandchildren and it will be cruel to deprive him of the chance to attend the christening. Prince William celebrated a significant milestone on Tuesday as he marked twenty years as patron of Centrepoint, the homelessness charity. William was presented with a giant purple cake before meeting staff and young people who have been involved with the organization over the years. William also made a surprise appearance at a Christmas celebration in Windsor, joining the Welsh Guards at their barracks for a festive gathering. As Colonel of the regiment.

10:26 William was photographed laughing with officers, many of whom were wearing green and blue paper party hats. During the visit, William helped serve Christmas dinner and shared a few festive drinks. Sir Roger Daughtry has been knighted by Prince William in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to music and charity. The WHO frontman received the honor on Wednesday, marking a career that has spanned more than six decades. British Vogue has released its first ever fifty Best Dressed list, with Catherine, Princess of Wales securing her place as one of the most influential dresses in the country. Kate appears among a select group described as eternal influences, alongside Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Victoria Beckham. What has drawn equal attention is a notable omission Began Markle does not feature on the list despite a year of highly curated public appearances and visible efforts to reassert her fashion credentials, including a widely publicized appearance at Paris Fashion Week more Palace in just a moment. King Charles has attended an annual Advent service at Westminster Abbey, joining senior Christian clerics from the United Kingdom and the Middle East. In a forward to the official order of service, the King wrote, it is a great joy to gather with you in the most glorious setting of Westminster Abbey as we celebrate the light, hope, and above all piece of this season of Advent. Princess Anne has won praise from royal watchers for the understated way she chose to sign her annual Christmas card. The card features a photograph of Anne and

11:58 her husband Tim Lawrence, and inside it reads simply with best wishes for a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year from Anne and Tim. The absence of Anne's title immediately caught attention. Real royals don't need to announce themselves, wrote one commenter. Some observers drew comparisons with Megan Markle's frequent use of a duchess title Desplaite no longer being a working royal, The royal family appears to be shifting its center of gravity away from London, with Windsor increasingly emerging as the monarchy's operational base. The Sunday Times reports that the Royal Mews will relocate from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle in the new year. Sources close to the king say the couple are very comfortable at Clarence House, with one adding I know he is no fan of the Big House, as he calls the Palace. He doesn't see it as a visible future home or a house that's fit for purpose in the modern world. The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a similar choice. William and Catherine moved into Forest Lodge in Windsor only weeks ago and plan to keep it as their family base even once William eventually ascends the throne. This is the week the numbers told the story zero percent on rotten tomatoes, Zero senior royals at Andrew's granddaughter's christening, zero phone calls to a dying father, zero's self awareness about any of it.

13:15 Harry makes Trump jokes to a booing audience, while William Knights Roger Daughtry, Meghan films with a dead dog, while Kate hosts sixteen hundred guests at Westminster Abbey. Thomas Michael loses a leg and gets an email to an address he isn't checked in five years. Andrew attends his granddaughter's christening alone. The Working Royals work, the Grifters grift, and somewhere in Montecito someone is trying to figure out how a holiday special filmed last year with a deceased beagle somehow represents a strong and productive ongoing relationship with Netflix. Zero percent says it all, and there you have it plenty email as Wo addresses the Palace Intriy at gmail dot com. Please pull us on Spotify, Apple, on the apple of your choice, and check us out on face, Facebook, Instagram or any other social media hubs. I'm Mark Francis my thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Weekly in good times