On Monday afternoon, few were paying much attention to the House of Lords order paper during this week’s frenetic number-crunching and clandestine negotiations for the Conservative leadership.
Yet, in a brief conversation between the Leader of the House of Lords and a Labour backbencher, we had a glimpse of what may be the first constitutional reform of Charles III’s reign.
Ministers and senior Palace officials are currently finalizing preparations to prevent the Dukes of Sussex and York from participating in future state activities during the King’s absence.
The King will be allowed to rely on a larger pool of royal substitutes, including the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex, to carry out his constitutional duties when he is out of the country, according to proposals that are set to be presented to Parliament within weeks.
The Mail has learned that consideration of these suggestions began months ago, with the assent of the late Queen. Lord True’s response to the House of Lords on Monday indicates that reform may be imminent.
Currently, when the king is absent for whatever reason, the majority of appointments and legislation can be approved by two Counsellors of State.
According to the conditions of the Regency Acts of 1937 and 1953, they can be nominated from among the four most senior people in the line of succession, as well as the monarch’s consort. This includes the Queen Consort, Prince of Wales, Duke of Sussex, Duke of York, and Princess Beatrice.
Under the current ideas, the King would have the ability to add Anne and Edward to the list at his discretion.
Reform is not without a sense of urgency, given that the King and Queen Consort are scheduled to leave the nation soon, marking the monarch’s first trip abroad in seven years.
In her final public appearance, the late Queen attended the 2015 Commonwealth gathering in Malta. Prior to this, Queen nominated the Dukes of Sussex and York as Counsellors of State.
Prince Andrew has been taken from public life as a result of his affiliation with convicted child molester Jeffrey Epstein. Since then, Prince Harry has renounced his royal duties and relocated abroad, while Andrew has been removed from public life due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
In a moment of immense national, international, and economic instability, it would be exceedingly embarrassing if the government’s smooth and immediate operation were suddenly dependent on either of the two wayward dukes.
In theory, the Prince of Wales and Princess Beatrice might still perform state business, albeit she is a private person who may not be ready at the constitutional snap of a finger. She also lacks the imprimatur of a member of the Royal Family in active service.
Instead of amending the law to exclude specific individuals, the argument says, it makes much more sense to simply broaden the King’s possibilities.
Consequently, further working members of the family are probable. Thus, no one will be insulted and normal business operations can continue. In royal and political circles, the 1974 miners’ strike is frequently invoked as an example. The Queen was on a lengthy tour of Australia and the Pacific at the time.
As Ted Heath’s government was brought to its knees by industrial action on February 7, a state of emergency was declared, granting authorities the authority to take control of fuel, food, and ‘the fundamentals of life.’ The following day, Congress was dissolved.
In each instance, these orders required the approval of two Counselors of State. They were Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother at the time.
It would scarcely be reassuring if the Duke of York’s signature were necessary to keep the lights on if Britain were to see a recurrence of that level of anarchy.
Viscount Stansgate, a Labour-affiliated hereditary lord, raised the issue in the House of Lords earlier this week with a question. He inquired, “Is the government content for the Duke of York or the Duke of Sussex, one of whom has left public life and the other of whom has left the kingdom, to wield the counsels of state and regency powers?”
Lord Stansgate, the son of the late Tony Benn, added, “Is it not time for the Government to contact the King to see if a reasonable change to this Act may be made?”
It is customary for ministers to deflect such questions with the rehearsed response that questions on the Royal Family are off-limits. Lord True, who had at least two weeks’ notice that this question would appear on the order paper, instead cited the words of George VI from 1937.
Shortly after his accession, the new king recognised the necessity “to adopt such provisions as will… ensure the exercise of the Royal Authority,” according to Lord True.
The noble Lord went on to say, “In this spirit, the Government will always consider what arrangements are necessary to ensure the resilience of our constitutional arrangements, and we have seen in the past that the point of accession provides a useful opportunity to evaluate the arrangements in place.”
In other words, keep an eye on this area.
Yesterday, neither the Palace nor Lord True’s office had more comment. However, astute constitutional analysts such as Dr. Craig Prescott of the UK Constitutional Law Association did not miss it. I believe this is the first time the question of Princes Harry and Andrew being Counsellors of State has been brought up in Parliament, he tweeted.
Back in the summer, senior Palace officials were reportedly already exploring methods to “tidy up” this potential obstacle.
A source stated that the Queen might see the need for reforms but would not wish to exclude the Dukes of Sussex and York. The King is just adhering to this course of action.
At the Palace, these responsibilities are shared by Sir Edward Young, the late Queen’s private secretary, and Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s principal private secretary. Currently, they are collaborating in Buckingham Palace to achieve the most seamless transition possible. This is simply an example of uncompleted work.
As soon as the King’s first abroad travels are announced — and as the new Head of the Commonwealth, he will have many — a greater emphasis will be placed on the Regency Acts.
Before Lord Stansgate’s query becomes a chorus, both the Palace and the Government will want to have a plan in place.
Meghan Markle admits to being ‘particular’ and says that telling people ‘what you need does not make you difficult or demanding’ as she exposes her irritation at ‘cowering and tiptoeing into a room’ and denounces the ‘angry black women myth’ in the newest Archetypes podcast.
Meghan Markle revealed in her latest Archetypes podcast for Spotify that she is “particular” but emphasized that “telling people what you need does not make you demanding” as she asserted that black women are portrayed as “mad.”
The Duchess of Sussex expressed her frustration at ‘cowering and tiptoeing into a room’ out of fear of being regarded badly in professional settings.
“I’m picky, but I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats,” she added. “We’re all going to succeed, so let’s make sure it’s excellent because it’s a shared success.”
‘However, I also find myself shrinking and tiptoeing into a room, and the thing I find most humiliating is when you’re speaking and your intonation rises as if you’re asking a question.
“And you’re like, ‘oh my God, stop whispering and tiptoeing around it,” she said.
Simply state what it is that you require. You may establish a border. You are permitted to be direct; doing so does not make you demanding. It does not make you tough; rather, it clarifies you.
The 41-year-old was previously dubbed “Duchess Difficult” due to allegations about her ‘dictatorial’ behavior and 5am emails, which purportedly led to the resignation of her assistant Samantha Cohen.
Other ‘broken’ members of the royal entourage described being brought to tears by bullying and tantrums. Meghan has consistently refuted any allegations of bullying.
In the episode titled Upending the ‘Angry Black Woman’ myth, Meghan discusses ‘women of color’ stereotypes with actress Issa Rae and comedian Ziwe Fumudoh.
Meghan mentioned attending’socially distant cocktails’ two years ago and receiving the book Algorithms of Oppression by Internet specialist Safiya Noble during the show.
“When I returned home the first time, I was truly stunned. Did you already know? She stated, “I continued poking my hubby as we sat there in bed.”
The duchess stated that the book’s argument that the algorithms that power search engines like Google are discriminatory left her with her “jaw on the floor.”
She described how Miss Noble’s search for “why are black women so” yielded the answers “so loud,” “so rude,” and “so furious.”
Earlier in the show, Nigerian-American comedian Miss Fumudoh stated that her ‘brash and unpleasant’ on-screen demeanor was ‘in direct contrast to what a woman should be publicly, according to sexism’
In a monologue responding to her remarks, Meghan stated that she was “so right” and that her perspective was “really amazing” when viewed “through the lens of black women.”
Meghan said it was time to “try on what it feels like when we’re free to just live our truths… to be straightforward without being branded furious, to exist on our own terms, to just be, to just be human” as she introduced the next section, a talk with actress Miss Rae.
Meghan reveals, after asking Miss Rae if she wants a coffee, that she “just started drinking coffee again” after “not thinking about it” while in the United Kingdom.
When I was on set, Nespresso was consumed all day, every day. Then I stopped drinking alcohol in the United Kingdom and stopped thinking about it.’
Meghan responded, “It’s a wonderful question, it’s a beautiful question, but I guess because life started to return and so people started to come when guests came or meetings or and they’re like oh would you like coffee?”
Later, the duchess elaborated on her own acting assignment, stating that when she reviewed casting lists for black characters, “they always had to have an edge or an attitude.”
The treatment of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate judiciary committee hearings was cited in the podcast as an instance of alleged racism towards black women.
Judge Jackson, the first black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, was questioned about her stances on matters such as critical race theory and whether or not they would affect her decision-making.
Meghan stated, “I recall observing these hearings in the summer of 2022.” They were gripping and excruciating. Then Judge Jackson maintained her calm and composure regardless of what was occurring for her beneath the surface, which I cannot fathom.
At the conclusion of the podcast, the duchess paused to listen to a performance of Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise.
This podcast coincides with the announcement that Meghan would speak about the ‘power of women’ at a sumptuous dinner event in the United States next month.
The duchess, who presently resides at her $14 million (£12.3 million) California residence with Prince Harry after renouncing her royal duties, will be interviewed onstage during the event titled “The Power of Women: An Evening with Meghan.”
At the ceremony, she will share the platform with Rabbi Sandy Sasso, the first female rabbi to be ordained by the Reconstructionist Judaism movement.
Tickets for the event, which takes place on November 29 at the Marriot Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana, cost a staggering $5,000 (£4,400) per table, and photography and recording are prohibited on the night.
It is unknown how much Meghan was compensated for her visit, although public relations experts previously estimated she might earn up to £1 million each speech.
Women’s Fund is pleased to welcome Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, to Indianapolis, according to the official description of the event.
The Duchess is a mother, feminist, and human rights advocate. She has been a longtime supporter for women and girls, a theme that runs across her humanitarian and corporate endeavors.
Rabbi Sandy Sasso, an esteemed author and community leader, will act as the evening’s moderator.
‘Before serving at Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis, Rabbi Sandy Sasso was the first female rabbi to be ordained by the Reconstructionist movement.
Tables for Power of Women can be purchased by groups and organizations who support Women’s Fund’s goal.
The event has been organized by the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, a non-profit organization that assists local women in need.
In making this appearance, the duchess follows in the footsteps of other celebrities, such as former first lady Michelle Obama.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex became clients of the New York-based Harry Walker Agency in 2020, which also represents the Obamas and the Clintons.
Mark Borkowski, a public relations expert, told The Sun that the pair will succeed. According to the LA Times, they intend to speak about social concerns such as racial justice, gender equality, the environment, and mental health.
I’m surprised that they haven’t done this earlier. It will be one of their greatest revenue sources. The circuit of the speaker is a natural safe zone for them to exploit,’ he noted.
Numerous clients of the Harry Walker Agency are friends of the Duke and Duchess, such as Prince Harry’s environmentalist buddy Jane Goodall and Oprah Winfrey.
The pair formerly resided in the $18 million (£15 million) Beverly Hills mansion of actor Tyler Perry.
Meghan’s newest appearance comes as she faces criticism for claiming that the American version of Deal or No Deal’reduced her to a bimbo.’
Meghan made the remarks while speaking with Paris Hilton on the Archetypes podcast. In the episode titled Breaking Down ‘The Bimbo,’ Meghan expressed her desire for her daughter Lilibet to be respected for her intellect rather than her appearance, as she was on the game show.
I ultimately left the show. I was far more than what was objectified on stage. I disliked being compelled to be superficially attractive. And lacking in content,’ the duchess claimed of her 34 episodes on the program.
Whoopi Goldberg, an actress and talk show host, stated that Meghan’s comments were foolish. That’s television, baby. But what did you believe you would be doing? She added, “You know that was the purpose of the show.” When you are a performer, you accept the engagement.
Women who were on the show at the same time as Meghan tell a quite different tale, stating that the mood was rather lighthearted and not oppressive or sleazy.
Lisa Gleave, a successful Australian model, TV presenter, and actress currently residing in Los Angeles, was one of Meghan’s briefcase ladies.
Similar to Meghan, she had to learn the skill of stepping downstairs in a dress and five-inch heels while carrying a briefcase and remembering the cardinal rule: to look happy for the competitor if things go well and sad if things go poorly.
Miss Gleave told the Mail that she felt “happy and fortunate” to have appeared on Deal Or No Deal, adding, “For me, it was a thrill and a terrific career step.” The majority of girls would agree.
She stated, “I never viewed the show as objectifying women.” The cast and crew treated us with great respect. It was an expertly crafted set. It was a stepping stone in our careers for many of us, and we went on to larger things.’
She acknowledged that the show “centered around beautiful women,” but stated that the cast members were “all smart and intelligent women, and nobody treated us like bimbos.”
Dina Cerchione, a stylist who worked on Deal or No Deal as well as for shows on CBS, NBC, ABC, Netflix, and HBO, stated, “It’s been a difficult week to have a show I adore so much be criticized.”
She stated on Instagram, “It was one of the most fantastic, demanding, high-profile jobs of my career, and I loved every minute of it.”
‘Everyone on the program, from my wardrobe staff to the producers, the crew, hair and makeup, Howie, and especially the models, worked SO incredibly hard to make the shows the best they could be for the contestants and fans who loved it.
“After much consideration, I would not change a thing.
We were all aware of how fortunate and unique our TV family was. The mission at work was to do the best we could, take care of our entire team, and treat everyone with the respect they deserved and earned.
Miss Cerchione added that the show was “a launching pad for so many of the women,” citing “hosting and being on other television shows” and “being on Oprah” — a possible reference to Meghan Markle’s explosive interview.
Among the episode’s other revelations:
- Meghan suggests the ‘archetype’ of the ‘angry black woman’ who is ‘overly emotional’ dates back to slavery;
- Suggests the trope has influenced her own behaviour, and she ‘makes a choice’ to be as ‘grounded as possible’ because of things that are ‘going to be said, no matter what’;
- Reveals she watched the nomination hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black Supreme Court judge, and found them ‘painful and gripping’;
- Says when she was casting for black women roles as an actress the characters always had an ‘edge or an attitude’;
- Reveals she’s had a genealogy test which identified her as 43 per cent Nigerian;
- Says it is time to ‘try on what it feels like when we’re allowed to just live our truths’ and ‘to be direct without being called angry, to exist on our own terms, to just be, to just be human’.
During the podcast, Meghan described attending a ‘socially distanced drinks’ two years ago and being given a book called Algorithms of Oppression by Internet expert Safiya Noble.
‘Once I arrived back home and when I did I was actually shocked. Did you know this? I kept nudging my husband as we were sitting there in bed,’ she said.
The duchess said the book’s thesis that the algorithms behind search engines like Google are racist left her ‘jaw on the floor’.
She recounted how when Miss Noble searched ‘why are black women so’ the results included ‘so loud’, ‘so mean’ and ‘so angry’.
Earlier in the episode, Nigerian-American comedian Miss Fumudoh described how her ‘brash and rude’ onscreen persona was ‘in direct opposition to what a woman should be publicly, according to sexism’.
In a monologue responding to her comments, Meghan said she was ‘so right’ and that ‘when looked at through the lens of black women’ her point of view was ‘pretty inspiring’.
Introducing the next segment – a conversation with actress Miss Rae – Meghan said it was time to ‘try on what it feels like when we’re allowed to just live our truths… to be direct without being called angry, to exist on our own terms, to just be, to just be human’.
After asking Miss Rae if she wants a coffee, Meghan reveals she ‘only recently started drinking coffee again’ after ‘not even thinking about it’ when she was in the UK.
‘When I was on set, of course it was like Nespresso all day, every day. And then I didn’t drink it really in the UK and didn’t think about it.’
Asked why she started drinking it again, Meghan said: ‘It’s a great question, it’s a great question but like I guess because life started to come back and so people started to come when guests come or meetings or and they’re like oh would you like coffee?’
The duchess later gave another insight into her own acting appointment, and how when she used to go through casting lists of black characters ‘they always had to have an edge or an attitude’.
One example of alleged racism against black women discussed on the podcast was the treatment of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate judiciary committee hearings.
Judge Jackson, the first black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, was quizzed on her views on issues such as critical race theory and whether they would interfere with her decision making.
Meghan said: ‘I remember watching these hearings in the summer of 2022. They were gripping and painful. Then Judge Jackson remained poised and composed no matter what was happening for her beneath the surface, which I cannot begin to imagine.’
At the end of the podcast the duchess paused to hear a rendition of the poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou.
Today’s podcast coincides with the news Meghan will attend a lavish dinner event in the US next month to talk about the ‘power of women’.
The duchess, who is currently living in her $14million (£12.3million) California mansion with Prince Harry after stepping back from royal duties, will be interviewed on-stage during the event billed ‘The Power of Women: An Evening with Meghan’.
She will take to the stage with Rabbi Sandy Sasso, the first woman rabbi ordained by the Reconstructionist Judiasm movement, at the event.
Tickets for the event, which takes place at the Marriot Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 29, costs a whopping $5,000 (£4,400) per table, with any photography or recording on the night banned.
It is not known how much Meghan will have been paid for the appearance, however PR experts previously predicted she could earn up to £1m per speech.
The online description for the event details: ‘Women’s Fund is proud to welcome Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, to Indianapolis.
‘The Duchess is a mother, feminist, and champion of human rights. She is a lifelong advocate for women and girls, a constant thread she weaves through humanitarian and business ventures.
‘Rabbi Sandy Sasso, an acclaimed writer and community leader, will serve as moderator for the evening.
‘Rabbi Sandy Sasso is the first woman rabbi ordained by the Reconstructionist movement and previously served at Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis.
‘Tables for Power of Women are available for purchase to groups and organizations that support the mission of Women’s Fund.’
The event has been organised by the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana – a non-profit which assists local women experiencing hardship or disadvantage.
The duchess is following in the footsteps of other celebrities with the appearance – other keynote speakers have previously included former first lady Michelle Obama.
In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined New York-based Harry Walker Agency, which represents the Obamas and the Clintons.
PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Sun the pair will ‘clean up’. They plan to be available for talks on social issues including racial justice, gender equality, the environment and mental health, according to the LA Times.
‘I’m surprised they haven’t done this sooner. It will be one of the great income generators for them. The speaker’s circuit is a natural safe space for them to plunder,’ he added.
The Harry Walker Agency has high-profile clients, many of whom are friends of the Duke and Duchess, including Prince Harry’s environmentalist friend Jane Goodall and Oprah Winfrey.
Others include Meghan’s best friend Serena Williams and the actor Tyler Perry – whose $18million (£15million) Beverly Hills mansion the couple previously lived in.
News of Meghan’s latest appearance comes as she faces backlash for saying Deal or No Deal in the US ‘reduced her to a bimbo.’
Meghan made the comments while speaking on the Archetypes podcast with Paris Hilton. The episode, called Breaking Down ‘The Bimbo’, heard Meghan say she wants her daughter Lilibet to be valued first for her mind, rather than ‘beauty not brains’ as she was on the TV gameshow.
‘I ended up quitting the show. I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage. I didn’t like feeling forced to be all looks. And little substance,’ the duchess said of her 34-episode stint on the programme.
Actress and chat show host Whoopi Goldberg said Meghan’s remarks were naive. ‘That’s TV, baby. But what did you think you were going to? You know that’s what the show was,’ she said. ‘When you’re a performer, you take the gig.’
Women who appeared on the show at the same time as Meghan tell a rather different story and say the atmosphere was fun rather than oppressive or sleazy.
One of the briefcase girls who worked with Meghan was Lisa Gleave, a successful Australian model, TV presenter and actress now living in LA.
Like Meghan, she had to master the art of walking downstairs in a dress and five-inch heels, holding a briefcase and remembering the cardinal rule: look delighted for the contestant if things go well for them and sad if not.
Miss Gleave told the Mail of her stint on Deal Or No Deal that she felt ‘blessed and lucky to have been on it’, adding: ‘For me it was a joy and a great career move. Most of the girls would say that.’
She said: ‘I never looked at it as a show that objectified women. The cast and crew treated us very well. It was a professional set. For many of us, it was a stepping stone on our careers and we went on to greater things.’
While she acknowledged the show ‘revolved around beautiful women’, they were ‘all smart and intelligent women and nobody treated us like bimbos’.
Dina Cerchione, a stylist who worked on Deal or No deal as well as for shows across several US networks including CBS, NBC, ABC, Netflix and HBO, said ‘it’s been a rough week watching a show I love so much be criticised’.
‘It was one of the most wonderful, challenging, high-profile gigs of my career and I loved every minute of it,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘Everyone on the show from my wardrobe team to the producers, the crew, hair and makeup, Howie and especially the models worked SO very hard to make the shows the best they could for the contestants and the fans who adored it.
‘I have thought a lot about this, I wouldn’t change a thing.
‘We all knew how lucky we were and how special our TV family was. There was a mission at work to do the best we could, take care of our full team and treat everyone with the respect they earned and deserved.’
Miss Cerchione also said the show was ‘a launch pad for so many of the women,’ noting ‘hosting and being on other television shows,’ and even ‘being on Oprah’ — a possible reference to Meghan’s bombshell interview.